Heritage Community Unit School District #8

Check out our August Newsletter for the latest updates and important school information: https://secure.smore.com/n/qeatwf

#HeritageCUSD8 #ProudHawkCommunity #RootedInCommunityGrowingTogether

Congratulations to our Heritage CUSD #8 Board of Education Student Ambassadors, Ethan Lyons and Tatum Morgan, who proudly took their Oath of Office this evening! ❤️💙

We are excited to have your voices represented and your input shared at future Board of Education meetings.


#HeritageCUSD8 #ProudHawkCommunity #RootedInCommunityGrowingTogether

Hello, Families!

We have an added session now updated in our program for Parent and Student University, Breaking the Stigma: Stress, Mental Health, and Routines for Well-Being. This will be a four-part series. Participants that attend three sessions this year will receive a certificate of completion from UIUC. Due to the overwhelming interest from the University of Illinois, we will offer 30 minute sessions for all presentations to allow participants to experience a variety of topics at our first session on August 26th.

See last page to register: https://bit.ly/45VznV6

We have so many fun and engaging Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math (STEAM) activities for PK-12 students planned.

Special thanks to Mrs. Susan Zwilling for donating additional gift cards to our raffle. Please sign up today in order to meet the deadline to be entered in our drawing.

Thanks to our presenters and all of our University of Illinois partners to make this a spectacular event!

Don't forget, Sidney Dairy Barn will be joining us, too with free treats for those participating!

#HeritageCUSD8 #ProudHawkCommunity

Welcome Kindergarten Class of 2038!

We are so excited to welcome our newest learners to our school! ❤️💙

Today marks the beginning of an amazing journey, and we’re thrilled to have each and every one of you as part of our school family.

📸 Check out our adorable Class of 2038...the future is bright!

A special thank you to our amazing PTC for sponsoring this morning’s Boo Hoo/Yahoo Breakfast! Your support helps make these moments even more meaningful for our families. 💐☕🥐

Welcome to our school, Hawks! here’s to a wonderful year ahead!

✏️🚌🍎

#ClassOf2038
#HeritageCUSD8 #ProudHawkCommunity #PTCRocks #BooHooYahoo #NewBeginnings

🍦✨ Parent & Student University is here!
Come connect with other families, enjoy an ice cream treat on us, and take part in an exciting series of free, hands-on learning events. From STEM activities and social-emotional learning sessions to special guest speakers and unique experiences, there’s something for everyone!

📅 Register by Monday to reserve your spot. Families who attend will also be entered into a drawing to win a gift card from Monical’s or Charlie’s -5 gift cards total! 🎉🍕🍔

👉 Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and grow together as a family. Check out our program and register here: https://bit.ly/45GVDkt

#HeritageCUSD8 #ProudHawkCommunity #RootedInCommunityGrowingTogether

Hello Families!

It was wonderful seeing so many of you at School Year’s Eve and welcoming our freshman and new families to the high school this evening.

As a reminder, tomorrow is the first day of school for grades 1–12 with an 11:15 a.m. dismissal. Kindergarten will begin on Monday, August 18th.

If you need assistance with your bus route information, please email norton.kimberly@heritage8.org.

We can’t wait to see everyone back and ready for a great year!

#HeritageCUSD8 #ProudHawkCommunity

Hello, Hawk Families!

Please see the update to our shuttle times and see our bus expectations. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about your child's route.

We are ready to roll!

#HeritageCUSD8 #ProudHawkCommunity

The 2025–2026 school year starts now! Our team is ready to inspire, learn, and soar! ❤️💙 #HeritageCUSD8 #ProudHawkCommunity #RootedInCommunityGrowingTogether

That’s a W for the Lady Hawks! 22-7 against CGB! Congratulations! ❤️💙 #ProudHawkCommunity

You can now log in to view your child’s route through the Viafy Parent Portal: https://bit.ly/4ljPfFz. Route credentials for signing in were emailed again last week.

We are still awaiting the Android update for families to access the Parent App. The iOS (Apple) version is currently available for download by searching Viafy Parent in the App Store.

Please see the attached document for shuttle times.

If you have any questions, contact:
📧 Mrs. Wells – ariel.wells@heritage8.org
📧 Dr. Norton – norton.kimberly@heritage8.org

We’re looking forward to a safe, smooth, and successful school year for all of our students!

