Principal's Blog #13

Mustang Families,

I had the privilege of welcoming our Veterans to Mundelein High School this morning. Our students, staff, and faculty were filled with gratitude as we invited our Veterans to a breakfast and Honors Walk. Our student presenter, Animesh Bijawat, US Airforce cadet and class of 2024, shared a beautiful poem. Eliseo Lopez, a Chapter Commander of the office of the Military Order of the World Wars, was featured in an MHS video presentation. Our keynote speaker, Janine Arriola, current Veterans Educational Specialist from the IL Department of Veterans Affairs, spoke on the importance of putting the mission and the team above personal comfort. Finally, our Veterans were given a moment to be fully recognized and thanked as our Drumline led them through a parade walk through our halls. It was a special morning with over 150 people in attendance. On behalf of Mundelein High School, we thank our Veterans near and far for your service to our country!

Dr. Alexandria Rios Taylor

Principal, Mundelein High School

847-949-2200 x1257

www.d120.org

ataylor@d120.org

To our veteran alumni, faculty, and staff who are members of the armed forces––thank you for your service, today and every day.

Thank you to ROA's Illinois Department National Councilman Col. Michael P. Peck, Chairman of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Council, who presented MHS with a signed copy of Zero to Hero by Allen Lynch, Specialist 4th class, Sergeant.

Thank you to Eliseo Lopez, Chapter Commander of the office of the Military Order of the World Wars, for presenting Dr. Myers, myself and our Equity Coordinator, Hector Gonzalez, with a Certificate of Patriotism.

Congrats to Rahul and Melissa Sethna! Each swimming & diving season, the Illinois Swimming & Diving Association (ISDA) sponsors a Sectional Coach of the Year award for a swimming and diving coach from each sectional. Rahul and Melissa Sethna won this award by a vote of the coaches at their sectional meet. The ISDA will award a certificate to each Coach of the Year at the ISDA All State Banquet on April 14th. They are truly a dynamic duo!

Mustang nation is proud of you both.

Congratulations goes out to Amelia Willis (Sophomore) for qualifying for IHSA State finals, this Friday and Saturday, in the Backstroke and Free swim events. Best of luck this weekend Amelia!

Congratulations to the following student athletes who committed to extend their athletics and academics endeavors to the next level.

Abby Rounds

Girls Soccer

Winona State University (DII)

Ella Terrell

Girls Lacrosse

University of Louisville (DI)

Josilyn Wadas

Girls Volleyball

Indiana State University (DI)

We just wrapped up our second Town Hall Meeting.

Please continue to visit our website for further developments: d120.org/mhs-facilities/

A copy of our recent mailing and fact sheet can be found below. Should you have additional questions, fill out our online form or email at: mhsbuildingplan@d120.org.

We’ll continue to keep you informed along the way.

We are proud to host visitors to learn more about our programming and facilities. In order to minimize the impact on the educational environment, we have chosen to host visitors on select days throughout the school year.

Therefore, to secure a visitation time, please select from the following options so we are able to provide the necessary information and personnel during your visit.

Our next tour is November 16th at 4:30pm.

Click here to register.

Native American Heritage Month

"In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed a joint congressional resolution designating the month of November “National American Indian Heritage Month.” Proclamations have been issued each year since 1994. On Monday, the White House released President Joe Biden’s National Native American Heritage Month Proclamation, "America has not always delivered on its promise of equal dignity and respect for Native Americans ... But despite this painful history, Indigenous peoples, their governments, and their communities have persevered and flourished. As teachers and scholars, scientists and doctors, writers and artists, business leaders and elected officials, heroes in uniform, and so much more, they have made immeasurable contributions to our country’s progress.”

During Native American Heritage Month, it is important not just to celebrate the legacy that Indigenous history makers have left, but also to celebrate those who continue to shape our society, lead their communities, and impact our culture today.

Text and Image from: Native News Online

Nov 6-17 Kindness Drive

Nov 9-11 Mundelein Theatre Presents - Becoming Juliet

Nov 15 AP Teacher/Student Panel

Nov 15 Student Talent Show

Nov 16 Universidad de Padres

Nov 20-24 Thanksgiving Break

Nov 27 Senior Cap and Gown Orders Due

Dec 8 Late Start

Dec 19 Special Schedule

Dec 20-21 Final Exams (special schedule)

Dec 25-Jan 5 Winter Break

Jan 9 Students Return

Attention Seniors and Senior Parents!

Reminder to order your Cap & Gown, Official Graduation Announcements and Senior Products! The deadline to order is November 27, 2023. You must ORDER NOW to ensure timely delivery in the Spring. Orders received after November 27th will incur late fees.

Order Now at www.HerffJonesIL.com Or Call Herff Jones at 815-756-4743.

Herff Jones Office hours are Monday - Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. To order the Gown, Cap & Tassel Unit Only, click here.

Click here to see more important dates and benchmarks along the road to Graduation.

