Highland Park Senior High Headliner

The school year is off to a great start, and it is hard to believe we have already completed the first two of the nine-week grading quarter. The start of a new school year is always exciting as students attend their new classes, choose activities for involvement outside of the classroom, and make new friends. Our students quickly settle into their routine and are focused on their studies. I am asking that all parents monitor their students' assignments and grades throughout each quarter so we can be partners in the success of our students. Thanks for all of your support. Scots Rock!

Monday, September 18, 2023

• PTSA Informational Meeting via Zoom ( https://zoom.us/j/95810956252?pwd=WCs3QkluSnNBL0ozYkE4MTc4L1hOQT09 ) 7:00-8:00 pm

Friday, September 22, 2023

• School Picture Day

Monday, September 25, 2023

• No School - Professional Development

Saturday, October 7, 2023

• Homecoming Festivities (7:00-10:00pm Dance)

GTK- (Good To Know) information about HPSH for parents and guardians, especially those new to Highland. New this year- virtual parent/guardian informational meetings around relevant topics and commonly asked questions. Click here for more details.

Meeting Dates:

September 21, 2023

October 26, 2023

November 30, 2023

December 14, 2023

Click here to see the latest CCRC newsletter! This newsletter highlights upcoming college and career-related opportunities.

Highland Park CCRC - The CCRC is here to help students with college and career planning! The CCRC provides the following resources to students:

• Interests and skills exploration tools
• Career Information
• Resume Help
• College and Post-Secondary exploration tools
• College Admission, Career and Military Representative Visits
• College Admission test information such as ACT and Accuplacer
• Scholarships
• Financial Aid
• Summer and Community Opportunities
• And more!

CLICK HERE to check out the new CCRC website! This site will be updated throughout the year with important information, resources, and opportunities.

You can now order your 2023-2024 yearbook. Follow this link:

https://www.balfour.com/minnesota/saint-paul/highland-park-senior-high-school/yearbook-packages

Contact Nancy Michael with questions. nancy.michael@spps.org

The PSAT/NMSQT is an OPTIONAL test offered to 11th graders at Highland each fall. It is a preliminary-SAT that measures skills and knowledge related to college and career readiness.

*** The SAT is a separate 4-year college exam unrelated to the ACT. The ACT will be offered to juniors at Highland on March 12th, 2024.

If your 11th grader is interested in taking the PSAT/NMSQT, they must sign-up via the google form that will be posted on Schoology the morning of Monday, September 18th. This form will remain open until spots are filled.

Some important information:

* The PSAT is now digital and will be taken on school-issued iPads

* Students are expected to bring their fully-charged iPad on test day

* Students will take the test on either October 16th or October 17th

* More specific information about the test date will be shared after registration ends

More extensive information about the PSAT/NMSQT can be found at https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt

The PSAT/NMSQT – SAT Suite | College Board

The PSAT/NMSQT can qualify you for the National Merit Scholarship Program and other scholarships.

satsuite.collegeboard.org

Our physical education department is offering a new course this school year called unified physical education. It is a unique opportunity for students of varying ability levels and backgrounds to come together on equal ground through ongoing fitness, sports, leadership and wellness activities. This course focuses on the physical, intellectual and social growth of all participants.

This class is a fantastic way to foster inclusivity and promote empathy among classmates. It's heartening to know that the students are showing enthusiasm and care towards each other. Such an environment not only benefits those with special needs but also enriches the overall educational experience for everyone involved. If you have any specific questions or need advice on how to further enhance this inclusive classroom environment, please feel free to ask Mr. Ferraro or Mr. Funk!

Friday, September 15th the Freshmen gathered with their Scots Squad Mentors for games and cookies in the gym. This event is usually held outside but the rain pushed us inside for the second year in a row. Scots Squad and Scottie Leader are planning more in school and after school events for Freshmen.

As the school year begins, there are two ways to support our terrific Highland Park teachers and staff:

• By purchasing items on the Wish List for use in the classroom: Wish List This list is always being updated—teachers are in the process of adding their lists for this school year.
• By purchasing general school supplies—Kleenex, hand sanitizer, pencils, pens, highlighters, dry erase markers, post-its and snacks. General supplies can be brought to the school office any time.

The PTSA will also be collecting Kleenex, hand sanitizer and general school supplies at the Open House event—if you can bring even one box of Kleenex, it will have a positive impact! It is the number one requested item from teachers and staff!

Thank you from the Highland Park PTSA.

PTSA Meeting

Monday, September 18, 7-8

Zoom Link Below

https://zoom.us/j/95810956252?pwd=WCs3QkluSnNBL0ozYkE4MTc4L1hOQT09

Come hear what's new this school year from Dr. Tucker, meet our new administrators, and learn more about the Highland PTSA and how you can help. Highland's PTSA helps fund and organize experiences that help our students thrive - both in their classes and in their extracurricular activities. Give to the Max Day, Fundraising Opportunities at Allianz Field and Grants to Teachers are just a few of the important programs we coordinate. Please help us stay strong, and meet some other Highland parents in the process. If you're interested, complete this brief google form, or look for us at our Open House table. Questions? Contact HPSHPTSA@gmail.com

Regular Meeting Dates:

10/16/2023

12/4/2023

1/22/2024

3/4/2024

4/29/2024

5/6/2024 - Informational Meeting for 24-25 school year

The final games of the season leading up to possible playoff position for the Loons are here! September through October 7th is packed with games. Playoff decision day for hosting home games will be decided on October 21st with playoffs to begin October 25th. We need to be ready for anything! New games will be added to the signup website as they become known.

