Thursday, August 25, 2016

Mustang News August 26, 2016

MHS would like to thank the parents and community who came out Wednesday night to the Annual Open House and New Building Tours.  It is a great evening of sharing a common vision of helping every student achieve academically and socially - Thank you for your support!

Not many people may know the journalism class publishes feature stories about MHS events in an online format.  Catch all the in depth information at http://mhsmustang.com/.


Announcements

School Picture Day
Visual Image Photography will be in the Main Gym all day on Wednesday, August 31 to take underclass yearbook photos. There is no charge to have a yearbook photo taken, but pictures may be ordered through VIP:
http://www.d120.org/assets/1/parents/Mundelein_17.pdf.

Check here to see which class period your student is scheduled to have their photo taken:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OhDbefn6i9X843VBYCTFLJJQLPaeuiRL7Bf-HRT9x7w/edit?pref=2&pli=1#gid=1668754870.

MHS School Nurses
Hello from the office of the school nurses. We are happy to be here for you to promote your student’s educational success through any health struggles they may have to endure.  We recommend that if you receive a text from your student saying they don’t feel well, please redirect them to see the school nurse first to help avoid confusion and unnecessary worry. We can then have a chance to check their signs and symptoms and give you a call if necessary.  Feel free to call Jan Swanston RN or Susan Lange RN with any concerns or questions at 847-949-2200, extension 1395.

MHS to hold final community meeting concerning bell schedule
Mundelein High School officials will host a final meeting, open to all community members, to address an upcoming decision concerning the bell schedule.  The meeting will be held Wednesday, August 31 beginning at 6 p.m. in the MHS cafeteria.

The District is considering an alternative daily schedule to replace the current 4X4 Block Schedule that has been in place since 1996. A committee made up of staff and administration has been studying various schedules for over a year. Their most important finding has been that students are at a disadvantage under the current schedule because of what is called “gap time.” The committee has determined that gap time has had a negative effect both on ACT test scores and Advanced Placement [AP] scores as well as student grades in general.  The administration is looking for a schedule that is “semester based” so that all classes are either 18- or 36-weeks long. Currently, the Block Schedule has 9-week and 18-week courses only.

Of the 20 Lake County High Schools, 17 are on traditional 8-period day schedules while three are on modified block schedules. MHS is the only Lake County high school on a 4X4 Block Schedule.
Residents will hear a short presentation about the alternatives to the Block Schedule that the administration is considering and there will be time for questions and answers. An official recommendation is expected to be made to the Board of Education in September. If the bell schedule is changed, it would go into effect in the 2017 – 2018 school year.

Click HERE to see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for the Bell Schedule.



Variety Show
The student Variety Show will be held on Thursday, October 13, at 7pm in the Auditorium. We will feature a great group of students with a diverse set of different talents! We will be raffling off prizes including gift cards to local businesses,parking passes, prom tickets, etc. Admission price will most likely be $2 for students and $5 for adults and will include a raffle ticket. Additional raffle tickets will be available for purchase.

Auditions for students will be held on Tuesday, September 20 and Tuesday, September 27 after school. Definite times have not been determined yet.

Heart Smart Cardiac Screening at MHS
Mundelein High School students who are enrolled in a Wellness or in select Fine/Applied Arts courses during Term 1 will have the opportunity to participate in Screens for Teens on Wednesday, September 21.  The event is sponsored by the Max Schewitz Foundation which strives to provide
high quality, low cost cardiac testing and relies extensively on volunteers to achieve its goals. The student test at MHS is $15 per student.

According to the Foundation, high school is an ideal time for someone to have a baseline EKG [electrocardiogram] since the greatest risk of sudden cardiac death is between ages 17 and 22. The EKG is a visual representation of the heart’s function. It is quick and painless and can detect many potentially life-threatening heart conditions.

Students will be tested at the building adjacent to the MHS west parking lot, formerly known as Kirk of the Lakes. Students being tested will remain at that location for the entire period while that class is being tested. They will walk to and from the building as a class.

Parent volunteers are also needed to help run the screening at MHS since the program relies on parents as the primary labor source for performing the EKGs. Parent training will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, September 20 at the same location as the testing. Several administrative positions need to be filled as well which do not require training. About 65 parent volunteers are needed for the day.

To volunteer or to register a child for the test, visit www.heartsmartekg.org/MHS.


