HPS Jan 23 Weekly Update

Hello HPS Families! Here is your weekly update for the week of Jan. 23.

School Fees

High Park Student Fee Statements for the 2022-2023 school year will be emailed to families this week. Please remit payment as soon as possible through the online PowerSchool Parent Portal. You can also pay by cash or cheque, payable to Parkland School Division, to the School office. Please include your child’s name with the payment. As always, should you require assistance logging into your Powerschool Parent Portal account or have any questions, please contact our office at 780-963-2222 or via email at highpark@psd.ca. We thank you in advance for your prompt attention to this matter.

Moose on the Loose

Three moose have been spotted in the area around the school recently. Fish and Wildlife officers are also aware and are monitoring the situation and advising our school administration as the situation warrants. Please speak to your children about wildlife safety, and not to approach these or any wildlife should they spot them. If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact our school office at 780-963-2222, or the local Fish and Wildlife office at 1-800-642-3800.

Winter Walk Day

Winter Walk Day is scheduled for February 1st and our school is registered for this event. Students may be participating in this event through their Phys. Ed and Wellness blocks, or as a DPA activity with their class. Parents and families are encouraged to participate at home as well by opening the door and getting outside for a winter walk, snowshoe, ski, or other winter activity. For more information and resources, visit https://shapeab.ca/winter-walk-day/. 

School Calendar

Please stay up-to-date with school activities and events by following our school calendar here: https://highpark.psd.ca/about/calendar

Crosswalk and Parking Lot Safety Issues

We ask for your cooperation to help keep everyone safe during dropoff and pickup times. The bus lane is closed to traffic between 7:30 - 9:30 am and 2:30 - 4:30 pm. This is for everyone’s safety, as students cross this lane from our dropoff zone. Please be extra cautious when entering the staff parking lot to access the dropoff lane. We remind caregivers that the dropoff lane in the parking lot area is a “drop and go” area - there is no parking here. Please assist us with keeping traffic flowing by exiting the area as soon as your child(ren) have departed the vehicle. If you need to park temporarily, please use the parking lot, or park along the street in a safe location. We also ask that you do not park in front of the fire hydrant in front of the school when dropping off students, even if temporarily. This is not a loading zone and the area is to be kept clear for safety reasons. Likewise, on the west side of the crosswalk crossing the bus lane, please avoid parking within 1.5 m of the corner. This creates a visibility hazard for students crossing the street. We also ask that vehicles kindly wait until the crosswalk is completely clear before entering the intersection. There have been several close calls with vehicles cutting the corner close to students/parents who are actively crossing the road, and this is a safety concern for all involved. Thank you for your cooperation which will help keep everyone safe on their way to and from school. Please be aware that bylaw officers have been making more frequent visits to our school to assist with safety during peak times. 

Something Fishy at High Park

You may have noticed the trout aquarium has been set up in front of the main office. We are expecting to receive our trout eggs on Tuesday. Trout eggs are sensitive to light, so to help their development, and to help insulate the tank, there will be styrofoam on the front of the aquarium for the first few weeks. Once they have hatched and are swimming around the tank, we will be able to remove the front styrofoam. For updates and pictures, please follow our Facebook page.

PSD is Hiring!

Please check the school division website for current opportunities: https://canwww.psd.ca/employment/current-openings 

Lost and Found

Our bins are full to bursting once again! If you are missing any of your child’s items, please stop by the school over the next week or so and take a look through our Lost and Found tables and bins. 

Hot Lunch Notification Change

If your child will be absent and you’d like to pick up their lunch or send it to another child, please call or email the office at 780-963-2222 or highpark@psd.ca no later than 10:00 am the day of hot lunch. Please note that refunds are not available.

As always, should you have questions or require more information please feel free to reach out to Mr. Oldham or myself at the school or via email at dave.oldham@psd.ca or adrienne.owen@psd.ca. Please follow us on Facebook/Instagram and our website for updates and information throughout the year.

Important Upcoming Dates:

• Jan. 25 - Hot Lunch: Boston Pizza
• Jan. 26 - Concession hosted by Sun Run participants
• Jan. 26 - High Park School Spirit Day - wear your Hurricane colours!
• Jan. 27 - Ski Club at Rabbit Hill - bus departs at 3:30 and returns by 9:30
• Jan. 30 - PD Day: No School
• Feb. 1 - Hot Lunch - Dairy Queen
• Feb. 1 - Winter Walk Day
• Feb. 3 - Ski Club at Rabbit Hill - bus departs at 3:30 and returns by 9:30
• Feb. 3 - Hot Lunch - Dominoes
• Feb. 9 & 10 - Teachers’ Convention - No School
• Feb. 13 - 2023-2024 School Year Online Registration Opens
• Feb. 14 - Valentine’s Day
• Feb. 16 - 100th day of School!
• Feb. 16 - Kindergarten Open House - all 2023-24 Kindergarten students and their parents are invited to attend from 6:00-7:00pm!
• Feb. 20 - Family Day - No School
• Feb. 22 & 23 - Parent-Teacher Interviews
• Feb. 24 - Ski Club at Rabbit Hill - bus departs at 3:30 and returns by 9:30