🧡 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! 💙🍎
The lockdown drill at HCPS is now complete. Thank you for your patience and cooperation! If you have any feedback, please share it with us at hcps@highland.k12.va.us.
HCPS has begun its lockdown drill at this time.
🦋 Our first grade students have been hard at work learning about Living Systems and Processes in Science — and they’ve become true Monarch butterfly experts! 🧠🌿
Students brought in real Monarch caterpillars and watched in awe as they transformed into chrysalises. They were even lucky enough to catch one in mid-transformation — half chrysalis, half striped caterpillar! 😍
After patiently waiting, the butterflies emerged and were released back into the wild. To wrap up their life cycle unit, students created clay sculptures of each stage — eggs, caterpillars, chrysalises, and butterflies — complete with milkweed leaves and beautifully symmetrical wings ready for flight. 🎨🦋
What an incredible hands-on learning experience exploring the wonders of nature! 🌎💛
Students brought in real Monarch caterpillars and watched in awe as they transformed into chrysalises. They were even lucky enough to catch one in mid-transformation — half chrysalis, half striped caterpillar! 😍
After patiently waiting, the butterflies emerged and were released back into the wild. To wrap up their life cycle unit, students created clay sculptures of each stage — eggs, caterpillars, chrysalises, and butterflies — complete with milkweed leaves and beautifully symmetrical wings ready for flight. 🎨🦋
What an incredible hands-on learning experience exploring the wonders of nature! 🌎💛
¡Vamos a jugar! 🎉 Spanish students practiced conjugating -AR verbs with a game of Jenga — where every move came with a verb challenge! 🧱💬 A fun way to build both towers and language skills! 🇪🇸
📣 Highland Parent Teacher Partnership
Join us for our monthly meetings on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM in the Elementary Library.
🗓 Upcoming Dates:
Oct. 28
Nov. 25
Dec. 23
Jan. 27
Your voice matters! Come connect, share ideas, and support our students and schools. 💙💛
Join us for our monthly meetings on the 4th Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM in the Elementary Library.
🗓 Upcoming Dates:
Oct. 28
Nov. 25
Dec. 23
Jan. 27
Your voice matters! Come connect, share ideas, and support our students and schools. 💙💛
🎃👻 Spirit Week Fun Is Here! 👻🎃
Both of our schools are celebrating the Halloween season with a week full of themed dress-up days! Check out the flyers below to see what’s planned.
🤍 Highland Elementary (white flyer)
💜 Highland High School (purple flyer)
✨ All costumes and outfits must follow the school dress code.
Let’s make this week full of school spirit, creativity, and Halloween fun! 🎃
📢 Lockdown Drill Notice
Our school will conduct a lockdown drill tomorrow, October 28, 2025, as part of our ongoing commitment to student and staff safety.
This practice drill helps ensure that everyone knows what to do in the unlikely event of an emergency. Please note that no actual threat or danger is involved — this is only a safety exercise.
We appreciate your support as we work to keep our school community safe and prepared.
🎄✨ 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! ❤️💚
As we wrap up this week’s Book Fair at Highland Elementary, we want to thank all of our students, families, and staff for making it such a success! Your support helps us grow our school library and continue to inspire a love of reading in our students.
A special thank-you to Mrs. Sweeney for organizing another wonderful event and to everyone who helped make it possible! 🌟📖
A special thank-you to Mrs. Sweeney for organizing another wonderful event and to everyone who helped make it possible! 🌟📖
