Highland Newsletter 9/2-9/7/24

                                           HIGHLAND HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

Trimester 1, 2024-25 School Year

Dear Highland Parent, Student, and Ram Supporter,

CALENDARS                   

These calendars are continually updated and provide all the important academic and athletic/activities dates for the school year. Please look at them regularly for questions about calendar items. 

• Highland Academic Calendar
• Highland Sports/Activities Calendar

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We hope everyone had a fun and safe Labor Day weekend. Many probably attended the Eastern Idaho State Fair in Blackfoot. At the fair students often purchase toys and weapons and bring them to school to show their friends. Please make sure students do not bring toys or weapons that they purchase at the fair to school. Tasers and knives of any size are not allowed at school. 

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DEMOLITION/PREPARATION FOR REBUILD

Soon they will start demolition of the remaining parts of the school that were impacted by the fire including the old wrestling room and welding shop. Students who are walking by the north parking lot, by the Tennis Courts to the bus stop, to Gateway building, or crossing the street to Seminary, please, be alert and careful. A dump truck full of debris cannot stop on a dime. If you see it coming, please let it pass before continuing along or crossing the street. Please stay safe. 

Our amazing school board of trustees and district administration have been hard at work along with a committee of administrators, teachers, Highland parents, and community members in planning and designing the rebuild of the parts of Highland High School that was burned down. The goal is that the new areas for rebuild will be opened for the 2027-28 school year. Please contact Principal Wallace with any questions or concerns.

Highland Rebuild Design and Information

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HIGHLAND LASSIES FUNDRAISER

Come support our Highland Lassies and get your car washed at the same time. See below...

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CLASS OF 2025 IMPORTANT EVENTS

For parents of graduates and graduates, class of 2025. We keep a live google doc that is updated each week with all the dates and information important for graduates to know. Please review it and use it a resource to find out anything important pertaining specifically to the Class of 2025. Reach out to Principal Wallace with any additional questions. 

Class of 2025 Important Dates & Information 

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HIGHLAND PARENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Last chance. If you are interested in being a part of the Highland Parent Advisory Committee, please fill out the interest form below. The first meeting is coming up in the next couple of weeks. 

Highland Parent Advisory Committee Interest Form

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ATTENDANCE MATTERS

Each week we will pose some common challenges and questions we face with attendance and provide answers. 

This week we will examine the Truancy Procedures. 

Truancies are viewed per class period. A student could have several truancies in 1 class and 0 in another.

Students are allowed 5 unexcused absences in a trimester without a consequence. On a student's 6th unexcused absence they will receive a truancy. Additional truancies will be issued for continued unexcused absences.

Attendance reports are reviewed at least once a week at which time truancies, the assigned consequences, and notifications are distributed. 

If a student is going to be absent for extenuating circumstances, please contact school administration in order to minimize the impact on the students education and avoid truancy.  

Truancies and Assigned Consequences

Whether a student is found truant from a class or classes, has excessive absences leading to truancy, or has excessive tardies leading to truancy, the attendance issues will all be added together and result in the following consequences=

Truancy 1	Warning and notification given through email, and text from school administration of potential consequences for continued truancies.
Truancy 2	Warning and notification given through email, text and letter from school administration of potential consequences for continued truancies. Student conference with school administration requested, community service, or additional consequences may be assigned by school administration.
Truancy 3	Warning and notification given through email, text and letter from school administration of potential consequences for continued truancies. Student conference with school administration requested in order to make an appeal, community service, or additional consequences may be assigned by school administration.
Truancy 4	Notification given through email, text, and letter from school administration.  Possible student suspension from school. Students 15 or younger will be referred to the School Resource Officer for a citation for habitual truancy and may receive additional consequences.   Students 16 and older will lose credit and will be unenrolled from the class or classes in which they have multiple truancies.
Truancy 4+	Notification given through email, text, and letter from school administration. Possible student suspension from school. Possible District Discipline Hearing.  Possible Unenrollment.

