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General Information
New Student Hours for 2008-2009Student attendance hours have been changed.
Zero Hour: 7:00 A.M. until 7:43 A.M.
School officially begins at 7:50 A.M. for all students who are NOT enrolled in zero hour.
School ends at 2:20 P.M.
Tuesday remains an early release day. Student day ends at 2:05 on all Tuesdays.
Please plan accordingly.
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Mission StatementWithin a safe and nurturing community, the students, staff, and parents of Summit Hill Junior High seek to foster personal and academic excellence, treat one another with dignity, respect our environment, embrace diversity, and develop character that merits trust and honor. We encourage positive risk-taking and perseverance in pursuit of our goals.
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Contact Info7260 W. North Ave., Frankfort, IL 60423
Phone: 815-469-4330
Fax: 815-464-1596
School Hours: 7:50-2:20 (2:05 on Tuesdays)
Office Hours 7:25-3:55
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Flow of Communication
We appreciate hearing from our parents. Parents' first level of communication should be with the teacher, or our guidance counselor, Mrs. Madonia when you have questions or concerns with academic progress. When you have concerns socially, please begin with either our guidance counselor, or one of our social workers. If you have questions regarding discipline matters you may begin with our Dean of Students, Mr. Letsos or our Assistant Principal, Mrs. Sereleas and finally our Principal, Mrs. Lind.
The administrative staff and the educational staff seek to maintain open lines of communication. Parents are also welcome to contact staff members electronically by email.
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One Hour Delayed Start (inclement weather)
In the event of inclement weather, Summit Hill School District and Lincoln-Way transportation have a one hour delayed start schedule in place. If a delayed start occurs, please be advised that zero hour classes and AM band sessions will be cancelled on that particular day.
This schedule has been created to maintain appropriate levels of safety for our students and staff. If a delayed start occurs, this will be communicated by the district via our webpage, www.summithill.org, and on local television and radio stations that typically post school closings.
Morning bus pick-up should be one hour later than the normal day, but please be aware that road conditions could cause delays.
The school day for a delayed start will be from 9:00 to 2:15 (2:00 on Tuesday).
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
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Arrival and Departure Procedures In an effort to reduce traffic congestion ALL bus routes will enter and exit using the EAST lot (closest to Harlem). No student pick-ups are allowed in the front lot. If you are picking up your child early from school and will be signing him/her out, you may park in the EAST lot and enter the building in order to sign out your student.
Students who will be walking or getting a ride to school are to use the WEST parking lot. Cars will pull up along the driveway along side the school. Drop offs will occur under the pavilion.
After school, vehicles may pull up to the first driveway entrance along the sidewalk, heading west, in front of the building. After all the busses have exited, cars may then enter the driveway directly in front of the school, forming a single file line. All vehicles should remain in a single file line while on Rosewood so that traffic heading east isn't compromised. This also applies if you have entered the driveway in front of the building.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to make this process safe for your child. If you have any further questions, please call us at 815.469.4330.
Students riding bikes are asked to lock their bike at the bike rack. Students are not allowed at the bike rack during the school day. Bikes are to walked once on school grounds.
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Academic Support Available to Students Students may access their teachers or other peers to receive support during study hall when they need help with homework. Students may also request time with their teachers before or after school or at a mutually agreeable pre-arranged time.
TURNABOUT
Turnabout is available Monday through Friday. Students may take the activity bus home, have a ride pick them up or if they have permission on file, they may walk.
Turnabout is a mandatory program that students are enrolled in if they have received a failing grade for the quarter in any class.
Parents of students who receive F's on their report card at mid-term are notified via letter that their child may be mandatorily enrolled in Turnabout if their child receives one or more F's on their report card.
Students who fail at the quarter are notified through a meeting with a member of the admin team or guidance counselor of their mandatory enrollment in the program.
Parents are sent a letter defining the program and the expectations. The parents complete the information enrollment form and return it to school.
Parents are given a follow-up phone call from the school to answer any questions regarding enrollment in the program.
Students enrolled in the program that receive an F on an assignment, miss an assignment in its entirety, or fail a test or quiz, will leave the class with a pass and the assignment to call a parent and inform him/her that he/she is staying after school to redo or complete the assignment.
The assignment that is brought down is left with the office staff in a folder to be given to the supervisor for the day.
The secretary/clerk supervises the call and records the name and assignment in the folder.
The supervisor picks-up the folder at the end of the day so the student has the assignment.
The assignment is turned in the following day for partial credit.
If students finish the work prior to coming to Turnabout, they are still required to stay and begin working on their homework.
Teachers supervising the session are to take attendance, pass out the assignments and assist when needed.
This is not a punishment and must not be viewed as one.
If students complete their assignment(s), they are to begin working on their homework for the day.
