H-F FYI - 5.22.23
Week of May 22, 2023
Seniors, this is your last week of classes at H-F High School! Congratulations on your successful high school career; we look forward to seeing where you go in your next chapter. (Actually, be sure to let us know your decision today via this Google Form!). There are special spirit days for you this week, as well as a new pep rally on your last day (Thursday, May 25). Make plans to join us for the free Bon Voyage, Seniors! event Friday night in the South Building for games, food and prizes! We look forward to celebrating you in the weeks ahead. Get all of the details on graduation rehearsal, cap & gown pick up and graduation in this year's Senior Letter (click here). Please note: There's no need to buy your own graduation yard sign; we will have a 2023 yard sign for each senior at cap & gown pick up on June 2!
Last 22/23 Concerts This Week
- H-F seniors will lead fellow students in self-selected songs — everything from the Beatles to Brahms — during the Senior Conductors' Orchestra Concert, set for 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23, in the school's Mall Auditorium. The concert will feature Chamber Orchestra, Viking Orchestra and Sinfonia students. Conducting seniors will be: Kailah Austin, Asia Bing, Avery Calhoon, Moises Contreras, Leshon Courts, Georgia Holt, Lucan McIntosh, Aaron McIntyre, Lola Pohrte, McKenzie Ray, Marisa Robinson & Andrew Wettstein. Can't join us in person? Watch the livestream on YouTube (click here).
- H-F's many talented student-vocalists will perform live entertainment in large and small groups with featured soloists at the Red & White Choir Cabaret at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 25, in the Mall Auditorium. Don't miss the student-conducted Red Choir (led by Judah Crowder & Avery Calhoon) vs. White Choir (led by Kaleel Morris & Jazmin Rhodes) competition at this signature H-F event! Arrive early for the best seats. Can't join us in person? Watch the livestream on YouTube (click here).
Latest Sculpture Installed at South Building
The next time you are in the Visual Art wing or enter the South Building near the Performing Arts Center be sure to look up to admire the first student-created sculpture installation since the pandemic began! Dragonfly, a collaborative mobile sculpture designed and built by Mr. Petecki's Sculpture class, represents the infinite potential of a student's educational journey with each of the 10 pieces crafted to symbolize movement, fluidity and new beginnings. Congratulations — and thank you — to Mr. Petecki and these talented student-artists: Lizbeth Gama Gonzalez, Michelle Gama Gonzalez, Thaicianna Greene, Haley Harrington, Layla Kimmons, Leigha Lickert, Yareli Martinez, Saada Marvel, Isis McBride-Ali, Steven Rogers, Anthony Spann, Mackencia Turner & Faye Wettstein.
On Tuesday, students in Mrs. Acebes' AP Spanish class filled up the sidewalks in front of North Building with colorful chalk art. The students had to research art by Hispanic artists, then replicate their art with sidewalk chalk. Some students chose well-known artists — such as Diego Rivera, Pablo Picasso & Frida Kahlo — while others replicated indigenous art (molas) from the countries of Panama & Colombia.
- Ave Van Til for Water Glass — Best of Art Fundamentals
- Joshua Clay for Skylander — Best of Digital Imaging
- Kolapo Kolawole for Tokyo — Best of Graphic Design
- Carlyn Davis for Baby Breath — Best of Black & White Photography
- Vianney Martinez for My Unknown Reflection — Best of Color Photography
- Steven Rogers for Kintsugi Draconem — Best of Sculpture
- Emily Thompson for Bubbles — Best of Mixed Media
- Sophia Krupa for Black and White — Best of Drawing
- Leilani Williams for Choco — Best of Painting
The exhibition was judged by Taylor Ausley, an award-winning multidisciplinary artist from H-F's Class of 2018.
Congratulations to the following-student artists who were recently recognized during the 49th Annual South Shore Arts Center's Tri-County Art Exhibit in Munster, Ind.:
- Shiloh Quintana won the $500 Alexandra Gardner Riddle Memorial Youth award for her functioning carousel.
- Nailyn Offett won a $75 Award of Distinction for her Digitally Imaged piece.
- Phoebe Bosch brought home 1st Place $50 award in the Media category for her drawing.
also:
- H-F was honored with the Best School Display trophy (pictured at right)! This went to the best senior high display of work out of the 23 high schools participating. Great work, Vikings!
One more Viking Victory from the Fine Arts Department:
Department Chair Ms. Wargo has been nominated as a 2023 Arts Administrator/Supervisor of the Year and as a 2023 Secondary Art Educator of the Year by the Illinois Art Education Association. She now joins Mrs. Helsel-Wilk for a chance to receive this top honor later this summer. Congratulations!
Congratulations to H-F's Julian Grisius, who as a freshman student had his original research published in the Journal of Emerging Investigators! He also presented his research at the American Psychology Association's annual convention in April. You can read his full report on The Effects of the Pandemic on the Behavior of Junior High School Students at this link. Amazing!
H-F Alum Alert: If you are lucky enough to catch the Broadway in Chicago production of Aladdin (which is running now through Sunday, May 28, at the Cadillac Palace Theatre), you may see the talents of Class of 1997 alumnus Dwelvan David! He is a standby performer for the roles of the Sultan, Jafar and the Genie, and is scheduled to be the Genie in the 1 p.m. performance this Sunday, May 21. While at H-F, he was a member of Viking Choir and active in the H-F Theatre Dept.
Last Friday, H-F was presented with three Distinguished Service Awards by the Illinois Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (INSPRA) for its communication efforts.
District 233 Superintendent Dr. Scott Wakeley received a Distinguished Service Award in the Administrator category.
Executive Assistant to the Superintendent Pat Gnaster received a Distinguished Service Award in the Support Staff category.
The H-F Communications Goal Team received a Distinguished Service Award in the Teams category. Team members include Director of Communications & Community Engagement Carla Erdey, Communications & Website Coordinator Nicole Castagna, Director of Alumni Relations & Development Ann Cherry, Principal Dr. Clinton Alexander, Director of Athletics Matt Lyke, Director of Activities Gail Smith, Guidance Department Chair Jim Schmidt, Fine Arts / English Teacher Matt Holdren and intern Tricia Walton.
Board Member Pam Jackson (second from the left) represented the Board of Education at the celebration of these communicators.
Awards were presented at a special INSPRA event at Bolingbrook Golf Club on Friday, May 12. Click here to read the full story...
Friday, May 19 — Periods 1-7
Spirit Day: The '90s
7:30-8:15 a.m. — In-Person Tutoring @ South G18 (Math), South B23 (Science) & H-F Library (Writing)
Noon — IHSA Sectionals: Boys' Tennis @ Oak Lawn
1:30 p.m. — IHSA State Finals: Girls' Track & Field @ Eastern Illinois U.
3:15-4 p.m. — In-Person Tutoring @ H-F Library (Math, Biology, Chemistry, Physics & Writing)
4:30 p.m. — Softball (V) vs. Oak Forest @ Varsity Field
6 p.m. — IHSA Regional Final: Girls' Soccer vs. Andrew @ Varsity Field
Friday, May 26 — Block 3 Day (Periods 1, 2, 3, 6 & 7)
7:30-8:15 a.m. — In-Person Tutoring @ South G18 (Math), South B23 (Science) & H-F Library (Writing)
1:30 p.m. — IHSA State Final: Boys' Track & Field @ Eastern Illinois U.
3:15-4 p.m. — In-Person Tutoring @ H-F Library (Math, Biology, Chemistry, Physics & Writing)
4:30 p.m. — IHSA Softball Regionals @ Joliet West (tentative)
7 p.m. — Bon Voyage, Seniors! @ South Building
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