Princess for president

Student body president, that is. It's all the fault of Princess Mia's power-mad best friend and campaign manager, Lilly, who nominates her in the first place. This is not how Mia imagined kicking off her sophomore year, even if Grandmère thinks ruling her high school makes good practice for ruling Genovia someday.

As usual, though, Mia has bigger problems to worry about. Sophomore Geometry appears to be just as hard as freshman Algebra, and a shocking B on her first English assignment has Mia reeling. And with Michael, her one true love, uptown at college, what is the point of even getting up for school in the morning? The last straw is what Lana whispers to her on the lunch line about what college boys expect of their girlfriends...

Really, it's almost more than a princess in training can bear.

Welcome back from what I hope was a relaxing, yet intellectually stimulating, summer vacation. The faculty and staff of AEHS look forward to spending another exciting and fruitful academic year with you. With this in mind, we'd like to share these conduct reminders:

Noise

Please note that Albert Einstein High School is located in a residential -- albeit vertical -- community. It is important to remember that sound travels up, and that any excessive noise -- especially on the steps of the front entrance of the school -- that might be disruptive to our neighbors will not be tolerated. This includes shouting, screaming, shrill or explosive laughter, music, and ritualistic chanting/drumming. Please be respectful of our neighbors and keep the noise level to a minimum.

Defacement

Despite what is often cited as Albert Einstein High School “tradition” on the first day of classes, students are expressly forbidden from defacing, decorating, or otherwise tampering with the lion statue, frequently referred to as “Joe,” outside the East Seventy-fifth Street entrance of Albert Einstein High School. Twenty-four-hour surveillance cameras have been installed, and any students caught defiling school property in any way will be subject to expulsion and/or fines.

Smoking

It has been brought to the attention of this administration that last year, large numbers of cigarette butts were daily swept up from the front steps on the Seventy-fifth Street entrance. In addition to the fact that smoking is strictly prohibited on school grounds, cigarette butts constitute a visual eyesore, as well as a fire hazard. Please note that any students caught smoking -- either by a staff member or on the new video surveillance cameras -- will be subject to suspension and/or fines.

Uniforms

Please note that this year's standard AEHS uniforms include:

Female students: Long- or short-sleeved
white blouse
Gray sweater or
sweater vest
Blue-and-gold plaid skirt or
gray flannel trousers
Blue or white knee-highs
or blue or black tights or
nude-colored pantyhose
Blue-and-gold plaid tie Blue-and-gold plaid tie
Navy blue jacket

Male students:
Long- or short-sleeved
white shirt
Gray sweater or
sweater vest
Gray flannel trousers
Blue or black socks
Blue-and-gold plaid tie Blue-and-gold plaid tie
Navy blue jacket

Please note that the wearing of shorts -- including regulation gym shorts or athletic team uniform shorts -- beneath skirts is prohibited.

Remember, classes commence the day after Labor Day, Tuesday, September 8, at 7:55 a.m. As always, tardiness will not be tolerated.

Welcome back! Principal Gupta

Monday, September 7, Labor Day WomynRule: Did you SEE it??? Did you get that hypocritical piece of garbage she sent out last week? Just who does she think she's kidding with that? You so know that that part about ritualistic chanting was directed at ME. Just because I organized a few student rallies last year. Well, we're going to show her. She might think she can stifle the voice of the people, but the student body of Albert Einstein High is NOT going to be intimidated.

FtLouie: Lilly, I --

WomynRule: Did you see that part about the surveillance cameras???? Have you ever HEARD of anything so fascist? Well, she can install all the surveillance cameras she wants, but that's not going to stop ME. It's just another example of how she's slowly turning this school into her own academic dictatorship. You know they used surveillance cameras in Communist Russia to keep the proletariat in line. I wonder what she'll bring in next. Ex-KGB militia, perhaps, as hall monitors? I so wouldn't put it past her.

Meg Cabot is the author of the best-selling, critically acclaimed Princess Diaries books, which were made into the wildly popular Disney movies of the same name. Her other books for teens include The Mediator series, the 1-800-Where-R-You books, All-American Girl, Teen Idol, Nicola and the Viscount, and Victoria and the Rogue. Meg's books for older readers include The Boy Next Door, Boy Meets Girl, and Every Boy's Got One. She is still waiting for her real parents, the king and queen, to restore her to her rightful throne. She lives in Key West and New York City with her husband and a one-eyed cat named Henrietta.