Embedded Files
2000 HHS Millennium student planner
HHS Millennium Student Planner
HHS Millennium Student Planner
Donor & Story Contributor: Liz Peterman Younger, class of 2002
Authors: Carly Skirvin, Isla Green, & Kaya Santani, Class of 2028
Web Page Designer: Jade Farley, class of 2027
Liz Peterman, class of 2002.
Today, the students and teachers of Highlands High School use their MacBooks as online planners to keep track of assignments, social events, and communication with one another. However, MacBooks were not always used. What was used before MacBooks were invented? Prior generations of HHS students were given physical notebook-style planners to fulfill the organizational role of today’s MacBook.
The middle school and high school kids received different-sized planners with different expectations. We are fortunate to have the 2000 planner of HHS alumna, Liz Peterman Younger, (referred to as Peterman in this piece) as we reflect back to her high school experiences.
“The reason they gave it out was because they wanted you to keep track of assignments. Every single day had sections,” explained Highlands High School alumna, Liz Peterman Younger, about the planner.
The layout of the planner was similar year after year. It often started with the code of conduct and was followed by helpful resources for the students. Next, came the actual planner with the months, then individual pages for each week. Lastly, it ended with an overview of the following year. Each year had a different theme.
“In the year 2000, it mentions the millennium. The theme for this one was Rocketing into the Year 2000. The pages were designed with pictures of the theme that year.”
2000 HHS Millennium student planner
2000 HHS Millennium calender
Peterman often used different colored pens, symbols, designs, and word fonts to express her ideas and feelings. She even had scribbles about her upcoming dances, big games, and deadlines.
Other than using the planner as a way to communicate, the planner was also used to keep the students organized by being able to track daily homework, due dates, and tests.
“I would also put the big tests on the monthly calendar so that I could plan.”
The planner also was helpful for social planning. Students, including Peterman, would also use the planner to keep track of practices and social events.
“I used mine to keep track of all the socials that were going on. I wrote all the dances, all the games, and things like that. When you look at the monthly section you can see some of the social events.”
Highlands middle and the high school often shared many things before the current middle school building was constructed. "Junior High" classes usually took place in the south wing of Highlands, which included 7th and 8th graders. They shared a library, a cafeteria, and of course the idea of a day planner. However, the middle and high school students received different sized planners. While high schoolers were able to use it at their discretion, middle schoolers were required to use it to write prescribed assignments, which were checked by teachers and parents.
“The middle school’s planner was bigger and there was more room to write. It was an eight by eleven inch,” Peterman said. “The middle schools were kind of forced to use it because their teachers made them write homework and different activities in it so they wouldn't forget.”
Students got a new planner each year. Many people threw their planners away once the year was over, but not Peterman.
“I kept all of mine because it is a really neat thing to look back on and be like, “I remember that. “It was kind of like a little diary in some ways,” said Peterman. “I am really glad that I kept mine, but my guess is other people probably threw theirs away.”
Peterman believes that using planners has helped her today with her online planning skills to make sure that she doesn’t forget anything on her family’s schedule. She advises current and future high school students to use planners, to organize themselves, and so they don’t forget about assignments and events.
“I would suggest to students that they learn how to use Google Calendar or any calendar system that they like and keep up with it.”
Peterman loved the idea of the “Planner.” It helped many students at Highlands be productive and helped them stay on top of their work and activities.
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