Monthly Archives: February 2018

Advice/How To

Preparing for the ACT

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The ACT is a standardized test used for college and university admissions. The ACT is out of 36 points in total, with the average score being 21. Students usually take the ACT test, for the first time, in their junior year of high school. There are many ways to prepare and study for the test. Some of those ways listed below.

1. Buy an ACT prep book.

ACT prep books are one of the best forms of studying. They can be found at Walmart ($47.94), Target ($27.96), and Barnes & Noble ($13.29). The prep books usually have practice tests and strategies that can help you when the real test comes up.

2. Get a tutor. 

ACT tutors can help with each section of the test, which includes: math, English, reading, and science. They will help by going over the content of the exam and will try and pin-point your weaknesses to try and help you improve on them. Tutors cost around $80-$200 per hour. Although they may be costly, they are always worth it, and you’ll see that your ACT score will be higher than you think.

3. Take practice tests that are offered near you (or online).

There are many schools and colleges that offer free ACT practice tests. All you have to do is register for them and show up in time. If you can’t make it to schools near you, there are also preps offered online that will be able to help. For prep test at schools, it would be best if you brought your own materials which include: a number 2 pencil, and a calculator. The calculator they allow you to bring is a T1-84 Plus made by Texas Instruments.

4. Ways to de-stress before the test.

There are many ways to de-stress before the test. Some ways to de-stress are: eating breakfast, drinking a lot of water, trying not to be on your phone so much, and sleeping early the day before. Don’t try to think about the test so much, it can lead you to over worry about the test.

There are also many other ways to prepare for the ACT, but the ones I’ve talked about are the most common ways I’ve seen people use to prepare.

Fashion/Make-Up

Shape tape foundation

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Shape tape concealer was one of the the best products of 2017; there weren’t any negative reviews on the concealer. The concealer was lightweight, full coverage, long lasting, and was cruelty free. It retails for $27 and contains 10 ml of product, so the concealer was definitely a hit.

It was such a hit, that Tarte decided to come out with a shape tape foundation. That’s not all, Tarte decided to come out with two formulas for the foundations, matte and hydrating. The matte foundation provided an oil-free, full-coverage pick. The hydrating foundation was for people who enjoyed a dewy look.

This information was provided in the teaser they had out, which excited everyone until it finally came out. Many believed that the foundation would be a success, and would probably be sold out fast, since the concealer was sold out in 20 minutes when it first came out. But many were disappointed by the product when it came out.

The review on the foundation tape was so bad that people figured out that the dewy foundation Tarte launched was a foundation they came out with a couple of  years ago, and just repackaged it.

A lot of light skin beauty influencers were also furious with Tarte, and they are boycotting the company until they come out with foundation for women of color. Women of color, who found shades that matched them, said the foundation was either too orange or looked ashy on them.

Another con is that the matte foundation dries too quickly so it’s hard to blend it.

The only thing people seemed to like about the foundation tape is that it is lightweight, full coverage, and it can be worn for 12 hours. Tarte has seen a lot of the backlash the foundation has received, and are working on making more shades for women of color. They have also apologized for only coming out with three shades for them. In the future, they hope that they can fulfill the expectations of every shade in the color wheel, and that they will think twice before putting anything out.

Movies/TV/Theaters, School Life

2018 Winter One Acts

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Romance, danger and…Dungeons and Dragons? These were some of the topics covered in Highland Park Thespian Society’s 2018 Winter One Acts.

One Acts are typically written and directed by students, and last 20 to 30 minutes. They only have one act; hence the name One Acts. This year 5 shows were put on. They were as follows;
Check Please! – written and directed by Clare Brownlee (11)
The Understudy– written and directed by Soren Eversoll (11)
Roll for Initiative – written and directed by Helen Feng (12)
Tracks – written by Peter Tarsi and directed by Eddie Lopez (10) and Leah Callanan (11)
This is a Test – written by Stephen Gregg directed by Ben Smith (11)

Tickets were six dollars for students and eight dollars for adults. Refreshments and concessions were sold directly outside of the auditorium doors.

The show opened with The Understudy, which was Eversol’s debut with acting and writing. It centers around a cast and play, which seems almost like an Inception type of thing. The one act was a comedy with a dramatic setting. The play involves jealousy, guns, and a dead guy lying on the floor. I enjoyed it thoroughly and would’ve liked to see it again.

