December 8, 2008
Scholastic Book Fair Safari
Take Note
Ms. Baker and Ms. Sidwell would like to give a huge thank you to the parents, faculty and staff who helped to make the 2008—2009 Scholastic Book Fair such a huge success! We are still tallying up the sales but all signs are pointing to a very successful book sale.
Tell a Friend! The next Open House for Prospective Parents will be held on Sunday, January 11 at 2:00 p.m. Please encourage friends who may be interested in Highlands School to join us. Those interested in helping on this day, please contact Judy McDonald. Thank you.
Ms. Baker would also like to extend an extra special thank you to Cynthia Lohrke and Betsy Sidwell for their expert help in managing the Book Fair while she was at a conference on Friday.
Mark Your Calendar The Parents of 4th and 5th graders are invited to join Shelby Hammer and the Middle School faculty for a Sneak Peek at the Middle School on Tuesday, January 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the Learning Center. We look forward to seeing you there!
AbracadAfrica Dinner order forms are due on Wednesday December 17!
Calendar Highlights Tues. Fri.
Dec. 9 Middle School Read-a-thon Permission Slips go home 12 Freaky Friday for 5th and 6th Grade Students See page 2 for details Second Grade Play 8:15 a.m. Parents Spencer Center Second Grade Play 10:00 a.m. Students Mon. 15 EDP Recital 6:30 p.m. See page 2 for details Tues. 16 EDP Recital 6:30 p.m. See page 2 for details Wed. 17 Middle School Read-a-thon Permission Slips Due AbracadAfrica Dinner Order Forms are due Thurs. 18 School Wide Spelling Bee 8:05 a.m. Spencer Center Friday December 19 Noon Dismissal - ALL Dec. 22, 2008 - Jan. 2, 2009 No School/Offices Closed for Winter Break Mon. January 5, 2009 Students Return for Classes Thurs. January 8 AbracadAfrica - Dinner Order form on page 4 Fri. January 9 Middle School Read-a-thon 1:00 p.m. - 12 midnight
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Blackerby Continues Math Training Elise Blackerby is in her second year of training with the Greater Birmingham Mathematics Partnership to be Highlands’ Math Support Teacher. Elise attends about 6 training days a year with the GBMP and will be helping lead some faculty professional development sessions in mathematics. We are so pleased and fortunate to have Mrs. Blackerby as our math leader. Thank you, Mrs. Blackerby for all you are doing!
EDP Care on December 19th! EDP will have care available on Friday, December 19th from 12pm until 6pm before the winter break. Please note the following: Students enrolled in Professional Day packages may come during noon dismissal at no additional charge. (Other packages are not included) Other students, however, may “drop-in” for the half day for a charge of $10 until 3:00pm and $20 until 6:00pm with a 48-hour written notice. All students must bring their own lunches! If a sandwich is provided, your account will be charged accordingly. We will not be serving lunch. All EDP Activities end the week of December 8-12 Feel free to call Gabe if you have any questions. Thanks and have a wonderful winter break! Gabe McCool Highlands School EDP/Summer Camp Director (205) 956-9731 ext. 105
Freaky Friday - This Week On Friday, December 12, the 4th/5th-grade team and the Middle School teachers have a special event planned for the 5th and 6th graders. As 5th-grade students contemplate their move to Middle School, we want them to preview what’s in store, and we want to give 6 th-grade students the opportunity to revisit their former haunts. On Freaky Friday, the 5th and 6th graders switch places and enjoy a pizza party lunch. Feel free to contact Shelby Hammer (shammer@highlandsschool.org ) with any questions.
