Spring Break is here, and our students earned it.

Take this time to relax, reset, and spend time with your people. We’ve had a strong stretch, and we’re excited to come back ready to finish the year the right way.

Students return to school on Monday, April 13.

🎉 Sending Them Off the Right Way
We closed things out Friday the right way at the Pride of the City.

Students pushed to hit our 95% Attendance Challenge
Staff were treated to a grab and go lunch
We held our first annual Easter Egg Hunt
Seniors planned and ran their own Student-Led Senior Lock-In

That’s what it looks like. Energy. Ownership. Community.

📚 Spring Intersession – Let’s Get Back on Track
Spring Intersession is here to help students get where they need to be.

March 30 – April 2
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Breakfast and lunch provided
Enter through the front doors

If you got a message about Intersession, your student needs to be there. This is how we get them back on track.

Didn’t sign up but think your student should come? Send them.
We will work with them, get them 100% on track, and call you before pickup so you know where they stand.

✍️ Research Paper & ACT Writing Lab (Library)
We will also have a Research Paper & ACT Writing Lab during Intersession.

For Sophomores – Seniors
Help with research papers
Help with ACT writing

Simple. Focused. Get it done.

🧠 ACT Countdown – Let’s Secure your BAG
We’re getting close.

Freshmen & Sophomores: April 14 (16 days)
Juniors: April 22 (24 days)

Testing Day Reminders:
No bookbags
No cell phones in testing rooms
If a phone or bag is seen during testing, a parent will need to pick it up

We’re ready. Let’s go SECURE YOUR BAG.

⚾ April 22 – Important Day
Freshmen → Baseball game trip
Seniors → Woodruff for College & Career Day

More details coming soon.

🏃‍♂️ Pride of the City – Track & Field
Big time results from Bloomington.

Malik Johnson – Indoor STATE CHAMPION (triple jump), runner-up (long jump)
Melvin Jenkins – Runner-up (60m), competed in 200m
Cam Gunn – 8th place, cleared 6’4”
Jamiyah Jones – Represented in the triple jump

That’s THEE Pride of the City.

🗓️ This Week in Athletics
Thursday (4/2): Track vs Manual – 3:30 PM
Saturday (4/4): Tennis @ Limestone – 8:00 AM

Practices will continue over Spring Break. Make sure your student shows up.

There will be days they don’t feel like it. That’s the point. Showing up anyway is what builds discipline and character.

💭 Final Word

Enjoy your break.

Relax. Reset. Be safe.

We’ll see you April 13 ready to continue HUNT(ING) EXCELLENCE.

Monday (3/30) - Thursday (4/2):
Spring Intersession - 9 am - Noon
Research Paper / ACT Writing Lab - 9 am - Noon

Thursday (4/2): Track vs Manual – 3:30 PM

Saturday (4/4): Tennis @ Limestone – 8:00 AM

Spring Break: March 30 – April 10

PreACT: April 14

Jostens Delivery: April 17

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: 88%

Seniors On Track: 84%

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.