By: Jannely Gomez Pacheco & Yalecxy Hernandez Lopez
Tag Archives: hpsh
New beginnings
By: Treshawn Ross
As we are starting this new year at Highland, there are many different thoughts and feelings involved. I have asked a few people how they were feeling going into this school year and these are the responses.
9th grade-
Most 9th graders started off this year very nervous and excited. This nervousness is usually caused by not being familiar with the new environment and simply being around new people.
“I’m still having trouble finding my classes,” Camila told me. This is another common problem that the Freshmen are having to tackle. They are making the best of their opportunities though, many are getting involved in extracurricular activities.
10th grade-
The Sophomores are generally more experienced going into this year, which makes them seem more relaxed when compared to their younger peers in 9th grade. Mr. Berndt said “There’s a bit of a learning curve with them, learning to get to class on time. But over the weeks that has slowly trailed off.” Hopefully this experience will inspire their fellow underclassmen to adjust faster.
11th grade-
Many Juniors are feeling a bit apprehensive about this school year. 11th grade has a reputation for being difficult. Abril said “I’m mostly worried about improving my GPA now, it can definitely be important in the future.” The ACT will also weigh heavily on the minds of Juniors towards the end of the school year. Junior year is very stressful but I believe the Juniors can succeed.
12th grade-
Seniors are mostly cruising into this school year; many of them are already beginning to mentor younger students. The curriculum is still rigorous for some students though, Ivy says that she is spending more time studying for math than she used to. This year most Seniors have to focus on not having a “Senior slump”, so they can shift more easily into leadership roles in the school and elsewhere.
Senior Send-Off
By: Nereida Dominguez-Remedios
On May 29, Highland Park had their Senior Send-Off. Senior Send-Off is an ongoing tradition at Highland Park Senior High.
Senior Send-Off starts when all the senior students go to have breakfast with their classmates for the last time before they graduate. Then they have the opportunity to see, and get signatures, from their teachers and underclass friends for one of the last time. During second period then, they call down people by floors to go to the gym. After you get to the gym is when you find the grade you are in and find your friends and wait till the presentation starts.
Once this year’s Senior Send-Off started Sra. Nelson came to the middle of the gym and told all the classes what will happen for the next hour..
The first thing that happened was the student council president came to the middle of the gym to give a last speech to the seniors. After that, we watched the teachers’ farewell video and after that, we also watched the sibling farewell video (the sibling farewell video is were the siblings of the seniors have the opportunity to make a goodbye video to their older sibling). When the two videos ended, we watched the last video that showed all the memories that the seniors created over the last four years. When that video ended, Sra. Nelson told the seniors how they would exit the school to go to their senior picnic.
The last thing that happened, and my favorite part, was where all the teachers went into two lines and the seniors would come down and say goodbye to all their favorite teachers and underclassmen.
When I saw all my favorite seniors leave I got very emotional but I was able to say goodbye to them before they left.
Even though it was my last time seeing all my senior friends, I was excited to see what they will do in the future.
Congrats class of 2025!!
Sports schedule for: May 12-17
| ATHLETIC EVENTS SCHEDULE: MAY 12 – MAY 17 | |||
| MONDAY | MAY 12 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| TBA | Boys Tennis Sections | TBA | |
| 3:00pm | Boys JV Conference Match | Highland 9 | |
| V: 4:30pm JV: 4:30pm | Baseball vs. Como Park | V: Como Park High School JV: HOME | |
| V: 4:30pm JV: 4:30pm | Softball vs. Minnehaha / SPA | HOME | |
| TUESDAY | MAY 13 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| TBD | Boys Tennis Sections | TBD | |
| 12:00pm | Boys Golf Conference Booya | Highland 9 | |
| 2:50pm | JV Girls Golf Conference Match | Cedarholm Golf Course | |
