Galesburg Jr./Sr. High School

January 2023 Family Newsletter

Parents and Guardians,

We are halfway through the 2022-2023 school year. I am pleased that students are starting to experience what was once considered "normal school days", but we still seem to be feeling the long-term effects of the past pandemic. Particularly in the areas of attendance at school as well as effort in the classroom. These are areas that we must improve. Improving our daily attendance in combination with increasing student effort will have a positive impact on success in the classroom and our overall school environment. Parents/Guardians can help by making sure their student(s) attend school on a daily basis. We also ask that you have conversations with your student(s) about applying their best effort in everything that they do on a daily basis. Many times effort makes all the difference.

The Importance of Physical Education

One curricular area that suffered due to the health guidelines of the pandemic is Physical Education. It has continued to suffer due to the habits that were created over the past few years. This can not continue, that is why a letter was sent to all high school students during the month of December regarding the expectations for daily dress and participation moving forward. Daily participation in Physical Education can have many positive outcomes for your student(s), including relieving stress, reducing levels of depression and anxiety, and helping fight childhood obesity. In a time when our society is worried about all aspects of a student's health, daily physical activity through Physical Education can be a key to combating stress, depression, and anxiety. The added benefit, your student will experience improved physical health as well. If your child is enrolled in a Physical Education course, please encourage daily dress and participation. (Note: Students in 7th and 8th grades have been participating with great effort, and we expect the same moving into the second semester.)

Skyward Family Access

Your student(s) grades are now available for viewing in Skyward Family Access. If you do not have access to your account, please call our office at (309) 973-2001 on January 9, 2023. Please note that our office will not be open until that date. Honor Roll will be posted by the end of January, this allows our staff the necessary time to make any if needed, changes to students' grades.

Course Selection

During the month of January, our counselors will be contacting students regarding course selection for the 2023-2024 school year. Our current 8th-grade students will be introduced to their high school counselors, and our 7th-grade students will be receiving information regarding course selection for the coming year. Please speak with your students about the importance of checking their school email accounts for messages and paying attention to announcements during the school day.

Cafeteria Expectations

Students need to pick up after themselves. This seems pretty simple, but this is a problem at all grade levels. Please have a conversation with your students regarding this expectation.

As I have stated before, parents and guardians have the biggest influence on their own students. We are asking for your help. Please have conversations with your students regarding these basic areas of concern. Our goal is to provide your students with a clean and safe learning environment.

Winter Benchmarking

In the previous newsletter, you were informed that your students would be participating in this testing during the month of December. This testing was postponed to the month of January. Your students will now be participating in NWEA MAP for grades 7-12 and iReady Math testing in grades 7-8 starting Tuesday, January 17th, through Friday, January 27th. This testing is important because it tracks the level of progress your student has achieved through this school year. The amount of effort applied is a big issue with our students. We are asking that you have a conversation with your student regarding giving their best effort. Results from the testing provide direction for our teachers regarding their instruction. Your help regarding "best effort" is appreciated.

In Silver and Gold,

Mr. Hawkins

Galesburg Area Vocational Center Updates

We have openings for the following programs for Spring 2023; Health Occupations, Nutrition (DC through CSC), Engineering Design, Drone Maintenance & Operation, AR/VR, Introduction to Teaching
Health Occupations students have completed their clinical experience and have tested for the Illinois CNA license. 100% of students who tested for their CNA license passed the test! By passing this test, students are certified CNAs through the State of Illinois and are employable as such.
Building Trades continues to work with a family building a home in the area. Students have been able to be on-site to do work with the builder. Work has included land grading, installation of windows and doors, as well as some exterior work.
Culinary Occupations students completed their annual Christmas cookie sale. These classes fulfilled 45 orders of cookies.
AP Computer Science students took the Python Entry Level Programmer Certification Exam (PCEP) on December 14. The PCEP is a professional credential that measures a student’s ability to accomplish coding tasks related to the essentials of programming in the Python language. 6 students earned the PCEP professional credential in passing this test.
Our new Drones Maintenance & Operation class will begin 2nd semester! We are excited about this class and look forward to it being a great learning experience for our students!
Scheduling meetings for the 2023-24 school year and GAVC classes will take place during January & February. We will be at GHS as well as area schools to enroll students for the next school year!

zoom_out_map

Student Reminders

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.

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.