It's that time of year again! We're excited to welcome back our students, staff and extended HF Family to another school year. Whether you're new to the school or to the surrounding community, the 2023-2024 school year is sure to be one of our best years yet.

As you're reading this, you're probably enjoying these last days of summer break, but be sure to mark your calendars for some important dates ahead:

• Wednesday, August 16: First Day of School (Freshmen & Transfer Students Only)
• Thursday, August 17: First Day of School (All Students)
• Monday, August 21: Yearbook Photos (Freshmen, Sophomores and Juniors)
• Thursday, August 31: Back to School Night

23-24 Academic Calendar

Athletics

Bell Schedule

Bus Information

HF Directory

Lunch Information

Parents' Site

Student Resources

Students' Site

Last month, our new teachers and instructional assistants were invited to enjoy a breakfast with the HF administration and board members, alongside some of our local community partners at the Olympia Fields Country Club as part of New Teacher Induction Week. Our newest Vikings had the chance to hear more about the many local resources that are available to them and their students, from our neighboring libraries to volunteer opportunities and more.

Stay tuned over the next several weeks as we highlight some of our new staff to get to know them a little better and warmly welcome them!

We're excited to have broken ground on our brand new Net Zero Science Building. The new science building, which will be connected to the G-Wing of the South Building, will house state-of-the-art Science classrooms, collaborative spaces, a net-zero learning installation, and serve as a catalyst for conversations about the importance of conservation. Read more about this exciting project at hfhighschool.org - Construction Updates and watch the ceremonial groundbreaking here.

Sponsored by the Class of 2024, this year's Homecoming Dance is happening Saturday, September 9 from 7:30pm-11pm in the South Gym & Cafeteria.

Tickets are $25 per person and will be on sale Wednesday, August 16-Thursday, September 7 (10pm CST) on GoFan. If you plan to bring a guest who is NOT a current HF student, guest forms can be picked up in the Activities Office (near the South Cafeteria) starting Wednesday, August 16 and must be turned in to the South Deans' Office by Tuesday, September 5.

And of course, don't miss this year's Homecoming Game on Friday, September 8 at 7pm vs. Waubonsie Valley High School. #GoVikings!

All parking permits for the 2023-2024 school year have been sold. We do not have any more permits to sell. No driver is allowed to park on campus without a parking permit. If you do not have a parking permit for the 2023-2024 school year please be advised that you will be ticketed and/or towed at the vehicle owner's expense.

The HF Park Department does sell permits at the Ice Arena for their lot. Please contact them directly to inquire about available permits. The school is not affiliated with that parking lot or those parking permits. Additionally, if you purchase a permit through the HF Park Department to park at the Ice Arena, that is for their lot only. Students are not allowed to park on the school lot with the Ice Arena Permit.

We love to see our Vikings sharpening their knowledge and skills over summer break, especially in unique opportunities that take them beyond their familiar communities. Junior Kennedy Walker was selected to be a part of the 2023 Exelon ComEd Electric Vehicle (EV) Rally. As part of ComEd's commitment to exposing underrepresented youth to careers in STEM, Kennedy was one of 44 girls selected to represent their high school and not only build an EV, but race last month at the Museum of Science and Industry. The race aims to "inspire fresh thinking on clean energy". In one challenge, Kennedy's team answered STEM questions the fastest--winning each of them new iPads!

Kennedy also got the chance to participate in Exelon's week-long STEM Leadership Academy at the University of Illinois-Chicago, studying, researching and collaborating with the Exelon Leadership Team and other on all things STEM.

We're proud of you Kennedy! We hope this next school year continues to inspire you and your peers to excel even more in your studies, inside and outside of the classroom. Learn more about HF's Science Department here.

Big news: HF is honored and excited to welcome Marcus Rodgers as our new Head Baseball Coach!

Coach Rodgers is no stranger to the world of cultivating top-notch student-athletes; he has served as the Head Coach for the Chicago White Sox Amateur City Elite (ACE) Program, garnering its junior and senior teams four MLB RBI World Series Championships. He has been an MLB Scout for the Houston Astros and has had the privilege of coaching the Chicago Cubs RBI Junior All-Star Team. Numerous Chicagoland athletes have benefited from Coach Rodgers' expertise, including several from Homewood-Flossmoor who participated in the ACE Program.

