Student Council Halloween Bonanza

By Colleen Zeiss Ghost rockets, pumpkin volcanoes, and a candy walk...oh my! These are just a few of the Halloween activities this year’s Student Council planned for the Junior High.  The day began with decorating lockers in the hopes of winning the coveted “Best Decorated Locker” award. Students’ creativity flowed as they transformed the locker …

Enriching Fun and Games: First Quarter Gallery Walks Day 2

By Gint Valiulis Poker and Plinko at HPA!  Students in Mr. Cutter’s Card Sharks class finished their nine day long Omaha Hi/Lo tournament with Lily B. taking the pot. Lily B. and Jessica P. battled over several hands in a tug of war that could have gone either way. Mr. Cutter offered that they share …

Quarter 1 Enrichment Gallery Walks: Public Speaking & Art

By Colleen Zeiss The Junior High began its Quarter 1 Enrichment Gallery Walks on Tuesday, October 29th. These walks offer an opportunity for the students to showcase their work for the quarter in their elective classes.  Mrs. Huezo showed a video compilation of excerpts of the students’ best speeches. These included students reading from a …

7th Grade Science: Full-S.T.E.A.M Ahead!

By Colleen Zeiss If you want to see what a 21st-century education looks like, look no further than Mrs. Huezo’s seventh-grade science lab.  This week, the students took a break from their life science curriculum to engage in an interactive and engaging S.T.E.A.M. project. This acronym (which  stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) …

From Dog Biscuits to Winter Coats, High Point’s Community Engagement Initiative Has Created Worthy Traditions in Giving

By Norma Richman, Director of Community Engagement “I learned that working hard is worth it if it helps people in need.”  Sunshine H. Now in its fourth year, the Community Engagement curriculum at High Point Academy is turning out thoughtful, educated and empathetic members of society who are learning the value of helping those less …

Volunteering in Eagle’s Nest: A Family Affair

By  Colleen Zeiss Real-life math applications, customer service skills, the laws of supply-and-demand: sounds like an amazing class, right? Actually, this is what our students learn from volunteering with their parents in Eagle’s Nest. I recently signed up to volunteer with my children, and we had a blast. If you think your kids are too …

4th Grade CI® or Comprehensible Input®

By Anna Parsons-Lamb In using CI® or Comprehensible Input® students are on the receiving end of a lot of repetitive oral and written language. They need this repetition to acquire the language, but repetition can be tedious if you're not careful. We try to implement variety in the ways that students read and practice so that …

Junior High Advisory Program

By Colleen Zeiss The Junior High Advisory Program began last year and continues to offer students a safe place for discussion and exploration. Advisory groups consist of one faculty member and eight or nine junior-high students, from both grades. The program aims to build peer and teacher-student relationships. Advisory groups meet most Fridays for a …

Recognition of the September 20th Global Climate Strike

By Colleen Zeiss In preparation for the United Nations Climate Change Summit in New York City this week, people in more than 150 countries are stepping up to support students who demand change for our planet.   Students and adults all over the world participated in walkouts on September 20th in order to bring awareness and …

Junior High Physical Education Curriculum

By Colleen Zeiss The Junior High PE Department has revamped its curriculum, beginning with First Aid and CPR certification for students. The first cohort is the seventh-grade girls, who have been diligently working with Mrs. Sonya Stromberg all week in preparation for their certification practicum. Although they are the first group to engage in the …