Friday, January 29, 2016

State Accountability Testing This Spring

Each spring, MHS participates in state accountability testing.  PARCC is a multiple test assessment used by the state of Illinois in the spring of each school year.  The PARCC exam is provided by the state free of charge.  Students who were/are enrolled in English 1 / Honors English 1 and Algebra 1 during the 2015-2016 school year will be PARCC tested.

In addition, MHS has recognized the importance of every student taking the ACT college admissions test.  By receiving an ACT score, each MHS student has the necessary ticket to college.  The ACT test is free to all 3rd year students.

PARCC and ACT testing days are described below:

MHS will continue to send testing information out during the next month either through this blog, on the D120 website, or via MHS email blasts.

Announcements


Paper Towel Drive run by MHS Students
The Lake County Haven is a local social-service shelter, providing education, life skills, employment, and meeting the needs of homeless women and children. The goal of this organization is to help struggling families become independent and self sustainable. Their vision is to make sure everyone gets back on their feet and never has to face homelessness again. The Lake County Haven need our help. Paper towel is a key component into sustaining the cleanliness of their guests, and it is an easy, thoughtful way to make a lasting impact in our community.

Mundelein High School will be having a paper towel drive during the week of January 25 til January 29, all donations will be given to the Lake County Haven. There will be a drop off box in the front of the school, located next to the security desk, and we ask that people bring new and wrapped paper towel. We hope everyone will participate!

Calendar reminders
Tuesday, February 2: “C” Schedule. Student dismissal at 11:00am
Wednesday, February 3: “E” Schedule. Student dismissal at 1:40pm
Parent Teacher Conferences. Walk ins: 2:10-4:30pm. Scheduled: 5:30-8:00pm
Thursday, February 4: “F” Schedule. Classes begin at 9:25am
Monday, February 15: President’s Day-No School
Tuesday, February 16: Teacher Institute Day-No School


Information Streams
Twitter is an easy way for parents and students to get information about different aspects of MHS.  Below is a list of all the Twitter accounts used throughout the building.  Feel free to follow these Twitter handles to get a great amount of MHS news and information.

Twitter
Dr. Kroll (Principal):  @MHS_Principal
Athletics:  @Go_MHS_Mustangs
NHS: @MundeleinNHS
Dance: @Mundeleindance
Byte Club (Mr. Farmer): @mhsbyte
Football: @MundFootball, @MHSMustangFB
Choir: @mundeleinchoir
FBLA: @FBLAMundelein
Wrestling: @coachstewart8
Girls Track: @MHSGirlsT_F
Guidance: @TBuenik – Counseling news
Swimming: @MundAquatics
Media Center: @MHSMediaCenter
Orchesis: @MHSOrchesis
AVID: @MHSAVID
Newspaper: @mhsnewseditors
Mr. Bale (Art): @MHSBale
Ms. Behrens:  @justreadbehrens      
Mrs. Brongiel(girls gymnastics): @jmoderhack
Mr. Gaughan:  @pagaughan
Assistant Principal (Mr. Tirado):  @MrTirado_MHS
Ms. Rodriguez:@ MsRodriguezMHS
Mr. Kapatos: @exploremyths
Mrs. Serby: @kserby
Mrs. Teuber: @mteuberjustread
Ms. Bray: @senorabray
Ms. Upchurch: @jupchurch120
Dr. Myers (Superintendent): @MHSSUPT
Mr. Evans: @evan2003brian
Ms. Gully: @CgullyGully
Ms. Lopez: @MHSCounselLopez
Ms. Schaefer: @MT_Schaef


Activities


MHS Theatre to present Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Picnic
It may be winter in Mundelein, but on stage at Mundelein High School, it will be a sultry Labor Day in 1953 Kansas, as MHS Theatre presents Picnic, by William Inge. This Pulitzer Prize-winning romantic drama will be performed on February 4, 5 and 6 at 7 p.m. in the MHS Auditorium.  An after-school matinee will be performed February 5 at 3:45 p.m., which is free for MHS students and there will also be a 3 p.m. show on February 6, which will be performed by the Picnic understudy cast. Tickets are a recommended donation of $5 for students and seniors and $7 for adults. Tickets can be reserved by visiting the theatre website at www.mhstheatre.net, or purchased at the door 30 minutes prior to each performance.

