Dear Highland Parents and Guardians,

This school year has brought many changes in teaching and learning. Among these changes are sending school devices home with students, increased use of online resources, and a new web filter through our internet provider. After a recent incident, we have determined that our current settings for YouTube needed to be adjusted to keep all students safe from accessing inappropriate content.

Highland has changed the filter setting for YouTube to the strictest possible setting. This change will affect all students using YouTube in grades K-12. Teachers will be able to approve videos for students to view for educational purposes, but students will see limited results during a personal search. Students may not be able to access previously available content on a Highland device.

Dear Highland Parents/Guardians, 

We are excited to welcome our students and staff back to school next week! Please note the following important back-to-school information.

Schedule

• Monday, January 18:  No School (MLK Day)
• Tuesday, January 19:  Students Return to Hybrid Learning (White Group L-Z)
• Wednesday, January 20:  Students Return to Hybrid Learning (Green Group A-K)
• Thursday, January 21:  Hybrid Learning (White Group L-Z)
• Friday, January 22:  Hybrid Learning (Green Group A-K)
• Monday, January 25:  All Students Return to In-Person Learning

Important Reminders
Critical to our ability to remain open for in-person learning is the following:

1. If your child or anyone in your household has a confirmed positive COVID-19 test result, please do not send your child to school.
2. If your child or anyone in your household is awaiting COVID-19 test results, please do not send your child to school.
3. If your child is experiencing any COVID-like symptoms, please do not send your child to school. (Please always err on the side of caution). 
4. Please remind your student(s) about the importance of following safety protocols, physical distancing, wearing masks and frequent hand washing or hand-sanitizing.

New Guidance on Quarantining
On January 7, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) issued new guidance to school districts regarding student and staff quarantine protocols. The change in guidance was supported by recent studies and pilot evaluations from Ohio schools where data indicated, “… the risk of COVID-19 transmission in school was limited, with strict adherence to prevention measures in a monitored environment.” 

The Highland School District will offer lunches at NO COST to ANY Highland students enrolled in the Virtual Learning Academy. This service is offered in conjunction with the USDA free lunch program through the end of the 2020-21 academic year. You do not have to be eligible for free and reduced lunch status to qualify. 

The district will offer school lunch meal “pick-up” on a weekly distribution. Families with students enrolled in the Highland VLA can receive a WEEKLY allotment of their child's school lunches. 

Beginning Monday, September 28 through June 14, 2021 (end of the USDA free lunch program), lunches will be distributed to families for the entire week. Each lunch bag will contain 5 complete lunches. Baking instructions can be downloaded HERE or on the district website under departments/foodservice. (Please note, we will not be serving lunches on weekends, scheduled holidays or holiday breaks).