cec volume 32, winter 2012/13 - homewood flossmoor high … · volume 32, winter 2012/13...
TRANSCRIPT
Ihope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving
holiday with family and friends. This
time of year reminds us of how grateful we
should always be for the people and things
in our life. I am most grateful for our won-
derful school district and our phenomenal
community. Our school district strives to expect the best of its
students and is able to do so through the support of the greater
H-F community. Our community’s dedication to excellent edu-
cational opportunities for its young people is certainly some-
thing for which we can all be grateful.
I hope you can take a moment during the holidays this season
to enjoy this edition of The Viking Connection and get caught up
on the many wonderful activities and programs that have taken
place — and are currently under way — at Homewood-Floss-
moor High School.
In this issue you will find a number of outstanding stories
that we are pleased to bring to you. Few school districts are as
proud of their students and staff as we are here at Homewood-
Flossmoor. In October, while attending the Headmasters Asso-
ciation’s annual conference in Boston, I had the pleasure to
meet with several of our recent H-F graduates who are now at-
tending Harvard University and Harvard Law School. It was
inspiring to see how far their Homewood-Flossmoor education
has taken them already. You can read more about our Boston
alumni reception on page 6.
Also in October, I had the pleasure of co-chairing the College
Board’s National Forum, where more than 2,000 educators from
across the country met to discuss the most pressing issues and
best practices related to equity and access to education at uni-
versities, community colleges and Kindergarten-Grade 12
schooling. H-F administrators and staff continue to show their
leadership in the field of teaching and learning as presenters
nationally and throughout the Midwest. On page 3 of this issue,
you will find a list of the administrators and staff who have re-
cently been in the national and regional spotlight for education.
Early in November, we hosted a visiting team from the Inter-
national Baccalaureate® organization. Homewood-Flossmoor
High School is currently an IB Diploma Programme® Candidate
School. As you can see, we continue to provide tailored pro-
gramming for each of our students at all levels. On page 5, you
will read about several of the impressive academic programs
that we have recently made available to our students.
I hope that you will have a wonderful holiday season and that
your new year will be off to a bright start.
— Superintendent Dr. Von Mansfield
a Season of Gratitude
VikingConnection
The
Volume 32, winter 2012/13
Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School District 233, 999 Kedzie, Flossmoor, IL 60422 • 708-799-3000
A rea 8th Graders and their parents are invited to H-
F’s annual Voyage to Excellence Open House.
This year’s Voyage sets sail at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec.
5. Incoming freshmen will be able to meet department
chairs, teachers, counselors, coaches and sponsors as they
tour the school’s South Building. Students whose last
names begin with L-Z are asked to arrive between 7-7:30
p.m.; A-K students should arrive between 7:30-8 p.m. All
are welcome to attend a brief presentation by Superintendent Dr. Von Mansfield,
Principal Dr. Ryan Pitcock and Director of Curriculum, Instruction & Professional
Development Dr. Nancy Spaniak at 7:10 p.m., 7:40 p.m. or 8 p.m. in the Mall Audito-
rium.
The rest of the evening is meant for exploring. Booths from the school’s 10 academic
departments, 32 sports and 75 activities will be located throughout the South Cafete-
ria and hallways, providing information on their organizations and how to get in-
volved.
“Be prepared to be overwhelmed and impressed with the number of options that
await you here at H-F,” says Gail Smith, assistant director of Athletics & Activities.
H-F students demonstrate a science lab ex-
periment during last year’s Voyage to Ex-
cellence Open House. The night is designed
to introduce the school and its programs to
area 8th Graders.
Time To VisiT H-F: Voyage to excellence open house Dec. 5
2 • ViKiNG CoNNeCTioN, winter 2012/13 hfhiGhSchool.orG
GRADE 9 - Class of 2016HIGH HONORS: Isabella Anderson •
Jomarie Arban • Jessica Barry • Mae
Carroll • Juliana Castagna • Bernie
Coderre • Margaret Colton • Tyler
Connors • Heather Culbertson • Aliaa
Eldabli • Preston Genett • Michael
Gislason • Lila Grant • Nora Grasse •
Hailey Heining • Joshua Izenbart •
Madison Larocca • Hannah Lichtenberg
• Michelle Maass • Sakyrah Morris •
Paris Napue • Chibuike Nwaru •
Sophia O’Connor • Kayla Reiser •
Christopher Rexroat • Julia Schwieter-
man • Jordan Stewart • Blake VanNiel
• Isabel Weber
HONORS: Stephanie Agyemang Amoako
