From the desk of Principal Deborah Finn

December 14, 2023

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW: 

1. We hope students will join our HP Staff for our last Hot Cocoa Friday of the year tomorrow before school in the student cafe.
2. Next week is summative assessment week.  Click here to access the HPHS website for more details including the daily schedule.
3. Please pay close attention to the schedule after winter break - students return on Tuesday, January 9.  See Happening Next Week for details.

We are in the home stretch and about to wrap up our first semester and 2023.  One last reminder - next week is summative assessment week.  Information regarding this week can be found on the HPHS website and students can find course specific information on the Schoology page for each of their classes.

Understandably, this can be a challenging time of year.  To help, we are sharing again this year some tips for keeping the stress under control and a few good study habits to consider.  

1. Get Organized: Between homework, tests, and extracurricular activities, it’s all too easy for things to slip through the cracks. A planner can help keep everything organized! Students should write down assignments, appointments and to-do lists; then review items in the planner at both the beginning and end of the day to stay on track.
2. Know the Expectations: There shouldn’t be any surprises when it comes to how and what students will be graded on. If expectations aren’t clear, talk with your teacher about your summative assessment. Will it be an exam or a final project?
3. Designate a Study Area: Yes, studying in the living room may seem like a good idea but not if there are a lot of distractions. Study in a quiet, well-lit, and low-traffic space. Study spaces at HPHS are open to students on assessment days including the Student Cafe, Library, TLC and A342.  A342 will be designated as a silent student area and will only be open between assessment periods.
4. Develop a Study Plan: First things first: students need to know when an assessment will take place, the types of questions that will be included and the topics that will be covered. From there, students can create study plans and allow ample time to prepare – there’s nothing worse than cramming the night before an exam.
5. Think Positive!: Being in the right mindset can make all the difference. Turn negative statements like, “I’ll never have enough time to get a good grade on this exam,” into positive ones like, “I began preparing later than I should have, but I put together a study plan so I’ll be able to get through the material.”

Remaining schedules for 2023:

Monday, December 18 - Exams for class periods 5, 2, 8

Tuesday, December 19 - Exams for class periods 3, 6, 7

Wednesday, December 20 - Exams for class periods EB, 4, 1

Thursday, December 21 - Make-Up Assessment Day If Needed

Friday, December 22 - No School

Winter Break

Monday, December 25, 2023, through Friday, January 5, 2024 - Winter Break

Second Semester First Week Back 2024

Monday, January 8 - No School, Teacher In-Service Day

Tuesday, January 9 - Classes Resume, Giant Day Schedule

Wednesday, January 10 - Blue Schedule Day

Thursday, January 11 - White Schedule Day

Friday, January 12 - Giant Schedule Day

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT MAKE-UPS

If your student missed a summative assessment during the week of December 18, 2023 they can attend a make-up session after winter break.  Students should discuss with their teachers when they will attend a make-up assessment session.  Make-up sessions will be available on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (1/9 - 1/11) from 3:15 - 5:15 in room A342.

COURSE REGISTRATION

Course registration for the 2024-2025 school year is just around the corner! Your student(s) may have shared that they participated in some pre-registration activities in homeroom last week.  Counselors will continue with that process after winter break.  Before registration officially begins this year, we wanted to remind you that next year HPHS will be on the DHS bell schedule (click here to see communication from October). 

You should have received a letter this past week from the counseling department with more information on the process. A follow-up message will be sent on January 9.  Please see the course registration website for more details.

ACTIVITIES

The Highland Park Public Library is offering a Finals Pizza Party!  Check in out  Monday, December 18 from  5:00 PM - 6:00 PM (location: Lower-Level Meeting Room)

District 113 is excited to bring the Peer Training Program, sponsored by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), to our students this year. The Peer Training Program is designed to create positive change in schools by building upon the importance of peer influence. The Peer Training Program prepares young people to use the beneficial power of peer influence to promote respect and civility in their schools and beyond. Please read this letter to learn more about the program.

Charity Drive 2024 apparel is on sale NOW. Use this link to order your apparel. We will not have extra items available. Ordering ends December 15.

