Highland Community SChool
2024-2025 Back-to-School InfoHandbooks and Policies
Programs Handbook * 2024 Coming Soon*
Family Handbook
Quick Info
2024-2025 School Registration
School registration opens July 29th through Transparent Classroom! Program registration (Beforeschool, Afterschool, CHECK) will open for families on August 5th.
School Supplies
- Children’s House Lists (K3-K5)
- Toddler Program & K3 Extended Day Lists
- Lower Elementary Lists
- Upper Elementary Lists
- Adolescent Program List
School Hours
Level | School Schedule |
Toddler | 8:00 am -3:30 pm |
K3 | 8:30 am -11:30 am |
K4-6th Grade | 8:30 am – 3:30 pm |
Adolescent Program | 8:10 am – 3:30 pm |
Programs
Learn more about our paid programs, including: beforecare, aftercare, CHECK and toddlers.
School Calendar
Download your 2024-2025_academic-year-calendar. Additional events, activities and notices will be added to the Google Calendar throughout the year.
Notes Home
Notes Home is the school-community newsletter for Highland, published electronically every Friday school is in session. Not receiving Notes Home? Please email Ms. Elizabeth to get on the mailing list.
Back to School Policies to Know
TIME | ROUTINE |
---|---|
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Before School |
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7:45 -8:15 AM Breakfast Club |
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8:15-8:30 AM School Day Arrivals |
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8:35 AM & After Tardy/Late Arrival |
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11:30 AM K3 Dismissal |
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3:30 PM School Day Dismissal |
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3:45 PM – 6:00 PM Afterschool Dismissal |
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School Start Time
School starts promptly at 8:30 am (8:10 am for AP). In a Montessori environment, students need three hours of open, uninterrupted time to choose independent work, become deeply engaged, and repeat this work to their satisfaction; therefore, your children must arrive at school on time. Being five or ten minutes late may seem like a minor issue, but it disrupts the rhythm and flow of the entire Montessori classroom. If your child needs to arrive before 8:15 am, they must join the Before School program or participate in the breakfast program that begins at 8:00 am.
Since Toddlers’ school day begins at 8:00 a.m. and requires a consistent schedule, late arrivals are strongly discouraged. Toddlers arriving after 8:30 a.m. will not be admitted without special permission from the Lead Teacher.
Morning Drop-Off
All Toddler and Children’s House (K3-K5) students must be walked into the building during morning drop-off. This means that parents will need to park in the parking lot or on the street to bring their students to their classrooms, where they will sign them in with their teachers.
Lower Elementary (grades 1-3), Upper Elementary (grades 4-6), and Adolescent (grades 7-8) students should be dropped off on 17th Street by the playground. A staff person will greet them and ensure they enter the building safely. Please do not park on 17th Street. This is for drop-off only.
Morning drop-off and afternoon pickup are very busy times for HCS. To keep everyone safe and on time, we have set the following rules:
General Rules
- If you escort your child into the building, use the 18th Street main entrance. Park in the parking lot on 18th Street, Highland Ave., or Juneau Ave.
- Do not park on or in front of the loading dock just south of the Main Entrance on 18th St.
- Handicapped spaces are limited; please do not use these spaces if you aren’t permitted.
Gate Hours
The East Gate 17th Street: Open and staffed mornings from 8:05 am to 8:35 am for the car drop offline. If you are late for drop-off, proceed to the main entrance on 18th Street.
Parking
Because our parking lot is so busy, patience and caution are required. Please drive slowly and be careful when entering and exiting the parking lot. There is also street parking on 18th St. and Juneau Ave.
Parking Tips
- Parking Maps are available on the website.
- Arrive early in winter! Snow build-up limits parking spaces and narrows the street. Parking during the winter months will take extra patience and time. Plus, you will need extra time to help your child remove winter attire once in the building.
Pick-up Time
Children’s House through the Adolescent program can be picked up from inside the building at 3:30 pm. AP students will be dismissed to 17th Street at 3:30 pm. Upper Elementary students need written permission from their parent/guardian to be dismissed to 17th Street at the end of the day. Please email Executive Director, Ms. Tracy.
- Doors in the office will be closed until 3:25 pm.
- Classroom doors will be closed until 3:30 pm, when children may be picked up by their parent/guardian.
Pick-up time for 3-year-old children is 11:30 am unless your child is enrolled in the CHECK program. The all-school pick-up for students is at 3:30 pm unless your child is in the Afterschool program. Students in K4-8th grade should be picked up no earlier than 5 minutes before dismissal unless an excuse is provided to school staff at the time of pickup. Picking your child up early may impact their attendance record.
Upper Elementary students only may be released to the 17th Street Gate at the end of the day with written permission from a parent to Ms. Tracy. Parents can email Ms. Tracy to communicate to the school if they would like their older child released from 17th Street. Children’s House and Lower Elementary children are not allowed to exit 17th Street (even with parent permission) unless they are escorted by an older (Upper El or Adolescent) sibling.
If your student is missing school due to frequent early pick-ups, you may be contacted by the School Social Worker and a conference may be scheduled to discuss your child’s attendance record and problem-solve.
When To Keep Children Home
Children who are sick require the special attention that being at home provides. Children cannot be permitted at school with any of the following:
- Fever of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea – within the previous 24-hour period
- Draining rash
- Eye discharge or pink eye
- Sore throat
- Communicable diseases, such as head lice, ringworm, etc., require treatment (see Main Office for exact details and processes)
When Illness Occurs at School
Children not well enough to go outside for playtime are not well enough to come to school. If illness occurs while your child is at school, the office staff will notify you. Your child will be sent to the administrative office and cared for by the administrative staff until he or she is picked up. You are responsible for arranging for or picking up your child from school as soon as possible. Children may return to school when:
- Symptoms are decreasing
- There is no discharge from rash
- They have a fever of less than 100 degrees (without medication) for 24 hours
- They have had no vomiting or diarrhea for 24 hours
- They can tolerate full activities, including recess
First Day of School
Tuesday, September 3rd, 2024
Phone & Email
414-342-1412
info@hcsmke.org
Calendar
Tuesday, July 23
New Families Meeting
Monday, July 29
School Registration Opens