Hoffman Estates HS Newsletter

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.

As we move forward into second semester, I want to emphasize the importance of consistent attendance. Last month, I shared information on the importance of regular and consistent attendance. I wanted to follow up with additional information for you to consider. All absences aren't the same; they add up quickly; and there is a new way to report missed days.

Read my full letter here.

Black History Month serves as an inclusive month-long celebration for all Americans to remember, discover, understand and honor the contributions that Black men and women have made to our country, our society and the world. Dr. Carter G. Woodson introduced the second week in February as Black History Week in 1926. It later became a month-long celebration.

During February, we take time to recognize the historical roots and many contributions of prominent Black Americans such as former President Barack Obama, Vice President Kamala Harris, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., WEB DuBois, and Rosa Parks, and other less-known Black leaders such as Elbert Robinson, Richard Spikes, Dr. Daniel Hale or Dr. Charles Drew.

As part of our celebration of Black History Month, members of Hoffman Black Students United are sponsoring several activities that include: Black History Month Kick-Off Drum Line (Feb. 1), Spirit Week (2/6-10), weekly class trivia on Thursdays, and music during passing periods.

Superintendent Dr. Lisa Small visited our auto lab to film the upcoming edition of her newsletter. She observed teacher Dave Ligman, left, in action and spoke with multiple students who are using the class as a step toward a future career once they graduate. Check it out!

Mrs. Book’s Culinary 2 classes have been busy designing and decorating cakes for the “Be Your Own Cake Boss Project”. The purpose of this project is to briefly experience the life of a cake decorator. There are many careers in the food service industry; this is just one of those creative and expressive fields. Each lab group consists of three to four individuals who chose a theme for the cake and have been practicing techniques using royal icing, fondant, air brush machines and painting techniques. The group had five class periods to complete their top-of-the-line cake using professional cake decorating equipment.

Each semester, we celebrate the Hawks who have demonstrated their academic growth by earning Honor Roll status. Students earn honor roll status based upon their grade point average of a ‘B’ or higher. Please use this link to see our Honor Roll students.

Hawks are making a difference in the community!

Each year, officers of Hoffman Estate High School’s Chapter of National Honor Society set a goal to not only to provide service to HEHS, but also to the surrounding community and people around the world. As part of this goal, they recently planned an outing for 25 NHS members to volunteer at Feed My Starving Children during winter break. As a collective group, it is not uncommon for NHS members to log over 2,000 hours a year of service to others.

In each edition of this newsletter, a student extracurricular group will be put in the spotlight for the HEHS Community to meet and learn more about.

We'd like to proudly introduce our newest student spirit squad, Orange Krush (Majorettes). Commonly referred to as Majorettes on college and university campuses, Majorette-style dancing originated at historically black colleges and universities. HEHS Orange Krush comprises 22 talented young women (freshmen to seniors) who combine a variety of different genres of dance, including West African, Jazz, Modern and Hip-Hop. Their choreographed dances are performed in collaboration with our Pep Band. Orange Krush performs primarily at Friday and Saturday night varsity Boys Basketball games - KRUSHIN’ IT.

Coaches Eboni Jackson and Susan Buck lead this amazing group and are making history.

Physical Forms

All incoming ninth-grade students are required by the state 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 11/2015 or later. These forms are available on the school’s website under "Parents - Health Services."

Examinations that are not completed on this form or completed on IHSA forms will NOT meet the requirement of your child’s ninth grade physical. Your child may not begin school until this requirement has been met.

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, 2024. The form is available on the Palatine website under the "Parents - Health Services" tab.

If your child is registering for a summer sports camp, a physical must be on file in the 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 prior to the first day of sports camp and the first day of school.

Practice SAT Opportunity

A full-length practice SAT will be offered February 23, 2023. While most relevant to current juniors, any interested HEHS student can take the test. The practice SAT will be administered in the Student Cafeteria on February 23, 2023. Students should arrive by 5:15PM; the practice SAT will begin at 5:30PM and conclude around 9:00PM. Any student wishing to participate in the practice SAT on February 23 should complete this practice SAT Google form. This allows us to plan for the number of tests, materials and a snack. Yes -- a snack will be provided!

