Dec. 19th Winter Celebration 8:45am | Winter Break Dec. 22-Jan. 5 (Students Return Jan. 6th)
Dear HTeX Family,
We hope you had a fall break filled with an abundance of love and joy!
As we return on Monday, December 1st, we are gearing up for our All School Exhibition on Wednesday, December 10th at 4:30pm - 6:30pm. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to showcase their hard work and for families to support their child's learning.
When we return from Fall Break, it is very important that your child attends school daily to ensure their project is completed in time for Exhibition. Please note as a Project Based Learning Community, attendance for Exhibition is mandatory for all students as their presentations are part of our assessment of learning. Presentations will be graded and included in their progress reports.
We are excited for you to join us in celebrating the spirit of learning and connection that defines our community with the exhibition of projects our learners have worked on during the Fall/Winter (view the Exhibition schedule here). Please see the family presentation by HTeX’s Instructional Coach, Patricia Lim, about the purpose of Exhibitions.
We look forward to seeing you there and sharing this memorable day together!
If you have any questions or need further information, please reach out to us. We are here to help!
With love,
Dr. Melissa
Warm Reminders:
Reporting Absences: Please cc Maggie, HTeX Site Manager, in your email to teachers when your student is absent at mfragoso@hightechhigh.org
Toys: Please keep special toys at home for safe keeping.
Lost & Found: Please check our lost and found area near the Gathering Area for any items that belong to your family. We will need to clear the lost and found area on the last day of the month.
Linked HTeX 25-26 Calendar
Thurs, Dec. 4th: HTeX PA General Meeting at 8:30am-9:30am
Mon, Dec. 8th: LCAP Family/Caregiver Feedback Meeting at 8:30am-9:30am in HTeX Gathering Area
Wed, Dec. 10th: HTeX School wide Exhibition at 4:30pm-6:30pm (detailed schedule)
Thurs, Dec. 11th: Pajama Day
Dec. 15-19: Spirit Week (detailed schedule)
Wed, Dec. 17th: Full Day Dismissal at 2:45 pm
Thurs, Dec. 18th: Family Night 4:30pm-5:15pm
Fri, Dec. 19th: Winter Celebration 8:45 am Playground & Half Day Dismissal at 12:45pm
Dec. 22nd - Jan. 5th: Winter Break, No School
Tues, Jan. 6th: Students Return to School at 8:15am
Hello, as we get closer to our Exhibition on Wed, Dec. 10th from 4:30 until 6:00 we want to offer ways to support your student at home. Please feel free to use these helpful tips to assist in supporting your student(s)..
Create a Positive Environment:
Encourage a positive and supportive atmosphere at home to help alleviate the pressure associated with presentations. A nurturing environment fosters a sense of confidence and security.
Gentle Guidance:
Offer gentle guidance on organizing thoughts and preparing for the presentation. Break down the process into manageable steps to make it less overwhelming for your child.
Authentic Expression:
Emphasize the importance of authentic self-expression. Encourage your child to be themselves during the presentation, promoting a sense of comfort and genuine communication.
Embrace Mistakes:
Highlight that mistakes are a natural part of the learning process. Foster a mindset of resilience by focusing on the progress made rather than placing undue emphasis on perfection.
Celebrate Strengths:
Acknowledge and celebrate your child's strengths. This positive reinforcement helps build their self-esteem and reinforces their capabilities.
Patient Listening:
Be a patient and attentive listener. Allow your child to share their thoughts, concerns, and triumphs regarding the presentation. Providing a safe space for communication is essential.
Encourage Practice:
Encourage regular practice sessions to build familiarity with the material. This enhances their presentation skills and boosts their confidence in delivering the content.
Promote a Growth Mindset:
Instill a growth mindset by highlighting that learning and improvement are ongoing processes. This perspective helps your child view challenges as growth opportunities rather than obstacles.
By incorporating these strategies, adults can play a pivotal role in helping their elementary school students navigate the pressures associated with presentations and exhibitions.
Hello HTeX Parents and Caretakers,
It’s been wonderful to see our hallways and classrooms filled with smiling faces and eager learners, and we appreciate your efforts in ensuring that your child comes to school ready and excited to learn.
We also want to thank you for your cooperation for a smooth start to the school year! Now that we are in the swing of things, we would like to clarify our morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up procedures and parking lot expectations. ALL CARS DROPPING OFF MUST PULL IN TO A PARKING SPOT. It is unsafe for young students to walk across the parking lot unattended.
