Conant HS Principal's Newsletter

We are accepting nominations for the annual “Distinguished Alumni Award.” Nominees will be considered from any field for their contributions, achievements or community involvement. This award will be presented at Senior Honors Convocation on Monday, April 28, 2025. The nomination form is available here.

Conant High School's PRIDE Program (Preparing Resourceful Individuals Determined to Excel) is a student mentorship program aimed at supporting the transition to high school for freshman students during their first semester. Mentors are junior and senior students who conduct lessons several days a week during the first half of their lunch period. These lessons are focused on welcoming students, providing them with resources for a successful educational career, and encouraging all students to get involved. The PRIDE program bolsters a sense of belonging at Conant High School.

Following the first semester PRIDE program, most students will return to a full 50 minute lunch period. Freshmen students who have failed a course or received below a 2.0 grade point average will be referred to their Student Support Team for consideration of academic interventions to replace time spent in PRIDE.

Conant High School has a food pantry that serves our Cougars in Need. The Cougar Cupboard is visited most Fridays by many of our students in need, in order to obtain breakfast, lunch, and snack items for the weekend. Because of the unique needs and situations that our Cougars in Need face, our pantry needs are a little different from a typical food pantry. The highest demand items require simple to no cooking and appeal to the teenage palate.

Please consider purchasing some of these items the next time you are in the grocery store, and donating them to the Cougar Cupboard.

Students especially appreciate the following items:

Slim Jims, microwave popcorn, peanut butter, jelly, pop-tarts, healthy chips, trail mix, mini-muffins, fruit snacks, breakfast bars, individual cereal cups, Rice Krispy treats, oatmeal, applesauce pouches, juice boxes, gatorade, fruit cups, individual macaroni and cheese, Ramen noodles, Ravioli, pasta and sauce. Toiletries and personal items are always appreciated as well.

The Health and Medical Careers Club sponsors two blood drives throughout the year in the Atrium. Students may sign up in the cafeteria during all lunch periods the week prior to the blood drive. To schedule an appointment and obtain a permission slip see a Medical Careers student representative in the cafeteria. Students need to bring a photo I.D. and a permission form signed by a parent/guardian, regardless of the student’s age. Students must be 16 years of age and there is a weight minimum depending on height. A student who has received a tattoo or piercing within the last 90 days will not be eligible to donate blood. Students may donate during their lunch, P.E., or study hall, and are encouraged to eat and drink prior to giving blood.

The next blood drive is on February 21, 2025. We can potentially save up to three lives for each pint of blood donated. The blood drive is administered by Vitalant. Contact Mrs. DeGuia for additional information.

Thank you to all of the volunteers who have already helped at the many Conant Boosters events this school year! The success of Conant Boosters is only possible when new parents become involved through membership and giving of their time. We have multiple volunteer opportunities and would be happy to utilize your specific skill set. There’s something for everyone! See how you can get involved at www.conantboosters.com.

You can still join the Conant Boosters for the 2024-2025 school year. Your $30 registration is a great way to support the students and our Conant community even if you have no time to give. If you do have room in your schedule, you can also learn how to get involved by attending the next Boosters meeting on Tuesday, December 17, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. in the Media Center. During the meetings, administrators and committee chairs share and discuss what’s happening at Conant High School and explore new avenues where the Boosters can help.

A special thanks to the Conant community for supporting our most recent Community Event. This year’s Conant Craft Fair was absolutely amazing. We had student volunteers, parent volunteers, and community volunteers working together to produce the most enjoyable and organized event possible. Our next community event will be the Conant Fundraiser Night on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at Chandler’s in Schaumburg. In order to make these events a success, We Need You!

Traci Garcia and Cristina Zajac

Conant Booster Co-Presidents

Visit us at www.conantboosters.com
Find the Conant Boosters online!

conantboosters@gmail.com | Facebook@Conant High School Boosters

The Certified Nursing Assistant program is in its thirteenth year at James B. Conant High School. CHS currently has 107 CNA students from Conant, Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates High School. The program has successfully produced over 800 certified nursing assistants in the state of Illinois. Last year's class of 2024 had a 100% passing rate on the state exam.

The program was designed to train students in the basic skills that are essential to the practice of health care workers who will assist in the care of patients in a variety of settings. The class consists of a theory and lab practicum that will prepare them to work in the clinical setting. The settings include a long-term care facility or hospital, where students will care for geriatric residents and patients suffering from Alzheimer’s / dementia. The students will also work in the sub-acute care floor where they will care for patients with the following conditions: hip and knee replacements, post-myocardial infarction, post-surgical, IV treatment, tube feedings, and wound therapy services. The program is compliant with the requirements set by the Illinois Department of Public Health and provides the opportunity for the student to earn college credit through William Rainey Harper College.

