P a l at i n e H i g h S c h o o l
NEWSLETTER
A Recognized School of Excellence
GARY STEIGER
PRINCIPAL
October 2015
From the principal:
The school year has gotten off to a great start. It’s hard to believe
we are already half way through the first quarter. It was good to
see so many of you at our annual Open House earlier this month.
Your support of your child’s education and your demonstration of its
importance is a key factor in their success. We are at the first major
checkpoint of the year and Midterm reports are available through the
student portal. Hopefully this is information that can help you guide your
son or daughters progress. If a concern has been brought to your attention, please take
a moment to follow up with your student’s teacher or counselor. Don’t forget that you
have regular and easy access through the parent portal anytime you want. In addition,
most of our teachers are using Schoology as our learning management system and
provided you a log in code at Open House so you can follow along yourself during
the year. It is important for students to stay on track and maintain their academic
focus. Many studies suggest that students must have “Grit” or “curiosity” or the right
“Mindset” or have mastered “Executive Functioning” skills or the “10.000 Hour Rule”,
and the list goes on and on, in order to be successful. So what is the best way for our
students to achieve success if there are all these various ideas?
I believe it is you, and a combination of student’s ability to stick to the task at hand,
to believe in their ability to accomplish it, to avoid distractions and to practice the skill,
but most importantly it is your guidance and effort to demonstrate the importance
of their classwork and in achieving at a high level. Students should understand the
importance of working hard in class and doing well in school to provide themselves
with options when they graduate so they can pursue the career of their dream. They
should try challenging classes, classes in their potential career field, classes that may
provide them with a certificate or possible college credit in that field, classes they are
curious about. High school is a time to allow for these options and to develop those
traits associated with Grit and Mindset that will allow our students to be successful
in the future.
One of the other most important factors in determining student success is regular
daily attendance. Students who are here and on time have a much higher level of
success than d their counterparts who do not attend school regularly. For students
and parents of the class of 2019 this will be especially important as you become
more aware of the opportunities you will be afforded by a new program from Harper
College that will make it possible for you to attend Harper tuition free if you meet
certain guidelines. You will find additional information regarding the Harper College
Promise Scholarship in another section of this newsletter or you can review it on line
at http://goforward.harpercollege.edu/about/promise/. This is a great opportunity for our
students; however they must be aware that it starts right now during their freshman
year with some basic requirements for grades, attendance and community service.
We will continue to provide information and reminders regarding sign-ups for the
Harpers Promise Scholarship Program.
It has been a great start this year with lots of energy and excitement. We will
continue to see changes and may have to make some adjustments to our normal
routine as we start some of the anticipated construction on our pool, media center
and adult transitions program that will begin later this fall, but I am excited as these
updates will create many additional opportunities for our students as we continue
to look to prepare for the future. I look forward to another successful year and as
always, am grateful for your support.
Go Pirates!
Gary Steiger
Principal
If you require assistance while visiting our school, please contact the principal’s
office at (847) 755-1600.
For individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, please access the following TTD/TTY
telephone number: (847) 755-1654.
This Principal’s Newsletter is computer-designed and photocopied at school on
recycled paper for Palatine High School parents.
Palatine High School 1111 N. Rohlwing Road, Palatine, IL 60074-3797
(847) 755-1600
dates to remember
Oct. 9
Royal Rally & Homecoming Football Game
Oct. 10
Homecoming Dance
Oct. 12
Columbus Day – No School Oct. 21
District 211 College Night (6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.)
Palatine High School
Oct. 15-17 Fall Play, Altergott Auditorium (7:00 p.m.)
Oct. 29
Trick-or-Treat Festival (5:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m.)
MORNING WORK SESSIONS • Tuesdays
TEACHER
INSTITUTE DAYS
2015
2016
FOR 2015-2016
September 8November 3 February 9
September 22November 17 February 23
November 9, 2015
October 6December 8
March 8
January 25, 2016
October 20
April 5
April 19
SWIM SUIT POLICY
Students are responsible for supplying their own swim suits. All suits must
meet the following criteria.