Second to show was Tracks. The dynamic duo that is Lopez and Callanan took this comedy and played it as a drama. This worked out surprisingly well. The main storyline is about how people wind up on the same train platform, coming to the conclusion that they’re all dead. Now they have to figure out if the train they are to get on is going up or down.

Third in show was This is a Test, a true testament to a high schooler’s nightmare. In this play, a group of students are taking a test, with one student in particular stressing majorly. Once they sit down to do the task, they find it to be the most difficult exam of their life. One section is in Chinese! It was comical and relatable all the way through. Smith definitely directed well.

Roll for Initiative came fourth. It had a mix of geekiness and romance that was charming. While those who live for D and D will love the set up and chit chat among characters, others can enjoy the relationships between the characters. Feng did a wonderful job at meshing the two worlds together and almost made me want to find a D and D group to join!

Check Please! is a comical story about a girl (Zoe Challanger, grade 12) trying to find love through bad Tinder dates. It is set in a local coffee shop, and the dates seem to keep getting worse as the weeks go on. Her waitress (Amelia Stensrud, grade 10), becomes a close ally, and it ends with a surprising and heartwarming twist. Director Clare Brownlee (grade 11) does a fantastic job in her debut as a director and playwright.

What was to come last was a show by Mason Blumer-Lamotte about a suicide prevention hotline and its callers. Unfortunately, due to conflicting opinions, it had to be cut.

All in all, the 2018 One Acts were a success! Highland Park Senior High thanks all those wonderful thespians who brought these fantastic one acts to life!

Adapted Floor Hockey, Alpine Skiing, Basketball, Cheerleading, Dance Line, Gymnastics, Hockey, Nordic Skiing, Scoreboard/Schedule, Swimming & Diving, Wrestling

Sports schedule for: Feb 19-24

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For  a full calendar of events please refer to: http://www.stpaulcity.org

Winter Sports: Boys Swimming, Co-Ed Adapted Floor Hockey. Girls Basketball,
Girls Hockey, Co-Ed Nordic Ski, Wrestling, Gymnastics, Boys Hockey, Boys
Basketball, Alpine Ski

Activities the Week of February 19-24

Monday Feb. 19:

Presidents Day

Tuesday Feb. 20:

Adapted CI Floor Hockey vs. Owatonna @ Humboldt 4:30pm
Adapted PI Floor Hockey vs. Rochester Raiders@ Freidell Middle School 5:30pm
Varsity Girls Basketball vs. Johnson @ HP  6pm

Wednesday Feb. 21:

Boys Basketball @ Johnson C-Squad 4  JV @ 5:30   Varsity @ 7pm (Students will need student ID to attend game at Johnson)

Adapted CI Floor Hockey vs. Winona @ Winona Middle School 4:30pm

Thursday, Feb. 22:

Adapted PI Floor Hockey vs. Dakota United @ Apple Valley HS 6:30pm

Friday Feb. 23:

Boys Basketball @ Como Park  C-Squad 4pm  JV 5:30pm Varsity @ 7pm

Adapted CI Floor Hockey vs. Winona @ Humboldt 4:30pm

Saturday Feb. 24:

Go Scots!

Movies/TV/Theaters

Hawaii 5-0 review

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Hawaii 5-0 is a criminal show with a lot of action. The characters in the show are very hilarious but our favorite characters are Steve McGarrett and Danny Williams, aka Danno, because whenever they are driving to a crime scene they bicker every single time. They also take partner counseling classes to express how they feel, and to learn to compromise with each other. Danno gets irritated by McGarrett’s crazy driving; he believes that he has some serious issues. Whenever they go on ride along, Danno is always the passenger rider in his own car, which also irritates him.

We don’t have a favorite episode because we enjoy all the episodes, but one of the funniest episodes is in season 2, when McGarrett finds out that the governor is working with his enemy, Wo Fat, and also who Shelburn is. McGarrett’s mom is an an undercover CIA agent who raised Wo Fat when he was younger. Wo Fat and Steve both went all around the world to look for a mysterious thing/person called Shelburn. They eventually find out that Shelburn was Steve’s mom’s undercover name. They both thought that she had died a long time ago.

