Scots Encyclopedia

Major School Events

Academic Achievement Awards

This is a night-time awards program in April acknowledging all students who have achieved recognition for academic or extracurricular participation in a competition above the district level.  Parents are invited to this ceremony and reception where approximately 250 students are recognized.

Battle of the Bands

Battle of the Bands is Student Council's major spring event. Last year  there was an excellent turn out. Student bands send in audition tapes and several bands are chosen to play during varying time slots.  Students who attend can vote for their favorite student band, and the winner receives a cash prize.

Class Favorites Dance

This dance is put on by the Prom Committee to raise money for the Junior/Senior Prom. It is usually after a football game for about two hours. The day of the dance students vote on their favorite boy and girl in their grade and the favorites are announced at the dance.

Distinguished Alumni Luncheon

The Alumni Association elects several Distinguished Alumni and a Distinguished Service winner from the HPISD staff each year in the middle of the spring semester.  These award winners are recognized at a special dinner held at the Dallas Country Club, as well as at a luncheon held at the high school with current students.

New Student Orientation

This program is held during the week before school starts to welcome new students to the high school.  In the past it has included introductions of the school administration and campus tours by student leaders.

Golden Scot Luncheon

The Highland Park High School Alumni Association hosts this event each September for alumni who graduated more than 50 years ago.  Each year, approximately 500 people attend, and current students assist with serving and campus tours.

Highlander Festival

This is a week of activities held in the spring celebrating the fine arts in the school district.  Included are instrumental music, vocal music, and the visual arts at the high school and middle school.

Hi-Lites Dances

There are two Hi-Lites dances, hosted by the Hi-Lites Service Club. One is in the fall and the other is in the spring. The girls ask the guys to these dances, and the proceeds are typically donated to a non-profit agency.

Homecoming Week/Dance

The week of homecoming is celebrated with dress up days according to the theme selected for that year. In the past, popular dress-up days have been camouflage, pajamas, western/cowboy, elementary/eighties, and blue/gold.  At the Friday night Homecoming game, the six Homecoming queen nominees, who are selected by the senior football players, are announced and escorted onto the field by their fathers.  The Homecoming Dance is on Saturday night.  The dance is the largest social event of the year with most of the students attending.  After voting has taken place throughout the evening, the Homecoming Queen is announced at the end of the dance.

Honors Day

Honors Day is held in May to recognize seniors for their accomplishments.  Awards and scholarships are announced for activities, academic departments, and community organizations.  Parents are invited to attend this assembly held during the school day in the afternoon after the senior luncheon.  Special awards include the Hall of Fame for students who have made outstanding extracurricular contributions and the Blanket Awards for the top senior boy and girl.

Howdy Dance

This dance is after the first home football game and is put on by Student Council. It is the first dance of the school year for all the students. It is held in the ASF and Flash photography comes and takes pictures.  There is always an especially large turnout of new students.

Lunch on the Lawn

Lunch on the Lawn is held on the front lawn approximately once each six weeks for all the students, with catered food brought in by different restaurants. The first one of the year is the Community Service Fair, with many different non-profit agencies setting up tables to promote service opportunities. Other Lunches on the Lawn have a seasonal theme and often have student bands perform.

Opening Day Assemblies

During the first week of school, each grade level meets with the school administration in a class meeting to meet new people and hear about new policies and procedures for the year.

Pep Rallies

During football season we have a pep rally every Friday. It begins with the football team running out through a tunnel of drill team members as the band plays the fight song and the cheerleaders cheer. We make school announcements and enjoy the Belles performing, a Scotsmen skit, or a cheerleading performance. The football coach then comes out and announces the players of the week and gives an inspiring speech. One of the players on the Players Committee also gives a speech. The football team then receives a Victory Apple if they won the game the week before. The players walk through a large wooden apple, receive a fresh apple, and keep their seeds from their apples to drop on the field at the game that night. The pep rallies conclude with two-bits led by the cheerleaders, the pledge of allegiance, and our school song. There are also pep rallies for other sports throughout the year.

Prom

Prom is organized by a group of junior students who applied to be on the committee which is coordinated by PTA volunteers. They plan the dance for the seniors. Prom is the only dance off-campus and is held at a different location each year, including such sites as the Texas Stadium Club, Union Station, and Fair Park Music Hall.  Activities at the dance include gambling tables such a black jack and craps and a live band. The prom queen and king nominees are selected by the senior class, and the queen and king are voted for and announced at the dance.

Scholar Athlete/Cornerstone Program

The athletic department establishes criteria based on Grade Point Average, course selection, and extracurricular activities to recognize Scholar Athletes.  An evening program with a community speaker is held in the spring for these students.

Senior Swim

On the Friday before Spring Break, senior class officers organize a special swim party in the school pool for seniors only after 2^nd period.  This is the day that the senior class picture is taken, and seniors are allowed to miss one period of classes.

You Make a Difference Breakfast

Approximately once each six weeks, teachers are invited to nominate students who they have observed making a positive contribution to campus life.  These are typically “unsung heroes” who otherwise might not be recognized.  The students and the nominating teacher are invited to breakfast with the administrators before school.