Category Archives: School Life

Getting To Know/History, School Life

New face, new ways, new games

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Have you seen a new face, a new teacher, and wonders who he is? Well the answer is here! His name is Mr. Lang and he’s the new gym teacher!

Mr . Lang is the school’s newest addition to the staff. He is the new gym teacher who teaches gym for the freshman here at HPHS. We asked him some questions about how much he likes working at Highland Park and his past experiences in the teaching field. From the information we collected from him, he has been a teacher for 25 years, and this is only the second high school he’s been in.

After taking a look at his third hour class, we observed that he is having quite some fun with his job. The class was playful, encouraging, and the students were cooperative with each other, as well as with their teacher.

We took a second to compare our freshman experience playing handball to their current experience. Handball is a soccer-like game but with your hands. You throw the ball to your teammates but there’s a catch, you can only take three steps with the ball then you have to pass it. The goal is to get as many points as you can by making a goal as you help your team until the teacher calls “End Game”. After that is called, students then rotate and go against their next opponents.

Last year, when my fellow writers and I were in 9th grade, we noticed our experience with handball consisted a lot of disagreement and separation. Boys were separated from the girls, and not everyone participated because we played it for about 1 week straight, and people were losing interest because the game wasn’t as fun since the boys and girls were separated.

The major difference between the time we played handball, and this year’s freshman classes are they did not sepeate the teams by gender, and nobody felt excluded when teams were formed. Everyone participated in the games each year, but last year it was more vague because some people did not want to go through meeting new people, and were just not into it.

We took the time to ask Mr. Lang a total of 6 questions related to him teaching at Highland Park, and some techniques he uses to keep his class motivated. 

Q: How are you enjoying teaching at Highland?   A: I love it. I’ve been a teacher for 25 years. Second high school I’ve been in. Kids here work hard, are fun to be around, and I have a great crew I work with Ferraro and Kramer.

Q: Are you proud with the environment with the class?   A: Yeah. when the kids work hard it makes it easier, I don’t think there is such a thing that you can’t work hard.

Q: What are some of your teaching techniques you use to have the class more involved?   A:Hmm that’s an interesting question. Well I like it when kids are sweating and smiling. If I could make the activities fun and if they are having fun and if they are being involved then I have done my job.

Q: As a new teacher, how has the staff welcomed you to the school? A: Everyone’s been real friendly being down at the gym. I haven’t been able to go out and meet as many as I would like and I’m just as happy to be here.

Q: What made you come to Highland to teach?   A: I was offered the position from Mr. Ferraro and sort of Ms. Kramer spoke on my behalf, she talked to Dr. Tucker, he interviewed me and I got it.

Q: Is there a certain unit you would like to include or exclude from the curriculum? A: Oh! Hmm… well I was looking for new units, and new ideas and I wouldn’t eliminate anything… I’m always looking for new stuff. We’re adding a basketball class and we’ve never had one and I’m teaching that next year and a new soccer class.

After discussing about his journey so far at Highland Park, it was very interesting to meet and get to know Mr. Lang. Mr. Lang is very into what he does, and he wouldn’t dare to teach anywhere else. We had a very fun time interviewing him for his article. If you read this and you have him for a gym teacher, I recommend you put in your all in the activities he brings to you.

We enjoy meeting new people/teachers it is very helpful and has its advantages.

School Life

Day of Silence

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On the 15th of April, HPSH had their Day of Silence. The Day of Silence is for supporting the LGBTQ+ community. To participate in the Day of Silence, you either need a button or a laminated card saying you’re participating in the Day of Silence. About 175 people at HPSH participated in the Day of Silence. I interviewed some of my friends and teachers about the Day of Silence.

Why did you participate in the Day of Silence?

Grace Sheehan: I wanted to bring awareness for LGBTQ+ and bullying, also wanted to support those who are struggling.

Lucy Minner: I have some friends in the LGBTQ+ community and also, it’s for a good cause and everybody deserves equal rights.

