Highland Happenings
Fall 2021
Principal's Message: Here we grow again!
With the increase in enrollment and the move from a single lunch to two, we have had to streamline our office and attendance operations:
- A written note is requested by 9:30 am for same day check out.
- Notes must include the time and reason for check out and include a parent signature and phone number.
- When a parent/guardian comes to the office without notice to check out a student, THERE WILL BE A DELAY.
- Please do not call to check out your student. Attendance lines are to clear absences, not to request a release.
- Students cannot be checked out through the office during lunch and before the end of the school day, so please plan accordingly.
- An ID is required and release information accurate on the student information screen.
- If a student becomes ill during the school day the student must report to the health office. The Health Clerk will contact a parent and release the student to go home.
- We do NOT interrupt instruction or lunches with messages, materials, money, balloons, bouquets, or outside food deliveries.
- Students are not to leave class without an off-campus pass from the Attendance Office.
We appreciate your support this year. Already these small changes are having a positive impact on operations.
Debra Vigstrom, Principal
Please visit our website if you did not have the opportunity. Videos are still available to watch.
Highland High Parent Center
Email: antonio_vargas@kernhigh.org
Location: Administration Building
Phone: 661-873-6641
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hhs.parent.5
Twitter: @highland_scots
Highland Highlights: Activities, Athletics, and Academics
Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Football Game
Our honorees were deeply touched by the tributes. Thanks to Coach Gutierrez, his coaching staff, the athletic boosters (Mrs. Yubeta and Mrs, Johnson), and young men who greeted each survivor.
Softball Team honored at half-time
Team: Caitlyn Brewster, Shelby Machado, Alexia Castro, Elisa Gonzales, Chloe Garcia, Briana Solis, Mariyah Montoya, Roxane Garza, Marissa Campos, Madison Edwards, Natalie Macias, Shelby Hernandez, Natalie Moreno, Micayla Yubeta, Sadie Salas, Emily Hernandez, Jennifer Padilla, Lucia Jano, and Emily Moreno.
Drama Dominates Shakespeare Fest
Jordan Procell
Kelly Burdick, Jesse Magdaleno & Elyse Holladay
Katie Johnson, Elyse Holladay, Kelly Burdick & Jesse Magdaleno
News Flash: Girl's Golf and Tennis Earn 1st Place in League (SEYL)
HHS FFA
2021 Fair Highlights
- Ayden Gartenlaub, Class of 2021, is a national finalist for Poultry Production and will compete in the finals in Indianapolis on October 29, 2021.
- Christy Sue Lopez, Breeder of Kern Bred & Fed lightweight champion
- Ethan Allen, Reserve Grand Champion English Market Beef
- Highland Ag Teachers were honored nationally with the "3-star Chapter" designation and teacher Amber Carter was recognized with the 2021 California Ag Teacher's Association Teacher of Excellence Award.
Angel Montes and Havana Silva
Christy Sue Lopez
Megan Huster, Aleah Vega, and Ethan Allen
New classrooms, New Doors
FFA- NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
At HHS we PLAID UP!
THIS IS HOW WE "PLAID UP!"
Red Cross Club
ASB and Red Cross Club "plaid up" to help Kern Valley and Native American Families
If you are looking for pumpkins this season, stop by the Wesley United Methodist Church on Oswell & Niles. The pumpkins are grown on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico, so proceeds support Native American families . The Red Cross Club volunteered their time and energy to unload and set up 2000 pumpkins. One student commented, "Mrs. Martinez, my arms are so sore!" If you stop by the pumpkin patch and see our students, please appreciate their community Service.
Victoria Martinez, Red Cross Advisor
When I think of Mrs. Martinez, I think of PLAID! This month she has proudly represented HHS. Mrs. Martinez was recently selected by the local chapter of The Red Cross to be the Red Cross Club Coordinator for the entire high school district! Highland is one of four local chapters, and her goals are to coordinate training opportunities for hands-on CPR and disaster preparedness. She will also encourage other schools to start a chapter.
