Cougar Campus News

February – March 2006

From the Desk of Dan Goggins:

Last school year at about this time, a consolidated effort of parents, students, and staff engaged in an all out assault against physical violence and disrespect occurring at Plainfield South High School.  Today, we can all be proud to say that only two physical altercations have occurred this school year and disrespect of any kind is virtually nonexistent.  Collectively, we have effectively changed the culture and climate of the school.  The task for now is to maintain what has been created and to begin addressing other factors that significantly improve student achievement.  Two of those factors are student attendance and overall school security. 

Research clearly states that giving students the opportunity to learn has a strong relationship with achievement.  When students are not in attendance and do not have the opportunity to learn content expected of them, there is little chance that they will.  Seems simple.  At present, the attendance percentage for PSHS is 91%.  Looking at this practically means that approximately 216 of the 2400 students at PSHS are absent on a daily basis.  Looking at it another way shows that a given student misses 1 of every 11 days of school or 16 days total in a school year.  Obviously, students that are excessively absent skew these statistics.  Nevertheless, if we are going to improve student achievement and prepare our kids for the future, the current student attendance rate is unacceptable. 

At the beginning of second semester, I met with both students and staff to outline raised expectations.  Starting January 17th, students who accumulate eight or more absences in a semester will be required to provide proof of the excuse for each successive absence thereafter. This proof of the excuse may consist of: a medical excuse from a physician, summons issued by a court of law, or an obituary in the case of the death of a family member. Absences not excused by the required documentation will be listed as unexcused absence. Consequently, unexcused absences prevent the student from earning credit for missed academic assignments, along with being subjected to disciplinary consequences. 

            The other collective assault must be on overall school security. At the beginning of this school year we instituted a measure to have all students and staff wear school issued ID’s and lanyards.  We did this along with other initiatives to provide a safer environment fostering student achievement.  In general, the proactive measures have worked very well.  ID’s and lanyards allow us the ability to quickly and easily identify students and staff. It offers us the opportunity to recognize individuals that are either not supposed to be in the building or are in need of a visitor’s pass. In addition, ID’s and lanyards allow us to quickly and easily track student attendance / tardies, as well as for them to gain access to certain privileges. 

Unfortunately, not all of our students have readily accepted this concept and as a result may have received consequences.  Recently, I met with each class of students to discuss the need for all of us to comply.  During the meeting, I asked the students to trust that we would not implement something we did not feel would be in their overall best interest.  In addition, I encouraged all students to begin leading by example.

Beginning second semester, all students in need of a new ID and / or lanyard will receive one for free.  Any replacements beyond that point will have a cost.  Furthermore, as explained to the students, the consequences for noncompliance will be redefined, utilizing the removal of privileges as well as issuing traditional consequences for chronic offenders.  Students failing to meet the expectation may lose their ability to receive a pass, access technology, drive to school, and attend extracurricular or social activities.  Those who still will not comply may have detentions, Saturdays, and suspensions to serve.  Again, the main reason for this initiative is to provide a safer, more efficient place for students to learn.

We believe these steps to improve attendance and overall school security will help, but they are not the entire answer. Again, I ask you, the parents / guardians of Plainfield South students, to help and support in any way possible.  With your help and support at home our efforts can be completely successful.  There are a million great things that go on at Plainfield South High School on a daily basis.  We can never allow anything to disrupt the educational environment of our school.  As always, our two top priorities are and will continue to be the education of your students and their safety.

 

It’s Good to be a Cougar!

 

 

 

Important Dates:

 

PTSO:

Want to get involved?  PTSO has many opportunities for you!

Ø      As many of you know, Citizens for Classrooms is preparing for the upcoming referendum on March 21st.  District 202 has placed a $252.1 million construction referendum on the ballot to build and equip 9 new schools, construct a transportation facility and renovate some of the existing facilities.  Citizens for Classrooms is looking for people who have even a small amount of time to help get the important word out to voters about the significant issues surrounding the referendum.  Whether you could help out by providing names of others who may be willing to help, spreading the word to friends and neighbors, making reminder calls prior to the election, helping put out signs, or speaking at presentations, any help would be appreciated.  Please contact Melanie Jones at melanjones@comcast.net or Dave Obrzut at davenpattie@sbcglobal.net to volunteer in this important area.  Also, don’t forget to register to vote by February 21st.  If you or anyone you know needs to be registered, please contact us or stop by any school to register.  It is quick and easy and you only need two forms of ID.

Ø      Have you ever wondered who puts this informative newsletter in the envelopes that come home to you so you can stay in touch?  It is most likely a PTSO volunteer.  School-wide mailings can be daunting, but the more helpers we have, the faster it goes.  There are several times throughout the year that we could use an hour or two of your time to help stuff envelopes.  If you would be wiling to help out on a periodic basis, call Debra Reuther at 577-5584.

Ø      Have you enjoyed a cookie or two at an evening event like the Fall Play Intermission or the Collage Concert night?  You can thank the Hospitality Committee.  We will be holding a couple of informal get-togethers in the month of February for people who would be willing to help out with the refreshments at upcoming events.  Check the high school website for times and locations of these meetings, or look for the dates in your PTSO Daily Announcement e-mail.

