This important reminder applies to seniors and other students, so please read carefully.

ALL FINES need to be cleared before your diploma and or grade card will be issued.  Seniors must have fines cleared by Tuesday morning in order to receive your diploma AFTER the graduation ceremony.  Remaining students need to have all fines paid before your grade card will be mailed home in the middle of June.

If you have any questions, visit with your assistant principal or the HHS financial secretary.

Seniors gathered for a “mysterious” evening on Friday, hoping to dance the night away at this year’s Prom, with the theme, “The Mystery Unfolds.”

The masquerade ball, presented by the senior class, took place at the University Plaza where students showed up in their finest attire and gowns. It was there that they were greeted by Hillcrest staff and faculty members, who each took shifts during the night to supervise the event.

Upon entering the ballroom adorned with balloons and confetti, seniors and their dates were given a full course meal that included a salad appetizer, a teriyaki chicken entrée with mashed potatoes, a cheesecake drizzled «Read Entire Post»

The “Music Video Smackdown,” an annual competition among Hillcrest broadcast students, concluded on Thursday.

Students in the four video classes form their own teams and choose from seven songs provided by adviser Dave Davis.  They have about nine days to plan, shoot and edit the final video.

“I remind them to try to tell a story with their productions.  Sometimes, they don’t.  It usually shows up in the voting,” said Davis

The voting he mentioned is done voluntarily by teachers and students who watch the playback of the video entries.  The winner is considered «Read Entire Post»

Students who traveled to China over spring break had an experience that was anything but ordinary in their eyes.

Jeremy George and several students made China their home for nine days, touring and exploring the historical sites that make up the country and learning more about the people, as well as their ever-changing culture that has been in development for centuries.

“This trip to China was the most impacting cultural experience of all the trips overseas. The amazing changes happening in China are boggling. China is becoming more and more open: religiously, politically economically,” said George.

Highlights of the trip included a guided tour of the Great Wall outside «Read Entire Post»

Thirteen members of the “HTV Magazine” staff traveled to Honolulu on March 17 for a spring break adventure in the “Aloha State.”

Ten adults accompanied the teens, and days were full of activities on the island, including trips to Pearl Harbor, climbing to the top of Diamond Head, and exploring the North Shore.

The trip to the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial gave the HHS group a chanceto visit with survivors of the December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor.  That was one of the more touching moments of the trip

“I could barely hold back the tears,” said Lisa Wilson, mother of HTV News Director Morgan Wilson, and one of the parents helping chaperone. «Read Entire Post»

Hillcrest sophomore Cherie Dias has talked her way into a free trip to Indianapolis this summer.  Actually, there is a little more to it than than.

Dias earned her way into the National Forensics League (NFL) national speech tournament in June with her Original Oratory performance at districts.   She is one of only four students in southwest Missouri to advance in that category.

Speech teacher Mark Gideon has been impressed all year with the commitment Dias has shown.

“Cherie is a dedicated, hardworking and focused member of the HHS «Read Entire Post»

Twice a year the Hillcrest Student Council helps put on a blood drive at HHS, and the spring edition is set for this Wednesday in the East Gymnasium.

The blood drive gives students and staff the opportunity to save lives. Each day over 200 units of blood donations are needed in the Ozarks to keep up with the demand.  The Hillcrest drive in the fall was one of the best in recent memory, bringing in about 100 units.

Rebecca McKnight, Hillcrest senior and a member of the Cabinet, «Read Entire Post»

Broadcast I students hit the studio, and the halls Thursday to find some school spirit for the big basketball game in Columbia. The video here shows what they found.

It will be the second time in three years Coach John Schaefer has led his squad to the final four.

There are fifteen books, but only one will take home the prize.

The Hillcrest library faculty is gearing up for the annual Gateway Book Awards where students will cast their vote for their favorites. Notable books for this year include, “Shiver” and “If I Grow Up.”

Librarian Linda Frederick says the program, which began in 2003, is all in an effort to raise interest in reading among student at the various Springfield Public Schools.

“Every state has some kind of reading promotion that both the public and school libraries do. The Gateway Awards are not supposed to be tied into classroom assignments or anything academic. The purpose is totally to promote leisure reading,” said Frederick.

In order to vote, Hillcrest students must have read three or more «Read Entire Post»

The zany Buzz-A-Thon webcast, with a theme of “2012: The End is Near,” concluded at 1 a.m. Sunday morning, and for the 22nd time since 1990, the show raised much-needed funds for supplies and student travel.

“We pulled in a little over $3,000 dollars this time.  Not our best year by far, but these days that is a decent result,” said long-time adviser Dave Davis.

Kaley Prier and Kimberly Moore were the “executive staff” of the 2012 Buzz-A-Thon, overseeing assignments for the live, unscripted, 12-hour program and the fundraisingside of the event. The show began an hour late after afailure justone minute before the start of the pre-show. Davis said it took 45 minutes to figure out exactly what went wrong. «Read Entire Post»