This is one of the biggest weeks of the school year at Peoria High School. We have AP Testing, Senior Events, Graduation Rehearsal, and Graduation all happening this week. There is a lot going on, but the focus stays the same, show up, stay focused, and finish.

This time of year can get emotional and busy, especially for our Seniors, but we still have work to do. We need students continuing to attend school daily, stay on top of grades, and make good decisions all the way through the finish line. We are proud of the way our students and staff continue to compete and push through the end of the school year.

SHOW UP 📚
Attendance Still Matters
We are in the final stretch of the school year, but attendance still matters every single day. Final grades, AP Testing, credit recovery, finals prep, and graduation activities are happening right now. Missing school this time of year puts students behind fast.

Families, please continue helping us by making sure students:
Show up daily
Get to class on time
Stay in communication with teachers
Focus on passing ALL classes

The goal is still the goal. We want every student building the best version of themselves while staying on track for promotion and graduation.

AP Testing This Week 🎯
Students enrolled in AP courses should continue checking with their teachers regarding testing expectations and arrival times.

AP Testing Schedule
Monday: AP Seminar – 12:00 PM
Tuesday: AP Pre-Calculus – 8:00 AM
Tuesday: AP Psychology – 12:00 PM
Wednesday: AP English Language and Composition – 8:00 AM
Thursday: AP Computer Science – 12:00 PM

Senior Graduation Information 🎓
Graduation Week is finally here for the Class of 2026.

Graduation Rehearsal
📅 Friday, May 15 🕣 8:30 AM 📍 Complex Gym
Students should enter through the Richmond Street doors. All students must stay the entire rehearsal and ride the bus to the Civic Center. Students should bring:
Cap and gown
Shoes they plan to wear for graduation

We will be practicing stairs and walking routes at the Civic Center.

Graduation Day
📅 Saturday, May 16 🕙 10:00 AM 📍 Peoria Civic Center Arena
Students should report by 9:00 AM.
Students should be dropped off at the Civic Center. Families can review additional information here:https://www.peoriapublicschools.org/o/pps/page/graduation

Family Information
Doors open at 9:00 AM
Open seating
No tickets required
Clear bags only
No balloons
Parking is limited

We encourage families to arrive early and carpool when possible.

Senior Brunch 🍽️
📅 Tuesday, May 12 🕥 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM 📍 Kouzens Restaurant
Students can see Dr. Tate with any questions regarding Senior Brunch.

Sophomore Half Cap Celebration 🎓
📅 Wednesday, May 13 🕦 11:30 AM
We are excited to celebrate our Sophomores during the Half Cap Ceremony this Wednesday. This event recognizes students continuing to move closer toward graduation and celebrates the work they have put in during their first two years of high school.

OWN EVERYTHING 💯
🚫 Disruptions & Fights
Fights and major disruptions will be taken seriously and can lead to major consequences. Our goal is always to work through problems with students first through conversations, support, and interventions, but repeated or serious situations may lead to alternative learning placements.

We have over 150 adults in the building ready to help students through conflict. If your student is having an issue with another student, they need to seek out an adult immediately instead of trying to handle it on their own.

End of Year Expectations
As we close out the school year, we need students continuing to lock in daily. Small decisions matter this time of year.

That means:
Phones away during class
Being where they are supposed to be
Respecting staff directions the first time
Staying focused academically
Taking care of school devices, textbooks, Streams, and Yondr pouches

Next week we will begin student locker clean out procedures throughout the building.

Student Devices 💻
Any student Streams and Yondr pouches should be returned to Ms. Young on the 3rd Floor as soon as possible so they can be properly checked back in before the end of the year.

🎓 Seniors, if you still have school computers, books, or Yondr pouches checked out, please get them turned in ASAP.

HUNT EXCELLENCE 🚀
AVID Strategy of the Month – Focused Note Taking
Our AVID Strategy focus for May is Focused Note Taking. We are continuing to push students to organize information, think critically, and take ownership of their learning.

The goal is not students simply filling in blanks. The goal is students learning how to think, process information, and prepare themselves for college, careers, and life after high school.

Let’s Finish 🦁
We are proud of the growth our students have made this year, but we are not done yet. These final weeks matter. Attendance matters. Grades matter. Decisions matter.

Please continue encouraging your student to show up daily, own everything they do, and hunt excellence in everything they are part of.

FINISH.

Shaun

1615: Show Up. Own Everything. Hunt Excellence.

Monday, May 11
Woodruff All Day Presentation – 2nd Hour
AP Seminar Testing – 12:00 PM
Baseball @ Normal Community (Double Header) – 4:00 PM

Tuesday, May 12
PPTO Meeting – 6:00 PM
AP Pre-Calculus Testing – 8:00 AM
AP Psychology Testing – 12:00 PM
Senior Brunch – 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Softball @ Normal Community w/ West – 4:00 PM
Tennis vs Princeton @ Bradley Park – 4:30 PM
Soccer vs Urbana (Senior Night) – 4:30 PM

Wednesday, May 13
AP English Language and Composition Testing – 8:00 AM
Sophomore Half Cap Celebration – 11:30 AM
Becky and Joe Lemont Retirement Celebration – 2:45 PM
Girls Track and Field Sectional – 2:00 PM
Boys Track and Field Conference @ Bloomington – 3:00 PM
Baseball vs Manual – 4:00 PM

Thursday, May 14
AP Computer Science Testing – 12:00 PM
Softball vs Bloomington – 4:30 PM

Friday, May 15
Graduation Rehearsal – 8:30 AM
DIGIM AI Presentation – 8:30 AM
Peace Plays in Peoria
Tennis Conference @ Richwoods – 9:00 AM
Baseball @ Notre Dame (Double Header) – 4:00 PM
Soccer @ Bloomington – 4:30 PM

Saturday, May 16
Graduation – 10:00 AM

Locker Clean Out – May 18
Arsenio Davis Kickball Tournament – May 19
Sterling Middle 8th Grade Promotion – May 19
Glen Oak 8th Grade Promotion – May 20
1st Hour Final – May 22
Memorial Day – May 25
2nd, 3rd, and 4th Hour Finals – May 26
5th, 6th, and 7th Hour Finals – May 27
Summer Session – May 28 through June 18

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: 86% (Goal 88%)

• Seniors On Track: 93% (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.