With this vision as our focus, we encompass our goal of achieving academic excellence through a rigorous core curriculum based upon state adopted texts and supplementary materials. California State Standards and District Benchmarks are supported by implementing the philosophies of Elementary Makes the Grade! , a California Guideline for Elementary Schools, and No Child Left Behind.
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The Highlands community is a tight community that actively supports high academic expectations and successful student learning. We have a diverse population with differing physical and educational needs. There are many opportunities to participate in your child's education here at Highlands from volunteering in the primary classrooms, chaperoning on fieldtrips, fundraising activities, becoming a noon supervisor or crossing guard, and manning stations during activity days on campus. While fundraising is a necessity in our public school system, our PTA and staff together make sure that there are a multitude of free community building activities throughout the year, such as Parent Ed nights, Movie Nights, Math Festival, Multicultural Week activities, Heritage Potluck, Chorus and Instrumental Music Concerts, Plays, Talent Night, and Astronomy Nights.
Five years ago the Funding Task Force (Strategic Planning Committee) was formed, bringing parents, teachers, administration, and community members together for the purpose of focusing on student achievements and enrichment. These meetings brought differing opinions and philosophies to the table and forged a school community partnership that is far stronger than any before. Throughout that year we met to analyze achievement data, develop the Vision and Mission Statements and establish action plans to be implemented over five years. Using that information we rewrote our Single Plan for Student Achievement to be used as the blueprint for all funding actions throughout the year. The main actions identified were to provide all necessary supplementary and consumable materials for students, provide standards-based staff development, and to hire support staff for science labs, and fund equal access to enrichment activities. From those action plans and the Single Plan, PTA, Technology Committee, and Site Council determined their funding allocations. The beginning of each year, current assessment data is again shared with the PTA, Site Council and staff. We meet as a staff and Task Force to adjust our budgets and revise action plans to meet the needs of all students. This collaboration is built on a strong and renewed foundation of trust, parent and staff partnerships, and community spirit. It is the driving force behind the alignment of site resources in support of the school goals. This year we face daunting challenges with funding. We are awaiting mid-year cuts proposed by the Governor, and the projected budget for next year is bleak! If there was ever a time that we need to pull together in support of our students, it is now. |
