HF FYI

(in observance of Yom Kippur)

HF Theatre is proud to present this year's Children's Play, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical! We hope to see you in the Auditorium this weekend:

• Tonight, September 25th at 7 p.m.
• Tomorrow, September 26th at 7 p.m.
• Saturday, September 27th at 2 p.m.

Based on Jeff Kinney’s wildly popular series—published in 66 languages and winner of six Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards—“Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical” captures that dizzying moment when everything’s changing at once and you feel (quite literally) stuck in the middle. It’s hilarious, it’s heartfelt, and it sneaks in a quietly radical idea: popularity fades, but belonging sticks.

Grab a hall pass and hustle to homeroom: “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical” is bringing the glorious chaos of middle school to the stage in a fast, funny, and big-hearted new production. At Westmore Middle School where the hallways are wallpapered with sticky notes, whispers travel at light speed, and the rumor mill runs on cafeteria tater tots - one kid’s mission is clear: Greg Heffley will NOT be at the bottom of the popularity chart. Leave that to his oddball neighbor Fregley… or (gulp) his best friend, Rowley Jefferson. What could possibly go wrong?

When Greg’s master plans collide with real life, he’s faced with the toughest test of all: Is climbing the social ladder worth losing your one true friend? And can anyone outrun the dreaded Cheese Touch before the closing number? With larger-than-life characters, laugh-out-loud gags, and songs you’ll be humming long after the bell rings, this musical turns everyday middle-school mayhem into a feel-good adventure every former sixth-grader will recognize.

• Run time 60 minutes: Kid-friendly and no intermission (because bathroom passes are a whole thing).
• Ages 8 and up: Perfect for Wimpy Kid superfans and newcomers alike.
• Themes: Choices, friendship, and finding your people—even if your people occasionally yell “Zoo-Wee Mama!”

We're super proud to announce that Seniors Douwe Groen, Oreoluwa Owolabi, Mahal Reyes and Caleb Stamps and have been named Commended Students in the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program. In addition, two more of our Seniors, Julian Grisius and Alexander Wettstein have been named Semifinalists!

• Approximately 34,000 Commended Students nationwide are recognized for their exceptional academic promise. While they will not continue in the 2026 competition, they placed among the top 50,000 students who entered the 2026 competition by taking the 2024 PSAT/NMSQT.

• Semifinalists are among 16,000 students nationwide. These high school seniors may advance to the Finalist level, competing for one of approximately 6,930 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million. About 95% of Semifinalists are expected to become Finalists, and about half of Finalists will earn a National Merit Scholarship and the Merit Scholar® title.

In honor of these exemplary accomplishments, a recognition breakfast will be held in October for these students and their families. We are incredibly proud of these students and their dedication to academic excellence!

New to watch: On this episode of Viking Scholars, we hear from Senior Bryce Christian, a journalism star in the making! Bryce is the Sports Editor, Head Graphic Designer and Co-Social Media Editor for HF's school newspaper, The Voyager. He shares with us how his passion for writing took him to New York this summer to work with the New York Times and Columbia University. Check it out here!

We're pleased to share that out of 25 school designs submitted for this year's Exhibition of Educational Environments sponsored by the IASB Service Associates, our new Science Building, designed by DLA Architects, received the Award of Distinction! The Exhibition of Educational Environments recognizes outstanding examples of school design and planning. Read the full article and list of winners here.

Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School has been named a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IB CP), a significant step in expanding the school’s long-standing tradition of academic excellence and global learning opportunities.

This milestone builds on HF’s status as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School and reflects the district’s commitment to ensuring IB for All. IB CP will complement the long-standing IP Diploma Programme already established at HF.

The IB CP combines rigorous IB courses with real-world career pathways — including Health Sciences, Finance & Business, Arts & Communications, Manufacturing, Engineering, Technology & Trades, Informational Technology, and Human & Public Services. Students will graduate prepared for both college and career success, with the opportunity to earn state-recognized College and Career Pathway Endorsements alongside internationally respected IB credentials.

A hallmark of the IB CP is experiential learning through service projects, reflective research, and internships. HF invites local businesses, nonprofits, alumni, and community partners to collaborate by offering internships, job shadow experiences, and career-related projects. These partnerships will help students connect classroom learning to authentic professional experiences and contribute meaningfully to the workforce of tomorrow. Organizations interested in supporting HF students are encouraged to visit the webpage and complete the interest form here.

This year, Homewood-Flossmoor High School will return to holding an all-school testing day for the SAT Suite of Assessments. On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, all freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will take the SAT Suite exam that matches their grade level. Seniors are encouraged to independently arrange college visits or other post-secondary planning activities for that day. Read more here.

Quarterly incentives are a way to thank our students for being great examples of what it means to be a Viking day in and day out. As a reward for performing well academically, maintaining a low level of tardies and receiving zero demerits, past incentives have included a silent party, pancake breakfast and more. Mark your calendars for this year's incentives and do your best to be a part of them!

HF Cheerleaders are thrilled to host Youth Night 2025! Our future cheerleaders (ages 5–14, Kindergarten–8th Grade) will have the incredible opportunity to perform during halftime at the Varsity Football Game on Friday, October 10th! For Game Day, attire will be: Black bottoms (leggings, shorts, or joggers) and a cheer sweater (provided). Reminder that all Game Tickets for friends or family will need to be purchased on GoFan.

All practices will be held in the North Cheerleading Room (North Building--800 Governors Highway). Please have your cheerleader wear athletic/activewear and gym shoes. Please make sure your cheerleader has water and a snack each practice! See the registration form for practice details.

Important Note: Only HF Cheerleading Coaches and athletes are permitted in the cheer room during practices. If staying at the school, all parents must wait in their cars until the end of practice. We can’t wait to see our future cheerleaders shine under the Friday night lights!

Homewood-Flossmoor High School and Honest Game have partnered to provide students and families with an easy-to-use College Athletic Pathway software and additional educational resources. We know that accessing scholarships and college athletics requires not only a commitment to athletic training and competition but also a commitment to academic success.

Honest Game’s online platform provides students and families with individualized tracking across FIVE college athletic opportunities, including NCAA DI, DII, DII, NAIA, and Junior College pathways. Learn more and get started by clicking the link below.

HF families and students are in control of how HF communicates with them. HF uses Parent Square | Student Square to communicate with families and students.

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