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• August 18th – 1st day of school: Preschool
• September 1st – No School
• September 2nd – Picture Day
• September 3rd – Late Start

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Drop Off, Dismissal and Parking Safety Updates

Safety is our top priority when students are entering and exiting our school.  We want to refresh everyone about our parking system and let you know of some small changes regarding start of day lineups.

Highlands Circle has three designated crosswalks. The west crosswalk is staffed with a crossing guard which may be the best choice for your family.

The south parking lot is staff parking and bus pick up/drop off area.  Cars should not be using this area for drop off or pick up. Bus visibility is limited and best practice is for families to walk their students and follow the sidewalks to get on campus for safety purposes.

The east parking lot is the location of the hug and go lane, preschool entry, and special needs drop off.  Please only park in designated areas and only use the hug and go lane for a quick drop off.  The area in front of door #2 is not a hug and go lane.  Children should walk to their assigned doors after being dropped off.  In instances when students are not able to get to their assigned doors, students will  line up out front to wait until the outside supervising adult can bring them in.  Students may not enter early through door #1 due to staff not being in the rooms until after 9:05.  Any child arriving after 9:05 will need to be brought in by the adult guardian and signed in for proper attendance recording.

The west area playground/field has adult supervision beginning at 8:50. Students are not to play on the equipment (even with parent supervision) before school begins. 

To start the day, students should line up at the following doors.  Supervision begins at 8:50

Door #2 Second Grade line up (1 staff member)

Door #6 Bus area –  Kinders line up (3 staff members)

Door #7 West side – 1st graders & 5th graders (1 – 2 staff members)

Door #10 & #11 – 3rd & 4th graders – (2 staff members)

Door #3 & 5 – PreK students (2 or more staff)

Our campus supervisor will be walking around the building around 9:06 to gather any late arrivals into the building.

At dismissal, students will be released through the following designated doors based on their grade level, unless they are being picked up in the Hug and Go lane:

• Kindergarten, 2nd and 3rd Grade – Exit through Doors 10 and 11
• 1st and 5th Grade – Exit through Door 7
• 4th Grade – Exit through Door 6

If your child is being picked up in the Hug and Go lane, they will be instructed to go there at dismissal. Otherwise, please meet your child at their assigned door.

Pick Up Reminders

Smooth Dismissal: Parent Responsibility for Consistent Pick-Up

Parent responsibility is key to maintaining pick-up consistency.  When students know where to go, who will pick them up, and what the backup plan is, they are better prepared for any situation. Sticking to a consistent established plan is crucial to minimizing confusion and stress.

To ensure a smooth and stress-free dismissal process, we kindly request that parents discuss end-of-day pick-up plans with their children daily. Students should know how they are getting home before coming to school.  Clear communication helps students feel more confident and calm, especially if there are any delays.

We understand that true emergencies can arise. In such cases, please call the front office at (303) 702 – 8040 as early as possible if there is a change in the pick-up plan.  We want to ensure that all emergency changes are communicated effectively and in a timely manner and appreciate your cooperation in this matter. 

Non-emergency changes should be kept to a minimum and communicated early in the day and no later than 3pm.  We can not guarantee calls made after three will give the office enough time to communicate those changes with students and staff.

Thank you to all our families for helping keep students safe during drop-off and pick-up. Your patience, use of designated areas, and attention to safety help keep our routines running smoothly and efficiently. We appreciate your continued support in creating a safe and welcoming environment 

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Highlands Cell Phone and Personal Device Policy

What we expect

• Phones should be turned off or on silent during the school day, unless a teacher gives permission for a specific learning activity.
• Phones must stay out of sight in backpacks, during class time.
• Students may only use phones in emergencies, and only with staff approval.
• No photos, videos, or recordings may be taken during the school day without a teacher or administrator’s permission.
• Texting, calling, and social media are not allowed during school hours.
• Smartwatches may be worn to and from school, but should be stored in backpacks during the school day.

Communication During the Day:

We know sometimes you need to get a message to your child—or your child needs to reach you.

• Students can use the office phone with teacher permission if they need to contact you.
• If you need to get in touch with your child, just call the office, and we’ll make sure your message is delivered.

Thank you for helping us maintain a learning-focused environment!

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Pets

To help keep everyone safe and comfortable, we kindly ask that pets stay off school grounds during the school day—including during drop-off and pick-up times.

For families who walk dogs to school, we’ve set up two designated pet-friendly waiting areas:

• Near the preschool playground (front of the school)
• On the back field

We invite you to use these areas when waiting with your pet. Please look for the green pet signs to help guide you!

Thanks so much for your understanding and support in keeping our school a safe space for all students.

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Choir

All fourth and fifth grade students are invited to join the Highlands Elementary Choir for the 2025-2026 school year.  This is a non-auditioned choir and ALL are encouraged to join.  Performing in a choir provides students with an amazing opportunity to be part of a group that works together to rehearse, create and perform music together.  Rehearsals are on Thursday mornings from 8-9 am beginning on 9/11.

Here is the sign up doc.  Forms are due back to Mrs. O by 9/3.  Questions?  Email Mrs. O at [email protected]

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Seussical KIDS

Dear 3rd, 4th and 5th grade Students and Families,

We are thrilled to announce that our school’s musical this year will be Seussical KIDS! This fun, colorful, and heartwarming show brings the imaginative world of Dr. Seuss to life — and we can’t wait to see our students bring it to the stage!

