From the desk of Principal Deborah Finn

December 7, 2023

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW: 



1. Summative assessment week is December 18-21.  See Academics for details.
2. It’s important for students to take care of themselves - especially during this time of year.  See Services & Support for information.
3. Learn more about Nate Styx, School Resource Officer (SRO) - read more in the Message from the Principal.

Hello Giant Families!

Next week is our last regular week of classes for the first semester. Now is a good time for students to check in on progress, connect with teachers and begin to prepare for any summative assessments they have scheduled the following week. It’s also important at this time of year for students to practice self care. Please see suggestions in Service & Support below.

In case you don’t know him yet, Officer Nate Styx is our HP Police School Resource Office (SRO) on staff. He is a friendly face in our hallways, classrooms, and cafeteria and considered a special Giant staff member. HPHS continues to maintain a strong and positive relationship with the local police department, as we work in partnership to keep our school a safe place to learn and grow. While they do respond in emergency situations, please know that the presence of police or a police vehicle is most likely not indicative of an emergency. 

Monday, December 11 - Giant Schedule Day

Tuesday, December 12 - Giant Schedule Day

Wednesday December 13 - Blue Schedule Day

Thursday, December 14 - White Schedule Day

Friday, December 15 - Giant Schedule Day

We are sharing this again as it is important information about the upcoming First Semester Summative Assessment Week and winter break:

• First Semester Summative assessments will be held Monday, December 18 - Wednesday, December 20, 2023.  
• In the event of school cancellation this week, assessments from the canceled day will shift to Thursday, December 21.
• Classes resume from Winter Break on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. 
• First semester grades in Infinite Campus will be considered final on Tuesday, January 17, 2024.
• If students are not sure about the plans for summative assessment week in any classes, they should reach out to their teachers.
• Students are only expected to be present in the building for scheduled summative assessment activities.  The building will be open during regular school hours and study spaces and food service will be available for students.

Bus routes will run so that students can arrive on time for each assessment period and depart after the passing period.

ACTIVITIES

This year marks the 13th annual Day of Giving, where support is provided to over 200 Highwood and Highland Park families fighting food insecurity. The Day of Giving is a collaborative effort between North Shore School District 112 and SaLT: Service and Learning Together. They have been working hard to gather community support and accept donations to support our families through the holiday season.  Unfortunately, this year, they are facing a shortage of food item donations. Some of our very own Giant students are involved in this effort and have asked us to share this information.

Coalition Z and Students Demand Action were energized and inspired by their conversation with Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering during her visit to HPHS this week! She spoke about the ways in which young people can engage, even if they can’t vote yet, and answered questions about her experiences as an elected official as well as how to make progress on issues about which students are deeply invested.

Charity Drive 2024 apparel is on sale NOW. Use this link to order your apparel. We will not have extra items available. Ordering ends December 15.

Student Activities just got a new photo backdrop for events! Look for your students taking photos during events with their GIANT spirit!

On December 9, join the Highland Park Orchestra as they stroll through Highwood, stop at 6 Restaurants and play stellar holiday music. Dine out and listen to our wonderful Orchestra!

ATHLETICS



Guest Speaker - December 13, 7:00 pm

On Wednesday, December 13 Tommy Christian will hold an informational meeting for athletes, coaches and parents on what he does and how it might benefit our athletes at HPHS.  Pairing an extensive athletic background and professional coaching experience with a degree in mechanical engineering, Tommy has a uniquely analytical and outside the box approach to developing speed and performance in athletes of all ages. The meeting will be held in the student cafeteria at HPHS and will begin at 7:00pm.  See below for Tommy Christian’s Bio.

Tommy Christian is the Owner and Director of Training for TCBOOST Sports Performance, a leading speed development focused sports performance organization located in the Chicagoland area. He started his sports performance career at Northwestern University as the Assistant Director of Strength and Conditioning (2000-2002). His role expanded to take over all the speed development duties for the football Program. Tommy broke off from NU to begin the process of growing TCBOOST in 2002. Over the past 23 years, Tommy has trained more than 700 Division 1 athletes and over 40 other professional and Olympic athletes ranging from the NFL, NBA, MLB, WNBA, Bobsleigh, Speed Skating, and Rugby Union. Tommy is the former starting inside linebacker for the Wildcats under Coach Gary Barnett (1992). During his playing career at Northwestern he was the top Iron Cat point winner for his combination of speed, strength, explosiveness, and stamina. Originally certified with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) with his CSCS back in 2002, Tommy also holds the CFSC (Certified Functional Strength Coach) and Etcheberry Tennis Certification credentials. 

HOMEROOM @ HOME

Students experienced two homeroom periods this week. During Monday’s extended homeroom, 9th-11th graders began the course registration process for next year.  At the same time, seniors started the process of preparing for graduation, including taking their senior class portrait in the Giant Gym.  In homeroom today, the superlative selfie competition was introduced. Ask your student about their class’s plan for their group selfie next week!

As we move into the last weeks of first semester and the end of the year this can be a time of joy, stress, and many different emotions. We want to take a moment to acknowledge the importance of taking care of you and prioritizing your mental health. This starts with self-care. Self-care means taking time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical and mental health. When it comes to your mental health, self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy. Even small acts of self-care in your daily life can have a big impact. Click here for a list of resources that provide information on self-care and what you can do to ensure that you are taking care of yourself during this busy time of the year

Holiday Shopping for a Cause

Coming to a screen near you this Friday, the District 113 Education Foundation invites you to join our Third Annual Virtual Auction taking place from December 8-10, 2023. There will be exciting auction items including a Private Pickleball Party, Bulls Tickets, a HPHS Parking Spot, Reserved Graduation Seats and more. Support District 113 this holiday season by participating in this event —  your contribution directly benefits students with innovative education initiatives requested by teachers. For a sneak preview of our auction items, click here.  For more information on the District 113 Education Foundation, please visit our website here.

Save the Date - February 6, 2024, Community Speaker Event: Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World. The final event in the series for the 2023-24 school year is Devorah Heitner, Ph.D., author of Growing Up in Public. The event will be held from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, February 6 at Highland Park High School.



Devorah Heitner helps empower parents with strategies to help their kids navigate growing up in a world where nearly every moment of their lives can be shared and compared. Heitner shows parents how to help teens navigate boundaries, identity, privacy, and reputation in their digital world. Using relatable stories and research-backed advice, Heitner helps parents cut through the overwhelm to connect with their kids, recognize how to support them, and help them figure out who they are when everyone is watching.