MHS Theatre Winter play, Picnic:  Marisa Nuzzo and Brenden Paul rehearse for the upcoming Winter Play.
Picnic takes place on a warm Labor Day weekend as Flo Owens and her two daughters, Madge and Millie, prepare for the town’s Labor Day picnic. Into this female atmosphere comes a handsome young drifter, Hal Carter, who rocks the world of this family, as well as the rest of the inhabitants of this small Kansas town. Who will fight to preserve their way of life and who will risk everything to follow their dreams? Inge’s tender, lyrical play explores the themes of love, morality and following one’s heart.

“I fell for the work of William Inge when I acted in one of his plays in college,” said Jonathan Meier, the play’s director. “I think Inge is underrated as a playwright. For my money, he should be mentioned in the same breath as Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller and Eugene O’Neal.”
Meier has been studying this play and this author extensively,  as the show was his thesis production to complete a Master of Arts in Directing from the Chicago Conservatory of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University in Chicago.  “I have always been drawn to these types of plays and these types of characters,” continued Meier.  “On the surface they seem to be simple, Midwest, salt-of-the-earth folks. But deep down they are brimming with hopes, dreams and passions.”

Leading the cast are Payton Cousins (Flo), Marisa Nuzzo (Madge), Ginny Zundel (Millie) and Brenden Paul (Hal). Rounding out the cast are Gina Otrembiak, Rygar Carvajal, Emily Parduhn, Emma Roswick, Thomas Ferro, Hannah Weiss, and Joey Salit.  Assistant Directors are Angela Peterson and Karsen Sample.  The Stage Manager is Josie David. The understudies for Picnic are Jenna Panos, Robbie Iraburo-Cochran, Halli Carpender, Joe Dolff, Sheridan Hurtig, Ella Krauss, Annie McGrath, Dominic Cappuccilli, Jasmine Cuasay, Maddie Martorana and Jake Cumberland.

Continuing their tradition of selecting a community engagement partner for each of their shows, MHS Theatre has chosen the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation for Picnic. Donations for JDRF will be accepted at each performance.

Athletics


Post Season Competition
As the winter sport season starts to come to an end there’s still time to watch some of the final events of the season.

Friday, January 29 and 30 - Dance team at Bloomington, IL for State Competition
Friday, January 29 and 39 - Varsity Wrestling at Wauconda for NSC Championship
Friday, January 29 - Varsity Boys Basketball Alumni Weekend Celebration @ game.
Saturday, January 30 - Varsity Cheer at Lake Zurich for Sectionals
Saturday, January 30 - JV Girls Gymnastics at Vernon Hills for Prairie/Lake Invite
Saturday, January 30 - JV Wrestling at Zion for Prairie/Lake Invite
Tuesday, February 2 - Girls Basketball Senior Night
Thursday, February 4 - Mundelein will host Regionals for Girls Gymnastics

Good luck to all our teams and Go Mustangs!


Photographs from the Week:


The Lady Mustangs basketball team huddles together before their annual breast cancer game on Jan. 26. The girls fought a hard battle but fell short in the end against Lake Zurich. Senior Caitlin Pieklo said, “It was special because a lot of us have personally been affected by breast cancer. Also, we just loved that we could give back and help support such a great cause.”




MHS Jazz Ensemble plays at IMEA in Peoria!





MHS Dance Team leaving for STATE Competition!


Eric Kozokar ‘16 and Ryan Fairweather ‘16 weight lift after a tough swim practice in the newly renovated weight room pm Jan. 27. The team is trying to build up all the strength work and stamina they can before tapering and resting for the championship meet in a few weeks. 


MHS Principal Anthony Kroll gives a speech to the new incoming freshmen and parents. On Jan. 25, Dr. Kroll talked about the importance of a chromebook and informed the future freshmen on where to go if they ever run into problems. “In the event your chromebook has any problems, we have a tech support internship that can troubleshoot and repair student chromebooks.”

Diana Guliyeva ‘16 talks to students about joining orchesis at Curriculum Night. “It was so much fun advertising orchesis for students because I wanted more people to know that this club is very welcoming and friendly,” said Guliyeva

While walking to fourth period from the B wing, Cayce Parker ‘19 has her track bag in hand. Parker has been training for the upcoming track season for the last couple weeks. She said, “My extra backpack is for track and I’m very excited for this season!”

Aimee Raebler ‘16 studies for her entrepreneurship test in homeroom in hopes of getting a really good grade. While she reviewed her notes, she collaborated with other students on what was going to be on the exam. Raebler said, “I should be fine [after studying this hard.]”


Staff Spot Light


Melissa Sethna - Reading Specialist & Literacy Coach

What are your hobbies/interests? –  When I am not teaching, I love to workout, spend time with my family, and read, read, read!
       
