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Greetings Fellow Scots,
I hope everyone had a wonderful Fall Break. We are excited to get back to school and begin the second nine-week grading period. This time of year is busy and eventful. Please encourage your students to begin the new grading period successfully and get ahead of upcoming assignments and assessments.
The HPHS Fall Musical, Pippin, is this coming Thursday through Sunday. Please get tickets and make plans to attend if you have not already. We are looking forward to amazing performances.
Our skill focus to begin the new grading period will be a reminder of our school rules found in the HPHS Handbook, The Kiltie. It is important for all Scots to learn and follow the rules outlined in the handbook. The Kiltie is our HPHS student and parent information guide and a useful resource for school rules, expectations, and processes.
Thanks and Go Scots!
| | Campus Mission: Highland Park High School, upholding its tradition of excellence, exists to provide a learning environment that prepares students to serve as engaged global citizens in a complex and ever-changing world. | | |
SCOTS SCOOP
Don’t miss this special Scots Scoop for parents of Juniors and Sophomores with our special guest, Lee Cordon, Founder of Do Say Give!
Preparing for the future is about more than grades and test scores. It’s about raising teens who can thrive socially as well. In this talk, etiquette expert Lee Cordon shows parents how to cultivate essential social skills in their teens: effective communication, confidence in social settings, and respectful interactions that will help teens stand out and succeed in the digital age.
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Junior and Sophomore Parents
Wednesday, October 15
9:00 am
Clements Building
6900 Douglas Ave
You don’t want to miss it!
Questions? ctduvall@me.com or alissa.gearing@gmail.com
*The City of University Park has kindly eased parking restrictions for this meeting. If Clement spaces are full, you may park on nearby residential streets. The City will refrain from issuing tickets for the duration of the meeting.
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BOOSTER CLUB OFFICER MEETING
Calling all booster club officers! There will be a mandatory district meeting for all HP booster clubs on Wednesday, October 15 at 2pm at the Clements Leadership Center. At least one officer from every HP booster club must attend to hear important updates and reporting requirements. Please join us! For questions, please contact the PTA Member-At-Large, Katherine Lewis.
| | SCOTS APPRECIATE OUR CAFETERIA TEAM | | |
We are so grateful for our wonderful HPHS Cafeteria Team, led by the dedicated Brenda Vardell. Each day, they chop, mix, cook, and bake with care—serving up healthy, delicious meals that keep our hungry Scots going strong. Thank you for nourishing our students, teachers, and staff with your hard work and heart!
Please show your appreciation to: Brenda Vardell, Dina Ambriz, Sonya Burns, Angel Casteneda, Munira Charania, Consuelo Lopez, Jose Maldonado, Aneisha McClure, Angela Ramirez , Alejandra Rangel, and Jessica Villa.
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SCITECH FEST
SCITECH FEST 2025 IS ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 17!
The HPHS Science & Technology Festival is an annual student event featuring esteemed industry leaders representing careers in science, engineering, medicine, research, and technology. Student have the opportunity to attend these speakers’ presentations during their regular science and technology classes.
In order to make this event successful, we NEED PARENT VOLUNTEERS to serve as greeters, general helpers, and speaker escorts throughout the school day! Visit the Volunteer Form to find the time slot that works best with your schedule – there are many opportunities and timeslots. It’s an exciting and special day for our students!
We are thankful to our Presenting Sponsor, La Fiesta de Las Seis Banderas! The Highland Park Education Foundation and the HPHS PTA are also partners in this event which inspires students to pursue careers in science and technology!
For questions, please contact our SciTech Fest Chairs, Abby Ruth or Molly Sopper at scitechfest@hphspta.org.
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PEER TUTORING
Need some extra help to stay on top of your classes? Come join our Peer Tutoring sessions starting Tuesday, October 7, and running every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday during all lunches! Whether it’s Math, English, Social Studies, or Science, trained peer tutors are ready to work with you, answer questions, and help you feel more confident in your classes. This is a chance to connect with students who are committed to your success and who understand what it takes to do well in high school. Don’t wait until you feel behind—grab your lunch, bring your questions, and take advantage of this awesome opportunity to get ahead and crush your goals!
Form Link for Students
| | DAILY ANNOUNCEMENTS AVAILABLE TO PARENTS | | |
Attention Parents!
If you’d like to read a transcript of the daily student announcements, they are available each day HERE. Every two weeks, our AV Production team also produces a video edition of our student announcements, which you can watch HERE. We are grateful to our talented students for their creativity and hard work in bringing these important announcements to life!
