Award Season is officially activated at Peoria High.

We kicked it off in a major way with 13 Peoria High School seniors receiving scholarships from the African American Hall of Fame:

Gabriella Arreguin Quintero
Jennae Bailey
Jamiya Brown
Jayda Colley
Fenix Foy
Rihanna Grier
Ava Heerman
Nakayla Johnson
Kiara Jordan
Trinity Miles
Nahayven Stringer
Ta'Quila Thompson
Darick Washington

This is what preparation meeting opportunity looks like. And we are just getting started.

🏀 Basketball Season Wrap-Up
Our season came to a close with a 68–57 loss to East Peoria, but do not let the final score define this team. Our Peoria High Lions battled through massive adversity all year and represented Peoria High with toughness, grit, and PRIDE every single night. Thank you to everyone who supported our program all season long, it means more than you know. Get some rest, young Lions, but not too long, it’s back to the lab. 🦁

🎓 Senior Updates
Seniors, it is go time.
Don't forget about deposits for the Senior Trip. See Dr. Tate or Coach Dailey to make payment.
Senior Photos are Wednesday, March 18 in the Auditorium. Packages are $30 or $50.
The Senior Calendar will be distributed this week.
Check Microsoft Teams regularly for new scholarship information.

Award season is not just a slogan for seniors. It is real opportunity. Stay on top of deadlines.

📅 Important Dates This Week
Wednesday – SIP Day (10:30 Dismissal)
Students will participate in a 7 Mindsets lesson, ACT TestNav preparation, and we will close the morning with Staff vs. Students Volleyball in the Main Gym before dismissing at 10:30 AM.

Thursday – Erin’s Law Presentations
Students will attend grade-level presentations focused on safety and awareness as part of our commitment to protecting and supporting every student.

Friday – Quarter 3 Ends

Let me say that again.

Quarter 3 ends Friday, March 6.

🎯 ACT Countdown Is Real
Freshmen and Sophomores take the ACT on April 14, 2026. 
Juniors take the ACT on April 22, 2026. 

Every assignment corrected. Every standard retaught. Every reading passage analyzed. It all matters.

What students do this week directly impacts their ACT performance. Fixing grades means fixing skills. And the ACT measures skills.

The countdown is on.

🎒 Secure the BAG
Behavior. Attendance. Grades.
This week, we need families locked in on all three:

Attendance
Be here. Every day. Every period.

Grades
Log into Skyward. If your student has a D or F, the time to act is now. Friday is the end of the quarter.

Behavior
Stay focused. Finish strong.

Have the conversation tonight. Make the plan. Follow through.

🎯 Quarter 3 Ends Friday
This is the week to move! If your student has a D or an F, now is the time to step in and fix it. Earning credit matters for graduation, but just as important, correcting work now strengthens the same reading, writing, and reasoning skills students will be tested on during the ACT in April.

Log into Skyward. Reach out to teachers. Make sure missing assignments are completed.

When Friday hits, the grades are final.

🌈 Chase the Rainbow – March Attendance Challenge
Students who earn 95% attendance or higher during March will receive Rainbow Ice cups at lunch on March 27. Attendance drives grades, and grades drive opportunity.

You cannot improve if you are not in the building.

📚 Read Across America Week
We are encouraging families to “Unplug to Read.” Just 30 minutes of reading a day exposes students to more than one million words each year, strengthening vocabulary and comprehension.

We also celebrate our school social workers this week for the incredible work they do supporting students academically and emotionally.

1615: Show Up. Own Everything. Hunt Excellence.

Monday – Friday
Read Across America Week
School Social Work Week
7 Mindsets Week

Tuesday
Data Day in Science Classes

Wednesday – SIP Day (10:30 Dismissal)
7 Mindsets Lesson 6.4 Create a Legacy
ACT TestNav Stress Test
Staff vs. Students Volleyball (Main Gym)

Thursday
Erin’s Law Presentations (Grade-Level Schedule)

Friday – Quarter 3 Ends
Staff & Student of the Month Breakfast – 7:45 AM
Girls Track & Field at Illinois College – 4:00 PM

Busy week. Important week. Let’s finish it strong. 🦁

March 10 – Alumni Interviews Begin
March 10 – Key Club Blood Drive
March 10 – International Club Ballet
March 10 – SEL / AVID Team Meeting
March 11 – Peoria Park District Visit During Lunches
March 12 – Junior Class Skating Trip
March 13 – Power Lunch
March 16 – 9th Grade Woodruff Trip
March 18 – Senior Photos (Auditorium)
March 19 – Jostens Order Delivery
March 20 – SIU-E Lunch Visit

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

📺 Can’t Make It to the Game?
If you’re unable to attend a Peoria High School athletic event in person, many of our games are streamed live on the NFHS Network. This allows families and community members to support our students from anywhere.
👉 Peoria High School’s NFHS channel https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/schools/peoria-high-school-peoria-il

✅ 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: 75% (Goal 88%)

• Seniors On Track: 73% (Goal 80%)

• Schoolwide Attendance: 87% (Goal 95%)

• Chronic Absenteeism: 43% (Goal 36% or less)

• 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

📈 Tutoring & ACT Support
Tutoring is open to all students and takes place after school on Tuesdays in Room 714 and Thursdays in Room 228. Students can attend for help with classwork or to focus on ACT preparation. Practicing for the ACT matters. It builds familiarity with the test, strengthens reading and math skills, and builds confidence. Consistent practice leads to better outcomes and more options after high school.

Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who want to work on ACT skills during tutoring will be enrolled in ACT-focused Edgenuity strands and supported by after-school tutors. We are also working on incentives for students who complete ACT strands. We know the best incentives come from student voice, so students are encouraged to share what motivates them by reaching out to Mr. Laird.

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 L-Z + 11th Grade Principal, Mr. Trey Laird

TREY.LAIRD@PSD150.ORG

10th A-K + 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.