|
Dear HSA McKinley Park Community,
It has been my great pleasure to serve as the K-12 principal of HSA McKinley Park since 2020. Over the years, I have cherished the opportunity to work with our incredible students, families, and staff. I am excited to share that I will be transitioning into the role of High School Principal as we continue to expand and develop our new high school building and programs.
While my focus will now be on high school, I remain a dedicated member of the HSA McKinley Park family. I am also thrilled to introduce Mr. Ak, who will be joining us as our new K-8 Principal. Mr. Ak comes to us from HSA Cincinnati, bringing valuable experience and a deep commitment to student success. We are excited to welcome him to our team and know that he will be an outstanding leader for our elementary and middle school students.
As of April 7th, I will officially assume my role as High School Principal, and Mr. Ak will take on the role of K-8 Principal. Together, we are committed to ensuring our students continue to thrive, and we are grateful for the ongoing support of our parents and community. We look forward to working alongside you all to make HSA McKinley Park the best it can be for our students.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support!
Sincerely,
Mr. Vedziovski
High School Principal, HSA McKinley Park
&
Mr. Akkurek
Elementary Principal, HSA McKinley Park
| | |
We hosted our annual school lottery for the 2025-26 school year on Friday, March 7th! Thank you to all our new prospective families who joined us—it was a great turnout!
We are still accepting elementary applications for 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th, and 9th grade for high school. If you know anyone interested in joining our HSA school family, please refer them to our school website to apply.
Additionally, we are hosting a Document Drop-Off Day this month for our newly accepted students to finalize their enrollment. If you have any questions, please call the front office at (773) 247-8400.
We look forward to welcoming our new students!
| | |
Congratulations to Our Science Superstars!
Our students made an incredible impact at the 2025 IJAS Science Fair this month, bringing home 18 awards and earning the title of "2nd Best High School"!
Results at a Glance:
GOLD – 9 projects
SILVER – 8 projects
BRONZE – 1 project
Special Awards – 3 additional honors for two projects
A huge shoutout to our winning students:
GOLD: Abraham Claudio (12), Dja Saenz (11), Gracie Griggs (11), Sofia Salas (11), Aiden Vazquez (11), Greco Garcia (11), Salvador Gutierrez (10), Tarik Gencer (10), Safiya Abdurakhmomi (
SILVER: Emmanuel Ceja-Barajas (12), Uriel Sanchez Jr (10), Felix Soto Barba (10), Isaias Moreno & Carlos Isai Cruz (9), Itzel Hernandez (9), Emmanuel Cruz (, Rohann Khann (, Max Cerja-Barajas & Yusuf Ozturk (
BRONZE: Luis Flores-Vasquez (10)
This wouldn’t have been possible without our amazing mentor teachers—Ms. Welch-Jani, Ms. Korichi, Ms. Metcalf, Dr. K, and Dr. Y—as well as all the dedicated educators who volunteered as judges.
Thank you for inspiring and guiding our students to greatness!
| | Celebrating Women's History Month | | |
In honor of Women's History Month, we want to take a moment to recognize and celebrate the 87 incredible women who are part of our staff! Their dedication, hard work, and passion make a lasting impact on our students and school community every day.
In celebration of International Women’s Day, we showed our appreciation by gifting each of them a box of delicious chocolates, personally delivered by our leadership team as a small token of gratitude.
We are truly grateful for our amazing female staff and wanted to ensure they felt the appreciation they deserve—not just on this special day, but throughout the entire month and beyond! Thank you for all that you do!
| | |
March was a month filled with empowerment and inspiration as we honored Women's History Month at HSA McKinley!
We are excited to share some of the enriching activities and events that made this celebration meaningful for our middle and high school girls.
Our girls had the incredible opportunity to participate in a self-defense class led by Master Daniel and his team from Lions Paw Karate Academy. Learning essential self-defense techniques not only strengthened their physical abilities but also instilled confidence and resilience—empowering them in ways that extend far beyond the classroom.
We are proud to provide our students with experiences that equip them with the tools and knowledge to pursue their own goals fearlessly.
| | | | |
Our Spring Book Fair took place from March 3rd to March 7th, bringing excitement to our school as we celebrated National Reading Month.
