McHenry Community High School District 156

Summer 2015

Annual Report
From Superintendent Dr. Michael Roberts

Message from Dr. Roberts

Academics

As educators who are deeply involved in day to day operations, we often

forget about the great things that happen throughout the year. At the core
of those great things are the accomplishments of our students. For 22
years I have touted the kids (students) of McHenry. It has always been an
inspiration to me to work with our kids (students). I have been truly
blessed to have spent 22 years of my career in this system. This first
annual report (should be our inaugural report) is our attempt to
communicate the accomplishments (good or bad, mostly good) of our
proud school district to all community stakeholders. In putting this report
together, I surmised three themes; academic accomplishments, athletic
and co-curricular accomplishments and community service. All schools
focus on the first two. McHenry students take community service to a
different level. This truly makes McHenry Community School District
156 unique. While there are many accomplishments to celebrate, we will
never rest on our laurels, as each and every student (past, present and
future) always deserve our best.

Carl Vallianatos, Ed.S. - Director of

Curriculum and Instruction

ACT scores, Attendance Rates,

Graduation Rates
McHenry High School students and
parents have so much to be proud of as
we look back over the past year.
Education continues to grow more
complex with an emphasis on college and
career readiness. MCHS successfully
implemented the new PARCC testing that
was completely online, using wireless
technology never before used in
standardized testing. MCHS continues to
recognize that success in high school
should be viewed more comprehensively
and in relation to our school mission which
is geared towards both lifelong learning
and productive citizenship. Below we
highlight a variety of achievements that
serve as significant points of academic
pride!

Illinois State Scholars

The Illinois State Scholar program is awarded to high school seniors based
on ACT or SAT test scores and the sixth semester* class rank, class size
and unweighted Grade Point Average (GPA). McHenry High School has a
long and proud history of its seniors being honored annually.

ACT -

20.2

Attendance Rate -

94.5%

Graduation Rate -

Class of 2015 Illinois State Scholars -

61

Class of 2015
ACT Scores 30+

- 28 -

93%

Class of 2015
ACT Scores 25+

- 112 -

McHenry Community High School District 156

Summer 2015

Culminating Student Success!

The Distinguished Warrior Program
The Distinguished Warrior Graduate Program was created in 2009 to become
a four-year honor (freshman through senior years) that would promote overall
student EXCELLENCE. The Classes of 2013 and 2014 were the first two
classes to earn the honor and saw approximately 25% of the class attain the
identified level of excellence. This year we had 26% Class of 2015 to achieve
the honor. The students completed over 6,000 hours of service to the
community. This year, our district hosted the first annual Distinguished
Warrior Community Celebration and over 400 people attended to honor these
students.

Class of 2015 Distinguished Warriors -

158

Advanced Placement Program

Over the past six years, MCHS has seen its offering of Advanced Placement Course swell from just a few to 20. MCHS
also has 21 other courses designated as honors that are more rigorous as well. AP courses are associated with College
Board and have nationally recognized tests each May. Students who receive passing scores (3-5) can be eligible to
receive college credits at their future institutions. MCHS believes in open enrollment for all AP courses so any student who
chooses to challenge themselves, will have access to the opportunity!

Total&AP&Enrollment
Total AP Classes offered by MCHS -

1600
1200

1084

1000

824
659

800
600
400
0

180

700

665

600

250

500
400
300
200

2007/08
2008/09
2009/10
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
2014/15

200

444
444
254

Passing&Scores&
(3&65)&

Total&Tests&Taken

1384

100
0

419

374
297

199
127

206

215

200
138

150

113

100

58
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015

1400

20

61 70

83

3
140

84 74 92
13
58
19 29 46
35 22 25 46
22
21
16
10
0

50

43

4
5

McHenry Community High School District 156

Summer 2015

Scholarship Totals
Each year in early May, the two campuses put on a Senior
Honors Night and announce all the awards and scholarship
received by MCHS students. This is a heart-warming night
and culminating event in the high school experience.

The Class of 2015 received a combined total of

$4,964,920 in scholarship monies!

Redesigned schedule and Academic

Support Period
It is with great excitement that we introduce
MCHSs new schedule and support program called
A.I.M. (Academic Improvement and Motivation). This program has
come about from the recommendation of a joint committee of
teachers, counselors, and administrators. The committee examined
the effectiveness of our current 10-period bell schedule and
determined that an 8-period schedule with a universal support period
would have greater benefits for our students and teachers. The A.I.M.
PROGRAM is an academic resource for all model. The goal is to
create an environment where all students can be successful. The
A.I.M. PROGRAM is intended to be a period to monitor students in
their academic progress and also provide resources and supports so
students may reach their highest level of achievement. All students
will be assigned to an A.I.M. classroom and teacher based on a
variety of information that indicates a students most important area of
need or to a teacher or content area on their schedule.