Danny is a character we all love, he’s funny, calm, and emotional. Danny likes the easy way out of messy situations. One of the people Danny loves is his daughter, Grace. He cares for her and is a wonderful dad. He puts his daughter first and will do anything for her, or anything to save her if she’s in trouble. Danny moved all the way to Hawaii to be closer to his daughter.

Overall, we suggest this show to everyone. It’s a show that will have you wondering what happens next and it isn’t predictable. Every episode is new and interesting. We give this show 5 stars out of 5, so go binge watch it NOW and let us know how you enjoy it.

Local, News

Minnesota firefighters die from an unexpected heart attack

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In a small town in Minnesota, a firefighter died on a Tuesday morning from a unexpected heart attack after his training session. Captain Jeff Vollmer died hours after the Mayor Fire Department was practicing a scenario. He was only 40 years old, and he leaves behind his wife and two children. According to Maetzold, a Channel 9 reporter, Jeff seemed fine and he was fit, from what they could see, meaning he wasn’t sick.

Apparently, Vollmer isn’t the only firefighter who has died from an undiagnosed condition. The last four firefighters, in Minnesota, all died from heart attacks in their late 30s to early 40s. Half of the time, firefighters die from falling off ladders, smoke inhalation or burns, but heart attacks happen most of the time after their shift.

Shane Clifton, a firefighter in Minnesota, died of cardiac arrest at a station house when he was 38 years old. Also, 42-year old Matt Frantz, who was Fire Chief in Rice Lake, died a few hours after a late night fire call.

Vollmer died 6 hours after his training, and it is still considered a in the line of duty death under the Survivor Benefit Act of 2003. The act recognized heart attacks as being a in the line of duty event if they are within 24-hours of the shift.

Advice/How To, Movies/TV/Theaters

Target

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By Piper Gallivan, Alivia Arredondo, and Alani Bayon

Let’s face it, almost everyone has been to Target at least once in their lifetime, and most people say it’s pretty great. We hope you love Target as much as we do, and if you don’t here are six reasons to love Target!

Whether you came specifically looking for it, or just found it along the way, Target has everything you will ever need. They have you covered for clothes, food, home decor, furniture, toys, a health clinic, an optical clinic, a separate section for alcohol, and of course, Starbucks. It’s so hard to leave with just what you came to get because you will see a million other things you want. If you had to go to only one store for the rest of your life, Target would be the most logical option.

Who doesn’t love Target clothes? Target has a variety of clothes and clothing styles. They carry: sports/workout, maternity, work, pajamas, undergarments, baby, teen, kid’s, men’s, women’s, swimsuits and accessories. Basically, any type of clothing you need you can find at Target! Not only that, but the clothes at Target are very stylish, and they are also half the price of clothes you would find somewhere else like, American Eagle. Target also fits all sizes! So no matter your size, Target will have something for you. Their clothes also include a variety of brands to choose from, so it’s guaranteed you’ll find something you’re interested in. Finally, in most Targets, the clothes sections are located in the front of the store so it is easy to find, and easy to locate your desired style.

Another great thing about Target, is that for most people, it is convenient and not a far drive! Targets are stationed nationwide, and there is generally one in each city. There are a variety of Targets that range in size, location, and products. Some Targets are smaller like the Target Expresses, which usually are in busier places, and smaller buildings, like the one in the Village, in St. Paul. Then there are the much larger Targets, like Super Target, which is larger and has more products inside. Finally, you have the regular sized Targets.

Another great thing about Target is that you can shop online, so if you live too far away, you can easily purchase it online and they will drop it off at your house. Target also has a drive-in, and a pick-up, section, which basically allows you to shop online and Target will have it ready for you to pick up at the store when you arrive.

Depending on the Target you live by, you may have a food section. You can find fruits, vegetables, grains, and much more. Target also can meet your dietary need,s which is something amazing. If you have a gluten free diet, Target has gluten free bread, gluten free cereal, and anything you could think of. Perhaps you are vegan. Target can supply you with vegan meat, chips, dips, yogurt, and much more. Even if you don’t have a specific diet, Target has such a large variety of food to choose from, you should be able to find something you can eat.

