November 2023 Newsletter

As March unfolds, we welcome the warmer weather and the promise of new beginnings. It's hard to believe how swiftly the school year has flown by, and now we find ourselves entering the final stretch with enthusiasm and excitement.

Click on the activities link to see upcoming events.

Activities

• Dr. McDowell will post a Friday update on the district’s Facebook page and school website.

Ways to Connect with Crete Public Schools

• District Social Media

• Website

• www.creteschools.org

• Facebook

• @cretepublicschools

• Twitter

• @CPSchools

• Youtube

• Crete Public Schools

ACT and PreACT: Juniors and Sophomores will be taking the ACT March 26th and PreACT March 27th. It is required by the state that all students take this exam. We have been preparing students in core content classes and using the PrepScholar platform to ensure they have the skills to do their best. Our goal is to help each student be prepared for this test, so that we can demonstrate the academic capabilities of our Crete High School students.

Fletcher cleaves guest speaker. 11-12 grade 12:30-1:50 and 9-10th grade 2:05-3:20. Fletcher was a former student of Mrs. Harrifeld from Memphis and had a promising athletic career until he was struck head on by a texting driver and became a quadriplegic. His message is about overcoming your obstacles in life and distracted driving. Please take a minute to view his website for more information. He will also be presenting that evening for all grades and our community. Please help spread the word.

https://www.fletchercleaves.com/

Activities: Spring sports have just gotten started and we have a lot students representing Crete athletically. We are excited to see the Cardinals compete this spring.

Musical: Crete High students are performing the musical "High School Musical". There will be three performances on March 15th, 16th, and 17th. This is sure to be an amazing experience for all that attend, and there just might be surprise performances by Mrs. Harrifeld and Mr. Bohling. Please click on the link above to get your tickets today.

New Communication Tool: The district will be rolling out a new communication tool called Aptegy. Apptegy brings a refreshing and innovative approach to our communication needs. What sets them apart is their mobile-first strategy. This means we can now send mass communications, post updates on social media, and manage our website content, all from the convenience of our phones through a single integrated platform. Go to id.edurooms.com/signup or download the Crete Public Schools app.

Parents and Guardians of high school students,

We’re already thinking about summer programming at the high school. Credit Recovery and Cardinal Camps will take place from June 3 to June 28. Here’s what our summer schedule will look like:

Cardinal Scholars / Credit Recovery

8am-12pm

This summer’s credit recovery program will take place from June 3 to June 28, 8am-12pm. If your student has failed a core class, like their English, math, science or social studies class, they might be eligible to recover those credits this summer. Students will be required to work in the school building, in person, for at least the first 2 weeks, if not until they complete their course.

Sign up form: https://forms.gle/g1PsGT73j654KWXd8

Cardinal Camps

12:30 - 2:00pm Session 1

2:15 - 3:45pm Session 2

Check www.creteschools.org for camp listings and descriptions.

Breakfast and lunch will be served at the middle school building. Breakfast will be 8:00 to 8:30am. Lunch will be 12:00 to 12:30pm.

Please contact Mrs. Harrifeld at the high school office with any questions you might have. Our number is 402-826-5811. Thank you!

We want to stress the significance of consistent attendance for your child's success. Here are some reasons why attendance is so important:

• Academic Success: Regular attendance ensures active participation, better comprehension of lessons and a strong educational foundation.

• Social and Emotional Growth: School offers more than academics. It's where friendships blossom, communication skills develop and a sense of belonging forms.

• Routine and Responsibility: A steady school routine teaches time management and responsibility—essential life skills.

• Teacher-Student Relationship: Regular interaction helps teachers meet your child's individual needs and build meaningful relationships.

• Graduation: Students at Crete High must pass 220 credit hours to graduate, this includes 4 years of English, 3 years of math, 3 years of science, 3 years of Social Studies, and 75 additional elective credits.

To improve your child's attendance:

• Set Routine: Create a consistent morning schedule allowing ample time for prep.

• Open Communication: Talk to your child about school, addressing any concerns promptly.

• Positive Outlook: Highlight exciting daily activities to create enthusiasm for school.

• Health Priority: Ensure rest and a healthy lifestyle to reduce avoidable sick days.

• Plan Accordingly: Schedule vacations and appointments outside school hours.

• Celebrate Progress: Recognize your child's accomplishments to maintain motivation.

• Lead by Example: Demonstrate commitment and punctuality in your own responsibilities.

Additionally, please note:

• Attendance Monitoring: Once your child reaches 5% of school days missed (8.5 days), you will receive a letter from the school as a reminder of the importance of consistent attendance.

• State Notification: If your child misses 10% of the school year (17 days), the state will be notified as part of our commitment to meeting attendance reporting requirements.

• County Attorney Notification: If you child misses 20 days, they will be reported to the county attorney of possible additional interventions through the court system.

The following students were students of the week during January. Congratulations to them for being positive representatives of Crete High School.

• Chloe Mejia Vicente
• Karin Zapata-Ramos
• Jaylin Johnson
• Diana Gomez
• Bryan Le
• Gloria Ixtabalan
• Jose Reynoso Lucas
• Dana Soberanes
• Ali McDowell

Juniors and Seniors are using PrepScholar to help them prepare for the ACT test. Currently students are doing this every Tuesday and Thursday in their Cardinal Time. Students can work on PrepScholar at home or any time they want to. PrepScholar will help these students be prepared for the ACT and it will help them improve their scores which can lead to additional scholarship money. You can log onto PrepScholar by visiting the website: prepscholar.com.