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Clubs and Activities

Why you should join Highland Theater

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By: Persephone Pond & Beverly Stinson

If you’re someone who loves acting, singing, crew work, or just the art of theater in general, we’d encourage you to join Highland’s amazing theater community. Theater in general is an amazing community to be in, Highland being a great example.

Whether you’re new to theater or have experience, we highly recommend you join as you could make new friends, learn new skills and just have a great time.

In this article we will cover the upcoming 2024-2025 shows, how to get involved, the experiences you could make, and how theater can benefit you in the long run.

Schedule

In the fall, our theater program performs two well known plays, which are worked on throughout the first few months. Auditions are held the third week of school, and with our no cut policy, everyone who auditions gets to have a role! In addition to acting on stage, there are also opportunities to help backstage with set building, costuming, prop building, and so much more!

Our first fall show this year will be ‘And Then There Were None’ by Agatha Christie. This show is a stage adaptation of the author’s original best selling murder mystery novel which follows ten strangers who are brought to an island by a mysterious host who accuses each of murder. The performances will take place November 14th, 15th and 16th.

Our second fall production will be ‘The School for Scandal’ by Richard B. Sheridan. This comedy of manners stage adaptation follows a wealthy man named Sir Oliver, who is struggling to decide which of his nephews to leave his fortune to. He decides to find out as much about their characters as possible, and meanwhile, the nephews, Charles and Joseph, are both in love with the same girl, Maria. Performances will be December 5th, 6th and 7th.

Auditions for both fall shows were held September 17th and 18th after school, posters with the audition information were posted around the school and on Highland Park’s Theater social media @hptheatrearts.

The next set of shows are the winter one acts, which will be a weekend on student directed one acts which will be performed mid February. Auditions are held shortly after the fall season ends, and each person who auditions will be cast by students and directed by students. There will also be many tech opportunities to help with each individual act.

The spring musical is typically our largest production of the year. The musical is voted upon by students interested in working on it, so there is no confirmed musical yet. Everyone who auditions will be cast, and in addition to numerous singing, dancing and acting rehearsals through the spring months, there will also be the most tech opportunities of any show. Performances will take place late April.

The final show of the year is a spring play, which is typically the smallest production, mostly reserved for upperclassmen. Everyone is welcome to audition, but there are cuts and seniority plays a large role in the casting process. Tech is open to anyone who wants to help, and the performances will take place early-mid May.

Other theater events take place throughout the year which don’t require an after school commitment, like our monthly theater club meetings where we all meet up, talk about scheduling and build community. At the end of the year we host a senior send off talent show to honor the graduating seniors, and we also host a potluck picnic over the summer.

Community

Highland’s theater community is one like no other; you’re guaranteed to find someone who shares your interests and feels welcomed.

Our director, Nancy Michaels, makes sure that newcomers feel at home and comfortable, if you have problems, she tends to them. She truly is both an amazing director and teacher.

For me (Beverly), I joined theater last year near the end of the school year. I had waited so long because I was scared of not being fit for it. But after doing my first show (‘Beauty and the Beast’) I quickly became comfortable in the community, especially with the help of Nancy.

Our theater is safe for people of all backgrounds.

After the last showing of every show there are cast parties which I know sounds a little intimidating but the parties are usually really chill and it’s just a great time to wind down with your cast and crew after working so hard on the shows.

Benefits

Being in theater can help with so many things in your life, both currently and in the future. As of right now it can help with skills you wish to learn including Acting, Singing, Socializing, Production, and Time Management.

In the future, being in theater could help with college admissions and job applications, whether you’re an actor, director, or tech crew. It especially will help if you ever direct a show like one of the one acts, which are all directed by seniors and sometimes juniors.

It’s really easy to get to know people in theater since you’re almost always talking to someone; it is incredibly social.

Wrap-Up

Like we said, theater is an amazing community to be in and it really can help you so much in the long run. And it’s always nice to see new faces and teach them about theater if they don’t already know how it works.

So, if you’re looking for a new career choice, new friends, or just something fun to do after-school then we would love it if you gave theater a chance!

We can’t wait to see new faces!

  • Sincerely, Persephone and Beverly
Travel/Food

Pumpkin Spice lattes: Which ones are worth it and which ones aren’t?

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By: Norah Hogland & Lily Sheldon

Fall is here; you know what that means! Leaves changing color, Halloween, fall treats, and best of all: Coffee shops have released their fall menus, and we’re here to test them out. We went to three different chain coffee shops to try out the most popular fall drink: the Pumpkin Spice latte.