Many of the alumni in Township High District 211 have gone to work as CNAs or PCTs in many clinical settings while pursuing higher education. Our program also satisfies many institution’s patient care contact requirements for program acceptance. Students who complete CNA may also be eligible for the Health Science Pathway endorsement with ISBE.

Conant hosted a breakfast for local veterans, and invited veterans to speak in U.S. History classes as part of our celebration of Veterans Day.

Conant Auto Club won a regional competition that mirrors the SAE Collegiate “Supermileage” competition. Teams from high schools across the Midwest build single-seater cars from scratch and compete in categories such as handling, braking, design, and, of course, fuel mileage. Conant secured their sixth overall win, sweeping the competition with first place in handling, braking, and fuel mileage, and second place in design. They are looking forward to competing again next year!

Congratulations to National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists for 2025:

Scott Gilbert

Ian Lim

Logan McCarthy

Kelly Milhousen

Reyna U. Patel

Arianna Puskarz

Archit Tamhane

National Merit Commended Scholar Students for 2025:

Parthapratim Biswas

Sean P. Burke

Kareem Hamidof

Mateen Hasan

Harshil Joshi

Sanjana Karanam

Dharan Koyilada

Nilan Kumar

Sohan Patra

Ayush Kumar Rai

Kieran Rummel

Parul Saxena

Arjun Wadhwa

Andrew Yamaguchi

Lily Yoshihara

Leyla Yurtsever

Gabriella Zyung

• Boys Golf -

• All Conference: Antonio Gutierrez, Ahilan Nayani, Joshua Lee.

• Team was 4th in the Conference.

• Antonio Gutierrez & Joshua Lee qualified for State.

• Antonio Gutierrez tied the school record at -5 (67).

• Girls Golf -

• All conference: Madeline Gutierrez, Gabriella (Gabbi) Zyung, Madeline Clark.

• Team was 5th in the Conference.

• IHSA State: Madeline Gutierrez, 9th Place.

• Girls Tennis -

• MSL Conference Champs.

• IHSA Sectional Champs.

• IHSA State Qualifiers:

• 1 Singles - Kaitlyn (Katie) Strilich (12) (Record- 30-2)

• 2 Singles - Elyssa Rojas Kantcheva (09) (Record - 27-6)

• 1 Doubles - Nidhi Karekar (10)/ Advita Deepak (10) (Record - 23-9)

• 2 Doubles - Khrystyna Pivtorak (10)/ Noelle Koh (10) (Record- 16-4)

• Team placed tied for 7th in the IHSA State Tournament.

• Kaitlyn (Katie) Strilich was 3rd Team All-State

• Boys Soccer -

• All-Conference: Ibuki Takahashi, Krystian Niziolek (MSL West POY), Gabriel (Gabe) Dobrincu, Eric Plaza, Daniel (Danny) Flores.

• All-State: Krystian Niziolek

• Cook County All-Area Team: Krystian Niziolek (Captain) & Ibuki Takahashi. Honorable Mention: Eric Plaza

• MSL West Division Champs

• IHSA Regional Champs

• IHSA Sectional Champs

• Girls Volleyball -

• MSL All-Conference: Angie Erkhembayar

• Football -

• MSL All-Conference: Brady Teschner & Charles (Charlie) Kawalek

• Boys Cross Country -

• MSL All-Conference: Henry Dombrowksi & Charlie Calderone

• Team advanced out of Regionals and qualified for Sectionals.

• Charlie Calderone State Qualifier

• Girls Cross Country -

• Frosh-Soph All Conference: Lily Schaefers, Megan Schaefers, Cordelia (Cordi) Bilos, Alison Tierney

• Lily & Megan Schaefers advanced out of Regionals and qualified for Sectionals.

• Girls Swimming & Dive Teams -

• Great Season to the Girls Swim & Dive Teams ! Lots of personal best times!

This fall has been an exciting season at Conant High School, packed with events, achievements, and opportunities for our students to connect and thrive. With over 70 clubs to explore, students had the chance to visit booths during lunch and discover activities that align with their interests. Being involved helps students meet peers, develop their passions, and feel more connected to our Conant community. It’s never too late to join—encourage your student to sign up today!

Here’s a look at some of our Fall Activity Highlights:

• Homecoming Week in October brought the school to life with a lineup of creative spirit days, dazzling hallway decorations, and an unforgettable dance with the theme “All of the Lights.” The action-packed Homecoming assembly was filled with energy and excitement, bringing the entire school together to celebrate Cougar pride. The week’s celebrations culminated in the Homecoming football game, where we honored Conant's 60th anniversary with a spectacular fireworks show during halftime, lighting up the sky for a memorable evening.

