May 11, 2009
Take Note Save the Date Friday, Nov. 6, 2009 The Highlands School Parents’ Auxiliary Auction Highlands School Campus See Page 4 for a letter from the Auction Chairs Would you like to be involved in helping with the Highlands School Parents’ Auxiliary 2009-2010 Auction? If so, please join us for an information meeting on Friday, May 15 at 8:15 a.m. in the Conference Room in the School Office. You will learn more about the plans that have been made so far and what will need to be accomplished to help ensure the Auction is a fabulous event! Lynn Ritchie and Kate Simpson, 2009 Auction Co-Chairs, will be leading this meeting. Please let Peggy Darby know if you will be able to attend so that we will know to expect you.
Highlands Students Recognized by Letters About Literature Letters About Literature is a national reading promotion program of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, presented in partnership with Target. Students write to authors who have written a book that has changed the way the student looks at the world. Approximately 55,000 young readers from across the country participated in this year’s Letters About Literature competition. On the state level, the program is sponsored by the Alabama Center for the Book at Auburn University. State and national judges include published authors, editors, publishers, librarians and teachers. Two Highlands School Middle School students were awarded first place on the state level for their letters. Dakotah Murphree, sixth grader won in the 4th - 6th grade level and Cori Mazer won in the 7th - 8th grade level. Representatives from the Alabama Center for the Book reported that this is the first time one school has had two first place winners. Both students are taught by Garland Darden, Highlands School’s English Teacher. First place letters are sent to the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress to be judged against winning letters from across the country. Highlands School is thrilled to announce that Cori Mazer's letter to Lois Lowry about The Giver is one of two National Winners in Level 2 (Grades 7-8.) Story continued on page 2
Calendar Highlights Tues. May 12 2008 - 2009 Yearbook Presentation 8:05 a.m. Spencer Center Fourth Grade Trip to Anniston Museum EDP Recitals 6:30 p.m. Spencer Center-See page 3 for details Wed. 13 Student Library Books Due Fourth and Fifth Grade Recitals during Community Meeting 8:05 a.m. Spencer Center EDP Recitals 6:30 p.m. Spencer Center-See page 3 for details Thurs. 14 Preschool Bake Sale 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Middle School Play for Parents and Guests 6:30 p.m. Spencer Center Fri. 15 Middle School Play for Students 10:00 a.m. Spencer Center Fourth Grade Poetry Reading 12:30 p.m. Learning Center Middle School Dance 6:00 p.m. The Quad Sat. 16 Summer at Highlands Open House 10:00 a.m.
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Highlands Help Committee is Helping Highlands School GO GREEN! This year’s Field Day festivities will revolve around our exciting new recycling program that we are working to implement next fall. Students are participating in a contest to see who can collect the most pop tops off of aluminum cans. The pop tops will be collected in classrooms and then weighed with the winners announced at Community Meeting May 22nd. All money earned from the collected aluminum will be used to support the recycling program beginning next school year. Students will also answer recycling trivia during field day events to earn points for their team and participate in a fast paced recycling relay where they will be expected to sort on the run. Going green has never been so much fun! So be sure to ask all your friends and family to save their pop tops so your child can be an eco-hero to his or her teammates.
Middle School Exam Schedule Wednesday, May 20 6th grade – Math, Foreign Language 7th grade – Social Studies, Foreign Language 8th grade – English, Foreign Language Thursday, May 21 6 grade – English, Science 7th grade – Science, Math th 8 grade – Social Studies, Math th
Friday, May 22 6th grade – Social Studies 7th grade – English 8th grade – Science
Highlands Students Recognized by Letters About Literature Continued from page 1
National judge Dr. Terry Ley wrote: "Ms. Mazer's letter is sharply focused, her language straight-forward. She uses examples from other current sources to support her viewpoint. Her voice communicates strong resolve." Dr. Ley is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of English and Reading Education at Auburn University. Marilyn Courtot, the editor and founder of Children's Literature, also sat on the Level 2 panel of national judges. She wrote: "Cori has learned that it is critical to have a voice in government, to serve as an example to her peers. . . She will be an agent of change." Cori is the first student from Alabama to receive a National Award from Letters About Literature. The National winners each receive a $500 Target GiftCard, and they also designate a favorite library to receive a $10,000 reading promotion grant from Target. Cori designated the Highlands School Library, her school library since beginning preschool in 2000, to receive the $10,000 reading promotion grant from Target. Target sponsors Letters About Literature as part of its commitment to supporting education and early childhood reading. Target recognizes the integral role that reading plays in shaping a child’s future, because reading is the foundation for lifelong learning and success. Since opening its doors, Target has given 5 percent of its income to organizations that support education, social services and the arts.
