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2 Hawkeye View September/October News Peer leader program gets a new start Amita Prabhu Staff Editor “Failure is not an option for my freshman,” is the quote that can be seen on the bright neon t-shirts of the Hoffman Estates High School peer leaders. For the 2008-2009 school year, the peer leaders are definitely working harder to keep up that motto. Though there has been some controversy in the past as to whether or not the leaders have been as effective as they could, there is no doubt that this year, the leaders will be better than ever. “The main difference from last year is that now all peer leaders must have a seminar in their schedules,” said Jennifer Murray, guidance counselor and peer leader sponsor. “In the past leaders were just selected if they displayed some leadership qualities”. The Peer Leader Program has experienced an overhaul. The 2008-2009 program is not only new and improved, but it has been designed to benefit more freshmen. “There was more misconception about the program last year,” said Murray. “The people who did have foundations did a good job but others without seminar weren’t able to do as well” Last year, about half of the peer leaders did not have a seminar, so they were not able to interact with their freshman in Freshman Foundations. If they were in class, some would just stay for the first 10 minutes of the first half, and then leave for seminar. This year, the leaders are asked to stay the whole block, so they can be more involved with the students. The leaders also are much better prepared for this school year. They had a whole training day before school started, so the leaders would know what to do on the Freshman Kick-Off day and in foundations classes. The council members met with Murray several times after this training to be certain that everything would run smoothly for the kick-off. The communication was much better. The peer leaders also got some help from another source to help improve their program. “Last school year in the spring we did a mentor exchange program with Conant High School to see how they run their mentor program and get ideas from Before coming to Hoffman Estates High School, Steve Lacni taught math and physics at Elk Grove High School for 14 years. Photo by Will Creedon them,” said Nina Patel (’09), council member “It was very useful because we have incorporated some of the things they shared with us in the program this year.”. Laura Frost, foreign language department, is a foundations teacher who has already noticed a great improvement in this year’s leaders compared to last year. “I am very impressed with the leaders this year. They seem to be much more enthusiastic and prepared,” she said. “Last year on the very first day of school leaders would ask me how they could get a full seminar instead of foundations.” There are about three to five peer leaders in each foundations class, each of whom are assigned to several freshman. They normally work in small groups. The leaders are supposed to teach about 10 lessons to the freshmen in the foundations classes. Their expectations are to handle themselves well at all times, respect all their peers, and of course keep their grades up. “It really is a wonderful program,” said Murray, who is hopeful that the positive changes will be recognized by students and staff alike. Lacni right at home at HEHS Sayali Sakhardande Staff Editor The start of the 2008-2009 school year at Hoffman Estates High School brought with it many changes, including a change in the athletic office. Steve Lacni replaced Gene Curran as athletic director. The new “head sports honcho” said with a warm smile on his face that he has big plans for advancing the HEHS Athletic Program. “My goal this year is to have a mission,” said Lacni. “I plan to work with all of the coaches to form a mission statement that everyone will be able to relate to.” The new athletic director meets regularly with head Peer Leader Megan Bernardoni (‘10) helps a freshman with homework. The Peer Leader program this year is designed to help more freshmen than in years past. Photo by Eric Liu coaches to assure that everyone has everything he or she needs. Josh Schumacher, girls’ varsity swim coach, admires these efforts. “It is clear that Mr. Lacni understands the needs of coaches and is working hard to give every team the tools they need to be successful,” said Schumacher. Before this year, Lacni worked at Elk Gove High School for 14 years, teaching math and physics. Of course, he was involved in sports as well, serving as the school’s head track coach. However, what Lacni has sought was a full-time athletic director position. When offered the job at Hoffman, he gladly accepted. “Everybody here’s great,” said Lacni. “Hoffman is exactly the type of di- verse high school I had hoped for.” As with any change, there is a transition. Although Lacni is new, he has fit in from day one. “He transferred from a completely different district but has adapted to Hoffman quite quickly,” said Chris Lorenz, administrative assistant to Lacni. When asked what message he would like to send to the athletes of Hoffman, Lacni answered with a motto by which he lives: “Those who persevere will be champions.Never give up and you will succeed.” Lacni has made quite an impact in the athletic department and coaches and other staff members look forward to seeing what he does in the year ahead. Bess brings a fresh perspective to Hoffman Julia Hamlin Staff Editor Gwen Bess, who is a new assistant principal at Hoffman Estates High School, is feeling right at home. “I really like Hoffman so far,” said Bess. “The students are well-behaved, and I love the school spirit.” Bess said she loves the diversity Hoffman offers. Before coming to HEHS, Bess taught ninth grade English in Dayton, Ohio. She received her bachelor’s degree from Kentucky State University and her master’s degree at University of Dayton. Bess originally is from Cincinnati. Bess said her move to HEHS has been positive. “There are so many