The IHSA is hosting its first state series in Girls' Wrestling this weekend at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington and eight H-F student-athletes will be there to compete! Congratulations — and good luck — to H-F's first-ever IHSA Girls' Wrestling State qualifiers! They are:

• Attalia Watson-Castro - Sectional Champion!
• Ini Odumosu - Sectional Champion!
• Ava Anderson - Sectionals 2nd Place
• Nina Hamm - Sectionals 2nd Place
• Grace Gibbs - Sectionals 3rd Place
• Kristen Roberts - Sectionals 4th Place
• Madison Skowronski - Sectionals 4th Place
• Jocelyn Williams - Sectionals 4th Place

The team is coached by Mr. Aronson & Ms. Davis, H-F Social Science teachers. Go, Vikings!

State Boys' Wrestling Results

Five H-F Boys' Wrestlers took to the mats at last weekend's IHSA State Tournament in Champaign and four came home with medals!

Congratulations to:

• Vincent Robinson - State Runner-Up (126 lb.) — pictured above

• Deion Johnson - 3rd Place (106 lb.)

• Jaydon Robinson - 3rd Place (145 lb.)

• Justin Thomas - 3rd Place (220 lb.)



• Haku Watson-Castro - State Competitor (182 lb.)

This year's team was coached by Mr. Sokoloski, H-F Math teacher. Great job, Vikings!

State Speech Results

The H-F Speech Team competed in the IHSA State Speech Finals last weekend in Peoria. Of the 600+ schools that competed during this “return from the pandemic” competitive season, only 167 schools qualified for State with 34 sending students to the Final Rounds. These three H-F Speechies earned their way to a 23rd Place team finish!

• Senior Diamond Carrington completed her H-F speech journey by placing 4th in Oratorical Declamation. Her speaking won the hearts of the judges as she was able convey her message in a sincere, honest and realistic manner. It was her ability to recreate the spirit of the original presentation of the Alix Generous speech, My Inner Life with Asperger's. Through equal parts humor and sincerity, Diamond’s delivery of the speech regarding Asperger's Syndrome gave listeners a new perspective of Autism as the author (and speaker) opened a door to share her thoughts with the world.

• Junior Aaron McIntyre placed 6th in Extemporaneous Speaking. As an extemporaneous competitor, he is engrossed in a community of friends, competitors and coaches who talk about social issues, international news and politics, providing a strong sounding board for this event. A place in the IHSA Finals is a culmination of all this hard work!

• Freshman Stella Hoyt placed 12th in Dramatic Interpretation, an event where the actor works to suspend the disbelief of the audience by portraying a realistic, emotional journey of a character. Stella portrayed a young woman sharing her story growing up in a rural community complicated by the unexpected steps her older brother took to belong. She excelled at this challenging piece that helped the audience explore the nature of love and forgiveness.

This year's Speech Team was coached by Ms. Stroemer, H-F English teacher, who was assisted by H-F teachers Mr. Lowe, Mrs. Mann and Mr. Mulling, and H-F alumni: Allen Reynolds, Angela Rich and Aundria LaNier.

Photo by Candi Helsel-Wilk

New Faces Theatre: A Spare Me opens tomorrow!

Reserve your seats now for the H-F Theatre's New Faces production of A Spare Me, running at 7 p.m. Feb. 24-26 in the new Performing Arts Center!

With Earth’s resources and population dwindling, humanity puts everything it has left into one final generation of children. They are selected for their genius and furnished with everything they could require — including genetically-engineered spare life forms that will ensure no child’s existence is ended by something as trivial as death. But when academy student, Sel (Sam Bouyer), is replaced by his spare after a tragic accident, his friends begin to reconsider their own identities. As they uncover the dark secrets behind their own lives, both the children and the spares set out to prove they have minds of their own.

Don't miss this unique show, directed by J.R. Willard-Rose, and featuring our newest H-F performers. Tickets — $10/adult, $5/student/senior — are now on sale online at this website...

Athletic tryouts next week!

