UPCOMING HELPFUL INFO

Remind: text @abspar to 81010

Facebook: search Kim Burke Parent Liaison

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WE DID IT…Thank you to all of our parents who took the time to complete the 5Essentials survey, we reached our goal. Shepard administration looks forward to reading the results and working on ways to improve our school! Thank you for making a difference. 

Athletic Boostersishosting a fundraiser through the SAVERS stores program. Your donated items will benefit the Shepard Athletic Programs. We will accept anything and everything except TVs/computers, large appliances and furniture, so start clearing out those closets. Our goal is at least 400 bags so please tell everyone and help us spread the word.Donated items can be dropped off at the inside concession stand during any basketball game from 430 p.m. -700 p.m. Here are the basketball game dates: Feb. 3, 7, 9, 17, 21, 23, and 24.

Thursday, February 2nd - Happy Groundhog Day! Oh no, six more weeks of school!

Friday, February 3rd - TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY to purchase tickets to the 17th Annual Shepard Band Dinner Dance. For tickets andfurther information, please contact Dawn Leyden at 708-421-1190 or the band office at 371-1111 x 3096.

Tuesday, February 7th- Parent Academy Workshop will be held at Richards High School in the LRC from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.The focus will be on: Academic Support & Resources – Credit Recovery – Understanding the Assessment Process, Grading & Retake Policy, PSAT-ACT-SAT. Please reply to reserve your spot by contacting your parent liaison.

Wednesday, February 8th- DWEAC Meeting will be held in the Academy at the Admin Building from 4:00 - 5:45 p.m.

Wednesday, February 8th- Booster Club meeting for parents of athletes will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the MPR. Remember your students’ team only receives money towards things they need if the parents of those athletes attend the meeting. If your students’ team does not have parent participation, they will not be able to take advantage of the monetary benefits the club provides to our athletes. Hope to see you there!

Friday, February 10th -The Shepard Bands, would like to invite you to the 17th annual Shepard BandDinner Dance.All band students and their families are invited to experience this great event at Gaelic Park from 6:00-11:00 p.m. Adult Dinner ticket price is$31.00. Band Student and Band Alumni Dinner ticket price is $24.00. Cost of tickets includes: A sit down family style dinner and entertainment by the Shepard Jazz Band.

February 11th -Saturday School - 9-11:00 a.m. in the LRC. Students should bring their school work or homework with them. Bus schedule is posted on the website. Please contact Tiffany Lyday x 3774 with questions or concerns.

February 13-15th- Due to a conflict the dance camp for kids (ages 4-13) has been canceled.There will be a camp scheduled over the summer. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Thursday, February 16th–Early Dismissalat 12 noon;NO RESOURCE HOUR

Thursday, February 16th- Parent/Teacher Conferences are from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Thursday, February 16th- APInformational Meeting; what you need to know. Is your student considering AP courses for next year, or are they currently enrolled? What should a parent know about AP courses? What experiences can your student expect? What are benefits? What are the challenges? Get these questions answered at an informational meeting during parent-teacher conferences on Thursday, February 16. This meeting will be held in the afternoon session from 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. AND in the evening session from 7:30 to 8:15 p.m. Both meetings will be located in the Fine arts Center, (FAC). Parents (and their students) will get a chance to hear from current and former AP students from Shepard High School and meet some of the AP teachers. Please join us.

Friday, February 17th–NO CLASSES, SCHOOL CLOSED

Monday, February 20th– President’s Day – NO CLASSES, SCHOOL CLOSED

Wednesday, February 22nd- Shepard’s Music Department Band conducted by the amazing Christopher Pitlik will perform a concert atno charge in the Fine Arts Center (FAC).The concert will begin at 7:00 p.m.Please come join us and see all of the hard work our music students have put in to entertain us.

Thursday, February 23rd- students present Black History Jam in the Fine Arts Center (FAC) at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $5.

Friday, March 3rd - Faculty Institute - No Classes; School closed

Monday, March 6th - Casmir Pulaski Day - No Classes; School closed

Saturday, March 11th - Saturday School - 9-11:00 a.m. in the LRC. Students should bring their school work or homework with them. Bus schedule is posted on the website. Please contact Tiffany Lyday x 3774 with questions or concerns.

