February 17-February 22, 2025

Highland Parent, Student, and Ram Supporter,

We hope everyone had a wonderful and safe weekend. It was a great opportunity for a break and to celebrate President's Day. 

We only have 6 school days left before finals for 2nd Trimester. Please focus on academics and attendance. Finish the trimester strong. Finals will be held on Wednesday 2/26-Thursday 2/27, No School for students on Friday 2/28 for record day. Third Trimester starts on Monday 3/3/25. 

UNITED STATES PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM: WREN WRIGHT

Congratulations to Wren Wright who was selected as a candidate for the United States Presidential Scholars Program! Students are chosen for outstanding performance on ACT or the SAT or by nomination from specific organizations. The student is chosen as a representative of scholarship and leadership. Wren is eligible to be honored for accomplishments at a National Recognition Program in June and awarded the Presidential Scholars Medallion. Congratulations Wren Wright, we are so proud of you and all your hard work!

ISU AUTOMOTIVE SkillsUSA COMPETITION: COOPER LISH & RHYDER GUARDIPEE

Congratulations to Cooper Lish and Rhyder Guardipee! Both students were invited to participate in the ISU Automotive SkillsUSA Competition. They did so well they are now invited to participate in another competition at Boise State University. We are proud of Cooper and Rhyder working hard to reach high standards for themselves. Great job Cooper and Rhyder!

                                             Cooper Lish                                                                                                             Rhyder Guardipee

HIGHLAND CHEER TEAM: 6A ACADEMIC STATE CHAMPIONS

We are so proud of our amazing Highland Cheer Team! They work as hard in the classroom as they do out of the classroom. They were recently recognized as 6A Academic State Champions with an average 3.77 GPA. Great job Highland Cheer! 

HIGHLAND SPEECH & DEBATE: NATIONAL QUALIFIERS

Congratulations to Highland Speech and Debate who competed in a National Qualification Competition over the weekend and took 2nd overall as a team, qualifying 10 for nationals with some alternates. We are so proud of all of our Speech & Debate Students and their coaches and all the hard work they are putting in. They exemplify the Right Attitude Means Success mantra we strive to live at Highland.   

National Qualifiers:

• Public Forum Debate-Kai Niendorf & James Bradford.

• World Schools Debate-Sammy Mowrer.

• Humorous Interpretation-Joshua Pincock.

• Dramatic Interpretation-Mylee Martin.

• Duo Interpretation-Maiya Niendorf & Michael Bahe.

• United States Extemporaneous Speaking-Elijah Urrizaga.

•  Original Oratory-Scarlett Maxwell.

• Informative Speaking-Hannah Clement. 

• Alternates-Isabella Rhett, Ava Urrizaga, & Leiohu Chen. 

HIGHLAND MAKE-A-WISH: $10,000 GOAL

Ryanne, an optimistic and upbeat senior who loves to dance and cheer, plans to graduate with a 4.0 and try out for a nationally ranked college dance team. Due to a serious brain tumor, her senior year has been turned upside down as she now has to balance her plans for graduating on time with the difficulty of undergoing regular treatment. Ryanne’ s wish is to go to Hawaii with her sister for some relaxing time in the sun. In order to help Ryanne fulfill her dream, our current fundraising efforts include selling

March Madness is around the corner.  Student leadership is hosting a 3-on-3 basketball tournament March 17, 18, 19 during lunch time in the gym.  The cost is $20 per team with 4 member max.  Must sign up in Room B71 by March 7.  All proceeds go to Make-A-Wish.  See Colt Neeser or Lana Alvarico for more information.

Make-A-Wish Shirt Design=

FROM THE HIGHLAND REGISTRAR: STEM DIPLOMA DESIGNATION & SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

The Idaho Legislature recently passed a bill allowing for a STEM designation to be included on a student’s high school diploma.  Students who successfully complete all graduation requirements established by the Pocatello/Chubbuck School District may receive a high school diploma designated as a STEM diploma if they meet the following criteria:

·         Complete eight (8) credits in mathematics

·         Complete eight (8) credits in science\

·         Complete five (5) additional credits of the student’s choice in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics.

Students who are interested in applying for the STEM diploma designation can see the Registrar for an application.  Applications must be completed and returned to the Registrar prior to May 1, 2024. All students who qualify for the STEM designation will receive a seal on their diploma, notation of designation on their final transcript, cords to wear at graduation and the opportunity to apply for a $3,000 scholarship. 

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STEM-ID Scholarship Schedule

Open: February 10, 2025

Close: April 6, 2025

Reference Response Deadline: TBD

Award Notification Date: May 5, 2025

ATTENDANCE:

We are coming to the end of the 2nd Trimester of the 2024-25 school year. Now more than ever it is important to keep a close watch on your attendance. For any questions or concerns please reach out to Principal Wallace. 

EXTRACURRICULARS'

Winter season of extracurriculars is wrapping up over the next few weeks. Congratulations to Girls Basketball finishing out their season! The Highland Dance Team, Speech & Debate, Boys Basketball, Boys Wrestling, and Girls Wrestling all have district competitions this week. Good luck to all of these groups seeking to punch their tickets to state. 

Congratulations to Highland Drama who wrapped up their final performances of The Curious Dog in the Night-Time. It was an emotional performance and the whole cast did such an amazing job. It was Golden Globe/Grammy level acting! Great job Highland Drama! They are not wasting any time and are preparing for their next performance of the musical Alice By Heart starting shows on Thursday 2/27/25. Can't wait! 

For those interested in playing Tennis, there is a meeting at Lunch on Wednesday 2/19/25 in Mr. Wood's room, Room C26. 

