On February 20, the Juniors expected to come to school to take their dredded ACT. Some students had been preparing all year, and were more than ready to take their test; others will never be ready. The day before the ACT, the SPPS school district declared a snow day, cancelling school and rescheduling the ACT.

Most students were overjoyed by the news of not having to sit through the four hour test just yet. While others felt that it just prolonged their anxiety about the whole testing situation.

The ACT was rescheduled for March 12, almost a month after the original date.

I asked three different Juniors how they were feeling about the ACT, and they all had different responses:

Liliana said she was “Ready for the test to be over with,” and “She just wanted to take it already.”

Cristina said she felt like “The rescheduling just extended peoples anxiety about the test.”

Brandon was the only one I asked who was “Relieved that we (Juniors) got the extra time to prepare.”

Even though they all had different opinions, they all shared one same comment, that they were nervous.

Before the ACT try to:

• Eat a good breakfast
• Get 8 hours of sleep
• Look over practice problems
• And relax

Hopefully, they will be able to calm their nerves before march 12, and do amazing on their ACT’s. Good luck juniors!

The Govie Leadership Summit was Friday, March 1, at Johnson Senior High. With 20 sessions and over 37 presenters, this year’s summit focused on three categories: social justice and racial equity, developing your leadership style, and building healthy communities.

The summit began with an amazing and hilarious improv show by a group called Blackout Improv. After the breakout sessions, we discussed in small groups the strengths, challenges, and opportunities of our schools and student voice. At the end of the day, Mayor Carter spoke and challenged us to make Saint Paul a better place.

Highland’s own Dare 2 Be Real group presented on “Stereotype Promises vs. Stereotype Threat.” They covered different types of stereotypes and how to combat the problems they raise. D2BR believes this is important, because stereotypes are everywhere, even at schools, where everyone should be treated equal and fairly. For example, teachers may look at an Asian kid, see the smart Asian stereotype, and offer them more help, whereas they perceive another kid as less smart. Teachers may do this without even knowing. This affects the students in the support they receive and their self-esteem. When a minority is faced with a stereotype threat, it is harder for them to succeed and puts more pressure on them.

My first session was “Boss Up,” led by Talea Plata. We began by describing ourselves in the future, beyond just jobs, but also hobbies, how we look, and so on. Then we had a conversation on self-love, the little ways in which we can do it, and why it is important.

My second session, “No One Can Say It Like You Can” empowered us to speak our personal truths. Presenter Annie Humphrey performed songs about their own personal truths. Annie told us not to let others stifle our voice, to not judge others, and to not let our lives be ruled by fear.

My third session, “Screen Scholar — Rethinking How We Watch and Read Stories” led by Tri Vo, was about why diversity in media matters. We started with looking at the basics of storytelling: background, characters, plot, and production value. Then we talked about how we need to have diversity because representation is power. We see people in media and expect others to be like them. We need to be able to see ourselves in media. We can’t not think about representation, because so much of our lives revolves around media.

The summit was enjoyable, and I can only see it getting better and better over time.

Every winter, the senior class plans a field trip to go snow tubing. This year, it was planned for February 7th, but things didn’t go according to plan.

Seniors showed up on Thursday with all their layers of clothing ready to go. The field trip cancelation was announced to everybody half-way through first hour. Due to a snow storm, SPPS high schools got an early release at 1:30pm. Some people were worried that if the seniors went on the field trip, the road conditions would get bad on the way back and the busses wouldn’t make it back by 1:30pm for students to ride the bus home.

By that time, students had already found out about the cancellation and were very upset. I remember seeing a swarm of upperclassmen around the counseling office during passing time after first hour. Some seniors decided to leave after 1st hour. They were upset because most students didn’t bring their school work because they didn’t think they would need it.

The field trip has been rescheduled for March 14th and everyone seems excited to still be going…given that we don’t have ANOTHER snow storm.

