HEHS Principal's Newsletter
December 2023
From the Principal's Desk
Parents and Students,
As we approach the end of the first semester, we have some exciting news to share:
HEHS is EXEMPLARY on the Illinois State Report Card - 2 years running!
This designation is attributed to a sustained commitment by all (students, parents, and teachers) in providing meaningful and rigorous classroom experiences, encouragement towards involvement and strong support systems which allow students to meet their full potential. The Illinois School Report Card is but one window into the amazing happenings here at HEHS.
Thank you for your continued partnership.
Community Connections
HEHS Celebrates Its 50th Anniversary!
Watch your email, our website and our social media accounts
for updates on our celebrations throughout the 2023-2024
school year!
Building Bridges with Future Hawks
World History classes are creating 43 children's books for 3rd-, 4th- and 5th-graders at Armstrong and Muir Elementary schools. They are writing letters back and forth as well as being judged/critiqued by the young students. The topics are historical in nature (Crusades, Black Death, Japanese Feudalism). They are being designed to teach history at an appropriate level for students to learn, develop their reading skill and have fun with history.
HEHS Cupcakes with Friends
Cupcakes with Friends was a success! Student volunteers sold cupcakes kindly donated by staff, students, and community members alike. We were also treated to some amazing performances by our Spirit Squad, Band, Poms, and Flags teams! Because of the generosity of all donations and attendees, we were able to raise over $3,000 for Special Education activities at Hoffman. Most importantly, we celebrated the inclusion of people; of ALL abilities!
HEHS Hawk Boosters
Let’s Get Involved!
The purpose of the Hawk Boosters is to support school curricular and extracurricular activities, bringing home and school into a closer relationship.
Learn more about Boosters and how you can be involved here.
Thank you to our many volunteers for their time recognizing and supporting our amazing teachers and students! A special thank you to all Boosters who helped us celebrate our 50th in October.
HEHS Classroom Focus
Celebrating 50 Years of ART Creativity
The Art and Media Department's 3D Program has staged a yearlong Collaborative art project to offer a unique opportunity for our 3D artists to come together, share ideas, and create something greater than the sum of their individual talents. In our yearlong journey we aim to create a series of Hawk sculptures to hang in celebration of our 50 years of creativity at Hoffman estates High School. Our first hawk is a relief sculpture made of recycled packing material and glue. Our 3D Art 1 students were inspired to use recycled materials by the black and white and sepia toned photographs of Hoffman Estates and the land that would eventually house Hoffman Estates High School.
This first collaborative hawk sculpture was created by Mr. Medina's 3A-3D Art 1, Ms. Thomas' 4A-3D Art 1, and Ms. Leno's 1B-3D Art 1. The sculpture is mounted in front of our Theater. Look out for Mr. Medina's Level 2-3D Art and Level 3-3D Art classes, as they are designing the next 2 hawk sculptures. We hope these collaborative opportunities nurture creative connections while fostering a sense of community and collective achievement in all of our students.
Let’s Get Our Build On!
On Friday November 17, HEHS students, Nicole Pelzman and Brady Faulkner, competed at the District 211 Architecture/Building Construction Competition. Two students from each of the district 211 high schools presented their Architectural individual plans to an industry representative panel. Both Nicole and Brady have been enrolled in our Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) curriculum. I am proud to announce that Nicole Pelzman won the competition and will have her design built as part of the Building Construction Program’s next build.
Yoga Class Goes to Sunrise Lake Outdoor Education Center
Wellness teachers Mr. Heisler and Mrs. Helfrich traveled with students enrolled in yoga to Sunrise Lake Outdoor Education Center in October. The annual trip was intended to encourage students to empower themselves as individuals and develop problem solving skills while completing challenging outdoor team activities. Students made new connections with peers who they don’t always have an opportunity to interact with while they participated; a highlight being the excitement students feel when they accomplish a task they were not confident they could complete. It was a great day of learning the personal growth that can be experienced when we stretch both our body and mind.
