Welcome back to Peoria High School! As we return from Winter Break, our focus this week is on helping students reset routines and start the semester strong. Our weekly theme is Own Your Life, which connects directly to our schoolwide expectation to Own Everything.

The first week back matters. This is when routines are rebuilt and small daily choices can have a big impact on grades, attendance, and momentum. Showing up on time, getting engaged in class, picking up that pencil go a long way right now.

🎒 Back in Action - TUESDAY
Teachers are back in the building tomorrow, getting classrooms ready and setting the stage for a strong start. Students return Tuesday, and it’s officially go-time. Fresh semester, fresh routines, same high expectations.

Thanks for helping us get students back in the groove and ready to learn on Tuesday.

🔁 Resetting Routines with Grace and Urgency
Returning from break takes adjustment. While we may give our students grace as they settle back into routines.  Clear expectations and structure help students feel supported and successful.

Families can support this work by reinforcing routines at home and talking with students about expectations for the semester ahead.

📄 Report Cards and Goal Setting
Quarter 2/Semester 1 report cards will be issued on Friday.
We encourage families to review report cards together and talk with students about:

What went well
Where improvement is needed
One specific goal they want to work on this semester

Setting one clear goal helps students stay focused and take ownership moving forward.

📅 Attendance Matters

Daily attendance is one of the strongest predictors of student success. The start of a new semester is a critical time to build strong attendance habits, as absences early in the term can add up quickly and impact learning.

Please help by:

Encouraging students to attend school every day
Scheduling appointments outside of school hours when possible
Communicating with the school if your student is experiencing challenges that impact attendance

Showing up consistently matters.

🦁 Lions Basketball Big Win
Our Peoria High School basketball team picked up a huge win this week, defeating undefeated East Peoria in a hard-fought matchup.

Final Score:
Peoria 65
East Peoria 61

Proud of the way ALL our student-athletes represented Peoria High School over break with effort, discipline, and teamwork. 🦁🔥

📈 ACT Focus Looking Ahead (Freshman, Sophomores and Juniors)
As we begin the new semester, we are continuing to build awareness around ACT Readiness and the Skills students develop every day in their classes. Right now, our focus is on strong routines, consistent attendance, and engagement, which all support long-term ACT success.

In the coming weeks, families will see more information in future newsletters about added supports, including:
After-school Tutoring
ACT Tutoring
ACT Bootcamp

These supports will take place after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays, beginning next week. More details will be shared soon.

🎯 Moving Forward Together

When students Own Your Life and Own Everything, they build habits that lead to academic growth and confidence. We cannot do this work without you. Your partnership at home makes a real difference, and we appreciate your continued support as we start the semester strong.

1615: Show Up. Own Everything. Hunt Excellence.

Monday
Freshman Boys Basketball @ Limestone – 5:00 pm

Wednesday
Freshman Girls and Boys Basketball vs. Notre Dame – 5:00 pm

Thursday
Midwest Tech Visit – During Lunches
Track Meeting – 1:45 pm (Auditorium)

Friday
Quarter 2/Semester 1 Report Cards Issued
Staff and Student of the Month Breakfast – 7:45 am
Cheerleading @ Springfield – 4:00 pm

Saturday
Dance @ Mahomet-Seymour – Time TBA
Swimming @ Richwoods (Rams Relays) – Time TBA
Wrestling @ Morton Tournament – 8:00 am
Cheerleading @ Springfield – 9:00 am
Sophomore/Varsity Boys Basketball @ St. Joe-Ogden Shootout vs. Mt. Zion – 1:00 pm

Pink Elephant Presentation – January 12
PPTO Meeting – January 13
Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School) – January 19
Panorama Screener Opens – January 20–30

Show up at a game or concert this semester. It means more than you know.

🗓️ Athletic schedules: https://schools.snap.app/peoriahs

🎟️ Grab Your Game Tickets Here
All tickets for Peoria High home athletic events can be purchased through GoFan.
Click the link below for quick, easy, cashless entry:
👉 GoFan Link: https://gofan.co/app/school/IL21469

✅ Reduce Chronic Absenteeism
Every day matters. We can’t teach students who aren’t here.

✅ Increase Freshman On-Track & Graduation Rate
We’re building stronger foundations and finishing strong.

✅ Increase Student Proficiency on the ACT
We’re sharpening skills and expanding opportunity.

📊 Data Snapshot

• Freshman On Track: 96% (Goal 88%)

• Seniors On Track: 86% (Goal 80%)

• Schoolwide Attendance: 87% (Goal 95%)

• Chronic Absenteeism: 42% (Goal 36% or less)

Attendance is one of the biggest factors in success. Every day matters. Show up, pick up a pencil, and create the best version of you.

