February 9, 2009

Take

Note

Calendar Highlights

Thurs. Feb. 12 Soccer Registration Form Due 4th - 8th Grade Field Trip to Symphony Fri. 13 Weather Make-Up Day - No School and Offices Closed Mon. 16 Presidents’ Day No School and Offices Closed Wed. 18 3rd - 5th Grade Field Trip to Children’s Theatre Fri. 20 Middle School Dance 6:30 - 9:30 Mon. 23 5th and 6th Grade National French Contest Tues. 24 Preschool to Children’s Theatre Wed. 25 3rd and 4th Grade National French Contest Thurs. 26 Creativity Convention Middle School Exams Fri. 27 Middle School Exams

It is time for Spring Soccer Registra-tion. Please fill out the form on page 6 and along with a check for $145 (or $135 by February 6th for Early Bird Reg-istration) return to Highlands, Attention: Gabe McCool. The deadline for registration is Feb-ruary 12th. Games will begin the weekend of March 14th. Coaches will contact you regarding practice day and time and when practice will begin. Thank you! Gabe McCool

The Chinese New Year article in last week’s Highnotes is-sue incorrectly stated that Ms. Ping and Ms. Huini hosted the Chinese New Year Party. The party was actually hosted by Judy McDonald, Admis-sions Director, in honor of Ms. Ping and Ms. Huini.

Dr. Rosenthal Speaks to the Fifth Grade

Over the past few weeks, Mr. Kizer’s fifth grade science students have been learning to program robots using LEGO NXT base sets. A sub-ject sounding so technical intimidates many adults, but these young Highlands students were eager to take on the challenge. They have not only learned the basics of robotics programming, but have also programmed their robots to go at the sound of a clap and follow a line on the floor using high tech sensors.

At least one of these bright young students has robotics in her genes, and Sarah Rosenthal was more than happy to have her dad come speak to the fifth grade about how he uses robots at work. Dr. Eben Rosenthal is not only Sarah and Walker Rosenthal’s dad, but he is also an associate pro-fessor of surgery at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. Using a Power Point presentation, he explained to the students how robots are used to help surgeons operate on patients who are having

health problems. Since the robotic arms are smaller and shaped dif-ferently than human hands, surgeons can be more precise with the cuts they have to make. Consequently, patients enjoy faster and more comfortable recoveries.

Highlands School is fortunate to have such talented and generous parents. This is just one more reason those who attend Highlands School experience a higher degree of learning.

CORRECTION

Congratulations to the Dobelbowers, who were the

first ones to turn in their enroll-ment contracts for the

2009-2010 school year.

Page 2

HIGHNOTES

Short

Notes

School-Wide Reading Results

Congratulations to the 249 students and nine parents and Faculty/Staff Members who participated in the School-wide Reading Program. The overall school goal of hours to read was 2,700 hours. As you can see from the picture this goal was exceeded with a total of 3,201 hours being read between Friday, January 9 - Monday, January 26! Did you know that it would take one person reading for four months - 24 hours a day, seven days a week - to read the same amount? An extra special congratulations to the 186 students who met the individual goal of reading for 10+ hours during the School-wide Reading Program. Great job every-one!

Additional Information from the Board of Trustees In previous issues of Highnotes, you read a Note from the Board of Trustees with information about the 10 Monthly Payment Plan through Tuition Management Systems (TMS) and an announcement that in 2009-10, parents may enroll with TMS for credit card payments. Please note that TMS may impose a convenience fee on credit card payments if you choose this option with them. A Direct Debit Option (DDO) is available through TMS at no additional charge. If you have additional questions, please visit www.afford.com or contact an Education Payment Advisor at 800-722-4867.

Save the Date!

School-wide Grandparents and/or

Special Friends Day 2009!

Friday, April 3 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Invitations to this annual event will be mailed on Friday, March 13.

If you did not provide the Grandparent information

on your students’ information form at the beginning of the school year please email it to

Peggy Darby at pdarby@highlandsschool.org

before Friday February 27.

Also, if your student would like to invite a

special friend in place of a grandparent please

send their contact information before

Friday, February 27.

Please be sure to include your students

name and teacher when you email Peggy.