HPSH’s spirit week is here – February 19 to 22. During spirit week, students are encouraged to dress up based on the allotted schedule, and are expected to attend the pep fest.

The pep fest will occur Friday, February 22, 7th period (1:12-2:00) in the main gym. Your 7th period teacher should bring you down when the time is right, there will also be an announcement over the loud speakers to notify the teachers when to come down (we are assuming they are calling down by floors). Please do not bring your backpack (or any bag) to the gym. You can leave it in your (locked) 7th period teacher’s classroom or locker.

Because students and staff did not go to school Monday due to Presidents’ Day, there will be four dress up days. Tuesday is “dress like a teacher day.” For Tuesday, you could dress like your favorite teacher using wigs, clothing, hats, and/or shoes.

Wednesday is pajama day, so make sure to wear your favorite onesie or most comfortable sweatpants.

Thursday is jersey day. On Thursday you can wear any jersey, or sports apparel you own, to represent your favorite sports team.

Friday is class colors day, where students wear the colored t-shirt that coordinates with their grade. (freshmen wear yellow, sophomores wear green, juniors wear blue, and seniors wear red.)

Also, please be mindful that you are not mocking anyone during this week by dressing up like them (A.K.A on Tuesday, teacher look alike day). Please keep all your outfits school appropriate and all outfits MUST show your face at all times. Remember to have fun at the pep fest, but also be respectful to everyone who is performing.    

When we asked HPSH students what they thought of spirit week, many said that they appreciated the opportunity and thought it was fun. However, “It’s not really as fun as it would be if everyone participated,” one student explained. Many students agreed with this. Some even admitted to not taking part; “Spirit week is really fun…but I usually don’t participate.”

Because of the lack of participants in spirit week, not all students dress up. “Sometimes you’re just worried that other people won’t do it, and even if you wanted to, you chicken out,” one person told us. “You’re worried others will think it’s weird.”

Spirit week is much more fun if everyone does it! Show your school spirit by dressing up with everyone else.

By: Vivian

Driver education is coming to Highland! This session will run from May 6 to 21, 2:10-5:10 pm every day. The class fee is $330. To register, there are forms in the main office. Sign up quickly because there is limited class space. To sign up for the class, you must be 15 years old by the last day of class.

If you are 15-17 and want to drive, then you are required to take the 30 hour course to be able to get your permit. If you are 18, you don’t have to take the 30 hour course, but you still can if you want to. After you complete the class, you will have to take a knowledge test to get your permit.

The $330 fee includes 6 hours of behind-the-wheel instruction, not just the 30 hours of class. After you complete the class, you will have 18 months to do your behind-the-wheel instruction.

If you miss more than 3 hours (one class period) of the 30 hour course, you will be unenrolled from the course and will not receive credit. If you miss up to 3 hours, you can make up for the missed class time, but you will need to do it within the quarter. If you are unenrolled or decide to cancel, you will receive a refund minus a $50 fee. Once the course has ended you can’t get any more refunds.

You are expected to show proper behavior in the classroom, and the use of cell phones in class is prohibited.

To take the road test to get your driver’s license, you have to be 16, have had your permit for at least 6 months, and have completed the supervised driving log, which requires 50 hours of driving time with at least 15 hours driving after dark, if your guardians choose to take a supplemental class, then you only have to do 40 hours of driving.

Driver Education Office – Central High School | 275 N. Lexington Pkwy., St. Paul, MN 55104
651-744-5094 | Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 9:00a – 3:00p

On Thursday, January 17th, Highland Park put on their annual Showcase from 6-8pm. Middle schoolers from Highland Park Middle, Capital Hill, and other St. Paul middle schools attended the showcase.

During the showcase, tours were held for the middle school students, and their parents, directed by students in the Year Book club. Throughout the night, 3 different tours took place, popcorn and cookies were served in the gym, and all of Highlands Park’s extracurricular activities we’re presented around the gym including: sports, math team, robotics club, Black Student Union, Asian Culture club, and more.

