Proud Hawk Community-October 2025

Hello, Proud Hawk Community!

As we are well into October, the energy and excitement across Heritage CUSD #8 is inspiring. From the changing colors of fall to the activities filling our classrooms, gyms, and fields, this month is a wonderful reminder of how learning extends beyond the four walls of a classroom.

October is also a time of focus and growth. Students are engaged in new learning opportunities, teachers are guiding them with creativity and care, and our families continue to be incredible partners in supporting academic and extracurricular success. Together, we are living our theme: Rooted in Community, Growing Together.

One highlight this month is our upcoming Parent & Student University on Tuesday, October 28 at Heritage High School. An additional session has been added on Strengthening our Pre-K to 12 Pathways that is repeated from what was shared with the Board on Monday, October 20th. Families will have the chance to take part in engaging sessions, hands-on activities, and meaningful conversations that strengthen the home-school connection. You can learn more and register here: Parent & Student University Information and Sign-Up

Along with Parent & Student University, we look forward to celebrating fall athletics, fine arts showcases, and the many traditions that bring our Hawk community together. Your participation and support make these experiences possible and meaningful. We are excited to be hosting our Fall Sports Awards Banquet on November 12th at 6:30 P.M.

Thank you for your ongoing support, kindness, and trust as we work each day to provide the very best for our students. Let’s make this October a month filled with growth, gratitude, and Hawk pride!

With appreciation for your collaboration and support,

Dr. Kimberly Norton

The Heritage CUSD #8 Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting on October 20, 2025, at Heritage Elementary and Junior High in Homer.

Discussion items for the evening included a presentation from Kings Financial Consulting regarding Working Cash Bonds, a presentation by Dr. Norton of future grade-level planning options, cooperative football opportunities and possibilities with Villa Grove, and the tentative Risk Management Plan.

Our building principals, Mrs. Sanders shared progress on Response to Intervention (RtI) efforts, first-quarter data, and Mr. White shared the new District Event Link platform.

Dr. Norton also provided information on possible Pre-K programming, transportation fleet additions, and long-term facility planning. The Board was reminded of the upcoming IASB Board Policy Meeting scheduled for November 12 at 5:00 p.m. The November regular meeting will include discussion of the tentative tax levy, the district report card, and continued bonds discussion.

The High School Graduation date was set for May 17, 2026 with 8th grade promotion following on Monday, May 18th.

Student Ambassador Board Update

This month, Heritage Student Ambassadors focused on leadership through collaboration, service, and connection. Ethan Lyons shared that he, along with Eli Denmark-Collins and Atticus Ashbrook, participated in the Millikin Vocal Fest held September 28–29 in Decatur. The students spent two days rehearsing with choirs from across the state and concluded the experience with a public performance at Millikin University. The event was both musically enriching and personally meaningful, strengthening bonds among participants and building confidence through teamwork and shared artistry.

On October 20, four of our talented band members: Atticus Ashbrook (trombone), Colby Schrock (trumpet), Clair Davison (flute), and Waylon Young (trumpet), participated in the Millikin Honor Band. Alongside 120 students from 28 schools, they spent the day rehearsing and concluded with an evening concert showcasing their prepared works. Their participation represented Heritage with pride and demonstrated the dedication and musical excellence of our fine arts program.

Ethan also reflected on the success of the Character Strong program, which has been reorganized by grade level this year. He noted that this format encourages students to engage in authentic, peer-based discussions that support social-emotional growth while maintaining a healthy balance with academic responsibilities. Students have expressed that the lessons not only foster connection but also bring lighthearted moments that help build a positive school climate.

In addition, Tatum Morgan highlighted the success of the FCCLA Pink Night on October 21, an event that raised funds and awareness for breast cancer research. The evening showcased the strong sense of community within the school and the dedication of students to service-driven initiatives.

Tatum also suggested implementing a student feedback form to collect ideas and input for future FCCLA meetings, ensuring students continue to have an active voice in planning and improvement efforts.

My name is Chelsea Jennings and I am the new school nurse! I am so excited to take care of your children and contribute more to the Heritage Community! I have been a nurse for the past 15 years, most recently in a convenient care setting. My husband and I have 3 kiddos in Heritage, and we live just outside of Homer. We have a dog named Piper and two cats (Millie and Franklin). I love gardening, baking and anything chocolate! I’m here to support the health and wellness of our students and staff, so please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Attendance Update

Student attendance continues to trend upward across Heritage Schools this fall!

At Heritage Elementary/Junior High, attendance from August 14–September 30, 2025, averaged 94.8%, slightly higher than 94.6% during the same period in 2024. Even more encouraging, from October 1–21, 2025, attendance rose to 95.8%, compared to 93.9% last year. These improvements highlight the positive impact of strong family partnerships, consistent routines, and student engagement.