Insider tip for parents – MHS has so many activities, clubs, and sports for students to join.  I would encourage your child to find something that they want to get involved in.  My favorite?  If they like the water – we have awesome aquatics programs (swimming, diving, and water polo!)
Best part of working at MHS? – I love the staff and students that I work with on a daily basis.  Our staff is so creative and willing to take risks to help students grow and learn.

You may not know… that I used to work at all three Disney World water parks (River Country, Typhoon Lagoon, and Blizzard Beach) before I officially started teaching full time.  I am a huge Disney fan and started working there through a college internship program.
What college/university did you attend? I received my Bachelors in Elementary Education from University of Illinois and my Masters in Reading from Illinois State University.
How long have you worked at MHS? –  This is my 8th year teaching at MHS, but I coached girls diving for nine years before I started teaching here.

Who or what inspires you? – This may sound corny, but I am truly inspired by the teachers I work with every day. They inspire me to reflect on my own practices and continue to grow as a teacher as well. 

What is your favorite part of your job? The best part of my job is supporting teachers when they need help on lessons, technology, classroom management, etc.  I also love helping students find books that will spark their interest in reading again. 

Good book recommendation? – I am currently reading The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, but my absolute favorite book from 2015 is All American Boys by Brendan Kiely and Jason Reynolds. #mustread


Friday, January 22, 2016

January 22 - Mustang News!

Announcements


Parent/Teacher Conferences February 3 - Online appointments begin January 29
 Mundelein High School will hold Parent/Teacher Conferences Wednesday, February 3. The first session will take place from 2:10 to 4:30 p.m. on a walk-in basis. No appointment is needed for these 10-minute meetings.

The second session will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. by appointment only. Parents and guardians may begin making appointments online at 8 a.m. on Friday, January 29. The registration will continue, 24 hours a day, until noon on Tuesday, February 2. The online address for appointments will be available on the school’s website at www.d120.org.

During the conference period, parents may also pick up their children’s progress reports for the first four weeks of Term 3.

Students will be dismissed at 1:40 p.m. on February 3. A late start is scheduled for February 4 with student attendance beginning at 9:25 a.m.


Photographs from the Week:

George Kostantinidis, senior, goes up to the table before stepping on to the mat for an intense match on January 16 at Grant High School. (Photo taken by Jenny Rojo)

Mr. Heidner's homeroom hard at work and hanging out with friends before second period. (Photo taken by Morgan Albertsen)

Madison Davis, senior,  takes notes during her AP Biology class (Photo taken by Courtney Wuss)

Tara Martin, freshman, holds perfect form on the beam at the gymnastics meet hosted by MHS (Photo taken by Ashley Nensel)

Taylor Shanahan, junior, focuses on executing her beam routine at the gymnastics meet hosted by MHS (Photo taken by Ashley Nensel) 

Show Choir waits anxiously onstage to accept their award at their competition (Photo taken by Zach Levy) 

Jack Kekstadt, senior, squeezes in a little study time before class starts (Photo taken by Jordyn Baim)


Recognition


Term 2 Honor Roll
Mundelein High School has announced the names of the students who earned a place on the Honor Roll for Term 2. Congratulations!  Click HERE to see each student’s name.

Mundelein High School’s SoundFX makes history at Chocolate City Showcase
Mundelein High School’s show choirs, Sound[mixed choir], Lights[all-female choir] and SoundFX [all-male choir] competed in the “Prep” division, at the Burlington Chocolate City Showcase in Burlington, WI where SoundFX won the division. All of the high school groups were eligible for the evening finals, and SoundFX and Sound advanced. It was the first time in the 11-year history of SoundFX that they have made the final round of a competition. At the end of the night, Sound was named fifth runner-up, and SoundFX took first runner-up honors. In addition, Bella Canela won best female soloist of the prep division, and Dominic Cappuccilli won best male soloist of the prep division.  Way to go Mustangs!


