UPDATED INFORMATION FOR 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR

February 3, 2021

We are excited to share that the Yakima Health District issued a new directive allowing local high schools to resume their reopening plans. We have been advocating for, and planning for, the reopening of HHS for many months. We are ready for our Scotties to return beginning, February 17, 2021!

We will follow the same strict guidelines for reopening HHS as we have in the successful reopening’s of MWC, TIS and HJH this fall.

1. HHS Hybrid Start Date. Students of families who have chosen the hybrid in-person learning model will return to campus on Wednesday, February 17^th, 2021. Students have been strategically placed into either AM or PM cohort groups, based on family need, transportation and class occupancy limitations. Each cohort will attend four half-days of in-person learning. This also ensures that proper social distancing can be achieved. (Click here to review our hybrid schedule). We are excited for this first step in serving our students!

2. Families will have a choice. We understand that some families will not be comfortable sending their students back into the classroom at all this year. Students and families have already declared their choice for hybrid in-person learning or alternative distance learning (Edgenuity). Students who elected for the alternative distance learning, must continue for the remainder of the school year.

3. All students and staff are required to wear masks at all times when in the building or on the bus & follow all safety guidelines and protocols.

4. Staff will have the option of voluntary COVID-19 testing. More details about voluntary testing will be provided.

5. We all need to do our part to keep each other healthy. We have established strict health protocols that have allowed us to reopen MWC, TIS and HJH without any instances of COVID-19 being traced to spread occurring in our buildings or on our buses. HHS students will be expected to attest to their health and have their temperature taken prior to entering the building or bus each day. It is important for students to stay home if they are demonstrating any symptoms that could be attributed to COVID-19 or, if they have been in close contact with someone with a confirmed or suspected case of COVID-19. It is equally important that students and families limit social gatherings, practice social distancing and wear masks outside of school to help further reduce the spread of this disease in our community and help keep our schools open.

A special message from the high school, containing more specific details will be coming later this week. We appreciate your patience and continued support of our students, schools, and staff.

UPDATED INFORMATION FOR 2020-2021 SCHOOL YEAR

January 8, 2021

Dear Highland High School students and parents,

Happy New Year! It is our sincere hope that our world returns to a little more normalcy in 2021. The past year has been full of challenges and changes. We appreciate your flexibility and support as we have tried to navigate them to the best of our abilities.

We had anticipated to begin a hybrid/in-person learning model at Highland High School on January 19, 2021, which is the first day of 2^nd Semester. As our superintendent has shared, with the increase of COVID cases in our county, the guidance from the YHD is to postpone returning high school students to the classroom in a full hybrid model until the numbers come down. We are still hopeful of the opportunity to implement our hybrid learning model in the near future. In anticipation of that eventual change, we are making some adjustments to classes for 2^nd Semester. These changes will allow us to more seamlessly move from remote learning to hybrid learning when that occurs. The new student daily schedule is attached.

Beginning January 19^th, students will be taking all six of their classes, with Periods 1-3 taking place on Mondays and Wednesdays, and Periods 4-6 taking place on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Friday will be a remote day for our Advisory class and time for student independent work. During the remote learning model, these classes will continue to be taught live via Zoom or Teams. You will also note that class times are a bit shorter and start a little later in the afternoon. Morning time will still allow for independent student work, small group work with teachers and office hours. As we have been doing since early November, we plan to continue to bring in specific students for extra support beginning on January 25^th. More specific information will be sent to those who are asked to participate in program.

One thing we have learned is that things can change very rapidly. Once we are certain on the starting date of our hybrid/in-person learning model, we will share all pertinent information with you regarding AM/PM session assignments, bell schedules, transportation routes/times and other information. We greatly appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to navigate uncertain times. Please know that we are committed to provide the best educational opportunities we can to meet the needs of our students and their families.

Student Schedule