Shepherd High School Weekly Update
Good Things
As a Capturing Kids Heart's school we start each class with a few minutes to share Good Things." (See the Launch at the end of this update.
I hope everyone has had a wonderful, sticky, and restful long weekend celebrating the Maple Syrup Festival! Our "Good Thing" this week is the strength of our local community. In Capturing Kids’ Hearts, we focus heavily on building "Relational Capacity" within our four walls, but that capacity is rooted in the traditions we share outside of them. Seeing our students, staff, and families volunteering at the pancake breakfast, marching in the parade, or simply enjoying time together is what makes Shepherd High School so special. These shared experiences are the "glue" (or maybe the syrup!) that holds us together.
For Students: Think of one person you ran into this weekend—a teacher, a teammate, or a neighbor.
- The Action: When you see them on Tuesday, mention it! "Hey, I saw you at the festival—those pancakes were great, right?" A simple shared memory is the fastest way to strengthen a bond.
For Families:
- The Action: Tonight, ask your student: "What was your favorite tradition from this weekend?" Highlighting these moments helps us appreciate the community we are all working together to build.
Handbook Reminders
So far this spring we have had a few things (see below) that have come up and we need to remind everyone about. The text below is copied from the Student Handbook, please review and make adjustments accordingly.
Deliveries
To ensure a safe and focused learning environment, all deliveries for students, including gifts, flowers, food, and packages, must be directed to the building office. Items will not be given to the student until the end of the school day to minimize disruptions to the educational process.
Dress and Grooming
In general, clothing should be clean and appropriate for the climate and the situation. Student dress, cleanliness, or personal appearance that is a threat to the safety, health, or welfare of others; violates any statute, Policy 5101, or the Dress Code; or substantially disrupts the educational environment or that school officials reasonably forecast will substantially disrupt the educational environment, is grounds for remedial or disciplinary action.
The final decision in any situation involving inappropriate attire rests with building administrators.
Students who are dressed inappropriately will be asked to change clothing immediately. If necessary, parents will be called to bring appropriate clothing, students can use extra clothing provided by the District, or the student may be sent home to change. Repeated dress code violations may result in more severe consequences.
Dress Code
Tops must not be see-through and must have straps or sleeves and must cover the student’s entire torso from armpit to armpit and to the waistline of the student’s pants. Pants, shorts, and skirts must have an inseam at least 4 inches in length; and rips or tears in the pants, shorts, and skirts must be below this area. Footwear must be worn. Clothing may not display material that:
Is materially and substantially disruptive or that school officials can reasonably forecast will create a substantial disruption;
Is obscene, sexually explicit, indecent, or lewd;
Promotes the use of or advertises illegal substances, including but not limited to substances illegal for minors;
Incites violence;
Contains “fighting words”;
Constitutes a true threat of violence;
Demonstrates hate group association/affiliation or uses hate speech targeting groups based on their membership in a protected class; or
Displays nipples, genitals, or buttocks.
Unless administration publishes an exception in advance for a specific holiday or spirit day, students are prohibited from wearing:
Hats, hoods, or other headwear;
Trench coats, or bulky coats;
Masks, costumes, or costume accessories;
Flags.
Students who represent the District at an official or school-sponsored function or public event (e.g., athletic teams, bands, choirs, and other groups) may be required to follow specific dress requirements as a condition of participation or attendance.
Driving and Parking Personal Vehicles
Student driving and parking on District property is a privilege, not a right, that may be revoked at any time. Students who drive to school must obey the following rules:
Students may not move their vehicles, sit in, or be around their vehicles during the school day without permission from administration.
Students may not drive carelessly or with excessive speed on school grounds.
By driving to school and parking on school grounds, students and parents consent to having that vehicle searched when school officials have reasonable suspicion that a search will reveal a violation of school rules, Board Policy, or law.
Students must park in the student parking lot/spaces outside of the gymnasium entrance.
Over the past three months, our NASA TechRise Challenge team has been hard at work meeting with engineers, building prototypes, and creating models to prepare for their space-bound experiment. They are now focused on building the final capsule that will be launched into space this summer. They are running computer-simulated test flights to check sensors, gather data, and ensure everything works perfectly.
Great Work Alivia, Elijah, Blake, Eddie, Logan, and Brayden. These BlueJays are taking their ideas from the classroom all the way to the stars!
Dear Parents and Guardians,
The Shepherd High School Student Film Festival is coming up on Friday, May 8, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the Shepherd High School Auditorium.
Students in Film Review have been hard at work bringing their short films to life. Over the course of the trimester, they have written screenplays, planned scenes, costumes, and props, and begun filming, editing, and refining their work for the big screen. This festival is the culmination of their creativity, collaboration, and storytelling.
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m., and there will be a $3 suggested donation at the door.
We hope you will join us for a special evening celebrating our student filmmakers and their work. We are excited to share their films with you and the community.
Sincerely,
Mr. Henry Van Loon
English Teacher
Shepherd High School
Shepherd High School Daily Schedule
*these dates/times are subject to change.
Launch
As we prepare to head back to school this Tuesday, I want to leave you with a thought inspired by the festival. As we all know, it takes about 40 gallons of sap to create just one gallon of maple syrup. It is a process of patience, heat, and persistence.
Our school year is very much the same. We are entering the home stretch of the spring semester, and sometimes the "boiling down" process—the studying, the testing, and the daily effort—can feel like a lot of work for a slow result.
Your Launch Challenge:
Be Persistent: When the work gets tough this week, remember the maple tree. Great things take time and a lot of steady effort to produce.
Bring the Spirit Back: Let’s take the friendliness and community spirit we felt at the festival and bring it into our hallways on Tuesday morning.
The festival might be over, but the "sweetness" of our school culture is something we create every single day through our Social Contract. Let's make this short week count.
See you Tuesday morning—let's make it a great "re-entry!"