HMS Friday Flyover

Hello Hawks!

Another great week here at Heineman! It has been fun to see the building really settle into the rhythm of the school year, with students fully engaged in classes, activities, and everything happening around school.

Our volleyball teams had another busy week of games, and our cross country runners were back out competing in meets. It’s always great to see our students representing Heineman, supporting their teammates, and putting in the work outside of the classroom. I also wanted to congratulate our newly elected leaders of our student council! I cannot wait for all the amazing things you do for our building.

As we move further into the year, I continue to be impressed by the energy our students bring each day. There is a lot happening, but our Hawks are doing a great job balancing academics, athletics, activities, and all of the other pieces that make middle school such a busy and exciting time.

Looking forward to another great week ahead. Keep going ALL IN, Hawks!

Go All IN Today!

Aim High

Lead Positively

Learn Together

Inspire Excellence

Never Settle

Go Hawks!

Stephen Mogni

Principal, Heineman Middle School

Monday 9/21

Cheer Clinic 2:30-3:45pm 📣

X-Country Practice 2:30-3:50pm 👟

Homework Club 2:30-3:45pm 📚✏️

Girls Volleyball Match Away match at Cary 4:00-6:00pm 🏐

Tuesday 9/22 Early Release Day

X-Country Meet Away at Emricson Park 4:00-6:00pm 👟🏃

Culver's (Huntley) Dine & Share 4:00-8:00pm 🍔🍦

Wednesday 9/23

X-Country Practice 2:30-3:50pm 👟

NJHS Meeting 2:30-4:00pm 🏅

Art Club 2:30-3:45pm 🎨

Cheer Clinic 2:30-3:45pm 📣

Homework Club 2:30-3:45pm 📚

Girls 7th grade Volleyball Home match vs Bernotas (At Conley) 4:00-6:00pm 🏐

Girls 8th grade Volleyball Home match vs Bernotas 4:00-6:00pm 🏐

Parent Meeting for Washington DC Trip in Auditorium 5:30-6:30pm 🏛️

Thursday 9/24

Cheer Tryouts 2:30-4:00pm

Chess Club 2:30-3:45pm ♟️

Girls Volleyball Practice 7th & 8th grade from 2:30- 4:00pm 🏐

Homework Club 2:30-3:45pm 📚✏️

Chamber Orchestra 2:30-3:50pm 🎻🎶

X-Country Meet Home Meet vs Creekside & Nippersink 4:00-6:00pm 👟🏃

Friday 9/25

X-Country Practice 2:30-3:30pm 👟

Girls Volleyball Practice 7th & 8th grade from 2:30- 4:00pm 🏐

Show your school spirit and join us all week long!

Missing a hoodie, water bottle, lunchbox, or favorite sweatshirt? Be sure to check our Lost & Found! There may be something waiting to make its way back home. Students are encouraged to check the Lost & Found regularly and claim their belongings before they’re gone!

Huntley School District 158 is excited to once again partner with the Huntley Area Lions Club for the 4th Annual Recycle for Sight Used Eyeglass Collection Drive, taking place at all District 158

schools during the week of October 19-23. How can you help? Take a few minutes to look

through your dresser drawers, closets, and other places where old eyeglasses may be collecting dust.

We’re collecting:

• Prescription eyeglasses
• Prescription sunglasses
• Reading eyeglasses
• Empty plastic and metal eyeglass frames

Don’t wear them anymore? Donate them and give them a second chance to help

someone else see clearly! And don’t forget to ask your friends, neighbors, and family

members to join in!

Donation boxes will be available at all District 158 schools and the Administration Office

from Monday, October 19, through Friday, October 23.

Let’s come together as a community and surpass our record of 282 pairs of eyeglasses

collected!

Every pair makes a difference!

Heineman is looking for parents/guardians who want to play an active role in strengthening the school experience for students and families!

Members will meet with school administration three times during the 2026-27 school year to share perspectives and ideas, provide feedback on important topics, and work collaboratively with school leaders to identify ways to increase family engagement and enhance the educational experience for all students. Members will also serve as parent ambassadors, helping strengthen communication and understanding between the school and its families.

To ensure all voices are heard and that everyone has an opportunity to participate and contribute, the Parent Advisory Committee will be limited to 25-30 members who will represent different grade levels and a broad range of perspectives. To support continuity and meaningful participation, committee members are asked to attend all three meetings during the 2026-27 school year.

Meeting dates for HMS
Tuesday, October 20, 2026 (6pm-7:30pm)
Tuesday, January 26, 2027 (6pm-7:30pm)
Wednesday, April 7, 2027 (6pm-7:30pm)

Interested in getting involved? Complete this brief form by October 2nd.

HMS form

The Huntley Hurricanes Special Olympics team is excited to kick off the 2026 basketball season in a few months! To gauge interest and tailor our plan for the fall, we kindly request your assistance in participating in an interest survey. See below for two Special Olympics basketball opportunities that will be available this fall/winter.

