Sunday, May 17, 2020

May 18th, 2020


Monday Notes 5.18.20

"High Point Elementary cultivates knowledgeable, compassionate, and inquiring learners who impact a diverse global community."

**Friendly reminder that action items are in red and informational only items are in blue

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Last Monday Blog
This week's blog will be the last for this school year. We will email teachers individually if anything is needed to wrap up the school year. 

Staff not returning to High Point can drop off keys, laptop, or other items on the two post-planning days (May 26th and 27th)

While we are not asking staff to report to school on the 26th and 27th, please check email occasionally in case there is anything needed by admin. Thanks!!!

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Riverwood Senior Drive-Thru - Date Change!!!
Due to rain Monday, we are rescheduling the Riverwood Senior Drive-Thru to TUESDAY from 11:30-12:00 (in between the personal item pick up times). 

Students who are graduating from Riverwood High School this year and attended High Point in elementary school will be "driving thru" High Point. We encourage all staff to attend and help make posters for our graduates! 

We will continue to abide by the social distancing guidelines therefore staff will park in the upper parking lot, and stand on the sidewalk, 6 feet apart, from the front of the school down to the new building parking lot. 

The flow will be the same for the HPES Student Drive-Thru

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Challenge Week! 
The Game of Games Challenge week was so much fun and we appreciate all who participated!!! Our talented staff showed off their living rooms, made pictures of High Point out of condiments, face-timed with colleagues during lunch, sent funny texts, and even "morphed" with a celebrity to see what their baby looked like! The "impersonation" video of Pitchford was priceless and might be shared after we get permission to do so! Ha!






Thank you to everyone who participated. The following staff, who competed in the Game of Games Challenge Week, will receive a $10 Target gift card in their mailbox at school: 

Owens
Ittig
Arnold
Burnette
Barnes
Blinder
Conway, M
Pereira
Collins
Gochnauer
Orrison
Norwood

If we accidentally missed someone, please let Pitchford know!!! 

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Personal Item Pick-Up Days and Process

5/19: Last Name A-M – 7:30 am-11:30 am and Last Name N-Z – 12:00 pm-4:00 pm
5/20: Last Name A-M – 12:00 pm-4:00 pm and Last Name N-Z – 7:30 am-11:30 am

Library Book Returns: Beginning May 11th- 22nd: 7:00 am – 2:00 pm

School staff will put students’ personal items in bags labeled with student names. Items which will be picked up NOW by parents will be placed in the cafeteria at a table by their last name. Items to be picked up in August will remain in the classroom. We will add student medications if applicable. 

Parents will be allowed to pick up items on 5/19 or 5/20 based off their last name. They will be instructed to pull into the front of the building near the cafeteria entrance and retrieve the items curbside. High Point will receive textbooks, library books, or any other items to return during this time as well.

Two staff members will be staff outside and two staff members will be staff inside the cafeteria to deliver the personal item bags. 

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Celebration Student Drive-Thru!!
We will welcome students and parents to "drive thru" High Point this Friday, the last day of school, to give them an opportunity to say hello, wave good-bye, and have closure to the school year. 

 Staff will line up along the front of the building, 6 feet apart, at their designated times. We are asking all staff wear gloves and a mask around their neck in the event that children want to give end-of-the-year gifts or if someone is in closer proximity to you than anticipated. 

Please park in the UPPER parking lot so we can utilize the lower parking lot for the Drive Thru. 

PTO will be handing out pre-ordered yearbooks near the field during the designated times as well. The pick-up spot is marked by the purple X on the map. 

PreK – 8:00-8:20
Kindergarten - 8:30-8:50
1st Grade - 9:15-9:35
2nd Grade - 10:00-10:20
3rd Grade -10:45-11:05
4th Grade -11:30-11:50
5th Grade -12:15-12:45


*Should rain be a factor, we might need to adjust the times. Please stay tuned. 

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T-Shirts For Staff
We have made t-shirts for each staff member to commemorate this time and to say thank you for everything you have done for our students. 

Please pick up your t-shirt at the front of the school Monday or Tuesday. Otherwise, each t-shirt will be placed in your school mailbox so you can wear it on the 22nd. 

T-shirts are laid out on two front tables in the front office. Names have been placed on the t-shirts with a sticker and are in alphabetical order. We used the sizes from the shirt order from the beginning of the year. We have a few extra so if you need a different size and can't switch with someone, please let Zeller or Pitchford know. 

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Building Entry After 3:00 pm
For safety purposes, we need to lock the front doors after 3:00 each day this week. If you need to enter the building, please use your key and use the door outside Madison Midkiff's office. Thank you!!!

