October Newsletter 2026

The end of the first quarter is quickly approaching! We are encouraging all students and parents to be monitoring grades and communicating with the staff if there are any questions or concerns. Read below about Parent-Teacher Conferences and other important information. Go Indians!

Tuesday, October 13th: Fall Picture Retake Day

Thursday, October 29th: End of first nine weeks

Thursday, October 29th: WELLNESS DAY (Wellness Day Schedule)

Friday, October 30th: Teacher In-Service (No School)

Friday, November 6th: First quarter grade cards posted on ProgressBook

Parent-Teacher conferences are scheduled to take place Thursday, November 5th & Tuesday, November 10th from 4-7:15pm. Conferences can be conducted either in person, virtually through google meet, zoom, or by phone. This approach allows for flexibility in meeting/communicating with families. Please click on the PTC link to book an appointment with a teacher.

Students and parents interested in learning more about College Credit Plus for the 27-28 school year are encouraged to attend a meeting on Tuesday, November 10th at 6 pm in Room 160 of the High School. An informational slide show will be presented first, followed by a time for students and parents to meet directly with CCP representatives from local colleges. Click the picture below to learn more about CCP!

Please be sure to pay your school fees at your earliest convenience. Please keep in mind that seniors do not walk in the graduation ceremony and diplomas are held until all fees/fines are paid in full. You can pay with cash or check in the East Office, or you can pay with a card online at PaySchoolsCentral. Email any fee questions to Mrs. Rigali at erinr@limashawnee.com

• Direct Attendance line: 419-998-8003. Please leave voicemail.
• Vacation forms: A vacation form must be filled out any time a student goes out of town for any reason such as participating in a club activity, dance competition, etc.
• Unexcused absences: Attendance alerts for UNEXCUSED absences will be sent out through text and email. Students will remain UNEXCUSED unless the parent/guardian contacts the attendance office. Contact must be made with the attendance office no later than the day the student returns to school. If contact is not made the student will remain UNEXCUSED.
• Midterm exams and final exams: Vacation days will not be approved for midterm exams days and final exam days. Midterm exams are January 14th and January 15th. Senior Final Exams are May 20th and May 21st. Final exams are May 27th and May 28th. Exams dates are subject to change.

• 9th and 11th grade students will soon start their state required routine vision and hearing screenings. If you wish to opt out of this screening for your student please send an email to putmana@limashawnee.com

• We have partnered with Health Partners of Western Ohio again this year. If you would like your student to be seen during these clinics: Dental - January 5, 2027 and Vision - April 8, 2027. Please complete the paperwork on the school website under health and wellness. Completed forms can be returned to me at school or send form to my email at putmana@limashawnee.com

Students, if you have not joined your Google Classroom for your grade level, please do so ASAP. The guidance department will be posting information and updates in your grade level classrooms throughout the school year.

Class of 2027 code: afspz6w

Class of 2028: vsjnjxh

Class of 2029 code: 453luvsj

Class of 2030: gjpudlfc

The Explorer program is designed to provide positive and meaningful real-world career experiences to High School Students. Participants will be able to make informed decisions about future careers and determine if a particular healthcare career is right is the right choice. Explorers will:

• Participate in hands-on experiences
  
• Network with healthcare professionals
  
• Learn about the latest technology in health care
  
• Learn about educational requirements needed
  
• Practice leadership skills
  

Attention sophomores: Since 1958, HOBY Youth Leadership has provided transformative leadership development training to over 500,000 high school students around the world. Our seminars guide students through three phases of leadership—personal, group, and service. These seminars educate 8,500+ students each year as they embrace a better sense of their leadership abilities, tangible ways to lead diverse groups, and a challenge to serve their communities.

Click here for more information. See your school counselor if you're interested in attending.

Explore your program of interest by participating in the new “Career Discovery Series” at Rhodes State. During these program specific visits, potential students and guests will get a hands-on experience with the instructors who teach within your desired major. Also, during these visits, you will meet your student success navigator, take a campus tour, and learn about the enrollment process. Cick below for more information!

Please see the message below from GROB if you are interested in their apprenticeship program after graduation:

We are thrilled to announce that we are now accepting applications for the 2027 GROB apprenticeship class! Applications can be submitted on our website (see link below). The deadline to apply is March 30th, however, we review applications on a rolling basis. The sooner students apply, the sooner they can go through the application process.

The GROB apprenticeship program is an opportunity to learn an in-demand trade, earn a debt-free college degree, and start your career at a world-class machine tool manufacturer - all while being paid! No experience in manufacturing? None needed! The combination of GROB's in-house training program and your college classes will prepare you to become a highly-skilled mechanical or electrical technician at GROB in just two years.

We encourage you to access your student’s account on a regular basis to follow their academic progress over the course of the school year. Paper copies of mid-term reports or quarter reports will not be mailed out to parents unless you formally request that we do so annually. Please call or email Mrs. Jennifer Minnick in the Guidance Office at (419) 998-8004 or minnickj@limashawnee.com for help logging into your parent ProgressBook account.

Most letters and reminders being sent from the high school will now be sent by email. Please make sure you have provided an updated email address in Final Forms, and be sure to check your email for informational letters from the high school over the course of the year. Paper mailings will not be mailed out to students and/or parents unless you formally request that we do so annually. Please call or email Mrs. Tina Hershberger in the West Office at (419) 998-8001 or hershbergert@limashawnee.com to request paper mailings.

Please be sure to check our webpage regularly for the latest news and updates regarding events and information for this school year. We also encourage you to sign up for the Shawnee Local School District app on Google Play or the App Store.

A new scholarship was created to benefit our seniors, starting with the Class of 2022: The Lima Shawnee Scholarship Fund. If you are interested in donating to the fund, please click the image below and follow them on Facebook at Lima Shawnee Scholarship Fund for updates and more information. We appreciate all efforts to pay it forward to our seniors. Thank you for leaving your legacy on our community.

• Take the ACT at least one more time.
• Research careers, programs, and colleges that align with your interests and future goals.
• Meet with your school counselor for a credit check and discuss senior profile.
• Learn about FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
• Begin applying to colleges through their online applications. Many schools use the Common Application OR individual applications on their website.
• Request letters of recommendation from staff members for college applications and scholarships.
• Begin scholarship search. Check the guidance website for a list of local scholarships.
• Are you an athlete? Are you interested in playing sports at the collegiate level? You need to register for NCAA Eligibility Center and send transcripts. Click here for more information.
• CAP & GOWN ORDERS - A Herff Jones representative met with seniors on October 6 to pass out graduation packets to order cap and gowns. He will be returning to Apollo (before school) and Shawnee (during lunch periods) on Tuesday, October 13 to collect orders.
• Senior students and their parents are invited to attend a financial aid session scheduled for Thursday, November 5th at 6pm in Room 160 of the High School. A local financial aid expert will present information to help parents and students understand the financial aid process, including the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) guidelines.

Click here to view a list of community resources in Lima.

Ohio CareLine: 1-800-720-9616

Crisis Text Line: Text "4hope" to 741741

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

Hopeline: 1-800-567-HOPE

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE

Youth Crisis Hotline: 1-800-448-4663

The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386

Our job as a guidance department is to support, advocate, and care for the needs of the whole student. We assist students with academic concerns, friendship troubles, study skills, personal problems, college/career planning, etc.