Attendance Top
Attendance of students in the Mesa Public School District is by the school attendance area. Parents wishing to have their children attend another school should refer to the district’s open enrollment policy. Visit any school office regarding the open enrollment form.
Child Care Program Top
Child care program includes a before school and after school program. The program is in operation on school days only and provided through the district’s Community Education Department.
Crosswalk Safety Top
Walkers and students who ride bikes to school are required to use crosswalks to safely enter and leave campus. Bicycle riders are encouraged to wear helments.
Early Release Top
Students are released each Wednesday at 2:55 p.m.
Extra Curricular Activities Top
Extra curricular activities include, but are not limited to: Battle of the Books; Chorus; Student Council.
Field Trips Top
Zoos, museums, and concerts are just a few of the field trips scheduled throughout the year. School buses are used for transportation and tax credit donations, our PTO, and/or parents of participating students incur the cost of field trips.
Fine Arts ClassesTop
Fine Arts classes available include General Music for students in Kindergarten , 1st-6th Grade, Band for 5th-6th Grade, Orchestra for 4th-6th Grade, and Art for 4th-6th Grade. All students attend Physical Education classes.
Grades Top
Grades are assigned to all students. Report cards are shared with parents in conferences scheduled each Fall and Winter. Parents receive a copy of the report card at the end of each marking period.
Homework Top
Homework is an integral component of the instructional day and is designed to reinforce skills taught. Each teacher determines the length of homework assignments. All of our students are encouraged to read each evening. Refer to the MPS Homework Hotline for more information.
Instruction Top
Instruction is standards-based with teachers using adopted textbooks and materials in the core curriculum areas. A wide range of support materials and technology resources are used to support instruction. Please refer to Arizona State Standards through the Arizona Department of Education website. Parents may also visit http://www2.mpsaz.org/curriculum/parents for grade specific information.
Kindergarten Top
Full Day Kindergarten is offered Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 8:25 a.m.-2:55 p.m., as well as on Wednesday from 8:25 a.m.-2:25 p.m. on Wednesday. Half Day Kindergarten is offered Monday through Friday from 8:25a.m.-11:15a.m.
Lunch Top
Juice, milk, and a choice of main entrée is offered to all students each day at lunch. All children may bring a sack lunch from home, or buy a hot lunch for $1.75. Each student has an account, which is a debit account. This means that money or meal credits are deposited into the account, then the student can purchase food items. MyLunchMoney.com will be available on August 12, 2009, for deposits to accounts.
Medications Top
Medication is administered by the school nurse/assistant only. The nurse is responsible for all students’ health records and needs. Please visit this web site for additional information:
http://www.mpsaz.org/health/parents.html
Newsletter Top
Newsletter is issued each Monday to all families. This means of communication is a joint effort of the school and PTO, and includes school, district, and community news.
Notebooks and Supplies Top
Dividers for notebooks, paper, and crayons are a few of the recommended supplies students will need each day. Each teacher shares with the students a suggested list of school supplies.
PTO Top
Our Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is a very dynamic and energetic organization at Highland Elementary. While fundraising is the main goal of the PTO, the members actively support programs with donations of time and resources. Parents are urged to become members and to join one of the many committees.
PTO Board Members include:
, Co-Presidents
, Co-Vice Presidents
, Treasurer
, Secretary
Registration Top
Registration at Highland requires parents to furnish the office staff with a completed registration form, proof of residence (current utility or phone bill), immunization record, and birth certificate. The address of the previously attended school is needed so records can be requested. So as not to disrupt instruction on their first day of school, new students need to be in the office by 8:05 a.m. Registration must be done at least one day prior to class placement.
Student drop off and pick up Top
Student drop off and pick up takes place in the front of the school for students transported by parents. School staff members assist with the students’ safe passage to and from vehicles.
Testing Top
Testing: state, district, and school are scheduled throughout the year. The testing schedule is distributed to parents in the fall. Results are shared with parents in conferences and in written reports. The Terra Nova Achievement Test is administered in the spring to students in 2nd Grade. AIMS is given to students in 3rd-6th Grade in the spring.
Uniforms/Dress Code Top
Uniforms are not worn at Highland. Students are expected to wear clothing that is not disruptive or inappropriate. Please refer to the school district's dress and grooming policies by clicking here. District dress and grooming policies are also issued at the beginning of the school year and when students enroll.
Visitors Top
Visitors and volunteers are required to sign-in at the office and receive a pass before visiting campus. Volunteers are used in classrooms, support programs and in the numerous PTO functions and events. Non-parent volunteers (i.e., grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings) are required to have a background check and fingerprinting prior to volunteering at a Mesa Public School.