June 2013 - Hoffman Estates High School

Hoffman EstatEs HigH scHool
NEWSLETTER
FRom ThE PRiNciPaL: JamES a. BRiTToN
June 2013
From the Principal ...
Planning Success: Setting goals through June, July and August
Dates to Remember
June 12
July 2
July 3
1st Semester
Summer School Begins
1st Semester
Summer School Ends
No Summer School Classes
July 4 Independence Day –
No Summer School Classes
July 5
July 8
July 26
No Summer School Classes
2nd Semester
Summer School Begins
2nd Semester
Summer School ends
August 13 Fall Meet the Team Night
Gymnasium, 7:00 p.m.
August 16 Freshmen Kick-Off
9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
August 20 Teacher Institute
No Classes
August 21 Opening Day of School
Student Services
Summer Hours
The Student Services office is open
for your convenience throughout the
summer. Our summer hours are:
Monday – Thursday:
7:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Friday:
7:30 – 12:30 p.m.
Success is planned. While many students remain involved in school through summer
camp and summer school, the summer months are also a time to evaluate the recent school
year and plan for next year. Now is the time to increase their experiences and prepare
more directly for goals they want to reach after high school. Many parents intuitively
know what a 2011 study by the RAND Corporation concluded, “Instruction during the
summer has the potential to stop summer learning losses and propel students toward
higher achievement.”
Success is not an isolated event but a continuous process of self-improvement. While we
need to accept difficulties and setbacks and find ways to deal with them, we also need
to work toward longer term goals that contribute to our success. When the new school
year begins again in a few short months, it represents a renewed opportunity to realize
goals that have been set.
As you evaluate the school year, think of the changes that might have added up to a more
meaningful school experience. Now look ahead to next year and think of it as a fresh start.
As you know, many teenagers exist in the moment so it may be a forced conversation, but
it is worthwhile. Make a list of areas that could be improved upon on a day-to-day basis,
for example, study habits that need to be acquired, deadlines to meet, or activities to join.
I encourage you and your child to create a Success Plan this summer. I present a suggested
model of a Student Success Plan to assist students and parents in reflecting on improvements.
Identification Barriers Planning Timing Results
• What could be
improved?
• What would you
like to do that
you are not
currently doing?
• What could get
in the way?
• What has gotten
in the way
before?
• How will you
deal with
barriers to
success?
• What will you
need to do to
make
improvements?
• When will you
do it?
• When
improvement is
made, what will
you have
accomplished?
Even if your son or daughter doesn’t fully realize his/her goals for next year, it doesn’t hurt
to aim for 100% success. By not taking the time to plan now, your child is destined to
repeat the pattern they have set. Now is the time to commit to a plan for next school year.
To the parents and students of the Class of 2013, congratulations on your success. For the
returning students and parents, I hope that you have a wonderful, fun, and productive summer.
This Principal’s Newsletter is computer-designed and
photocopied at school on recycled paper for Hoffman
Estates High School parents.
Hoffman Estates High School
1100 W. Higgins Road
Hoffman Estates, IL 60169-4050 • (847) 755-5600
James A. Britton
Principal
Recognized for Excellence in Education by the United States Department of Education’s Secondary School Recognition Program

Thank You,
H.E.L.P. and P.A.B.
Many thanks to the Hoffman Estates
High School Loyal Parent (H.E.L.P.) and the
members of the Principal’s Advisory Board
(P.A.B.) for their continued support of the
academic, athletic, and activity programs
at the school. Through their efforts, both
organizations have had a direct impact
on the school with ideas, programs and
contributions. The commitment of H.EL.P.
and P.A.B. to the students at HEHS is
unending. HEHS is a better place because of
H.E.L.P. and P.A.B. They willingly volunteer
their time and energy to improve student
life and experiences at the school. Their
efforts deserve thanks because they have
given so much more to Hoffman Estates
High School than we can ever repay them.
