PTO Conversations topic this month has been changed to "What's for Dinner?"
Please join us on Monday, January 23rd at 10:15 am, immediately following the 8:45 am PTO meeting, for an in depth look at Nutrition and Teenagers.
Jenny Westerkamp, a Dietitian and Sports Nutritionistfrom SportFuel Inc. and Eat Like the Pros LLC, will discuss the importance for good nutrition on brain development, high academic and athletic success, and for anxiety relief.In addition, our discussion will also focus on Hinsdale Central's promotion of organic products, improvements of lunch offerings and what HC teaches our students about nutrition.We hope to see you there!
NOTE: February 27th Conversations:"Learn about the ARTS Departments at Hinsdale Central!"
Athletes and Parents:
Please Don’t Miss the PTO Presentation of the
"College Athletic Recruiting Process"
Wednesday, February 15, at 7:00 p.m.
Hinsdale Central High School
(venue details to follow)
The Hinsdale Central Athletic Department and the PTO invite you to attend a presentation about the "College Athletic Recruitment Process".
Join us to better understand the latest NCAA requirements for athletes playing Division I, II or III sports and how colleges recruit athletes.
HCHS Athletic Director, Coaches and Guidance Counselors, along with College Representatives and Laurie Richter, author of the award winning book, Put Me In Coach, will present broad overviews of what colleges require of athletes academically and athletically and what decisions lay ahead for students/athletes and their parents. There will be a short prepared question and answer session at the end of the presentations.
Immediately following, we invite you to an informal gathering of the presenters and of representatives from a variety of Recruiting Companies, who will be available to speak with you if you wish to understand how they may assist you through the recruitment process.
PLEASE NOTE:
The PTO has purchased in advanced, a limited number of Laurie Richter's book, Put Me In, Coach.
To purchase at a discounted price of $10 per copy (cash or checks payable to "HC PTO"), please email Maria Pierce mbpierce23@aol.com
(Thereafter the books will be sold at the event for $14.00.)
College Interview Skills Workshop, Sunday, January 29, 2012 (Noon to 3:00 P.M.) Sponsored by the Hinsdale Central PTO with support from The HC Guidance Department., we are pleased to offer the Interview Skills Workshop for Juniors &Seniors.(Parents are welcome to join the library sessions). Library Stations will feature: I. "How Do I Start?" II.The Common App III. How to write a Resume and Activities Profile IV. Naviance 101 This workshop will present effective interview techniques. Each student will participate in a mock-interview and a feedback session provided by professionals. This is an excellent way to jump-start your interviewing skills for college interviews! To register please download the attached REGISTRATION FORM and submit to CIWorkshop@hinsdalecentralpto.org We have 100 available slots on a first-come-first-serve basis and then we will start a waiting list. Registration materials will be provided in advance of the session. Once you register, we are counting on you to participate and a time slot has been reserved for you. Should a last minute conflict occur, please contact Kristin Edstrom immediately so that we in turn can take someone off the waiting list to replace you. Plz enter school from the main entrance as the pool doors will not be open on this day. This is a great experience for you to develop your interviewing skills! Please contact Kristin Edstrom with any questions at 630-325-2988
College Interview Skills Workshop Participants
Please click HERE to complete a participant survey
College Interview Skills Workshop Volunteer
Please click HERE to complete the Volunteer Feedback survey
“New Family Network” Social
If you are new to the area, and new to Hinsdale Central, the Hinsdale Central PTO New Family Network Committee invites you to attend our next event on:
Thursday February 23rd from 7pm to 9pm.
This will be an opportunity to meet and socialize with parents of new students and ask questions about navigating our school, and our community. For further details and to rsvp, please contact Mary Parsons at 630 920 1004 or maryparsons77@comcast.net.
The New Family Network also offers you the opportunity to be matched with a Parent Ambassador for individual support. For further information on this program or anything else related to the New Family Network, please contact the Committee Co-Chairs:
Hinsdale Central recently sent you a special e-blast that has an embedded link to a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) School Climate Survey. This survey should only take about 15 minutes to complete. The School and District place great value on your thoughts and insights, and the purpose of this survey is to provide our school leadership with valuable information that they will be using to help our children with SEL competencies. We ask that you take a few moments to fill out this survey as openly and honestly as you can.
If you missed the link, click here to go to the survey.
Thank you in advance for your help and support, Maria Pierce and Terry Edwards
PTO Presidents
School Board Meetings available on Podcast
The Hinsdale District 86 Board of Education Meetings are now being streamed on the D-86 BOE website and are available to be viewed on Podcast. This was made possible by a PTO donation to the District of a camcorder and tripod, thus giving everyone the opportunity to follow the meetings on a regular basis even if you can not attend them. To view please go to http://hinsdale86.org/sb/Pages/default.aspx
Student Directories are at the HC Bookstore
Directories will not be mailed home this year
If your student did not pick up the 2011-2012 Student Directories over the scheduled times in the cafeteria, the Directories are now in the HC Bookstore. Please let your student know that they should go to the Bookstore to pick them up. They will still need to show or state their ID number and sign for the book.
