Costume Parade Oct. 31st 8:30am @ HTeX Playground | Community Meeting Honoring Mr. Victor Nov. 5th 8:45 am @ HTeX Playground
Dear HTeX Community,
Join me in sending Explorer shine to the HTeX PA for organizing such a joy-filled Fall Festival! A huge thank you to our incredible HTeX PA and all the volunteers who made our Fall Festival such a joyful and memorable event! Your time, creativity, and care brought our community together in such a special way. We are deeply grateful for all you do to make HTeX shine!
Our HTeX Community Meeting committee met this week to plan Mr. Victor’s Celebration of Life, which will be held on the HTeX playground on Wednesday, November 5th, from 8:45–9:15 a.m.
During Custodian Day, Ms. Tavin’s class spent circle time sharing their favorite memories of Mr. Victor. One student suggested doing an act of service in his honor, and the class decided to pick up trash around the Explorer campus. We were so inspired by this idea that we decided to extend it schoolwide.
On November 5th, each grade-level team will share one commitment or act of service that honors Mr. Victor’s legacy of care and kindness. In addition, older students and staff will have an opportunity to share a favorite memory of him. Please extend this invitation to others who would like to join this celebration of Mr. Victor (former students are welcome as well). We will be inviting Mr. Victor's family and the extended HTH community to join us for this event.
To create a lasting tribute, we are also planning to install a permanent metal fixture in Mr. Victor’s honor. This installation will serve as a daily reminder of his spirit of service and the positive impact he made on our community. More details about the design and installation will be shared in the coming weeks.
We hope you will be able to join us in this celebration of Mr. Victor's life. We think about Mr. Victor often. His spirit of service, warmth, and love continues to shine throughout our HTeX community.
Resources:
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.
If you have any questions or need further information, please reach out to us. We are here to help!
With love,
Dr. Melissa
We’re excited to celebrate Halloween at HTE Explorer! To make sure our celebration is safe, inclusive, and fun for everyone, please review the following costume expectations and reminders:
👕 Costumes
Costumes must be school-appropriate and allow students to move, sit, and learn comfortably.
No gore, blood, or scary imagery (we want all students to feel safe and welcome).
No weapons or weapon-like accessories (including toy swords, guns, or knives).
Costumes should be free from stereotypes or cultural appropriation.
Please bring a change of clothes.
We encourage costumes that reflect creativity, kindness, or a favorite book or character!
💡 Additional Notes
Students not wishing to dress up are absolutely welcome to participate in other fun classroom activities.
Please remind your student that school expectations still apply—safe, respectful, and kind behavior makes celebrations better for everyone.
Thank you for helping us keep our celebration fun, inclusive, and safe for all students!
In Partnership,
Mr. Brian & The Explorer Team
Linked HTeX 25-26 Calendar
October 31: Halloween Parade 8:30am-9:00am HTeX Playground
October 31: Monthly Monday Morning Meeting with Melissa & Brian @ 9am-10am Gathering Area
November 5: HTeX Community Meeting Honoring Mr. Victor @ 8:45am-9:15am HTeX Playground
November 7: HTeX PA General Meeting @ 8:30am-9:30am Gathering Area
Warm Reminder - please complete FASS form here
Dear Wonderful Explorer Humans,
One of the most meaningful ways to stay connected to your child’s school life is through after-school conversations. We know that asking “How was school today?” often leads to a one-word answer, but with a few creative prompts, these moments can open a window into their experiences, thoughts, and learning.
Here are some ideas for engaging questions that go beyond the usual “How was your day?”
What was your favorite thing about your day?
What was the best thing that happened to you today?
What was the hardest thing you had to do today?
What did you learn today that you liked?
Did you do anything brave or kind today?
What are you looking forward to tomorrow?
Did you get any compliments today?
What’s your favorite time of day at school?
What was for lunch today?
Did you raise your hand in school? Were you called on?
What made you feel proud today?
Was there a moment you helped someone or someone helped you?
These open-ended questions encourage your student to share their day in more depth, giving you a peek into their learning, friendships, and emotions. They help you understand their successes and areas where they might need extra support.
These conversations also build trust and create a foundation where students feel comfortable sharing both the highlights and challenges of their school experience. Studies show that when adults engage in these small but meaningful moments, students’ confidence, academic progress, and social skills all grow stronger.
Thank you for partnering with us to support your student’s success and for making these after-school moments count. Together, we help our students feel seen, heard, and celebrated every day.
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!
Please Complete Your 2025–26 FASS Form — All Families, Every Year
All families — regardless of income — can complete or update your Family and School Support (FASS) form:
Helps HTH secure additional state funding
Supports staffing, student services, and academic programs
Takes just a few minutes — no login required
Your information is confidential, protected by FERPA, and never shared with immigration authorities
MORE INFO — Family Info on FRL Applications & Income Form FAQ 2025–2026
Complete your FASS form here:
https://linqconnect.com/public/income-form/new?identifier=QYRZH4
Parent Association Information
Our next General Parent Association meeting will be on Friday, November 7th.
Gratitude
Thank you to all who attended and helped with Fall Festival. We really appreciated it.
Jog-a-thon- Calling all Sponsors!
We are currently looking for sponsorships
Any contribution is greatly appreciated! Donations over $150 will include your business name on our sponsor banner, proudly displayed at the school, and donations over $500 will feature your business logo on our annual Jog-A-Thon T-shirts.
Gold Sponsorship Level $500
Gold Sponsorship includes:
● Vendor table at Fall Festival
● Medium logo on annual T-shirt*
● Name/logo listed on sponsorship banner
● Logo and hyperlink listed on HTeX PA Website
Silver Sponsorship Level $300
Silver Sponsorship includes:
● Small logo on annual T-shirt*
● Name/Logo and hyperlink listed on HTeX PA Website
*Payment and logo must be received by Oct. 31, 2025 for inclusion of logo on T-shirt. All logos will be printed on T-shirts in one color.
Jog A Thon- Register & Get a Free T-Shirt
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 students walking themselves into Before Care. For everyone’s safety, we want to remind you that all students must be signed in by a parent or guardian each morning.
This sign-in step is very important because it ensures;
-We know your child has safely arrived.
-Accurate attendance records.
-A smooth start to their morning in the program.
We’re writing to inform you that After School will begin invoicing families for the month of October, and we will be setting up a recurring monthly payment system through Square.
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
You will receive an email soon with more details about this new payment system, including step-by-step instructions on how to set up and manage your payments. Thank you for your attention and for helping us streamline the payment process for everyone.Please note: We will be sending out confirmation emails to those who have qualified for Free or reduced care very soon.
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
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