Principal's Blog #28

Dear MHS Families,

I was able to get into Mrs. Alvarez's 8th period Honors English 3 classroom this week to watch their "SAT Madness Bracket". This playful educational game is designed to help students prepare for the SAT exam by presenting common SAT strategies in a fun yet competitive format similar to the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament bracket.

The focus of the SAT Madness yesterday was to help students read and interpret quantitative evidence in the SAT.

Kudos to Mrs. Alvarez for making SAT preparation fun and interactive, while also encouraging her classes to think critically. What a creative approach to making SAT preparation more enjoyable and memorable!

Go Mustangs!

Dr. Alexandria Rios Taylor

Principal, Mundelein High School

847-949-2200 x1257

www.d120.org

ataylor@d120.org

Mustang parents are invited to complete the 5-Essentials Survey to help provide valuable information about our MHS learning community and help guide our ongoing improvement efforts.

Parents can start the survey now by clicking here.

The National Women’s History Month’s theme for 2024 celebrates “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” The theme recognizes women throughout the country who understand that, for a positive future, we need to eliminate bias and discrimination entirely from our lives and institutions. Check out https://www.womenshistorymonth.gov/ to learn more.

As many of you know, some members of our community have been severely impacted by the recent inclement weather. To help address this pressing concern, the Student Leadership team is organizing a supply drive next week aimed at providing critical support to the families impacted by the storm. We are reaching out to ask for your help in collecting supplies that these families are in desperate need of the following items:

• New Bath / Kitchen Towels
• Cooking Utensils
• Silverware
• Pots / Pans
• Plates
• Aldi Gift Cards
• Cooking Oil
• Non-perishable foods

A red collection bin will be available in the main office for donated supplies.

Thank you in advance for your support! Your donations will make a significant difference in the lives of those affected by the recent storms. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out directly to Rachel Gross or Stevee Libert.

It’s once time again for our annual cultural fair! All friends and family are welcome for the evening portion of the event from 4:00pm to 8:00pm. Performances will take place at 7:00pm.

Admission - Free

Buffet Dinner - $5 per person.

Enjoy the break!

On Wednesday, April 10 and Thursday, April 11, MHS will conduct the required state tests for grades 9, 10 and 11. The schedule for these two days is as follows:

April 10

Grade 10 - PSAT 10

Grade 11 - SAT

April 11

Grade 9 - PSAT 8/9

Grade 11 - ISA

We are so excited to be gearing up for El Baile 2024! Get ready for a night in traditional Latin America as this year’s theme is Herencia Hispana!

DATE
Saturday, April 13th from 7-10 PM.

TICKETS
$5 in advance in person and online Online tickets go on sale starting Monday, 4/1 and close the night of Thursday, 4/11. In-Person tickets will be sold near the cafeteria during all lunch periods Monday, 4/8, Tuesday, 4/9, and Friday, 4/12. At the door tickets will be sold for $15! The first 50 students who buy their tickets this year will receive free food and drink vouchers at the dance!

GUESTS

Guests are welcome. Forms will be available in the Deans’ office starting Monday, 4/1 and will be due on Tuesday, 4/9 after school.

NOTES

This year all students are eligible for the dance regardless of service hours/detentions.

There will be a Spirit Week leading up to the dance again.

DANCE WORKSHOPS

Dance Workshops will be held on Thursday, April 4th and Tuesday, April 9th from 3:30-4:30
in the cafeteria. All students (and staff) are welcome to come and learn the basic steps for dances like merengue, bachata, cumbia, and more! These workshops are free and we will also raffle off free tickets or food vouchers for the dance.

Coaches/Club Sponsors: this is a great/fun team-building activity for your group! Students learn best when they are already with their friends and teammates. Please consider bringing your group to one of the lesson events.

The annual Mayor’s Cup STEM Challenge is a great opportunity for Mundelein students to showcase their Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) skills, earn cash rewards, and have fun in the process! Think critically, work together in teams, test your knowledge, and strengthen your collaborative and social skills. Expect real-world problem solving, hands-on involvement, and out-of-the-box thinking!

Please register for the Mayor’s Cup STEM Challenge through teachers at each participating school no later than March 18, 2024.

Also, we need to collect some of the materials that students will be using in the challenge. To meet that end, if you are getting rid of any of the following items, please donate them to the event.