Vaccination Information

Any child entering 12th grade is required to show proof of receiving two doses of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV). 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, or 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 can NOT 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 registration.

Please contact the health services office at 847-755-1662 with questions. Please do not wait until the last minute to get this vaccine. Doctors' offices do run out of the vaccine and receiving the vaccine at a local pharmacy can be very costly.

Senior 2nd Semester Final Exam Exemption

District 211 and HEHS allows graduating seniors to exempt from their second semester final exams if they meet the following criteria:

• have at least a “C” average in the course

• have less than six absences from the class

• have no truancies from the class

• have not been suspended from the class

• are not incomplete on required assignments

Seniors not qualifying for the exemption will be allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies but will not receive a diploma that day. Senior finals will be administered concurrently with other scheduled final exams on May 24, 25 and 26. Diplomas will be given to students required to take final exams following the processing of final grades. An email was sent January 28 to your senior asking for their understanding of the Senior Final Exam Exemption Policy.

Senior Scholarship Opportunities

Many of the scholarships available to students at Hoffman Estates High School are provided through this link. The listing is not complete as scholarship information is updated all of the time. If you have questions, please contact your student’s counselor.

District 211 students earn the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy by demonstrating high levels of proficiency in English and an additional language as determined by the Illinois State Board of Education. Students can demonstrate proficiency in a target language by earning a 4 or 5 on an AP exam, I-5 or higher on the AAPPL or Intermediate High on the STAMP exam. Illinois public universities will accept the State Seal of Biliteracy as equivalent to 2 years of foreign language coursework taken during high school if a student's high school transcript indicates receipt. Current languages available are Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), French, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

Students have the option of taking the exam in-person between March 6-10 or remotely March 13-31. Limited seats are available for the in-person test, with priority going to seniors.

Students interested in taking the STAMP or AAPPL assessments for the Illinois State Seal of Biliteracy should complete this REGISTRATION FORM by the end of the school day February 17, 2023. There is a fee of $25, and an invoice for payment will be sent through MySchoolBucks. The exam comprises four modules and lasts approximately 2 to 4 hours.

Students who earn the Seal of Biliteracy will be notified in the summer depending on availability of results. Visit https://adc.d211.org/academicshome/illinois-seal-of-biliteracy/.

Please contact the Student Services Department with questions.

Student Drop-Off Reminder

Morning student drop-off prior to 7:15am should occur just to the east of the bus lane. At 7:15am student drop-off by bus concludes and you may use the bus lanes to drop your student on the sidewalk nearest the building.

Student Pick-Up Reminder

Evening student pick-up can occur in the bus lanes except for the following times:

3:50 – 4:10 p.m.
5:05 – 5:25 p.m.

*Athlete pick-up is preferred at Door 10 (Athletic Entrance)

Feb 14: Student Late Start - 8:50am start

Feb 15: Parent Principal Meeting (Presentation from Omni Youth Services - Substance Abuse/Prevention) - Media Center, 6:30pm

Feb 20: Presidents Day - No School

Feb 22: D211/D54 Band Concert - Main Gym, 7pm

Feb 23: Practice SAT - Student Cafe, 5:15pm-9pm (registration required)

Feb 24: Amy Rudolph Basketball Tournament - Main Gym, 7pm

Feb 25: Chain Reaction Competition - Media Center, 9am

Feb 28: Student Late Start - 8:50am start

March 2- March 4: Musical: Les Misérables - Auditorium, 7pm

March 11: D211 Honors Band Concert - HEHS Auditorium, 2pm

March 14: Student Late Start - 8:50am start

March 14: Band Concert - Auditorium, 7:30pm

Website: hehs.d211.org
Location: Northwest Suburbs, 1100 West Schaumburg Road, Schaumburg, IL, USA
Phone: 847-755-5600