Highland High School

TRIMESTER 2, 2024-25

CALENDARS

These calendars are continually updated and provide all of the important academic and athletic/activities dates for the school year. Please look at them regularly for questions about calendar items.

December 2-December 7, 2024

Highland Parent, Student, and Ram Supporter,

We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Break!

As winter approaches, please speak with your student about driving safe while on school property. Students who are identified spinning cookies or donuts in the student parking lot will lose the privilege to park on Highland property for the school year. Reckless driving puts everyone in danger. Thank you for your support.

HIGHLAND JOURNALISM CLASS: FEATURE ARTICLE OF THE WEEK

Feature article on Highland Junior, Sawyer Anderson, a 2x State Champion in wrestling.

PSAT RESULTS

Sophomores and juniors who chose to take the PSAT.

PSAT scores have been released! You can access scores through Infinite Campus under ASSESSMENTS or if your student provided a phone number, they have received a text from Collegeboard instructing them on how to access their scores. If they did not receive this text, your student can go to https://studentscores.collegeboard.org/home and create an account.

Your student will be asked to provide name, DOB, address, graduation year, highschool, etc. They will also have the option to opt in to providing interests in college majors and receiving information from colleges and universities. Once this is completed, they will see 3 PSAT scores.

1=overall score with math, English and writing combined.

2=math score

3=English and writing score

Please watch the following video with your student that explains how to read the score report as well as next steps to take=

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJEeKZxLjpA

If PSAT scores are utilized, they can provide study material for the SAT which is taken in spring of their junior year as well as college searches, career options and scholarship opportunities.

Please contact Mrs. Santos Smith with any questions.

HIGHLAND STUDENT LEADERSHIP COMMUNITY HOLIDAY EVENT

Highland Student Leadership is putting on a community event for elementary aged children and younger. Similar to the trunk or treat at Halloween, but with a Holiday twist, bring your children to participate in some holiday fun. See the flyer below for details.

EXTRACURRICULARS'

Highland Drama

Highland Drama was dominant at districts before the break. They finished with 32 pieces qualifying for state, that is the most we have ever had, and 12 first place finishes. Great job Highland Drama! They are headed to state Friday-12/6/24 & Saturday-12/7/24 at Canyon Ridge High School in Twin Falls, ID. Here is the link, State Drama Competition. Good luck Highland Drama at State!

Highland Speech & Debate

Highland Speech & Debate is headed to Alta High School in Utah on Friday 12/6/24 and Saturday 12/7/24 for a competition. Good luck to Speech & Debate!

Highland Girls Basketball
Highland Girls Basketball play on Tuesday, 12/3/24, at Century High School for a cross town rivalry game. Freshman and JV at 6pm and Varsity at 7:30pm. Then on Thursday, 12/5/24, Girls Basketball plays Pocatello High School at Highland's Gym. Freshman at 4:30pm, JV at 6pm, and Varsity at 7:30pm. The Lady Rams wrap up the week with a game on Saturday vs. Minico here at Highland's Gym. JV at 11am and Varsity at 12:30pm.

Highland Boys Basketball

Highland Boys Basketball have their first official game of the season on Friday 12/6/24 vs. Shelley at Highland's Gym. Freshman at 4:30pm, JV at 6pm, and Varsity at 7:30pm.

Highland Boys and Girls Wrestling

Wrestling kicks off their season with an intersquad dual called the Black and White Night on Tuesday, 12/3/24 at 7pm in Highland's Gym. Then on Wednesday, 12/4/24, they travel to Preston to wrestle in a multidual at 5:30pm. On Friday 12/6/24 and Saturday 12/7/24 Girls Wrestling is headed to Grace High School for a tournament and JV Boys Wrestling is headed to American Falls for a tournament. On Friday 12/6/24 & Saturday 12/7/24 Varsity Boys Wrestling is headed to Capital High School in Boise for a dual tournament.

Highland Band Lamb Weston Fundraiser

Highland Band is having a fundraiser, selling potato products from Lamb Weston for $30 for a 30lb box. Stuffed Cheddar Cheese Rounds, Original Tater Tot Rounds, Stuffed Southwestern Pepper Tots, and Crinkle Cut Fries are available. Here is the website to purchase, https://highland-high-school-bands.square.site/ . It is a great deal for a great cause! Buy some yummy potato treats and support Highland Band! Contact Director Wilson for any questions.

Highland Band Winter Concert

Highland Band is performing their winter concert on Monday 12/16/24 at 7pm at Century High School.

