Parent Letter

August 1, 2024

Dear Parents/Guardians:

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! This year, we are focusing on the theme "Juntos" or "Together", emphasizing the importance of unity and connection within the Mundelein High School community. This theme recognizes that learning and growth are fundamentally social experiences that thrive when students, teachers, and staff collaborate and support one another. Being together and present is essential to learning because it fosters engagement, promotes active participation, and allows for the exchange of ideas and perspectives. When students are fully present, both physically and mentally, they can better absorb information, participate in discussions, and develop critical thinking skills through interactions with peers and teachers.

The power of togetherness in a school and community extends beyond academics. It creates a sense of belonging, builds empathy, and prepares students for future collaborative environments. It reinforces our Portrait of a Learner, ASPIRE, by emphasizing the need for students to work together, learn valuable social skills, develop emotional intelligence, and create lasting relationships that enrich their high school experience. It also supports our new cell phone expectations by enhancing our sense of togetherness. By reducing distractions and encouraging face-to-face interactions, these measures help cultivate more meaningful experiences and relationships. This aligns with the essence of what high school should be about - not just academic learning, but also personal growth, social development, and the formation of a strong community.

I hope this year’s theme reminds everyone at Mundelein High School that they are part of something larger than themselves. It encourages students to support one another, engage fully in their educational journey, and contribute positively to their school community. This collective approach can lead to a more vibrant, supportive, and successful learning environment for all.

In order to prepare for the school year ahead, see below for important information regarding back-to-school readiness. As the year unfolds, I will continue to send out important information each Friday via the weekly Principal’s Blog.

If you have any questions, please call the Main Office at 847-949-2200.

Go Mustangs!

Sincerely,

Dr. Alexandria Rios Taylor

Principal

847-949-2200 x1257

ataylor@d120.org

Important Dates

Aug 1 - Yearbook Pickup

Aug 3 - Back-to-School Resource Fair

Aug 7 - Transfer Student Orientation (10th-12th Grade), 2pm

Aug 7 - New Student Parent Night, 6pm in Auditorium

Aug 8 - Freshman Orientation, 8:40 am - 1:50pm

Aug 14 - First Day of School

Aug 12 - Start of fall sports

Aug 16 - Activity & Athletic Fair, during lunch periods

Aug 16 - Back to School Bash, 6:30-9pm

Aug 19 - Fall Sport Parent Night, 7pm Main Gym

Aug 29 - Open House, 5:30-8:30pm in Auditorium

Sep 2 - No School (National Holiday)

Sep 11 - Picture Day

Sep 20 - Late Start, classes begin at 9:40am

Sep 27 - Early dismissal, 12:30pm (Homecoming Parade)

Oct 2 & 3 - Parent Teacher Conference

Back to School A-Z

Athletics

All fall athletic information will be posted at the www.d120.org website under the Athletics tab. Fall Sports begin August 12. All parents of students participating in a fall sport should attend Fall Sport Parent Night on August 19 at 7pm in the Main Gym. Registration for Fall Sports will need to be completed before a student athlete can try out for a sport. Contact Susan Frew in the athletic office at sfrew@d120.org or call 847-949-2200 extension 1340 for more information. A current physical must be submitted to the nurse’s office that states that the student athlete is cleared to participate in sports. A physical is good for 395 days. Physicals may be scheduled:

Target Minute Clinic, no insurance required. C- 866-389-2727
Dr. Lawrence Amato M.D, 1170 E. Belvidere Rd., #202, Grayslake, C-847-566-0300.

Back-to-School Resource Fair

MHS is hosting a community Back-to-School Resource Fair on Saturday, August 3 from 10am-1pm.. Click on the links for more information in English and Español.

Bell Schedule and Calendars

A District calendar can be found at https://www.d120.org/events/ along with a copy of the bell schedule which features late student arrival.

Bus Routes

Bus routes will be emailed to families by Monday, August 5.

Cell Phones

Mundelein High School is implementing new cell phone expectations to promote a more focused learning environment. The new expectations require students to store their phones during instructional periods yet allows use during specific times like lunch and passing periods. Click on our July letter (English / Español) for more information.

Drop-off and pick-up

Students should enter school through the main entrance or the west entrance. Drop-off and pick-up of students by car occurs only in the east parking lot and stadium parking lot. Cars that enter southbound off of Midlothian will exit southbound back on Midlothian. Cars that enter off of Hawley will exit on to Hawley. The west and north parking lots are not for student parking or drop-off/pick-up.

