Mrs. Ann's Kindergarten class has been learning about Indigenous Peoples, focusing on the Wampanoag—who have lived in southeastern Massachusetts for more than 12,000 years.
The Wampanoag were the first tribe the Mayflower Pilgrims encountered when they landed in Provincetown Harbor, explored Cape Cod’s eastern coast, and eventually continued on to Patuxet (Plymouth) to establish Plymouth Colony.
Our kindergarten students have loved discovering more about the Wampanoag people, their history, and their lasting impact! 🌎📚
The Wampanoag were the first tribe the Mayflower Pilgrims encountered when they landed in Provincetown Harbor, explored Cape Cod’s eastern coast, and eventually continued on to Patuxet (Plymouth) to establish Plymouth Colony.
Our kindergarten students have loved discovering more about the Wampanoag people, their history, and their lasting impact! 🌎📚
Mrs. Blakley’s fourth graders spent time this week reflecting on the important people in their lives. 💛
Students wrote heartfelt notes to those they’re most thankful for — parents, friends, family members, and anyone who supports them day in and day out.
A beautiful reminder that gratitude goes a long way, and the people we appreciate deserve to hear it. 🍂✨
Students wrote heartfelt notes to those they’re most thankful for — parents, friends, family members, and anyone who supports them day in and day out.
A beautiful reminder that gratitude goes a long way, and the people we appreciate deserve to hear it. 🍂✨
In honor of Thanksgiving Day, our first graders have been busy learning and creating!
Here are some photos from their project on the Wampanoag people.
Students explored the Wampanoag way of life, how they helped the Pilgrims, and the many ways they used and appreciated natural resources to survive. They even built their own wetu, a traditional Wampanoag home!
Our first graders loved discovering the important contributions of the Wampanoag people as we reflect on the history behind this holiday. 🦃📚🌿
Here are some photos from their project on the Wampanoag people.
Students explored the Wampanoag way of life, how they helped the Pilgrims, and the many ways they used and appreciated natural resources to survive. They even built their own wetu, a traditional Wampanoag home!
Our first graders loved discovering the important contributions of the Wampanoag people as we reflect on the history behind this holiday. 🦃📚🌿
🦃 Happy Thanksgiving Break!
We are grateful for our students, staff, families, and community.
🍁Just a reminder:
HCPS will be closed on Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th for the Thanksgiving holiday.
We hope everyone enjoys a safe, restful, and joyful break! 🧡🍂
Happy Thanksgiving!
We are grateful for our students, staff, families, and community.
🍁Just a reminder:
HCPS will be closed on Thursday, November 27th and Friday, November 28th for the Thanksgiving holiday.
We hope everyone enjoys a safe, restful, and joyful break! 🧡🍂
Happy Thanksgiving!
🌈 A little magic over HCPS this morning!
Thank you to Mrs. Springer for catching this rainbow.
We’re convinced this proves what we already knew… the real pot of gold is right here at HCPS! ✨
Thank you to Mrs. Springer for catching this rainbow.
We’re convinced this proves what we already knew… the real pot of gold is right here at HCPS! ✨
The gifted students in grades 3–5 spent a day with Mrs. Jolley exploring life in the 1700s–1800s at the Museum of Frontier Culture. They toured authentic farmsteads from Africa, England, Ireland, and Germany, discovering how families used natural resources, completed daily chores, and practiced essential trades—like blacksmithing!
It was an incredible hands-on learning experience that brought history to life. 🐄🔨📜
It was an incredible hands-on learning experience that brought history to life. 🐄🔨📜
📢 Reminder, Highland!
Tomorrow, Wednesday, November 26th, is an early release day.
⏰ Students will dismiss at 1:00 PM.
Please plan transportation accordingly.
Thank you! 🍁
Tomorrow, Wednesday, November 26th, is an early release day.
⏰ Students will dismiss at 1:00 PM.
Please plan transportation accordingly.
Thank you! 🍁
🌟 Celebrating Mrs. Shelley Thomas!
