Dr. Norton-Superintendent Message

Dear Heritage Families and Community,

September has been a full and rewarding month across Heritage. As I reflect on the past several weeks, I am reminded of how many special moments happen throughout our district and how fortunate we are to have students, staff, families, and community members who care so deeply about our schools.

One of the highlights of the month was hosting the IASB Illini Division Regional Meeting at Heritage Elementary/Junior High. It was a wonderful opportunity to welcome education leaders from across the region and showcase our students and schools. Our Heritage Music Department students did an outstanding job performing for our guests and helping us share a little bit of what makes Heritage such a special place.

Junior High students Peyton Bonds and Eli Jamison performed the flute duet “Simple Gifts,” while eighth graders Magaby Munoz-Ramos, Danika Demko, Hadley Kirschner, Braylon Auteberry, and Corbin Shanks performed “Spring” from The Four Seasons. High school performers included Jayden Schrock singing “Shy” from Once Upon a Mattress, Atticus Ashbrook singing “Fly Me to the Moon,” and Atticus Ashbrook and Halo Banton performing a duet of “Shenandoah.” We are very proud of these students for representing Heritage so well.

We also had many reasons to celebrate our students this month. Several Heritage students were recognized through the Voice/Craft program at Parkland College for their creative writing. We are especially grateful to Mr. Honeycutt for encouraging and supporting our young writers.

The following students are featured in the Voice/Craft book or online at spark.parkland.edu/voicecraft:

Odin Auteberry: “War Bird”
Garrett Hurley: Excerpt from Legend of the White Bison
Amyra Jones: “The Forgotten Bear”
Gwen Keely: “Fear”
Hadley Kirschner: “Stories are Weird”
Rhorie Stierwalt: “A Mazeing Dream”

Our Heritage High School journalism program also received a 2026 School Journalism Grant through the Illinois Press Foundation and Illinois Farm Bureau. These accomplishments are wonderful examples of our students finding their voices, developing their talents, and representing Heritage so well.

Our students have also been busy beyond the classroom. From cross country, golf, volleyball, softball, football, cheer, and band to Homecoming activities and other extracurricular opportunities, there has been no shortage of Hawk pride. Homecoming week was especially fun, and it was wonderful to see our students, staff, families, and community come together to celebrate.

As we prepare for October, I am excited for all that is still ahead. Thank you for continuing to support our students, encourage our staff, attend events, and help make Heritage a place where students can learn, grow, and belong.

There is so much to be proud of at Heritage and I am grateful to be part of this community.

With gratitude,

Dr. Kimberly Norton

Heritage Elementary/Junior High-Mrs. Shanks, Principal

School Community

Thank you to our Hawk community for the donations to our Caps for Cancer drive and for the sharing in voting for my Friday crazy hat choices. While not every hat agreed with my head, it was a fun experience and a great cause! I appreciated the creative choices. As a school, we raised $315.

The Hawk Walk was also a huge success raising over $20,000 in funds for our PTC. The students had a great time walking and dancing the day away! PTC has a lot of fun activities planned for the coming year, and we truly appreciate the partnership and opportunities they afford our Hawks!

School Success

We are continuing to focus on academic success as well as attendance. Some great things to continue working on would be encouraging student reading as well as practicing math facts at home. Those are basics that can be done at any time! Attendance is key as well. In order to learn, students have to be in the classroom. Currently, we are at 95.6% attendance for the year. Our goal is to continue to work together to get our little Hawks performing at their fullest potential! We appreciate our partnership with our families!

Looking Ahead

As we head into fall, we have many exciting days and weeks ahead. We are approaching the end of the first quarter and parent conferences. We look forward to seeing our families and continuing the collaboration. Let's continue the next quarter with the same energy and positivity we started the year with as Proud Hawks!

Character Strong-Mrs. Desmond

Our students have started the school year learning about ways to show Kindness and Respect by valuing all people and things. Younger students have practiced showing these traits to gain friendships and to avoid "wrinkling" someone else's heart. Our older students have had discussions about Respect and many of life's unwritten rules, or ways to be respectful in different situations. All of our K-8 students have been shown how to stop bullying behavior by using the "Stop, Support, and Report" model.

