Pancake Breakfast - Sat, Aug 16 | First Day of School - Tues, Aug 19

HTeX Compass - June 8

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Message from Dr. Han

Dear HTeX Family,

What an incredible 2024-2025 school year it has been! We celebrate the courageous young people of HTeX.

There was incredible joy from our whole community during last week’s Spring Exhibitions! I was struck by how students talked about how they sculpted and painted their artwork, what research information impacted them most and why, how they thought of their story’s problem and solutions, what they would define as justice at the end of the project, why they decided an A-frame was sturdy enough for their roof, how they discovered what type of power(s) they and their friends have, and how they would redo the order of their project process if they did it again. This is the joy of what we get to learn with our stellar students. Thank you for the honor of allowing us to be your partners in creating space for the genius in every student to be known and celebrated. We would appreciate your feedback on this form.

As summer approaches, we hope you all are able to take time to relax, rejuvenate, and enjoy quality time with your loved ones. We are excited to welcome everyone back on August 19th and look forward to another beautiful year of learning and growth. Wishing you all a safe and joy-filled summer!

With joy and gratitude,

Melissa

Save The Date!

Linked HTeX 25-26 Calendar
June 11: Full Day Dismissal at 2:45pm - Kinder Promotions 8:45am-9:30am & 5th Grade Promotion 12:00pm-1:00pm
June 12: Last Day of School - Field Day 8:30am-12:00pm on HTeX Playground - Dismissal at 12:45pm

Friendly Reminder - please complete returning student registration

Dean's Corner

Dear Explorer Adults,

As we approach the summer break, I want to express my gratitude for your support throughout the school year. Our community is at its best when we work as a team. As excited as I am for Summer Break, I am sad to see this year end.

Summer offers a unique opportunity for our students to explore, learn, and grow beyond the classroom. To assist you in making this summer both enjoyable and enriching for your children, I've compiled a list of resources and activities available in San Diego.

Engage in the San Diego Public Library’s Summer Reading Program

Encourage your child to participate in the San Diego Public Library’s Summer Reading Program. Starting June 1, children can log their reading hours online or using a paper log available at any library branch. Prizes, including books and museum passes, can be claimed beginning June 9, while supplies last.

For personalized book recommendations and to track reading progress, consider using Beanstack, a platform that offers tailored suggestions based on your child's interests.

Discover Free and Low-Cost Activities in San Diego

San Diego is brimming with opportunities for family fun that won't break the bank:

Balboa Park: Explore beautiful gardens, attend free Sunday organ concerts at 2 p.m., and visit museums offering free admission on select Tuesdays for residents.
Old Town San Diego State Historic Park: Step back in time and learn about San Diego's rich history through preserved buildings and live demonstrations.
San Diego Public Library Events: Participate in various events like the Summer Reading Program Foam Party on August 7, which includes fun activities for all ages.
KidsOutAndAbout.com: Find a comprehensive list of free places to take kids in and around San Diego, including parks, museums, and more.

Engage in Family Activities Together

Spending quality time together strengthens family bonds and creates lasting memories. Here are some ideas:

San Diego Summer Bucket List Bingo: Participate in Axios San Diego's Summer Bucket List Bingo to explore new places and activities throughout the city.
State Park Adventures: Utilize your San Diego library card to check out California State Parks passes, granting free parking at over 200 parks. This is a fantastic way to explore nature and enjoy the outdoors.

Summer is a time for exploration, creativity, and family bonding. I encourage you to take advantage of these resources to make this summer both fun and educational for your child. Should you have any questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Wishing you a joyful and enriching summer break!

Loving Send Off & Warm Welcomes

Dear HTeX Community,

As we approach the end of 24-25 and look forward to the start of a new academic year, I wanted to provide you with some important updates regarding our teaching staff.

First, I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the incredible support and guidance Ericah, Isabel, Destiny, Taylor C., and Jenna K. have provided to students and staff.

They have shown exceptional dedication and care in fostering meaningful relationships with both students and staff. Their ability to connect with individuals on a personal level has made a significant impact on our HTeX community. Their guidance has helped many students navigate their academic journeys with confidence.

As we celebrate them moving forward to new endeavors, their contributions to our Community will be remembered and cherished.

