Proud Hawk Community

Hello, Proud Hawk Community!

Our students have been actively engaged in a wide range of experiences, from academic competitions and field trips to leadership through Student Council, FFA, FCCLA, and NHS. We are especially proud of our FFA students for their success at the Envirothon competition, along with all of our students who were recognized for their achievements this quarter. We continue to see strong student leadership across our district, with students taking active roles in planning events, leading organizations, and representing Heritage at regional and state levels. Their hard work and commitment continue to make us proud.

We continue to focus on attendance, with many classrooms meeting or exceeding monthly goals, an important indicator of student engagement and success. Our team is also actively planning for next year to ensure strong alignment and continued support for all students.

We also appreciated the strong turnout and engagement during Parent-Teacher Conferences and recent events. The partnership between our schools and families is essential, and we are grateful for the continued support from our community.

Thank you to everyone who completed the Five Essentials Survey. Because of your participation, we met the required threshold to receive valuable feedback from our students, staff, and families. We are especially proud to share that we achieved close to 100% completion on the student survey. Your input is incredibly important and will help guide our continued efforts to support and improve our schools.

As we look ahead to April, we are excited for upcoming events, state competitions, and the many opportunities still to come this school year. This final stretch of the school year is always a busy and rewarding time, and we encourage our students to stay focused and finish strong.

On a personal note, my family recently welcomed our first grandchild. This special moment has been a meaningful reminder of the importance of family and the bright future we are building together for all children.

Thank you for your continued support of our students, staff, and schools. We encourage families to stay connected through upcoming events and continue supporting our students as we finish the year strong. It is an honor to serve such a dedicated and caring community.

Across each of our schools, these experiences reflect our shared commitment to providing opportunities that prepare students for a successful future.

With appreciation,

Dr. Kimberly Norton

The Heritage CUSD #8 Board of Education met for its regular meeting on March 23, 2026. All board members were present. During the meeting, the Board reviewed and approved routine items, including previous meeting minutes and monthly bills.In addition, the Board reviewed updates related to staffing, district operations, and ongoing planning efforts across the district. At this time, the only remaining vacancies are girls high school basketball and volleyball.

The Board also participated in a four-hour governance workshop on Saturday, March 28, focused on strengthening roles, responsibilities, and effective practices. We appreciate the Board’s additional time and commitment to this important work, which supports continued alignment around district goals and a shared focus on student success.

We are excited to share that online registration for both academics and athletics will soon be available for all new and returning students.

Academic Registration
Online registration will open May 1, 2026, through TeacherEase. This applies to all returning students as well as new students who have established an account. Please note that registration fees will not be collected until July.

New Student Account Setup
Any parent/guardian of a new or incoming kindergarten student may begin calling the school offices to set up a TeacherEase account starting May 1, 2026.

• Kindergarten and new K–8 students: Please contact Shelly at 217-896-2421 ext. 1200
• New high school students: Please contact Julie at 217-834-3393

Please be prepared to provide a frequently used email address, as this will be used to establish your TeacherEase account.

Athletic Registration Update
We will also be launching a new online athletic registration system for junior high and high school student-athletes. This system is designed to make the process more convenient and efficient for families.

Through the online platform, families will be able to:

• Complete and submit required forms electronically
• Upload necessary documents, including physicals
• Receive confirmations and important updates
• Access student athletic information at any time

We believe these updates will streamline the registration process, reduce paperwork, and make it easier to ensure your student is fully prepared for the upcoming school year and athletic seasons.

Additional details, including access instructions and step-by-step guidance, will be shared soon. Our team will also be available to assist with any questions during this transition.

Thank you for your continued support of our students and programs. We look forward to another great year of learning, participation, and achievement.

Congratulations to Mrs. Lisa Brooks on being awarded the Empowering Education Grant from Eastern Illini Electric Cooperative, an honor that reflects her dedication to creating meaningful learning experiences for our students.

