Principal's Blog 2025-2026 #13

November 7, 2025

Good afternoon, Mustang families,

This morning, we had the privilege of welcoming Veterans from our community for our annual Veterans Breakfast and Parade. Despite the construction challenges this year, our staff and students came together to create a meaningful celebration. The gratitude expressed by our guests was both heartwarming and deeply humbling. Moments like these remind us that some of the most lasting lessons come not from textbooks, but from pausing as a school community to honor those who serve. I want to extend my sincere thanks to our planning team for their dedication, and we look forward to continuing this recognition during our Veterans Day Panel on Tuesday, November 11.

As we look toward the weeks ahead, we are also lifting up a spirit of kindness and care. Our Welcome Center continues to support MHS students and families when they need it most, and our Student Leadership has launched the Kindness Drive, running November 10 through 21. If you are able, please consider contributing items from our needs list or making a financial donation through Omella so our staff can shop on your behalf. Every contribution, large or small, helps ensure that all members of our school family feel supported.

In addition, our Senior Student Leadership and Staff Connections Committee invite you to join us for our Turkey Trot on Saturday, November 22. This is a simple and fun walk-or-run event for all ages. There is no registration fee; we only ask that participants bring items to support the Welcome Center Food Pantry. Shirts are available for preorder and can be picked up at the event. We hope to see many families, staff, and students coming together in the spirit of gratitude, wellness, and community.

Finally, I want to share a brief reminder about school safety. In the event that a threat is reported or observed, our schools follow the Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG). These procedures guide our investigation process, in collaboration with law enforcement when appropriate, to ensure the safety and well-being of our students and staff. Additional details from our Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, Jamie DiCarlo, are linked in this blog for your awareness.

Thank you for your continued partnership, generosity, and care. Mundelein is stronger because of the way we show up for one another.

I continue to be proud of the way our students show up for one another and for our community. To close out this week’s message, here is our CBS School Spotlight compilation once more — a snapshot of the joy, pride, and purpose we share at MHS.

Enjoy, and have a wonderful weekend.

Go Mustangs!

Dr. Alexandria Taylor

Principal

Mundelein High School

847-949-2200

www.d120.org

ataylor@d120.org

In this video, District 120 Superintendent Corey Tafoya provides an update on the Mundelein High School facilities improvement project, providing positive news about the construction budget to date.

So far, the project is on-time and $1.5 million under budget. While there is still a long way to go, it’s off to a great start.

We know our rights; it's time to exercise them, practice them, and know what to do in the event

of an encounter with immigration. Attend one of our sessions.

Featuring...Maria Tallchief

A member of the Osage Nation, Maria Tallchief was not only a trailblazer for Native American dancers, but is widely considered one of the country’s most influential ballerinas of all time and America’s first prima ballerina.

Maria Tallchief began her ballet training at the age of three on the Osage Indian Reservation in northern Oklahoma and continued to do so upon her family’s relocation to Los Angeles in 1933

As her career began to take off, many tried to persuade Ms. Tallchief to change her last name to something that sounded more Russian or European. She refused.

Following Ms. Tallchief’s retirement from dancing in 1965, she went on to serve as the artistic director of the Chicago Lyric Opera Ballet and the founder and artistic director of the Chicago City Ballet. For her enduring impact on American ballet, Ms. Tallchief was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1996, received the National Medal for the Arts in 1999, and was posthumously inducted into the National Native American Hall of Fame in 2018.

Text excerpted from: https://sab.org/scenes/sab-trailblazer-maria-tallchief/

Image courtesy of: https://www.biography.com/artists/maria-tallchief

Hope Squad - Monthly Theme is Gratitude

November Workshops

We were honored this morning to host a breakfast program for our Veterans. We paused as a school community and taught our students the importance of acknowledging those who have served our country.

The parade concluded in the gym where the choir sang the National Anthem as more than 2,000 students filled our gymnasium to show their appreciation.

We look forward to continuing this meaningful recognition next week with a Veterans Day Panel on Tuesday, November 11. Veterans from various branches of the military will share their journeys, experiences, and the lessons they have learned while serving our country. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with these remarkable individuals.

Thank you to the veterans and their families who attended this morning’s program. And thank you for your service.

Click here to see the event photo album.

