"THE BUZZ"
Highland Elementary's
Weekly News for Hornet Families
2025-2026
Weekly News for Hornet Families
2025-2026
Success for All... Whatever it Takes!!!
2909 KY-54, Owensboro, KY 42303
Phone: 270-852-7370
Assistant Principal: Beth Hutchinson
Instructional Coach: Heather King
School Counselor: Alison Foley
Family Resource Center Coordinator: Addison Saalwaechter
Secretary: Ashley Mattingly
Bookkeeper: Alisha Williams
PLEASE USE THIS SITE TO STAY UP TO DATE ON ALL THE LATEST HIGHLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NEWS!
Every day is a GREAT day to be a HORNET!
Buzz of the Week!
What's the Latest Buzz?
November 3-7, 2025
A student must have money in his/her lunch account to purchase A La Carte items.
MENU FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 3rd-7th,2025
MONDAY 11-03-25
BREAKFAST Chocolate Donuts (42g,wheat,egg,soy,milk)
LUNCH 1 Wow Butter Grab Bag (44g,milk,wheat,soy)
2 Brunch For Lunch
Sausage (pork)
Biscuit (25g,wheat,milk,soy)
Gravy (12g,wheat,milk)
Hashbrown Patty (15g,soy)
Baked Apples (24.2g,cinnamon)
Juice (Apple=14g,Grape=21g,OJ=13g)
Sliced Tomatoes
TUESDAY 11-04-25
BREAKFAST Pancake Breakfast Sandwich (18g,egg,milk,soy,wheat,sunflower,chicken)
LUNCH 1 Yogurt Grab Bag (33.042g,milk,wheat,soy)
2 Cheese Quesadilla (31.025g,dairy,wheat)
3 Arroz Con Pollo (98.43g,tomato,celery,wheat,dairy)
Black Bean Salsa (2oz-10.99g,garlic)
Garden Salad with Ranch (ranch contains egg)
Banana / Strawberries
Cinnamon Roll (44g,egg,soy,wheat)
WEDNESDAY 11-05-25
BREAKFAST Breakfast Burrito (41.548g,turkey,milk,wheat)
LUNCH 1 Wow Butter Grab Bag (44g,milk,wheat,soy)
2 Breaded Pork Chop Patty (15.2g,egg,soy,wheat)
3 Salisbury Steak (7g,milk,soy,wheat,beef,tomato)
Mashed Potatoes (17.86g,dairy,soy)
Peas (4oz=15.108g)
Glazed Carrots (4oz=15.522g)
Strawberries & Bananas (32.733g)
Roll (32.404g,milk,wheat,egg)
THURSDAY 11-06-25
BREAKFAST Yogurt Parfait (52.909g,dairy)
LUNCH 1 Yogurt Grab Bag (33.042g,milk,soy,wheat)
2 Southern Gravy Cruncher Basket (82.6g,milk,soy,wheat,sunflower in smiles)
Roasted Brussel Sprouts
Apples & Caramel (42.791g)
Veggies & Dip (dip contains egg)
FRIDAY 11-07-25
BREAKFAST Pizza (24.04g,turkey,milk,soy,sesame)
LUNCH 1 Wow Butter Grab Bag (44g,milk,soy,wheat)
2 Cheese Pizza (37g,dairy,tomato,soy,wheat)
3 Pepperoni Pizza (37g,dairy,tomato,turkey,soy,wheat)
Corn (15.41g)
Garden Salad with Ranch (ranch contains egg)
Carrots & Dip (dip contains egg)
Fruit Cup
Rice Krispie Treat (49.7,milk,soy,pork)
We need YOUR help! Highland receives Title 1 funds. Each year, we send a needs assessment survey to our families to gather feedback on what you need the most support on from the school to partner with us in your child's education. We also need your feedback on how to best spend parent engagement Title 1 funding. Please fill out the following survey and help us learn how we can best work with our families!
Please click here and give us your feedback! THANK YOU!