Starbucks is the most well known stop for the iconic fall drink, selling approximately 20 million Pumpkin Spice lattes every year. But as the drink’s popularity has grown, more coffee shops have started adding the drink to their seasonal menu. People wait all year for this drink, as its popularity has skyrocketed over the last few years. Other coffee shops have started releasing their version of this fall staple, and we are here to see which one is the best.

First, we tried a Starbucks Iced Pumpkin Spice latte. Some things to note about the Starbucks latte: the pumpkin flavor was not very strong, but still noticeable. It also had a strong coffee flavor, which appeals to some people depending on their taste. It came with whipped cream and spices on the top. The cost of this drink was $6.25, and it was the smallest amount of the 3, though we ordered the same size from each place. Even so, it was a good drink. Overall, we rate this drink a 7.8/10.

Then, we tried an Iced Pumpkin latte from Caribou. This drink had a larger cup than Starbucks, and the cost was only $5.89. Unfortunately, there was no whipped cream or spices on top of this drink, it was just the coffee itself. There was a larger amount of ice compared to the other drinks as well. The latte from Caribou had a stronger pumpkin flavor, and less of a coffee flavor. Another thing to note was that it also had a bit of a fake, artificial flavor to it, which was not exactly pleasant. Overall rating of this drink was 4.66/10.

Lastly, we tried the Dunkin’ Pumpkin Spice latte. This drink had the largest cup for a small sized drink. Dunkin’s drink cost $5.89, the same as Caribou. This drink came with the most whipped cream, and it included caramel drizzle, and a dusting of cinnamon sugar. This drink was the sweetest tasting of the three, tasted more like pumpkin than Starbucks, but not more than Caribou and was more milky than the other 2. This drink is very sugary and sweet, which some prefer and some don’t. Overall, we rate this drink a 6.8/10.

If you are still wondering which drink you would like most, here are our thoughts:

  • If you like to stick to the classics, and if you prefer a stronger coffee flavor and a less sweet drink, we would recommend the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice latte. It is a tasty, solid option for coffee lovers to be in spirit during the fall season.
  • If you are looking for a more simple, and less expensive option, with no add ons, we would recommend the Caribou latte. The only problem with this one is the strange flavor to it, but some people don’t mind this. Caribou is a good option for pumpkin lovers, as it has the strongest pumpkin flavor out of the 3.
  • Lastly, the latte from Dunkin’. It’s a sweet, milky drink topped with lots of whipped cream and spices. This latte was more of a treat, so if you don’t love the taste of coffee but love pumpkin and sweetness, then Dunkin’ is the one for you.

If you don’t know your preferences? Try Starbucks, as it is the most neutral and, in our opinion, best tasting out of the three. Or, to get the full experience, try them all!

Advice/How To

Benefits of owning an aquatic animal

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By: Bailey Glime

Photo by MART PRODUCTION on Pexels.com

Aquatic pets are very popular for lots of families but did you know all the benefits it holds as well? Aquatic animals can be very therapeutic for lots of people. This helps regulate mood and stress even if just a little. Examples of all the ways an aquatic animal can be therapeutic are listed below:

  • Improving mood: By owning an aquatic animal our mood is overall happier.
  • Relaxation: Relaxation is another big factor fish contribute to humans. By watching your aquatic animal it brings you to a relaxed state.
  • Productivity: In some cases your aquatic animal might make you feel like you should be more productive and do more activities.
  • Blood Pressure: Aquatic animals can help reduce blood pressure just by watching them.
  • Mental health: Overall all these help to contribute to your mental health and having a good mental health is important to have every day.

Other benefits of aquatic animals are that they don’t need to be as tended to as mammals; this would give some people the feeling of having more time and still having a pet.

Aquatic animals are not a necessary pet to have in your home but they do provide benefits of relaxation and positive mental health.

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School Life

MY FIRST PEP FEST

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By: Grace Lopez

My experience:

We all got called down to the main gym and we had to sit down with our grades in separate corners. It was really packed with a lot of people and there was nowhere to sit and it was way too loud. For freshmen it was hard to get a seat because there were a lot of people sitting on the bleachers so half of us had to sit on the floor because of how packed it was.

Everything got settled down but when it was about to start everyone started to yell “Freshman go home!” I was really surprised about how loud it was and how funny it was people yelling at us, but it wasn’t that bad.

Then the cheerleaders had a performance for us and they did really well. After they were done some teachers were just talking about being respectful and kind but no one really listened.

After that, some kids explained some sports that they do at Highland and what it was about and all of that, and then they walked through the limbo and it was really funny.