• Doors open at 7:00 AM

• Buses will drop off at the foyer doors on North Street.

• Car riders should be dropped off at the back Atrium entrance.

• All students must pass through a security check each morning.

• After 7:30 AM, the Atrium entrance is the only one open for student entry.

All students must now use clear bags on campus.

• Students in extracurriculars can check in their bags each morning with their coach.

• Bags will be secured in the coach’s room or locker room office.

• Non-clear bags must be checked in and picked up after school in the auditorium.

• Clear bags are available for $20 from Ms. Hart in the Main Office.

🔗 Link to Clear Bag Policy

The 2025–26 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is now open, allowing students and parents to apply for financial aid for the upcoming academic year. Completing the FAFSA is essential for accessing federal grants, work-study opportunities, and loans.

How to Get Started:

Create a StudentAid.gov Account: Both students and parents need individual accounts to sign and submit the FAFSA form.

Gather Required Documents: You'll need your 2023 tax returns, W-2s, bank statements, and records of untaxed income.

Complete the FAFSA Form: Visit fafsa.gov to start a new application. Students should initiate the form and invite parents as contributors if necessary.

Submit Before Deadlines: The FAFSA is a graduation requirement in Illinois.

Completing the FAFSA early increases your chances of receiving the maximum financial aid available. For more information and to begin the application, visit fafsa.gov.

Peoria High is a cell phone free school during the day. All students are expected to secure their phones in a Yondr pouch.

• Putting their phone in a Yondr pouch at arrival, or handing it over to be secured for the day.

• If a phone is hidden in their bag or later found at arrival, it will be a parent pick up.

• Any phone seen after arrival will also be a parent pick up.

• Headphones and iPads must stay in bookbags. If they’re seen during the day, they will be collected.

If your student needs a new Yonder Pouch they need to see our Treasurer Ms. GINA.DAILEY@PSD150.ORG to pay $30 for the replacement. Then Ms. AMY.DENSON@PSD150.ORG will then issue them a new pouch.

This is about opportunity. Students have the chance to start the day making the right choice so the focus stays on learning. Every minute in class matters.

🔗Yondr Pouch Info Sheet

Please contact your students counselor:

• Mr. Patrick Klimaszewski → Students with last names A–E

• Miss Tammy Collier → Students with last names F–K

• Miss Paula Webb → Students with last names L–R

• Ms. Casey Stone → Students with last names S–Z

✍🏾ACT PREP OPPORTUNITIES

All our policies—from dress code to behavior expectations—are available in the Student Handbook. Please take time to review it with your student. We will also discuss expectations, eligibility and more at our class meetings.
👉 Student Handbook

✅ Eligibility
All-School Eligibility is determined by the following behavior, attendance, and/or grade criteria (BAG):

• Students with Ds or Fs in 2 or more classes on most recent grade report.

• Students with 2 or more unexcused absences within the last 30 days. 

• No more than 20 tardies to class within the last 30 days

• Students suspended for fighting or reckless conduct are ineligible for the remainder of the semester.

•  

😷 Medical Mask
Students should not be wearing medical masks at school without a note from a parent or doctor. If your student has a note, they should see Nurse Maggie so she can notify all of their teachers.

🚫 Disruptions & Fights
Major disruptions, including fights, will be addressed seriously and can lead to significant consequences. We focus on resolving conflicts through restorative conversations and interventions first, but ongoing or severe issues may result in alternative learning settings. We have over 150 adults in the building ready to help students work through conflicts. If your student is having an issue with someone, they must seek out an adult immediately instead of trying to handle it themselves.

Principal, Mr. Shaun McGinnes

Shaun.McGinnes@psd150.org

9th Grade Principal, Dr. Ilethea Suggs

ILETHEA.SUGGS@PSD150.ORG

10th Grade Principal, Mr. David Walker

DAVID.WALKER@PSD150.ORG

11th Grade Principal, Mr. Trey Laird

TREY.LAIRD@PSD150.ORG

12th + POP Grade Principal, Dr. Nahreisha Tate

NAHREISHA.TATE@PSD150.ORG

Athletic Director(s), Ben Mahan

BEN.MAHAN@PSD150.ORG

If you have any general academic, attendance, athletic, or other student concerns, please contact the school at 309-672-6630 or at peoriahigh@psd150.org. You can also find answers to general questions in our Student Handbook. Parents, please continue check your email, our Peoria High Website and/or our Facebook for important announcements.