• We celebrated Conant’s 60th Anniversary with a fantastic Conant 5K Run/Walk. This event brought together students, staff, alumni, and families for a day of fitness and community spirit. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect and celebrate six decades of Cougar pride.

• Trunk or Treat and Cupcakes for a Cause, hosted by Conant’s UNICEF Club, welcomed the community for a festive afternoon of fun. Proceeds were donated to support humanitarian efforts for children worldwide.

• Conant hosted its Second Annual Cougar Mental Health Day: Walk for Wellness. This event provided valuable information on community resources for mental health and wellness. It was a meaningful way for our Conant community to come together and learn about the supports available to help ensure mental health and well-being.

• Mary Poppins took center stage as Conant’s Theatre delivered an outstanding performance that captivated audiences. Congratulations to our talented cast and crew!

• Congratulations to the 18 Conant students who qualified for the prestigious ILMEA district festival. These exceptional musicians – Suhani Bhanderi, Cordell Cady, Dylan Carlyon, Maya Chandrasekaran, Maya Cronfel, Daniel Guo, Anthony Macino, Nina Rosiles (Choir). Maya Cronfel (Vocal Jazz), Ivan Calderon, Nayan Gupta, Aadarsh Parameswaran, Jiho Park, Gustav Szczepanek (Band), Brendan Hill (Jazz Band), Eric Davidson, Junna Dettling, Rhema Tai, and Lily Yoshihara (Orchestra). Best of luck to these students as we wait to hear who qualified for All-State!

• Competitive Clubs are off to a strong start this fall, making waves and representing Conant with pride. Stay tuned for updates on their achievements!
  
  

For the latest news and updates, be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Thank you for being an active part of our vibrant Conant community!

Here’s to more exciting moments ahead this school year!

The Cougar Crazies turned out in force for the basketball games, helping kick off the winter sports season with some help from the Grinch.

12/18 FINAL EXAMS - PERIODS 2,3,4 8:15AM-1:05PM

12/19 FINAL EXAMS - PERIODS 5,6,7 8:15AM-1:05PM

12/20 FINAL EXAMS - PERIODS 1,8 8:15AM-11:25AM

12/20 WINTER BREAK BEGINS AT CLOSE OF SCHOOL (THROUGH 1/6/25)

1/6 INSTITUTE DAY NO SCHOOL

1/7 OPENING DAY OF 2ND SEMESTER

1/10 SPIRIT WEAR SALES PERIODS 3-6 SPIRIT STORE

1/13 BAND PARENT MEETING 7:00PM A160

1/14 STUDENT LATE START CLASSES BEGIN AT 9:35AM

1/14 CONANT BOOSTER MEETING 7:00PM MEDIA CENTER

1/20 MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY NO SCHOOL

1/23 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING 7:30PM AD CENTER

1/24 SPIRIT WEAR SALES PERIODS 3-6 SPIRIT STORE

1/25 WINTER DANCE 7:00PM-10:00PM MAIN GYM/CAFETERIA

1/28 STUDENT LATE START CLASSES BEGIN AT 9:35AM

2/6 FAFSA COMPLETION WORKSHOP 5:00PM-6:00PM MEDIA CENTER

2/7 SPIRIT WEAR SALES PERIODS 3-6 SPIRIT STORE

2/7 WINTER PLAY “TWELFTH NIGHT” 7:00PM AUDITORIUM

2/8 WINTER PLAY “TWELFTH NIGHT” 2:00/7:00PM AUDITORIUM

2/8 D211 HONORS ORCHESTRA CONCERT 7:00PM SCHAUMBURG HS

2/10 BAND PARENT MEETING 7:00PM ROOM A160

2/11 STUDENT LATE START CLASSES BEGIN AT 9:35AM

2/11 BAND CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL 5:00PM-10:00PM MUSIC 107-110,113,116-119

2/11 CONANT BOOSTER MEETING 7:00PM MEDIA CENTER

2/14 EARLY DISMISSAL/IN SERVICE 12:35PM

2/17 PRESIDENTS’ DAY NO SCHOOL

2/19 CHORAL CONCERT 7:00PM AUDITORIUM

2/20 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING 7:30PM AD CENTER

2/21 BLOOD DRIVE 7:30AM-3:00PM ATRIUM

2/22 OPERATION SNOWBALL 7:00AM-10:00PM

2/22 IMPROV PERFORMANCE 7:00PM CAFETERIA