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Classroom Breakdown for Summer - Reminders

School Hours Beginning May 4th: 6:00 am - 7:00 pm 

In order to adhere to the social distancing guidelines set by the state and county, we will be doing the following: 

* A total of eight people will be allowed in the building each day. We understand that some of you might need to bring a child or a loved one to help you move or breakdown your classroom but we ask that you limit it to one support person a day. 

* We have created the schedule so that the teachers working each day are spread out. Please make sure that you are 6-feet away from a colleague if you are working on the same day. 

Please bring your own masks and gloves if you have them. If you need a mask or gloves, please email Pitchford immediately so we can secure enough for those who are in the building. 


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Yearbooks For Students
Yearbooks are here! Yearbooks will be placed in the "Personal Item Bags" by our PTO if a parent has requested to pick up their child's belongings from High Point on 5/19 or 5/20.

  If the parents did not request to pick up their child's personal belongings, their yearbook will be available for pick up on 5/22 during the drive-thru celebration. The Yearbook Pick-Up Station is represented by the purple X on the drive-thru map.


Yearbooks are pre-order only!  PTO will not be selling any yearbooks at the school. If parents are interested in a yearbook and didn't pre-order one, they can check the PTO website to pre-order however, quantities are limited. An email blast was sent to all parents notifying them of the pick-up options and how to order. 


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End of Year Faculty Celebration
Please join us via Zoom on May 21st at 3:00 for our End of Year Faculty Celebration!!!
We hope to see everyone's faces, so make sure to turn your camera on but keep your microphone muted so we can make sure to hear those who are speaking. 

During this time, we will recap 2019-2020, celebrate Simon and Conway who are retiring, and those who are leaving High Point. Please look for the Zoom invitation in your email. 

********************CALENDAR OF EVENTS*********************

Monday, May 18th
Pick Up Staff T-Shirts

Tuesday, May 19th
Pick Up Staff T-Shirts
Riverwood HS Graduate Drive-Thru @ 11:30 am - 12:00 pm
Students' Personal Item Pick Up 7:30-4:00 pm

Wednesday, May 20th
Students' Personal Item Pick Up 7:30-4:00 pm

Thursday, May 21st
5th Grade Completion Ceremony - Virtual 
3:00 - End of Year Faculty Celebration via Zoom

Friday, May 22nd  
Student Drive-Thru

*************************BIRTHDAYS**************************
 
Happy birthday to Lori Simon on the 19th, Stephanie Rogers on the 22nd and Sarah Ittig on the 29th!!! We hope you all have a wonderful birthday! 

We would also like to wish happy birthday to our staff with summer birthdays: 
June
Collins - 1st
Jackson - 12th
Eigel - 14th
Blinder - 16th 
July
Mendoza - 1st
Espinoza, J - 2nd
Roberts, K - 8th 
DiBartolo - 14th
Gopal - 27th
Caramelo - 28th 
  

Friday, May 8, 2020

May 11th, 2020


Monday Notes 5.11.20

"High Point Elementary cultivates knowledgeable, compassionate, and inquiring learners who impact a diverse global community."

**Friendly reminder that action items are in red and informational only items are in blue


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Thank You



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Challenge Week! 
Join us at 3:00 Monday through Thursday to spin the Wheel of Challenge!!!! You will be given a challenge that corresponds to a number. You will have until Thursday to complete your challenge/s. You can choose to spin the wheel each day, every other day, only two days, or none at all! It's up to you how much you play! 
Each player will earn points for completing a challenge and possible bonus points for creativity and added laughter. 

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 878 4672 1592
Password: 038341

On Friday, the THREE people with the most points and challenges complete will be announced and they will be sent a $10 Target gift card. 

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May Upcoming Calendar Events

May 18th:  Riverwood HS Graduate Drive Thru @ 12:30 pm-1:00 pm

May 19th and 20th: Personal Item Pick Up for Parents

May 21st: Faculty End of Year Celebration @ 3:00 pm

May 18th- May 22nd: Student and staff year-end celebrations and staff-wrap-up

May 22nd:  School-Wide Student Drive Thru 

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Personal Item Pick-Up Days and Process

5/19: Last Name A-M – 7:30 am-11:30 am and Last Name N-Z – 12:00 pm-4:00 pm
5/20: Last Name A-M – 12:00 pm-4:00 pm and Last Name N-Z – 7:30 am-11:30 am

Library Book Returns: Beginning May 11th- 22nd: 7:00 am – 2:00 pm

School staff will put students’ personal items in bags labeled with student names. Items which will be picked up NOW by parents will be placed in the cafeteria at a table by their last name. Items to be picked up in August will remain in the classroom. We will add student medications if applicable. 

Parents will be allowed to pick up items on 5/19 or 5/20 based off their last name. They will be instructed to pull into the front of the building near the cafeteria entrance and retrieve the items curbside. High Point will receive textbooks, library books, or any other items to return during this time as well.

