HIGHLAND HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

Highland High School Trimester 1 2026-27

---

---

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 and use them to stay informed and to plan ahead for any and all major school events. Please contact Highland Administration with any questions.  

Highland Academic Calendar

Highland Sports/Activities Calendar

---

---

September 28-October 3, 2026

Highland Parent, Student, and Ram Supporter,

This is a busy week as we celebrate Homecoming with several events throughout the week. Also, on Friday we do not have school on Friday for students because of statewide teacher inservice. We are excited for an amazing Homecoming week! 

---

---

HIGHLAND HOMECOMING WEEK IS HERE!

Highland Homecoming is this week. Below is a calendar of events, dress up themes, and other activities planned by our amazing student leadership. Please contact administration with any questions. Homecoming Royalty voting will happen on Tuesday and Homecoming Royalty will be presented at our Homecoming Assembly on Thursday. Our Homecoming Football game will be Friday at 7pm v. the Pocatello Thunder here at Highland Stadium, dress up theme is Blackout for all Highland fans. The Homecoming Dance will be on Saturday starting at 8:30pm at the Highland Gym, cost is $20 a person. Tickets are available in the bursar's office. 

---

---

POCATELLO KIWANIS GIVES TO HIGHLAND

Pocatello Kiwanis donated $1500 to Highland to help with the school pantry and students who may be in need. We appreciate the Pocatello Kiwanis and their support of our community and our students in Pocatello/Chubbuck School District #25 and specifically here at Highland. Their support literally helps feed and cloth students, as well as provide for other needs they may have. Thank you Pocatello Kiwanis!

---

---

HIGHLAND MARCHING BAND HAVING SUCCESS

Highland Marching Band took 3rd at the Highland Marching Band invite here at Highland Stadium a week ago and this last weekend they took 2nd at the Madison High School invite! Way to go Highland Marching Band! Come see them perform at half time of the Homecoming game this Friday night at 7pm at Highland Stadium. 

---

---

HIGHLAND KEY CLUB BLOOD DRIVE-OCTOBER 7th

Highland Key Club is sponsoring a Blood Drive at Highland on Wednesday, October 7.  Students who are 16 and older can donate. 16-year-olds need parent permission. Students who donate will receive a $15 gift card by email! See Ms. Frasure in room B17 to sign up or to get a permission slip.

---

---

SOPHOMORE PSAT DAY OCTOBER 14th, JUNIORS ALSO ENCOURAGED TO SIGN UP, FRESHMAN, JUNIORS, SENIORS VIRTUAL DAY.

Sophomore PSAT Day is coming up on Wednesday, October 14th. Juniors are also encouraged to sign up and participate but are not required to. Freshman, Juniors, and Seniors will have a virtual day this day. 

The Preliminary SAT (PSAT) is offered each October and the results can provide valuable feedback about academic strengths and areas for improvement, while also offering tools to explore career interests and college options.

Juniors are also highly encouraged to take the PSAT and can register to take it by visiting the Junior Google Classroom and filling out the Junior PSAT Registration Google form.

ALL sophomores will be registered by the district to take the exam and will not need to complete a form. PSAT information and practice opportunities have been added to both the junior and sophomore Google classrooms. Please contact Mrs. Santos-Smith for questions.

---

---

HIGHLAND CLASS OF 2027

Highland Class of 2027. Please check out all events and information for graduates for the year on the link=Highland Class of 2027 Important Information, Dates, & Events doc.

---

---

PAPA JOHNS/HIGHLAND PIZZA DAY-10/1/26, PROMO CODE: HIGHLAND20

Come support Highland High School and eat pizza from Papa Johns on Thursday October 1st, 2026. Use the Promo Code: HIGHALND20 and get 20% off and 20% of the proceeds will go to Highland High School. This is the 1st of 3 pizza days scheduled with Papa Johns for this school year. Thank you Papa Johns and the Highland Ram Family for your amazing support of our students and our school. GO RAMS & GO PAPA JOHNS!

---

---

EF 2028 TOURS: INTERESTED IN OPPORTUNITIES TO TRAVEL TO INCREASE YOUR EDUCATION

Calling all adventure seekers, history explorers, and nature lovers! Imagine exploring the ancient Mayan ruins, traveling through Belize’s lush rainforest, experiencing an exciting ziplining adventure, and snorkeling in the crystal-clear Caribbean waters. Adventure in Belize gives students the chance to learn about culture, ecosystems, and history while experiencing the best of Belize beyond the classroom! For more information and pricing please click here and email Ms. Angelea Baird. 

