School News

The Crystal Lake Food Pantry has opened their commercial kitchen to Haber Oaks students as a resource to practice cooking and food safety. 

"It's a really good connection with the community, getting kids clicked into different resources the community has, and possible job opportunities," said Haber Oaks Campus teacher Anne Whitney-Tubridy.

Whitney-Tubridy reached out to the Crystal Lake Food Pantry in hopes of establishing a weekly nutrition and cooking class since Haber Oaks does not have a commercial kitchen. "We are using the community as a resource," she said.

When referencing the facilities at the Crystal Lake Food Pantry, volunteer Marilyn Georgy said, "It's just here for the community from the community."

Students loved this hands-on, off campus educational activity from the start, and are learning a lot about the mission of the food pantry in the process. "I really like that everyone here wants to be here, that they are doing it just for the good of other people. It's really nice to know there's something like that in my community," said Haber Oaks student Jasper Sturgis.

Students are learning to play the guitar through the program Free Guitars for Future Stars, a non-profit organization dedicated to making guitars and guitar lessons more accessible to McHenry County children and schools.

"Music has the power to make big changes in an individual. From healing to entertaining, calming to building imagination, music has some effect on almost everyone that it touches,” said FGFS founder and teacher Scott Neumann.

Students that complete the program get to keep their guitar and can apply for advanced lessons.

Kristen Gioe's Haber Oaks English class received a virtual visit from NY Times bestselling author Ellen Hopkins to discuss her two newest books, "What About Will" and "Closer to Nowhere", both part of the class curriculum. This is the third time Ellen has zoomed in to answer questions from Haber Oaks students. 

Gioe is familiar with the excitement of an upcoming visit from Ellen, "The students read her newest book 'What about Will' and 'Closer to Nowhere'... students who are big fans of her work have read many other titles by her and are excited to ask her questions."

Hopkins' books are continual favorites, included in the curriculum for many reasons. "I was able to use Ellen's acknowledgments page in the book "What About Will" to help my students feel that life is hard for everyone at this time," said Gioe.

There is a good chance this will not be the last visit, Gioe hopes one day Hopkins will visit in person. According to Ellen, it's "Always great to drop in and talk to students about books and writing."

Anne Whitney-Tubridy’s consumer math class ended a recent lesson by making their own zen gardens! Students studied the cost of materials, profit margins and budgeting before creating their own zen garden with painted rocks, crystals, colored sand, figurines and faux plants.

SPARK was truly a standout show! This annual all-district art show showcased artwork from a talented group of CLC, CLS, Cary-Grove, Prairie Ridge and Haber Oaks students. D155 art educators Aaron Cummins, Lindsey DiLeo, Wendy Guss, Bob Hewett, Michelle Kidd, Rigel Nelson, Kerry Parrish, Judd Shutt, Taylor Smith and Zachary Wisser curated this remarkable show at the Dole. The closing was celebrated in a gathering of students, families, staff and community to the background beat of the CG jazz ensemble.