The teacher collects the assignment and puts back in the folder. The folder is returned to the office.
Students are only enrolled if they fail a minimum of a class.
Students can stay after for any class assignment (not just the failed class).
Students are enrolled for an entire quarter.
Students are dropped from the program when they have passed all classes.
ACADEMIC ASSISTANCE (formerly known as Homework Club)
Academic Assistance is designed to help students achieve academic success through a variety of strategies. Students may receive assistance with understanding concepts, assistance on projects, and/or assistance with getting prepared for class. Academic Assistance provides a structured and supportive environment for students. Supervising teachers will provide a quiet study area and assist students with homework and study skills as needed. Students are required to bring all necessary materials with them to complete the assigned homework.
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Attendance - The key to success in school
Every day counts! Please help your child make the most of this school year. Schools are responsible for teaching your child. But school's can't do their job if your child is absent frequently. Learning builds day by day. A child who misses a day of school misses a day of learning. Good attendance boosts academic accomplishments and prepares students for future successes. Research shows that students who attend school regularly do better in school as shown by grade point averages, standardized testing results and overall academic growth. Studies also show that kids who are absent more often score lower on state tests. Consistent attendance helps to support positive decision making as it relates to academic, social and emotional growth. Your child's good attendance fosters responsibility and supports higher achievement. Students can copy notes or make up assignments, but they can never get back what is most important—the teachers’ explanations, the discussions, the questions, and the thinking that brings learning to life.
It is imperative that your child is on time daily. Being late for school hurts a child's learning too. A student who is 10 minutes late every day will miss 30 hours of instruction during the year.
The staff is working on a program to include character development in student accountability as piloted in the 2006-2007 school year. Let's work together to improve attendance at SHJH. If your child has trouble making it to school or has missed 10% of the last 180 school days he or she may be considered truant.
We will try to keep you well informed through phone calls and letters. You can support and promote positive attendance by:
• Talking with your child about the importance of attending school regularly
• Avoid scheduling family trips or appointments during school hours whenever possible
• Making sure your child stays healthy by eating nutritious food and getting enough sleep and exercise
• Not accepting excuses for why your child “must” miss or be late for school
• Supporting school rules and consequences for tardiness and truancy
• Giving examples of how education helps people succeed
• Reinforcing the idea that the child is practicing his/her work habits
• Leading by example
Your child’s success in school depends on a solid, consistent education—one that can only be acquired through regular school attendance. Thank you for your efforts to support your child and a productive learning environment!
Our voice mail is available 24 hours a day (815)469-4330. A parent/guardian must call a student in as absent. A student may not call him or herself in as absent. Begin by identifying who the caller is (parent of...), leave the child's name, reason for absence, grade level and if the student is requesting homework. If the child is attending a court hearing, a doctor's appointment, dentist/ortho appointment, a funeral or has a doctor's note to be excuesd, this MUST be submitted to the school in order to excuse the absence. Should have questions regarding an unexcused and excused absence, please contact the school office.
For more information regarding policies for absences and truancy please consult the district handbook.
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Activity RunsThere are two after school hours bus runs known as activity runs. The first run will depart close to 3:45 P.M. This run will take students that are staying after for clubs, detentions, Turnabout and Academic Assistance. The second run arrives at 4:45 P.M. This is an athletic run. Activity routes are posted in the main hallway for students to view. (Activity runs are 3:30 and 4:30 on Tuesday).
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How to Support Literacy at HomeSupporting literacy at home will demonstrate the importance of academics.
Four Important Things Parents Can Do To Support Literacy
1. Put books in your home.
~Set up a home library.
~Give books as gifts or gift cards to a book store.
~Visit the library.
2. Read to or with (could be at the same time) your child at least 20 minutes each day.
~If you do this, your child will have read one million words and have an increased vocabulary of 1,000 words.
3. Keep track of your child's progress in school.
~Ask at what grade level your child is reading (above or below)
~Take advantage of school resources/programs available to help build your child's literacy skills.
4. Be a good reading role model.
~When your child sees you reading a variety of materials for a variety of reasons he or she will see reading as important to daily life (magazines, newspapers, etc.)
~When your child sees that you read for recreation, he or she will see reading as a fun, worthwhile activity worthy of an adult's time and attention.
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The Middle School StudentWhat Are Middle Schoolers Like?
As children grow, they begin to experience physical, intellectual, and emotional changes. The way they learn, feel, see the world, and relate to other people becomes different from when they were younger. These changes, along with demands from present-day society and peer pressure, create conflicts and tension in the adolescent, which are reflected in their behavior in school and at home.
