We are heading into a big stretch at Peoria High as we prepare for Spring Break. This is a time where everything starts to matter more, attendance, grades, and daily habits, and we are continuing to push our students to stay focused and finish strong. There is a lot happening in the building, from celebrations and events to important academic opportunities, and we need everyone locked in and moving in the same direction. Let’s keep showing up, owning everything, and hunting excellence as we prepare for the final stretch.

🌈 Chase the Rainbow – Attendance Challenge
We are finishing strong in March with our attendance challenge.
Students with 95% attendance or higher will earn a reward this Friday.

👉 Families, this is the focus:
Show up every day. On time. Ready to learn.

🎤 Freshman Presentation – Don’t Start
All freshmen will attend a powerful presentation on Tuesday focused on making positive choices and staying on track.

We expect students to:
Be respectful
Be engaged
Take something meaningful away

These moments matter in shaping decision-making moving forward.

📚 Spring Intersession (March 30 – April 2)
We are providing additional support during Spring Break to help students get back on track.

🕘 Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
🍳 Breakfast & lunch provided
🚌 City bus passes available

This is a great opportunity for:
Students behind in classes
Students completing Edgenuity courses
Students who need a focused environment
👉 Sign up here: #PRIDEoftheCITY Spring Intersession 2026

✍️ ACT Writing & Senior Paper Support
We are also offering a Writing Lab during Intersession for:
ACT Writing prep
Senior Research Papers

If your student needs support, this is the place to be.
👉 Sign up here: ACT Writing and Senior Research Paper Writing Lab – Fill out form

🎓 Senior Updates – It’s Go Time
Seniors — we are in the final stretch and everything counts.

Senior Lock-In: Friday (payment due Thursday)
Jostens returns: April 17

from Dr. Tate:
👉 “Them grades better be hittin”

Families, please make sure your senior is:

Passing all classes
On track with credits
Completing FAFSA
Completing SchoolLinks

No surprises.

🚀 After Break: We Finish the Job
When we return from Spring Break, things will move fast.

Our focus:
Freshmen passing all classes
Seniors meeting ALL graduation requirements

The goal is simple:
👉 Every freshman moves on. Every senior graduates.

If we stay focused and control what we can control, our results will continue to rise.

🎯 ACT Countdown is ON
We are officially on the clock:

📝 PreACT (9th & 10th Grade): April 14 — 23 Days Away

🎯 ACT (11th Grade): April 22 — 31 Days Away

This year, ALL students (grades 9–11) will take the ACT.

We are preparing students daily by:
Increasing rigor
Practicing test strategies
Building stamina

👉 Families, you can help by:
Making sure students are at school every day
Encouraging effort and focus
Reinforcing the importance of the test

We are not hoping for results.
We are preparing for them.

🦁 Final Message

Everything we are doing right now comes back to three things:

Showing Up. Owning Everything. Hunting Excellence.

Let’s set ourselves up for success heading into the final stretch.

Tuesday: Freshman “Don’t Start” Presentation – 9:00 AM

Thursday: Bradley University Visit (Lunches)

Friday: Attendance Celebration + Easter Egg Hunt

Athletics All Week: Baseball & Track in action

Spring Break: March 30 – April 10

Intersession: March 30 – April 2

PreACT: April 14

ACT: April 22

Prom: April 25

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

We are continuing to push forward as a school:

Freshman On Track: 86%

Seniors On Track: 81%

Attendance Rate: 87%

Bottom line: Attendance and grades go hand in hand.

If students are here and locked in, they are more likely to pass.

• 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.

🎓 Graduation Information
Peoria High School’s Class of 2026 Graduation Ceremony will take place:

Saturday, May 16
10:00 AM
Peoria Civic Center

More information about tickets, arrival times, and ceremony expectations will be shared soon.

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 Grade Principal, Ms. Sheffeia Zollicoffer

SHEFFEIA.ZOLLICOFFER@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.