Beth Kallestad (World History Teacher): I think it’s powerful that as a teacher I didn’t speak because, it made awareness of LGBTQ+ people that were bullied, harassed, or have been called names.

Clare Barownlee: I’m an alli of the LGBTQ+ community. I have friends that are LGBTQ+. The way LGBTQ+ impacted and affected my friends became really apparent to me. I think it is important to recognize in the places that affect them most.

Berit Depies: I’m in the HPSH Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA). I know many who are in the LGBTQ+ community. I participated because the Day of Silence is important. It shows that other people care about those who are struggling. Hopefully, those who don’t know what people in the LGBTQ+ community are going through can learn.

How do you feel about the Day of Silence?

Grace Sheehan: I support the Day of Silence and the LBGTQ+ community but, maybe not in the exact way the community would support everyone.

Lucy Minner: I feel like it went well for everyone who did participate in it.

Beth Kallestad: It is important that our school participate in the Day of Silence to make student and staff aware. Also, it shows students and staffs of the LGBTQ+ community know that there are people who support them.

Clare Barownlee: I used to think “Why stay silent and not speak put about the issue?”. Over time, I realized that the Day of Silence was really powerful. It was really powerful to see my friends staying silent. Then, I realized that the Day of Silence was really important.

Berit Depies: I think the Day of Silence is great even though I did’t know about it until this year. The Day of Silence is really meaningful because the quietness shows and stands out.

Do you feel like the Day of Silence was good way to support everyone?

Grace Sheehan: Yes, it is an easy thing for everyone to do. It also brings awareness because those people who talk everyday are now being silent.

Lucy Minner: Yes, even though I slipped up four or five times but if I just kept my head down then it wasn’t that bad.

Beth Kallestad: For beginning steps, yes. For a group that has about 20 people, there were more that actually supported than just the 175 that participated.

Clare Brownlee: Yes, the Day of Silence is very inclusive. Like, it’s not just the Day of Silence for lesbians or just for gays, but for everyone in the LGBTQ+ community, it doesn’t specify. It’s for everyone who was discriminated against their gender or sexual orientation.

Berit Depies: Yes, a lot of people supporting for you is good.

What do you like about the Day of Silence?

Grace Sheehan: I like what the Day of Silence represents. It shows how many people actually care about the LGBTQ+ community. I just like what it stands for.

Lucy Minner: It’s for a good cause as I said earlier. People can realize that there are people out there who are struggling.

Beth Kallestad: It is a good opportunity to participate on a social justice and human rights issue. Even if they are not in the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA), it allows students to participate and show support to the LGBTQ+ community.

Clare Barownlee: The Day of Silence to me is a way to physically see the silence. Real people are choosing to stay silent and that really stands out. The Day of Silence is a good way to represent that people out there are struggling. It is also a physical way of symbolizing against discrimination.

Berit Depies: It is powerful when a lot of people choose to stay silent. Everyone can participate and it also brings a lot of people together.

Personally for me, I think that the Day of Silence went well. If we had more people participating, it would stand out more. Back in middle school I was able to participate in the Day of Silence but as of this year, I couldn’t. Hopefully, next year I can also participate to show my support for those who are and aren’t struggling. As someone who identifies as bisexual, it was like those who I interviewed said before, it was very powerful to see. Hopefully, more people will become more aware and can show that they support LGBTQ+.

School Life

Promposals

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Prom is right around the corner. People attending prom are posting their “promposals” all over social media. A promposal is a prom proposal, which typically includes a poster with a cheesy question asking one to prom, flowers, balloons, candy or a stuffed animal, and usually it’s a surprise. Promposals are a big thing for some highschoolers who are going to prom.

The majority of promposal’s are a boy asking their date. I’ve heard many boys complaining about why can’t their date just ask them to prom with a poster. As girls are usually the ones who make a big deal over the prom proposal, it would make sense that they could be the ones doing the asking. I’ve also heard many prom attendees saying they don’t need a prom proposal, a simple text saying “Will you go to prom with me?” is enough.

