How do you want to help?
There are many ways to involve yourself at Hinsdale Central and the PTO is a great way to start. Whether it's helping with an event like Homecoming Coat Check or dropping off a pumpkin pie for teacher appreciation or helping families in need or serving on the executive board, we have something for everyone. Read through the committee descriptions to see where you want to get involved.
You can sign up for certain committees using the Volunteer Signup Form
For any committees not on the Volunteer Signup Form you can volunteer by contacting the committee chair
Committees
This is an informational and social event held in the spring for incoming freshman parents. The HCHS leadership team will speak, and incoming parents can learn more about academics, sports, activities, and much more at HCHS, including PTO involvement. The committee helps to organize the event.
Event Date
TBD
CHAIRPERSONS (2024-2025)
Gopi Doctor, Lauren Brunell
This committee provides volunteers to help at coat check for the Homecoming and Winter Dances in September and February. The event is a 3-hour time commitment on a Saturday evening. The chair would find 3-6 volunteers for the whole time or in two-shifts.
CHAIRPERSON, 2024-2025
Katie Stromberg
Event Date
Homecoming Dance, September 21, 2024
This committee coordinates and staffs a half-day workshop for juniors. This workshop teaches students effective skills to utilize when interviewing for college and includes panels for both parents and students that offer tips on navigating the upcoming college application process.
CHAIRPERSONS, 2024-2025
Bridgette White, Lynn Mayer, Lindsey LaForte
The Community Speaker Series Liaison works with members of the community from D181 schools, D86 Administration, and the D181 Foundation to coordinate 3-4 events per year.
Quarterly meetings are held to discuss upcoming events, field requests for topics, and manage survey results. Committee members are expected to assist at a minimum of 2 events per year.
The events are held at The Community House in Hinsdale and offer both an evening session and a morning session to allow for the largest audience. Speakers are invited to discuss topics pertinent for high school parents, often with an open forum for discussion afterwards. Past topics have included drug and alcohol use, peer pressure, bullying and social and emotional learning.
CHAIRPERSON, 2024-2025
Lindsey Patel
One of the best features of being a PTO member is access to the Online Student Directory via the DirectorySpot app! Managing the data of all the students and families is the main
responsibility of this role, as well as communicating with school and district administrators for the most up-to-date information.
If you are interesting in assisting with the online directory, please contact the Chairperson listed below.
CHAIRPERSONS, 2024-2025
Ân Groom, Arynn Graham
Every week the PTO communicates with its members to keep them informed about what's going on at HC and in the community community. The eBlast editor reviews all submissions before the weekly campaign gets sent out.
CHAIRPERSON, 2024-2025
Denys Kang
Families Helping Families provides support to families in need in the Hinsdale Central
Community. From providing winter clothing to helping fund a meal to providing formalwear for prom, Families Helping Families is here to help. Throughout the year, the FHF Committee organizes various clothing and gift card drives. Donations are always welcome.
CHAIRPERSONS, 2024-2025
Pauline Branigan, Denys Kang
This committee plans and coordinates a Faculty and Staff appreciation breakfast held in December. This is an elegant and festive catered lunch, with homemade baked goods, prepared by the parents and the PTO Board. Teachers always look forward to this breakfast and appreciate the hard work by a creative team effort. New committee members are always welcome.
EVENT DATE
TBD, 2024
CHAIRPERSONS, 2024-2025
Meraiah Bernacki, Emily Van Houtte
Event Date
December 14, 2024
With the upturn of stress and anxiety in many high school students due to the demanding pressures of grades and social relationships, this committee, in conjunction with the HCHS Social Work Department and The Community House, supports mental health initiatives for students whose families cannot afford such services. The primary goal of this group is developing funding initiatives to underwrite as many students as the Social Work Department feels would benefit from said services including individual, family or group therapy.
