Principal's Blog 2025-2026 #6

September 19, 2025

Featuring - Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor

In 2009, Sonia Sotomayor broke boundaries by becoming the first Latina, and the third woman, to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States, the highest court in the country. Sotomayor was born in New York City to Puerto Rican parents. She grew up in the Bronxdale-Houses, a public housing project in the Bronx. Through perseverance and determination, she received degrees from Princeton University and Yale Law School.

"Through reading, I escaped the bad parts of my life in the South Bronx. And, through books, I got to travel the world and the universe. It, to me, was a passport out of my childhood and it remains a way — through the power of words — to change the world."

Click here to read more.

Text Courtesy of: Smithsonian- https://latino.si.edu/exhibitions/presente/shaping-nation/sonia-sotomayor

Image Courtesy of: Sonia Sotomayor. Timothy Greenfield- Sanders, 2010. Courtesy of National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, © 2011 Timothy Greenfield-Sanders [NPG.2015.27]

The Mundelein High School Wellness Center will provide multiple activities throughout the month to provide students with knowledge and resources. September 22-26th is also weight stigma awareness week. There will be activities in the commons as well as a body positivity workshop during that week.

Wellness Center September Newsletter

September Workshop Calendar

Character Value Slide: Hope

Hope Squad Coping Strategies of the Week for September

Homecoming week was amazing! Lots of energy and enthusiasm.

See more on Facebook, Instagram, or check out our Homecoming Scrapbook.

The Honors Jazz Ensemble had the privilege of performing at Durty Nellie's in Palatine this past weekend. They performed to a packed house of local residents and supportive MHS families prior to the headliner group, The Jazz Consortium Big Band. The students sounded outstanding and have set the tone for what promises to be another special year of music making in the Jazz program!

We're proud of seniors Liam O'Neill and Paige Prochnow for perfect scores on their ACT tests in April. Great job!

Mustangs - You might notice some interesting construction activity on the MHS campus today. We are pouring 200 cubic yards of concrete for the classroom addition. Each ready-mix truck delivers approximately 10 cubic yards. The yellow material on the ground is vapor barrier. This helps concrete cure correctly and prevents ground moisture from being drawn into our new addition.

Concrete is offloaded from the ready-mix truck into a hopper on the concrete pump truck (yellow boom extended). The pump delivers the concrete safely and quickly to the concrete finishers.

A concrete power screed is pictured in the foreground. The screed ensures the new concrete is compacted and level using laser technology.

More information can be found on our website at https://www.d120.org/2024-building-plan/

The 2025 Career Expo and Networking Event is an opportunity for our 2000+ students to learn about the exciting careers that await them after graduation, and we'd love to have you be a part of it!

We are looking for professionals from all industries! Volunteers will be asked to host a table and speak with students about your profession during the entire event. The expo is a relaxed way for students to explore career options, it's a great deal of fun, and lunch is on us!

If you're fired-up about your profession and would like to be a part of this event, fill out the linked survey. If you have questions, feel free to contact Alexander Kapotas at akapotas@d120.org or (847) 949-2200 x1092. Please note that space is limited, and no fee is required to participate.

P.S. Take a look inside our programming by following us on Instagram and viewing this student-produced segment on our 2024 Job Expo. There's an energetic vibe happening, and we'd love to have you be a part of it!

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

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

On Saturday, September 20, 2025, District 120 & 75 will be applying lawn treatment on the grounds surrounding the schools. This is part of our recurring turf management program. Industry standard chemicals are applied by a licensed lawn service company. Humans and pets should avoid the lawns during this application.

Mundelein High School Main Gym

9:00am - 10:30am

Free

Rosh Hashanah is observed as both the birthday of the universe and the start of the Jewish new year.

In 2025, Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Monday, September 22 and continues through nightfall on Wednesday, September 24.

Traditions include lighting candles in the evenings, gathering for festive meals featuring sweet delicacies, attending prayer services highlighted by the sounding of the ram’s horn (shofar) on both mornings, and refraining from creative work.

Rosh Hashanah is followed by Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, which begins at sunset on Wednesday, October 1, 2025 and concludes at nightfall on Thursday, October 2, 2025.

Text adapted from: https://www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/36130/jewish/High-Holidays-2025.htm

Music Saves Lives

Celebrate Theme Thursday THIS Thursday, September 25th and wear your favorite band or musical artist t-shirt to help advocate for Suicide Awareness.

Join us for an evening of food, activities and sports, sponsored by MHS Parent Ambassadors!

Learn more about the MHS Parent Ambassadors.

September 30th

Student Early Releas Schedule

Evening Parent Teacher Conferences 4:30 - 8:00pm

October 3rd

No Student Attendance

Day Parent Teacher Conferences 8:00am - 2:00pm

Registration link is open September 15th through September 29th.

Yom Kippur means “Day of Atonement” in Hebrew. It is the single holiest day of the Jewish year and marks a time for atonement. This somber day of fervent prayer and fasting ends the 10 days of the High Holidays, or “Days of Awe,” which begin with Rosh Hashanah.

If you are Jewish or have a Jewish friend, a common greeting is “G’mar chatimah tovah.” This means, “May you be sealed [in the Book of Life] for a good year ahead.” In Jewish tradition, the Book of Life is written on Rosh HaShanah, and the decree for the New Year is sealed on Yom Kippur.

Text adapted from: https://www.almanac.com/content/when-yom-kippur

MHS is thrilled to once again be celebrating our annual College Week with a variety of events throughout the week of October 6-10 during lunch periods to help our seniors apply to college and find their future fit. Read on to learn more, and then register for all events in your SchooLinks account.