Special thanks to H.E.L.P. Board
Members: President – Tom Goodrich;
Vice President – Jean Lemp; Secretary –
Janet Green; Treasurer – Wendy Thomas;
Community Liaisons – Julie Johnson,
Tom Goodrich; Concessions – Eileen
Patterson, Mary Rottman, Janet Green,
Tammy Pearson, John Otto; Corporate
Donations – Darrell Young; Game Night
– Alan & Merydith Brostoff, Steve &
Dianna Rodheim, Tom Goodrich, Tarranum
Akthar; Hospitality –Deb Marinoff; Major
Fundraiser – Tom Sears; Market Day – Jean
Lemp; Membership – Julie Johnson, Darrell
Young; Newsletter Editor – Lara Martin;
Post Prom – Chris & JoEllen Hommowun,
Nancy Decker, Michele Kwiatkowski;
Restaurant Fundraiser – Lori Pedersen;
Scholarship – Denise Clemment; School
Store – Sandy Roesch, Michelle Iehl, Karen
Grudzinski, Maureen Rehusch, Jen Herbert,
Kathy Harris; Sports Guide – Jacki Gordon,
Merydith Brostoff; Theresa L. Busch Hawk
Pride Award – Therese Kelly; Volunteer
Services – Julie Johnson; Web Liaison –
Tarranum Akthar, Tom Goodrich
Principal’s Advisory Board Members:
Carolyn Burns Michele Kwiatkowski
LeeAnn Darfler Barb Labeots
Nancy Eisele Jean Lemp
Mary Galle Jill Miller
Michelle Goodrich Laura Mokry
Cindy Habel Michael Reeves
JoEllen Hommowun Adrienne Reeves
Julie Johnson Erika Schrader
Chelle Kase Darrell Young
Student Principal’s Advisory Board Members:
Dylan Alcarese
Barathkumar Baskaran
Jessica Brooks
Sabren Burns
Jesus Enrique Cruz-Mejia
Gustavo Espinoza
Caitlyn Farina
Dominic Hernandez
Christina Hoskinson
Khrystal Johnson
Marco Leon
Francia Morales-Diaz
Hardi Patel
Dylan Schroeder
Devin Tyler
Misael Vargas
Rayne Woodfork
Student – Athlete Individual and Team Accolades:
• Boys Water Polo - Sang W. Han - MSL All-Conference, IHSA All-Sectional; Adam
Pasnicki - MSL All-Conference, IHSA All-Sectional; Logan Gizel - IHSA All-Sectional,
IWP All-State
• Badminton - Fatima Cisneros - MSL Conference Medalist (4th Place - Singles); Brittany
Williams - IHSA Sectional Medalist (5th Place - Doubles); BooKyung Kim - IHSA Sectional
Medalist (5th Place - Doubles)
• Girls Track & Field - Banke Oginni - MSL Conference Medalist (3rd Place - Discus),
MSL Conference Medalist (2nd Place - Shot Put), IHSA Sectional Medalist (2nd Place -
Discus), IHSA Sectional Champion (Shot Put), IHSA State Qualifier (Discus, Shot Put),
IHSA State Medalist (4th Place - Shot Put), IHSA State Medalist (9th Place - Discus);
Mary Bianca Fuller - MSL Conference Medalist (8th Place - Shot Put), MSL Conference
Medalist (4th Place - Discus); Meagan Biddle - MSL Conference Medalist (8th Place -
1600m Run), IHSA Sectional Champion (1600m Run); Alex Baez - MSL Conference
Medalist (7th Place - High Jump), IHSA Sectional Medalist (4th Place - High Jump);
Tyra Palmer - MSL Conference Medalist (7th Place - 800m Run); Brianna Anderson
- IHSA Sectional Medalist (5th Place - 800m Run); Kaylan Williams - IHSA Sectional
Medalist (4th Place - 200m Dash), 4x100m Relay Team - MSL Conference Medalists
(6th Place), IHSA Sectional Medalists (6th Place) - Shayan Dussard, Kaylan Williams,
Brenda Regalado, Edyta Kraweic; 4x200m Relay Team - MSL Conference Medalists
(2nd Place), IHSA Sectional Medalists (4th Place) - Shayan Dussard, Kaylan Williams,
Brenda Regalado, Edyta Kraweic; 4x400m Relay Team - MSL Conference Medalists (5th
Place) - Shayan Dussard, Meagan Biddle, Solome Haile, Elsa Haile; 4x800m Relay Team
- MSL Conference Medalists (4th Place), IHSA Sectional Medalists (3rd Place), IHSA State
Qualifiers - Solome Haile, Alondra Aguirre, Elsa Haile, Meagan Biddle
• Boys Track & Field - Brennan Albuck - IHSA Sectional Medalist (6th Place - 3200m
Run); Jared Bruemmer - MSL Conference Medalist (3rd Place - Pole Vault); Fred
Williams - MSL Conference Medalist (6th Place - Triple Jump), IHSA Sectional Medalist
(5th Place - Triple Jump); Alex Tooren - MSL Conference Medalist (7th Place - Discus),
IHSA Sectional Medalist (3rd Place - Shot Put); 4x100m Relay Team - MSL Conference
Medalists (7th Place) - Jalen Anderson, Jared Breummer, Mike Jackson, Corey Riley;
4x200m Relay Team - MSL Conference Medalists (5th Place) - Jalen Anderson, Jared
Bruemmer, Mike Jackson, Corey Riley; 4x800m Relay Team - MSL Conference Medalists
(7th Place) - Bryan Gamboa, Connor Dressler, Thomas Simac, Adam Long
• Baseball - Jimmy Ward - MSL All-Conference; Ethan Bloom - MSL All-Conference,
Daily Herald All-Area
• Softball - Nicole LaBeck - MSL All-Conference, Daily Herald All-Area; Samantha
Acosta - Daily Herald All-Area Special Mention; Jordyn Fera - Daily Herald All-Area
Special Mention
• Boys Lacrosse - David Baureis - 1st Team All-Conference; Anthony Patrick - 2nd Team
