THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW: 

1. All Back-To-School Information can be found here!
2. Students should be sure to check their schedules on the first day of school to ensure they have the most up to date information - it is possible that room numbers or other technical information has been updated this past week.
3. Please be sure to review the Weekly Schedule section to review the special schedules for the first week of school.

I am grateful to start this new school year as the principal of Highland Park High School and I look forward to weekly communication about all that we have to offer our students in our building.  The partnership we build with caregivers is essential to promote increased belonging and growth for our students.  The wisdom you hold about your students and the support you provide for our school is incredibly meaningful and I am grateful for this community.  I know that many of you are helping your students prepare for the first day of school right now.  I want your students to know that we are anxiously awaiting their arrival.  We missed them during these summer months and can’t wait to hear the buzz of their voices, questions, and laughter in our House on Vine. Your students may feel a variety of emotions because transitions can be hard, so please assure them that anything they feel is normal and can change at any moment.  We will welcome them with open arms.  We are particularly excited to welcome our freshmen and new students into our building.  We have many opportunities to explore all that HP has to offer and we are better because you are here.  I wish us all an amazing first week of school and can’t wait to see our freshmen and Link Crew leaders on Tuesday and the rest of our students on Wednesday.  Go Giants!!!!!!!!!

Video link

ACTIVITIES

Upcoming…

• Giant U-Nite for Class of 2028 Friday, August 9 from 6-7pm outside of the H-Entrance! There will be music spinning  by DJ Fly Ty, Ice cream, and Freshman having a chance to meet HPHS staff and each other as we U -Nite as new GIANTS!

• On August 16 we will be having a BE GIANT assembly to start the school year in a fun and exciting way. We will be sharing with students how to get involved, opportunities and expectations and what it means to BE GIANT!  

• Yearbook Distribution will be Friday, 16th during lunch periods in the cafeteria.
• Picture Day this year will be August 22 & August 23 during P.E. classes- Bring your best smile! 

Giant Life News is a weekly communication that is emailed to students and families at the beginning of each week (and linked on the HPHS website).  This weekly newsletter will contain all school activity & athletic news, counseling updates, parent to parent information and community opportunities.  We encourage all students and families to read each week about what is happening at HPHS! 

Student Activities & Athletics will host their Athletics/Activities Fair the week of August 20 - 23 during lunch periods.  Students are invited to attend and meet/greet members of the various clubs and teams HPHS has to offer.  Students can go to the Activities website to learn more about our current offerings.

Charity Drive 2025 is now seeking applications.  Visit the Charity Drive website for criteria and the application.  Applications must be submitted by September 6, 2024.

ATHLETICS

Check out the tryout and practice times for all HPHS Fall Sports Programs here.  Fall Sports start the week of August 12th.  All athletes must be registered and have a current physical uploaded in order to participate in athletics.  Physicals are valid for 13 months from the date of the exam per IHSA regulations and must be current for the duration of the athletic season.  The physical must contain a "YES" statement signed and dated by the doctor that your child can participate in physical education and/or interscholastic sports. Click here for the School Physical Form.  (Only page 2 needs to be uploaded)

Please use the same RSchool account you have used in the past.  Families of incoming freshmen will need to create an account unless one was set up for summer camp, or if the athlete has an older sibling already in the system.  Click here to register.  You can email helpdesk@rschooltoday.com if you have any problems registering. *Please note: Incoming freshmen are ALSO required to submit the school physical form to the health services office. This form must be separately submitted to health services AND as part of the athletic registration process. 

Student Activities & Athletics will host the Activities/Athletics Fair the week of August 19 - 23 during lunch periods.  Students are invited to attend and meet and greet members of the various clubs/teams HPHS has to offer.  Also, the Fall Sports Kickoff Meeting will be held on Saturday, August 24th at 10:30am in the student cafeteria.  We hope all Fall athletes and caregivers can attend.  

Please consider joining the Giants Club, our volunteer parent booster organization.  You can find information about the Giants Club, as well as details about membership here. 

DEANS

Study Halls:

We want to take this opportunity to highlight that most students have an assigned study period.  This period is intended to help students with time during the day to manage their learning and assignments.   Students must arrive and sign in to their assigned study hall room at the beginning of their class period.    Students are not allowed to go to or be in the cafeteria or any unsupervised area during their study hall. Once they have scanned into their assigned study hall classrooms students may ask for permission to go to another supervised resource area.

Although this may change for 2nd semester, for 1st semester a parent/guardian of a student enrolled in a study hall at the beginning or end of the day (only) may give permission for their student, in good academic standing, to not attend their study hall period by completing this Permission Form.

Parking

Due to the limited availability of parking spaces, parking on campus is for seniors only and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. For information regarding student parking, please visit our website.

Once you have submitted your application along with all necessary materials, you can make your payment through the Infinite Campus Portal. Directions can be found here.

Parking stickers will be distributed during the first week of school. Students will receive an email notification when the stickers are ready for pickup. Seniors who have completed the parking application process are permitted to park on campus starting on the first day of school, even before collecting their parking stickers.

If you have any questions about parking, please reach out to Mr. Terry Joiner at (224) 765-2466 or via email at tjoiner@dist113.org

FAMILY LIASON

Estimados padres de familia,

Si necesitan ayuda en español para navegar el sistema escolar de nuestra escuela, sáber con quíen y a dónde comunicarse, preguntas sobre programas y grupos para padres de familia, recursos communitarios, y mucho más contacte a la Sra. Luisa Espinosa Lara, nuestro Enlace para la Comunidad Escolar, al 224 765 2336 o a lespinosalara@dist113.org A ellla le dará mucho gusto poder ayudarles.

Dear Parents,

If you need assistance in Spanish to navigate our school system, including information on who to contact and where, questions about programs and groups for parents, community resources, and more, please contact Mrs. Luisa Espinosa Lara, School Community Liaison at 224 765 2336 or at lespinosalara@dist113.org. She will be happy to help you.

Reminder: Test of Emergency Communications on Monday, August 12 at 10:25 a.m.

Test to all D113 staff, students, and parents/guardians on Monday, August 12 at 10:25 a.m. The test will be sent by:

Text* - to the cell phone number on file in Infinite Campus (students and parents/guardians) and Skyward (staff)

Phone call* - to the phone number on file in Infinite Campus (students and parents/guardians) and Skyward (staff)

Email - to the email address on file in Infinite Campus (students and parents/guardians) and Skyward (staff) 

Push notification if you have the District 113 app and push notifications enabled

Parents/Guardians and Students

• Parents/Guardians will be contacted using the information provided through registration or annual update in Infinite Campus
• Parents/Guardians can update verify/update their email addresses/phone numbers in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal 
• *Students will be contacted through email and by call/text if their parent/guardian entered their student’s cell phone number in Infinite Campus in the IC Parent Portal 

Students, Families, and Staff:

If you do not receive all formats of the emergency test on August 12, fill out this short form.

District 113 has launched a new tip line through WeTip 2.0.

This new tip line offers the following enhanced features and functionality:

• 24/7/365 live operator monitors tips
• Two-way anonymous communication = Encryption provides the ability to collect more actionable information while enabling tip submitter to remain anonymous
• Verbal and written tips can be submitted in 13 languages

Remember: Call 911 for an emergency

Submit online, D113 app, call, text, QR code

Dedicated D113 hotline for call/text: 844-224-1521

Click for more information on the new D113 Tip Line.