Highland Park Senior High Headliner
December 1, 2023
Message from Principal Dr. Winston Tucker
Highland Families,
What do you think about social media and your child? Do you get frustrated with social media and how it impacts your child at times? If so that is normal and I encourage you to attend the PTSA meeting on Monday night to hear a presentation and be able to ask questions regarding this important topic. It is a topic that affects all of us and we need to work together to help our young people make good decisions. Hope to see you there at the virtual meeting.
Mark Your Calendars!
Monday, December 4
- PTSA Meeting via Zoom (see link below)
Thursday, December 7
- Winter Choir Concert 7pm
- Latino & East African Bilingual Parent Info Night 5:30
Thursday, December 14
- Financial Aid Info Session in Library 5-7pm
- Instrumental Music Concert 7pm
- Parent Teacher Conferences 4-8pm
PTSA Meeting and Presentation: Social Media Use in Teens
PTSA Meeting and Presentation: Social Media Use in Teens
Monday, December 4 - online
Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/95730569933?pwd=UUZVOWRLa25QVXFSOXAySmMrSWwxdz09
7:00-7:15 School News and Updates
7:15-8:00 Presentation: Social Media Use in Teens (MN Attorney General's Office)
8:00-8:30 Q/A Discussion
Please join us on December 4 to hear school news and updates, as well as a presentation by the Minnesota Attorney General's Office on social media use in teens. The Attorney General's Office is visiting schools across the state to share information and facilitate discussions among students, families and community members on social media use and vaping/cannabis use in teens. They will return for our Jan 22 PTSA meeting for a presentation on vaping and cannabis use.
Hope to see you there!
Career and College Readiness News
Financial Aid Info Night – December 14th (5:00 – 7:00 PM in the Library)
Mr. Carlson will be going over the financial aid process for 12th grade students & families, sharing information about the FAFSA & MN Dream Act, and providing support with creating FSA IDs.
- 5:00 – 5:30 PM
- Presentation about the financial aid process & how students/families can prepare for the FAFSA/MN Dream Act
- 5:30 – 7:00 PM
- Time for students/families to ask questions about the financial aid process and get support with creating an FSA ID
FAFSA/MN Dream Act Night – January 23rd (5:30 – 7:30 PM in the Library)
Save the date for FAFSA/MN Dream Act Night! This will be an opportunity for students/families to get support with completing the FAFSA or MN Dream Act from Highland CCRC staff and financial aid counselors from college campuses.
Latino & East African Bilingual Parent Info Night!
Please Join Us for the Highland Park High School:
Latino & East African Bilingual Parent Info Night!
Come meet school staff members, learn about Highland and connect with other bilingual families!
Event takes place on Thursday, December 7th at 5:30pm at the
Highland Park High School Library.
Food and Beverages will be provided.
CCRC News
Click here to see the latest CCRC newsletter! This newsletter highlights upcoming college and career-related opportunities.
Highland Park CCRC - The CCRC is here to help students with college and career planning! The CCRC provides the following resources to students:
- Interests and skills exploration tools
- Career Information
- Resume Help
- College and Post-Secondary exploration tools
- College Admission, Career and Military Representative Visits
- College Admission test information such as ACT and Accuplacer
- Scholarships
- Financial Aid
- Summer and Community Opportunities
- And more!
CLICK HERE to check out the new CCRC website! This site will be updated throughout the year with important information, resources, and opportunities.
Seeking Volunteers for PTSA Grant Allocation Committee
The PTSA needs volunteers to serve on the Grant Committee. All meetings will be on Zoom and most tasks can be completed on your laptop or computer. Grant Allocation Committee volunteers meet to review the grant requests, seek information as needed, and propose how the PTSA funds will be distributed. Your participation in this process is essential for a balanced proposal. Along with parents, grandparents, and guardians, we especially need at least two more additional students to participate. Please contact Mary Frankson at mcneff.frankson@gmail.com
Model UN Highlights
The Model United Nations team had a successful State Conference at Macalester College. There were almost 600 delegates from around the state. Our delegates tackled issues like: Science, Technology, and Innovation for Sustainable Development; Protecting Refugees from Human Trafficking; Rural Economic Development and Gender-Based Discrimination in Criminal Justice Systems. Delegates Jocelyn Knorr and Esther Anderson, representing Belarus, were awarded the Outstanding Delegate award.
Science Competitors
Highland Park Seniors Elizabeth Alene, Quinn Harvey and Zora Vorhes have all successfully entered and are competing in the Regeneron Science Talent Search Competition. This competition is the oldest and most prestigious science competition in the nation. It began in 1942 and prizes range from $2000-$250,000. Students must complete original research and write a paper of their findings. Elizabeth did a bench experiment on neuroscience about viewing static and dynamic images and looking at brain scans at the University of Minnesota. Quinn did a field biology experiment on Dissolved oxygen in Minneapolis lakes and the impact of Climate Change. Zora did a field experiment about caffeine’s impact on germination and the impact it could have on world hunger. All three were supported by Biology teacher Sarah Connelly during the summer and fall while they completed their independent research. This is the first year HP has had three seniors complete the arduous application and rigorous standards.
