Volume 36 Issue 1 - Hoffman Estates High School

The
Hoffman Estates High School 1100 W. Higgins Rd. (847) 755-5600
Hawkeye View
Summer 2008 Volume 36 Issue 1
Welcome Hoffman class of 2012
Lexi Wozny
Staff Reporter
Hoffman Estates High
School was due for an upgrade and
new construction was the answer.
With the student population continuously
on the rise, space was a primary
concern.
As technology and student
population has changed over the past
30 years, “the space that we occupy
also must change,” said Christina Ordonez,
English Department.
After construction is completed
– the expected date is August
2009 – there will be more classroom
space. Although the construction has
been loud at times this summer, the
payoff will be worth it. “The construction
takes some getting used to,” said
Tom Newton, assistant principal/activity
director.
Newton does suggest that
all students watch for room numbers
and make sure they are going in the
right direction during the first days
of school. changes at the front of the
school.
(Continued on Page 7)
The main office is now located right where you walk in. On the opposite side of the hall, Student Services and the Attendance Office now share space.
Areas still under construction still include: the new Media Center, Student Council Office, and Publications Office.
Photo by Lexi Wozny
INSIDE
the Hawkeye View
Essentials
BEFORE: There was massive construction
going on in the front of the
building leaving the main entrance
unaccessable to students and faculty all
of 2007-2008 school year. Inside of the
school, there was also construction.
Principal Theresa Busch offers advice for a great year
I hope you have had a
relaxing summer and are excited
about beginning your four years as
a Hawk. I am pleased to welcome
you to our school and hope you will
take advantage of the wonderful
opportunities Hoffman has to offer
you.
What can you expect for
us? Excellent teachers, fascinating
courses, incredible technology,
and strong athletic and activity
programs.
I encourage you to take
an active role in your school; don’t
sit back and let Hoffman life pass
you by.
Too often, I’ve heard seniors
express regrets about not
being a better grades, or not getting
involved in school activities
sooner.
What do we expect from
you? To help make your transition
to Hoffman Estates High School
smoother, you need to know my
expectation of you.
*Be respectful towards others!
Please know that I will
not tolerate any disruption to the
learning environment. All student
s have the right to be treated with
respect. These same rights apply
Photo by Raag Harshavat
AFTER: Now Hoffman has a new front
entrance that opened during summer
school. Inside of the school, more
construction continues, with the entire
second floor still unaccessable.
Photo by Lexi Wozny
to the people who work here.
Staff members have the
right to do their jobs and all staff
members have the right to be treated
with respect. In high school,
consequences for poor decisions
can be severe.
Activities
*Budget your time!
In high school, teachers
will hold you accountable for all
homework and class projects. You
will no longer be able to blame your
parents, your friends, your brothers
and sisters, or your dog for
not having your work prepared for
class each day. You are ultimately
responsible for how you spend your
time both in and out of school.
There is no social promotion
at Hoffman. You either do the
work or you don’t earn the course
credit. And if you don’t earn the
credits require by the school, you
don’t graduate. I urge you to do all
your assignments and meet the requirements
of each of your teachers
*Become Involved!
In order to get the most
of your high school experience, I
encourage you to get involved in
at least one club or sport. Nearly
70% of the student body is involved
in some type of activity at Hoffman
after school.
Employers look to hire
students who have been involved
in clubs or sports. Colleges also
accept students who have been
able to successfully balance academics
and school involvement.
All clubs are listed on a
board in the main hall. There you
will find a case describing each
club and information when the
club meets and how to join.
Listen to the morning announcements
for when clubs will
hold their first meeting.
You can also talk to Mr.
Athletics
Tom Newton, the assistant principal
in charge of student activities.
His office is located in the main office.
Please join the many extracurricular
activities Hoffman
has to offer.
* Be inquisitive! Ask questions!
Do not be afraid to ask
questions. If you don’t understand
something in class, ask your teacher.
If you think something is wrong
at Hoffman, ask the principal.
If you think someone is
mistreating you, ask your counselor
or your assistant principal. I’d
rather you speak up than sit with
your friends at lunch in the cafeteria
and complain or spread rumors.
This is your school.
If you have an idea,
please share t with someone on
staff. You’ll find that the students
at Hoffman do have a voice.
Useful Tips
p. 2-3 p. 4-5 p. 6-7 p. 8

2
Essentials
Hawkeye View Summer 2008
The ace of books
Sam Kubota
Staff Reporter
It is difficult to write
about something that appeals to all
types of high school students and
manage to get a message across
that actually means something.
Somehow the author of I Am the
Messenger did just that.
Markus Zusak writes
about being young and reckless,
living in the not-so-nice parts of
town and dealing with the not-sonice
people who live there. Mostly
believable characters dominate
the story line; many of the characters
are typical next-door-neighbor
types that many students can
relate to. Zusak’s frequent use
of curse words renders the novel
not “G-rated,” It can also seem appealing
to many students who are
looking for works a bit more rough
around the edges and makes the
book more applicable to “real-life.”
I Am the Messenger is
written at a level that is appropristudents.
ate for all high school
Unlike some of the previous works
assigned, I Am the Messenger is
hard enough to satisfy higher level
readers, but not too difficult; even
the incoming freshman can enjoy
it. IATM is no Scarlett Letter, but it
beats out The Magic Tree House in
difficulty.
In an effort to reach more
students, Hoffman Estates High
School has dropped the “One-
Book-One-School” program for
“Hoffman Reads.” Now students
are given a choice between two
books of different reading levels,
with one preferred (IATM) choice.
