JANUARY 2025 NEWSLETTER

Dear HSA McKinley Park Families,

Happy New Year! We hope 2025 is off to a fantastic start for you and your family. A new year brings new beginnings, and we have some exciting news to share—our High School Modification Application has been approved! This means that, starting this fall, our high school students will transition to a brand-new campus in Bridgeport. We are thrilled about this milestone and look forward to providing our students with an even greater learning experience in their new space. More details about the new building will be shared soon, so stay tuned!

Can you believe we're already moving into February and well into the third quarter of the school year? Time is flying by, and as we continue through the winter months, our focus remains on keeping our students healthy, engaged, and connected to their learning journey.

Winter Wellness & Attendance Matters

Winter can bring its fair share of challenges—from snowy commutes to seasonal illnesses. It’s important that we work together to keep students safe and present in school. Here are a few ways you can help:

✅ Plan for Snowy Weather: Have backup transportation plans to ensure your child arrives at school safely.

✅ Monitor Health Concerns: If your child is ill or has flu-like symptoms, consult with their medical provider or our school nurse.

✅ Address Anxiety & Well-being: If your child frequently complains of stomach aches or headaches, these could be signs of anxiety. Reach out to their teacher, school nurse, counselor, or medical provider for support.

✅ Dress for the Cold: Make sure your child is dressed warmly. If you need assistance with winter clothing, please contact the school.

✅ Encourage Healthy Habits: Reinforce the importance of adequate sleep, proper handwashing, balanced meals, hydration, and regular physical activity to keep students healthy.

Re-Enrollment & Upcoming Lottery

Looking ahead, re-enrollment for next school year is now open! Please make sure to update your child's information in PowerSchool to secure their spot. Our annual Enrollment Lottery is scheduled for March 7th. Failure to complete re-enrollment could result in the loss of your child’s seat, so don’t delay! If you need assistance, our front office team is happy to help.

Parent-Teacher Conferences – February 13th

Mark your calendars! Our final Parent-Teacher Conferences of the school year will take place on Thursday, February 13th, from 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM. This is a valuable opportunity to meet with teachers, discuss your child's progress, and collaborate on their continued success.

Thank you for your ongoing support and commitment to our school community. Together, we make HSA McKinley Park a thriving and enriching place for our students!

Warm regards,

Seat Vedziovski

Principal, Horizon Science Academy McKinley Park

2245 W. Pershing Rd. Chicago, IL 60609

(O) 773.247.8400 | (F) 773.247.8401

Operated by Concept Schools

Spelling Bee

We are thrilled to share that we recently hosted our 5th-8th Grade Spelling Bee, where our students showcased their incredible spelling skills and determination!

A huge congratulations to our Spelling Bee Champion, Rohaan Khan!

Also to our runners-up Maximiliano Ceja and Safia Abdurakhmoni!

We are so proud of all our participants for their hard work and dedication.

Way to go, scholars! Keep up the great work!

Robotics Corner

Our weekends have been fully booked with exciting robotics events, and we couldn't be prouder of the dedication and hard work of our teams, coaches, and everyone working behind the scenes to make it all possible!

On January 11th-12th, we hosted the FLL Sectionals for 4th-8th graders, welcoming over 40 teams in a packed house as they competed for a chance to advance to the state championship. A huge congratulations to our FLL Minion Team, who competed at their Sectionals in Batavia on January 18th and took home first place in their division!

In addition, we hosted the Chicago FTC Meet for 7th-12th graders, featuring 13 incredible teams on January 25th. These events have been an incredible opportunity for our school, families, and community to witness the passion and innovation of our robotics teams.

A special shout-out to Mr. Sravan for his leadership in organizing these competitions and to everyone who worked behind the scenes to support our teams. Your dedication does not go unnoticed!

Saturday School

On Saturday, January 18th, our 3rd-8th grade students kicked off their IAR test preparation through our Saturday School program!

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the dedicated staff and the parents who enrolled their children in these important sessions. These test prep classes will continue through the end of March, providing valuable support to help our students excel.