Financial Assistance

School Fee Waiver/Free & Reduced Meal Program

Mundelein High School offers an application to waive or reduce your child’s school fees. Families may also apply for Free or Reduced Meals (Breakfast and Lunch) at any time during the school year. Eligibility is based on family income per the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines. ALL household members that receive ANY type of compensation (full-time employment, part-time employment, unemployment, alimony, child support, social security, workman’s compensation, etc.) must report the gross (before taxes) income amount. If you wish to have your child’s school year registration and meal fees waived or reduced to 40% of the applicable full fee values, you must submit the application (English / Español) to the Main Office including the income documentation required. For more information, contact Silvia Torres at 847-949-2200 Ext. 1488.

Freshman Advisory Mundelein (FAM)

All 9th grade students will meet with their Freshman Advisory teacher on the first day of school during the first half of their lunch period. Freshmen should go to the room indicated on their schedule during their lunch period.

Freshman Orientation / New Student Orientation

All new students will attend a very special orientation on Thursday, August 8 from 8:40am-1:50pm. You will receive more information on bus routes if your child is assigned a bus during the school year. Parents are welcome to drop their students off at the main entrance. All guardians should have received THIS letter via email. Reach out to linkcrew@d120.org if you have not received the parent letter. More information can be found here.

Health Requirements

All Freshman (9th graders): Prior to the start of this school year, all 9th grade students must have a completed school health examination (not a sports physical) with a full list of immunizations that show proof of having two (2) doses of the varicella vaccine or documented proof of having the disease (chicken pox) and a dental exam.

All 12th grade students: Prior to the start of this school year, all 12th graders must show proof of having received the 2nd meningococcal vaccine. All students must show proof of having two (2) doses of mumps and rubella vaccine. (This will show as two MMR’s –measles, mumps, rubella- on their vaccine record). Please check your child’s vaccine records. If a vaccine is needed, provide the nurse’s office with documentation that the vaccination was given. For updated information, please view the MHS Nurses’ webpage: https://www.d120.org/activities/health-services/

Lockers

Lockers are available to be assigned for the upcoming school year. Please visit this link if you would like to reserve a locker.

Meals & Prepayment

Quest Food Management Services provides breakfast and lunch options for our students. Click here if you would like to create an account so that your student does not have to use cash. Students can then use their ID cards to pay for lunch, if funds have been placed into the account.

New Student Parent Night

Parents of incoming freshmen and transfer/new students are invited to attend parent night at MHS on August 7th at 6:00pm. Parents will receive an overview of MHS. Students are not required to attend.

Open House

Save the date to meet our faculty and administrative team on August 29, 2024 from 5:30-8:30pm in the Auditorium.

Parking Passes

All parking passes for the upcoming school year have been assigned. There are no passes available for the 2024-2025 school year. Email Joe Lendino at jlendino@d120.org for more information.

PowerSchool

Power School is an essential tool for parents, students, and staff members at MHS. Many parents have found their access to real-time attendance and grades very beneficial in becoming more involved in their child’s educational process. Power School passwords are the same for parents of returning students. Passwords for new students and incoming freshmen will be mailed home prior to Open House.

Registration

All students must register each year. For more information about your student's specific registration requirements, please visit our registration page.

General Registration: Patty DeLozier 847-949-2700 Ext. 2014

Transfer Student Registration: Sylvana Sette 847-949-2200 Ext. 1495

School Supplies

The following school supplies are recommended for all students.

Calculator
Colored folder or binders
Highlighters
Pens and pencils
2 notebooks
Earbuds or headphones (wired)

Student Schedules

All student course schedules will be emailed by August 6 for students who have completed the registration process. If your child has not received a class schedule, the child may not be registered or registration is incomplete. For registration questions, please call Patty DeLozier, (847) 949-2700 ext. 2014. For questions regarding student schedules, please call the MHS Guidance Department (847) 949-2200 ext. 1257.

Technology Campus

Classes at Lake County High Schools Technology Campus begin on August 19, 2024. If your child is attending Tech Campus this year, you will receive a letter from Mr. Buenik, Guidance Department Chair. Please contact Mr. Buenik at 847-949-2200 ext. 1262 if you have any questions.

Transfer Student Orientation

10th-12th grade transfer students can attend a special transfer student orientation on Wednesday, August 7 at 2:00PM.

Underclass Yearbook Photos

Picture day is Wednesday, September 11 for all sophomores, juniors and any freshman not photographed during new student orientation. A retake and senior “yearbook only” day will take place October 23. Access the VIP ordering instructions here.

Yearbook Pickup

Yearbook pick-up is available in the school bookstore beginning August 1. More information can be found at https://www.d120.org/yearbook-pick-up2/