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Taken from a discussion posting at PlanetAlumni.com

Glad to provide a little history for you. Highland High School opened in the fall of 1957 with grades 7,8,9 and 10. In '58, 11th grade was added and in the fall of '59 the 12th grade was added. The first graduating class was in 1960. They would have had the oldest class reunion. Prior to 1959 most of the kids from Highland went to Griffith High School, with a few going to Hammond Tech. When HHS opened in the fall of 1957 those sophomores had the option to continue at their other school or transfer to Highland. Most came over to Highland. I was in the 8th grade when the high school opened. My graduating class was about 200.

Having been there when the school opened we saw the first homecoming, the first turnabout dance, the first yearbook (1960), etc. We named the newspaper The TROJANAL after it's initial appearance as EMANON (no name backwards). In those days we sang the school song, written by then band director, Ed Kibiger, at all the games. In those days we had cheerblocks that were big and organized. Our proms were still in the old gym which is where the swimming pool was later built and now is I believe a large group instruction room and the AV center. We had sock hops in the gymn. We checked our shoes and literally danced in our socks and, hey, we didn't do the Charleston!!! Turnabout was in the cafetorium with refreshments in the old library!! We danced at lunch time in the cafetorium or when the weather was nice we sometimes danced out in the court. We also had dances out there. When the court outside the library was created with an addition it was dedicated to the seniors and was called The Senior Court.

The first principal at HHS was Allen J. Warren, who like a lot of the staff, came from the elementary buildings. When AJ moved over to the superintendency in 1966, Robert Day moved up from assistant to principal. That was the year that Jerry and I joined the HHS staff. He taught social studies then and I was the assistant librarian with Miss Nicholson. Help, I've started and I can't stop. Now what was the question?;-)

I've been in Highland long enough that I knew AJ Warren, Zip Sypult, Mildred Merkley, Lon P. Monbeck, but I went to Main School, but I swear I didn't know Lincoln or Judith Johnston!!!!!!!!

                                                                       Written By: Linda Lane Hedges
                                                                        (Wife of Mr. Jerry Hedges)
                                                                        Class of 1962