| 4:00pm | 2:45pm | 5:45pm | JV Softball vs. Washburn | Bossen Field |
| 4:00pm | 2:30pm | 7:30pm (2 buses) | Track and Field Conference Prelims | Griffin Stadium |
| V: 4:30pm JV: 4:30pm | Baseball vs. Nova | V: HOME JV: Afton Heights Park | |
| B: 5:00pm JV: 5:00pm V: 6:30pm | 4:00pm | 8:00pm | Boys Volleyball vs. Washington | Washington Tech |
| JV: 5:30pm V: 7:00pm | Girls Lacrosse vs. Tartan | Two Rivers High School | |
| WEDNESDAY | MAY 14 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| TBD | Boys Tennis Sections | TBD | |
| 12:00pm | Boys Golf Conference Tournament | Highland National | |
| 2:50pm | Varsity Girls Golf vs. Harding | Highland National | |
| V: 4:30pm JV: 4:30pm | Baseball vs. Roosevelt | V: HOME JV: Neiman Sports Complex | |
| JV: 5:30pm V: 7:00pm | Boys Lacrosse vs. Providence | Two Rivers High School | |
| THURSDAY | MAY 15 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 12:00pm | Girls Golf Conference Booya | Highland 9 | |
| 4:00pm | 2:30pm | 8:00pm (2 buses) | Track and Field Conference Finals | Griffin Stadium |
| V: 4:00pm JV: 4:00pm | 2:40pm | 6:00pm | Softball vs. Richfield | Richfield Middle School |
| V: 4:30pm JV: 4:30pm | Baseball vs. Simley | V: HOME JV: Simley High School | |
| B: 5:00pm JV: 5:00pm V: 6:30pm | 4:00pm | 8:00pm | Boys Volleyball vs. Humboldt | Humboldt High School |
| JV: 5:30pm V: 7:00pm | Girls Lacrosse vs. St. Louis Park | Two Rivers High School | |
| FRIDAY | MAY 16 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| TBD | Boys Tennis Sections | TBD | |
| B: 4:30pm JV: 5:30pm V: 7:00pm | 3:30pm | 8:30pm | Boys Volleyball vs. Richfield | Richfield High School |
| V: 4:30pm | Varsity Baseball vs. Harding | HOME | |
| SATURDAY | MAY 17 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| JV: 10:30am V: 12:00pm | Boys Lacrosse vs. Blake | Two Rivers High School | |
| TBD | Softball Twin Cities Game | HOME | |
Sports schedule for: May 5-10
| ATHLETIC EVENTS SCHEDULE: MAY 5 – MAY 10 | |||
| MONDAY | MAY 5 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 3:00pm | Boys JV Conference Match | Highland 9 | |
| V: 4:00pm / 6:00pm JV: 4:00pm / 6:00pm | Baseball Doubleheader vs. Washington | HOME | |
| V: 4:00pm JV: 4:00pm | 3:15pm | 5:30pm | Boys Tennis vs. Woodbury | V: Woodbury High School JV: HOME |
| 5:00pm | 3:15pm | 5:15pm | Badminton vs. Eden Prairie | Eden Prairie High School |
| TUESDAY | MAY 6 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 2:50pm | JV Girls Golf Conference Match | Cedarholm Golf Course | |
| 3:30pm | Boys Golf vs. Harding | Phalen Golf Course | |
| 4:00pm | 2:10pm | 8:00pm (2 buses) | Track and Field True Team Meet | Mounds View High School |
| B: 4:00pm JV: 5:15pm V: 6:30pm | 2:45pm | 8:00pm | Boys Volleyball vs. Como Park | Como Park High School |
| V: 4:30pm JV: 4:30pm | Baseball vs. MPLS Edison | HOME | |
| 4:30pm | Adapted Softball vs. Anoka | Andover YMCA | |
| 5:00pm | 3:15pm | 7:00pm | Softball vs. Washburn | Jane Sage Cowles Stadium |
| JV: 5:30pm V: 7:00pm | Girls Lacrosse vs. Mahtomedi | Two Rivers High School | |
| JV: 5:30pm V: 7:00pm | Boys Lacrosse vs. Mahtomedi | Mahtomedi High School | |
| WEDNESDAY | MAY 7 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 2:50pm | JV Girls Golf Conference Match | Cedarholm Golf Course | |
| 2:50pm | Varsity Girls Golf vs. Humboldt | Cedarholm Golf Course | |
| 3:30pm | Boys Varsity Golf vs. Johnson | Phalen Golf Course | |
| V: 4:00pm JV: 4:00pm | V: 3:15pm | 5:15pm JV: 3:15pm | 5:15pm | Badminton Conference Tournament | V: Washington Tech JV: Harding High School |
| V: 4:00pm JV: 4:00pm | 3:15pm | 5:30pm | Tennis vs. East Ridge | V: East Ridge High School JV: HOME |
| V: 4:30pm JV: 4:30pm | Softball vs. Central | HOME | |
| JV: 5:15pm V: 7:00pm | Girls Lacrosse vs. Park | Park High School | |
| THURSDAY | MAY 8 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 2:50pm | Varsity Girls Golf vs. Central | Highland 9 | |
| 3:00pm | JV Boys Golf Match | Highland 9 | |
| 3:30pm | 2:20pm | 7:00pm (2 buses) | JV Track and Field Meet | MPLS Washburn High School |
| V: 4:00pm | 3:15pm | 5:15pm | Badminton Conference Finals | Washington Tech |
| V: 4:00pm JV: 4:00pm | 3:15pm | 5:30pm | Tennis vs. Southwest | V: Linden Hills Park JV: HOME |
| V: 4:30pm JV: 4:30pm | Baseball vs. Como Park | V: HOME JV: Como Park High School | |
| V: 4:30pm JV: 4:30pm | 3:15pm | 6:00pm | Softball vs. Kennedy | Kelly Fields |