• Alexis Anderson • Emma Anderson •
Kaitlyn Andreatta • Christine Augustin
• Margaret Austin • Tia Baldwin •
Taiylar Ball • Zion Banks • Lauren
Barnett • Anthony Bello • Ryan Bergal
• Trevor Blaszczyk • Lake Blocher •
Brooklynn Blue • Miles Bohlman •
Ivan Borrayo • Lillian Brown •
Rashelle Brownfield • Isabella Bruder •
Anya Brumfield • Brooke Butler •
Carter Byrd • Terri Calhoun • Tina
Calhoun • Daniel Camera • Morgan
Carr • Miriam Chamberlain • Sarah
Coghlan • Shiloah Coley • Luke Colin
• Benjamin Conforti • Dwayne Cooper
• Nicolas Cueller • Katie Dames •
Margaret Danielian • Cheyenne Danner
• Alex Daubon • Anthony Davis •
Brandon Davis • Mizani Day • Meagan
Donermeyer • Mary Donkel • Tristan
Donohoe • Brenden Drinkard McFar-
land • Anna Dunlavy • Shannon
Dunne • Joseph Eagle • Christopher
Elion • Sydney Espinosa • Daniel Es-
telle • Riley Farkos • Jaliyah Flowers •
Sydney Floyd • Jordan Fox • Melanie
Gaines • Arlaina Gardner • Megan
Garrity • Gabrielle Glomb • A Briya
Grasker • Bryce Gray • Cyle Harrison
• Morgan Hasler • Michael Havighorst
• Ronald Hayes • Aileen Humphrey •
Dan Ibrahim • Morgan Jackson •
Mariah Jiles • Shalin Johnson •
Morgan Jordan • Rosemary Joyce •
Alexanderia Kirksey • Brandon Kodish
• Marianna Koonce • Lauren Kuchta •
Syria Laird • Caitlin Lamb • Laura
Larocca • Eric Leake • Carter Levinson
• Grace Lipscomb • Aaron Lopez •
Kyle Loudon • Mia Luckett • Lonzo
Lynn • Jacqueline Mazique • Aaron
McGhee • Tailor Montecki • Margaret
Moore • Maxamillian Morales, Kate
Morrill Ploum • Linda Nwumeh •
Ianna Oatis • Tatiana Owens Arroyo •
Mary Paetow-Fanning • Shelby Pauling
• Troy Payne • Jordan Penman •
Thomas Planera • Victoria Pope •
Brianna Rauch • Shelly Ray •
Demetrio Reed • Ann Reilly • Claudia
Roberts • Michael Ruiz • Cobi Sabo •
Kelda Sandstrom • Lucas Santefort •
Johnathon Schmidt • Mia Schumann •
Marcia Schwieterman • Ethan Senesac
• Marie Sherlock • Mandy Sigale •
Luke Smailes • Cassidy Spuhler •
Keani Staton • Gabriel Temple • Andre
Thomas • Nicholas Thompson • Zach
Thompson • Richard Thornber • Aubria
Thornhill • Katia Tingue • Cassie
Toolan • Grace Tosi • Sara Valdivia •
Kira VanVoorhees • Kalyn Victor •
Elizabeth Voelker • Rashaan Walton •
Brittany White • Emily White • Payton
White • Alan Williams • Braxton
Williams • Shaleahk Wilson • Duncan
Wood • Kayla Young
________________________________
GRADE 10 - Class of 2015HIGH HONORS: Morgan Bohlman •
Madysen Bolin • Gita Connolly • Jacob
Fontana • Jonyai Hohl • Matea Larrieu
• Branden Levine • Marcus Mangel •
Fiona Moran • Megan Shockley • Ciara
Thomas • Tinsha Thomas • Wyatt
Ullberg • Rachel Wilson
HONORS: Beatrice Agbayewa • Brenda
Aldape • Anthony Babinec • Destin
Barnes • Abraham Bava • Sauncharae
Beasley • Nicole Bell • Quewone Berry
• Jacob Bostick • Jonathan Brandt •
Jordan Brooks • Virginia Brunner •
Kayla Butler • Madeline Butzbach •
Hannah Casey • Peter Cipriano • Al
Collier • Ladye Cook • Olivia Dau •
Micaela Davis • Lauryn Denne •
Prosper Diala • John Donahue • Angel
Duncan • April Faulkner • Thaddeus
Fifer • Jesse Forestell • Khayleia Foy •
Austin Grandison • Rachael Guenter •
Mia Guzynski • Madeline Hallahan •
Don Hardy • Joshua Harris • Terez
Hobson • Jonyel Hohl • Lindsay Hop-
son • Lena Howard • Sabrina Howard
• Victor Ibe • Alysia Irwin • Lorenzo
Irwin • Milana Jeune • Carlos Jimenez
• Arielle Kelly • Corey Kosmin • Jor-
dan Kouassi • Emily Leader • Autumn
Lewis • Vivien Makos • Noelle Maldon-
ado • Alecia Martin • Brian Mayo •
Zhamese Mead • Robert Meagher, IV •
Mushaun Miller • Peter Mitchell •
Alexis Moffett • Hannah Moore •
Madeline Morrison • Kelly Morrissey •
Maya Nakamura • Kasey Nemitz •
Braedon Norbut • Jessica Norman •
Leah O’Shea • Toluwani Odueyungbo •
Joel Osei • Angela Patterson • Reginald
Peacock • Payton Richardson • Tiffani
Riley • Jelani Robinson • Yenory Rosa
• Haden Santefort • Edwin Schaeffer •
John Schloen • Myranda Scott • Jordan
Shelby • Michael Shereyk • Brionne
Simmons • Matthew Simpson • Kayla
Stewart • Rebecca Tanner • Zachary
Taylor • Katharine Teykl • Madison
Thiros • Tara Troli • Taylor Troli •
Alyssa Villamor Thompkins • Mylon
Walker • Clayton Wassilak • Denee
Webster • Justin Wilkerson • Wesley
Woodson
________________________________
GRADE 11 - Class of 2014HIGH HONORS: Desmond Amuh •
Kevin Anderson • Apollonia Bodunrin •
Maeve Coates Welsh • Jack Hallam •
Lauren Hurley • Ashley Johnson •
Emma Lane • Allison Lessner • Quincy
O’Malley • Braxton Perry • Alliyah
Phillips • Elisa Powell • Christina Red-
mond • Gina Rotondi • Kristin Spratt
• Nina Sweeney • Brigid Tobin • Talia
Wright
HONORS: Naomi Adams • Tyler
Alexander • Rebecca Anderson • Cayla
Andrews • Crissel Marie Arban • Sarah
Armstrong • Daniel Arneberg •
Stephanie Asauskas • Jade Barrett •
Jayla Barrett • Brandon Bell • Ashley
Berry • Charles Bialobok • Brandon
Blaszczyk • Leslie Bonthron • Bithiah
