Highland Park Senior High News

Highland Families,

I am writing to share that we are in the middle of our course registration season for our current 9th-11th graders. Students are in the midst of selecting their courses for the next school year and beyond. Please note that what students are currently imputing into the system is still a draft and there is time for parental review and input. As part of this process, we are hosting a virtual information session on Tuesday, February 17 at 7pm. There will be an overview of our IB DP courses for upcoming 11th and 12th grade students, Post Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) and the various career pathway courses we offer. Please see the email that was sent on how to join this virtual meeting as well as the call that will be sent on Monday evening as a reminder. There is also information in this edition of the newsletter. We hope to see you there and if you have any questions about course selection for next school year please connect with your child's counselor.

Friday, February 13

• One Acts in Auditorium 7:00pm

Saturday, February 14

• One Acts in Auditorium 2:00pm/7:00pm

Monday, February 16

• No School - Presidents Day

Monday, February 23

• Senior All Night Planning Committee Meeting in Library 6:30-8:00

Thursday, February 26

• Parent Conferences 4:00-6:00 virtual; 6:00-8:00 in person

Friday, February 27

• One Acts in Auditorium 7:00pm

Saturday, February 28

• One Acts in Auditorium 2:00pm/7:00pm

It's that time of year again - time for Student Directed One Act Plays. This year we have a bumper crop of plays - EIGHT. Of these eight plays, six are original scripts written by our students and another is an adaptation created by a student. We have divided these eight plays into two weekends; February 13-14 and 27-28. Each weekend features four plays with show times at 7:00 on Friday and Saturday with a 2:00 matinee on Saturday as well.

Tickets available at the door: $10 for adults, $5 for students and seniors. We invite you to both weekends to support the 50+ students involved in these productions.

Our 10th grade students completed their last official IB MYP Personal Project Meetings with their Advisors this week. Students are currently working to finish their projects and papers. The papers are due on February 27!

The paper aims to explain the process of the personal project, explain the impact of the project on the student and/or their learning, evaluate the product based on success criteria, and show reflection with detailed examples and evidence. Details about the paper, an outline to follow, and sample papers are in the Personal Project Course on Schoology. Students can continue to contact their advisor for additional support.

Students earn credit for successfully completing their Personal Project Paper. By doing the Personal Project Paper and earning a score of 3 or higher, a score of "P" (pass) is recorded on the student transcript. If a student chooses to not do it, or earns a score of 2 or less, then a "NP" (no pass) is recorded on the transcript.

If you or your student have any questions or concerns, please contact Marissa Bonk (IB MYP Coordinator) at marissa.bonk@spps.org.

Thank you for supporting your student in this process!

Monday, June 1, 2026 - 6:30pm, University of St. Thomas - Lee & Penny Anderson Arena

Doors will open for families and guest at 5:30pm.

Click here for a list of camps!

Camps look great on resumes, college applications, etc

Highland Park Senior High has been blessed beyond measure with the generosity of our community! Food, personal care, and household goods donations have filled our conference rooms and offices to overflowing. Thanks for many students and staff, the donations have been sorted and distributed to students and families who need assistance.

Going forward, we have decided to move to a different support model for students and families since the time and person-power for collection, sorting and delivering of goods is not sustainable over, what we worry, will be a protracted timeframe. To that end, we will no longer be accepting donations of food and other goods. Of course, you can still bring any such donations to your local food shelf or community assistance program.

To support our new model, we invite our community to help us in one or both of the following ways:

1. Make financial donations to assist our ongoing efforts to meet the needs of students and families by contributing to the PTSA Venmo account @HPSHPTSA

2. Us this link to sign up to be part of our Food Assistance Partnership which will match families in need with families who agree to supply a box of food and necessities every other week

The PTSA Grant Committee is looking for both student and family member volunteers to help determine how the funds raised through Give to the Max should be used this year. In the next month, any teacher or student group can apply for a grant from the PTSA. We are seeking both students and family members who are willing to sit on the Grant Committee to determine which applications will receive grants this year.

This is a short-term commitment (about a month) beginning at the end of January. All meetings will be held online in the evenings.

Volunteer tasks include the following:

• Attend an evening online introduction meeting in late January to learn about the committee and the grant review process.
• Review the grant applications after the early February grant application deadline.
• Attend up to two evening online meetings in February or March to discuss the applications and award the grant money.

This is an easy way to have a real impact on how the money raised through Give to the Max impacts HPSHA. If you're interested, or have any questions, please contact Karen Vander Sanden at karenvandersanden@yahoo.com or HPSHSPTA at hpshptsa@gmail.com.

Thanks for your consideration and support of the PTSA and HPSHS.

Who: Seniors (and parents of all grades)

When: 10 pm-5 am (after graduation at U of St. Thomas, Lee and Penny Anderson Arena, 6:30-8:00 pm) Starting June 1 through to the morning of June 2

What: Free food, free coffee drinks, pool party, DJ and karaoke, video games, team sports, yard games, hair styling, henna, massage, a fun group show to close, and MORE!

Where: at Highland Park Senior High School

Why: say goodbye to classmates and celebrate

Freshman, Sophomore, Junior and Senior Parents:

1. Please plan ahead to volunteer. Mark your calendar! Help decorate on Sunday, May 31st, 3 pm-7 pm - dinner served for volunteers!

2. ***We especially need Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior parents while Senior parents are at Graduation on June 1 to help decorate and set up.*** We also need volunteers from 10 pm to 5 am during the event and for cleanup until 7 am, starting on June 1 and continuing into June 2.

