We are in Celebration Season at Peoria High. This is the time of year where the work shows up. Our seniors are on their VICTORY LAP, finishing what they started and getting ready for what’s next. We are celebrating our students across academics, athletics, and activities, but we are not letting up. We are going to enjoy the moment and still stay focused on finishing strong.

🎓 Senior Checkout
All senior materials need to be turned in:

Books
Yondr pouches
Computers (with chargers)

Students should also clean out their lockers. Our goal is to have everything turned in by next Tuesday.

🏅🎓 Honors Day
Practice: Tuesday, May 5 at 1:00 PM (Main Gym)
Students report to 6th hour and we will call them down

Ceremony: Thursday, May 7 at 9:00 AM (Lions Den/Main Gym)
Seniors report to the Foyer at 8:30 AM

Dress Code:
Dress nice and be ready to represent
No hoodies, sweats, hats, or pajamas

Reminder:
No cell phones during Honors Day
Students can check Ms. Stone’s message on Teams for more info

✍️ Athletic Signing Day
We will celebrate our student-athletes signing to compete at the next level on Wednesday, May 6 at 10:00 AM. This is a big deal and shows the hard work and commitment these students have put in. We are proud of them and excited to recognize them.

🎓🎉 Graduation Information
Date: Saturday, May 16
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Peoria Civic Center

Student Arrival
Report at 9:00 AM
Students should be dropped off at the Civic Center

Family Arrival
Doors open at 9:00 AM
Open seating, no tickets required

Important Notes
Clear bags only, no balloons
Parking is limited ($10 per vehicle)
Carpool and arrive early

More info:
https://www.peoriapublicschools.org/o/pps/page/graduation

Graduation Practice
Friday, May 15 (MANDATORY)
Report to Complex Gym at 8:30 AM
Enter through Richmond Street doors
Done by 12:00 PM and all students must stay and ride the bus

Students should bring:
Cap and gown
Shoes they plan to wear

After the ceremony, students will get their diplomas and meet families outside.

🔥 What We Need From Families
Make sure your student is at school every day
Check grades and make sure they are passing ALL classes
Keep them focused through the end of the year

1615: Show Up. Own Everything. Hunt Excellence.

📅 This Week at Peoria High

Monday (May 4)
AP Testing – Biology
Girls Track vs Washington & Richwoods – 4:00 PM
Baseball vs Normal West (DH) – 4:00 PM
Softball @ Stark County – 4:30 PM
Soccer vs Richwoods – 5:00 PM

Tuesday (May 5)
AP Testing – Human Geo (AM), Government (PM)
Honors Day Practice - 1:00 PM
Softball vs Manual – 4:00 PM
Tennis vs Princeton @ Bradley – 4:30 PM
Softball vs Urbana – 6:30 PM

Wednesday (May 6)
SIP Day (10:30 dismissal)
Athletic Signing Day – 10:00 AM
Baseball @ Manual – 4:00 PM

Thursday (May 7)
Honors Day – 9:00 AM
AP Testing – African American Studies
Tennis @ Lincoln – 4:15 PM
Soccer vs Danville – 4:30 PM
Boys Track @ Bloomington – 5:00 PM

Friday (May 8)
Seniors Last Day
Girls Track @ Urbana B12 Meet – 4:00 PM
Baseball vs Bloomington – 4:00 PM

Saturday (May 9)
Boys Track @ Bloomington B12 Meet – 10:00 AM
Senior Trip

May 11 – Woodruff All Day Presentations
May 11 – Staff Meeting
May 12 – PPTO Meeting
May 13 – Sophomore Half Cap Ceremony
May 15 – Graduation Practice (MANDATORY)
May 16 – Graduation (10:00 AM – Peoria Civic Center)
May 19 – Sterling 8th Grade Promotion
May 20 – Glen Oak 8th Grade Promotion

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: 85% (Goal 88%)

• Seniors On Track: 86% (Goal 80%)

• Schoolwide Attendance: 86% (Goal 95%)

• Chronic Absenteeism: 45% (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.