Save The Date!

• Warm Reminder -  Please contact Ms. Maggie the day your student is absent and the reason why. Thank you!

• Linked HTeX 25-26 Calendar

• June 1: Last Monthly Morning Meeting with Melissa & Brian @ 8:30am-9:30am in Gathering Area

• June 5: 9am-11:30am Talent Show @ The Gym

• June 8-10: Spirit Week (see details below)

• June 9: Kinder Promotion 10:00am-10:45am @ HTePL Gym

• June 10:  Last Day of School

  • 5th Grade Clapout at HTeX at 12:00pm 

  • 5th Grade Promotion 12:30pm-1:30pm @ HTePL Gym

  • Minimum Day Dismissal @ 12:45pm

• Summer Camp Dates:

  • June 22–26 

  • June 29–July 3            

  • July 6–10                             

  • July 13–17

Dear Explorer Families,

As we begin wrapping up another incredible school year, we want to take a moment to say thank you for your partnership, trust, and support. It truly takes a village to create the caring, joyful, and safe learning community we have at Explorer, and we are so grateful to have such an amazing one.

Each year at Explorer, I continue to be amazed by our community and the support our students receive from families. Whether it is volunteering in classrooms, chaperoning field trips, donating supplies, helping with exhibitions, attending community events, supporting learning at home, or simply taking the time to partner with us through conversations and emails, your involvement makes a meaningful difference. Our students thrive because they are surrounded by adults who care deeply about them.

As summer approaches, we know many families are looking for fun, affordable ways to spend time together. One of the best parts about living in San Diego is that there are so many free and low-cost activities for families to enjoy. Here are a few ideas:

San Diego Public Library Summer Reading Program
Libraries across San Diego offer free summer reading challenges, crafts, performances, science activities, and events for kids all summer long.
San Diego Public Library Summer Reading Program

Free Museum Passes Through the Library
Did you know your library card can get you free passes to local museums and attractions? Through Discover & Go, families can reserve passes to many local destinations at no cost.
Discover & Go Free Passes

Summer Movies in the Park
Bring a blanket and enjoy a free family movie under the stars at parks across San Diego all summer long.
Summer Movies in the Park Schedule

Beach Days & Tide Pools
Pack a picnic and explore local beaches, tide pools, or take a sunset walk together. Places like La Jolla tide pools or Mission Bay can make for a memorable (and free!) family day.

Local Hikes & Parks
Explore places like Mission Trails, Civita Park, or neighborhood parks for hikes, biking, playgrounds, and outdoor adventures. Many are completely free and great for kids.

Resident Free Museum Days
Many Balboa Park museums offer free admission days for San Diego residents throughout the year.
San Diego Museum Free Days Guide

Most importantly, summer does not need to be expensive to be meaningful. Some of the best memories are made through simple moments: family walks, beach evenings, library trips, game nights, bike rides, or ice cream after dinner.

Thank you again for helping make Explorer such a special place. We are so grateful for your partnership and for the trust you place in us each day. We hope your family enjoys a safe, joyful, and memory-filled summer together.

In partnership,
Brian Burr

As we approach the end of the academic year, I wanted to provide you with some important updates regarding our teaching staff. We have teachers who will be moving on to new adventures ahead. Their dedication to excellence for each student makes teaching magical. They make learning magical. Their passion for education, dedication, and hard work have left a lasting impact on both students and colleagues alike. The foundation we have built together will continue to deepen its roots. We sincerely appreciate their contributions and send them forward in love and light with their future endeavors. They will always be part of the Explorer family.

We are also excited to introduce you to our new HTeX team members in a separate email as they complete their onboarding process. We are confident that these individuals will contribute to the continued growth and development of our community. They have undergone a rigorous selection process and come highly recommended. We are also in the process of hiring new Education Specialists and STEM Teacher. We will formally introduce our new staff members once the hiring process is finalized.

The commitment and hard work of our entire teaching and support staff to our students' education is truly unmatched, and I am grateful for their unwavering efforts and love for each of our students.

Hi HTeX Families,

At High Tech Elementary Explorer, the safety and well-being of our students and staff remains our highest priority.