21st Century Educational Technology

In 2014 and 2015, MCHS completed a wireless
network project and upgraded our computer
systems for staff and students alike. As we move
towards the future, traditional learning practices
will evolve and become more electronic.
Collaboration and sharing with teachers, getting
important feedback, and submitting work online
will become common. This is great preparation
and learning for college and career. It is also
more fiscally and environmentally responsible.
This year, as part of a three-year technology
plan, our district has vastly increased the number
of devices that our students can access for
learning. While we are still not a 1:1 environment,
students will notice that they readily have access
in most of their classes and common learning
spaces.

Revitalized New Teacher Mentor Program

2014-15 saw a revitalization of our New Teacher Induction and Mentoring
Program. All of our first and second year teachers met monthly with veteran
teachers during late start Tuesdays. District 156 is committed to helping all new
teachers develop those skills that will assist them in becoming outstanding
educators who exhibit the highest levels of professionalism both inside and
outside the classroom. The District 156 Mentor Program is a two-year program
that connects new teachers to all the necessary tools they will need to reach
those goals. At the monthly meetings, new teachers are introduced to a wealth of
educational resources and activities, they are connected to veteran educators
who share their knowledge and expertise, and they are provided with many
opportunities to ask questions and discuss their challenges and successes.

McHenry Community High School District 156

Summer 2015

Athletics
Mr. Barry Burmeister, MCHS Director of Athletics
The McHenry High School Athletic Department is committed to the idea that the
athletic program is an integral part of the total school curriculum and plays an
important role in the development of young women and men. Participation in
athletics is an educational experience beneficial to all because it promotes physical
health, mental well-being, good sportsmanship and the values of competition and
cooperation. We are excited to report that 2014-15 was a banner school year for the
Warrior family. Below you will see our accomplishments that stand as significant
points of pride.

CROSS COUNTRY:

REGIONAL INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS: BOYS AND GIRLS

SECTIONAL INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS: BOYS AND GIRLS
STATE QUALIFIERS
TEAM FINISHED 11TH IN THE STATE
NORTHWEST HERALD MALE CROSS COUNTRY ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
GATORADE CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR
NIKE MIDWEST REGIONAL CHAMPION AND NATIONAL QUALIFIER
FOOT LOCKER NATIONAL

GIRLS SWIMMING:

GIRLS SOFTBALL:

STATE QUALIFIER

FOX VALLEY CONFERENCE

VALLEY DIVISION
CHAMPIONS
4 QUALIFIERS FOR STATE
STATE 6TH PLACE FINISHER

WRESTLING:

CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS
REGIONAL CHAMPIONS

BOYS BASEBALL

BOYS SWIMMING

REGIONAL CHAMPION

INDIVIDUAL REGIONAL CHAMPIONS

4 STATE QUALIFIERS

GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD

STATE QUALIFIERS

5 STATE QUALIFIERS IN 7 EVENTS

REPEAT BOYS STATE CHAMPION 3200 METERS

BOYS TRACK AND FIELD:

MCHS congratulates Jesse Reiser on his historic, career accomplishments!

3-TIME IHSA STATE CHAMPION
NORTHWEST HERALD MALE TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
NORTHWEST HERALD MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
NORTHWEST HERALD MALE CROSS COUNTRY ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
GATORADE CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER OF THE YEAR
NIKE MIDWEST REGIONAL CHAMPION AND NATIONAL QUALIFIER
FOOT LOCKER NATIONAL QUALIFIER

