PALATINE HS Newsletter

Welcome to the first edition of the Palatine High School digital Principal’s Newsletter! We hope you enjoy the new look, easier access to resources and additional multimedia.

Go Pirates!

To translate this newsletter, open it in a computer browser by clicking it. The "Translate" option will be at the top right. You can translate it to your preferred language.

Para traducir este boletín, ábralo en el navegador de una computadora haciendo clic en él. La opción "Traducir" estará en la parte superior derecha. Puedes traducirlo a tu idioma preferido.

Greetings Parents,

It has been an incredible first semester at Palatine High School! Your students have been working hard and we are confident students are making great progress this year. As you can see, we have a new format for the Principal’s Newsletter. I hope this new format is more accessible and informative for you.

As we begin the second semester I’d like for you to continue to encourage your students to get involved. There are still many clubs and activities available for them to participate in and making connections with their peers and teachers. Please review the following link of all the clubs and activities offered at PHS: https://adc.d211.org/domain/154.

Please enjoy the much-needed rest during winter break with your children and families. The Palatine High School staff is excited to welcome your students back on January 10, 2023!

Tony Medina

Principal

Dec. 22: Winter Break begins at close of school

Jan. 10: First Day of Classes - Second Semester

Jan. 16: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - No School

Jan. 17: Late Start Day

Jan. 21: D211 Honor Choir Concert, Schaumburg High School, 4:00 PM

Jan. 31: Late Start Day

Feb. 2: Band Concert, Main Gym, 7:30 PM

From the English Department: Finding the Sweet Spot and Supporting Struggles

Daniel Coyle attacked what he calls the “talent myth” in his book, The Talent Code. He argues that innate talent may give a person early success, but continued success will only come through a repeated cycle of practice, feedback and revision. Coyle’s second book, The Little Book of Talent, crystalizes the concept into 52 concrete strategies for how to do this.

Tip #13 in The Little Book of Talent is about finding what he calls “the sweet spot.” When we’re in this sweet spot, we’re trying our hardest to achieve, but the task is still just beyond our reach. This means the task isn’t so hard that it can never be achieved, but is also not so easy that it can be done without thought or effort.

As humans, though, we often shy away from the sweet spot because, as Coyle notes, it causes feelings of “frustration, difficulty, and alertness to errors.” In fact, many people in the thick of these emotions often misread them as signs of failure. Coyle addresses this in Tip #17, which reminds us we must learn to embrace struggle because it is in these moments of challenge where our brains learn best and our skills improve most. Once we learn this is a natural and necessary stage, we are better equipped to endure it and maximize our potential.

This knowledge can help us as parents and educators, too. When we hear kids make comments such as “Mr. Jones is a hard teacher,” a certain class “is really difficult” or that a paper or project is “impossible,” we should recall Coyle’s research and ask important questions to determine what to do next:

• Are students truly doing all they can to achieve?

• Are they asking their classroom teachers for additional help?

• Are they going to the Student Success Center for help?

• Are they studying with friends or seeking opportunities for increased learning?

If the answers are yes, then we should congratulate students for their efforts. If the answers to these questions are no, then we should encourage them to face the challenge with proactive strategies rather than with ineffective ones like complaining and blaming.

This approach also calls for us to support the struggle rather than seek to correct or minimize it. This can be hard for us and for our students, but ultimately, teaching our children to persevere through challenges is the most important lesson we have to teach – one that will outlast the walls of any high school classroom.

Scholarship information is posted on the Student Services website.

From the PHS homepage, click the “Academics” tab at the top and then click the “Student Services” link. There is a “Scholarships” link on the left side of the page. Once you click on the “Scholarships” link it will direct you to a new page to find the “PHS Scholarship List”.

If you have any questions, please contact your student's counselor.

We received 150 gifts for students and families in need for the holidays. This is a joint effort with Palatine Assisting through Hope (PATH) and Palatine Faith in Action (Action.) PATH also brought more than $12,000 in gift cards to go with each gift.

The FAFSA application (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) was made available October 1, 2022. Use your 2021 tax information when completing the FAFSA application.

