The Polaris Express

• Stressed about studying for finals? Want to help your students study smarter? This week's video announcement was all about giving students brain-based strategies to help them prepare more effectively and productively for their final assessments. Check out the video and this infographic with a brief description of the strategies.
• Link to 411 Video
• Link to the Study Hack Infographic

Final exams and culminating assignments are an important opportunity for students to demonstrate their understanding and growth, and we believe strongly in the positive impact of being present and engaged during this time.

To support consistency and fairness for all students, please note that we no longer use a pre-arranged absence form to communicate anticipated absences, and this includes semester final exams. If a student is absent during a final exam period or periods, they may use the make-up exam time scheduled on the last day of finals or arrange to complete their exams upon returning from Winter Break.

We ask that students who know they will miss a final communicate directly with their teachers prior to Winter Break to schedule a make-up time. Teachers’ final grades are due on January 9, 2026, and because this is so soon after we return on January 6, students who complete exams after break may see an initial grade based on work already in the gradebook. In those cases, teachers will submit a grade change once make-up exams are complete.

We understand that some absences are unavoidable during this time, and we appreciate your efforts to minimize them whenever possible. Our goal is to promote high attendance on exam days-just as we do throughout the year- and to ensure that all students have the opportunity to demonstrate their learning in a fair and equitable way.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we finish the semester strong.

Sincerely,

Shanna Lewis

Scholarship Opportunity from the Rotary Club of St Charles-Geneva!

The St. Charles-Geneva Rotary Club is so excited that you are applying for Rotary

scholarships to community college or trade school. Studies at a 4-year

program/university are not eligible. There are two levels of scholarships. One comes

from the St. Charles-Geneva Rotary Club and is $500-- $1000. From the recipients of

the St. Charles-Geneva Rotary Club Scholarship, two will be chosen and sent to Rotary

District 6440 for consideration of its Rotary CTE Scholarship of $1500.

Interested? View these two resources: Scholarship Application, Informational Letter

When arriving at our campus in the morning to drop off your student, please use the diagram below to help create a safe and efficient routine in our parking lot. In the two red lanes below, please pull up and when the traffic flow stops, have your student get out of the car and walk safely via a crosswalk or sidewalk. Please refrain from waiting to get to the front of the building to let out your student. We recognize it is cold right now, but this significantly slows down the morning routine. As a result, students are late to first period class.

Stay tuned for updated college visits

Peer Tutoring

We will see you in January!!!

January 14

January 21

January 28

• Meets in the LRC at 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm -- Room
• We are also online in a Google Meet, which is good for those students who can't get a ride to school, who have a quick question, or who are absent from school.
• Students just need to put the nickname "peertutoringscn" into the code/nickname spot.
• Students do not need to sign-up ahead of time, but they are welcome to email me. If they are in search of a specific subject/class, and I can check our tutor roster to see if we have coverage for that subject/class.

You are welcome to join PT, too! If you are looking to offer some after-hours office hours, feel free to join us in the LRC Wednesday nights.

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To ensure we are empowering all families with information throughout the school year in case their household circumstances change, please include the following in your upcoming newsletter. "Has there has been a change in circumstance in your household since the beginning of the school year, you are welcome to complete a Free and Reduced Lunch application to see if you qualify for additional support. These applications can be completed at any time throughout the academic year."

NSLP Application Form (English)

NSLP Application Form (Spanish)

There will not be a December PTO meeting. Our next meeting will be on January 6th @ 6:30pm-7:30pm in the LRC.

POST PROM INFORMATION

Planning for Post Prom began immediately after Prom in May. We are still looking for "shadows" to learn the ropes for next year. If you've been thinking about getting more involved, now is the perfect time! Volunteers to head up committees such as: Food, Prizes, Security, etc. Post Prom planning happens at every monthly meeting, so please join us October 7th and bring your ideas and creativity!

Email: donna.nowak@d303.org
Website: north.d303.org
Location: 255 Red Gate Road, St. Charles, IL, USA
Phone: 331.228.4400