If you have any questions about this

event please feel free to contact Peggy.

A special thank you to everyone who shops at Publix Supermarkets! To date Highlands School has received

$1,633.93 just by having the Publix Partner cards swiped each time a purchase is made. This is a great way to

benefit our school that requires very little effort. Keep on swiping the cards!

You are making a difference!

HIGHNOTES Page 3

Highlands School

Basketball Schedule

1st grade Division (K-1st)

Sands Team Feb. 7 @Highlands 10am

Feb. 14 @Jefferson Christian Academy 12pm

Baker Team

Feb. 7 @Highlands 10am Feb. 14 @ Jefferson Christian Academy

11am

3rd grade Division (2nd-3rd graders) Winston Team

Feb. 7 @Highlands 11am Feb. 14 @Highlands 10am

Boyen Team

Feb. 7 @Highlands 1pm Feb. 14 @Highlands 9am

5th grade Division

Winston Team Feb. 7 @Highlands 2pm

Feb. 13 @Highlands 6pm Feb. 14 @ Highlands 11am

Middle school Division

O’Neal Team Feb. 7 @Highlands 3pm

Feb. 10 @Highlands 6pm Feb. 14 @Highlands 12pm

Creativity Convention 2009 Thursday Thursday Thursday Thursday ---- February 26February 26February 26February 26thththth, 2009, 2009, 2009, 2009

Featuring Featuring Featuring Featuring ———— Roger Reid, Deborah Wiles, Roger Reid, Deborah Wiles, Roger Reid, Deborah Wiles, Roger Reid, Deborah Wiles, Susan Eaddy and CharlesSusan Eaddy and CharlesSusan Eaddy and CharlesSusan Eaddy and Charles Tortorici Tortorici Tortorici Tortorici

Congratulations to the following students who have signed up to run the Mercedes Marathon

on Saturday, February 14, 2009.

Helen Abele Reese Alexander Webb Baker Trey Boyen Jacqueline Bryant Carolyn Calvert-Grimes Lilla Carroll Liliana Chambless Ada Cohen Sarah Margaret Corley Catherine Corley Hunter Crawford Anna Crow Linden Cundiff William Dixon James Dixon Josh Dobelbower Anna Duong Jackson Engel Sadie Farmer David Hammer Nia Katechis Hannah Kindervater

Daniel Kutsch Anna-Julia Kutsch Alexandra Lohrke Pearce Macleod Eli Nafziger Amelia Neiman Riley Nix Reagan Nix Hampton Pak Amelia Pak Barton Perkins Hugh Perkins Harrison Ritchie Alexandra Ritchie Caroline Ritchie Thomas Sims Anne Smith Gordie Stewart Mackenzie Stewart Gracen Vinyard Connor Walker Hampton Walker Trenton Williams

Are you ready to accept the 2009 Spring Break Challenge?

Stay tuned for details!

HIGHNOTES Page 4

HIGHLANDS SOCCER CLUB REGISTRATION FORM

SPRING 2009 DUE FEBRUARY 12TH!

NAME: _____________________________ MALE/FEMALE DATE OF BIRTH:________________

NEW PLAYERS: PLEASE REMEMBER TO INCLUDE A COPY OF YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND A PICTURE FOR YOUR PLAYER CARD!

PARENTS: _____________________________ INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING? _____________________________ FOR WHAT?______________________________ (COACH, TEAM PARENT, ETC)

PHONE #’S: MOM_______________________ EMAIL:___________________________________

PHONE #’S: DAD________________________ EMAIL:___________________________________

ADDRESS: _____________________________ CITY, STATE, ZIP: _________________________

SPECIAL REQUEST: _____________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________ DATE: __________ FEE______________ SIGNATURE OF PARENT OR GUARDIAN BEFORE FEBRUARY 6TH - $135

BY FEBRUARY 12TH - $145 AFTER FEB. 12TH - $160

Mail Form (w/ Payment) to:

Highlands Soccer Club 4901 Old Leads Road

Birmingham, Alabama 35213

or you may bring it by the school and leave it for Gabe McCool.

Make checks payable to: HIGHLANDS SOCCER CLUB

See soccer information sheet for uniform information and other important information.