Brooks • Donavan Brooks • Harrison
Brooks • Melody Byrd • Kyra Caldwell
• Sierra Clemetson • Leslie Cockrell •
Don Collins • Sean Connors • Heidi
Culbertson • Jordan Culpepper • Ellen
Davis • David Didier • Megan Dunlavy
• Josephine Edelbrock • Rachel Elfman
• Uchechi Emuchay • Jessica Erman •
Polina Ermasova • Jesse Eshleman •
Samantha Farkos • Paige Feehery •
Agatha Mari Fernandez • Symone
Fowler-Canty • David Fox • Candid
Gardner • Mikayla Gear • Matthew
Gibson • Phillip Glover • Blake
Golliday • Nathan Gonzalez • Lauren
Graham • Irie Grant • Kayla Griffith •
Reginald Hamilton • Emma Hanzelin •
Tyler Harvey • Karina Hayes • Lauren
Helton • Jonnea Herman • Kristina
Hill • Savanna Hillegass • Morgan
Hogan • Tiera Hollanquest • Ryann
Holmes • Adam Huyser • Theryon
Jackson • Katherine Jennings • Ashley
Johnson • Edgar Johnson • Amara
Jones • Ari Jones • Loren Jones •
Shoneia Jones • Taylor Jones • Alexis
Jung • Adam Kammin • Rachael
Kirchschlager • Makala Kusi •
Jameson Lamb • Zachary Larks •
Mark Lawlor • Antwon Leach, Jr. •
Genesis Lee • Naomi Leonard •
Christopher Lloyd • Nia Long • Lonnell
Mackey • Megan Magurany • Madeline
Marks • Taylor Matl • Robert Mattison
• Tyler Maxie • Marissa Mazur •
Brittaney McCarthy • Tori McCracken
• Jamison McDermott • Anna Meehan
• Joshua Miller • Simone Miller •
Jewell Minor • Stuart Moore • Amber
Morris • Mia Narcisi • Sarah Nieves •
Jaiveonna Norris • Jonah Ongman •
Kendall Paris • Summer Payton •
Delaney Perl • Fallon Perl • Marcus
Perry • Jessica Polk • Christina Price
• Nyla Pruitt • John Reed • Taylor
Reed • Leigh Reid • Rebecca Richmond
• Victor Rounds • Alayna Rouse •
Christopher Russell • Efren Sanchez •
Nicholas Sanders • Montana Sandstrom
• Timothy Schwieterman • Marcus
Scott • Aaliyah Shaw • Brandon Shep-
hard • Rebekah Siliezar • Katie
Sinwelski • Mikal Slatton • Zachary
Smith • Dante Speed • Raya Spencer •
Samuel Spencer • Ryan Struble • Abi-
gail Sutherland • Loretta Sutkus •
Mineru Suzuki • Anthony Swiatnicki •
Broc Thompson • David Thompson •
Kevin Toolan • Tyra Trammell •
Keyearra Tucker • Regina Udonkang •
Aaron Vail • Martin Vallejo • Charles
VanDenburgh • Tia Vinson • Justin
Walters • Johnny Washington •
Nicholas Wassilak • India White •
Morgan White • Katherine Whited •
Aleigha Williams • Amber Williford •
Sayoko Wilson • Alexander Worman
________________________________
GRADE 12 - Class of 2013HIGH HONORS: David Abramov •
Kimberly Boehm • Erin Bruggeman •
Keith Carter • Janie Gallagher • Kevin
Gislason • Robert Gramillano •
Elizabeth Joyce • Samantha Larocca •
Sara Lichtenberg • Rachel Magnabosco
• Madeleine Manning • Danielle
Markus • Julia McMurtrey • Christina
Morris • Madeline Morris • Alecia
Palmer • Cierra Randal • Elliott
Runburg • Emily Russo • Sara Ryan •
Lena Schmidt • Isaiah Sciford • Ian
Senesac • Kaitlyn Shereyk • Evelyn
Weidman • Evan Wierzbicki • Haley
Williams • Emily Zalewski
HONORS: Frances Aboushousha •
Kevin Adams • Grant Anderson • Ian
Bannon • Maklen Beattie • Alexander
Bergeron • Joshua Bilbrew • Jordan
Bos-Watson • Madeleine Bouchie •
Theodore Brockly • Ian Brockman •
Amber Byrski • Samuel Casella •
Dylan Cheng • Gabriela Cipriano •
Kelly Coderre • Daniel Condon •
Antoine Crater • Cortney Cross •
Clara Deck • Holly Deckelman •
Emily Deering • Lesley Dennison •
Jordan Dingle • Linnea Dolph • Evan
Duckworth • Destanie Dunlap • Johna
Edwards • Alexander Eng • Ima Eno •
Karla Escamilla • Victoria Falvo •
Taylor Fisher • Samantha Flory •
Dustin Ford • Chardae Greenlee •
Esharah Gregory • Chloe Gropper •
Rebecca Hamlin • Ceylon Haney •
Nicolette Hansen • Allex Hartog •
Katelynn Hay • Carissa Hill • Michael
Holst • Hannah Hopson • Michael
Hrymak • Faith Huckabee • Courtney
Hughes • Jay Hughes • Nicholas Hus-
mann • Princewill Ibe • Mitsuko Ihaza
• Cynthia Izzo • Aesha Jackson •
Amani Jackson • Jonathan Joffe • Tori
Jones • Janay Kent • Jacob Klemp •
Daniel Kopas • Megan Kresach •
Gregory Kuznieski • Jenna Ladner •
Daniel Lagor • Donald Larrieu •
Suzanna Lemmon • Kristina Lively
Dykas • Rubin Logan • Jocelyn
Manning • Anna Marketti • Carly
Mayer • Callie McCarthy • Colin
McCracken • Paris Meeky • Aaron
Messersmith • Luke Michalik •
Herman Miller • Michael Minga •
Daniel Mitchell • Jasmine Mitchell •
ShKirah Moton • Justine Moulds •
Kenneth Nye • Toko Nzilani • Tess
O'Leary • Morgan Oakes • Kevin
Oyster • Amy Pearce • Darien Pearson
• Andrew Peterson • Kristi Plath •
Cailee Polanski • Kyka Porter • Sierra
Proby • Samantha Pursell • Connor
Quinn • Rajanee Redmond • Daniel
Reese • Justin Riner • Noah Risner •
Angela Roberts • Najaun Robinson •
Lauren Roby • Gabriela Rodriguez •
Dominique Rosemond • Tessa Rozak •
Miranda Ryan • Nicholas Ryan • Tay-
lor Sanders • Shawn Sayeed • Zachary
Sayeed • Jamie Schafroth • Anna
Schloen • Jessica Schmidt • Madeline
Schmidt • Abby Schultz • Stephanie
Sigale • Jazmyn Simon • Daniel Sims
• Austin Smith • Brenton Smith •
