Highland Middle School

08/27/2026

https://pro-amteamsports.chipply.com/HIGHLANDMS26/store.html?eid=584174&action=viewall

08/21/2026

Looking forward to seeing you all on TUESDAY!!

Dear Highland Families and Staff,

I am deeply inspired by the progress seen across our schools and community following the recent storm. My heartfelt gratitude and pride go out to everyone for your response to these challenges.

Our plan to return to school next week is still unchanged. Teachers will report for professional development on Monday, August 24. Students will report for the first day of school on Tuesday, August 25. If there are changes, we will notify you as soon as possible. We are so incredibly excited for the school year to officially begin!

All of our schools and the Administration Center now have power and wifi. Our custodians, food services, and technology staff are continuing to work every day to ensure that our buildings are ready to go for the start of the school year. Thank you very much to all of them for their efforts!

Here are some additional updates for you:

Transportation:
-Our bus drivers are currently driving their bus routes to ensure we are fully prepared for the first day of school.
-STOH Administration has worked closely with Highland Public Works to review our bus stops, and we are very thankful for the work they have done to clean them up for our students.
-You can find a list of our bus routes and other important information on our website: https://www.highland.k12.in.us/page/bus-routes

What's Next:
-Staff & Student Schedule: Teachers will report for professional development on Monday, August 24, and students will begin their first day of school on Tuesday, August 25.
-Elementary Back-to-School Nights: Scheduled for Monday, August 24. Please visit our website (https://www.highland.k12.in.us/article/3055500) for specific elementary building schedules.
-Secondary Back-to-School Nights: Highland Middle School will host its event for parents on Wednesday, August 26, at 5:30 p.m. Highland High School’s event will take place on Thursday, August 27, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Make-up Days:
-The Indiana Department of Education sent all Northwest Indiana superintendents the form to request waiver days. I will update you as soon as I receive confirmation on what may be approved.

We’ve also got some exciting news - all of our schools will have Domino’s Pizza available for lunch on the first day of school! Regular lunch meal prices apply.

Thank you all very much for your patience and understanding as we worked through this devastating storm together. As always, we will continue to keep you informed of any updates. Please enjoy your weekend, and we will see you next week!

Regards,
John Schwuchow, Ph.D.
Incoming School Town of Highland Superintendent

08/17/2026

Are you interested in playing volleyball? 7th and 8th grade girls, check out the information below!

08/12/2026

We look forward to seeing you all Tuesday! Stay safe everyone!

Dear School Town of Highland Community,

Due to the ongoing recovery efforts across Highland and Lake County, all schools will be closed the remainder of this week: Thursday, August 13, and Friday, August 14. The new first day of school will be Tuesday, August 18.

Teachers will now report for Professional Development on Monday, August 17. Students will report for the first day of school on Tuesday, August 18.

All back-to-school nights at our elementary schools have also been postponed to next week, and we will send out more information via email and our district website as they get rescheduled.

If your High School student attends the Area Career Center (ACC), please keep an eye out for a message from Highland High School for more information on the start of classes.

We also want to extend a massive THANK YOU to all the custodians, staff members, and community volunteers who have been assisting in clean-up efforts at our schools. We are very to have such a supportive and caring community that looks out for one another during difficult times.

As so much of our community is still without power, we sincerely hope that everyone continues to stay safe in the aftermath of recent storms.

The School Town of Highland will continue to monitor recovery efforts and provide more communication about the start of school as needed. Thank you very much for your understanding.

Sincerely,
STOH Administrative Team

08/11/2026

Thank you to neighbors that came to help clean up today. We are all

08/10/2026

To help with some confusion…Middle School headphones are normal jack headphones. We understand Elementary schools have updated iPads. We still have the older ones as we are on a different rotation.

08/02/2026

For those interested in Cross Country!

07/30/2026

As we prepare for the new school year, we’d like to discuss how we implement “Offer versus Serve” (OVS) in our cafeterias. The goal with OVS is to reduce food waste and allow students more customization of their meals.

The breakfast and lunch meals that we offer consist of options from 5 important food groups, including milk, protein, fruits, vegetables, and grains. Students are required to choose at least three food groups to create a complete meal. Additionally, one of the groups must be a fruit or vegetable.

We encourage everyone to choose from all 5 food groups! However, students do have the option to decline food that they do not want, and this helps as we try to reduce waste. If a student does not create a complete meal with 3 different food groups, they will be charged a la carte pricing.

If you have any questions on Offer versus Serve, please contact the Food Services Department or view these documents: https://www.highland.k12.in.us/documents/food-services/offer-vs.-serve/28469146

07/29/2026

Attention HMS NJHS 8th grade students and parents:
NJHS Volunteer Opportunity
We are looking for 5 NJHS volunteers to help welcome new students at orientation!
Volunteers will:
• Answer questions from new students and their families
• Help give directions around the school
• Create a friendly and welcoming experience for our newest students

If you're interested in volunteering, please let Mrs Beanblossom know as soon as possible. Thank you for helping make our new students feel welcome!

If you are available Tuesday Aug 4,1-4pm
Or Wednesday Aug 5, 4-6pm

Contact Mrs Beanblossom at
[email protected]

07/28/2026

The School Town of Highland will implement a bell-to-bell ban on wireless communication devices for the 2026-27 school year in accordance with Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 78. This is a new state-wide law that all public school districts in Indiana are required to follow.

For more information on our new policy, please visit our website: https://www.highland.k12.in.us/article/3046052

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Según Indiana Senate Enrolled Act 78, el Distrito Escolar de Highland implementará una prohibición de dispositivos de comunicación inalámbrica durante todo el día escolar para el año 2026-27. Este es un ley nuevo que todos los distritos escolares en Indiana tienen que seguir.

Para más información sobre nuestra política, visite nuestro sitio web: https://www.highland.k12.in.us/article/3046052