Four MHS musicians chosen for All-State Music Festival
Four Mundelein High School student musicians have been selected to participate in the All-State Music Festival from January 28-30 to be held in Peoria.  In order to earn this accomplishment, the students auditioned into the top chairs of the competitive District VII and were selected to represent the district in the All-State festival. The students selected are:

Henry Carpender – Jazz Trombone; Paige Eifert – Orchestra Trumpet; Gabe Martinez – Band Steven Surmin – Band Euphonium.
Henry Carpender

Gabe Martinez

Paige Eifert

Steven Surmin






Activities


Winter Play - Picnic
It may be winter in Mundelein, but on stage at Mundelein high School, it will be a sultry Labor Day in 1953 Kansas, as MHS Theatre presents Picnic, by William Inge. This Pulitzer Prize winning romantic drama will be performed on February 4,5 and 6 at 7pm in the MHS Auditorium. There is an after-school matinee on February 5 at 3:45pm, which is free for MHS students, as well as a 3 pm show on February 6, which  will be performed by the Picnic understudy cast. Tickets are recommended donation of $5 for students and seniors and $7 for adults. Tickets can be reserved by visiting  the theatre website at www.mhstheatre.net, or purchased at the door 30 minutes prior to each performance.


College and Career Center


ZAPS Test-Prep Seminars in Your Area
ACT
Mundelein High School
Room A102 Wednesday & Thursday, February 10 & 11, 2016
3:30 PM - 6:00 PM
$89.99

Click HERE to register or call 877-927-8378.

Career of the Week:

Audiologist (Doctor of Audiology)

Overview
Audiology is the science of hearing, balance and related disorders. Audiologists are experts in the non-medical diagnosis and management of disorders of the auditory and balance systems. They specialize in:
·   Identifying and assessing hearing and balance problems
·   Rehabilitating persons with hearing and balance disorders
·   Preventing hearing loss

Clinical audiologists work in a variety of settings and can specialize in pediatrics, geriatrics, balance, cochlear implants, hearing aids, tinnitus and auditory processing, among other issues. Audiologists provide a number of services including:
·   Evaluating hearing
·   Counseling patients and their families and caregivers
·   Fitting hearing aids
·   Evaluating and treating balance disorders
·   Determining an individual’s need for assistive devices
·   Teaching communication strategies, including speech reading

SALARY:  $61,000 - $96,000

YEARS IN SCHOOL:  8

JOB OUTLOOK:  Excellent

Where is a good place to earn this degree?

University of Iowa
Students accepted into the audiology program at the University of Iowa will receive their degree from The Department of Communication and Disorders, which has been training students and serving clients with speech, language and hearing disorders for more than 60 years. The graduate programs in Speech Pathology and Audiology are ranked #1 and #2 and offer degrees in Master of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology, Clinical Doctorate in Audiology, Doctor of Philosophy, and a combined Au.D./Ph.D.

Athletics

Sectional Play
The following teams will be competing  this week at Sectionals and the North Suburban Conference (NSC) Championships events.  We wish all our teams success!

Saturday, 1/23 the Varsity Dance Team will be at Huntley High School for Sectionals.

Sunday, 1/24 the Varsity and JV Cheer Teams will be at Antioch High School for the NSC Championship.

Thursday, 1/28 the Varsity Girls Gymnastics will be at Stevenson High School for the NSC Championship.

Good luck teams and Go Mustangs!


Girls Lacrosse
On Tuesday, January 19, the District 120 Board of Education voted to accept the athletic director’s
Timothy White from MacLean-Fogg presents Jessica Upchurch with a check for $2500 for Girls Lacrosse uniforms.
recommendation to start a girls lacrosse program THIS SPRING!  This is an emerging IHSA sport and within the North Suburban Conference.  Over the past year, MHS has seen an increase in the interest in girls wishing to participate in this sport.  MHS will start this season with a JV level and rollout a Varsity level in the spring of 2017.

A special thank you to Mr. Timothy White and local business MacLean-Fogg for their generous donation of $2500 to buy uniforms for GLAX!


Staff Spot Light


Angela Stanisz - World Language Teacher



What are your hobbies/interests? –  Traveling, cooking and spending quality time with my family.
     
Insider tip for parents – Make sure to talk to your student on a daily basis and to keep communication open with the teacher.

Best part of working at MHS? – Interacting with the students on a daily basis and helping them accomplish their goals.

You may not know…In addition to Spanish, I also speak Italian.  Both of my parents are from Sicily and came to the US as teenagers.

What college/university did you attend? Illinois State University

How long have you worked at MHS? – 12 years.  MHS was my first job out of college.

Who or what inspires you? – My children and my students inspire me to be the best that I can be and to be grateful for all that I have.

What is your favorite part of your job?  Collaborating with my colleagues regularly; I am extremely lucky to have such wonderful co-workers.

Good book recommendation? – With two young children, I am mainly reading Children’s books.  Some of our favorite authors are Richard Scary and Mo Willems.

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Class of 2020 In The House!