Gabrielle Smith • Savannah Smith •
Kaylah Sosa • Divinity Stephens •
Brianna Stewart • Brandon Story •
Rashaan Surles • Randall Tar • Jamal
Tartt • Christian Tello-Aguirre • Safari
Thomas • Myles Toliver • Julie
Tomlinson • Nancy Tran • Alexandra
Ullberg • Andrea Vallejo • Kamaria
Wade • Marshawn Walker • Kathleen
Wallace • Kelly Ward • Nashae Webb
• Mariah Weed • Danielle Werner •
Brooke Wians • Alonna Williams •
Arica Williams • Amaalyah Wilson •
Lauren Windom • Jessica Wood •
Danielle Wordlaw • Stephanie Yohay
2012/13 1st Quarter honor roll
Congratulations to our honors students! To be eligible for High Honors, students must be enrolled in at least five classes and achieve all
As. Students who are enrolled in at least five classes and receive at least two As and no grade lower than a B are eligible for Honors.
hfhiGhSchool.orG ViKiNG CoNNeCTioN, winter 2012/13 • 3
h-f leaders in national Spotlight
To build a successful school district, it
takes top leadership and a talented
teaching staff. Homewood-Flossmoor is
fortunate to have both.
faculty & Staff
More than 71% of H-F teachers hold at least one advanced degree with an average
10.5 years of teaching experience. At least 12 current H-F teachers have served on
national boards and nearly 70 of them have served on state-level or regional profes-
sional organizations. Here is a snapshot of recent H-F faculty involvement in the
national and regional spotlights:
• This November Alana Drude, English, presented Speech to the Test at the Na-
tional Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) Conference in Las Vegas. This was
the second consecutive year she was invited to present to this national audience.
• Jane Harper, H-F librarian, currently serves as a member of the nominations
committee for the Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Board Award program, a
division of the Illinois School Library Media Association.
• Sahar Mustafah, English, helped organize the Radius of Arab American Writ-
ers’ annual national conference in Michigan this past summer. She is also an active
member of the NCTE and the Association of Writers and Writing Program.
• Greg Petecki, Fine Arts, was honored twice last year by regional organizations:
he was named the Illinois Secondary Art Educator of the Year Award, then received
the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year award by the University of Illinois School of
Art and Design.
• Brad Kain, Guidance, presented They Didn’t Teach That in Graduate School at
the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling’s (IACAC) annual confer-
ence last year.
• Kevin Coy, Guidance, is a delegate for the National Association for College Ad-
mission Counseling and is on the executive board for the IACAC.
• Roberto Suarez, Guidance, presented to at least 10 different regional and na-
tional groups last year, including at DePaul and Northwestern University. Most re-
cently, he was named Young Alumnus of the Year by Lewis University.
• Jaclyn Wargo and Candi Helsel-Wilk, Fine Arts, presented a session on incor-
porating visually stimulating and meaningful content into classroom lectures at the
A.P. Teaching & Learning Conference this past may in Elmhurst.
• H-F’s RTI Counselors Angela Taylor and Marina Brennan presented The Dy-
namics of At-Risk Students to a sub-group of the Illinois School Psychologists Asso-
ciation this fall.
aDMiniStration & DePartMent chairS
H-F is led by life-long learners who have an average of 20 years of experience in ed-
ucation. Thirty-five percent of the district’s administrators hold doctorate degrees.
One hundred percent of them belong to professional associations, and many are fea-
tured speakers at conferences and forums held across the U.S. Most recently, the
College Board — a membership-based organization that sponsors such programs as
the SAT® and A.P.® — held its annual forum, Investing in Education, in Miami,
Fla., Oct. 24-26. Superintendent Dr. Von Mansfield served as the co-chair of the
event’s program planning committee and Director of Curriculum, Instruction &
Professional Development Dr. Nancy Spaniak served as a program planning com-
mittee member. Dr. Spaniak is now preparing to present The Distributed Leader-
ship Experience of a High School Literacy Coaching Team with Principal Dr. Ryan
Pitcock and Reading Department Chair Lauren Freeman at the Illinois Reading
Council’s Annual Conference in Springfield this March. Donna Sayler, depart-
ment chair of World Language, took the H-F name overseas this summer, as she re-
ceived a scholarship from the Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign
Languages to study at an A.P.® conference for two weeks in Sevilla, Spain. This
past year, she also presented at the CSC’s meeting in Milwaukee, Wis., and has
been asked to return as a presenter to the group’s 2013 meeting in Columbus, Ohio.
