Galesburg Jr./Sr. High School

Happy New Year and welcome back to the start of the second semester of the 2023-2024 school year. We hope you all had some time to relax and enjoy some family and friend time together. I know that our staff here at Galesburg Junior Senior High School needed this time to rest and recharge for the upcoming semester.

Junior High Achievement Progress

Our junior high staff has been busy working to improve the achievement of our students during the Fall to Winter benchmark period. In math, our junior high students increased 5% in the area of on grade level to above grade level. We also experienced a 7% decrease in the number of students that were below grade level. This means that our students are moving in the right direction. On the NWEA MAP Reading assessment, our eighth grade students increased by 5% as well. This growth is attributed to our eighth grade teachers conducting individual goal setting meetings with the students. We have been meeting with our junior high students on a monthly basis to have discussions related to achievement and behavior. Our junior high students were able to participate in an end of semester talent show that was organized by Sue Moore, 8th Science. Thank you Mrs. Moore for your efforts toward celebrating our students.

High School Achievement Progress

The students at Galesburg High School demonstrated slight improvement on benchmarks from Fall to Winter. Students in grades 9 and 12 showed the most improvement in reading by improving three and five percent respectively. In math, our students taking Algebra II improved from the 32nd percentile to the 42nd percentile; that is a gain of ten percentile points. Students taking Algebra I and Geometry also improved, two and three percentiles respectively. During our next set of class meetings, we will discuss with the students the gains they made over the benchmark period, and set new goals for the Spring benchmark. Student achievement data, curriculum alignment, and goal setting were the top priorities of our whole staff when we met during the January 8th Teachers’ Institute.

Student Data Reports

Parents and Guardians, on Friday, January 12th, your student will receive their own individualized NWEA MAP, student data report. Please make sure that you ask your student to explain the report to you. This is a perfect opportunity to have a conversation with your student about their progress at school. Also, this would be a great report to bring to Parent and Teacher Conferences on Thursday, February 15th.

Major Concerns

We are still very concerned with the state designations that our school has received. I want you to know that our staff is working to address concerns with student achievement. We do believe that education is a partnership and we are asking for family support. Please continue to talk to your students about their educational progress. If you have concerns, reach out to their teachers to set a meeting by taking advantage of parent and teacher conference nights. As mentioned, our students respond very well when they have conversations set around goal-setting with their teachers.

We are also concerned about students who are tardy to class or truant from school. This is not only a disruption in the individual student's learning environment, but when a student is late to class it disrupts the classroom environment as well, affecting other students. Please have conversations with your student about getting to class on time, this is a life skill that will benefit them in their future endeavors.

GAVC Trades Talk

On Tuesday, January 30, 2024, the Galesburg Area Vocational Center will be hosting a Trades Talk for area students. This event will consist of 45-60 minute sessions with various apprenticeship programs, training centers, and trades careers from across the area. Students will have the opportunity to sit in one or multiple sessions to learn about what that particular career or program consists of, different jobs available in that career/field, the application process, and additional information pertinent to the field. Lastly, there will be a Q & A opportunity in each session in which students will be encouraged to ask questions of the representatives present. Our goal in hosting this event is to provide students with information on these trades and the opportunities each would offer. Additionally, this is an excellent opportunity for our local business partners to interact and network with our students. These interactions very well may lead to jobs, career opportunities and/or admission to apprenticeship programs that will be present that day. All sessions will take place in the Hegg Performing Arts Center at Galesburg Jr/Sr High School. This event is geared towards juniors and seniors interested in any or all of the topics/apprenticeships being discussed. Students will receive more information regarding how to sign up in the coming weeks from GAVC Director, Adam Seaney.

Carl Sandburg Upward Bound & Upward Bound Math/Science

During our class meetings, your students will receive information regarding Carl Sandburg College's Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math and Science. Both of these programs are great opportunities for your student to learn more about college and career pathways. If you are interested, please have your student talk to their counselor, Mrs. Woodard, or Mr. Eurales.

Shine in 205

This program is aimed to provide recognition for district employees who go the extra mile for students in CUSD No. 205. Each month there will be two staff members selected from the nominations. Parents, guardians, co-workers, and community members are welcome to nominate a CUSD No. 205 employee. To nominate a staff member please use this Form.

School Start Times

A reminder that our students are expected to be sitting in their classrooms at 7:40 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays; and by 9:40 a.m. on Wednesdays. We are noticing that the traffic at the parent drop-off lane at West Circle Drive is getting very light around 7:35 a.m. Please use this route to drop off your students so they can be on time to school.

Bus Riders

Do you have a student who rides the bus? Make sure you have the FirstView School Bus App installed on your phone. The FirstView app allows you to see the location and direction of your student's bus, your student's stop schedule for the current day, and timestamps for school arrivals and departures. Register today at web.firstviewapp.com

Anti-Bullying

Recently you should have received an email from me regarding the school district's anti-bullying policy and procedures for reporting bullying. Please visit the following link which provides more information on the topic of Bullying: Bullying Prevention and Response

On behalf of the staff and faculty at Galesburg Junior Senior High School, I would like to wish all of our families a Happy New Year!

Thank you for your time in reading this newsletter.

In Silver and Gold,

Mr. Hawkins

• Please note that a parent/guardian or approved caregiver who is listed in Skyward as an authorized person for pick-up must present a photo ID to verify their identity.
• When the identity of the parent/guardian or approved caregiver is verified, the attending staff member will then call the classroom to have your student report to the attendance office for pick up.
• Parents/guardians/caregivers must fill out the sign-out sheet before leaving the office.
• If your student is a driver, please notify the office if your student is leaving the building for an appointment. Your student will then need to sign out before leaving the building.

January

1st-5th- No School/Winter Break

8th- No School/Teachers' Institute

9th- School Resumes

11th- Grades 7-12 Class Meetings

11th-13th- Theater Fest

15th- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday- No School

February

15th- Parent and Teacher Conferences, 3:15 pm - 6:15 pm

19th-No School/Presidents Day

9-12 Grade Students: Pre-order your high school yearbook to capture the memories of your school year! You may purchase the yearbook online (www.yearbookforever.com) or bring cash or check, payable to GHS Reflector, to the GJSHS Main Office with the order form. Click here for the form.

If you have any questions, contact Mr. Bennewitz, at bbennewitz@galesburg205.org.

Student Dress- Student dress (including accessories) may not advertise, promote, picture, or display alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia, violent behavior, or other inappropriate images, lewd, vulgar, obscene, or offensive language or symbols, including gang symbols. No head coverings unless for religious reasons or for protective hair covering as approved by the building Principal.

Lunch- You must present a student ID to be served promptly during lunch. Galesburg Junior/Senior High School is a closed campus. This means that students are not allowed to leave campus to get lunch. Our Servery is newly remodeled and provides many nutritious choices for our students. Additionally, our new student commons provide students with a spacious atmosphere to enjoy lunch with their friends.
Start Time- On a regular school day, school starts at 7:40 a.m. This means students are expected to be seated in their classrooms, ready to learn, at 7:40 a.m.

Restrooms- Our restrooms have been newly remodeled. Please use the restrooms appropriately.

Lockers- Students are to place coats and backpacks in their lockers during the school day. It is also a great location to store their cell phone. Students in grades 9-12 may use clear backpacks.

Email: cusd205@galesburg205.org
Website: https://ghs.galesburg205.org/o/ghs
Location: 1135 West Fremont Street, Galesburg, IL, USA
Phone: 309-973-20001
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GalesburgHighSchool205
Twitter: @Galesburg_HS