Changes to Yearbook pre-ordering this year (2016-17)
Orders for the 2016-2017 yearbook can be made through MHS  for $50 until Friday, September 30 in the school bookstore or online through RevTrak. Starting October 1, yearbook orders can only be placed through Jostens, our publishing company.  These orders can be placed online at http://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A01883300 (the link will go live October 1) or by phone at 1-877-767-5217.  Please be careful when placing your orders to avoid double orders, as we cannot refund money if accidental duplicate purchases are made.

Pick-up of the 2015-16 yearbook
If you haven’t picked up your pre-ordered copy of last year’s yearbook, please do so.  They are available in the school bookstore.  Some extras were ordered if you still would like to purchase one.  They can be purchased through the school bookstore for $55.

Portrait Day
All underclass students will have their portraits taken for the yearbook on Wednesday, August 31.  Remind your student to dress extra nice that day!

Check out which class period your student is being photographed. https://goo.gl/JrHq6M

Join Replayit.com
Members of the MHS community(parents, too!) can share their pictures with the yearbook staff for potential use in this year’s book at replayit.com.  Join today and start uploading great quality images about life at MHS!

Follow us on Twitter
Yearbook editors can be followed@mhsyearbook1617.  Our sister newspaper publication, The Mustang, can be followed @mhsnewseditors.  You can also view their online edition at mhsmustang.com.  For more information: Thank you for your support of the journalism program. If you have any further questions, please contact the publications adviser, Michelle Didzbalis, at mdidzbalis@d120.org.

DEL WEBB Residents make Follow-Up Tour of Facilities
Residents of the Del Webb community, Grand Dominion, recently toured the newly-completed building addition after their initial tour in December when construction was well underway.Residents toured the various locations throughout the new addition and had time to ask questions. The tours were led by Superintendent Kevin Myers, Principal Anthony Kroll, Assistant Principal Jesús Tirado, Science Department Chair David Greenwood and Chief Financial Officer Andy Searle. Some of the frequent comments included "This is just beautiful," "We never had anything like this when we were in school," "This really makes our community proud," and "Absolutely stunning."

An Open House for the public will be held Saturday, September 10, at 9:30 am.




Activities


Model UN
The first Model United Nations meeting of the school year will be Wednesday, August 31 at 7:10 a.m in room A04. Model UN is open to all grades, and  encourage anyone interested to come to the meeting and find out about our club. New members are welcome! If students or parents have questions, they should contact Mrs. Darcy or Mr. Hirshman.

Powder Puff Football
The annual Powder Puff games during Homecoming Week will happen on Wednesday, September 7 at 5:30 PM at the Football Stadium.

Freshman Girls (coached by Mr. Packowitz) vs. Sophomore Girls (coached by Mrs. Mendez)
Junior Girls (coached by Mrs. Baker and Mrs. Ryan) vs. Senior Girls (coached by Mr. Garcia)

Be on the lookout for information regarding practice. Any girl interested should see their respective grade level coach for more information.

Game shirts are $10 each (due by Wednesday, August 31) – forms can be found and payments can be made at the Bookstore.

Athletics
Season openings victories - Girls Tennis, Girls Volleyball and Boys Soccer. Congratulations also to Boys Golf for taking 2nd place at the Lake County Invite this past week.

Click HERE for all MHS Athletic events.


MHS Baseball Fans Win Recognition
The following email was sent to Mundelein High School from the IHSA.  Good job MUSTANGS!!!

The IHSA Board of Directors, the Sportsmanship Advisory Committee and the IHSA Staff would like to congratulate you, Mundelein High School, and your community for earning a Do What’s Right! State Final Sportsmanship Banner at the 2016 Baseball State Finals.

Your school has set a high standard for other schools to follow during regular season and post season play. Please share this accomplishment and honor with your school and community members.

A State Final Sportsmanship Banner, provided by the IHSA, will be shipped directly to your school.

Congratulations! And please continue to remind your teams, fans, and community to Do What’s Right!


College and Career Information


College Representative Visits
Every year Mundelein High School hosts a variety of college representatives as they present information to prospective students.  These representative visits provide opportunities for our Mustangs to learn about colleges across the state, around the country, and occasionally around the



world (we've already scheduled University College Dublin this year!) while in the comfort of their own school.  They can ask pressing questions about admissions, financial aid, degree programs, housing, and what student life is REALLY like and hear from the expert!  These visits provide an opportunity for our students to show true interest in the schools they are researching and can be a chance for them to make a great impression on the school’s representatives to help their application stand out.

