QUINCY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
Second Quarter 2019-2020 Daniel Sparrow, Principal Volume 23, Issue 2 Brenda Fleer , Asst. Principal for Curriculum & Instruction Rick Owsley, Assistant Principal for Discipline / Athletic Director
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Students, Parents, and Guardians:
“The adventure of life is to learn. The purpose of life is to grow. The nature of life is to change. The challenge of life is to overcome. The essence of life is to care. The opportunity of life is to serve. The secret to life is to dare. The spice of life is to befriend. The beauty of life is to give.” - William Arthur Ward
With the start of 2020, we are reflecting on our goals and will continue to strive towards excellence. No matter where you are at in your life, we need to reflect on the great number of accomplishments we have had, as well as look forward to the future and the hope it brings. I sense the spirit of the community serving and giving of time and resources to benefit others. As we look forward to second semester, we must not forget to continue to strive to meet the daily challenges in front of us. The hard work and spirit of the building is reflected in the commitment of our students and staff to continue to build a positive school climate. We have accomplished this by setting high expectations, promoting Dan Sparrow opportunities to lead and foster relationships, and facing the challenges of change. We will continue to develop our curriculum to prepare our students to meet the challenges of today and what will come in the very near future. We will continue our effort to effectively communicate with all stakeholders of the district.
As fast as the first semester has gone, we are in the process of collecting data to prepare for the 2020-2021 school year. We are completing the 5 Essentials Survey for students, staff, and parents. We are in the process of taking the winter MAP test and will be preparing for the spring Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) test. We will use the data generated from the two tests to better align our curriculum and prepare our students to meet the new Illinois Learning Standards.
Throughout the first semester, the staff has been very busy using the Wednesday PLC days to analyze data to monitor our districts' and schools’ goals with the help of our learning partners Dr. Donna McCaw and Tammy Roskamp. The data has helped identify strengths and weaknesses in our building and will drive decisions on best instructional practices for student achievement as well as address behavioral and social- emotional concerns. Together we will meet these challenges and empower our students for the world of tomorrow.
There have been many happenings in and around the building in the past three months. In October, we held Student-Led Conferences which was a great success. Thanks to all parents and guardians who attended. Remember - as a parent or guardian, you can call for an appointment to meet with your child’s teacher or TEAM of teachers at any time. Please continue to monitor your child’s progress on our Skyward system or homework website and communicate with our staff any questions or concerns you may have.
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Message from Mr. Sparrow – continued:
I would like to congratulate the Student Leaders of the Month for September, October, November and December. In October, our students and staff hosted our 8th Annual Haunted Hallways, where an estimated 2000 people attended. From this event, along with Student Council, we collected @1100 canned food items and $200 for the Fall Harvest Food Drive. Our sixth through eighth-graders have completed the fall NWEA MAP Test in September. We held a Fall Book Fair the week of October 22-25. I would like to thank our Quincy Junior High Parent Teacher Association for all their efforts for participating in a roundtable on vaping in November as well as desserts for staff in December. Our Extended Day program and clubs are meeting four days a week after school to provide support and enrichment opportunities for our students and have a math lab open on Thursday in room 242.
With Comet Pride, Dan Sparrow
MESSAGE FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR CURRICULUM & INSTRUCTION
As we wrap up first semester, I would like to reflect on all that we have accomplished this first part of the year. We are looking forward to seeing the growth and achievement of our students as they prepare to take the NWEA Winter MAP Assessment after returning from break. We celebrated being above national norms in science at 6th and 7th grade (8th graders do not take the science test) and in reading and language usage in 8th grade in the fall and were very close in other areas. We hope to continue these trends and surpass national norms in other areas as well. Brenda Fleer We could not see this type of growth without the hard work and dedication of our staff who partner with our students and their families to create a positive and safe learning environment. Their dedication to their own professional learning continues as they work alongside our learning partners to analyze data and create strong curriculum maps in order to provide engaging instructional opportunities for students that focus on rigor, relevance, and college & career readiness.
Not only does our staff provide opportunities for our students inside the classroom, but they provide engaging learning opportunities to our students beyond the classroom as well. The 6th-grade Medical Detectives students were able to visit the Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing Simulation Center, our 8th- grade students toured the Quincy Area Vocational Technical Center (QAVTC) in order to give them a better idea of the electives available to them before registering for 9th grade, and our 7th-grade students will have an opportunity to go on a history field trip in the spring. Our science department also had the opportunity to tour Gardner Camp in Hull, Illinois, in hopes of being able to provide even more opportunities to students in the future.
