The Heritage Herald
September 19, 2025
Hello HMS Families,
Next week we will begin MAP testing. Please make sure your child gets plenty of sleep, eats breakfast at home or at school and comes to school with a charged chromebook. This testing is important as it helps us to know how to best support our students.
If you have questions or need support, do not hesitate to call the main office (708-458-7590).
Uniform Reminder:
Per our district uniform policy, plain black or maroon sweaters, sweatshirts, or hooded sweatshirts may be worn over a collared maroon polo or dress shirt or a plain white or black undershirt. Hooded sweatshirts must be worn with the hood down.
Mrs. P. Malone
Principal, HMS
708-458-7590
Important Dates
9/22 ~ Fall MAP Testing Begins
9/25 ~ PBIS Event
9/26 ~ Fall Picture Day & Sports Picture Day
10/3 ~ Progress Reports sent home
10/7 ~ PSAT8 Testing (8th grade students)
10/9 ~ Coffee with the Principal (3:30-4:30)
S.O.S
HMS students will be participating in the SOS (Signs of Suicide) program here at school again this year.
Through the program, students learn:
● that depression is treatable, so they are encouraged to seek help
● how to identify depression and potential suicide risk in themselves or a friend
● to ACT (Acknowledge, Care and Tell a trusted adult) if concerned about themselves or a friend
● who they can turn to at school for help, if they need it
Please click the link below to read the parent letter. Students will also get a copy of this letter to take home on Monday.
CANDOR HEALTH PRESENTATIONS
Again this year HMS will be using Candor Health to supplement our Health Curriculum. Please see all the details below regarding upcoming programing. Please be on the lookout for a parent letter that will also be sent home on Monday. If you wish that your child not participate in any of the programs, the signed letter must be returned prior to the presentations.
6th grade students must submit a current health exam & proof of immunizations
by October 15th in order to avoid
school exclusion per Illinois State Board of Education school code.
6th grade students must submit a current health exam and proof of immunizations by October 15th in order to avoid school exclusion per Illinois State Board of Education school code. Thank you to those who have turned them in already!
IESA sports physicals are for student athletes and do not meet the school code requirement for the IL child health exam. They are to be updated annually as they are valid for 365 days. Sports physicals should be submitted to the athletic department.
Ronald McDonald Care Mobile will be at HMS/Graves 10/7. There are still appointments available, call the office for more information!
Please talk to your children about not sharing food at lunch in order to protect students with food allergies.
- When you send your student to school, you are attesting that your student is in good health and ready for learning. Follow these guidelines on when to return to school for our top three symptoms of illness:
-Fever (100.0 or higher): The student may return to school after being fever free 24hrs without fever reducing medication.
-Vomit: The student may return to school after being free of vomiting for 24hrs.
-Diarrhea: The student may return to school after being free of diarrhea for 24hrs.
Nurse Anita, Nurse Tina & Ms. Oli
Read the article below for information regarding social media use and kids.
🎓8th Grade Parents🎓
Information from Argo High School re PSAT
Dear Parents/Guardians of 8th Grade Students at Heritage Middle School,
My name is John Dagres, Assistant Principal of Teaching and Learning at Argo Community High School. I am reaching out to share information about an important upcoming event that will play a key role in your child’s transition to Argo Community High School.
The PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Assessment Test) exam will be administered on Tuesday, October 7th at Heritage Middle School. This examination is a vital component in determining your child's freshman year placement in core classes such as math, science, social studies, and English.
In addition to the PSAT scores, teacher recommendations will play a role in the placement process. Therefore, it is important that your child is prepared for this exam.
Preparing for the PSAT Exam:
If your child wishes to practice taking sample PSAT exams, they will need to create a College Board account. The College Board provides valuable resources to help students prepare for the PSAT and other standardized tests.
Here are the steps your child should follow:
Create a College Board Account: If your child wants to practice for the upcoming placement exam AND would like feedback, I highly suggest creating a college board account. Your child will often refer to this account throughout their four years of high school. Please have your child create a username and password and keep it in a location that can easily be accessible for future use. Visit the College Board website (https://www.collegeboard.org/) and create an account. Or you can click on How do I create a College Board account? – College Board Support.
Access BlueBook App: Once the account is created, your child should use their College Board credentials to access the BlueBook app on their school-issued Chromebooks.
Installation Assistance: If the BlueBook app is not already installed on your child's school-issued Chromebook, please contact Heritage Middle School’s Technology Department. They will be able to assist in loading the app onto the device. If you want to download the app on your personal device, please click on https://bluebook.app.collegeboard.org/
If you have any questions or encounter any issues regarding the placement exam or the preparation process, please feel free to reach out to me. I can be reached at 708.467.5503 or email at jdagres@argohs.net.
We understand that this is an important time for both you and your child as they transition to high school. Rest assured that Heritage Middle School and Argo High School are here to support you every step of the way.
Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to your child's education. We look forward to seeing your child have a successful 8th grade year, doing their best on the upcoming placement exam and succeed in their journey at Argo Community High School.
Sincerely,
Mr. John Dagres
Assistant Principal of Teaching and Learning
Argo Community High School
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District 104 Board of Education Meeting Dates - 7:00pm
September 23, 2025--HMS/Graves Multi-Purpose Room
October 14, 2025--Admin Center
November 11, 2025--Walsh Elementary School
December 9, 2025--Admin Center
January 13, 2026--Walker Elementary School
February 10, 2026--Admin Center
March 10, 2026--Wharton Elementary School
April 14, 2026--Admin Center
May 12, 2026--Graves Dual Language School
June 9, 2026--Admin Center
