August 2, 2022
Dear DHS students and families,
In light of the tragedy in Highland Park on July 4th, the importance of our district and school community coming together to connect and heal has never been more important. I am truly grateful for our DHS Warrior family - and know that we will continue to support one another to make this a memorable school year.
With that said, I am pleased to welcome all of our new DHS families and welcome back all of our returning DHS families for the 2022-2023 school year. The start of this school year enables us to connect in meaningful ways as we strive to build an exceptional school community that comes together to ensure all students' support, growth, and success.
Our first day of classes is Wednesday, August 17. This day is a special Late Start schedule with an extended EB period and homeroom. (All students are expected to attend homeroom (HR) at 8:50 a.m.) For more details, please see the Bell Schedule and Cycle Days section in the DHS Welcome Letter link below. Our first day of school is truly about providing our students and staff with a positive, welcoming experience that makes us feel connected and supported as we start the school year. Expect to engage in get-to-know-you activities during each class and enjoy fun games and treats during lunch. We hope each student leaves feeling supported and energized for the new school year.
In order to create a welcoming environment for all students, staff, and families, we also want to emphasize the importance of safety and security on our campus. Our district and school administrators, security team, school resource officer, and local law enforcement work together to review and implement safety and security measures. Please know that we have been meeting throughout the summer to review such measures and will continue to do so throughout the school year. To that end, one new measure we will be taking this school year is that each student will need to scan their student ID upon entering the building before and during the school day. (Students may use their student ID on their phone from Infinite Campus or last year’s physical ID. New physical IDs will be distributed in the fall.) We will also take more time in homeroom to discuss the state-required emergency drills before implementation. As always, our counseling team is available to support students who may need more time and space to process such scenarios. Most importantly, we continue to stress the importance of saying something if you see something. Please see the Safety and Security section for more information about school safety and security, including how to report a concern. Additional information regarding District 113 safety and security will be shared prior to the start of the school year. Per Dr. Law’s email sent on August, families are asked to complete the survey by August 9 - Survey English; Survey Spanish.
To ease back into the swing of the school year and to feel more comfortable on the first day of classes, there are several opportunities for students to get involved at school prior to Wednesday, August 17. Students are encouraged to attend a Wednesday event or engage in fall athletics, marching band, or incoming freshmen orientation (Warrior Welcome). Students may also choose to walk their schedule from August 8-16 (times provided in the Class Schedules and Course Changes section).
For returning families, please know that we will not be hosting our beginning of the year Book Sale this school year. Instead, families should purchase all course materials online via Beck’s Book Store (DHS Campus). Since Book Sale is no longer necessary in-person, ID and Yearbook pictures will now take place during the school day (during PE class). We will provide additional details after the first day of school.
With that said, to help you prepare for the new school year, we have put together some useful and important information. Please click the link below to be taken to the DHS Welcome Letter.
