May 1, 2015

Our Hedgehog Concept--A Message for Parents of Seniors

In Good to Great, author Jim Collins tells the story of an extremely successful cross country team that wants to do one thing better than any other team--their “hedgehog concept”--and that is to finish strong. Finish every workout, every repetition, strong. Finish every race strong. And finish the season strong.

As we approach the end of the school year, it is my hope that our students adopt this hedgehog concept. I want them to finish the year strong. Finish their high school career strong. Academically. Athletically. Socially. And, ahem, behaviorally.

One of my recent blog posts already emphasized the need for buckling down academically for the rest of the semester. If your student is in a sport/activity, the coach/sponsor is likely providing the motivation for finishing strong.

That leaves finishing strong socially and behaviorally.

There are many fun senior events to close out the year. For a complete list, check here.

In order to ensure that these memories are positive and without incident, please talk to your student about making good choices. The threat of losing privileges to attend any of the year-end events (senior brunch, senior picnic, prom, graduation) should outweigh the perceived benefit created through bad choices. As your student closes out his/her high school career, have them ask themselves, “Is what I’m about to do worth the risk of possibly telling my prom date that I can’t go to prom?” Or worse yet, “Is what I’m about to do worth the risk of possibly telling Grandma that she won’t get to watch me walk across the stage?”

Those thoughts alone should encourage anyone to finish the year strong. To finish their high school career strong.

Highlights and Successes

• Congratulations to Grant Dawson and the following journalism students who placed in the top six  at the IHSA Sectional Journalism Tournament:   
• Jack Albrecht – 2nd in Advertising, 4th in Editorial Cartooning and State Qualifier
• Emma Davies – 1st in Broadcast News and State Qualifier
• Eric Wong – 4th in Copy Editing
• Jenna Chin – 1st in Editorial Writing and State Qualifier
• Katherine Benson – 6th in Feature Photography
• Adam Bieda – 4th in Headline Writing, 3rd in News Design
• Emma Gattuso – 1st in Info Graphics and State Qualifier
• Michael Wu – 1st in Review Writing and State Qualifier
• Matt Nicholson – 3rd in Sports Writing and State Qualifier
• Ariana Marean – 3rd in Yearbook Caption Writing and State Qualifier
• Grace Liu – 1st in Yearbook Copy Writing and State Qualifier
• Yazmin Rustomji – 4th in Yearbook Layout Double-Page Spread
• Grace Liu and Yazmin Rustomji – 6th in Yearbook Theme Development
• Congratulations to Coach Tim Hamman and the Boys Gymnastics Team on placing 1st at the Hawk Invite.  Award winners include:  Eric Barnd: 2nd Place All-Around;  2nd Place High Bar, 2nd Place Vault; Cole Patton: 1st Place Floor Exercise, 1st Place Vault; and Ryan Roth: 1st Place Parallel Bars.
• Congratulations to Orchestra students Krystian and Karisa Chiu who will be featured on the radio show “Introductions” WFMT /98.7 (classical music radio) this Saturday May 2nd at 11:00 am.  Krystian (cello) and Karisa (violin) perform in the Atara String Quartet, which is made up of four high school students and has been recognized for numerous classical music honors and awards.  They recently were awarded the Gold medal at the St. Paul String Quartet National Competition in Minnesota. Introductions features the Chicago-area’s talented pre-college classical musicians every week.  Soloists and small ensembles perform live in WFMT’s Levin Performance Studio for the broadcast.  For more info please visit:  http://blogs.wfmt.com/introductions/?p=1911
• Congratulations to this weeks Viking Pride Winners: Elaine Beaulieu, Nina Bell, Cierra Curney, Isaac Fralish, kellie Halloran, Matthew Hansen, Gina Heinsohn, Kailey Henson, Thomas Keane, Nick Mayer, Emily McCaffrey, Sonya patel, Isabella Rosman, Ryan Roth, Robert Schroeder, Alyssa Scornavacco, Maggie Sieh, and Lauren Tapia.

Upcoming Home Activities and Varsity Events

May 1	Boys Tennis vs. Tom Pitchford Invite @ Hersey - 3:00 p.m. Badminton vs. MSL Conference @ Elk Grove - 4:30 p.m. Girls Softball vs. Glenbrook N. - 4:45 p.m. Boys Baseball vs. Elk Grove - 4:45 p.m. Girls Soccer @ Naperville N. - 5:00 p.m. Boys Gymnastics vs. MSL Conference @ Prospect - 6:00 p.m.
May 2	Boys Tennis @ Hersey - 8:00 a.m. Girls/Boys Track @ PHS Relays - 8:30 a.m. Boys Tennis @ Crystal Lake S.- 8:30 a.m. Girls Badminton vs. MSL Conference @ Elk Grove - 9:00 a.m. Boys Baseball @ Warren - 10:00 a.m. Girls LaCrosse @ Glenbrook N. - 11:00 a.m. Girls Soccer @ Naperville N. - 11:00 a.m. Boys LaCrosse vs. Glenbard W. - 12:00 p.m.
May 4	Boys Baseball vs. Barrington - 4:30 p.m. Girls Softball @ Buffalo Grove - 4:45 p.m. Boys Volleyball @ Stevenson - 6:00 p.m. Girls vs. MSL Crossover - 5:30 p.m. @ PHS Boys vs. MSL Crossover - 4:30 p.m.
May 5	Boys Tennis @ CHS - 4:30 p.m. Girls LaCrosse vs. St. Viator - 7:00 p.m.
May 6	Boys Baseball @ Barrington - 4:30 p.m. Girls Softball vs. Prospect - 4:45 p.m. Boys Volleyball vs. PHS - 6:00 p.m. Girls Soccer @ CHS -  6:30 p.m.
May 7	Girls Badminton vs. IHSA Sectionals @ FHS - 4:30 p.m. Boys Tennis vs. PHS - 4:45 p.m. Boys LaCrosse vs. St. Charles E. - 7:00 p.m.

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

Staff Spotlight

Name: Colleen Alles

Position: Science Department Chair

Years at Fremd: 1

Life Before Fremd: I spent 10 years teaching Biology and Earth Science at Naperville North High School.  While there I coached girls basketball, was the head key club sponsor, and a PRIDE mentor.

Hobbies/Interests: I love spending time with my family and doing what my son calls “science esperients”

Insider Tip for Parents:

Talk to your kids.  In the ever increasing world of technology we too often rely on a quick text or email to communicate.  Sit down and have face to face conversations with your kids each day.

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.