THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• We will welcome our GrandGIANTS on Tuesday
• No School November 27th-29th

Dear Families and Students,



As we approach Thanksgiving, I find myself reflecting on the incredible community we have here at Highland Park High School. Our GIANT values of Gratitude, Inclusion, Accountability, Nurturing, and Teammates guide us every day, and this season, I want to pause and express my heartfelt gratitude for each of you.

To our families—those I have known for years, those I’m getting to know, and those I look forward to meeting—thank you for sharing your children and your stories with me. Your perspectives, dreams, and experiences enrich our community and help shape my leadership. These stories fill me with inspiration and remind me of the power of partnership in supporting our students.

To our students, thank you for being your honest, brilliant, and wonderfully unique selves. You are one GIANT reason I come to school every day. Whether it’s your greetings in the hallways, stopping by to share your opinions and take some candy, inviting me to watch you perform or compete, dancing with you as Banda Cerro Azul De Chicago plays, or even hype me up for a TikTok dance, each moment with you is a gift. Seeing your genius in classrooms, on the stage, and on the field is a constant reminder of the vibrancy and potential that define this school.

I sit here filled with gratitude, knowing that together we create a school where everyone can grow and thrive. I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving, filled with joy, connection, and time to recharge.

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

Holly

HAPPENING NEXT WEEK

ACADEMICS

Please read the details of the Semester 1 Summative Assessment Week schedule and attendance requirements.  Take note that student attendance is required for scheduled exams or assessments during the class period.  However, not all courses may have an exam or assessment that requires student attendance.

STUDENT LIFE

ACTIVITIES

HPHS is looking forward to partnering with you as hosts for our Annual GrandGIANTs' Day!  Please remember to add money to your ID card to purchase lunch. Cash and Credit Cards will NOT be accepted.   Use this link!  to read and share all the details for the day!! 

Shout out to Emma Harmon, Josh Chodoroff, Joel Zishuk, and Sarah Pettorelli for their incredible work and brilliance on this year's HPHS student lead show FRANKENSTUNTS! The creativity, humor, set and lighting design, music in the pit, and costumes, transitions, and art on display from our students and leaders was outstanding!

Congratulations to Sophomore Edwardo Corona for winning the Starburst Guessing Game. He won a ton of Starburst candy and $150 gift certificate to Dunkin Donuts. How many were in there 521 and he guessed 520!

ATHLETICS



The 2024 Fall Season came to an end with The IHSA Swimming and Diving State Finals last weekend in Westmont, IL.  Congrats to our state qualifiers: Sophomore - Brooke Eliacin and Junior - Emily Fraser.  Brooke advanced to Saturday’s medal round in both the 50 yard Free and 100 yard Breaststroke.  She finished in 13th place in the 50 Free and 15th place in the Breaststroke.  Congratulations to all the athletes and coaches in the Girls Swim & Dive Program.

Girls Tennis and Boys Cross Country brought home CSL North Conference Championships at the Varsity level this Fall.  It was also great to see many of our lower level teams perform well during the Fall season.  While not every program brought home trophies or set school records, everyone helped make memories over the past few months.  Thank you to all of our Fall athletes, coaches and families.

Wednesday, November 13th was National Signing Day. We had a small photo ceremony in the Giant Gym Lobby to celebrate Audrey Alberts, who has made her decision to continue her soccer career at Northwestern University. Last month the NCAA elected to eliminate the National Letter of Intent. This change came after the NCAA made changes to scholarship limits, the D2 recruiting calendar, the transfer portal and more. Click here for more information.

We know many student-athletes have not made their college decisions yet. There are other recognized signing dates (see below) and in May we will have our annual breakfast celebration where we celebrate all of our senior athletes who are going on to play at the next level.  

The next Giants Club Meeting has been moved to Wednesday, 12/11 at 7:00pm in the Giant Conference Room.  All are welcome!  Speaking of the Giants Club, if you’re looking for some HPHS gear for you and your family members for the holiday season click here to purchase Giants spirit wear and support our parent booster club.

D113 Moving to ParentSquare for Mass Communications

As previously announced and noted by Superintendent Dr. Chala Holland during the most recent school board meeting, District 113 will soon transition all mass communications to ParentSquare. Consolidating district and school communications into ParentSquare will streamline how information is conveyed to the community. Please be on the lookout for a message from the district containing more information about ParentSquare including how and when you can sign up and verify your account. The message will come from the email address parentsquare@dist113.org.