3. Please donate to the event at hpgradparty.com starting today!

Teen Science Cafe
What: Eat pizza and meet with climate change researchers from the University of Minnesota

Who: Students grades 7-12

When: Wednesday February 18th, 6–8 p.m.

Where: Bell Museum - 2088 Larpenteur Ave W., Saint Paul MN 55113

How: RSVP on line at bellmuseum.umn.edu

Hello Highland Park Families,

Students who are identified as ELL, or English Learners, will be taking the ACCESS test in the month of February to measure language growth. This is a test required by the State of Minnesota and the Federal Government to make sure that we are helping student succeed with their English language development. Parents can get more information by going to the WIDA ACCESS Parent Fact Sheets that are available in English, Hmoob, Karen, Soomaali, and Español: https://www.spps.org/about/departments/research-evaluation-assessment/test-coordination/access-family-information

There is also a short video you can watch to give you some information about the test: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15wQWQTLFtdE6c2OmjrIaUAhUigGDECvo/view If you have other questions, or if a translation to a different language is needed, please contact Damian Haas at damian.haas@spps.org.

Click here to see the 2/6/26 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:

• College and Post-Secondary exploration tools

• Career Information

• College Admission, Career and Military Representative Visits

• College Admission test information such as ACT

• Resume Help

• Scholarships
• Financial Aid
• Summer and Community Opportunities
• And more!

CLICK HERE to check out the CCRC website! This site will be updated throughout the year with important information, resources, and opportunities.

The books are here for Saint Paul Public Library’s annual citywide book club. This year’s selection is Lobizona, a young adult novel by Romina Garber. Free copies for students are available in the library! Book Club will be hosting a discussion of the book later in March after school in the library - all are welcome! The author will also make a visit to St. Paul in March.

This year’s selection couldn’t be more timely:

“This year’s Read Brave takes place amid unprecedented federal immigration enforcement that is causing harm, fear, and unimaginable loss for many in our community. Chosen by staff last summer, this year’s Read Brave title focuses on a story of immigration, power, and belonging— themes that, in ways we could not have foreseen, are now unfolding with intensity in our own neighborhoods. Read Brave exists to leverage the power of stories to build empathy and community—inviting us to listen deeply, honor lived experience, question our assumptions and what we are told to be true, and engage one another with deep care, dignity, and respect.”

If you want to personalize your student's book - you must have your order in by January 31st. This is a hard deadline by Jostens and no exceptions can be made.

To order your book - follow this link: Yearbook Order Here

If you have questions, contact yearbook advisor Nancy Michael at nancy.michael@spps.org

Mark Your Calendars Early!

This year's Spring IB/DP Visual Art show will be from 5-7 pm Friday, March 27th. Then, stay for Benstock from 7-10!

Year One and Year Two DP Visual Art students will be invited to set up their shows during HPSH's professional development day on March 20th from 8am to 2pm. Year One students must share 1 to 3 resolved artworks and Year Two students must share 4-7 works for an SL show or 8-11 works for an HL show. So excited for these hard working and creative students!

Looking for ways to say "Thank You" and offer support to the HPSH Teachers and Counseling Department?! The PTSA wants to offer one way to make that easier. Check out this Wish List! If you have any questions, please email: hpshptsa@gmail.com

Feel free to reference this handbook as it pertains directly to Highland Park Senior High.

Parents/Guardians are a valuable resource at HPSH! We want you to have the information and support you need in our joint endeavor of education. Please make note of our school policies, located on our website, which include information on cell phone use, academic honesty, and AI: HPSH Policies. We welcome your questions and feedback; please contact our Principal, Dr. Winston Tucker, for support throughout the school year.

We understand that cell phones are a very important part of our daily lives; however, academic success for our students is most important while they are at school. In alignment with Minnesota State Statute 121A.73 and Saint Paul Public Schools Board Policy 550, Highland Park Senior does not allow cell phone use in classrooms. Cell phone use is only permitted at lunches and during passing time.

Please review the policy with your student to assist in enforcing these expectations.

Daily attendance is an important part of student success. If your student is ill, check SPPS’s illness guidelines at spps.org/studentwellness. Please notify us at 651-744-3803 or email highlandparksenior.attendance@spps.org as early as possible if your child will be absent. Communication between home and school is vital to a positive school experience. More information about consistent attendance can be found at spps.org/attendance.

Use Parent Portal and see your child’s attendance, homework assignments, grades and more. Log on to spps.org/onestop. 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.

In-person students may receive one breakfast and one lunch for free each school day under the Minnesota Free School Meals program. As students arrive at school, they can grab their breakfast and eat in class. Hot and cold breakfast options are available.

To qualify as a free school meal, students must take a complete meal, including a fruit or vegetable. If a student does not take a complete meal, their meal account will be charged for the items individually.

• Student Second Breakfast: $3.25

• Student Second Lunch: $5.50

• Milk Only: $0.50

• For a complete list of prices, visit spps.org/ns.

SPPS strives to create welcoming schools where each and every student is seen, known and valued. There are rights students are guaranteed when they are at school as well as responsibilities that accompany those rights. Families are strongly encouraged to review the Rights & Responsibilities Handbook.

Website: https://www.spps.org/highlandsr
Location: 1015 Snelling Avenue South, Saint Paul, MN, USA
Phone: 651-293-8940