On Tuesday night, MHS welcomed the next class of students.  The Class of 2020 was greeted by LinkCrew leaders and the drumline to start the transition from Eagles, Tigers, Spirits, and Wildcats to Mustangs!  Guests learned about the curricular program, athletic and extracurricular activities,  communication streams, information about the new STEAM building and were treated to free pizza from the MHS food service.

MHS is excited to have this new class of students join our halls!  See you in August!


One of several music quartets playing for the Class of 2020!
District 120 Supt. Kevin Myers & Maverick welcome visitors.

Families stream in for Class of 2020 Night!

Mr. Lagioia, Social Studies Dept. Chair and Mr. McCarthy, AP World History Teacher

Show Choir shows off their new program to the Class of 2020!

LinkCrew leaders talking with 8th grade students.

Announcements


Calendar Reminders
Tuesday, February 2 - Schedule “C”. Student dismissal at 11:00am.
Wednesday, February 3 - Schedule “E”. Student dismissal at 1:40pm.
Thursday, February 4 - Schedule “F”. Classes begin at 9:25am.

Parent Teacher Conferences
Parent Teacher Conferences will take place on Wednesday, February 3. We strongly encourage you and your son/daughter to attend these conferences. Our students are the key players in their own educational process, and we invite them to be a part of the conversations about their performance.

From 2:10 – 4:30 pm, teachers are available for walk-in conferences on a first come, first served basis. From 5:30 – 8:00 pm, teachers meet with parents who have made an appointment. To sign up for an appointment, go to www.d120.org and follow the PickATime link on the home page. You may register anytime between 8:00 am on Friday, January 29 through 12:00 pm on Tuesday, February 2. There are limited conference slots for each teacher. All conferences are 10 minutes long.

New this winter, parents may also request a conference with their child's counselor, social worker, or case manager.

If you are unable to attend these conferences, but would like to discuss your child’s academic performance, please call the teachers at 847-949-2200 and we will connect you to the appropriate extension.

Recognition

Math Team Dominate!
Math Team took 1st place at Grant Invite before break on December 5.  The team consisted of Mitchell Zaprazalka, Sara Angelbeck, and Kevin Fung. Congratulations to the Math Team!


Don Owens works with MHS Jazz Ensemble
Jazz Ensemble works with professional musician
MHS Jazz Ensemble had a great opportunity to work with Don Owens professional jazz musician on January 11. He, along with 3 other professional jazz musicians work to helped prepare the MHS jazz ensemble for their upcoming performance at the Illinois Music Education Conference later this month.







Illinois High School Theatre Festival
MHS Theatre travelled to Illinois State University to attend the Illinois High School Theatre Festival. Over 5,000 participants from 173 school attended the festival. Students had a choice to attend over 200 workshops and dozens of productions. Several students auditioned for over 30 colleges theatre programs. Once again, the students of MHS theatre exhibited exemplary behavior and did their school and community proud. A special congratulations to junior Thomas Ferro, who was selected from a state-wide audition to be part of the All-State production of Rent. Way to go, Thomas!





Running Mustangs!
Congratulations to English teacher Ryan Buck for running his first 50k run and to music teacher Cory Thompson for running her first marathon last weekend.  Ryan ran for over 7 hours and took 4 place of 13 in his age group.  Cory raised $10k for charity as part of her training!  Way to go Mr. Buck and Mrs. Thompson!
Mr. Buck

Mrs. Thompson




Activities


Jazz musicians ready for Winter Jazz Concert
There will be music in the air Friday evening, January 15, as the four Mundelein High School jazz groups present their Winter Jazz Concert in the MHS Auditorium beginning at 7 p.m. Jerald Shelato and Andy Sturgeon direct the groups in the free concert.

The Jazz Lab Band will perform Bye Bye Blackbird, All Blues and the Duke Ellington hit, Limbo Jazz.  Next, the Jazz Workshop will play Flight of the Foo Birds, Filling in for The Count and Sideways Walking Dog. The Jazz Orchestra will offer Dat Dere, The Jive Samba, Greasin’ the Skids and the Cole Porter hit I’ve Got You Under My Skin. Closing out the concert, the award-winning Jazz Ensemble will perform King Kong, Memphis Blues, Indian Lady and the George Gershwin favorite, I Got Rhythm. Each of the jazz bands will feature soloists in the performances.



College and Career Center


Attention Students and Parents:  Have you checked out the Career Clusters on Naviance?

