News from the Ridge

Beginning and Intermediate Band/Choir/Orchestra - December 8th, 6pm-8pm

Intermediate and Advanced. Band/Choir/Orchestra- December 10th, 6pm - 8pm

• Please encourage students to sign up for after-school tutoring on Thursdays! Students must fill out this Google Form to attend. It must be submitted on Wednesday before 12:00 PM in order to be eligible to attend.

PARENT TEACHER STUDENT ASSOCIATION (PTSA)

The PTSA is excited to say THANK YOU to Shortridge teachers and staff on Monday, December 8th with a coffee cart and pastries! This is always a huge hit in the winter, and we still need help to make it happen! Consider a donation in any amount to help raise $500 for the coffee cart and donuts. Thanks for your support!

Cheddar Up (https://teacher-coffee-cart-winter-2025.cheddarup.com)

Venmo (@Melissa-Williams-80).

Mark your calendar for Thursday, January 22nd and join us at the next PTSA meeting! Check out our LinkTree for all the info!

https://linktr.ee/shortridgehighschoolptsa

BAND BOOSTERS

The student musicians are busy preparing for the winter band concerts this week! Check out the schedule sent by Mr. Lapka, and join us on Monday and Wednesday to listen to all of the talented groups!

Want ongoing band updates and info? Join the Band app at https://tinyurl.com/BandBoosters-bandappinvite or email us at shortridgebandprograms@gmail.com with any questions!

Help Shortridge seniors purchase and display yard signs celebrating their graduation.

We are using Cheddar Up for this project. Click here to donate!

Important Senior Dates can be found here. This document is updated regularly.

We are getting busy in The Future Center holding FAFSA events, Scholarship Workshops and 21st Century Scholars events. It always helps to calm the nerves and add some fun to the work to have snacks and drinks available. If you are interested in helping to keep the water cooler, coffee station and snack basket full, please check out our Amazon Wishlist. Of course, if you can find similar products locally to send in at better prices, we will definitely accept drop off donations! We also have other items on the list that more durable products to support our events and activities.

Our partners at INvestEd publish a calendar of all the locations they will be offering in-person support to families. There are several schools in Indianapolis overing evening events this week and beyond. Check out this calendar here.

Reminder - Engagement with the FAFSA is a graduation requirement. Also- we are entering scholarship season. Many scholarship applications will ask for the results of the FAFSA application. The 2026-2027 FAFSA (Federal Application for Federal Student Aid) is now open!

Students in every grade level can start searching for Scholarships in the Xello platform under the College Planning Section. Check out this video or the attached document to walk through the steps with your student to help them find some great opportunities to support their post secondary education goals.

Fall Break too short for a college tour trip? Running out of time to visit colleges? Are you and your student trying to narrow down what you want to see in person? Try out these to options for learning about different colleges including virtual and video tours.

Campus Tours

The College Tour

Also - Remind your student that Xello is a great tool that has lessons, assignments and tools designed to help them learn more about what them want to study in college and which institutions could offer those majors.

Exploradoor is an online service for teens to connect with programs and experiences, including internships, that can help them better prepare for life. Exploradoor.com is a free resource that simplifies outreach and connectivity among teens, their families, schools and program providers. With program information consolidated into one searchable platform, Exploradoor.com strives to improve teen engagement and preparedness so that they are more informed and confident about their choices after high school.

Exploradoor is operated by Exploradoor, Inc. an Indiana nonprofit corporation organized and operated as a Code Section 501(c)(3) organization# 86-2728466.

Exploradoor Inc. is an Indiana non-profit dedicated to equitable access of teens, especially those from marginalized communities, to career/job/skill development experiences that help them prepare for life.

Please email any questions or comments to discoveries@exploradoor.com

SHS school social workers distribute food to students and families every two weeks. Our stock is getting low! Please consider helping out by checking out our amazon wishlist. We will also always accept donations at the front office of nonperishable items or cash/check which allow us to shop at Gleaners and stretch our dollars further.

Contact an SHS school social worker with any questions:

Chelsea English - englishc@myips.org

Linda Temme - temmel@myips.org

Meet the Shortridge Student Service Team

Our student media class is working to 'tell our story' in this year's book with wonderful pictures and text!

