Shepherd High School Weekly Update

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.)

Our "Good Thing" this week is the incredible versatility our students displayed. Often, the world tries to put us in a box—you’re either an "academic," an "artist," or "someone who works with their hands." This week, our students proved they are both/and.

We saw students pivot from hours of intense focus on the SAT/PSAT to picking up throughout the village, and standing tall to Senior Projects.

• For Students: Take a moment to realize that you are more than a test score, more than a project, and more than a volunteer hour. You are a multi-faceted person with the power to impact your community in many ways.

  • The Action: Share one "Good Thing" from this past week that wasn't related to a grade. Did you see a friend lead well? Did you feel proud of how you spoke during your presentation?

• For Families: We often focus on the "big events," but the "Good Thing" is the growth happening in between.

  • The Action: Tonight, affirm the character trait you saw your student use this week. Instead of "Good job on the test," try: "I was so impressed by your persistence during such a long week."

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:

1. Students may not move their vehicles, sit in, or be around their vehicles during the school day without permission from administration.

2. Students may not drive carelessly or with excessive speed on school grounds.

3. 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.

4. 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

*these dates/times are subject to change.

As we prepare to return to a "normal" schedule tomorrow, I want to leave you with a challenge regarding Legacy and Influence.

This past week, our seniors modeled what it looks like to finish strong, and our underclassmen modeled what it looks like to show up and give their best effort under pressure. But the Community Clean-up was perhaps the most important lesson of all: our environment is only as good as the care we put into it.

Your Launch Challenge for this week:

• Own Your Space: You don't need a "Community Clean-up Day" to make this school better. If you see a piece of trash in the hall, pick it up. If you see a peer sitting alone, invite them in.

• Carry the Confidence: If you could handle the pressure of the SATs or the nerves of a Senior Presentation, you can handle the challenges of a Tuesday morning math quiz or a difficult conversation.

We’ve proven this week that we have the brains to pass the tests and the heart to serve the community. Now, let’s take that same "All-In" attitude into our classrooms tomorrow morning.

Lead with heart and finish with excellence, BlueJays! See you tomorrow.