So, is it okay for girls to prompose to their date? Yes! Who cares if the girl asks her date! Boys like surprises too and girls are very creative and more than capable of surprising and asking their date to prom in a cute, cheesy way. That’s just my opinion, but I also asked a couple of my friends “Is it okay for girls to prompose to their date?” Here’s what they said:

“Yes, it’s okay. If my date wasn’t going to prompose to me, I was going to ask him myself,” said Gabriela Masiello (11).

“Yeah, it’s okay but I wouldn’t do it, I would be scared of rejection. If I got asked, it would be better,” answered Jocelyn Chavez (11).

“Yeah, it’s not weird or anything. But not for me because then it would make me look mean for not asking my girlfriend,” said Dreem Kelly (11).

So, they agree, it’s okay for the girl to ask a boy to prom. Some girls just prefer to get asked to prom by a boy. And some boys like surprising their date.

Next. Do you need to have a promposal? No. Having a date, is enough for most people. Most people can go without posting pictures of a promposal on all their social medias. I asked some of my friends if they agree or disagree with me, that promposals are not necessary for prom.

“Well, I mean, if I wouldn’t of got asked I still would be going. So no it’s not necessary, it’s just something fun that goes along with prom,” said Gabriela Masiello (11).

“No, prom is still prom even if you didn’t get asked in a cute way. I think girls and boys just like promposals so they can post it on Twitter and Instagram to get their likes. I don’t think promposals are bad though,” said Jocelyn Chavez (11).

“No I don’t need to ask a girl to prom, or they don’t have to ask me. But if that’s what your date really wants you should to make them happy,” answered Dreem Kelly (11).

So, they agree with me, it’s not necessary. Promposals are something that goes along with prom these days and it’s exciting. But if it doesn’t happen, it’s okay, you’re not doing prom wrong.

Prom here at Highland is on Friday, May 6th. If you want to prompose, you better hurry and surprise your date!

To see more pictures of promposals of Highland Park students check out Highland’s prom twitter page https://twitter.com/highlandprom_ (username @highlandprom_).

Editorials/Student Voice, School Life

Would an extended spring break benefit students?

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Upon returning to school after the end of spring break, I was one of the many angry and exhausted students who wished spring break had been even just a day longer.

The next day, upon waking up, I realized that yes, I was not excited to return to school, but I would have to return eventually. This got me thinking about whether this feeling of agony was normal, or, would I feel even the slightest bit better if spring break were extended. Thus came the question: Would an extended spring break benefit students?

Spring break is a week off of school that tends to follow the end of the third quarter. This week off of school is very beneficial to students for several reasons. 

Not only do students travel, and spend time with family and friends during spring break, but this week off of school gives students time to destress, which in turn benefits students’ health. The de-stressing that occurs over spring break is especially helpful because it allows students to come back to school during fourth quarter, which can be seen by students as the hardest quarter, more energized and alert. 

According to the Mayo Clinic, the stress that most students feel during school has many negative effects on their bodies including mentally, emotionally and physically.

Some of the common physical effects include low energy, stomach aches, shaking, muscle aches and pains, and frequent colds or infection.

Mental and emotional effects that are often experienced due to stress consist of anxiety, depression, feeling constantly overwhelmed, the inability to relax, low self esteem, and becoming easily aggravated.

These effects can be very harmful to students. Physical effects can become much larger problems, and mental and emotional effects can cause students to withdraw from those they are closest to, affecting more then just their school life. 

Although the week off of school gives students sometime to destress, one week doesn’t seem to be enough time to fully benefit students throughout the last quarter.

Another week of spring break, or even a few more days could give students several more advantages.

For the teachers that assign homework over the break, this would allow students to both complete the assignment and have free time, instead of choosing to do either or.

This extra time could also be used to help students form a plan for the fourth quarter and going back to school. These days could also be used as an opportunity for students to regulate their sleep schedule so they aren’t exhausted their first day back.

While these days could be beneficial to some students, it’s very likely that students would use these days for non school related things, which may benefit their health, or social and home life, but not their academics.

Also, extending spring break means that students would either extend the school year further into June, or take away the three day weekends that students wish for every week.

