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Mark Your Calendars: 
Monday, August 15
Pre-K First Day of School- 12:30 p.m. dismissal for ALL Pre-K

"Hugs & Hello's" Pre-K Coffee
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Library

Tuesday, August 16
First Full Day for 5-Day Pre-K Students

Wednesday, August 17
First Full Day for 3-Day Pre-K Students

For more upcoming dates, please check the Family Detailed School Calendar.

*All events are subject to change based on the state of the virus.
Health & Safety Committee monitors COVID-19 and upcoming events on a weekly basis.
Carpool Thank You!
Thank you for your patience during carpool as everyone learns the correct locations to go! This week, we will have Pre-K families joining the carpool line, so you might notice a considerable increase in volume during the afternoons starting Tuesday. For Kindergarten families, it will be important that you turn left after picking up your child instead of continuing straight into the Pre-K line. Thank you in advance for your continued patience this week.
Student Check In/Out Location
Student check in and check out for all grade levels will now take place in the Early Years Building. Look for the yard signs placed along the driveway to help you navigate to the Early Years Building. Please park in the short-term parking spaces in front of the building. Sharanda McFadden, whose office is the first room on the right (across from Kindergarten), will assist you with checking in/out your student.

Please also go to Sharanda's office if you are bringing forgotten items for your child and she will get them to your student. 
Reporting Absences
All absences throughout the year must be reported by emailing absences@highmeadows.org along with the reason for your child's absence. Thank you.
Rooster Locations
Rooster (our before school childcare) is held in two locations.

If you have a Pre-K student, their drop-off location is the Preschool Building. If you have a child in K - 8th grade, their drop-off location is the Community Center. For those with children in both locations, please drop the older student off first at the Community Center then drop your Pre-K student off at Preschool.

Rooster takes place from 7:30 - 8:10 a.m., when K - 8th grade carpool begins.
Pre-K students stay in their Rooster room until 8:45 a.m., when Pre-K carpool begins.
Health & Safety Guidelines
For current COVID-19 guidelines, please refer to the 2022-23 COVID-19 Addendum. The most up-to-date version of this document can always be found on the Resource Board. It is stored on both the Family Handbook tile (the addendum is the last page of the handbook) and the COVID-19 Resources tile. Please contact the Health Center at healthcenter@highmeadows.org with any questions.
Garden Work Day
HMS needs your help to prepare our class garden beds for Fall plantings. Please join us on Friday, August 26th, from 8:30-11:30 a.m. for our annual Garden Work Day! You are welcome to come for all or part of the time. We will primarily be pulling weeds and amending the soil. No experience necessary!  
 
Some garden tools are available, but we encourage you to bring your own (gloves and hand tools.) We will meet at the school gardens - located behind the Early Years building at the base of the upper meadow. Light refreshments will be provided. 
 
Please RSVP to volunteer by clicking here to sign up. Thank you and we hope to see you there!  
 
-Ms. Saiz
Environmental Sustainability Teacher and Coordinator 
2023-2024 Dates
Mark your calendars for these important 2023-2024 school year dates!

First Day of School: August 17, 2023
Thanksgiving Break: November 20-26, 2023
Winter Break: December 22, 2023 – January 8, 2024
Spring Break: April 1-5, 2024
Last Day of School: May 23, 2024
Counselors Corner
Mary Schuman, MS
Lower Years Counselor
Phone: 678-507-1164

I am so excited to be starting my third year at HMS as the Lower Years Counselor!

I work with the PreK-5th grade students. In my role here, I teach classroom guidance lessons and cover topics such as digital citizenship, friendship boundaries, and self-regulation. I also run small groups and work with students one-on-one. I help students who are struggling with anxiety, friendships, family changes, grief, or really anything that might be getting in the way of a student having a productive day while they are at school.

Shannon Wright, MSW
Middle Years Counselor
Phone: 678-507-1162

Hello to High Meadows families! I am starting my third year as Middle Years Counselor and am looking forward to a great school year.

I work with students individually or in small groups on coping skills, stress management, friendship building skills, communication skills, and anything students need in order to feel supported, connected, and engaged in the Middle Years community. I often incorporate art, exercise, games, and animal interactions in working with middle school students and I teach students mindfulness and gratitude practices in order to be their best throughout the school day. I also work very closely with families during the high school selection and application process and I strive to make sure every student finds the right fit for their high school experience.
Welcome to the Library!
The Library is open for students and book checkout begins this week

  • Classes visit the library every other week to check out books.
  • This week is the 2/3 classes and the 4/5 classes.
  • Kindergarten and 1st grade begins the following week.
  • Look for a Seesaw announcement a day or two before your student visit the library

Parents can also check out books, either in the library or using an online form.

For information about checking out books and other library services, visit the library site and the Portal Resource Board.

Questions? Email the librarian at kplatnick@highmeadows.org.
Great Georgia Pollinator Census
You are invited to participate in a fun event happening this week – the fourth annual Great Georgia Pollinator Census! This is a citizen science activity that HMS has participated in since the program’s inception. The goal of this project is to generate useful data about our local pollinator populations, help create and conserve pollinator habitats, and increase folks’ knowledge about insects! And guess what? It’s totally fine if you’re not an insect expert!  
  
Participation is optional, quick, and easy. All you have to do is… 
  1. Pick your favorite pollinator plant on Friday (8/19) or Saturday (8/20.) 
  2. Print out a counting sheet and grab a pencil. 
  3. Count and categorize the insects that land on your plant in a 15-minute period. 
  4. Submit your counts online. 
  5. *OPTIONAL* If you decide to participate, print a Certificate. Take a photo with it (and perhaps an exciting insect) and send to ksaiz@highmeadows.org so that we can see all of our HMS environmental stewards hard at work! 

Feel free to visit the official site to learn more and access all resources. Please reach out to Ms. Saiz with any questions or exciting discoveries. Thank you and happy counting! 
Around Campus
It's the first day of school for Pre-K students!
Happy faces during the first morning carpool of the 2022-2023 school year.
2nd and 3rd graders get comfy in their new classroom.
Middle Years students engage in team building exercises on the first day of school.
Connect with High Meadows!
1055 Willeo Road
Roswell, GA 30075
(770) 993-2940