📢 Parents & Educators: Your Voice Matters!
The Virginia Board of Education has updated math and reading SOL cut scores to better reflect skills students need for success. The VDOE is hosting listening sessions to gather feedback on implementation.
Parent Session:
🗓 Nov 5, 2025 | ⏰ 5:30–6:30 pm
💻 Meeting ID: 230 998 444 924 3 | Passcode: ui9mv9Nz
You can also share your input using the feedback form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=qeUKYsFOoE-GQV2fOGxzCbjPWMMb9nlDh6ehV4UR7M5UN1dDMk1KUkg4RFNQNkkzMDBORU82SUhPVy4u
More information: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/Home/Components/News/News/496/227
The Virginia Board of Education has updated math and reading SOL cut scores to better reflect skills students need for success. The VDOE is hosting listening sessions to gather feedback on implementation.
Parent Session:
🗓 Nov 5, 2025 | ⏰ 5:30–6:30 pm
💻 Meeting ID: 230 998 444 924 3 | Passcode: ui9mv9Nz
You can also share your input using the feedback form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=qeUKYsFOoE-GQV2fOGxzCbjPWMMb9nlDh6ehV4UR7M5UN1dDMk1KUkg4RFNQNkkzMDBORU82SUhPVy4u
More information: https://www.doe.virginia.gov/Home/Components/News/News/496/227
📢 Meeting Reminder
The Highland County Board of Supervisors will hold a meeting on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the Highland Modular and Conference Center.
The Highland County School Board will join the Board of Supervisors for a financial discussion during this meeting.
Agenda: https://aptg.co/YFZvc1
💻 Join Virtually:
Google Meet: meet.google.com/woj-rmce-mxj
📞 Join by Phone: +1 443-776-0845 PIN: 472 230 548
The Highland County Board of Supervisors will hold a meeting on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the Highland Modular and Conference Center.
The Highland County School Board will join the Board of Supervisors for a financial discussion during this meeting.
Agenda: https://aptg.co/YFZvc1
💻 Join Virtually:
Google Meet: meet.google.com/woj-rmce-mxj
📞 Join by Phone: +1 443-776-0845 PIN: 472 230 548
We have been putting together a special video to honor the brave men and women who have served our country. If you’d like to include a photo or short video of a veteran in your life, please submit it by this Friday!
Email submissions to Mrs. Springer at kspringer@highland.k12.va.us.
Let’s come together to celebrate and thank our heroes. ❤️🤍💙
#VeteransDay #ThankYouVeterans #HCPSProud
Email submissions to Mrs. Springer at kspringer@highland.k12.va.us.
Let’s come together to celebrate and thank our heroes. ❤️🤍💙
#VeteransDay #ThankYouVeterans #HCPSProud
📢 Reminder: Tomorrow is a Teacher Workday – no school for students! 📝 Enjoy the day off!
📢 Important Update for Virginia SNAP Recipients!
Governor Glenn Youngkin has launched the Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) program to ensure families continue receiving food benefits during the federal shutdown. 🍎
✅ Uses the same EBT cards and beneficiaries as SNAP
✅ Fully funded by Virginia’s state budget surplus—no federal funds
✅ Benefits will now be issued weekly instead of monthly
✅ $37.5 million per week in support, plus $1 million to Virginia’s food banks
🗓️ New Benefit Schedule:
1st Third: Monday, Nov 3
2nd Third: Wednesday, Nov 5
3rd Third: Friday, Nov 7
Keep your EBT card secure—switch it off in the ConnectEBT app until checkout.
🔗 Learn more and get updates: DSS.VIRGINIA.GOV
Governor Glenn Youngkin has launched the Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) program to ensure families continue receiving food benefits during the federal shutdown. 🍎
✅ Uses the same EBT cards and beneficiaries as SNAP
✅ Fully funded by Virginia’s state budget surplus—no federal funds
✅ Benefits will now be issued weekly instead of monthly
✅ $37.5 million per week in support, plus $1 million to Virginia’s food banks
🗓️ New Benefit Schedule:
1st Third: Monday, Nov 3
2nd Third: Wednesday, Nov 5
3rd Third: Friday, Nov 7
Keep your EBT card secure—switch it off in the ConnectEBT app until checkout.