Career clusters are a way of grouping careers with common features and skills. Careers grouped into the same cluster typically require similar education and training. Exploring clusters can be a useful way to find a good career match, especially if you have general areas of interest but are not sure what specific careers match those interests. Career clusters can also help you better understand how your coursework in school can prepare you for certain types of careers

Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources


Overview
The Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Career Cluster is divided into seven pathways. Pathways are grouped by common knowledge and skills required of occupations in these career fields. Each pathway provides instruction as a basis for success in an array of careers and educational pursuits.

This diverse Career Cluster prepares learners for careers in the planning, implementation, production, management, processing, and/or marketing of agricultural commodities and services, including food, fiber, wood products, natural resources, horticulture, and other plant and animal products. It also includes related professional, technical and educational services.

Employment Outlook
Employment opportunities will continue to increase for those who provide and market an expanding array of food, forest, and veterinary medical consumer products to a growing world population. Continued globalization of the food, agricultural and natural resources system will increase opportunities for graduates who understand the socio-economic factors that define international markets. Graduates who know how to satisfy the diverse consumer needs and preferences in different cultures, and who have the language skills to communicate effectively, will have the best opportunities to be employed by the growing number of multinational businesses.


Athletics

The Girls’ and Boys’ Lacrosse teams at MHS are starting our Annual Super Bowl Pizza Fundraiser this week. Pizza  cost between $12.75 - $14.75 and are handmade & delivered by our MHS Lacrosse teams. Orders are due by Wednesday, January 27.


Staff Spot Light


Jessie Piland - Social Studies Teacher and Boys Gymnastics Coach


What are your hobbies/interests? –  Playing Soccer, Mountain biking, Camping, hanging out with my kids and wife.
     
Insider tip for parents –  There are multiple resources and information posted on my online classroom on Canvas.  I would influence parents to keep their eye on that to know what is going on in my class.

Best part of working at MHS? – The people in my department and my department chair are all very fun, supportive, and great to be around.  We really have a lot of fun.

You many not know… You would definitely want me on your trivia team if the category was popular and rock and roll music trivia.

What college/university did you attend? Illinois State University for undergrad, National Louis for my education certificate, and Roosevelt University for my ESL endorsement.

How long have you worked at MHS? –  I worked at MHS for 8 years as an Instructional Aid and a coach, and this is my first year as a teacher.

Who or what inspires you? – My wife is smart, successful, and supportive.  She inspires me every day.  My daughters Lucy and Layla inspire me to do my best.

What is your favorite part of your job? Being surrounded by students and colleagues that are all about the community of Mundelein, and I’ve always looked good in red and gray.

Good book recommendation? – Devil in the White City was one of the greatest accumulations of research I have ever read. Then, the author disappears and writes the story in a way that makes you think you are reading a piece of fiction. Excellent!



Thursday, January 7, 2016

MHS English instructor publishes iBook about Mythology

When Alexander Kapotas was in third grade his teacher brought the class to the library to check out a book. He wandered the stacks and shelves and found a book with the words GREEK MYTHS on the spine. It was the D’Aulaires children’s classic. From the moment he opened the cover, he
was mesmerized.

Kapotas, an English instructor at Mundelein High School, has come full circle from that first reading experience to becoming the author of a recently-released iBook, The Gods of Olympus:  An Interactive Experience.
Kapotas began teaching at MHS in 1998 and six years later he was asked to teach the Mythology course.  “My enthusiasm met instantly with reality:  not every teenager shares my excitement about mythology,” Kapotas said. “I couldn’t ‘tell’ them that the study of mythology had tremendous purpose and value … I had to ‘show’ them … and that’s how the seeds of the book were planted.”

The book is meant to be used as a textbook  for students who are studying Mythology. Kapotas was insistent that the book be visually appealing and also interactive. It includes maps, galleries, trivia facts and many other ways for students to explore more beyond what is required in a class. The book also provides fun facts, a review of material covered and  “Did You Know” sections in each chapter.

Alexander Kapotas on a trip to Greece with two MHS graduates, Ryan Morris and Melissa Rivi, Class of 2014.
There is an array of visuals throughout the text along with questions provided by teachers in order for students to help understand the subject.  The book also includes photos from student groups, personal and class trips that include New York , Chicago, Greece, Paris and many others. These aspects of the book again come from Kapotas’ own early experience with Mythology.

“I absorbed every bit of mythology I could get my hands on when I was first exposed to it. Soon after, I began to see the gods, heroes, beasts and plotlines of mythology in my favorite books, songs and films,” Kapotas revealed. “My knowledge of mythology unlocked the meaning behind works of art and architecture. I got really good at quiz shows and board games, and worked out a deal with my senior-year English teacher to subtly correct her inaccuracies.”