Highland District Dance Competition

Tuesday 2/18/25 4:30pm Highland Lassies compete in the district dance competition @ Century High School. 

Highland Boys Basketball

Tuesday 2/18/25 7pm Boys Basketball @ Rigby, 1st Game of District Tournament.

Thursday 2/20/25 7pm Boys Basketball @ Thunder Ridge, 2nd Game of District Tournament.

Highland Speech & Debate

Friday (2/20/25)-Saturday (2/21/25) Highland Speech & Debate @ American Falls, District (State Qualification) Competition. 

Highland Girls and Boys Wrestling

Wednesday 2/19/25 10am Boys Wrestling @ Canyon Ridge, District Tournament. 

Friday (2/21/25)-Saturday (2/22/25) Girls Wrestling @ Thunder Ridge, District Tournament. 

COLLEGE & CAREER ADVISORS

Fearless Future Scholarship for Highland Students Only ! 

We are pleased to announce the Fearless Future Scholarship that provides a $1,000 scholarship just for Highland students, and which can be used for training, college, career technical education. All that’s required is a 60-second video uploaded to the Senior Google classroom (as an assignment) that answers two questions found in the assignment. Easy! Deadline is Monday, March 17th. Go to the Fearless Future Scholarship assignment in the Senior Google classroom and start creating. Only ONE student has submitted a video thus far! That makes good odds for the one student, but surely more of you are looking for scholarship money. If you have any questions, stop by and ask the CCAs in C-36.

Boise State Visit, Thursday, February 20th

Our fabulous admissions rep from Boise State, Bailey Mallard, will be at Highland on Thursday, Feb. 20th in room C-37 from 9-9:47 and continue the second hour until 10:30 in room C-36. 

ISU Will Be at Highland, Wed., Feb. 19th

Idaho State University admissions – in particular, our admissions rep, Bianca – will be at Highland next Wednesday, February 19th, all morning (8:30 to 12:30), in C-36. If you are an early grad (meaning you will finish your high school coursework at the end of Tri 2), and you are thinking about ISU for next year (or you are planning on ISU next year), this is an important chance for you to meet with Bianca and make preparations: transcripts sent, housing on campus, schedule a new-student orientation, and all the rest. The first new-student orientations are already open and taking reservations. Whether you are graduating early or not, make a point to stop by and visit with Bianca about your next ISU steps.

NOW Is Scholarship Season

OK, seniors, you have applied to training and college, have probably (hopefully) applied to state of Idaho scholarship programs, submitted your FAFSA, and now (February to mid-April) is time to apply for more scholarships like it’s your job – which it is. The Senior Google classroom regularly posts scholarships that we learn of. But there are other sources of scholarship money, including:

> The scholarship websites of the schools / programs that have accepted you.

> Your guardian’s employers often offer scholarships to the children of employees.

> Your bank.

> Your insurance provider.

> Think of your career aspirations. Do you hope to become an engineer, a female engineer, a nurse, a teacher? Go to the professional organizations for those careers to see if they offer scholarships: for example, The Society of Women Engineers, National Student Nurses’ Association, TEACH Grants (through Federal Student Aid). You get the idea.

> Or you can go to any of the gazillion scholarship websites, but beware. There is lots of money out there, but once you create a profile you will be inundated with emails. So . . . you might want to create a dedicated email address JUST for your scholarship applications.

Finally, another couple of tips: create a spreadsheet or find a dedicated spiral bound notebook in which you put all your various and sundry scholarship applications. Be prepared to write a 500-word college scholarship essay – each application might have a different prompt. And you might need a letter of recommendation, so be thinking of who you might ask to do that for you. The CCAs can help you with that writing project. 

Scholarship season is NOW until about mid- April. By the time May arrives, we want our seniors to know what they have earned in scholarships and grants so they can make a fully informed decision based on finances (head) and inclination (heart).

~ ~ ~ ~

Only TEN (!) more school days this trimester. Wasn’t it just Thanksgiving? Buckle up, campers. Lots to look forward to and lots to get done before we get to the finish line.

Your friendly neighborhood CCAs,

Alice Rowe

Sarah May Clarkson

C-36

CONTACT INFORMATION-HIGHLAND PHONE (208)237-1300
Highland High School Administration 

-Dr. Brad Wallace-Principal (wallacbr@sd25.us) phone ext.103

-Travis Bell-Assistant Principal/Athletic and Activities Director (belltr@sd25.us) phone ext.105

-Ed.S. Jena Wilcox-Assistant Principal (wilcoxje@sd25.us) phone ext.104

-Dr. Steve Morton-Assistant Principal (mortonst@sd25.us) phone ext.107

Bursar

-Shelley Huelsman (huelsms1@sd25.us) phone ext.106

Registrar

-Elaine Whitehead (whitehel@sd25.us) phone ext.114

-Katie Schwartz (schwarka@sd25.us) phone ext.111

Attendance

-Mindy Murphy (murphymi@sd25.us) phone ext.115

-Sloane Lewis (lewissl@sd25.us) phone ext.135

Counseling Center 

-Tami Romriell=students with last name A-D (romrieta@sd25.us) phone ext.131

-Christa Santos-Smith=students with last name E-K (santosch@sd25.us) phone ext.109

-Cali-Ann Hilliard=students with last name L-R (hilliaca@sd25.us) phone ext.110

-Tricia Harvala=students with last name S-Z (harvaltr@sd25.us) phone ext.116

-Sarah May Clarkson=College & Career Advisor (clarksa@sd25.us) phone ext.123

-Alice Rowe=College & Career Advisor (roweal@sd25.us) phone ext.236

School Psychologist

-Amy Holloway (hollowam@sd25.us) 

IMPORTANT LINKS