Social Emotional Competencies (CASEL)
Parents,
When the cafeteria serves a FREE lunch, the student receives everything that comes with the lunch. The cafeteria cannot serve that any other way under the grant. So, please help your child understand that if he or she brings lunch and should ask for just a piece of pizza, just a bag of chips or just a milk, they will be charged for individual items. They must take the whole lunch, but do not have to eat it all.
Thanks!!!
Highland PTO News
Check out Highland's PTO Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/highlandhornetspto
What Are Title I Funds?
Title I is a special program that gives extra money to schools to help all kids learn and grow. Schools that have more families with financial needs get more support. The goal is to make sure every child has the tools they need to succeed — no matter what!
How Does Our School Use Title I Funds?
Hiring extra teachers and helpers to give students more attention
Offering extra reading, math, and tutoring programs
Buying books, technology, and other learning materials
Planning family events and workshops to help you support your child's learning at home
Why Does This Matter for Families?
Title I isn’t just for students — it’s for families too! We believe that when schools and families work together, kids do their best. Title I helps us offer fun activities, learning nights, and resources for parents so you feel connected and supported.
In Short:
Title I funds help our school give every student — and every family — extra support to shine bright!
We would love to have your feedback on our school, parent and family engagement policy (linked above). Please feel free to leave any feedback on this survey.
We would love to have your feedback on our school compact. As you read over the compact (linked above), please feel free to leave any feedback on this survey.
In the event of winter weather, please see the DCPS Winter Weather Policies below. In the event of a DCPS@HOME Day, you can find a Parent Tip Sheet below. All students have a DCPS@Home folder in their backpacks. Students complete the day's work of the DCPS@Home Day announcement (Example: Day 1, Day 2) on that day. Work should be turned in within 5 days of returning to school to count for your child's attendance on that day. Please watch for communication through Talking Points from the school and your child's teacher.
PBIS with Mrs. Hutchinson
Celebrating positive behaviors is a primary focus for the staff at Highland Elementary. Our students will be recognized with BUZZingas, weekly Fun Fridays, and quarterly celebrations based on specific goals. More information to come SOON!
School Counselor's Corner
- Mrs. Foley
1:1 Counseling
Academic, Personal and Emotional, Crisis Intervention (Trauma)
Small Group Counseling
Social Skills, Coping Strategies, Peer Relationships etc...
SEL Guidance Classes Monthly
Social-Emotional Learning for social and personal success
Contact Information:
Email: Alison.Foley@daviess.kyschools.us
Phone: 270-852-7370
Family Resource Center News
- Mrs. Addison
Hello Highland Families,
I am your school's new Family Resource Coordinator. I am beyond excited to begin serving our families at Highland and helping them with anything they might need including food, clothing, utilities, rent, and counseling resources. I will also have the pleasure of developing different programs at our school that serve students and their families such as family nights, student clubs, parent programming, and student educational programs. Please reach out if there is anything I can assist you with! I am happy to be here and to serve you!
You can call the school, or email me at addison.spratt@daviess.kyschools.us
Updates from the FRC
Community Resource Directory
https://thecenterodc.org/resource-directory
FRC Advisory Council Dates:
8/25/25
10/23/25
12/11/25
2/19/26
4/16/26
5/28/26
*Location: Highland Elementary School Rm 192
begins at 11:30AM
M.E.N in the Making Dates
(Club for 4th and 5th Grade boys)
November 10, 2025
December 8, 2025
January 12, 2026
February 9, 2026
March 9, 2026
April 13, 2026
May 11, 2026
*Location: Rm 192
Girls Who Lead Dates (Club for 4th and 5th Grade girls)
November 6, 2025
December 4, 2025
January 22, 2026
February 5, 2026
March 5, 2026
April 2, 2026
May 7, 2026
*Location: Rm 192
All Pro Dad Dates
November 13, 2025
December 11, 2025
January 8, 2025
February 12, 2025
March 12, 2025
April 9, 2025
May 14, 2025
*Location: Rm 192
Things ALL Families Need to Know
Download the Talking Points for Families app on your phone for all communication from the school, including your child's teacher.
