📸 REMINDER! Winter sports photos are scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, November 20th!
Athletes, don’t forget your uniforms and best smiles! 📣🏀
Athletes, don’t forget your uniforms and best smiles! 📣🏀
🎉 Kindergarten is 50 Days Smarter!
Last week, our Kindergarten students celebrated reaching the 50-day milestone with a fun 1950s-themed sock hop! 🧦💃🕺
From dancing to dressing up, it was a wonderful way to mark 50 days of learning, growing, and having fun together!
📣 We Want Your Input!
We are gathering community feedback on where the Public Comment portion should appear on future School Board meeting agendas.
Please take a moment to share your preference—should Public Comment come before action items or after action items?
📝 Take the short survey here: https://forms.gle/wnXoeGGb2dcgP84P8
Your feedback helps us make decisions that best support transparency and community engagement. Thank you for taking the time to participate!
We are gathering community feedback on where the Public Comment portion should appear on future School Board meeting agendas.
Please take a moment to share your preference—should Public Comment come before action items or after action items?
📝 Take the short survey here: https://forms.gle/wnXoeGGb2dcgP84P8
Your feedback helps us make decisions that best support transparency and community engagement. Thank you for taking the time to participate!
Important Calendar Update! 🗓️ Please be advised that the graduation date has been changed to June 6th. 🎓🎉 We appreciate your attention to this adjustment.
On Saturday, November 15, Highland's new Scout Troop 188, aka "The Highlanders" participated with hundreds of other Scouts in the region in a 1-day "Merit Badge University" to have fun learning new skills with connecting with other Scouts.
The Troop's patrol leader, Ben Higley, led the Scout patrol, including Sam Bird and Samuel Carpenter, to Blue Ridge Community College. All three took the Plumbing merit badge course. Samuel Carpenter earned the "Scouting Heritage" merit badge to support his role as troop historian. Meanwhile, Sam Bird and Ben Higley took the "Citizenship in the Wolrd" merit badge, which ties in with their 7th-grade civics class.
The Scouts were initially skeptical, with Sam Bird saying "Why would I ever need to know anything about plumbing." Ben Higley reflecting philosophically of "why did I sign up for another day of school on the weekend?." - However, at the end, all the Scouts admitted that they had a great time connecting with others, with Sam Bird admitting that the Plumbing merit bades was "a lot more interesting and fun than I thought, and it is something I can really use."
Picture 1: Sam Bird and Ben Higley after bending and welding pipes with their merit badge counselor, Mr. Davey Brown with Troop/Crew 84 from Sutart's Draft, VA
🎓 Big News for Virginia Schools!
The Virginia Board of Education has approved increasing the cut scores on the Standards of Learning (SOL) reading and math tests — but not this year. The increases will roll out gradually over the next four years. 📚
✅ This gives students and teachers extra time to prepare.
⚠️ Some worry about impacts on graduation rates and equity.
🔗 Read the full story here: https://virginiamercury.com/2025/11/14/higher-sol-cut-scores-coming-but-not-this-year-virginia-board-says/
(Thanks to Virginia Mercury 🇺🇸)
The Virginia Board of Education has approved increasing the cut scores on the Standards of Learning (SOL) reading and math tests — but not this year. The increases will roll out gradually over the next four years. 📚
✅ This gives students and teachers extra time to prepare.
⚠️ Some worry about impacts on graduation rates and equity.
🔗 Read the full story here: https://virginiamercury.com/2025/11/14/higher-sol-cut-scores-coming-but-not-this-year-virginia-board-says/
(Thanks to Virginia Mercury 🇺🇸)
🥫🧡 Highland County Thanksgiving Food Drive!
The National Honor Society is once again partnering with the Highland County Department of Social Services to host our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive!
📅 Collection Dates:
High School: November 11–21
Elementary School: November 17–21
Each grade has been assigned specific items to bring — check the flyer for details! This is a friendly competition between classes to see who can donate the most food.
🏆 Prizes:
🥇 1st Place – Class Pizza Party
🥈 2nd Place – Ice Cream Party
🥉 3rd Place – Candy for the Class
Let’s come together to support our community this Thanksgiving season! 🧡
The National Honor Society is once again partnering with the Highland County Department of Social Services to host our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive!
📅 Collection Dates:
High School: November 11–21
Elementary School: November 17–21
Each grade has been assigned specific items to bring — check the flyer for details! This is a friendly competition between classes to see who can donate the most food.
