Dear Highland Ranch Parents,
Welcome back for the 2022-2023 school year! I hope everyone has had a wonderful summer and spent time enjoying family and friends. I had a great summer; our family welcomed a new baby granddaughter. I also had the opportunity to delve into growing as a leader by attending a professional book club investigating how to improve HRES with the learnings from Leading an Inclusive School: Access and Success for ALL Students. I look forward to sharing my learnings and how I will continue to grow as your Principal.
The 2022-2023 school year is an opportunity for Highland Ranch to move forward in our journey in providing the highest quality education for our students, families, and community. We will continue our positive school culture with No Place for Hate, Character Counts, and Bucket Filling. We also look forward to all grades adopting a new Social Studies curriculum that celebrates all the contributions made to this great country.
Traditionally, Highland Ranch celebrates the start of the school year with many activities. As COVID guidelines may change, all the activities in this letter are subject to change. You will be notified if any of this information is revised.
We will be hosting a TK/Kindergarten Parent Night on Thursday, August 4th, at 5:00 p.m. I will give an overview of school, curriculum, facilities, etc.
The first day of school will be Wednesday, August 17th. I look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, August 16th, at our Transitional Kindergarten/Kindergarten Back to School Night and Popsicle Posting Party where students will learn who their teachers will be for the upcoming school year. The Popsicle Posting Party (sponsored by our PTA) is from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. The TK/Kindergarten Back to School Night is from 5:15 – 6:00 p.m. Please bring your TK/Kindergarten children with you to this special evening, as they will meet their teacher from 5:15 to 5:30. Then, they will join Mrs. Venolia and helpers in the Multi-purpose Room while parents meet with the classroom teachers from 5:30 to 6:00.
Parents of students in grades first through fifth will have a Back to School Night on Thursday, August 18th. Third through fifth grade will be from 5:00 to 5:45. There will be a Parent Meeting in the MPR from 5:45 to 6:15, and first and second grade Back to School presentations will be from 6:15 to 7:00. All parents, including Kindergarten parents are encouraged to attend the 5:45 to 6:15 school wide presentation. This is a special night for parents and teachers, please arrange child care.
The big day is August 17th! School begins at 7:45. Parents are invited to attend our PTA’s Boo-Hoo/Yahoo Breakfast in the multipurpose room from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. Come catch up with old friends, or meet new friends, and celebrate the start of the new year. Don’t forget, the parking lot is for staff only, and parents will escort their primary aged children to the green gates, but not to the classroom. Highland Ranch is a closed campus to ensure the health and safety of our students. Kindergarten and TK dismiss at 11:45, and all other grades dismiss at 1:45. Primary students should be picked up by their parents at the green gates, grades 2 through 5 will be dismissed by the double gates on the playground. Please see Student Handbook for additional information.
That is all for now! Take a moment to check out HRES Student Handbook
As well as the TK/Kindergarten Parent Night 2022-2022
All my best,
Cindy Venolia
Your Principal