One of the “soft skills” necessary for success at school and in life is completing tasks with quality and punctuality. The purpose of homework is to practice the skills that students have learned. If students are not practicing these skills, they will not be able to truly demonstrate their learning on the assessment. Please take the time to speak to your child about what is happening at school and encourage them to turn in their work on time and with attention to quality.
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Message from Mrs. Fleer – continued:
QHS REGISTRATION QHS Counselors will be providing a presentation to all 8th-grade history classes on February 4th, 5th, & 6th. This presentation will include information on registration for high school courses that are offered to students during their freshman year. Registration will be February 18th- 20th. Students will not be getting a confirmed schedule at this time, but simply registering for classes. A parent night will be held at QHS on Thursday, February 6th. More particular details on this evening will be forthcoming.
With Comet Pride, Brenda Fleer
MESSAGE FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL FOR STUDENT SERVICES
As first semester ends, it creates the perfect opportunity to celebrate our successes and plan to address challenges. Year to date data, compared for Out of School Suspension Days and Office Discipline Referrals are trending up from last year. It’s important to hold students accountable for meeting behavior expectations and at the same time systemically intervening to meet their Social-Emotional needs. We will continue to take the necessary action to maintain an educational environment that is safe and productive for everyone. QJHS is proud to be a PBIS & 7 Habits school! We are continuing our journey towards Rick Owsley “Lighthouse” status, which means we fully implement the “Leader in Me” process and students meet behavioral and academic benchmarks. I would like to thank and congratulate all of the students who have been meeting behavior and academic expectations. For those who have not, QJHS staff will be challenging them to make necessary improvements. We need parents to be a part of problem- solving. The QJHS staff has a renewed effort in place to provide systematic social-emotional interventions when students are struggling with behavior. Teacher teams, counselors, and deans have been asked to conduct Case Review and HELPS Team Meetings when students are struggling with social-emotional issues. We have made it a priority to reach out to parents in these problem-solving efforts. When the school and parents team up, we send a strong message to the student regarding improvement. If you have concerns regarding behavior or academic progress of your students, please contact a QJHS staff member. Again, congratulations to both our students and staff members for accomplishing our mission throughout first semester.
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Message from Mr. Owsley – continued:
Bullying Prevention A reminder to students and parents that the bully report form can be found in the student planner, in the Attendance Office and Main Office, and it can be accessed and submitted online at the following site: qps.org/Our Schools/QJHS/Online Bullying Report. At Junior High, we STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT against bullying!
Absences Regular school attendance and promptness are an extremely important matter at QJHS. We believe it is important for students to develop good habits of attendance at school. To maximize academic achievement and to minimize class disruption, we require all students to be on time each day. It is the responsibility of the student to be in class on time each period. It is the responsibility of the parent/guardian and student to be at school by 7:45 a.m. each morning.
We understand that some absences are unavoidable and will be considered excused. They are as follows: illness of the student, serious illness in the family, death in the family, family emergency, absences previously arranged by parents, and observance of a religious holiday.
• We ask that parents please call the Attendance Office, 228-7130, by 9:00 a.m. on the day of the absence or send a note upon the student’s return. • In the event the Attendance Office is not notified by a parent, contact will be pursued. If contact is unsuccessful, the absence will be considered unexcused, and the parent will have three days following the absence to clarify the situation. • After nine (9) absences, an absence due to illness will be excused only if the school receives a doctor’s note confirming the illness. The attendance policy can be found on pages 19 of your child’s student handbook. • We are using the “School Messenger Calling System” to call parents of absent students. We feel this is more effective and timelier, as opposed to leaving messages on answering machines.
Tardies It is very important for all students to arrive at school on time every day. Being on time for class is defined as students being seated in their assigned seat or in the appropriate P.E. locker room before the tardy bell rings. School staff members are required to hold students accountable for tardiness. First hour teachers will address students arriving between 7:45 and 8:00 a.m. Any student arriving after 8:00 a.m. must sign in and get a pass from the Attendance Office. Tardy students can expect to receive a consequence from their teacher or dean. Habitual offenders will be issued consequences such as, but not limited to, after- school or lunch detention, in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, referral to outside counseling service, withholding privileges. Parents may refer to “Truancy” on page 20 of the student handbook.
