News

The next PTO meeting is March 12th at 7pm: Finishing the Year Strong & Summer Opportunities

Finishing the Year Strong

• Academic Resource Highlight
  • P.A.S.S.
  • https://hcpto.org/academic-resources/
• PTO Sponsored Senior Sendoffs
  • Post Prom
  • Red Devil Spirt Scholarships
  • Panhellenic Meeting

Summer Opportunities

• Jobs
  • Job Board
  • Work Permit (Principal Walsh, Jen Regnier)
  • D86 Summer Opportunities (Parent Network- Deana, Chair, Hinsdale South)
• Summer Studies at College of DuPage (Jennifer Langge, Program Coordinator for HS & Adult Enrichment)

We look forward to seeing you there!!

The Staff Appreciation Committee is still looking for pie contributions. Please sign up HERE to contribute pies for Staff Appreciation Pi Day!! Drop off donated pies at the Grant Street entrance by 8:30am on Friday, 3/14. A reminder that March 14th is an early dismissal day, 12:35pm, for the students. Please email me with any questions. Thank you so much and Happy Pi Day!!

Kathy Schilder ([email protected])

Stay on top of your work this semester with help from P.A.S.S. peer tutors. Sessions will be available in Math and Science classes, AP Euro, World History and Spanish. Register here. Upcoming dates are:

Monday, March 17

• 6:30-7:30: Algebra, Trigonometry, PreCalculus, AB/BC Calculus, Physics, Chemistry and Biology; and all levels of Spanish
• 7:30-8:30: Algebra, Trigonometry, PreCalculus, AB/BC Calculus, Physics, Chemistry and Biology; and all levels of Spanish

Sunday, March 23

• 1-2: Algebra, Trigonometry, PreCalculus, AB/BC Calculus, Physics, Chemistry and Biology
• 2-3: Algebra, Trigonometry, PreCalculus, AB/BC Calculus, Physics, Chemistry and Biology; and AP Euro and World History
• 3-4: Algebra, Trigonometry, PreCalculus, AB/BC Calculus, Physics, Chemistry and Biology
• 4-5: Algebra, Trigonometry, PreCalculus, AB/BC Calculus, Physics, Chemistry and Biology; and all levels of Spanish

Have you been wanting to volunteer at Central but haven’t had the time? The Red Devil Spirit Scholarship Committee is looking for a few volunteers to read no more than a dozen very short essays from applicants during the month of April. These scholarships are need-based and open to graduating seniors.

For more information or to sign up, please email [email protected] (Susan Kason and Hannah Souman, RDSS Co-Chairs)

Attention Seniors!

The Hinsdale Central PTO Red Devil Spirit Scholarship Application is now open. The PTO will grant several scholarships, ranging from $1000 to $5000 per award.

The scholarship is need-based and the application process is entirely online. The application deadline is April 11, 2025. To apply or view the application, please click HERE.

Any questions? Please get in touch with the RDSS Team at [email protected]

Are you interested in being more involved and make a significant impact at Hinsdale Central? Secretary, Post Prom Chair, Winter Rave Coat Check (one night only 2/22) positions are still available.  Please email [email protected]. We appreciate any help!

Secretary (1-4 hours a month):

• Attends General PTO meetings (bi-monthly January, March, May) and Executive Board meetings (alternate months February, April, June.) Makes note of action items stemming from meetings (does not take meeting minutes.)
  • • • Uploads final agendas to DropBox
      • Helps manage DropBox
      • Provides additional leadership, as needed

• • Post Prom Chair (s): (time: now until 5/3, 2-4 hours/month)
    • Manages Post Prom event and coordination with Prom staff
    • Leads an established team (fundraising, communications) to ensure that timeline is followed
    • Excellent opportunity for a Freshman or Sophomore parent! Guidance and support will be provided by past chair, committee, and team
    • Attends event on Saturday, May 3rd

• • Winter Rave Coat Check (1 night only on 2/22):
    • Get a rare behind the scenes peek at the Winter Rave
    • Help store coats, etc for students
    • Assist with activities to make sure staff has everything ready- we need 1-3 enthusiastic volunteers! Perfect for a couple!

