All posts by HPSH Plaid Line

Sports schedule for: Apr 13-18

 ATHLETIC EVENTS SCHEDULE APRIL 13 – APRIL 18
MONDAYAPRIL 13 
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
    
TUESDAYAPRIL 14  
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
2:00pm Boys Golf Friendship TournamentHighland National GC
4:00pm Badminton vs. Como ParkHOME
B: 4:15pm JV: 5:30pm V: 7:00pm3:30pm | 8:30pmBoys Volleyball vs. Como ParkComo Park High School
V: 4:30pm JV: 4:30pm Baseball vs. WashburnHOME
4:30pm Varsity Softball vs. HumboldtHOME
JV: 5:30pm V: 7:00pm Boys Lacrosse vs. BreckBreck School
JV: 5:30pm V: 7:00pm Girls Lacrosse vs. BreckTwo Rivers High School
WEDNESDAYAPRIL 15  
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
2:00pm Girls Golf Friendship TournamentCedarholm Golf Course
3:30pm Varsity Boys Golf vs. Como ParkHighland National GC
4:00pm Track and Field Meet vs. Washington Tech and HumboldtHOME
4:00pm3:15pm | 5:00pmBadminton vs. KennedyKennedy High School
V: 4:00pm JV: 4:00pm Boys Tennis vs. Como ParkV: Como Park High School JV: HOME
V: 4:30pm JV: 4:30pm Softball vs. RooseveltHOME
JV: 4:30pm JV Baseball vs. HumboldtHOME
THURSDAYAPRIL 16  
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
12:30pm Varsity Boys Golf 9-Hole TournamentPhalen Golf Course
3:30pm JV Boys Golf vs. SPAHighland 9
4:00pm3:15pm | 5:00pmBadminton vs. HardingHarding High School
4:30pm Varsity Softball vs. Washington TechHOME
B: 5:00pm JV: 5:00pm V: 6:30pm Boys Volleyball vs. HardingHOME
JV: 5:30pm V: 7:00pm Girls Lacrosse vs. TartanTartan High School
FRIDAYAPRIL 17  
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
3:45pm2:15pm | 8:00pm 2 busesTrack and Field Warrior RelaysTwo Rivers High School
V: 4:00pm JV: 4:00pm Boys Tennis vs. WoodburyV: HOME JV: Woodbury High School
V: 4:30pm JV: 4:30pm3:15pm | 6:30pmBaseball vs. KennedyV: Red Haddox Field JV: HOME
V: 4:30pm JV: 4:30pm3:15pm | 6:00pmSoftball vs. HardingV: Harding High School JV: Eastview Park
5:00pm B-Squad Boys Volleyball vs. St. Croix PrepHOME
SATURDAYAPRIL 18  
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
11:00am Varsity Baseball vs. SPAHOME

‘The Hunt (Jagten)’ Review

By: Amir Salaad

WARNING: This review contains Major spoilers

‘The Hunt (Jagten)’ is a drama movie directed by Thomas Vinterberg and released in 2012. This movie is about a nice kindergarten assistant living in a small Danish village when his life is ruined by a false accusation. The rating of this movie is R because it has some sexual content, some violence and language.

Lucas is a lonely guy but has some respect in his community and he’s getting his life back together after a divorce and custody battle for his son Marcus. He works at a preschool in the village where the kids all love him, like Klara, who’s the daughter of his best friend, Theo. After Klara says something about Lucas touching her to the principal, Lucas gets called out for touching Klara. Even though there is no evidence against Lucas, and he’s denying it, the whole village goes against him.

When the film keeps going, the person watching can see Lucas’s life really fall apart. He gets banned from the grocery store, he gets assaulted, and gets shut out by his so called “family”. The tension in the film gets higher as ‘The Hunt’ goes from Lucas getting cut off from the whole village to him getting beat up. And all of this happens when the viewer knows that Lucas is really innocent. The closer it gets to the end the more you can see Lucas’s life go all the way down.

Mads Mikkelsen gives a good performance of Lucas. He shows a guy that’s slowly losing himself over the movie over a false rumor. He tries to stay strong but slowly starts to go insane.

Theo, Lucas’s friend, also has a weird feeling over the movie when he struggles with protecting his daughter Klara and believing that his friend didn’t touch his daughter.

My thoughts on the film is that it’s a great movie but that it also plays with your head. Because at the end of the movie, after everything calms down for Lucas and it’s proven that he didn’t touch Klara, he gets shot at at the end of the movie. What I think that means is that nothing will ever actually go back to normal for him. At least for Lucas.

I would give ‘The Hunt (Jagten)’ a 10/10. This movie is on Prime Video and other streaming services.

Pros and cons of AI

By: Janessa Castro Cruz

Photo by igovar igovar on Pexels.com

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a technology that makes computers and machines to simulate human learning, creativity, thinking, and problem solving. They understand and respond to human language and learn from new information and experience. AI is able to make detailed recommendations and act independently, replacing the need for human intelligence. Over the years, AI’s popularity has risen and some believe that AI shouldn’t be used and should be banned, and others believe it’s a great tool and should be more available. There are lots of pros and cons of AI.

