QUINCY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER Fourth Quarter 2017-2018 Volume 21, Issue 4 Daniel Sparrow, Principal Kim D inkheller, Asst. Principal for Curriculu m & Instruction Rick Ows ley, Assistant Princ ipal for D iscipline / Athletic Director LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPALS Dear Parents and Guardians, We would like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for a wonderful school year. We are proud of the many accomplishments our staff and students have achieved during the academic year. These accomplishments would not be possible without your support. Quincy Junior High School will continue to address the needs of our students, parents, and staff by trying to foster a more supportive environment for all. We have completed a second year of the middle school model, which provides a greater student-centered focus to aid in the areas of providing academic rigor, relevance towards future pathways, and fostering supportive relationships. A continued focus of Quincy Junior High School is our Journey Towards Lighthouse. Our students continue to embrace the opportunity of leadership at QJHS by participating in many community service projects, extracurricular activities, and student suggested clubs offered here. We conducted our first Leadership Expo Day activity for 5 th grade orientation, and the 8 th grade students participated in a career fair. Our 7 Habits community events of Haunted Hallways, Salvation Army Bell Ringing, and other student-led community involvements have been a tremendous success. Students have led by being teacher assistants, assuming student leadership roles within the classes, and participating in community service projects. We have recognized over 400 student leaders-of-the-month at student-led assemblies. We have 75 Student Council members and 50 Lighthouse students participating and planning various school and community service projects. Over 300 students have represented QJHS outside of the classroom by participating and performing in Band, Choir, and Orchestra. We have had over 600 students participate in Football, Baseball, Tennis, Golf, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Softball, Basketball, Wrestling, Volleyball, and Track and Field. We have students who participated in the Art Guild, Computer Coding Club, Rubik s Cube Club, Chess Club, Yearbook/Photography Club, Sign Language Club, Environmental Club, Food Science Club and Fitness Club this year. We ve accomplished GREAT things in the areas of curriculum and instruction this school year. Our students have participated in fall, winter, and spring MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) testing and the state PARCC test. The MAP test results have provided teachers and administrators with data to measure student growth in the areas of reading, math, and language usage. The results are also shared with students, so they can set academic goals to help increase their learning. We have surpassed national norms in reading, language usage, and math at the 8 th grade and science in 7 th grade. We will continue to integrate new technology at Quincy Junior High School to prepare our students to be college and career ready, as well as provide enrichment and intervention opportunities. We would like to thank the Quincy Public Schools Foundation and PTA for their continued support in building our technology integration projects. Again, we thank you for a rewarding school year. We look forward to renewing our partnership with you when school begins in the fall. We hope you have a safe and relaxing summer with family and friends!!! With Comet Pride, Dan Sparrow Rick Owsley Kim Dinkheller Dan Sparrow, Principal Rick Owsley, Assistant Principal for Student Services Kim Dinkheller, Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction
Page 2 of 7 2018-2019 REGISTRATION, OPEN HOUSE, AND SCHEDULE PICK UP Log-in to the Parent Information Portal in SKYWARD to update all registration forms, pay the education and materials fee, join PTA, and view a copy of your child s schedule. Parents can register all of their children at one time. If you do not have your log-in information, please call the Main Office at 222-3073. Open House for all QJHS students will be held on the following date: Wednesday, August 1, 2018, from 7:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. If you need help with online registration, personnel will be available to assist you. You can help your child find classrooms and turn in physical/dental forms. The nurse will be available to answer any questions you may have. You may also pay the education and materials fee. The Transportation Department and Cafeteria personnel will not be available at Open House. ATTENTION EIGHTH GRADE PARENTS The following requirements for ninth grade in 2018 2019 are according to the most recent Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) guidelines. REQUIRED Physical Examination: A physical dated anytime within one year of the beginning of school will be accepted. The exam must be completed by a MD, DO, Nurse Practitioner, or Physician s Assistant, and must be recorded on the State of Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination form. The forms are available at your doctor s office, or you may pick one up in the Junior High Main Office. A ninth-grade physical can be used for a sports physical, but a sports physical CAN NOT be used to fulfill the ninth-grade physical requirement. Please make sure that the top section on the back side of the physical has been completed by a parent/guardian and includes a signature. Immunizations: Every 9 th grade student is required to have a complete and up-to-date immunization record on file. NEW THIS SCHOOL YEAR Please watch your Skyward Family Access for further notifications regarding school health requirements. Please contact our school nurses if you have any questions about these requirements. They can be reached at Junior High at 228-7132. FOOD THAT S IN WHEN SCHOOL IS OUT SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM Quincy Public Schools will conduct a free summer food service program to anyone 18 years of age and under during the summer, June 4 August 10, at the following locations and times: Berrian School, 1327 South 8 th, from 10:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Washington School, 8th & Sycamore, 12:15-1:30 p.m. For inquiries, call Jean Kinder, Director of Food Service, 228-7158, ext. 2261. COSTA RICA 2018 TRIP We will spend the night in St. Louis on July 8 th and fly to Costa Rica the morning of July 9 th. We will visit Tortuguero, Arenal, LaFortuna, and Monteverde. We will go to a school, go zip lining in the rainforest and white-water rafting.
