August 31, 2009

Take

Note

Calendar Highlights

Mon. Aug. 31 Sally Foster Orders are Due Thurs. Sept. 3 New Parent Coffee 8:00 a.m. Learning Center See Page 4 for Invitation Thurs.-Fri. 3-4 Speech and Hearing Screening Fri. 4 Auction Committee Meeting 8:05 a.m. Conference Room in Office See Page 2 for info Monday 7 Labor Day Holiday - NO SCHOOL/OFFICE CLOSED Tuesday 8 Parents’ Auxiliary Meeting 8:05 a.m. Learning Center Wed.-Fri. 9-11 Fifth Grade Annual Camp McDowell Trip

Please Remember to attend the

Parents’ Auxiliary Meeting Tues., Sept. 8 at 8:05 a.m.

Learning Center

Highlands School Sally Foster Catalog Sale

orders are due back at school today!

Dear Parents,

A little knock sounded from my door as I met with Shelby Hammer. I called out, “Come in!” and in walked fifth grader Lincoln Sorscher. Looking a tiny bit nervous, and with encouragement from Mr. Garrett, he began his plea to Mrs. Hammer and me to allow a fifth grader or two to observe each Middle School Student Council Meetings. His reasoning was clear and well developed. He understood that fifth graders were not middle school students, but he wondered if they could observe so that they would know what to do when they were the leaders of the school.

In addition to his oral appeal, he handed us a petition signed by the fifth graders reading, “We, the people of the fifth grade want the chance to be able to see what the Middle School Council is like. We would take turns going to meetings so next year we would have an idea of what the council was like. The one or two fifth graders who went would promise not to disrupt the meeting or its decisions but would be allowed to watch and listen. If you agree, please sign below.”

Mrs. Hammer and I thanked Lincoln and told him that we did not have an answer for him at that moment, but no matter how it turned out, he should be proud of the way that the students explained their request in a respectful way.

After the student council elections, Mrs. Hammer asked the officers and representatives to consider the petition. They agreed that it was good training for the fifth graders to observe the meetings so that they will be better prepared to be on Student Council when they enter middle school. Maddie Seidel, the president, shared this news with Lincoln and the other fifth graders.

How encouraging it is to witness this leadership, gumption, respect, thinking, and questioning. Students who want to make a difference today will surely make a difference in the future, as well. I am counting on it.

Kathryn Woodson Barr

2009-2010 STUDENT DIRECTORY

If you would like to make any changes or additions to your contact information that was printed in the 2009-2010 Student Directory, please email Cindy Talbird by Fri-day, September 11. Once the information is compiled, we will send an email with the updates.

Attention Parents:

Mrs. Han has requested that each student in grades 1-8

have a binder for their Chinese class. Please

make sure your student has a binder so that they will be

prepared for Mrs. Han’s class.

Thank you!

Page 2

HIGHNOTES

Short

Notes

The Parents’ Auxiliary Auction is right around

the corner and we need volunteers!

Would you like to help with the Auction?

Then come to our next Auction Committee

Meeting on

Friday, Sept. 4, 2009 8:05 a.m.

Conference Room School Office

Lynn Ritchie and Kate Simpson, 2009 Auction Co-Chairs, will be leading this meeting. Please let Peggy Darby know if you will be able to attend so that we will know to expect you.

Attention Learning Center

Carpool Families:

During the morning carpool on the Learning Center side, please do not block the Family Center drop-off lane. Please keep this lane free for Family Center Families to park and take their children into the Center. Thank you for your help with this matter.

Parents Please Take Note:

Monthly lunch order forms will no longer be sent home in backpacks. To order lunch for your student(s) please visit the Highlands School website at www.highlandsschool.org and click on lunch menus. Please print out the form, fill it out

and return to the business office before the deadline noted on the order form. Please remember that the cost and deadline change monthly.

If you placed a lunch order for the whole school year you do not need to place additional lunch orders. If you have any questions, please call the office at 956-9731 and speak with Nancy Duke or Cindy Talbird.

Student Milk Requests Information

The milk requests, which parents included on their Student Profile sheet earlier this year, will appear as a one time charge on the next billing statement. We’ve been happy to allow children these first few weeks of school to change their count and flavor preferences however, after Septem-ber 14, no other changes will be accepted. Thank you, Jane Jenkins, Business Manager

Walker Represents Alabama and Highlands School at People to People

This summer Connor Walker, a fifth grader in Mr. Garrett’s class, represented the State of Alabama at the People to People World Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C. Connor was selected from an elite group of highly qualified 4

th – 7

th graders at Highlands

School. His selection was due in large part to his exceptional leadership skills and exemplary work ethic.

He enjoyed visiting the National Monuments and museums, but was most impressed by his experiences at Gettysburg National Military Park and Arlington National Cemetery. He also made some good friends during his trip.

The People to People World Leadership Forum, created by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, brings young leaders from all over the world to Washington, D.C. each summer to discover the rich history of the District of Columbia while developing leadership skills and building relationships with our world’s future leaders. While in the D.C. area participants learn about a variety of our nation’s past leaders and hear from some of today’s leaders, including a member of the U.S. Congress.

Congratulations, Connor!

HIGHNOTES Page 3

Class of 2010 Leadership Retreat

The Class of 2010 participated in the annual 8th-Grade Leadership Retreat on August 27 and 28. A

combination of service, team building, reflection, and fun, the graduating class spends time away from campus to prepare for the year. Participants in this year’s retreat were Chris Brookshaw, Leila Haikala, Maddie Seidel, Mrs. Hunsicker, and Mrs. Hammer. The first stop for this year’s class was The Cottages at St. Martin’s in the Pines. The Cottages exemplify the latest innovations in nursing home care for elders, and the state-of-the-art facilities impressed the students. Most of all, they enjoyed visiting with the elders there. They heard from one lady who grew up in Helena and took the train to school in Jemison each day. They hope to go back and visit later this year to do an activity with the elders.

The group then headed to Camp Cosby and spent the afternoon kayaking on the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River. They enjoyed beautiful weather as they overcame the challenges of navigating white water, getting stuck on rocks, and taking the occasional swim. The hearty meal of lasagna followed by s’mores was a great way to end the day.

The next morning’s activities involved challenge by choice. The first activity was climbing the Alpine Tower. Each participant had the opportunity to choose a route to the top or to stop at whichever point seemed right. We celebrated our success with a ride on an amazing swing. To finish our time at Camp Cosby, we tackled the high-ropes course. Completing high ropes involves overcoming a series of obstacles high in the trees.

All of these activities from visiting a nursing home to kayaking to conquering a ropes course gave the participants a good sense of their fears and limits and their ability to push their boundaries. The students also practiced helping each other through difficult situations and working as a team to help everyone be successful.

September 2009

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Day 4

2 Day 5

3 Day 1

4 Day 2

5

6

7

LABOR DAY 8 Day 3

9 Day 4

10 Day 5

11 Day 1

12

13

14 Day 2

15 Day 3

16 Day 4

17 Day 5

18 Day 1

19

20

21 Day 2

22 Day 3

23 Day 4

24 Day 5

25 Day 1

26

27

28 Day 2

29 Day 3

30 Day 4

The October Color/Day Color Calendar will be in the September 28 issue of Highnotes.

HIGHNOTES Page 4