AVID 9th grade field trip to UW-Eau Claire
72 AVID 9th grade students at Highland Park High School visited University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire on November 28, 2023. Students enjoyed touring the campus and hearing from a student speaker as well as other organizations on campus. We're thankful for the partnership between UW-EC and SPPS AVID.
Highland Park Dance Field Trip Highlights
Dance Students “Hit the Road, Jack!”
Dancing Classrooms, a global program that teaches social-emotional learning, teamwork and respect through partner dancing, has served over 9,000 fifth and eighth graders in Minnesota thus far. Highland Park dance students had the opportunity to learn the dances taught in the dancing classrooms program, including the Merengue, Rumba, Tango and Swing, before visiting a 5th grade classroom at Loveworks Academy for Visual and Performing Arts. The 5th grade students were so excited to welcome guests into their classroom and show off their newfound dance skills, and our Highland Park dancers were excellent mentors, demonstrating what positivity, teamwork and respect look like in action! It was an amazing experience for everyone involved, and a great opportunity for our students to become leaders in their community.
Interested in learning more about dance at Highland Park? Feel free to reach out!
Stuart Kraabel, Dance Teacher
Food Drive
This winter, the HealthPartners Teen Leadership Council is running a
food drive in partnership with the high schools its participants
attend. All donations are going to the Hallie Q. Brown center, and
will benefit families and children who need help this winter. Food
banks are a vital service that provided assistance to 5.1 million
Minnesotans right now, and your donation of nonperishable food will
give them that assistance they need. Donations can be brought to the
box in the front entryway.
IB Exam and Commended Scholars
Attention Parents with students taking May IB Exams and those graduating as a Commended Scholars:
Exam lists for Juniors and Seniors are posted in the glass case across the hall from Ms. Bonk’s MYP office door, room 1311. Remind your students to check the lists and if they do NOT see their names on the classes they expect to test in, please let Mr. Stagg (the IB DP coordinator) know before December 18th. If your student is a senior and graduating as a Commended Scholar, check the Commended Scholar list, too, and contact Mr. Stagg if their name does not appear on it. Directions for replying to Mr. Stagg are also in the glass case above the exam lists.
Mr. Stagg’s email: Randolph.stagg@spps.org
Library News
After School Hours
The HP school library is open after school Monday-Thursday until 4:30.
Homework Help Resources
Did you know? Homework help is available throughout the school year at the Saint Paul Public Library. Click here for information on their Homework Centers hours and locations as well as the Online Homework Help service.
SPPS Reads Movie Nights
SPPS will be showing the award-winning documentary “The Right to Read.” Executive-produced by host of PBS’ “Reading Rainbow” Lavar Burton, the film follows the story of the literacy crisis in America and what we can do about it. Click here for details.
Yearbook Ordering Information
Athletic Events Schedule
Give to the Max!
Thank you to everyone that participated and donated to the Highland Park PTSA fundraiser on Thursday! We enjoyed great music by the student band Rock Melon, donuts and sunshine in the parking lot. We are over halfway to our goal but it's not too late to help us reach our goal of $18,000. Give to the Max Funds play an essential role in supporting teachers and students both in and out of the classroom. These funds are distributed by grants to clubs, classrooms, and programs that provide enrichment to the diverse student body at Highland Park.
Donations accepted on the website or by check
https://www.givemn.org/organization/Hpshgive
1015 Snelling Ave S
St. Paul, Minnesota 55116
Attention 12th Grade Parents!
Dear 12th Grade Families,
This is an important update regarding the Direct Admissions Minnesota program in Saint Paul Public Schools. Eligible 12th grade students will begin receiving a Direct Admissions survey in the Campus Student Portal this week. In this survey, students will see which colleges and universities they are directly admitted to. Students should follow the instructions in the survey to select the colleges they are interested in attending. The deadline to submit the survey is 12/20/23.
Students will still need to complete an admissions application for each of the colleges and universities they are interested in attending. All participating colleges and universities are waiving application fees as part of the Direct Admissions pilot program.
Over 50 Minnesota colleges and universities are participating in the Direct Admissions program, including several community, technical, tribal, public and private institutions. Click here for a full list of participating colleges and universities.
Please visit the Direct Admissions Minnesota website for more information.
Personal Project (10th Graders!)
Our 10th grade students are starting their IB MYP Personal Projects! Students have met with their IB MYP Personal Project Advisors. Here are some key aspects of the Personal Project:
• It is a student-centered and student-selected project and provides an opportunity for students to undertake an independent exploration into an area of personal interest -- to produce a truly personal and/or creative piece of work.