So, would an extended spring break really benefit students?

After pondering all these things, I conclude that an extended spring break would not benefit students all that much. Yes, some students may take advantage of theses days and actually do something productive, but a majority of students, including myself, would most likely sleep in and do a brainless activity, such as binge watching a Netflix series.

However, there is another solution to revive students upon there return to school after spring break: take it easy on students. Please teachers, no pop quizzes to see what information we retained over spring break, because it will most likely be nothing but disappointing. This solution also includes students being nice to each other.

As students, we just have to suck it up and show up to school and at least try to learn something. After all, we are lucky to have a free education.

Happy fourth quarter!

Clubs and Activities, School Life

Culture Day

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The auditorium was surrounded with the most vibrant and festive decorations of hand made flags, stellar paintings representing cultural individuality, colorful ribbons, and balloons. Performance by performance, the stage was constantly filled with dancers who were willing to share their culture among their supportive peers. Some performers were conscious of their steps, but everyone still managed to end with a grand smile.

Culture Day, which was held on Thursday, April 14, during sixth hour, is an assembly that strives to share the different traditions and cultures not recognized on a daily basis.

According to Quincy Yangh, president of Asian Culture Club, the sole purpose of the various performances was to emphasize and showcase the diversity that lies around our school, and around the world. This was an ultimate collaboration between the ethnic minority clubs in our school including: Union Latina (UL), Black Student Union (BSU), Asian Culture Club (ACC), and Anime Club.

The performance started out with an introduction from the presidents of each club and promptly began with an original couple dance routine performed by members of Union Latina. Union Latina contributed to a total of two multiple duo dance performances, both with uplifting music. Brittany Fry and Charlie Paredes sang a sweet and quiet duet in Spanish, along with Alex Aguirre playing the electric guitar.

Jose Santos was greeted with great encouragements from audience members as he performed a solo Native American piece with his drum. Quincy Yangh also considered this as the most memorable act. “I believed this performance was truly outrageous because it was something I’ve never seen. Another reason why I will remember this performance forever was because I felt Jose Santos poured his heart and culture into the music that he was sharing.”

Midway through the presentation, Black Student Union also performed a unique duo dance to “Formation” by Beyonce. However, that was not their only contribution to the show.

Later in the presentation, three members of BSU including Feven Gebrezgi, Khani Paredez, and Dejra Bishop stood together on stage and shared a spoken word piece. The audience sat in silence as they listened to the trio recall each and every line of Maya Angelou’s famous poem, “Still I Rise”. The firm tones in their voices expressed their definite passion towards the meaning of the poem, which revolved around strength, endurance, and affirmation. The significance of the poem corresponds with current racial conflicts in the US, as it was intended to address the white oppressors of black people.

Senior student Kelly Shanahan also made an astonishing appearance representing her heritage with her brief but still impressive Irish tap dancing routine in her traditional Irish attire. This was the only European culture represented at the event.

The Anime Club played a role towards advertising and promoting the show, as well as arranging the decorations inside of the auditorium.

Next up were ACC’s Thai dancers led and choreographed by Pajaie Thao. As typical, ACC performed two dance performances, one of them representing Thai culture. “The Thai dance focuses on the mixture of traditional and modern moves,” says Quincy Yangh. “It reflects the evolution of how the Thai culture has progressed over the years.” Several people were quite impressed with the performance. “A memorable performance was the Thai dancers,” quoted Feven Gebrezgi, president of BSU, “because they were all so well synchronized.” This was definitely a fact as the five dancers moved in similar movements to Hmong dances in the past, including the graceful yet swift hand gestures and hip movements, and the bright smiles that ran from cheek to cheek.

Several members of Anime Club also joined forces with ACC for the finale act. The performance ended with an upbeat and modern Korean-pop (K-pop) dance led by none other than Shannon Thao. The dance covered a full range of K-pop dance covers from popular Korean songs including “No More Dream” by Bangtan Boys (BTS), “Call Me Baby” by EXO, “The Boys” by Girl’s Generation, and “Bang Bang Bang” by Big Bang. Several K-pop fans among the crowd roared with joy as they watched the performers carry out the complicated but fierce moves across the stage.

