New Semester Resolution

It’s getting close to that time of year, when many people establish their New Year’s resolutions. For many of us, that resolution is related to health, nutrition and/or fitness. One year, after recently establishing a new morning workout routine in early January, I overheard two “regulars” at the gym talking about people like me: “Who are all these new people? How long do you give them before they give up on their resolutions?” As badly as I wanted to prove those people wrong, my morning fitness routine lasted about two weeks--pretty standard for most New Year’s resolutions, I suppose.

Part of the problem with New Year’s resolutions is that people don’t always have a plan. They say things like, “I want to be in better shape,” “I want to eat healthier,” or “I need to lose weight.” When people set a specific goal--“I want to lose 15 pounds” or “I will limit myself to two Diet Cokes per week”--they are more capable of measuring their success. There is a tangible result to their efforts. They are able to evaluate progress. And even if setbacks occur, there is a stronger will to rededicate their efforts to the goal.

Now let’s think about your student’s New Semester resolution. There are three short weeks of school before students take their final exams. Three weeks for students to bring up their grades. Three weeks of classes to study the content and master the skills that have so far eluded them. Three weeks to tone, tighten and lift their understanding. And three weeks to think about what they want to accomplish for the rest of the year.

Unlike a New Year’s resolution, a New Semester resolution has a definitive end date. The final destination that objectively measures their success is the semester grade. Sit down with your student and ask her to identify what grade she can earn for each class. Then have her identify specific strategies to accomplish that goal. How much time should she spend on homework every night? How often will she need to attend the Tutoring Center? Which leisure activities will she sacrifice when she needs to focus more intently on her goals?

Going into the semester with these goals--these resolutions--will provide a better defined roadmap to success. And if she starts developing these habits now, she will be able to prove the “regulars” wrong!

Highlights and Successes

• Congratulations to Coach Andrew Kittrell and Coach Courtney Wilhelm and the Girls Swimming & Diving Team on their 6th place finish at the State Competition.  Congratulations to :  200 Medley Relay, 4th place - Grace Grzybek, Loretta Stelnicki, Saki Takumiya and Grace Kneller; 200 Free, 9th place - Erica King; Diving, 11th  place - Sarah McTague; 100 Free, 12th place - Grace Kneller; 500 Free, 9th place - Erica King; 200 Free Relay, 7th place - Grace Kneller, Loretta Stelnicki, Grace Grzybek and Erica King; 400 Free Relay, 8th place - Grace Kneller, Erica King, Julia Portmann, Loretta Stelnicki.
• Congratulations to Congressional Debater Leonard Lee, who advanced to Semifinals at the Glenbrooks National Debate Tournament.
• Congratulations to Coach Bob Widllowski and the Boys Basketball Team on winning the Fenton Thanksgiving Basketball Tournament for the second year in a row.
• Congratulations to this week’s Viking Pride Winners:  Robben Amos, Courtney Balogh, Rebecca Beale, Calvin Chao, Michael Demski, Grace Hsieh, Emily Kini, Victoria Klanang, Nikita Knudson, Brett Lewis, Angela Marozza, Edward Mavromatis, Brad Michalowski, JuLia Morrison, Victor Perez, Aliyah Rivera, Jacob Sikora, Emma Vanek, and Sara Verma.
• Congratulations to December Social Studies AP Human Geography Student of the Month Kailyn Bryk.
• Congratulations to Ron Cregier on being voted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in the category of career coaches.
• Congratulations to the Harper Area High School Art Show Fremd Award Winners: Nancy Leinwander, Juan Flores–Mendoza, Lauren Gregory, Jihee Yoon, Samiksha Gupta, Hyo In Sung.  Honorable Mentions: Rashna Joshi, Jordan Kruse, Sara Hill, Kristin Kim, Emma Aftelak, Samiksha Gupta.
• Congratulations to Coach Katie Giegler and the Fremd Speech Team on taking 3rd place at the District 211 Turkey Tournament.  Award winners are as follows:  Emma Davies, 1st place Informative Speaking; Abby Cohen, 2nd place Special Occasion Speaking; Rachel Lucas, 3rd place Oratorical Declamation; Emily Lavigne, 6th place Poetry Reading; and Alex Bazil, finalist Original Oratory.

Upcoming Home Activities and Varsity Events

December 4-6	Variety Show - 7:00 p.m.
December 5	Boys Swimming & Diving vs. Prospect - 4:30 p.m. Boys Wrestling vs. Palatine - 6:00 p.m. Girls & Boys Basketball @ PHS - 6:00/7:30 p.m.
December 6	Incoming Freshman Testing
December 6	Varsity Cheer Invitational @ Wauconda HS - 9:00 a.m. Girls Bowling vs Fremd Invite - 9:00 a.m. Boys Wrestling vs. Lane Tech/Elk Grove/Highland Park - 9:00 a.m. Boys Swimming & Diving @ Lake Forest - 12:30 p.m. Girls Gymnastics vs. Big Purple Invite @ Downers Grove N. - 2:00 p.m. Boys Basketball @ Prospect - 6:00 p.m.
December 7	Varsity Cheer Invite @ Crystal Lake Central - 9:00 a.m.
December 8	Girls Bowling vs. Rolling Meadows - 4:30 p.m. Girls Basketball vs. Barrington - 7:30 p.m.
December 9	Holiday Choral Concert Boys Basketball @ Downers Grove S. - 6:30 p.m.
December 10	Girls Bowling vs. Hersey - 4:30 p.m. Girls Gymnastics @ PHS - 6:00 p.m.
December 11	Orchestra Concert Girls Basketball @ CHS - 7:30 p.m.
December 13	Booster Holiday Craft Fair
December 16	Winter Band Concert
December 19	Orchesis Holiday Show
December 22- Jan.2	Winter Break

For a more complete list, please visit our Athletics Page.

Staff Spotlight

This feature will return next week.

Ask the Principal

Are you curious about something at Fremd but have never asked? Email me at ktenopir@d211.org. If your question is pertinent to a wider audience, I will include it in the next blog post.