Recently, we learned that an adult took a photo inside our school during the school day and posted it on social media. The image included students and staff engaged in learning. Situations like this are deeply concerning because they involve members of our community during instructional time and were shared publicly without the school’s knowledge or consent.

As a community that values trust and direct communication, it is disappointing when concerns or questions are not brought directly to the school first. Actions such as photographing and posting images of students and staff during the school day can pose safety risks to our campus. As adults in a school community, there is an expectation that decisions be made with careful consideration of how they may impact not only one student but also the privacy, safety, and well-being of the entire community.

Our teachers and staff work incredibly hard to create safe, thoughtful, and engaging learning environments for students. They deserve to focus on their work without the concern that classroom moments may be photographed and shared publicly without context or permission.

To ensure the safety of our students and staff, and to protect the integrity of the learning environment, the following procedures are in effect immediately:

Visitor Access During the School Day
• During instructional hours, the campus is closed to visiting adults.
• Instructional hours are 8:15–12:45 on Wednesdays and 8:15–2:45 on all other days.
• During morning arrival, students are to be dropped off on the playground or at the front desk.
• Adults are not permitted to move through the building during instructional hours unless they have a scheduled meeting arranged through the office and sign in using the Visitu system. Please make sure you have a state-issued ID to scan into the Vistu system.

These procedures ensure that teachers can focus on the lessons they have carefully designed and that instructional time remains uninterrupted for students while maintaining the safety of our community.

Communication with Teachers
Another reason to keep our school building student-based during instructional hours is that our teachers carefully plan their days to support student learning. Unexpected interruptions during the school day take valuable instructional time away from many students. Email communication allows teachers to respond thoughtfully and at an appropriate time. Please note teachers will respond to emails within 48 hours.

Student expectations during dismissal:

• Students are expected to sit in their class line until they are dismissed by their teacher.

• Students should not leave the line when they see their adult—they must check in with the teacher first so we can ensure a safe and accurate handoff.

• All belongings should remain in backpacks during dismissal. 

The small mural gate will open at 2:45pm (Wednesdays 12:45pm)

• Families will walk directly to the designated class line to pick up their child from the teacher. This helps us maintain clear supervision and accountability for each student. 

• Rooms 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and classes who have STEM at the end of day will dismiss from their outdoor classrooms

• At 2:40pm (Wednesdays 12:40pm) All other classrooms will walk students onto the playground and line up at their same arrival line spot. 

• There will be orange cones with classroom numbers the first two weeks of implementation of this procedure. 

• At 2:55pm (Wednesdays 12:55pm) Aftercare will pick up students from their classroom lines on the playground (rooms 1-5+STEM walk students to the playground) 

• At 3:00pm (Wednesdays 1:00pm) the double doors to Aftercare will open. After 3:00 please check your child out from aftercare.

We care deeply about this community and will continue to take the steps necessary to protect the safety, privacy, and learning environment of our students and staff.

Questions or concerns should be directed to Dr. Melissa Han or Mr. Brian Burr.

In partnership,

Dr. Melissa and Mr. Brian

Hi Explorer families!

It’s almost time for our Talent Show! 

This year, all performers must turn in a signed guidelines form to be able to participate in the HTeX Talent Show. If your student wants to participate, please fill out and sign the form, and return it to your classroom teacher no later than Wednesday, April 22nd.

The guidelines for HTeX performers is as follows: Performers must attend all auditions and rehearsals to participate. Performers must stay with the group and/or talent they performed during auditions. Performances should be no longer than a minute and a half. Performers need to bring all performance materials needed to every rehearsal. Performers may only perform in one act. Please help your student understand these guidelines, as they will unfortunately not be able to perform in the talent show if they are not followed!

AUDITIONS: Thursday, Apr 23rd 3-4pm (HTeX)

PRACTICES: Thursday, May 7th 3-4pm (HTeX)

and Thursday, May 28th 3-4pm (HTeX)

DRESS REHEARSAL: Thursday, June 4th 2026 3-6pm (HTe Gym)

SHOW: Friday, June 5th 2026 9-11:30 (HTe Gym)

Your performer only needs to stay at the auditions and rehearsals until their performance is done, so they might be ready earlier than the suggested end time. If your student goes to aftercare, we will send them there after their performance. If your student gets picked up with regular dismissal, please come to school at the regular dismissal time and wait for their performance to be complete.