Girls’ Swimsuit Requirements
One-piece suit (no tankinis) • Supportive and fitted
No decorative holes or see through material (avoid light colors)
Boys’ Swimsuit Requirements
Boxer style swimsuit with draw-string • Mesh inner lining required
Rental Suit Policy
Any student that needs to use a school issued suit (only if students’ size is
available) will check one out with their instructor for $5.00 by the end of the first
week of the swimming unit. That student is responsible for the suit until the
end of the unit. That student will turn in the suit at the end of the last day in
the pool to their instructor. If the suit is lost, an additional fee of $15.00 will be
charged to the student to cover the cost of the suit.
Contact the Physical Education Department Chairman or Aquatic Director
for further clarification.
Mr. Paul Belo 847-755-1779
Mrs. Amy Brault 847-755-1778
Physical Education Department Chair
Aquatic Director
Halloween Festival is Back for the 20th Year!
PHS Booster Club is once again sponsoring Halloween Festival.
On Thursday, October 29th from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.,
Palatine High School will host its 20th annual Trick-or-Treat Festival.
Children 10 years of age and younger along with a parent are welcome to attend.
If you would like any further information regarding the Halloween Festival,
please contact Gary Steiger, principal, at 847/755-1610.
PHS Student Success Center Room 191
Your source for:
Tutoring in Math, English, Science:
teachers available all day to answer your questions and help you
unravel the mysteries of their subjects
Computer access:
20 computers and a printer for your school-related needs
Study space:
room for quiet work – whether you are struggling or just want to get ahead
Hours:
Before school: 7:30 – 8:05 on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
During school: Periods 1-8 every school day
After school: 3:40 – 4:30 on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BLUE RIBBON SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE & NEW AMERICAN HIGH SCHOOL
News Brief ...
Academic Integrity Brochure
Enclosed with this newsletter is a copy of the District
211 Academic Integrity Brochure, which includes an
overview of the Board of Education policy. This information
was reviewed with all students at the beginning of the
school year. Please feel free to use the brochure to further
discuss this issue with your son or daughter.
School Safety and Security Information
Safety and security are of utmost importance at Palatine
High School. Students or parents who hear or witness
something which they think might jeopardize student
or staff safety or security should share this information
in a confidential way with an administrator, teacher, or
counselor. This can be done in person or by contacting
a staff member directly. Another alternative is to use the
Information Hotline at 847-755-1911.
New Hall of Famers for 2015
PHS wishes to congratulate Bob Carroll, Josh Heffernan,
Katlin Millen, and Nancy Robb for being named to
Palatine High School’s Hall of Fame for their athletic
accomplishments. These inductees will join Chic Anderson,
Stan Anderson, Anthony Attiah, Bill Bahnfleth, Al & Sally
Berman, Elisa (Currins) Bragga, Pat Leaf-Burke, Dan
Collins, Don Crandall, Kathy Crandall, Steve Currins, Lori
(Erickson) Delgado, Alan Eck, John Ellis, Angela (Zemla)
Ferrazza, Charley Feutz, Harvey Foster, Bob Frisk, David
Hasbach, Annie Hernandez, Joe Johnson, Claudia (Becque)
Johnston, Dr. Richard Kolze, Marianne (Nance) Kozak,
Ron Kozlicki, Jenny Kraeger, Keri (Nelson) Krause, Bill
Lange, Kevin McKenna, Fred Miller, Ed Molitor, Vikki
(Simonis) Moran, Bud Nangle, Seth Norton, Nicole Pauly,
Joe Petricca, Rich Pietrini, Alison (Wimer) Pinchot, Greg
Plank, Len Rohde, Louis Schager Jr., Carolyn (Currins)
Scanlon, Jim Sobb, Karen Staab-Gates, Kim Staab, Julie
(Justmann) Trautt, Jennifer (Kleemann) Urick, Mark
Visk, Chris Andriano, Andy Merutka, Sandy Oldham, Ed
Richardson, Erik (Dieckman) Taylor, Brian McKay, the
1985 Girls Badminton State Championship Team, Donna
O’Brien, Kyle Sorensen, Daniel Wimer, and the IHSA State
Meet Competitors for Girls Cross Country 1989-1996 .