Thank you to everyone contributing to their success—together, we can continue meeting and exceeding our students' academic needs!

National School Choice Week

Thank you to our families for choosing

HSA McKinley Park for their children!

We appreciate being your TOP CHOICE of school &

We are so HAPPY you are all part of our family!

CYSP CORNER

CYSP Kicks Off the New Year with Vision Boards!

Our CYSP groups started the new year on a positive note, gathering together to create vision boards that reflect their goals and aspirations for 2025. This session provided a wonderful opportunity for students to sit down, relax, and engage in meaningful conversations about their ambitions. By making their goals visible on their boards, they now have a daily reminder to stay focused and motivated throughout the year. We’re excited to see how their hard work and dedication will bring these visions to life! Keep striving, CYSP students!

We are thrilled to offer two incredible travel opportunities for our 8th–12th grade CYSP students! These unforgettable trips will provide valuable educational and cultural experiences as students explore two dynamic destinations: Washington, D.C., and Canada!

Trip Highlights

Students will embark on a four-day, three-night adventure, visiting historical landmarks, immersing themselves in new cultures, and gaining meaningful insights along the way.

Trip Dates

Washington, D.C.: May 22–25, 2025

Canada: June 7–10, 2025

Trip Costs

Washington, D.C.

🏅 Gold Medal CYSP Students: $250

🥈 Silver Medal CYSP Students: $350

🥉 Bronze Medal CYSP Students: $450

Canada

🏅 Gold Medal CYSP Students: $375

🥈 Silver Medal CYSP Students: $475

🥉 Bronze Medal CYSP Students: $550

Students who are not part of CYSP but wish to join may participate for $750.

✔️ What’s Included?

✅ Transportation

✅ Hotel accommodations

✅ Breakfast & dinner

✅ Sightseeing & cultural experiences

📝 Application Deadline: April 4th

To secure a spot, students must submit full payment by the deadline.

These trips are an amazing chance for students to broaden their horizons, create lasting memories, and experience history and culture firsthand. We strongly encourage all eligible students to take advantage of this opportunity!

For questions or additional details, feel free to reach out to Mr.Oz at ozturk@hsamckinley.org

Thank you for your support in making these enriching experiences possible for our students!

See the flyers below for more information:

College & Career Corner

Senior FAFSA Completion Night

Thank you to all of our Seniors and families who joined us for our FAFSA Completion Night. Any families still needing to complete the FAFSA Application please do not hesitate to reach out to Ms. Imamovic or Ms. Fortman, our college counselors, at imamovic@hsamckinley.org

Scholarships are Pouring IN!

We are proud to announce that our Class of 2025 has been awarded over 8.3 million dollars in scholarships and has been accepted to over 200 Universities & Colleges!

Here is a list of the Top Acceptances we have received:

-University of Notre Dame

-Villanova University

-University of Michigan

-University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

-DePaul University

-Loyola University

We are so proud of our Seniors!

College Trips

Our students have been actively exploring their college options this month! Juniors had the opportunity to visit DePaul University, where they toured the campus and learned about academic programs, student life, and admissions. Meanwhile, our sophomores visited National Louis University, gaining insight into college pathways and the support available to future students.

Coming up next: A trip to Loyola University is on the horizon, giving more of our students the chance to experience a college campus firsthand. These visits play a crucial role in helping students envision their future and make informed decisions about their post-secondary plans.

Stay tuned for more exciting opportunities from our College & Counseling Department!

Parent Engagement

PTO Meeting Recap & Leadership Opportunities

We had the pleasure of hosting another great PTO meeting, filled with exciting updates and discussions about upcoming events at HSA McKinley Park.

Thank you to everyone who attended and shared their input—we truly appreciate your support and involvement!

We are also currently looking to fill PTO officer positions, and all roles are open: President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. Now is the perfect time to get involved and help make a difference in our school community! The PTO plays a vital role in organizing the many amazing events that bring our families together.

If you're interested in applying, please email your resume to PTO at pto@hsamckinley.org. We look forward to welcoming new leaders to our team!