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Academics are celebrated. Imagination is embraced. Leadership is fostered.

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When the Faculty and Staff HR Committee met in February 2011 to discuss the search process and job descriptions of the division heads, a lively conversation ensued. The members of the committee began to ask if there is a way to take the word “divided” out of our vocabulary. Is there a way to get all the tasks completed but with a unified, whole-school outlook? How can we structure our administrative team so that students and their families build relationships with administrators that continue through Highlands School from preschool through eighth grade?

 

The HR Committee recommended that if the right people were found, we approach the positions, not as “division heads” but as whole-school administrators. The committee envisioned two administrators, Director of Student Services and Director of Curriculum and Instruction, working closely together to support our families and our faculty across all our grade levels. The committee searched for two individuals whose skills and personalities complement each other and Mrs. Barr. 

 

The HR Committee searched through over a hundred resumes, met with over twenty-five candidates for initial interviews and brought three candidates to the campus for a rigorous interview schedule that included meetings with all of the faculty and staff and representatives from the students, parents, trustees, and alumni. Thanks to the hard work of many people, we are excited to tell you that we have found the right people for these positions.

 

Beginning July 1, 2011, Elise Blackerby will be our Director of Curriculum and Instruction. Mrs. Blackerby has a long career in education teaching a variety of grades, serving on curriculum committees, sharing presentations, and mentoring teachers. She has taught third, fourth, and fifth grades at Highlands School following over twenty years in the Mountain Brook Schools. Elise and her husband, Vince, have a daughter in college and a son in law school. Not only is she uniquely talented for this position, she is eager to dedicate her newly found empty nester time to Highlands School.

 

Robert McGehee will be our Director of Student Services starting July 1, 2011.  Mr. McGehee is currently the assistant headmaster at St. Bernard in Nashville. He served St. Paul’s Academy in Mobile for over fifteen years in various positions including Upper School Dean of Students, and teacher of fourth through seventh grade students. Robert earned his undergraduate degree in English Literature at University of the South, Sewanee and his Master’s degree in elementary education at Lesley College in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  His interests include outdoor education, sailing, and rock climbing.

Open Faculty positions are also being filled at this time.

Stacey Hueghan Wolf has accepted the second grade teaching position. Stacey attended U.A.B., where she cheered for football and men’s basketball and received her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She has worked with Harris McCloud for the past two years in pre-school and kindergarten. Many of the parents and students had an opportunity to meet her as she worked in the office during the afternoons last year. Stacey is married to Bryan Wolf, and in her free time, she enjoys running, reading, and working on crafty projects.

 

Michelle Crawford is officially joining the Highlands School Community. Many of you are already familiar with Michelle and her amazing teaching talents, as she has worked at Highlands during maternity leaves as a long-term substitute teacher in second, third, and fifth grades. Before coming to Highlands School last year, she taught second grade. Mrs. Crawford graduated summa cum laude, from the University of Montevallo’s College of Education, is K-6 certified and is Highly Qualified. She is married and has two children.  Her favorite pastimes include reading, journaling, working jigsaw puzzles, and traveling with her husband.

Charlotte Gill Leffel has accepted the position of music teacher. Charlotte has dedicated her life to studying, performing, and teaching music. She earned her B.A. in Music Technology from U.A.B. She has performed in a variety of musical genres, singing and playing with rock bands and jazz combos as well as some of the leading church choirs in Birmingham. Charlotte began her teaching career 20 years ago when she started teaching private piano lessons while still in high school. She continued teaching and studying music through college and after, eventually leading her to open The Pink House in 1999. As the owner and lead teacher of The Pink House, Charlotte has taught thousands of children in the Birmingham area over the last 12 years. She currently teaches Kindermusik and piano in The Pink House studio and travels to several Birmingham area schools to provide music education to their students. In addition, she teaches elementary music at N. E. Miles Jewish Day School, where she leads performances several times a year. Charlotte brings her energy and creative spirit to communicate a love and appreciation for music to children. Charlotte strongly believes that “the gift of music is something a child will have throughout a lifetime.” 

Please plan to attend a special meeting this coming Tuesday, February 1st at 6:30 in the Spencer Center. This meeting will have a “State of the School” feel to it – not only our current state but also the future state.  

