PLAINFIELD SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL

COUGAR NEWSLETTER

Volume 2, Edition V

April-May, 2003

 

 

From the Desk of Tom Hensel:

 

Important Dates:

ü      May 10         Prom

ü      May 16         Full Day of Student Attendance

ü      May 26         No School – Memorial Day

ü      June 4-5        Semester Exam Schedule

ü      June 6           No Buses – Make-up Exams

 

 

End of the Year:

ü      We are quickly closing in on the end of another year.  I ask that all remember these days are as important as any other days throughout our school year.  Attendance is important and our behavioral expectations remain consistent.

 

Website:

ü      Please remember to check our website at www.learningcommunity202.org/pshs for information about our learning community, plans and news.

 

 

 

Student Services Department:

 

College Visitation:

ü      Counselors have been encouraging students to visit colleges over the summer.  This is a very important step in the college application process.  The parent or student should call the college admissions office and sign up for a tour.  These are usually conducted every day of the week during specified times.  College students conduct the tours and are usually very good about answering questions dealing with the campus and with campus life.  Appointments with an admissions counselor or a financial aid counselor are also available.

Seniors:

ü      Counselors met with juniors recently to encourage early application to college.  Many of the state college programs fill up in November.  Counselors are recommending that college applications be turned in to Student Services for processing by October 31, 2003.  Because of the volume of applications, students should allow ten days for processing.

 

 

Student Services Website:

ü      Parents and students should start with the PSHS Student Services website as they begin to research and plan for the future.  There are several excellent links to career, college and financial aid information.

 

Summer School:

ü      Summer school applications are now available in the Main Office, Attendance Office and Student Services office. 

            Summer school dates are:

                        First Session – June 11-July 3

                        Second Session – July 7-July 29

 

2003-2004 Course Selections:

ü      Student course selections for 2003-2004 will be mailed to parents in early May for their approval.

 

 

German Club:

ü      On Sunday, April 27th, the German Club will be taking its 2nd annual trip to a German restaurant.  They will be going to Chef Paul’s Bavarian Lodge in Lisle, Illinois.  The students and their parents will get to experience German food, music and more.  Chef Paul’s Bavarian Lodge is a Bavarian style chalet that has an extensive menu including a huge variety of German food and is beautifully decorated with German antiques and artifacts.

 

 

Spanish Club:

ü      Spanish Club celebrated a terrific year together by dining at Los Comales in Joliet for their last meeting of the year.  The club members ordered their food in Spanish and enjoyed playing the jukebox full of Spanish and Latin music.  Club members are looking forward to inviting even more members to participate in many activities for the 2003-2004 school year!

 

 

Choral Department:

ü      This year’s spring musical, Anything Goes, was a complete success.  There were 100 students involved in the show.  In addition to many being in the cast, some were involved by making the sets and others by playing in the pit orchestra.  All of these students worked extremely hard.  Their hard work paid off as the 800 people in the audience fully enjoyed the show.  All of the students involved in the show had a celebration cast party at the Odyssey Fun World in Aurora.  It was a wonderful time to celebrate a terrific show. 

 

 

A big thank you goes out to all parents and friends of the theater who helped to contribute in every way to this great show!

Thanks so much!

 

ü      The choir students have been busily preparing for their final concert of the year, which will take place on Thursday, May 22nd at 7:00 p.m.  The students will be performing many different styles of music at this concert including jazz, blues and some covers of songs from musicals.  At the very end of the concert, the entire choral department will sing a grand finale medley covering songs from the musical, “Ragtime”.  Do not miss it.  It is one that you will definitely enjoy!

 

ü      The choral department has also assembled this year’s Jazz Choir.  These students are rehearsing after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays to prepare for their 2nd annual coffee house.  The coffee house will be held on Friday, May 16th at 7:00 p.m.  Plan to come to this extremely fun event.  There will be coffee, cookies and, of course, lots of Jazz!

 

 

Special Education:

 

ü      Mr. Redican and Mr. Long’s freshman science class have invited a first grade class from Wesmere Elementary School to Plainfield South High School to learn about the Science Lab and complete another lesson on germs.  This is the second visit for the two classes.  The freshman science class went to Wesmere Elementary School for the first visit.  The students have kept in communication through a “pen pal” e-mail program and established some special friendships.

 

ü      Ms. Simon, a sophomore Resource teacher is planning to run in the Boston Marathon.  Good Luck!

 

ü      The Special Education Department would like to welcome new staff members: Ms. Tina McGrath (Special Education Teacher Assistant), Ms. Sandy Kane (Special Education Teacher Assistant) and Ms. Ericka Johnson (Special Education Teacher).  We are really happy to have staff of such commitment and talent added to our department.

 

ü      Please remember that all students will begin preparing for final examinations and the last six weeks of school.  If you have any questions or concerns about your child, please contact his/her case manager as soon as possible.

 

ü      The sophomore class is participating in special Thursday (April 24th) activities.  All students will have completed a job shadowing experience, community service or a college visit.  This will be a positive and practical learning experience for all students!

 

 

 

 

ü      The junior students and teachers have been working hard on preparing and reviewing skills for ACT/PSAE.  We wish them luck!  After exams, the juniors will be reading a new novel, Holes.

 

ü      We would like to congratulate the junior class members who have been accepted into the National Honor Society.  We would also like to thank the students who have helped with planning Plainfield South High School first Prom.

 

 

Band:

 

ü      Congratulations to the members of the PSHS Symphonic Band for an outstanding performance at the Chicagoland Concert Band Festival held at John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights on April 12th.

 

ü      The spring band concert will be held on Tuesday, May 13th at 7:00 p.m. in the PSHS auditorium.  Come and hear the culmination of a year of hard work by all the members of the PSHS band program.

 

ü      There will be a band booster meeting on Tuesday, May 6th at 7:00 p.m. in the PSHS band room.

 

ü      The Second Annual PSHS Band Banquet will be held on Thursday, May 29th at the George A. Perinar Memorial Hall in Joliet.  Hors d’ vours will be served starting at 5:30 p.m. with dinner starting at 6:30 p.m. followed by the awards presentations.  Please contact Mr. Cook with any questions.

 

ü      Drumline rehearsals have begun for the fall season.  The rehearsals are on Thursdays from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. in the PSHS band room and are open to any student who is considering playing percussion next fall.  Please call Mr. Cook at 815/577-5702 with any questions.

 

ü      Color Guard workout sessions are continuing on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. in the PSHS Dance Studio.  These sessions are open to any student who is interested in learning about color guard.

 

ü      The PRIDE of Plainfield Competitive Marching Band began its season on April 3rd with a student/parent informational meeting to introduce the 2003 staff and previewed the music to be used for the upcoming season.  This meeting was very well attended, and the excitement level is high for the 2003 season.