Our Preschool classroom recently received a CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System) observation, which measures the quality of educator–child interactions in early learning. The evaluator shared this glowing feedback:
✨ “Mrs. Thomas did an amazing job today. It is such a joy to observe a teacher who is such a professional, knows her students so well, and is so well supported by her aide. Look at the state and regional averages to see how well she really did.”
Our region includes Highland, Bath, Rockbridge, Craig, Botetourt, Roanoke, Franklin, Patrick, Henry, and the cities of Covington, Lexington, Roanoke, and Martinsville—so these comparisons truly stand out!
📊 Mrs. Thomas’s CLASS Scores:
Emotional Support: VA avg 5.82 | Region avg 5.88 | Mrs. Thomas: 7 (perfect!)
Classroom Organization: VA avg 5.41 | Region avg 5.44 | Mrs. Thomas: 6.83
Instructional Support: VA avg 2.75 | Region avg 2.70 | Mrs. Thomas: 6.58
She also earned multiple perfect 7s across sub-categories—an extremely rare achievement in CLASS observations.
👏 We are incredibly proud of Mrs. Thomas’s exceptional work, expertise, and dedication to our youngest learners!
Our Preschool classroom recently received a CLASS (Classroom Assessment Scoring System) observation, which measures the quality of educator–child interactions in early learning. The evaluator shared this glowing feedback:
✨ “Mrs. Thomas did an amazing job today. It is such a joy to observe a teacher who is such a professional, knows her students so well, and is so well supported by her aide. Look at the state and regional averages to see how well she really did.”
Our region includes Highland, Bath, Rockbridge, Craig, Botetourt, Roanoke, Franklin, Patrick, Henry, and the cities of Covington, Lexington, Roanoke, and Martinsville—so these comparisons truly stand out!
📊 Mrs. Thomas’s CLASS Scores:
Emotional Support: VA avg 5.82 | Region avg 5.88 | Mrs. Thomas: 7 (perfect!)
Classroom Organization: VA avg 5.41 | Region avg 5.44 | Mrs. Thomas: 6.83
Instructional Support: VA avg 2.75 | Region avg 2.70 | Mrs. Thomas: 6.58
She also earned multiple perfect 7s across sub-categories—an extremely rare achievement in CLASS observations.
👏 We are incredibly proud of Mrs. Thomas’s exceptional work, expertise, and dedication to our youngest learners!
🎟️ The Highland PTO Gun Safe Raffle is underway!
They are raffling off a Winchester 36 Long Gun Safe.
Tickets:
• 1 for $10
• 3 for $20
Find any PTO member to purchase your tickets: Jessy Wilfong, Candace Lightner, Billie Botkin, Angie Armstrong, Cappy Jackson, Lindy Summers, or Bryan Obaugh.
Tickets are also available at The Curly Maple.
⏰ Sale ends December 30, 2025.
Support the PTO and get your chance to win a great prize!
They are raffling off a Winchester 36 Long Gun Safe.
Tickets:
• 1 for $10
• 3 for $20
Find any PTO member to purchase your tickets: Jessy Wilfong, Candace Lightner, Billie Botkin, Angie Armstrong, Cappy Jackson, Lindy Summers, or Bryan Obaugh.
Tickets are also available at The Curly Maple.
⏰ Sale ends December 30, 2025.
Support the PTO and get your chance to win a great prize!
📣 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:
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:
Nov. 25
Dec. 23
Jan. 27
Your voice matters! Come connect, share ideas, and support our students and schools. 💙💛
🦃🎈Our fifth graders brought the magic of the Macy’s Day Parade to life for our Pre-K students! They decorated their Dash robots as parade floats and then coded them to move along their very own “Macy’s Day Parade” route.