PROS: Some benefits of AI is that you can work faster, as it can generate outputs faster than the human brain and body can process information. You could work smarter when using it, and the machine can make mistakes but it’s more often in humans. There have been research studies that show AI-assisted reviewing is more accurate than basic human reviewing.

CONS: AI could create a lot of deep-fakes, causing fraud, theft, scams, and more. It’s possible that AI can create fake representations of real people and events. The tool is now in the workforce and has caused people to lose their jobs also causing mass unemployment. The school system is now disrupted; students rely on AI to do their work for them, cheat on tests, and more meaning they aren’t learning anything. It also consumes a lot of water, making it harmful to our earth. Data centers powering AI are predicted to consume over 426 billion liters of water annually by 2030

I don’t think AI should be used, especially in the school system and in jobs. If it’s affecting students’ education and doing the work for them then they aren’t learning anything. It’s also causing people to lose their jobs and they shouldn’t allow that to happen. I believe that AI should only be used to brainstorm ideas and help with research and reviewing.

Spring break

By: Sema’Jae Tate

Photo by Cris Mu00e9nlu00e9s on Pexels.com

Hi Highland scholars!

Spring break is around the corner and I know it brings a lot of excitement and relief after working hard and it brings a sense of excitement and relief after weeks of hard work and routine. It’s a time to take a break from school, relax and recharge, whether that means traveling somewhere warm, spending time with friends and family or just enjoying some quiet days at home.

The longer days and warmer (hopefully) weather make everything feel more alive, giving people the chance to get outside and try new things. Some things you could do over spring break include going to city clubs and programs, working, and sports. Other people may travel. I myself plan on trying out for an AAU team and to visit family.

Spring break isn’t just about fun, it’s also a chance to reset, clear your mind and come back feeling refreshed and ready to finish the rest of the year strong. Personally, I’m looking forward to pushing myself to get all my work done on time, to finish the year strong.

No matter what you end up doing for spring break, hope you have an amazing time!

“Dear Daniel” (Advice Column)

By: Daniel Kendle

Hey guys, it’s me: Jake Paul — except not really. Actually, my name is Daniel, and I’m a senior here at, uh…(types on keyboard) Highland Park Senior High. Something like that, anyway.

As among this school’s most knowledgeable, attractive, and overall indispensable members, I thought it sensible to, in my twilight months here, shed some wisdom off onto you fledgling students. Like a mother bird to their wailing young, I shall regurgitate the writhing, worm-like information I’ve amassed over the last few years into your pitch-black maws, allowing your remaining years here to be as gentle and relaxed as mine were.

Thus, I sent out a poll on Instagram to all of my followers, asking for any burning questions they may have about either moi or other, less interesting junk. I’ve sampled 5 questions I received there, so without further ado, let’s crack these suckers open!

. . .

Dear Daniel,

“What’s 9 + 10?”

  • Angie V.

First-off, thank you for responding to the poll, Angie, as this is a great question. To solve this problem, simply adding the numbers 9 and 10 together — combining them, essentially — will result in the answer of 19. I hope that helps you with your homework endeavors.

Dear Daniel,

“How do you stay so sharp?”

  • Miranda S.

Well, I-! (Chuckles) I wasn’t expecting this at 10 in the morning! My kindest regards to you, Miranda, for such a delightful question. Now, as for staying so sharp, tch…I use a whetstone pretty often, actually.

Dear Daniel,

“What would happen if the sun grew at 1 inch per second?”

  • Chicory S.

Ah, a science-related question! Glad to see one make the list; I’ve always been interested in ‘Hamlet,’ ‘The Odyssey’ and the like. Put simply, Chicory, I think a lot of people would die, of course. Animals too, even. Heck — let’s just throw plants into there as well! I also think the sun would look a lot bigger from Earth, too, so that’s pretty cool. This wraps up the extent of this scenario’s consequences, I believe.

Dear Daniel,

“Are cozy video games really that bad?”

  • Munira A.

That’s an interesting question, Munira. I’m relatively-famous for my supposed disdain for “cozy games” — even briefly starting a cult around this notion — but to be honest, they’re…fine. I do actually hate the cozy game aesthetic you see so many YouTubers decorate their rooms to mimic, but as for the games themselves, I don’t mind them all that much. I don’t play them often, though I do plan on checking out some of the more popular titles someday, like ‘Stardew Valley.’

I guess I just enjoy games that offer difficulty and challenge from harsher means than growing crops. Y’know, there’s a difference between stressing over optimal soy bean harvesting and stressing over killing a blood demon, or whatever. One scenario isn’t “better” than the other, per say, but I simply enjoy the latter much more.