Students sign up for the visits through their Naviance accounts (under the Colleges tab, upper right corner).  On the day of the visit, they should come to the CCRC in the morning to pick up a pass.  Their teacher will then sign the pass to allow them to attend the visit. The visits generally last about 30 minutes, though some are longer if there are large crowds and/or many questions.  Students should plan accordingly to be sure to keep up with any material that may be missed in class. They are not required to stay for the entire visit.

Parents can view upcoming representative visits on the CCRC webpage: http://d120.ae-dns.com/academics/ccrc/default.aspx. Visits start September 6.

Date Change and Updates to the Calendar
Please note that our FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Completion Workshop evening event has been changed from October 5 to October 25.  Our financial aid informational presentation will be held on October 18.

CLC adds four colleges to its guaranteed transfer admission program
The College of Lake County has recently signed Guaranteed Transfer Admission agreements with four new colleges and universities from Illinois and Wisconsin: Carthage College, Northern Illinois University, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and University of Wisconsin–Parkside.  CLC students can now choose from 16 transfer institutions that offer special incentives and guaranteed admission, ensuring a seamless transfer of credit to the four-year colleges and universities.

The four new guaranteed admission agreements have been added to the 12 ones announced in June 2016 or earlier with American Business School in Paris, France; Arizona State University; DePaul University; Eastern Illinois University; Elmhurst College; Herzing University; North Central College; Northeastern Illinois University; Olivet Nazarene University; Trinity International University; University of Illinois Chicago; and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Colleges of Engineering and College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences).

To learn more about CLC’s guaranteed transfer admission programs, visit www.clcillinois.edu/guaranteedtransfer or call (847) 543-2090.

Photos from the Week


MHS Marching Band work with the Football Teams to learn the school fight song!
Project Lead The Way students in Mr. Michalski's class work on a project in class.


Kenny Nana ‘18 walks onto the field before the boys soccer scrimmage on Friday. -Sophia Fiore 

Proudly holding up their hard earned trophy, MHS varsity baseball team displays their second place state champion trophy during the back to school assembly.- Henry Fiocchi

Lucas Zepeda 17´ catches a football during an intense practice Monday night on the practice field. - Jessica Marvin 

MHS Varsity Dance team shows off their moves before the Back to School Bash scrimmage on August 19th.- Sheridan McGuire

During the annual scrimmage on Friday, the JV and varsity cheerleading squad leads the student section in cheering for the football team.- Claire Kim

Byte Club Meeting has strong turnout!

Byte Club Meeting has strong turnout!

Parents visiting the new STEM lab during the Annual Open House.

PE Leadership students in Mrs. Toland's class work on ice breakers they will utilize when they are line leaders in PE classes.

PE Leadership students in Mrs. Toland's class work on ice breakers they will utilize when they are line leaders in PE classes.

MHS Robotics Team attends D75's Grand Opening of the new Innovation Station!




Thursday, August 18, 2016

MHS Staff Present Rationale To Leave Block Schedule

On Wednesday night, Mundelein High School officials hosted the first of two evening meetings for parents and community members to present why the school is interested in changing the bell schedule.  Approximately 50 parents and students listened to members of the Bell Schedule Committee present.  Attendees were able to make statements and ask questions of teachers and administrators about the bell schedule presentation.

The district is considering an alternative daily schedule to replace the current 4x4 Block Schedule that has been in place since 1996.  A committee made up of staff and administration has been studying various schedules for over a year. Their most important finding has been that students are at a disadvantage under the current schedule because of what is called “gap time.” The committee has determined that gap time has had a negative effect both on ACT test scores and Advanced Placement [AP] scores as well as student grades in general.  The administration is looking for a schedule that is year-long based so that the majority of courses are 36-weeks long. Currently, the Block Schedule has 9-week and 18-week courses only.

Of the 20 Lake County High Schools, 17 are on traditional 8-period day schedules while three are on modified block schedules. MHS is the only Lake County high school on a 4x4 Block Schedule.
Residents will hear a short presentation about the alternatives to the Block Schedule that the administration is considering and there will be time for questions and answers. An official recommendation is expected to be made to the Board of Education in September. If the bell schedule is changed, it would go into effect in the 2017 – 2018 school year.

Please consider attending the remaining meeting for further information regarding a recommendation to the District 120 Board of Education.  The last meeting will be held Wednesday, August 31 beginning at 6 p.m. in the MHS auditorium.

