Cougar Campus News

October/November 2005

 

Important Dates:

 

From the Desk of Dan Goggins:

 

Thank you very much for assisting us in having an outstanding beginning to the school year.  Certainly the less crowded situation and a “regular” schedule has helped, but your students have been the biggest reason for our success.  Because they have chosen to create an uplifting educational environment we are all benefiting from it.  Like great teachers, it is great kids that make great schools and Plainfield South is full of them.  In addition to the community atmosphere that has been established, I am proud to say we have been able to put in place some additional interventions that will serve to alleviate failures in the areas of English, Math and Science.  As you may already know, each student has at least a twenty-five minute study hall every day.  For those students that need additional help or are failing in the areas of English, Math or Science we have created the learning lab.  We assign students to the lab and have it staffed with teachers from each one of the three disciplines along with peer tutors who work one on one to individually meet the needs of our students.  I hope you have found the beginning of this school year as rewarding as I have.  I encourage you to stay involved, participate in the upcoming homecoming activities, contact us whenever you have questions, or to walk the halls and observe for yourself the school environment.

 

It is truly good to be a cougar!

 

From the National Standards for Parent/Family Involvement Programs 100 Ways for Parents to be Involved in Their Child’s Education:

 

11.   Address concerns or questions honestly, openly and early on.

12.   Attend PTA or parent meetings regularly.

13.   Read classroom and/or school newsletters.

14.   Visit your school’s web page.

15.   Know school staff’s extensions and office hours.

16.   Read and know your school’s handbook.

17.   Request that information be available in all relevant languages.

18.   Share your family’s culture, values and parenting practices with your student’s school.

19.   Share your perceptions with educators and school staff of how parents are treated.

20.   Work with school staff and educators to revise and improve perceptions and school climate.

 

2005-2006 Action Plans for PSHS Goal #3 To Improve Parental and Community Involvement and Communication:

1.       Develop school newsletter in both hard copy and website format with a variety of information for parents.

2.       Advertise and provide a variety of parenting programs and classes.

3.       Provide opportunities for staff to learn successful approaches to engaging parents in their students’ learning.

4.       Create a Freshmen/Parent Handbook.

5.       Continue Cougar Caravan twice a year.

6.       Provide day care for parents attending curriculum night, parent/teacher conferences, etc.

7.       All teachers create and maintain a webpage with contact information and curriculum information.

 

From the Desk of Dr. John Harper – Superintendent:

District 202 Superintendent of Schools, Dr. John Harper invites the community to the Second Annual “Know your District 202 Schools” address to the Community.  At this special event district administrators will share important information with the community regarding student achievement, finances, human resources, and capitol development.  The community is invited to learn about the happenings in District 202 on Tuesday, October 25th at 7:00 p.m. in the Plainfield High School Central Campus Auditorium (611 W. Fort Beggs Drive, Plainfield).  We hope to see you there!

 

PTSO “Kick-Starts” Homecoming Week:

 

“Hilarious!”,  “Outrageous Fun!”, “A blast for the whole family!”  These are just some of the ways people have  described their experience with Donkey Basketball.  Your Cougar PTSO is bringing this unforgettable experience to Plainfield South on October 11th to Kick-Off Homecoming Week.  Yes, this is basketball on real, live donkeys, provided by Dairyland Donkeyball donkeys.  We are hoping to pack  the gymnasium with students and their families.  Tickets will be $5 in advance, $7 at the door.  Look for the Advanced Ticket Sales Flyer attached to this newsletter.

Friday, the day of the big game, PTSO is once again sponsoring the Pasta Dinner for families.  This is a great way to eat as a community and then head over to the stadium for the game.  Ticket information is available on the enclosed flyer.

Saturday is the Homecoming Dance.  PTSO will again provide free refreshments in the cafeteria.  Darlene Conrad and her team of volunteers decorate the cafeteria and put together a wonderful spread, donated by our dedicated parents, for the students.

Please consider contributing your time to help make these events especially memorable for our students.  If you would be willing to help with any of these events call Darlene Conrad (436-6633) or Cathy Noa (577-9101).  Help us make Homecoming a great tradition at South.

 

Finally, if you have not yet returned your PTSO membership with the $10 donation, please return it to the Main Office or mail to PSHS PTSO, 7800 Caton Farm Road, Plainfield, IL 60586.  Thank you for your continued support.

Your Cougar PTSO Board:

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 annual College Fair Night hosted by JJC will be Tuesday, October 18th, 2005 from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.  There will be over 100 college reps there to answer all the important questions about college life, tuition, scholarships and anything else you would like to ask.  Two Financial Aid seminars will be held on the Bridge next to the Veterans Memorial at 6:00 and 7:00 p.m.

Stop by the Counselor table and sign up for an opportunity to win a scholarship.

 

            Parents as Career Coaches:

An invitation is extended to all parents to join the PSHS counselors for Parents as Career Coaches on the evening of Tuesday, October 25th at 7:00 p.m.  The focus for this first parent program will be on how parents can assist their student with college and career planning.  Plainfield South counselors are putting the “CARE” back into Career.

 

Small Groups:

Counselors have been meeting with seniors in small groups to discuss their future plans and to see what help they might need.  Among the topics covered are: college application process, Joliet Junior College admissions, trade school options, interviewing tips, career research and orientation to the College/Career Center.  Each student receives a folder, which includes information and resources geared toward their future plans.

 

Yellow Ribbon/Suicide Prevention Week:

 

The prevention committee visited all the freshmen health and wellness classes recently and gave a presentation on suicide prevention.  It included a video and numerous ways to access help with this critical issue for tens.

 

The committee sponsored and completed a fundraising run of 5K on Sunday, September 18th.  At the run a $1000.00 the parent of a former student made donation, and $371.00 was raised by the run itself.  The $1000.00 was placed in the joint suicide prevention fund for all Plainfield high schools.  $371.00 was forwarded by the PSHS committee to Plainfield North High School to start their own in house committee.  A good time was had by all at the run on a perfect sunlit day.  49 runners participated and a balloon launch was held to commemorate students lost to suicide.

 

Applied Arts/Family and Consumer Science Department:

 

In the Applied Arts/Family and Consumer Science Department, beginning in October, students from the Parenting and Child Development classes will begin bringing home our Ready or Not Tot or Real Care Babies.  These are manikins that simulate some of the care that is required when caring for a child.  This project is a requirement for each class.  Child Development students take the “babies” for one night and Parenting students will take home brand new “babies” for an entire weekend!  These lifelike dolls need to be fed, burped, changed and cared for just like a real baby would.  This project is a hands-on experience for our students.