Feel free to share this information with any caregivers who are on your child’s pick-up list!
If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Thank you,
Melissa and Brian
Wishing everyone a peaceful and joyful holiday season!
The holidays can bring a variety of experiences; some students may be looking forward to them, but for others, it can be a more challenging time. With that in mind, I’d like to share some resources you might find helpful to include in your newsletters/communication to families:
Supporting Children Who Are Grieving During the Holidays (en espanol) - This article offers practical tips and resources to help families support children through grief during the holiday season.
BrightLife Kids / Soluna App: Free California-funded virtual mental health support for children, teens, and families (no insurance needed).
Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) & Insurance/PCP Referrals: Many employers offer free short-term counseling for employees and family members. Your insurance provider or your child’s pediatrician can also help with referrals.
Online Therapist Directories: Psychology Today, TherapyDen, Inclusive Therapists, etc.
Parent-Friendly Mental & Behavioral Health Community-Based Resources:
Virtual Wellness Center – SDCOE (interactive)
Mental Health Resources - SDCOE (informational)
SDCOE, Rady Children's Hospital Partner on Webinar Series for Parents Around Student Mental Health (pre-recorded webinar series)
NAMI Basics (virtual workshop)
Family-to-Family (support group/classes)
Father2Child (support group/classes)
CalHope (CA initiatives/resources)
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
HTH Admissions: Spread The Word!
The December High Tech Eats menus are now available!
Check out our special holiday meal on Friday, December 19, featuring a Popcorn Chicken Bowl with Mashed Potatoes, Gravy and Corn. All made from scratch in our central kitchen!
Keep up with us on Instagram!
Parent Association Information
Next General Meeting is this Thursday, Dec. 4th at 8:30am-9:30am in the Gathering Area.
Please see information from Nov. 7th's General PA Meeting here.
Fall Festival Photos
We wanted to pass along the link to photos from Fall Festival in case you were able to stop by our photo area and get your pictures taken. Explorer shine to Sophia Ahmann for sharing your talent with us!
Here's the link - enjoy!
HTeX Community Food Bank
With the unpredictable nature of today’s climate - we wanted to hopefully provide some resources to help families in need. If you are able, please consider donating. If you are in need, please reach out to Dr. Melissa, Mr. Brian, or April or Jenny listed on the flyer and we’ll work to see about getting the support needed.
Jog A Thon- Will be rescheduled due to weather conditions
We have hit our next goal of 15K!!! Dr Melissa and Mr. Brian will be kissing a farm animal during a future community meeting. We’ve shared a post on socials this week saying that we’ve reached our second goal. We are currently at 16k raised for jog a thon. Please encourage families to share their student’s profile on Pledgestar for support.
Jog A Thon Schedule
8:45-9:45 TK, K, 1st
9:45-10:45 2nd-3rd
10:45-11:45 4th-5th
Information About Volunteering
We love and appreciate HTeX volunteers!
When volunteering, all volunteers will will need to review the orientation information and sign the HTeX Volunteer Acknowledgement form. Please submit the form to Dr. Melissa or Ms. Maggie. All volunteers will be required to review this orientation in preparation for volunteering opportunities for our HTeX community.
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
Dear families,
We’ve recently noticed an influx of parents picking up their students late for afterschool who are not enrolled in the program. For everyone’s safety, we want to remind you that all students must be registered for the program in order to attend. Students will stay in front with our check in and out clerk and not partake in activities.
This sign-in step is very important because it ensures;
As part of our updated payment process, all invoices will now be sent via Square. You will have the option to securely add your credit card information and manage your payments directly through your Square account. If you believe you were charged in error and have not yet completed the FASS form, please do so as soon as possible using the link below
Thank you for your attention and for helping us streamline the payment process for everyone.
We kindly ask that you walk your child in and complete the sign-in with staff every day. Students will not be able to join Before Care unless they are signed in by an adult. Additionally if you’re interested in the before or after school program please take the time to fill out the form below. For safety, we cannot take any students who have not filled out the form.
Thank you for helping us keep our program safe and welcoming for all students. We truly appreciate your cooperation and support.
Thank you,
The Explorer Team
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Our mailing address is:
2230 Truxton Rd San Diego CA 92106
Questions?
Email us at htexpacommunications@gmail.com