🚌💙💛 SCHOOL BUS SAFETY WEEK SPOTLIGHT: COLE ARMSTRONG 💛💙🚌
This School Bus Safety Week, Highland County Public Schools is proud to spotlight Cole Armstrong, whose journey as a school bus driver began at just 19 years old!
Cole started driving as a substitute for his mom, Belle Armstrong, who drove a school bus for HCPS for more than 30 years. His dad, Charlie, also drove a school bus for HCPS for a couple of years, making school bus driving a family tradition! 🚌❤️ Cole began filling in for his mom and has been driving ever since.
🏀⚾ Making Memories with the Rams!
One of Cole’s favorite memories as a bus driver was driving for the Highland boys’ baseball and basketball teams while also coaching. Being able to combine his love of sports, coaching, and driving made those experiences especially memorable!
🛑 A Safety Reminder for Everyone!
Cole wants to remind fellow drivers and the community to keep an eye out for children along the road and for school buses picking them up. Everyone has a role to play in keeping our students safe. Please slow down, stay alert, and watch carefully for children and school buses!
💙 A Special Childhood Memory
When asked about his favorite memory of riding the school bus as a child, Cole's answer was a special one: his mom was his bus driver! 😊
Her route was quite the trip, it went to McDowell then Williamsville and back to Headwaters. He figures he probably got a little special treatment along the way! Belle didn't just drive Cole to school; she also drove her grandchildren. What a wonderful family tradition of getting generations of students safely to school!
💙💛 Thank you, Cole Armstrong, for your continued dedication to Highland County Public Schools and our students! And a special thank-you to Belle for more than 30 years of service behind the wheel. We also recognize Cole's dad for his time driving for HCPS. The Armstrong family's commitment to our school community is something to celebrate!
Remember, Rams: Stay alert, watch for children, and help keep our school buses and students safe! 🐏🚌
#SchoolBusSafetyWeek #HCPSRams #BusDriverSpotlight #SafetyFirst
🍂🍰TOMMORROW IS THE LAST DAY TO ORDER 🍰🍂
Cheesecake Fundraiser – Class of 2029!
The Highland High School Class of 2029 is having a cheesecake fundraiser and would love your support! ❤️
Enjoy a delicious cheesecake for just $25 each! Choose from a variety of flavors:
🍓 Berrie-Berry
🍫 Chocolate
🍎 Apple
🍋 Key Lime
🍰 Classic New York
🍪 Classic Oreo
🎃 Pumpkin
🚚 Delivery: November 12th
📲 Contact a Highland High School sophomore to place your order, or order online!
🌐 https://cheesecakefundraising.com/pages/highland2029
Online orders and donations are accepted!
Thank you for supporting the Class of 2029! Your support helps make a difference for our students! 💙💛
Highland Elementary School invites you and your family to join us for a fun-filled evening celebrating reading and learning! 💙💛🐏
📅 Wednesday, October 21st
⏰ 5:30–7:00 PM
📍 Highland Elementary School Cafeteria
🍂 Sponsored by Title I!
Bring the whole family and enjoy an evening of literacy activities and family fun!
🌭 Hot dogs, chips, and drinks will be provided.
📖 Every child will receive a FREE book to take home!
❤️ Whether you're coming to enjoy a meal, explore the joy of reading, or spend quality time together, there's something for everyone!
✨ The whole family is welcome! We can't wait to see our Highland Elementary families there!
💙💛 GO RAMS! 🐏📚
There’s nothing better than sharing the love of reading! 🥰 Mrs. Hotz’s fifth-grade students teamed up with their Little Buddies from Mrs. Thomas’s preschool class to help them fill out their Book Fair Wish Lists and pick out books they can enjoy reading together! 📖❤️
These special moments build friendships, encourage a love of reading, and remind us that books are even better when shared with a buddy! 🐏✨
📣 REMINDER: BOOK FAIR FAMILY NIGHT IS TONIGHT!
Grab the family and join us at Highland Elementary School for a fun evening filled with books, reading, and discovering your next favorite story!
📅 Tonight — Tuesday, October 20th
⏰ 3:30–7:00 PM
📍 Highland Elementary School
💙💛 Bring the whole family, support our school’s Book Fair, and make some wonderful reading memories together!
