H-F Theatre's fall play, The Secret in the Wings, will run at 7 p.m. this week — Oct. 28-30 — in the H-F Performing Arts Center1 Directed by Mrs. Calderon, this haunting, dark and engaging show will get you ready for Halloween weekend, as you appreciate our talented student-performers. (This show is recommended for ages 12+. Masks will be required.)

The cast features: Jayla Watts, Stella Hoyt, Caroline Bivens, Marissa Diaz, Avery Calhoon, Judah Crowder, Masila Whorton, El Jenkins, Grace Opyd, Ronald Gerring, Sean Haggerty, Langston Fantroy and Bryce Stewart. Production assistants are Anly Flores, Braxton Scullark & Amy Ward.

Tickets — $10/adult, $5/student/senior — are now on sale online — click here to order. Please note: Order your tickets early! Seats are limited due to COVID-19 social distancing regulations.

Halloween Reminder: VTV & Student Government have been sponsoring a Halloween Spirit Week this week! Remaining dress days are:

Thursday — Crazy Hair Day

Friday — Costume Day

Please remember that while makeup and school-appropriate costumes that adhere to the dress code are permitted, you must be recognizable. (Also, no full face masks or look-alike weapons are allowed.)

Is your Viking Compass class participating in the Halloween Door Decorating Contest? Photo submissions are due to [email protected] by 3 p.m. on Friday. Good luck, Vikings!

Can you identify the staff members below from Halloweens past?

See answers at the end of the newsletter.

A. _________

B. _________

C. _________

D. _________

E. _________

F. _________

Social Workers'

Online Presentation: Nov. 2

H-F Social Workers invite you to a special online presentation by Danny Rone of IntraSpectrum Counseling. Real Parents, Real Kids & Real Talk: Discovering the Rainbow of Today's Youth will begin at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 2, on Google Meet. Click here to join the discussion...

Operation Snowball: Nov. 19 & 20

Registration ends this Friday — Oct. 29 — for this year's Operation Snowball, a special student retreat set for Nov. 19-20 at Camp Manitoqua in Frankfort! Get all of the details & registration forms at this webpage...

SHIELD Illinois —a saliva-based COVID-19 screening test — will begin at H-F next week on Tuesday, Nov. 2. This program is being offered to H-F students and staff on an opt-in basis. Registered students will be assigned a time to come for testing. Notification will be sent to each student with their report times, pre-testing instructions and directions to the testing location.  

If you have not yet signed up, there is still time! Download this form, complete & sign it and return it to the South Nurse's Office.

Questions? Please contact Ms.Smith at 708-335-5525, [email protected].

Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held online this year on Thursday, Nov. 4, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and from 5-8 p.m. Parent/guardians will be sent an emailed invitation to set up an individual Google Meet with each of their student's teachers. Each meeting will be for approximately 5 minutes, and it is recommended that your student also be at the session. There will be no classes for students held on that day. Conferences will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are unsuccessful at scheduling a time with a teacher or you need additional time, it may be necessary to contact the teacher directly to set up a Google Meet on an alternate day. Please note: Due the number of parents wishing to meet with teachers, individual conferences will be limited to 5 minutes. Although conference times are scheduled in 10-minute blocks, the remaining 5 minutes will be used as transition time for teachers to enter their next meeting. Here are some questions to consider asking your teachers:

• What can I do at home to help my student succeed in your class?
• What is the best way to communicate with you?
• Are there any major assignments, projects or exams coming up that I should be aware of?
• What are two things my student should work on to find success in your class?

Read more in this letter to parents — click here...

Questions? Please contact Interim Principal Dr. James Mitchem at [email protected] or 708-335-5541.

The Winter Sports Season begins soon! See the tryout dates below:

GIRLS' BASKETBALL: Nov. 1 (updated date!)

Varsity — 6:15-7:30 a.m. @ North Gym & 3:30-6 p.m. @ South Gym

JV — 3:30-6 p.m. @ North Gym

Freshmen — 3:30-6 p.m. @ Fieldhouse

BOYS' BASKETBALL: Nov. 8 & 9

Varsity — 3:30-6 p.m. @ South Gym

Sophomores — 6-8 p.m. @ South Gym

Freshmen — 3:30-6 p.m. @ Fieldhouse

GIRLS' GYMNASTICS

Nov. 8 & 9, 3:30-6 p.m. @ Gymnastics Room

WRESTLING

Nov. 8 & 9, 3:30-6 p.m. @ Wrestling Room

BOYS' SWIMMING & DIVING (updated date)

Nov. 22 & 23, 3:30-5:30 p.m. @ Natatorium Pool

Physical examination forms must be on file in the Athletic Department Office by the start date in order to participate. Forms can be submitted at the Security Desk in the North Building or emailed [email protected] note: The Physical Exam / Vaccination Report required for incoming freshmen can be used to participate in athletics. 

Students interested in participating in a winter sport must be registered on the 8to18 Dashboard: https://hf.8to18.com/accounts/login

COVID-19 Dashboard & Reporting Form

Vikings: Thank you for doing your part to keep our school safe by properly wearing a mask indoors, watching your distance and washing your hands frequently. Most importantly, thank you for staying home when you are feeling ill.

Parents & guardians: Please remember to complete the D233 COVID Family Reporting Form to report positive COVID-19 cases in your household, close-contact COVID-19 exposures and if your student is experiencing suspected COVID-19 symptoms. The form is available by clicking here...

Also, remember that you can track COVID-19 cases and quarantines at H-F, as well as see community data at the D233 COVID-19 Dashboard — click here...

Above: Last week, H-F had two special dress days: Inclusion Day on Wednesday and Breast Cancer Awareness Day on Friday! (Thank you to the H-F Cheerleading team and the English Department for the photos.)

Below: Thank you to Mrs. Alexander (Career & Technical Education teacher) and H-F Student Government for raising $1,000 for Homewood's Cancer Support Center in the month of October! The Center's Greg Lawrence was on hand at Friday's football game to accept the check and to do the game's official coin toss. Friday was also Senior Night for H-F Band, Football, Cheer, Dance and Athletic Training. Thanks for your leadership, seniors!

Congratulations to our Cross Country teams for excellent efforts and results at IHSA Regionals, held at Andrew H.S. last weekend! Junior Caroline Schoen was the repeat Regional Champion for the girls' competition with a time of 17:08! Sophomore Emily Thompson came in 32nd with a time of 20:39! Both runners will compete at IHSA Sectionals this Saturday in Quincy.

The boys' team finished in 3rd Place overall in the boys' competition, led by a 3rd Place individual finish by sophomore Habtamu Epley, which earned him All-Regional honors.

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

HALLOWEEN COSTUME QUIZ:

How many did you get right?

A. Ms. Kozik as Cruella DeVille

B. Mr. Stiglic as the Mad Hatter

C. Mr. Roberts as King Tut

D. Mr. Petecki as Son of Svengooli

E. Mrs. Helsel-Wilk as a clown

F. Mr. Pavinato as Severus Snape

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!