Junior Student Leadership is excited to begin their Kindness Drive next week, Monday, November 6th which runs until Friday, November 17th. We are working with The Annex to collect gently used or new KIDS’ clothes, particularly winter clothing. The flyer below specifies what types of items we are looking for.

We are holding a contest between 2nd-hour classes. The class that collects the most items will receive a donut party!

We want to share important news about the Accelerated Placement Act, also known as Public Act 100-0421, which affects your student’s education in Illinois public schools. The goal of this law is to provide all students with an equal chance to access advanced courses during high school This law is designed to make sure that high school students who perform exceptionally well on state standardized tests, including PSAT 9, PSAT 10, and the SAT are given the opportunity to take more challenging and advanced courses.

Accelerated Placement Act Letter to Families- Spanish

Accelerated Placement Act Family Letter- English

Advanced Courses Overview- English

Advanced Course Overview-Spanish

Students are encouraged to join us for the AP Teacher / Student Panel on Nov. 15, during all lunch periods, in the DMR. We hope to help students gain a better understanding of course offerings, purpose, workload, inclusivity, general assignments, accessibility of faculty, and dual credit. Pizza lunch will be provided.

Click here to register

November 15 – School Board Members Day – is our opportunity to thank members of the Mundelein High School D120 School Board for providing a local voice for our community’s education decisions.

School board members are volunteers serving as advocates striving for quality education opportunities for every student and acts as a safeguard for two of our community’s most precious resources – our children and tax dollars – while striving to create the best education environment possible with the resources available. The members of our board take on this responsibility not for a paycheck, but for their commitment to our community and its children.

We Learn Together. We Lead Together. And Together we are making a difference for every student in this district.

Thank You!

Image courtesy of Illinois Association of School Boards

Off week.

It’s not always easy to take over a high school classroom in a teacher's absence and attempt to provide a valuable education. This is why Mundelein High School recognizes National Substitute Teacher Appreciation Day on November 17th.

This day is dedicated to the education professionals who are ready every day to take on the challenge and help out in the classrooms where they are needed. Substitute teachers are a valuable part of our team.

Please join Mundelein High School in acknowledging their efforts during the national observance of Substitute Teacher Appreciation Day.

The course selection process for the 2024-2025 school year will begin in the coming weeks. Please take a moment to read through all of the information and links below to ensure that you are well-informed of this process.

Counselors will be making presentations in developmental guidance lessons to inform students and will begin meeting with individual students on the following dates:

• Juniors: November 27
• Sophomores: December 11
• 8th graders: January 18
• Freshman: February 5

If you have any questions about this process you can reach out directly to your school counselor for more information.

We look forward to working closely with you and your student to plan for an exciting and challenging 2024-2025 school year.

• Course Selection Preparation and Process (English / Spanish)

• Mundelein High School Academic Course Guide (English/Spanish)

• Course Request Worksheet (English / Spanish)

• Mundelein High School Career Pathways (English / Spanish)

• Advanced Placement/Honors Recruitment Letter to Parents/Guardians (English / Spanish)

• Accelerated Placement Act Letter to Parents/Guardians (English / Spanish)

If your student still needs a locker, please click here to fill out the locker request form. Locker information will be sent to the student’s school email account with the locker location, number, and combination.

If you have any other questions please contact the Security Office at ext. 1041.

Students and their parents can attend the FSA ID workshop to prepare for completing the FAFSA. Attendees will need to know their Social Security number and phone number.

Experiential Education describes all opportunities offered to students to give them a chance to explore the world of careers and professions. These include classes like Dual Credit Student Internship, Business INCubator, and Geometry in Construction as well as career treks and featured guest speakers.

Scroll through the following photos for a quick summary of some of the educational experiences students were offered in the last month! (In regular black text underneath the red text above).

The Hispanic Heritage Career Panel: A Celebration of Achievement

On October 13, Mundelein High School hosted its annual Hispanic Heritage Career Panel. Over 200 students attended the event, which featured advice, testimonials, and words of encouragement from these seven professionals:

• Sergio Perez, owner of La Rosita Supermarket

• Anthony Vega, Lake County Clerk

• Sol Cabachuela, Chief Deputy, Lake County Clerk’s Office (MHS Class of ‘04)

• Germain Castellanos, Chief Operating Office, Boys & Girls Clubs of America

• Gina Diaz, Attorney, Diaz Case Law

• Evan Salazar, Kitchen Manager/Intermediate Executive Chef, SCRATCHBOARD Kitchen, Arlington Heights (MHS Class of ‘18)

• Juliana Roznowski, Field Engineer, Mortenson Construction (MHS Class of ‘18)

Below MHS alum Juliana Roznowski (‘18) advises students on ways to give themselves a competitive edge in their academic and professional careers.

The Advocate Condell Health Care Career Night: A Carnival of Choices

On November 1st, 37 MHS students and their parents attended the Condell Health Care Career Night. This fully interactive (and totally Instagrammable) event offered students from a number of area high schools a chance to talk to professionals from a wide range of careers in the healthcare field, as well as participate in a number of hands-on medical-related experiences.