If students struggle with their
reading skills or if their parents do
not think they should read books
Small Steps is not Holes 2
Afsara Zaheed
Staff Reporter
Louis Sachar, the author
of award-winning bestseller Holes,
comes back with another interestcharacter
ing tale about Armpit, a
released from Camp Green Lake in
Small Steps. However, Small Steps
is not “Holes 2.”
The tone of the book is
completely different from that of its
predecessor. Although this book is
about some of the characters from
Holes, one does not need to read
it to understand the plot of Small
Steps. The book in interesting on
its own but because the tone is so
different, those who really enjoyed
Holes may be disappointed.
“Small Steps just didn’t
have quite the same grip,” said
Armpit learsn to take small steps to
overcome obstacles.
Photo courtesy of www.kidsreads.com
IATM provides a unique point of view
that is more relatable to Hoffman students
than previous books chosen by
“One-Book-One-School.”
Photo courtesy of ebooks.metronet.lib.mi.us
with inappropriate language, they
can read Small Steps, a lower level
book written as the sequel to Holes .
Sayali Sakhardande ’10 says, “This
is a better system…now more people
will read the books, since they
have a choice. They can pick what
appeals to them.”
The novel I Am the Messenger
has another advantage over
the previous required reading.
In the past, the school required
students to read books that were
meant to be inspirational, but came
across dull. This time, the story varies
enough to keep the reader’s attention.
This book is about a young
Australian guy who drives a taxi
and lives in the bad part of town.
And in the end, the reader does not
learn all about how he went to college
and lived a great life, because
that’s not the message from the
messenger. The point is that by
becoming people who care, we can
all individually, yet together, better
the world.
Sayali Sakhardande (’10).
According to a book review
by The New York Times, “It
is likable and readable, but it never
quite emerges from the shadow of
Holes.”
The overall theme of the
book is a positive one; it teaches
how people can take charge of their
lives, even though it may not always
be easy. The book is an easy read
with a variety of elements ranging
from suspense to romance.
One positive aspect is that
this book’s variety appeals to many
different types of readers. For example,
those who like romance will
be just as satisfied with this book
as those who prefer suspense.
The story focuses on
Armpit, who is back at home in
Austin, Texas, trying to turn his life
around. The only person that understands
Armpit is Ginny, his tenyear-old
disabled neighbor. They
both decide that together they will
take small steps to overcome their
obstacles.
Things seem to look good
for Armpit until a friend from camp
shows up with a quick moneymaking
scheme. X-Ray’s plan leads
Armpit to a close encounter with
teen pop sensation Kaira DeLeon.
As Armpit’s life begins to spin out
of control, he knows that one thing
is certain: he will never be the same
again.
Even though Small Steps
does not reach the caliber of Holes,
Sachar’s story contains memorable
characters and an interesting
story.
New school, new schedule
Amita Prabhu
Staff Reporter
Entering high school
from junior high can seem like a
confusing and anxious time. In
addition to getting to know a new
school, incoming freshman at
Hoffman Estates High School also
have to get used to block scheduling.
Though it is different
from junior high schedules, it can
be very easy to adjust to.
With the block schedule,
instead of having the same 9
classes every day, you will have 4
certain classes on an A day and 4
different classes on a B day. This
means that you will only have each
class 2 or 3 times a week.
Each class is 94 minutes
and lunch is sometime during your
3rd block for 30 minutes. Passing
periods are 7 minutes.
The first day of school
is an A day so you will go to the
classes marked 1A, 2A, 3A, and, 4A
on your schedule. The second day
will be a B day so you will attend
the classes marked 1B, 2B, 3B,
and 4B. The third day will be an A
day again, then a B day and so on.
Your schedule will be
marked with either A, B, C, or D
lunch for each day. If you have A
lunch you would go straight to the
cafeteria for lunch after second
block. You would then go to class
Block 1
Block 2
Block 3a
Block 3b
Block 3c
Block 3d
Block 4
7:30 - 9:04
9:11 - 10:45
Lunch - 10:52 - 11:22
Class - 11:30 - 1:04
for 90 minutes
If you have B lunch you
would go to class for 30 minutes,
eat lunch, and then go back to class
for 60 minutes.
For C lunch you would go
to class for 60 minutes, have lunch,
and finish the last 30 minutes of
class.
Lastly, for D lunch you
would go to class for a full 90
minutes, go to lunch and then go
straight to your 4th block class after
that.
Depending on your
schedule, you may have the same
lunch every day or they may be different.
If you are still left with
some anxiety about adjusting to
high school or this schedule, don’t
worry. Tom Newton, Assistant
Class - 10:52 - 11:22 Lunch - 11:26 - 11:56
Class - 12:00 - 1:04
Class - 10:52 - 11:56 Lunch - 12:00 - 12:30
Class - 12:34 - 1:04
Class - 10:52 - 12:26
Lunch - 12:34 - 1:04
1:11 - 2:45
Principal, offers some advice.
“The best thing is to be
organized. Make use of the planners
we give you and write assignments
down right away”
Though the classes may
seem very long and tedious at first,
block scheduling can actually work
to your advantage. Since classes
are every other day, you have 2
days to do your homework. However,
this doesn’t mean you should
procrastinate and wait until the
very last minute.
Unlike other schools in
the district, you are also able to fit
an extra class every year.
Even though it block
scheduling seems confusing at
first, there is no need to worry. It
will all become much easier once
you get used to it.
Who’s Who
in the HEHS administration?
Theresa Busch is the principal of HEHS. She is the head of administration and oversees all
aspects of the school and life in the building. This year will be Ms. Busch’s eighth as HEHS
principal; she began her career at HEHS as an English teacher 25 years ago. She always is
part of school assemblies and our school spirit.
