What a week to be a Lion! Our football team pulled off a huge upset over Normal Community to win the Big 12 Conference Championship, and now we are officially Playoff Bound. A huge thank you to all the parents and families who came out to support our 27 senior football players during Senior Night. The pride, the energy, and the love for our team showed exactly what makes Peoria High special.
This group of seniors has been together for years. They’ve overcome challenges, lifted each other up, and built a brotherhood that goes far beyond the field. That’s what this week’s 7 Mindsets focus, Maximizing Positive Relationships, is all about. When students feel connected — to their peers, their teachers, their teammates — they achieve more. The same way our seniors have stayed together through ups and downs, we want every student to find something that connects them: a sport, a club, or a program that makes them feel part of something bigger.
Keeping kids involved isn’t just about participation; it’s about belonging. And when students feel they belong, that’s when the magic happens — in the classroom and in life.
This Saturday, November 1 at 7:00 PM, our Lions take on Decatur MacArthur in Round 1 of the IHSA Playoffs at Peoria Stadium. Let’s fill the stands, wear maroon, and show that Playoff Bound PRIDE runs deep. 🏈
🎓 DIGIM Field Trip – Monday, October 27
Students attending the DIGIM Field Trip need to arrive at 7:00 AM to ensure they get through security checks
🔹 All permission slips were due Friday.
🔹 If you turn in your slip Monday morning at the buses, there is no guarantee you can attend. We are capped at 100 students.
When students arrive, they will need to go through security checks in the Atrium or Foyer before heading to the buses on Richmond St. Again, it’s highly suggested that students arrive by 7:00 AM to ensure they get through security and to the buses on time.
🏀 Girls Basketball Tryouts
Girls Basketball Tryouts for all levels will be held on October 28th, 29th, and 30th in the Complex Gym at 5:30 PM.
Encourage your student to come ready to work hard and represent the Pride of the City!
❄️ Winter Sports Sign-Ups
Winter sports are right around the corner! Encourage your student to get involved with basketball, wrestling, swim, or another team or club. Being part of something builds accountability, confidence, and pride — the same traits that make our seniors successful on and off the field.
🏫 Class Meetings and Expectations
We’re holding class meetings this week to reset and review school-wide expectations for Quarter 2. Our message is simple: stay focused, stay respectful, and stay consistent. This is the time of year when routines can slip, and we want every student to understand that expectations don’t change just because the semester gets busy.
Parents, please help reinforce this message at home by encouraging your student to:
Be on time to every class.
Stay engaged and limit distractions.
Communicate respectfully with teachers and peers.
When we work together — school, students, and families — we keep the standard high for everyone.
🎯 Quarter 2 Focus: Grades and Follow-Through
Quarter 2 is where grades can slip if we’re not careful. Parents, please take a few minutes this week to check your student’s grades in Skyward:
Log into Skyward Family Access
Click “Grades” on the left side of the screen
Look for missing assignments or low percentages
Have your student talk with their teachers about what they can do to improve
If you need help logging in, contact the main office. Staying on top of grades now keeps students on track and confident heading into the next quarter.
🏫 Attendance Matters
Our current attendance rate is 89 percent, and our chronic absenteeism rate is 37 percent. Every day matters. Students who attend consistently build stronger relationships, perform better academically, and are more likely to graduate on time.
If your student is out for multiple days, please call us so we can help support them when they return.
👵 Grandparents Day – November 25
We’re excited to welcome grandparents to Peoria High on Monday, November 25! More information will be shared soon.
💡 7 Mindsets at Home: Maximizing Positive Relationships
Here’s how you can help reinforce this week’s mindset at home:
Talk with your student about their friends and who they spend time with.
Ask them who encourages them to be their best.
Encourage them to reach out to someone new or include a classmate who might feel left out.
Celebrate positive behavior when they handle situations with kindness and respect.
When students feel connected at home and school, their confidence grows — and so does their success.
💬 Final Word from 1615
Wins come from effort, consistency, and teamwork — on the field and in the classroom. Thank you for supporting your students, showing up at games, and helping build a community where every Lion feels connected and valued.
Let’s carry this into Playoff Week and beyond.
1615: Show Up. Own Everything. Hunt Excellence.
