From the desk of Principal Deborah Finn

January 25, 2024

Please see the following message from the Superintendent. This same message will appear in Board Briefs when they are issued tomorrow afternoon.  It is  included here to help ensure that you see it. 

Following up on the security report provided to the Board on November 28, the Superintendent updated the Board on the Administration’s efforts to staff weapons detection at two doors during student arrival every school day. The Superintendent reported to the Board that even with reducing the morning entrances from three to two, currently there is not enough staff nor candidates in the pipeline to deploy weapons detection during student arrival. The Administration will increase pay in an effort to attract candidates and will report back to the Board on efforts to be fully staffed.

For now, weapons detection can be staffed and will be used for visitors and students arriving after the first bell for the duration of the school day. Weapons detection at student arrival will be used if we are aware of a specific threat that requires it. 

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW: 

1. Our Winter Pep Rally is tomorrow.  Make sure to show your Giant Pride and wear your class colors. Take a look at the Activities section for details about this exciting event. 
2. The 5 Essentials Survey will be administered to students on February 12, 2024.  Refer to Student Life for more information.
3. Charity Drive 2024 moves into week #2 and there are a lot of upcoming events.  Take a look at the calendar below and plan to participate.

It has been a really exciting week at HPHS!  Snowcoming events like our life size snow globe and  skating in the cafeteria (ask your student about these!) were incredible.  We also had Charity Drive events like cupcake decorating and lunch from Cluckers.  I’d say it was a fun-filled and tasty week!  And the week culminates with our Winter Pep Assembly tomorrow where we gather to show our Giant pride and school spirit.

Monday, January 29 - Giant Schedule Day

Tuesday, January 30 - Giant Schedule Day

Wednesday, January 31 - Blue Schedule Day

Thursday, February 1 - White Schedule Day

Friday, February 2 - Giant Schedule Day

GRADUATION

Graduation for the Class of 2024 is less than four months away!  The ceremony is scheduled for May 22 at Ravinia.  Parents/Guardians, please fill out the Graduation 2024 Student Verification Name Form , which was also emailed to you directly, as soon as possible.  The form asks you to confirm the name that is to be printed on the diploma, in the brochure, and read as the students cross the stage. We encourage you to discuss this with your student as well.  Students will have the opportunity to review the submissions during homeroom in the near future.   If you have any questions, please reach out to the graduation coordinators Matt Wallace (mwallace@dist113.org), Alesia Margetis (amargetis@dist113.org), and Norma Aguilar (naguilar@dist113.org).  

SUMMER SCHOOL

Summer is already on our mind!  The 2024 Summer School brochure is live on the Summer School website.  Registration for classes opens on Monday, February 5th.  Please review the registration information for details on how to register for classes.  If you have any questions about Summer School, please reach out to Summer School Principal, Matt Wallace (mwallace@dist113.org)

On Monday, February 12 students will take the University of Chicago 5Essentials Survey.  The survey asks students about their experiences in school, giving school leaders critical student input to help develop school improvement plans.  The data from the survey is valuable to all of us, as it will help us make HPHS even better. The participation rate on the survey directly factor's into our Illinois Report Card, so it is paramount that everyone participates.  This document contains more specific information related to the survey as well as an opt-out option if you do not want your child to participate in the survey.

ACTIVITIES



Thanks to everyone for making Snowcoming Week so much fun!  Tomorrow is our Winter Pep Rally and it’s going to be a GIANT event!  Make sure to wear your class colors:

Charity Drive Website

A reminder of upcoming events that are asking for pre-registration/payment or looking for HPHS student performers. Consider participating in one of these Charity Drive events:

• Poetry Night, Jan 25 - Looking for students to submit/read poems - use this link to enter. Open to the public to attend.  Sign-up closes on Feb 2.  Admission can be purchased now online via Infinite Campus.
• Game Night, Jan 25 - Purchase a table online via Omella! You bring the game for the table.
• GIANTS Got Talent, Feb 1 - Looking for students to entertain us with their talent -sing, dance, play an instrument, comedy, etc.  Use this link to enter. Open to the public to attend.  Admission can be purchased now online via Omella.
• Sports Day, Feb 3 -  Details TBA. 

SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING SPECIALIST

Next week, your student(s) will again take the Panorama SEL & Well Being Survey in their homeroom. To provide some clarity about what the survey is, what it’s measuring, and what HPHS is doing with the data, we’ve created an infographic for you, as caregivers. You can access it here in English, and here in Spanish. 

Take a moment to review its purpose, the collective student response rates, and how you might engage your student in talking about the sense of connection they feel at HPHS. There are some rich opportunities to connect with your student as an “asset detective”. 

ATHLETICS

The Giant Gym was transformed over the weekend as HPHS hosted the CSL Boys and Girls Wrestling Championships on Saturday.  All twelve CSL schools participated.  It was a historic day, as it was the first time the CSL held the Boys and Girls events on the same day at the same location.  Our girls program had a great day with Riley Moore and Clara Ugaz both winning conference championships and Riley was voted the Outstanding Wrestler for the CSL North Division.  A huge thank you to everyone who played a part in making Saturday a special day. 

Congratulations to our December Athletes of the Month;

Maddyn Cohen - Girls Gymnastics

Dmitry Derbedyenyev - Boys Wrestling

Kourtnie Halperin - Girls Basketball

Alex Kriser - Boys Basketball

Noam Kulbak - Boys Diving

Simon Moschin - Boys Basketball

McKenzie Reitmayer - Girls Basketball

We recently recognized our seniors in the Girls Gymnastics Program, as well as in the Boys and Girls Wrestling Programs.  This Friday night is Senior Night for Boys Basketball, Boys Swim & Dive, Poms and Jammers.  It’s also Military Appreciation Night and our theme is Red, White and Blue for Friday’s events. Next Friday, 2/2 is Girls Basketball Senior Night.  We will also be inducting three new members to the HPHS Athletic Hall of Fame that night:

Norm Parker ‘60 - Wrestling, University of Iowa 

Josh Wexler ‘85 - Basketball, Cornell University

Emily Feldman ‘11 - Cross Country, Basketball, Soccer, Emory University

Homeroom @ Home



Students had the opportunity to learn more about the Panorama SEL & Well Being Survey that they’ll be taking again next week in their homeroom. Teachers shared the purpose of the survey, as well what we’re doing as a school with the data to support their social and emotional growth.