Homecoming festivities will feature the induction of Hall
of Fame members at the varsity football game on Friday,
October 9, 2015. A reception for family and friends will be
held prior to the game in the stadium. A commemorative
plaque with their pictures will be on display in the Hall of
Fame section of the main athletic hallway. Community
members are welcome to view the Hall of Fame during
athletic events and submit nominations for future members
to the athletic office or online at http://phs.d211.org/
athletics/athletics-home/
Harper College Promise Scholarship
Current District 211 freshman students, Class of
2019, will be the first class eligible for the Harper College
Promise Scholarship program, which offers up to two
years free tuition at Harper College for students who meet
eligibility criteria throughout their four years of high school.
The scholarship program aims to promote life skills and
habits that will help students succeed in college and the
workplace. Applications will become available October 15.
Details about the applications process and elibigility will be
made available in the near future. For more information,
please visit goforward.harpercollege.edu/about/promise, or
contact your student’s school counselor.
First Generation College Bound Students
High School District 211 will host an event for First
Generation College Bound students and their parents
on October 14, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Palatine High
School. The evening will include a round table discussion
with representatives from colleges and universities, the
Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), first
generation college students, and the parents of first
generation college students. Additionally, students and
parents will participate in break-out sessions on important
topics including: “Financial Aid,” “The College Planning
Process,” and “Connecting with Universities.” The
round table and break-out sessions will be presented
concurrently in English and Spanish.
Academic Corner
... Art Department
• The Art department continues to provide its students with many opportunities for exhibition, scholarship and college
and career readiness. The Fall of 2015 will be the first year we will be offering two new 200 level digital art courses. These
courses complete our “Digital Arts” curricular pathway from Freshman to Senior year.
• The Art department participated in multiple area Art shows including the Harper Area Art Show, the Congressional Art
Show, the Illinois High School Art Exhibition, the PHS Teapot and Mask show, The Barrington Teapot Show, The Palatine
Library Show, The Conant MAP show, Moonwalltz, and the Schaumburg Film Festival to name a few.
• The third annual Artsapoolza was awesome!!!! Several curricular areas at PHS came together to celebrate the Arts.
• The Palatine High School Art department was excited to be part of the first annual Illinois High School Regional Art
Exhibition. It was a great opportunity to showcase student work downtown and the program raised millions in scholarship
money for Illinois Art students. Palatine Art students were offered over $200,000 in scholarship money collectively.
• Karen Lange’s 3D sculpture class took a field trip behind the school to explore a Japanese clay firing technique called Raku
to create several “one of a kind” ceramic pieces.
• Advanced Art students were treated with a trip to the Chicago Art Institute. They did research to inform their personal
portfolio work. Over 80% of our AP students scored a 3 or better on their portfolio reviews lasts summer.
• This year in our ELS special needs program, we were proud to perform our 12th show were students create their own
costumes, props and perform their play!!!!
• The Palatine Art department continues to collaborate with Winston Campus and Sundling Jr. High for the fourth year in a
row. This past year PHS studio Art students hosted a critique workshop for incoming freshman
• The Palatine High School V.I.P. organization generously sponsored awards for our second annual PHS Senior/Junior Art
Invite. It was a great night with a lot of Art, celebration and camaraderie.
PHS ART STAFF
• Teacher Nick Hosert was selected to participate in a curriculum slam at the Museum of Contemporary Art in the Spring and
at the National Art Association Convention.
• The entire Art department continues to support technology and the 1:1 program in our curriculum. This Fall art teachers will
be piloting Schoology courses with all of their classes. We strive to increase communication with both students and parents.
• Rachel Bartlett has been releasing semester parent newsletter highlighting the great things happening in her classroom.