D E C EM B E R
5 ............Free! Voyage�to�Excellence�
@�South�Building,�7�p.m.
8 ............Free! Holiday�Instrumental�Series�
@�Mall�Auditorium
•� Guitar�&�Percussion�Concert,�2�p.m.
•� Concert�Band�&�Chamber�Orchestra
Concert,�4�p.m.
9 ............Free! Holiday�Instrumental�Series�@�� �
Mall�Auditorium
•� Symphonic�Band�&�Viking�Orchestra,�
2�p.m.
•� Sinfonia�&�Wind�Ensemble�Concert,�
4�p.m.
14..........Free! Inspirational�Voices�Concert�
@�Mall�Auditorium,�7:30�p.m.
15..........Free! TUBA�Holiday�Concert�@�Mall�
Auditorium,�3�p.m.
16..........Free! Winter�Choral�Concert�
@�Mall�Auditorium,�3�p.m.
21..........Winter�Break�begins
J A N U A R Y
8 ............Classes�resume
17..........A.P.�Showcase�@�South�Building,�
6:30�p.m.
19..........FPAC�Music�Silent�Auction�
@�South�Cafe,�6�p.m.
23..........Free! Visual�Arts�Showcase�
@�Great�American�Bagel,�6�p.m.
28..........Free! Tri-District�Orchestra�&�Band�
Concert�@�Mall�Auditorium,�7�p.m.
29..........Free! Tri-District�Choral�Festival�
@�Mall�Auditorium,�7:30�p.m.
30..........Free! Winter�Jazz�Concert�@�Mall�
Auditorium,�7:30�p.m.
F E B R U A R Y
11..........Incoming�Freshmen�Parent�
Orientation�@�Mall�Auditorium,�6�&�7�p.m.
16..........FPAC�Public�Pancake�Breakfast�
@�South�Cafe,�8�a.m.-Noon�&�Freshmen�
Registration�@�South�Building,�8�a.m.
23..........NHS�St.�Balderick’s�Day�Fundraiser�
@�Fieldhouse,�10�a.m.-4�p.m.
28..........New�Faces�Theatre:�Arabian nights
@�Mall�Auditorium,�7:30�p.m.
FY I
4 • ViKiNG CoNNeCTioN, winter 2012/13 hfhiGhSchool.orG
north building renovation Planned
This winter Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School is entering the next exciting phase of its long-range facilities plan,
focused on the campus' North Building, which opened in 1973. The school-improvement renovation is set to begin this
winter and be completed in late spring 2014. The project will include refurbishing many areas of the North Building, in-
cluding the student cafeteria and gymnasium. In addition, the building's main entrance will be transformed into a
two-story atrium that will enhance accessibility throughout the facility. The fieldhouse itself will be expanded to
allow for additional programming for our students for the next 50 years, allowing more curricular opportunities for
Physical Education classes and more convenient practice and meeting times for our sports teams and clubs.
Once completed, this state-of-the-art facility promises to be another highlight for our community. H-F pro-
vides nationally recognized and comprehensive academic and extracurricular programming that our new facility
will support and enhance.
“We are very excited about this opportunity to improve our campus for our students and community, at no addi-
tional cost to our tax payers,” says Dr. Von Mansfield, superintendent. “The project will be completed within our
debt service and with no increase to the taxpayer’s yearly tax bill. Because of the project's green focus, the district has
also applied for energy grants. We remain committed to sustaining our district as fiscally sound now and well into the
future, all while keeping H-F High School one of the best high schools in the nation.”
Project benefits include:
• New North Building entrance that improves access and provides
central access point to all areas of the building
• New elevator to provide increased building accessibility
• Safety enhancements for competition and practice events
• Addresses water penetration issues in current facility
• Physical Education – increased facilities for curricular offerings
• Increased and enhanced student traffic flow
• Addresses traffic flow parking lot safety concerns
• Students can attend practice/meetings immediately after school
leaving additional time for academic preparation
• Increase in quality of practices as a result of regulation facilities
and improved access
• Community organization usage – feeder programs, park district
availability
• 40-yard multi-use turf field for all field sports and marching band
• Classroom/meeting rooms
• Team locker room facilities & public restrooms
• Training Room location
• Spectator bleachers for events
View from the new two-story atrium (above) and fitness cen-
ter (below), as planned for the North Building Renovation.
Stay on top of the latest renovation news here: www.hfhighschool.org/district-info/north-building-renovation-project/
expanding Programs at h-f Grow academic talents
H-F offers a number of avenues for students to discover and expand their aca-
demic talents. Renowned by colleges and universities throughout the country
for its Advanced Placement® program, H-F offers 22 A.P.® courses across six
content areas. From their freshman through senior years, H-F students have the
opportunity to take an array of A.P.® English, Fine Arts, Mathematics, Science,
Social Science and World Language courses. H-F’s push/pull philosophy – to push
students to take rigorous course loads, while pulling them through to success –
opens the door to A.P.® for all students who have the interest, drive and prerequi-
site skills to succeed in these challenging, college-level courses.