Tom Newton will begin his second year as HEHS assistant principal. He acts as an important
liaison between students, staff, and Ms. Busch; usually stands in for Ms. Busch when
she is out of the building; and manages the building and grounds, budget, school activities,
and much more. His favorite thing about HEHS is our school spirit.
Gwendolyn Bess is a new administrator at HEHS. If your last name is from “A” through
“I”, she will be your administrator- who you will see for attendance, discipline, and other
issues Mrs. Bess was formerly a high school English teacher in Dayton, Ohio, and her
favorite thing about Hoffman is the diversity in everything—students, staff, and activities.
Jaquese Gilbert has been an administrator at HEHS for five years. She will handle last
names “J” through “O,” dealing with all discipline and attendance related issues. Mrs. Gilbert
has been in education for 18 years beginning as a P.E. instructor and before coming to
Hoffman as an administrator at Fremd H.S. Her favorite thing about HEHS is the energy
the positive and involved staff brings.
Jennifer Beers is replacing Dr. Samantha Dolen as Director of Student Services this year.
She will supervise all psychologists, social workers, and counselors at HEHS, coordinate
health services, and run high school examinations like the Explore and PSAE, among
other roles. This will be her sixth year working in district 211. Her favorite things about
HEHS are the staff and all the students.
Jeremy Harkin is the dean of students at HEHS, and has been for three years. He has also
been a math teacher at Hoffman for eight years. He assists the administrators in discipline.
“Put yourself in a good position academically to succeed as an upperclassman” is Mr.
Harkin’s advice to freshmen.
Steve Lacni is also new to HEHS, replacing Gene Curran as athletic director. As athletic
director he will oversee and administer the entire athletic program at Hoffman and
ensure that student athletes have a safe, positive, and enriching experience. Mr. Lacni
came from Elk Grove H.S. as a math and physics teacher, coach, and athletic director
and this will be his twenty-first year in education. He would like to advise freshmen to
“Get involved. There are so many great opportunities to try new activities or discover
special athletic ability in high school.”
Doug Schippel is the Building and Grounds Manager at HEHS. Wanting to create the
best environment for students, he is responsible for the operation of the building, school
grounds, and safety of students. He is excited for the completion of Hoffman’s additions
and modernization, but his favorite thing about HEHS is the team atmosphere and our
ability to accomplish a great deal.
Doug Dannewitz is the assistant principal of discipline at HEHS and is administrator for
students “P” through “Z.” His responsibilities include in-school suspension, the police consultant,
bus transportation, and much more. This is his nineteenth year in district 211 and
fourth year at Hoffman. His advice to freshmen: “Always tell the truth, honesty is always
better in the long run.”.

Hawkeye View Summer 2008 Essentials
3
A Hof fman hello
continued from p. 1
Besides classroom
space improving, there are
big changes at the front of the
school. The main office, attendance
office and student
services department are centrally
located at the front of
the school, which is more accessible
for students and parents.
With centralized main
offices, there will be more accountability
for all visitors to
HEHS. The main entrance will
be the only door open during
the school, with other entrances
locked during the school day; in
addition, student supervisors will
continue to monitor the hallways.
Newton has observed
the construction since the beginning.
He has witnessed the
good, the bad, and the ugly.
When
walking
through the new
main entrance for the first time,
With centralized
main offices, there
will be more accountability
for
all visitors to
“HEHS
”
Newton said it was great to see
the construction all come together.
He also thought that
it was exciting to see people’s
positive reaction to the school.
The construction is
not finished just yet. The “west
wing” classrooms, on both the
first and third floors are still
going to be under construction
during the school year.
The library, newspaper/yearbook
office, and student
council office should be completed
by the start of the 2008-
2009 school year, said Newton.
Additional construction
during the school year
will include the addition of
new classrooms and re-modeling
of the science classrooms.
Hoffman Estates High
School is not the only school
that is under construction. District
211 is working on all the
five schools in the district as well
as the administration building.
The lunch bell rings
Julia Hamlin
Staff Reporter
The cafeteria renovations
are expected to be completed by
the start of school. “The new cafeteria
should eventually solve the
congestion problems we encountered
last year,” said Tom Newton,
assistant principal at Hoffman Estates
High School.
Entering high school
brings about many new challenges;
what clubs to join, what people
to hang out with, and, of course,
how to navigate the cafeteria.
However, take comfort
in the fact that the sophomores,
juniors, and seniors will be in the
same boat. The cafeteria this year
has been totally remodeled, so you
won’t be alone in the confusion of
not knowing what to do or where to
go.
This year’s renovated
lunch room involves less waiting in
long lines and more time to eat and
socialize during lunch periods.
There are now two entrances
into the area where food
can be purchased.
Also, there will be four U-
shaped lines to allow the maximum
volume of students to wait at the
same time and save space.
Much thought and planning
by district officials went into
the design of the new cafeteria,
and it should function much better
than the previous one. This new,
more efficient cafeteria will be an
immense upgrade from last year’s,
and it will prove to be a great improvement.
School rules to live by at HEHS
While a class is busy learning, a troublemaker uses her cell phone, which is against school policy.
Photo of Raag Harshavat
Mary Hacker
Staff Reporter
Being an incoming freshman may
be tough. You are coming into a new school
that is a whole lot bigger than your junior
high. Being aware of the rules will make the
transition much easier.
The Hoffman Estates High School
Discipline Committee says that the number
one issue this year is cell phones. Tardies,
dress code, and IDs have come into play
with the discipline at Hoffman, also.
