ZB Parent Bulletin

Hello ZB Families,

February brings thoughts of love, compassion, and thoughtfulness. There is much to celebrate these days at ZBTHS! Our student clubs and sponsors have been busy connecting and giving back to the community. We begin the month with a focus on Black History and the significant contributions made by African Americans, impacting our country, community, and schools. ZB’s Black Student Union spent much time planning and developing meaningful activities to help celebrate and champion Black History! Other clubs have been busy volunteering their time and energy to help with community projects. I am very proud of these students and staff that are demonstrating compassion, caring and service to community.

I want to thank all of our parents that participated in 2nd semester parent/ teacher conferences. Parent support is vital to student achievement. Please continue to reach out to our teachers if you have further questions or concerns regarding your student's academic progress.

As always, I look forward to creating more great days for our students and staff!

In partnership,

Bonnie Felske

Principal

Take a look at our students organizing and participating in engaging activities both in school and in our community! From hands-on projects to community service initiatives, they are making a difference and developing valuable skills along the way. Stay tuned for more updates on their amazing efforts!

Building a habit of positive school attendance begins at home. Here are some tips from attendanceworks.org for parents and guardians:

• Talk about the importance of showing up to school everyday.
• Help your teen maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting the recommended 8-10 hours of sleep each night. Consider pausing devices if screen time interferes with sleep.
• Avoid scheduling dental and medical appointments during school hours whenever possible.
• If an absence is unavoidable, make sure your teen has contacted their teachers for resources and materials needed to complete missed work.

Be on the lookout for more attendance related information, tips, and strategies in future newsletters! Encourage your students to:

BEE PRESENT. BEE IN SCHOOL.

Join us for 721 Info Night on Tuesday, February 25, at 6:30 p.m. in the ZBTHS PAC! This Post-Secondary Planning Night is designed for all 9th, 10th, and 11th-grade students and parents to explore future pathways.

🔹 Breakout sessions include:

✅ 4-Year College Admissions

✅ Financial Aid & FAFSA

✅ Military

✅ Trades, Career Schools & Apprenticeships

✅ CLC Information

✅ What High School Classes to Take Now

Don't miss this opportunity to plan your next steps! What are YOU doing on Day 721?

We are proud to recognize seniors Moira Cook, Jayden Gass, Ari Laboy, and Sydney Wright for being selected as the Zion Area Exchange Club Students of the Month from September through December! Their dedication to academic excellence, service, and leadership earned them this honor.

These outstanding students will have the opportunity to compete for the Youth of the Year award later this spring. Congratulations and best of luck! 🌟

Get ready for the latest edition of ZBTV #5, brought to you by ZB Media and The Stinger! This episode features exciting school news, student highlights, and important updates you won’t want to miss.

Stay informed and connected with everything happening at ZBTHS—tune in and support our talented student media team!

This past month was filled with outstanding performances from our Zee-Bee athletes, and we have so much to celebrate!

🎳 Girls Bowling:
Our Girls Bowling Team competed in the NSC Conference Championships, with Gigi Sanchez leading the way, finishing 14th overall and medaling in a field of nearly 90 bowlers! Jocelyn Garcia-Cruz also had an impressive performance, finishing 19th. The team now looks ahead to IHSA Regionals this Saturday!

🎳 Boys Bowling:
Our Zee-Bee Boys Bowling Team competed in the IHSA Regional round at Bertrand’s Bowl in Waukegan and had an amazing day, finishing 4th out of 15 schools! This historic finish qualified them for IHSA Sectionals this past Saturday in Vernon Hills—the first time the team has advanced to Sectionals in just its third season!

The Bees were led by Ryan Hallgren, who bowled an impressive 1313 series (6 games), finishing 5th overall as an individual. Other key contributors included Yadier Franco-Rosario (1213), Mickey Hernandez (1203), Frank Rojas (1172), and Anthony Tucker (1090).

🤼‍♀️ Girls Wrestling:
Our wrestlers dominated at Regionals, with Naomi Foote and Emily Ortiz winning Regional Championships! Grace Johnson secured 2nd place, and freshman Jazmine Medina finished 3rd. These four athletes now advance to IHSA Sectionals, one step closer to the State meet! The team finished 6th out of 24 teams—an incredible accomplishment!

🏊‍♂️ Boys Swimming:
At the Wisconsin Invite, Keegan Cook was crowned Diving Champion, while Adrian Villafan placed 6th. Ryan Schutz led the swimmers, placing 3rd in the 50 Free and 4th in the 100 Free. Several swimmers also hit personal bests, contributing to a top 10 team finish!

📣 Cheerleading:
Our Cheer Team delivered their best performance of the season at IHSA Sectionals! After overcoming challenges at the NSC Conference Meet, they put in a focused week of preparation and performed an amazing routine in front of a packed gym. Though they narrowly missed qualifying for IHSA State by less than 3 points, their passion, growth, and determination have set the bar high for the program’s future! Let’s celebrate our Zee-Bees and cheer them on as they continue competing in the IHSA State Series in the coming weeks!

ZBTHS, in collaboration with the Zion Park District, proudly celebrates the achievements and contributions of African Americans making a difference.

Enjoy an afternoon filled with singing, dancing, poetry, guest speakers, and surprise entertainers! Plus, lunch will be provided.

Don’t miss out—bring the family and be part of something great! For more info, contact David B. Osborne, Sr. at 847-746-5919 or visit ZionParkDistrict.com.