This ability to understand modern-day references to Mythology is something Kapotas passes on to his students and also includes in the book. Some may consider the study of Mythology to be challenging, but once it is made relevant to so many modern-day experiences, Kapotas is able to see students come alive with interest in how Mythology is around us all the time.

The book is currently available through the iBookstore for an introductory cost of $9.99 and may be viewed on ios devices, iPad and iPhone.  A sample of the book is also viewable on Twitter @exploremythology.

Recognition


MHS Seniors selected for Lake County Daily Herald Leadership Team & Honorable Mention


MHS Senior Vivian Lee has been selected to the 2015-2016 Lake County Daily Herald Leadership Team. The Leadership Team recognizes high school students who excel in volunteerism and community service. The 10 team members representing Lake County high schools will be featured in a special edition of the Daily Herald's Neighbor section Thursday, January 14. The section will feature profiles of the winning team members along with the honorable mentions.

"You were nominated by your high school for your outstanding work with volunteer and community organizations and for the leadership you have shown in those endeavors," said Renee Trappe, assistant managing editor of the Daily Herald. "A panel of judges selected the Team from a number of high school students in Lake County," she explained.


MHS Senior Kylie Belle Hecht has been selected as an Honorable Mention to the 2015-2016 Lake County Daily Herald Leadership Team. The Leadership Team recognizes high school students who excel in volunteerism and community service. The 10 team members representing Lake County high schools will be featured in a special edition of the Daily Herald's Neighbor section Thursday, Jan. 14. The section will feature profiles of the winning team members along with the honorable mentions.






Wilhelm to be inducted into Sports Hall of Fame

Mundelein High School Athletic Director, Perry Wilhelm, will be inducted into the Lake County High School Sports Hall of Fame Saturday, February 6, at the College of Lake County. The ceremony will take place between the women’s/men’s basketball double-header at which begins at 1 p.m.

The Lake County High School Sports Hall of Fame was begun in 1997 by the Keith Ryan Scholarship Committee to recognize and honor individuals for their contributions to their high schools and communities. Its purpose is to provide present and future students with a sense of the rich tradition and heritage of high school athletics and to promote the accomplishments of the school to the outside community.

Once a person is nominated, his/her qualifications will be reviewed based on the following:  must be a Lake County high school graduate, named to an All-Chicago Area Team or Higher, earned a place in their sport’s state meet/tourney, achieved noteworthy career accomplishments unrelated to athletic participation and named to a Hall of Fame in their sport.

Wilhelm, a 1976 graduate of Mundelein High School, coached softball, basketball, football, soccer and tennis during his tenure at MHS. He earned 10 regional titles in girls basketball, softball and boys basketball, sectional titles in softball along with an Elite 8 finish. Wilhelm also was named Division 2 Athletic Director of the Year by the Illinois Athletic Directors Association in 2013. This award is presented based on peer nominations.

Wilhelm, who will retire from his position at Mundelein High School in June, is the tenth person from MHS to be inducted into this Hall of Fame.

“This recognition speaks highly of Perry’s influence in athletics from the time he was in school at MHS and throughout his successful career,” said Anthony Kroll, MHS principal. “We appreciate all of the contributions he has made to our athletic programs and especially to our students.”

MHS students work with DREAM Team Gamma @ Sandburg Middle School
Well, DREAM Team Gamma, D75 Robotics' all-girl team qualified for State last month in Lake Forest.  The 6 girl team range from 6th-8th graders rocked the event with precision robot (2nd highest point total) competition, a solution presentation that wowed the judges and their fun, relaxed spirit that won them the Core Values Award.  Now Team Gamma is headin' to State!

MHS provided student leadership as mentors. Neela Boevets led the team preparation while Eric Bishop and Laura Bauman guided them at different parts of the journey.  Team Gamma owes these three MHS students a big thanks for their assistance in a good showing at U of I in January.

Announcements


The Mustang Student Newspaper is now online!
This year, the student newspaper staff has embraced producing school news in two forms:  paper and virtually!  Click HERE to view a steady stream of student news!

Free ACT exams
1  MHS will be offering a full ACT exam for all 11th grade students on March 15 at no cost to the family.  Students will arrive at MHS at the usual start time and will be dismissed immediately after the exam.  More information will be sent home as this date approaches.

2.  The College of Lake County is offering FREE mock ACT testing for sophomores, juniors, and seniors.  There are two dates in January and two dates in May; students will get scores before leaving the testing.  Click HERE to register!