Click on this LINK. (EntourageYearbooks.com)

Order yours now for the best price!

(Price increases after winter break, and again after spring break)

No books available after sales close on May 30.

Books print in the summer and can be picked up at SHS in August. We will contact you if you are no longer attending.

Sophomore Parents/Guardians

• Students will be wrapping up Phase 2 of PP this week during ATL. Teachers will be conducting Academic Honesty Meeting #2 and students will be working on finishing up Phase 2 as you meet with other students.

Senior Parents/Guardians

• Seniors- Group 1 IB Language IO will take place Jan. 14-16 and Jan. 21-23.

• This is an official recording that is uploaded to IB.

• IB Registration-Seniors have been officially registered for IB exams. Mock exams are Feb. 23rd-Feb. 27th and Official Exams begin April 28th. Please mark your calendars for planning purposes..

Here you can find the IB Deadlines Class of 2026. Be sure to scroll down to Year 2 (Senior Year deadlines).

Junior Parents/Guardians,

• Here you can find the two-year IB Deadlines Class of 2027.

Please reach out to Jenny Bielefeld (bielefeldj@myips.org), DP Coordinator, with any questions.

Do you know someone shopping for a high school? Appoints are now open. Share this link - Visit the Shortridge Campus

https://websites.eventlink.com/s/indianapolis-shortridge

Or search for “Shortridge Athletics” wherever you download apps

Get #GameDay ready with NEW gear from Indianapolis Shortridge's store!

Click here to shop!

Click the link below to learn more about the priorities in Indianapolis Public Schools.

https://myips.org/ips-2025-legislative-priorities/

All potential volunteers (for schools and districtwide) must complete an Online Volunteer Application every school year. We can always use parent helpers! Visit myips.org to register to be a volunteer today!

Transportation: How to register, who to contact with questions, schedules, routes, partners and special circumstances.

Arrival/Dismissal Procedures: Please partner with us to ensure our students and surrounding community are safe during arrival and dismissal at SHS!

Dress Code: Uniform policy, core values, requirements, restrictions, enforcement.

Food Service: Menus, nutritional & allergen information, modified meal request process, policies, initiatives & more.

Student Technology: Policies, agreements and information about accessing PowerSchool to monitor attendance and grades, Xello to discuss career and college planning, and school messenger to manage your communication preferences.

Textbook fees: IPS currently does not collect textbook fees based off of additional funding from the state of Indiana.

School Year Calendar: This link will take you to a digital calendar for the district.

Student Code of Conduct: . The Student Code of Conduct sets the standards for student and adult behavior. It outlines rights, responsibilities and consequences for inappropriate behavior.

Health Issues: Health services and school nurses are an integral part of the IPS school community, ensuring the health and safety of students and staff.

PowerSchool is the place to make sure your contact information is up to date; set when, where and how often you want to receive messages from Shortridge; transportation details and view report card

Instagram and Twitter provide quick notices and reminders as well as showcase our activities.

SHS Comprehensive Community Calendar.
This calendar can also be accessed from the Shortridge website. It will be found in the
‘Navigation Menu’ on the homepage.

Our Website, is an excellent starting place for many questions.

In collaboration with our transportation partner, First Student, Indianapolis Public Schools is relaunching FirstView®, a real-time GPS vehicle tracking and student transportation monitoring platform.

With FirstView, parents and caregivers can download the secure, easy-to-use vehicle tracking mobile app that will allow you to stay easily connected with your student(s) daily trips.

• See the real-time vehicle location via GPS and track its progress.

• Easy access to vehicle details as well as updates regarding any changes.

• Receive multiple distanced-based ETA notifications when the vehicle is getting close.

• Set-up family members and caregivers to receive trip email alerts.

• Dedicated customer support team for all app-related questions.

Check out the attached flyer below for more information.

If you have questions about this content or something that is missing, feel free to reach out to Lori Armstrong at armstrlo@myips,org or by phone call or text at 317-690-7797

Andrea Salmon

Humble and Proud Principal of Shortridge High School

Email: Salmona@myips.org

https://twitter.com/shortridge

https://www.instagram.com/shortridgehighschool/

Part of Indianapolis Public Schools, Shortridge High School educates students to think freely, demonstrate intellectual vitality, and address needs and realities greater than themselves.