Announcements


Back-to-School Bash
Student Leadership will be hosting the 3rd Annual Back to School Bash.  This event takes place in conjunction with the soccer and football program's fall scrimmages, the Scarlet and Grey Game.  The Back to School Bash will include a 40 foot inflatable obstacle course, a chance to dunk your teachers and community police officers in the dunk tank, and a life-size human foosball court.  There will be plenty of food, drinks, music, and fun for all.  The cost for admittance into the Back to School Bash is $2 which includes food, drinks, and activities.  All students are invited to attend which will take place on Friday, August 19. 

The times of events are as follows:
5:00pm – 6:00pm: Varsity Soccer Scrimmage (Stadium), Freshmen Football Scrimmage (Baseball field)
6:00pm – 7:00pm: Varsity Football Scrimmage (Stadium), Freshmen Soccer Scrimmage (Baseball field)
7:00pm – 9:00pm: Back to School Bash (North Field and North Lot)

Hope to see you there! 



Annual Open House at MHS Aug. 24; tours of new building addition included
Mundelein High School will hold its annual Open House for parents of MHS students Wednesday, August 24 from 7 to 9 p.m. An optional part of the program will be tours of the new building addition from 5 to 7 p.m., led by MHS students.

The formal program will begin in the Auditorium at 7 p.m. where parents will hear a brief overview of programs and basic information. Following that presentation, parents will follow an abbreviated schedule of their children’s classes. In class, the instructor will discuss course expectations, grading, content and more. The program will conclude after the final class period.

Prior to the formal program, parents may pick up a copy of their children’s schedules in the cafeteria if they don’t already have one. Also in the cafeteria, freshman parents may receive their PowerSchool passwords.

If your student has a balance on their MHS account, an invoice will also be available to pick up in the cafeteria. Please remember that all student accounts must be in good standing (paid in full, or up to date on an approved payment plan) in order to participate in extracurricular activities (Homecoming dance, athletics, etc.).

Throughout the evening, student leaders will be available to help parents locate their classrooms.


Mundelein Ambassadors 
Who we are:   Parents of Mundelein High School students who want to support our school and community.

Purpose: To build bridges with parents, sender schools, community and MHS faculty.

Commitment:   One meeting a month 90 minutes
                         2-3 hours per activity

Events:            

  • Freshmen Families BBQ
  • Meet with all sender school future 9th grade families
  • Served snow cones at Freshmen Orientation
  • Supervise senior Graduation Night
  • Supervise Back to School Bash
  • Assist with Mr. Mustang
  • Organize Teacher Appreciation Week


If you want to be part of the group and help out once in awhile contact
Lisa Brandt:  jlre.brandt@gmail.com



College and Career Resource Center


Naviance: The “Colleges” Tab
All MHS students have access to Naviance – a program that offers a variety of supports to them including college planning resources, test prep materials, interest inventories that can link them with potential career choices and more!  This week I would like to provide an overview of what one portion of this program has to offer.

Within the “Colleges” tab all students (freshmen through seniors) have access to do college research.  The SuperMatch college search allows students to respond to questions about what they are looking for in a college to start narrowing down potential choices.  These searches can then be saved to review in the future with their counselor.  They can also make use of the scattergrams to get an idea of how likely they are to be accepted at an institution based on data gathered from GPAs and ACT scores of past MHS students.

When a student has found a school they are interested in, they can save it to their “Colleges I’m Thinking About” list.  This is an extremely helpful list to start at any time as it will eventually lead to the list that seniors use to request transcripts and connect MHS to their college applications (the “Colleges I’m Applying To” list).

Students can also view all upcoming college visits and sign up to attend through their Naviance account.  This allows them to speak with our representatives in person, which is a huge benefit to the application process! (Parents can view the upcoming college representative visits beginning in September here: http://www.d120.org/academics/ccrc/default.aspx)

Finally, in the scholarship section students can research ways to find extra money to help pay for colleges. At this point in the year our local lists are not fully updated as we generally receive word of the scholarships that will be offered locally throughout the year and into the Spring and add them as they come, but the links are still functioning for national scholarships!

Students have access to their Naviance account through the d120 website.  Their login and password are the same combination that was originally assigned to them for PowerSchool.  If they no longer remember this they can receive a new copy from their counselor at any time.



Activities


MANE TV Broadcasting Team
Students!  Come to an information breakfast meeting on Thursday, August 25, 8:50am in room A213 to learn how to get involved in the MANE TV Broadcasting Team.  There is something for everyone - whether you are interested in operating the sound board or being on the other end of the microphone providing the play-by-play and color announcing.  Maybe you want to be on the field behind a camera or enjoy being in the TV control room /TV Truck directing the camera people.  MANE TV records a variety of school events including football, baseball, volleyball games or performances in the theatre.