The support staff managing the 19th and 20th Personal Items Pick Up and Drop off and the schedule is below: 

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Celebration Student Drive-Thru!!
We will be allowing students and parents to "drive thru" High Point on May 22nd, the last day of school, to give them an opportunity to say hello, wave good-bye, and have closure to the school year. 

In order to stay within the social distancing guidelines, we will offer a staggered drive-thru. Staff will line up along the front of the building, 6 feet apart, at their designated times. Support staff can choose which grade level/s they would like to stand with. We are asking that staff park in the UPPER parking lot so we can utilize the lower parking lot for the Drive Thru. 

PreK – 8:00-8:20
Kindergarten - 8:30-8:50
1st Grade - 9:15-9:35
2nd Grade - 10:00-10:20
3rd Grade -10:45-11:05
4th Grade -11:30-11:50
5th Grade -12:15-12:45


Posters, markers, glitter, and paint are located at the front desk. Grade levels are allowed to take one poster per teacher to decorate for the Drive-Thru. We will also blow up balloons and have music! 

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Riverwood Senior Drive-Thru
Students who are graduating from Riverwood High School this year and attended High Point in elementary school will be "driving thru" High Point on May 18th from 12:30-1:00. We encourage all staff to attend and help make posters for our graduates! 

We will continue to abide by the social distancing guidelines therefore staff will park, stand on the sidewalk 6 feet apart, from the front of the school down through the new building parking lot. 

The flow will be the same for the HPES Student Drive-Thru

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T-Shirts For Staff
We have made t-shirts for each staff member to commemorate this time and to say thank you for everything you have done for our students. The t-shirts will be ready for you to wear during the Riverwood HS Drive-Thru and/or during our Student Drive-Thru. 

Please pick up your t-shirt at the front of the school on May 18th. Otherwise, each t-shirt will be placed in your school mailbox so you can wear it on the 22nd. 

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Last Week Celebrations and Rewards
To know what each grade level is doing to wrap up the year, please click on the link below: 


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Classroom Breakdown for Summer

School Hours Beginning May 4th: 6:00 am - 7:00 pm 

In order to adhere to the social distancing guidelines set by the state and county, we will be doing the following: 

* A total of eight people will be allowed in the building each day. We understand that some of you might need to bring a child or a loved one to help you move or breakdown your classroom but we ask that you limit it to one support person a day. 

* We have created the schedule so that the teachers working each day are spread out. Please make sure that you are 6-feet away from a colleague if you are working on the same day. 

Please bring your own masks and gloves if you have them. If you need a mask or gloves, please email Pitchford immediately so we can secure enough for those who are in the building. 


********************CALENDAR OF EVENTS*********************
*May 11th  - May 15th: Make-up work and assignment completion. Teachers will continue to provide academic support to students and should focus on students with “Incompletes” and/or failing averages. If students have completed everything, teachers can give review assignments. 


Monday, May 11th
Kindergarten Collegial 8:00-10:00 am
Field Day Begins - ALL WEEK
Spin the Wheel Challenge @ 3:00 pm via ZOOM 

Tuesday, May 12th
First Grade Collegial 8:00-10:00 am
Spin the Wheel Challenge @ 3:00 pm via ZOOM 

Wednesday, May 13th
Second Grade Collegial 8:00-10:00 am
SGC Meeting at 8:00 am 
Spin the Wheel Challenge @ 3:00 pm via ZOOM 

Thursday, May 14th
Third Grade Collegial 8:00-10:00 am
Spin the Wheel Challenge @ 3:00 pm via ZOOM 

Friday, May 15th 
Fourth Grade Collegial 8:00-10:00 am
Last day to enter grades in Infinite Campus

*************************BIRTHDAYS**************************
 
There are currently no birthdays this week.  

Monday, May 4, 2020

May 4th 2020


Monday Notes 5.4.20

"High Point Elementary cultivates knowledgeable, compassionate, and inquiring learners who impact a diverse global community."

**Friendly reminder that action items are in red and informational only items are in blue


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A Letter From a Parent


Dear Educators and Staff at HPES,

You all have been on our hearts, and we are incredibly grateful for the dedication, creativity, leadership, compassion, and patience that you have shown while guiding our children through these extraordinary days. The amount of communication and encouragement that you have given us as parents has also been much appreciated, and we have loved hearing from you.

As you step into your classrooms and offices to clean up in the coming weeks, you may or may not be going in with the same exuberance of completing another year as you may have in years past. The classrooms especially may have a bit of an air of abandonment rather than release, and the relative quiet may point a little more toward loneliness rather than serenity. But as different as the building may seem, hopefully what you see there will remind you of the great joys that happened earlier in the year (and that still happen now, albeit outside of the school), and hopefully you will be reminded of the energy, excitement, and love that our children wish you could feel directly from them every single day. Regardless of where you are, our children's love for you is ever present, and we and our children will be there with you in spirit, cheering you on as you close out and move toward the last few weeks of the school year. 