We are also excited to introduce you to our new HTeX staff members. Below are their messages for our community. Please join me in welcoming Shannon, Jayden, Alyssa, and Kristen to our HTeX community!

Loving Send Off

Dear Explorer Families,

After five transformative years at Explorer, two as an academic coach and the last three as your school psychologist, I will be transitioning to a new chapter in my life and career.

This decision was not easy, as the time I’ve spent here has been incredibly meaningful. I have been truly honored to work alongside such a thoughtful, supportive community of families, educators, and, most importantly, your incredible children. From skills groups and student check-ins to family nights and team meetings, I’ve witnessed how much we have been able to support our students through our partnerships.

Each day, your children have inspired me with their curiosity, creativity, and courage, and I have loved being a part of their journeys.

While I’m excited about moving closer to my own family and the opportunities ahead, I will deeply miss the students, families, and staff who have made this school feel like home. Explorer was my start in education and where I first found my footing after moving to San Diego, and I am so thankful to end my time here with so many of the same students and families.

Thank you for trusting me to support your children and for partnering with me so openly over the years. It has truly been a privilege.

If your child would like to leave me a going-away message please have them do so here!

You can find my form "See-You-Later Form" at: https://form.jotform.com/251550656354054

With warmest wishes,

Ericah Edwards

School Psychologist

Dear Explorer Staff and Families,

As we wrap up the school year, I wanted to share that this will be my final year as the speech-language pathologist at Explorer. After three incredibly meaningful years, I will be transitioning to serve a new school community next year.

It has truly been a privilege to be part of such a kind, collaborative, and dedicated community. I am so grateful to have worked with the amazing students here and to have partnered with such supportive families and staff. Explorer is a special place, and I will always carry with me the relationships and memories made here.

Thank you for all of your support, teamwork, and trust over the years. I’ll deeply miss being part of this community and wish everyone continued growth, joy, and success in the years ahead.

With gratitude,

Isabel O'Brien

Next Chapter Update from Ms. Taylor C,

I’m excited to share that I’ve just completed my Master’s in Education from the High Tech High Graduate School of Education! Looking ahead, I’ll be spending next year teaching abroad in Southeast Asia—immersing myself in a new culture, traveling, and continuing to grow as an educator. While I’m thrilled for this adventure, I know I’ll be back soon—High Tech and Point Loma have my heart. Long term, I hope to return to a high school history/humanities classroom, where my passion for storytelling, justice, and student voice truly comes alive.

Dear Explorer Families,

I hope this message finds you well. As the school year draws to a close, I wanted to share some personal news with you that I will not be returning to Explorer next year.

This has been a truly difficult decision, as my time at Explorer has been filled with meaningful relationships, memorable moments, and incredible growth—for both myself and my students. Working with your children has brought me so much joy, inspiration, and pride. I’ve been honored to support your children in their learning journey, and I am so proud of all that they’ve accomplished.

I am incredibly grateful for your trust, support, and partnership throughout the year. The relationships built with students and families here will stay with me, and I will always cherish the memories we’ve made together.

Next year, I will be moving to a school that is closer to my home. While this change supports a better balance for me and my family, it’s certainly bittersweet to leave a community that has meant so much to me.

Thank you again for a wonderful year. I wish you and your family all the best in the coming school year and beyond.

Warmly,

Jenna Kelemen

Education Specialist

High Tech Elementary Explorer

I’m excited to continue my career within the High Tech High organization as an 8th grade Education Specialist. The past three years working with elementary students have been incredibly rewarding—especially having the privilege of supporting some students throughout all three years. The relationships I’ve built with students, families, and colleagues have meant so much to me, and I carry those experiences with gratitude as I step into this new chapter.

Destiny Miller

Warm Welcome

Hello! My name is Kristen Anne De Leon and I am excited to be at High Tech Elementary Explorer as one of your CF-SLPs. I was born and raised in San Diego and attended SDSU where I received my BS in Child and Family Development with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education. I worked as a teacher in preschools as well as a UTK teacher in elementary school. I continued my education as I was teaching and recently graduated from CSUSM with a MS in Speech-Language Pathology. I am also a mom of two and we love exploring new places, camping, arts and crafts, and being “foodies”.