7:00 - Early drop-off for K-5 starts in the back of school
Around 7:10-7:15, a traffic guard will be out directing K-5 cars to the front of the school
Please do not text while in an active car line
Families with a preschooler will ALWAYS drop off out back
Preschool Families MUST have YELLOW "P" TAG visible
No Preschool drop-offs until 7:15
Never drop your child off unless an adult is on duty
Never drop your child off in the parking lot of the school
Students will exit the right side of the car
Need extra assistance with your child? Pull up to the Hornet sign
Make sure your child is ready to hop out when you pull up to the school porch. We try to keep the line moving quickly.
7:35 - Tardy bell - Parents that arrive after 7:40 must park in a parking lot space and walk their child in to be signed in
2:20 - School dismisses
Be prepared for a long pick up line
Make sure your child's primary pick up mode is on car
Have your PikMyKid yellow tag visible - If no tag, you will be sent to the front even if we know you
"Announce" on the PikMyKid app
If your child is going home with another child, both parents must send a note
Be patient - We do have preschool children in our line who must be handed off one to one
Preschool teachers are not allowed to buckle your child
Teach your child to buckle themselves
We want to hear any concerns about your child, but please avoid this during pick up time so that we can move the line quickly
Need extra assistance - Pull to the Hornet Sign
If you arrive and there are no adults on duty, please pull to the front and go in the school
Families,
Please make sure you check your PikMyKid app and make sure your child's primary transportation mode is correct before school starts on Wednesday. Remember, if you want to make any changes in your child's daily pickup, you must do that before 2:00pm or else you must call the school office. Make sure when you arrive in the afternoon car rider line that you announce your arrival in PikMyKid.. School dismisses at 2:20.
Please click here to review the student handbook and find out everything you want to know about Highland!
Parents,
Students may be a water bottle to school to keep hydrated throughout the day. Only water is allowed in the bottles. Please do not send flavored drinks or packets that can be added to the water.
Thanks!
Click here to go to our club page and read more about extracurricular activities for your child!
K-5th grade students that arrive at school from 7:00am - 7:25 am will go straight to the cafeteria to choose if he or she would like to eat breakfast.
Pre-K students will eat breakfast with their class at the start of school.
Breakfast remains FREE through the end of the year for ALL students!
After 7:25am, students may go to the cafeteria for a GRAB & GO breakfast, which would be something like cereal and milk.
After breakfast, ALL K-5 students head to the gym until 7:25am, when students are dismissed to go to class.
Families,
All of our students have one to one Chromebooks. It is at the teacher's discretion when to send the Chromebooks home with students. Usually for our smaller folks, they are used mostly in the classroom or on DCPS@Home Days. We all know sometimes things happen. Please review the replacement costs below and help your child setup great routines to avoid accidents or losses.
Screen replacement - $25
Touch screen replacement - $150
Keyboard replacement - $50
Power supply replacement - $15
Other repairs (cameras, hinges, case) - $25
Complete replacement for 1 to 2 year old Chromebook - $200
Complete replacement for touch-enabled Chromebook - $350
Complete replacement for > 2 year old Chromebook - $100
Did you know that Highland has its own daily school news channel? Tune in here to watch what is happening each morning live at 7:40am in the Hornet Studio!
OLD NEWS
All kindergarten parents are welcome to walk their child in on the first day of school. You will need to park out front, then sign-in. Our FRC and School Counselor will have a BooHoo Woohoo Breakfast provided for you in the kindergarten area.
Bring Your Smiles!
September 17
Families,
Save Thursday, September 18 in your calendars from 5:30 - 7:30! This will be a night of reading and math fun, Scholastic Book Fair and an opportunity for you to go to your child's classroom and learn all about what they are learning!
September is the month to celebrate GRANDPARENTS! We are inviting parents to sign up all grandparents to come eat breakfast with their favorite Highland grandkid/s on Sept. 23 - 26 and attend our Scholastic Book Fair! Please see click on the link below to sign-up on the grade level specific day of your choice. If you have grandkids in multiple grades, we can arrange for all of them to come on one morning OR if you want to come multiple morning, you are also welcome to do so.