News from the Ridge
Shortridge High School News and Updates
October 11th, 2020
Dear Friends of Shortridge,
We are looking forward to welcoming our students back to the Ridge, staring the 19th!
Oct 12-16 are instructional days for ALL students:
- LInk to Oct 12-16 Schedule and Expectations
- Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday--Students start the day in Advisory (ATL).
- Thursday and Friday--Students log in to Schoology. Read the Announcement providing directions and links. Important to log in and complete the activities for attendance and preparing for the start of school. We will email and post updates in Schoology.
Look for a mid-week News from the Ridge Wednesday, October 14th with reminders and updates about the start of in-person instruction starting October 19th:
- Procedures and Policies to ensure our students, teachers, staff, and families' safety and wellness.
- In-person and Remote activities for helping our students transition to in-person instruction.
- For updates and additional information on Shortridge's remote and in-person plan, visit our complete FAQ found here.
As we welcome our students back, our number one priority continues to be the Safety and Wellness of our Students, Staff, and Families.
Please--Wear a Mask and take the necessary precautions to stay safe and healthy. And follow the COVID-19 Screening for Parents before you send your child to school.
An additional change in policy due to COVID-19 and the district's health and safety practices, all visitors, including parents, must have a confirmed appointment with a staff member to enter Shortridge. Upon entry, please be prepared to present the staff member's name, department, and your appointment time.
Below you will find additional updates, celebrations, and important information from the Ridge. If you have anything you would like to share, please email Malinda Scott, our FACE coordinator.
Go Blue Devils!
Dennis Thomas
Principal
PARENTS CHECK YOUR MAIL FOR A POSTCARD ABOUT THE WEEK OF OCTOBER 19, 2020
IPS begins a phased-in approach for in-person learning
- The week of Oct. 12 will be full remote learning for all students.
- The week of Oct. 19 begins Hybrid Instruction at Shortridge
For more details on the return to in-person learning, including information on the required daily screening checks, the revised IPS dress code and meal pickup visit the IPS Back to School page.
Families can also learn about the many health and safety protocols in place in the IPS Health and Safety Plan. Don’t forget, masks are required for all staff and students in Grades K–12. One reusable mask will be provided to each student and staff member.
World Changing 101
Shortridge Speaker Series:
Archived Friday Connects
- Nine13Sports interview Tom Hanley
- World Changing 101: Ashley Toruño
- 9/11 Presentations-Introductory Reflection from Mr. Zummo, Pre-recorded Interview with Pete Cowden
- Ms. Cory Interviews Two Shortridge Grads (share their SHS experiences)
- PIT week recordings (link to September 27th 2020 newsletter)
- Shortridge Racial Equity Summit: Shortridge Racial Equity Forum and Dr. Payne's interview
Academics
DP and CP Updates:
It’s a time of year when 11th and 12th graders (and lots of other people) have a lot of work and obligations to juggle. Here are some reminders aimed at helping with prioritizing, organization, and stress management:
Keep a schedule, with times blocked out to do specific tasks.
Be reasonable about how much time you can devote to your work. If you have four available evening hours, it is not reasonable to think you will be able to work productively for all four of those hours. You need exercise, food, water, self care, social time, and sleep. Decide how much time you actually have for the work, then decide which tasks are most important and how much time you can devote to those tasks.
Plan 15 minutes of break time for every hour of work.
Reward yourself for tasks completed. You can even turn working into a game.
Do the most important work first: your college application, IB internal assessments, extended essay/reflective project, and class summative assessments are important and should be prioritized over other work.
Communicate with your teacher if you are behind or if you need help prioritizing the work in his or her class.
If you have anxieties distracting you from the task in front of you, jot them down on a notepad, so you can let them go and keep working on the task. Incorporate any action items that would alleviate the anxieties noted into your schedule as appropriate.
MYP Updates: Hello MYP Families (and especially 10th-grade families!),
Just a quick note to remind you that I've uploaded TONS of new resources to the Personal Project resource folder. This includes more videos, access to my own Personal Project Model workbook, a detailed view (still draft form!) of the calendar for ATL this year, and much more! Also, if you're curious to see my own progress on my model project, follow the Instagram account I'm using as my Process Journal (a required component of the project for all students): @merlin_makes_shs. I'll be posting my own (beginner) woodworking stuff there as well as guidance/details about my goals, criteria, and final product/outcome for my project.
More importantly, I got a great clarifying question from a grade 10 student that I wanted to share here along with my response: "Hi, Mr. Merle. Is the workbook for the Personal Project something I turn in for a grade or is it just to help us plan? What are the deliverables for the Personal Project that are for a grade/required to complete for IB? Meaning: what do I turn in and what is the end product?"
And my response: "That's a great question - I'll mention this in my next video.
As a matter of technicality, the workbook isn't part of the official submission of your project. That said, the Process Journal IS required and if you've looked at the guide for writing the report you'll notice that you have to include 10 excerpts from your Process Journal that show evidence of what you did for the project. You can use pieces of the workbook as part of your excerpts in your report because they are a part of your Process Journal.
