We are rolling into one of the most important weeks of the semester. With Quarter 2 ending on December 19 and final exams starting next week, NOW is the moment for students to tighten up their grades, stay consistent with attendance, and put their energy where it matters most.

The theme this week is Focus Your Energy!!! These next few days can change how confidently your student walks into finals.

🎯 Focus Your Energy: Why This Week Matters
Students are learning how to channel their effort into the things that will make the biggest difference. For Quarter 2, that means:
Completing missing assignments
Reviewing material before final exams
Asking teachers questions now instead of waiting
Keeping attendance strong
Staying focused in class
When students push this week, finals become less stressful, and their semester grade is in a much better place.
We want every student walking into finals next week feeling steady, prepared, and confident.

🔥❄ Heat Up the Holidays Attendance Challenge
Any student with Perfect Attendance from Dec 1–12 will receive a Christmas Grab Bag during lunch on December 17.
More importantly: attendance this week has a direct impact on Quarter 2 grades and final exam prep.

📚 Finals Start Next Week
Final exams run Dec 17–19 (Early dismissal at 10:30 am on Dec 18 & 19).
You can view the full schedule below.
The best thing your student can do right now is raise their Quarter 2 grade before finals even begin, so they walk in with less pressure and a higher chance of success.

🍦 DQ Night – Wednesday
Stop by Dairy Queen on Wednesday and support Peoria High!
A portion of the proceeds comes right back to our school and directly supports student programs.
Bring the whole family, grab a treat, and help us keep building opportunities for our Lions.
Every scoop counts!

📘 ACT: Preparing Early = Reducing Stress Later
As we focus on finishing Quarter 2 strong, we’re also preparing for a major milestone coming in the spring: the ACT for all Freshman, Sophomore and Juniors in April
Here’s why this matters now:
Strong habits built during Quarter 2 directly support ACT success.
Attendance and engagement this month help build the foundation students need.
Teachers will continue embedding ACT-style reading and writing practice into daily lessons.
FOCUS YOUR ENERGY NOW, and the ACT becomes far more manageable later.

📞 Teacher Communication
Teachers are reaching out this week to families of students with Ds or Fs.
Our goal is simple: no surprises at the end of the semester.
A quick phone call or text helps us work together to support your student.

📱 Cell Phones & Learning
We continue to reinforce our schoolwide phone expectations. Research shows that reducing cell phone use during the school day improves:
Attendance
Focus
Test scores
Thank you for your support!!

🧠 7 Mindsets: Focus Your Energy
All grade levels are completing Lesson 4.3: Focus Your Energy this week.
This mindset helps students:
Prioritize what matters most
Manage stress
Make better academic decisions
Enter finals with clarity instead of panic
This is exactly the skill they need to finish Quarter 2 strong.

🎓 Beyond the Ball – Parent University (Friday Evening)
Join us on Friday evening for Beyond the Ball – Parent University.
This event is all about giving families tools, resources, and strategies to support students academically, socially, and emotionally.
You’ll have the chance to:
Learn more about programs available to your student
Connect with staff and other families
Get practical tips for helping your student finish the semester strong
See the broader support system we are building for all students
We would love to see you there — it truly takes a village, and your presence makes a difference.

🦁 Outro
Thank you for continuing to show up for your students during this critical time of year. These next 10 school days can change the entire trajectory of a semester. With strong attendance, steady communication, and purposeful focus, our students can finish 2025 with PRIDE.

We appreciate you.
We believe in your student.
And we’re ready to finish this semester strong — TOGETHER.

1615: Show Up. Own Everything. Hunt Excellence.

Monday, December 8
Counselor Registration – Complex Gym (All Day)
Freshman Boys & Girls Basketball @ Richwoods – 5:00 pm

Tuesday, December 9
PPTO Meeting – 6:00 pm
Counselor Registration – All Day
Wrestling vs. Limestone – 4:30 pm
Swimming @ Urbana – 4:30 pm
Soph/Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Morton – 5:00 pm

Wednesday, December 10
National Guard Visit – During Lunches
Freshman Boys & Girls Basketball @ Manual – 5:00 pm
DQ Night Fundraiser – Stop by Dairy Queen and support Peoria High!

Thursday, December 11
Counselor Registration – All Day
Freshman Boys Basketball @ Morton – 5:00 pm
Soph/Varsity Girls Basketball @ Springfield Southeast – 5:30 pm

Friday, December 12
Counselor Registration – All Day
Beyond the Ball – Parent University
Soph/Varsity Boys & Girls Basketball vs. Centennial – 5:30 pm

Heat Up the Holidays Attendance Celebration – Dec 17

Quarter 2 / Semester 1 Ends – Dec 19

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

✅ 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: 96% (Goal 88%)

• Seniors On Track: 81% (Goal 80%)

• Schoolwide Attendance: 87% (Goal 95%)

• Chronic Absenteeism: 44% (Goal 36% or less)

Attendance is one of the biggest factors in success. Every day matters. Show up, pick up a pencil, and create the best version of you.

• 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.

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

✍🏾ACT PREP OPPORTUNITIES

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, Mr. David Walker

DAVID.WALKER@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 and Brien Dunphy

BEN.MAHAN@PSD150.ORG and BRIEN.DUNPHY@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.