March News
published March 2, 2021
Emotional Wellness Information
Mrs. Keck (keckr@mcusd185.org)
Wellness Video Resources
Mrs. Fink has worked closely with some community partners to create a library of short videos that provide strategies in dealing with anxiety, stress, and other related topics.
In-Person Attendance for Hybrid Students
We have a growing number of students that are choosing to stay home on days in which they are scheduled to be here at the school for in-person learning. Please know that the expectation is that students will attend at the high school for face-to-face every day in which they are scheduled. There are some situations where students should attend remotely through Teams. We very much appreciate it when hybrid students take advantage of their scheduled opportunity to be at the school for class.
Class Ring Orders
Attention Freshmen-A video has been sent to your e-mail with information on how to order a class ring. For all interested students Jostens will be here on March 4th and March 5th to collect your ring orders. Below is the video with information on how to order a class ring from Jostens.
IHSA Eligibility
Semester Eligibility
Earlier this school year, the IHSA modified the requirements for semester eligibility. The IHSA rule normally states that a student-athlete must have passed at least five (5) academic classes during the previous semester in order to be eligible to participate for the current semester. Macomb's normal rule is actually a little more strict; our rule states that a student-athlete must have passed all courses (no Fs) in the previous semester in order to be eligible in the current semester. For this school year, the IHSA states that students must have passed at least three (3) courses in the previous semester to be eligible this semester. Macomb High School is using this modified IHSA rule for this school year.
Weekly Eligibility
We will continue to follow our normal procedures and rules for weekly eligibility. Skyward runs an automated report at approximately 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. This report is the basis for eligibility for the following week (Sunday thru Saturday). Students must be passing all current classes to be eligible from week to week.
Assessments
Each year our students participate in required assessments including the SAT, PSAT 10 & PSAT 9. While we have tentatively scheduled the assessments, please understand this is fluid situation where testing dates and plans may still change. Additional guidance from ISBE may require an adjustment to our plans.
SAT (11 Grade) April 13
PSAT 10 (10th Grade) April 13-23 Testing Window
PSAT 8/9 (9th Grade) April 13-23 Testing Window
Illinois Science Assessment March 15, 2021 (earliest) - May 14, 2021 (latest) Testing Window
Assessment Results
The preliminary PSAT/NMSQT results are in. MHS students did quite well, considering we are in the middle of a pandemic. Our summary scores have increased from the 2019 assessment vs. 2020. Please note, while this is normally a fall test, and it is listed as Fall of 2020, we administered the assessment on January 26, 2021.
5-Essentials Survey
https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/
Beginning February 3, students and teachers across Illinois will have an opportunity to participate in the ninth annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school. As a parent, this opportunity will allow you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness in a survey about your child’s school.
On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois 5Essentials Survey will be administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. These five indicators that affect and predict school success are:
- Effective Leaders
- Collaborative Teachers
- Involved Families
- Supportive Environments
- Ambitious Instruction
Prior research in more than 400 schools has shown that schools that were strong on at least three of these “5Essential” indicators were 10 times more likely to improve student learning gains in math and reading than those that were weak on three or more Essentials.
All teachers and 4th through 12th grade students will be responding to this survey. 5Essentials Reports will be generated for schools if their teachers and/or students meet the response rate threshold of 50 percent. These reports will be sent to schools and districts in May 2021 and will also be included in the State School Report Card.
Additionally, your district has chosen to provide the optional Parent Supplement survey. If at least 20 percent of Macomb parents complete this survey, a parent supplement report will also be generated. The parent data will not be reported on the State Report Card.
Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.
The Illinois 5Essentials Survey for students and teachers will be conducted February 3, 2021 through April 2, 2021. The Parent Survey Supplement will be conducted during that same timeframe. To take the survey please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin.
For more information about the Illinois 5Essentials Survey, or to view previous years’ Reports, please visit https://www.5-essentials.org/illinois. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact 5Essentials Client Services at 1-866-440-1874 or impact-surveys@uchicago.edu.
Sincerely,
Scott Sullivan
MHS Principal
Prom
The Junior class officers are working with their sponsors and the administration on a plan for the 2021 Prom, which will take place on May 15. While it may not be traditional, we are working hard to make sure that there will be an event that will be safe, memorable, and fun.
Graduation
The graduation ceremony is set for May 22nd at 7:30. Traditionally, graduation is held at Western Hall on the WIU campus. While we do still hold a reservation for the date and time at Western Hall, we do not yet know that we will actually be able to hold a ceremony there. Given our current mitigations, it is not likely we would be able to host the traditional ceremony at Western Hall. We hope that our seniors, and their parents, know that we are continually monitoring the relevant information related to graduation. Our mission to provide the seniors with the best experience possible for their senior graduation. Mr. Sullivan met with senior class officers two weeks ago; the next meeting is scheduled for next week. Administrators, teacher leaders and senior class officers will continue to work together to create the best ceremony possible.
Jostens Class of 2021 Senior Pick-Up
Jostens will be here on March 25 and March 26 both before school and during high school lunch hours to pass out senior caps/gowns and announcements.
Final Exams
We have not yet made any decision to change the status of final exams for second semester. As of today, final exams are still scheduled for the week of May 24-27th.