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SCOTS TALK
The upcoming HP reunion is presenting a wonderful panel of alumni who will be speaking in the MAPS Maker Space on Saturday morning. They are calling it Scots Talk, Ideas That Connect Us. Students and community members are invited to attend. See the complete schedule HERE.
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SCHOOL PORTRAITS
Looking for your student's portrait? Portraits of 9th, 10th, & 11th graders can be found at Legacy Studios.
| | UP CARNIVAL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED | | |
Volunteer opportunity from University Park Elementary — they’re hosting their annual UP Carnival and are looking for high school students to help make the event a success.
UP Carnival Volunteer Sign-Up
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STATE FAIR OF TEXAS
Hey Scots! The State Fair of Texas is calling 🎡, and you’ve got a special deal:
grab $12 admission tickets for Monday through Thursday visits. That’s a $7 savings! Just hop online and use the promo code below.
📅 Sept. 26 – Oct. 19
BigTex.com/5HS
Promo code: 2025EDU
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FALL MUSICAL
THIS WEEK: HPHS Fall Musical, Pippin, Oct. 16th - 19th
The Highland Park High School Department of Fine Arts proudly presents Pippin, in the Palmer Auditorium, October 16, 17, and 18 at 7:00 pm and October 19 at 2:00 pm. Tickets are available NOW at hpscotstheatre.org.
Pippin is a young Prince who longs to live an extraordinary life, as he struggles with the hand he's been dealt. He attempts to build a life, but as he exhausts different options, he finds that at any minute, it could all fall down. With music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, this captivating production will leave you mesmerized. Come see Pippin's extraordinary story unfold!
Performances:
October 16, 17, and 18 @ 7:00pm
October 19 @ 2:00pm
Tickets:
$12 Balcony/General Admission
$15 Floor/Reserved
| | LADY SCOTS SOCCER CHAMPIONS CUP | | LADY SCOTS SOCCER- GIRLS WITH GOAL PICNIC | | |
HP CENTENNIAL DANCE
Tickets are now on sale at hpcentennialdance.org.
The dance is Saturday, November 15, from 8-10:30 pm at Edison’s.
Get your ticket today!
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Highland Park ISD proudly celebrates Highland Park High School Class of 2025 graduates Beth Anne McGowan and Neelan Krishna, who have been named 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars, one of the nation’s highest academic honors.
Out of more than 3.9 million high school graduates, only 161 students nationwide earned this distinction, including just nine in the entire state of Texas.
Presidential Scholars are selected annually for their academic excellence, artistic and technical expertise, leadership, service, and contributions to school and community. Established in 1964, the program has recognized fewer than 9,000 students in its 60-year history.
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HIGHLANDER BAND
The Highlander Band performed in the Mesquite Marching Festival in a very competitive field of 29 bands and SWEPT the awards!
Congratulations to the Highlander Band for earning:
Outstanding Music Performance -5A
Outstanding Drumline -5A
Outstanding Guard - 5A
Outstanding Visuals - 5A
Outstanding Band - 5A
Second Place Overall
We are so proud of your hard work and amazing results!
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The Highlander Band had an excellent performance in the Royse City Marching Classic and earned the following awards:
- Outstanding Percussion -5A
- Outstanding Guard - 5A
- Outstanding Drum Majors - 5A
- Fifth Place Overall
We are so proud of you!
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Last Friday’s game against Turner was a win all around, especially because the Volleyball teams honored our wonderful teachers. Thank you, teachers, for all you do!
The excitement continues this Friday, 10/17, here at HOME with Senior Night! Come cheer and celebrate all our amazingly talented Volleyball Seniors: Caroline Fenton, Brooklyn Bailey, Lydia Fisher, Gigi Whann, and Tiffany Lindo. Go SCOTS!
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TENNIS
#3 ranked HP Tennis is the undefeated District 12-5A Champion! This week, they won the first two playoff rounds and added a Bi-District Championship and Area Championship to their 2025-2026 season awards. Players winning both singles and doubles in a playoff match were Senior Captain Lauren Chandler, Junior Elise Parra, Junior Eoin Burgess and Junior Roberto Newell. Senior Clive Curry and Junior Roberto Newell had solid doubles wins with Sophomore Steven Hu also looking strong in singles.
On Tuesday the Scots face #2 ranked defending state champs Frisco Centennial in a regional quarters showdown. Scotties Find a Way!
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The Highland Park Crew Club along with Dallas United Crew traveled to Oklahoma City October 3-5 to compete against crews across the midwest region in the Head of the Oklahoma.
See below for a recap of the medals your Scots received!