And now, finally… 

Dear Daniel, 

“What’s the best way to cook boxed mac n’ cheese?”

  • Chicory S.

Well, pushing aside the fact that mac n’ cheese is disgusting regardless of how it’s cooked, I believe a cardboard box over an open flame is the ideal method of cooking it. (Chuckles) I mean, there’s a reason “box” is in the name, after all.

Anyways, those were just a mere sampling of questions received from this little social experiment. Thanks for reading, and hey — if any of you guys know a doctor, can you ask about how to safely remove cardboard from a human stomach? Thanks in advance; I’ve been meaning to go for the past week, but anytime I stand up, blood starts leaking from my ears. Cheers!

Why ethnic studies is an important class

By: Calvin Westin

SF Students hold signs in solidarity and support of the Third World Liberation Front 2016, the name of the court students on a hunger strike to defend the SF State College of Ethnic Studies, during an emergency press conference in the Quad Monday, May 9. (Melissa Minton) via Wikimedia Commons

Ethnic studies was created during the longest strike in United States history at San Francisco State College to include marginalized groups and to re-enroll a student who was suspended for political speech. The strike lasted 80+ days and brought many different people from different backgrounds together, for example: Black, Asian, Latinx students, the Black Panther Party, the Third World Liberation Front, and many more. This strike led to the spread of ethnic studies across the country. The strike reformed the curriculum where white culture was dominant and changed how American colleges showed diversity.

At Highland Park Senior High School, Critical Ethnic Studies is taking these ideas and making them real for us right now. Instead of just reading out of a textbook, we get to see the actual stories of people from our communities whether that’s local, statewide, or internationally. In a city where 50% of the population belongs to minority groups, it is important that the things we do in school are current and reflect our communities. We learn about indigenous people in Minnesota, the history of Rondo, and the struggles of Hmong and Somali families who moved here. It’s different from a regular history class because it focuses on the deeper parts of history. We learn about systematic racism but also how people have practiced resistance against it.

This class at Highland Park is helping us become better at thinking for ourselves instead of just memorizing things. For example, we look at the 1969 San Francisco college strike and connect it to things that are happening in our world today. It also makes you realize that speaking up is important and your voice matters and that you can be part of making a change. By focusing on marginalized groups, the class shows us that all history is worth learning. It is one of the only classes where you can see and compare yourself in the lessons and understand how you and your family fits into the history of the US. Critical Ethnic Studies is not just about learning the past but instead it’s giving us the opportunity to understand our own lives and respect the people who came before us.

The shift in the digital

By: Weston Halgunseth

Photo by Katerina Holmes on Pexels.com

Introduction

A few months ago, in St. Paul, classrooms shifted from desks and whiteboards to beds and sleep. This change sparked a huge debate. While some students thrive in a digital space, others find themselves struggling with online learning. In my view, the overall effect of online learning on students is that it is mostly good but a lot of it gives a bit too much leeway.

The good of online learning

Online learning has some great benefits that help students feel better. You can sleep much more because you don’t have to wake up early to catch a bus or be in school on time. This helps you feel rested and gives you more energy to focus on your lessons, unlike what normally happens where you feel fatigued for the first 20-30 minutes of class. You usually have more time to finish your tasks so you don’t feel as much stress. You can learn at your own speed instead of trying to keep up with a fast teacher.

The bad side of online learning

Online learning has some good parts but it also has problems. It is hard to try your best when no one is watching you and it is easy to forget your assignments without the teachers reminding you. If you get stuck you have to wait for an email instead of getting help right away. It is also lonely because you don’t see your friends at lunch or in the halls making it so your social skill starts to go down. Because students feel alone and bored they don’t learn as well and their grades often go down. Even though computers are helpful, being in a real classroom is usually better for most people.

My own experience

Back in 2020, when COVID was a big thing, I was stuck at home for a year and in that time I experienced a lot of the things I talked about such as the lack of motivation, loneliness feeling, less stress, and grades dropping. In that year, I’ve noticed that my knowledge with most of the stuff I learned before the online classes was really rusty and foggy and it took me a bit to catch up to where I should be in math, science, etc. Like in math, when I got back, I was struggling bad and didn’t get a hang of it until I started getting help after school from friends.

I also noticed that online learning made it hard to keep my friends. A lot of my friends I had in 5th grade I lost when I came back because I hadn’t talked to them for a year or so, and overall online learning wasn’t the best experience for me. It ruined my ability to socialize, my knowledge went down and a lot more.

The verdict

The shift to online learning is a double edged sword. On the positive side the ability to sleep in and the freedom of more time to submit assignments greatly reduces my and many others stress allowing students to learn subjects at a pace that actually works for them.

However, these benefits are often ruined by the lack of motivation and hands-on help. Without socializing, students feel alone and lonely which can lead to a grade drop and people getting less educated because they aren’t truly engaged. Ultimately, while the flexibility is great online learning only works if we can find a way to bring back the social and strictness sides of a physical classroom.