Appeal Process Due to Excessive Absences

If a parent/guardian and/or the student wish to appeal the consequences of a 4th truancy the following procedure applies:

• The parent/guardian and/or the student has 5 school days from the date of the 3rd truancy to appeal the loss of credit and/or additional consequences due to excessive absences. They must contact and speak with a school administrator for an appeal. 

• The criteria for an appeal to be considered includes:

• The student has a passing grade in the class or classes in which they have excessive absences.

• The student does not have any behavior requiring intervention from school administration since the 3rd truancy.

If the student requesting the appeal does not meet the criteria listed above, the student’s appeal will be denied and they will receive the consequences assigned to a 4th truancy. The parent/guardian and/or student can request an additional review from district administration if desired.

Make-Up Privileges

Regular daily attendance is expected for all high school students. Students will be expected to make up work missed as a result of absences, including school sponsored events. Time allowed for this is based on the number of days the student was absent plus one more school day. Teachers do have the discretion to extend the number of days allowed on a case by case basis. Make up work should be completed outside of instructional time. Students that are truant/suspended may only make up work at the discretion of the teacher and/or an administrator.

 

Finals

Students absent on the day of a final will receive a zero on the final. Requests to make up a final must be made within one school day. Requests will be granted at the discretion of the school administration. Taking a final at a different time than on finals days must be approved by school administration.  

 

Student Tardiness at the Secondary Level

Students who arrive late disrupt the learning environment of the classroom. Tardiness at the secondary level is a condition for which a student arrives less than 15 minutes after the start of class. Any student who is tardy beyond 15 minutes of class time may be reported as absent or truant. The Teacher and/or Attendance Clerk are responsible for monitoring and recording student tardiness. Beyond possible teacher consequences assigned for tardiness, every 5 tardies in a class period is considered a truancy and an absence.  

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COLLEGE & CAREER ADVISORS/COUNSELORS

Each grade is assigned a Google Classroom where important information is provided along with forms for schedule changes and more. Here are the assigned google classroom codes:

Freshman-adkvm3s

Sophomores-etkszsu

Juniors-ljnspeq

Seniors-2kre7ct

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EXTRACURRICULARS'

Please check the Highland Athletics and Activities Calendar for the most up-to-date schedule of events.

Homecoming week is scheduled for September 16-September 21st with the Homecoming Football Game at Highland Stadium versus Thunder Ridge High School. 

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Highland High School Administration (208)237-1300

-Dr. Brad Wallace-Principal (wallacbr@sd25.us) phone ext.103

-Travis Bell-Assistant Principal/Athletic and Activities Director (belltr@sd25.us) phone ext.105

-Ed.S. Jena Wilcox-Assistant Principal (wilcoxje@sd25.us) phone ext.104

-Dr. Steve Morton-Assistant Principal (mortonst@sd25.us) phone ext.107

Bursar

-Shelley Huelsman (huelsms1@sd25.us) phone ext.106

Registrar

-Elaine Whitehead (whitehel@sd25.us) phone ext.114

-Katie Schwartz (schwarka@sd25.us) phone ext.111

Attendance

-Mindy Murphy (murphymi@sd25.us) phone ext.115

-Sloane Lewis (lewissl@sd25.us) phone ext.135

Counseling Center (208)237-1300

-Tami Romriell=students with last name A-D (romrieta@sd25.us) phone ext.131

-Christa Santos-Smith=students with last name E-K (santosch@sd25.us) phone ext.109

-Cali-Ann Hilliard=students with last name L-R (hilliaca@sd25.us) phone ext.110

-Tricia Harvala=students with last name S-Z (harvaltr@sd25.us) phone ext.116

-Sarah May Clarkson=College & Career Advisor (clarksa@sd25.us) phone ext.123

-Alice Rowe=College & Career Advisor (roweal@sd25.us) phone ext.236

School Psychologist

-Amy Holloway (hollowam@sd25.us)

Highland Newsletter 8/26-8/31/24

                                          HIGHLAND HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

2024-25 School Year

Dear Highland Parent, Student, and Ram Supporter,

CALENDARS                   

These calendars are continually updated and provide all the important academic and athletic/activities dates for the school year. Please look at them regularly for questions about calendar items. 

