Cougar Campus News

 

From the Desk of Dan Goggins:

            Spring is in the air!  We are gearing up for our musical South Pacific, spring break, parent teacher conferences, Cougar Caravan, Prairie State Achievement Exam testing, Prom, and another great year of Cubs baseball.

            Over the past few weeks we have continued to see increased involvement from our parents and community.  We held a sophomore “Surfing for Success” program that went from 36 parents attending last school year to over 240 parents in attendance on January 19th.  February 15th was “Family Fun Night” at PSHS and over 400 community members and their children participated in a variety of activities.  We held “Explorations Night” for incoming freshmen and their parents on February 21st and were pleased to see over 900 parents and students in attendance.  Lastly, on February 24th the booster club organized a bowling fundraiser event that had over 100 parents involved.  I applaud our parents and community for making a serious commitment to improving student achievement at Plainfield South High School.  Together we grow swifter, more graceful and powerful, with increasing intelligence and pride.

 

It’s Good to be a Cougar!

Have a Great Spring!

 

 

Important Dates:

 

PTSO:

PTSO SHAPING THE FUTURE OF PSHS

This is a great time in the history of Plainfield South and through the PTSO you have two great opportunities to contribute to the shape of our future. 

Right now, and until March 15th, we are taking nominations for officers for next year’s PTSO Executive Board (Co-President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer).  You can take an active role in determining how the PTSO gets involved in the school and students’ lives.  If you have always wanted to get more involved but didn’t know how, now may be the best time for you.  You don’t have to have been around the school for long.  In fact, some of our best resources are parents who have new and fresh ideas.  Any PTSO member is invited to run for office.

Here is how to nominate yourself or someone else for one of the positions.  Use your web browser to go to learningcommunity202.org/pshs/.  Then move to the blue tab at the top of the page called “Resources.”  Click on “Parent Resources.”  In the first box at the top of the page, click on “PTSO/Parent-Teacher-Student Organization.”  Click on the “Officer Nomination Form.”  Print out this form and fill in your name (or the name of a qualified person you know), and send it with your child in a sealed envelope marked PTSO Nomination to Student Services.  Someone from the Nominating Committee will contact you. 

The second great opportunity to contribute to the shape of the future of PSHS is by taking advantage of your vote as a PTSO member at the March 14th Member’s Meeting.  At this meeting, we will be voting on a proposal to unite the PTSO with the Athletic Boosters. 

This proposal is outlined on the website under the PTSO section titled “PTSO Cougar Booster Proposal.”  The proposal calls for uniting both groups into one organization that will foster a broader base of support for curricular and

 

extracurricular programs by expanding the purpose of each organization into one that benefits all students at PSHS.  Please go to the website to review the proposal.  Then we encourage you to come to the meeting Tuesday, March 14th at 6:30 PM in the Student Services Conference Room to contribute your viewpoint.  You can also contact any of the current officers to ask any questions you might have.

Don’t just read this announcement!  Get involved!  Your student is worth it!

 

Cathy Noa (577-9101) – Co-President

Melanie Jones (254-4755) –Co-President

Sue Dziuda (254-1713) – Vice President

Lisa Hiestand (577-5845) – Treasurer

Paulette Aldis (577-5512) – Secretary

 

 

Student Services:

            The Student Services Department will present Making College & Career Count on Tuesday, March 21st to seniors and parents at 8:10 a.m. in the auditorium.  The presentation is designed to help students begin to think about their next steps upon graduation and what they need to accomplish throughout the upcoming years in order to maximize their opportunities for future success.  The program also addresses important issues, such as time management, choosing career paths, gaining experience through internships and meaningful work experience and study skills.

            If interested in attending, seniors should sign up in Student Services and parents should call 577-5512.

 

 

Silent Auction:

            Plainfield South High School will hold its first silent art auction on March 17th, 18th and 19th at Plainfield South High School.  The display will be available for viewing outside of the auditorium.  A variety of student art in various mediums will be showcased and supporters will be able to “silently” bid on the work that they would like to own.

            How it works:  The student will set a suggested price (with the help of their art teacher) for how much they want to start the bidding.  The bidder will write their name and their bid on a bid sheet.  The next person who is interested in outbidding that person for that piece will write their name and their bid on the next line, and so on until the end of bidding.  The person with the highest bid owns the artwork.

            The proceeds from the sale of the art will be divided between the artist, the PSHS Art Club and the Cougar Needy Family Fund.  Bidding will take place beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, March 17th through Sunday March 19th at 4:00 p.m.  Winners will be notified by phone.  Pick up will be during the week of March 20th.  The auction dates coincide with the PSHS Spring Musical – South Pacific-, as there will be many visitors in the building to enjoy and bid on the works of art.

