From the desk of Principal Deborah Finn
Issue 6 September 15, 2021
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THREE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:
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Next week is a regular five-day week but Friday’s Blue Schedule is altered with an 8:00 am start and our Virtual Homecoming Pep Rally in extended homeroom. See Happening Next Week for details.
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Reminder that students experiencing any COVID symptoms as defined by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) should not report to school.
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Homecoming is next week - see more information under Student Life!
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Message from the Principal
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September is a busy month at HPHS. During the HPTV announcements today, we were reminded that September 15 marks the start of Hispanic Heritage Month. As junior HPTV reporter, Denia Gomez shared, the US has been recognizing the Hispanic community for decades and we at HPHS also want to celebrate Hispanic and Latino cultural diversity in our school. In addition, we will show our Giant pride during our Homecoming Week festivities. All students and staff are encouraged to join in the fun by participating in dress up days, partaking in pep rally antics, cheering on our athletic teams and attending our Homecoming dance on Saturday.
We are fully in the thick of learning and teaching. Students are being challenged as they experience new curriculum, complete assignments and prepare for assessments that are helping them to think critically. Please remember that if you have questions or concerns about a teacher, coach, sponsor or any staff member, the first thing to do is to encourage your student to speak with that person directly. As we strive to model for our students, having direct, honest and thoughtful conversations with the parties involved leads to resolutions and stronger relationships. The relationship between student and staff member is the foundation of a successful educational experience. If the student feels they need support beyond that conversation, then they should reach out to their counselor. Of course parents/guardians can join their students in these conversations, but it is our hope you will empower them to find their voice and give it a try on their own at first. We thank you for partnering with us in this effort.
Also, as we move further into the school year, we need to stay strong in maintaining our mitigations for Covid. All people in our building need to be masked at all times. Students need to have their masks covering their mouth and nose except when they are eating in the cafeteria or taking a quick drink of water. Masks should be on during transitions in the hallways and in every space throughout the building. It takes all of us working together to keep us healthy and together and on campus.
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Monday, September 20 - Giant Day Schedule (Pajama Day)
Tuesday, September 21 - White Day Schedule (Sport Shirt & Jersey Day)
Wednesday, September 22 - Blue Day Schedule (Class Shirt or Giant Wear Day)
Thursday, September 23 - White Day Schedule (Beach & Tropical Wear Day)
Friday, September 24 - SPECIAL Blue Day Schedule, 8 AM start (see details below) (Class Color Day - see link)
Special Schedule for Friday, September 24:
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Attendance Information
If your student will be out of school or leaving during the school day, please call our attendance office line at 224-765-2020. Calls must be received by 11:59 PM the day of the absences for authorization. Due to the volume of calls we receive, please allow 24 hours for absences to be cleared. When calling the Attendance Office, please include the following information:
- Student Name
- ID#
- Date of absence
- Time of absence/appointment
- Reason for absence
Upcoming Fall Testing
During the month of October, junior and senior students will participate in the following standardized testing experiences:
October 6, 2021: Seniors will take the state required Illinois Science Assessment.
October 13, 2021: Juniors will take the PSAT/NMSQT.
Due to the testing, class schedules on October 6, 13, and 14 will be altered. Please refer to the Fall Testing Overview for more specific information about each test and the October Testing Special Schedules for details about when classes meet on those days. Bus routes will run on each day for the specific arrival times for each group of students.
Homeroom
As shown above, we will have an extended homeroom on Friday 9/23 to come together for our first Pep Rally of the year.
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This weekly newsletter includes the latest version of the GIANT Life News (GLN). This information is emailed to students twice a week. GIANT Life News contains specific details about student life at HPHS and is our main source of HPHS happenings. Archives are posted on the school website.
ATHLETICS
We will be highlighting our Fall Sports over the next few weeks. This week we’ll focus on Girls Swimming and Boys and Girls Cross Country.
GIRLS SWIMMING and DIVING
Our girls defeated a strong Lane Tech team 97-88 on Saturday. Kayla Newman set a school record in the 100 Free, breaking Kelly Champion's 40 year-old record by over 1 second. Champion set the record when she won state in 1981. Kayla's time is 4th fastest in the state at this time. Our 200 Free Relay team of Angelina Eliacin, Kayla Newman, Sydney Lewis, Marisa Miller swam the 5th fastest time in the state this year. Finally, watch out for Marisa Miller in the 200 IM. She had the 2nd fastest time in school history in this event.
GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY
The girls cross country team traveled down to Peoria for the annual race on the State Finals course at Detweiler. The team was thankful for the opportunity to compete and to spend the day together and bond as a group. The girls showed grit in their first big test of the season. With a varsity team led by Junior-Madina Nasirov and Sophomore-Mia Fruge, the future continues to look bright for the Giants.
BOYS CROSS COUNTRY
The Giants had a big day in Peoria. The varsity was 15th of 41 teams with many of the top teams in the state competing. Nate Wehner led the way with a 9th place finish. Our varsity pack finished close together. Noah Jackson, Alex Bradshaw, Angel Zeferino, Barak Goldstein and Alex Brown all ran well. Freshman Carter Livermore was the 5th fastest freshman out of the varsity and open races and Nolan Schott led the team in the Open 3 Mile Race. 20 Giants equalled or ran personal bests for 3 miles.
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ACTIVITIES
On Saturday, September 11th over 30 clubs and 400 students gathered to “Paint the Town Blue” to set the stage for Homecoming week next week! We are grateful for the partnership between our PTO and Downtown HP Alliance for hosting this event. Please take time to walk/drive to see our student creations that show GIANT pride!
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Although we are no longer requiring the health screener to be submitted each morning, all students are still required to screen themselves daily at home for an COVID-like symptom development before reporting to school. Students experiencing any COVID symptom as defined by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and should not report to school.
In the event of experiencing any COVID symptoms, please call the attendance office to report the absence and provide details regarding the COVID symptoms. Please contact the health services office with any questions.
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On behalf of District 113, we are pleased to announce the E&I Community Engagement Series. At District 113, the work of equity and inclusion is strengthened when community members can be involved; the benefits of that collaboration are an enriched school setting, a thriving student body, and a brighter future for each individual. We also recognize that our school district exists in an ever-changing world and that our understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion must grow and evolve.
Let’s come together on Thursday, September 30, 2021 to listen to and work with each other as we explore these terms and our lived experiences. Our Director of Equity & Inclusion, Mirah Anti, will facilitate this event which will be held on Zoom, from 6:30-7:30 pm. If you are interested in attending, please complete this form, and if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Mirah Anti.
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