“As a result, 90 percent of our college-bound students take at least one A.P.® course
during their high-school career,” says Dr. Nancy Spaniak, director of Curriculum,
Instruction & Professional Development. “This large percentage of high-achieving
students results in such accolades as the College Board recognizing Homewood-Floss-
moor in both 2010 and 2011 as having more African-American students passing
the A.P.® Psychology exam than any other high school in the country.”
In further alignment with its push/pull philosophy, H-F offers all stu-
dents an extensive Honors program. From core graduation requirement
courses to electives in every content area, H-F
encourages students with the drive and neces-
sary skills to accept the challenge of Honors
courses. H-F’s Honors electives allow students
to pursue future career interests through spe-
cialty courses, such as Forensic Science, Introduc-
tion to Law and Computer Science. In addition,
H-F’s Applied Academics Department began offering
Project Lead the Way® courses in 2010-11.
“The PLTW® curriculum makes math and science relevant
for students by engaging them in hands-on, real-world engi-
neering, architecture and electronics courses that such es-
teemed universities as Duke, Purdue and the University of
Illinois accept for college credit,” says Dr. Ryan Pitcock, prin-
cipal.
H-F currently offers PLTW’s® Introduction to Engineering Design, Principles of En-
gineering and Digital Electronics. Civil Engineering & Architecture will be added to
H-F’s 2013-2014 PLTW® curriculum.
Amalgamating Honors, A.P.® and International Baccalaureate® curricula, the H-F
Gifted Academy was launched in fall 2011. As freshmen and sophomores, Gifted
Academy students enroll in both Honors and A.P.® courses. As juniors and seniors,
the Gifted Academy students take IB® courses as well.
“The rigorous, world-renowned IB® curriculum develops well-rounded high school
graduates who possess advanced critical-thinking, research, written and oral commu-
nication skills,” says Dr. Spaniak.
As an IB Diploma Programme® Candidate School*, H-F is now poised to initiate its
junior-level IB® courses with the class of 2015 Gifted Academy students next fall.
“In an effort to meet our mission to improve the quality of each student’s life,” says
Dr. Pitcock, “Homewood-Flossmoor High School is dedicated to developing, support-
ing and expanding the academic talents of our students. Our goal is for all students
to take the most challenging curriculum at which they can be successful in prepara-
tion for the rigors of post-secondary education and beyond.”*Only schools authorized by the IB® Organization can offer any of its three academic programmes: the Primary
Year’s Programme (PYP), the Middle Year’s Programme (MYP), or the Diploma Programme (and in addition the
IB® Career-related Certificate). Candidate status gives no guarantee that the authorization will be granted.
FY I
hfhiGhSchool.orG ViKiNG CoNNeCTioN, winter 2012/13 • 5
Current�and�incoming�Homewood-Floss-
moor�students�and�their�parents�are�in-
vited�to�H-F’s�Annual�A.P.® Showcase
event,�set�for�Thursday,�Jan.�17,�from
6:30–8:30�p.m.�beginning�in�the�Mall�Au-
ditorium.�Visitors�will�learn�from�college
admissions�officers�the�role�of�A.P.® in�the
college�admissions�process.�They�can�also
meet�current�H-F�stu-
dents�and�find�out�about
their�personal�A.P.® expe-
riences,�and�become�ac-
quainted�with�H-F’s�A.P.®
teachers.�H-F�currently
offers�22�A.P.® courses:
• english Language &
composition
• english Literature &
composition
• History of Art
• Studio Art
• Statistics
• Biology
• chemistry
• Music theory & composition
• calculus AB
• calculus Bc
• computer Science Java 1
• computer Science Java 2
• physics B
• physics c
• environmental Science
• Human Geography
• u.S. Government & politics
• psychology
• World History
• european History
• u.S. History
• economics
For�more�information�about�this�event,
contact�Dr. nancy Spaniak,�director�of�Cur-
riculum,�Instruction�&�Professional�Devel-
opment,�at�708-335-5330�or
a.P. Showcase set for Jan. 17
A student works on measurements at
a mock crime scene investigation
taken during a Forensic Science
class.
6 • ViKiNG CoNNeCTioN, winter 2012/13 hfhiGhSchool.orG
hfhS alumni association
Building a strong alumni program is
a joyful labor! Working with the
many dozens of Viking volunteers this
past year as they planned and organ-
ized their class reunions was exciting
and uplifting. Many of the reunion
groups decided to make a stop by H-F
one of the items on their reunion agen-
das, and I had the rare privilege to hear amazing stories
about how their H-F experienced transformed their lives. It
helps me to continue to learn how our school has continued
to evolve throughout the decades.
My office has been busy with several interesting projects,
including one that involves the scanning and digitizing of H-
F yearbooks from 1960-2008 to make them available for on-
line browsing. For alumni interested in more recent editions
(2009-11), please check with the H-F Campus Store to pur-
chase your own hardcopy edition.
This project is in direct response to inquiries from many
alumni, who through the course of years, have either lost or
misplaced their own yearbooks. We want everyone to enjoy
the pleasure of looking into their past years as an H-F stu-
dent: remembering the hundreds of friends and classmates,
the dedicated teachers who influenced them, or maybe just a
chance to laugh at bad fashion choices. This project will be
completed in early 2013, so please visit the alumni website
— hfhighschool.com/resources/alumni — after then to take
a step down memory lane.
We recently hosted a
reception for H-F
alumni living in the
Boston area and had a
nice turn out of
alumni, including sev-
eral recent graduates
who are pursuing their
education at places
such as Harvard Uni-
versity and the
Berklee School of
Music. This is our sec-
ond out-of-state alumni event, following on the heels of a
very well attended event for our Washington, D.C., alumni
back in April.
