THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW: 

1. Open House is tonight, Thursday, September 5!  Click here for the schedule for adults to visit classes (period 1 begins at 6:14). 
2. The Homecoming theme is…….read more to see!
3. On Wednesday, September 11th HPHS will be hosting a Mental Health Awareness Presentation - see Athletics below for more information.

First of all, I look forward to seeing you at Open House tonight.  Stop by and introduce yourself and say hello if you see me!  I love this night because you get to walk in your student’s shoes and hear the wonderful ways they will learn and grow from the tutelage of caring adults.  Please enjoy and take time to soak in all the wonderful offerings throughout our building.   

While this week has not been easy for our HP community and other communities around the globe who have experienced tragedies, I have great faith in the ability of our HP community to bounce back and celebrate our greatest strengths.  First, we need to address the harm.  As I have communicated, a social media post that targeted multiple members of our HP family is causing many to be in pain this week.  Right now, I challenge us to align our actions with our values, even if it is uncomfortable.  I want to say thank you to so many of you for reaching out to me and many members of our staff in support of our efforts to  eradicate bullying, harassment, and hate in our school.  It takes courage to take accountability, to be an upstander, to reflect on our choices and to wake up the next day as a better version of ourselves.  I’ve seen many do so this week.  I encourage you to talk to your students about the impact harassment and bullying has on the targets and the community.  Raise a few points and ask some reflective questions: 

• Do you fully understand that once you post online you no longer retain privacy and you lose control of what happens with your post?   
• How can you consider the impact your words have on others and empathize by thinking of times you were hurt?
• How can you support those who have been targeted by acts of bullying by  both your words and your actions?
• How can we as a community do better?  
• What gets in our way of speaking up and out against bullying, racism, and harassment?  
• Can you challenge yourself to set one goal to close the gap between who you are and who you want to be?  

Not only do we reflect on ways we can improve, we should also celebrate our strengths, which are numerous.  Just last week in my family email, I shared a list of ways we live our values.  Let’s hold both truths right now.  There are many actions that should be celebrated and some that need correction.   I know that we will continue to have many celebratory events, positive decisions, actions, and moments as Giants. 

I look forward to the buzz of activity tonight and welcoming you into our home!!!   I hope you can make it, as each of you are valued members of our community and we wouldn’t be the same without your partnership!  

As always, thank you for sharing your students with us this week and beyond,

Holly Fleischer

ACADEMICS

On Saturday, October 26, 2024, sophomore and junior students have the opportunity to take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). We strongly encourage all students to take advantage of this opportunity. The school district will cover the costs to take this test.

This letter contains more information. The test is free of charge, and students can register via this Google Form. Registration closes on September 20, 2024.

ACTIVITIES

It was a beautiful night to be a GIANT for our varsity football home opener at Wolter’s Field last Friday night!

Homecoming Theme Revealed from Junior Class Council!!



Homecoming Spirit Week Revealed from Junior Class Council!!!

Help us give a warm HP welcome to our new Technical Director and Sponsor of Stage Crew, the amazing Mr. Zishuk!

ATHLETICS

GoFan Digital Ticketing is an easy way to purchase tickets for high school events! Anyone wishing to attend the Varsity Football game on Friday at 7:00pm at Deerfield can purchase their ticket(s) via the GoFan App. Here is the link: https://gofan.co/event/1689287?schoolId=IL15510. Admission to the 5:00pm HP vs. DHS Girls Flag Football game is free.

On Wednesday, September 11th HPHS will be hosting a Mental Health Awareness Presentation. Students and caregivers are invited to an informational meeting led by three local mental health experts. This interactive presentation will focus on self awareness, advocacy, communication, performance, and resiliency. The goal is to break down the stigma associated with mental health and provide education and tools for families. Our experts will share examples related to academics, athletics, and the performing arts. The event will be held in the HPHS Student Cafeteria from 6:45-8:15pm. All are welcome!

It has been a busy week for HP Athletics.  Below are a few of the Varsity highlights:

1. Our Boys Soccer team got their first win of the season last Saturday.
2. Our Poms team showed their talent at the first home Football game.
3. Our Football team battled hard for four quarters before falling to Leyden 30-27.
4. Boys Cross Country ran extremely well at the competitive Neuqua Valley Invite last weekend.
5. The Varsity Girls Volleyball team finished in 2nd Place at the Fenton Invitational.
6. Varsity Girls Tennis had a great win over Deerfield on Tuesday.  
7. Our Girls Flag Football Program is having a great week, defeating Maine East 28-0 on Tuesday and Niles West 34-20 last night.

Please take a moment to read this letter to our HPHS Fans.  We thank everyone for their support.  Go Giants!

HOMEROOM @ HOME

As promised, here’s the answer to last week’s riddle (I have no doors, but I have keys. I have no rooms, but I have space. You can enter, but you cannot leave. What am I?): A keyboard!

Tuesday offered us an opportunity to process how we move forward together to live our values more fully. On Wednesday, our Homecoming theme “Once Upon A Time” was announced and tonight, Homeroom teachers look forward to welcoming you to our House on Vine!

National Suicide Prevention Month

September is National Suicide Prevention Month - a time to acknowledge those affected by suicide, discuss this highly stigmatized topic, and connect individuals with suicidal ideation to treatment services. It’s a time to raise awareness about suicide as a serious public health problem and to highlight the role that everyone plays in preventing suicide. According to the CDC, each year more than 41,000 individuals die by suicide, leaving behind friends and family members to navigate the tragedy of their loss. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death among adults in the U.S. and the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-24 and these rates are rising.

We are dedicating Thursday, 9/12 in homeroom to talk about National Suicide Prevention Month. There will be flyers in each bathroom and on the screens throughout the building, these will share information and resources for our community. Our HPHS Counseling Department in collaboration with our Health teachers will be administering the first of 2 Signs of Suicide Screeners on Tuesday 9/17 and Wednesday 9/18. And then again in the spring. This also coincides with National Suicide Prevention Month. All students in sophomore health will be a part of a mental health unit and curriculum from Elyssa's Mission. After their lesson, each student (unless they opt out) will take a survey. This information helps us support our students.