All-Conference; Eddie Durray - Honorable Mention All-Conference
• Girls Soccer - Team - MSL West Division Sportsmanship Award; Jackie Nailor - MSL
All-Conference, IHSA All-Sectional; Natalie Pena - IHSA All-Sectional Honorable Mention;
Jennie Nailor - IHSA All-Sectional Honorable Mention
• Boys Gymnastics - Michael Rodriguez - MSL Conference Medalist (12th Place - All
Around), MSL Conference Medalist (9th Place - Parallel Bars), MSL Conference Medalist
(13th Place - High Bar), IHSA State Qualifier (Parallel Bars); Alan Peralta - MSL Conference
Medalist (7th Place - Still Rings), IHSA State Qualifier (Still Rings); Andres Cueva - MSL
Conference Medalist (13th Place - All Around)
• Boys Volleyball - Brandon Kwiatkowski - MSL All-Conference
If you require assistance while visiting our school, please contact the principal’s office at (847) 755-5600.
For individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, please access the following TTD/TTY telephone number: (847)
755-5654.

Summer Orientation
The Student Services Department
provides an opportunity during the
summer for incoming freshmen and
their parents to meet members of
the Student Services staff. During
this orientation, information about
programs and services offered at
Hoffman Estates High School is
discussed. Additionally, the new
student orientation includes a review
of the student’s tentative academic
schedule for the fall and a tour of the
building. Students will also have their
school ID picture taken during the
orientation. Orientation sessions will
be offered:
Tuesdays
9:00-10:30 a.m.
June 25 – August 1
Wednesdays
1:00-2:30 p.m.
June 25 – August 1
Thursdays
6:00-7:30 p.m.
June 27, July 11, July 25,
and August 1
Parents are encouraged to call the
Student Services office at (847)755-
5630 to schedule an appointment for
this valuable program.
Congratulations
Graduates!
2013 - 2014 Student Schedules
Students will be receiving a copy of their tentative schedule for the 2013-2014
school year in late June. It is important for students and parents to review the
schedule to make sure that all requested courses are included. The counseling
staff makes every attempt to provide schedules that are accurate and academically
balanced. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your son or daughter’s
schedule, please contact the Student Services Department July 1 – July 31. When
contacting the department, we respectfully ask that you make an appointment
to speak with the counselor on duty. Please consider the following guidelines
concerning schedule changes:
➤ Convenience changes will not be made.
➤ Teacher changes are only made with Department Chair approval after school
starts in the fall and are rarely done.
➤ Elective changes are made only if all prerequisites are met, seats are available,
and the new course fits into the current schedule.
➤ After July 31, any schedule changes must take place during the first two days
of school. No appointments can be made during this time and available seats
are limited.
FreshMENTORS – Kick Off Program
HEHS will once again offer the Kick-Off program to acclimate the class of 2017
to our high school community. The Kick- Off program will provide freshmen with
an orientation to HEHS and our FreshMENTORS will provide continual support
throughout the school year. FreshMENTORS are upper class students who applied
and were chosen to serve as mentors to freshmen during Freshmen Foundation
classes.
FreshMENTORS will attend mentor trainings held on June 11 from 1:00-5:00
p.m. and August 15 from 12:00-5:00 p.m. At these trainings, approximately 100
Junior and Senior mentors will develop leadership and team building skills to be
used in their roles as mentors for the incoming freshmen.
The FRESHMEN KICK-OFF Day will be held at HEHS on August 16 from 9:00
a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Kick-Off is designed specifically for freshmen to address concerns
regarding transition to high school and the first day of school and to build excitement
about the many opportunities available at HEHS. The FreshMENTORS will design
and conduct the day’s activities for the freshmen including sessions on:
• Utilizing a FreshMENTOR as a resource
• Getting involved at HEHS
• Reading their schedule & finding classrooms
• Opening their locker on the first try
• Navigating the cafeteria, ordering lunch & finding a table
• Having an opportunity to purchase HEHS spirit wear
Information and permission slips for Kick-Off will be mailed to all 2017 students
in early July. Questions can be directed to Mrs. Jennifer Murray, Guidance Counselor,
at (847) 755-5630.