There are only 3 slots left to fill in the regular season! Thank you to all the groups who have already signed up for this exceptional fundraising opportunity. Please consider volunteering or volunteering again. Check your schedule for these dates: 2 slots remain for the game on 9/16. 1 slot remains for 10/7. Check back often as slots may open up, or get on the waitlist for a game. If you have questions, please direct them to our Volunteer inbox at hpshptsa.vol@gmail.com.

Parents and students (ages 14+) can sign up for a 5-hour volunteer shift at Allianz Field, home of the MN United Football Club, to raise money for their club, team, and classrooms. We receive $125 per volunteer! Site Leads receive an additional $50 for their group. All shifts are climate controlled indoors at the Premium Stadium Club level. Please sign-up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0944ADAE2EAAF85-allianz.

Dear Highland Park Senior High School Families,

We are excited to celebrate our annual Homecoming event this school year starting on Monday, October 2 and culminating on Saturday, October 7. As part of Homecoming, we celebrate the following school and community events:

Spirit Week Daily Themes

Pep Fest

Homecoming Court

Homecoming Dance

Power Puff Football Game

Tailgating prior to the Football Game

Homecoming Football Game

While there are many positive aspects of Homecoming, unfortunately every school year there are a group of students who engage in destructive mischief late in the evening in the community during Homecoming Week. Activities include but are not limited to throwing toilet paper in trees, dumping garbage on lawns, throwing eggs at houses and much more. These activities are usually between juniors and seniors who generally know each other. Some students and parents view these as harmless pranks. They are not harmless and tarnish the positive aspects of Homecoming despite not being affiliated with Highland nor Homecoming. I am respectfully requesting that parents carefully monitor the whereabouts of their children during Homecoming week and not allow students to participate in any negative activities.

Thank you for your continued support of Highland Park Senior High School, for helping to keep our community safe and helping our students to make good decisions.

Dr. Winston H. Tucker, Principal

Guardians! Please consider coming into school to talk about your careers/journeys. Students love to hear about all your experiences, and it helps shape their future. Please sign up here.

Check out what our awesome Scots are up to by following Highland Park Senior High on Facebook and highlandparksr.scots.pride on Instagram.

We'd Love you to come! Spring Break, New York City 2024

consider a school trip for students that doesn't require a passport. 5 days in the big apple this spring break. check out the link to find out more. Or contact art teacher keri.schultz@spps.org

LINK: https://www.efexploreamerica.com/tour-website/2611215KK

We are excited to offer academic support classes this year! One academic support class, either AVID 9 or Scots Strategies 9, is required for all incoming freshmen. During this course, students will connect with peers as well as the community, discover ways to think critically and learn effectively, and begin preparing for life after high school. Students in grades 10-12 who have demonstrated an academic need will also be enrolled in an academic support class with a similar purpose.

Specific topics that will be addressed in all academic support courses include the following: communicating with adults and peers, problem-solving with a team, planning and organizing work, using effective study techniques, taking focused notes, asking higher-level questions, thinking critically about a topic using discourse/speaking strategies, preparing for life after high school, leadership, and more. We are pleased to offer these classes and are confident they will help your student be successful!

There will be some positive changes to grading practices at all SPPS high schools beginning in the 2023-24 school year. SPPS is shifting to more consistent and equitable grading practices across all high schools to ensure that students’ grades truly reflect what they’ve learned. Visit the Grading Practices FAQ webpage for more information. More details will be provided this fall, including information sessions with language support for families.

In-person students will receive free breakfast and lunch under the Minnesota Free School Meals program. All students are eligible to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day. Second meals, incomplete meals and single item purchases, such as milk only, must be purchased.

• Student Second Breakfast: $2.85
• Student Second Lunch: $5
• Milk Only: $0.50
• For a complete list of prices, visit spps.org/ns.

Visit schoolcafe.com/spps to manage your student’s meal account, view menus, ingredients and nutritional information, and complete the Application for Educational Benefits.

• While all in-person students will receive free breakfast and lunch under Minnesota’s Free School Meals program, it remains critical that all families complete an Application for Educational Benefits each school year. These applications determine how much funding your child’s school receives for educational programs and supports. Additionally, eligible families can qualify for other benefits. The application can be completed online at schoolcafe.com/spps. Paper applications are available at your child's school.

Use Parent Portal and see your child’s attendance, homework assignments, grades and more. Log on to spps.org/onestop and click on “parent portal”. This valuable tool will provide both information on your student and a means of communicating with your student’s teachers. Report cards are not mailed to homes.

For access please contact the main office at 651-293-8940.

The MTC Unlimited Pass is available to purchase for $97.00 per quarter. Bring the payment to Shawn Vennemann in the main office (checks payable to Highland Park Senior High School). When the first payment is made, the bus pass will be ordered. When the quarter ends the bus pass will need to be renewed by submitting a payment for the next quarter (schedule is below). If payment is not received by the due date the card will be de-activated. The card will be re-activated when payment is received it will take 24 hours after payment is made to be active again.

MTC Bus Pass Quarter Dates

8/21/2023 to 11/1/2023 payments due now

11/2/2023 to 1/14/2024 payment due by Monday, October 30, 2023

1/15/2024 to 3/31/2024 payment due by Monday, January 8, 2024

4/1/2024 to 6/14/2024 payment due by Monday, March 25, 2024

Website: https://www.spps.org/highlandsr
Location: 1015 Snelling Avenue South, Saint Paul, MN, USA
Phone: 651-293-8940