It’s that exciting time of the year, that goes on until spring, where seniors are getting there acceptance letters from college.

It is exciting, and overwhelming, to hear back from the colleges that you have been thinking about since the minute you entered high school, and have been working towards for the past four years. It can get nerve racking waiting to hear back, and sometimes it can be news that you weren’t expecting, but don’t let this stop you from believeing that you won’t get into the school you want.

When applying to college, it all begins with the excitment of being able to think about all the possibilities for you out there, to learn how to be independent and really start the earning process for your future goals. But, it can sometimes result in feeling crushed once you have realized that you haven’t been accepted into the school of your dreams. Don’t let this get to you, it can have a toll, but that just means that there is a better option out there for you.

At the end of the day, acceptance season can be really exciting but scary. It’s just making sure you know that even if it’s bad news, you won’t let it rain on you, because an acceptance letter will be coming sooner or later.

Throughout the different grade levels you have been through, you have most likely been through a lot of different start times and ending times for school.

In elementary school, it started a lot later, meaning you would get out later as well. But for middle school and high school, you would start a lot earlier and end earlier.

As of fall, 2019 though, SPPS has decided to change the start time for high, and middle, schools to 8:30 a.m. because of studies that have shown that teens wake up later naturally.

In these studies, it basically showed that students were having trouble with sleep schedules because typically, they would sleep later. I know that with me being a senior, I can say that I struggle with waking up early because I either can’t sleep at a reasonable time or else I am up doing homework. I know that a lot of students do this too. This can just have students not be able to focus in class and feel sleepy all day. With this later start, students will get the chance to sleep in a little longer.

So, you maybe thinking, “Would that cause after school activities to run later?” and yes, it would, because of the later ending time.

But at the end of the day, students are getting the chance to sleep longer, which will hopefully increase a better performance in school. Students will feel more energized and ready to learn. At the end of the day, this change will hopefully see an improvement in students.

By: Vivian S

‘Tis the season of giving, and right now, our library is giving us a huge deal! Kicking off this month, December, you can go to the library during lunch, study hall, or after school to read down your fines. For every 15 minutes you read, $2 will be taken off your fines.

To participate, go to the library and check in at the desk. You will be given a slip of paper. On it, write down your start time and your end time, and then turn it in at the front desk at the end.

The read down does not extend to fines you have for equipment, such as iPads.

This is the second year of the read down here. Last year, students only received $1 for every 15 minutes. Not a lot of kids took advantage of this event last year, and we are hoping more will choose to this year.

Another way to read down your fines is during English class. If you have free choice reading time in your English class, you can go up to your teacher and ask them for the slip of paper so you can read down your fines! You hand in the slip of paper with your times on it to the teacher at the end of class.

Other libraries also offer programs like this. Some only offer it for particular months or days. At the Ramsey County Library, you can come in on the first Saturday of every month to read down your fines, for every 15 minutes you will get $1.

The read down is an incredible way to promote reading while allowing students to reduce or eliminate their fines.

I urge everyone to take advantage of this offer to read down any fines they might have.

National History Day (NHD) is a contest that is held annually in which students research a historical topic pertaining to a yearly theme. It’s sponsored by a non-profit education organization based in College Park, Maryland. National History Day, orignated in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1974. It started off as local contest, then expanded quickly throughout Ohio and into the Midwestern states. It then became a national program in 1980, with millions of students participating in History Day. Others, like parents or volunteers, support the program by being contest judges, workshop presenters, mentors, and advisers to students and teachers. This year, the National History Day theme is Triumph & Tradegy in History.

Triumph is: a victory or notable success like:

• What is being overcome?
• What were the goals and objectives?

Tradegy is: a disastrous event like:

• What was impacted?
• What was harmed?
• Was it the tragedy man made or Natural?

An example of a topic that fits this year’s theme, would be: the triangle shirt waist factory fire. It was a tradegy that lead to a triumph. Another area that would produce multiple possible topics would be slavery as it was one event, but it has multiple connections to the theme. Lastly, the sinking of the Titanic could lead to a possible topic as it was a triumph that lead to a tradegy.