The use of cell phones during class
is an ongoing problem. “It is too early to tell
what the committee is going to do about
phones…we will be coming up with a plan,”
said Jacquese Gilbert, assistant principal
and discipline/attendance office coordinator.
discipline/attendance office coordinator.
The first time a student gets caught
with a cell phone, they will be sent to their
administrator’s office to be reminded of the
discipline rules.
If they get caught with it a second
time, the student will get sent down to
their administrator’s office and a parent/
guardian will have to pick up the phone at
school. One day of Saturday School will be
assigned.
Once the student gets caught with
their cell phone a third time, a conference
about suspension will be set up by their administrator
with their parents/guardian.
“Until we can get the entire population
to act maturely, the rules have to be
all or nothing…no phones allowed at all,”
said Ryan Brown, English Department.
Phones must be turned off from
6:45 AM-2:45 PM. Teachers and hall monitors
will be on the lookout.
The Tardy Sweep came into effect
last year because of the numerous amounts
of tardies. Once the bell rings, all teachers
will close and lock their doors. Any student
who arrives late without a pass, or are not
in their assigned seat, will receive a “tardy
ticket.” This counts as one detention. The
detention must be made within one week
of getting the slip. It is at random; students
will not know when a Tardy Sweep will happen,
unless announced otherwise.
Like junior high, there is also a
Dress Code Policy at HEHS. This policy
prohibits students to wear any clothing or
accessory that does not meet decency or
interferes with learning.
The Dress Code Policy prohibits
the following items to be worn by students:
- Clothing with images of alcohol, tobacco,
or illegal substances.
- Clothing with sexual, indecent, or lewd
messages.
- Clothing which connects a student with
a gang.
- Wearing coats, jackets, caps, and hats
while school is in session.
- Clothing that may damage school property.
- Clothing with violent graphics or wording.
The dress code and wearing IDs
go hand-in-hand. On the first day of school,
all students must go to the North Shelf gym
as soon as they walk in. They then have to
pick up their ID. After they have their ID,
they can get their schedule. Students cannot
get their schedule without first receiving
their ID.
The ID will be attached to a HEHS
strap (one must wear this strap and only this
strap). All students, and even staff, must
wear them at all times. The staff ID will be
vertical while the students’ will be horizontal.
Their picture will be on both sides of the
ID. Five other schools in the district are doing
this as well.
“ID’s are a good thing because of
incidents last year,” said Tom Newton, assistant
principal and activities director.
Wearing the IDs so they are visible
is for security. It lets people know who
belongs in the school.
Last year, graduates got into the
school when they did not even go there anymore.
Teachers thought they were students
because they looked like normal teenagers.
“You can’t learn if you don’t feel safe,” said
Gilbert.
Students will be reminded of these
rules in an assembly. They will be stated
again on the morning announcements.
Also, teachers will read them aloud in class.
Students will then have to sign a waver saying
they fully understand all regulations and
consequences.
Advice from HEHS faculty
“Do your homework.”
-Kevin Mallon
Social Studies Department
“One, get involved. Two, determine
your greatest potential in
the classroom and go after it.”
-Fred Bryant, Buisiness Department
“Get involved! And don’t loiter
in the middle of the English hallway
–there are carts!”
Jasmin Chung, English Department
“Bring your books to class
and do your homework.”
Tom Beebe, Social Studies Department

4
Activities
Hawkeye View Summer 2008
Anime Club – Draw and share your drawings with others
interested in the art of manga. See Ms. Lambert in the ESL
Department for information.
Art Club – Use and learn interesting ways to make artwork and
see others’ different perspectives and works. See Ms. Nustra in
the Art Department for information.
Auto Club – Work on vehicles by repairing them or doing
different projects with them. See Mr. Walser and Mr. Ligman in
the Applied Technology Department for information.
Best Buddies – Partner up with special education students for
fun activities: go on field trips and make friendships. See Mr.
Bullon in the Special Education Department for information.
Cheerleading – Both Junior Varsity and Varsity cheerleaders
provide pep during football and basketball games. See Ms.
Carlson in the Student Services Office for information.
Chess Club – Play other students from Hoffman and from
other schools. Any level is welcome. See Mrs. Davey in the
English Department or Mr. Komecki in the Science Department
for information.
Coffee Club – Write and share poetry and short stories while
enjoying yummy snacks. See Mrs. Gilbert in the English
Department for information.
Did You
Know?
Band received
high
scores at
the IHSA
band contest
for the
past two
years
German Club – Enjoy fun activities with other students who
like to learn about German language and culture; make food
and take field trips. See Mrs. Brew in the Foreign Language
Department for information.
Horticulture Club – Spend time in Hoffman’s greenhouse to
learn about, preserve, and plant new plants. See Mrs. Loh in the
Science Department for information.
Human Relations – A larger group of many branches such as
Asian Pacific Islanders Club, European Club, Hoffman Black
Students United (HBSU), Indo-Pak Club, Latino Unidos Club,
and Womens’ Discussion Group, Human Relations involves
students in various types of fundraising and activities. See Mrs.
Johansson in the Social Studies Department for information.
Humble 2 One (H2O) – Gather with fellow Christians to talk
about God and his ways. Sing worship songs and participate in
small discussions. See Mrs. Coaston in the Foreign Language
Department for information.
Intramurals – With various intramural events during the year,
such as dodgeball and basketball, intramurals gives students
opportunities to participate in sports without the rigors of a
school team. See Mr. Wietlispach in the Science Department for
information.