Ms. Manzella, our dedicated school librarian, welcomed students and families for in-person shopping, making this event a wonderful opportunity to foster a love of reading.
A huge thank you to all the students and families who stopped by to support our fair! We hope you enjoy your new books, and we look forward to seeing you again at our BOGO Book Fair in May!
| | Read Across America Contest | |
In honor of National Reading Month, we hosted two exciting challenges to inspire our young K-5th grade readers:
🔹 Reading Bingo Card – A fun and interactive way for students to track their reading progress!
🔹 Favorite Book Poster Contest – A creative opportunity for students to design a poster about their favorite book!
Our students eagerly participated for a chance to win big this month with exciting prizes!
A huge thank you to Ms. K for organizing this wonderful event and encouraging a love of reading in our school!
| | | |
In celebration of National Reading Month, we were thrilled to host our annual Family Literacy Night for our K-5 students—this time with a Mardi Gras twist!
Our Literacy Night team brought the spirit of New Orleans to life, transforming our school into a festive wonderland of vibrant colors, dazzling decorations, and the joyous energy of a true Mardi Gras celebration!
From the moment families walked in, they were immersed in the fun—beads, masks, and music set the scene for an unforgettable night of games, crafts, storytelling, and family fun. It was a magical evening that celebrated the joy of reading with a little extra flair!
A HUGE shout-out to Ms. Johnson, Ms. Garcia, and the whole Literacy Team for organizing such an incredible event for our families!
We loved celebrating with our students and can’t wait to see what next year’s Family Literacy Night will bring!
| | |
On 3/14, we celebrated Pi Day with our high school students kicking off the fun—led by our amazing Math Department!
From delicious treats to exciting math challenges, students tested their skills while enjoying the day with their classmates.
A huge thank you to our High School Math Department for organizing this fantastic event!
| |
🎶 March is Music in Our Schools Month🎶
| | |
This month, we are celebrating the incredible musical achievements of our students, and we have some fantastic news to share!
Our Band is Going to Nashville!
We are thrilled to announce that our school band has officially met its $10,000 fundraising goal and is heading to Nashville—the Music Capital of the Nation! 🎉
This milestone was made possible by the hard work and dedication of our talented band students, the leadership of Mr. Phillips, and the unwavering support of our Band Booster parents and school community. A HUGE thank you to everyone who contributed through donations, fundraisers, and community events!
How They Made It Happen:
- Donations/GoFundMe
- Krispy Kreme Sales
- McDonald's Fundraiser
- Spring Concert Raffle
- Fall 2024 Spaghetti Dinner
- World's Finest Chocolate Sales
- Domino’s Cards
Thank you to our incredible community for your generosity and support! Our students are in for a trip of a lifetime as they immerse themselves in the heart of American music history. Stay tuned for updates from Nashville!
#BandOnTheRoad #NashvilleBound #MusicMatters #FundraisingSuccess
Solo & Ensemble Competition Success!
We are beyond proud to announce that our students won 1st place in every category they entered at this year’s Solo & Ensemble Competition! Their dedication, passion, and talent truly shone, and we couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments.
Performing for Chicago’s Birthday Celebration
In addition to their competition success, our band was honored to perform at the community celebration for Chicago’s birthday! They showcased their musical talents while representing our school with pride during this special citywide event. What an amazing experience for our students to be part of Chicago’s rich history and culture!
Congratulations to all of our incredible musicians for
their hard work and achievements!
| | |
This month, we hosted our first 8th Grade History Fair, which was an incredible experience!
Our 8th grade students dedicated weeks to researching topics of their choice and showcasing their projects with creativity and enthusiasm.
A huge thank you to Ms. Minch and Ms. Koson for helping organize this event and our amazing 4th, 5th, and 7th-grade teachers for bringing their classes by to learn from our 8th-grade historians.
It was wonderful to see students engaging with history and sharing their knowledge with their peers!
We look forward to making this a new tradition at HSA!
| | Family History Trivia Night | | |
Thank you to all the families who joined us for our 1st ever Family History Trivia Night!
