Every year, during the weeks leading up to the homecoming dance, “Paint The Town Blue” occurs in downtown Highland Park to unite teams, clubs, and student-led organizations within HPHS. This year, Paint The Town Blue was held on October 17th, and the student outcome was unlike any other year. Paint The Town Blue is a community bonding experience organized by the Highland Park PTO that begins the celebrations for the exciting, energy-filled Homecoming dance. Each activity that chooses to sign up is given a storefront to decorate with white, blue, and black paint, which they will then use to transform the window into a boundless, HP-spirit-packed canvas.

Paint the Town Blue has become a long-standing tradition that highlights the strong connection between Highland Park High School and its community. HPHS Activities Director, Dr. Joaquin Stephenson, who was roaming the streets of Highland Park that day watching the students paint, said “This is not only is this a great team building experience for our clubs, but it also allows the Highland Park, Highwood, and Fort Sheridan community to see and feel the spirit of Paint the Town Blue which is an expression of the Giant spirit, like, for real!” 

Students shared similar enthusiasm. “At the Key Club window, painting the disco balls on the wall was so fun, and I got to do the same thing at the class council window as well”, said HPHS Junior, Charlie Weisbart. It is moments like these that push HPHS to the next level. Our giant pride emanates all the way from the main entrance to downtown HP, and that sets us apart from any other school, indubitably. 

It is evident that what has started as a pre-Homecoming tradition has evolved into something much deeper; it is now a reflection of the close-knit HPHS environment that we have built by hand. Each painted storefront told its own story of creativity, teamwork, and community– truly a living gallery of what it means to be a part of Highland Park High School.