This is the moment we’ve been preparing for all year.

Our students have been putting in the work, building habits, and growing every single day. We saw that show up on Tuesday for the Fresh-Soph ACT, and we are proud of the way our students stepped up.

Now we’re gearing up for the big one with the Juniors on Wednesday.

🎯 ACT – Graduation Requirement (Juniors)
All juniors will take the ACT on Wednesday, April 22 at 7:30 am. This is a graduation requirement, and it is not optional.

To help your student be successful:
Be at school on time by 7:30 am
No bookbags or cell phones

This is their opportunity. Let’s go take it.

🚌 Freshman Field Trip – April 22
While juniors are testing, our freshmen will attend the Chiefs Education Day game.

Students will leave at 9:00 am and attend the game as a reward and learning experience. Students are allowed to bring water bottles, lunch and money for concessions if they choose.

📊 Fix It Week
This week is all about giving students the best opportunity to improve their grades before the progress report ends on Friday.

Students should:
Check Skyward daily
Communicate with teachers
Use class time to complete missing work

No surprises. Just action.

🎓 Senior Events
Seniors, everything counts right now.

Important upcoming dates:
Senior Trip Balance Due – Tuesday
Honors Day Rehearsal – May 5
Senior Brunch – May 12
Graduation Rehearsal – May 15
Graduation – May 16

🎭 Prom Week Expectations
Prom week is exciting, and we want our students to enjoy it. At the same time, we must hold ourselves to high expectations.

Behavior matters this week and every week. Poor decisions can impact eligibility for prom and other events.

Represent yourself, your family, and Peoria High.

🎭 Prom Reminder
Prom is Saturday, April 25 from 8:00–11:00 pm. Tickets are on sale through April 24 (no sales on April 22), and students must meet eligibility requirements to attend.

🍗 PPTO Restaurant Night
Support our school on Wednesday, April 22 from 4:30–8:00 pm at Rumberger’s Wings. A portion of proceeds will go back to Peoria High School.

💼 Summer Opportunity for Students
The Mayor’s Summer Youth Internship Program is a 6 week paid opportunity for students ages 14 to 15 to gain real world experience and build life skills. Freshman students can see Coach Buck for a packet, and a teacher recommendation is required. Spots are limited, so students should apply soon.

🏃 Track & Field Shoutout
Huge night for our track and field team at the Monticello Invite. Competing against 18 teams, our Lions would have taken first overall if scored.

We had multiple first place finishes, a strong showing in relays, and a number of lifetime personal records across events. Proud of how this group continues to compete and represent Peoria High.

💬 Final Word
We’ve been putting in the work all year.

Now it’s time to show it.

Stay focused. Stay ready. Keep building the best version of yourself.

1615: Show Up. Own Everything. Hunt Excellence.

📅 This Week at Peoria High

Tuesday, April 21
Boys Track and Field @ Dwight – TBA
Boys Tennis vs Manual/PND @ Glen Oak – 3:30 pm
Baseball vs Peoria Heights – 4:00 pm
Softball @ Peoria Heights – 4:30 pm
Soccer @ Normal Community – 4:30 pm

Wednesday, April 22
ACT (11th Grade) – 7:30 am
Freshman Field Trip
Administrative Professionals Day
Softball vs Monmouth-United – 4:30 pm
PPTO Restaurant Night

Thursday, April 23
Tennis vs Peoria Christian @ Bradley Park – 4:00 pm
Soccer @ Manual – 4:00 pm
Girls Track and Field @ Decatur MacArthur Invite – 4:15 pm

Friday, April 24
Progress Report Ends
Baseball vs Danville (Double Header) – 4:00 pm

Saturday, April 25
Softball vs Danville – 10:00 am
Athletic Hall of Fame – 11:00 am
Prom – 8:00–11:00 pm

Upcoming Events 📅

Panorama Screener – April 27 – May 8
Sophomore Field Trip – April 28
Decision Day / College Colors Day – May 1
Teacher Appreciation Week – May 4–8
AP Testing Begins – May 4
Graduation – May 16 🎓

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: 87% (Goal 88%)

• Seniors On Track: 86% (Goal 80%)

• Schoolwide Attendance: 87% (Goal 95%)

• Chronic Absenteeism: 44% (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.

🎓 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.