His dedication and passion for young athletes is proven through his time as a remarkable high school coach. He's served as the Head Baseball Coach at Thornwood High School, in addition to being involved with Rich Central, Urban Prep Charter Academy and Simeon High Schools' baseball programs. Coach Rodgers' commitment to sportsmanship, competitiveness, and discipline aligns perfectly with the values we hold dear at Homewood-Flossmoor High School.

The HF Board of Education and Administration ask that you Raise Your Hand. Share Your Voice. Shape the Future. for Homewood-Flossmoor High School! We are beginning a Strategic Planning process and need your voice to help shape the future for our students, school and community.

A series of focus groups will be held with stakeholders to hear their needs, hopes and dreams for how HF prepares students for their future. We have partnered with Dr. Greg Hutchings, founder and chief executive officer of Revolutionary ED, LLC, who will conduct the focus groups and lead the strategic planning process alongside Superintendent Dr. Scott Wakeley.

To accommodate the most people, there will be two focus group options to participate:

In-person: Wednesday, August 30, 2023 during the day at HF

Virtual: To be scheduled in the near future

If you'd like to help us shape the future, please complete this quick survey. We will schedule as many participants as possible in the focus groups. Specific times and locations will be sent once we have volunteers.

Interested in getting even more involved with strategic planning? We are seeking volunteers to serve on the Strategic Planning Committee, too! The Strategic Planning Committee - composed of a cross-section of students, staff, families, administrators, community leaders and board members - will work with Dr. Greg Hutchings, founder and chief executive officer of Revolutionary ED, LLC, to establish priorities and goals to guide HF into the future.

We ask that those selected to serve on the Strategic Planning Committee commit to attending and actively participating in these 5 meetings:

• September 13, 2023, from 3:30 - 6:30 p.m. The Viking Room - Kickoff
• September 28, 2023, from 3:30 - 6:30 p.m. The Viking Room - Working Session
• November 9, 2023, from 3:30 - 6:30 p.m. The Viking Room - Working Session
• February 8, 2024, from 3:30 - 6:30 p.m. The Viking Room - Working Session
• April 11, 2024, from 3:30 - 6:30 p.m. The Viking Room - Working Session

If you are interested in volunteering to serve on the Strategic Planning Committee, please complete this brief survey. Committee members will be selected to assure the makeup is representative of the HF community.

With homecoming season just around the corner, it's the perfect time to reconnect with your Viking roots. Both the Class of 1965 and Class of 2013 will be celebrating their milestone reunions by cheering on the HF Vikings during their Homecoming football game on Friday, September 8, 2023!

Are you an alum that has a reunion coming up in the 2023-2024 school year? If so, please reach out to the Director of Alumni Relations and Engagement Victoria Koblick to help support your planning needs at vkoblick@hf233.org or 708-335-5530.

We're always looking for ways our alum can engage with us, whether you graduated last year or 40 years ago. As an alum, we can find ways for you to:

• Offer support and mentorship to current students.
• Network with your fellow alumni from various class years.
• Keep H-F in the know of your accomplishments and successes since you've left the Viking hallways!

Once a Viking, always a Viking!

After receiving a proposal and reviewing a presentation from some of our rising Seniors, the HF Administration and Board of Education have reconsidered the graduation date for this school year. Principal Dr. Clinton Alexander has announced that the Class of 2024 Graduation Ceremony will reconvene as traditionally done, on Sunday, June 2, 2024 at 1 p.m. We value our partnership with our Viking scholars and are glad to accommodate their request.

As you make your way around town, you may notice some sidewalk work being done along stretches of the north side of Flossmoor Road between Pulaski Avenue through Park Drive in Flossmoor. The work will be marked with spray paint; please note that some sidewalks and driveways may be closed temporarily during this project, which started on Tuesday, August 8 and may last two weeks, weather permitting. Please take care when walking to and from school during this time. Thank you for patience and cooperation while the Village makes these needed improvements.