Student-athletes, get ready — the spring sports season will begin soon! The following sports will host tryouts next week:

• Badminton (Monday, Feb. 28)
• Baseball (Monday, Feb. 28)
• Boys' Lacrosse (Monday, Feb. 28)
• Boys' Tennis (Monday, Feb. 28)
• Boys' Water Polo (Monday, Feb. 28)
• Girls' Soccer (Monday, Feb. 28)
• Girls' Water Polo (Monday, Feb. 28)
• Softball (Wednesday, March 2)

To participate on the start day, students must register on the 8to18 Dashboard (click here), and they must have a physical exam on file with the Athletic Dept. (The physical exam/vaccine report required for incoming freshmen can be used to participate in athletics.) Questions? Contact the Athletic Dept. at 708-335-5004, [email protected].

HFPA Cook's Night Out: Feb. 23

Your Feedback is Needed!

5Essentials Survey Now Open

H-F Parents & Guardians: Please take a few minutes to complete the Illinois 5Essentials Survey by Friday, March 11. This annual survey will help us understand your student's experiences this year and will help guide improvements at our school. Please know that your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your student. Thank you!

Click here to begin the survey...

Wellness Wednesdays: March Schedule

Wellness Wednesday discussions returned in person last month! Students are invited to attend Wednesdays during 4th Period in South Building Room G5; they may sign up for one session each month. The schedule for March is:

• March 2: Vision Boards
• March 9: The Practice of Mindfulness & Meditation
• March 16: Artistic Expression
• March 23: Taking Care of OurSELF

To sign up for a session, please click here...

Questions? Contact Mrs. White at 708-335-5554 or [email protected].

COVID FLOW CHARTS

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) recently adopted new COVID guidelines from the CDC (click here). There are now different stipulations around quarantines and exclusions from school. Please consult the updated flow charts below when needed. Questions? Please contact Jodi Bryant, Director of Human Resources & Public Relations, at 708-335-5550.

Additional COVID Links & News

• D233 COVID Family Reporting Form — To report positive cases or close contacts.

• SHIELD Testing Registration Form — Testing is held Tuesdays from 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the H-F Pool. Return completed form to the Nurse's Office or [email protected].

• D233 COVID Dashboard — To track case counts and metrics from our community.

Mock Trial: 6th Place Finish

Congratulations to the H-F Mock Trial Red Team for finishing in 6th Place at the DuPage County Invitational, held virtually on Feb. 11! Coached by Ms. Day, Social Science teacher, the team members are: Elanna Lloyd (captain), Fatima Hernandez (captain), Ife Adeyinka, Kristin Taylor, Alex Ekstrom, Layla Kedjour, Naomi Fry, Acey Smentek, Makayla Taylor, Marlon Williams & Keziah Hillard.

Edda: 1st Class Rating

Congratulations to the editors, contributors and sponsor (Ms. Mustafah, English teacher) of the 2020-2021 edition of Edda (H-F's art and literary magazine), for earning a 1st Class Ranking with two marks of distinction from the National Scholastic Press Association! They were recognized for exemplary writing & editing, as well as for exemplary photography, art & graphics. Reminder to students: Edda is looking for your submissions of original work! Submit your creative writing or artwork by Monday, Feb. 28, at [email protected].

Congratulations to the Girls' Basketball team for capturing the IHSA Regional title last week! The team — coached by Mr. Smith, H-F PE/Health/DE teacher — will head to the IHSA Sectional final Thursday night to face Bolingbrook at Bolingbrook H.S. Go, Vikings!

Congratulations to H-F gymnast Tanylah Gillen for earning the Sportsmanship Award from the Illinois Girls' Gymnastics Coaches Association during the IHSA State Final last week!

Note: Only home games & playoffs are shown below. For complete athletic schedules, click here...

Did you know that H-F sends out dedicated emails prior to every regular District 233 Board of Education meeting? Update your "H-F FYI" subscription by clicking here and add "District 233 Board of Education Regular Monthly Meeting Preview" to your list of requested messages from our school. Thank you!