Homewood-Flossmoor High School

Homewood-Flossmoor High School (H-F) is a public high school in Flossmoor, Illinois, in the Chicago metropolitan area. The district encompasses nearly 11.5 square miles, drawing students from the communities of Homewood, Flossmoor, Chicago Heights, Glenwood, Hazel Crest, and Olympia Fields, serving school districts 153, 161 and 167.

The campus consists of a North* and South Building. The South Building contains a number of sub-buildings each assigned a letter, and includes the school's radio station (WHFH) 88.5 FM Flossmoor, television station VTV, science labs, a swimming pool, a music building, gymnasium and an auditorium. An ice rink is also located on the campus, owned by the local park district.

*The North Building's entrance and field-house is newly renovated. The 2014 Renovations included a new 200-meter track containing four full-sized basketball, volleyball, and badminton courts in the center of the track. The 9,000-sq. ft. facility also contains a state-of-the-art cardio and training equipment. Additionally, a 50-yard indoor turf has expanded the playing and practice season for a variety of field sports and activities, including football, soccer, field hockey, baseball and marching band. The project was finished in late spring 2014.

History

Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School site opened in 1959^[6] with enrollment at 1,170 students. There were 51 classrooms, which included 10 English classes, 10 Social Science, eight Science, six Mathematics, five Foreign Language, three Physical Education, one Homemaking, three Industrial Arts, two Art, and three Music classes. A cafeteria, library and administrative area were also included.

By 1965, the school’s population had nearly doubled and additional buildings were added: Auditorium (1965), G Building (1966) and E Building (1966). As growth continued, it became apparent that a major new facility was needed, and in 1971, the North Building and fieldhouse opened when the student population topped 4,000.

Following a decade of preparation and fiscal planning, in 1995 a $25 million renovation and addition program was completed: all classrooms and offices were wired for internet access; a music wing was added, providing student practice and performance; a Technology Center and numerous labs to offer computer assisted instruction were completed; the Mall Building, located mid-campus near the football field and field house, was expanded, modernized and staffed, providing athletic training and rehabilitation of student athletes; a new Olympic sized aqua-center was opened; 14 tennis courts were added; and the student-run WHFH radio and TV stations were modernized.

In 1989, football coach John Wrenn proposed District 233 adopt a mandatory drug-testing policy similar to one at two Lafayette, Indiana high schools, where a recent landmark court case decision allowed the creation of such programs.^[7] H-F became the first high school in Illinois to require mandatory random drug testing for its student athletes.

In 1996, the school gained publicity when up to 20,000 people gathered on the school lawn to hear President Bill Clinton deliver a speech on education during his 1996 reelection campaign.^[8][9]

In addition to being named a Blue Ribbon School by the United States Department of Education three times, the school has received Department of Education Technology Award twice.^[10] In 1995, the school's technology plan was named one of the five best in the nation.^[10] In spring 2013, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Organization granted IB World School status to Homewood-Flossmoor. H-F now joins the exclusive company of approximately 3,000 IB World Schools that dot the globe across 138 countries.

Academics

In 2008, H-F had an average composite ACT score of 21.5 and graduated 89.9% of its senior class.^[3] H-F has not made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) on the Prairie State Achievement Examination, the test used in the state of Illinois to fulfill mandates of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.^[3] While the school overall has achieved AYP, one student subgroup has not met AYP in reading.^[3]

H-F has been named one of Newsweek's top 1,000 schools on several occasions in recent years: 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009 (#1142), 2008 (#746), 2007 (#682), 2006 (#849), 2005 (#744), and 2003 (#518).^[11] H-F has also been ranked as one of America's Most Challenging High Schools by the Washington Post.

H-F's Visual Arts Department was named the Best School Art Program in the state in 2013 by the Illinois Art Education Association.

Student life

USGS satellite photo of H-F HS

Athletics

H-F competes in the Southwest Suburban Conference (SWSC) and is a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), the organization which governs most sports and competitive activities in Illinois. Teams are stylized as the Vikings.

The school sponsors interscholastic teams for young men and women in basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, volleyball, and water polo.^[12] Young men may compete in baseball, football, lacrosse, and wrestling, while young women may compete in badminton, cheerleading and softball.^[12] While not sponsored by the IHSA, the school also sponsors an ice hockey team for young men as well as field hockey and poms teams for young women.^[12]

The school also offers a fencing team at a club level, which participates in the Great Lakes High School Conference every winter.

The following teams have won their respective IHSA sponsored state championship tournament or meet:^[13]

• Football: State Champions (1994–95)
• Golf (boys): State Champions (1969–70)
• Golf (girls): State Champions (1979–80, 81–82, 84–85, 85–86, 97–98, 2009–10)
• Gymnastics (boys): State Champions (1996–97)
• Tennis (girls): State Champions (1989–90)

As of 2009, the girls golf team has finished in the top ten at the IHSA State Finals more than any team in state history; their six state titles is the second highest total in state history.^[14]

Activities

The following activities placed in the top four of their respective IHSA sponsored state championship competition:^[13]

• Chess: 4th place (1980–81); 3rd place (1978–79)
• Debate: 4th place (1965–66, 70–71); 2nd place (1974–75); State Champions (1973–74)

·DECA: Multiple state and national championships in various events including Quiz Bowl