🔗 Learn more and get updates: DSS.VIRGINIA.GOV
✨ End of the 1st Quarter! ✨
Today marks the end of the first 9 weeks of school! We’re so proud of all the hard work our students and staff have put in this quarter.
📢 Reminder: Tomorrow is a Teacher Workday – no school for students! 📝 Enjoy the day off!
📅 Report cards will be sent home on Friday, November 7th.
Keep up the great work, Highland students !🎉👏
🎄✨ Spread Some Holiday Cheer! ✨🎄
The Highland High School Junior Class is hosting a Poinsettia Fundraiser! 🌺
These beautiful holiday plants make the perfect seasonal decoration or gift.
🌿 Available Sizes & Prices:
6.5” – $12
7.5” – $18
8.5” – $24
🌸 Colors: Red • Pink • White • Marble
🗓️ Orders & Payment Due: November 10th
To order, reach out to any Junior or email:
📧 Ms. Megan Botkin – mbotkin@highland.k12.va.us
📧 Ms. Pitsenbarger – wpitsenbarger@highland.k12.va.us
Support our Juniors and brighten your home for the holidays! ❤️💚
The Highland High School Junior Class is hosting a Poinsettia Fundraiser! 🌺
These beautiful holiday plants make the perfect seasonal decoration or gift.
🌿 Available Sizes & Prices:
6.5” – $12
7.5” – $18
8.5” – $24
🌸 Colors: Red • Pink • White • Marble
🗓️ Orders & Payment Due: November 10th
To order, reach out to any Junior or email:
📧 Ms. Megan Botkin – mbotkin@highland.k12.va.us
📧 Ms. Pitsenbarger – wpitsenbarger@highland.k12.va.us
Support our Juniors and brighten your home for the holidays! ❤️💚
We cordially invite you, your students, parents, staff and school community to attend an OPEN HOUSE at Valley Career and Technical Center (VCTC) and Shenandoah Valley Governor's School (SVGS) on Monday, November 3, 2025 from 3 pm -7 pm!
SVGS Open House EVENT - https://www.facebook.com/share/1BK9Jexq6n/
VCTC Open House EVENT - https://www.facebook.com/share/17UP7Q4hHV/
☀️🥞 Breakfast isn’t just the most important meal of the day — it’s also one of our favorite times at HCPS! Each morning, students enjoy a nutritious meal and a few extra minutes to sit, talk, and laugh together before the school day begins. 🥣✨
It’s a great way to start the day — full bellies & smiling faces.💛 Thank you Lisa, Laci, Tish, and Diane!
You can view our breakfast menu anytime on our website 👉 https://www.highland.k12.va.us/dining
or through our Highland County Public Schools app, available in the App Store — just search Highland County Public Schools! 📱🍽️
It’s a great way to start the day — full bellies & smiling faces.💛 Thank you Lisa, Laci, Tish, and Diane!
You can view our breakfast menu anytime on our website 👉 https://www.highland.k12.va.us/dining
or through our Highland County Public Schools app, available in the App Store — just search Highland County Public Schools! 📱🍽️
🧡 A huge thank-you to the Highland Parent Teacher Partnership for treating our staff to some “Freshly Boo’d Coffee” today! 👻 Your thoughtful surprise brought big smiles (and much-needed caffeine!) to our halls.
Today wasn’t just about costumes and candy for our students — our staff got a little Halloween surprise too! Administration rolled through the halls with a Halloween Treat Cart filled with goodies for our incredible teachers and staff. 🍫🧡
It’s our small way of showing how much we appreciate everything they do each and every day. From the early mornings and late nights to the endless patience, care, and creativity they bring to our students — you truly make HCPS a special place.
Thank you for all that you do to make learning fun, meaningful, and full of heart. Happy Halloween from all of us at HCPS! 🕸️👩🏫🕷️
It’s our small way of showing how much we appreciate everything they do each and every day. From the early mornings and late nights to the endless patience, care, and creativity they bring to our students — you truly make HCPS a special place.