ATHLETICS



Support the Booster Club and Show Your Giant Pride - click here to shop! Celebrate the holiday season in style with HPHS Holiday Gifts and Stocking Stuffers! Embrace your GIANT pride with our latest winter collection; featuring headbands, flannels, sweatshirts, and more. This is a perfect way to commemorate the festive season by decking yourself out in spirit wear and grabbing some fantastic Giants merchandise! Check out the HP Giants Club website or contact Jessica Pecaro at jcpecaro@yahoo.com.

Featured Items:

1. Highland Park Giants Flannels: Stay cozy and stylish with our exclusive flannels featuring the Giants logo. Perfect for chilly days and game nights!
2. Warm & Comfy Sweatshirts: Gear up for winter with our collection of sweatshirts. Choose from a variety of designs and colors to suit your style.
3. Winter Gear Essentials: Don't let the cold stop you! Grab your Giants-themed winter gear, including beanies, hats, and mittens.

Benefits of Your Purchase:

• Support Your Team: Every purchase contributes to the Highland Park Giants Booster Club, helping fund equipment, events, and more.
• Exclusive Designs: Our merchandise is designed exclusively for Highland Park Giants fans. Stand out and show your team spirit!
• Community Building: Wear your Giants gear with pride and connect with fellow fans. It's more than a club; it's a community!

Here are some recent highlights from the HP Athletic Department

• Girls Gymnastics - The team defeated Maine West last week. The week prior, the Giants finished 3rd at the Wheeling Invitational. Sophomore Maddyn Cohen had a great performance at Wheeling finishing 1st on vault, 2nd on beam, and 1st all around.
• Boys Wrestling - The team placed 3rd at the recent Hinsdale South Invite. Despite some key injuries, the group continues to persevere. The JV and Freshman teams are working hard and showing improvement.
• Girls Wrestling - We hosted our first ever Girls Wrestling Meet this past Wednesday. On Friday, the Girls participated in the Beat the Streets Invite at Hope Academy. Clara Ugaz and Riley Moore both came home with championship medals.
• Girls Basketball - The team moved to 3-0 in CSL North play with a 39-35 win over Vernon Hills last Wednesday. McKenzie Reitmayer led the way with 17 points. The squad hopes to keep it Rolling this week versus Maine West at home on Friday Night.
• Boys Basketball - The Giants evened their overall record at 4-4 with two wins over the weekend. Simon Moschin’s 23 points helped the Giants defeat Vernon Hills on the road on Friday night. The team has a busy weekend coming up with a conference game at Maine West on Friday and a home game with Deerfield on Saturday.
• Boys Swim & Dive - It was a busy weekend for our Swim Program with a meet against Evanston on Friday and a home JV Invitational on Saturday. The highlight of the weekend was senior diver Noam Kulbak setting a new pool record (372.65). If you haven’t seen Noam compete, I recommend coming to our home meet with New Trier on Friday night or attending the Lake County Invitational on Saturday morning at Libertyville High School.  

Congratulations to our November Athletes of the Month

1. Boys Varsity Cross Country Team
2. Varsity Football Team
3. Brooke Eliacin - swimming
4. Emily Fraser- swimming
5. Megan Kim - swimming
6. Marisa Miller - swimming

HOMEROOM @ HOME

We’re finishing out 2023 in Homeroom with a little bit of extra fun and joy! Ask your student to share about their class’s superlative selfie–what direction did they decide to take? What’s been the highlight of their experience in homeroom thus far this semester?

WHAT: Turning Your Child's Setbacks Into Success - An in-person conversation with Michelle Icard.

WHEN: Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.

WHERE: Northbrook United Methodist Church, 1190 Western Ave. 

WHO: Appropriate for parents of children of all ages



Registration is encouraged - Registration link,

Event flyer here

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has asked that school districts share this information.  Medicaid renewals, also known as "redeterminations," are once again required annually. Just like pre-pandemic procedures, Medicaid customers will receive a renewal form in the mail which they must complete and return by the deadline to continue to receive Medicaid coverage. Everyone's renewal date is different depending on when they were enrolled.  The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) created this flier: English, Spanish.  If you have questions or want to learn more about the end of continuous coverage, please visit the HFS FAQ page.