• Carboard Boxes of any size/shape (paper boxes, cereal boxes, Kleenex, etc)
• Cardboard
• Toilet Paper and Paper Towel Rolls
• Empty Aluminum Cans
• Packing Material (bubble wrap, Styrofoam, etc.)
• Balloons
• Newspaper

Donated materials can be brought to B-141, B-152A, or the Nano Lab C-130. Thank you for your support in making this event a success for our students and community.

Questions? Please contact Jennifer Marshall at 847-949-3225 or jmarshall@mundelein.org

We will be observing a special schedule for prom. More information will be available soon.

We have a remarkable senior class and we’re proud to celebrate their impressive and unique accomplishments:

• As outstanding scholars earning top grades and honors

• As stars in art, theater, choir and band

• As accomplished athletes - many in multiple sports - spreading Mustang Pride across the state and country

• As compassionate citizens, demonstrating support for your classmates, the community, and our country

Date, Time, and Place: Graduation will be held on Sunday, May 19, 2024 at 3:00 pm at the NOW Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates, IL. Seniors need to report to the NOW Arena by 2:00 pm. Students may drive on their own, however bus transportation to the NOW Arena and back to MHS will be available for any students and their families who need it. Information regarding transportation services will be released in the spring.

Tickets and seating: Each graduate will be issued 15 tickets (wristbands) for guest seating. General seating will begin at 2:00 pm.

Congratulations to Senior Santiago Cadavid and Junior Yullia Bats (picture Below).

Congratulations to this month's Mustang Pride Award winners: Raul Flores, Elliott Catania, Carlos Armenta Lopez, Kaidyn Wright, Yakelin Morales Gutierrez, Mayreli Gonzalez, Anthony Nowotnik, Aldre Delos Santos, Nancy Ramos, Edwin Rodriguez Escobar, Bridget Russ, Thomas Russ, and Kaitlin Johnson (not pictured).

Congratulations to Val Helms for being named recipient of the ESP Council Star Award. Val's long-time experience in the union as well as her broad expertise as a long-time MHS employee have made her indispensable, having provided support to countless fellow MESA members through the years. Val, you are truly a Star!

Beware the Ides of March. Here comes a double dose of Artists of the month. Aspen Sweet @aspe.nsweet and Ana Rahmanova @anastasija.ram are this months dynamic duo. Check out their work up at the main entrance. @mundeleinhighschool #mhsart120 @mhs_fineartscte

The MHS Band program successfully hosted their 57th Annual Mundelein Jazz Invitational this past weekend where over 35 middle schools and high schools from across Illinois attended a day of outstanding performances! Bands performed on 4 different stages throughout our school and received clinics from professional musicians.

Tito Carillo and his band, Urbanessense, performed at noon to a packed house; ending in a Q&A session on what it means to be a professional musician today. The night ended with our very own Mundelein Honors Jazz Ensemble performing to a full auditorium. Kudos to our band families, students, and educators for putting on a fantastic event!

The University of Louisville Jazz Faculty have been on a tour of Illinois the past several days. Mr. Shelato and Mr. Sturgeon took advantage of a wonderful opportunity to host the faculty members in class this past week on Wednesday where students in each jazz band performed for the faculty members and received small section clinics!

NHS volunteer Morgan Jacobson and Peer/AP Tutor Damian Harrison celebrate Pi Day (March 14) with a pie sale and pie raffle won by Guidance Counselor Aracely Lawrence. Half of sales proceeds will be donated to the Mundelein Parks & Rec Center’s All-Inclusive Playground.

Did you know that you can customize your Mustang spirit wear online? Since 2010, hundreds of items are available to choose from infant sizes to 6XL. Choose embroidery or screenprint, ladies or men’s fit, and front and back printing. You can add custom text to add your name to your shirt. Look at actual garment size (chest, body, and sleeve length) to find the perfect fit. Buy accessories like hats, bags, and luggage tags. All customizable and shipped directly to you! Visit us at mymustangnation.com or linked through the d120.org website.

Each year, the highlight of our graduation ceremony is our student speakers. If you are interested in giving a speech on stage this year, please submit your speech by clicking this link!

• Submission deadline Friday, April 19, 4pm

• Full speech must be submitted in writing

• Maximum speech length is 5 minutes

• Prompt: How has MHS propelled you forward / onward or helped you to ASPIRE (Get creative!)

