From the desk of Principal Deborah Finn

April 4, 2024

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW: 

Next week is full of special schedules - check out Happening Next Week for details:

1. April 8 will be a special eclipse-viewing schedule.
2. April 10 is the PSAT/SAT.
3. April 11 & 12 are special schedules.

Dear Giant Families,

Welcome back!  We hope everyone had a wonderful Spring Break.  We are back in business at HPHS and there is a lot to share with our Giant Community.  

Next week we have a lot of events happening along with special schedules on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  This email includes many details regarding the plan for each day.

Solar Eclipse

The solar eclipse that is happening this coming Monday, April 8 is a rare event.  A solar eclipse occurs when the moon blocks any part of the sun. This is the first time since 2017 that a solar eclipse will be visible on a path across the entire continental United States. 

To honor this event, we’ve created a Special Giant Day Schedule so that all HPHS students will be able to view the eclipse during Homeroom.  Students will be provided with solar filter glasses and are expected to wear them when viewing the eclipse. 

For more detailed information about the eclipse, please review this American Astronomical Society website and this NASA webpage for safety guidelines (thanks to Science Department Chair Dr. Dan Kleinschrodt for sharing).  In summary, these are the following measures we will expect our students to use to safely view the eclipse:  

• Since we are outside the path of totality, it is NEVER safe to view the sun without solar filter glasses.  These will be distributed in Homeroom.
• Always inspect your solar filter before use; if scratched, punctured, torn, or otherwise damaged, discard it. Read and follow any instructions printed on or packaged with the filter.
• Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking up at the bright Sun. After looking at the Sun, turn away and remove your filter — do not remove it while looking at the Sun.

2025-2026 Bell Schedule Student Feedback

As you know, D113 will transition to a common schedule in 2025-2026, as was decided in a District agreement in the Fall of 2023.  For the 2024-2025 school year, HPHS will pilot the current DHS schedule.  The schedule for 2025-2026 is yet to be determined and a committee of staff and administrators from both schools are currently working on concepts to share with the BoE.  As students will live this new schedule beginning in 2025-2026, we want their feedback–pros, cons, and questions. During the next two weeks, students will have the opportunity to review four concept bell schedules and offer their thoughts via surveys over the course of multiple Homeroom periods.

Testing

On Wednesday, April 10 all freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will take part in the required Illinois State Board of Education PSAT and SAT testing.  A new aspect of testing this year is that all tests will be taken digitally.  Freshmen will take the PSAT 8/9, sophomores will take the PSAT 10, and juniors will take the SAT.  No classes will meet on Wednesday, April 10 due to the testing.  Testing begins at 8:35 AM.  This document contains details about the schedules for April 10, 11, and 12.  The following letters contain specific information related to each test.  

• PSAT 8/9
• PSAT 10
• SAT

Here’s to a great next week!

Principal Finn

Monday, April 8 - Special Giant Schedule for Eclipse Viewing

Tuesday, April 9 - Giant Schedule Day

Wednesday, April 10 - Special Testing Schedule

Thursday, April 11 - Special Schedule

Friday, April 12 - Special Schedule 

ACADEMICS

Genocide Commemoration Day

On Tuesday April 16 the District will be recognizing Genocide Commemoration Day with a special assembly schedule. The District 113 Foundation has graciously sponsored this event allowing all students to attend a presentation by  Danny M. Cohen the Co-Chair of the Illinois Holocaust and Genocide Commission as well as a professor at Northwestern. Dr. Cohen will be speaking on the emotional responses associated with violence in our society. In the afternoon many of our freshmen students will attend a presentation from Holocaust Survivor, Dr. Benjamin Garber. If your student would like to attend the presentation from a Holocaust Survivor they can email Lindsey Meyer at Lmeyer@dist113.org.

School Visit

Many thanks to our Chinese language students, teacher Emma Forquer and World Language Department Chair Jeff Handley for connecting us with New Taipei San-Chung Commercial and Industrial Vocational High School (SCVS).  This past Tuesday we hosted 17 teachers and students from SCVS.  Students and staff spent the entire day at HPHS, experiencing life as an HP Giant.  During their visit, the students and faculty from Taiwan got to immerse themselves in our school community, participate in various activities, and engage in meaningful discussions with our students and educators. We are thrilled to have them return to HPHS on Friday, April 5 and continue to celebrate diversity, promote understanding, and strengthen bonds across the Pacific Ocean. Be sure to say “knee how” should you have the pleasure of meeting one of our guests during their visit.