Ø      If you have any input or suggestions about PTSO-related issues, please e-mail Melanie Jones at melanjones@comcast.net or Cathy Noa at catnoa@comcst.net . If you are not receiving the student daily announcements and would like to, please e-mail your name with your request to Cathy Noa.

Your PTSO Executive Board:

Melanie Jones (254-4755) – Co-President

Cathy Noa (577-9101) – Co-President

Sue Dziuda (254-1713) – Vice President

Paulette Aldis (577-5512) – Secretary

Lisa Hiestand (577-5845) – Treasurer

 

Athletic Boosters:

The PSHS Booster Club would like to thank all those who have helped make our club a success.  Some of the things we accomplished in the first half of the year include: 

Purchases:  Wrestling Mat Lift ($17,000), Cheerleading Choreography ($1,000), POMS Uniforms ($1,000), Outdoor Signage on Press box ($1,000), Girls Bowling Shirts ($500), Athletic Hallway Pictures of athletes and Cougar Sign ($500), Coaches Clinics ($700), 5 team Bulletin Boards for Athletic Hallway ($1500), Senior Night/Homecoming Tent Rental ($700), Volleyball Net ($700), Trailer ($3100), Donation to PNHS ($1,000).  As you can see, we have had a great impact on Athletics at PSHS.  Again, thanks to all who have been involved, without you this could not happen!!

District Survey:

Please take our survey and help us plan our students’ future. 

District 202 is asking parents, students, staff

and community members to share their thoughts about

how we are doing and what our priorities should be.

Please take a few minutes to complete our survey.

The survey will be available from January 16 through

February 10.  The results will then be compiled,

shared with the community and used by a planning

committee to help define the District’s Five-Year Plan.

Simply go to

www.learningcommunity202.org

and click on the graphic shown above.

Thank you for helping us

prepare for their future!

 

Student Services:

College/Financial Aid Information Night is Tuesday, February 28th from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. in the Plainfield South Auditorium.  The colleges that are participating are:

There will also be a Financial Aid Rep. from ISAC and a variety of military personnel available.

Please join us for an evening of information.  All are welcome and the targeted audience is junior and sophomore parents and students.

 

College Career Center:

Career, college, financial aid, scholarship, interest inventories and information are available to all students in the College Career Center.  Students who are assigned to a regular lunch/study hall may visit the CCC during this time.  Students do not need a pass as long as they are present before the tardy bell.

 

Anime Club:

The Plainfield South Anime Club would like to thank the entire school community for helping them out with their first fundraiser from Cold Stone Creamery, which took place in December.  The “kickback” night and ice cream cake sales combined to help us raise $141.  Club co-sponsors, Tara Smith, Tye Fox and Margarita Levasseur would like to thank the members who helped make this fundraiser a success.  Way to go, club members.

 

Math Department:

This past December Lisa Vladika was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to attend an international math conference in Beijing, China.  It was an incredible experience and gave her a chance to learn more about the Chinese culture and academic structure.  While there, she had a chance to speak with some of the Chinese math teachers.  The most fascinating discovery was how much of what math teachers do is the same in both countries.  Even though we are on other sides of the world our goals for our students are the same and many of the ways in which we try to reach them are the same as well.

 

The math department will be holding PSAE math review sessions every two weeks.  The reviews are open to any junior and will be held every other Thursday at 7:20 a.m. or 3:30 p.m. in Room 211.  The reviews will start January 26th.  Any student who is interested can just stop in or sign up with their math teacher.  If you have any questions, please contact Rosemary Finn at 577-5514.

 

 

Congratulations to Our December Students of the Month:

 

Applied Arts:                          English:                              FAML:                            Math:

Andrew Kruzich                        Marissa Martinez                  Ben Magolan                     Tracie Holmes

Sarah Seebold                           Erin Chirikos                         Alison Rigell                      Ji Hyun Seo

Jeffrey Becker                          Yasmin Perez                       Tiffany Ducato                  Jennifer O’Connor

Katlyn Burt                               Shallyn Patrick                      Tom Armstrong                 John Prieboy

 

Physical Ed.:                           Science:                              Social Studies:                 Special Ed.:

Charles Shumaker                     Nicole Obidowicz                  Val Nichols                       Zach Clark

Aaron Komoroski                      Chris Schiro                          Kurt Bendoraitis                Nathaniel Thurlby

Andrew McKanna                    Jessica Rangel                      Jaclyn Orzechowski

Khaled Nassar                          Heather Kordus                    Dan Werner

                                                                                           

 

From the 100 Ways for Parents to Be Involved in Their Child’s Education

  1.  Share your interests, hobbies, and talents with your student.
  2.  Fill your home with books, magazines, the newspaper, etc. and encourage a daily reading routine.
  3. View selected TV shows together and then review and discuss them.
  4. Take family trips to places and exhibits that can serve as fun learning experiences.
  5. Complete interactive homework assignments with your student.
  6. Attend meetings at the school on learning expectations, assessments, and grading procedures.
  7. Help set goals and develop personalized education plans for your student.
  8. Assist school staff and educators in creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere for parents.
  9. Actively help school staff to recruit parents and community members as volunteers.
  10. Be involved in decisions on student placement and course selections.

 

 

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 If you have any questions you would like to see answered in our newsletter, please send them to dgoggins@learningcommunity202.org or call 577-5544.  We plan in the future to have a section devoted to the top five questions.

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