JANUARY 2024 NEWSLETTER

Dear HSA McKinley Park Families,

Can you believe we're already in February, into the third quarter of the school year? Time really does fly! As we navigate through the winter months, our primary concern is keeping our students healthy, engaged, and connected to their learning journey.

Winter brings its own set of challenges, from snow and slush to the inevitable colds, flu, and other illnesses. Plus, with the ongoing impact of Covid-19, it's crucial for us to work together to ensure our children attend school regularly and safely.

Please consider these steps to support your child's well-being:

Plan for Snowy Weather: Develop backup plans for getting your children to school during inclement weather.
Health Concerns: If your child falls ill or you have Covid-19 concerns, consult with their medical provider or the school nurse for guidance.
Address Anxiety: Stomach pain and headaches may signal anxiety. If so, reach out to the teacher, school nurse, counselor, or medical provider to discuss how best to support your child.
Bundle Up: Dress your children warmly for the cold weather. If you need assistance with winter clothing, don't hesitate to contact the school.
Promote Healthy Habits: Encourage good habits such as adequate sleep, handwashing, a balanced diet, staying hydrated, and regular exercise.

On another note, it's time to think about the next school year. Please ensure you re-enroll your child by updating their information on PowerSchool. Our annual enrollment Lottery is scheduled for March 8th. Failure to complete re-enrollment may result in the loss of your child's seat, so please take a moment to complete this important task. If you need assistance, our front office is here to help.

Lastly, mark your calendars for our upcoming Parent-Teacher Conferences on February 15th from 2 pm - 7 pm. It's our final conference of the school year, and we look forward to discussing your child's progress.

Thank you for your continued support in creating a positive and enriching environment for our students.

Warm regards,

Mr. 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

Interim Asst. Principal K-5

We are thrilled to share some exciting news with you! During Ms. Devries' maternity leave, we have the pleasure of welcoming Mr. Cann as the Interim Assistant Principal of Academics for K-5 grades.

Mr. Cann has been a dedicated member of our school community since we opened our doors in 2013, and we are confident that he will do an excellent job in this new role.

Mr. Cann has not only demonstrated his commitment to education but has also forged strong connections with families and the broader school community over the years. His familiarity with our school's values and his passion for fostering a positive learning environment make him a wonderful addition to our leadership team.

This is an exciting time for both our teachers and we extend our best wishes to them as they embark both on new journeys . We are confident that under Mr. Cann's guidance, our students will continue to thrive academically and socially.

Middle School Open Mic Night

Our awesome ELA Team hosted an Open Mic Night for our Middle School Students. It was another successful Open Mic Session with a packed house! There were different varieties of performers and we are so happy our students have these different events to showcase their talents!

Springfield Trip

Our Model UN and HS Government students had the incredible opportunity to visit Springfield and explore the heart of our state's government. They toured the Capitol, got a glimpse of the Governor's Mansion, and delved into the State Archives.

It was more than just a field trip; it was a hands-on experience in civic education and a chance for our students to witness the workings of our state government up close. These kinds of experiences are invaluable, and we're thrilled that our students had the chance to be a part of it.

Saturday School

On Saturday, January 20th our 3rd-8th grade test preparation Saturday school began. We wanted to express our appreciation to all the staff and to all of the parents who registered their children for our Saturday school test preparation classes that will continue until the end of March. We appreciate everyone involved in contributing to the success of our students. Together we can continue exceeding the academic needs of our students.

1st Grade Field Trip

Ms. Valencia's 1st grade class enjoyed a trip to the Apollo Theater. They enjoyed watching Little Red Riding Hood. Her students are doing a unit on compare and contrast and it was great for them to add this experience to the unit.

2nd Quarter Honor Roll

We are so proud of our 2nd Quarter Honor Roll Students!

Here are a few pics from the Award Ceremony

School Wide Spelling Bee

This year HSA McKinley hosted the Scripps National Spelling Bee for our 3rd-7th grade students.

For over 50 years, the Bee and Merriam-Webster have worked together to bring interesting, meaningful words to the best spellers across the country. For weeks students studied their spelling words in their ELA classes to compete in their classroom bees. The top five students from each class then progressed to the school-wide bee. We split the school wide spelling bee between grades 3rd-5th and 6th-7th.

On January 18th students competed in the championship. The winner was 6th grader, Dante Garcia.

Congratulations Dante!

National School Choice Week

We Kicked off #SchoolChoiceWeek this year with our students on Monday, January 22nd with a fun School Spirit Week! We decorated the school cafeteria and surprised our students during lunch with special treats and a live performance from our school band! Special shout out to Mr. Phillips and our school band for performing at all of our lunch periods, serenading our students with our school song!

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

Meet our New Security Guard

We are proud to help launch the CYSP Writing and Video Contests! Our CYSP students have the chance to showcase why they love CYSP for a chance at some really great prizes. It is so important to hear directly from our students on the impact this mentorship program has on them. Let's GO Hawks! Submit your entries before the deadline and see your CYSP Mentor for more information!

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, our college counselor, at imamovic@hsamckinley.org

Scholarships are Pouring IN!

We are proud to announce that our Class of 2024 have been awarded over 7 million dollars in scholarships and have been accepted to over 50 Universities & Colleges!

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

-University of Michigan- Ann Harbor

-University of Southern California

-University of Illinois Urbana Champaign

-DePaul University

-Loyola University

We are so proud of our Seniors!

College Trip

Seniors Emilio Silva and Antonio Ryan visited the Kendall College of Culinary Arts, part of National Louis University. They met with an admissions counselors who explained the various culinary programs, toured the campus including the learning kitchens, dining room, and cafeteria.

They also had an opportunity to speak with a real chef and professor at the college while a real life culinary class was taking place. These two are very excited about potentially studying at Kendall College and loved the opportunity to check out this amazing school.

Save the Date(s)