Then the football boys and soccer girls and boys had a dance performance in front of everyone. They did really well and then the moment everyone has waiting for came: the homecoming queen and king.

The people that participated walked and did a dance and went in the middle of the gym. Everyone voted for a queen & king and one of the teachers got the microphone and said the winners for each grade. The winners got to sit in a special chair.

After all that was over, everyone started to yell once again “Freshman go home!” and it wasn’t that bad but it was just embarrassing. I guess it’s a tradition for American schools though.

And that was my experience for my first ever pep fest.

Tech/Games

‘The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’ is the first main Zelda game where you actually play as Zelda.

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By: Munira Ahmadad

In May 2023, Nintendo released ‘The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom’ (TOTK) which was one of the Switch’s most anticipated games after the success of ‘Breath of the Wild’. Unfortunately, the creators of the game had stated there would be no follow up content or a DLC for TOTK, as they believed that it had everything they had intended it to be on its initial release. While the game was considered amazing, plenty of fans were disappointed that was where it was going to end. 

It appears the Zelda developers are serious about moving on from the 2017 ‘Breath of the Wild’ world that remains a fan favorite even half a decade later, as in June 2024, the new main Zelda game had been announced. ‘The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom’ is scheduled to release on September 26, and it’s style is the same as ‘The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening’, which has led me, and other fans to assume it’s a sequel or set in the same Hyrule as ‘Link’s Awakening’. 

One thing that you can immediately notice is different from the other LOZ games when you first watch the trailer is that you do not play as Link in this game, but rather Zelda. This is the first main Zelda game in which you actually play as the princess Zelda. The trailer displays a recurring gameplay mechanic that revolves around collecting items and creating imitation versions that are useful for exploration and combat. 

Personally, I am very excited for a new main title game in the series, but I’ve never been a fan of the toy-like and simple graphics. It makes it hard for me to take the gameplay seriously, and it’s indicative to me that the game will be easy. I’m aware Nintendo makes their main games for kids and families, though, so it’s not something I am upset about. 

Getting To Know/History, School Life

How children get to school around the world

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By: Karl Salkowski

Children are raised differently around the world, but one experience that most kids share is school. How you get to school can vary greatly between students. Whether you bike, walk, take public transportation, carpool, or hike through the mountains, everyone arrives at the same destination.

According to Saferoutesinfo.org, “In 1969, 48% of children 5 to 14 years of age usually walked or bicycled to school.” This has dramatically decreased since then, and has fallen to only 13%. In 1969 89% of children who lived within a mile of school walked or bicycled. Now only 35% bike or walk. This decrease has been happening steadily over the course of the last 50 years. As more vehicles are on the road, biking and walking become inherently more dangerous. More and more parents see walking/biking to school as unsafe which may lead them to instead drive their kids to school. This feeds into the cycle.

However, not everywhere in the world is like this. For example, the city of Oulu, Finland has recently become one of the most pedestrian and bike friendly cities in the world. They did this by greatly increasing the amount of bike infrastructure, and plowing the bike paths immediately after the snow falls. According to BBC, “In one of Oulu’s biggest schools Metsokangas, more than 90% of the children get to school by bike or on foot.” Although the average for the city schools overall is 50%, it’s still incredibly impressive seeing that it’s the 4th most northern city in the world.

Biking to school in the middle of the winter may seem difficult, but it’s nothing compared to how strenuous of a journey some kids in China had to go through. Some kids had to hike almost half way up a mountain to get to school in Gulu Village, China. From 2005-2011 students in the Gulu Village would have to hike 3-5 hours to reach a school that stood atop the mountain. They had to take a windy path that is filled with many twists and bends. The narrowest part of the trail is 40 centimeters.

The school was first made of mud, but the principal Shen Qijun through support of the people living below transformed it into a somewhat safe building complete with five classrooms and a restroom. Soon the school lacked funding, and it was decided to relocate down below in the village. This is only a small glimpse into the different challenges school kids face around the world.

Advice/How To, Travel/Food

Why eggs are the most nutritional breakfast option

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By: Max Cahoon

According to the ‘Keck Medicine of USC’s’ Kurt Mong, eggs are a great source of high protein and also have very low calories. Eggs also contain a ton of vitamins and nutrients that your body needs.

Many people eat eggs to maintain or lose weight as well. Research shows that people that eat eggs may lose up to 65% more weight than people that eat their eggs with a bagel, according to ‘Sauder’s Eggs’

People think that what they eat in the morning doesn’t affect your body throughout the day, but it actually does both physically and mentally. Breakfast options like cereal or donuts may slow you down, but eggs improve your physical and mental health for the entire day. This is because of the nutrients/vitamins that are in eggs. Eggs have vitamin B12, vitamin D, and iron, which are all huge benefits to your bones and brain.