Come for the food, get involved, and join us for our first home football game September 2nd.  No experience is necessary.  Attend productions that fit your schedule and interest level.


Powder Puff Football
The annual Powder Puff games during Homecoming Week will happen on Wednesday, September 7 at 5:30pm in the football stadium.

Freshman Girls (coached by Mr. Packowitz) vs. Sophomore Girls (coached by Mrs. Mendez)
Junior Girls (coached by Mrs. Baker and Mrs. Ryan) vs. Senior Girls (coached by Mr. Garcia)

Be on the lookout for information regarding practice. Any girl interested should see their respective grade level coach for more information.

Game shirts are $10 each (due by Wednesday, August 31) – forms can be found and payments can be made at the Bookstore.

Recognition


Future Leaders of Chicago (FloChicago)
Alicia Ramirez
Mundelein High School student Alicia Ramirez is the first Lake County student to be invited to attend the University of Chicago’s high school leadership program Future Leaders of Chicago,
FloChicago. The session, held in late July/early August, offered seminars on good governance and visits to Chicago City Hall and the Chicago Public Housing Authority. Students researched and presented case studies on organizational leadership. Highlights included presentations by Don Thompson, former CEO of McDonald’s Corporation, and David Axelrod, chief strategist for President Obama and University of Chicago Distinguished Senior Fellow.

Ramirez, a senior and AVID student, gained skills to measure leadership impact, saying, “We visited Little Village and learned how ineffective government can create larger social problems.”





Students pack food boxes to help others
Twenty-seven students in Nicole Malham's Current World Issues course volunteered two hours of their time August 17 at Feed My Starving Children in Libertyville. They helped pack a total of 148 boxes of food which would help to feed 87 children for an entire year!

"Through this experience, MHS students were able to see that they can make a positive impact on the global issues we are studying in Current World Issues," Malham explained



Athletics

Athletics are up and running 
Please check the website for times and locations. Click HERE for more information.

Fall team pictures
Fall team pictures were taken Thursday, August 18. If you wish to order a team sport picture call VIP at 1-800-577-9570.

North Suburban Conference Promotional Video
This is the first year of the "new" North Suburban Conference.  Waukegan High School joins the conference as six smaller schools left the conference over the summer.  The video below showcases Mundelein and the seven other schools in the NSC.  Enjoy!  (Mundelein starts at 8:30)


Photos from the Week:  

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Alexander Loding ´17 catches a breath after an intense football practice. Photo taken by Jessica Marvin
4.jpg
On the fourth day of school, Denise Gonzalez '17, Alexandara Maldonado '17, Kayla Lentch '17, and Katelyn Clup '18 are wandering through the halls of MHS in hopes to find their next clue for Psychology class. Photo taken by Sydney Blackmer
1.jpg
Mitchell Zaprzalka '17 attended a leadership conference at Stevenson High School on Sunday Aug. 14th, along with other sports who involved students to represent our school in the North Suburban Conference. Photo taken by Myah Strokosch
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Stephanie Villagomez '17 and Josselin Rodriguez '17 review for an upcoming math quiz, using the new white boards provided by the building addition in room B130. Photo taken by Gabby Antenore
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Megan Rastrelli ´19 and Maggie Lukas ´19 enjoy a few extra minutes after lunch on Aug. 17 to do some work in their Honors English 2 class. Photo taken by Stephanie Rivas





Thursday, August 11, 2016

School is Open!

What a great start to the school year!  Students and staff have expressed excitement and great expectations this week.  Certainly, the opening of the new building has generated this energy.  While I stood in the 2nd floor hallway, I asked students what the thought about the new building.  They were full of descriptive comments about the brightness, openness, areas to talk, overall beauty, and new furniture.  After years of planning, this addition has changed the face of MHS forever for the better!

In the next couple weeks, students will also begin to see examples of Mundelein High School's new branding.  With our Annual Open House approaching later this month (see information below), staff will ensure the building is in order.

It is my wish that every student takes full advantage of the curricular programming and social activities offered this year.   MHS is your school and our staff is dedicated to being an active part in each student's life.  Welcome back to school and have a great school year!








Time lapse video of new building addition:


Core Ideology


District 120 embraces innovation to create sustainable growth for all.