Junior Class Club – Using the money raised from Freshman
and Sophomore Class Clubs, plan one of the biggest events of
Drum Leader Brittany Papworth
leads the HEHS marching band
down the track before the pregame
show at one of the home football
games
Photo courtesy of Halcyon
Hoffman’s chess club offers two
levels to cater to players of all ranges.
Chess team offers the opportunity
to play against different schools and
qualify for state tournaments. Chess
club can also be for novice players
who just play for fun.
Photo courtesy of Halcyon
Dance Club – Join others who like to have fun dancing hip hop
and modern dances in preparing for various performances. See
Mrs. Bromley in the English Department for information.
Fashion Club – Design and explore new fashion trends and
participate in various shows. See Ms. Ecker in the Family and
Consumer Sciences Department for information.
Flags – Become adept at twirling and swirling flags for
performing at football and basketball games, in addition to
participating in competitions. See Mrs. Jenkins in the English
Department for information.
Foreign Exchange Club – Meet foreign exchange students
at Hoffman in addition to having the opportunity to go abroad
yourself. See Mrs. Brew, Ms. Jacobi, and Mrs. Wanner in the
Foreign Language Department for information.
Forensics – Talk your way through competitions and meets
on the speech team. Participate in different events such as
improvisation and dramatic interpretation. See Mrs. Phillips in
the English Department for information.
French Club – Come to learn about French language and
culture; you don’t have to be taking French. Join in field trips
to French restaurants or enjoy French foods at club meetings.
See Ms. Jacobi in the Foreign Language Department for
information.
Freshman Class Club – Join your fellow classmates in
fundraising money for junior and senior proms. See Mrs.
Morgan in the Special Education Department for information.
Did You
Know?
Math and
Flags Team
have gone to
state many
times over
the past
years
high school – the prom. See Ms. Carlson in the Student Services
Office for information.
Literary Magazine – Organize a collection of student
submissions of various short literary works in a magazine to be
distributed at the end of the year. See Mr. Brown in the English
Department for information.
Math Team – Compete against other schools on freshman,
sophomore, junior and senior levels in mathematical knowledge
and competence. See Ms. Thomas in the Math Department for
information.
Mural Painters – Draw on the walls to your heart’s content and
paint pictures to beautify Hoffman’s walls with lots of different
colors. See the Art Department for information.
Musical – Hoffman’s annual musical, performed in March,
is one of the best productions around. Join in and sing your
heart out, help with the amazing costumes and makeup, build
awesome sets, shine the lights on stage, play in the pit band. See
Mrs. Wandro in the English Department for information.
National Honor Society – Juniors and seniors can apply to
be in NHS and work on community service projects. See Mr.
Teegarden in the Math Department for information.
Newspaper – The Hawkeye View is for anyone interested in
writing for Hoffman’s monthly newspaper, with special features
like the annual Homecoming issue. See Ms. Carroll in the
English Department for information.

Hawkeye View Summer 2008 Activities 5
Orchesis – Work on ballet, tap, and jazz with other dancers
to put together performances for events like the Fine Arts
Assembly. See Ms. Guzniczak in the Foreign Language
Department for information.
Peer Leaders – Be a mentor to others around you; help
everyone to fit in and be comfortable at Hoffman Estates High
School. Peer Leaders also leads the Freshman Kick-Off that will
occur on August 17 th . See Mrs. Murray in the Student Services
Department for information.
Photo Club – Learn about the art of photography and create
your own photo projects while making the most of Hoffman’s
photo lab to do so. See Mrs. Tyszkiewicz in the Art Department
for information.
Plays – Join the cast of Hoffman’s seasonal plays and be a part
of some of the great productions at Hoffman. See Ms. Gilbert
and Mr. Stevens in the English Department for information.
Pom Pons – Shake your stuff – and your poms – with the
Hoffman Poms team as you cheer on the football teams and
perform at the basketball games, in addition to participating in
competitions against other schools. See Mrs. Ryon in the Social
Studies Department for information.
Scholastic Bowl – Compete against other schools, seeing who
knows the most trivia knowledge. See Mr. Doud in the Science
Department for information.
Did You
Know?
Forensics has
had at least
one member
competing
at the state
competition
for the past
3 years
Student Congress Debate – Students debate important
topics, competing regularly against other schools and honing
their persuasion skills. See Mr. Mallon in the Social Studies
Department for information.
Student Council – A club that meets during first block,
Student Council plans many of Hoffman’s social events such as
the Homecoming and Turnabout dances. See Mr. Lindeen in the
Social Studies Department for information.
Students of Society (SOS) – Come discuss solutions to some
of society’s problems while enjoying chocolate milk. See Mrs.
Loh in the Science Department for information.
Teens and Tots – During various school activities, interact
with toddlers and everything to do with them. See Ms. Ecker in
the Family and Consumer Sciences Department for information.
Theater Guides – Come time for Hoffman’s great productions,
be the ushers who direct the audience to their seats and hand
out programs at the door. See Mrs. Bromley in the English
Department for information.
Thespians – Once you have participated in any aspect of
theater for 250 hours, go through a week’s induction. Attend
Theater Fest as the leading theater people of Hoffman. See Ms.
Gilbert in the English Department for information.
Variety Show – Try out for V-Show with your different
Mr. Fivelson helps coach Math
Team on useful math tricks and
shortcuts in order to perform better
at one of their monthly math meets.
Photo courtesy of Halcyon
The Hoffman Poms Varsity and
Junior Varsity teams perform during
the halftime shows at football
games and basketball games. Their
competitions begin in December.
Photo courtesy of Halcyon
Science Bowl – Compete for a chance to go to Washington
D.C. for free, hitting buzzers over questions of biology,
chemistry, physics, and other areas of science. Visit the Science
Department for information.