Not only is Target convenient for buying groceries, it also has a pharmacy. The pharmacy is an easy and quick way to get in with a doctor instead of having to go to an urgent care or to your personal doctor. So, if you have strep throat, or an ear infection, or the flu, you can easily go to Target and they will take care of you.

Bullseye’s playground is my personal favorite part of Target. If you don’t know, it is Target’s dollar section. It is usually located at the front of the store, so it’s the first thing you see; that is part of what makes it so irresistible to stop and check it out. The things they carry vary by season, so just looking at it can make you so excited for the upcoming holiday or season. You can always count on a few staple items to be there such as: stationary, candles, socks, toys, and homeware. The prices are always $1 or $3, with the occasional splurge item of $5. The quality of their merchandise is actually really good, so you can find valuable items for some good deals. Overall, this area of Target is always there to bring you some joy at low costs!

Overall, Target is a great store where you can find all of your needs at an affordable price, and we hope this article has convinced you to love Target as much as we do.

News, World

What is happening with the stock market?

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On Monday, February 5, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 1,597 points, the most it had ever dropped in the middle of a single trading day. The Dow had recently hit a record high of 26,616 points on January 26. According to The Wall Street Journal, as of Friday, February 9, the Dow had dipped 2426 points from that high, a 9% decrease, dangerously close to what is known as a stock market “correction,” a 10% decrease after an extended time of growth. This sounds very bad, but what does it even mean?

Investopedia gives information about the stock market, including how the stock market itself, describes the trading of shares (put simply, an investment in a corporation). The Dow Jones Industrial Average, as well as the S&P 500, and the Nasdaq Stock Market, are measures of the average trading value of stocks based on the stock prices of several major corporations. When they decline, that means stocks are less valuable. For people with money invested in the market, this is bad. But, it is not necessarily bad for most Americans, and it could even be good for new investors.

According to Slate, the reason for the downturn in the stock market actually has to do with recent news that is good for Americans. On February 2, the U.S. Labor Department announced that workers were being paid more than economists predicted they would be. To stock traders, this meant that the Federal Reserve would probably raise interest rates on stocks to compensate, meaning they would have to pay more money to their investors. Thus, they sold many stocks quickly and for decreased value, creating the downturn. This downturn had knock-on effects around the world, most noticeably in markets in Japan and Hong Kong.

As reported by CNN, this does not mean the US, or the world, is going through an economic recession, as it did in 2008. Most economists say that this downturn was bound to happen; the stock market had grown consistently since the Great Recession, and especially so since the election of President Donald Trump. Economists advise people with stocks not to sell, but to hold their stocks until better conditions come about. As for new investors, now is as good a time as any to invest.

President Trump had been claiming, before the decline, the tremendous stock market growth seen during his presidency as one of his greatest achievements. When the downturn occurred, Trump commented on Twitter, “In the ‘old days,’ when good news was reported, the Stock Market would go up. Today, when good news is reported, the Stock Market goes down. Big mistake, and we have so much good (great) news about the economy!” This is not historically accurate according to the Huffington Post. News of wage increases has sent the stock market into a panic before.

MarketWatch reports that the stock market decline is nothing to worry about for the average American; its most recent fluctuation is totally natural. The Dow Jones is still up (24,609 points, as of February 12), and gaining more-and-more of its lost ground each day. CNN Money predicts that the incoming corporate tax cuts, part of the Republican Senate tax bill, will only help increase stock values, also.

Basketball

Highland Park basketball

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Mason Ferguson
Tray Garner

Highland Park Basketball

image taken from HPSH Basketball Senior Night poster

*The Highland Park Scots boys basketball team recap of the last 3 games this past week.

These 3 games left the Highland Park Scots on a 2-1 streak. A win against Como Park, a loss against Fridley High School, and a win against Washington Tech High school.

On Tuesday, Jan 31, the Highland Park Scots had a conference game against Como Senior High School. It was a home game that consisted of a lot of teamwork and hard play. The starting line-up for Highland was: Benny H., Ian G., Mohamed B., Naseem L., and Abdalla M. During the tip off, Como received the ball and it all started from there. The Highland Park Scots team came put on top with a home victory against Como; the score was 74-69. It was a tough competitive game for both teams, and both teams played great.

