Principal's Blog #22

Mustang families,

In honor of Black History Month, I'd love to share with you the exciting progress and impact we have seen through our partnership with the Obama Foundation's My Brother's Keeper (MBK) Alliance, particularly through the involvement of one of its members, Trey Baker, MHS class of 2021.

Through mentorship, advocacy, and community engagement, Mundelein MBK has become a beacon of hope, instilling confidence in our young men of color, fostering a sense of belonging, and nurturing a spirit of brotherhood. These values are essential for the personal growth and well-being of our students.

Witnessing the transformative effects of Mundelein MBK firsthand, we had the privilege of showcasing the achievements and experiences of our young Mundelein MBK students at a fall Board of Education meeting attended by our esteemed Board members and Superintendent. Students not only highlighted the significance of Mundelein MBK but also underscored the importance of amplifying youth voices and perspectives in decision-making processes.

It is worthy of noting that the acclaim garnered by our Mundelein MBK chapter has attracted interest from high school leadership teams across Lake, DuPage, and Kane counties. These institutions are keen to emulate our model, recognizing the transformative potential of nurturing the holistic development of young men of color and fostering inclusive, supportive school environments. We are excited that Mundelein MBK has not only enriched the lives of our students but also sparked a broader movement towards equity and empowerment within the educational landscape of our region.

Go Mustangs and Go Mundelein MBK!

Dr. Alexandria Rios Taylor

Principal, Mundelein High School

847-949-2200 x1257

www.d120.org

ataylor@d120.org

Feb 1 - Student School Year Registration Begins

Feb 1 - Summer School Registration Begins

Feb 9 - CBS School Spotlight (Watch us on channel 2 news!)

Feb 9 - Lip Sync Battle

Feb 14 - Valentine's Day

Feb 16 - Teacher Institute Day - No School

Feb 19 - Presidents’ Day - No School

Mar 15 - Late Start - Classes Begin at 9:40am

Mar 25 - 29 - Spring Break

Peer/AP Tutors club worked with students at Mechanic's Grove during last week's late start. The tutor team included Nylah Sirmons, Olivia Catchot, Lia Koski, Anthony Vynnyk, Principal Ms. Fergus (Mechanic's Grove) and Liam ONeill.

The MHS Jazz Ensemble was selected to perform at the 2024 Illinois Music Educators Conference (IMEC) on January 26th in Peoria, IL.

It was a fantastic performance by the jazz ensemble who collaborated in a double big band format with John Hersey High School’s Jazz Ensemble I students! It made for a special event that had never been done before. They performed to a packed conference hall filled with hundreds of educators from across Illinois.

What a start to the season for our Show Choirs! Reverb placed 1st runner up in their division and Sound moved from 4th in prelims to 3rd in finals!

Sound’s finals performance was one for the memory books. They were electric and made some major adjustments prior to their performance. The students were contagious with pride and joy when they performed. Way to go Mundelein Choirs!

Mr. Aldana and a large group of amazing volunteers hosted a Robotics Tournament here at MHS this past Sunday.

Over 35 teams from schools across northern Illinois descended upon MHS for an all-day competition. Mundelein placed in the top 5 in finals! Way to go!

Students in 4th period chemistry completed an investigation to determine the gender of Mrs. Kim's baby. After solving problems designed by Ms. Gorman, students received a code made from element symbols. They deciphered the code and tested their results with a chemistry experiment.

The consensus is: It's a Girl!

Congratulations, Alexandra Calleros (shown below) and Monika Gonzalez!!

Black History Month begins February 1st. Click here to explore Google's Black History, Arts & Culture.

Lunar New Year is the most celebrated and longest of all Asian festivals and is observed by millions of people worldwide. Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year) occurs on Saturday, February 10, 2024. This year ushers in the year of the Dragon! Click on this link to learn more!. Image courtesy of: Freepik

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Our community partner, A Safe Place, provided the parent resource below. Click on the flyers to learn more.

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.

Student Registration began 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.

Summer School Registration opens on February 1st, 2024. Please log into the webstore to register for Session 1 and Session 2.

Please remember that the summer school interest form is not an automatic registration into summer school you must log into the webstore to register for the courses you expressed interest in.

Driver’s Education Summer School Registration will open at the same time. The permit classes required for Driver's Ed are provided by Mundelein High School and will be listed in the confirmation email you will receive.

