Conant HS Principal's Newsletter
February 2025
From the Principal ...
“Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out.” -James B. Conant
At Conant High School, we often use the phrase “Conant Community.” A sense of community is a feeling of belonging and knowing that we matter to one another. There are four critical elements required for an individual to feel a sense of community. These are: Membership, Influence, Fulfillment of Needs, and Shared Emotional Connection. It is likely we can all identify at least one community we belong to that meets both the definition and the elements of “sense of community.”
Whether you are the parent or guardian of an incoming freshman or a soon-to-be graduate, please know you belong to our community.
If you are interested in being even more connected, please consider the following:
Attend a game, concert, or event at Conant High School. Events can be found on the website. There is always something happening at CHS!
Come to a Conant Booster Meeting. The Conant Boosters meet during the evening of the second Tuesday of each month. Booster members learn about the major topics and events at Conant High School and discuss ways to support the Conant Community. The next Booster Club meeting is Tuesday, March 12 at 7:00 p.m. in the Media Center.
Join us for the Conant Boosters Annual Conant Boosters Fundraiser on Saturday, March 1 at 7:00 p.m. at Chandler’s. This year the Boosters are hosting a fun trivia night! Ticket and registration information is available here.
Attend a Conant Community Night. We meet occasionally to discuss topics important to parents and students. Invitations for these events are sent by email to our entire community.
Consider being a coach or mentor for the Small Business Incubator class during the 2025-2026 school year. Please contact our Business Department Chair, Mrs. Patti Ertl at pertl@d211.org for more information.
We have incredible students, dedicated and caring parents, and amazing professionals who are interested in connecting with you. Stick your neck out! It will be worth it!
Sincerely,
Julie C. Nowak
Class of 2029 for Students Entering 9th Grade
Welcome parents and guardians of the class of 2029! Please be sure to read all information mailed and emailed to you in the coming weeks to best prepare your student for high school. We look forward to a wonderful four years!
All incoming ninth-grade students are required by the state of Illinois to have a physical examination and their current immunizations on file in the health office. Physical examinations must be completed on the Certificate of Child Health Examination form version dated 12/2023 or later. These forms are available on the school’s website under Families - Health Services. Examinations not completed on this form or completed on IHSA forms cannot be accepted to meet the requirement of your student’s ninth grade physical. Your student may not begin school until this requirement has been met.
All incoming ninth-graders are required to turn in a dental examination. The dental exam must be dated within 18 months of the May 14, 2026 deadline. Dental examination forms will need to be turned into the nurse’s office by May 14, 2026. The dental exam form is available on the Conant website under Families - Health Services.
If your student is planning to register for a summer sports camp, a physical must be on file in the high school health office prior to the first day of camp. Your student’s physical must have been completed within the last 13 months for your student to participate. Health records will not be received from the junior highs prior to the start of summer sports camps. It is the responsibility of the parents to make sure there is a physical on file in the health office prior to the first day of sports camp.
Immunization Requirement for Students Entering 12th Grade
Please note the meningococcal B vaccine does not meet the school requirement. If your student does not receive their immunizations for religious reasons, a state approved exemption form must be submitted to the nurse’s office prior to completing the registration process as this is a new immunization requirement. If your student does not receive immunizations for medical reasons, a physician’s note is required and must be submitted to the nurse’s office prior to completing registration.
If you have any questions, please contact the health services office at 847-755-3662.
Please do not wait until the last minute to get this vaccine. Doctor’s offices do run out of the vaccine and receiving the vaccine at a local pharmacy can be very costly.
Support the Conant High School Food Pantry
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.
Senior Final Exam Exemptions
Seniors may qualify for an exemption from their last semester final examination in a course if the student: has at least a “C” average in the course; has no more than five absences from the class; has never been truant from the class; has never been suspended from the class; and is not incomplete on assignments required by the teacher of that class.
Absences for mental health days, in-school activities and field trips do not count towards this total.
Students always have the option to take their final exams. Seniors who are not exempt from their last semester finals will take their examinations at the regularly scheduled times for semester examinations. Finals may not be taken early.
Questions regarding senior final exam exemptions can be directed to your senior’s administrator.
Cougar Kids Preschool
Cougar Kids Preschool is currently full for spring 2025.
There are openings for the 2025-2026 school year.
The preschool meets Tuesday through Friday in the morning. The application is available on the Conant website under the Family and Consumer Sciences tab or by emailing Katie Koopman (kkoopman@d211.org). If you have any questions or would like a spot on the roster for next year, email the completed application to Katie Koopman.
