SJHS Paw Print - March 2026

Terrier Families -

We have officially entered the fourth and final quarter of the school year—the home stretch! It’s hard to believe how quickly the year has gone by. This final quarter is an important time for students as they continue building on the learning and growth they’ve made throughout the year, while also holding themselves accountable to finish the year strong.

Over the next few months, our focus remains on maintaining strong academic effort, positive behavior, and consistent attendance. These habits will help ensure a successful finish to the school year. Spring can be a busy and exciting time in our school community, as it includes state testing, culminating classroom projects, field trips, and end-of-year celebrations; there are many opportunities ahead for students to showcase their learning and talents.

As a parent/guardian, encouraging good study habits, maintaining routines at home, and staying connected with teachers can make a big difference during these final months. Thank you for your continued support of our students, staff, and school community. We look forward to the final months and quarter of our school year with the opportunity to continue celebrating the remaining successes of our students!

Mr. Ryan Pirok

Principal

Students will participate in the required state testing starting next week:

• Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR): March 23-27 (6th, 7th, & 8th)
• Illinois Science Assessment: April 13-15 (8th only)

Please see the attached letter that was sent to families at the beginning of March, which goes into great length regarding testing details, etc. If you have not read over it, please do so at your convenience! Note the need for WIRED earbuds.

**In addition, please have students bring something to do while they are not testing...

• Book
• Magazine
• Coloring/Artwork
• Word Search
• Soduku
• Crossword Puzzles
• Other puzzles / brain teasers

If your child chooses to bring a water bottle with them to school, please make sure it is WATER and water ONLY. They should not be drinking anything else out of them (i.e., powder mixes), nor should they be bringing Propel (or any other flavored water), Gatorade (or other electrolyte beverages), soda, tea, energy drinks, coffee (iced or hot), etc. This includes in the bottle AND pre-packaged.

If they would like to pack those items in their lunchbox, please feel free. Otherwise, they should not be present at school.

Thank you for your cooperation.

April 2-6: NO SCHOOL - SPRING BREAK

Please take a moment to view the calendar for next school year (2026-2027). Notice a late start date due to ongoing construction. As always, we appreciate your cooperation in scheduling appointments, vacations, etc. during holidays and days that do not require student attendance. Our goal is to continue decreasing chronic absenteeism, which is when a student misses 10% of the school year, which breaks down to 2 days per month.

The date has been set, and the letter sent to all 8th grade families is attached

Please see the image below for details regarding the annual Fan Club banquet/dance. Membership is required, if you are attending the dinner and dance - if you are unsure whether or not your child is a member, please contact sponsors Adam Schulte (aschulte@stauntonschools.org) and Christy Klein (cklein@stauntonschools.org).

Please see the attached SCHEDULE for the 2026 Track & Field season.

**Please be sure to visit our ATHLETICS/ACTIVITIES WEBPAGE for any and all information, including transportation release forms, if your child needs to leave with someone OTHER than a parent/guardian from an away event/game.

Congratulations to the 7th grade volleyball team on being named IESA Class 3A State Champions! The coaches are Holly Weller and Jeanene Lucykow. The team finished the season 24-2. Way to go, Terriers!!!

As a reminder, students must meet ALL of the criteria in order to attend the end-of-the-semester incentive. In the past, we have traveled to Edison's for the 2nd semester reward trip, but it's possible that our destination could be elsewhere. The purpose of the incentive is to promote and encourage good behavior, grades, and attendance (for attendance, students cannot have unexcused absences; this includes if you've exceeded the 10 parent call-offs due to illness, personal, etc.). The criteria is laid out for you below, and the full policy has been attached for your convenience.

Quarter 3 grades are finalized! If you haven't already done so, please login to Skyward to view your child's grades. Please watch the video if you need any guidance. If you don't know your login information, please reach out to helpdesk@stauntonschools.org.

As we approach the final stretch of the school year, we want to ensure every student is on the right path toward academic success. We are currently reviewing student progress in all core subject areas. Please be advised of the following regarding final grades:

Students who have received a D or F in a core subject may be recommended for mandatory summer school to bridge learning gaps and recover necessary credits. In cases where a student has not met the essential grade-level standards, a formal recommendation for grade retention may be discussed to ensure they have a solid foundation before moving forward.

Our goal is to support your child’s growth and provide the resources they need to thrive. If you have concerns about your child’s current standing, we encourage you to reach out to their teacher as soon as possible to discuss a success plan.

Our last round of athletic/activity pictures will be Friday, March 27 during the regularly scheduled school day. We will be taking the following, so please make sure you have your jersey/uniform:

• 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Volleyball
• JH Scholastic Bowl
• JH Track & Field