Short Notes The Highlands School Family extends our deepest sympathies to Mrs. Barr, Highlands Head of School, and her family on the passing of her grandmother. Do you Twitter? If so, then check out Highlands Schools Twitter feed. You can use the following information to become a follower of Highlands and receive updates on the activities of the school! Here are the steps: Go to http://twitter.com/ highlandsschool. If you do not already tweet, join Twitter, and become a “follower.” If you already tweet, sign in, and become a “follower.” You will have the option of receiving the “tweets” as text messages on your phone. This is an efficient way to keep up with the short updates that we will be sending you.
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Time to Register for a Summer at Highlands! Highlands School’s Higher Degree of Learning does not end when the school year is over. A Summer at Highlands offers sixty-seven unique opportunities tailored to your child’s age group with talented teachers and quality resources you expect from Highlands School. We also offer Morning and Afternoon Care for children who are attending camps. Register now - before the camps fill up! Click here to be directed to the Highlands School 2009 EDP Summer Catalog Brochure. Or contact Gabe McCool, Highlands Summer Camp Director, for more information. EDP Reminders Parents - Please remember that after school activities will be ending. The last day of activities will be on the following days: Monday Beginning Guitar-5/11/09 Chess-5/11/09 Young Rembrandts-5/11/09 CompuQuest-5/11/09 Tuesday Art Makers-5/12/09
Wednesday Kids Stage-5/13/09 Friday Piano/Guitar/Violin Please find out thru your child’s teacher
EDP Recitals at 6:30 in the Spencer Center May 12 - Piano, Guitar, Violin, Rock Band May 13 - Beginning Guitar, Kids Stage, Kids Choral, Music Makers, Karate, Theater
Summer at Highlands Open House May 16th, 2009 in the Spencer Center from 10am-12pm Come and ask questions, tour the campus, meet some teachers and counselors, turn in forms and order t-shirts.
Preschool Celebrates Union of Mr. Q and Miss U As the Preschool guests arrived dressed in their best hand-made veils and bowties, the First Grade and honored guests eagerly awaited the annual celebration of the union of Mr. Q and Miss U. This annual event is the highlight of the Preschool year and always looked forward to with quiet anticipation. It was quite the sight to behold the letter-lovely Miss U being walked to the event by a quick-stepping Mrs. Pat. Mr. Kizer once again performed the ceremony and entertained the guests with a special song emphasizing the importance of Mr. Q and Miss U remaining together. Following the ceremony the preschool students enjoyed a special reception in the lunchroom in honor of the newly joined letters.
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Dear Parents, Mark your calendars and plan to attend the annual Highlands School Auction. This year, the Auction will be held Friday, November 6th at Highlands School! It will be a very special night that will bring us together in support of our wonderful School. In light of the challenging economic times, it is so important for us to pull together and join efforts in our Highlands family for the benefit of this School. This year we are keeping it “all in the family” and our dinner will be catered by Highlands School parents Rebecca Corretti and Ken Effinger of Corretti Catering and it will most assuredly be a wonderful treat. Our own Bo Garret and Randy McDonald will be Masters of Ceremonies and our talented children will help with the décor for the evening. This year will surely be a very memorable evening. We are asking you, as a member of the Highlands family, to help support this great event that takes place every other year with your attendance. Please consider purchasing an advertisement in the special program that will recognize students, teachers and businesses. Reserve your spot now. Advertising contracts are available from the school office (or by emailing Peggy Darby). Please fill it out and return to the school office with payment. We are also asking each family to look at all of their resources and attempt to donate to our silent auction. Some suggestions might include a stay at a vacation home, fine wine, jewelry, art work or a specialty service. We will again have both a live and a silent auction. To donate, please fill out the auction form (also available from the school office or by emailing Peggy) and return to the school office. If you would like to volunteer to help with the auction, please let us know. We will be having an official meeting in the next few weeks. Thank you for your support of Highlands School, which truly is a family. We look forward to seeing you November 6th. Sincerely, Kate Simpson 2009 Auction Co-chair Kwsimpson@charter.net or 915-4501
Lynn Ritchie 2009 Auction Co-Chair ritchielgr@aol.com or 222-1709