We look forward to meeting all our new Cougar Kids next year!
Recognitions
Congratulations to the Competitive Dance Team on qualifying for the IHSA State Championship.
Congratulations to the Coed Competitive Cheerleading Team on qualifying for the IHSA State Championship and took 2nd place in the Competitive Sectionals.
Congratulations to the Chess Team on placing 13th out of 128 teams in the IHSA State Tournament. A very special congratulations to Ochirbat (Ochiroo) Lkhagvajamts, who earned a gold medal and secured his place as the best player in the state, and to Samantha Arnold, who also had a stellar showing, securing a bronze medal!
Girls Gymnastics - Ava Chong, Evellyn Zhelvazkov, Sam Cerasani, Lily Chretian, and Marissa Shulman qualified for Sectionals.
Girls Wrestling - Ewa Krupa, Jasmine Zavaleta, and Analiese Aberman qualified for Sectionals.
Boys Swimming & Diving - 3rd in the MSL Conference meet.
MSL Conference Meet results:
Ayden Woo
1st 200 Free
2nd 500 Free
1st 200 Free Relay
1st 400 Free Relay (new Buffalo Grove pool record)
Thomas (Alex) Seeman
2nd 100 Free
4th 50 Free
1st 200 Free Relay
1st 400 Free Relay (new Buffalo Grove pool record)
Dominik Kurek
3rd 200 IM
2nd 100 Breaststroke
1st 200 Free Relay
1st 400 Free Relay (new Buffalo Grove pool record)
Michal Ryba
3rd 200 Free
5th 100 Backstroke
1st 200 Free Relay
1st 400 Free Relay (new Buffalo Grove pool record)
Trevor Hanson
1st 50 Free (AWD)
1st 100 Free (AWD)
1st 100 Breaststroke (AWD)
College and Career Exploration
Now that our seniors' applications have been submitted, it is time to start applying for local, national and college specific scholarships! Any and all scholarship money can help make your dream school a reality. Students can access a list of local and district specific scholarships on Maia Learning! Students must log in, select "Financial Plan" on the left-hand side, and then review local and district scholarships.
The portal is updated often throughout the second semester, so we recommend checking it frequently for scholarship opportunities! Students can also reach out to the colleges or universities they are interested in attending to see what other opportunities are available for financial aid. If you have questions or need additional help in navigating this process, please contact Mr. Brown, Conant’s College and Career Counselor, or your student's counselor! We are always here to help students and families with this important decision.
Career Advisor
Looking for information about a certain career? Students can visit our Career Advisor, Mrs. Rosanna Schmitt, in the media center. Mrs. Schmitt would be glad to assist with the career search process and share information about upcoming speakers, career treks to local businesses, obtaining a job or summer opportunities, resume writing, interviewing skills and much more.
Check out the Conant Career Services Schoology course to learn more.
From the Conant Boosters ...
This school year has already been a whirlwind of activity for Conant Boosters. A huge thank you to all who have volunteered. However, it’s not too late. We Need You!
Go to www.conantboosters.com and register for membership or volunteer for one of our many events.
Conant Boosters is excited to host our social event at Chandler’s in Schaumburg on Saturday, March 1 from 7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Get ready to play some games at Trivia Night! Be prepared for an evening of games run by professional Trivia host, silent auction items, hot and cold h’ordeuvres, raffle baskets, and the opportunity to socialize with other fantastic people in our Conant Community! Make sure you get your tickets at our website www.conantboosters.com. BUY A TABLE OF 8 FOR $480 A $5 PER TICKET DISCOUNT OR SPONSOR A TEACHER TO ATTEND THIS FUNDRAISING EVENT FOR $65 A TICKET.
Every year, Conant Boosters awards scholarship money to deserving seniors. This year, we are giving away $10,000 to nine worthy students. There will be seven scholarships of $1,000 each and two of $1,500 each given to the selected seniors wishing to further their education.
Please join us at the next Boosters meeting Tuesday, March 11 at 7:00 p.m. in the Media Center.
Traci Garcia and Cristina Zajac
Conant Booster Co-Presidents
www.conantboosters.com
Find the Conant Boosters online!
conantboosters@gmail.com | Facebook@Conant High School Boosters. | X@Conant_Boosters
We Want Your Input! 5Essentials Survey
The annual Illinois 5Essentials Survey is open through March 1 and available for families.
We encourage you to participate, as your input will help guide our school’s improvement efforts. The survey assesses the following five components of success:
Effective leaders
Collaborative teachers
Involved families
Supportive environment
Ambitious instruction
Please note that each parent or legal guardian may complete one survey for each student.