Senior parents should complete the application regardless of your financial profile, since FAFSA completion is a state graduation requirement. Individual colleges/universities use the information for institution-based aid or scholarships. Additionally, direct student loans are given through FAFSA completion (all college freshmen are eligible for a direct student loan of $5,500 with a completed FAFSA). It is recommended that families complete this ASAP to be fully considered for potential aid. The application is free and accessible here.

Before you complete the application, one parent and the student should obtain an FSA ID# in to electronically sign. You can visit this site to get started creating your FSA ID.

There will be a representative from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) at PHS twice a month until the end of May to help students complete their FAFSA or Alternative Application. To view the schedule of visits, please click here to view the flyer.

A reminder that scholarship information is posted on the Student Services website. From the PHS homepage click the “Academics” tab at the top, then click “Student Services." There is a “Scholarships” link on the left side of the page. Once you click on “Scholarships” it will direct you to a new page, the “PHS Scholarship List”.

Hello Pirate Families! We want to wish you a wonderful holiday season. The beginning of a new year is traditionally the time for resolutions. Please consider getting connected with the PHS Pirate Booster Club. We support more than 60 activities and groups and 30 athletic teams. It’s never too late to get involved. With your help,we can further our mission of improving the high school experience for all students.To learn more about the PHS Pirate Boosters and volunteer opportunities (volunteer link here), please visit us at www.phspirateboosters.com.

We are thrilled to have our Annual Booster Dinner Auction back this year! Mark your calendars for March 3, 2023, at Cotillion Banquets. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year! We are excited about our close-to-home venue and some exciting changes to make this event better than ever. As always, everyone attending is encouraged to wear PHS gear. You can shop for new Pirate Gear at our school store. Check the PHS Booster website for store hours. Register here to attend this fantastic event: phs.schoolauction.net/da2023

Class of 2023, be on the lookout for the Booster Scholarship application, which will be opening in January. The PHS Booster Club will award 15 scholarships to graduating seniors who have demonstrated leadership, academic excellence, service, and volunteerism at PHS and in the community.

As we begin the second half of the school year, we anticipate great things to be happening in and around our school. Thank you to all PHS Pirate Booster members, faculty, administration, and mostly the students of PHS for a fantastic first semester. We look forward to the second semester and making this a school year that creates great memories and opportunities for our students.

Jen Lang and Mindy May

Booster Club Co-Presidents

PTV (Palatine TV) students interviews Jay Timmons, President and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, during an appearance at the school this fall. Timmons, whose visit also received media coverage from Chicago radio stations, the Daily Herald and Univision (where Principal Tony Medina provided an interview), said Palatine's approach to manufacturing was one that should be replicated across the nation.

Football

MSL West Division Champions Regular Season 8-1 (5-0 in the Division)

Qualified for the Playoffs

Quarter Final Appearance

Dominik Ball: All Area, IHSA Coaches Association 1st Team All-State

All Conference Offense:

Dominik Ball (MSL West Offensive Player of the Year)

Nate Branch

Thomas Coroneos

Adam Heikkinen

All Conference Defense:

Filip Rolek (MSL West Defensive Player of the Year)

Aiden Wimer

Jeff Wardle

Thomas Houser Jr.

Academic All Conference:

Nate Branch

Thomas Coroneos

Filip Rolek

Adam Heikkinen

Aiden Wimer

Boys Cross Country

MSL Conference Champions

Regional Champions

Sectional Champions

Qualified for the State Meet

8th place at the State Meet

Mason Krieg: 12th place medalist at State – IHSA All State

Girls Cross Country

4th Place at Sectional Meet

Abigail Jordan: State Qualifier

15th Plae at the State Meet

IHSA All State

Boys Golf

Pablo Castro: Sectional Qualifier, State Qualifier, 1st All State Golfer since 1999

Casey May: Sectional Qualifier

Girls Swimming and Diving

Individual State Qualifiers:

Riley Strahl: Diving

Eugene Shin: 100 Backstroke

2022 School Record-Breakers:

Riley Strahl: 6 Dives (268.45) This record was held for 20 years

Eugene Shin: 100 Backstroke (56.71)