Want to visit a castle in Scotland, see the village where Shakespeare lived, walk the streets of London, pass a day at Oxford University, see Stonehenge, and eat a croissant in Paris? If so, then go see Mr. Jenks at room B-22 and learn how to join the 2028 EF tour to Scotland, England, and France. Book the tour soon and get a discount. Email Mr. Kyle Jenks for pricing and details.

---

---

FREE TUTORING IS AVAILABLE

Highland offers free tutoring to any student that needs it. The tutoring schedule is:

• General Tutoring=4-5pm Tuesday & Thursday Room B1.
• General Tutoring=4-5pm Wednesday & Friday Room B19. 
• Math Tutoring=4-5pm Tuesday & Thursday Room C26
• Math Tutoring=4-5pm Wednesday Room C39. 
• Set up an appointment with your own teacher. 

Remember that transportation home from tutoring is not provided. 

---

---

ATTENDANCE MATTERS

As students start to receive truancy, with each truancy the student is assigned to meet with Principal Wallace. This meeting is essential so Principal Wallace can review the attendance procedures and support the student anyway possible. With any questions regarding attendance, please reach out to Principal Wallace. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To complete a Highland Virtual Present Request, students must take the following steps:

1. Come get the physical Teacher Signature Virtual Present Request from Principal Wallace.
2. Go to each teacher, make a plan to complete your work virtually for the dates requested, and have the teacher sign the form.
3. Take a picture of the form and upload it to the Highland Virtual Present Request Form Tri 1 and submit it.
4. Wait for a reply from Principal Wallace to grant approval.

For questions please contact Principal Wallace.
 

 

---

---

COLLEGE & CAREER ADVISORS

Dear Highland Students & Families,

It is Homecoming week at Highland, so there is lots of excitement and energy – personal, academic, and emotional. There is special and particular energy in October when our seniors begin, in earnest, to make plans and complete processes that will take them all kinds of places after graduation: training programs, certificates, religious service, college, enlistment, in state or out of state, hands-on or brainy. We are ready for all that and hope you are, too. Read more here and mark your calendars.

College of Southern Idaho Visit, Wed., Sept. 30

The College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls will be visiting Highland this week, on Wednesday, Sept. 30th, in the CCA area from 9 am until 10:30. CSI offers a wide variety of programs from certificates to degrees, has very competitive sports programs, a strong Hispanic culture, and committed faculty. Learn more on Wednesday. Students will need teacher permission to visit. 

Opening October 1st . . . 

The following applications and platform, crucial to Highland seniors, will open on October 1st:

• The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid

• Apply Idaho (giving students the opportunity to apply to any or all of the ten Idaho colleges, universities, and training programs – and it’s free)

• Scholarship Idaho (from which students can apply for either the Idaho Opportunity Scholarship or the Launch grant, or the competitive Governor’s Cup Scholarship)

The URLs for further information on each are here:

FAFSA:  https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa

Apply Idaho:  https://apply.nextsteps.idaho.gov/Account/Login

Scholarship Idaho:  https://scholarships.idaho.gov/

Hold the Phone! The FAFSA is Now Open!

We do not peddle in fake news or misinformation, but no sooner did we get ready to post this information to the newsletter when we found out that the government opened up the FAFSA today, September 25th. The sooner you get that baby done, the better. The KickStart will be a prime opportunity to do that, but students could come in with their Social Security #, their phone, and a ChromeBook, and we can help them get their part done. Follow the URL above. The state of Idaho platforms noted will open on October 1st.

MAKE NOTE: Senior KickStart, Wed., October 14. 

This senior extravaganza will be at the PV-TEC Building from 10 am to 6 pm (it is PSAT day for sophomores and a virtual school day for first years, juniors, and seniors) on Wednesday, October 14th. At this event, students and their families can apply to state of Idaho schools and training programs, state scholarships, the FAFSA, visit with military recruiters, learn about out-of-state schools, BYU-I will be there to assist with their application, and more. Broad information sessions will be on the hour from 10 am to 5 pm, and then students can set themselves to work. Lots can get done in one day – which is the goal. Stop by any time during the day and bring your families.

Idaho State – Experience the Roar, Pocatello, Wed., Oct. 14

ISU / Pocatello’s premier fall enrollment event is “Experience the Roar” on Wednesday, October 14th, from 6 to 9 pm so it will not conflict with school or most after-school activities. At this open house-type event, students and families can learn about academic and training programs, scholarships, timelines for completion. Faculty and program staff will be there to provide information and answer questions. If you think you know ISU, this is the time and place to see how much more there is to learn. Please register by going to this URL:

https://www.isu.edu/experience/

BYU-Idaho Campus Day, Friday, October 16

If you are interested in, or already plan to apply to BYU-Idaho, consider attending their Campus Day. It will run from 8 am to 4 pm, featuring a department fair, campus tours, student life and housing, adventures of various kinds, and a tour of departments based on your interest. The day wraps up with application assistance, but you can also do your BYU-I application at the Senior KickStart on October 14th (our BYU-I rep will be there all day to help with applications). You will need to speak to Mr. Wallace about missing school that day. Mark your calendar if BYU-I might be in your future. 