Everyone loves a success story, and I'd like to share with you some student testimonies about their on-site experiences in Dual Credit Student Internship!

Here is a short video showcasing the features of the course, and it features testimonies from...

• Amelia Cardoso, Aviation Intern at the Chicago Executive Flight School

• John Gorsica, Engineering Intern at Domeny Tool & Stamping

• Camryn Sheehan, Marketing Intern at Larsen Manufacturing

• Mira Myrie, Graphic Design Intern at Signs Now Mundelein and Epic Media, Inc.

If you or any students would like to find out more information about the Dual Credit Student Internship opportunity, please contact me at akapotas@d120.org.

Epic futures await our students, and an internship may be just what they need to get their career ready for takeoff!

Join us this coming week for some exciting college visits! Register in SchooLinks today!

Check out out weekly newsletter for more important event and scholarship information.

Order your cap, gown, and senior swag now to ensure timely delivery!

• Earlybird pricing ends December 5th
• Last day to order is February 27th

Order now at www.HerffJonesIL.com, or Call Herff Jones at 815-756-4743. Herff Jones Office hours are Monday - Thursday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Click here to see the MHS Class of 2026 Graduation Booklet and Calendar

Class of 2026 Yard Signs are now on sale! Signs are $15 and may be purchased online here. We will email you once your yard sign is ready (roughly 2 weeks after ordering). Pick up will be in the main office as your order is ready.

We are collecting food, toiletries, and clothing for our very own Welcome Center in the Annex.

Students: Bring your donations to your 2nd period classrooms for a chance to win a pizza party!
Parents and Staff: Bring your donations to the main office.

Click here to find out what items are needed.

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” – officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

Text courtesy of: https://department.va.gov/veterans-day/history-of-veterans-day/

MHS students will provide tutoring (English and Spanish) at Fremont Library several times this semester. All K-8 students are welcome for homework or subject help.

Fremont Public Library

1170 Midlothian Rd

Mundelein, IL

November 12th

6:00pm - 7:00pm

For more information, please contact:

Fremont Public Library: (847) 566-8702 | Mundelein High School: hbabowice@d120.org

World Kindness Day began in 1998 after a 1997 conference in Tokyo where the World Kindness Movement was formed. Celebrated annually on November 13, the day was created to promote kindness and highlight the positive power of good deeds. Its history is rooted in the goal of unifying nations and individuals through shared acts of kindness, both large and small.

"Kindness is more than deeds. It is an attitude, a look, a touch. It is anything that lifts another person." - Plato

La segunda sesión de La Universidad de Padres se celebrará este próximo 13 de noviembre en la cafetería de la escuela, de 6pm a 8pm. Para más información, contacto Fred Kliora a 847-949-2200 Ext. 1410.

Mundelein Theatre is thrilled to present:

Bringing Down the House - A Musical Without Songs

by Todd Wallinger

Directed by Jeff Harding

Classes begin at 9:40am.

Buses will run one hour later.

Click here for the late start schedule.

Save the Date! More info coming soon!

Learn about the coalition, ways to prevent teen dating violence, and where to seek help. This is a great way to be informed and engaged in your child's wellbeing.

• Meet other parents
• Get your questions answered
• Discuss important information

MUNDELEIN HIGH SCHOOL

07:00 PM - 8:30 PM

19TH OF NOVEMBER

varzate@nicasa.org

Learn how to have conversations with your teen on difficult topics.

Save the Date! More info coming soon!

The Senior Student Leadership and the Staff Connections Committee has organized a simple Turkey Trot that we would love to have you participate in!

No registration is required, but we are selling shirts for pre-order and they will be available for pick-up at the event. (Order your shirt here or scan the QR code on the flyer: https://omella.com/hkfz6)

Date: Saturday, November 22nd

Time: 9:00am. We will begin waiver signing and shirt pickup at 8:15am so get there early!

Entrance Fee: There is no fee to join, but we are asking that you bring 1-2 items for our Welcome Center Food Pantry. Check the attached flyer to see what they are in need of.

Starting Location: Staff parking lot. Parking is available in the main lot.

Route(s): You can run or walk and there will be 1 and 2 mile options.

We hope to see you there!

Happy Thanksgiving! See you Monday, December 1st!

Classes begin at 9:40am.