🏆 Prizes:
🥇 1st Place – Class Pizza Party
🥈 2nd Place – Ice Cream Party
🥉 3rd Place – Candy for the Class
Let’s come together to support our community this Thanksgiving season! 🧡
🍪 Preschool Families, save the date!🎄
Join us for the December Preschool Family Fun Event on Monday, December 8th at 9:15 AM! Families will take part in a discussion on early childhood development and then practice those skills together by building a gingerbread house with their preschooler.
Attending families will also receive a free developmentally appropriate activity to take home!
We hope to see our preschool families there for this festive and fun learning experience! 💛🎁
Join us for the December Preschool Family Fun Event on Monday, December 8th at 9:15 AM! Families will take part in a discussion on early childhood development and then practice those skills together by building a gingerbread house with their preschooler.
Attending families will also receive a free developmentally appropriate activity to take home!
We hope to see our preschool families there for this festive and fun learning experience! 💛🎁
🔥🔬 Our chemistry students rolled up their sleeves for a hands-on lab to calculate the empirical formula of Magnesium Oxide. They observed the reaction, collected data, and worked through the steps to determine the compound’s simplest whole-number ratio.👩🔬👨🔬✨
🎭 Our 9th and 10th grade English classes took a trip to Blackfriars Playhouse to experience Romeo & Juliet live on stage!
Seeing Shakespeare’s classic come to life was an exciting way to connect what they’re learning in the classroom with the world of theatre. 📖
Seeing Shakespeare’s classic come to life was an exciting way to connect what they’re learning in the classroom with the world of theatre. 📖
🎉 Congratulations to our first four raffle winners from the NHS Attendance Incentive! 🎉
Lane Neil, Creed Good, Charlotte Richardson, and Emma Brower!
Thank you to everyone who’s been showing up and staying committed — your names are still in the running! 🙌 Any entries not drawn this time will roll over for our Grand Prize Drawing at the end of the year… for a brand new Nintendo Switch 2! 🎮
Keep up the great attendance and grades, and you could be our next winner!
Lane Neil, Creed Good, Charlotte Richardson, and Emma Brower!
Thank you to everyone who’s been showing up and staying committed — your names are still in the running! 🙌 Any entries not drawn this time will roll over for our Grand Prize Drawing at the end of the year… for a brand new Nintendo Switch 2! 🎮
Keep up the great attendance and grades, and you could be our next winner!
🥫🧡 Highland County Thanksgiving Food Drive!
The National Honor Society is once again partnering with the Highland County Department of Social Services to host our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive!
📅 Collection Dates:
High School: November 11–21
Elementary School: November 17–21
Each grade has been assigned specific items to bring — check the flyer for details! This is a friendly competition between classes to see who can donate the most food.
🏆 Prizes:
🥇 1st Place – Class Pizza Party
🥈 2nd Place – Ice Cream Party
🥉 3rd Place – Candy for the Class
Let’s come together to support our community this Thanksgiving season! 🧡
The National Honor Society is once again partnering with the Highland County Department of Social Services to host our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive!
📅 Collection Dates:
High School: November 11–21
Elementary School: November 17–21
Each grade has been assigned specific items to bring — check the flyer for details! This is a friendly competition between classes to see who can donate the most food.
🏆 Prizes:
🥇 1st Place – Class Pizza Party
🥈 2nd Place – Ice Cream Party
🥉 3rd Place – Candy for the Class
Let’s come together to support our community this Thanksgiving season! 🧡
🇺🇸 Today’s Veterans Day program was a powerful and heartfelt tribute to the men and women who have served our country.
🖼️ View the tribute slideshow from today’s ceremony here:
https://bit.ly/4hUxf4d
Board Chairman and Marine Veteran Mr. Wilfong reminded us that veterans “choose to serve something greater than themselves,” emphasizing that courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to move forward despite it.
Third grade teacher and retired Air Force Colonel Col. Masson uplifted every veteran in attendance, honoring each person’s service—whether brief or lifelong. She shared, “If you didn’t go to war, it’s simply because no one picked on us during the time you served.” She reminded us that being ready and willing to serve is equally meaningful.
Our students sang beautifully, and the entire ceremony was a moving celebration of gratitude, patriotism, and community.
Thank you to all veterans for your service and sacrifice. We are proud to honor you today and every day. ❤️🤍💙
More photos of our veterans to come soon! 📷
🖼️ View the tribute slideshow from today’s ceremony here:
https://bit.ly/4hUxf4d
Board Chairman and Marine Veteran Mr. Wilfong reminded us that veterans “choose to serve something greater than themselves,” emphasizing that courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to move forward despite it.
