Teachers reads to students outside
August 20, 2026

A Back-to-School Note from Principal Derr: Heights Power Expectations!!!

I would like to welcome you all back to our new school for the 2026-27 school year.  We are excited to be back in our “Home” building after spending the last two years over at Longfellow.  Start now getting your child ready for school by getting to bed early so they are ready from Day 1.  Talk about the expectations you have for them at school and what we will be excepting from them as well.  

  • Expect the best from your child and yourself!

As we move back home, there are some very important items you need to be aware of.  Please read this carefully so you are up to speed with some of our systems we have in place here at Holland Heights.  We will tweak these as needed, but please be patient as we begin our year with some new routines/procedures.

Start/End Time

  • Start Time - 8:15 AM - Doors open at 7:45 for breakfast
  • End Time - 3:21
  • Early Release Wednesday End Time - 2:21
  • 1/2 Day End Time - 11:20

Visitors/Volunteers

Please be sure to check in at the office if you have specific business at the school.  Please fill out the Volunteer Form as early as possibleso you will be able to help out in the classroom or attend field trips throughout the school year.  You will find that on the district website. We want you involved, so please do this right away. 

Traffic Safety Note:

Please be alert when dropping off your child in the morning.  Please do not park in the staff parking lot during the school day, especially in the morning when staff is coming to work.  Please use the parking spots on 12th Street if you need to come in the building.  At the end of the school day, please do not park on the road across the street from the school or stop in the road to pick your child up.   Instead, meet your child on the sidewalk on 12th St. and walk with them to your car.  You can park on the side streets if the angle parking is full.  Do not park too close to the corner so people can see when pulling around the corner.  You must be patient during the end of the day pick up, so do not be in a hurry.  This is for everyones safety.  We also need you to not park in the lined area on 12th St. since that is reserved for our bus at the end of the day. Thanks for your cooperation with this safety matter.

Here is where I would like you to pick up/meet your child at the end of the day.  If you have more than one child here, I would suggest to go to the side of the youngest child(K-2) and have the older ones walk to meet you on 12th St. I will have staff walk students around to 12th Street if they walk home, ride the bus or have a younger sibling that is getting picked up there. 

  • K-2 - pick up will be on 12th Street
  • 3-5 - pick up will be at the circle drive by the staff parking lot
  • Morning drop off - in the circle drive and the students enter the door at the main entrance for breakfast.  All students must enter in the main entrance in the morning.

New Safety Features in the building!!!

As you walk around the building, you will see the normal fire alarm boxes, but also for improved overall safety, you will see Lock Down buttons installed in the classrooms and hallways.  Please remind your child that these are for emergency use only and are not toys to play with.  Students who push those buttons as a joke will be given serious consequences per state law.  So, please remind your child to make Wise Choices when it comes to those different safety features in our school.  Thank you. 

OPEN HOUSE  - Tuesday August 25 - 4-6 PM

Education Benefit Form - We need everyone tofill out this form, regardless of income.  This supports our food service program that provides No Cost Breakfast and Lunch for all students.

Download the new HPS Mobile App!!! - This two way communication tool will keep you connected to what’s happening at school: snow day announcements, messages from your teacher, notes/information from the principal, etc.  Download it today!

Transportation - 

  • K-5 students who live 1.25 miles from school and HMS/HHS students who live 1.5 miles from school will not be provided transportation to and from school. Out-of-district school of choice families will not be provided transportation to and from school. Students can ONLY be picked up and dropped off at their PRIMARY address.
  • The Transportation Department will send a message early next week about bus stops and times. Learn more about the MyRideK-12 App.

Suggested School Supplies List

If you have any questions, please call the office at 616-494-2750