Young people at this age show a good number of contradictions and conflicts, which is normal. There is no "model" adolescent. All young persons are individuals with strong and weak points and with positive and negative qualities. There are some common characteristics that should be kept in mind in order to understand and help the middle schooler in daily activities at home and at school:
Adolescents have high levels of physical and emotional energy, which may contrast with long periods of idleness, generally disapproved of by adults.
They take risks, are curious, and love danger and adventure, yet their feelings can be hurt easily. This is the time when they feel immortal, but they worry a lot about what their friends think about them.
They want to be independent from their families, and at the same time, they need to be pampered and protected.
They withdraw and want a private life, and at the same time, they worry about being accepted by their peers.
They demand privileges but avoid responsibilities. At the same time, they are developing an awareness of social problems and the welfare of others.
Adolescents from other cultures sometimes face an additional burden as they develop their identities and try to comply with the requirements of home and school. On one side, they have the values and customs of the home that the family wants to maintain, and on the other, they have to respond to the demands of their peers and teachers, who have a different set of rules.
How will your children and your school benefit from your involvement?
When parents become involved, both students and school benefit:
Grades and test results are higher;
Students' attitudes and behavior are more positive;
Academic programs are more successful; and
The schools, as a whole, are more effective.
What can parents do in the Middle School?
The way that parents become involved in the middle school can be somewhat different from what they were accustomed to in the elementary school. Generally, the building is larger, and it could be located farther from home. A middle school student may have several teachers, not just one as in the elementary school. The schedule is probably more complicated.
Don't be surprised if your teenagers feel embarrassed when you go to their school. It is not uncommon for them to resent their parents' presence at school. Here are some suggestions to increase your involvement:
Get to know several teachers, not just one. Don't wait for a problem to talk to them.
Keep in touch with the guidance counselor. She generally knows many of the students in the school, and she can keep you informed regarding the progress and behavior of your child.
Read all information on school policies and curriculum carefully. This is described in the handbook in the assignment notebook and in the district handbook sent home at the beginning of the school year.
Review your child's school records each year (mid-terms and quarterly reports).
Keep informed about your child's grades and test results, especially in any subjects in which he or she has problems. Ask for help if it is needed.
Request periodic meetings with the teachers. If you don't speak or understand English, ask for a translator or bring a bilingual friend or family member with you. Request information concerning programs that the school offers for students with limited English proficiency. Be sure your child is placed in the program that best meets his or her needs.
Get to know other parents and form support groups to work on problems and issues of mutual interest.
Answer notes and other correspondence the school sends. If you do not understand these messages due to language problems, ask the principal to send them to you in the language you understand.
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Healthy Lifestyles For Kids
More than 9 million children and adolescents in this country are overweight or obese. That is nearly four times the number 40 years ago. Carrying around excess weight for years can lead to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2diabetes, heart disease, stroke and premature death. Why is this happening? Children are eating more unhealthy foods and exercising less.
Could your child be at risk? Your child may be overweight and/or at risk of heart disease if:
1) He or she regularly eats high-calorie foods.
2) He or she is physically inactive.
3) There is a family history of overweight, obesity, heart disease or diabetes.
What do you do?
1) Have your child tested. By the age of ten, children should have their cholesterol-level screened, have a blood sugar test, and have a blood pressure check.
2)A doctor can determine whether your child is in a healthy weight range using the body mass index (BMI).
5 Ways to Get Your Child Moving
1) Lead by example. Children need to see that you believe it's important to be healthy and to take care of yourself.
2) Take a non-negotiable position. Insist they get regular exercise and emphasize healthy foods can prevent cardiac problems in the future. Remain consistent in your efforts.
3) Promote the concept of personal best. Physical fitness does not always have to be about competition. Calisthenics, such as, biking, dancing, karate, walking, and skateboarding, can be about doing more than you did the day before. Give positive feedback to your child for surpassing what he or she did the day before.
4) Limit sedimentary activities. Firmly control the amount of time your kids spend in front of the television and computer to about one or two hours a day. Kids should make efforts to be physically active for a minimum of 60 minutes a day.
5) Make it "cool." For the non-athletic child, explore more activities together that are different but not embarrassing. Some communities have exercise classes as well as hip-hop or martial arts instruction are popular with kids.
Talk with our school nurse or contact a PE teacher.
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Messages to Students
Messages will be delivered to your students during their lunch periods. If there is an afternoon message, it will be delivered during advisory or on Tuesdays during the P.M. announcements. We do our best not to interrupt class time. Please understand that messages called in after 1:45 P.M. or "just a reminder" messages are more difficult to get to students since it is so close to the end of the day.
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What are Standards and why are they important for my child? The Illinois Learning Standards (ILS) define what all students in all Illinois public schools should know and be able to do in the seven core areas as a result of their elementary and secondary schooling.