We can’t wait to see our HCPS Rams and their families there! 🐏📚
#HCPSRams #BookFair #FamilyReadingNight #LittleBuddiesBigReaders
📚🎉 REMINDER, RAMS — TONIGHT IS BOOK FAIR FAMILY NIGHT! 🎉📚
Grab the family and join us at Highland Elementary School for a fun evening of books, reading, and discovering your next favorite story! 💙💛🐏
📅 TONIGHT — Tuesday, October 20th
⏰ 3:30–7:00 PM
📍 Highland Elementary School
📖 Browse a great selection of books for readers of all ages, encourage a love of reading, and help your child build their home library!
❤️ Bring the whole family and make some wonderful reading memories together!
We can’t wait to see you tonight! 📚✨
💙💛 GO RAMS! 🐏
This School Bus Safety Week, Highland County Public Schools is proud to spotlight bus driver Bobby Vandevender, who is in his second year behind the wheel of the prettiest route around — the Blue Grass route! 💙
Bobby loves decorating his bus and seeing the excitement it brings to the students. Making the ride special for the kids is one of the things he enjoys most about driving!
🚌 Bobby’s Biggest Safety Reminder
He wants every student to remember one important thing: SIT DOWN AND STAY SEATED! Staying seated helps keep everyone safe while the bus is moving.
😂 A Favorite Student Memory?
When asked about a favorite memory of something a student said or did, Bobby's response was priceless: “None fell out the window!” 🤣
That answer might get a laugh, but it also reminds us just how important bus safety is!
😲 A Little Trip Down Memory Lane!
Bobby has a memorable story from his own childhood bus-riding days! His bus driver was Doug Varner, who also served as the school custodian back then. In those days, bus seats didn't have the taller backs and cushions we see today.
One day, Doug had to hit the brakes suddenly, and little Bobby went flying forward until the windshield stopped him. Thankfully, he wasn't hurt! It's a story that certainly reminds us how important bus safety has always been. Bobby also remembers Gene Simmons as one of his school bus drivers.
💙💛 Thank you, Bobby! We appreciate the time, care, and enthusiasm you bring to Highland County Public Schools and for making the Blue Grass route a special ride for our students.
Remember, Rams: Stay seated, follow your driver's directions, and help keep your bus ride safe! 🐏🚌
#SchoolBusSafetyWeek #HCPSRams #BusDriverSpotlight #SafetyFirst
🏐💙💛 IT’S GAME NIGHT, RAMS FANS! 💛💙🏐
Come out and cheer on our Lady Rams Volleyball team tonight as they take on Tygarts Valley!
📣 Game Schedule:
🏐 Middle School begins at 5:30 PM
🏐 Varsity follows against Tygarts Valley
💙💛 Tonight is also Parents’ Night for Middle Schoolers! 💛💙
Join us as we recognize and celebrate the parents who support our Lady Rams throughout the season. Your encouragement, time, and dedication mean so much to our athletes!
Let’s pack the stands, show our Rams pride, and make some noise for our Lady Rams! 📣
LET’S GO, LADY RAMS! 🐏💙💛
#HCPRams #LadyRamsVolleyball #RamsPride #ParentsNight
🚌💙💛 BUS SAFETY WEEK SPOTLIGHT: MEET MR. RONNIE LIPTRAP! 💛💙🚌
This Bus Safety Week, Highland County Public Schools is proud to shine the spotlight on one of our dedicated bus drivers, Mr. Ronnie Liptrap, who has spent an incredible 45 years safely transporting students to and from school! 👏🚌
Mr. Ronnie spent 40 of those years driving for Bath County Public Schools and now brings his experience and dedication to Highland County Public Schools. Over his 45-year career, he has driven only three different routes — talk about knowing your way around!
😂 A Little Bus Driver Humor!
When asked about the funniest or most random things from his career, Mr. Ronnie shared that he drove Preschool Teacher, Mrs. Shelley Thomas, to school for 13 years, then drove her home after sports practices on the activity bus and on special field trips!
And after all these years? He still can't get rid of her! 😂🚌
But that’s not the only surprise he’s encountered on his bus! One day, he looked back and discovered a cat sitting on one of the bus seats! 🐈 We wonder if that passenger had a bus pass!
💙 A Family Bus-Riding Memory
Mr. Ronnie’s favorite childhood memory of riding the school bus was having his own dad, Donnie, as his bus driver. With six children in the family, they all had the chance to ride with Dad. The only catch? You definitely couldn't get away with anything! 😂
Maybe that explains why Mr. Ronnie is a little mischievous himself these days!
🛑 Mr. Ronnie's Bus Safety Tip: LIMIT DISTRACTIONS!