Please reach out to Madison Murillo- Kindergarten teacher, mmurillo@hightechhigh.org with any questions!

Thank you!

Establish a Strong Home-School Connection

• Attend school events like Exhibition and Student-Led Conferences (SLCs): These events provide crucial information about your child's learning and school community.

• Communicate Regularly with Teachers: Maintain open communication with your child's teacher. Share any concerns or questions promptly.

Foster Positive Behaviors at Home

• Establish a Consistent Bedtime Routine: Ensure your child gets enough sleep for optimal focus and learning.

• Encourage Healthy Habits: Promote a balanced diet, regular exercise, and sufficient water intake for overall well-being.

Build Your Child's Confidence and Skills

• Read Together Regularly: Share the joy of reading and build literacy skills.Plan a trip to your local library!

• Teach Organizational Skills: Help your child develop time management and planning abilities. Teach your child about strategies that have been supportive for you.

• Encourage Problem-Solving: Foster critical thinking and independence. You can help develop these skills by providing time for your child attempt to solve problems independently before completing a task for them.

Get Involved in the School Community

• Volunteer at School: Contribute your time and skills to support school activities.

• Stay Informed: Look out for communication via emails from your child’s teachers, family newsletters, and Konstella.

By following these tips, you can create a supportive environment that helps your child thrive in school.

To learn more about supporting your student’s learning and development, please visit these additional resources:

https://www.naeyc.org/our-work/families/browse-by-topic

https://childdevelopmentinfo.com/category/parenting/

https://www.understood.org/

Congratulations to the new 26-27 HTeX Parent Association Council!

President - Amber Rose

Treasurer - April Simbulan

Room Parent Coordinator - Marjorie Jones-Bias

New Families Coordinator - Brittany Kenny

Fundraising Coordinator - Samantha Strickland

Communications - Carla Perez

Social Media - Giorgia McPhail

YMCA Community Health & Resource Fair Information

Chaperoning Field Trips - Please...

We deeply appreciate your generosity in volunteering as a chaperone on our field experiences! Please follow the following guidelines:

• Make sure you are cleared to drive on PowerSchool

• Abide by High Tech Chaperone guidelines. This is an academic trip, but also have fun!

• Please make sure student medication and/or epipens are brought while on the trip and are kept with the student's parent or staff member in their group

• No siblings or additional adults allowed without prior approval

• Chaperones are not to buy students extra items (souvenirs etc.)

  • We ask this because if some groups get one experience but not all groups, it’s not equitable

• DO NOT TAKE AND POST PHOTOS OF STUDENTS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

  • You may send your student’s teacher or other classroom teacher photos

• DO NOT LEAVE FIELD TRIP PROPERTY WITHOUT CHECKING IN WITH HTEX STAFF

Quiet Recess Volunteers

Calling All High Tech Families!!

I hope this message finds you well. As we strive to create a fun and engaging school environment for our students, we are excited to extend an invitation for our students adults to volunteer during recess.

Recess is a crucial time for our students to unwind, socialize, and engage in playful activities. Your presence during this time can make a significant difference in enhancing their overall school experience. Some of our student population has messaged to us that being outside for recess can be overstimulating. We would like to offer our parent volunteers a chance to come in and support those students. Our goal is to keep all students engaged in an activity that meets their individual needs. 

If you're interested in volunteering, please sign up for a specific date and time using this form. We appreciate any time you can contribute.. Our kids love consistency, and we would appreciate a recurring schedule. However, if you have a limited schedule and want to help, we can discuss those opportunities on a case-by-case basis. 

Thank you for considering this opportunity to be involved in your child's school life. Your support is instrumental in creating a positive and enjoyable school environment.

Thanks kindly,

Mr. Brian

Copyright © High Tech Elementary Explorer. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
2230 Truxton Rd San Diego CA 92106

Questions?
Email us at htexpacommunications@gmail.com