As the first day of school approaches, it's natural for elementary students to experience a mix of excitement and anxiety. They might feel a whirlwind of emotions—from eager anticipation to nervous uncertainty about new routines, teachers, and classmates. We are allowing parents to walk their students to their classrooms on the first day. Please note, we are a secured campus, so after the first day, you will need to sign in at our main office if you are coming on campus. On the first day of school, you do not need to sign in.

To help your child prepare and ease their nerves, here are some practical tips:

1. Familiarize Them with the Routine: Walk through the daily schedule with your child, including drop-off and pick-up times.

2. Encourage Open Conversation: Ask your child about their feelings and listen attentively. Acknowledge their concerns and reassure them that it’s okay to feel nervous. Sharing your own positive school experiences can be comforting.

3. Create a Positive Environment: Build excitement by setting up a “back-to-school” countdown or shopping for school supplies together. Let them pick out a special item that makes them feel good about the first day.

4. Establish a Routine: Gradually shift to the school schedule a week before the first day, including earlier bedtimes and morning routines. This can help ease the transition and reduce anxiety.

5. Practice Coping Strategies: Teach your child simple relaxation techniques, like deep breathing or visualization, to manage stress. Reassure them that these strategies are tools they can use whenever they feel overwhelmed.

By supporting your child through this transition with patience and understanding, you'll help them build confidence and start the school year on a positive note. Here’s to a successful and joyful start to the new school year. Cannot wait to see all our Stallions on Wednesday!

Parent Volunteer Information

A volunteer is defined as an individual who, with school district authorization, voluntarily assists school districts, schools, educational programs, or students on a regular and ongoing basis. A volunteer is required to complete a Volunteer Application and have a Megan’s Law Background Check or a State and/or Federal Background Check completed. Megan's Law has to be completed every year in order to maintain a Level I volunteer status.

Example: A parent is assisting with a weekly and on going project such as the running club or Lego league. A grandparent is helping in music or art classes weekly.

Parent Volunteers are required to complete the Level I - Volunteer Application/Megan’s Law process every school year.

• This includes completing the PUSD forms (linked below)

• Current TB Test - Once every four years

• Bring your Driver’s License with the items listed below to our office.

(documents cannot be emailed)

Parents wishing to chaperone on a Field Trip must complete a Level I - Volunteer Application in order to obtain a Level II Volunteer - Department of Justice & FBI Clearance process every school year. This includes a yearly Megan's Law application. Every year, all volunteers MUST complete Megan's Law.

Visitor Definition

A visitor is defined as an individual who, with school district authorization, attends a student performance, special event, festival, open house, back-to-school event, sports event, athletic competition, etc. A visitor may either be accompanied or unaccompanied by school district staff. Designated school district administrative personnel are to make this determination. A visitor is usually not required to sign a registry.

Example: Your school is hosting a Jr. Olympic competition.

Guest Definition

A guest is defined as an individual who, with school district approval, assists students, schools, and teachers on a non-regular basis or who individually observes a classroom or activity. A guest may also assist with educational programs or with special events on an occasional or infrequent basis. A guest shall immediately report his or her presence at the school office or at the designated school location upon arrival at the school and sign a guest registry.

Example: Your school is hosting the book fair, a play where parents are coming to watch, or a teacher needs help in the classroom with a one or two day tie-dye t-shirt project for the jog-a-thon. A class is hosting a party or a fun run.

For more details, please review the Frequently Asked Questions.

With the increasing temperatures, we've established a plan involving our MPR and shaded spaces in case the playground and outdoor areas become too hot. Depending on the temperature, we may relocate lunch to the MPR. Please ensure your student brings a water bottle labeled with their name to stay hydrated throughout the day.

Attention 2nd to 5th Graders: Kindly make an effort to memorize your lunch pin, both for breakfast and lunch. This practice will enable us to serve you more promptly and efficiently. This unique number will stay with you throughout your entire educational experience here at PUSD. Parents and guardians, we encourage you to help your student remember their the lunch pin number.

Please sign up to bring food or help set up for celebrating our teachers on their first day back as they prepare their classrooms for their students! Sign up here, and see the PTA with questions, hrespta2@gmail.com

Did you know you can support the school just by joining the PTA? No volunteering needed! Click here to have your ten dollars award you a spot in our association (no other action needed!) and support toward our many programs including teacher grants, family art nights, after school choir, international night, and so much more!

