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The official student news site of Highlands High School

The Hilltopper

The official student news site of Highlands High School

The Hilltopper

The official student news site of Highlands High School

The Hilltopper

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Photo of Google Maps in downtown Newport (Map data ©2025 Google)

Newport Pavilion traffic affects student drivers daily

Meg Gallagher, Social Media Editor September 30, 2025

Downtown Newport has become a vibrant hub for a diverse range of businesses, including food, retail, athletics, self-care, and health services. The area has grown far beyond the predictions made during...

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Edy Hobson poses for a photo with the book Fahrenheit 451.

How reading Fahrenheit 451 has affected sophomores’ views on social media

Edy Hobson and Meg Gallagher September 30, 2025

There exists a dark world in which books are prohibited. Any and all books are required to be burned, or else citizens face extreme consequences. Firefighters don’t put out fires in this society; they...

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Chamber choir smile to chorale director Chris Eaton during their performance of "Any Dream Will Do".

Eaton and friends take the stage

Alecia Cogsville, Photo Assistant September 22, 2025

On September 18, the chorus director, Chris Eaton, put on a show with some of his students called Eaton and Friends. These students signed up to sing in the show. They could have sung solos or duets. This...

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Picture of one of many SOJEA tee T-shirts (Wade Fedders)

Highlands student entrepreneur starts orange juice business

Xander Bailey, Staff September 17, 2025

There are a few people here at Highlands who manage extracurricular activities and also manage a business. These kids are often interested in business, specifically in starting their own company. This...

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Fanart for Netflix’s Wednesday (Photo from Shutterstock).

Students share their opinions on Wednesday season two

Edy Hobson, Copy Editor September 15, 2025

On Sept. 3, 2025, Wednesday season two, part two was officially released on Netflix. It quickly became trending on social media, even reaching the number four spot in the top ten most watched TV shows...

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New teacher Kerry Conley pictured at her desk in her new classroom.

The Bluebirds welcome new FCS educator Kerry Conley

Adalyn Armstrong-Cattani and Ellie Rogiers September 15, 2025

Coming into the 2025-2026 school year, there are many new adjustments. Several new teachers are joining the staff. Among them is Kerry Conley, who is teaching family and consumer sciences in room 110.  Conley...

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Kendall Shields (11) and Lylah Doerr (11) discuss what they are grateful for.

Guest speaker discusses student mental health

Alecia Cogsville, Photo Assistant September 15, 2025

On Sept. 11 and 12, Mike Mizer from 1N5 spoke to students about mental health. Mizer works in the field of mental health and strives to help prevent suicide by breaking the stigma surrounding mental illness. He...

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Highlands Seniors Colton Bailey, Brady Carnohan, Andrew Lucas, and Isaac Niemann walk down the field for the coin toss.

Highlands becomes 3-1 in the season after losing to Boyle County 21-20

Ady Klosterman and Andrea Suarez Espinosa September 15, 2025

Highlands brought home their first loss last Friday, Sept. 12, after taking defeat from the Boyle County Rebels.  Although there are no statistics uploaded for the Rebels, offensively, Highlands had...

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Wade Fedders (11) kicks the ball to his teammate.

The Birds tie the Colonels 1-1

Andrea Suarez Espinosa September 15, 2025

Highlands and Covington Catholic battled to a 1-1 draw in a heated rivalry match on Thursday, September 11.  Highlands struck first when Luis McVicker (11)  scored a goal, giving them more momentum....

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Avery Nieporte (12) strikes a pose during the ending of the show. "I enjoy the show this year because it is a chance to show off a higher skill level and choreography than in the past," Nieporte said.

Highlands marching band performs at Beechwood

Edy Hobson, Copy Editor September 11, 2025

On September 6, the marching band performed at Beechwood High School for their first competition. In preliminaries, the band competed in Class 3A, where they swept the awards, achieving outstanding...

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