• The personal nature of the project is important; the project should be based around a topic that motivates and interests the student.
• Students are involved in the process of inquiry, action and reflection.
• Students are encouraged to demonstrate and strengthen their Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills such as Communication, Social (collaboration), Self-management (organization and reflection), Thinking (creatively and critically), and Research.
• Finished projects include: a process journal, product/outcome, paper, and a showcase.
• The overall project (with journal and paper) should take about 25 hours to complete. The criteria for the project and paper are Planning, Applying Skills, and Reflecting -- these are very universal and will work with any topic.
• It is an expectation that all HPSH students engage in this project as do all IB MYP students across the globe!
Please encourage your student to keep thinking about project ideas, continue journaling, and start on the project. There are materials available to help with brainstorming, journaling, and planning in the Personal Project Course on Schoology. If your student is not yet sure of topics, encourage them to talk to friends and family- maybe pursue topics such as exercise, relaxation, art, mental health, culture, construction, service to others, etc. There are lots of topic ideas listed in the materials on Schoology as well. This should be a fun, meaningful, and interesting project!
Thanks!
Marissa Bonk
IB MYP Coordinator
Virtual Parent/Guardian Info Meetings
Virtual Parent/Guardian Info Meetings:
GTK- (Good to Know) information about HPSH for parents and guardians, especially those new to Highland. New this year- virtual parent/guardian informational meetings around relevant topics and commonly asked questions. Click here for more details.
Future Meeting Dates:
December 14, 2023
Missed the other meetings? We’ve got you!
October 26 Here are the links to the slides and recording from the first Virtual Parent/Guardian Meeting.
September 21 Here are the links to the slides and recording from the first Virtual Parent/Guardian Meeting.
New Social Media Connection
Check out what our awesome Scots are up to by following Highland Park Senior High on Facebook and highlandparksr.scots.pride on Instagram.
Highland Park Swag!
Need swag? Order here!
Teacher Wish List
As the school year begins, there are two ways to support our terrific Highland Park teachers and staff:
- By purchasing items on the Wish List for use in the classroom: Wish List This list is always being updated—teachers are in the process of adding their lists for this school year.
- By purchasing general school supplies—Kleenex, hand sanitizer, pencils, pens, highlighters, dry erase markers, post-its and snacks. General supplies can be brought to the school office any time.
The PTSA will also be collecting Kleenex, hand sanitizer and general school supplies at the Open House event—if you can bring even one box of Kleenex, it will have a positive impact! It is the number one requested item from teachers and staff!
Thank you from the Highland Park PTSA.
SPPS Grading
There will be some positive changes to grading practices at all SPPS high schools beginning in the 2023-24 school year. SPPS is shifting to more consistent and equitable grading practices across all high schools to ensure that students’ grades truly reflect what they’ve learned. Visit the Grading Practices FAQ webpage for more information. More details will be provided this fall, including information sessions with language support for families.
Nutrition Services
In-person students will receive free breakfast and lunch under the Minnesota Free School Meals program. All students are eligible to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day. Second meals, incomplete meals and single item purchases, such as milk only, must be purchased.
- Student Second Breakfast: $2.85
- Student Second Lunch: $5
- Milk Only: $0.50
- For a complete list of prices, visit spps.org/ns.
Visit schoolcafe.com/spps to manage your student’s meal account, view menus, ingredients and nutritional information, and complete the Application for Educational Benefits.
A Message from Saint Paul Public Schools Nutrition Services
- While all in-person students will receive free breakfast and lunch under Minnesota’s Free School Meals program, it remains critical that all families complete an Application for Educational Benefits each school year. These applications determine how much funding your child’s school receives for educational programs and supports. Additionally, eligible families can qualify for other benefits. The application can be completed online at schoolcafe.com/spps. Paper applications are available at your child's school.
Parent Portal - Access Your Student's Progress
Use Parent Portal and see your child’s attendance, homework assignments, grades and more. Log on to spps.org/onestop and click on “parent portal”. This valuable tool will provide both information on your student and a means of communicating with your student’s teachers. Report cards are not mailed to homes.
For access please contact the main office at 651-293-8940.
MTC Unlimited Transit Pass Available for Purchase
MTC Bus Pass Quarter Dates
11/2/2023 to 1/14/2024 payment due by Monday, October 30, 2023
1/15/2024 to 3/31/2024 payment due by Monday, January 8, 2024
4/1/2024 to 6/14/2024 payment due by Monday, March 25, 2024
Highland Park Senior High School
Website: https://www.spps.org/highlandsr
Location: 1015 Snelling Avenue South, Saint Paul, MN, USA
Phone: 651-293-8940