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10.31 Highlands Headlines

Posted Date: 10/31/25 (3:05 PM)

Highlands Headlines

October 31, 2025
Mission Lead

Huskies LEAD the way! EVERYDAY!

Hello Husky Families,

Thank you to all the families who joined us last week at our Trunk or Treat & Book Fair Night! 🎃📚

Our events are always made more special by your presence, energy, and enthusiasm. It was wonderful to see so many of you enjoying the festivities, connecting with one another, and celebrating the joy of reading and community.

Your support helps create lasting memories for our students and strengthens the bond we share as a school family. We are so grateful for your continued involvement and partnership.

We’re excited to keep the momentum going! Please join us for our upcoming Math & Science Night on Thursday, November 6th. We’re thrilled to welcome the SCPS Physics Bus and can’t wait to share some hands-on, fun math activities with you and your children. It’s going to be an evening full of learning, laughter, and discovery!

Warm regards,
Jodi Gonzalez and Robert Adamowicz
Proud Principal and Assistant Principal of Highlands Elementary
 

Upcoming Events - Save the Dates!

  • October 31 - Book Character Dress Up Day
  • November 3 - Fall Picture RETAKES
  • November 5 - SAC Meeting @ 4:15PM
  • November 5 - Jeremiah's Spirit Night
  • November 6 - Math/Science Night @ 6:30PM
  • November 7 - Fall Picture Make-Ups
  • November 11 - Veteran's Day
  • November 13- PTA CiCi's Sanford Spirit Night!
  • November 18 - American Education Week
  • November 18 - Teach In
  • November 19 - Science Night
  • November 21 - PTA Oviedo Bowling Spirit Night
  • November 24 - Thanksgiving Break (NO SCHOOL ALL WEEK)
  • December 3 - Jeremiah's Spirit Night
  • December 4-5 - 5th Grade Mud Walk
  • December 6 - Chorus @ Casselberry Tree Lighting
  • December 15 - 4th Grade Holiday Show
  • December 15 - PTA Holiday Shop
  • December 16 - 1PM Early Release Day
  • December 17 - 1PM Early Release Day
  • December 18 - 1PM Early Release Day
  • December 19 - Teacher Work Day
  • December 22 - January 5 - NO SCHOOL
  • January 6 - TUESDAY Classes Resume
mark your calendars
 
art 5th
art 5th
 
Teach In

Great American Teach-In on November 18th

Parents, community members, and friends of Highlands Elementary School, make plans now to be a part of Teach-In on Tuesday, November 18. We are looking for community leaders to teach at least one class in this community-wide effort. What does it mean to “Teach for a Day”? SCPS invites you to teach our students through life experiences and opening doors! Share about your job, travel and cultural experiences, or a hobby.

Teach-In is a perfect opportunity for parents, business leaders and community members to let students know we care about them. It is simple – join us on Tuesday, November 18 and teach a class or two – whatever your schedule permits. 

Teach-In highlights the importance of bringing together teachers, school staff, parents, students, and communities in a unified effort to build great public schools. We will do our part by giving you some suggestions to prepare you for this experience with an informative Teach-In Speaker Guide. Simply register for Teach-In 2025 (LINK HERE). You will not regret your decision to be a volunteer teacher during Teach-In 2025. We cannot wait to hear from you!
TEACH IN VOLUNTEER HERE
 
lunch tables
lunch tables
 

Math and Science Night Coming Soon!

Math
 

Meal Benefits & Title I

We Need Your Help!

Husky Families - This year we were gifted the opportunity to be a Title I school again. The extra funding has helped us have three additional employees supporting our students (Math Instructional Coach + Reading Interventionist + 1 Instructional Paraprofessionals), additional supplies for our classrooms, professional development for our teachers, and programs for our students.

It only takes 10 minutes to complete the application. Even if you do not purchase lunch, 10 minutes to possibly qualify for a free or reduced lunch also helps our school qualify for additional funding!!!

We appreciate you taking the time to fill out the 10 minute application -- your support is a HUGE HELP!!!
Apply Here
 
SCPS Middle & High Magnet Application Period

SCPS Middle & High School Magnet Application Period

The on-time application period for Middle and High School Magnet Programs as well as for High School Programs of Emphasis for the 2026-2027 school year begins on Oct 1 and ends on December 1. If you are interested in unique theme-based magnet programs for your middle or high school student learn more about our programs and to apply today at www.scps.us/sapa
 

Order your Yearbook Today!

We’re excited to announce that yearbooks for the 2025 school year are now on sale — and it’s the perfect time to buy! Take advantage of our early bird discount and purchase your child’s yearbook for just $20. This special price is available until December 21. After that date, prices will increase, so don’t miss out! Yearbooks are a wonderful way for students to remember their school year, friendships, and special moments. Secure your copy early and save!

Early Bird Deadline: December 21
Discounted Price: $20
Order Now: https://www.buytheyearbook.com/en/ use school code: 387488

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to helping your child make lasting memories this school year!
Yearbook
 

PTA Corner - Updates from Highlands PTA!