#HeritageCUSD8 #ProudHawkCommunity #RootedInCommunityGrowingTogether

Heritage athletes were featured in the Champaign News-Gazette’s Faces of Fall!Check out these great shots showcasing our talented athletes as they gear up for the season. Go Hawks! ❤️💙 #HeritageCUSD8. #ProudHawkCommunity

Junior High Student Council held a kick-off meeting to welcome students back and discuss plans for the upcoming school year. Eighteen students met to talk about goals and ways to make all students feel welcome in our school! After devouring some pizza, students worked together to organize our "Hawk's Nest". The Hawk's Nest is a resource for our school families who may need assistance throughout the year with food, clothing, or hygiene items. Last year's Student Council began collecting items, and now it will be easy for our SEL teacher and Social Worker to access these items as requests are received. After organizing, students split into groups to tackle other tasks. Some decorated bulletin boards; some prepared recess equipment; and some worked on SEL necklaces that K-4 students receive for exhibiting each month's character trait. "I was very encouraged to see the energy at this meeting!" said Betsy Stierwalt, Student Council sponsor. "All of the students were eager to help out. There was no bossing or arguing. They were working together, and we got a lot accomplished in just a few hours. This groups is going to be able to achieve great things for our school!" If you have a Junior High student who would like to join Student Council, please reach out to Mrs. Stierwalt at betsy.stierwalt@heritage8.org #HeritageCUSD8 #ProudHawkCommunity

⏰ Don’t wait – schedule your child’s physical today!

Our READY clinic appointments previously recommended are now full, and local providers are booking weeks out. Below are some additional options:

✅ Carle Mobile Health Clinic – https://tinyurl.com/5d7vcvbx
✅ Promise Healthcare – www.promisehealth.org
✅ Convenient Care – Walk-in sports physicals available

Scheduling now will ensure your child is ready for school and activities!

#HeritageCUSD8 #ProudHawkCommunity #RootedinCommunityGrowingTogether

Mark Your Calendars, Proud Hawk Community!

We’re excited to announce our 2025–2026 Parent and Student University Series! These evenings are designed to support our students AND families with helpful resources, hands-on STEM fun, and meaningful connections.

Each session offers engaging topics for families covering academics, emotional well-being, health, and more. We hope to see you there!

Interested in supporting this event? Please reach out to Dr. Norton at norton.kimberly@heritage8.org.

Full schedule and details in the flyer

#HeritageCUSD8 #ProudHawkCommunity #RootedInCommunityGrowingTogether

Our July newsletter is packed with everything you need to prepare for the 2025–2026 school year, including important dates, transportation updates, new technology tools, building improvements, and more!

Click here to read: https://secure.smore.com/n/h3g98w

Dear Heritage Families,

We’re excited to announce that instructions to download and access the new Viafy Transportation App will be coming your way soon! This app will help you stay informed and connected to your child’s bus schedule, real-time tracking, and important updates.

While we wait, feel free to learn more about the app’s features by watching the brief overview videos below:

🔹 English Parent App Overview
🔹 Spanish Parent App Overview

Please review the links to get familiar with the app’s capabilities so you're ready when we launch.

Thank you for partnering with us to ensure safe and reliable transportation for all Heritage students!

#HeritageCUSD8 #ProudHawkCommunity

Warm regards,
Dr. Kimberly Norton

Online Registration Opens July 14!

We’re excited to welcome all new and returning Heritage Hawks for the 2025–2026 school year! Online registration through TeacherEase opens Monday, July 14 and runs through August 8.

New kindergarten or transfer families, please call the school office starting July 14 to get your TeacherEase account set up:

📞 Elementary/JH: 217-896-2421 ext. 135
📞 High School: 217-834-3393

Need help registering or prefer to pay in person? Join us for In-Person Registration on August 6 at the Elementary/Junior High Band Room in Homer from 10AM–1PM or 2PM–6PM.

📝 School supply lists, health requirements, and more can be found here:
🔗 https://www.heritage8.org/documents/parents/registration-information%2Fschool-documents/2025-2026/784100

Let’s get ready for a fantastic year, Hawk families! ❤️💙
#HeritageCUSD8 #ProudHawkCommunity