| B: 5:00pm JV: 5:00pm V: 6:30pm | 4:00pm | 8:00pm | Boys Volleyball vs. Harding | Harding High School |
| FRIDAY | MAY 9 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| JV: 4:30pm V: 6:00pm | Boys Lacrosse vs. Simley | Griffin Stadium | |
| SATURDAY | MAY 10 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 11:00am | Varsity Softball vs. Washington | Rice and Arlington | |
Sports schedule for: Apr 28-May 3
| ATHLETIC EVENTS SCHEDULE: APRIL 28 – MAY 3 | |||
| MONDAY | APRIL 28 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 12:00pm | 10:30am | 6:00pm | Boys JV Golf Invitational | Forest Hills Golf Course |
| 12:00pm | Boys Varsity Golf Tournament | Highland National GC | |
| 4:00pm | 3:15pm | 5:30pm | Boys Varsity Tennis vs. Central | Central High School |
| V: 4:30pm JV: 4:30pm | Baseball vs. Harding | V: Harding High School JV: HOME | |
| 5:00pm | Varsity Softball vs. Washburn | Jane Sage Cowles Stadium | |
| TUESDAY | APRIL 29 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 2:50pm | JV Girls Golf Conference Match | Cedarholm Golf Course | |
| V: 4:00pm JV: 4:00pm | Badminton vs. Central | HOME | |
| V: 4:00pm JV: 4:00pm | Softball vs. Harding | HOME | |
| 4:00pm | JV Boys Tennis vs. Central | HOME | |
| 4:00pm | 2:20pm 7:00pm | JV Track and Field Meet | Harding High School |
| 4:30pm | Adapted Softball vs. South | Minneapolis South High School | |
| 5:00pm | Girls Lacrosse vs. Columbia Heights | Columbia Heights High School | |
| B: 5:00pm JV: 5:00pm V: 6:30pm | 4:00pm | 8:00pm | Boys Volleyball vs. Central | Central High School |
| 5:30pm | JV Boys Lacrosse vs. Kennedy | Kennedy High School | |
| 6:00pm | Baseball vs. Central | CHS Field | |
| WEDNESDAY | APRIL 30 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 2:50pm | JV Girls Golf Conference Match | Cedarholm Golf Course | |
| 2:50pm | Varsity Girls Golf vs. Johnson | Highland 9 | |
| 3:30pm | Boys Varsity Golf vs. Humboldt | Highland National | |
| V: 4:00pm JV: After Varsity | Boys Tennis vs. St. Thomas Academy | HOME | |
| V: 4:30pm JV: 4:30pm | Baseball vs. Johnson | V: Johnson High School JV: HOME | |
| JV: 5:00pm V: 6:30pm | Boys Volleyball vs. Stillwater | HOME | |
| 7:00pm | Varsity Boys Lacrosse vs. Kennedy | Kennedy High School | |
| THURSDAY | MAY 1 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| Boys Golf vs. Tartan | Oak Marsh Golf Course | ||
| 2:50pm | Varsity Girls Golf vs. Como Park | Como Golf Course | |
| V: 4:00pm JV: 4:00pm | 3:15pm | 5:15pm | Badminton vs. Edina | Edina High School |
| 4:00pm | 2:20pm | 7:30pm | Track and Field True Team Meet | Harding High School |
| V: 4:30pm JV: 4:30pm | Baseball vs. Johnson | V: HOME JV: Johnson High School | |
| V: 4:30pm JV: 4:30pm | 3:15pm | 6:15pm | Softball vs. Apple Valley | Apple Valley High School |
| FRIDAY | MAY 2 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| JV: 5:00pm V: 7:00pm | Boys Lacrosse vs. St. Thomas Academy | St. Thomas Academy | |
| SATURDAY | MAY 3 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 9:00am | JV Boys Tennis Conference Match | Como Park High School | |
Sports schedule for: March 31-April 5
| ATHLETIC EVENTS SCHEDULE: MARCH 31 – APRIL 5 | |||
| MONDAY | MARCH 31 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| Boys Lacrosse Begins | |||
| Girls Lacrosse Begins | |||
| TUESDAY | APRIL 1 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| JV: 5:30pm V: 7:30pm | 4:15pm | 9:30pm | Boys Volleyball vs. Woodbury | Woodbury High School |
| WEDNESDAY | APRIL 2 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 1:00pm | Boys Volleyball Scrimmage vs. Washington | Washington Tech | |
| THURSDAY | APRIL 3 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 6:30pm | Boys Volleyball Scrimmage vs. Harding | Harding High School | |
| FRIDAY | APRIL 4 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| SATURDAY | APRIL 5 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 8:00am | Varsity Boys Tennis Tournament | Northview Athletic Complex | |
From rags to riches: An inside look at the 2025 Highland Park Senior High and Middle School cafeteria renovation
By: Maya Vossen-Nelson
This summer, Kraus-Anderson Construction will be revamping Highland Park’s very own cafeteria. The project preparation is already underway and construction begins in April. The cafeteria renovation is one step of a complete update of the Highland school complex.
