From the desk of Principal Deborah Finn

April 11, 2024

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW: 

1. Tomorrow is our Spring Pep Rally!  In case you still need it, here is the Special Schedule .
2. Next week Tuesday, April 16, is Genocide Commemoration Day at HPHS and a special assembly schedule - see Happening Next Week for details.
3. Looking ahead - check out Summative Assessment Week and end of year information in Academics.

There is a new Principal at HPHS (drumroll please)... Congratulations to Ms. Holly Fleischer!  

For me, retiring is bittersweet, knowing that I will not be sharing next year with my Giant family. But I could not be more thrilled that Ms. Fleischer will be taking over the helm at HPHS. Currently, Ms. Fleischer is the Assistant Principal for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. She has been a Giant for 21 years and is well known throughout the building. She began her career as an English Teacher, then joined the Counseling Department, and last year was the Director of Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). She is a passionate and dedicated educator, who values connections with students and families above all else. I find Ms. Fleischer’s joyful spirit, uplifting and inspirational and I know our HPHS community will thrive under her leadership. 

There is a lot to celebrate in April. It is the Month of the Military Child, which provides a chance for us to recognize and thank the children of our service members and veterans. We are fortunate to have military families in our community. Please wear purple on Monday, April 15 to show support and thank military children for their strength and sacrifices. It is also  Autism Awareness Month, School Library month, Stress Awareness Month and National Month of Hope (it is a long list - click here to see them all). Now is a good time to pause, take notice of and celebrate the distinct and diverse group of individuals who fill the halls at HPHS.  

Monday, April 15 - Giant Schedule Day

Tuesday, April 16 - Special Giant Schedule Day - Genocide Commemoration Day

Wednesday, April 17 - White Schedule Day

Thursday, April 18 - Blue Schedule Day



Friday, April 19 - Giant Schedule Day

ACADEMICS

Summative Assessment Week & End of Year Information

The end of the school year is quickly approaching.  This document contains details about the last day for seniors, summative assessments for seniors, and the schedule for summative assessment for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors.  

Genocide Commemoration

On Tuesday, April 16, D113 is honoring Genocide Commemoration Day.  We will have a special school assembly.  All students will be present for a presentation from Dr. Danny Cohen, Co-Chair of the Illinois Holocaust & Genocide Commision.  He will center our common humanity as we consider the physical and emotional impact of genocide.  In addition, Dr. Benjamin Garber, a Holocaust survivor, will share his story with students in Patterns in World History, Hebrew, and AP European History classes during periods 6 and 7.  Students not enrolled in any of these courses who would like to attend to hear Dr. Garber’s personal story should email Mrs. Meyer at lmeyer@dist113.org.

STUDENT LIFE

Graduation

The Class of 2024 Graduation ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, May 22 at 5:00 PM.  The ceremony will conclude at approximately 6:30 PM.  A required graduation rehearsal will take place Wednesday, May 22 from 9:00 AM until approximately 12:00 PM.  All graduating students must attend the rehearsal.  Graduation tickets will be distributed at the rehearsal.  Each graduate receives 5 tickets.

For more specific information about graduation, please visit the HPHS Class of 2024 Website.

ACTIVITIES

Spirit Week has been a lot of fun!  We are very excited for our Pep Assembly on Friday. 

Our HP Math Team - Two years in a row qualifying as a team for the State ICTM competition and our Mathletes improved their overall place from 10th to 8th out of 62 schools! Congratulations to all students and coaches Deb Wilson, Jonathan Hagberg, Robin Gapinski.

• 8th place - Geometry team 
• 1st place - Algebra 2 Individual (with a perfect score), Emma Fox 
• 2nd place - Algebra 2 team 
• 9th place - Precalculus team 
• 10th place - Freshmen/Sophomore 8-person team 
• 10th place - Fr./Soph. 2-person team, Gabrielle Gordon & Josh Brown
• 3rd place - Oralists Ben Kerch & Andrew Kern (46/50 pts)

Overall: 8th place out of 62 schools. GO GIANTS!

ATHLETICS

Click here to register for HPHS Athletics Summer Camps (opened on April 8).  It is important not to create a new account if you have already used the RSchool registration system. Log in as a “returning user” and reach out to helpdesk@rschooltoday.com if you have any issues.  Use the “new user” option if this is your first time using the system. You can also contact the Athletic Office or the Head Coach if you have specific questions. 

Spring Sport Parents/Guardians: Your athlete's photos have been posted online at vipis.com for viewing and ordering.   If you have any questions about sports team and individual pictures, please contact Visual Image Photography at support@vipis.com.

Recent Highlights:

1. Congrats to our Boys Volleyball Program.  Over the weekend, the Varsity team went 4-1, winning the Silver bracket at the Warren Invite and the JV team finished 1st at the Libertyville Tournament.
2. Our Varsity Girls Lacrosse team had two exciting wins over the weekend.  Friday night our girls came from behind to defeat Rolling Meadows and Saturday the team earned a hard fought win versus Chicago Taft.
3. Our Girls Soccer program had a great day on Saturday.  The Varsity team defeated Chicago Taft 3-2.  The JV team followed that up with a 1-0 victory, scoring in the final minutes of the game to secure the win.
4. Our Varsity Baseball team defeated Deerfield on Tuesday. Senior Luke Weber pitched a no hitter for the Giants.
5. Our Boys Gymnastics Team celebrated their Senior Night last week and finished 2nd in a tri-meet with Deerfield and Niles North.

DEANS



As we approach the end of the school year, we want to take a moment to remind you of the importance of continuing to take care of Our House on Vine. 

Earlier today, Director of Security Amy Oliva sent an important safety message about the game called "Senior Assassin." You may have seen recent news reports describing this concerning trend occurring all over the Chicago area, including in our community. When playing Senior Assassin, students attempt to "eliminate" each other using various means such as Nerf guns, water guns, and other objects. Playing this game poses significant safety risks to our students and staff and will not be tolerated on school property. Any simulated act of shooting using simulated firearms on school grounds during school hours or at any school-sponsored event is a violation of Board Policy 7-190 and that violation may result in disciplinary consequences and may involve law enforcement. 

We understand that these final weeks can be an exciting time, but we must ensure that our actions do not jeopardize the safety and well-being of our community. We encourage students to continue to be mindful of their behavior and to treat our school and its grounds with the utmost care and respect. If you have any questions or concerns regarding Board Policy 7-190 or the information shared in this email, please do not hesitate to reach out to any of the Deans. They are here to support you and ensure that our community remains a safe and welcoming place for all.

Together, let's finish the school year on a positive note and continue to uphold the values that make Our House on Vine.

PTO



Parents/Guardians - are you looking for a way to get involved and make a difference? Wondering why the HPHS PTO is so special to our Giant family? Take some time to visit their site to learn all about what they do for our students and staff. Many of our staff members have been recipients of PTO grants and are so appreciative of the support. 

Here is what Emma Forquer, Chinese Teacher, had to share about the impact of her PTO grant on her instruction.  

I’ve been teaching for over 12 years and during all of that time I’ve wanted to add cooking to my curriculum. Food might be the best way to introduce culture, history, and geography and really connect with people. I am so appreciative of the PTO grant to make my dream come true. April is our Iron Chef month when students will plan a dish to cook and then go to Chinatown to buy the authentic ingredients. Students will have their Iron Chef action in the kitchen the next day. These are the pictures from last year's Iron Chef unit. I PTO.