For our large contingent of Chicago-area alumni, we are
busy planning events and activities for this spring, includ-
ing an event downtown for alumni living in the Loop or
North Side. The date is set — Friday, Feb. 1 — and the loca-
tion will be finalized soon, so please check our website for
more details. We hope to see you at an events in the near fu-
ture! — Ann Cherry, Director of Development & Alumni
Relations (708-335-5530, [email protected])
fareeda Shabazz,�Class of 1999
Fareeda�has�been�named�by�Chicago
Mayor�Rahm�Emanuel�to�be�the�first�princi-
pal�of�the�new�Crane�Tech�Med�Prep
School.�Fareeda,�who�was�most�recently
assistant�principal�at�Collins�Academy�High
School,�is�charged�with�the�development�of
this�entirely�new�school,�including�hiring�of
all�teachers�and�staff�and�the�creation�of�curriculum�for�its�August
2013�launch.�This�school—�which�is�the�first�of�its�kind�in�the�Chicago
area�—� is�designed�to�draw�students�who�are�interested�in�working�in
the�medical�field.�The�new�school�and�program�will�eventually�enroll
800-1,100�students�educating�them�to�move�easily�into�medical
school,�pharmacy�tech�programs�and�other�medical-related�profes-
sions.�Students�will�be�able�to�earn�college�credit�for�some�classes
they�take�at�Crane�Tech�Med�Prep.�A�self-confessed�life-long�learner,
Fareeda�originally�intended�to�become�a�medical�doctor�when�she�en-
tered�Howard�University,�but�instead�found�herself�drawn�to�the�field
of�education.�She�has�also�received�advanced�degrees�in�education
from�Loyola�University,�National�Lewis�University and,�most�recently,
an�M.A.�in�education�from�Harvard�University.�One�of�three�siblings�to
attend�H-F,�Fareeda�was�a�very�involved�student�and�her�activities�in-
cluded�playing�saxophone�in�the�band,�acting�as�an�anchor�on�Viking
TV,�membership�in�the�African-American�Club,�Step�Team,�Peer�Medi-
ation,�as�well�as�a�four-year�involvement�with�Operation�Snowball�and
Snowflake.�Her�advice�to�current�H-F�students�is:�“High�school�is�what
you�make�it�–�Get�involved!”
Mark Zona,�Class of 1991
Following�his�passion�has�paid�off�in�big
ways�for�H-F�graduate,�Mark�Zona.�Consid-
ered�one�of�the�best�bass�fishermen�in�the
country,�he�has�parlayed�his�love�of�fishing
into�a�successful�broadcast�media�career.
After�graduating�from�H-F,�he�moved�to
Michigan�to�try�his�hand�as�a�professional
fisherman�where�in�the�off�season�he�sold�bass�boats�and�fishing
equipment.�Mark’s�over-the-top�enthusiasm�for�fishing�soon�caught
the�attention�of�ESPN�where�he�became�co-host�of�the�very�success-
ful�Bassmaster elite Series show.�In�addition,�he�has�hosted�the
World’s Greatest Fishing Show and�Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show on
the�Outdoor�Channel.�He�is�a�sought-after�spokesman�for�outdoor
equipment,�including�Bass�Pro�Shops,�Ram�Trucks,�Mercury�Marine
and�Shimano.�By�his�own�estimation,�he’s�on�the�road�260�days�a
year�covering�and�filming�fishing�tournaments�and�shows.�While�a
student�at�H-F,�Mark�was�a�member�of�the�mechanics�club.��He�and
his�wife,�Karin,�live�in�Michigan�with�their�twin�sons�Hunter�and
Cooper.
V i k i n G S n e a r & f a r
H-F alumni Ciara Adkins (’12) &Raven Fisher (’09) at the H-F AlumniReception in Boston on Oct. 22.
hfhiGhSchool.orG ViKiNG CoNNeCTioN, winter 2012/13 • 7
Viking�fans�needed!
Come�on�out�to�root�for
your�H-F�Vikings�at�a
home�game�or�meet
this�winter!
