Staying Informed at Highlands
Phone: (616) 361-3440
Fax: (616) 365-6171
IMPORTANT INFO for Parents/Guardians
Highlands Middle School has a number of resources – many online – to keep you informed.
Keep Your Information Current: All parents/guardians are required to complete and sign an updated registration form for their student(s) at the beginning of every school year. It is important that we have current contact information for you at all times – phones, email and address. Note: if you move, proof of residency on the new address is mandatory; please contact the office.
ParentVue: ParentVue is the parent/guardian communication portal to monitor grades, assignments, attendance and more; we strongly encourage parents/guardians to use this tool. Parents/guardians who are new to the district will receive their activation codes on Student Orientation Day, before the start of school. If a student enrolls mid-year, an activation code will be provided to parents/guardians. Otherwise, to request an activation code, please contact the school office and provide your name and your student(s) name(s). Please allow up to 48 business hours to receive your activation code. (Note: students receive their own StudentVue accounts). New accounts are most reliably set up from a computer; some cell phones are not compatible for the set-up process.
Parent/Guardian Communication: Parents/guardians who provide an email address will automatically receive a Friday News email, providing information about current/upcoming events, fundraisers, etc.
School Website: http://nvps.net/highlands-middle-school/ Our website has a variety of helpful links including all the items on this page, a school calendar, and staff directory, just to name a few.
Grades/Progress Reports: Students will be given report cards to bring home at the end of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Quarters; year-end report cards will be mailed home. Parents/guardians may always check current grades on ParentVue, as well as monitor assignments and attendance. If you have any concerns or questions about your child’s progress, please contact your child’s teacher directly. Email addresses and telephone extensions are located in the Staff Directory link on our website and in the Student Handbook.
Student Portal: (http://nvps.net/studentportal/ ) – students can get their school email, as well access tools and school work.
Meal Accounts: Deposits may be brought in to the school or paid online for a small fee (go to the Northview District website, then to “Food Services” and then to “Pay for Meals Online” or go to sendmoneytoschool.com). You will need your student’s school ID number to make a deposit. Students who run a negative balance in their account will be given a sandwich for lunch. The ‘Free/Reduced Meal’ application (one per family) is available at lunchapp.com. NV’s Food Services Director (363-4857) is available to answer any questions and provide assistance on this program.
Medications: Medication forms are available in the Main Office for both over-the-counter and prescription medications. They are also available on our website at: http://nvps.net/forms/. All prescription medications require physician signature on our medication form. All medications must be in their original container. Parents/guardians must personally bring in medications to our office; appointments to do so are strongly encouraged to avoid wait times. Call the office to schedule at 616-361-3440. All medications are stored/locked and dispensed through the main office; students are not to carry medicine on their persons. No medication can be dispensed to a student unless it has been sent in from home and a properly completed and signed medication form is on file at school.
Important Info For NEW PARENTS
Welcome to Highlands Middle School! We are happy to have you join our community. We are a 5th & 6th grade building and typically have about 500 students and 50 staff in the building. You will receive ongoing, important information via our Friday Email Blast.
Phone Numbers and Website – Office phone number is (616) 361-3440; fax number is (616) 365-6171. Our website address is nvps.net/highlands-middle-school/
School Hours – warning bell is at 8:25 am; classes begin at 8:30 am. Dismissal at 3:25/3:30 pm (on ½ days, dismissal time is 11:45 am). Building opens at 8:00 am and students are not allowed to remain in the building after school unless they are participating in a scheduled activity. The office is open from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm on regular school days.
Student Drop-off and Pick-up is in the parking lot on the east side of the building, the front of the building is reserved for buses.
Bus Garage phone number is (616) 361-3480. If you want your student to ride a bus home, other than one he/she is scheduled to ride, YOU must call the bus garage directly and make arrangements no later than 10 am.
Absences must be called in to the office, daily, unless prior arrangements have been made. The main office number is (616) 361-3440; an answering machine is available to take your message during non-business hours. Provide your name, your student’s name and grade, and the reason for the absence. If your student is out ill, please state the type of illness (for public health reporting requirements). Absences must be excused within 24 hrs.; otherwise the absence will be unexcused.
Tardy Arrivals a parent/guardian must call or sign in the student; otherwise it will go as unexcused.
Athletics – Community Education Programs are available to our Highlands students. Please visit our website, and on the side menu, under Athletics – Youth Sports for more information. Also, the Northview News always posts information about activities available.
Volunteering at school is always welcome. A volunteer consent form must be completed and processed each year, prior to helping out. Go to Northview’s Home page (NVPS.net), the select top tab “Get Involved,” scroll down to “Volunteer in Our Schools” and select this option. Finally, click on red link “Volunteer Consent Form,” complete and submit. The Northview Mentor Program is always in need of responsible adults to partner and work with students in grades 5-12 for 15 minutes a week. Information on this program is also available under NV’s “Get Involved” tab.
Meal Accounts: Deposits may be brought in to the school or paid online for a small fee (look in the District menu on our website, then to “Food Services” and then to “Pay for Meals Online” or go to sendmoneytoschool.com). You will need your student’s school ID number to make a deposit. Students who run a negative balance in their account will be given a sandwich for lunch. The ‘Free/Reduced Meal’ application (one per family) is available at https://www.familyportal.cloud/. Jan Jager, NV Food Services Director (616-363-4857) is available to answer any questions and provide assistance on this program.
Rev 6/12/15