Help support the PTO!! “Bring Your Fire!” is Hinsdale Central’s call to action. Support the wave of enthusiasm and excellence with pride wherever you drive with your new license plate frame. Available in durable plastic for $15 or shiny chrome for $30. All funds raised from this sale will be used to support PTO-funded initiatives. Go Red Devils!

Purchase your license plate frames HERE.

Spend one Saturday afternoon each month this winter at Hinsdale Public Library to learn about all things money from budgeting to investing. Financial advisors Nora Hernandez and Clare Nawrocki will cover a new topic each month to create money-smart students! A pizza lunch will be served.

This class is open to all high school students and will equip you with the essential life skills to make well-informed financial decisions and effectively manage your money throughout your life.

Topics will include:

January 11: Budgeting and More–We’ll cover savings and checking accounts, vital financial terms and budgeting.

February 11: The Timeline Approach to Investing–We’ll cover short- and long-term investing, tax implications and the benefits of compounding interest.

March 8: Basics of Credit and Debt–We’ll cover credit cards, student loans, loan terms, and credit scores.

This class is intended for high school students to prepare them for financial independence. Parent interested in attending are welcome. We ask that anyone who attends please register.

Nora Hernandez and Clare Nawrocki are financial advisors with Equitable Advisors in Oakbrook.

Finals can be a stressful time for everyone- both students and families. The HC Staff and PTO are committed to supporting you and your students to help prepare them for finals Wednesday, 11/18-Friday, 11/20.  Much of this information is applicable year-round for tests, assessments, and finals and can be found at https://hcpto.org/academic-resources/

First, watch this video with tips on how students can be supported at home. Ms. Kim, Ms. Galich, Mr. Kostro & Ms. Ketterhagen will present on the core areas of English, Math, Science, and World Languages.

Other Academic Resources:

Your student’s teacher! Find out when their free periods are or reach out via email to set-up time before or after school. Our teachers want every student to be successful and will usually go above and beyond to be accessible when a student asks for assistance

The Academic Resource Center (ARC) – The ARC is available for all students.  Students can get help from student tutors in every subject and from HCHS math teachers.  Students can stop in for homework help, review for an assessment, make corrections, brainstorm outlines for essays, proofread papers, and more.   During lunch, no appointment is necessary, just stop in.  Comprehensive information on other school resources can be found HERE

Free Community Study Events & Tutoring:

• Hinsdale Public Library has everything you need to prepare for first semester finals in December! Make sure to stop by starting on December 14th for snacks, stress busters and study spaces. NEW this year–Kick start your finals prep with free help from P.A.S.S. Peer Tutors. The Hinsdale Public Library has partnered with Hinsdale Central’s P.A.S.S. peer tutoring group to offer study sessions during finals week from December 14th through 18th. Tutors will offer help in all levels of Calculus, Trigonometry, PreCalculus, Integrated Math, Algebra, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Spanish, and World History. Visit the HPL website for more details, or sign up for a time slot HERE.

• Clarendon Hills Library provides CHPL cardholders access to free online tutors! The expert tutors at Tutor.com can help your children work through a tough homework problem, improve their writing skills, study for a test, review a difficult concept, and more! For more information, visit HERE. 

Peer Tutoring

• PASS – Peer Athlete Student Scholars (P.A.S.S.) offers free study groups or one-on-one tutoring with a wide variety of student-athlete tutors that can help you manage your schoolwork and sports stress-free! We also offer a variety of times and days that work around the busy schedules of student-athletes.  To sign up, fill out this form.
• Tutor Connect – Started and operated by an HCHS tutor.  Find a private tutor for less than $20 an hour. All tutors are current/former Central students. Visit Tutor Connect HERE.

This information can be found at https://hcpto.org/academic-resources/ Please bookmark the page!

Wishing you all a successful finals week and a safe, restorative, and enjoyable Winter Break!!