Highland Elementary School

✨ 38 Days, 38 Schools - Highland Elementary 💚 At Highland Elementary, academic excellence and cultural diversity go hand in hand. The dedicated staff work provides a rich learning experience for all students, while actively involving families in the educational journey. Highland prides itself on celebrating the various cultures represented within the student body! Through initiatives like the monthly cultural celebrations organized by the Diversity Committee, and events such as the Holiday Lights Around the World night and the Parade of Diverse Cultures, Highland fosters an environment of understanding, appreciation, and inclusivity. These events not only showcase the cultural richness but also provide opportunities for families to engage with their children's learning. The Hawk's Nest is a great place to learn and grow!

There are cultures from 38 countries represented at Highland Elementary. 🌍 What better way to celebrate this diversity than with a parade on a beautiful sunny day! ☀️ During today's Parade of Diverse Cultures, students proudly represented their cultural heritage by dressing in traditional clothing, waving flags, and walking around the school track. They were supported by a sea of cheers and waves from other students, staff, and many #ABSSCommunity members who came together for this special event. 🤝 A huge shoutout goes to the Highland Elementary Diversity Committee for their hard work in organizing this fantastic parade. Thanks to their efforts, today was a truly memorable celebration.

📣 Spread the word: the ABSS Job Fair is this Saturday, April 13th, at Highland Elementary! it will open at 9 AM and go until 12PM. We are excited to welcome anyone looking to start a new career in ABSS. Many positions are available. Schools will have tables set up and our talented staff is available to greet you and answer your questions. See you there!

📚✨Our Media Specialists totally deserve a shoutout on National Library Workers Day! Sure, they'll help you find the perfect book, but they also collaborate with teachers, model tech skills, and think outside the box to engage inquiring minds. From cozy story nooks to cutting-edge resources, they maintain an incredible space just brimming with opportunities to learn and grow. Thanks for all you do! 🙌 #StudentCenteredFutureFocused

🌟Teacher of the Year Finalist Feature: Linda Gruener, First Grade Teacher at Highland Elementary An effective elementary teacher possesses patience, strong communication abilities, and creativity to engage young learners. They have excellent classroom management skills and the flexibility to adapt to diverse student needs. Above all, a commitment to professional growth and a genuine passion for teaching are essential qualities - all of which Ms. Gruener at Highland Elementary exemplifies. Today, she led an engaging lesson comparing schools Then and Now, using visuals, examples, and continual assessment to solidify her students' understanding. With an engaging scavenger hunt mid-lesson and an independent activity, Ms. Gruener's creativity and expertise were on full display! We're lucky to have such a dedicated teacher helping shape young minds at Highland. #StudentCenteredFutureFocused

The staff at Highland are having a delicious (pizza) Pi Day thanks to our wonderful PTA! Thank you for all of the ways you support and treat our staff!

🌟Job seekers, mark your calendars - our 2024 Job Fair is one month away! We are hiring for many positions, both certified and classified. Come find your next opportunity with us! Please share with anyone you know who may be interested. 📍 Highland Elementary ⏰ 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM 🗓️ April 13th, 2024 #StudentCenteredFutureFocused

🏆 Congratulations to our exceptional 2024 Teacher of the Year Finalists - Grayson Coleman from Hillcrest Elementary, Cassie Dodson from Altamahaw-Ossipee Elementary, Chanel Jones from Broadview Middle, Linda Gruener from Highland Elementary, and Kristin Adams from Eastern Alamance High School! 🌟These dedicated educators have demonstrated outstanding commitment to their students and a passion for teaching that goes above and beyond. 🍎 We will announce our district winner in April. Until then, join us in celebrating these remarkable teachers!

We are thrilled to congratulate our 2024 Classified Employees of the Year! 🌟These dedicated staff members take on diverse and critical roles that provide vital support for the education of our students. We deeply appreciate their hard work. Congratulations!

✨ Kindergarten Enrollment links in English and Spanish are now on our website! We have instructions, videos, a checklist, and other resources. If your child will turn 5 before August 31, 2024, they are eligible to enroll in ABSS Kindergarten for the 2024-2025 academic year. https://www.abss.k12.nc.us/o/abss/page/kindergarten-program ✅ Want to register in person? Come out to our Registration Fair on March 9th at Holly Hill Mall, 9 AM to Noon. Staff will be available to answer all your questions!

We are proud to announce the 2024 ABSS Teachers of the Year! 🌟 These exceptional teachers are making a real difference in their students' lives. They care deeply about their students’ growth and success every day. Whether helping a struggling learner find their confidence, making lessons fun through imaginative activities, or supporting students through life's challenges, their student-first commitment is worthy of praise. Please join us in celebrating them! 👏

Yesterday morning, students from the Williams High School Dream Team came to Highland to greet students as they arrived in the morning and even stayed to assist with PE classes. Highland students loved starting their day with excited greetings and high-fives!

Highland staff started the month of February off right with a sweet treat from Harper Belle's Coffee Truck! Thank you to Cox Toyota and Highland PTA for sponsoring this delicious way to start the day!

Highland is thrilled to announce that our 2024 Teacher of the Year is first-grade teacher Mrs. Linda Gruener. Our Classified Employee of the Year is Mrs. Estela Davar Castellon, who is an assistant in our K-2 Adapted Curriculum classroom. Congratulations to you both!

Great news! Pre-kindergarten applications for the 2024-2025 school year are now available! For information, locations, and application links, please visit our website: https://www.abss.k12.nc.us/o/abss/page/pre-kindergarten

Save the Date! 🗓️ Join us for a fun and informative evening at the last Family University of the year, January 29th at Cummings High School! 🌟 A light dinner will be provided at no cost to families before you choose from many useful sessions on topics like registering for high school courses, career and technical education opportunities, and elementary reading and math strategies. Several sessions will also be available in Spanish (Algunas sesiones también estarán disponibles en español.) Childcare will be available for children from Pre-K to 5th grade, so the whole family can participate. The Family University is a great chance to get helpful information while connecting with other families and teachers. We hope to see you there - don't miss this valuable opportunity to support your student's growth and education!

This past week, Highland students participated in the school's 7th annual Hour of Code event! Students made use of a wide variety of projects offered through the website Code.org. Hour of Code is a global event that teaches millions of students to do basic coding!

This Saturday, Dec. 16th, Williams HS is hosting the 1st annual Central City Classic. This is an all-girls basketball showcase event that matches elite teams across our state to produce 4 highly competitive games. Admission for this event is $10 for an all-day pass. In addition to the games, we are hosting a youth clinic for BOYS AND GIRLS ages 9-13. The youth clinic will be Saturday morning from 10:00 - 11:30 before the games start. Registration for the clinic is $10 and can be done at www.onwardbulldogs.com.

The halls were alive with holiday spirit last night as Highland Elementary students presented Holiday Lights Around the World. 🎄🌏 Families explored classrooms transformed into festive global celebrations while enjoying student performances, crafts, snacks, and stories. Students researched traditions from different countries and proudly displayed their new knowledge about language, culture, and customs on classroom doors and in the hallways. We loved seeing our students share their learning and spread cheer! #ABSSCommunity #HighlandHighlight

Thank you to our Highland Elementary PTA for putting on a wonderful Fall Festival last night!