Highland Park Senior High News

Highland Families,

The first day of school for students is rapidly approaching as school starts on Tuesday, September 8. There are a number of important upcoming events for students and families as we start the school year. Please note the events listed in this newsletter and we hope you and your child will attend. These events include the ninth grade orientation which is only for students, the orientation for students in grades 10-12 who are brand new to Highland (parents may attend this event) as well as our Open House event on September 17 starting at 6pm. Students and families are invited and encouraged to attend this event together. In addition, there are a number of athletic events, and it is a great time of the year to be outside watching our Scots compete in athletics. We look forward to a great start to the school year. Please reach out with any questions. Scots Rock !

Thursday, September 17, 2026

• Highland Park Senior High All Grades Open House 6:00-7:30 pm

We are excited to welcome our incoming 9th grade students to Highland Park Senior High School. The transition to high school is an important step in the life of a student. Please be sure your child attends the orientation on September 3: 9th Grade Orientation from 9:30am-12:00pm. Students will learn their way around Highland and know their class schedule, build community, and meet with their 11th and 12th grade student leaders. Parents are responsible for transportation to and from school for this event. Students should be dropped off at the main entrance in the parking lot and picked up in the same location after the event. This event is for students only.

We are excited to welcome our NEW 10th, 11th and 12th grade students who are brand new to Highland Park Senior High School. Students will receive their schedule and have the opportunity to go on a building tour. Please be sure your child attends this event on September 3 from 1pm-2pm. Please report to the main office. Parents are welcome to attend this event.

Highland Park Senior High School once again made the U.S. News & World's Top High School. Congratulations to our students, staff and our supportive families. Please see the link to the article below for specifics. Scots Rock !

https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/minnesota/districts/st-paul-public-school-district/highland-park-senior-high-school-11116

The Highland Park Senior High PTSA is looking for enthusiastic parent volunteers to join our team. When you volunteer with the PTSA, you help strengthen the vibrant school community that supports every student’s success. Whether you can share a little time or a lot, your energy and ideas truly make a difference—building connections, funding enrichment, providing mutual aid, and supporting the educators and students who make Highland great. Stay in the loop and get involved by joining our mailing list and discovering ways to lend your talents, your voice, and your spirit, to help HPSH thrive. The PTSA runs on volunteer power—your commitment can be as big or small as you choose. Please fill out this form and someone will follow up with more details: https://forms.gle/bMeZdSaKiVVRviB9A. You may also reach out to the PTSA directly at: hpshptsa@gmail.com. Thank you!

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.

You can now report student absences in advance through the Absence Request tool in Infinite Campus Parent. Review this step-by-step guide and video for instructions.

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.

• Student Second Breakfast: $3.50
• Student Second Lunch: $5.75
• 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.

1) Tuesday, September 15, from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m., (hybrid: via in-person & Zoom)

https://minnstate.zoom.us/j/93330961366; Meeting ID: 933 3096 1366

TOPIC: Quick hits

- Counseling

- Social Work

- Parent Portal & Schoology

- Clubs & Activities

- Athletics

- Site Council

2) Tuesday, November 10, from 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. via Zoom

https://minnstate.zoom.us/j/93949424557; Meeting ID: 939 4942 4557

TOPIC: International Baccalaureate (IB), Immersion Programs, PSEO

3) Tuesday, February 16, from 7 – 8 p.m. via Zoom

TOPIC: Career & College Readiness 101, HPSH CCRC Coordinator

https://minnstate.zoom.us/j/95932322733; Meeting ID: 959 3232 2733

4) *Tuesday, April 27, from 7 – 8 p.m. via Zoom

TOPIC: HPSH Budget Meeting

*This date is tentative and depends on the SPPS budget cycle.

https://minnstate.zoom.us/j/92137737938; Meeting ID: 921 3773 7938

5) Thursday, May 13, from 7 – 8 p.m. in-person (hybrid: in-person & Zoom)

TOPIC: Elections – PTSA & Site Council

https://minnstate.zoom.us/j/91524808965; Meeting ID: 915 2480 8965

Parking permits will be distributed in a lottery system to seniors only. Lottery forms can be picked up in the main office on the first day of school. Lottery forms will be due to the office by Friday, September 11. A drawing will be held and students will be notified if they are awarded a parking spot. Spaces will be limited to 30 reserved parking spots and students may only park in the designated student parking spots and must display a parking permit. Any student vehicles parked in the lot without a permit during school hours will be towed at the owner's expense.

Safety is a top priority at our schools. Highland Park Senior High has an Emergency Operations Plan that is created specifically for our school and regularly reviewed. Families receive communication home when an incident directly impacts their students, such as a lockdown. Please review our Standard Response Protocol language, which differentiates safety situations. Exterior doors are always locked and all visitors must sign in.

Families, students and staff can “Send a Tip” at spps.org/safety to confidentially report unsafe behaviors to SPPS Security and Emergency Management. Every tip is taken seriously and investigated right away.

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