Hinsdale families with middle and high school students can get a head start on managing the academic-year juggle at a free seminar on Tuesday, Sept. 8, at the Hinsdale Community House, 415 W. Eighth St.

"Maintaining Balance in Academics & Activities: Navigating High School & Middle School Successfully" runs from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and is open to both students and parents, according to a District 181 announcement posted Monday, Aug. 10.

Five organizations are co-sponsoring the event: District 181 (Hinsdale Middle School and Clarendon Hills Middle School), District 86 (Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South high schools), P.A.S.S. (Peer Athlete Student Scholars), the Hinsdale Public Library and the Hinsdale Community House.

The Hinsdale Public Library's Fall 2026 newsletter describes the evening as a chance to hear from "community experts on the keys to student success." Topics will include balancing academics and extracurriculars, managing workload, staying positive, the importance of student mental health and where to access support. Specific panelists have not been announced.

The seminar lands about three weeks into the school year. District 86 students return Wednesday, Aug. 12; District 181 students start Tuesday, Aug. 18.

A student-founded program at the table

One co-sponsor, P.A.S.S., is a peer-tutoring program founded in December 2023 by Aryan and Milan Bansal when both were students at Hinsdale Central. The program pairs student tutors with athletes who need academic support, offering free sessions at the Hinsdale Public Library and at Hinsdale Central.

"It is OK to put your well being and mental health above all else, to recognize that we all struggle, we all study, we all fail and we all succeed," Aryan Bansal said in an October 2025 Chicago Tribune profile of the program. "This message is not talked about enough in a community where everyone is amazing and doing so many things all the time."

P.A.S.S. tutors cover math, physics, biology, chemistry, Spanish and AP Euro. Fall semester tutoring sessions at the library begin Tuesday, Aug. 25.

More fall programming ahead

The Sept. 8 seminar appears to be part of a broader fall lineup for student and family wellness. The library newsletter also lists a P.A.S.S. Study Skills session on Sunday, Sept. 13, from 1 to 2 p.m. at the library, where peer tutors will help high school students build personalized study calendars. An "Injury Prevention in High School Athletes" talk featuring Hinsdale orthopedic surgeon Dr. Brian Forsythe follows on Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 7 to 8 p.m.

There is no fee. Whether families need to RSVP has not been specified in available announcements; contact the Hinsdale Community House or the Hinsdale Public Library at 630-986-1976 for details.

Hinsdale ahead

  • Wednesday, Aug. 12: District 86 first day of school (Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South)
  • Tuesday, Aug. 18: District 181 first day of school (Hinsdale Middle School and Clarendon Hills Middle School)
  • Tuesday, Aug. 25: P.A.S.S. fall tutoring sessions begin at the Hinsdale Public Library, 20 E. Maple St. Free peer tutoring in math, science, Spanish and AP Euro for high school students.
  • Tuesday, Sept. 8, 6:30–8 p.m.: "Maintaining Balance in Academics & Activities" seminar at the Hinsdale Community House, 415 W. Eighth St. Free; open to middle and high school students and parents.