The Pre-K students loved every minute, and our fifth graders did an amazing job combining creativity, technology, and Thanksgiving fun! 🍁🤖✨
The Pre-K students loved every minute, and our fifth graders did an amazing job combining creativity, technology, and Thanksgiving fun! 🍁🤖✨
🌾 Now Hiring: Agriculture Mechanics Teacher 🌾
Full-Time • Benefits Included • Start Date: As Soon As Possible
Highland County Public Schools is seeking a dedicated Agriculture Mechanics Teacher to join our team.
✨ Incentive Available:
Licensed teachers who commit to a three-year employment term are eligible for a $5,000 sign-on bonus.
If you’re passionate about agricultural education and ready to make a difference, we’d love to hear from you!
📩 Apply today or contact us for more information: https://www.highland.k12.va.us/page/employment
Full-Time • Benefits Included • Start Date: As Soon As Possible
Highland County Public Schools is seeking a dedicated Agriculture Mechanics Teacher to join our team.
✨ Incentive Available:
Licensed teachers who commit to a three-year employment term are eligible for a $5,000 sign-on bonus.
If you’re passionate about agricultural education and ready to make a difference, we’d love to hear from you!
📩 Apply today or contact us for more information: https://www.highland.k12.va.us/page/employment
🍁 Highland Elementary Thanksgiving Spirit Week is coming!
Join us as we celebrate the days leading up to break with some festive fun!
November 24–26
📅 Monday: Pumpkin & Orange Day
📅 Tuesday: Flannel Day
📅 Wednesday: Pajama Day (Early Release!)
We can’t wait to see everyone’s school spirit! 🧡🍂
Sharing some photos from our Volleyball Pink Night on November 7th! 🎀🏐
Our players, fans, and community came together in a wave of pink to support the Vaus/Hull family. The love, strength, and teamwork on and off the court were truly inspiring.
Thank you to everyone who showed up, donated, and helped make this night meaningful. 💗
Together, we play for a purpose.
👏 HCPS Scouts in Action!
Two HCPS Scouts helped collect 1,003 lbs of food—half a ton!—for the Christian Assistance Network’s food pantry to support families this winter. ❄️💛
On November 7th, Troop 188’s Samuel Carpenter and Sam Bird teamed up with Scouts from Troop 162 in Franklin, WV, setting up donation stations at local grocery stores. Volunteers said it was likely the largest single haul they’ve ever received.
📸 Photo 1: Samuel Carpenter & Sam Bird at T&K Market
📸 Photo 2: With Jonathan Nelson, SPL of Troop 162
📣 Attention Aspiring Teachers!
We’d like to share an upcoming opportunity for anyone interested in becoming a teacher or learning more about the licensure process.
✨ Finish Strong in 2025: Getting Started with Your Teaching License & iteach
📅 December 4, 2025
⏰ 4:30 p.m. EST
This free webinar is perfect for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree and are curious about entering the teaching profession.
👉 Register here: https://k12coalition.zoom.us/meeting/register/ZIOqN3Q1Q2WpAbN6gBiCSA
Please feel free to share with anyone who may benefit!
📅🎶 Mark your calendars!
The Highlands Community Orchestra will present its annual Holiday Concert on Sunday, December 7th at the Highland Center. 🎄✨🎻
Gifted students in grades 6–12 enjoyed team-building activities at the JMU UREC TEAM Challenge Course on Friday, November 7th.
This program is designed to encourage communication, trust, leadership, and other important community-building skills. We’re proud of our students for stepping outside their comfort zones and working together! 🤝 🧗♂️
🥫🧡 Highland County Thanksgiving Food Drive!
📅 DONATIONS ARE DUE TOMORROW
Each grade has been assigned specific items to bring — check the flyer for details!
🏆 Prizes:
🥇 1st Place – Class Pizza Party
🥈 2nd Place – Ice Cream Party
🥉 3rd Place – Candy for the Class
📅 DONATIONS ARE DUE TOMORROW
Each grade has been assigned specific items to bring — check the flyer for details!
🏆 Prizes:
🥇 1st Place – Class Pizza Party
🥈 2nd Place – Ice Cream Party
🥉 3rd Place – Candy for the Class
📸 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! 📣🏀
