Dear Shortridge Families

Dear Shortridge Families,

Happy New Year! As we enter 2017, I hope to continue to build on the successes of the first semester. This letter summarizes important events from now until the end of the third quarter on March 17, 2017. As is customary, this is our Quarter 3 letter with specific details and important dates; it is very important to me that you are well informed in advance so that you may plan accordingly.

All of these events are located on our website and will be highlighted in the Sunday night phone call and the Wednesday Weekly Newsletter. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to email or call us at 317.226.2810.

Regards,

Shane M. O’Day

Principal

Major Dates and Events

Jan. 9-13 Spirit Week (See calendar for details)

Jan. 11 Senior field trip to US Air Force Museum (grade 12)

Jan. 12 PTSA – Financial Fitness a Family Discussion

Jan. 13 Senior Recognition Night for Winter Athletes

Jan 16 No School, Martin Luther King Day is observed

Jan. 17 No School, Staff Professional Development Day

Jan. 18 Personal Project Report Due (grade 10)

Jan 21 Treble Concert at Ball State/ ChamberFest at Butler University

Jan. 27 First Annual Soup-er Bowl

Jan. 28 ISSMA Competition (choir students)

Feb. 1 IRT Trip (all school)

Feb. 4 ISSMA Competition (wind/ percussion/ string students)

Feb. 7 SHS Orchestra and Butler Lab Concert

Feb. 9 IB Diploma Art Show

Feb. 11 Mock Trial Competition/ IB Diploma Art Show

Feb 15-23 IB Mock Exams (grade 12)

Feb. 18 Shortridge Robotics Tournament

Feb. 20 No School, President’s Day is observed

Feb. 25 Purdue Bound- Destination Purdue

Feb. 27 National History Day Projects Due (grade 9)

Mar. 7 Personal Project Exhibition

Mar. 8 Music for All (IPS Music Festival)

Mar. 11 Musical Cue to Cue

Mar. 13 First Official Practice for Spring Sports

Mar. 14 Spring PIT Day

Mar. 15 National History Day Contest (grade 9)

Mar. 16-18 SHS Musical: High School Musical

Mar. 17 Quarter 3 Report Cards Distributed

Mar. 20 Start of Spring Break

General Announcements

Communication

We want to ensure you are well informed of the activities and events that are happening on campus. If you have not already done so, please be sure to:

·  Follow us on Twitter

·  Like Us on Facebook

·  Listen to the Sunday Night phone call

·  Read our Wednesday Weekly (posted in Managebac and on the website)

·  Check our website calendar for events and details

·  Sign in to Family Connect for scholarships and college application access

·  Sign in to Managebac to track grades, assignments and academic progress

·  Check out our daily announcements blog (link is on the front page of our website)

We do our best to remain in communication with you, but if there are systems you would prefer us to use other than those above, please let us know.

ManageBac

On December 16 your scholar’s semester grades were printed and sent home; an extended version is also available to you through ManageBac (our grade reporting system). To access this more detailed report please log into Managebac (https://shortridgehigh.managebac.com/login) and click on ‘Academics’ then on the right is a ‘Reports’ tab. You can choose which report you wish to view. If you do not have access to Managebac, please call us at 226-2810 or email Lori Armstrong @ and provide us your email.

On Managebac our scholars receive their homework and grades, have access to the grading rubrics, can log their community service hours and can track their progress.

Grades

The IB grading system is non-traditional in that your scholar’s grade is on a scale of 1-7. To determine this final grade all MYP assessment are assessed against a set mark band and in the Diploma Program all grades are determined based upon mastery. For a little guidance:

·  All students should be earning at least a 4 in each course;

·  A score of 3 indicates limited understanding and knowledge

·  A score of 2 equates to limited understanding

·  Only 4% of IB students in the world earn a 7

Academic Support

Our study tables will continue this semester with general study tables occurring every Monday through Thursday from 4- 5:15. Teachers will host their own study tables that are course and content specific. Please check our calendar for all study table dates and times.

Clubs

Our clubs and after school activities will continue during the third quarter and a schedule of meetings and events is found on our website. Being involved in co-curricular and extra-curricular activities is a key part of high school. Please encourage your scholar to join a club if they are not already involved. Some new clubs this year include GSA and archine club.