First Place:
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Womens Youth 4+: Riya Venkatesh ‘26, Ella Spillman ‘26
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Womens U17 +: Campbell Phan ‘29, Savannah Parecki ‘28
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Womens Youth Novice 8+: Abby Goldman ‘29
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Womens Youth 8+: Mimi Tafel ‘26, Lisette Viguerie ‘26, Hannah Birdwell ‘26
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Mixed Youth 8+ A: Mimi Tafel ‘26, Lisette Viguerie ‘26, Luke Bodwell ‘26, Louis Hixon ‘26
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Womens Youth 8+ NIGHT SPRINT: Riya Venkatesh ‘26, Yaya Lagiestty ‘26, Ella Spillman ‘26, Lisette Viguerie ‘26, Mimi Tafel ‘26
Second Place:
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Womens Youth Novice 4+: Abby Goldman ‘29
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Womens Youth 2- A: Lisette Viguere ‘26
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Mens U17 4+: Giselle De La Torre '28, Alex Tujios ‘28, Tyler Coke ‘28, Conner Hardaway ‘29
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Womens U17 8+: Campbell Phan ‘29, Savannah Parecki ‘29
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Mens Youth 8+ NIGHT SPRINT: Louis Hixon ‘26, Luke Bodwell ‘26
Third Place:
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Mens Youth 8+: Louis Hixon ‘26, Luke Bodwell ‘26
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Womens Youth 2- C: Hannah Birdwell ‘26
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Mens Youth 4+: Louis Hixon ‘26, Luke Bodwell ‘26
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Mens U17 8+: Alex Tujios ‘28, Conner Hardaway ‘29, Tyler Coke ‘28
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Womens U16 4x+: Abby Goldman ‘29
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Mixed Youth 8+ B: Riya Venatesh ‘26, Hannah Birdwell ‘26, Ella Spillman ‘26
Select members of the squad will travel to Boston to compete at the Head of the Charles on October 19th. This is the world’s largest regatta and the crew is excited to put their very best to the test against top crews in the country!
SCOTS ROW WITH DUC! If you are interested in joining, please send an email to admin@dallasunitedcrew.org.
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LADY SCOTS GOLF
The Highland Park Girls Goff team kicked off their season last month with two tournaments!
| | Varsity players (pictured below) Junior, Brooke DeVault, Junior, Jacqueline Zhuang, Senior, Delaney Newberry, Freshman, Ellison Newberry, and Senior Elle Dyer recently competed in a 54-hole tournament at the Heart of Texas Championship in Fort Worth. The team fought hard through the heat and a lighting delay and qualified for the championship bracket on day two, competing against the top 28 6A and 5A teams in Texas. Way to go girls on powering through an 11-hour day 1 of 36-holes, and coming back for day 2 to complete another 18! | | |
JV2 played their first tournament at the Fall Kickoff at Waterview Golf Course.
Congratulations to these freshmen on competing in their first tournament and to Brynn Weaver for finishing 6th individually!
Pictured below L-R, Maddy Roach, Brynn Weaver, Vivian Sun, Scarlet Morris, & Margaret Shufeldt.
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On Monday, October 6th, the V2 and JV1 Lady Scots Golf Teams played at Heartbreak At The Ridge at Coyote Ridge Golf Course. The V2 team placed 3rd out of 7 teams. The team was made up of Scarlett Ritchey, Avery Adami, Katie Kipp, Bryn Adam, and Chloe Dilena.
The JV1 team got 4th. The players were Cameron Brown, Elle Whatley, Libbey Hutchens, Alana Schroeder, and Lucy Burns!
Huge congrats to Bryn Adam, who had a hole-in-one on hole #3!
Go Scots!
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LADY SCOTS CROSS COUNTRY
The Lady Scots Cross Country Team competed in the District 12-5A Championships on Thursday, October 9th at Myers Park in McKinney.
In the Varsity Division, the team won the District Championship for the 47th time. The team scored 33 points. There were six teams and 41 runners in the Varsity Division.
All seven Varsity runners placed in the top 13. Junior Ryan Sontag led the team by winning the gold medal with a time of 18:36.9 – a season best. Sophomores Paisley Bassett and Finley Heckler placed 6th and 7th, respectively. Junior Annie Cooper placed 8th with a time of 19:34.6 – a new personal district course record. Junior Claire Deeken placed 11th, senior captain Maddie Heckler placed 12th, and senior Presley Pate placed 13th.
In the JV Division, the team also won the District Championship with 20 points. The JV has never been beaten when they have had a team competing in the District Meet. There were seven teams and 114 runners in the JV Division.