This seems like the final push, and we couldn't be more grateful for the ways you have helped us finish the year as strong and as well as we could. Thank you for all that you've done to give our children a firm foundation - academically, emotionally, and physically - both in person and online, and thank you for demonstrating what it means to lead well in extraordinary times. In all circumstances, you are growing and nurturing our children to be better and brighter, and we are honored to have walked through this year with you.

With much gratitude,
Dean, Kameron, Sierra, Alyssa, and Nathan Joelson

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May Calendar Items

THIS WEEK: Last week of NEW content and assignments given

May 11th  - May 15th: Make-up work and assignment completion. Teachers will continue to provide academic support to students and should focus on students with “Incompletes” and/or failing averages. If students have completed everything, teachers can give review assignments. 

May 11th  - May 15th: Field Day for Students

May 19th and 20th - Personal Item Pick Up for Parents

May 20th 3:00-4:00: Faculty End of Year Celebration

May 18th- May 22nd: Student and staff year-end celebrations and staff-wrap-up.

TENTATIVE EVENTS:
May 18th - Riverwood Graduate Parade @ 12:30 pm @ HPES
May 21st - School-wide Parade @ 11:30-12:30 on High Point Road

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Personal Item Pick-Up Days and Process

5/19: Last Name A-M – 7:30 am-11:30 am and Last Name N-Z – 12:00 pm-4:00 pm
5/20: Last Name A-M – 12:00 pm-4:00 pm and Last Name N-Z – 7:30 am-11:30 am

Library Book Returns: Beginning May 11th- 22nd: 7:00 am – 2:00 pm

School staff will put students’ personal items in bags labeled with student names and grade. Items which will be picked up by parents will be placed in the cafeteria. Items to be picked up in August will remain in the classroom. We will add student medications if applicable. 

Parents will be allowed to pick up items on 5/19 or 5/20 based off their last name. They will be instructed to pull into the front of the building near the cafeteria entrance and retrieve the items curbside. High Point will receive textbooks, library books, or any other items to return during this time as well.

We will create a schedule for paraprofessionals to help during these two days with the curbside pick up. Questions or concerns, please email Pitchford or DiBartolo. 

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Summer Bridge Books
For the past couple of years, we have been selling Summer Bridge workbooks to our High Point families . These activity books really help with the "summer slide" that happens every summer season. 
Please promote these workbooks to your families. The company will be selling them this year for $11.99 which includes shipping TO their house. The price they are offering to our families is still $3 less than any other website or store. A blurb about how to purchase these will be shared with you in the next day or so.  Any questions, reach out to Hess.

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Student Art at the High Museum
During our extended time apart, the High Museum of Art in Atlanta has decided to organize and host an online Virtual Student Exhibition via their Facebook page.  Thousands of children from all over Atlanta have been submitting artworks. We’d like to give a huge shout-out to one of High Point’s very own: Nathan Cocking in 3rd grade.  
Nathan submitted the artwork below about the legendary creature of Loch Ness.  Way to go, Nathan!


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Classroom Breakdown for Summer

School Hours Beginning May 4th: 6:00 am - 7:00 pm 

In order to adhere to the social distancing guidelines set by the state and county, we will be doing the following: 

* A total of eight people will be allowed in the building each day. We understand that some of you might need to bring a child or a loved one to help you move or breakdown your classroom but we ask that you limit it to one support person a day. 

* We have created the schedule so that the teachers working each day are spread out. Please make sure that you are 6-feet away from a colleague if you are working on the same day. 

Please bring your own masks and gloves if you have them. If you need a mask or gloves, please email Pitchford immediately so we can secure enough for those who are in the building. 

* If you can't do your assigned day and need to switch with someone, please coordinate with another colleague and communicate the switch with Pitchford. 

* We might open on the weekends if needed. We have a limited amount of time to get everyone packed up for the summer so please make sure you are utilizing your time wisely. If you need more time or don't need all your days, please let someone on the admin team know. 

* If someone was left off, please let Pitchford know. Thanks!!!


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Rosetta Stone for Parents and Staff
Rosetta Stone is giving us unlimited licenses through 6/30/20 that can be used for staff or parents. 

If there are teachers, front office staff, or other staff who would like to work on Spanish (or another language) in order to better communicate with parents, this program is for you!

Please let Pitchford know if you are interested and she will set you up! 

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Principal's Corner for April
The link below is the Principal's Corner for April that went out to all parents on May 1st. Information about personal item pick-ups is mentioned along with events happening in May. Check it out! 


*************************BIRTHDAYS**************************
 
Happy birthday to Benita Bearden and Michelle Nobles on the 5th! We hope you both have a very special birthday!!