We are especially excited to welcome students who want to step out of their comfort zones, try something new, or who might not otherwise have an opportunity to be in a show.

Audition applications will be in Friday Folders next week, Aug. 22nd. Applications Due on Aug. 29th.

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Library News

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Save the Date

Community Schools

Hello Highlands Families! I can’t believe we are about to kick off the 25-26 school year. My name is Sanaa Alyemeni and for those of you who don’t know me, I am the Program Manager here at Highlands Elementary. What does that mean for you? I am your point of contact for all things before and after school as well as enrichment programs. I have a great team geared up for this years before and after school care (called Hawks Nest) and a fun line up of afterschool enrichment programs.

While our Hawks Nest Program is pretty full, we still have some spots available if you are in need. 

If you’re new to Hawks Nest here are the highlights:

• AM care is from 7:00am-9:00am (drop off anytime before 8:45am)
• PM care is from 3:30pm-6:00pm (pick up your student any time before/by 6:00pm)
• We focus on offering your students as mix of STEAM activities, sports, and open ended play
• We allot time for breakfast (provided by nutrition services) in the mornings at 8:30am
• We offer an afternoon snack around 3:45pm
• We include outdoor play each day unless weather prevents

We will be kicking off this semester with several afterschool Enrichment class options: Flag Football, Art Club, Chess, and Sciencepalooza. More info on these programs can be found here. If you have any questions or need to reach me feel free to call (303-702-8040) or email me at [email protected]

I’m looking forward to working with your kids. 

Follow this link for all the enrichment programs that are currently available for registrations.

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The first day of Preschool is Monday, August 18th!

We are excited to offer a 5-day-a-week preschool program with both morning and afternoon sessions!

• AM Session: 8:50 – 11:30 AM
• PM Session: 12:40 – 3:20 PM

We can’t wait to welcome our youngest learners and begin a year filled with growth, discovery, and fun!

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Health Office Announcements

Immunizations

This is a reminder to please submit your child’s updated immunization records to our Health Clerk, Christina Haid as soon as possible. Immunization records are required to ensure your child remains in compliance with state health regulations. If you have already submitted the records, thank you! If not, please turn them in at the front office or email them to [email protected]. 

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Infinite Campus Information For New Highlands Families

New to Highlands Families will receive an email on August 21st with instructions on how to activate your Infinite Campus account.

Please note: This is a time-sensitive activation link that will expire after 3 days, so be sure to complete the activation promptly.

The Infinite Campus Parent Portal is an online tool that allows parents to:

• View grades and attendance
• Pay school fees
• Update contact information

If you are not new to Highlands Elementary and have questions about Infinite Campus, please contact the front office at 303-702-8040.

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Nutrition Services

Free Meals for All Students — Plus Extra Benefits for Your Family!

Nutrition Services is excited to share that all students will continue to receive free lunch each school day during the 2025–2026 school year regardless of a student’s
free or reduced eligibility.
But did you know that completing the Education Benefits Form can unlock even more support for your family and school community? A new form must be submitted each year to qualify for these additional benefits:

Extra Perks for Families Who Apply and Qualify Include:
● Increased funding for your school to support classrooms and programs
● Reduced fees for iPad insurance, athletics and activity participation, course materials, eCredit recovery, and much more!
● Access to Summer EBT benefits – grocery funds for summer months
● Discounts on select local utility services

Please contact Nutrition Services at [email protected] or 303-702-
8409 for more information.

Apply Today!

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Student Fees & Payments

We kindly ask families to pay their student fees and field trip/activity payments through Infinite Campus, RevTrak, or by check.
The school does not accept cash or have a credit card machine.

If you are a returning family and haven’t activated your Infinite Campus account yet, please contact the school office.

New families will receive an automated email on August 21st once Infinite Accounts are active. Keep an eye out for a ShoutPoint reminder as access will be time sensitive.

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LTP Student iPad Insurance Program

The LTP Student iPad Insurance window for the 2025-2026 school year opens August 1st and closes on September 15th. Parents who wish to join the insurance pool for this year must make at least a partial payment within this window.

This insurance fee will be added for every eligible K-12 student on August 1st. Please note that any student with an unpaid balance for iPad insurance from the previous year will not be eligible to join the pool this year until their previous balance is paid in full.

2025-2026 LTP Student iPad Insurance: $25

The iPad insurance fee will be waived for homeless students as defined by McKinney-Vento and reduced for students eligible for a free or reduced-price lunch. To be eligible for a reduced fee, guardians must waive their rights to privacy regarding this information through Nutrition Services. Please contact Nutrition Services with any questions about eligibility for reduced fees.

Read more about the LTP Student iPad Insurance Program.

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Stay Connected – Visit our School Website

Looking for the latest updates, event details, or important school information? Be sure to check out our school website! It’s your go-to spot for calendars, announcements, teacher contacts, and more. Bookmark it and check back often to stay in the know all year long!

Highlands Elementary School

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Helpful Links:

2025 – 2026 School Supplies

2025 – 2026 Academic Calendar

SVVSD Transportation Site

Infinite Campus

Free and Reduced Lunch/Education Benefit Form

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Hawks News – A Weekly Update for Families

Hawks News is a weekly publication designed to keep our families informed and connected. Each Friday, we share important updates, upcoming events, and highlights from around the school. Be sure to check your inbox every week to stay up to date!

Quick Links

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