 

           

Cougar Charity Fund:

            The staff at Plainfield South had a chili cook-off to benefit the student Cougar Charity Fund.  This fund provides for those students whose families may be in need of help to pay for school-related activities and other expenses.  Sixteen staff members brought in homemade chili using their favorite recipes.  Tasters donated $4.00 each for an all-you-can-eat lunch.  The event brought in $299.00.  In addition, a cookbook will be compiled using these “award-winning” recipes and will be sold for $1.00 each.  If anyone in the District is interested in purchasing this fund-raising booklet, please contact Debbie Lee at 577-5560.

 

 

News from TPI (formerly ESL):

            On February 3rd, TPI (formerly ESL) students from PSHS joined with TPI students from Plainfield North and Plainfield Central on a fieldtrip to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.  To prepare for this visit, the students read an

 

abridged version of Franz Kafka’s short story, “Metamorphosis” and also studied butterfly metamorphosis.  On the fieldtrip, students were able to observe butterflies in various stages of metamorphosis.  They also had an opportunity to interact with English Language learners from the other high schools.

 

 

Special Education News:

                Plainfield South High School will host two Saturday sessions (March 18th and April 22nd) for parents of students with special needs to enroll in the Illinois Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services (PUNS) database.  This database is being generated through the help of Services, Inc.  It is for anyone who anticipates services other than the mandated special education services for children with developmental disabilities within the next five years.  Services, Inc. will be at Plainfield South High School from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on both Saturdays.  The appointment will last for approximately 45 minutes.  For further information or assistance with questions, please contact Kathy Thomason at 815/577-5938 or email at kthomaso@learningcommunity202.org. Parents can also enroll their children in PUNS by scheduling an appointment at Services, Inc. in Joliet.  Please call 815/741-0800 for an appointment.

            Congratulations to Tammi Naumann for a successful presentation of classroom management strategies in the classroom.  Ms. Naumann presented at the No Child Left Behind Conference in Chicago, February 22-24, 2006.

            Ms. Janet Nackovic, Ms. Heather Edwards, Ms. Tanya Sheppard and Mr. Brad Tengler shared their experiences, views and opinions on co-teaching for the Plainfield School District 202 Special Education Institute on March 3, 2006.  They participated in a panel discussion and answered questions from special educational personnel on how to start, what to do and how to collaborate.

            On January 31, 2006 the Special Education Department and related Service personnel hosted the first Agency Night.  Services, Inc., Cornerstone Services, Trinity Services, Bolingbrook Part District and Illinois Valley Industries provided information and resources for parents to assist in the transition from high school to adult life.  It was a very successful evening providing a time for parents to talk with each other and outside agencies.

            Please remember to keep Saturday, April 8th open.  It is the date of the 8th Annual Transition Conference, Success After High School.  The conference will highlight services for individuals with special needs and their families.  Exhibits and sessions will educate about rights, responsibilities and resources after high school.  For further information, call Kathy Thomason at 815/577-5938.  For additional details, view the website at: www.transitionplan.org.

Success After High School

April 8, 2006

8:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Joliet Junior College

 

 

Family and Consumer Science Department:

            The Family and Consumer Science Department had Culinary Arts guest speakers from WILCO come in to talk to Foods 1 & 2 and Culinary Arts students about their programs.  They taught students how to make twisted breadsticks. They made various sweet and salty mixtures to sample; students tasted small cakes that they had decorated.  They learned a lot about becoming a chef and working in the food industry.  The student speakers did a great job and were very enthusiastic about their area of interest.

            The second semester Advanced Child Development Preschool began Wednesday, February 22nd.  Preschoolers will be in the building during periods 2 and 3 on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays until the end of the year.

 

 

Referendum Information:

            On March 21st, voters in Plainfield School District 202 will decide whether or not to support a construction referendum to build and equip nine schools, construct a transportation facility and renovate and repair existing campuses.  To learn more, informational sessions presented by community volunteers are set up at various buildings:  March 7th at

 

 

Plainfield High School-Central Campus; March 9th at Plainfield South High School; March 14th at Plainfield North High School.  All sessions are held at 7:00 p.m. in the schools’ auditoriums.

 

Prom Information:

            Shall We Dance is the theme of our prom this year.  Prom is being held on Saturday, April 29th at Ashton Place in Willowbrook.  Tickets will cost $120 per couple and include a fabulous dinner and an evening of dancing.  Tickets will be on sale in the cafeteria during lunch hours from April 18th until April 21st.  Please note that no tickets will be sold after April 21st.  Seating will be chosen at the time that tickets are purchased, and prom favors will be handed out to the first 600 places sold.  Single tickets are available.  You may direct inquiries to Mrs. Hunt, Ms. Todd or Mrs. Miller.

 

 

Illinois High School Association State Bowling Tournament:

            Plainfield South High School Instructional Technologist Carol Floros has been recognized for the vital part she has played in the IHSA Girls Bowling State Finals.  PSHS hosted the 34th annual finals and (thanks to Carol) the competing schools were provided a professional, polished, fun and welcoming atmosphere.  Each part of the state tournament experience was tended to by Carol, from the practice round to the opening ceremonies, to the between round dancing and to the competition itself.

           

           

           

 

 

 

 

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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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