This short survey is administered by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago on behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education. It is important to us that each student’s family complete this survey, as we are then provided helpful information and feedback for improvement.
If you have questions, contact our school's survey coordinator, Dane Henning, at 847-755-3614.
Cougar Perk Cafe Grand Reopening
Humor Unscripted: Winter Improv Show
Illinois Mandated Assessments Information
Preparing your student for academic success means staying informed about required assessments. This mandated assessment document provides essential details about upcoming assessments, including the ACCESS for ELLs, DLM, PreACT Secure, ACT assessment and Illinois Fitness Assessment. These support your student’s learning and fulfill state and federal requirements under the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE).
We encourage you to review this information.
Together, we can ensure your child is well-prepared and continues to thrive academically.
Student Voter Registration Information
The State Board of Elections has prepared a one-page document for high school students explaining the process to register to vote. Please take a moment to review it as applicable.
Dates to Remember
2/25 STUDENT LATE START CLASSES BEGIN AT 9:35AM
2/25 JAZZ BAND CONCERT 7:00PM MEDIA CENTER
2/27 INTERNATIONAL FAIR 6:00PM-8:00PM MAIN GYM
2/28 SPIRIT WEAR SALES PERIODS 3-6 SPIRIT STORE
2/28 ORCHESIS SHOW 7:00PM AUDITORIUM
3/1 D211 GIRLS STEAM AHEAD 7:00AM-12:00PM GYM, ATRIUM & CAFE
3/1 ORCHESIS SHOW 7:00PM AUDITORIUM
3/1 CONANT SOCIAL FUNDRAISER 7:00PM CHANDLER’S
3/4 COLLEGE PLANNING NIGHT FOR JUNIORS 6:00PM-8:00PM AUDITORIUM
3/6 COLLEGE NIGHT *EARLY DISMISSAL 12:35PM*
3/7 SCHOOL OF ROCK BAND SHOWCASE 7:00PM AUDITORIUM
3/10 BAND PARENT MEETING 7:00PM ROOM A160
3/11 STUDENT LATE START CLASSES BEGIN AT 9:35AM
3/11 CONANT BOOSTERS MEETING 7:00PM MEDIA CENTER
3/12 ART EXPO 10:05AM-1:40PM ATRIUM
3/14 SPIRIT WEAR SALES PERIODS 3-6 SPIRIT STORE
3/15 D211 HONOR BAND CONCERT 3:00PM AUDITORIUM
3/15 IMPROV PERFORMANCE 7:00PM CAFETERIA
3/18 BAND CONCERT 7:30PM AUDITORIUM
3/20 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING 7:30PM AD CENTER
3/21 SPRING BREAK BEGINS AT CLOSE OF SCHOOL
3/31 OPENING DAY OF SCHOOL AFTER SPRING BREAK
4/1 STUDENT LATE START CLASSES BEGIN AT 9:35AM
4/5 IMPROV PERFORMANCE 7:00PM AUDITORIUM
4/8 CONANT BOOSTERS MEETING 7:00PM MEDIA CENTER
4/11 SPIRIT WEAR SALES PERIODS 3-6 SPIRIT STORE
4/14 BAND PARENT MEETING 7:00PM ROOM A160
4/15 STATE TESTING (JUNIORS) *EARLY DISMISSAL*
4/16 STATE TESTING (FRESHMEN/SOPHOMORES) *EARLY DISMISSAL*
4/18 NON-ATTENDANCE DAY - NO SCHOOL
4/24 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING 7:30PM AD CENTER
4/25 SPRING PLAY 7:00PM AUDITORIUM
4/26 SPRING PLAY 2:00PM/7:00PM AUDITORIUM
4/28 HONORS CONVOCATION 7:00PM MAIN GYM/CAFETERIA
4/29 SPRING CHORAL CONCERT 7:00PM AUDITORIUM
4/30 SPRING ORCHESTRA CONCERT 7:00PM AUDITORIUM
5/1 SPRING BAND CONCERT 7:00PM AUDITORIUM
5/2 PRESCHOOL GRADUATION 8:15AM-11:50AM PRESCHOOL ROOM
5/2 SPIRIT WEAR SALES PERIODS 3-6 SPIRIT STORE
5/3 PROM 7:30PM HYATT REGENCY O’HARE
5/6 ACTIVITY & ATHLETIC FAIR (FRESHMEN) 6:30PM-8:30PM MAIN GYM/CAFE
5/9 EARLY DISMISSAL 12:35PM
5/12 BAND PARENT MEETING 7:00PM ROOM A160