To be eligible to participate, students must be at least 8 years old (at the start of the 2026-27 school year) through age 22 and have an intellectual disability or an impairment approved with physician consent. There is no cost to participate, other than to ensure proper attire including athletic shoes.

• Basketball Team- Students will be on a team playing basketball games against other Special Olympics teams in the area. Commitment: At least three games and weekly practices leading up to the regional competition

• Basketball Skills- Students will compete focusing on these skills: Target Pass, 10-Meter Dribble and Spot Shot. Commitment: Weekly practices leading up the regional competition

• 
  

Please fill out this form by September 25 if you are interested in signing up your child for the 2026 Special Olympics Basketball Team or Basketball Skills. This is only the first step of the process as we are seeking to gather interest. You will be contacted directly regarding next steps. By collaborating with you, we can ensure that our efforts align with the needs and preferences of our community.

If you encounter any difficulties or have any questions regarding the survey or the initiative itself, please let me know. Thank you for your cooperation and support in this endeavor.

Grab a blanket and get comfy for Huntley 158’s first sensory-friendly movie night! Join us on Tuesday, October 13, at Heineman Middle School for a fun and inclusive evening open to all ages.

The featured movie, Out of My Mind (rated PG), is an inspiring story about a young girl with cerebral palsy who finds her voice and challenges others to see what she is capable of. With powerful themes of friendship, inclusion and perseverance, it’s the perfect film to bring our community together.

Doors open at 6 p.m., and the movie begins at 6:15 p.m. Come dressed for comfort and bring a blanket for floor seating; an accessible seating area will also be available. We’ll provide snacks and water, or feel free to bring your own. Stop by our “selfie station” and enter for a chance to win a prize!

The evening will wrap up at approximately 8 p.m. Students under age 13 must attend with a parent or guardian.

Questions? Contact Ina Hall, Huntley 158 Family Engagement Liaison, at ihall@district158.org.

It is the mission of Huntley Community School District 158 to inspire, challenge and empower all of our students. In order to accomplish this, teachers and staff regularly monitor student progress. Huntley 158 uses Satchel Pulse, a tool that measures our K-12 students’ learning in relation to the Illinois Social and Emotional Learning Standards and CASEL competencies. Just as Aimsweb and STAR are screeners for math and literacy, Satchel Pulse serves as a screening tool that monitors a student's growth in developing skills such as self-management, goal-setting, collaboration, and decision-making.

Please click this LINK for more information and "Opt Out" options

Picture Day is Thursday, October 1st!

Picture retakes will be held on Thursday, October 22nd.

https://www.vipis.com/group/e391ac55/heineman-middle-school

Topic: School Anxiety, Avoidance & Refusal: Symptoms and Interventions

Tuesday, September 29, 2026, 6PM - 7PM

Presenter: Jacqueline Rhew, LCPC

Open to all Huntley 158 families

Join via Google Meet

September is Attendance Awareness Month and Huntley 158’s motto is “Your Presence is Your Power.” Every day a student is in school is an opportunity for them to build relationships, learn and access support.

The district is kicking off its first virtual Family Learning Series this year with a presentation by Jacqueline Rhew, a licensed clinical professional counselor, who specializes in school refusal and anxiety in children. The virtual event is free and open to all Huntley 158 families.

Rhew’s presentation will provide parents and caregivers with practical strategies to support their child who may be struggling with school anxiety, avoidance, and school refusal.

She will explore factors that contribute to school avoidance and help parents learn how to recognize early warning signs and unhelpful coping patterns, and better understand how anxiety and avoidance can reinforce one another.

In addition, Rhew will outline specific interventions to help children manage anxiety, increase motivation, set realistic goals, and gradually re-engage in school. Parents will also learn strategies for responding to anxiety without unintentionally reinforcing avoidance, promoting healthy coping and problem-solving, and using communication that builds self-advocacy, confidence, and independence.

You can purchase a Heineman Middle School yearbook for your students at www.yearbookforever.com. Please email Mr. Baser (rbaser@district158.org) with questions.

Please remember to send in a medical note for your child if they have missed school for an appointment. This helps us accurately track each student's attendance properly and avoids unexcused absences. You may also email your note to our Attendance Secretary, Mrs. Lisa Meyers at limeyers@district158.org.

If you child will be out due to a vacation, please have them pick up a vacation absence form in the school office. This will help our office properly track attendance . These absences are considered unexcused per District 158 that follows the State of Illinois policies.

If your student(s) will be out of school please be sure to contact the attendance line at 847-659-4311.

This helps us accurately track your student's attendance . Thank you.

Nora Apostolopoulos began her teaching career in 2006 as a middle school teacher, with several summers spent teaching for the Special Education District of McHenry County. In 2015, she took a break to stay home with her newborn twins, returning to the profession in 2021 as a D158 substitute teacher. In 2024, she joined the Special Service Department full-time as a teacher at Mackeben, and this year moved back to the middle grades, working on the 8th grade Special Services Team!