Page 3 of 7 INTERSCHOLASTIC PROGRAMS The following interscholastic programs are available at Quincy Junior High School. The beginning and ending dates are listed beside each sport. 6 th Grade Girls: Cross-Country July 30 Oct. 27 6 th Grade Boys: Cross-Country July 30 - Oct. 27 Wrestling Nov. 26 Mar. 30 Golf Parent/Player Meeting Aug. 23 @ 4 p.m. Softball July 23 - Sept. 22 Basketball Aug. 27 - Dec.13 Cheerleading Oct.15 - Feb.14 Golf Paten/Player Meeting Aug. 23 @ 4 p.m. Cross-Country July 30-Oct. 27 Baseball July 30- Sept. 29 Football August 6 - Oct. 9 7 th and 8 th Grade Girls: 7 th and 8 th Grade Boys: Volleyball Nov. 26 - Mar.16 Track Feb. 25 - May 18 Cross-Country July 30 - Oct. 27 Basketball Oct. 15 - Feb. 14 Wrestling Nov. 26 - Mar. 30 Track Feb. 25 May 18 FALL SPORTS FOR STUDENTS GOING INTO THE 6 TH, 7 TH, & 8TH GRADES Sports packets will be available on Monday, July 9th, 2018, in the Junior High Main Office for the following fall sports: 7/8 softball, 7/8 baseball, 7/8 football, and 6/7/8 cross-country. Softball practice will begin no earlier than July 23rd; baseball practice will begin no earlier than July 30th; golf practice will begin no early than August 23rd; cross-country practice will begin no earlier than July 30th; and football practice will begin no earlier than August 6th. The dates regarding football will be on the football website - www.qhsfootball.com. 7/8 Golf packets will be available approximately August 6 th, more information about matches will be given at the parent/player meeting on August 23rd. 7/8 Girls basketball packets will be available approximately August 6th, and practice will begin no earlier than August 27th. 6/7/8 Tennis packets will be available approximately September 4th, and practice will begin no earlier than September 12th. Information for all other sports will be in the daily announcements or weekly bulletin. For additional information, contact the Main Office at 222-3073 ext. 4.
Page 4 of 7 SPORTS PHYSICALS FOR ATHLETES GOING INTO THE 6 TH GRADE: Athletes going into the sixth grade must have a physical before practice begins. Sports physicals do not include the lab work or immunizations required for completion of the sixth-grade physical. However, the sixth-grade physical is valid as an athletic physical. SPORTS PHYSICALS FOR ATHLETES GOING INTO 7 TH & 8 TH GRADES: Athletes going into the seventh and eighth grades must have a sports physical before practice begins. You may get a sports physical from your doctor or one of the two following locations: Quincy Medical Group Sports and Rehabilitation, 1118 Hampshire St., Quincy, will be offering athletes the opportunity to obtain a sports physical on June 13th and July 24th, from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Please call 222-6550 ext. 3282, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins will not be accepted. There is no charge for this service. Sports physical forms are available in the QJHS Main Office. Please fill out the front side of the sports physical before going to get your physical. Advance Physical Therapy, 927 Broadway, Quincy, will be offering sports physicals for no charge on June 5th and July 17th, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Please call 222-9300 to schedule an appointment. Sports physical forms are available in the QJHS Main Office. Please fill out the front side of the sports physical before going to get your physical. Students under the age of 18 years must have parental authorization for the medical examination. This can be obtained by: (1) written authorization by a parent or guardian signed and dated, or (2) student accompanied by parent or guardian. FALL SPORTS FOR 9 TH GRADERS: Students, who will be going into the 9 th grade this fall, should contact the Athletic Office at Quincy Senior High, 224-3771, for sports information in July. 9 TH GRADE PHYSICALS: Sports physicals do not include the lab work or immunizations required for completion of the ninth-grade physical. However, the ninth-grade physical is valid as an IHSA athletic physical. ExPLORE! EXTENDED DAY As the year comes to an end, the staff of the QJHS Extended day (21st Century Community Learning Center) program would like to thank parents for their support with the school s effort to provide extended day students with a safe place to get homework help, focus on organizational strategies and participate in club enrichment activities. In general, students who attend regularly are more successful in school and made connections for their success. Some of our students will be joining us in June to continue to progress in learning. We look forward to working with these students using individualized learning through Edgenuity My Path for English language arts and math as well as STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) projects. Have a wonderful summer and keep learning! Lisa Schwartz, 21st Century Coordinator