winter season
boyS’ baSketball
Location: South Gym
•� Dec.�7,�7�p.m.�vs.�Lockport
• Jan.�11,�7�p.m.�vs.�Sandburg
•� Jan.�25,�7�p.m.�vs.�Joliet�Central
•� Jan.�29,�7�p.m.�vs.�Joliet�West
•� Feb.�5,�7�p.m.�vs.�Lincoln-Way�East
•� Feb.�8,�7�p.m.�vs.�Bolingbrook
•� Feb.�19,�7�p.m.�vs.�Lincoln-Way�Central
boyS’ DiVinG & SwiMMinG
Location: H-F natatorium
•� Dec.�6,�5�p.m.�vs.�Stagg
•� Dec.�13,�5�p.m.�vs.�Lincoln-Way�East
•� Dec.�20,�5�p.m.�vs.�Joliet�Central
•� Dec.�27,�10�a.m.�H-F�Pentathlon
•� Jan.�15,�5�p.m.�vs.�L-W�West�&�Lockport
ice hockey
Location: H-F ice Arena
•� Nov.�30,�6:50�p.m.�vs.�Lake�Central
•� Dec.�7,�6:50�p.m.�vs.�Munster
•� Jan.�4,�6:50�p.m.�vs.�Crown�Point
•� Jan.�18,�6:50�p.m.�vs.�Munster
•� Jan.�25,�6:50�p.m.�vs.�Lake�Central
wreStlinG
Location: H-F Fieldhouse
•� Nov.�30,�5:30�p.m.�vs.�Joliet�West
•� Dec.�21,�5:30�p.m.�vs.�Lincoln-Way�East
•� Dec.�28,�9�a.m.�H-F�Invitational
•� Jan.�4,�5:30�p.m.�vs.�Bolingbrook
•� Jan.�11,�5:30�p.m.�vs.�Oak�Forest
•� Jan.�12,�9�a.m.�vs.�SCE�&�Willowbrook
GirlS’ GyMnaSticS
•� Dec.�15,�1�p.m.�H-F�Invitational
Location: north Gym
•� Jan.�16,�6�p.m.�vs.�Lincoln-Way�East
Location: Gymnastics room
GirlS’ baSketball
Location: South Gym
•� Nov.�27,�6:30�p.m.�vs.�Bloom
•� Dec.�6,�6:30�p.m.�vs.�Joliet�West
•� Dec.�13,�6:30�p.m.�vs.�L-W�East
•� Jan.�3,�6:30�p.m.�vs.�Bolingbrook
•� Jan.�10,�6:30�p.m.�vs.�Lincoln-Way�
•� Jan.�22,�6:30�p.m.�vs.�Lockport
•� Jan.�31,�6:30�p.m.�vs.�Sandburg
•� Feb.�7,�6:30�p.m.�vs.�Joliet�Central
Fall awardsCongratulations to our following fall
student-athletes:
Ron Johnson — Football MVP • Michael Johnson — Football MIP
Kaitlyn Shereyk — Volleyball MVP • Evelyn Weidman — Volleyball MIP
Kendall Paris & Joe Proby — Golf MVPs
Alexandra Walker & Alex Cueller — Golf MIPs
Haley Williams — Field Hockey MVP • Erin Bruggeman — Field Hockey MIP
Alfredo Ferreira — Soccer MVP • Stuart Moore — Soccer MIP
Faith Huckabee — Tennis MVP • Maya Sykes — Tennis MIP
Gabi Cipriano — Swimming MVP • Morgan White — Swimming MIP
Lauren Roby — Swimming Sportsmanship
MVP - Most Valuable Player; MIP - Most Improved Player
t h e V i k i n G V i e w
More�than�100�alumni�reunited�on�Sunday,�Oct.�14,�during�the�Fall�Viking
Choir�Concert,�held�in�the�Mall�Auditorium.�Prior�to�the�concert,�a�Viking
Choir�reunion�was�held,�which�included�a�tour�of�the�school�and�a�choir�re-
hearsal�with�Conductor�Emeritus�Elvis�Coble,�who�led�the�Viking�Choir�from
1977-1989.
NONPROFIT�ORGANIZATION
U.S.�POSTAGE�PAID
ECR�WSS
FLOSSMOOR,�IL
PERMIT�NO.�5
POSTAL�CUSTOMER
homewood-flossmoor community high School District 233
999 kedzie, flossmoor, il 60422
708-799-3000The�Viking connection is�a�community�newsletter�for�residents�of�Homewood-Flossmoor�Community�High�School�District�233.
board of education
richarD liteS, preSident
Dr. DaViD Mayer, Vice preSident
Dr. John farrell
anDrew linDStroM
Jeanne Mcinerney-lubeck
JoDy Scariano
GeralD PaulinG
Dr. Von ManSfielD,Superintendent
Dear Stakeholders of Homewood-
Flossmoor Community High School:
With the 1st quarter and fall season com-
ing to an end, I am pleased to present
many of the accomplishments of our stu-
dents this school year. Please note that
the accomplishments of our faculty members (p. 3) and fall
sports awards winners (p. 7) can be found earlier in this
newsletter. While space will not allow for all of our students to
be appropriately acknowledged within this column, I would like
to thank all of our students, educators, parents and community
members for maintaining our culture of success here at H-F.
2013 Semi-Finalist in the National Merit Scholarship
Competition: Kevin Gislason
2013 Semi-Finalists in the National Achievement Scholarship
Competition: Tori Jones, Lauren Roby & Kaylah Sosa
2013 Commended Students in the National Merit Program:
Clara Deck, Brendan Dunagan, Elizabeth Joyce, Elliott
Runburg, Sara Ryan & Isaiah Sciford
2013 National Achievement Program Participants Referred to
Colleges: Richard Foster-Shelton, Herman Miller, Austin
O'Donoghue, Langston Pendleton, Taylor Sanders,
Brianna Stewart & Lerone Weathersby
Students of the Quarter are: Brandon Shephard (Business
Education); Tyler Connors (Career & Technical Education );
Malik Dent (Cooperative Education); Deonte Jones (Deans);
Maxine Hayes (English); Alisha Rutledge (Family & Con-
sumer Science); Lauren Barnett (Fine Arts); Irene Zhang
(Guidance); Kelsey Johnson (Guidance); Michael Jones
(Guidance); Joi Jackson (Math); Kimberly Boehm (Music);
Errianna Calvin (P.E./Health/Driver Education); Desiraye
Campbell (Reading); Daniel Almeida (Science); Delaney
Perl (Social Science); & Carl Schaeffer (World Language).
— Ryan M. Pitcock, Ph.D., Principal
Principally Speaking
Students, administrators and parents gathered for a celebratory
breakfast in October for H-F’s nationally recognized students.
Standing (l. to rt.) are: Dr. Ryan Pitcock, Tori Jones, Kaylah Sosa,
Clara Deck, Lerone Weathersby & Dr. Von Mansfield. Seated (l. to
rt.) are: Taylor Sanders, Brianna Stewart, Lauren Roby & Eliza-
beth Joyce.