Our first service project, Caps for Cancer, has been happening each Friday in September. Students brought in $1 each week to be able to wear a hat, and to vote on which silly hat Mrs. Shanks had to wear! We are raising money for the American Cancer Society.

Social & Emotional Learning Parenting Tips:

Empower Problem-Solving: Use open-ended guidance (such as "What could you do to make this better next time?") rather than immediately jumping in with advice when your child is struggling with a problem or feeling big emotions.

Narrate Your Emotions & Ways to Calm Down: Speak your thoughts aloud when you feel excited, proud, or frustrated, showing children how to process feelings constructively. Use healthy examples to show how to calm big emotions. (Use healthy examples to show how to calm big emotions, such as, ‘When I’m feeling frustrated")

🎨 Creativity in Kindergarten!

Our kindergarten students have been busy creating and exploring through art! We love seeing their creativity, imagination, and excitement shine through their work. Check out this video!

A very special thank you to Mrs. Laura Struck, who has done an amazing job supporting our students and covering art classes while Mrs. Hermosillo is away. We are so grateful for the care, creativity, and enthusiasm she continues to bring to our students! ❤️💙

Industrial Technology-8th Grade Projects

The 8th graders have started using the shop machines and other tools to create pickleball paddles. They will soon play pickleball at the park in order for students to see how well their paddles work!

Hawks Keep Getting Faster!

Junior High Cross Country

Heritage Cross Country had plenty to celebrate at the County Meet in Tolono, with 10 runners setting personal records!

Cross country is a long season that requires determination, endurance, and a lot of hard work, and these athletes continue to rise to the challenge. We are so proud of their effort, growth, and the way they represent Heritage!

Congratulations to all of our Hawk runners! Keep pushing and keep soaring!

Parent-Teacher Conferences Reminder

Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up October 13–15. This is a great opportunity to connect with your child’s teachers, celebrate progress, and discuss ways we can continue working together to support student success.

Please watch for scheduling information from your child’s school or teacher. We look forward to visiting with our Heritage families!

Reminder: There will be no school on Friday, October 16.

Heritage High School-Mr. Gourley, Principal

Dear Heritage Families,

We have had an outstanding start to the school year here at Heritage High School! It has been wonderful seeing our students bring energy and focus into the building each day as we establish our academic routines.

A Successful Homecoming Week

Our recent Homecoming week was a tremendous success. Numerous students participated in long-standing traditions like the Grand March and danced the night away—or at least until 10:00 PM on September 19! We are also excited to announce that our 2026 Homecoming King and Queen are Clark Roland and Addi Hopper. Congratulations to both of them!

Staff Professional Development

During our recent half-day Teachers Institute, our teachers and paraprofessionals focused closely on the district’s state designation rating. We examined how the state's new formula might impact our upcoming scores and mapped out how we will utilize student data to provide targeted, impactful learning experiences for all students.

Focusing on Attendance Goals

We continue to focus heavily on the importance of daily attendance, as it strongly correlates to academic success. This is directly tied to Goal #1 of our School Improvement Plan: By May 2027, reduce chronic absenteeism from 26% to 20% through proactive engagement and targeted support.

To kick this off, we just concluded our first attendance challenge. Our three lucky prize winners are Kimber Sands, Katelyn Eslinger, and Clair Davison. I am happy to report that our current average daily attendance is just over 95%. We are off to a great start!

Thank You for Your Partnership

Parents and guardians, we deeply appreciate your support in encouraging your students to be here every day and underscoring the importance of regular attendance.

If you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to reach out to me at 217-834-3392.

Sincerely,

Mr. Gourley

Principal, Heritage High School

Student Spotlight: Micah Sommer

Congratulations to Micah Sommer, who has been selected as The News-Gazette’s “High School Confidential” correspondent for Heritage High School this year! Micah has already submitted his first article and will have the opportunity to share Heritage news, activities, and student experiences with the broader community throughout the school year. We are excited to see Heritage represented through his writing!