What do the clubs hope for students to take away from the performance? “This is the first year Cultural Day has made an appearance at our school,” says Yangh. “We hope that this event gave students the opportunity to acknowledge the different cultures that lies around them. We hope Cultural Day will be passed on to future generations of club leaders. It’d be great if cultures from around our school, and around the world, are shared with the students yearly.”

Yangh also acknowledged the audience members for the notable result of Culture Day. “The most rewarding aspect of the event were the reactions we received from both the audience the participants. Due to success both the audience and the participants encourages us to continue Cultural Day, they also thanked us for the dedication and the amount of effort we provided.” Not only that, but the experience he gained as the president of ACC was also of value. He spent the past months searching for the hidden talents among our student population and continuing communication with other cultural clubs.

Despite the complications towards enforcing and planning the idea of Culture Day and finding willing participants, Yangh is quite satisfied with the outcome of the performance. “Although our actual performance was great, we had a big issue with organization and time management,” says Yangh. “I hope the future generations of leaders contribute more time and effort than I did. This will help promote Cultural Day.”

Gebrezgi is also hoping that the performance would also encourage more participation from HPSH culture club students in the future years to come. “The most rewarding part of the performance was getting to see how well everyone worked together and how proud we felt afterwards.” Both presidents of BSU and ACC would agree that the sense of community built upon the mass collaborations was a valuable gain from the creation of Culture Day. As Gebrezgi would say, “culture = pride”

School Life

Jamba Juice frenzy

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It’s finally here Highland!

On Thursday, April 14th, we had workers from Jamba Juice come to our school and sell a few of their popular drinks: Mango, Strawberry, and Mixed Berry. Jamba Juice sold their smoothies during first lunch. This is the first time this year that Highland has had any type of promotion from an actual food company.

After sitting down in the lunch room, we noticed that a lot of students had enjoyed the fact that there was an exciting addition to their normal everyday lunch routine. The smoothies were almost as popular as the school’s Italian Dunkers. Most of the students that we saw had a liking to both Mixed Berry and Mango.

Before I (Angel) decided to buy myself a Jamba Juice I asked a fellow student, who was working the booth, to see if it was worth buying it and he said, “It’s really what your tastebuds like.”

When talking to students, there was a mix of emotions. Some liked it while others did not. While some thought it was flavorless and tastes like powder, others thought it was fruity and good.

Even though the drinks were great, there were two problems that arose during this test run. First, they ran out of drinks during first lunch, meaning that second lunch didn’t get a chance to try these drinks. Second, students were informed that Highland would only be selling Jamba Juice here once a month, instead of every week as originally announced.

Even with the glitches, everyone is looking forward to the next time Jamba Juice makes their return and hopes they don’t run out!

Advice/How To, School Life

Balancing work and school

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Like many high school students, you may work part time. A good thing about the experience of working isn’t only that you earn money but it also challenges and teaches you by teaching you new things about yourself.

Before getting a job consider how you will handle juggling your work and school work. While considering this decision talk to a parent and ask questions like: “How can I manage my time to make school and a job work for me?” and “What type of job will work best with my schedule, skills, and personality?”

Once you have a part time job consider some strategies like, starting slowly and not committing to working a lot of hours right way. Also, use your time efficiently, for example, if you have time before your shift starts to do homework do it before because after working you’ll probably be too tired to do anything and it gives you a chance to go to bed earlier.

A job can benefit you by teaching you about commitment, time management, responsibility, and handling money. Also, it helps you explore career directions and reaching your goals too.

Entertainment, School Life

Spring Musical: Lucky Stiff

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The Highland Park Spring Musical: Luck Stiff is taking place this month. There are over 50 students involved in this year’s production. Lucky Stiff is a musical comedy that’s appropriate for all ages. I did some interviews with some of this year’s participants in order to gain more knowledge of it. Here are the questions and responses:

What is the Spring Musical?
Soren: Lucky Stiff.
Max: It’s called Lucky Stiff.