Highland Academic Calendar

Highland Sports/Activities Calendar

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The school year is already moving right along. Reminder that there is no school next Monday September 2nd for Labor Day. It is so great to be back with students and we are excited for this school year! 

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HIGHLAND VISION & MISSION

The Highland Vision & Mission provides standards and principles that form the culture we are continually trying to actualize. Our advisory that takes place during 1st hour on Monday's is focused on teaching these principles and standards to students. Our expectation is that students, staff, and parents strive to live, breathe, and actualize the vision and mission. This is who we are. This is how we define excellence at Highland. The principles that form this foundation for Highland are research based.

Vision: Highland High School offers a safe and comprehensive learning experience focused on preparing all students to achieve success and happiness in college, career, and in life.

Mission: Highland High School believes deeply that in learning and in life=Right Attitude Means Success.

The “Right Attitude” we strive to learn and live as RAMS includes being….

Respectful and caring towards ourselves and others;

• Contribute to a safe and trusting environment.

• Control the R Factor (Event+Response=Outcome) 

• Build healthy and appropriate relationships.

• Practice courage, vulnerability, selflessness, forgiveness and ownership.

• Have a positive impact on ourselves and others.

Accountable and prepared for each class and event;

• Establish a vision/goal.

• Learn what it will take to accomplish the vision/goal.

• Plan for success and setbacks.

• Relentlessly engage in the work.

• Seek support and feedback on the journey.

• Take ownership-Own Your 20 Square Feet, DMGB, Do The Work.

Motivated and focused in academics, activities and athletics;

• Continually improve.

• Practice self-discipline. 

• Establish goal driven routines.

• Collaborate to overcome barriers.

• Learn from examples and experiences.

• Use adversity to fuel your fortitude, your growth mindset, your grit, your confidence, and ultimately your efficacy.

Scholarly and spirited in school and in life.

• Represent ourselves, our family, our school, and our community with excellence.

• Invest in improving yourself. 

• Learn to be organized, strategic, hardworking, patient and optimistic.

• Become a self-driven learner.

• Help others in their journey. 

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HIGHLAND PARENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Parents that are interested in being a part of the Highland Parent Advisory Committee, we would love to have your input. The committee will meet at 3:15pm at Highland one Monday a month. This committee has been a major part of leading Highland High School and enacting changes to help the school continually improve. If you are not able to attend the meetings, but would like to be involved and provide input, you are also able to do so through email. We will make sure you are on the email list. Please fill out the form below if you want to be involved for the 2024-25 school year. If you were involved last year and want to continue to be participate, please fill out the form again. We are so grateful for the amazing collaboration and support we receive from our Highland Ram Family.  

Highland Parent Advisory Committee Interest Form

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ATTENDANCE MATTERS

Each week we will pose some common challenges and questions we face with attendance and provide answers. 

This week we will examine Excused Absences and Verified Absences. 

The only absences that are considered excused are a visit to a Physician or an absence resulting from Legal circumstances, such as court. Both require documentation provided from the Physician or Legal authority in order to be considered Excused. It must also be understood that in both circumstances a parent/guardian has 3 days to provide the documentation to the school following the absence in order to verify the absence, otherwise the absence will remain coded as “absent.” 

Parents who call in can verify an absence. This is not an excused absence, but this is taken into consideration when issuing truancies. If the school has record of where a student is then it places the student in a much better situation then if an absence is not verified by a parent/guardian. If a student has absences that are not verified then it is determined that they simply missed class. It is essential parents notify the school if their student is absent in order to avoid truancy, however, excessive verified absences will result in a truancy. 

