HEHS Principal's Newsletter

As a learning community, we will work to foster the following in support and empowerment of all students:

Building a culture and climate of student connection, acceptance and involvement

Supporting student physical and social-emotional wellness

Increasing student academic growth

Ensuring college/career readiness for all students

We appreciate the opportunity and power that exists in our collective efforts in creating an amazing high school experience for all Hawks.

Sincerely,
Mike Alther

A common question parents ask me is, "What can I do to boost my child's academic success?" While it might seem like the answer would vary based on the student's individual skills and strengths, it's actually quite straightforward. My advice is: "Make sure your student attends school every day and is on time to every class."

The most effective thing you can do as a parent is to ensure your student is present and punctual for all their classes at Hoffman Estates High School. Encouraging regular attendance and timeliness are two of the most powerful ways to set your student up for success in life after high school. We all aim to establish good habits for future college and career achievements.

You probably already know that research shows when you prioritize school attendance for your family, your student benefits in several ways:

• Higher academic achievement,

• A stronger sense of community at school,

• More opportunities to engage in instructional activities, and

• Better social-emotional health and well-being.

What you might not realize is how harmful even a few absences each month and routine tardiness can be to your student’s success. Numerous studies have underscored the critical importance of attendance, with clear findings. An absence rate of 10% or more is considered the ‘breaking point’ by educators. If your student misses more than 10%, or eighteen school days, in a year, it significantly impacts their academic performance and social-emotional health.

Many parents may not be aware that their students are missing this much school, whether through whole classes or portions due to tardiness. Here are some suggestions to help you stay informed about your student’s attendance:

• Have regular conversations with your student(s) about their school day.

• Check your student’s daily attendance through your Infinite Campus account.

• Reach out to your student’s counselor or administrator early if you have concerns about absenteeism.

• Additional information can be found through this website: Attendance Works

Our consistent message, of the importance of regular school attendance, is just one way we can work together to support our students in their high school experience. In an effort to increase attendance, this year the Intervention Office will be partnering with students to create a positive approach to attendance improvement by promoting our Class vs. Class Attendance Challenge.

Thank you in advance for your partnership!

As part of our continual work to maintain a safe campus for all Hawks, I am highlighting a specific security measure we will maintain for the upcoming school year. We will not be accepting food deliveries from restaurants and/or delivery services at our entrances. The volume of food deliveries detracts from security personnel working those entrances and requires entry into our building of these individuals. Parents will still have access through door 1 to drop off items for their student. This applies to both student and staff food deliveries.

Let’s Get Involved!

The purpose of the Hawk Boosters is to support school curricular and extracurricular activities, bringing home and school into a closer relationship.

Thank you to our Booster leadership and the many parent volunteers for their time and energy in recognizing and supporting our amazing students and teachers! The students and staff of HEHS are very fortunate to work alongside an amazing group of parents dedicated to supporting our learning community. Learn more about Hawk Boosters and how you can get involved - click here.

District 211 is seeking input from parents and community members as part of our search for a new Superintendent following the retirement of Dr. Lisa Small in June 2025.

We value your input! Please complete the brief survey here: https://hyasurvey.com/D211

To change the survey language, use the drop-down menu.

The survey will automatically close at 11:59 p.m. August 20.

Thank you for your support!

In each edition of this newsletter, a student extracurricular group(s) will be put in the spotlight for the HEHS Community to meet and learn about.

As we begin a new school year, I would like to highlight unique leadership opportunities our students can engage in, lead and make a difference. Through the Student Principal Advisory, modifications to our bell system were made to include a tardy bell, the Student Wellness Team has provided valuable strategies and techniques to prepare for and reduce the stress around final exams and our Student Equity Team took on balancing classrooms with neutral desks to meet the needs of our left handed students. These are just a couple of the projects our students have completed this past year.

Shortly after the start of the school year, I will send out an email with the description of each group (as you see below) to all students seeking any student’s interest in participating.

The principal's advisory board provides a conduit between students and the HEHS Administrative Team. These students will meet directly with Mr. Alther to provide feedback on all things Hoffman Estates High School. The principal's advisory board is a great option for students who want to discuss many different topics throughout the year, offer student voice and learn leadership strategies.