Kraus-Anderson Construction has a prolific portfolio including updates to the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport and is currently undertaking the Hidden River Middle School (formerly Ramsey Middle School) renovation project.
In 2024, Kraus-Anderson Construction began renovations on the Middle School which will include renovations of the special education suite, administrative offices and parking lot along with classroom upgrades and gender neutral restrooms.
These projects are part of the Saint Paul Public School District’s Five-Year Facilities Maintenance and Capital Implementation Plan. Together with the Facilities Master Plan (FMP), the Five-Year Plan aims to equitably modernize the 73 buildings within the SPPS district to evolve to the needs of teaching and learning in the 21st century.
Current design plans and renderings show that Highland Park students should expect new geometric floor designs, new cafeteria seating including booths, high-tops, and circular lunch tables. The high school and middle school sides of the cafeteria will also be joined together to resolve lunch time congestion.
Upgrades for the cafeteria and two-story link are well needed at Highland Park whose lunch room sees nearly 2,000 students each day, far surpassing any other lunch room in the SPPS district.
Project scope and timeline for the projects affecting both the Senior High and Middle School:
- Spring 2025: Complete old administrative renovation (middle school); start renovation of kitchen and cafeteria space and new two-story link between middle school and senior high school.
- Summer 2025: Begin interior renovation of special education suite; complete classroom technology upgrades; replace gym floor; finish flooring and lighting upgrades.
- Fall 2025: Complete kitchen and cafeteria renovation and new two-story link; complete all earthwork and landscaping.
For more information visit:
SPPS Highland Park Renovation Details:
SPPS Builds: Five-Year Facilities Maintenance and Capital Plan:
Kraus-Anderson Remodel of Highland Park:
What is ULA planning
By: Nereida Dominguez Remedios
Union Latina is a club where it represents Latin culture and also does fun activities and has fun performances.
Currently Union Latina (ULA) is preparing one of the two events that they host every year called Fiesta Latina.
Fiesta Latina is where grades 10-12 Spanish immersion classes choreograph dances so they can be shown during the last period of the day for students at the high school and some classes from the middle school. They also perform after school for the families and friends of the students, so they can see all the hard work they have done and effort they put into the performance .
Fiesta Latina shows all the different Latin cultures/dances and fun activities that Union Latina does every Wednesday after school.
During clubs/after school the board members give time for students to practice the fun activities and dances that are going to be performed.
Even though Fiesta Latina is a month away, the Spanish teachers are already letting the students choreograph and practice the dances that they are going to perform at the show.
During my experience of practicing, it is stressful but it is also super fun knowing that I’m able to show my culture, and different cultures similar to mine, during practice. I’m also able to see my friends and classmates have fun dancing and see everyone laugh and talk to each other.
During the after school performance there will be food trucks serving the most delicious food, and the performance will be at 5:30. During this time you are able to get your food and be able to get to your seat to watch the performance.
Everyone is welcome to watch the amazing performance Union Latina (ULA) will be presenting!
Fiesta Latina is on: April 17, with performances during 4th period and after school at 5:30.
Sports schedule for: Mar 24-29
| ATHLETIC EVENTS SCHEDULE: MARCH 24 – MARCH 29 | |||
| MONDAY | MARCH 24 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 4:00pm | Badminton vs. Johnson | HOME | |
| TUESDAY | MARCH 25 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 3:30pm | 2:45pm | 9:00pm | Varsity Badminton Edina Invite | Edina High School |
| WEDNESDAY | MARCH 26 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 4:00pm | Badminton vs. Central | HOME | |
| THURSDAY | MARCH 27 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| FRIDAY | MARCH 28 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
| 4:00pm | 2:20pm | 9:00pm | Track and Field Griak Indoor Classic | U of M Fieldhouse |
| SATURDAY | MARCH 29 | ||
| TIME | BUS TIMES | EVENT | LOCATION |
Plaid Line + PRIZM + Scottie News 