• Drama: 4th place (1977–78, 2006–07, 2009–10); 3rd place (1989–90, 94–95, 2005–06); 2nd place (1968–69, 70–71, 78–79, 79–80, 95–96, 96–97); State Champions (1966–67, 72–73, 73–74, 74–75, 75–76, 76–77, 80–81, 81–82, 82–83, 83–84, 85–86, 87–88, 97–98, 98–99, 99–2000, 00–01, 01–02)
• Group Interpretation: 4th place (1975–76, 78–79, 81–82, 93–94, 2003–04, 05–06); 3rd place (1976–77); 2nd place (1998–99, 2007–08,2010–11); State Champions (1995–96, 99–2000, 06–07)
• Individual Events: 4th place (1966–67, 78–79, 85–86, 96–97); 3rd place (1973–74, 76–77, 77–78, 79–80, 86–87), 2nd place (1970–71, 72–73); State Champions (1967–68, 74–75, 80–81, 83–84, 2012–13)
• Speech: 2nd place (1966–67); State Champions (1967–68, 68–69, 70–71, 2013)

• Journalism: State Champions (2010, 2016)

The H-F Theatre Department has holds the record for top three finishes in Drama and Group Interpretation in Illinois, with having won 17 State Championships in Drama, alone. .^[15]

International Thespian Troupe #2062

H-F’s drama programs involve both curricular offerings and co-curricular productions. The quality of an H-F production is matched by few in the southern suburbs, by producing 7 Mainstage shows in a school year. Naturally, due to this reputation, H-F holds the Illinois record for State Championships in Drama, with 17 State Championships. H-F also holds the record for top three finishes in Drama and Group Interpretation.^[15] HF also has 3 State Championships in Group Interpretation. Due to these unmatched accomplishments, H-F is known for having one of the most reputable theatre programs in the state, and in the nation, as HF's production of "Once on this Island" was adjudicated and selected to perform at the International Theatre Fest in Dublin, Ireland. International Theatre Festival Thespians of H-F have pursued careers from major universities such as Rutgers, Carnegie Mellon, Princeton, CCM, Juilliard, Vanderbilt along with Illinois State, and U of I

Notable faculty

• Dr. Von Mansfield is the current superintendent. He is a former NFL defensive back.^[16]
• Charles J. Shields was a counselor, English teacher, and Chair of the English department (1979–97). He is the author of Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee, the first biography written about author Harper Lee, which reached #15 on the New York Times Non-fiction Bestseller List. He has written 20 other books, primarily biographies and histories.^[17]
• H-F has been home to three teachers who were given the National Golden Apple for excellence in teaching: Lawrence Baran (1995), Karen Nyberg (1998) and Dean Auriemma (2001).
• In 2011, Greg Petecki, Art teacher, was named the Secondary Art Educator of the Year by the Illinois Art Education Association. The school has had two other teachers who were named Illinois Teacher of the Year in their disciplines and one who was named national Teacher of the Year.
• Jon Elfner, Social Science teacher, received the 2009 Studs Terkel Humanities Service Award.
• In 2011, retired Student Services Coordinator John Schwaller was given the Illinois Education Association's Human and Civil Rights Award.

Notable alumni

Julian Wright

• Freddie Barnes, football player who holds the Division I (NCAA) record for most receptions in a single season (155).^[18][19]
• Jason Benetti is a sports play-by-play announcer who calls Chicago White Sox home telecasts.
• Michael Buchanan, member of Super Bowl XLIX champion New England Patriots; recorded first sack for Patriots during the 2013 season.
• T. J. Cummings was a UCLA and professional basketball player.
• Sophia Danenberg (1990) was the first black woman to climb Mount Everest.^[20]
• Borzou Daragahi is a journalist for the Los Angeles Times. He was twice a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, and has covered events in Baghdad and Beirut.^[18]
• Casey Driessen is a bluegrass fiddler and singer.^[18]
• John Ely is a right-handed pitcher for the Houston Astros.
• Kyle Fasel (2007) is bassist of Real Friends, currently signed to Fearless Records
• Rockie Fresh is a hip-hop artist currently signed to MMG.
• Jack Fuller (1964) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist (1986) who became editor and publisher of Tribune Company.
• Zach Fulton is an offensive lineman for the Kansas City Chiefs.
• Chuck Garfien is a reporter and studio host for Comcast Sportsnet Chicago.
• Eric Haines (2008) is guitarist of Real Friends, currently signed to Fearless Records
• Wes Hamilton is a former NFL offensive lineman (1976–84), playing his entire career for the Minnesota Vikings.^[18]
• Nolan Harrison is a former NFL defensive lineman (1991–2000).^[18]
• Eric Hillman was a major-league and Japanese league pitcher.
• Brian Kerwin (1967) is an actor whose films include Murphy's Romance, Torch Song Trilogy, King Kong Lives, The Myth of Fingerprints and 27 Dresses.
• Christine Korsgaard (1970) is a moral philosopher at Harvard.
• George Nolfi (George Lindhl) (1984) is a screenwriter and director; he directed 2011 film The Adjustment Bureau starring Matt Damon, wrote the screenplay for Ocean's Twelve and co-wrote The Bourne Ultimatum.
• Susan D. Page (1982) is the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of South Sudan; she was appointed in October 2011.
• Sarah Bloom Raskin (1979), U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, confirmed in March 2014; highest-ranking woman to work at U.S. Treasury.
• Brittany Riley is a hammer thrower.^[18]
• Larry Rothschild (1971) was a pitching coach for the Chicago Cubs and is currently pitching coach for the New York Yankees.^[18][21][22]
• Shawnna is a rap artist.^[18]
• Chad Smith is the longtime drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers.^[23][24] Smith moved after two years and graduated from Lahser High School in Michigan.
• Julian Wright is a professional basketball player for Maccabi Rishon LeZion in Israel who was a first round draft pick in the 2007 NBA Draft, last played in the NBA for the Toronto Raptors in 2011.

Notes

External links

• Homewood-Flossmoor High School, official site
• "The Dream Becomes Reality": The Creation of Homewood-Flossmoor Community High School, Student Paper in Mr. Pyne's United States history class composed for the Chicago Metro History Fair