At Hoffman Estates High School we seek to support student mental health, social-emotional wellness, physical wellness, and safety. The student wellness committee will provide a platform for students to share ideas for how to support the development of our school community in all areas of wellness. Additionally students will work on school specific, student driven initiatives to support the whole student.

We want all students to feel safe, welcomed, and valued at Hoffman Estates High School. The equity team will provide students the opportunity to lend a student voice towards the goal of advancing equity and inclusion in our school. In addition to providing a platform to listen to students, being a member of this team will also provide students an opportunity to work on school specific, student driven initiatives regarding equity.

Senior Sunrise will be August 12, 2024 @ sunrise in the stadium.

All seniors are invited to participate as we kick off our celebration of the Class of 2025 with our Senior Sunrise. Breakfast will be served and music played…we hope to see your senior student there.

The picture below is from this event last year, for the Class of 2024.

In accordance with State of Illinois requirements, all incoming freshmen must have a valid physical examination and up-to-date immunization records on file with the school nurse. Please note the IHSA sports physical cannot be used for 9th grade or transfer student school physicals.

Additionally, all seniors must provide proof of the meningococcal vaccination (MCV4) given on or after the student’s 16th birthday.

Please contact the nurse's office at HEHSnurse@d211.org with questions.

More information is available online here: https://adc.d211.org/healthservices

In addition to our academic focus, one of the many functions of a high school is the safe use of our parking lot for our students, staff and visitors during normal school hours. This warrants the following information as the 2024-2025 school year begins.

Throughout the summer, a review of last year’s parking lot practices and use was conducted. The following conclusions were made and are addressed in this letter to insure the safety of all who use our parking lots.

Students were parking without proper authorization (purchased permit hang tag)

Students and staff were parking outside of their designated parking areas

Students and staff were parking on end caps of parking isles (non-designated parking stalls)

Students and staff were parking in designated visitor parking stalls

Drawing upon these conclusions, we hope to clarify any misunderstandings as to who can park at HEHS, what our parking expectations are, where students, staff and visitors should park and the practices we will employ to support everyone in following our plan towards a safe parking lot environment. I believe clear expectations will eliminate the majority of issues we observed at the end of last school year.

Continue reading here…

(View the map)

Morning student drop-off prior to 7:15am - I’d like to encourage parents to drop off in the designated parent drop-off lanes near the media center (the drive north of Higgins). Parents should not drop off along the curb near the marquee as it provides a safety hazard both for pedestrians and other vehicles entering the parking lot off Higgins.

At 7:15am student drop-off by bus concludes and you may use the bus lanes to drop your student on the sidewalk nearest the building.

On late start days the bus lane will be open at 8:40am and I strongly encourage drop-off using the bus lane to avoid creating traffic congestion at the entrance to the main lot.

After school pick-up: I’d like to encourage parents to pick up in the designated parent pick-up lanes near the media center (the drive north of Higgins). Parents should not pick up along the curb near the marquee as it provides a safety hazard both for pedestrians and other vehicles entering the parking lot off Higgins. After buses depart (typically at 2:57pm), the bus lane may be used for pick up.

Evening student pick-up can occur in the bus lanes except for the following times:

3:50 – 4:10 p.m.

5:05 – 5:25 p.m.

*Athlete pick-up is preferred at Door 9 outside of the times listed above. During the times listed above, students can be picked up on the parking lot side of the door 9 crosswalk.

August 12

Opening Day of School

IHSA Fall Sports Begin

Senior Sunrise (Football Field @ 6:45am)

August 20

Student Late Start - School begins @ 8:50am

August 24

Fall Athletic Pictures

August 29
Parent Open House - 7pm

Early Dismissal - 11:50am

September 2
Labor Day - No School

September 3

Student Late Start - School begins @ 8:50am

September 14

Homecoming Dance - Main Gym @ 7pm

September 17

Student Late Start - School begins @ 8:50am

September 18

Parent Principal Meeting - 6pm - HEHS Media Center

September 20

HEHS Talent Show - HEHS Location TBD @ 7pm

September 21

HEHS Talent Show - HEHS Location TBD @ 7pm

September 23
End of 6-Week Grading Period

September 24
Choir Concert - HEHS Location TBD @ 7:30pm

September 25
Orchestra Concert - HEHS Location TBD @ 7:30pm