It was a fantastic evening filled with learning, laughter, and a little friendly competition. Families worked together to test their knowledge of historical events, famous figures, and cultural milestones—all while enjoying a fun and interactive experience.
A huge shoutout to our incredible Social Studies Department for organizing and hosting such an engaging event. Their dedication to making history come alive for our students and families truly made the night a memorable one!
We love seeing our school community come together, and we look forward to hosting more exciting family events in the future. Thank you for making the night such a success!
| | |
Congratulations to the HSA McKinley Park Middle School Boys Basketball Team for an outstanding season and for winning their league championship for the second year in a row!
Our talented athletes dominated their competition, finishing the season with an impressive 16-4 record and also placing 2nd in the Taylor Lauridsen League Tournament.
Their dedication, teamwork, and hard work paid off, securing another championship title for HSA McKinley Park!
A huge shoutout to our coaches for their leadership and guidance, and to our student-athletes for their determination and sportsmanship throughout the season. We are so proud of their achievements and can't wait to see what they accomplish next year!
We are so proud of our HAWKS!
| | |
As the school year winds down, our College & Career team has been hard at work preparing our students for their next steps!
Great News! As of today, our seniors have reached a total of $13,474,090 in merit scholarships! This incredible achievement is a testament to their hard work, dedication, and the unwavering support of our counselors and staff.
Recently, our juniors had the opportunity to visit Loyola University, where they got a firsthand look at campus life and academic programs, helping them plan for their futures.
Meanwhile, our seniors are gearing up for an exciting final stretch filled with important milestones and celebrations. We’re thrilled to announce that we will be hosting a Career Day on Friday, April 11th, where students will have the chance to explore different career paths and connect with professionals from various fields.
Additionally, our annual Senior Spirit Week is just around the corner! Stay tuned for more details on themed dress-up days, special activities, and ways to celebrate our graduating class.
A big thank you to our counselors and College & Career team for making these opportunities possible!
| | |
Senior Alumni Panel
This month, our seniors had the incredible opportunity to hear from our Alumni Panel, gaining valuable insights as they prepare for their post-secondary journeys!
A huge shoutout to our amazing alumni who took the time to join us—whether in person or virtually—to share their experiences and advice with the Class of 2025. Your wisdom and support mean the world!
Special thanks to Ms. Solmaz for bringing together this fantastic group and making this event possible!
| | |
Alumni Spotlight: Thomas Bittings Jr.
We are proud to highlight Thomas Bittings Jr., a Class of 2021 alum who is currently in his fourth year at Morehouse College, majoring in Computer Science.
Thomas’s entrepreneurial journey began right here at HSA McKinley Park, where he created his innovative "Goldilocks" invention—an achievement that earned him a regional entrepreneurship award in 2021!
📖 Read more about Thomas’s journey here:
Inventive Horizon Student Wins Regional Entrepreneurship Award
Now, Thomas is taking his entrepreneurial ambitions to the next level. As a founding member of the Morehouse Entrepreneur Launchpad, he is actively working to create opportunities for fellow students, providing them with resources, mentorship, and support to bring their business ideas to life. His passion for innovation and business development has also led him to compete in the prestigious Entrepreneur of Impact 2025 competition, where he is showcasing his ability to create meaningful and sustainable ventures.
Beyond competition, Thomas is leveraging his Computer Science background to integrate technology with entrepreneurship, exploring new ways to develop AI-driven business solutions and digital platforms that solve real-world problems. He continues to push boundaries, seeking investment opportunities, collaborating with industry leaders, and refining his skills as a business strategist and innovator.
Let’s show our support for Thomas and celebrate the incredible achievements of our alumni. His journey is just beginning, and we can’t wait to see where his hard work and determination take him next! Stay tuned for more updates on his inspiring success.
| | | | |
At HSA McKinley Park our top priority is the health and safety of students and staff. Should you have any questions or concerns please email us at:
Mr. Seat Vedziovski, School Principal:
vedziovski@hsamckinley.org
Mrs. Marisa Vega, Community Outreach Coordinator:
vega@hsamckinley.org
| | | | |