Outside of school, Mrs. A loves traveling with her family, browsing antique shops, watching soccer, cooking, and visiting new restaurants.

Fall Sports

Parents/guardians interested in registering their child for a middle school fall sport will need to log into or create a SNAP! account. If you have any questions about SNAP! or fall middle school sports, please contact Jennifer Sebestyen at jsebestyen@district158.org

SNAP - Heineman Middle School Athletics

Get ready to bump, set, and spike! Boys volleyball is coming to Heineman Middle School! We’re excited to welcome our athletes to the court and kick off an awesome season of teamwork, competition, and school spirit.

Please fill out this Form if your student is interested in joining the team.

Let’s go, Heineman! 🏐💙🤍

Calling all 7th and 8th grade girls basketball players. In an effort to strengthen the connection between our high school program and our middle school athletes, we are excited to announce our first-ever combined High School and Middle School Open Gyms.

• Monday September 28th, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, HHS East Gym
• Monday, October 19th, 6:30 - 8:30 pm, HHS East Gym

Athletes may enter through Door 10 (Athletics Entrance) the night of. In addition, we are holding additional high school weight room sessions and open gyms after school throughout the fall. If you are a student-athlete and are interested in joining us in these additional workouts, please feel free to reach out.

We as a high school staff are excited to welcome our future Red Raiders into the program this upcoming year.

We look forward to seeing you there!

LAST CHANCE FOR A FREE EARLY BIRD SHIRT!

Our 5th Annual Color Run is only 2 weeks away! Click here to register your student now! **EARLY BIRD registrations to receive a FREE t-shirt end at 9pm THIS SUNDAY, so don’t delay!**

Volunteers are also needed for this fun event! Click here to sign up to have fun with us! (Whether you’re ready to be covered in color or stay color-free, we have a spot for YOU!!)

Congratulations to those elected and a special thanks to all students for voting! Hopefully everyone enjoyed the treats that the PTO provided today!

Congratulations to our 2026–2027 Student Council winners! We are proud of all the students who participated and look forward to a great year of leadership and school spirit.

• President: Brennan G.
• Vice President: Amira D.
• Secretaries: Annabelle G., Jocelyn M. & Vidhaan M.

GET CONNECTED WITH THE PTO!

Be sure to join our Facebook page to see all the fun we organize throughout the year! It’s also a great place to find the links to volunteer or buy PTO fundraiser & event tickets! Search for HMS PTO Heineman Middle School or CLICK HERE. Volunteers needed! Go to https://signup.com/go/JANJXJL to check for volunteer opportunities throughout the schoolyear. If you’re interested in getting more involved, please reach out to d158HMSPTO@gmail.com - we can always use more help!!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

• Tuesday, September 22nd @ 4-8pm: Culver’s (Huntley) Dine & Share
• Friday, October 2nd: Color Run (rain date 10/5) (Secure your ticket here)
• Tuesday, October 6th @ 8:30am at HMS: October PTO Meeting

AI for Student Success: Being Productive & Learning Future Skills

Tuesday, September 22, 2026 @ 6pm
Bring your kids and unlock the power of AI together! Discover cutting edge AI tools and skills that spark curiosity, boost learning (without cheating), and prepare your child for the future of AI.

https://www.smartsocial.com/event/ai-for-student-success-september-22?org=huntley&ref=dbarr@district158.org

The Impact of Screen Time on Motivation, Health & Academics
Wednesday, September 30, 2026 @ 6pm

Learn how screen time affects motivation, health and academics while gaining practical strategies to set limits and reconnect as a family.

https://www.smartsocial.com/event/the-impact-of-screen-time-on-motivation-september-30?org=huntley&ref=dbarr@district158.org

If you have a question specific to a certain subject please email your child's teacher.

For 6th grade general academic questions/concerns contact:

Team 6-1: Mrs. Nicole Busam (nbusam@district158.org)

Team 6-2: Mrs. Denise Conlon (dconlon@district158.org)

For 7th grade general academic questions/concerns contact:

Team 7-1: Ms. Jenny Schlueter (jschlueter@district158.org or Mrs. Jeannette Perreault (jperreaultt@district158.org)

Team 7-2: Mrs. Tammy Carpenter (tcarpenter@district158.org)

For 8th grade general academic questions/concerns contact:

Team 8-1: Mrs. Saundra Schlapia (sschlapia@district158.org) or Mrs. Gabrielle Lundsberg (glundsberg@district158.org)

Team 8-2: Mr. Neal Golyshko (ngolyshko@district158.org)

If you have any question concerning a student behavior please contact:

Ms. Katy McCrystal (kmccrystal@district158.org)

If you have any question concerning Student Services please contact:

Mrs. Shannon Seibert (sseibert@district158.org)

If you have any questions concerning any in season sports please first contact your child's coach. For further concerns please contact:

Mr. Jeremy Mikkelson (jmikkelson@district158.org)

Activities & Clubs

Administration/Office Staff

Athletics

Attendance

Calendar

Menus

Newsletters (archived)

Staff Directory

Student Handbooks