HEHS Principal's Newsletter

Attendance in high school is crucial because it directly impacts a student's academic performance, personal development, and future opportunities. It sets the foundation for responsible behavior and success in both education and life beyond school. Read More Here…

Watch email, our website and social media for updates on our celebrations throughout the school year!

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Thank you to all of the parents who participated in our August 31 Open House Event. Nearly 1800 parents and/or guardians met with teachers, school counselors and administrators throughout the evening. It was great to connect with you all.

Special thanks to all of our students who helped support Open House in a variety of ways.

We had 40 students who volunteered their time to translate for parents, and our band played for all.

Thank you to all staff, students, parents, boosters and alumni who participated in our homecoming activities the week of September 18th. Without question, HEHS HAWK PRIDE was on full display throughout the week as evidenced by the number of students who participated in the various activities like: dodgeball, hallway decorating, the dance, the color run, our parade, the bonfire, Class Clash, CBS 2 flyover and fireworks. Not to mention the attendance at our soccer and football games, which exceeded 4,000 people. More than 800 of those in attendance were HEHS alumni.

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 many Booster volunteers for their time running the concession stand, spirit wear tent & membership table at our first three home football games!

Learn more about Boosters and how you can be involved here.

Here is a link to the most recent Booster Newsletter for September.

This year was the first “Homecoming Wellness Tug-of-War Battle.” This activity featured Mr. Stricker’s 1A freshman wellness class and Mrs. Helfrich’s 1A freshman wellness class. This was to highlight and to get some bragging rights of the strength gains made in their wellness classes. Mr. Stricker’s class ended up winning the fierce matchup 3-2 with all participants getting a freeze pop. It was a blast for the students, teachers, and drove home the concept of teamwork by reiterating the remarkable power WE can generate when everyone is focused on the same goal!

The HEHS Say Yes to the Dress Homecoming Campaign had a great start to the program and we thank everyone who donated dresses or time. We had a few last minute donations which helped out tremendously.

A few student customers as well as their parents were so excited to be able to get the dresses they wanted /needed with minimal cost. The fashion students even were able to accomplish minor alterations for some of the customers. Funds raised during homecoming will go to dry cleaning for some of the donated dresses.

The senior fashion students running the program are looking forward to Winter formal and Prom and will be continuing to collect semi formal and prom dress until then. Please consider donating to the cause.

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

In early October, Students Helping Others (SHO) raised funds for The Pink Project by selling pieces of pink duct tape to duct tape math teacher Pat Moran to the cafeteria wall. The Pink Project fundraiser is in its third year and supports The Magnolia Tree Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides breast cancer awareness and offers genetic testing for the BRCA genetic mutation, as well as awards an annual scholarship at the end of each school year.

By the end of all lunches, Mr. Moran was left dangling from the wall -- held up by more than 700 pieces of pink tape.

Even on the hottest of days of the year, the boys golf team found a way to make the most of being stuck indoors. On August 23rd, all of the Varsity and JV players played a 9 hole round of miniature golf in the science hallways. The two toughest holes turned out to be stopping the ball on top of a Post-it Note and also a “croquet” hole going through four different sets of books.

All seniors should have met or will be meeting with their school counselor. This meeting may include the parent when arranged. In this meeting, a student’s work toward graduation is reviewed through a transcript evaluation which includes courses taken, FAFSA completion, SAT compliance, Driver’s Education compliance and passing the Constitution Exam to name a few. In addition, an assessment of a student’s post-secondary plan occurs which includes resource identification in support of the post-secondary plan. This focus, attention and review drives the student’s path to graduation in their senior year.

Parking Update: Since our last communication, the designation of staff and student spaces has changed due to curricular need. Automotive student’s (who were originally designated for parking in the front of the building) have been shifted to the north west lot to be near the Automotive Lab. In turn, staff parking spaces have been shifted from the northwest lot to the lot near the pool. Read the full letter and see a map here…

School Bus Stop Arm

Let’s keep everyone in our parking lot safe. Illinois Vehicle Code under 625 ILCS 5/11-1414 requires a driver to stop before meeting or overtaking (from either direction) a school bus stopped for the purpose of loading or unloading students. Please do not pass a school bus with its stop arm extended. The bus is indicating it is in the process of loading or unloading students.

Student Drop-Off Reminder

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.

Student Pick-Up Reminder

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 (Athletic Entrance)

October 20: Happy Birthday Hoffman Estates High School!

Student Cafeteria - All Lunch Blocks

October 21 Cupcakes with Friends

11 AM-2 PM

October 21 Official HEHS 50th Anniversary

October 24 Student Late Start (8:50AM)

October 25 Sounds of Stadium Concert

HEHS Main Gym - 7 PM

October 26 HEHS Community Halloween Event

Various Locations in the Building - 4:30 PM - 6 PM

November 2 Latino Parent Meeting

HEHS Media Center - 6 PM

November 2 IHSA Boys State Soccer Tournament Host

November 3 Early Dismissal (11:50 AM) - IHSA Boys State Soccer Tournament Host

November 4 IHSA Boys State Soccer Tournament Host

November 7 Student Late Start (8:50AM)

November 9 Fall Play - The Play That Goes Wrong

Auditorium - 3 PM

Latino Parent Meeting - Reunion de Padres Latinos

Media Center - 6 PM

November 10 Fall Play - The Play That Goes Wrong

Auditorium - 7 PM

November 11 D54/D211 Honors Choir Concert

Main Gym - 4:00 PM

Fall Play - The Play That Goes Wrong

Auditorium - 7 PM

November 15 National Honor Society Induction Ceremony

Auditorium - 7 PM

November 16 Parent Principal Meeting

Media Center - 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

November 22 Non-Attendance Day

November 23-24 Thanksgiving Holiday

December 5 Student Late Start (8:50 AM)

December 7 Incoming Freshman Night

HEHS - Various Locations 6 PM

December 11 Winter Concert Series

Auditorium - 7:30 PM

December 12 Winter Concert Series

Auditorium - 7:30 PM

December 15 Madrigal Dinner

Student Cafeteria - 8 PM

December 16 Madrigal Dinner

Student Cafeteria - 6 PM

The District 211 Communications Advisory is a group of parents, staff, alumni, business partners and community members who help advise the Communications Department on topics relating to District- and school-level communications: what information you get and how you get it.

The group will meet in the evenings three times this school year: November 7, February 6 and April 23. This will be an in-person session. Those interested should fill out this application by October 27.