Save The Date!

• Linked HTeX 25-26 Calendar

• September 29: Picture Day

• October 6: Picture Make-up Day

• October 9: PA General Meeting @ 8:30am-9:30am

• October 10: No School - HTH All Staff Day

• October 13: No School - Indigenous Peoples Day

• October 14-17: Student Led Conferences; Minimum Day Dismissal @ 12:45pm

• October 18: HTeX Fall Festival @ 11:00am-2:00pm HTeX Playground

• October 27: Monthly Monday Morning Meeting with Melissa & Brian @ 8:30am-9:30am

Warm Reminder - please complete FASS form here

Hello,

We know mornings can sometimes feel like a race, and we are grateful for the effort you put into helping your child arrive at school each day. We want to share why arriving on time is so important for your child’s growth, comfort, and success.

Research shows that chronic tardiness in the early grades is linked to lower academic achievement and higher rates of absenteeism later in school. Even being just 10 minutes late every day can add up to more than 30 hours of missed instruction over the course of a year.

For young students especially, the first part of the day sets the tone:

• Routine and Structure: Students feel safe and comfortable when they begin the day with the same routines as their classmates. Arriving late can create stress and confusion, as they’ve missed important directions and expectations.
  
  

• Classroom Community: Morning meeting, greetings, and classroom check-ins are key times to build friendships and connections. When a child misses this, they may feel out of step with peers.
  
  

• Exploratory and Special Lessons: If students arrive late to Art, Science, or AE, they often miss the structure of the lesson’s beginning, which makes it harder to participate fully and can cause them to feel anxious or behind.
  
  

• Emotional Well-being: Children often feel unsettled when they enter after routines have started. They may be unsure of what’s expected, and this can lead to feelings of anxiety or frustration.
  
  

By arriving on time, students are able to begin their day calmly, connect with friends, and step into their learning with confidence. Thank you for partnering with us to support your child’s success. If your family is experiencing challenges with morning routines, please reach out. We are here to help problem-solve together.

With appreciation,                                             

Mr. Brian

COVID-19 & Other Respiratory Illnesses

Greetings HTH Community,

We just wanted to remind everyone about the current COVID-19 protocols as the flu and COVID-season is upon us soon (if not already!). 

High Tech High schools will continue following the CDC guidance for COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses. 

Tests (while supplies last) are available for pickup by the front desk of HTH starting September 8. please note: pickup days/time are Monday through Thursday - 10:00am - 2:00pm

Specific guidance relating to COVID is as follows: for anyone who has tested positive for COVID, they can return to regular activity (like school/work) as long as BOTH of these things are true: 

1. their symptoms are getting better

2. they have been fever free without fever reducing medication for 24 hours

_

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).

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/

To help our students make a calm transition into their classrooms, we will be starting our days with this arrival routine.

8:00 Our gate opens

8:00-8:10 Students can choose one of these options: sit with friends at their class’s assigned gathering spot, dance, stretch, take a walk, or draw/color.

8:10 The song “We Are Going to Be Friends” will play. This is the signal for students to walk to their class’s gathering spot and sit. They will wait there until their teacher arrives to bring them in.

8:15 Class begins

Please help students remember these steps. Teachers will practice the arrival routine with students as well. 

Thank you!

High Tech High schools provide electronic devices for collaboration and communication for students to use in the classroom and throughout the school day. Personal electronic devices may not be used during the school day. If parents/guardians feel their student needs to have a personal electronic device, the device needs to be turned off or on silent mode and stored out of sight in backpacks, not in pockets, during the school day. The following expectations are in place at all K-12 schools in an effort to keep the focus on learning and reduce unnecessary distractions throughout the school day:

• Cell phones, iPads, Smartwatches, and all similar electronic devices should be turned off, stored away, out of sight, and not used during school hours. Students will place “turned off” electronic devices in their backpacks.

• Cell phones, iPads, Smartwatches, and all similar electronic devices can be turned on at the end of the school day to assist in pick up, transportation, and carpool.

• If a parent needs to reach their child during school hours, they should email or call the front desk, not their child's personal electronic device.

• If a student needs to reach their parent during school hours, they will go to the front desk to call unless given express permission by a HTH staff member to use their personal electronic device.

• Headphones and earbuds may be used only when provided by and under the supervision of an HTH faculty member.

• Texting and videotaping are not permitted anytime during the school day.

• If a student uses any electronic device, it will be held by administration until picked up by the student’s adult.

Failure to follow these guidelines will result in confiscation of the phone or device and may result in disciplinary action. Specific consequences and specific policies will vary by campus and school site. 

Nut Free Zone

Dear HTeX Families,

At HTeX, we prioritize the safety and well-being of all our students. To protect those with nut allergies, we have designated our school as a nut-free zone. We kindly ask that you refrain from sending any snacks or lunches that contain nuts or nut products.

Please continue to monitor products that contain nuts especially when brought in for special events or treats. 

Also, food particles containing peanut proteins can become airborne during the grinding or pulverization of peanuts, and inhaling peanut protein in this type of situation could cause an allergic reaction.

Please help us create a safe environment for all students by checking ingredient labels carefully. If you have any questions or need snack ideas, feel free to reach out.

Thank you for your cooperation!

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

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

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