Highland Orchestra Winter Concert

Highland Orchestra is performing their winter concert on Tuesday 12/10/24 at 7pm at Century High School.

Highland Choir Winter Concert

Highland Choir is tentatively planned to perform their winter concert on Thursday 12/12/24. A definite date, time, and location are still being confirmed, this site will be updated when it is finalized.

COLLEGE & CAREER ADVISORS

FAFSA Night # 1 – Thurs., Dec. 12th, from 6 to 8 pm

Highland's first FAFSA Night will be THIS Thursday, Dec. 12th, starting at 6 pm in Highland's library. That’s just three short days away. Pizza and snacks will be provided. A couple of lucky attendees will be awarded door prizes. Here are some tips for a successful FAFSA Night:

> It will be optimal for the student and a parent / guardian to attend together.

> Both student and parent / guardian will need their established FSA IDs (~ 2 or 3 days before FAFSA Night).

> Both student and parent / guardian should have a ChromeBook or laptop (guest wifi will be available).

> Both student and parent / guardian should bring a well-charged cell phone with lots of storage (needed for verification).

> W-2s for the 2023 tax year, for student and guardian (just in case; you may not need them).

> If the parent / guardian is self-employed, owns a business, has a farm or ranch, you might want to bring your 2023 taxes. We will have help from Highland personnel, as well as financial aid professionals from the college / university realm.

Look for posters and salmon-colored flyers up throughout the school and in classrooms. It will feel SO great to get the FAFSA ticked off the to-do list.

We encourage seniors to create and FSA ID and submit the FAFSA this year even if you plan to work before college or training, even if you plan travel in the U.S. or abroad before college, even if you have (or plan to) enlisted in the military, or if you have planned a year or two of national or church service. Yes, do it now – you’ll be glad you did.

FSA ID Needed for FAFSA Night – A Reminder

Just another friendly reminder that we are coming up on financial aid / scholarship season and submission of the FAFSA (more on that below). But first, both student and guardian need to have an established FSA ID. Students may stop by the CCA area any time with his or her Social Security number (put the numbers in your phone, in a password-protected Notes file; DON’T take a photo of it), and we will walk any student through the process. Then the student will know how to get it done for a parent / guardian. If a family has older students who have already gone to college, chances are good that a parent / guardian already has an FSA ID. The FSA ID needs to be done 3 to 5 days before the FAFSA can be started.

Please please please stop by the CCAs to get your FSA ID done on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, before FAFSA Night this Thursday (December 12th). Thank you thank you thank you 😀.

Some Data

According to the Idaho State Board of Education, we have some numbers to crow about.

Apply Idaho Completion => 73 % of the senior class. In ALL of last year, 75 % of the senior class, completed and submitted Apply Idaho, so we hope to at least reach last year’s figures. Highland is more than 20 percentage points above the statewide Apply Idaho Completion percentage. Highland, getting it done – again..

Scholarship Idaho => 46 % of our seniors have completed the Scholarship Idaho process (which is where the Idaho Opportunity Scholarship and the Idaho Launch grant are found). Well done; we will work to bring that number up in the months ahead.

FAFSA Completion => right now, that number sits at a lowly 4 %, but with our first FAFSA Night this week, another one planned for January, and CCAs available to help, we want to increase that number to last year’s percentage . . . and beyond.

That’s all for right now. We hope to see lots and lots of you on Thursday at FAFSA Night.

Your Highland CCAs,

Alice Rowe

Sarah May Clarkson

CLASS OF 2025 IMPORTANT EVENTS

For parents of graduates and graduates, class of 2025. We keep a live google doc that is updated each week with all the dates and information important for graduates to know. Please review it and use it a resource to find out anything important pertaining specifically to the Class of 2025. Reach out to Principal Wallace with any additional questions.

Herff Jones is the company we partner with to provide Caps & Gowns to our graduates. Students will be able to keep their caps, but gowns will be turned in after graduation. Other graduation apparel and keepsakes are available for purchase through Herff Jones. See the flyer below for more information or contact Herff Jones.

Senior portraits are due February 14th, 2025. Contact Mrs. Smith or any yearbook student if you have questions.

Class of 2025 Important Dates & Information

SENIOR WINTER BALL FORMAL

Seniors, on December 14th we will be having a Senior Ball Formal Dance. This is for Seniors only. The dance will be at the ISU Ballroom from 8:30pm-11pm. Cost is $15 per person or $20 at the door, formal attire. Tickets are on sale in the Bursar’s office. Come with a date, a group, or solo.