Senior Class Club – Using the money raised from Freshman
and Sophomore Class Clubs, plan one of the biggest events
of high school – the prom. See Ms. Bertrand in the Student
Services Office for information.
Sophomore Class Club - Join other people your age in
fundraising money for junior and senior proms. See Mrs.
Murray in Student Services for information.
Spanish Club – Learn more about Spanish culture while
enjoying fun activities and good food. See Ms. Wanner in the
Foreign Language Department for information.
Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) – Help
plan Operation Snowball, an overnight retreat filled with
activities, performances, small group discussions, and silly
games. See Ms. Lechner in the Student Services Department
for information.
Students Against Violating the Environment (SAVE)
– Come participate in activities to help preserve our local
environment, including parks and landscapes. See Mr. Oras in
the Applied Technology Department for information.
Did You
Know?
Auto Club
competes in
the Ford Auto
skills contest
and has gone
to nationals
in the past
years
talents, both solo and group. See Mr. Stevens in the English
Department for information.
Varsity Club – If you’re on a varsity sport, come and participate
as a team in Club Clash. See Mr. Wietlispach in the Science
Department for information.
Woodworkers – Take advantage of Hoffman’s woodworking
equipment as you engage in different projects and build
your own items. See Mr. Hausfeld in the Applied Technology
Department for information.
Writing Club – Write and share stories and poems, and
participate in writing childrens’ books to read in the local area.
See Mrs. Chung in the English Department for information.
WYSE – Test your knowledge, engaging in a written
competition against other schools on various subjects. Visit the
Science Department for information.
Yearbook – Compile pictures, quotes and stories into a huge
memoir, the Halcyon, a 250+ page collection of students at
Hoffman. See Mrs. Davey or Ms. Skinner in the English
Department for information.
*For more information about any of these activities, see club
sponsors and listen to the announcements. They can be found in
little holders next to the College and Career Resource Center.

6
Sports
Hawkeye View Summer 2008
Hoffman Head Coaches
Sport: Head Coach: Department: Sport: Head Coach: Department:
Boys Cross Country (Fall) Matt Dowd Social Studies Girls Cross Country (Fall) Kirk Macnider English
Boys Golf (Fall) Dave Grabarek Physical Ed.
Boys Football (Fall) Bill Helzer Social Studies
Boys Soccer (Fall) Matt Sriver Physical Ed.
Boys Basketball (Winter) Bill Wandro Business
Boys Swimming (Winter) Josh Schumacher Science
Boys Wrestling (Winter) Bill Scully Social Studies
Boys Baseball (Spring) Todd Meador Science
Boys Gymnastics (Spring) Scott Phillips Science
Boys Lacrosse (Spring) Joe Garofalo Special Ed.
Boys Tennis (Spring) Greg Rouse Special Ed.
Boys Track (Spring) Tyrone Jones Math
Boys Volleyball (Spring) Dan Hutton Math
Girls Golf (Fall) Fred Bryant Business
Girls Swimming (Fall) Josh Schumacher Science
Girls Tennis (Fall) Greg Rouse Special Ed.
Girls Volleyball (Fall) Dan Hutton Math
Girls Basketball (Winter) Mike Nocella ---
Girls Bowling (Winter) Dan Pfligler Math
Girls Gymnastics (Winter) Dave Calisch English
Girls Badminton (Spring) TBA ---
Girls Soccer (Spring) Rob Schmidt Social Studies
Girls Softball (Spring) Lindsey Hamma English
Girls Track (Spring) Dan Anderson Science
Girls Water Polo (Spring) Carrie Koch Math
If there are any questions about sports, contact the athletic director.
Sport, activity involvement teaches time management
Alex Oda
Joe Winner
Staff Reporters
Clubs, activities, and
sports are an important part of the
high school experience, but they
also force students to learn about
balancing their athletics, academics
and extra-curriculars.
“It’s all about learning to
budget your time,” says Steve Lacni,
Athletic Directior, “The main
reason you are in school is education.”
At HEHS, there are many
resources that students should
learn to utilize that will help make
balancing easier. Academically,
math and Spanish tutoring is available
to students during lunches
and after school. At these sessions,
teachers and student volunteers
help with homework and topics
learned in class.
The Media Center also
has many ways to help. Computers
with programs ranging from Photoshop
to CAD can help with completing
schoolwork in art, English,
or any other subject.
Not only that, most
athletes can get help from their
coaches as well. All coaches are
also teachers, and can help tutor
students as well; don’t be afraid to
ask.
To make sure that athletes
are maintaining good grades,
HEHS also institutes eligibility
rules. For example, the Athletic
Director sends out weekly notices
to coaches stating which athletes
on the team are either failing or
near failing. Another rule is that if
a student is failing a semester of a
class, they will not be able to compete
for the rest of the next season.
Use these rules as a reason
not to fall behind academically,
Mary Hacker and Julia Hamlin attempt to catch up on their
studying during a short break from a competitive football game.
Photo courtesy of Lexi Wozny
and there won’t be any problems.
“Just stay ahead of your
homework because if you stop doing
your homework or do bad on
tests you won’t be able to play sports
anyway,” said 2007 Fall Sports Academic
Scholar Chris Keller (’08).
A key way of staying
ahead with work is using a seminar
or freshmen foundations wisely.
With ninety minutes of free time, a
lot of work can easily be completed.
Stay focused, and don’t waste time.
“Definitely take advantage
of your foundations time, and it
helps to make a schedule for your
work too. It’ll help a lot,” said Mary
Thomas., Math Department Chair
Procrastinating is one of
the easiest ways to fall behind on
homework. We have several tips
to help you keep away from procrastination.