The Illinois Learning Standards have not changed since their adoption in 1997. The Performance Descriptors and ILS-aligned Classroom Assessments were developed by Illinois teachers for Illinois teachers to enhance the ILS and to serve as resources to help teachers determine local performance expectations at each grade level.
The ILS contain 30 goals, 98 standards and over 1,000 benchmarks.
Illinois was one of the first states to develop and adopt Standards in 1997.
More than 270 Illinois educators, business people, and community members developed the ILS.
Input on the draft ILS was provided by more than 30,000 citizens.
Teachers in Spain, Lithuania and Bulgaria have translated the ILS for use in their classrooms.
The Performance Descriptors and over 900 ILS-aligned classroom assessments were field tested by 400 teachers statewide.
The Criteria for Standards
From the outset, the following set of criteria guided the writing of the goals, standards and benchmarks:
* The standards and benchmarks must be clear and meaningful to students, parents, educators, business representatives and the community at large.
* The standards and benchmarks should include an appropriate combination of knowledge and skills, not just facts alone or skills alone.
* The standards and benchmarks should build upon and go beyond the basics within each of the academic disciplines.
* The standards and benchmarks should be specific enough to convey what students should learn, but broad enough to allow for a variety of approaches to teaching, curriculum, course design and assessment.
* The standards and benchmarks should be specific enough to be used in assessing progress and improving students' learning.
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Teaching Students to Take Ownership Being Responsible
We all want our children to grow up to be responsible adults. We want them to feel, think, and act with respect for themselves and for others. To do this, children need lots of help from the adults they interact with on a regular basis. Learning to be responsible includes learning to:
* show respect and compassion for others,
* practice honesty,
* show courage by standing up for what we believe,
* develop self-control out of consideration for others,
* maintain self-respect.
Here are some things you can do at home:
* Watch for the chance to teach your children responsible behavior through everyday situations. Share your moral and religious values with them.
* Show compassion and concern when others are suffering.
* Read stories together that teach lessons: the courage of David standing up to Goliath, or the value of persistence from "The Little Engine That Could."
* Talk about complicated decisions. Help children understand how the choices they make will affect them and others.
* Visit with teachers to discuss ways parents and the school can reinforce the same lessons about good character.
* Talk with other parents and agree on acceptable behavior for children's play and parties. Take turns supervising to show that all the parents agree on the standards of behavior.
Responsibility Builders
Honesty, the Best Policy
1. Tell the story about the boy who cried "Wolf!" He did it so many times to get attention that when the wolf did come, no one believed him.
2. Ask your children if anyone had ever lied to them. How did that make them feel?
3. When you make a promise to your children, try to keep it. It may seem small to you, but it means a lot to them.
Helping Out
1. As children grow older, think of added ways they can help at home.
2. Discuss the new duties with them. Avoid making the duties seem like a punishment. Instead, you might say they require more ability which your child now has.
3. New tasks should stretch a child's abilities and make him or her feel satisfied with doing good work. Praise a job well done, especially a new challenge.
Getting to Know Others
1. Set a good example. Act with respect toward others. Always make clear that prejudice is wrong and that all of us are equal, no matter what our color, gender, or background is.
2. Show an interest in learning about and from others--neighbors and relatives, and from books about our own and other civilizations.
3. Encourage your child to learn about many different lands and people, to learn another language, and to read stories about children from all over the world. Show your child how you try to see things from others point of view.
4. Listen carefully when your child wants to tell you things they have discovered about history, geography, religions, art, and ways of life.
Let's work together to build responsibility in our children. Allow your child to take ownership of a problem he/she is involved with. Help brainstorm solutions to problems instead of taking ownership of something that really is their problem. Sometimes we must fail in order to succeed. Teach children to learn from their mistake and allow children to take the consequences for the good and the not-so good. Always remind them that he/she is a good person and a mistake has been made but you are there to provide them with the needed and necessary guidance to resolve their problem. Together Everyone Achieves More!
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Wellness News
In accordance with Illinois law and with School District policy, we have implemented some basic procedures to ensure student wellness and health. Student wellness, including good nutrition and physical activity, shall be promoted in the District’s educational program, school activities, and meal programs. As a result of this policy, we ensure that the following will occur in our schools:
•Our school will support and promote good nutrition for our students
•Our schools will foster the positive relationship between good nutrition and physical activity
•Our school will not provide or use unhealthy foods or beverages as incentives or rewards for academic performance or behavior during the school day
•Our school does not permit treats or food brought in for birthday or holiday celebrations
•Our school will support and promote an active lifestyle for students
At all times, parents are still free to provide their own children with individual food items and beverages of their choice as long as the items do not result in serious allergic reactions for other students.
Thank you for supporting this initiative. This policy provides our students with healthy, nutritious foods.
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