Dear Parents and Guardians,

My favorite school holiday is fast approaching!  Monday night football Vikings v. Packers is this Monday, October 5^th.  Students are invited to "Show their True Colors" and be out-of-uniform in either Vikings' purple or the Packers' green.  Please do not go shopping for clothing for this day.  I am discouraging face paint and hair coloring, not that I don't have a good supply at home, but that might make learning a bit of a challenge for the day.

Packer backers can expect to be last in the lunch line, however politically incorrect that might be! 

Go Vikes!

Jane Schmidt

Brain Fitness!

Our HCS Parent Support Group (parents, who have children with learning differences) is inviting all parents to join them in the school library on October 19^th at 7 p.m. for a presentation on brain fitness for kids.

"Brain Fitness for Kids - How the Brain Learns: From the Laboratory to the Classroom."  A short webinar presentation of over 40 years of research in neuroscience and how this research can be applied to the classroom to help struggling students.  The webinar is given by Dr. Paula Tallal, a Director of the Center for Molecular and Behavioral Neuroscience at Rutgers University and a Director of Scientific Learning Corp.  She is an authority on language-learning disabilities and is active on many scientific advisory boards and government committees for both developmental language disorders and learning problems.

Parent, Kate Thoma comments, "I have heard her speak here in Minnesota and find her research very worthy of sharing and discussion.  She has provided me with a great deal of understanding into language development and strategies for increasing processing speed and reading fluency.  I am eager to share her research with other parents and generate discussions on this and other alternative learning strategies."

Jack Frost doesn't Stop the HCS Garden Club

The Garden Club has a busy schedule in the upcoming weeks.  Parents of members should always pick up your child at the garden.  Make sure to sign out your child before they leave.

The meeting schedule through October is as follows:

Wednesday, October 7^th  - Planting Trees and spring bulbs  -Additional parent help would be great!

Wednesday, October 14^th - Soup Luncheon Prep - making place mats, invitations, table decorations, etc.  The Soup Luncheon is scheduled for October 21^st at 12:30 p.m.

Please email Sandy Gross, at sandyjgross@gmail.com, or call  (651) 698-5796,

if your child can make any of the meetings and if  you'd like to stay and help at any of the meetings.  As always, parent help is always greatly appreciated!

Art Crawl Coming!

Looking for something to do?  You might enjoy the Saint Paul Art Crawl, which is taking place October 9, 10 and 11.  It features hundreds of artists and galleries and is held in Lowertown and throughout Saint Paul.  More information at www.artcrawl.org or by  calling 651.292.4373.  You might spot, HCS parent, Juan Parker, displaying his work on the 6^th floor of the Rossmor Building.

Collection Time is Here

It's time to turn in those Box Tops, Campbell's Soup UPCs, and Milk Caps!  

The Family Collection Contest ends Monday, October 12th.  Make sure to send them into us well-sealed and well-marked with a name.  You can't get credit if they spill out or don't have a name on them. Once again Jeans Passes and other great prizes will be awarded.   And a big "Thank you!" for participating in these free money programs for HCS.

From Kathy Czech  (Our lovely and talented coordinator!)

Mark these Days and Times

Our fabulous School Store, The Hornet's Nest, is open for business every Tuesday and Thursday, from 7:45 - 8:05 a.m. and 2:50 - 3:30 p.m.  All sorts of treasures can be found to support learning and school spirit here at HCS!  A special thanks to Mrs. Katie Atlas for making this happen!

Mrs. Atlas also supervises Open Lab in the Computer Lab for homework use only on:

• Monday, Wednesday and Friday        7:30 - 8:05 a.m.
• Monday and Friday                             2:50 - 3:30 p.m.

This opportunity is for students in Grades 4-8.

Marathon Matters

Thanks for all of the support for this year's Marathon!  I am hopeful that we can meet our school goal of $50,000.  With this tough economy, I know it is even a bigger challenge.  Please encourage your child to meet his/her goal and even go a bit beyond.  Thanks.

Upcoming Events:

Oct. 1^st             Regional Planning Meeting at Holy Spirit Church at 7 p.m.

Oct. 2^nd            Mini-Marathon 9:00 a.m.

                        Marathon Grades 4-5, Noon and 6-8, 1:00 p.m. at Highland Senior's Track

Oct. 5^th            "Show your True Colors"

Oct. 6^th             Home and School Meeting 7 p.m. Library

Oct. 7^th            Third Grade Family Mass Noon at LCCC

Oct. 12^th          Olympic Medalist, Karyn Dietz speaks to Grades K-5  Come and join us!  8:30 a.m.

Oct. 13^th          Dessert Party for New HCS Families 7 p.m. Library

Oct. 14^th          Second Grade Family Mass Noon at LCCC

Oct 15^th-16^th    MEA- No School

Oct. 21^st-22^nd   Conferences

Alumni News: Congratulations to former HCS student, Steve Hermes, on being elected Highland Senior High School Homecoming King!  Stevie rules!