Want to show your Highland Ranch spirit? Order a tshirt, and pick it up at Big Frog. Click here to order and wear your new shirt on Fridays! Students who are unable to afford the purchase of a shirt but would like one can reach out confidentially directly to Ms. Geiger to be put into a lottery for a free shirt purchased by the PTA.

Drop-Off:

• For your convenience, students can be dropped off from your vehicles at the loop near ESS.
• The front loop is reserved exclusively for independent TK/K/1st graders who can exit the vehicle on their own from the driver's side.
• We kindly request parents not to park in the traffic circle and allow their children to disembark from the car.
• If your child requires assistance getting in and out of the car, we recommend parking and escorting them onto campus.

Pick-Up:

• For TK, K, and first-grade students, we encourage parents/guardians to park on the street, walk onto campus, and collect your children at the end of the day.
• TK, Kinder and 1st graders will be picked up at the front of the school.
• Other grade levels will dismiss from the same gates through which they entered.

Here are some Important ways you can help:

Drivers:

• TK/Kindergarten and 1st grade: please pull forward and remember to stay in your car. We have our staff who can help open/close the door for your students; just think of this as your “HRES valet services.”

• Have backpacks on laps and quick goodbye kisses.

• Always pull forward as far down the driveway as you can.

• Unless you are planning to volunteer or be on campus for a period of time, please do not park in the ESS reserved spots, staff parking lot, and in the reserved school spots in front of our school.

Walkers:

• If you choose to walk your student to school, please park in the neighborhood.

• Always cross at the designated crosswalk in front of the MPR.

Early Playground Access:

Starting at 7:30, our playground gates will be open, welcoming all students onto campus. Kinder students will go to the MPR. We kindly ask parents to refrain from entering during this time, except for the first day when parents are welcome to accompany their children to class. Subsequently, our campus will be secured, with exceptions for special events such as Friday Flags. Access to the playground is via the gates between the two parking lots. Students will enjoy this time of social interaction until the warning bell rings at 7:40, at which point teachers will guide them to their designated assembly points - grades K-2 on the playground, and grades 3-5 in front of the two-story building. Detailed instructions will be provided to students on the first day. For TK and Kindergarten students, special arrangements will be in place until 7:40.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we focus on keeping our Stallions and families safe, and making the drop-off/pick-up process as streamlined as possible.

California’s Universal Meals Program. Every student enrolled in PUSD (PreK-12) is offered one free breakfast meal and one free lunch meal each school day. Meals must be recorded by specific student accounts, either by scanning their barcode or entering their ID number in a pin pad. Please note that a student cannot take just a beverage for free; they must select enough items to make a reimbursable meal.

Although meals are free for all students, our District is still required to process Applications for Free and Reduced-Price Meals. We encourage all households to apply online at MySchoolApps.com, or using a paper application. Meal applications are very important because meal reimbursements are still based on individual student eligibility, and State funding for school sites is partially determined by free/reduced eligibility. Households that are income-eligible for free or reduced-price meals may also qualify for other benefits such as: free or discounted after-school care, reduced home internet costs, discounts on standardized testing fees, and food-purchasing assistance during summer breaks.

In addition to complete school meals, some school sites offer a la carte snacks and beverages for purchase. PUSD Food and Nutrition is a cashless operation, so students must have money in their prepaid account or bring a check in order to buy a la carte items. To load funds on a cafeteria account, families can visit MySchoolBucks.com or send a check to school.

• To view interactive school menus, with nutrition facts and allergen information, visit MySchoolMenus.com, which is also accessible from the PUSD Food and Nutrition webpage.

• Simple, printer-friendly PDF menus are posted monthly on the PUSD Food and Nutrition webpage, under School Menus > Printable PDF Menus.

Information about special dietary accommodations and the CDE form to request special meals can be found on the PUSD Food and Nutrition webpage, under Resources and Links > Special Dietary Needs..

Cell phones are ONLY permissible for students in the classroom when used for an assignment given by the teacher. Cell phones are NOT to be out on campus during the school day. A student’s cell phone will be kept in the office until the end of the day and parents/caregivers will be notified if a student is accessing a phone or other electronic device (iPad, Apple Watch, tablet) on campus during school hours, without teacher approval. Your student may have a smartwatch but the watch must be on school mode. The front office is a cell phone free zone for all staff and parents/caregivers. If you are waiting for your child, we ask that you receive or make any phone calls outside the office.

Highland Ranch is a school with motivated students, enthusiastic teachers, and engaged parents who come together to prepare Stallions for their future.

Website: https://highlandranch.powayusd.com/
Location: 14840 Waverly Downs Way, San Diego, CA 92128, USA
Phone: 858-674-4707