If your speech is selected, you will then be given a mentor to guide you through the process of refining your speech and preparing you to speak in front of a live audience on the day of graduation.

Click here to see the full schedule of upcoming graduations events.

The Welcome Center is in need of donations to continue assisting those members of our community that are in need. With the fallout from some of our families being displaced recently by inclement weather, those donations are even more important today. We welcome donations of non-perishable food items, personal hygiene items, soaps, detergents and clothing. To help assist those families in need, we are also accepting gift card donations. Please take a minute to watch this video about how The Welcome Center helps our community.

We regularly feature a student, staff member or department at our school to give Mustang Nation a closer look at these wonderful folks! Nominate yourself or others for this feature by emailing Mr. Gonzalez – hgonzalez@d120.org

The Wellness Center team is proud to share Mental Health Must-Haves for Mundelein Mustangs, a resource packet filled with tips and tricks to manage emotions and stress, regulate thoughts and anger, improve self-love and self-confidence, increase executive functioning, and enhance overall self-care.

Take a moment to review the March self-care check list

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

Juniors, this is a great time to start thinking about where you may want to go to college. Check out the college visit scheduled for next week!

To register to attend a visit, (students) simply click the Colleges tab in your Naviance account, then click visits. Find the visit that you wish to attend and click “register”. This final step is extremely important as the CCRC only has seating for 20 students. If we notice that the number of students signed up for the visit exceeds this, we must find a larger space to host the event and email all students who have signed up with the update. Please note: these visits are for MHS Students Only.

Seniors, stop by the CCRC for drop-in support regarding financial aid! We are here to help you!

The FAFSA is now open. Visit www.studentaid.gov to begin your financial aid application.

Below are some scholarships guaranteed to go to seniors at MHS. You can find more scholarships guaranteed to go to Mundelein High School seniors by clicking on this link.

MHS Foundation Scholarships

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.

The College of Lake County is pleased to once again offer to MHS students an opportunity to participate in a Spring Break Apprenticeship Awareness program, March 25 - 28th through the Career and Job Placement Center of CLC.

Please see the flyer, application, and session descriptions below. 70 Lake County students will be accepted into program which is for grades 9-12.

Mundelein High School will be hosting area businesses and industry representatives for a its annual school-wide Job Fair and Career Expo on Friday, April 12th between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM.

This is your chance to recruit talent for hourly (year-round), seasonal (summer-only), and entry level (18+/graduate-only) openings for your business. Industry reps and military branches are also welcome to showcase opportunities in their respective fields.

For more information, please contact Alexander Kapotas, Career Exploration & Internship Coordinator, at akapotas@d120.org or 847-949-2200 x1092.

Sign up at bit.ly/Expo2024MHS

Space is limited--reserve your spot today!

Athletic Events week of 3/18/24

Submitted by Coaches Dressen and Willis

Our boys volleyball teams have been solidified after a week of tryouts, and now the teams are brushing off rusty skills and working on building new ones. Because of tight gym space at MHS, the JV and Varsity teams have been practicing at Carl Sandburg Middle School, and we are looking forward to getting back into the MHS gym during spring break. Our first game is Monday, March 18th at home against Palatine.

Submitted by Coach Pauley

Girls Varsity soccer scored two late goals to even the contest at 3 versus Palatine. Ashley Strachn netted the first goal and Freshman Carlie Bestler scored two in her MHS debut. JV won their opener 4-1 and JV2 finished with a tie. Freshman finished a tight contest at 0-0. The teams have been making all of their coaches proud.

Submitted by Coach Rutz

What a weekend! All track all the time!

We were back at Lakes on Friday for the Antioch meet.

Two events really stood out- the 4 x 200m relay and the pole vault. In the relay, the foursome of Ian Murray, Ethan Connelly, Connor Tector, and Julian Eagar took 5th in a time of 1:37.26, which is 4 seconds faster than we ran all indoors last year.

In the pole vault, Nico Osorio added a foot to his PR, clearing 10' for the first time. He narrowly missed 10'6".

Other notable performances included Finn Keegan, who, after missing all cross country last fall due to injury, PR'd by a bunch in the 3200m. Finn ran outstanding pace throughout, and it's great to see him back in form.

