Walter Kelly, the new Highland Park High School principal, sends word to students who will be attending tonight’s Howdy Dance.

The type of dancing acceptable for this event is to be kept in styles that are fun and non-offensive. Inappropriate and sexually suggestive movements will not be permitted. If a student does not respond to the faculty chaperone’s request to change his/her dancing style, he/she will be escorted off the floor.

The link was my addition but you know that’s what he was thinkin’.

Fifth-graders from the PC-TAG program were treated to an ice cream social before the start of school.

One of the best parts of my job is also one of the easiest and most rewarding: Publishing photos of kids having fun.

Kids love seeing their photos in the paper, parents love seeing their kids in the papers, and organizations like schools and Scouts love the free promotion — it’s win-win-win.

Now that school’s in full swing, don’t forget to send us your photos from events and meetings to editor (at) peoplenewspapers (dot) com.

It’s a back-to-school edition of Bursting the Bubble. Charles and Merritt are back after a summer hiatus. After visiting her daughter’s junior high open house, Merritt gets sent to the office for her previous blog post about a parking sign.

Join Merritt and Charles as they take a trip down memory lane and share memories of daydreams, gossip, and smells of junior high.

I have a solid rule in my house, no Facebook until you’re 13. Period. I just didn’t think it felt right to allow my kid to enter a fake birthday in order to meet the Facebook terms and create a profile. It seems hard to approve that and then say you can’t lie about other stuff.

But in many ways, I wish I hadn’t made the rule. I can’t back down now so thankfully a September birthday will solve it all very shortly. But when I got this e-mail from a totally awesome HPISD teacher, I wondered if the remaining holdout parents of 12 year old 7th graders should give in and let it go, you know, for academic reasons. Maybe I should have given in sooner.

I have a class Facebook set up and encourage the kids to add me as a friend.  I am on for about a half hour to forty-five minutes a night a few days a week and tutor through Facebook.  It allows the kids to ask questions, check on homework and assignments and get time with me once school is out.

This is a teacher who is spending her own time in a strategic cyber-locale to help kids succeed in her class. Rock. Star. But should parents let their kids lie to be more academic?

I didn’t, either. Too bad she only has 34 followers. We should totally fix that, right Overheardians?

The Situation is always looking to protect his boys from grenades. It hit me recently- this is EXACTLY what we need in the PTA, an actual Grenade Chairman, someone who will sacrifice herself for the other moms. Now, The Situation uses this term to describe the one ugly chick in each group of total babes who must be entertained or she’ll drag the whole gang home, ruining the fun for everyone.

But in the PTA, the grenade isn’t necessarily bad looking, she’s the dementor. And she needs to be distracted before all of the happy volunteers get the life sucked out of them.

It’s probably too late to add the position this year but word to the 2011-2012 PTA presidents, grab yourself a grenade chair. I’m just sayin’.

Last night HPMS parents went through a mini version of their child’s schedule, spending 10 minutes in each class getting scoop for the year. It isn’t as easy as it sounds. One time I ended up in the wrong class and had to slip out and switch rooms. I hate it when that happens.

But I saw everthing from a cool, young teacher wingin’ it to a full slide show/power point presentation.

I learned that the cross country coach looks just like Tim Riggins and the history teacher was once in a tornado. 

What did you learn last night?

In computer graphics.

Mr. Bohac, I told her it was goin’ up on the blog. I bet she’s super hard at work by now. But maybe you could swing by and make sure. It totally takes a village.

So the sign is still there today and the principal is parked in the space. I feel certain she’s noticed the sign. But maybe not. Please choose one of the following:

1. Administration thinks it cute and plans to leave it as is.
2. Administration hasn’t noticed.
3. Administration does not want to hurt the feelings of the person who put it there.
4. Other, please specifiy.

Oct. 1 is the deadline for fiscal 2011 budgets, which means a flurry of meetings between now and then. Tomorrow, the Highland Park Independent School District will have its annual public hearing on the district’s proposed budget starting at 5 p.m. in the MIS 5/6 assembly room.

A breakdown of proposed budget amendments is on the district’s website here.