LISA MAYO: ONE CLASSROOM AT A TIME WINNER
Art Club Students at Via Arte
Fall Band & Orchestra Concert Returns
LifeChanger: Robert Valdez
Highland Math Teacher and Coach nominated by parents for his contributions
- make a positive impact in the lives of students
- enhance their school's atmosphere, culture and pride
- demonstrate leadership at the school level
- posses a proven record of professional excellence
- show commitment to building a nurturing environment that supports learning
- adhere to highest ethical and moral standards.
Visit the link to nominate by December 31st: www.LifeChangeroftheYear.com
ALL SCOTS READ
November Beanstack Reading Challenge: Read Grateful
School-wide Independent Reading
At Highland High School and the Kern High School District we use the STAR Reading test (reading comprehension and vocabulary) to assist in placing students in classes and monitoring reading progress. We test in the fall, and we monitor progress in January and again in May. Some classes (ACCESS and ELD) monitor progress every six weeks.
There were many changes to the bell schedule this year, including returning to double lunches, so we determined we would no longer have 15 minutes of Silent Sustained Reading as part of our schedule. That does not mean we no longer support independent reading. Many English classes incorporate independent reading within the period or have an expectation for reading 15 minutes beyond the school day. To make books readily accessible, English teachers have classroom libraries available for student selection, and the library is open to check out books on a regular basis. Students read from a "book of choice," and English teachers show students how to set reading goals, for example how many books they will read each quarter.
Why do we support 15 minutes a day independently reading? Our goal for students is to GROW in their ability to comprehend what they read and improve their vocabulary so they will be successful in and beyond high school.
2021 STAR Fall Reading Diagnostic Results (Average Grade Equivalency of student readers @ HHS)
Overall: 7.2 (Seventh grade, 2nd month of school)
9th- 6.4
10th- 6.7
11th- 7.5
12th- 7.2
Collective Reading Commitments from Students
- Read independently every day for 15 minutes
- Set weekly reading goals
- Read at least one book per quarter
Collective Reading Commitments from Parents & Community
- Donate books (gently used or new, all levels, including books written in Spanish)
- Ensure students read nightly, including for pleasure
- UNPLUG! Try modeling reading for pleasure
- Talk to students about what they are reading
- Participate in literacy events when able (Join the Parent Center Book Club!)
Collective Commitments from Staff
- Support 15 minutes of independent reading daily
- Minimize classroom interruptions
- Model reading for pleasure and talking about books
- Ensure school-wide literacy remains a priority
*Counselors' Corner*
Meet our new Cal-SOAP Student Success Coach
- Mondays, 7:30 - 12:30 pm
- Tuesday and Thursdays, 7:30 - 3:30 pm
Chats with your Counselor (SB 813)
College Application Mondays
Cash for College Workshop-- FAFSA
By the Numbers
FALL STAR MATH SCORES
2021 STAR Fall MATH Diagnostic Results (Average Grade Equivalency of students @ HHS)
Median: 7.6 (Seventh grade, 6th month of school)
9th- 6.2
10th- 8.3
11th- 8.2
12th- 8.5
Coffee with the Principal via ZOOM
Monday, Nov 8, 2021, 06:00 PM
Highland High School Parent Center, Royal Scots Way
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
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The Kern High School District (KHSD) is committed to ensuring equal, fair, and meaningful access to employment and education services. KHSD prohibits discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment), intimidation, or bullying in any employment practice, education program, or educational activity on the basis and/or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics of age, ancestry, color, ethnic group identification, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical information, national origin, physical or mental disability, parental status, political affiliation, pregnancy and related conditions, race, religion, retaliation, sex, sexual orientation, military or veterans status, homelessness, foster status, or any other basis prohibited by California state and federal nondiscrimination laws consistent with Education Code 200 and 220, Government Code 11135, and Title IX. If you believe you have been subjected to discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment), intimidation, or bullying you should contact your school site principal and/or the District's Equity Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator, Dr. Debbie Thompson, 5801 Sundale Avenue, (661) 827-3173, debbie_thompson@kernhigh.org, and/or Section 504 Coordinator, Sandy Niday, Director of Special Education/SELPA, 5801 Sundale Ave, (661) 827-3100, sandy_niday@kernhigh.org. A copy of KHSD's Uniform Complaint policy and Nondiscrimination policy are available at www.kernhigh.org and upon request.