Portneuf Valley College Fair, Monday, October 26 

At ISU, in the morning. We will be taking juniors and seniors, by bus, who sign up with the CCAs. All the Idaho schools, training programs, out of state schools and colleges, military recruiters, cosmetology programs, and much more will be there. Great opportunity.

OK, time to close the book on this week. It is lovely fall weather. Enjoy it – and each other.

Highland College Career Advisors

Alice Rowe

Sarah May Clarkson

---

---

EXTRACURRICULARS'

Highland Fall Extracurriculars are now in full swing, practicing every day. We encourage all students to participate in an extracurricular-a club, a sport, an activity, wherever their talents and interests lead them. If students want to start a club, come speak with Mr. Bell in the front office when the school year begins. Each week we will post the activities happening that week at Highland here, in the newsletter..... 

Monday 9/28/26:HC Dress up theme=BBQ Dads v Soccer Moms

• 12pm Highland Art Club Meeting @ lunch in Mrs. Childers room, Room C41.
• 6pm Highland Varsity Girls Soccer v Canyon Ridge High School @ Highland Stadium.
• 7pm HC Free BBQ for Girls Soccer Game @ Highland Stadium.
• 7:30pm Highland JV Girls Soccer v Canyon Ridge High School @ Highland Stadium.

Tuesday 9/29/26: HC Dress up theme=Pajama Day.

• 9:30am Highland JV Boys/Girls Golf Championships @ Pinecrest Golf Course-Idaho Falls,ID.
• 5:30pm Highland Freshman/JV Volleyball @ Rigby High School-Rigby, ID.
• 7pm Highland Varsity Volleyball @ Rigby High School-Rigby, ID.
• 6:30pm HC Movie Night @ Highland Gym-$1 popcorn and treats.

Wednesday 9/30/26: HC Dress up theme=Dolly Parton (pink out/western).

• Highland JV/Varsity Boys/Girls Golf Inner City @ Juniper Hills Country Club.
• 7:30pm-9pm HC Pickleball @ Poky Pickleball. 

Thursday 10/1/26: HC Dress up theme=Construction.

• 12:30pm Creative Writing Club @ Lunch in Mrs. Pauline Smith's Room, Room C42.
• 1:27pm Homecoming Assembly Presentation of Royalty @ Highland Gym. 
• 10:30am Highland Cross Country-Bob Conley @ Portneuf Wellness Complex.
• 4:30pm Highland Freshman Football @ Sugar Salem High School-Sugar Salem, ID.
• 7pm Highland JV Football v. Pocatello High School @ Poky Lookout Field.
• 6pm Highland JV Girls Soccer @ Rigby High School-Rigby, ID.
• 7:30pm Highland Varsity Girls Soccer @ Rigby High School-Rigby, ID.
• 6pm Highland Boys JV Soccer v Rigby High School @ Highland Stadium.
• 7:30pm Highland Boys Varsity Soccer v Rigby High School @ Highland Stadium.

Friday 10/2/26:No School for Students/GAME DAY-Dress up Theme is Blackout for all Highland Fans!

• Highland Varsity Volleyball Rocky Mountain Tournament @ Rocky Mountain High School-Meridian, ID.
• 7pm Highland Homecoming Football Game Varsity Football v Pocatello High School @ Highland Stadium. 

Saturday 10/3/26: HOMECOMING DANCE 8:30pm @ Highland Gym-$20 each.

• Highland Marching Band Competition @ Caldwell High School-Caldwell, ID.
• Highland Varsity Volleyball Rocky Mountain Tournament @ Rocky Mountain High School-Meridian, ID.
• 11am Highland Varsity Boys Soccer @ Madison High School-Rexburg, ID.
• 12:30pm Highland Varsity Boys Soccer @ Madison High School-Rexburg, ID.
• 11am Highland Varsity Girls Soccer v Madison High School @ Highland Stadium.
• 12:30pm Highland JV Girls Soccer v Madison High School @ Highland Stadium.
• 8:30pm Highland Homecoming Dance @ Highland Gym-$20 each.

Monday 10/5/26:

• 12pm Highland Art Club Meeting @ lunch in Mrs. Childers room, Room C41.

---

---