Palatine HS Principal's Newsletter

Finding new approaches to hook students into engaging with our curriculum has been like an evolutionary arms race as teachers vie for the attention of students against numerous distractions that absorb their focus in this fast-paced, media-rich world.

One such class appears to be winning that competition through project-based learning. This approach is transforming students’ experiences in AP Human Geography. Our teacher, Jim Lange, is one of only twenty educators nationwide authorized by the College Board to utilize this method. Mr. Lange has been spearheading this effort with innovative projects and hands-on engagement.

In recent weeks, students have been exploring global birth rates, analyzing demographic data, and examining the cultural, economic, and political factors that shape population trends. The class has also been creating visually compelling travel brochures, modeled after National Geographic feature articles, allowing them to apply geographic concepts in a creative and meaningful way. These projects encourage curiosity, problem-solving, and critical thinking beyond traditional instruction.

A key aspect of this approach is the shift from lecture-based teaching to student-driven inquiry. While some might expect students to struggle without daily direct instruction, the opposite is proving true. Despite reduced lecture time, students are demonstrating a deeper understanding of content and excelling on summative assessments for each unit. Engaging in collaborative discussions and real-world applications fosters higher-order analysis and long-term retention.

The success of project-based learning highlights its effectiveness in fostering student autonomy and analytical skills. By engaging deeply with content in interactive ways, our students are not only mastering key concepts but also developing essential skills for the future.

We are proud to see their enthusiasm and achievement grow, reaffirming the value of innovative teaching approaches in our classrooms. Inquiry models of instruction will start finding their way into other courses as state standards now reflect the importance of this learning method. I am proud of the work of Mr. Lange and the support he is getting from students and parents in our community!

ACT prep classes are being offered at Palatine High School. English sessions are on Wednesdays, 3:30-5:30 pm. Math sessions are on Tuesday, 3:30-5:30 pm. All classes are held in Room 379.

All incoming ninth-grade students are required by the state of Illinois to have a physical examination and their current immunizations on file in the health office. Physical examinations must be completed on the Certificate of Child Health Examination form version dated 12/23. No other versions will be accepted. These forms are available on the school’s website under Families - Health Services. Examinations not completed on this form or completed on IHSA forms will NOT be accepted to meet the requirement of your child’s ninth-grade physical. Your child may not begin school until this requirement has been met. More information will be emailed home on this topic.

As of the 2019-2020 school year, all incoming ninth-graders are required to turn in a dental examination. The dental exam must be dated within 18 months of the May 15 deadline. Dental examination forms will need to be turned into the nurse’s office by May 15, 2026. The dental exam form is available on the Palatine website under Families - Health Services.

If your child is planning to register for a summer sports camp, a physical must be on file in the school health office prior to the first day of camp. Your child’s physical must have been completed within the last 13 months for your child to participate. Health records will not be received from the junior highs prior to the start of summer sports camps. It is the responsibility of the parents to make sure there is a physical on file in the health office prior to the first day of sports camp and first day of school.

All students entering 12th grade will be required to show proof of receiving two doses of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV4). The first dose shall be received on or after the child’s 11th birthday. The second dose should be administered on or after your child’s 16th birthday. An interval of at least eight weeks after the first dose. Only one dose is required if the first dose was received at 16 years of age or older. Your child will NOT be able to begin school until this immunization requirement is met. Please note the meningococcal B vaccine does not meet the school requirement.

If your child does not receive their immunizations for religious reasons, a State-approved exemption form must be submitted to the nurse’s office prior to completing your child’s registration process as this is a new immunization requirement. If your child does not receive immunizations for medical reasons, a note from your physician is required and must be submitted to the nurse’s office prior to completing your child’s registration process.

If you have any questions please contact the health services office at 847-755-1662.

More information is also available on the Health Services Page.

Please do not wait until the last minute to get this vaccine. Doctor’s offices do run out of the vaccine and receiving the vaccine at a local pharmacy can be very costly!

Students who meet the following criteria may choose to be exempt from their second semester final examinations. To be qualified for exemption, a student must:

1. Be a senior

2. Have at least a “C” average in the course AND

3. Have 5 or few absences from the class AND

4. Have never been truant from the class AND

5. Have never been suspended from the class AND

6. Not be incomplete on assignments required by the teacher

Exempted seniors may choose to take the final examination by notifying their teacher any time prior to the end of the semester. All final examinations will be given May 21, 22 and 23, 2025.

Clarification of "Absences:"

• Students must have 5 or fewer absences

• School-related absences (i.e. field trips, special testing, college visits, group meetings) DO NOT COUNT as one of the absences.

• Mental Health Days DO NOT count as an absence.

• Vacation days, dental or doctor appointments DO count as an absence (PER/ILL).

Bowling season is wrapping up. We are graduating four seniors this year. Palatine Varsity finished 3rd in conference; Camryn Mills placed 7th overall and Catalina La Fronza placed 12th overall out of all varsity players. Camryn got the third-highest game in all of conference throughout the season with a 256 and Catalina got fourth-highest game with a 253. Camryn also placed 4th overall for high series for the season with a 651. The girls will be competing at Regionals this Saturday at Liberty Lanes in Carpentersville.

CNA students getting ready for clinical this semester!

Three wrestlers qualified for IHSA Sectionals! Pictured left to right: senior/captain Karimot Lawal (3rd place in the 145 lb weight class), junior Aiva Wikar (4th place in the 190 lb weight class), and senior/captain Kevelyn Price 94th place in the 100 lb weight class).

The Competency-Based Education class learned how to make fleece-tie blankets and donated them to Second City Canine Rescue in Palatine!

The Palatine Speech Team placed 6th at the MSL Tournament.

Five events placed at this meet:

1st Place — Dramatic Interpretation (Lillian Sullivan, Sr.)

1st Place — Original Oratory (Jalynn Martinez, So.)

3rd Place — Humorous Interpretation (Lillian Sullivan, Sr.)

3rd Place — Humorous Duet Acting (Angelina Annerino, Jr. & Eliza Bradshaw, Jr.)

3rd Place — Radio Speaking (Jalynn Martinez, So.)

Pictured are:

Back Row: Angelina Annerino (Jr.), Lillian Sullivan (Sr.), Jalynn Martinez (So.), Debi Georgieva (Fr.)

Front Row: Eliza Bradshaw (Jr.), Katheryn DeNatale (Sr.), Lauren DeNatale (Sr.)

One group of Palatine graduates has been meeting for lunch for years, long after their 1966 graduation. We stopped in for a photo as they approach their 60th high school reunion.

The annual Illinois 5Essentials Survey is open through March 1 and available for families.

We encourage you to participate, as your input will help guide our school’s improvement efforts. The survey assesses the following five components of success:

• Effective leaders

• Collaborative teachers

• Involved families

• Supportive environment

• Ambitious instruction

Please note that each parent or legal guardian may complete one survey for each student.

This short survey is administered by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago on behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education. It is important to us that each student’s family complete this survey, as we are then provided helpful information and feedback for improvement.

If you have questions, contact our school's survey coordinator, Zia Nathan, at 847-755-1618.

Preparing your student for academic success means staying informed about required assessments. This mandated assessment document provides essential details about upcoming assessments, including the ACCESS for ELLs, DLM, PreACT Secure, ACT assessment and Illinois Fitness Assessment. These support your student’s learning and fulfill state and federal requirements under the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).

We encourage you to review this information.

Together, we can ensure your child is well-prepared and continues to thrive academically.

The State Board of Elections has prepared a one-page document for high school students explaining the process to register to vote. Please take a moment to review it as applicable.