Athletics

We are in the midst of our winter sports season. While our boys’ and girls’ basketball teams continue to compete into the new year, we are already looking to the spring season. Our spring season includes: co-ed baseball, track and field, boys’ golf and girls’ tennis along with Ultimate Frisbee. Please be sure your scholar has a current sports physical on file. Spring call out meetings will occur this quarter, so please be sure to check our calendar.

Hubbard Award

Al and Kathleen Hubbard have teamed up with IPS again to recognize outstanding teachers and principals. Known as the “Life Changing teacher Award”, students and families can nominate a teacher or principal for this award at http://www.uwci.org/life-changing-teacher-award. I am proud of our staff and I hope you will join me in nominating our teachers for this award.

Goodwill Donation Drive

Shortridge High School is pleased to announce its participation in Goodwill’s sixth annual Township Youth Donation Drive, running throughout the month of January. Students, parents and neighbors of Shortridge are encouraged to donate at least two 13-gallon bags or copier boxes filled with clothes, books, toys, electronics and other goods to local Goodwill stores. Donors can bring larger items such as furniture, too.

We will receive credit any time a donor tells a Goodwill employee that the donation is in support of Shortridge. Every donation positively impactsour Shortridge and local community. Each 13-gallon bag of clothes/items donated, earns a $5 Goodwill voucher for our school. The vouchers are held in the Social Worker's office and distributed to Shortridge families in need. Also, Goodwill has more than 2,000 employees in its retail operations, and many face employment barriers ranging from disabilities to limited education. The collection and sale of donated goods allows Goodwill to provide jobs and services to its employees and others.

Donations will be accepted January 1-January 31, 2017 at local Goodwill stores and can also be dropped off in collection bins inside Shortridge High School.

Events/ Deadlines

Extended Essay (on going)

All juniors begin their Extended Essay work this quarter; this is a long term paper that requires weekly updating. While this task can become overwhelming, specific meetings and guides have been published to assist in this process. Juniors will select their subject and finalize their topics by the end of February with rough drafts due after summer break.

Senior Scholarship Day (1/9-10)

Our counselors will work with Seniors during TOK classes to discuss scholarships and work with them to complete the Central Indiana Community Foundation scholarship application. While admission to college is important, so too are scholarships and financial aid packages. Our counselors are on hand to help your scholar through this process.

Dayton Air Force Museum (1/11)

All seniors will travel out of state on January 11 to visit the Air Force Museum. We want to recognize and celebrate the hard work of our seniors, so the staff has arranged a special trip to kick off their last semester of high school.

Course Scheduling (1/11-18)

Mrs. Harris and Mr. Ellis will be meeting meet with sophomore scholars to assist with Diploma Program course selection. This is an important process as all Diploma courses are two years in length, thus your scholar will continue their course work from their junior to their senior year. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our counseling staff.

Raising Financially Fit Kids! Workshop Preview (1/12)

Kick off the New Year with a workshop preview. Learning how to teach your kids about managing money. Experts from Community Outreach for Financial Education (COFFE) will be on campus to share some basics about their organization and is a free resources available to you. The primary discussion this evening will be centered on identifying your major concerns as families with college bound kids. The goal is learning how to engage the scholars in the financial planning and personal financial fitness required to achieve higher education with lower debt.

Learn more about COFFE at http://www.coffeusa.org. The program will be followed by a brief PTSA meeting & Q&A with Mr. O'Day.

Senior Night (1/13)

We will be recognizing all senior winter athletes during the girls’ home basketball game against George Washington High School. The seniors will be announced along with their parents; this is always an exciting time and is tradition for scholars during their last year of high school.

Personal Project (1/17)

Sophomores should have finished their Personal Projects, including the product and report rough draft. Final drafts are due for upload to ManageBacJanuary 17. The school community looks forward to the Personal Project Expo, which is scheduled for March 7.

Ball State Treble Chorus Side-by-Side (1/21)

Saturday, January 21 Treble Choir and DP Ladies will participate in a casual day of singing, camaraderie and sisterhood at Ball State University focused around the female voice. Participants will receive a commemorative t-shirt and music so a small fee of $15 is required along with lunch money.