At Heritage High School, attendance has also improved significantly compared to last year. From August 14–September 30, 2024, the average attendance was 93%, and from October 1–21, 2024, it was 91%. This school year, attendance increased to 94.5% from August 14–September 30, 2025, and 95.2% from October 1–21, 2025—a clear sign that more students are present, engaged, and committed to learning each day.

We truly appreciate the continued support of our families in communicating with the school regarding absences. We understand that illnesses and life events occur, and those circumstances are always taken into account when reviewing attendance.

To help clarify, absences are classified as follows:

• Excused Absences: Illness, medical appointments, family emergencies, funerals, or other reasons verified by a parent/guardian and/or approved by the school.

• Unexcused Absences: Occur when a student is absent without notification or for reasons not accepted under district policy.

Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting consistent attendance and student success across all grade levels!

Exploring On-Site Pre-K Opportunities

Heritage CUSD #8 continues to explore the possibility of offering a Pre-K program on site. Ongoing discussions are being held with RCCSEC to bring the Spectrum Pre-K program to Heritage.

At this time, 34 families have indicated interest and 4 are listed as “maybe” and these results come prior to any formal screenings. We are currently awaiting additional information regarding any updates to the Preschool for All Grant, which may impact next steps.

We will share more details as they become available.

Thank you to all our families who completed the survey and shared feedback!

Heritage Hall of Fame Inductee: Stuart Wolf

Join us at Meet the Hawks on Friday, November 1st at Heritage High School as we celebrate one of our own, Stuart Wolf, who will be officially welcomed into the Heritage Athletic Hall of Fame!

A proud Heritage alumnus, Stuart continued his football career at Illinois College, where he excelled on and off the field as a leader and standout athlete. His dedication, work ethic, and passion for the game reflect the very best of what it means to be a Heritage Hawk.

Don’t miss this special moment during our community event and fundraiser, complete with student introductions, a community 3-point contest, kids carnival, Little Hawks showcase, Hawk Shop, and more!

Come out to support our athletes, celebrate Stuart’s achievements, and enjoy a fun-filled evening!

Thank You to Our October Partners in Education!

Heritage CUSD #8 extends a heartfelt thank-you to our generous Parent and Student University sponsors: Prospect Bank, Longview Bank, Don’s Auto Center, Happy-Y-Daze Shine, LLC, and Franczek for their continued support of our district initiatives.

Your partnership helps us bring meaningful learning opportunities to families, connect our community, and strengthen the pathways from Pre-K through 12th grade. We are deeply grateful for your investment in our students and your shared commitment to helping every Hawk learn, grow, and thrive.

We also wish to recognize the additional generous support we’ve received so far this school year from Philo Exchange Bank, Loman-Ray Insurance, the Homer Sports Commission (HSC), Elevate Trampoline Park, the University of Illinois, Beckman Institute, and Sidney Dairy Barn.

Our fall season has been filled with energy and achievement across academics and activities. The cross country season wrapped up on October 10th, and our runners finished strong, setting many personal records along the way. Girls’ basketball is off to a great start, with a few new players who are learning quickly and competing well. We recently celebrated 8th Grade Night on October 16th and are proud of the team’s progress. Boys’ basketball practice began this week, with around 25 players across grades 6-8. Their first game is scheduled for November 4th, and we look forward to an exciting season ahead.

In the classroom, our fourth graders enjoyed Outdoor Education the week of October 6–9, taking advantage of the beautiful fall weather for a fun and memorable learning experience. Parent-Teacher Conferences were held last week and had a strong turnout at both the elementary and junior high levels. We appreciate the continued partnership between families and teachers in supporting student success. The second quarter began on October 14th, and our building-wide focus for this month is on attendance, with a goal of reaching 95% or higher. Families of students who have missed six or more days during the first quarter have been contacted, and we’ll continue to work together to improve attendance throughout the year.

Our RtI (Response to Intervention) program is well underway. Aimsweb testing was completed in early September, and data meetings with teachers and our RtI facilitator took place September 23–25. Intervention groups began September 29th in both elementary and junior high, with a mix of computer-based and teacher-led instruction. The next data review is planned for January or early February. As we continue refining our RtI process, we are focusing on strengthening Tier II and Tier III interventions while exploring ways to expand Tier I enrichment opportunities.