Student Activity Spotlight
In each edition of this newsletter, a student extracurricular group(s) will be put in the spotlight for the HEHS Community to meet students from our various clubs and activities.
Hawk Club
On 10/27, we had 30 of our students sign up to participate in our annual Hawk Club Fall Fest, held in the staff cafe. The scary stories shared were created by our students which were written in their English classes; we had a costume contest, other games, dancing and ate as a group. It was a really fun night!
HEHS Debate Team Takes First Place!
Hoffman Debate Team Won the Stevenson Debate Tournament on October 29th.
HEHS Coding Club - NEW @ HEHS!
We just started a coding club this year. We meet once a month on Mondays.
At the conclusion of each athletic season, we celebrate our Hawks who have earned recognition for their academic and athletic achievements. Follow this link to see these Student-Athletes: 2023 Fall Student-Athlete Accolades
Parking Lot Safety
Parking Lot Safety is Everyone's Responsibility
Please Read to Understand HEHS Parking Lot Guidelines and Expectations
Student Drop-Off Reminder
Morning student drop-off prior to 7:15am - I’d like to encourage parents to drop off in the designated parent drop-off lanes near the media center (the drive north of Higgins). Parents should not drop off along the curb near the marquee as it provides a safety hazard both for pedestrians and other vehicles entering the parking lot off Higgins.
At 7:15am student drop-off by bus concludes and you may use the bus lanes to drop your student on the sidewalk nearest the building.
On late start days the bus lane will be open at 8:40am and I strongly encourage drop-off using the bus lane to avoid creating traffic congestion at the entrance to the main lot.
Student Pick-Up Reminder
After school pick-up I’d like to encourage parents to pick up in the designated parent pick-up lanes near the media center (the drive north of Higgins). Parents should not pick up along the curb near the marquee as it provides a safety hazard both for pedestrians and other vehicles entering the parking lot off Higgins. After buses depart (typically at 2:57pm), the bus lane may be used for pick up.
Evening student pick-up can occur in the bus lanes except for the following times:
3:50 – 4:10 p.m.
5:05 – 5:25 p.m.
*Athlete pick-up is preferred at Door 9 (Athletic Entrance)
Important Events
December 7: Incoming Freshman Night
HEHS - 6PM
December 11: Winter Concert A
HEHS Main Gym - 7:30PM
December 12: Winter Concert B
HEHS Auditorium - 7:30PM
December 15: Madrigal Dinner
HEHS Cafe - 8PM
December 16: Madrigal Dinner
HEHS Cafe - 6PM
December 12-14: Extended Media Center Hours for Final Exam Study
HEHS Media Center - 3:00-8:00PM
December 18-19: Extended Media Center Hours for Final Exam Study
HEHS Media Center - 3:00-8:00PM
December 20: Final Exam Day 1
1A, 2A, 3A
December 21: Final Exam Day 2
1B, 2B, 3B
December 22: Final Exam Day 3
4A and 4B
End of First Semester; Winter Vacation Begins at Close of School
January 9: Teacher Institute Day - Non-Attendance Day
January 10: First Day of Classes - Second Semester Begins
January 15: Martin Luther King Jr. Day - Non-Attendance Day
January 16: Student Late Start (8:50AM)
January 26: Dance Show
HEHS Auditorium - 7PM
January 27: Dance Show
HEHS Auditorium - 7PM
January 30: Student Late Start (8:50AM)
February 8: Chamber Concert
HEHS - 7PM
February 10: D211 Honors Orchestra at Fremd High School
7PM
February 13: Student Late Start (8:50AM)
February 15: Practice SAT for Juniors
HEHS Cafe - 5:30PM
February 17: Winter Formal
HEHS Gymnasium 7PM
February 19: President’s Day - No School
February 21: D211/D54 Band Concert
HEHS Main Gym - 7PM