Greetings South High Students and Families!
If you have a few minutes, I hope you’ll watch my short November video message here.
Video message highlights:
- Despite the obvious challenges, the 2020-2021 school year is moving along. It’s been wonderful seeing a few students and staff back in the building recently. I can’t tell you how proud that I am of the staff and students who made in-person learning happen over the past several weeks. Everyone is being diligent in following the safety protocols that we have put in place. As our teachers and students work through the newness of having classes split between home and school, the experiences will only get better.
- Luc Alvarez was selected for The College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program. Luc was also recently selected as a National Merit Semifinalist (NMSP) representing the top one percent of seniors across the country competing for NMSP scholarships. Congratulations to Luc on earning yet another recognition!
- Over the past week, all of our freshmen heard presentations from our Counseling and Student Support Services staff surrounding suicide awareness and prevention. The special programming was delivered through the students’ PE classes.
- Our fall athletic seasons are wrapping up. Boys’ and girls’ golf, girl’s tennis, and girls’ swimming have all completed successful seasons. Special congratulations to Madeline Padavic and Audrey Mahoney who set three school records in the swim meet last weekend. Congratulations ladies! Good luck to our boys’ and girls’ cross country teams as they compete in the sectional finals this weekend.
- Our vocal music classes recently released their first virtual choir concert. Each student was recorded singing their part via the Zoom class. The students came onto campus and recorded themselves lip syncing the singing of the songs. The directors then mastered all of the sounds and videos into an amazing ensemble. Please enjoy the virtual sounds of our student choirs.
- Early in November we will experience the presidential election. This campaign process has been one of the most divisive in my memory. You have heard me say it many times, but one of the things that I love about the South High community is the diverse representation of backgrounds, experiences, and opinions. We share those things with each other as we learn and grow as individuals, and as a community. When we have strong feelings about something, we have to be especially careful not to react and/or respond too quickly - basically speaking, think before you speak or act. Regardless of how the election turns out and whether or not your candidate of choice “wins,” we will expect that the members of the South High community will continue to display the respect for each other that we have come to know. The Mustang Way is not something we espouse only when it is convenient. It remains the standard that we must always hold ourselves accountable to. Thank you for your respectful interactions with each other.
- A reminder of next week’s schedule. As a special note, Monday’s schedule has been changed and will follow a period 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 schedule.
Week of November 2 - REMOTE ONLY- November 2 - 0,1,3,5,&7
- November 3 - NO SCHOOL
- November 4 - 0,2,4,6,&8
- November 5 - 0,1,3,5,&7
- November 6 - 0,2,4,6,&8
- The week of Thanksgiving will also see an altered schedule.
Week of November 23 - REMOTE ONLY- November 23 - 0,1,3,5,&7
- November 24 - 0,2,4,6,&8
- November 25-27 - NO SCHOOL
- Also next week we are celebrating “Seniors Week.” Seniors should have received an email that explains the week’s activities with an emphasis on cap and gown ordering. Seniors - check your email from Thursday and have fun participating.
As always, please feel free to call or email me with any questions or concerns. I can be reached at 630-795-8511 or at eschwartz@csd99.org; students are welcome to email me, talk to me in the hallway (from a social distance), or stop by the main office.
Have a great month of November!
Ed Schwartz
Principal