The Parent-Teacher Committee (PTC) continues to bring excitement to our school community. Hawk Walk winners recently enjoyed a bowling party and had a fantastic time. Thank you to everyone who donated to our students, came out to walk and dance with our students and, especially to all the volunteers, who make all our activities happen. Looking ahead, we will hold our annual Halloween parties and parade on Oct. 31, with the doors opening for the parade at 2:20 p.m., and the parade starting at 2:30 p.m. Meet the Hawks Night will take place on November 1st. We will have a high school student guest speaker come to our morning assembly on October 27th, to share with our students all the wonderful activities and performances that will take place at this event.

The k-8th grade children’s play is scheduled for the week of November 10–14, with just one evening performance on November 14th. Mark your calendars now to attend, and support all our young performers. As in the past, the performance will be held at the high school. Finally, to wrap up the semester, students are already looking forward to the annual Secret Santa Shop on December 11–12.

In addition to all our student activities, we would like to warmly welcome Mrs. Jennings as our new school nurse. She is quickly learning all the students and we are so happy to have her join us.

It’s been a wonderful start to the school year, and we appreciate everyone’s support as we continue to focus on student growth, attendance, and school spirit.

Congratulations to our outstanding students Jett Bledsoe, Tatum Morgan, Kaden White, and Kaydynn Curry-Varner, who were named Students of the Month for September! Your leadership, hard work, and positive attitudes make a difference every day.

Student Council hosted a Homecoming lock-in to decorate for the big week and also organized the KDASC Halloween Dance. Homecoming Week was a huge success, congratulations to our Homecoming King Joshua Stierwalt and Queen Faith Latham!

FCCLA members attended the Ignite Conference and are participating in the Fall Leadership Conference this week, gathering fresh ideas to bring back to school. FFA continued its proud tradition of community service by serving Harvest Lunches featuring delicious pork chop sandwiches.

Journalism and Yearbook students represented Heritage at the IJEA Fall Conference, gaining valuable insights to enhance their publications. Students also joined Mr. Frost on career exploration trips to Manufacturing Day and the Ironworkers Local 380, where they learned about opportunities in welding and skilled trades.

We celebrated our 1st Quarter Breakfast Club honorees and recognized 29 students with Perfect Attendance for August and September—an impressive achievement!

To support college readiness, Heritage hosted a FAFSA Completion Night to guide students and families through the financial aid process, and PSAT testing was administered to juniors and sophomores to help them prepare for future exams.

In the arts, three students showcased their talents at the Millikin Vocal Festival, while four band members: Atticus Ashbrook, Colby Schrock, Clair Davison, and Waylon Young performed at the Millikin Honor Band. Our Marching Band delivered three outstanding performances this fall, showing noticeable growth at each event.

In athletics, golfer Anthony Happ earned All-Conference honors with an 8th-place finish and advanced to Sectionals, while the Boys Cross Country Team captured the LPC Conference Championship! Congratulations to Clark Roland (3rd) and Greyson Guevara (7th) for earning All-Conference honors.

We are so proud of all our students, athletes, musicians, and leaders for their continued dedication and success. Let’s keep the momentum going strong into November. Go Hawks!

Industrial Technology Update

It’s been a busy and exciting couple of weeks in the shop! Students have been hard at work on new projects and have had the chance to explore real-world experiences through field trips and hands-on learning.

On October 3rd, students attended Parkland College’s Manufacturing Day, where they toured Silgan and FedEx facilities. Our Advanced Welding students also visited Ironworkers Local 380, where they welded under the supervision of Certified Welding Instructors. One student even impressed the union enough to be invited to apply for a position based on his welding skills!

Back in the classroom, the Construction class poured concrete into several paver molds and a large rectangular form. Introduction to Industrial Technology students completed their wood lathe pens, while Woodworking students are assembling bookends and Advanced Woodworking students are gluing together their chess boards. Meanwhile, Welding I students have begun MIG welding, and the Advanced Welding group is fabricating shoe racks.

The Virtual Welder has been a huge hit during downtime! Students enjoy the challenge of improving their technique and competing to achieve the highest weld scores.

Come out and support our Heritage Hawks Boys and Girls Basketball Teams at the Basketball Scrimmage on Saturday, November 15 at 5:30 PM at Lyle Loman Court, Heritage High School in Broadlands.

The evening will tip off with a 3-Point Contest beginning at 5:30 PM, followed by scrimmages showcasing our talented athletes. This is a great opportunity to cheer on our student-athletes as they gear up for the upcoming season and to get a first look at the Hawks in action!

Bring your school spirit, wear your red and blue, and join us for an exciting night of basketball fun!

High school juniors and seniors interested in science or medicine can apply for researcHStart, an 8-week paid summer internship focused on cancer research. Participants will work with mentors from leading institutions: University of Chicago, Northwestern University, UIC, Rush, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and take part in career development workshops and multi-institutional collaboration.

Applications are due January 19th.

Learn more and apply at uchicagomedicine.org/researcHStart.