First, do homework
the day it is assigned. With block
scheduling, saving homework until
the last moment is an easy habit,
and can stress people out if they
aren’t careful. This can result in taking
time out of practice to complete
late assignments, in dismay of your
coach.
Furthermore, don’t put
off large assignments and projects.
A month to finish a biology poster
may seem like a long time, but start
to spread out work evenly; doing a
project the night before it is due
is not smart. Finally, try to make
homework a priority during the
weekends. From personal experience,
catching up on homework is
not the way anyone wants to spend
a Sunday night.
“Freshmen year is the
best time to learn to start balancing
your schedule and learning to
be organized because the workload
isn’t as bad as it gets,” says
2008 Valedictorian Susan Liu.
Although athletics and
extracurricular activities are an important
part of high school, don’t
forget that academics come first.
There are plenty of resources and
people available that can help students
get their work done. However,
students shouldn’t limit themselves
to textbooks for the rest of
their high school career.
With decades of students
who have “been there” and “done
that,” getting through HEHS will
be one of the most rewarding experiences
in life if students be social,
get involved, and find a good
balance of work and play.
“ Sometime balancing
sports, band, and school
can be really difficult, but
you end up doing things
you really love and enjoy.
”
Monique Hughes ‘08
Monique Hughes swims for first place as she competes in the 100 meter butterfly.
Photo Courtesy of Halcyon

Hawkeye View Summer 2008 Sports 7
Senior athletes share insight on success in sports
“
Believing in yourself is the only
way to become a champion.
Matt Perez ‘09
”
Matt Perez prepares himself as he approaches the starting line,
ready to compete in a cross country meet with his teammates.
“
Keeping yourself involved
in sports will help you
stay away from doing stupid
things, while having
fun. “
Leah Tednes ‘09
”
Torrence Gardner hands off the baton to Terrence Jones (08’) during the 400
meter relay at the 2008 Track and Field McHenry Relays.
Persevere through obstacles so that
you can become a better athlete.
Torrence Gardner ‘09
”
Leah Tednes searches for an open teammate as she prepares
to pass the ball and score a goal for the Hoffman Hawks.
All photos courtesy of Halcyon.

8
Hawkeye View Summer 2008 Useful Tips
Quick tips to ensure your survival at Hoffman
Ariel Ropp
Staff Reporter
Despite the popular belief that all upperclassmen are
out to get freshmen, many students at Hoffman are happy to
answer questions or help you around the school. Honestly, they
won’t bite.
In the event that you do get lost or have a problem
finding something (heaven forbid), don’t be afraid to simply ask
someone for help. Most students, teachers, and staff members
are capable of pointing you in the right direction.
“Ask a lot of questions,” says Patti Bahnick, College
and Career Resource Center assistant. “The staff is here to assist
you in any way it can.”
While the staff is always here to help, it’s also important
that students educate themselves about the school and learn
how Hoffman operates.
“Know your I.D. number and the names of your teachers,”
says Val Doppke, Faculty Services. “It’ll make it much
easier for you [should you run into any problems].”
In order to further aid your survival at Hoffman, we
have compiled a list of where to go in certain situations. If all
else falls, ask the kind ladies in the Main Office what to do.
Academic Concerns - Student Services
Appeal/Grievance Procedures - Student Services
Attendance Issues (tardies, absences) - Attendance Office
Bus Info - Student Services
Club/Activity Information - Main Office
Driver’s Education - Driver’s Ed Office/Main Office
Free Lunch Program - Main Office
Purchase Gym Clothes/Lock - School Store
Harassment - Police Consultant
Locker Problems – Main Office
Lost and Found - Attendance Office
Make Up a Test - Test Makeup, Room 245
Medical Problems - Nurse’s Office
Money Lost (by vending machine) – Cafeteria Services
Replacing an ID - Main Office
Paying For Lost Books - Main Office
Picking Up a New ID - Attendance Office
Sports Information - Athletic Director’s Office
Summer School - Student Services
Theft - Police Consultant
Turning in Physicals/P.E. Excuses - Nurse’s Office
Work Permit - College/Career Center
Visitor’s Pass – Check-in at front desk
Do You Need a Schedule Change?
The staff in Student Services is very efficient; even so, you may
come across an error in your schedule. Of course, incoming
freshmen need to have the core classes in their schedule – some
type of science, English, and math, along with freshmen foundations.
Conflicts include having an extra foundations class when
you are only supposed to have one. Now that all classes are every
other day, if you have a class for only half the year, there is an error
in your schedule. For any scheduling conflicts, your schedule
can be changed. However, schedules will not be changed simply
for a student’s convenience. For example, if you want gym
fourth block instead of first so your hair won’t be messed up all
day, your counselors may not be as generous. Schedules will not
be changed to have one teacher instead of another. Remember, as
the counselors have about two thousand other students to accommodate,
changing schedules for preferences is not an easy task.
Changes for elective classes will not be made after the school
year begins. If there is an error in your schedule, feel free to stop
by Student Services to get it fixed. Changes will not be made
after the first three days of school.
Freshman year memories fresh in our minds
The first day of freshman year, I had mixed feelings about high
school. It felt like I was constantly reminded of how difficult high
school would be. But I believe that I made my freshman year count
by joining activities and keeping up my grades. I joined the tennis
team and the badminton team, playing at the varsity level for both
sports. Joining the athletics offered by Hoffman was a great opportunity
to meet people of the same skill level as me. Not only did
I meet people my age, but upperclassman as well. After looking at
the other clubs offered by Hoffman, I also ended up joining Forensics
(speech team), Theater Guides, Yearbook, Pals/Hope, and Math
Team. I was fully involved in all the clubs, always making sure to
show up at the meetings and participate in the sponsored events.