We will be sharing four main topics:

1. Report on the findings of the SACS-SAIS reaccreditation visit.
2. Report of the recommendations made by the Middle School Vision Committee including the enhancements to the middle school taking place next year.
3. Sneak Peek into middle school including curricular information
4. Report of the hiring process and plans for the Head of Lower School and Head of Middle School

All parents and students in fourth through eighth grade are highly encouraged to attend. Pizza will be available at 6:15 to help make the evening a little easier on you. Whether your child is already in the middle school or not, we have some exciting news regarding the enhancements being made to the entire middle school experience for 2011-2012. 

Our wonderful teachers and the members of the Vision committee will be there so please make every effort to attend the meeting Tuesday night.   

Highlands Middle School students are definitely striving for new heights, both literally and metaphorically.  In September our eighth graders went on their annual Leadership Retreat.  In addition to spending time with elders at a nursing home near campus, the students and two teachers spent time challenging themselves at Camp Cosby.

The group spent the first afternoon kayaking on the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River. They enjoyed beautiful weather as they overcame the challenges of navigating white water, getting stuck on rocks, and taking the occasional swim.

The next morning’s activities involved challenge by choice. The first activity was climbing the Alpine Tower. Each participant had the opportunity to choose a route to the top or to stop at whichever point seemed right. We celebrated our success with a ride on an amazing swing. To finish our time at Camp Cosby, we tackled the high-ropes course. Completing high ropes involves overcoming a series of obstacles high in the trees.

We are also challenging ourselves intellectually.  Highlands School has begun the process of becoming an IB World School.  We are officially an “interested school”, having registered our pursuit of this certification with the International Baccalaureate Organization.  While many people are more familiar with the Diploma Programme, IB also offers a Middle Years Programme (MYP).

The MYP is compatible with the Highlands mission and strategic plan and focuses on life-long learning and international mindedness.  Through this rigorous academic program, Highlands students will develop an appreciation for their own culture and that of others while acquiring the knowledge, skills, and characteristics to lead successful and productive lives in our quickly changing world.

We also take time to explore new ideas and activities through our elective program.  Students opt to participate in yearbook, newspaper, Scholars’ Bowl, drama, Alice programming, and a variety of other offerings.  Check out the first issue of this year’s newspaper, The High Life 2.0.

Please visit our web page often to find more information about what our students and teachers are doing as we continue striving for “a higher degree of learning.”

1. After following increased demand for several years, we have opened an additional Preschool Class located in the Spencer Center giving us 40 fabulous preschoolers! Miss Elizabeth has decorated the new room beautifully, and we are excited about welcoming more children on campus!

2. Twitter and Facebook are two ways of sharing information, connecting, and interacting with our families and fans.  Become a “fan” or “follower” today!

3. We have reworked our website and have opened the classroom pages. Look in backpack mail for login information.

4. New teachers have come our way with impressive education, teaching experience, and hobbies. We welcome these new faces to Highlands!

5. You will notice Stacey Heughan in preschool in the mornings and in the office in the afternoon. She will be answering the phone, applying Band-Aids, and helping with various tasks in the office.  She is a woman of many talents, and we are excited that she is sharing many of them with us!

6. We also welcome many faculty and staff children on campus – both in the Family Center and in the School.

7. All teachers are now using multi-platform laptops just two years after setting this goal.

8. Please see the new Discipline Policy. We give special thanks to Shelby Hammer and Amy Mendel, a faculty committee and a parent focus group who worked on the policy last spring.

9. Highlands School is getting greener! Take note of the raised garden beside the greenhouse. This outdoor learning area will be used by a variety of students of all ages.  We send a big green thank you to Randy McDonald for designing and overseeing the construction of the garden.

10.  Let’s all give Amy Han a big “Ni Hao” as she begins her year at Highlands School. Amy will be teaching Chinese to all of our students and is with us through the China Connection program sponsored by NAIS and Hanban.

I am excited to welcome each of you back to school after a wonderful summer full of the three R's: rest, relaxation and recreation!