My name is Alyssa Thornburgh, I’m a Speech-Language Pathologist and CSUSM graduate. I’m originally from California’s Central Valley but have been lucky to call SD County home for the past five years.

I’m incredibly excited to have a career within a field I’m so passionate about - helping students cultivate connections through all modes of communication. Outside of work, you can usually find me with my head in a book, tracking down the latest/greatest foodie spots around San Diego (or experimenting in the kitchen myself), and/or enjoying the California sunshine.

I’m thrilled to join the HTeX team and can’t wait to get to know and grow alongside this community!

Hello All!

My name is Jayden Espinoza, and I am beyond thrilled to be joining the HTeX community as a Special Education Academic Coach! I’m coming to you all directly after a four year journey in Indiana as a member of the Notre Dame Class of 2025 where I studied Sociology and Africana Studies. I’m also an alumni two HTH schools, HTMMA (‘17) and HTHI (‘21)!

I look forward to getting to know and interact with the amazing staff and community members that make up this school while uplifting and celebrating students!

If you’re at all invested in college sports (Go Irish!), have a book recommendation, want to hear about my vinyl record collection, or the half marathon I’ll be running this November, please introduce yourself!

Family Resources

Mental Health Supports In-Home + Community

Rady Children's and SDCOE have collaborated to create a webinar series for parents and caregivers that addresses mental health challenges faced by youth. These are a great opportunity for families to connect to resources and have some of their questions answered by clinicians. Some of the topics include bullying, self-harm, and stress/resilience.

As part of the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative’s (CYBHI) to improve equitable access to mental health support for all young Californians, two free programs — BrightLife Kids and Soluna — were created in partnership with CalHOPE.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wP4-T_E8TLewycrEVwdYIAMbPgexyzMN

Additional Resources:

Parent Guide to Mental Health and Wellness/ Guia Para Padres de Salud y Bienstar Mental

Call the National Parent Helpline: 1-855-4A PARENT (1-855-427-2736) to get emotional support from a trained Advocate and become empowered and a stronger parent. They are available Monday through Friday from 10 am to 7 pm

Message from the Parent Association

Dear HTeX Community,

What an incredible school year this has been! I am so grateful to have been able to meet so many amazing families and help to create so many memorable moments for our community. Thank you so much for the opportunity to serve as your PA president, it has been an honor and a privilege. I have learned so much throughout the process and I look forward to helping our community continue to build and grow. I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to my fellow council members and to the teachers, staff, Mr. Brian and Dr. Melissa for this beautiful partnership. It has been inspiring to witness the power of community and everyone’s willingness to listen to each other, collaborate, and lift each other up to create a receptive, positive, and productive environment for everyone.

There are only 4 days left of the school year, let’s make it a fun and memorable experience for everyone! We still need some help with our end of school year activities so if you are able to volunteer or donate please click the links below and sign up.

Thank you so much everyone, have an amazing summer! I hope to see you at the beach.

Best Wishes,

Marissa

Field day donations and volunteer sign-up:

https://www.konstella.com/app/school/61fb1c2c091a1ea1012fd92b/signups/683616fef6ba186ce9f89892

Packing support for teachers switching classrooms:

https://www.konstella.com/app/school/61fb1c2c091a1ea1012fd92b/signups/68426aeff6ba7be12c3a6ea1

Kinder and 5th grade Graduation help:

https://www.konstella.com/app/school/61fb1c2c091a1ea1012fd92b/signups/684497f0f6ba7be12c40c7e6

Housekeeping Items

New Check-In Procedure to Strengthen Campus Safety

Dear Parents and Guardians,

As part of our ongoing commitment to providing a safe and secure learning environment for all students and staff, we are implementing a new check-in procedure across all schools in our organization.

Beginning this week, all visitors to campus will be required to check in at iPad Kiosks at the front desk of every school AND present a valid photo ID (Driver’s License or State-Issued ID) for the following activities:

Visiting or volunteering on any part of the campus during school hours
Chaperoning on any school trip
Meeting with teachers or staff members

This updated procedure is part of a broader, organization-wide effort to enhance safety and security across all of our schools. We appreciate your partnership and understanding as we implement this important measure and be patient with the growing pains as our parents, visitors, and staff have as we learn this new system.

