Northwestern High School Wildcats Return for 2010-11

According to Northwestern High School freshmen Trevor Joyce, Colin Martinez and Jared Hesh – all from University Park – math is on the "dread" list. In the "win" column, these three boys agreed Monday morning that basketball looks to be good at NHS this year.

Parents have concerns besides hoops, particularly about how useful the scheduling/report card/attendance program SchoolMax will be this year.

Sophomore Lilia Hinojosa of Hyattsville saw her schedule last week through SchoolMax but had trouble Sunday evening. Her mother, Christine Cestello Hinojosa, hopes this is only a problem with a high volume of users the night before school opened.  

Last year, the school system had major problems with SchoolMAX, with some students out of classrooms for weeks.

Lilia, whose schedule includes chemistry and algebra II/trigonometry, is also trying out a fashion design class. She is especially excited about planned school travel.

"I am looking forward to Spain in the spring with the International Studies Program," she said.

Junior Steven Johnson, also of Hyattsville, said he looks forward to more biology with his favorite teacher Mr. Shortz and a leadership position with the performance troupe Colours, hosted by NHS.

Cathleen Hapeman of Mount Rainier now has three children at NHS – freshman twins Max and Cody and daughter Julie, a senior. Her oldest, Andy, graduated from NHS three years ago. 

"After nearly 20 years, the fabulous NHS Marching Band will have new uniforms," she said. 

Hapeman, an avid band booster, sews most of the summer to alter, patch and refurbish the nearly threadbare jackets and pants.

PTSA board members keep working to position NHS for both arts and pre-engineering programs in Prince George's County and by strategic alliances with the University of Maryland.

The PTSA is also working with Principal Jerome Thomas to address the ongoing challenges that the school faces as a large high school in a sprawling urban-suburban district. Enrollment figures do not settle down until mid-October but NHS's student population hovers at just more than 2,500.  

The loss of more than 14 teachers in July, though, left school administrators scrambling like their counterparts throughout the region.  

"I am nervous how the school budget will affect our school's ability to help all of our students succeed," said William Shulman, an NHS social studies teacher. "Many of our HSA classes contain more than 35 students. Nevertheless, we have a great group of professionals eager to make 2010-11 a great year."