 

PTA Updates!

We would like to give a huge thank you to all who participated at Trunk or Treat. We believe it was a huge success thanks to all the families support from candy donations to general support of the PTA.

We will have two spirit nights for PTA in November, including our November Bowling Spirit night on November 21st and our Cici's Spirit night on November 13th!

Also, one last reminder that we have 1 more week of our calendar fundraising drive to support our teachers and students for the remainder of the year.
 

AR Upcoming Celebrations

Drum Roll.... YES! We have made our 3000 point goal and all students are receiving Space Tattoos!

Next up----
3500 pts - Bring a Stuffy to school
4000 pts - Sno Cones
4500 pts - Crazy Hair Day
5000 pts - WIG Watch Party

*In order for students to participate in the WIG Watch Party they must contribute by Reading and taking AR tests. Students who do not participate will not be able to attend.

Keep Reading and taking AR tests to continue earning rewards!!!!
AR Tracking Board
 
Red Apple Dining

Check out Red Apple Dining Menus

Click HERE to see the menu!

Introducing: Mealviewer
Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, Red Apple Dining is improving our guests’ dining experiences with MealViewer, a brand new menu-viewing application available on both Mobile & Desktop. 
Other Mealviewer Perks include:
  • View Breakfast, Lunch, and A La Carte Menus All-in-One
  • New Tools like the Nutrition Calculator and Interactive Menu Items
  • Create a Profile to Set your School and / or Track Allergies
Mealviewer - Highlands Menus
Apply for Meal Benefits Here
 

PBIS Expectations

Highlands is a Positive Behavior Interventions and Support School (PBIS)!

We expect all students to follow our LEAD expectations so we can keep our school a happy and safe place for all students.

We appreciate family support as we utilize the 7 Habits in connection with our PBIS initiatives!

ASK YOUR CHILD ABOUT OUR STAR STUDENT TABLES IN THE CAFETERIA!!

ASK YOUR CHILD ABOUT LEADERSHIP CARDS AND OUR HUSKY HUB!
LEAD expectations
Husky Hub photo
 

Husky Gear Now Available!

Excited for the new school year and ready for an out-of-this-world new addition to your school wardrobe! Our Atticus School Store is now OPEN. Don't worry parents it isn't just for students we have t-shirts, short sleeve, long sleeve, hoodies and athletic dry-fit all available! Act now and order before 7/28 to pick up on Meet the Teacher. All other others will be delivered to students homeroom teacher when they are delivered. Click below to get directly to the store!
school store
Atticus School Store
 

Every Minute Counts!

attendance matters
Did you know that children can suffer academically if they miss 10% of the school year? If a student misses 2 days a month, that is equivalent to 20 days a year (30 hours of math a year and 60 hours of reading/writing a year). Those days can add up before you know it. We know there will be days when your child will miss school, especially when they are sick. Let’s work together to make sure that students are at school on time every day!

Parents and families are essential partners in promoting good attendance because they have the bottom-line responsibility for making sure their children get to school every day. Just as parents should focus on how their children are performing academically, they have a responsibility to set expectations for good attendance and to monitor their children’s absences, so that missed days don’t add up to academic trouble.

Remember students may arrive on campus at 8:05 AM for breakfast and the bell rings at 8:35AM.

Attendance Numbers by Month:
August – 287 absences / 187 tardies
September - 523 absences / 312 tardies
October - 643 absences / 526 tardies

#YouMissSchoolYouMissOut
 
Dividend Icon

CALLING ALL DIVIDENDS!!

Are you interested in being a Volunteer for our school? Interested in chaperoning your child's field trip? Want to participate in Teach-in? How about helping out in the classroom? Now is the time to sign-up to be a Dividend!

Click HERE to apply.
 

Highland's Elementary Amazon Wishlist

Amazon Wishlist
We appreciate any support as we begin the new school year. We can use extra goodies for our PBIS incentives. We also like to surprise our teachers and stock the fridge/teacher's lounge with sodas and coffees here and there.

We appreciate any and all support!

 
A really big thank you image

Thank You Community Sponsors!

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

THANK YOU to the following business partners for donating to Highlands Elementary!

  • Voyage Retirement Solutions - Welcome back Breakfast for our teachers & staff and PBIS prize donations (most recently Bike Donation)
  • Core Financial Services - Prizes to support our new AR program!
  • Action Church - Donated a LOT of food for our Food pantry & Volunteering
  • Papa Johns Pizza Longwood- Donating Pizza monthly for our Pizza with the Principal event!
  • Jeremiah's Italian Ice Casselberry- Hosting Monthly Spirit Night the first Wednesday of every month to help support both our school and PTA.
 
Principal:
Jodi Gonzalez (Farbstein)

Assistant Principal:
Robert Adamowicz

Highlands Elementary
1600 Shepard Road
Winter Springs, FL 32708
407-746-6650
Highlands Elementary with Husky LOGO