Eggs are also a protein powerhouse. Eggs are a very good option for people that workout/go to the gym because of the protein. Kirkland brand eggs have 6 grams of protein per egg, meaning if you eat 5 eggs every morning you will already have half of your needed grams of protein for the day, and protein builds muscle.

According to the ‘KRQE’ eggs are America’s favorite breakfast food and around 65% of people throughout the United States eat eggs every morning for breakfast. Eggs are also a very good food to combine other foods with, for example a lot of people will make eggs with sausage or bacon or fruit which makes it into more of a meal.

Another appealing factor about eggs is that there are so many different types of eggs to make, some people even go as far as to say that there are over 100 ways to cook eggs. A couple examples would be scrambled, hard boiled, sunny side up, and omelet, but those are just the popular ones, there’s a ton more that I didn’t mention.

Football, Scoreboard/Schedule, Soccer, Swimming & Diving, Tennis, Volleyball

Sports schedule for: Sept 23-28

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ATHLETIC EVENTS SCHEDULE: SEPTEMBER 23 – SEPTEMBER 28
MONDAYSEPTEMBER 23 
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
JV: 4:00pm V: 5:15pm Girls Soccer vs. Holy AngelsHOME
V: 4:00pm JV: 4:00pm Girls Tennis vs. VisitationV: Visitation School JV: HOME
4:30pm3:15pm | 6:00pmJV Football vs. Harding/HumboldtHarding High School
B: 4:15pm JV: 5:30pm V: 7:00pm3:45pm | 8:30pmVolleyball vs. Como ParkComo Park High School
TUESDAYSEPTEMBER 24
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
JV: 4:00pm V: 5:15pm Girls Soccer vs. HardingHOME
B: 4:15pm JV: 5:00pm V: 6:30pmB: 3:15pm | 5:45pm JV: 4:00pm | 6:30pmBoys Soccer vs. HardingHarding High School
WEDNESDAYSEPTEMBER 25
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
4:00pm3:15pm | 6:00pmJV Girls Tennis vs. MPLS SouthwestLinden Hills Park
B: 5:30pm JV: 5:30pm V: 7:00pm Volleyball vs. CentralHOME
6:15pm5:15pm | 7:30pmBoys B2-Squad Soccer vs. St. AgnesSt. Agnes School
7:00pm5:15pm | 9:00pmGirls Swimming and Diving vs. CentralHumboldt High School
THURSDAYSEPTEMBER 26
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
JV: 4:00pm V: 5:30pm Girls Soccer vs. CentralGriffin Stadium
JV: 4:00pm B: 5:15pm V: 7:30pmJV: 3:15pm | 5:45pmBoys Soccer vs. CentralV/JV: Central High School B: HOME
FRIDAYSEPTEMBER 27
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
7:00pm4:30pm | 8:30pmFootball vs. Two RiversTwo Rivers High School
SATURDAYSEPTEMBER 28
TIMEBUS TIMESEVENTLOCATION
8:00am6:45am | 4:00pmVarsity/JV Volleyball TournamentPark High School
Fashion/Make-Up

Hmong Shamanism veil colors

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By: Seng Yang

Background information:

Image created with Wonder AI

In Hmong culture, shamans will use veils for different purposes. Different colors have different purposes. Back in Laos and Thailand, there weren’t many color options, meaning there was only black and red, and even now the most common three veil colors are red, black, and white, while other veil colors aren’t as common or aren’t used as much as today.

Red:

The red veils are commonly linked to modern-day shamans who have spirit guides from various cultures beyond their ancestral ones. Many of them collaborate with angels and ascended masters. The color red is a powerful color often associated with protection and vitality. Wearing a red veil is often a way to feed off evil spirits or negative energies. Red is believed to be a color that repels negative forces, providing a strong shield of spiritual protection.

Black:

The black veils symbolize the ancestral shaman lineage. The color black signifies protection, secrecy, and a connection to the spirit world. In various shamanic customs, black is considered a safeguarding hue that conceals the shaman’s identity. Shamans with the black veil aid in soul retrieval and prevent souls from transitioning into another realm.

White:

The white veils are associated with the psychic shaman who can foresee into the future. Shamans who wear the white veils may seem more experienced or skilled with a stronger connection to the spiritual realm. They perform divination readings and they generally symbolize purity, peace, and protection. The color white is often used in rituals for its association with clarity, spiritual cleanliness, and to guide the souls of the deceased safely to the afterlife. The color is often associated with death and the afterlife.