Core Values


  • Equity – We value all individuals and believe they will achieve.
  • Growth – We value continuous improvement for all students, staff, and programs. 
  • Collaboration - We value working cooperatively towards building a dynamic learning community.


These core values are used as the litmus test when examining new programs, curricula, and hiring staff members.  MHS pledges to strive for excellence in these values and invites the community to join in our work.

Announcements


STEM VIP Visit: Distinguished scientist Dr. Mark Stoyer will speak to MHS students
How do you create new element? Dr. Mark Stoyer, senior staff scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, will convey his personal knowledge of the process to STEM Research and other science students Tuesday, August 16. Dr. Stoyer, a nationally-recognized scientist, co-created six elements (113-118) and was co-namer of two. His stop at MHS’s new STEM wing follows a visit to Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont.


Mundelein Ambassadors Invite Parents to Join!
Who we are:   Parents of Mundelein High School students who want to support our school and community.

Purpose: To build bridges with parents, sender schools, community and MHS faculty.

Commitment:   One meeting a month 90 minutes
                         2-3 hours per activity

Events:            

  • Host Freshmen Families BBQ
  • Meet with all sender school future 9th grade families
  • Serve snow cones at Freshmen Orientation
  • Supervise Senior Grad Party Night
  • Supervise Back to School Bash
  • Assist with Mr. Mustang
  • Organize Teacher Appreciation Week


If you want to be part of the group and help out once in awhile contact
Lisa Brandt:  jlre.brandt@gmail.com

Freshmen Cookout Planned 



MHS to host community meetings concerning Bell Schedule recommendation
Mundelein High School officials will host two evening meetings in August, open to all community members, to address an upcoming decision concerning the bell schedule.  The meetings will be held Wednesday, Aug. 17 and Wednesday, Aug. 31 beginning at 6 p.m. in the MHS cafeteria.

The District is considering an alternative daily schedule to replace the current 4x4 Block Schedule that has been in place since 1996. A committee made up of staff and administration has been studying various schedules for over a year. Their most important finding has been that students are at a disadvantage under the current schedule because of what is called “gap time.” The committee has determined that gap time has had a negative effect both on ACT test scores and Advanced Placement [AP] scores as well as student grades in general.  The administration is looking for a schedule that is year-long based so that the majority of courses are 36-weeks long. Currently, the Block Schedule has 9-week and 18-week courses only.

Of the 20 Lake County High Schools, 17 are on traditional 8-period day schedules while three are on modified block schedules. MHS is the only Lake County high school on a 4x4 Block Schedule.
Residents will hear a short presentation about the alternatives to the Block Schedule that the administration is considering and there will be time for questions and answers. An official recommendation is expected to be made to the Board of Education in September. If the bell schedule is changed, it would go into effect in the 2017 – 2018 school year.

2016-2017 Athletic Activity Season Passes
Follow the link below and pre-order your passes today to lock in last year’s  price - $25 for two
passes.  If you plan to attend even a few varsity athletic events throughout the fall and winter seasons these passes will pay for themselves!  Order online by August 15th to take advantage of 2015 prices!
Order today at http://passes.mhsedfoundation.org

Proceeds from Season Pass sales provide classroom grants and student scholarships benefiting the students at Mundelein High School.  The MHS Foundation awarded $12,000 in student scholarships and $1,700 in classroom grants last year.  This would not have been possible without your generous support.  Thanks, and Go Big Red!







MHS Building Tours before Open House
Come see our new building before you meet your student’s teachers!! Mundelein High School students will host tours of the new building in English and Spanish from 5:00-7:00pm on August 24, 2016.  

The tours will take parents, family members,  and community members through all the great additions and renovations here at MHS, and Quest will be providing some delicious bites for you to sample as well.  This is your chance to get an up close look at the new rooms, labs, equipment, and other spaces throughout the building with explanations of how we utilize the spaces from the students.  Tours will start every 10-15 minutes from the front office.  

Sign up ahead of time is not necessary, just come by before open house starts at 7pm to join in.  We look forward to sharing our excitement about all the changes at Mundelein with you and hope to see you there!





Theatre Department announces 2016-2017 season
For years, the theatre department at Mundelein High School was known as MHS Theatre.  But starting this year, the department will change its moniker to Mundelein Theatre.  “The issue with being known as MHS Theatre is that many other schools whose name starts with an ‘M’ use that same name,” said Jonathan Meier, theatre director at MHS. “Having Mundelein in our title gives us much stronger name recognition.”  So armed with a new name and a new logo, Mundelein Theatre has announced their 2016-2017 season.