Inclement Weather At no time will a QJHS student be asked to stand outside during inclement weather before or after school. The building lobby is open for students upon their arrival; however, we ask that parents not drop off students earlier than 7:00 a.m. After school, students may wait in the lobby for their parents to pick them up. Please be reminded that students need to be picked up from school by 2:50 p.m. unless they are staying for an after-school activity.
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Message from Mr. Owsley – continued:
School Closing Due to Weather In the case of questionable weather early in the morning, listen to any of the radio/TV stations listed below for school closing information. This should be broadcasted no later than 6:00 a.m. KGRC FM 92.9; WTAD AM 930; WGEM AM 1440; WCOY FM 99.5; KHMO AM 1070; WGEM FM 105.1; WGEM TV-10; KHQA TV-7.
Communication It is our goal to provide each student with quality learning experiences here at Quincy Junior High School. We need your help to get this goal accomplished. If your son or daughter is experiencing any problematic issues, please communicate these concerns to the appropriate staff member. The QJHS staff does an outstanding job of problem-solving individual situations. However, we can only problem- solve if we are informed of the situation. Please call the Attendance Office (228-7130) if you have any questions or concerns.
Athletics and Extra-Curriculars Congratulations to all of our fall sports teams for their successful seasons! Good luck to the following teams that have recently started their programs: wrestling, boys’ basketball, and volleyball! Currently our 7th-grade boys’ basketball team has a record of 18-0 and the 8th boys have a record of 15-3. In addition, our 8th-grade girls finished with a record of 22-1 and qualified for the IESA Elite Eight State Tournament. Congratulations to the player, coaches, and parents. In addition, we are proud to announce that over 450 QJHS students have participated in our school’s extra-curricular programs.
With Comet Pride, Rick Owsley
ILLINOIS SCHOOL REPORT CARD The 2018-19 Illinois School Report Card for QJHS may be viewed or printed from the following website: www.illinoisreportcard.com. Under Find School, type Quincy Jr High School. Click on “View at a Glance Report.”
CHECK YOUR STUDENT’S GRADES
Both parents and students can access current academic progress via the internet – skyward.qps.org. For more information about Skyward access, contact the Main Office (223-3073) or the Counseling Office (224-4334).
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ExPLORE!
Extended Day Program for Learning Opportunity, Recovery, and Enrichment
The Extended Day program is dedicated to improving students’ academics and connections to the school. We currently have over 100 students enrolled in the program, with a waiting list of students who would like to participate. Our extended day teachers are faculty members in the building who dedicate beyond the bell time to support these students. ExPLORE also hosts different clubs that are held once a week. The following are the clubs (teachers) offered: Builder’s Club (Miss Martin), Environmental Club (Mrs. Gnuse), Coding Club (Ms. Pacey), Photography/Yearbook (Mr. Cottrell), Art Guild (Miss Vukovich), Chess/Rubik's Cube Club (Mrs. Meyer), STEM Club (Mrs. Holdiman), Pokemon Club (Ms. Schafer) and Math Lab (Miss Pritchett). If you are the parent of an extended day student, please feel free to contact your student’s instructor or team to discuss your student’s progress.
If your student is absent for Extended Day, please contact the family liaison, Mrs. Marshall, and/or dean of students, Jackie Martin, 217-228-7130 for documenting excused reasons. Sometimes it takes a team (parents, teachers, and students) to make progress towards academic success. Thank you for encouraging your student to be part of our team. - Martha Hogge, Extended Day Coordinator
HOW TO MAKE PAYMENTS TO YOUR CHILD’S LUNCH ACCOUNT
There are two ways to make payments to our child’s lunch account. 1. Put a check or cash in an envelope. Include the following on the outside of the envelope: child’s name, i.d. number, and amount of money in the envelope. Put the envelope in the wooden box titled “lunch deposits” in the Main Office. 2. Go to qps.org. Click Skyward Family Access. You can: • Make a deposit at no charge, and it will take effect within 15 minutes (the only exception is if the Skyward website is down). • View what your child has bought with his/her lunch money. • View account balances, payments, and account activity at no cost. • Set up free email reminders to let you know when your student’s balance is low. • Create settings to automatically replenish your student’s account.
PURCHASING A-LA-CARTE ITEMS
Just a reminder that students may not purchase “a-la-carte” items if they have a negative balance in their account. They may purchase a meal, but no “a-la-carte” items until the negative balance is paid off in full.