Green:

The green veils are typically associated with growth, healing, nature, and balance. In shamanic practices green represents life and renewal and is often connected with the natural world and plant spirits. Shamans may wear the green veils in healing ceremonies or rituals intended to bring physical or emotional healing. It can also be seeking guidance or blessings from nature spirits or when emphasizing balance and harmony.

Orange:

The orange veil symbolizes enlightenment, wisdom, and spiritual authority. They are associated with divine beings, higher spiritual knowledge, and ancestors who possess deep wisdom. The veil could be worn in ceremonies focused on seeking wisdom, guidance, or blessings from ancestors or spiritual beings. They represent connection to higher knowledge and spiritual insight.

Purple:

The purple veil is not commonly used in the Hmong traditions. The color purple can symbolize a higher spiritual calling or the ability to communicate with powerful ancestors. It symbolizes transformation and spiritual enlightenment, bridging the gap between earthly and spiritual dimensions. Additionally, the purple veil signifies a connection to the divine, spiritual authority, and elevated consciousness.

Yellow:

The yellow veil is associated with earth and life. It symbolizes protection, healing, and guidance during rituals; it’s also sometimes linked to enlightenment or wisdom. The shaman wearing a yellow veil often guides lost souls back to their rightful place, whether in the world of the living or the afterlife.

Blue:

The blue veil is associated with wisdom, calmness, and communication with spiritual guides. It could be used during ceremonies that involve seeking wisdom or communicating with ancestors or spirit guides for insight. Blue could also represent healing, particularly emotional or spiritual healing. A shaman wearing a blue veil may be conducting rituals focused on restoring balance, bringing peace to troubled souls or calming energies in situations of unrest.

Travel/Food

Guide to the Land Down Under, East Coast

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By: Baarika Suresh

Melbourne City

Melbourne City – Melbourne, the home of Australian fashion is known for its lively culture and vibrant lifestyle. Melbourne is the capital of Victoria, one of the 7 states/territories of Australia. There is live music and jazz clubs around every corner as well as massive shopping malls. There is a free tram to access anything in the inner city circle so you can go anywhere anytime.

The great ocean road is a 240 kilometer long drive that’s west end starts in Victoria, and is where you can see the world’s best coastal views, such as the 12 Apostles.

Katoomba Waterfalls

Katoomba Cascades, Blue Mountains – The Blue Mountains are part of a mountain range called the Great Dividing Range, which ranges all the way from South Australia to Queensland. There are gorgeous walking tracks, beautiful views of the Australian greenery and many fun activities.

There are many local art galleries like the Lost Bear Gallery and cafes and shops nearby as well as the Scenic Skyway which is a cable car ride which glides suspended in the air. It has a 360 panoramic view of the landscape.

Sydney Harbor Bridge – Sydney is actually not the capital of Australia, yet it is the most famous city in Australia. Sydney is known for its beaches, shopping and entertainment. Go to Allianz Stadium where the women’s football World Cup was held last year to catch an A-League soccer game or head to the Sydney cricket stadium to watch the Big Bash League cricket matches.

Sydney never sleeps and people can be seen walking or playing basketball 24/7. Sydney’s most famous beach is Bondi Beach but there are many hidden gems in Sydney’s neighboring town, Newcastle.

Bogey Hole

Bogey Hole, Newcastle – The beaches of Newcastle are undoubtedly the best beaches in Australia. Red Head, Merewether, Nobbys and Newcastle beaches are beautiful places to visit. Nobbys Beach also has rich Australian history, as the boardwalk was built by the blood and sweat of English convicts. The boardwalk connects the beach to Nobbys Head and Nobbys Lighthouse, which guides ships to the biggest export/import port in Australia.

Next to Merewether Beach is Merewether Baths, which is an outdoor swimming area enclosed from the ocean, but lets in ocean water. 

Bogey Hole was dug out by convicts as a private pool for Colonel James Morisett. Now, it’s clear water is open to the public, so that they can enjoy the beautiful views.

Sunset in Orange

Central West – Central West, New South Wales is where the pinnacle of Australian life is. It is just across the Blue Mountains shielded away from the city.

Lake Canobolas (which is actually a dam) is located a half hour drive from Orange City Center and is an amazing place to be. There is a cafe nearby, mini beach, and beautiful walking tracks around the lake. It is in close proximity to The Pinnacle, which is a pretty steep trek up to The Lookout, one of the highest points of elevation in Orange. You can visit Borenore Caves, widely known for its stalactites and stalagmites, or pick your own produce at Huntley Berry Farm, a family owned farm.