McHenry Community High School District 156

Activities

Summer 2015

Mrs. Kyle Hobson Associate Principal East Campus

Mrs. Amber Bowgren Assistant Principal West Campus

McHenry Student Activities offers a plethora of exciting and vibrant co-curricular opportunities in which our students can enhance their
leadership skills, develop long-lasting relationships with peers and staff, and engage themselves with a multitude of service projects in
our community. We have nearly 50 clubs, events, or competitions that all students can become involved in at any point in their high
school career! The following highlights are just a few of our most memorable events.
PowderPuff Football 2014- Our Second Annual PowderPuff Football game was yet another
phenomenal event during Homecoming week! Over 130 girls participated in an all out battle
between East and West Campus with East taking home the beloved trophy! We look forward to
another exciting match up this year on Monday, October 5, 2015 at 5:30pm.
Key Club- Students in McHenry believe in the value and importance of giving back to their
community! Not only did our Key Club students partner with four outside organizations but they
also accumulated over 4,800 hours of service! Key Club Students were also very busy this past holiday season and were responsible
for bringing smiles to many young childrens faces. They organized the Christmas Tags project and Project Mistle-toes!
Performing and Fine Arts- Another outstanding season of theatrical productions including our renowned
musical Pirates of Penzance and our fall plays The 39 Steps and MacBeth! Our performing arts students
participated in several acting and technical workshops including stage combat techniques, stage make-up
techniques, actors movements, and improvisation. Our students are already in full speed ahead in
preparations for this years upcoming performances of The Three Musketeers, Boeing Boeing, and The
Phantom of the Opera! The Madrigal Dinner performed by our very own Surround Sound was another
huge success! Surround Sound served as the royal court, heralded a 5 piece brass ensemble, brandished 3
sword fights, numerous skits, dances, and lots of ad-lib acting.
National Honor Society-167 McHenry students earned and maintained their eligibility as a National Honor Society
member. Not only did these students focus on their academic achievement but they also developed many new community events and
participated in various service programs such as Just Jackson, Fellowship Breakfast, Variety Show, Mr. McHenry, St. Baldricks, Sleep
Out for Shelter, Polar Plunge, and Feed My Starving Children.
Special Olympics-McHenry student athletes participated in Special Olympics for their second year. We are extremely proud of all
participants and also those athletes that medaled! Destany Vekeroff and William Fontana placed 1st in the softball throw and Corey
Wester placed 3rd! Josh Opletal rounded out the events with a 5th place in the 100 meter run.
MCHS student successes at the SkillsUSA State Competition
2015 SKILLS USA Top State Qualifiers
Tyler Storlie CNC Milling 1st Place, Gold * ;CNC Technician 1st
Place, Gold; CNC Turning 2nd Place, Medal
Barry Giovanni Cabinetmaking 3rd Place, Bronze
Matt Panek Photoshop Design 1st Place, Gold
Tyler Storlie (Right) competed in National SKILLS USA in C.N.C.
Milling in Louisville, Kentucky

St. Baldricks McHenry Community Shave

Since 2009, MCHS Students and staff have led the way in the fight
against pediatric cancer. The McHenry Community Shave has become
the largest head shaving event in the world. Below is a history of
participation and funds raised for the St. Baldricks Foundation.
Year
2015

Number of Heads
Shaved
676

Money Raised
175,400

2014

833

241,800

2013

960

222,500

2012

381

145,000

2011

250

82,000

2010

210

22,500

2009

140

15,500

Total

3,450

904,700

McHenry Community High School District 156

Summer 2015

Finance
Mr. David Lawson, CFO/CSBO

81% of funding comes

from local sources.

Financial Stability
MCHS has a balanced budget for FY16 - $25 million, has
achieved a balanced budget for the last several years
Benchmark Spending
and has shown four consecutive years of steady
financial growth. This growth has allowed us to start
MCHS student enrollment is 2,341, 872 at East Campus and 1,469
addressing our diminished fund balances to bring
at West Campus. The operating expenditure cost per pupil is
them to a much stronger level.
$9,836, which is much lower than the average high school district
in the Chicago metropolitan area and lower than the average in
McHenry County.
McHenry Community High
School District has had 4 years
of positive financial growth.
MCHS is growing fund balances
for more financial stability.

Credit Rating
MCHS has recently had its credit rating
upgraded to Aa2 by Moodys due to the
steady financial growth and fund balance
improvements the district has shown over
the last several years.

The McHenry High School District has

approximately 2,341 students enrolled with
a $9,836 operating expenditure per pupil.

The Finance
department has an
Aa2 Financial
Rating and a $25
million budget.

Facilities/Safety
The interior space of the two high schools totals almost one half million
square feet of space. A 5-year maintenance plan has been developed to
keep both building conducive to learning for all students. The safety of
students and staff is the number one issue in the district, and to that end,
a resource officer is on staff at each campus every school day
throughout the school year. Other safety measures to improve the safety
at the entrances of the schools have recently been put into place as part
of an overall district safety plan.
This past year MCHS has increased
safety and security at East and West
Campuses, by adding a Resource Officer
in each building as well as making
improvements to windows and the
exterior of the buildings to enhance
student and staff safety.

MCHS has a 5 year

maintenance plan to keep
both buildings conductive
to learning.

McHenry Community High School District 156

Summer 2015

Connect with MCHS

Website: www.dist156.org

Twitter: @MCHS156

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McHenry Community High School District #156