SOUP-er Bowl (1/27)

To celebrate our International Baccalaureate community and share our cultural

heritage, we invite our Shortridge family to an evening of fun, food & fellowship. Join us Friday,January 27th, 6-9 pm Shortridge High School Commons

EAT! - Chicken Noodle and Vegetable Soup, Crackers, and Lemonade provided

PLAY! - Bingo, Corn Hole, Ping-Pong, Uno, & any games you want to share!

WIN! - Prizes like: Principal-for-the-day, the Golden Ladle, & door prizes galore!

To celebrate the big game in February, wear your favorite team gear!

There will be activity busses for student following this event.

Vocal/Piano Solo & Ensemble (1/28)

Saturday, January 28 choir and piano scholars will participate in the Indiana State School Music Association Zone 6 Solo & Ensemble hosted at Doe Creek Middle School, New Palestine.

Alumni Night (1/28)

January 28 is alumni night; we will be celebrating and welcoming home alumni from years’ past. Join us as we welcome back alumni as well as cheer for our Blue Devils as they continue to compete on the court.

Cadaver Lab (2/8 and 27)

We are very excited to offer this experiences to our students. IB Diploma Biology juniors and tenth grade physical education students will have the opportunity to travel to Carmel to participate in the cadaver lab where they will operate and dissect human bodies as part of their coursework. This is the first year we are offering this program and we hope it will soon become a permanent program for our science scholars.

College and Counseling (ongoing)

Listed below are the dates and grade levels the counselors will be working with during this quarter.

·  Grade 9 (1/30-2/2) 4-Year Course Plan: Counselors will work with grade 9 on developing their 4 year course plans and will work with all other grade levels on updating their 4 year course plans in Family Connection

·  Grade 10 and 11 (2/20-23) Super Match: Counselors will work with grades 10 and 11 on completing the Super Match, a college match tool in Family Connection.

·  Grade 12 (2/20-23) College Planning Survey: Seniors will complete a College Planning Survey in Family Connection

·  Grade 9 and 10 (3/6-9) Resumes: Counselors will work with grades 10 and 11 to develop Resumes in Family Connection

IRT (2/1)

On Wednesday, February 1, all Shortridge scholars will attend a viewing ofGuess Who's Coming to Dinner at the Indiana Repertory Theatre. Scholars will leave school from the commonsimmediately after eating breakfast and will return to school for a late lunch. Curtain time is 10 am.

SHS Yearbook (2/1)

While the holidays have passed, the gift of a yearbook can occur at any time. We are expanding and enhancing this year’s yearbook and have even included articles and pieces from past years. Books are available by ordering online (see link below) $40 until February 1st. After February 1st the price increases to $50, so don't wait!

Yearbook Link:http://bit.ly/shsyb2016

Wind/Percussion/String Solo & Ensemble (2/4)

Saturday, February 4 band, percussion and orchestra scholars will participate in the Indiana State School Music Association Zone 6 Solo & Ensemble hosted at Perry Meridian Middle School.

IB Diploma Art Show (2/9 and 2/11)

Diploma Program Visual Art scholars are preparing for their art Exhibition titled "So It Goes." Opening night is February 9th at 6:00pm, and gallery hours are February 11th 12:00pm-3:00pm. Family, friends and community members are welcome. Art and postcards will be for sale.

Diploma Mock Exams (2/14-23)

Seniors will sit for mock DP exams February 14-23. These exams will count as the students' final exams for their DP courses, as well as provide helpful information for students' DP exam studies. It is important for seniors to do their best on these exams in order for individualized support plans can be developed. The entire exam schedule has been posted on the school’s website calendar.

National History Day (2/27 and 3/15)

As part of the freshmen experience, all ninth grade students choose a topic of interest and prepare to represent their report and findings at the IPS National History Day competition on March 15 in conjunction with the Indianapolis Historical Society. The competition requires a physical presentation, a report and an interview. All reports are due by February 27, 2017.

Music for All’s IPS Band and Choral Festival (3/8)

March 8 during the school day select band, choir and orchestra groups will represent the SHS music department Music for All’s sponsored festival hosted at Broad Ripple High School. Groups will perform 2-3 pieces and have a chance to work nationally recognized clinicians.