Pirate Pride Winners 1st Semester 2022-2023 School Year

Amirah Abdul, Lissette Acosta, Maryuri Acosta-Basilio, Allan Aguilar, David Akeju, Alexandria Akers, Adrian Alvarez Murillo, Elias Alvarenga, Jazlyn Arroyo, Sydney Arscott, Jorddy Bailan Cruz, Esmeralda Bailon Peralta, Noah Baker, Adrienne Dale T. Balahadia, Charlie Ballard, Maevyn Bartell, Juliana Beltran, Jashlin Bermudez, Daniela Burrola, Jonathan Caldera, Axel Carapia, Axel Cardenas, Sabrina Cargill, Sheyla Carmona, Paloma Castaneda, Hannah Castillo, Joanna Castillo, Mia Castillo, Devanie Castillos, Alvaro Castro Cruz, Evelyn Castro Juarez, Gerardo Catano, Brandon Cervantes, Ana Chavez Arreola, Aviana Cleary Cruz, Jonathan Coroneos, Thomas Coroneos, James Cox, Adaluz Crespo Irausquin, Brian De Loera, Carlos Debray, Brian Debray-Hernandez, Jordan Demovsky, Kathryn DeNatale, Lillie Dix, Declyn Du’Prey, Marvin Duran, Michal Edelman, Thomas Elter, Mia Engberg, Ivan Feliciano, Adalberto Flores, Darwin Flores, Brandon Florez Autunez, Nicholas Fontanetta, Santiago Garcia, Sarah Garcia, Guadalupe Garcia Carrera, Jaeden Gaspard, Sebastian Giba, Erick Gonzalez, Flor Gonzalez, Daniel Gonzalez, Stephanie Gonzalez, Jessica Gonzalez Meza, Tyler Goodman, Oscar Gutierrez, Johan Guzman, Jose Guzman, Jessica Harris, Mahdi Hassan, Alexious Hernandez, Benny Hernandez, Ashly Hernandez Gonzalez, Darren Henry-Tornez, Cayden Hilgers, Lamarion Hopkins, Isaac Hurtado, Gustavo Ignacio, Sharifa Islam, Kevin Jablonski, Paige Janicki, Peter Janoski, Jordan Javanbakht, Claudia Jendrysko, America Juarez, Nazar Kolomiets, Angelina Korostelev, Jacob Korney, Roman Kushnir, Alyssa Sophia Jade Ladera Reyes, Chris Lagunes, Kamiah LaPort, Ashlynn LaPuma, Nick Lathouris, Karimot Lawal, Aileen Lopez, Helen Lima, Lindsey Lussow, Neylyn Luviano, Jaylen Maiden, Noelle McLendon, Debanhi Medrano, Maria Medrano Veracierta, Elba Mercado, David Millan, Paige Milstone, Andrea Montes, Anthony Morales, Julian Moreno Carreon, Valentina Munoz, Hannah Nadela, Dulce Nunez, Isaac Ochoa, Ariel Oliva, Adrian Papierz, Bryan Patino, Luke Pepevnik, Joseph Pieper, Nella Poffenberger, Marigela Quku, Anand Ramamoorthi, Madhava Ramanan, Allison Ramirez, Karen Ramirez, Juan Ramirez Palmas, Alyssa Reyes, Israel Romaniz, Isaac Ruiz Kahle, Olivia Rywelski, Dulce Sabino Fernandez, Jahfer Safdary, Ethan Salgado, Antonio Sanchez, William Santiago, Juan Serrano, Emily Segovia, D’Mitry Smith, Josue Silva Solorzano, Lillian Smith, Daniel Stach, Brodie Stout, Esteban Suarez, Adrian Suarez Cruz, Kenden Swanson, Jazmine Tapia, Briana Tellez Hernandez, Hayley Tragesser, Jennifer Trejo Concepcion, Viviana Trujillo, Anna Tsymbalyuk, Alberto Valladares, Avril Valverde, Kayla Varela, Betsy Vargas Trujillo, Jolee Waddington, Lenorah Wanga, Owen Wiedlin, Aiva Wikar, Demingo Williams, Natalia Wojdyla, Giselle Zarate, Jimena Zavalza

Students in Palatine's preschool program celebrate with a holiday pajama party before the start of winter break. The program provides an early childhood experience to preschool students and allows PHS students to be involved as an introduction to careers in education.

Website: phs.d211.org
Location: 1111 North Rohlwing Road, Palatine, IL, USA
Phone: 847-755-1600
Twitter: @PalatineHS