Highland’s Showcase is a great way to get to know about the activities and clubs available at the school. There are a variety of programs to join, and there is something for everyone with 42 different clubs which include:

Highland Park’s Showcase this year had a turn out of about 70 different families, a little less than what Highland has had in the past.

I talked to Mr. O’Connell, a math teacher, as well as math coach on the Highland Park math team about this year’s Showcase. I asked him how he felt about this years turn out, and he responded, “I expected more students, there was about 60 families that showed up.” I further asked him if he thought the low turn out would mean fewer freshmen next year. Mr. O’Connell’s response was, “Of course I have no doubt that we won’t have a lot of kids, but we are just going to have to see what next year brings.”

On January 10th, We had our second senior class meeting. It was basically a meeting where we talked about making sure we are on track to graduate and also about graduation. You could feel the excitement in the room as we are going into our second semester of our last year in high school. We talked about three main things: keeping grades up, senior field trip, and cap and gowns.

Grades

Seniors have been in high school for about 3 years now and are familiar with keeping grades up in order to pass a class and go on to the next grade.

Well, when senior year hits, students tend to think that there isn’t much effort needed in order to graduate, which is false.

In the meeting, counselors talked about how students tend to take it easy and not care as much and end up failing a class which prohibits them from being able to graduate. We should still care about our grades because of that, but also because colleges are still going to be looking at our grades even after they have accepted us. It is important that we seniors take this advice and do it.

Cap And Gown

The second half of the senior meeting involved making sure you fit your cap and gown perfectly. Making sure you look your best during graduation day is key when it comes to walking down that stage with your diploma in hand.

The seniors were given a short link, to type on their phones, which opened up a site, which basically got them ready for ordering their cap and gowns. On this website, the seniors had to type out their personal information like their name and email, and they had to put down their weight, and height.

An important reminder went out to the people wearing heels… “If you plan on wearing heels, you need to add on an inch or more when writing down your height.”

Senior Field Trip

The seniors were also given permission slips to the next senior field trip, which will happen on February 7th, on a Thursday. The field trip starts at 9:15am and goes to 1:00pm. The fee is $18 which covers a bus ride, and two hours of SNOW TUBING.

This field trip was planned by the senior class council, and the rest of the student class voted on it.

Permission slips are due back by Tuesday, January 29th, to Ms. Zepeda in the counseling office. Any questions, please talk to Ms. Esso.

By: Vivian S

Next semester, there are two new electives coming to Highland!

There is Beginning Dance, which will be during period 6. You will learn: the social, performing, and traditional forms of some basic dances; a bit of the history of dance; information about viewing and choreographing a dance or performance; and the parts of performance.

The teacher is Mr. Keefe. Whether or not you have experience, this class is open to you. To sign up, go to the Google Doc, or visit your counselor while you still can.

The other elective is Social Justice Theatre, during period 7, where you’ll have conversations about privilege, equity, justice, identity, etc. in order to create pieces with spoken word, music, improvisation, and storytelling. There is no experience needed to be a part of this class.

The teacher is Ms. Michael. Do you want to learn how to use your voice to spark the change you want in the world? This class is for you. Sign up by going to the Google Doc, or visiting your counselor.

In interviewing Ms. Michael, she said that she believes theatre provides an opportunity to explore our world. In the class, you will be digging into your own identity, how the world sees you and how you see yourself, who you want to be and what you can change. She looks forward to getting to know everyone. She thinks that students will enjoy conversations that will happen, and seeing how theatre can change the world. She believes Highland does need this class, as there are so many loud people promoting hate out there, students need a chance to share how this impacts them, and raise their voices as well.

The ultimate deadline for signing up for these classes is the start of quarter 3.

These electives were made because students expressed an interest in them.

If you can’t sign up for these classes, don’t worry, there are other opportunities for similar activities. There is an Intro to Theatre class 6th period and there’s a DP dance class 7th period. You can also join the Urban Dance Club.

If you’re interested in either of these electives, sign up now!