As far as what I turn in to the IB at the end goes, here's the list:
- Your written report (keep in mind that your process journal becomes a PART of your report)
- A summary of your Academic Honesty Meetings with your supervisor (which are reported in Manage Bac - I have a video on this already)
- A piece of "evidence" - typically a photo of your product/outcome, a really great excerpt from your process journal or evidence of you presenting at the expo.
As always, feel free to reach out with any questions about MYP or Personal Project to merleg@myips.org
This month, our IB Learner Profile focus is Caring
Technology Updates and Resources
Student Services
Shortridge Student Service Team Overview (new video)
Feel Good Friday -- weekly Mindful updates.
Athletics
Blue Devils upcoming events:
- Volleyball finishes the regular season at Pike Monday, starting at 5:30
Sectionals are upon us! Upcoming dates for these are:
- The football team finished the regular season, and the Blue Devils open Sectionals against Beech Grove at Home.
- Volleyball begins their Sectional Tournament next Thursday, October 15th, at 7:30 vs. Hamilton Heights at Bishop Chatard.
- Cross Country Regionals Saturday, Oct 17th
Our Shortridge Booster Club is a wonderful organization that supports Blue Devil Athletics through social events and fundraising. Our athletic teams benefit greatly from their support, and meeting with them every 4-6 weeks is a wonderful way to meet new people within our Shortridge community. If interested, please reach out to shsdevilboosters@gmail.com
Craig Huljak
Athletic Director
Future Center
FAFSA
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) opened on October 1. Any student planning to attend a 2 or 4 year college must complete this document in order to determine eligibility for student financial aid. To complete this document, go to fafsa.ed.gov
Shortridge Financial Aid Night – October 27 – 6:00pm
FAFSA Friday events offered through the Future Center
Key College Deadline Approaching
Many Indiana flagship colleges have a November 1 deadline to be eligible for merit based aid and other scholarships. The Shortridge Future Center encourages scholars to complete college applications by this date in order to not miss out on scholarship opportunities. We also encourage scholars to check individual college websites for additional deadlines and scholarship opportunities.
SAT School Day for Seniors – October 27
IPS Will offer an SAT School Day for all seniors on October 27. Scholars can begin preparing for this test through Khan Academy. The Future Center will also hold test prep opportunities throughout the month of October.
Building Your Personal Brand Virtual Event – November 11
A free event, featuring keynotes from brand builders and creators, discussions on advocacy and social capital. Also, big prize giveaways! Students and parents interested in learning more and to register visit this link
Key College Deadline Approaching Many Colleges have a November 1 deadline to be eligible for merit-based and other scholarships. The Shortridge Future Center encourages scholars to complete college applications by this date in order to not miss out on scholarship opportunities. It is always encouraged for students to check individual college websites for additional deadlines and scholarship opportunities.
Interested families, please email Mrs. Harris, Future Center Coordinator at harria@myips.org
Andrea Harris – Future Center Coordinator – harria@myips.org – 317-426-8423
Christie Powell – Future Center Resource Associate – powellc@myips.org – 317-732-5088
Chris Speckman – Writing Specialist – speckmanc@myips.org
PTSA -- Parent, Teacher, and Student Association
FACE -- Family and Community Engagement
Rapid Re-Employment
The Employ Indy and Ascend Indiana online portal, Ascend Network, provides a centralized location for dislocated workers to connect with available jobs or training opportunities.
Listen | Apply for Rapid Re-Employment
Below is the link to Indy Rent Assistance Portal:
Become a JRF Scholar
https://www.jackierobinson.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/JackieRobinsonPreview15-16.p
Scheduling an Appointment
Beginning October 26, 2020 you will be able to schedule a phone appointment to complete your EAP application or you may call (317) 559-7016 to receive assistance with scheduling an appointment. Whether scheduling your phone appointment through the online portal or with operator assistance, these are the same appointments. The phone operators do not have any additional appointments available. Again, we do encourage all that can, to complete their EAP application online themselves. Below is the application for Energy Assistance Program.
Malinda Scott
Family Community and Engagement Liaison
School Updates
School Photos
- Picture retake day will be October 23
- Students choosing to remain in remote learning can pick up their IDs the week of October 12
- Students returning to school will have them distributed the week of October 19
To view the update, click the link below:
http://myips.schoology.com/school/832932881/update/3101172749
Shortridge High school is creating an E-SPORTS CLUB and would like to know what demand there is for certain games. We are planning to register for High School esports league fall and spring majors. As a result, this will help us for teams and group people together who want to play the same games.
To view the update, click the link below:
http://myips.schoology.com/school/832932881/update/3113570458
UPDATES
Check your email and your Class of GROUP (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Week of October 12 = All 5 days are required student days
Week of October 19 = return to in-person learning for high school students
SAVE-THE-DATE
October 27. SAT Day for all Seniors in the building*
November 3. Election day (no school in IPS)
November 6. ASVAB for all Juniors in the building*
‘* More Info to Follow