opportunities around here, and the proximity to Chicago is great,” she said. Bess discovered that after teaching for a while, she really had developed a passion for “ improving school climate and high school students. This is when she decided to focus her sights on becoming an administrator. Bess’s job includes the I try to build relationships with students based on the positive things about them. ” following responsibilities: overseeing attendance, discipline, security, as well as being the administrator to students with last names beginning with A-G. Bess is planning the HEHS Heart Walk fundraiser, which will be taking place later this school year. Although Bess admits being an administrator has its less pleasurable duties, she tries to turn every experience with a student into a positive one. “I try to build relationships with students, based off the positive things about them, not the negative,” said Bess. Bess said she is still adjusting to HEHS and where everything is located. Hoffman’s hallways have never been more confusing, with all the recent construction. “I still get lost,” she said. “Hopefully I’ll get the hang of it soon.” Gwen Bess works along side with Doug Dannewitz and Jacquese Gilbert, who are also administrators at HEHS. They can all be found in the attendance office, which is right across from the main office. If students would like to make to make an appointment with Bess specifically, they can talk to Rita Pusateri, Bess’s adminitrative assistant. Gwen Bess is a new administrator at Hoffman Estates High School after teaching high school English in Dayton, Ohio. Bess appreciates Hoffman’s school spirit and diversity. “I really like Hoffman so far,” said Bess. “The students are well-behaved, and I love the school spirit.” Bess seems to be adjusting to Hoffman very well, and she looks forward to continue working here in the future. Photo by Will Creedon
News Hawkeye View September/October 3 Election 2008: Students to debate pressing issues Will Creedon Staff Editor Decision 2008 is only a month away. Hoffman Estates High School may not be Washington, but there will be plenty of ways to get involved and participate in this year’s election. “This is a historical election students will remember,” said Matthew Dowd, social studies teacher. “Young people are really changing the landscape of politics.” This year the social studies department will be holding a presidential debate and mock election. The debate will be held Tuesday, October 21 and Wednesday, October 22 in the school auditorium. The mock election will be held Thursday, October 23. The mock election looks promising. Kimberly Ryon of the Social Studies Department has contacted the Cook County Clerk’s Office to get help in creating the most authentic voting experience possible. Hoffman Estates has a history of successful voter registration drives (eligible students last year may recall registering). “The office has been very pleased with Hoffman’s registration and, due to this, they’ve been very obliging to help set up a mock election,” said Ryon. The Clerk’s Office facilitated communication with and assistance from the League of Women Voters. Each year the League of Women Voters chooses around 30 schools in the Chicago area at which they will volunteer and run a mock election. This year Hoffman Estates is one of those schools. The League will bring actual booths and machines. “The reason the mock election is held several days before the real election as opposed to it being on the same day this year is because those very same booths and machines will be used November 4,” said Ryon. Interested in participating in the mock election? All students are eligible to vote as long as they register. “ [Students] may literally know more about the issues than adults who are voting. ” -Matthew Dowd “You don’t have to be 18,” said Ryon. A registration form must be filled out, however. These forms will be distributed to all social studies classes in the upcoming weeks, but students may also register up to the day of the election by picking up a form in the Main Office. The political excitement begins with the “HEHS 2008 Presidential Debate.” The debate will be an organized discussion between Obama and McCain supporters over issues students themselves choose at pre-debate meetings. These issues may include: Iraq/national defense, social security, terrorism, same sex marriage, abortion, energy, global warming, environment, along with issues. “Students will research and present the debate,” said Dowd. “[They] may literally know more about the issues than adults who are voting.” There will be debates held each block on both October 21 and 22, so there is plenty of opportunity to participate or join the audience during a seminar or part of lunch. “Social Studies teachers will be recruiting students to take part in the debate,” said Ric Lindeen, Social Studies Department Chair. The debate will consist of five sections: opening statements, moderator questions, candidate cross examination, audience questions, and closing statements. Participants in the debate will sit at tables on the stage according to their chosen candidate. Those taking part in the debate will be facing the audience and moderator. The moderator’s questions will be pertinent to the issues selected at previous debate meetings. Time limits will be strictly enforced and rules will be explained to the audience prior to the debate. If interested, students should contact Dowd, Lindeen, or Michael Brown in the Social Studies Department for more information. There will usually be meetings after school Wednesdays in room 64. Students may check with their social studies teachers. “People don’t realize how opinionated and concerned high school students are about the election. In the age of multimedia it comes down to the issues, and those issues will be analyzed and distilled in the debate,” said Dowd. “The election will be very exciting and well worth it for kids to get involved and discover how passionate they can get.” Going the extra derivative Will Creedon