New Health Requirement
The state of Illinois has made a requirement for all seniors to receive a vaccine before the first day of school to help prevent meningitis.  A suggested due date for this is May 15 of 2016 for all current 11th graders.  Please check with your student’s doctor for the administration of this vaccine and submit documentation to the School Nurse’s Office.

Curriculum Night for Class of 2020
The Class of 2020 Curriculum Night and Activities/Athletics Fair will take place at Mundelein High School Tuesday, January 12. Parents/students with last names A-L should arrive at the MHS Auditorium by 6:30 p.m. for a 30-minute presentation while those with last names M-Z should arrive by 7:15 p.m. for the presentation. Both presentations will be in English and Spanish.

The program will include an overview of academic programs, an explanation of the block schedule, orientation to the course selection process and information about new programs like STEM education, Project Lead the Way and the Business Incubator Lab. Incoming freshmen also will receive their academic placements for the 2016-2017 school year.

Following the academic presentation, students and parents will attend the Activities and Athletics Fair where they will learn about the 40 clubs and 29 different athletic teams available at MHS.

College & Career Resource Center


FAFSA Workshop
Attention students and parents: Need help completing your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) ? 

FAFSA Workshop at Mundelein High School on Thursday, January 14 at 6 - 8 pm., Rooms A101 & A102

What do I need to bring?

Your 2015 or 2014 tax forms (student)
Your parents’ 2015 OR 2014 tax forms
2015 W-2 forms or 2014 W-2 forms
Your driver’s license or state ID
Social Security card

Information about assets such as savings certificates of deposit, stock shares, bonds; and investment real estate, business and farm.

Trained representatives (including Spanish speaking) will be on site to help you complete the application. Don’t miss this opportunity!

U of I / CLC Engineering Pathway
The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign has an Engineering Pathways program agreement with the College of Lake County.  Although students are not able to apply to the program until their senior year of high school, the Pathways program is hosting two upcoming informational nights to learn more about the program.   Any student who is interested in attending CLC for the first two years of college and then being offered guaranteed admission to the UIUC Engineering Program is encouraged to attend.  Please click HERE for more specific requirements for admission to the program.

The two upcoming informational session are scheduled for:

Thursday January 21 @ 7PM in room C005 at the College of Lake County in Grayslake

OR

Tuesday February 23 @ 7PM in room C003 at the College of Lake County in Grayslake

If you have any additional questions please feel free to contact Engineering Department Chair, Rob Twardock.

Rob Twardock, P.E.
Department Chair and Instructor
Engineering Transfer, Construction Management, Environmental Health and Science, Civil & Environmental Technology
rtwardock@clcillinois.edu
847-543-2903

ZAPS Test
Looking to improve your student’s ACT score?

ZAPS Test - Prep Seminar is being offered at MHS:

ZAPS Test-Prep Seminars in Your Area
ACT
Mundelein High School
Room A102
Wednesday & Thursday, February 10 & 11, 2016
3:30 PM - 6:00 PM
$89.99

Register at www.doorwaytocollege.com or call 877-927-8378


Activities


Universidad de Padres
Spanish Speaking Parents: Universidad de Padres will have it third meeting on Thursday, January 21, 2016  from 5:30-8 PM. Please visit the Universidad de Padres page for more information. Hope to see you there. Jesús M. Tirado, Assistant Principal; jtirado@d120.org, 847-949-2200, extension 1402.

Athletics


Track and Field
The indoor track season for both boys and girls will start Monday, January 18th.  Please remember all athletes will need a white card for the track season before they start practicing.  You can get your white card now up in the Athletic Office.  If you have any question please see or call Mrs. Risdon in the Athletic Office at ext. 1340.


Staff Spot Light



Amanda Parola - Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Principal

What are your hobbies/interests? – Gardening, Spending time with family.

Insider tip for parents – Listen to your kids. It is amazing what I hear going on in their conversations in the car ride home from practice.

Best part of working at MHS? – Working with the Mundelein students. It is fascinating to watch these students grow throughout their four years of high school. The students, faculty, parents and community.


You may not know… I am a Minnesota Viking fan and I was captain of my color guard team in high school.


How long have you worked at MHS? – 8 years


Who or what inspires you? – My kids inspire me to be the best mother that I can be; the Mundelein Kids inspire me to be caring and kind.


What is your favorite part of your job? – Greeting the kids and the parents in the community when they walk into the school.

Good book recommendation - Orphan Train, Christina Baker Kline



Time Lapse Video of New MHS STEM Building for December 2015


Click HERE to see more videos and photographs of the construction project!