Has your summer been action packed or slow and easy? Are you the type of person who can't wait for school to start again, or do you wish every day was a carefree summer day? Be sure to tell me your answers and all about your summer Thursday, August 13, our first day of school.

Here are a few things to keep in mind as you and your parents prepare for a great start to a great year.

• Students are to arrive between 7:45 and 7:55 and be in their seats by 8:00 a.m.
• Parents are to accompany their child/children to the office when arriving after 7:59 a. m. to sign in and to get a tardy slip.
• If parents come on campus for any reason, they must check in at the office and get a visitor pass or volunteer pass.
• Parents please send a dated note to the teacher with your child if your child is going home with someone other than the regular carpool driver; preschool children may need to have notes pinned to their clothing or book bags.
• Cell phones are not to be used during carpool. This rule is enforced for the safety of all during car pool.
• The bus driver coordinates the bus clock with WMJJ - Magic 96 radio time and stops at each pickup for five minutes.
• If you are late in the morning, please drive your children to school. If you are late in the afternoon, you may pick up at Highlands School by 4:15 p.m.
• If you send another adult to pick up your children for carpool or the bus stop, notify the school office by noon each day.
• All children, if they wish, may bring a healthy snack such as fruit or vegetables.
• Children who attend school after 12 noon should bring a lunch or enroll in our hot lunch program.
• Children staying after 3:00 p.m. may wish to bring an afternoon snack.
• All medication, with the exception of inhalers and epinephrine, must be dispensed from the school's office.
• Parents must complete a Medication Form and provide the medicine. The containers are to be labeled with the child's name and directions for administering the medication.
• All children are asked to bring all supplies to school on the first day of school. If you purchased school supplies through the Highlands School Parent's Auxiliary they will be in our room the first day of school.

The purpose of a dress code is to allow students to participate fully and safely in every aspect of the school day. Highlights of the school's Dress Code are listed below for reference.

Students should wear something else if they have any doubts about the appropriateness of an item.

• Students are to wear shoes that are appropriate and safe for outdoor play.
• Students in PS–5th grade may not wear flip flops.
• Students in MS may wear sandals and flip flops provided that they have athletic shoes for P.E. Flip flops should be appropriate for school wear and should not be beach or pool shoes.
• Students must wear adequate and appropriate undergarments for all outfits; tights may be worn accompanied by a skirt or dress that extends to mid-thigh.
• Students are not permitted to wear the following:
  a. Tank tops (unless wearing a shirt over or underneath it);
  b. Sundresses (unless straps are at least 1 inch wide);
  c. See-through clothing;
  d. Bare midriff clothing;
  e. Mini-skirts and shorts (4”-5” above the middle of the knee/ no shorter than fingertips when arms are held straight down);
  f. T-shirts with inappropriate messages (alcohol/drugs/sex/weapons/tobacco/vulgarity);
  g. Hats/caps (except outdoors);
  h. Leggings, biker pants or running tights (unless wearing a shirt, dress, or skirt that extends to mid-thigh);
  i. Torn or cut clothes may not be worn.

Prospective Parent Open House: Thursday, April 30, 2009 9:00 a.m.

HIGHLANDS SCHOOL is pleased to announce an additional Preschool Class. Come visit us and learn all about it! Please R.S.V.P. to Judy McDonald, Director of Admissions (205) 956-9731. 4901 Old Leeds Road, Birmingham, Alabama 35213.

Valentine Rhymes

Mrs. Suzan’s and Miss Angela’s Kindergarteners have been working on identifying the beginning and ending consonant sounds and the medial vowel sounds in new words. To continue their practice they have been identifying words with the same medial vowel sound and the same ending consonant sound – you know, rhyming words. In celebration of St. Valentine’s Day the kindergarteners used their new skills to write Valentine Rhymes with some hilarious results.
Read their poems by viewing the interactive online book

Grandparents & Special Friends Day: Friday - April 3

9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Welcome to all our special guests. We are looking forward to showing you our wonderful school! Please do not park along the driveways. We need to keep these areas free of parked cars so that the bus shuttles can enter and exit campus freely. Also, in case of emergency the driveways will need to be clear for emergency vehicles. Please park at the old Mountain Brook Swim & Tennis Club and use the bus shuttles that will be running.