These clubs helped me because they taught me valuable skills such
as teamwork, perseverance, determination, and commitment.
-Amruta Bhatt, ‘11
There are a few things I remember that helped me a lot freshman
year. I had an older sister that was a senior, and that was
very beneficial to me. Not only did I have a ride to school
every morning, but I also had a little bit more insight coming
into high school. Having been around the school for the past
three years at her band concerts and basketball games, I felt a
little more confident coming in to a new school that was pretty
familiar. She was also very helpful with advice. I also felt a
lot better coming to Hoffman because of my involvement in
athletics. Having started practice a week before school started,
I came into school already having some new friends. It also
helped me to have this close circle of friends throughout freshman
year.
-Joe Winner, ‘10
Coming into Hoffman as a freshman, I knew a total of
about five people in the entire school. Joining the swim
team helped me to learn some new faces and make
some great new friends. On the first day of practice, I
remember thinking that all the other girls looked big
and intimidating and all somehow seemed to know each
other, even the other freshman! But as we had our little
team bonding session, I started talking to them and
loosened up a bit. Now, a lot of those girls are my best
friends. Joining sports and just getting involved in other
school activities helped me settle down as a freshman
and taught me a lot.
-Sayali Sakhardande, ‘10
My freshman year, I regret not
getting involved in more clubs.
However, even though I didn’t get
involved right away, I was able to
join different clubs later on in high
school. Sports, clubs, and activities
like theater are great ways to
meet new people, especially upper
classmen. I remember my first
day of freshman year; I was so
intimidated by all of the seniors
because they all looked so old.
I came to find that they really
weren’t as scary as they seemed. I
had a great time my freshman year,
especially at sporting events in the
Blue Crew section. I loved, and
still love, going to all the football
and basketball games to cheer on
the Hawks. Homecoming week is
always a lot of fun because of all
the themed spirit days. I always
have a great time dressing up for
each of the crazy days. My freshman
year was awesome, and each
year afterwards only seems to get
better and better.
-Julia Hamlin, ‘10
The Hawkeye View editorial staff stands on the ramp outside the new Hoffman entrance. From left: Alex Oda (‘10), Ariel
Ropp (‘09), Lexi Wozny (‘10), Julia Hamlin (‘10), Sayali Sakhardande (‘10), Joe Winner (‘10), Afsara Zaheed (‘10), Amita
Prabhu (’11), Sam Kubota (‘09), and Amruta Bhatt (‘11).
Photo by Raag Harshavat
The best things I remember about
freshmen year were joining Cross
Country and getting to know my
teachers. Cross Country gave me
opportunities to meet new people,
make some awesome memories,
and advance myself physically and
mentally. Time management was
a definite skill that I gained from
rigorous running, and it ended
up helping me organize myself
during sophomore year. Meeting
with teachers was also beneficial
to me in the long run. During my
sophomore year, I spoke to at least
seven different teachers for help
with my gifted project; some were
teachers I’d had before, others
were new. It was especially fun
working with teachers I’d gotten
to know during my freshman year.
Ultimately, I learned a lot about
topics I never considered, and
gained some new skills. Freshmen
year was incredible and built the
foundation for the rest of my high
school experience.
-Alex Oda, ‘10
When I was a freshman, I made the mistake of getting
involved in a bunch of clubs that I wasn’t passionate
about. Instead of choosing a few meaningful activities, I
joined everything. Even worse, I didn’t push myself to get
involved in the things I really enjoyed, like theater. I was
so intimidated by the upperclassmen that I didn’t even try
out for the musical. It wasn’t until my sophomore year that
I actually joined the activities I was interested in, such as
choir, musical, and speech team. Though I eventually found
my way, I still wish I had pushed myself more at the beginning
of high school. This experience taught me to be more
assertive and to not be afraid in pursuing my passions.
Overall, freshman year proved to be a worthwhile learning
experience, despite a few bumps in the road.
-Ariel Ropp, ‘09
My freshman year was fun-filled and full of surprises. The school
dances were the best part. On Homecoming night, the dance started
out as a disaster and ended up being a great night. My date asked me
to go with him a week before the dance. I was so excited; I actually
had a date! Then, two days later, he asked my best friend to be his
girlfriend! I still had to go with him because his girlfriend already
had a date. To make matters worse, he was more than an hour late to
pick me up on Homecoming night. Despite these setbacks, I still had
a killer time at the dance. I decided not to let my date ruin my night,
and I ended up dancing with all my friends and some new ones, too.
Afterwards, I went to Friday’s for dinner with a large group of friends.
In the end, I had a lot of fun. The experience taught me that if some
bad happens, just make the best of it.
-Mary Hacker, ‘10
Something that made my freshman year very memorable
was being on the Forensics speech team. I decided to
join because I liked acting and wanted more confidence
in public speaking. I remember being so nervous for
my first meet. At the end of my first day I was actually
surprised that I had survived and hadn’t done as badly
as I predicted. As the season continued, I began to enjoy
spending my Saturdays at different schools and having
a great time with my teammates. Surprisingly, it ended
up being a great experience. The most important thing I
learned is that there is a lot more to a sport or competitive
activity than winning; it’s about having fun, gaining
skills, and being part of a team. It was all the little things
I learned along the way that made Forensics one of the
most memorable parts of my freshman year.
-Amita Prabhu, ‘11