To Parents, Community Members and Interested Parties,

I want to take this time to wish everyone the best of the holiday season. We are closing in on the end of the first semester and the beginning of the basketball season. Between now and state tournaments in March there will be little down time.

The weather is extremely cold and I know there have been parent concerns regarding the safety of their children. As with parents, the health and safety of the Highwood students is our paramount duty. We take every precaution that is possible. For the most part, students remain in the building from the time they arrive until they go home. No student is allowed outside unless they are dressed appropriately for the cold weather. Our heating system is functioning well, and new insulation in the ceiling of the gym has made a huge difference in the warmth of the building. Should something happen to the heating system during a cold spell, prior to school beginning KMON will be notified to make the announcement that school will either have a delayed opening or canceled, depending on the circumstance or if for any reason we need to take students home during the day, we will transport home. No student will be transported unless we contact parents first to insure someone will be there. We have established a parent phone tree and each family will be contacted personally. If you haven’t given the office an emergency number, please contact Pat Gray with any updated information or if you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at the school or at my home at 733-2393.

A couple of other items of interest: If you are a parent of a 5th through 11th grade boy and did not receive a survey requesting information regarding football, please call the office. The surveys will be given to the school board members and feedback and discussion will take place at the January 11th school board meeting at 6 p.m. in the library.

I would ask that if anyone uses the gym or facilities after hours, to please make sure doors are locked and lights turned off. We have many people with keys to the building and have not taken steps to modify the locking system. However, if students are in the building after hours without adult supervision, doors left open or lights on, we may have to limit the number of keys.

Finally, we will be refinishing the gym floor during Christmas break so the gym will not be available for use between December 23 and January 1. We are setting up practices elsewhere and a bus will be provided to transport students to and from practice.

Other than that, please have a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year, and may the best of the new year be with you and your families. Thank you for all you do for the students and staff of Highwood School.

     Becky