Opening the year will be the Student Directed One-Act Plays. This year an all-time high nine plays have been selected. The plays are chosen, cast and directed by MHS seniors.  The plays average 12 minutes in length. Performances are September 6 and 7 at 7 p.m.

Next up is Completely Hollywood, by Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor. This is the New Faces production, providing an opportunity for freshmen and sophomores, as well as junior and seniors who have never acted on the Mundelein main stage. This seriously silly show biz satire cuts through the celluloid to condense the 186 greatest films in Hollywood's over 100-year history into a complete compilation of classic cinematic clichés - plus a few brand new clichés. Performances are October 28 and 29 at 7 p.m, and October 29 at 3:45 p.m.

The fall play will be The Best Man, written by the celebrated American writer, Gore Vidal. The perfect play for an election year, the show deals with a fictional presidential primary in 1960.  The play examines the nature of power, the quest for power and the way power makes people behave. The witty dialogue and clever characters give the play a sense of satirical fun. Performance dates are November 10, 11 and 12 at 7 pm, and November 11 at 3:45 pm.

This winter will bring a twist on one of Shakespeare’s most popular and beloved plays, A Midsummer Night’s Dream.  Staged on the school’s 200-seat thrust stage, Mundelein Theatre will be setting the play in the day room of a mental hospital.  So what happens when the inmates get control of the asylum?  The answer is, of course…Shakespeare!

The story and language remain the same - the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta, four young Athenian lovers, a group of rude mechanicals, all controlled and manipulated by the fairies who inhabit the forest in which most of the play is set. The play runs January 22, 23 and 24 at 7 p.m, and January 23 at 3:45 p.m.

Once again, Mundelein Theatre will compete in IHSA Group Interpretation. This year they will be adapting the novel Stranger Than Fiction, by Zach Helm. A mentally unstable IRS auditor hears an author's voice in his head and discovers that he is the ill-fated protagonist of her latest work. While a book company employee tries to cure the author's case of writer's block, the auditor and a professor set out to find the woman and make her change her story. There will be public performances held at MHS on March 16 and 17 at 7 p.m.

Springtime at Mundelein High School always means musical season.  This year’s musical is City of Angels, with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by David Zippel and book by Larry Gelbart.  The show is two musicals in one. It is the interweaving of two plots, one dealing with the writing of a screenplay in the legendary Hollywood of the 1940’s; the other, the enactment of that screenplay. It is entirely appropriate, then, that the final curtain comes down on two happy endings. The show runs April 27 and 28 at 7 p.m. and April 29 at 2 and 7 p.m.
More information about the season can be found at www.mundeleintheatre.org.

College & Career Resource Center

MHS Introduces New College Counselor
Hello!  My name is Andrea Rusk and I am Mundelein High School’s new college counselor.  After teaching Spanish at Warren Township High School for 6 years, I became a part of the MHS family as a generalist counselor, a role that I have held for the past 5 years. I absolutely love the positive energy that flows through our students and am thrilled to hold this new position!

I hold an undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and a master’s degree from Concordia University, Chicago.  I am involved in organizations like the National Association for College Admission Counseling and the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling, and I have been a member of the board of the Lake County Counselors Association for the past 5 years.

I am excited to have the opportunity to enhance our current program by engaging with the college community and bringing resources back to our students and families. I look forward to discovering new ways to keep our information current and hope to offer more focused opportunities for interaction with college representatives and others who can support our students as they choose their path.

I hope to see many of our students and their parents at our upcoming events.

Fall Event Highlights:
NSC NCAA Athletic Program  Lake Zurich High School Performing Arts Center
Wednesday, September 7:  7:00-8:30pm

College Planning Night Mundelein High School Auditorium    
Wednesday, September 21: 7:00pm

Performing and Visual Arts College Fair  DePaul University - Theatre School Chicago, IL
Saturday, September 24: 1 -3:30pm

NACAC National College Fair  McCormick Place, Chicago, IL    
Saturday, October 1: 11am-3pm

NACAC National College Fair  Wisconsin Center, Milwaukee, WI          
Sunday, October 2: noon-3pm

FAFSA Workshop   Mundelein High School      
Wednesday, October 5: 5-8pm

CHOICES College Fair for Students with Disabilities  Lake Forest High School  
Monday, October 17: 6-9pm

