🌱 How will HPISD’s new 2026-27 calendar affect your family?

Good morning to you Highland Park! Catch up on our news and events right here. Keep reading to stay in the know. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How will HPISD’s new 2026-27 calendar affect your family?
• Which Highland Park pastor just earned SMU’s top alumni honor?
• How did Smithson Valley dethrone Dallas Highland Park last season?

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Breezy in the afternoon, with a high of 67 and low of 39 degrees.
• Friday: Plenty of sun, temps: high: 63, low: 52.
• Saturday: Breezy in the morning; sunny, with a high of 78 and low of 50 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• HPISD Board of Trustees Selects Academic Calendar (peoplenewspapers.com) — Highland Park ISD has set the 2026-27 school year to run from August 19 through May 28, with a new parent-teacher conference day on November 3. After weighing different start dates and feedback from parents and staff, trustees approved a third-option calendar that balances a later start with dedicated conference time.
   

• SMU Honors 2025 Distinguished Alumni, Emerging Leader (peoplenewspapers.com) — Highland Park readers may be interested to know that the senior minister of Highland Park United Methodist Church, Rev. Paul Rasmussen, has been named one of SMU’s 2025 Distinguished Alumni. SMU also honored leaders in corporate management, philanthropy, and digital marketing, plus an Emerging Leader working in NFL club and college marketing, highlighting the university’s broad local and national impact.
   

• Smithson Valley puts its own stamp on San Antonio high school football history (expressnews.com) — Highland Park football fans will note that Smithson Valley enters Friday’s 5A Division I state title game as defending champs after beating Dallas Highland Park 32-20 in 2024. The story tracks Smithson Valley’s three straight finals appearances, their powerhouse coach Larry Hill, and how coaching stability has shaped San Antonio-area high school football history.
   

📸 Around Highland Park

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Highland Park

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Thursday December 18

• Spotlight Talk: Power Couples | Salvador Dalí and Gala Dalí
  Meadows Museum , 5900 Bishop Blvd. , Dallas
  6:00 pm
• Art in the Style of ... Picasso
  Oak Lawn Branch Library , 4100 Cedar Springs Road , Dallas
  6:00 pm

Friday December 19

• Bilingual Storytime / Hora de cuentos
  Oak Lawn Branch Library , 4100 Cedar Springs Road , Dallas
  10:30 am
• Carter BloodCare Blood Drive
  Oak Lawn Branch Library , 4100 Cedar Springs Road , Dallas
  12:00 pm
• Scots Soccer @ Franklin Stadium vs TJ
  Dallas ISD - Franklin Field
  4:30 pm
• HPHS Scots Basketball @ RL Turner (District)
  RL Turner High School
  4:45 pm

Saturday December 20

• December Commencement
  Moody Coliseum
  10:00 am

Sunday December 21

• Drawing from the Masters
  Meadows Museum , 5900 Bishop Blvd. , Dallas
  1:30 pm

📣 Highland Park Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 18

• Touch Typing Basics
  Dallas Public Library , 1515 Young Street , Dallas
  10:30 am
• Dallasite Yogis
  Dallas Public Library , 1515 Young Street , Dallas
  12:00 pm
• Keyboard Class
  Dallas Public Library , 1515 Young Street , Dallas
  1:00 pm
• Ukulele Class
  Dallas Public Library , 1515 Young Street , Dallas
  2:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Highland Park PatchAM possible:

• Hvac Services Pro — (866) 879-8122
  Best Deals on New AC Units – Dallas & DFW Area

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🗞 Nearby News

University Park

• Randy Allen plans to continue coaching football in pursuit of Texas all-time wins record (on3.com)
• 3 Popular North Texas Restaurants Announce Closures (dallasobserver.com)
• Mark Cuban Touts Authenticity of TikTok Star ‘Patriotic Kenny' (peoplenewspapers.com)

Dallas

• Dallas' Most Booked Restaurants of 2025 (Sorta) (dallasobserver.com)
• Popular ramen shop to open in Uptown Dallas (dallasnews.com)
• Dallas PULSE to host free preseason scrimmage Dec. 19 at Comerica Center (wfaa.com)

Ok Highland Park! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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