Page 5 of 7 PTA NEWS PTA extends a thank you to all who supported QJHS throughout the year from the donations of treats to monetary donations to memberships to the purchase of Shop for School gift cards to attending PTA meetings and special events. This support is passed on to the students and staff of QJHS in many ways to help enhance the students' educational and leadership programs. Thank you to Chasidy Rees and Jessica Dedert for co-chairing the Staff Appreciation Luncheon held May 10. We happily served our fabulous QJHS staff Panera and many homemade desserts - -- a well-deserved "treat" for a great school year. We appreciate all that they do for our children!! The Spring Book Fair was a great success as many students, parents, and staff took advantage of the Buy One Get One Free sale. A big thank- you to all the volunteers who worked shifts and helped with set-up and take-down! QJHS continues to use Shop for Schools as our main fundraiser. Please prepare for the summer months by buying your gift cards now or visiting QJHS Main Office throughout the summer to purchase cards as needed. For every $100 grocery card you spend, QJHS receives $5. Order forms are available online at the QJHS webpage or in the Main Office. Many thanks and much appreciation to all who have taken part in this program. We welcome the new officers to the PTA for the 2018-2019 school year: President Kathleen Taylor, Vice President Kristen Hammock, Secretary Jessica Dedert, and Treasurer Jill Butterfield. Have a wonderful summer! Sincerely, THE QJHS PTA Dawn Stupavsky - President Erin Clayton Vice President Penney Baughman - Secretary Kirsten Hammock - Treasurer
Page 6 of 7 P.E. SHIRTS FOR NEXT YEAR S 6 TH GRADERS P.E. Shirts will be available for sale during registration, August 1, for $5.00. Shirts may also be purchased thru the P.E. Department throughout the school year. QUINCY PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT 172 CALENDAR FOR 2018-2019 Wed., August 22... Teacher Institute No School Thu., August 23... 1st student day Mon., September 3... Labor Day No School Thu. & Fri., October 4 & 5... Quincy Conference Thu. & Fri., October 4 & 5... No School for Students Mon., October 8...Columbus Day No School Fri., October 26... End of First Quarter Thu., November 8... Parent/Teacher Conferences ½ Day Fri., Nov. 9... Parent/Teacher Conferences No School Wed., November 21... Thanksgiving Vacation No School Thu., November 22...Thanksgiving Day No School Fri., November 23... Thanksgiving Vacation No School Mon., December 24 Fri., January 4----... Winter Break No School Mon., January 7... School Resumes Fri., January 18... End of Second Quarter/1 st Sem. Mon., Jan. 21... Martin Luther King Birthday No School Fri., February 15... Parent/Teacher Conferences ½ day Mon., February 18... President s Day No School Fri., March 22... End of Third Quarter Thur., Apr. 18 Mon., Apr. 22... Spring Break No School Tue., April 23... School Resumes Mon., May 27... Memorial Day No School Wed., May 29... Last Day of School for Students Thur., May 30... Teacher Institute Fri., May 31 Thur., June 6... Proposed Emergency Days Dan Sparrow, Principal Kim Dinkheller, Assistant Principal for Curriculum and Instruction Main Office: Phone: 222-3073, press 4 Emergency messages Book Fees Fax: 228-7185 Rick Owsley, Assistant Principal for Student Services Attendance Office/Sports: Phone: 228-7130 Fax: 221-4814 Report absences Discipline problems Buses Sports Counselor s Office: Phone: 222-4334 Fax: 221-3489 Grades Homework for extended absences Counselor Nurse: Phone & Fax: 228-7132 Medication P.E. class excuse Physicals Immunization records Voicemail: 228-7189 Leave message for staff members Web: qps.org, click on Quincy Junior High