After 45 years behind the wheel, Mr. Ronnie has some important advice for keeping everyone safe. When training other bus drivers, he emphasizes handling distractions when the bus is stopped, because addressing a distraction while the bus is moving can be much more dangerous.
🚌 Students, you can help keep your bus safe!
✅ Follow the bus driver's instructions.
✅ Keep voices at a reasonable level.
✅ Keep hands and objects to yourself.
✅ Avoid distracting the driver while the bus is moving.
Our bus drivers have a big responsibility every day, and we can all do our part to help them get everyone to school and home safely.
Join us in thanking Mr. Ronnie Liptrap for 45 years of dedication, countless miles driven, and a lifetime of memories made along the way! We are grateful to have him behind the wheel for Highland County Public Schools. 💙💛
🐏 Thank you, Mr. Ronnie, for helping keep our Rams safe! 🚌💙💛
#BusSafetyWeek #HCPSRams #ThankYouBusDrivers #SafetyFirst
📚🎉 IT’S SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR WEEK AT HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY! 🎉📚
Get ready, Rams! 🐏💙💛 The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to Highland Elementary THIS WEEK, and we can’t wait to celebrate the joy of reading!
📅 October 19th – 23rd
⏰ Daily Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
🌙 Family Nights:
📖 Tuesday, October 20th
📖Wednesday,, October 21st
⏰ 3:30–7:00 PM
Bring the family and explore a wonderful selection of books for readers of all ages! The Book Fair is a great opportunity to encourage a love of reading while helping raise funds for our school. ❤️📚
💳 Make shopping easy with Book Fair eWallet! Families can set up an eWallet so students can shop independently, and friends and family can contribute toward their book purchases. Any unspent funds remain in your Scholastic account for future Book Fairs.
🔗 Visit our Book Fair homepage to get started:
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/highlandelementaryschool61
Mark your calendars, spread the word, and get excited to discover your next favorite book! 📚✨
💙💛 Happy Reading, Rams! 🐏📖
We are sorry to announce that Monday's Preschool Family Fun event has been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding.
We were looking forward to spending this special time with our preschool families and appreciate your continued support. Thank you for your understanding, and we look forward to having fun together at November's event! 💙💛
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming this week, October 19th–23rd, and we want to remind families to go ahead and set up your child’s Book Fair eWallet ahead of time! 📖✨
💳 What is eWallet? It’s an easy, cash-free way for your child to shop for their favorite books at the Book Fair!
📲 How to set it up:
1️⃣ Visit our Book Fair homepage:
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/highlandelementaryschool61
2️⃣ Click on “Set Up eWallet.”
3️⃣ Follow the steps to create your child’s account and add funds using a credit or debit card.
4️⃣ Your child is ready to shop for books they love! 🎉
💡 Good to know: Family members and friends can also contribute to your child’s eWallet! Any unspent funds will remain in your Scholastic account for future Book Fairs.
📅 Book Fair Dates: October 19–23, 2026
🕗 School hours: 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
👨👩👧👦 Family Nights: October 20 & 22, from 4:00–7:00 p.m.
Let’s get our students excited about READING ! ❤️📚 Please take a few minutes to set up your eWallet before the fair so your child is ready to shop!
#HighlandElementary #ScholasticBookFair #ReadersAreLeaders
🐾👔 Happy Boss’s Day to Highland County Public Schools’ BOSSES! 👔🐾
We appreciate all the hard work and leadership our bosses provide each day… BUT let’s be honest, we all know who’s REALLY in charge around here! 😂🐶
That’s right… BRUNO! 🐾💙💛
He may not attend meetings, answer emails, or sign paperwork, but he sure knows how to steal the show and keep everyone at his command! 😉
All jokes aside, we are truly thankful for the leadership, dedication, and support of Superintendent, Mr. Nycum, HHS Principal, Mr. Miller, and HES Principal Designee, Mrs. Williams. Thank you for all you do for our students, staff, and the entire HCPS family! 💙💛
Happy Boss’s Day to our HCPS leaders from the one who REALLY runs the school! 👑🐾😂🐶
Special Thanks to CL Photoz for this sweet photo.
#HCPSRams #HappyBossesDay #BrunoIsTheBoss #RamPride
See full details here: https://aptg.co/Km-nlB
Sealed bids must be received by TODAY, October 16, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. Bids will be opened Monday, October 19, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.
Bids may be mailed to Highland County Public Schools, P.O. Box 250, Monterey, VA 24465, or delivered in person to the Highland High School Office, 244 Myers Moon Road, Monterey, VA 24465.