Click here to see the full schedule of events.

The National Honor Society Induction Ceremony will be held:

October 6th

7:00pm

MHS Auditorium

The mission of NHS is to recognize and foster enthusiasm for scholarship, to promote the development of strong character, to encourage positive leadership, and to cultivate responsible citizenship through service to school and community.

7:00pm

MHS Auditorium

Free

Classes begin at 9:40am.

Buses will run one hour later than usual.

Click here for late start schedule.

Contest

Mundelein Mustangs versus Lake Zurich

Theme

Senior Night: Marching Band

Red Rage Student Section: Neon

Start Time

7:30pm

Tickets

Current MHS Students with ID - Free

Child (ages 3-10)/Seniors (65+) - $3

General Admission $6

Purchase Tickets at GoFan

Gates open 60 minutes before kickoff for single varsity games. On nights when we have a lower-level game prior to varsity, gates will open 30 minutes prior to kickoff of the lower-level game and remain open through the varsity game.

Permitted Items

Permitted items that are allowed are sealed water bottles, carried rain gear, baby food, blankets, coats, and umbrellas, wheelchairs and walkers, service dogs trained to aid patrons with a disability and pre approved signs or posters.

Disallowed Items

Mundelein High School is reminding our parents/guardians and students that we have a list of items that we do not allow into the stadium on game days. Disallowed items that are not allowed in the stadium are backpacks, large purses, beach bags, outside coolers, outside food or drink, noise makers, balls, inflatable toys, laser pointers, paint, baby powder, streamers, alcoholic beverages, tobacco of any kind including e-cigarettes, drones (except for MHS School Issued Drones), pets. If someone has these items they will be confiscated at the entry gates. All bags are subject to search.

Can't make it in person? Watch Live!

NO SCHOOL - Federal Holiday

This unique event invites all incoming 8th grade Choir students from Fremont, Carl Sandburg, and West Oak, to participate with the choir students from MHS. Workshops and rehearsals occur from after school into the evening and culminate in a large performance in the auditorium. Students get to spend time with upper classmen over dinner while they get unique perspectives on what it means to be in Choir at MHS.

Join us at 7 p.m., in the MHS Auditorium for the 8th Grade Rockstar Concert featuring the Class of 2030. Free Admission!

All 9th-grade students must submit a school physical.

All 12th-grade students must submit proof of the second meningococcal vaccination.

Students without these requirements will be excluded from school on October 15. Visit our health office website for more info.

The 2025 Career Expo and Networking Event is an opportunity for our 2000+ students to learn about the exciting careers that await them after graduation, and we'd love to have you be a part of it!

Take a look at this student-produced segment from our 2024 Job Expo.

Athletics events week of 9/22/2025

Athletic Department Newsletter (coming soon)

2025-26 Sports Season Start Dates

MHS Students! Check out the Red Rage Spirit Store to get ready for our Friday Night Lights.

The store will be open until the end of the season! Every shirt closes after a certain amount of time, so make sure to purchase your shirts before the time runs out.

Head to our Instagram page for more info.

Boys and Girls Soccer teaming up at the HOCO parade!

Submitted by Coach Willis

Thank you to all the staff members who came to support our volleyball team this past week at the Staff Appreciation Night match against Zion-Benton. Thank you, staff, for making MHS a wonderful place for our student-athletes!

With wins against Zion-Benton last week and Grayslake North this week, the Mustang Volleyball program is making excellent progress. Our JV team is still undefeated for the season and our Freshman A team is 9-1 for the season. What an exciting ride this has been so far! Next week, there are several opportunities to see Mustang Volleyball in action! We are at Wheeling on Monday, September 22 and at Libertyville on Wednesday, September 24. We would love to see your school spirit. Let’s go, Mustangs!

Submitted by Coach Rutz

We travelled down to Springfield Saturday to compete in the Lanphier Invitational. Despite the heat and being short-handed we managed to take 3rd out of 13 teams, led by Izic Miller in 11th place. Also medaling (top 30) were Elijah Mendoza in 15th, Aidan Sweet in 27th, and Mason McMurray in 28th. Erick Cordova rounded out the scoring in 35th, with Advik Sharma taking 41st and Delmar Mena taking 50th. Best of all, our spread from 1-5 was 44 seconds.

Our JV squad was able to manage a 2nd place finish out of 11 teams, led by freshman Nicholas Moberg in another strong race. Nicholas took 5th overall, finishing strong with a new PR. Also medaling (top 20) were James Glaskin-Clay in 8th, Jacob Williams in 13th, Nathaniel Mendez in 18th, and Adrian Pacheco Reyes in 20th. Great job, Mustangs!

A great team effort last night at Adler Park, as our Mustangs beat both Lake Forest and Stevenson (the race against Libertyville did not count as we already raced them). Running as a pack for the first 2 miles, we took off in the last mile and ran away from both LF and Stevenson, and outran Libertyville over that distance. Izic Miller led the Mustangs in 3rd place overall, running 17:00 for 3. with a last mile of 5:13 on the tough course. We also had a fine split of 24 seconds from 1-5. We are now 4-1 in Conference meets. Great job, Mustangs! Our next meet is Saturday at Warren, where we finally get to run a fast course and try to get some fast times.

Check out our new CCRC Newsletter at:https://secure.smore.com/n/31a4t

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.

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

October 8th

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