Buses will run one hour later.

Click here for the late start schedule.

Early bird pricing ends for Senior cap and gown orders on December 5th. Order today!

Tickets for our 2025 Spotlight Event are now on sale, and can be purchased here.

Spotlight Tickets

Please note that ticket sales will end at 7:30 a.m., on Tuesday, December 2, 2025. We expect a very full audience, and cannot guarantee the number of seats that might be available the night of the event if you have not purchased tickets ahead of time.

Raffle ticket sales can be found here.

Raffle Tickets

Raffle ticket sales will also be available the night of the event, and there is no limit to the number of tickets you can buy!

Cash, check, and credit card payments (via Omella), will be accepted at the event.

Athletics events week of 11/10/2025

Athletic Department Newsletter (coming soon)

2025-26 Sports Season Start Dates

Did you know? You can stay on top of all the MHS athletic schedule changes and reminders for your favorite activities!

With Notify Me!, you can set yourself up to receive automatic text and email notifications. Simply log in to choose the teams and activities you want to track, and we'll send you updates directly to your phone or inbox.

It's easy to use and you can log back in anytime to modify your settings. Don't miss a game or important update again!

Https://as3.rschooltoday.com/public/notify/genie/632/school/632

Submitted by Coach Scheuers

Tryouts are less than a month away! The first day of tryouts will be Monday, November 10, 2025.

• Freshmen & Sophomores: 3:45–5:45 PM (Main Gym)
• Juniors & Seniors: 6:00–8:00 PM (Main Gym)

All students interested in trying out must register for a winter sport and have an updated physical on file before November 10 in order to participate.

If you have any questions, please contact Coach Scheuers at jscheuers@d120.org.

Winter Registration Link: https://students.arbitersports.com/organizations

Submitted by Coach Healy

Boys swim and dive starting Monday 11/24 in the pool at 3:45. All are welcome! Please reach out to coach Healy at mhealy@d120.org for more information or of you have questions!

Submitted by Coach Jones

Girls Bowling Tryouts begin on 11/17

Coach Joe Piontowski and I are gearing up for this upcoming season of the Girls Bowling Season. We are new to MHS, but not to the bowling world, and are looking forward to another successful season. Coach Joe and I welcome girls of all abilities to come and give the bowling team a try–no prior experience is necessary. Please encourage any girl who is looking for a fun winter sport to attend our tryouts at Lakeside Recreation Center on Monday, 11/17 and join the Girls Bowling team! For anyone who needs transportation from school, please meet at Door 9 immediately after school to take a minibus to Lakeside and then arrange for a ride home from the bowling center.

Submitted by Coach Rutz

A heartbreaking end to the season today, as Elijah Mendoza narrowly missed qualifying for State. Elijah took 29th, .07 seconds behind the final qualifier. Banquet is Monday November 10th at 6:00 PM in the school cafeteria. Hope everyone can make it!

Check out our weekly CCRC Newsletter at: https://secure.smore.com/n/qf5sn6

Peer/AP Tutors has updated the link to the Advanced Placement web page where students can access videos that detail nearly two dozen AP courses offered at MHS. We are grateful to senior Sophie Hammer who taped and edited every video, and the cast of seniors and juniors who provided insights behind selecting advanced placement courses.

The link can be found on the Literacy Center and Peer/AP Tutors website.

• Before school, during lunch, free periods, study hall. Staff help and student (peer) tutors available.
• ARC Academic Resource Center B145-147: help with any subject. Mon.-Fri. 7:00am-3:25pm.
• Teacher office hours: contact the teacher for time/day.
• Guidance: Counselors can make arrangements for help. Check Power School for name of assigned counselor.
• Student-led AP and Honors Study Group schedule; Remind codes for each group (Text the code to 81010):

MHS students will provide tutoring (English and Spanish) at Fremont Library several times this semester. All K-8 students are welcome for homework or subject help.

Fremont Public Library

1170 Midlothian Rd

Mundelein, IL

6:00pm - 7:00pm

November 12th

December 10th

For more information, please contact:

Fremont Public Library: (847) 566-8702

Mundelein High School: hbabowice@d120.org

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Website: www.d120.org

Location: 1359 West Hawley Street, Mundelein, IL, USA

Phone: 847-949-2200