EVENT DATE
On-going/As Needed
CHAIRPERSON, 2024-2025
Kristin McDaniel
To reward excellence, and to be sure “going the extra mile” does not go unnoticed, the Hinsdale Central PTO sponsors Make a Difference awards. Nominations are solicited from students and parents for teachers, librarians, counselors, coaches, or staff who have gone above and beyond within our Red Devil community. The committee meets quarterly to review the nominations and present the awards. Twenty-four awards (~6 per quarter) will be made during the school year.
CHAIRPERSONS, 2024-2025
Denys Kang, Grace Shin, Kristin Tu
For more information, please click here!
The HCPTO hosts an evening with the Hinsdale Area Panhellenic Alumnae Association to provide information to our graduating senior women and parents. This event includes a panel of current sorority women as well as alumnae who will present and answer questions regarding the sorority recruitment process. All seniors who are considering sorority recruitment at their future colleges and universities will not want to miss this!
Event Date
TBD Spring, 2025
CHAIRPERSON, 2024-2025
Kelly Staver
This committee spreads awareness within the Hinsdale Central and District 181 parent communities about The Parent List. The Parent List is a PTO supported platform where parents may read and anonymously write positive reviews regarding local support services that have been successful in handling childhood developmental, emotional, learning and health issues.
Topics reviewed by parents on The Parent List can include dyslexia, autism spectrum, ADD/ADHD, stress, eating disorders, substance abuse, anxiety, depression, insomnia, migraines, cancer, grief and more.
The committee will meet twice a year but members also may work independently to communicate the existence of the Parent List resource to other parents in our community. Read more...
CHAIRPERSONS, 2024-2025
Tara DeGeer
Alisa Messana
The mission of the Parent Network is to work with the HCPTO and D86 to create, schedule and support four meetings a year to enrich, enhance and supplement knowledge parents are given in regard to their high school students as it relates to their IEP or 504 plans. While we are a Hinsdale Central committee, we support both Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South high school families. Through presentations and knowledge sharing, we aim to help foster a cooperative and closer relationship between school and family.
CHAIRPERSONS, 2024-2025
Caycee Angelo (Hinsdale South)
Deana Miron (Hinsdale South)
Amy Entsminger (Hinsdale Central)
Katie Stirlen (Hinsdale Central)
This committee organizes the "After Prom" event, which is a celebration on the Odyssey Cruise Ship at Navy Pier. The committee organizes student post prom waiver forms, security volunteers for the night, and fundraising/ticket sales. After the cruise, buses will depart from Navy Pier and arrive at Hinsdale Central at 3:00 am.
EVENT DATE
Saturday April 3, 2025
CHAIRPERSON, 2024-2025
(open)
The Hinsdale Central PTO Red Devil Scholarship Committee annually awards up to $10,000 in scholarships to help Hinsdale Central graduates meet expenses associated with their first year of college.
Committee members help to collect scholarship applications and select recipients. Scholarship applications are typically due before spring break and selected by the end of the school year.
CHAIRPERSONS, 2024-2025
Susan Blumberg-Kason
Hannah Souman
The Hinsdale Central PTO regularly places posts on social media to promote events past or future and to recognize donors of PTO events. The Social Media chair posts to and maintains these accounts.
CHAIRPERSON, 2024-2025
Neetu Singh
Once a month events let our teachers and staff know how much we appreciate them. These on-going programs are designed to recognize the teachers and staff for their efforts and support of the students.
Some events include: "Apple Day", "Pumpkin Pie Pickup" for Thanksgiving, candy for Valentine's Day and" Desserts and Coffee" for Teacher Appreciation Week.
In the past we have also cleared cars of snow in the parking lot and run a Friday gift card raffle!
CHAIRPERSONS, 2024-2025
Kathy Schilder
Julie Prieto
HC PTO's website is a constantly updating site and it is a vital part of our communication with our membership and beyond. The Webmaster maintains and edits the website with the help of other communications team members.
CHAIRPERSON, 2024-2025
Heidy Zhao