THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Spring Break is March 24th-28th
• Focus on the Arts
• April 9 and 10 are dedicated to the ISBE accountability testing.  When students are not testing, they are not required to be at school

Dear Giant Family,

This time of year can have a familiar mix of excitement and exhaustion. We want to acknowledge the full spectrum of those feelings and remind you that you're not alone.

In the midst of it all, we've been deeply moved by the beautiful convergence of Ramadan, Holi, and Purim. These diverse celebrations, happening right now within our community, serve as a powerful reminder of our shared values:

• Overcoming Challenges: Each holiday celebrates the triumph of good over adversity, a message that resonates deeply in our current climate.
• Renewal and Hope: Just like the arrival of spring, these celebrations symbolize new beginnings and the promise of brighter days.
• The Power of Community: They underscore the importance of connection and mutual support, reminding us that we're all part of something larger than ourselves.

This past weekend, we also celebrated International Women's Day, a moment to honor the incredible strength and resilience of women everywhere. We especially want to recognize the women in our own community – our mothers, teachers, students, and leaders – who contribute so much to our lives. Their dedication and achievements inspire us all.

We saw this spirit in action with the wonderful Girl Up symposium held on Friday. The students who participated showcased the power and impact of women in business and leadership, and we are incredibly proud of their initiative.

We have one week and a little change to go before spring break, hang in there and keep going.  You can always do more than you think you can.  

Thank you for sharing your students with us today and beyond,



Holly

ACADEMICS

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) requires that all freshmen, sophomores, and juniors participate in yearly accountability testing.  ISBE recently transitioned from utilizing the Digital SAT suite of assessments to the Digital ACT suite of assessments.  Here are some important pieces of information:



• On April 9, all freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will take their respective ACT assessment in school.  
• Some students who require two day testing will continue testing on April 10.  
• All students are automatically registered by District 113. 
• April 9 and 10 are dedicated to the ISBE accountability testing.  When students are not testing, they are not required to be at school.
• Seniors do not attend either day (April 9 or 10)
• A more detailed letter will be sent to all students and families in the near future.  

STUDENT LIFE

FOCUS on the Arts: Our FOCUS on the Arts 2025 community events are now open for ticket registration! Please join us for three evenings of world class talent at Focus 2025! Click here for more information and to get your tickets!

ACTIVITIES

Congratulations to Lily Dahms and Clara Gillis who won “Best of Day” at the IHSA Solo and Ensemble day at Harvard High School on March 8th and earned a score of 39.3/40. The beautiful song performed was The Flower Duet, from Lakme, by Delibes. Thank you to their amazing teachers, Mrs. Maria Barnhill & Mrs. Cindy Mace for all of their work with our talented students. 

We are excited to share that of the 53 students we brought to DECA State Competition this past weekend had a wonderful experience competing.  

In addition we have 17 students who have qualified to move on to the International Competition (last week of April) in Orlando, FL.  

We also have a number of students finish high in their event and won some awards as follows:

AWARD INFO:

• 2,000 students from 70 high schools competed at State in about 50 different events.  Most students compete in only 1 event and are directly competing against anywhere from 35-70 students in their event. 

• Students compete by taking a Test (to demonstrate business knowledge) and by verbally presenting their thoughts about a business scenario (called a Role Play).  Students do not see the specific scenario until right before they verbally present it to the judge.  Depending on the event, students have 10 minutes of prep time or 30 minutes of prep time and then they see the judge for anywhere from a 10-15 minute verbal presentation. 

• Students are recognized for the following within their Event:  First through Third for the Test.  First through Third in Role Play 1.  First through Third in Role Play 2. 

• Students are called on stage if they finish Overall in the Top 10 within their event (based on a combination of the Test and both Role Play scores). 

• Students who finish in the Top 4 overall in their event automatically qualify for Internationals.  If someone can't go from the Top 4, then they will choose replacements starting from 5th place and working their way down to 13th place if need be. 

HPHS DECA State Results of 17 GIANTS going to Nationals!:

Hooray for HPHS DECA!

Thank you to our  amazing DECA Sponsors:  Mr. Burke, Mrs. Burnetti, Mrs. Chambers and our State Chaperone Mrs. Sinchak!

ATHLETICS

Congratulations to our February Athletes of the Month

Dana Holt - Girls Wrestling

Riley Moore - Girls Wrestling

Andrew Blauer - Boys Swimming

Maddyn Cohen - Girls Gymnastics

Eli Moore - Boys Wrestling

Brian Martinez - Boys Wrestling

Boys Varsity Basketball Team

Girls Varsity Basketball Team

Spring Sports Information Meeting

We will be holding a Spring Athletics Information Meeting from 10:30-11:30am on Saturday, March 15th in the student cafeteria at Highland Park High School. Spring student-athletes are encouraged to attend with their parents/guardians, as we will be covering a variety of important topics related to athletic participation. We know a few of our teams are competing on the morning of the 15th and will not be able to attend this meeting. For those that cannot be there, the presentation will eventually be posted on the HPHS website. Those attending can enter the building through the H Entrance or Athletic Entrance.

PE Exemptions

Spring Athletes are beginning to ask about PE Exemptions.  There is a meeting for juniors and seniors on a varsity sport on Friday, March 14th at 7:30am in the Exhibition Gym to learn more about the process and pick up the exemption forms.

Highlights

1. Thursday at Stevenson, Shamar Wilson set a school record in the 60 meter dash running 7.00.
2. On Saturday at Lakes, Emma Sitati placed 6th in the triple jump.
3. Saturday at the Illinois Meet of Champions in Chicago, Dylan Dominguez set a new indoor school record in the 1600 meter run. He took 2nd place and ran 4:18.17 to beat the old record of 4:21.24 that was set by Jim Weinert in 1962! The 4X200 meter relay team of Hayden Tortora, Jacob Youra, Elliott Schraub, and Benjamin Holtschulte also had a great day running 1:39.75 in the 4X200 meter relay. 
4. This week Boys Gymnastics, Boys Water Polo and Girls Water Polo are starting their competitions.  Best of luck to these teams as their journey begins.