• Nick Hostert was recently published in a Journal of Art theory and practice.
Commit to the PIRATE
PHS’s System of Behavior: Palatine High School
implements and supports a behavioral model known as Commit
to the PIRATE. This system teaches positive behaviors, and
reinforces and acknowledges students who demonstrate
these behaviors. The system also has intervention support for
students who have a difficult time or may present with more
challenging behaviors.
What does Commit to the PIRATE look like at PHS?
1. Behave with Respect, Integrity and Achievement.
2. Behavior expectations are taught to all of the students
in the school through direct teaching with thehelp of staff.
3. Appropriate behaviors are acknowledged by tickets being
distributed to students by staff members. Tickets turned in can
result in tangible and intangible awards and recognitions.
4. PHS has a streamlined intervention system in place for
students who may have a difficult time and need more support
in the school setting.
5.The entire school community needs to be actively
involved to provide a positive school culture at PHS.
Commit to the PIRATE Acknowledgement System
Student Instant Prizes
1. Staff members acknowledge students with a Commit
to the Pirate red ticket when students display
Integrity, Respect, and/or Achievement.
2. Students can submit their ticket to the lines in the cafeteria
to purchase cafeteria items. Each red ticket is worth 25 cents and
could be used in combination to purchase items.
3. No change will be given when students
“cash in” their red tickets for cafeteria items.
4. Students that choose to redeem cafeteria items using
red tickets will not be eligible to submit those same red tickets
into a monthly locker for a prize.
5. Red tickets can be used to purchase cafeteria items any
day in any line, unless otherwise posted.
Students Monthly Prizes
1. Students can opt to submit tickets into any of the monthly
drawing lockers across from the attendance office for a more
valuable prize. Monthly prizes are indicated on each locker.
2. Drawings will take place at end of each month.
3.Four students will win the monthly prize and their
names will be included in Friday “Shout-outs:” in Homeroom.
Semester Grand Prizes
All the monthly tickets will go into a display box and
will be eligible for the semester drawing. From that box, one
grand prize will be drawn per semester, and that student will
be awarded a semester prize, usually higher in value than
monthly prizes. In year’s past students have won a $100 gift
card or even a summer season pass to Six Flags.
In addition, booster drawings will be held at various
times throughout the school year, in which students will earn
instant prizes, including coupons for items in the cafeteria
and other gift cards.
Test Prep Course for College Entrance
A preparation course for the P.S.A.T. test will be offered this fall at Palatine High School. It will consist of five sessions,
covering test-taking strategies, reading comprehension, and mathematical applications. There is no fee for this valuable
experience!
Interested students may request information from Sue Duma, the scarlet team clerk, at the start of the 2015 – 2016 school
year at 847/755-1670.
The Palatine High School Pirate Booster Club is
thrilled to embark on another year of supporting our PHS
students, faculty and administration. Last year, we were able to
award grants totaling over $35,000 for classroom instructional
materials, programs, services and initiatives that reach all
PHS students.
The Pirate Boosters also awarded twelve $1,000 scholarships
to college-bound seniors who demonstrated strong involvement
at the high school and in the Palatine community at-large.
The Pirate Boosters publish a bi-monthly newsletter to keep
parents up-to-date on the many opportunities to get involved.
We support the Homecoming and Turnabout dances and all
Sports Award nights.
Concessions for home football, basketball and other
sporting events are provided by our volunteers, along with
fundraising activities such as the Craft Fair, Dinner and
Auction and various other events we will be announcing via
our newsletter.
We invite all parents to join us in our mission to support our
children. We are always looking for fresh new faces to volunteer,
and are currently looking for a chairperson for Winter Sports.
We are pleased to announce that the Pirate Treasures
School Store is now open Monday through Friday from 10:00
a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Our online store is available through our website, so you
can catch PHS spirit by stocking up on spirit wear from the
convenience of your own home!
Visit the Pirate Boosters online at www.phspirateboosters.
com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/phsboosters. For
more information, email us at president@phspirateboosters.com.