To get started on History Day, here are a few tips

Step one: Choose a topic

• Learn about this year’s history theme
• Choose a topic that interests you and connects with the History Day theme.

Step two: Research the topic:

• You are required to provide primary and secondary sources. A primary source is something that was created during the event and a secondary source is something created after the events.
• Start researching Online and do a bibliography of the sources you find to keep track of them.

Step Three: Choose a history day category

• Documenary (10 minutes long)
• Performances (10 minutes)
• Website (1, 200 Addition)
• Paper (1,500 or 2,500 words)
• Exhibit (500 words)

Step four: Work on project

• Set time aside so you can work on your History Day project.
• If you’re working with a partner make sure you get together outside out school to work on your project.
• Practice what you’re going to say, so you can be ready to talk about your project.

Step five: Competitions

• School-level competition – January 31, 2019, at Highland Park High School, St. Paul, in the cafeteria.
• Regional Competition – March 9, 2019, at Johnson Highschool, St. Paul.
• State Competition – University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
• National Competition – University  of Maryland, College Park, MD.

For more information, please visit these websites:

• http://education.mnhs.org/historyday/history-day-timeline
• https://www.nhd.org

There’s always room for improvement! Here are three ways to help you do better in the second quarter of the school year!

Get Organized

Just a folder or two can drastically improve how you organize things if you normally just shove things in your bag without looking. Organizing has proven to help increase productivity, and it decreases stress and unhappiness.

Not organizing often means you forget assignments, and study less. So try to get more organized if you need to be!

Designate Time For Homework 

I’m sure everyone reading this has gone home after school, intending to do homework, but first you want to watch a YouTube video or Netflix. Then you’re no longer in the mood, or you’ve forgotten. Maybe designate an hour to two of your day specially for homework. That way you won’t forget, and you’ll actually do it.

Self Care 

Taking care of yourself is the most important thing. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep, and keeping up your hygiene. If you need a small break for mental or physical health, that’s always alright. You can’t do well in school, if you’re not well yourself.

Have a good quarter two!

The PBE matrix, or Positive Behavior Expectations matrix, for HPSH can be found in, if all, most classrooms. It is separated into 8 columns: Before school, Classroom, Halls, Cafeteria/courtyard, Bathrooms/locker room, Event/assemblies, Bus/parking lot, and After school.

Recently, the administration has made it a goal to reinforce the matrix, which was introduced to students at the beginning of the year grade level meetings.

The Before school expectations include: being timely to classes, following dress code, using appropriate language, coming to school prepared, being alcohol/drug free, and respecting others.

The Classroom expectations also include: being timely, being respectful, using appropriate language, and being alcohol/drug free. Along with this, students are expected to be engaged in class, listening and following instruction, being prepared, turning in work by deadline, and having electronics put away (directed by staff).

The Hallway expectations include: appropriate language, being respectful, walking/talking, being alcohol/drug free, and arriving to class on time. Students should otherwise be in possession of a hallway pass.

The Cafeteria/courtyard expectations include: appropriate language use, being respectful, and being alcohol/drug free. In addition, to these expectations students are also expected to walk, throw garbage away, and follow staff directions.

The Bathrooms/locker room expectations also include: appropriate language, being respectful of privacy, and being alcohol/drug free. In addition, students should use bathrooms at passing time, or return promptly to class. They should put away electronics, wash hands, flush, and respect others personal property.

The Events/assemblies expectations include: appropriate language, being timely, and being alcohol/drug free. Students should be attentive/engaged, sit in assigned area, silence electronics, follow staff directions and enter/exit as directed.

The Bus/parking lot expectations include: using appropriate language, cleaning up, following alcohol/drug free expectations, following road signs, bus safety rules, and listening to bus driver’s expectations.

After school expectations include: using appropriate language, following staff instruction, going to adult led activities (directly), following all after school policies, keeping track of Schoology, Campus, and email, and respecting others, along with being alcohol/drug free.

The hope is that students will feel more comfortable in school if they follow the matrix as everyone would be doing what they should be doing. Following the matrix would also hopefully help students be more productive, because there would not a lot of extra distractions.

In the end, without the matrix, school would be a lot less structured, and there would be a lot more chaos.