Highland Elementary School 3rd graders in Mrs. Dudar and Miss Moskin’s class would like to extend their gratitude to everyone that contributed to make this project an overwhelming success! As a community, we have collected 2,033 pairs of socks for our neighbors in need this winter- more than DOUBLE their original goal of 1,000 pairs! The project started out as a real life learning opportunity for their lesson on community, civic duty and to foster their participation in how to make a change, even as third graders, right in their own community.
The students, with full support of their teachers, created a plan! They decided to visit local businesses as a class and request support by asking that the business host a donation box in their establishment. The students got an overwhelming response, and 10 local businesses happily said they would help. The students want to thank the Highland Public Library, On a Roll Deli, Lilly Rae in the Hamlet, El Paso Deli, Jacobs Music, Brennies Pizza, Sal’s and China Garden. Additionally, Principal Wetzel at the Highland Middle School offered to support the endeavor as well! With the Peer Leadership Club actively participating, the Middle Schoolers collected over 200 pairs.
Mrs. Dudar and Miss Moskin spoke with great pride about the hard work their students put in to making this plan a reality. They wanted this lesson in civic duty to be empowering for the students as well as authentic. The students really took ownership and understood the importance of the role they played in helping the community. They not only pitched their ideas to the community businesses, but they had to see the task through to the end! They needed to collect the donations, sort and count the socks and then log their information on the “SockOMeter” they used to display how many socks they’d collected.
The collection was so successful, the class was able to donate over 500 pairs to four different organizations in need. The class was excited to meet representatives from each organization who came to Highland Elementary School to receive the donations in person, as well as hearing the representative speak to what their organization does for the community and what the sock donation means to them. The receiving organizations were: St. Augustine’s Church, Ascension Holy Trinity Church, Ulster County Community Action and Castle Point VA Hospital.
Lastly, to try and give back to the children, Rich from On a Roll Deli hosted a celebratory lunch for the third graders! He invited them to come to the deli and allowed them to order a lunch of their choice. What a wonderful way to celebrate an incredibly successful Socktober Sock Drive! Congratulations to Mrs. Dudar and Miss Moskin’s students on a wonderful start to the season of giving!

Light Up the Hamlet
Light Up the Hamlet is an event for the whole family!
On December 13, families are invited to head down to the Hamlet of Highland from 6-8 p.m. to ring in the holiday season! Santa will be arriving at 6:15 pm.

Wolfpack Baseball Cornhole Tournament
Wolfpack baseball is a youth program that gives talented athletes the opportunity to compete on a higher level. The Highland based Wolfpack Baseball Travel Baseball team is working hard to raise funds to achieve their goal of playing in Cooperstown in Summer 2020. Please sign up to join the Wolfpack Baseball Cornhole Tournament on Saturday, December 14 at 1 p.m.
The event will be held at Hudson Ale Works. A two person team entry costs $100, and there will be one free drink per player. Please call Joe Gatto to register at 845-863-6956.
Cash prizes will be awarded and raffle prizes available during tournament as well.

Town of Lloyd Historical Preservation Society Board of Trustees
At their January 6, 2020 Program, the Town of Lloyd Historical Preservation Society Board of Trustees will present to the Members the candidates for re-election. Those candidates are: Fran Brooks, Rosalie Peplow, Anna Mae Robbins and Candace Schuster.
The regular program will continue immediately after the vote.


Upcoming Events at the Highland Public Library:
Teen Winter Decorators, Friday, December 6 and Monday, December 9, 3-4 p.m. Come earn community service by helping us to make winter decorations for the library!
Winter/Holiday Stuffed Animal Workshop, Wednesday, December 12, 3:30 – 4:15 p.m. Join us for an interactive Teddy Bear workshop. We will be reading the classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas and making your very own stuffed animals! Registration is required. Come with your favorite stuffed animal for bedtime stories and a craft.
Polar Express Family Movie, Thursday, December 12, 4:30 p.m. Wear your pajamas to the library to take a ride on the Polar Express! We’ll be watching the movie based on the classic holiday story. Hot cocoa and other light refreshments will be served. Registration is recommended and preference will be given to those residing in the Highland Central School District.
Teen Gingerbread Houses, Tuesday, December 17, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Make a gingerbread house at the library to bring home for the holidays! Teens will be able to work on one small gingerbread house that they can take home to enjoy! Registration is recommended and preference is given to teens residing in the Highland Central School District.

More Important Dates to Remember:
• December 7 – HHSPTSA Annual Craft Fair
• December 13 – Light up the Hamlet
• December 23 – HCSD Closed for Winter Break (Reopens Jan. 2)