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.

HP Roadside Clean Up Event

The Highland Park Police Department is planning a roadside clean up event on Sunday April 21 (the day before Earth day). The event would happen around noon and would include picking up trash along a to be determined stretch of Route 41 (Skokie Valley Rd). They are looking for participants from the community and specifically from HPHS.  Trash bags and nitrile gloves will be provided. Specific times will be shared closer to the event. If anyone is interested or has questions, please email the HPHS School Resource Officer Nate Styx and nstyx@dist113.org. 

PTO Events

This week has yard sale signs ending (04/05) , dine & donate Thursday (04/04) , & plant sale starting (04/01)..wooo hooo!!!! 

Plant Sale April 1-12 via Omella - pick-up at HPHS on May 7, 2024 (11am-1pm & 4-6pm).

Mean Wiener Dine & Donate 04/04/24 (4pm to close)- use "After Prom" at time of order.



Senior Yard Sign Omella Sales Close 04/05/24 - will be delivered weekend of 05/10-5/12!



ACTIVITIES

All Senior Prom Information Click here for English and here for Spanish.  Prom tickets go on sale April 5th and end April 15th. 

PTO Led After Prom - For registration and more info please visit:  https://hpafterprom.com/

Follow-up questions? Email: hpafterprom@gmailcom

PTO Led Class of 2024 Grad Night -  Here is the website to register.  The QR code is attached to the flier below:

Model UN

Sponsors Lindsey Choy and Joe Brysiewicz offer their congratulations to the HP Model UN Team as it returns from the 50th Annual National High School Model United Nations Conference in New York City. Highland Park High School Model UN won the 2nd place tier designation of Excellent Delegation!  Furthermore, eight team members won individual awards on their respective committees!  

• Ryan Kessler & Delia Cashman- Security Council: Award of excellence (2nd)
• Jacob Rolfe & Emmie Dubin- CMS:Convention on Migratory Species: Award of Merit (3rd)
• Plenary Speaker for the Committee:
• Alexa Rabin & Harry Shapiro- UN-HABITAT: UN Human Settlements Programme
• Nora Gladstone & Jamie Lowenthal- SOCHUM: Social, Humanitarian & Cultural Committee

At one of the largest Model UN conferences in the country with over 3,000 delegates competing, our team participated in sessions led by notable humanitarian and diplomatic leaders and even attended a session with the Ukrainian Ambassador inside the Ukrainian Permanent Mission. Congratulations to Presidents Ella Bernstein, Emma Eisenberg, Miles Provus and the whole team!

The HPHS Orchestra traveled to Costa Rica over Spring Break and had a fabulous experience.  They had such a nice time after the concert hanging out with members of the Acosta Youth Orchestra! Instagram handles were exchanged.

ATHLETICS

Here is the 2024 Summer Camp Information.  Registration will open on Monday, April 8.  Here is the link to register.

Spring Sport Parents/Guardians: Your athlete's photos will be posted online at vipis.com within 3 weeks of your photo day for viewing and ordering.   If you have any questions about sports team and individual pictures, please contact Visual Image Photography at support@vipis.com.

Former Highland Park Giant Addie Budnik had 17 points, including 5 three pointers in the University of Richmond’s 72-61 loss to Duke University in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.  We are so proud of all Addie has accomplished this year and over the course of her career at Richmond..  

Some of our Boys Track & Field athletes qualified for the indoor state meet at Illinois Wesleyan University on Saturday, March 23rd.  Congratulations to Nate Wehner, Lukaas Nales, Russell Czerwinski, and our 4x400 relay team for representing HPHS with class on a big stage.

Our Baseball team had a fun and productive Spring Break. The team traveled to Orlando, Florida and competed against teams from all over the country. Thanks to our players , parents, and coaches for making this trip possible.

Each quarter, the Counseling Department creates a newsletter for students and families. You can find the third quarter newsletter here. It contains helpful counseling information as well as mental health resources.

Cada trimestre, el Departamento de Consejería crea un boletín para estudiantes y familias. Puede encontrar el boletín del tercero trimestre aquí.  Presione Translate en la parte superior para la traducción al español.