Highland Park High School students once again performed strongly on the SAT and ACT. HPHS students' SAT scores exceeded both the state and national averages while ACT scores tied last year's composite score of 26.1. Since admissions tests are so important in applying for college, this shows that Highland Park students are in a great place. HPISD Superintendent Dr. Dawson Orr thanked teachers and parents for the high success rate. To see a five year glance at HPISD SAT and ACT scores, check out the given link or go to www.hpisd.org.

Ok, I know I have written about President Obama's speech already, but I had to share this article from a man named Greg Sellnow in Rochester, Minnesota. In this he basically says, regardless of your political affiliation, when did it become a bad thing for children to hear the president of the United States speak? I completely agree because I see the office of president as a place of respect no matter what. Even if the president in office is not the one I voted for, he is still my president and he is still, as Greg says, the "highest elected leader in the land" which we value so greatly. We live in America, after all, where we have freedoms and rights and we elect our leaders. I always taught my students that we are pretty lucky for that.

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President Obama gave his speech to students today. Did all students hear it? Of course not. Some school districts in some states did not show it on purpose, some parents might have kept their children home so they could not hear it, and some schools may not have the technology available in all classes to show it to their students. All I know is that I have read this speech (and have included a link here in case you haven't), and I think it is fabulous. The president wasn't speaking about politics. He was talking to students about the importance of a good education and their responsibility as individuals to work hard in school. I don't see how any one can argue with his points. As a former high school teacher, I said some of these same things many times to my students. They need an education to be successful, chances are most will not be famous rappers or athletes one day, and they have to continue to try despite their circumstances outside of school. The president mentioned all of these things.

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A new curriculum teaching middle school and high school aged students about what happened on September 11, 2001 and the effects of that day is being tested this year at schools in New York City, California, New Jersey, Alabama, Indiana, Illinois and Kansas. The curriculum was developed with the help of educators by the Brick, N.J.-based Sept. 11 Education Trust, and was based on primary sources, archival footage and more than 70 interviews with witnesses, family members of victims and politicians, including former New York mayor, Rudy Giuliani and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a New York senator at the time of the attacks.

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In what is turning out to be a very controversial decision, the President plans to give a speech to the students of America on Tuesday from Wakefield High School in Arlington, VA. The speech, which all schools have been encouraged to show in their classrooms, will then be broadcast live on the White House website and C-SPAN. According to the White House, President Obama will be speaking to Pre K-12th graders about personal responsiblity and the importance of staying in school.

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This article from the Washington Post looks at what it refers to as the "sleeping giant" of America's education system...home-schooling. According to the article, 1.7 million children are currently being home-schooled and this number has been growing by about 9% each year for the last ten years. The big question about home-schooled children is whether or not they receive the same quality of education as children attending public schools.

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Not all Highland Park High School students will be ranked as in the past. According to a decision made by the HPISD School Board on August 11, now only the top 10 percent will be ranked, as this is a requirement by state law. The top 10 percent must be ranked for admissions consideration to all Texas public universities. This decision, which was reached following a considerable study during the 2008-09 school year, goes into effect for this year's senior class of 2010. To read a Q & A about this policy, click on the given link or go to www.hpisd.org.

The new school hours for Highland Park elementary schools approved by the Board of Trustees back in May will go into effect for the 2009-10 school year. The new schedule is as follows:

Kindergarten: 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. (6.5 hours)
Grades 1 & 2: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. (7 hours)
Grades 3 & 4: 8 a.m.-3:15 p.m. (7.25 hours)

A majority of Highland Park parents polled favored this schedule, which will bring 1st and 2nd grades into compliance with the Texas Education Code.