January 5, 2009
Take Note 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.
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!
Attention Middle School Parents:
AbracadAfrica is Here! Thursday, January 8, 2009 Shuttle Service will run to and from Mtn. Brook Swim & Tennis from 4:00 p.m. — 7:15 p.m. Please do not park along Old Leeds Road, reserved parking spaces, or on the driveways. We need to keep these areas free of parked cars so that the shuttle bus can enter and exit freely. Also, in case of emergency the driveways will need to be clear for emergency vehicles.
Schedule for the Evening Spencer Center - 4:00 – Rhythm in Motion: Sunu 5:00 – Rhythm in Motion: Sunu
Beginning at 5:00 p.m.: Learning Center - African Art Gallery-created by Highlands Students; Wii; Educational presentation on Africa (recommended for Adults) Gymnasium – Dinner (by prior reservation only); Giant Map of Africa – created by Highlands Students; Donations and proceeds from purchases at the African Art Gallery will go to ―Nothing But Nets‖ – a non-profit organization that will provide mosquito nets to families in Africa. Music Room – ―What do kids do in Africa‖ – games, toys & musical instruments; Stories & preparation of some African foods French Room – ―Get Rhythm‖ – learning and playing a variation of drums (Please note that grades 2nd – 4th is from 5:00-5:30 and 5:30-6:00 and grades 5th – 8th is from 6:00-6:30 and 6:30-7:00) Art Room – Create African Flags, Hand Puppets, & Instruments Spanish Room – Tribal Face Painting EDP Room – African Animals from the Birmingham Zoo
Calendar Highlights
Mon. Jan. 5 Students Return for Classes Thurs. 8 AbracadAfrica Please contact Nancy Duke Fri. 9 Geo-Bee 8:05 a.m. Spencer Center in the Office to schedule your School-Wide Reading Program Begins Parent-Teacher Conferences Comfy-Cozy Friday with your students’ teachers Middle School Read-a-thon Learning Center on Tues., Jan. 27 1:00 p.m. - 12 midnight or on Wed. Jan. 28. Sun. 11 Open House for Prospective Parents Tues. 13 Middle School Sneak Peek 6:30 p.m. Learning Center Thanks! Please See Page 4 for the January Color/Number Class Schedule
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Middle School Sneak Peek Night Planned Parents of current fourth- and fifth-grade students are invited to take a ―sneak peek‖ at Middle School on Tuesday, January 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the Learning Center. After a brief introduction to the Middle School program, parents have the opportunity to visit 10-minute classes and get a taste of what students in our Middle School experience. This event is a great chance to meet the Middle School faculty and learn more about why Highlands emphasizes a true Middle School experience. Please contact Shelby Hammer (shammer@highlandsschool.org) with any questions. We look forward to seeing everyone there!
Emily Polhill Wins Highlands School Spelling Bee On Thursday, December 18, Highlands School held its annual school spelling bee. Highlands participates in Scripps National Spelling Bee. The goal of the bee is to help students become better spellers and improve their vocabulary. Students first participated in homeroom spelling bees to qualify for the school bee. The following students competed in the school bee: Fifth Graders: Molly Kauper, Eli Nafziger, Andy Orphanos, and Hugh Perkins Sixth Graders: Tiffany Bryant, Robert Lichenstein, Dakotah Murphree, and Will Pannell Seventh Graders: Mary Shelton Hornsby, Neeralee Pandit, and Emily Polhill; Patrick Scalise also qualified, but was unable to compete that day. Eighth Graders: Jake Martin and Mac Muse After several intense rounds, which included words of Asian, Dutch, Latin, Greek, German, and Italian origin, Emily Polhill emerged as the winner by spelling howitzer. Robert Lichenstein was the second place finisher with Dakotah Murphree finishing third. Emily will advance to compete in the District Spelling Bee in January 2009. Congratulations to her and to all of our participants Pictured Left to Right: Robert Lichenstein, Spelling Bee-Runner-up; Emily Polhill, Spelling BeeFirst Place; Mrs. Garland Darden, Middle School Language Arts Teacher.
Short Notes
Congratulations to Noah Hoppe-McQueen on the completion of his Master’s of Secondary Education degree. He received his degree from UAB during the December Commencement Ceremony. Comfy-Cozy Day Friday, January 9th To help kick-off the School-wide reading program on Friday, January 9th, students, Faculty and Staff are going to indulge in a ―Comfy-Cozy‖ Day. The attire will range from school appropriate pajamas to comfy running suits. Please be sure that your students wear proper shoes with their outfits for P.E. and playing outside. School-wide Reading Program Friday, January 9 Monday, January 26 If Parents would like to participate in the School-wide Reading Program along with their students, please contact Ms. Baker, in the Learning Center, for a reading log.
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Attention Parents! EDP Care Provided! Dear Parents: As you probably know, there is a noon dismissal on January 27 th and Student Holiday on January 28th for Parent/Teacher conferences. For noon dismissal (Jan. 27) Lunch is NOT included If you are signed up for Professional Day EDP, your child may stay in EDP at no additional charge (Late Departure packages do not apply) Drop-ins will be permitted for a charge of $10 until 3PM and $20 until 6PM with a 48 hour written notice. There will be no EDP activities! LUNCH IS NOT INCLUDED! (No hot lunches are served) Please have your child bring his/her own lunch. For Student Holiday (Jan. 28) - Lunch IS included! Available for students enrolled in Professional Day Package for additional charge of $40 including lunch and activities. I will need a written notice by Monday, January 12th (This is necessary to get a proper count) The Extended Day Program will be open from 7 am-6 pm. This day will also bevavailable for non-Professional students to drop-in for additional charge of $50 including lunch and activities. I will need a written notice by Monday, January 12th. There will be no EDP activities! We will probably go to The McWane Center. This will be confirmed closer to the actual date. Thanks so much! Gabe McCool Highlands School EDP/Summer Camp Director (205) 956-9731 ext. 105
Save the Date Friday, April 3, 2009 All-School (Preschool—8th Grade) Grandparents and Special Friends Day Information on this event will be published in a future issue of Highnotes.
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January 2009 Sunday
4
11
18
Monday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
1
2
5
6
7
8
9
Day: 3 Color: Yellow
Day: 4 Color: Green
Day: 5 Color: Blue
Day: 1 Color: Red
Day: 2 Color: Orange
12
13
14
15
16
Day: 3 Color: Yellow
Day: 4 Color: Green
Day: 5 Color: Blue
Day: 1 Color: Red
Day: 2 Color: Orange
19
20
21
22
23
Day: 3 Color: Yellow
Day: 4 Color: Green
Day: 5 Color: Blue
Day: 1 Color: Red
27
28
29
30
Day: 4 Color: Green
Day: 5 Color: Blue
HOLIDAY 25
Tuesday
26 Day: 2 Color: Orange
Day: 3 Color: Yellow
STUDENT HOLIDAY Parent and Teacher Conferences
Saturday
3
10
17
24
31
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.