We also extend our congratulations to Mr. Frost, who was selected as one of only four educators in our region to serve on a teacher panel in the Future Educators Conference. This is an outstanding recognition of his leadership and commitment to the profession!

We are grateful for the continued dedication of our staff, whose daily efforts create meaningful opportunities and support for all students.

Congratulations to both...your work makes us proud!

We are excited to welcome Mr. Brodie Meneely back to Heritage! A 2022 Heritage graduate, Brodie returns to the Proud Hawk Community with a strong background in chemistry and a passion for teaching developed during his studies at the University of Illinois.

He will be co-teaching Chemistry with Mrs. Hopper while expanding opportunities for our students through the addition of AP Chemistry, Physics, and a new STEM elective for 8th grade. Brody will also begin each day at the elementary/junior high, providing engaging STEM experiences to supplement classrooms in grades 3–7.

Four seniors had the opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. with history teacher Griffin Boyer, joined by chaperones Jennifer Miller and Cindy Happ. The four-day trip included visits to some of our nation’s most iconic landmarks, including the Natural History Museum, Washington Monument, Marine Corps War Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, and the National Archives. It was a memorable experience filled with history, learning, and lasting memories.

The high school continues to stay busy with student recognition, activities, and accomplishments across academics, leadership, and athletics. Congratulations to our Students of the Month: Josh Walden, Tyler Lisanby, Cameron Johnson, and Faith Chesnut. Student Council has been very active, hosting events such as the Pie-a-Teacher fundraiser to support State Convention costs, Winter Fun Day, and a mascot dance competition. Members also attended both Hospitality Night and the District Convention, where Erika Bonilla was elected District Historian. They are now preparing to attend the State Convention beginning this week.

Our students continue to benefit from meaningful learning experiences beyond the classroom. Seniors recently visited Parkland College, while juniors participated in a podcast-focused field trip. Students also attended the Future Educators Conference, with Levi Frost serving on a panel. In addition, our Science Club and FFA students competed in the Envirothon, where the FFA team earned a first-place finish. FFA has remained highly active, celebrating FFA Week, hosting Section Volleyball, leading Ag in the Classroom activities at the elementary school, and preparing for their upcoming banquet on April 1. FCCLA will attend their State Convention on April 8.

We also celebrate several individual and group achievements. Lisa Brooks was awarded the Empowering Education Grant from Eastern Illini Electric Cooperative. Cameron Johnson and Landin McComas were named school-wide badminton champions. Our National Honor Society hosted a successful blood drive, and we recognized students during our 3rd Quarter Breakfast celebration. Parent-Teacher Conferences and Freshman Orientation were both well attended, and seniors are looking forward to their upcoming trip to Chicago.

Our fine arts students had an outstanding showing at Solo and Ensemble, earning 30 Division I ratings and 17 Division II ratings. Brenley Sands was recognized with “Best of the Day” in a vocal room. Additionally, our band proudly hosted the LPC Honor Band Festival.

After winning the Sectional Masonic Tournament held at Heritage, on Saturday, March 7, the Scholastic Bowl Team traveled to Bloomington High School to compete in the Masonic State Championships. The team of Eli Denmark-Collins, Lukas Miller, Colby Schrock, Evan Brazzel, Erika Bonilla, Ethan Lyons, and Kaden White placed 4th in our pool, winning 2 matches and losing 3. We played teams from as far away as Brown County and Rockford. The team performed very well, defeating two opponents and holding our own with some very talented teams. We hope to return to the state tournament soon, and look forward to building on our success this season next year.

Winter athletics wrapped up with notable accomplishments. The boys basketball team finished the season 13–18 overall and 5–5 in conference play, competing hard in postseason action. All-Conference honors were awarded to Rylan White (1st Team), Brayden Jones (2nd Team), and Clark Roland (Honorable Mention). Rylan White and Anthony Happ also represented Heritage in the Bird Cage Classic. For girls basketball, Addi Hopper and Maegan Frye earned 1st Team All-Conference honors, while Bri Ploense was named 2nd Team.