All three of our shotputters PR'd as well. "The 3 D's" David Teixeira, Drew Berek, and Dwayne Gordon, all made their best throws of the season so far. Throwers rule!!!

Congrats to all our athletes for their performances Friday. Now, on to Saturday...

On Saturday we competed at the 2nd ever NSC Indoor Invitational at Stevenson. There were 2 levels, F/S and Varsity, and both squads performed well. The F/S squad tied for 3rd, while Varsity took 4th.

I was really surprised by our team finish at the F/S level. Several of our athletes blew me away with their efforts.

Nobody had a better day than freshman Kadin Toussaint. Kadin won the F/S high jump in his first competition. Just over a week ago, I was struggling to get him to stop taking off on both feet, and Saturday, Kadin blew away the competition, winning by 10 inches, jumping 5'8". He also would have placed 4th at the Varsity level. Kadin also contributed a great leg on the F/S 4 x 200m relay, which took 5th.

Also winning at the F/S level was Kessler Magrow in the 800m, and Nick Orozco in the Triple Jump. Nick's jump in the TJ was a foot and a half PR. Nick also took 2nd in the Long Jump, jumping over 19' for the first time. Newly joined sophomore Marco Toledano surprised everyone in the F/S Shot Put by taking 2nd. Holden McFall contributed by taking 6th in the Shot Put. Aubre Booker took 3rd in the 60m Dash, with Nick Orozco adding a 6th. Jared Alba and William Cunliffe went 5-6 in the 299m. Shiven Patel took 5th in the low hurdles, while Will Cunliffe tied for 4th in the highs.

The 4 x 400m relay ended the day by taking 4th. What really made me happy was that when we had a missing leg, Jared Alba stepped up to the plate to fill in. Jared begged both Coach Sweet and myself to run, and ran a great leg. That's the kind of attitude coaches love to see.

Great job, F/S!!! Now on to the Varsity....

Lots of great performances to talk out from the Varsity meet Saturday.

We had a couple of champions at the Varsity level. Our first was sophomore Elijah Mendoza in the 3200m. Elijah got knocked down in the early part of the race, but got back up and in it, winning in a PR of 9:59.51, his first time under 10 minutes. Talk about tough!

Also winning was Alberto Diaz in the 1600m. Alberto ran a really smart race, breaking away form the field in the middle of the race. Alberto's time of 4:38 was a PR. Note- Alberto and several other runners ran an extra lap due to an official's error, so Alberto also owns the fieldhouse record for 1800 meters.

Other great efforts included freshman Izic Miller, who took 3rd in the 800m, after running a leg on the 4 x 800m relay. Izic also came back to run the anchor leg on the 4 x 400m relay, which took 3rd.

Julian Eagar contributed a 6th in the 60m, 6th in the High Jump, and 5th in the 400m. Connor Tector took 3rd in the 400m, and was closing hard on the leaders as he finished. Nathan McCreight added a 6th in the 200m, as did Ben Segura in the high hurdles.

In the Shot Put, Will Vilchynskyy and Dylan Coe took 5th and 6th respectively. and Ethan Connelly took 5th in the Triple Jump, missing 40' by an inch.

The 4 x 200 relay of Ian Murray, Ethan Connelly, Adam Hauf, and Conner Tector took 4th, while Connor, Andrew Weaver, and Drew Patrick joined Izic in taking 3rd in the 4 x 400. The 4 x 80m relay of Weaver, Diaz, Logan Ramirez, and Miller took 5th.

Next Satuday the Varsity will compete at the Lake Michigan Invite at Carthage College in Kenosha. A great meet on a really fast track. Hope to see you all there. Until then, It's A Great Day To Be A Mustang!!!!

Student Registration opened February 1, 2024. All students must register yearly. Visit our registration page for more information: https://www.d120.org/resources/parents/registration-2/

The 2024/2025 Early Registration Fee item has been added to PowerSchool fee accounts for the Class of 2026, 2027, and 2028. If you choose to pay the Registration Fee by May 1st, 2024, you will receive the $25 discount, currently applied in PowerSchool.

Starting May 2nd, the discount will be removed and the regular Registration Fee of $275 will be listed. Please know that all prior Registration and Course fees must be paid off before paying the Early Registration item.

If you have any questions, please reach out to KC Olson in the MHS Payment Center at kolson@d120.org.

Visit the Literacy Center

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.

Past blogs are available at:

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

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