Please plan accordingly and bring your photo ID with you anytime you need to be on campus during school hours. If you have any questions please reach out to the school front office.

Thank you for your continued support in keeping our school community safe.

Warm regards,

HTH School Staff

Friendly Reminders: Absences

While we love to see your children’s smiling faces in school, and regular daily attendance is important to all we do, we do want to remind you to keep students home if they are ill, particularly if they have a fever.

COVID-19 Reminder For Students

If they are symptomatic, they should be encouraged to test and/or share with parents they should test.
If they test positive, they should also stay home if they are symptomatic.
They can return to school when they are also fever-free for 24-hours without the use of fever-reducing medications and other non-fever symptoms are improving.
If they test positive but are asymptomatic (no fever, and no other symptoms) they can remain at school unless symptoms develop.
They should be encouraged to wear a mask through Day 10 (masks should be available at the front desk).

Tests

Everyone can, once again, order four free boxes of COVID-19 tests via USPS. This can be done through this link.

Please continue to communicate with the school if your child will be absent due to illness by contacting Maggie at mfragoso@hightechhigh.org. Please notify Ms. Maggie the day of student absence.

We are looking forward to an exciting school year of learning and want to help keep our community healthy!

High Tech Eats - June Menus

Hello!

The June breakfast & lunch menus for High Tech Eats are now available!

The live menu can be found here.
Print the attached version for your convenience.

Please note that only cold lunches will be served during the last week of school. This helps us reduce food waste, since it’s hard to predict how many students will eat lunch that week.

Thank you!

What's New at HTeX

Spirit Week - June 9-12

Dear Explorer Community,

We can't believe we are nearing the end of the 24-25 school year and the final Spirit Week of the year!

Spirit Week will be the week of June 9th-12th, the final week of school. Students may show up with an outfit that matches each day’s theme. You may view the schedule on the attached Spirit Week flyer!

Given our work to be an equity-minded community, we have intentionally selected themes that we hope feel accessible given items students may already have at home. Please do not feel the need to purchase any additional clothing or items in order to participate.

Our hope is that this Spirit Week continues to bring our school together in a way that centers joy and connection. We hope students leave school on Thursday, June 12th with fond memories of their friends and classroom.

HTeX Field Day - June 12

Big love and gratitude to Coach and Marissa, PA President, for organizing our Field Day! This year, we will have field day on our HTeX playground.

Students please:

Wear their grade level color (see Spirit Week details)
Put on sunblock
Bring water bottles

Schedule:

TK & Kinder 8:30-9:15
1st & 2nd 9:30-10:15
3rd & 4th 10:30-11:15
5th 11:30-12:15

Purchase your 2025 Yearbook!

In-person sale of our schoo yearbook before and after school.

Cash & card purchases only.

HTeXtra! Aftercare News

Dear High Tech Explorer Families,

As the school year draws to a close, our hearts are full of pride and gratitude. What an incredible journey it has been! We've watched our students grow in confidence, curiosity, and character and we couldn't be more proud of everything they’ve accomplished. This year brought its fair share of challenges, but it also brought countless learning moments. From breakthroughs in the classroom to personal victories on the playground, every experience was a stepping stone in the journey of growth. Our students met each moment with determination, creativity, and heart and they amazed us at every turn.We also want to give a HUGE shoutout to our phenomenal staff. Their dedication, passion, and support have made all the difference. Whether guiding a project, encouraging a shy voice, or celebrating a big “aha!” moment, our educators showed up every single day ready to inspire and they did just that.

We’re thrilled to announce that High Tech Explorer will be hosting an exciting Summer Camp!

It’s the perfect opportunity for students to keep exploring, creating, and having fun in a hands-on, engaging environment. Expect cool experiments, collaborative projects, and tons of laughter along the way!

Thank you for being a vital part of our school community. Your support, encouragement, and partnership make everything we do possible. We can't wait to see what the future holds and we hope to see many of your smiling faces this summer!

Our After School Website is available on your school’s homepage under the After School. We invite you to visit and discover all the great things happening in our program. Thank you for your continued support!

Respectfully,

After school team

Questions?
Email us at htexpacommunications@gmail.com

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