One Book, One School
All HEHS students will read one book
for the 2013 summer reading program!
This year students and staff voted and
chose Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch
Albom from among five titles. This is
the true story of Morrie Schwartz, whose
struggles show how one person, even
while struggling with death, can greatly
inspire and impact the lives of others.
In HEHS’s efforts to create a positive
school culture we believe the message
in Tuesdays with Morrie reflects our
commitment in developing our students
to be “responsible and respectful
learners.”
Tuesdays with Morrie will be available
from the HEHS Media Center during
summer school. Copies will be available
for purchase in the Media Center for
$7. The books can also be checked out
from the Schaumburg Public Library or
purchased at local bookstores. Relevant
activities and an assessment for the
book will be provided in the fall when
students return to school! Thank you
for supporting our efforts in promoting
the summer reading program and in
cultivating a positive school culture.
Juniors – Prepare for Life After High School
Along with summer jobs, concerts, and the myriad of fun activities that HEHS juniors
can experience this summer, there will be the realization that next year will be THE LAST
ONE in high school. For many students, future plans include attending college and
beginning a very different life away from home. Before the fall of that final year arrives,
there are quite a few steps a rising senior can take this summer to prepare for and ease
in the transition between high school and college.
1. Visit A College Website
Websites are quickly becoming the number one way students learn about
colleges and are rapidly replacing catalogues and viewbooks.
2. Talk With Current College Students
Experience is a great instructor, and college students with a year or two under
their belts are very knowledgeable about what is really happening on campus.
3. Do A College Search
It is never too late to find that perfect ‘fit’; search electronically or use paperback
guides, but do narrow down that list to a manageable number.
4. Take Some Tours
Summer is a GREAT time to visit colleges. Check the college’s websites to set
up your visit online.
5. Look At Some Applications
Most students apply to four to six colleges and universities; and these applications
vary from easy-to-complete, one page items to multi-faceted brochures. Do not
get blindsided by a lengthy application.
6. Start Planning Your Essay
A growing number of colleges are now requiring an essay from students that
provides more insight into an individual’s passions and abilities. Start thinking
about topics now as opposed to waiting until October.
7. Fill Out A Recommendation Background Form
Many college applications and nearly all scholarship forms require one or more
formal recommendations from teachers, counselors, or employers. Make it easier
for your teachers, counselor, and employer to write a recommendation by providing
them with a list all of your accomplishments, awards, and activities. Additionally,
start considering who you are going to ask to write recommendations on your behalf.
8. Talk With Parents About Finances
While this often is a difficult topic to approach, it is one that must be discussed
before the search process is completed.
9. Explore Volunteer And Internship Possibilities
Students who have a particular major in mind should consider gaining valuable
experience in these areas to verify their interest.
10. Energize, Prioritize, Organize
It is often said college success is not about how smart you are, but how passionate and
organized you are. Start setting goals for how you want your senior year to play out.
Distinguished Alumni Award 2013
This year’s Distinguished Alumni Award
is bestowed upon an individual who works
to protect our environment and improve her
community through volunteerism. Allison
LaPlante graduated from Hoffman Estates
High School in 1992. Since graduating
from Hoffman, Allison attended Cornell
University and earned a Bachelor’s degree
in Biology. She continued her education at
Lewis & Clark Law School where she earned
her Juris Doctor.
Allison LaPlante currently serves as a
Staff Attorney and Professor at Earthrise Law
Center at Lewis & Clark Law School. She
specializes in environmental law working on
cases to improve air and water quality, protect
against pollution, and save endangered
species. Allison is also a board member
of the Northwest Environmental Defense
Center, a “non-profit organization dedicated
to protecting the natural resources of the
Pacific Northwest”. She and her husband
host an annual food, clothing, and gift
drive each December at a local women and
children’s shelter. Allison and her husband
have two sons; she states she is very proud
of her family.
Allison has worked hard to balance work
and family; she is an excellent example to
our students that it is possible to have both
professional success and a wonderful family
life. Allison’s message to current Hawks,
“Follow your heart. Sometimes the path you
take may be a bit winding, and where you
end up in your professional and personal
life may not be exactly where you thought
it would be. But, if you are following your
heart through the journey, playing to your
strengths as well as your passion, you will
end up in the right place.”