Freshman Stella Pruett won the silver medal with a time of 21:22.3, and senior Addie Perritt won the bronze medal with a time of 21:29.8. Rounding out the top seven were junior Campbell Ragan – 4th place with a time of 21:40.4 (a new personal district course record), senior captain Julia Berlin – 5th place, senior Campbell Dean – 6th place, sophomore Irene Cooper – 10th place, and senior Ava Thropp – 12th place.
Results
A big thank you to all of the parent volunteers, administrators, and teachers who helped with the meet. HP could not have hosted the meet without your help! We appreciate you so much!
The UIL started Girls Cross Country in 1975, so this year is the 50th birthday.
The coaches are so proud of the team as they have worked hard every day, and it paid off. We are looking forward to continuing the tradition of excellence by competing at the Region II-5A Championships. The meet will be at the Harold Patterson Sports Complex in Arlington on Monday, October 20th. The race begins at 10:00 a.m.
Go Scots!
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CROSS COUNTRY
Congratulations to the Running Scots as they advanced to the Region II XC Championship meet on Thursday at Myers Park. It is the 28th consecutive team qualification for the Regional meet by the Running Scots.
The Varsity finished 2nd overall in a tough district battle with Frisco Wakeland and Frisco Reedy. The team was led by Senior Captain Spencer Haag who turned in an outstanding performance finishing 3rd overall with a time of 16:35. Sophomore Beau Stewart and Senior Luke Hall also finished in the top ten with sub-17 times. The Running Scots were the only team in the meet to have all seven varsity runners finish in the top 20 earning first and second team All-District honors.
The Junior Varsity finished 3rd overall and were led by Sophomore Antonio Sanchez who finished 2nd overall with a time of 18:01. Freshman Ranger Walsh and Sophomore Max Walters also turned in top 10 performances.
Runners of the week are Spencer Haag, Beau Stewart, Luke Hall, Antonio Sanchez, Ranger Walsh and Max Walters.
The Running Scots will compete for the Boys Region II XC Championship on Monday, October 20th at Harold Patterson Sports Complex in Arlington. Race time is 10:30 am. Go Scots!!
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Thank you to Amy Brown, Troy Gray, Annuar Ortiz, Erica Redman, Michelle Shumate, Katie Navickas, and Victoria Stephens for facilitating the PSAT for our sophomores and juniors!
Planning for SciTech Fest 2025 is underway! Thank you to our wonderful chairs, Abby Ruth and Molly Soper, and their committee: Peyton Bohnsack, Courtney Gerstenhaber, Katie Roach, Catherine Seals, and Janey Steward for their hard work to make this event so special for our students!
Thank you to our Social Media chair, Janice Van Arsdale, for her helpful and fun posts. Follow the PTA on Instagram at highlandparkhspta and on Facebook at Highland Park High School!
Cafeteria: Kelley Curtin, Tara Cosgrove, Lyndal Greth, Kyli Vardeman, Amanda Cejka, Julia Coffman, Holly Ramundt, Candice Heikenfeld, Carolyn Heinrich, Mary Mason, Robyn Gray, Carli Hyatt, Cynthia Fitzmartin, Mary Houston, Surabi Shetty, Bavita Doolabh, Barry Moore, Jessica Klein, Genevieve Gurchak, Susan Madsen, Anna Young, Celeste Koh, Sumni Wu, Maggie Kipp, Sophiya, Nicole Brewer, Ali Cullum, Heidi Fristoe, Katie Dering, Martha Jackson, Sarah Pollan, Ryan Scripps, Marta Kopach, Diana Swope, Leah Ewing, Anne Cochran, Cassandra Wright, Allyn Waid, Janet Rice, Julie Gonzalez, Margarita Coale, Hallie Lawerence, Kitty Tillman, Courtney DiCanio, Jane Butler, Ryan Scripps, and Patricia McCord.
Supply Shop: Lesley Ooley, Tammy Byrd, Lauren Dewhirst, Megan Hall, Elise Danner, Sloane Phillips, Audrey Robertson, Beth Ann Harper, Amy Camillo, Caroline Settle, Margaret Morris, Michaela Mullen, Natalie Sharpe, Kerri Gale, Jennifer Barfoot, Mandy Hemphill, Surabi Shetty, Maritza Viviana Ortiz, Leila McCarty, and Melissa Leake.
| | Archived Editions of the Scots Weekly | | |
News to Share?
Didn't see a school-related shout-out, blurb or mention this week? We want to hear about it so please email ScotsWeekly@hphspta.org the details and up to four (4) pictures! Deadline for submissions is each Wednesday by 5 pm - FIRM DEADLINE to make it into the Monday newsletter. If submitted late, it will go in the next week's newsletter.
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4220 Emerson Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75205
Phone: 214-780-3700
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