Third grade teacher and retired Air Force Colonel Col. Masson uplifted every veteran in attendance, honoring each person’s service—whether brief or lifelong. She shared, “If you didn’t go to war, it’s simply because no one picked on us during the time you served.” She reminded us that being ready and willing to serve is equally meaningful.
Our students sang beautifully, and the entire ceremony was a moving celebration of gratitude, patriotism, and community.
Thank you to all veterans for your service and sacrifice. We are proud to honor you today and every day. ❤️🤍💙
More photos of our veterans to come soon! 📷
🇺🇸 This morning, our students, veterans, and families are enjoying a special Veterans Day breakfast. It is a wonderful opportunity for our students to honor the men and women who have served our country, share conversations, and spend time together. ❤️🤍💙
This is a reminder about our Veterans Day Ceremony tomorrow.
✅ Breakfast for veterans and guests will be held from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
If you are attending breakfast, please enter through the Elementary School doors.
✅ The Veterans Day Ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the High School gym.
If you are coming for the ceremony only, please enter through the High School doors.
We invite you to bring any veterans you know, and all families are welcome to attend.
Thank you, and we look forward to honoring our veterans together tomorrow.
✅ Breakfast for veterans and guests will be held from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.
If you are attending breakfast, please enter through the Elementary School doors.
✅ The Veterans Day Ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. in the High School gym.
If you are coming for the ceremony only, please enter through the High School doors.
We invite you to bring any veterans you know, and all families are welcome to attend.
Thank you, and we look forward to honoring our veterans together tomorrow.
❄️ Inclement Weather Reminder for HCPS Families ❄️
As we enter the winter season, we want to make sure families know how Highland County Public Schools will communicate school delays, closures, and weather-related updates.
For full details, please read the complete letter here:
👉 https://aptg.co/GQYKZY
Where to check for updates:
📺 WSLS 10, WHSV 3, WDBJ 7, WFXR FOX, WSET 13
📻 Allegheny Mountain Radio (89.7)
🌐 HCPS Facebook, Twitter, Website
📞 HCPS Info Line: 540-468-6305
✅ Please remember: the automated calling system is not guaranteed to reach every household, so be sure to check multiple sources.
As we enter the winter season, we want to make sure families know how Highland County Public Schools will communicate school delays, closures, and weather-related updates.
For full details, please read the complete letter here:
👉 https://aptg.co/GQYKZY
Where to check for updates:
📺 WSLS 10, WHSV 3, WDBJ 7, WFXR FOX, WSET 13
📻 Allegheny Mountain Radio (89.7)
🌐 HCPS Facebook, Twitter, Website
📞 HCPS Info Line: 540-468-6305
✅ Please remember: the automated calling system is not guaranteed to reach every household, so be sure to check multiple sources.
Highland County School Board Meeting
Thursday, November 13, 2025 · 7:00pm
Highland High School Library
Public Packet: https://aptg.co/s_yQbQ
To join by Google Meet video: https://meet.google.com/syy-udqb-yvx
To join by phone: (US) +1 786-288-3699
PIN: 590 139 308#
Thursday, November 13, 2025 · 7:00pm
Highland High School Library
Public Packet: https://aptg.co/s_yQbQ
To join by Google Meet video: https://meet.google.com/syy-udqb-yvx
To join by phone: (US) +1 786-288-3699
PIN: 590 139 308#
📸 Winter sports photos are scheduled for Thursday, November 20th!
Athletes, don’t forget your uniforms and best smiles! 📣🏀
Athletes, don’t forget your uniforms and best smiles! 📣🏀
🌸🍦 Our third graders celebrated filling their “We Bloom Together” flower with a special ice cream party outside! Even though it was a little chilly, they voted for an outdoor celebration and had the best time enjoying their well-earned treat.
Students earn petals for exceptional work, good citizenship, positive behavior, and academic success. Once the flower is full, they get to enjoy a class activity of their choice—like this fun (and frosty!) ice cream party!
Way to go, third grade! Keep blooming together! 💛💙
Students earn petals for exceptional work, good citizenship, positive behavior, and academic success. Once the flower is full, they get to enjoy a class activity of their choice—like this fun (and frosty!) ice cream party!
Way to go, third grade! Keep blooming together! 💛💙
Our elementary students have been working so hard to prepare for our Veterans Day ceremony! 🇺🇸
If you’re joining us for the Veterans Day breakfast, it will take place from 8:30–9:30 a.m. — please enter through the elementary doors.
If you’re attending only the ceremony, please enter through the high school doors.
The Veterans Day ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m.