Short Notes Do you know an alumna/us of Highlands School? If so, then help us spread the word about the Alumni Holiday Open House on Sunday, December 21 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Invitations were mailed last week to all alumni for which we have a current address on file. If you would like to help with this event please contact Peggy Darby at pdarby@highlandsschool.org
It will be here before you know it! GIRL SCOUT COOKIE TIME! Highlands 1st grade Troop # 32 will be selling Girl Scout cookies beginning in January 2009. Be thinking of all those different type of cookies you would like to buy for loved ones, teachers, and of course yourself! If you or a group have an upcoming event after the first of the year that you would like for the troop to come and sell cookies, please contact: Mandy Vinyard (avinyard@bellsouth.net), Tanya Nix (tanya06@bellsouth.net) or Kellye Allen (kelleallen@bellsouth.net).
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A Note from the Board of Trustees: The Board of Trustees is interested in helping high performing students access the challenging academic program at Highlands School. On occasion, families may not be able to pay full tuition on the school’s annual or semi-annual schedules. In response, there are established policies for helping families find alternative resources which may include tuition payment plans, financial aid or a combination of both. Information about enrolling in a 10-Monthly Payment Plan through Tuition Management Systems (TMS) will be included with all 2009-10 enrollment contracts. New for 2009-10, parents may enroll with TMS for credit card payments. And finally, limited funds will be available in 2009-10 for need-based financial aid; these funds are awarded through an assessment process on a first come, first served basis for students entering kindergarten through eighth grade. The Highlands School need-based financial aid season began December 1, when assessment forms were first made available through the Business Office, and runs through March 1, when need-based award notices will be mailed. If you’d like a complimentary copy of A Family Guide to Financial Aid or if you’d like to receive a financial aid packet, please visit Jane Jenkins in the Business Office. More information about paying for an independent education is available at www.nais.org/financialaid/sss. Or, you may email sssfinancialaid@ets.org.
EDP Recital Announcement and Last Days for Activities Happy Holidays (almost)! Please read the following to find out about EDP Recital dates and EDP activity ending dates. Please note that not all activities will be participating in the recitals and that individual instrument players may or may not be participating. The students and their teachers decided together about whether or not they were prepared to play in the recital. Feel free to call if you have any questions. *Please note that Creative Writing will be doing a Read-Around on their last class in the Learning Center. Recital One Monday, December 15, 2008 at 6:30 pm Piano Violin Guitar Rock Band Recital Two Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 6:30 pm Karate Music Makers (Preschool) Kids Stage Kids Choral Theater Tai Chi Last Days for Activities By some miracle, this year all activities end the same week, December 8-12. The only exception is that your child may have music make-up lessons with their individual teachers. Please contact their teacher if you have questions regarding this. Keep in mind teachers typically only do make-up lessons if they have had advanced notice of absences. Thanks! Gabe McCool Highlands School EDP/Summer Camp Director (205) 956-9731 ext. 105
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Highlands School AbracadAfrica Order Form January 8, 2009 4:00-7:00pm DEADLINE: All Dinner reservations will be due on Wednesday, December 17th. Student’s Name: __________________________ Homeroom Teacher’s Name & Grade: _______________________ DINNER ($10.00 per person – Ages 3 & under are free) Total # that will eat dinner ______ Total cost of dinner $__________ Tentative Menu: Moroccan Style Roasted Chicken; Cous Cous with orange zest; Roasted Pepper, Cucumber, & Tomato salad; Garbanzo Beans with potatoes in a curry sauce; and Naan Bread
Rhythm in Motion: Sunu ($0) 4:00 Show – Total # Attending _____ 5:00 Show – Total # Attending _____ Please return this form along with a check made payable to Highlands School. If you have any questions, please contact Cindy Talbird at ctalbird@highlandsschool.org or 956-9731 ext #101. Indian Springs School Choir Presents 28th Annual Holiday Concert at Highlands School On Friday, December 5th, Highlands School Students, Faculty and Staff were treated to what has become an annual holiday tradition. The Indian Springs School Choir visited our campus and presented a half-hour program with songs ranging from Bach to the timehonored holiday classic Jingle Bells. A very special thank you to Indian Springs for continuing this holiday tradition. See you next year!