Staff Spotlight: Mr. Frost-Teacher of the Year Award

Congratulations to Mr. Levi Frost!

We are proud to share that Mr. Frost has been selected as the High School New Teacher of the Year by the Technology Education Association of Illinois (TEAI)!

This award recognizes an outstanding new teacher who provides students with relevant, up-to-date learning opportunities while continuing to grow professionally. Mr. Frost will be recognized at the Illinois Technology Education Conference in October at Illinois State University.

Congratulations, Mr. Frost, on this well-deserved recognition! We are proud to have you as part of the Heritage team!

Hands-On Learning at Heritage High School

Our Industrial Technology, Welding, Woodworking, and CAD students have been busy putting classroom concepts into practice through hands-on projects. Intro to Industrial Technology students are designing and building custom pickleball paddles, while Woodworking students are developing their skills through projects such as charcuterie boards.

Advanced Welding students recently designed and fabricated a movable welding-curtain frame to provide additional protection for students and visitors in the lab. The project required students to weld the frame, drill and adapt casters, and assemble the curtain system from start to finish.

In Intro to CAD, students took their designs from paper to production by creating blueprints for concrete garden pavers, constructing custom wooden forms, pouring and curing the concrete, and even using Tinkercad and 3D printing to create virtual versions of their designs.

These experiences are a great example of students learning to design, problem-solve, collaborate, and create while developing practical skills they can carry into future coursework and careers.

Mrs. Hopper’s Anatomy and Physiology students recently put new microscopes to use during their Histology Unit.

Thanks to the generous support of the Heritage PTC, students were able to observe and identify different tissue types and compare their characteristics through hands-on learning.

We are grateful to the PTC for supporting our high school science classrooms and providing students with meaningful learning opportunities.

Extra-Curricular and Activities Update: Hawks in Action

Congratulations to our August Athletes of the Month: Bre Ploense in Volleyball, Tyler Lisanby in Football, Kaden White in Golf, and Clark Roland in Cross Country.

We also celebrated several exciting athletic accomplishments. Bre Ploense was named to the All-Tournament Team at the Altamont/Shelbyville Volleyball Tournament, while Addison Hopper reached an impressive career milestone of more than 1,000 digs. Our Junior High Cross Country team placed 2nd at the Three Rivers Conference Meet, and we enjoyed recognizing our JH runners during 8th Grade Night at Homer Lake.

At the high school level, Clark Roland celebrated Senior Night at Homer Lake and finished the evening with a first-place finish. Junior High Softball also recognized its 8th grade athletes, Heritage Golf competed in the LPC Tournament in Decatur, and Varsity Volleyball earned a win over Tri-County in Oakland. Our VGH football players, cheerleaders, and pep band have also been busy representing Heritage throughout the football season.

Congratulations to Willa Tatman, who placed 5th overall at the Girls Golf Regional at the University of Illinois Golf Course and advanced to Sectionals! What a tremendous accomplishment!

September also brought plenty of excitement beyond athletics. Heritage celebrated an Under the Sea Homecoming, with Addison Hopper and Clark Roland crowned the 2026 Homecoming Queen and King. Our Band and Choir students performed for guests at the IASB Illini Division Regional Meeting hosted at Heritage, and Micah Sommer was selected as a News-Gazette High School Confidential correspondent for the 2026–27 school year.

We are also proud that Heritage’s student journalism program received a 2026 School Journalism Grant from the Illinois Press Foundation and Illinois Farm Bureau.

There is so much happening across Heritage, and we are proud of the many ways our students continue to get involved, compete, perform, lead, and represent our district!

On Saturday, September 26 the Heritage/Villa Grove Marching Band competed at EIU in the 49th Annual Panther Classic. They performed their contest show 'Sky Full of Stars'. The band came away with a 1st place in the Visual category, and a 2nd place overall finish in Class 2A! Congrats!

Hawk’s Nest Open During Parent-Teacher Conferences

The Hawk’s Nest at Heritage Elementary/Junior High will be open for families to shop during Parent-Teacher Conferences! Parents can sign up for a shopping time using the conference sign-up form.