Spring sports are now underway. Track has 19 participants (7 girls and 12 boys) and opened their season at Hoopeston. Both softball and baseball teams have 15 athletes each, with several students competing in multiple sports. We have six dual-sport athletes this season—two participating in softball and track, and four in baseball and track—demonstrating great commitment and dedication.

Storm Science provided a wonderful opportunity when they visited. All-school testing Pre-ACT and ACT is scheduled for April 7. We are proud of the continued efforts of our students and staff and look forward to a strong finish to the school year.

Our students continue to do incredible hands-on work in Industrial Arts and Welding!

Ethan Lyons crafted a unique wall hanger using oak wood and a repurposed license plate from a previous project showcasing both creativity and sustainability. Caleb Shanks has begun learning TIG welding with filler rod and is working toward mastering foundational skills by completing a series of practice beads before advancing to basic joints. In Advanced Woods, Tyler Lisanby has started turning table legs for his license plate coffee table, bringing precision and craftsmanship together.

In Welding 1, students recently completed their airplane project and put the finishing touches on their work with paint, an exciting milestone for the class.

We also want to highlight a special connection with younger students. Classes from Mrs. Struck and Mrs. Izard shared thoughtful notes and drawings thanking our students for showcasing the shop and explaining their learning. These messages are proudly displayed in the classroom as a reminder of the impact our students are making!

March was both a busy and fast-paced month for our Elementary and Junior High students! We

began the month with Parent/Teacher Conferences, which were once again very well attended.

This marked the end of our third quarter—hard to believe we have already completed over three-

fourths of the 2025–2026 school year.

During conference week, our 5th grade students enjoyed an engaging and educational field trip

to the Parkland College Planetarium, where they experienced an exciting morning program. We

also welcomed future Hawks during our Kindergarten Orientation and sign-up event on March

10. Mrs. Rothermel, Mrs. Unser, and I were thrilled to meet 10 new Heritage Hawk students who

are ready to begin their journey with us in the 2026–2027 school year.

The close of the quarter led into Spring Break from March 16–20. Students returned on March

23 refreshed and ready to begin fourth quarter, along with IAR state testing. We are incredibly

proud of the effort our students are putting forth as they work to demonstrate their growth and

the progress they have made through classroom instruction and RtI supports.

To add some fun to the week, we hosted our annual book fair, “The Great Escape,” on March 26.

This event provided students and families the opportunity to support our library while enjoying a

fun-filled evening, thanks to the efforts of Mrs. Lemmon.

As we wrap up the month, we look forward to over 30 Junior High students participating in the

IESA Solo and Ensemble Contest in Danville. We are excited to celebrate their accomplishments

and hear about their experiences during our March 30 assembly.

Looking ahead, Scholastic Bowl competitions and the start of Track season will carry us into

April. Thank you for your continued support, and as always, we love when students meet their

monthly attendance goal, which remains at 96.5% for the month of March!

Go Hawks!

Our annual Great Escape Book Fair was a wonderful success on Thursday, March 26th! Students and families enjoyed an afternoon filled with books, creativity, and excitement.

A huge thank you to Mrs. Lemmon for coordinating this special event and for the incredible care and detail she puts into the decorations each year, it truly transforms the space into a magical experience for our students.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to the many staff members who volunteered their time to help make the event run smoothly. Your dedication and support continue to make this a favorite tradition for our students and families.

Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this year’s book fair another great success!

• 🌱 The spring season gets its name from the verb "spring." It's a nod to the flowers and plants springing up, springing open, and bursting into blossom.
• 🐣 The word itself comes from the Old English word "springan," which means "to leap, burst forth, fly up; spread, grow."
• 🌸 During the 14th century, the word came to describe the spring season, the time when plants wake from their winter sleep and bloom.
• 🌅 Before that, the word "Lent" was used to describe the season: "In the past it was the main word for ‘spring.' Lent surfaced as ‘lencten,' that is, ‘lengten': the season got its name because in spring days lengthen." (full article here)