Take a look at our upcoming events, college representative visits, and online resources: http://d120.ae-dns.com/academics/ccrc/default.aspx
Email me: arusk@d120.org
Follow me on Twitter: @mundycollege

Activities


Back-to-School Bash
Student Leadership will be hosting the 3rd Annual Back to School Bash.  This event takes place in conjunction with the soccer and football program's fall scrimmages, the Scarlet and Grey Game.  The
Back to School Bash will include a 40 foot inflatable obstacle course, a chance to dunk your teachers and community police officers in the dunk tank, and a life-size human foosball court.  There will be plenty of food, drinks, music, and fun for all.  The cost for admittance into the Back to School Bash is $2 which includes food, drinks, and activities.  All students are invited to attend which will take place on Friday, August 19th.

The times of events are as follows:
5:00pm – 6:00pm: Varsity Soccer Scrimmage (Stadium), Freshmen Football Scrimmage (Baseball field)
6:00pm – 7:00pm: Varsity Football Scrimmage (Stadium), Freshmen Soccer Scrimmage (Baseball field)
7:00pm – 9:00pm: Back to School Bash (North Field and North Lot)

Hope to see you there!


Athletics

Fall sports have started at MHS.  There is still time to get your white card and participate in sports, see the Athletic Office for details.

Important Athletic Dates 
Monday, August 15th and Tuesday, August 16th - Parent/ Athlete fall sport meeting-
Pre-season parent and athlete letter

Thursday, August 18 - Fall Sport Team Pictures



Monday, August 1, 2016

Welcome Class of 2020! Freshmen Orientation Reminders!

Dear Parents/Guardians of the Class of 2020,

As the 2016-2017 school year approaches, the staff of Mundelein High School is busy putting the final touches on the start of the school year.  On behalf of the MHS staff, welcome to a new and exciting year!

Below are a few reminders about the start of the school year for the Class of 2020.  Please review the MHS website (www.d120.org) for more information or call 949-2200 to have more specific questions answered.

Registration
All schedules were sent to incoming freshmen last week.  If your child did not receive a schedule, the school does not have a completed registration.  Registration must be completed before a student can receive their schedule.  Registration information can be found at:  www.d120.org/registration .

Summer Reading Requirements – Reminder!
We want to remind you about summer reading. All students (freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors) are required to read at least one book of their choice this summer. During the first week of English class in August all students will participate in a Book Talk Day. We want our students to experience sharing books with others. Students who are enrolled in honors or advanced placement classes have additional requirements for summer reading (see http://www.d120.org/academics/english/summer_reading/default.aspx for more information).

Please encourage your children to read as much as possible over the summer and at all times. Talk to your children about their reading interests and share what you are reading with them. Help us encourage your students to become lifelong readers.

Chromebook Meeting – Various Dates
Every MHS student receives a school issued Chromebook.  Freshmen may receive their Chromebooks at Freshmen Orientation if student and parent have attended one Chromebook meeting and their required signed paperwork is submitted.

Possible remaining Chromebook Meetings - 6:00pm MHS Auditorium (English Language) & Media Center (Spanish Language)
  • Thursday, August 4
  • Monday, August 8 
  • Wednesday, August 10 
Reminder, both the student and parent must attend one of these meetings in order for the student to issued a Chromebook.

New & Transfer Parent Orientation Meeting – Thursday, August 4  @ 6:30p.m. in MHS  Auditorium
This presentation is focused on providing parents information about starting at MHS.  Students may or may not attend with parents.

Heath Fair – Thursday, August 4 @ 2:00p.m. till 7:00p.m. in MHS Cafeteria
MHS will be hosting doctors from Advocate Children’s Hospital to offer free school physicals for Medicaid and un-insured students.  See http://www.d120.org/academics/nurse/nurse.aspx for more information.

Freshmen Orientation – Friday, August 5
Freshmen Orientation is annual event of converting incoming students from 5 middle schools into Mustangs!  This event is hosted by LinkCrew members (Jr. and Sr. students) and student government advisors.

Regular bus routes will be run on this day.  Students need to follow the times designated on their schedules.  (If your child does not have a schedule, please see the Registration section below.)

Lunch will be provided for all students by the Quest Food Service in the MHS cafeteria.  Students will eat for free a selected meal but are able to purchase additional ala cart items for a low cost.

Students will also take their ID pictures, receive their Chromebook (see Chromebook Meeting), and tour the school building.

Students may purchase additional ala cart lunch items for a small cost: