H-F FYI Jan. 14, 2016

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H-F FYI - Jan. 14, 2016

Class Selection Coming Soon

H-F freshmen, sophomores and juniors will soon receive their course registration information for the 2016-17 school year. The registration packet will include the new course description book, a course selection worksheet, as well as Summer School and Summer Academy information. Students will turn in their registration sheets to their math teacher the week of Jan. 25. Each math teacher will have a scheduled day in order to bring their class down to the Guidance Office. The students will discuss class selections with their counselor in order to complete the registration process. Please note: Summer school registration will be held Saturday, Jan. 30. Incoming freshman registration will be held on Saturday, Feb. 13. If you have any questions about the registration process for next year, please contact the Guidance Office at 708-335-5613.

Click here to view the complete 2016-17 course book online...

Learn more about AP, IB & PLTW at Advanced Academic Showcase - TONIGHT!

Current and incoming students and parents are invited to H-F's annual Advanced Academics Showcase, an evening to explore the school's wide array of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Project Lead the Way courses. The showcase will be held tonight - Thursday, Jan. 14 - from 6:30-8:30 p.m., beginning in the Mall Auditorium.

The showcase will include a presentation on the college admissions process moderated by H-F's College Consultants Brad Kain and Kevin Coy and featuring representatives from colleges and universities: Rob Walton from Syracuse University, Anne Kremer from DePaul University and Stephanie Szczepanski from Saint Louis University. Also, current H-F students will share their AP, IB and PLTW experiences to encourage future advanced-level students. Breakout sessions following the presentation will run in classrooms and the school's department chairs will be available in the South Cafeteria.

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Note for current AP students: This year's AP Exam Registration will take place online and is now open through March 11. Each exam costs $65 ($25 for students who qualify for free/reduced lunch). Signing up takes just a few minutes and is comparable to making an online purchase. You no longer need to wait in line! Exams are scheduled for May 2-13. Click here to sign up now.

Dr. MLK, Jr. Day: No classes, but opportunities to be involved in your community abound

This Monday, Jan. 18, H-F will be closed in honor of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. There are many opportunities locally that day and in the coming week for students to celebrate and get involved, including:

MONDAY, JAN. 18

* 5 a.m.-6 p.m. - The Flossmoor Community Relations Commission will join forces with local non-profit organizations for service opportunities for the whole community as part of its 2nd Annual Flossmoor Cares Day. Volunteers are needed for a local PADS shelter throughout the day, a Yoga-Thon Fundraiser will be held beginning at 9:45 a.m., and from 2-4 p.m. at Village Hall special service projects will be running. No pre-registration is required, just drop in to help out. Alternatively, you can also coordinate a volunteer project on your own or with a small group. A food and clothing drive will run also on this day for PADS, Respond Now and the Infant Welfare Society. Contact Kimberly Richardson or click here for more information.

* 7 p.m. - The H-F Inspirational Voices will perform at the Prairie State College Conference Center, as part of the college's MLK Day Community Event. The event is free for students, $5 for adults, and includes a performance by the Trinity Christian College Gospel Choir and a keynote address by John Fountain, author, professor and Chicago Sun-Times columnist.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 20

* 7 p.m. - H-F Guidance Office presents Pursuing the Dream, an event dedicated to celebrating Black History and encouraging unity. Enjoy theme-based performances in the Mall Auditorium by H-F Band, H-F Steppers, Viking Choir, Inspirational Voices, H-F Dance and H-F Speech teams. A keynote address will be given by Anthony Beckham, outreach coordinator for Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin. You will also be able to register to vote (if you are 18+) at a voter registration table! For more details, contact Roberto Suarez at 708-335-5617.

Community auction set for this Saturday, Jan. 16

Dream of adventures on the banks of the Danube at the H-F Master Singers' Passport to Prague & Beyond fundraising auction this Saturday, Jan. 16, in the South Cafeteria. The event is to raise money for the choir's spring break performance tour to Budapest, Vienna and Prague. The trip will include a performance at the U.S. Embassy in Prague by invitation of U.S. Ambassador Andy Schapiro, H-F '82. When not performing, the students will also explore historical sites such as the Buda Castle and Prague University.

The annual auction helps make the trip affordable for students. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased from choir members, online, or at the door. The event will feature delicious small plate appetizers and desserts, musical entertainment, a silent and a live auction. More than 125 packages are available to bid on, including a concert by Staff Infection & the South Side Horns, original works of art, golf at a local course and unique opportunities, such as reserved seats for H-F's 2016 graduation ceremony.

The tour and auction are sponsored by the Homewood-Flossmoor Fine and Performing Arts Council (HFFPAC), an independent organization to support local youth music programs, and the H-F Choral Parents Association. For tickets or for more information, click here.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Viking alumni return to campus

Above: On this year's winter institute day (Jan. 4), the H-F Alumni Association hosted a social event for young alums who were home for winter break. Graduates from all across the country reconvened in the H-F Library to meet with their former teachers and classmates and to enjoy some hometown pizza and snacks. Below: On Jan. 12, other young alums met with current students to share their experiences applying for and being away at colleges and universities. The presentation was moderated by H-F's guidance counselors.

VIKING VICTORIES

H-F Speech Team: Recent successes

Before leaving for Winter Break, the H-F Speech Team advanced 20 entries to the final rounds. Many attended the SWSC Varsity Conference Tournament at Bolingbrook High School on Dec. 19. In addition, team members competed in the Coal City Winter Break Tournament. Shout out to the competitors who earned "straight 1's" in their events: Aundria LaNier & Andre Thomas in Dramatic Duet Acting and Jabari Tate in Prose Reading. Special congratulations to TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS Malina Wordlaw in Extemporaneous Speaking and Maggie Colton in Impromptu Speaking. Additional results:

Gianmarco Petrelli - 2nd Prose Reading
Joey Cipriano - 2nd Dramatic Interpretation & Special Occasion
Mikey Ruiz - 2nd Extemporaneous & Final Original Oratory
Andre Thomas & Aundria LaNier - 3rd Dramatic Duet
Aundria LaNier - 3rd Poetry Reading
Najee Chatman - 3rd Original Comedy
Jessica Ashby - 4th Poetry Reading
Brianna Powell - 5th Special Occasion
Gabby Pizza - 5th Impromptu
Maggie Colton & Rashun Carter - 5th Dramatic Duet
Sydney DuBose - 5th Original Comedy
Taylor Wicks - 5th Humorous Interpretation

Coal City Results:

Jabari Tate - 3rd Prose Reading & 5th Radio Speaking
Jeremiah Lee - 6th Original Comedy
Danielle Turner - 7th Poetry Reading

The H-F Speech Team then competed at the Thornwood T-shirt Tournament with a

skeleton team on Jan. 9. Although our ranks were depleted, H-F was able to hold on for a 6th place finish. The results are as follows:

Maggie Colton - 2nd Impromptu
Gabby Pizza - 3rd Impromptu
Malina Wordlaw - 4th Extemporaneous
Jeremiah Lee - 5th Original Comedy
Jabari Tate - 6th Oratorical Declamation
Alexandra Fieramosca - Next Out Original Oratory
Kahlil Oatis - Next Out Informative

Social Science teacher gives presentation

Congratulations to Mr. Smit, Social Science, for presenting on the student-engagement program, Pear Deck, at the Illinois Winter Google Apps For Education (GAFE) Summit, held in Algonquin last weekend.

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Yearbook wins award

Congratulations to Mrs. Helsel-Wilk and the staff of the 2015 Odin yearbook! The annual publication received a 1st Place award from the American Scholastic Press Association. Reserve your copy of this year's book online by clicking here.

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Former track coach inducted

Congratulations to Debbie Hinchcliffe, a former Girls Track & Field coach and PE teacher at H-F, who was inducted into the Illinois Track & Cross Country Coaches Association's Hall of Fame this past weekend. She coached at H-F from 1976-2003, helping her team take 3rd in State in 2000. She coached individual athletes to 10 State Championships and relays to 3 State Championships. She retired from H-F in 2009.

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Mrs. Todd named to Hall of Fame

Mrs. Todd, an H-F PE teacher and coach who passed away last spring after a battle with cancer, will be inducted into the Purdue University Calumet's Hall of Fame on Feb. 6, during the school's Women's Basketball game vs. South Bend. She was a four-year letter winner for the team from 1980-84. She averaged 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.9 assists and shot 44.6 percent from the field.

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Congratulations to our 1st Semester Honor Roll students - Click here to view!