February 17th - HBRHS Parent

 Forever Royals

Greetings HRBHS Royal Family!

As we work our way steadily towards graduation this year, our family has spent some time reflecting on all we have experienced as Royals this year, and throughout the years. It has been such an amazing adventure to be a Royals family!

In 2016, we joined the district as a blended family with 6 kids. We were looking for a place where our kids would be seen, heard, and challenged. We needed a place where they could be unique individuals with a voice and feel supported. We chose Hinckley-Big Rock. HBR family, you have not let us down!

This year is unique to us. Our sons, Keegan and Tobias, are seniors this year, and our daughter Lucelia is a freshman.  We also currently have 3 college students between NIU and Waubonsee: Anthony (graduated Lake Park High School in 2017), Harrison (graduated HBRHS in 2020), and Madysen (graduated DeKalb High School in 2022).

Keegan, Lucelia, and Tobias

We have felt the love and support of this community throughout our whole time here. Through first days, band concerts, snow days, sports games, remote learning, and last days of school, our Royal community has been there through it all. We have felt the Royals’ love with HBRHS being the center of it all.

My children shared with me that among their favorite moments, there are a few standouts. The Leadership Retreats are where they grew deep bonds with peers and learned how their actions and character have weight. Renaissance gave them the ability to see outside their own circles and to work together. Stepping out looking like Royals for Prom and Homecoming dances were a blast for them. Having our own dog be the lion on this year’s senior circus float as the parade passed by our home on McKinley was nothing short of fantastic! (He was so proud of himself. Good boy, Yoshi!) They also loved participating in the rallies and feeling the school spirit push their teams to hard-won victories. In the loud moments, and the quiet ones, they have been royal through and through.

I truly feel like being a part of the Hinckley-Big Rock legacy has forever altered their outcomes in life. Like a multiplier effect. Yes, they could have been successful at other schools, but no other school would have given our unique family the same love, support, or dedication. All the memories we get to keep from all these years will be cherished always.

We have been so blessed to be a part of HBRHS and we are grateful. I know how much these kids love their school, peers, and teachers. I know how deeply they care about this community. I feel it, too. We made the best possible choice for them in 2016 and have been thanking our lucky stars ever since. Thank you for all you have done for us, Royals! No matter where these kids end up as adults, they will always be forever Royals!

Colleen Feick