π Teacher Appreciation Week β PTP Needs Your Help! π
Hello Highland County Public Schools parents, families, and community members,
The Highland Parent Teacher Partnership (PTP) is excited to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week with a series of special events to honor our incredible teachers and staff. ππ
Throughout the week, theyβve planned several activities including:
π₯ A Grab-and-Go Breakfast
π A Sweet Treats Day
π₯ A Catered Lunch
To make these events a success, theyβre asking for your support in donating drinks for the week.
Please use the SignUpGenius link to sign up and contribute:
π https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0C45A5A722A75-56604671-teacher#/
π¦ All drink donations should be dropped off at Highland Elementary School by Tuesday, May 6th.
If you have questions about the sign-up or donation needs, please contact:
π Lindy Summers at (540) 468-2059
For questions about drop-off logistics, contact:
π Candace Lightner at (540) 468-6360
Letβs show our appreciation to the staff who plant seeds of learning and care each day for our children. π±π


πΈβ¨ Picture Day Reminder!
Wednesday, April 30th is a big day for photos!
π Senior Cap & Gown Photos
π« HES Make-Up Photos
π
Sports Make-Up Photos
Make sure to dress your best and donβt miss your chance to capture these special moments! ππ·π

Our Rams traveled to Wilson Memorial High School for the Augusta County Invitational last Friday, April 25th!
π₯ The varsity boys scored 10 points with strong relay finishes!
π₯ 3rd in the 4x100 (48.21) β Elijah Good, Patton Hull, Zach Armstrong, and Eli Moore
π₯ 5th in the 4x400 (4:00.89) β Same amazing team!
πͺ Highlandβs girls dominated the JV meet, scoring 44 points and taking 1st place overall!
π Brooke Williams crushed it with:
1st in Long Jump (13'7Β½")
2nd in the 100m (14.40)
3rd in the 200m (28.64)
π₯ Kristina Neil threw her way to:
1st in Discus (68'7")
3rd in Shot Put (22'11Β½")
β‘ Amelia Good placed:
6th in the 200m (31.78)
8th in the 100m (15.68)
π
For JV Boys:
Steven Rogers finished 4th in Shot Put (25'4") and Discus (57'10")
Owen Honaker grabbed 5th in Long Jump (13'2")
π€οΈ Next stop: Richwood, WV next Friday! Letβs go Rams! ππ
πβΎπ₯ It's Senior Night! π₯βΎπ
Come out and support our Highland Rams as they take on Bath County tonight! ππ
Weβll be celebrating our amazing senior athletes during both the baseball and softball games! ππ
π
Tonight, April 28, 2025
π 5:00 PM
π Highland County Baseball/Softball Fields
244 Myers Moon Road, Monterey, VA 24465
Let's pack the stands and cheer on our seniors one last time at home! ππ #SeniorNight #GoRams #RamPride

π Calling all young athletes!
Donβt miss the FREE Basketball Clinic led by Ferrum Collegeβs Coach Harvey β with over 300 career wins! π
Join us June 27-28 at the Highland High School Gymnasium for two days packed with skill development, team play, and challenging drills to level up your game! π₯
π Details:
β’ π¦π§ Who: Boys and Girls (5thβ8th Grade)
β’ ποΈ When:
β’ Friday, June 27: 5β8 PM
β’ Saturday, June 28: 9 AMβ12 PM
β’ π Where: Highland High School Gym
β‘ Spots are limited!
π§ Email bmcguire@highland.k12.va.us to register today!
Come learn from the best and take your basketball skills to the next level! ππ

π±π First Grade Gets Hands-On with Plant Life Cycles! ππ§
Our first graders have been digging into science by learning all about the plant life cycle! Earlier this year, we harvested seeds from pumpkins picked during our fall field trip π, and this month, we planted those same seeds. The excitement was real when the tiny seedlings began to sprout! πΏβ¨ Each student will get to take home their very own pumpkin plant soon! π§βπΎ
We also sprouted an avocado seed brought in by a student π₯βthey're extra excited to watch it grow alongside our mature avocado plant, which started the same way a few years ago!
In between all the planting fun, our students are working hard on their reading and math skills to get ready for the upcoming VALLSS test and growth assessments. πͺπββοΈ





π£ Scouting is Coming Back to Highland County! ποΈβ¨
The Virginia Headwaters Council, along with local parents, is hosting an informational meeting to help re-start Scouting America in our community! π
π§ Whoβs Invited?
Boys and girls, families, former Scouts and Scouters, and local organizationsβanyone with an interest in Scouting America is welcome to join us!
π
When: Monday, May 5
π Time: 7:00 p.m.
π Where: Highland High School Library
Come learn how you can be a part of bringing adventure, leadership, and community back to Highland County through Scouting! π²π₯
π© For more info, contact Robert Clemmer at robert.clemmer@scouting.org
ππ Kindergarten Celebrates Dr. Seuss! π©π±
At the end of March, our kindergarteners had a blast diving into the world of Dr. Seuss! They read lots of fun and imaginative stories from the beloved author/illustrator and are now creating their very own book about the ones they enjoyed most. πβ¨
To wrap up the celebration, everyone dressed up as their favorite Dr. Seuss charactersβwhat a Seusstastic way to end the fun! ππ