The bus is available for inspection at 240 Myers Moon Road, Monterey, VA 24465, behind the school near the greenhouses.
Please share with anyone who may be interested! 🚌
TONIGHT the Richwood Ladies are coming to Highland as they meet our Lady Rams on the volleyball court! 🐏💙💛
📅 Thursday, October 15th
📍 HHS Gym
🏐 5:30 PM - Junior Varsity, followed by Varsity
Come out and PACK THE GYM, cheer loud 📣, and show your RAMS PRIDE! 💙💛
Let’s go, Lady Rams! 🐏🏐🔥
Highland Elementary School invites you and your family to join us for a fun-filled evening celebrating reading and learning! 💙💛🐏
📅 Wednesday, October 21st
⏰ 5:30–7:00 PM
📍 Highland Elementary School Cafeteria
🍂 Sponsored by Title I!
Bring the whole family and enjoy an evening of literacy activities and family fun!
🌭 Hot dogs, chips, and drinks will be provided.
📖 Every child will receive a FREE book to take home!
❤️ Whether you're coming to enjoy a meal, explore the joy of reading, or spend quality time together, there's something for everyone!
✨ The whole family is welcome! We can't wait to see our Highland Elementary families there!
💙💛 GO RAMS! 🐏📚
See full details here: https://aptg.co/Km-nlB
Sealed bids must be received by Friday, October 16, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. Bids will be opened Monday, October 19, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.
Bids may be mailed to Highland County Public Schools, P.O. Box 250, Monterey, VA 24465, or delivered in person to the Highland High School Office, 244 Myers Moon Road, Monterey, VA 24465.
The bus is available for inspection at 240 Myers Moon Road, Monterey, VA 24465, behind the school near the greenhouses.
Please share with anyone who may be interested! 🚌
Highland County students in 5th–9th grade are invited to participate in the Virginia Hunter Education Course, taking place October 27th through November 10th.
This course gives students the opportunity to build valuable outdoor skills while learning the fundamentals of hunter safety, firearms safety, and responsible hunting. The course is designed to meet Virginia’s hunting license education requirements, with a license test administered at the end.
🌟 Why Participate?
Experienced instructors
Hunter and outdoor safety education
Virginia hunting license education requirements
License test at the end of the course
FREE for participants!
Today’s Hunter Manual provided
📚 The course will take place during the school day, helping students prepare for the first day of deer season in 2026. Homeschool students are welcome, too!
📝 Sign up early! Complete the attached interest form and return it to school.
📞 Questions? Call Highland Elementary School at 540-468-6360.
Share with families who may be interested! 🦌🌲
Get ready, Rams! 🐏💙💛 The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to Highland Elementary, and we can’t wait to celebrate the joy of reading!
📅 October 19th – 23rd
⏰ Daily Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
🌙 Family Nights:
📖 Tuesday, October 20th
📖 Thursday, October 22nd
⏰ 4:00–7:00 PM
Bring the family and explore a wonderful selection of books for readers of all ages! The Book Fair is a great opportunity to encourage a love of reading while helping raise funds for our school. ❤️📚
💳 Make shopping easy with Book Fair eWallet! Families can set up an eWallet so students can shop independently, and friends and family can contribute toward their book purchases. Any unspent funds remain in your Scholastic account for future Book Fairs.
🔗 Visit our Book Fair homepage to get started:
https://www.scholastic.com/bf/highlandelementaryschool61
Mark your calendars, spread the word, and get excited to discover your next favorite book! 📚✨
💙💛 Happy Reading, Rams! 🐏📖
Did you miss our first picture day? Or maybe you got your pictures back and thought, “I can do better than that!” 😄📷
No worries, Rams — this is your second chance to get that perfect school picture! 🐏💙💛
📅 Tuesday, October 13th
📸 Preschool through 11th Grade
Whether you missed the first picture day or just weren’t thrilled with your first photo, come ready to LOOK YOUR BEST, BE YOURSELF & SMILE BIG! 😊
Let’s try it again and capture a picture you’ll love! 📸✨
💙💛 GO RAMS! 🐏📸
This open question-and-answer session is a great opportunity to connect with local leaders, ask questions, share ideas, and learn more about what is happening in Highland County.
Representatives will include the County Administrator, School Division Superintendent, EMS Chief, Director of Emergency Management, and Highland County Sheriff.
Everyone is welcome to attend and be part of the conversation about Highland County’s future!