If you did not purchase a Directory, a very limited quantity is still available at the Bookstore for $25 each.
If you are picking up the Directory, you will need an ID to enter the school from the 55th Street entrance.
At the November 14, 2011 PTO meeting AP Psychology teacher, Erin Fratella, presented crucial information affecting the students of our school. The presentation was entitled “Depression, Suicide and Teens” and covered important warning signs of depression and suicide in teens. This is a very real issue facing the students of Hinsdale Central and we have linked the PowerPoint presentation if you would like to educate yourselves on some warning signs and ways that you may prevent a tragedy. Mrs. Fratella is a co-sponsor of a club called SPAN (Suicide Prevention Awareness Network) at Central, whose mission is to educate students on how to recognize signs of depression and suicide in their friends, and which adults they should go to if a friend is in danger. If you have any ideas about how to spread this important message around our community, please email Erin at efratella@hinsdale86.org
PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING TO FAMILIES HELPING FAMILIES
Families Helping Families is a PTO committee that works with the HC Social Work Department to help Hinsdale Central students and their families (who remain anonymous to us) with whatever problems they might encounter. This philanthropic group often helps, on short notice, students and families in crises situations. We provide financial aid or specific items like backpacks and school supplies, clothing, food and gasoline gift cards, access to community resources, holiday meals, and a huge variety of individual needs. Much of this is accomplished through the generosity of Hinsdale Central's parent donations. (For more information on this committee please see page 4 and 5 of the Student Directory) If you are looking for a way to give back to your community and help those having some difficulty, please consider making a donation to this committee. You can do this on this website by going to the "Donations" tab, use the Donation Form (page 5) in the Student Directory, or contact Julie Glazko, julie@glazko.com. Thank you for any help you can give to this terrific cause.
LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER (LMC)
Under Hinsdale Central’s Electronic Device Procedure, students who currently use mobile electronic devices at school or home may find the following free apps useful during their academic studies.
·Gale Cengage Accessmylibrary-school provides Central students with the same 24/7 access to the Gale reference databases they currently enjoy on their PC/Mac. Ask a Central librarian for the password.
·OverDrive Media Console ensures that students can download audiobook and ebook resources from Central Library. After installing the app, search for the District 86 Library. Hinsdale and Indian Prairie Public Libraries also use the OverDrive platform for ebooks and audiobooks which means that students with a public library card can use this app to access their public library’s ebook and audiobook collection.
·EasyBib for iPad and iPhone will scan a book’s barcode and create an accurate MLA, APA or Chicago style citation.
The PTO's Insight Collaboration is looking for parents interested in helping grow this dynamic project. Last year the committee formed to provide students with the ability to engage in psychotherapy with qualified clinicians. Although new, we have already helped four students, two of which are currently in treatment. (The students are anonymous to the committee and the PTO.) Our goal is to be able to support more students, explore diversified possibilities such as in-school or group therapy, and find dynamic ways to fundraise for this effort. Your ideas are both wanted and welcome. Please join us as we dramatically impact students' lives. Thank you:
PARENTS WANTED - Please sign up to volunteer for a PTO Committee position or as a Volunteer for Special Events. Our organization appreciates your support and depends on parents like you to assist us in any way you can!
We look forward to meeting you.
Your PTO Co-Presidents Terry Edwards and Maria Pierce
Check out "The Best Nonfiction Writing" from Hinsdale Central's English Department
The English Department is proud to announce the publication of the 2011 edition of "The Best Nonfiction Writing," which is a collection of the best student nonfiction writing submitted to English classes last year. The essay book, which is filled with a wide range of creative and insightful student writing, is one of the ways that the department tries to help all students become excellent writers.
You can find the book at local libraries, or you can purchase your own copy for $15 by contacting English Department Chair, David Lange dlange@hinsdale86.org.
Click here to read about the book and follow other good news and announcements from the English Department by following the department's blog, "Department of English, HCHS".
HINSDALE CENTRAL PTO is designated a 501(c)(3)
Thank you for Supporting our Community Advertisers
Thank you to our Advertisers who are featured on our Advertiser page. Check out their websites to see how you can benefit from the services they provide. The PTO appreciates the generosity of the businesses, organizations, and individuals whose ad purchases and Book Grant sponsorships enable us to continue our philanthropic endeavors and to positively impact the experiences of Central students and staff. Please support the Advertisers and mention HC PTO!