Saturday, March 11th- Shepard’s own POWER PE Polar Plunge team of nearly 40 people will take the plunge into the freezing waters of Leisure Lake in Joliet to help raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics Illinois on Saturday, March 11th we will take the plunge into the freezing waters of Leisure Lake in Joliet to help raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics Illinois. Many of the students in our building are directly impacted by the money raised, as they are involved in many SOIL teams and activities. We have put together a video to spread the message and let you know what we plunge for! If you have a few minutes to spare, please check it out on the link below.

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I have also attached the link to our fundraising page and every little bit helps. At the bottom of this email, I included a list of all the students that will be taking the plunge for our “POWER Plungers” team. If there is a specific student(s) you wish to donate to, please include their name(s) in the “comments” box of the donation page. Thanks so much for your support and stay tuned for more information and updates about this awesome event!

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Sunday, March 12th - Daylight Saving Time2017, set your clocks forward? Daylight Saving Time begins at 2:00 a.m. Remember to “spring ahead” and set your clocks forward 1 hour (i.e., losingone hour, Saturday night when we go tobed.)

Wednesday, March 15th - Winter/Spring Concert at 7:00 p.m. in the Fine Arts Center (FAC).Please join us for an evening of entertain free of charge, there is no admission fee.

MORE HELFUL INFO…

Past Due - I-Pad Protection Fee. Your student’s I-Pad will not be covered until the fee is paid. This is a non-waivable fee. For payments and questions, contact Bonnie Kay at ext. 3590 or by email at .

FAFSA - Here is the link for parents and students to get their FSA ID code. Copy this link into your browser.

Cool Place: is located in the LRC (learning resource center).February 1st & 2nd, 6th, 7th & 8th and 13th, 14th & 15th.

1:1 Peer Tutoring:is when a student,who has been approved as a peer tutor, works with another student who is in need of tutoring; contact Jeanne Shaughnessy at 3068.

Tutoring: if your student has exhausted all other forms of help and is still in need of school work help, please contact Tiffany Lyday at 3774.

Homework Help- Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 3:30-4:30 pm. Math, English & Science help is available.

Menu Info - go to the school website, click on daily information (on the right) and then click on menus.

Club Info - parents can follow @astroannounce on twitter for club updates and meetings and other school announcements. Also the @ABS_Athletics for Athletics, along with

Career Cruising - Parents who want to look over their student’s career cruising account can contact their parent liaison, Kim Burke for an access code. Don’t miss this a wonderful opportunity to see what your student’s strengths and interests are.

Student Resources - Students wanting to take advantage of student resources located on the school website under academics are able to register using their school email address and password. A students’ email is their school ID# @d218.org. Their default password is 12345678.

Spirit Wear- If you’re interested in purchasing Orange Crush T-Shirts; contact the parent liaison, Kim Burke at 708-371-1111 x3620 or at . Cost is $10 per shirt and are available in S, M, L, XL & XXL. We also have Astro license plate holders for $1 and water bottles for $5 for anyone interested. Cash or checks accepted only. Please make checks payable to Shepard High School.

Important Health Information - Seniors as of 2017-2018

Parents of students who will be seniors in the 2017-2018 school year: please be aware that your child will need a Meningococcal vaccine (MCV4). One dose is needed if given after 16 years of age, otherwise 2 doses are required. Don’t wait, please contact your pediatrician now and make sure your child is up to date. Although, your child may be allowed to register for the upcoming school year, your student WILL NOT receive their schedule or be allowed to attend their classes if this vaccine requirement is not met.

This can be done any time between now and start of school in August.Thank you, Jan Callahan, RN. Contact me at 371-1111 ext. 3780 if you have any questions.

Parents,

If you have any ideas for ways to better my parent eblast, please feel free to contact me. I am always open to suggestions. Also, if you know of any events coming up which I do not have on my eblast, please contact me with the details and contact information. I am always happy to share. 

Kim Burke, Your Shepard Parent Liaison or 708-371-1111 x 3620