Who’s the director/ teacher?
Soren: Steven Houtz.
Max: Steven Houtz. Kate Mendenhall.

How is the spring musical different from being in a regular school play?
Soren: It’s full of dancing and singing, as well as acting.
Max: More commitment. It’s a lot harder since you get to collaborate with musicians and a lot of other people.

How do handle mistakes during performances?
Soren: I cry myself to sleep and binge watch Gossip Girl.
Max: If you forget you part you can call out for line. Stop and correct yourself. You just Improvise.

How often and for how long do you practice?
Soren: Every day after school until 4:30.
Max: Everyday 2:15-4:30 and this week we did 2:15-8:00.

Do you perform in public/ outside of school?
Soren: Yeah, in community theater but it doesn’t really count.
Max: I do solo singing. It’s been long since I did community theater.

What advice would you give to beginners that might be nervous?
Soren: Don’t worry about it. You have a lot of fun.
Max: Being nervous is good. It shows that you care.

Anything else you would like for us to know?
Soren: Come to the musical and support Highland theater! We need your money!
Max: Come see the show.

Lucky Stiff is being performed April 21st-April 23rd at 7:00pm in the Highland Park Senior High auditorium. Tickets are $6 for students and seniors and $8 for adults.

School Life

Senior Fail List

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With the final quarter of the year now in session, many seniors are preparing to take their final exams and move on to graduation. However, in the past, there have been incidents where some seniors begin to slack during their final weeks of high school which has caused them to not graduate on time. A common saying that applies in this situation is the “Senior Slide”, and counselors want to make sure that this doesn’t happen to you. It’s a depressing time for the counselors, as they have to compile a list of students who are at risk of failing a class during the fourth quarter, and the last thing they want to do is make a call home to your family telling them that you won’t be graduating with the rest of your class.

There are certain criteria that is used for the Senior Fail List, and just because you have been placed on the list doesn’t mean that you won’t graduate on time, it just means that you are at risk.

The criteria used for the list :

  • Failing English, or have failed an English course in the past. You need to have passed 4 years of English to graduate high school.
  • Failing Social Studies or have failed Social Studies in the past. You need to have passed 4 years of Social Studies to graduate high school.
  • If you have had poor or spotty attendance throughout the year, you may be placed on the Senior Fail List.
  • If you have had a poor track record with turning in assignments on time or wait until the last second to turn assignments in.

The Senior Fail List will be released during the first week of May. Good luck to the class of 2016 during their final months of high school!

Editorials/Student Voice, School Life

Mystery positive notes in the girls school bathroom?

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Today I’m looking into a mystery that’s been going on this past week at Highland Park Senior High.

April 12th, 2016 some mysterious student(s) decide to put sticky notes, with positive messages written on them, up in the girls bathroom. But, they decide, the next day, to take them off. This left people with questions about who this person, or people, is/are and why are they doing this.

Being one of the individuals that was left with questions, I decide to take it into my own hands and try to find out more about this mystery.

It turns out, random students (girls) are the ones putting up the sticky notes. During the school year, they decide to wrote positive Post-it notes to make other girls feel better when they were feeling down. They put them around the school bathrooms to remind them they were not alone. Usually, the people who do this sort of thing don’t take credit for it. It’s like they want it to be a mystery, and students have been doing this for a while now, according to some older students at Highland Park.

I decide to ask a student about what they tought about this. Her name is Olivia Verdeja, a freshman at HPSH.

I asked was, “How did you personally feel when you saw this notes around the bathroom what we’re you’re toughts and reaction?”

She responded with, “I liked it and thought it as cool because in high school a lot of people don’t have self confidence and I think if girls see this it means that other girls feel the same way and aren’t alone.”

My opinion is that people at Highland should start to do this more often, as just one little thing can make a difference in others’ lives; both those who are struggling, and those who aren’t. Also, kids need to know that everyone cares and they’re not the only ones who feel like they do. Working together as a whole school coming together is a great thing.