Friday, February 2nd, the Highland Park Scots played a non conference game against Fridley High School. It was a tough game for the Scots, as Fridley beat your Highland Park Scots with a score of 81-66. The Scots played well, but it wasn’t enough to beat Fridley. They came out hard, and ready to play, as they played smart and at a steady pace.

On February 5th, we played Washington, and it was a good game; both teams played very well. Your Highland Park Scots came over on top with a score of 73-64. Highland was in foul trouble but managed to keep the good team work up, and score on our possession. Everyone on the bench was engaged in the game and cheering on the Scots.

On February 8th, we took on our down the street rival for many years, and more years to come: Central! It was going to be a tense battle. Stands would be packed with fans & family. Last time we played the Minutemen, it was a tough one. We lost bad. 99-69. They came out aggressive and wanted it. For our game on the 8th, we were missing our best offensive scorer Evan B. He was out with an injury. So, other players were going to have to step up and wear that SCOTS on their chest with pride and play with heart for one another. It was a very tough and competitive game but Central came out on top in the end.

Stats Against Como Park:
– About 16 T.O.
– No foul outs
– 14 for 18 free throws
–  Shooters on the other team; defense for HP was good

Stats Against Fridley:
– Had 18 T.O.
– Nobody fouled out, but a few players in foul trouble
– 7/20 of free throws (horrible)
– We matched up well with Fridley, had size and speed on them, the Tigers just wanted it more.

Stats Against Washington:
– About 12 T.O.
– Foul trouble (1 fouled out)
– 11/22 Free throws
– HP good defense

Stats Against Central:
– Had 25 T.O.
– 12/24 of free throws
– 1 fouled out

Entertainment, Music/Concerts

Chess for starters

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Have you ever played chess? Chess is a game that has more ways to play than possibly the stars in the known Universe. It’s a strategy game where the opposing enemy has to capture the king to win. In a game of chess, you could win, stalemate (also known as a draw), or lose. There are people who play chess and yet, they don’t know the three stalemates. This article will show the two special moves, and stalemates, that regular players could possibly not know of or should know about.

To win, you need to capture the king by putting the opposing enemy’s king in checkmate. To do this, you need to put the enemy’s king in a position where no matter where the king goes the king would be captured.

There are three ways to stalemate in the game of chess. Threefold repetition,           50-move rule, and a stalemate where the king can’t move but isn’t in check. Threefold repetition is when the same position has occurred for 3 times by the same players. The 50-move rule is when the last 50 moves are made without the capture of any pieces or the movement of a pawn. Lastly, the regular stalemate, that many players know of, is when you or the opposing enemy can’t make a move without their king being captured. This means that you or the opposing player can’t make a move and the game ends in a stalemate.

Two special cases for the game of chess, that some players still don’t know of, is the castle and the En passant. The castle is a special move, and the only move that allows the movement of two pieces on the board at once. They are the king and the rook. The castle could occur on the left or right side of the board and could be played if there are no remaining pieces between the king and the rook. The castle could also only be played if the king plus the rook haven’t moved, and can only be played if the king isn’t in check, the rook isn’t being targeted by a piece, and if all the spaces between the king and rook is not being targeted with any enemy moves. To do the castle, the king would move two spaces to the right or left. The rook the king moved forward to, would jump over the king and go directly to the other unoccupied space next to the king.

The other special case is the En passant, and it is a special capture done with by the pawns. The En passant is allowed when your pawn is either on the 5th rank or the 4th rank. If you are white, your pawn would be on the 5th rank and if you are black, your pawn would be on the 4th rank. This is because to do the En passant your opposing enemy’s pawn needs to do a double jump. As many starters know, the pawn is allowed to jump two spaces forward on their very first move. Any other move is just one space forward. To do the En passant, the enemy’s pawn would need to jump two spaces, and is right next to your pawn. Once the enemy’s pawn is next to your pawn, you would capture the pawn diagonally towards them. Your pawn doesn’t capture the pawn next to them like moving the rook, king, or the queen, but moves forward as if the enemy’s pawn has only moved one space instead of two. However, the En passant could only be done immediately after the moment the enemy’s pawn moves. If you or your opponent waits a turn before doing the En passant then it will become an illegal move.