π’ 2025-2026 Application for Admission of Non-Resident Students π’
Applications are still open and due by May 1, 2025!
Application: https://5il.co/1dyvu
If you are interested in enrolling a non-resident student at Highland County Public Schools for the upcoming school year, please submit your application before the deadline. For more details, contact the School Board office at (540) 468-6300. πβ¨

πΊπΈπ« Virginia Delegate Chris Runion Visits Highland! ποΈβ¨
On April 11th, Highland had the pleasure of hosting Delegate Chris Runion for a school visit! He stopped into classrooms and spent some time learning about the incredible work our students and staff are doing every day. ππ©βπ«π§βπ
Weβre grateful for his time and continued support of education in our community! ππ¬
#DelegateVisit #HighlandPride #VAEducation #CommunitySupport






πΊπΈπ 8th Grade Traveled to Washington, D.C.! ποΈβ¨
Our 8th graders recently returned from an unforgettable trip to our nationβs capital! From touring monuments and museums to walking through history, they represented Highland with pride, curiosity, and respect. ππ
Weβre so proud of the memories they made and the learning they brought back with them! π½πΈ










ππ Happy School Bus Driver Appreciation Day! ππ
Today we celebrate our amazing bus drivers who safely transport our students each and every day β rain or shine, with a smile and a wave! ππ¦
Cole, Ronnie, Billie, Doug, Vernon, Franny, Richard, Daniel, and Alan,
Thank you for your dedication, patience, and the vital role you play in our school community. You truly go the extra mile! ππ₯°π
Drop a comment below to show some love to your favorite bus driver! π¬β€οΈ #ThankYouDrivers #SchoolBusDriverAppreciation

A big THANK YOU to our wonderful Highland Parent Teacher Partnership for treating our staff to delicious sweet treats in celebration of Earth Day! ππͺπΈ Your kindness and support are truly appreciated and made the day extra special! ππ

ππ Underground Classroom Comes to Highland! ππ±
Yesterday, our students had the amazing opportunity to explore the Headwaters Soil & Water Conservation District's Underground Classroom right here at school! π«β¨
This hands-on experience taught students all about soil health, conservation, and the fascinating world beneath our feet. It was an educational adventure they wonβt forget!
A huge thank you to our incredible Highland Parent Teacher Partnership for making this visit possible! ππ





TOMORROW!
πβ¨ 8th Grade Scheduling Meeting β¨π
π
Wednesday, April 23
π 7:00 PM
π HCPS Cafeteria
Parents & guardians of rising 9th graders β join us for an important meeting about high school scheduling! π¬π

π’ Join Us for Our Highland Parent-Teacher Partnership Meetings! π’
All Highland County Public Schools families are invited to attend! π€π
π Meeting Dates:
β
April 22
β
May 27
β
June 24
β
July 29
β
August 26
π Time: 7:00 PM
π Location: HES Library
Come be a part of the conversation and support our schools! We look forward to seeing you there! π
πβ¨ Highland Elementaryβs 2nd and 3rd graders took a step back in time during a special visit to McDowell last week! π
As part of their study of βThe Promise Quiltββa story set in post-Civil War Virginiaβstudents explored Highlandβs rich history through hands-on learning experiences. π§΅ποΈ
They toured the Mansion House Museum and its beautiful quilt exhibit , went on a scavenger hunt to find antique tools π, and listened to local stories from Mr. Glenn Heatwole at Sugar Tree Country Store π¬πͺ. Each student even received a bottle of maple syrup to take home! π
Lunch was enjoyed picnic-style indoors thanks to Mrs. Fran Siron and the McDowell Fire Department π, who kindly opened their doors on a chilly day. βοΈ
To top off the day, Mrs. Lori Botkin (in full 1860s attire!) led a tour of McDowell Presbyterian Church π, where students saw real Civil War soldier carvings in the brick walls and reflected on the buildingβs role during the Battle of McDowell βοΈ.
It was a day full of learning, imagination, and appreciation for our Highland County heritage! β€οΈπ #HighlandHistory #HandsOnLearning #PromiseQuiltAdventure






π§Έβ¨ FREE Preschool Developmental Screening β¨π§Έ
π
May 15, 2025 β° 4-7 PM
πΆ Ages Birth to 5 Years
π‘ Highland Residents Only
π« No Appointment Needed!
π Have questions? Call (540) 468-6308
π©Ίππππ§ Screening Includes:
β
Vision
β
Hearing
β
Language
β
Motor Skills
β
Cognitive Development
Give your little one the best start! ππ£

π² Stay connected with HCPS on the go! Download our app today to keep up with all the latest updates, events, and announcements. Donβt miss a thingβHCPS at your fingertips! ππ

π¨ Weβre Hiring! π¨
π’ Join our amazing team at Highland County Public Schools!
β¨ We're looking for passionate, dedicated individuals to help make a difference in the lives of our students.
π Apply today and be part of something great!
π Visit our website for current openings: https://www.highland.k12.va.us/page/employment