If you have questions or need help, please contact:

Sylvana Sette

Summer School Registration
ssette@d120.org
847-949-2200 x1495

Starting today, February 5, until March 29, 2024, MHS D120 parents are invited to complete the 5Essentials Survey to help provide valuable information about our MHS learning community and help guide our ongoing improvement efforts.

Students will take the survey at school with their teachers at the end of February.

Parents can start the survey now by clicking here.

MHS has been selected to be featured in a CBS2 news segment called SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT this day!

The Coexist Club Presents the MHS 2nd Annual Lip Sync Battle! Join us to watch students and teachers performing t their favorite music.

MHS Auditorium

7:00pm

Free - Donations accepted and appreciated at the door

Sweet treats will be for sale in the commons during lunch periods.

No School

Complete the Google form linked here to submit your proposal for a chance to win. Winners will receive tickets to Turnabout! Announcement will be made February 28th.

On February 28, 2024, MHS will administer the Illinois Youth Survey (IYS) to 10th and 12th graders. The purpose of the IYS is to better understand Illinois youth risk and protective behaviors as they relate to students and their success.

Read more... English | Spanish

This is a reminder to order your cap and gown! You must 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.

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

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

Juniors, it’s time to start thinking about college! Next week, our College Ambassadors will be presenting college related information at the CCRC. Sign up for the presentations that interest you!

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

Need help completing the FAFSA? Register for the FAFSA Support Event at the College of Lake County on Tuesday, February 6th from 4-7:30PM. Limited spots available!

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.

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!

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.

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.

Athletics schedule week of 2/5/24

Submitted by Coach Badgley

The boys basketball team is continuing to compete and represent our school community in a tough, always competing way. We have come up just short recently, but the fight in these boys is evident. On Wednesday, Jan. 31st, lost to top 10 ranked Warren by 8. With 1:33 seconds left in the game, we were down 5 and missed a shot to cut Warren's lead to 2 points. At this point we needed to foul and they made their free throws. Super effort by our guys to battle this entire game.

Senior Night this Friday vs. Libertyville. Come out and help support the efforts of our seniors. This group has seen a crazy career, starting with the 5 week season as freshmen during the Covid response. They have come a long way and deserve this recognition

Submitted by Coach Prorok

The Mundelein Mustangs finished undefeated and took 1st in the Conference season. At the Conference Tournament, the Varsity and JV squads took 1st place over their competition by commanding leads. Individual place winners: Samantha Sciortino (Varsity, 2nd place), Reena Photopoulos (Varsity, 4th place), Melissa Orozco (Varsity, 5th place), Caitlin Sciortino (Varsity, 6th place), Brianna Orlowski Merner (Varsity, 8th place), Cecilia Osorio Rodriguez (JV, 1st place), Anna Kuznetsova (JV, 2nd place), Charlottle Niziolek (JV, 3rd place), Naomi Routledge (JV, 8th place). We couldn't be more proud of the team as they have taken one record down after another during the regular season. Next up - Regionals!

Submitted by Coach Newsom, Coach Duncan and Coach Rosales

The MHS Cheerleading Team recognizes the hard work and dedication of our senior athletes. These remarkable individuals have spent years honing their skills, demonstrating unwavering dedication, and embodying the true spirit of sportsmanship. As they finish out their senior year, these athletes carry with them a wealth of experiences – from thrilling victories to resilient comebacks and the camaraderie forged through countless hours of practice. Beyond the competition mats, these seniors have navigated the demanding terrain of academic pursuits, showcasing a commendable balance between the rigors of coursework and the demands of their chosen sport. Their commitment to excellence, discipline, and teamwork not only defined their athletic prowess but also served as a testament to their character. These graduating senior athletes are not just leaving behind a legacy in the trophy case but are also equipped with the skills and tenacity to tackle the challenges that await them in the next chapters of their lives.

Submitted by Coach Ruiz

Our Mattress Fundraiser is coming soon. There will be over 25 beds on display for customers to try. The beds are new, brand name, made to order, available in all sizes, and cost less than retail stores. In addition to beds, there will also be luxury pillows and even adjustable power bases! Please share this information with family and friends!

Check out this cool video to see how it works: VIDEO LINK

Here is the link to the Facebook event, where we will post about our products, payment options, and other event information: FACEBOOK LINK Click “GOING”! “INVITE” your friends! “SHARE” our posts!

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