There is an understanding that sometimes students are sick, but not sick enough to go to the doctor, or there are other circumstances that pull students from a school day at times or cause them to be late. Because of this students do have 5 absences each trimester and 4 tardies they can accrue before receiving a truancy. After that, generally speaking, on the 6th absence and/or on the 5th tardy a truancy will be issued. From then on every absence is considered another truancy. With tardies, every 5 tardies is considered a truancy and an additional absence.  At a students 4th truancy if they are 15 years old and younger they will be referred to the School Resource Officer for a Citation for Habitual Truancy. Students 16 years old and older will lose credit and be dropped from the class or classes in which they have 4 truancies. 

 

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COLLEGE & CAREER ADVISORS/COUNSELORS

Each grade is assigned a Google Classroom where important information is provided along with forms for schedule changes and more. Here are the assigned google classroom codes:

Freshman-adkvm3s

Sophomores-etkszsu

Juniors-ljnspeq

Seniors-2kre7ct

For Seniors interested in applying to BYU for college, please visit the Seniors Google Classroom for important information.

If you are interested in Cosmetology please let the CCA’s in room C-36 know. Paul Mitchell of Rexburg would like to come for a visit and we would like to have them come on a day that would best fit your schedule.  

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EXTRACURRICULARS'

Please check the Highland Athletics and Activities Calendar for the most up-to-date schedule of events.

Two applications you will want to download if your student is involved in athletics are Max Preps and Team Reach. Max Preps provides rankings, scores, etc from all teams across the state that district and state competitions are based off of and Team Reach is the communication tool coaches use to keep in contact with players and parents. Please reach out to the school if you need help downloading these apps on your phone.  

Congratulations to our Football,Cheer, Dance, Volleyball, Cross Country, Swim, Marching Band,Golf, Girls Soccer, and Boys Soccer teams. They are all fully engaged in practices and competitions. We are proud of the hard work these students and their coaches put in. 

The Highland Drama Department has started auditions for its rendition of Alibis. For questions please contact Director Van Noy  (vannoal@sd25.us).

Homecoming week is scheduled for September 16-September 21st with the Homecoming Football Game at Highland Stadium versus Thunder Ridge High School. 

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LOOKING TO THE FUTURE-HIGHLAND REBUILD

Our amazing school board of trustees and district administration have been hard at work along with a committee of administrators, teachers, Highland parents, and community members in planning and designing the rebuild of the parts of Highland High School that was burned down. The goal is that the new areas for rebuild will be opened for the 2027-28 school year. Please contact Principal Wallace with any questions or concerns.

Highland Rebuild Design and Information

=========================================================================

Highland High School Administration (208)237-1300

-Dr. Brad Wallace-Principal (wallacbr@sd25.us) phone ext.103

-Travis Bell-Assistant Principal/Athletic and Activities Director (belltr@sd25.us) phone ext.105

-Ed.S. Jena Wilcox-Assistant Principal (wilcoxje@sd25.us) phone ext.104

-Dr. Steve Morton-Assistant Principal (mortonst@sd25.us) phone ext.107

Bursar

-Shelley Huelsman (huelsms1@sd25.us) phone ext.106

Registrar

-Elaine Whitehead (whitehel@sd25.us) phone ext.114

-Katie Schwartz (schwarka@sd25.us) phone ext.111

Attendance

-Mindy Murphy (murphymi@sd25.us) phone ext.115

-Sloane Lewis (lewissl@sd25.us) phone ext.135

Counseling Center (208)237-1300

-Tami Romriell=students with last name A-D (romrieta@sd25.us) phone ext.131

-Christa Santos-Smith=students with last name E-K (santosch@sd25.us) phone ext.109

-Cali-Ann Hilliard=students with last name L-R (hilliaca@sd25.us) phone ext.110

-Tricia Harvala=students with last name S-Z (harvaltr@sd25.us) phone ext.116

-Sarah May Clarkson=College & Career Advisor (clarksa@sd25.us) phone ext.123

-Alice Rowe=College & Career Advisor (roweal@sd25.us) phone ext.236

School Psychologist

-Amy Holloway (hollowam@sd25.us)