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MENUS AND CALENDARS
Copies of the menus and calendars are located on the bulletin boards in Advisory teachers’ classrooms and the main lobby. The menu and calendar can be found by going on the Quincy Public Schools website: www.qps.org. • For the menu: Under the heading OUR SCHOOLS, Quincy Junior High, Resources, then Daily Menu. • For the calendar: Click on OUR SCHOOLS, Quincy Junior High, Resources, then Calendar. If you do not have a computer at home, students may pick up a copy of the menu and calendar in the Main Office.
VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT DELIVERIES
Please be aware that Quincy Junior High School will not be accepting any flower, balloon, or gift deliveries for students for Valentine’s Day. Unfortunately, these deliveries can be overwhelming for our office staff, with nearly 1,400 students potentially receiving gifts. Deliveries, although fun to get, can be disruptive to the school by tying up staff time and distracting students from their lessons. Also, large balloon bouquets are not allowed onto buses because they obstruct the driver’s vision. We apologize if this disrupts your plans, but please help us preserve an environment that will be conducive for all students’ learning. Thank you!
LIBRARY HOURS
The library is open Monday through Friday for any student to work on homework and use the library computers and other resources. Students may go to the library at 7:30 a.m. (unless they have a pass from a staff member or parent to go earlier) until time to report to first hour. After school, the library is open until 3:30 p.m.
IMPORTANT DATES
• Tue., Feb. 4 – Thur., Feb. 6 QHS Counselors in 8th-grade History classes • Tue., Feb. 18 – Thur., Feb.20 QHS Counselors register 8th-grade students for 19-20 school year • Wed., Feb. 12 12:00 PTA Meeting in Room 340 • Fri., Feb. 14 Students dismissed @ 11:00 a.m./Parent-Teacher Conferences in P.M. • Mon., Feb. 17 Boys and Girls Track Packets available in the Main Office • Wed., Mar. 11 12:00 PTA Meeting in Room 340 • Fri., Mar. 13 End of 3rd Quarter • Mon., Mar. 16 – Fri., Mar. 20 Spring Break – No School • Mon., Mar. 23 School resumes • Wed., Apr. 8 12:00 PTA Meeting in Room 340 • Fri., Apr. 10 Good Friday – No School • Wed., May 13 12:00 PTA Meeting in Room 340 • Mon., May 25 Memorial Day – No School
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Quincy Junior High PTA News
MEET: - 2nd Wednesday of the month 12:00 pm, Room 340
THANK YOU!
-Book Fair Volunteers who worked the Scholastic Book Fair in October. With the Scholastic Dollars earned, we were able to purchase approximately $2,000 in books for classrooms and the library. J -Rachel Hansen, for organizing, and all the volunteers who sent in baked goods for Staff Holiday Desserts on December 19th. -Suzan Kim, for chairing the PTA Reflections program this fall.
NATIONAL PTA Reflections Program: We had 3 contestants. Ashley Walbring, Alexander Mason, and Paxton Smith. Paxton Smith won first place at the school level. All 3 attended a Reflections ceremony at the Quincy Art Center in November, all received recognition and a gift certificate. Two students, Ashley Walbring (Literature) and Alexander Mason (3D Visual) advanced to the State Reflections Contest. Congratulations!
FUNDRAISING: - 2nd Annual “No Fuss” Fundraiser: Please support your PTA through your generous donations. More detailed information will be sent home with report cards. No amount is too big or too small! - Shop for Schools cards: Thank you everyone for their support of the Shop for Schools program. As of January 1st, the program is ending.
UPCOMING EVENTS: -Scholastic Book Fair –Buy One Get One Free! April 6-9. A great way to stock up on summer reading material! FOLLOW: - Follow the Quincy High School PTA Facebook page -Follow on Instagram -Contact us at [email protected]
PTA Calendar January 1, 2019 NO PTA MEETING January 6, 2020 School Resumes February 12, 2020 12:00 pm-1:00 pm PTA Meeting March 11, 2020 12:00 pm-1:00 pm PTA Meeting March 16-20, 2020 Spring Break April 6-9, 2020 7:30 am-3:30 pm BOGO Book Fair April 8, 2020 12:00 pm-1:00 pm PTA Meeting May 8, 2020 Staff Appreciation Luncheon May 13, 2020 12:00 pm-1:00 pm PTA Meeting