The Hawk’s Nest is also available to students throughout the school year whenever they need clothing or other items. New request forms are now available on the Hawk’s Nest door for students or families who need a specific size or an item that is not currently in stock.

We are so grateful to have this resource available to support our Heritage students and families!

Sign Up Here:

Heritage CUSD #8 Board of Education Update

At the September 21 Board meeting, the Board approved the FY2027 budget and plans to apply for another School Maintenance Grant to continue parking lot improvements.

Several staffing updates were also approved, including Mrs. Stierwalt’s move to first grade and the employment of Miss Umbarger as a third-grade teacher.

Our Student Ambassadors shared student feedback about confidence in math and ideas for making it easier for students to ask for help. Principals also reviewed early achievement data that will help guide instruction this year.

The district continues to review employee health insurance options, prepare for the move to Frontline Absence Management, and follow up on safety improvements from our recent drill day.

Heritage CUSD #8 BOE Student Ambassadors

Report from Student Ambassadors

Our Student Ambassadors recently gathered feedback from students about math and science learning. Many students shared that they would benefit from additional support but may feel uncomfortable asking for help.

In response, the ambassadors are exploring a peer-support system that would connect students with classmates who feel confident in specific subject areas. They also heard interest in practice opportunities for IAR, PreACT, and ACT-style assessments. Their goal is to make academic support feel more accessible, comfortable, and student-centered.

Community Support

Important Forms

School Calendar: stick on fridge! (here)

News from PTC

Fall is full of exciting opportunities for our Heritage students, families, and staff! Here’s what’s coming up:

Missoula Children’s Theatre — The Emperor’s New Clothes

October 19–23

We are thrilled to welcome the Missoula Children’s Theatre to Heritage! Students in K–8th grade will have the opportunity to audition, rehearse, and perform in a production of The Emperor’s New Clothes alongside the visiting theater team.

Performance:
Friday, October 23 at 7:00 PM
Heritage High School — Broadlands

Registration information will be going home soon, so keep an eye out for details!

Want to help make this amazing experience possible? We are looking for volunteers to help with the production.

Sign up to volunteer for The Emperor’s New Clothes

Harlem Wizards vs. Heritage Staff

Saturday, November 7 at 7:00 PM

The Harlem Wizards are coming back to Heritage High School! Get ready for an exciting night of basketball as the Wizards take on our very own Heritage staff! It’s sure to be a night full of laughs, entertainment, and plenty of fun for the whole family.

Tickets are available now:

Purchase Harlem Wizards tickets

Want to be part of the action behind the scenes? Volunteers get in free! Sign up to help with the game and enjoy the fun!

Sign up to volunteer for the Wizards game

Lots to Look Forward To!

From theater and basketball to family events and opportunities to get involved, there are lots of exciting things happening with Heritage PTC this fall!

Thank you to all of our families, staff, and community members who continue to support our students and make these experiences possible. We can’t wait to see you there! Please follow our Facebook page for the most up to date information!

Resources for Families

Calendars/Menus

Dr. Norton-Superintendent Message Dr. Norton-Superintendent Message

Heritage Elementary/Junior High-Mrs. Shanks, Principal Heritage Elementary/Junior High-Mrs. Shanks, Principal

Character Strong-Mrs. Desmond Character Strong-Mrs. Desmond

🎨 Creativity in Kindergarten! 🎨 Creativity in Kindergarten!

Industrial Technology-8th Grade Projects Industrial Technology-8th Grade Projects

Hawks Keep Getting Faster! Hawks Keep Getting Faster!

Junior High Cross Country

Parent-Teacher Conferences Reminder Parent-Teacher Conferences Reminder

Heritage High School-Mr. Gourley, Principal Heritage High School-Mr. Gourley, Principal

Student Spotlight: Micah Sommer Student Spotlight: Micah Sommer

Staff Spotlight: Mr. Frost-Teacher of the Year Award Staff Spotlight: Mr. Frost-Teacher of the Year Award

Hands-On Learning at Heritage High School Hands-On Learning at Heritage High School

Extra-Curricular and Activities Update: Hawks in Action Extra-Curricular and Activities Update: Hawks in Action