The event was capped off by a tour of Condell’s emergency room and trauma center just for Mundelein High School students! I’ll skip the descriptions and let you click on the images below to let the photos tell the story!

Nothing says “Healthcare Career Fair” like an inflatable colon! Not only was it a popular backdrop for photos, it also served as an instructional tool as well as a gateway to the DaVinci Robot experience! Below, we see friends Samantha Johnson (‘25) and Nayary Huizar (‘25) pause for a photo while Mila Patel (‘24) and Mohin Patel (‘26) pull mom in for a family portrait.

Left: Mark Lieberman (‘25) checks the monitor to see if he is administering correct pressure and timing of CPR chest compressions. Right: Izabella Wietecha (‘26) monitors her classmate’s breathing using a stethoscope.

Left: Students wait eagerly to use the surgical staple gun on a banana. Middle: Olivia Kaufman (‘25) tries her hand at suturing incisions on artificial skin. Right: A student takes his turn at the DaVinci Surgical Robot by placing rings on cone-shaped appendages.

Students wait patiently for the Condell staff to arrive to take them on their personalized tour of the emergency room and trauma center! This exclusive opportunity gave them a chance to see the treatment rooms, the ambulance bay, the decontamination room, and even an exciting glimpse into the storage and supply closets!

Dr. Valerie Schmidt gives Tommy Buenik, son of staff members Tom & Melissa Buenik, the finger-trap experience! If a broken or sprained hand or wrist needs realignment, the patient places their fingers in this device, followed by a heavy weight at the elbow crease. Ouch!

Dual Credit Student Internship Mock Interviews: From “Hello” to “You’re Hired”!

On Monday, November 6, 16 students in the Dual Credit Student Internship Program participated in a round of four mock interviews with a number of our building administrators. Coached by instructor Amy Amber, these students brought their best smiles, polished resumes, and thorough answers for a first-hand interview experience that is sure to give them the edge in future job-seeking opportunities.

Below Left: Assistant Principal Mike Souza questions Scott Van de Motter (‘24) about his experiences in the world of veterinary medicine. Middle: Future human resources executive Sariah Hutchinson (‘24) is the picture of confidence as she begins her interview with Deputy Superintendent Sarah Cacciatore. Right: Aspiring elementary teacher Alison Bogenski (‘24) introduces herself to Director of Special Education Kim Goldberg with the kind of greeting that will make her future students feel welcome in her classroom.

If you know of anyone who needs career direction or are a professional who would like to offer guidance to our students, please contact:

Alexander Kapotas

Career Exploration & Internship Coordinator

847-949-2200 x1092

akapotas@d120.org

D120 Welcomes Debbie Reuter, M.S., LPC, Director of the Center for Students with Disabilities and member of the CARE Team at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Debbie is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor in Illinois and Wisconsin and has worked in higher education for twenty-five years and is an active member of the Association for Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD and WIAHEAD).

Invited: Families / individuals that have an IEP or 504 plan that are looking for information on accommodations at the college level.

When :Thursday, December 7th 6:30 pm-7:30 pm

Where / Zoom

Click here to learn more.

Schedule week of 11/13/23

Submitted by Coach Sweno

Congratulations to Winston Petri for bowling a perfect game 300 against Grant on Friday 11/3. This is the first in the school’s history. The next day he went on to win 4th place in overall scoring at the Glenbrook North Spartans Eliminator along with his teammate Shawn Mastandrea who took 5th in overall scoring. Shawn also took 4th place for individual high game of 268. The Mustangs took second in the overall team scoring but lost to Stevenson in the bakers eliminator.

Submitted by Coach Teipel

Girls basketball enjoyed team building this weekend! We are growing and working together in preparation for a great season. This Monday all levels will be competing in their first game of the season.

Submitted by Coach Harris

he Mustangs are back on the mat and ready to roll this season. At the first practice of the season, we had a total of 72 mustangs on the mat! A terrific number of hard working student athletes who are ready to get their hands raised this season.

Each week we will feature a student, staff member or department at our school (Or all three at once), to give Mustang Nation a closer look at these wonderful folks! “We are MHS”! To nominate yourself or others for this feature, please email Mr. Gonzalez – hgonzalez@d120.org

The Mundelein Foundation is seeking new members! Do you have one night a month to make a difference? Contact Jennifer for more information on how you can have some fun helping the next generation: 847-987-7955 or brunkow4@sbcglobal.net

ASPIRE

Our MHS Portrait of a Learner tenets affirm student identity through schoolwide values, expectations and practices.

Student Supports

MHS has many supports to offer students. Students can access a quick-reference guide of all supports available on this page. Available is everything from social-emotional support, to financial support. Check it out!

Click here to see all the student support areas we have to offer.

Go Mustangs!

Past blogs are available at:

https://www.d120.org/about-mhs/principals-newsletter/

Email: ataylor@d120.org
Website: www.d120.org
Location: 1359 West Hawley Street, Mundelein, IL, USA
Phone: 847-949-2200
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Mundelein-High-School-District-120/100095401983567/
Twitter: @MundeleinHS