Thank you for all that you do to make learning fun, meaningful, and full of heart. Happy Halloween from all of us at HCPS! 🕸️👩🏫🕷️
👻🎃Our halls were filled with laughter, creativity, and a little bit of spooky fun today as students and staff celebrated Halloween! From clever costumes to festive classroom activities, everyone got into the spirit and made the day a memorable one.
We love seeing our students express their imagination and school spirit — thank you to everyone who helped make today such a treat! 🧡🕸️🕷️
We love seeing our students express their imagination and school spirit — thank you to everyone who helped make today such a treat! 🧡🕸️🕷️
🎃👻 Our PK–5th graders had a spooktacular time trick-or-treating through the high school yesterday! 🍬🕸️ Thank you to our amazing SCA for sponsoring and organizing such a fun event! 🧡
👑 2026 Maple Queen Pageant – Interest Meeting 👑
All Highland County girls who will be 15 years old by February 21, 2026 and have not yet graduated from high school are invited to participate in this year’s Maple Queen Pageant!
📅 Friday, November 7
🕘 9:55 a.m.
📍 HHS Library
Join us during morning break to learn how you can represent our community as an ambassador and pick up an application.
We can’t wait to see you there! ✨
All Highland County girls who will be 15 years old by February 21, 2026 and have not yet graduated from high school are invited to participate in this year’s Maple Queen Pageant!
📅 Friday, November 7
🕘 9:55 a.m.
📍 HHS Library
Join us during morning break to learn how you can represent our community as an ambassador and pick up an application.
We can’t wait to see you there! ✨
🌟 Students put their Spanish skills to the test by interviewing classmates about a secret family tree and then trying to recreate it using only the information shared in Spanish. ¡Qué divertido y educativo! 🎉
💗 VOLLEYBALL PINK NIGHT 💗
Join us November 7 at 6:00 PM in the HHS Gym for a special night filled with games, prizes, and a baked goods sale (free will donation)!
All proceeds will be donated to the Vaus family in loving memory of Amy. 💕
Let’s come together as a community to show support, share love, and celebrate Amy’s life.
“Forever in our hearts, now in God’s arms.” 🤍
English 9 students brought Lord of the Flies to life with a hands-on survival challenge! After reading about the boys’ struggle to work together and build shelters on the island, students teamed up to design and construct their own versions. This creative project encouraged collaboration, problem-solving, and a deeper understanding of the novel’s themes of survival, leadership, and community. Great job to all our students for putting their ideas — and building skills — to the test!
A few snapshots from the Fall Fantasy Dance last weekend! Big shoutout to the SCA for hosting such a fun night for our students! 💃🕺
📣 Attention Cheerleaders, Dance Team Members, and Rocky the Ram Prospects! 🐏
There is a sign-up sheet in the High School office for all interested participants.
Mandatory Meeting:
🗓️ Tomorrow! Thursday, October 30
🕞 3:30–4:30 PM
📍 Mrs. Ann’s Classroom – Room #7, Elementary School
Don’t miss this important meeting! 💙💛
There is a sign-up sheet in the High School office for all interested participants.
Mandatory Meeting:
🗓️ Tomorrow! Thursday, October 30
🕞 3:30–4:30 PM
📍 Mrs. Ann’s Classroom – Room #7, Elementary School
Don’t miss this important meeting! 💙💛
Our staff spent their recent workday diving into some very important training sessions to help keep our students and schools safe and informed.
We started the day with Anna Nalle, Prevention + Awareness Coordinator with New Creation VA, who shared valuable insight on recognizing the warning signs of human trafficking.
Next, VCJS provided updates on the signs and recognition of school threats, with a presentation from Mrs. Obaugh and input from our local Sheriff's Office & Department of EMS.
To finish out the morning, Mr. Good shared key school security reminders—lockdown drills, keeping doors secured, “see something, say something,” and other important safety procedures while Mrs. Ulmer led a fun activity on finding things in common with co-workers to strengthen connection and collaboration.
We’re so thankful for the ongoing commitment of our teachers and staff to make our schools a safe and supportive place for every student! 💙🍎