Staff Editor The Resource Center in room 177 is a place for students to sit down, chill, and take care of all their academic concerns. The R.C. is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3 to 5 p.m. Those who visit the R.C. can take the 4 p.m. or athletic bus. There are always math, science, and reading teachers available to help. If you ever need help with homework, understanding a concept for a test, or just need a quiet place to work or study, the R.C. is a great resource. The R.C. is a simple drop-in program and there’s no pressure, you can come or go as you please. Like the library, students may work in groups and sit at large tables. Lenore Ulaszak, Math Department, is the teacher managing the center and would be happy to hear any questions, comments, or concerns. Ulaszak is excited to begin another year of the R.C. “The R.C. can make a significant grade difference for students having difficulty getting their homework done and studying,” said Ulaszak. “It would be nice to have so many students come in for help that I would need more staff.” Students can use computers for researching on the Internet, creating PowerPoint presentations and writing papers. Keytrain and SkillsTutor are also available. Students can talk to volunteer student tutors too, if they need help with math or reading. “I recommend the R.C. to everyone; it has been really helpful!” said Alaine Coleman (’09). In addition to the R.C. is the Audio/Visual resource center, which is open from Monday to Thursday until 4 p.m. AV is hard to find due to library construction; it is located between the new library and the central hall on the middle floor, just west of the College and Career Resource Center. In AV students can use a variety of supplies. Students can borrow glue, glue sticks, scissors, rules, markers, and other equipment. Students may also take cuttings from old magazines. John Collins, head of AV, can check out these supplies if you need them. There are some tables in AV if students want to use the supplies at school. Teachers assist students with math homework at the RC in room 177 after school. Photo by Lexi Wozny Construction to continue through June Cody Hootman Staff Reporter Although there has been a lot of progress with the new sections of Hoffman Estates High School, construction is set to continue through June. “The new classrooms will enhance and set a tone for our school,” said Tom Newton, assistant principal. All of the construction completed and the construction in the near future will update the HEHS that was built in 1973 and make it more 2008. With a total of eight new classrooms, 12 renovated classrooms, two huge classrooms, and four new science labs, the south side of the school is getting an extreme improvement. The new extended part of the school will have eight total new classrooms, including four on the ground floor and four on the second floor. These new classrooms are very close to completion. Rooms 61-71are already in progress and rooms 261-271 will be redone in November. The four new science labs will be underway soon. These rooms include 264-270 and rooms 260 and 275. With all of this going everyone will be affected. Lockers will be moved as well as many classes. The people who have currently have lockers on that side of the hallway; will have them moved to the new hallway. On the ground floor, the renovations are underway with new walls, flooring, ceiling, and electrical being added. A brand new sprinkler system also will be added. All this is due to be completed sometime in November. The construction then heads upstairs to finish what has been started. The current classes in the rooms of 261-271 will be moved downstairs for the crew to be able to clear out the rooms and replace the ceiling, walls, carpet, and electric while also adding a new sprinkler system. Theses classrooms are due to be finished by winter break for the classes across the hall to relocate into them as soon as we return from break. The longest next step of the construction will begin with the creation of the four new science labs. These labs are not due to be completed until around the end of the school year. In addition to replacing the walls, ceiling and electricity, the crew must run water and gas for the lab tables, run the new sprinkler system and put in tile flooring. With all of this extra work being done, the plan is to narrow the south hallway by about three feet by adding in a temporary wall that will allow workers to travel between the rooms without going into the hallway. The science department has recently learned that the old chemistry and physics rooms in the center hallway will also be affected with the construction. Those classes will be moving to biology rooms, which will be a transition. “It will take a few days to get used to, but it should be alright,” said Kristy Depa, Science Department. “We are going to be able to use the rooms the way we want to use them and make them the most effective for learning.” “Teachers are doing a really great job with construction,” said Newton. “They are being very adaptable with the plans and I really appreciate the cooperation of them with the moving of the classes.” Mark Ahn, English teacher, said he was not originally given an “ideal classroom.” The room did not have a clock or a projector for class use, so he has moved down the hall to another room. He will have to move again when construction moves upstairs. Moving to a new classroom could be good or bad, he said. “As long as it has everything students need it will be good to be in a new room,” Ahn continued. Ahn also said the “media center is beautiful” and that this school has a new feel as one walks in with the light shining in and the modern architecture. Over the summer, Hoffman Estates High School underwent major construction, resulting in a brand-new entrance, new classrooms, cafeteria and media center. Throughout the rest of this school year, Hoffman will continue to be under construction. Photo by Raag Harshavat
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