ZBTHS Parent Bulletin
From the ZBTHS Principal's Office Vol. 2, Issue 8
Principal's Message 10/29/21
The month of October is coming to a close. I hope everyone has an enjoyable Halloween this Sunday. Please take time to watch this week’s Buzz Around the Hive Episode #4 that focuses on school climate and school safety. We are committed to maintaining an environment at Zion-Benton High School where students can thrive and excel.
Now that we are settled, we are finalizing our efforts to reward and recognize the Class of 2022 for their hard work and commitment during their first three years. This recognition is even more special considering the challenges they have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The privilege of Off Campus Lunch for seniors has been a tradition here at ZBTHS for many years, and I am pleased to announce that we have expanded the criteria to include cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) in addition to success on the SAT test. Seniors who have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher or seniors who met the College Readiness Benchmarks on the SAT in both Math(530) and Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (480) are eligible for the Off Campus Lunch privilege on Fridays. We will communicate the details of this privilege through our advisories. This incentive is important for our current 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students to know so they can continue to work hard academically to enjoy this privilege when they are seniors.
We will have Final Exams this semester on Tuesday, December 14; Wednesday, December 15; and Thursday, December 16. Exam schedules will be finalized soon and communicated to students and families. They will be similar to years past, with exam periods spread out over the course of the three exam days. The spirit of Final Exams is for students to improve grades by demonstrating levels of mastery and/or understanding. Therefore, students who are earning an “A” in a class going into the Final Exam will be exempt from taking the Final in that class. However, if students are not earning an “A” in a class, they will be required to take the course’s Final Exam. This change was received very positively by both students and staff last semester. Students who have been working diligently all semester should be rewarded. In the coming weeks, protocols will be shared regarding logistics for students who will need to be present for some Final Exams, but not for all Final Exams. Teachers have begun sharing this information with students as it is a great motivator to close out semester one. I wanted to make sure parents and guardians are also aware so we can work together to keep students focused on their classwork for the next two months.
Overall, students are doing a great job in the classroom, and we want to make sure they all finish strong. To ensure students continue to thrive, I urge parents and guardians to check Skyward Family Access to monitor attendance and grades. Parents and guardians who monitor Skyward and discuss expectations with their children are extremely important to the partnership with the District to ensure student effort and commitment are high.
Sincerely,
Dr. Chris Pawelczyk
Important Upcoming Dates
- Wednesday, November 10 - SIP Day - Early dismissal at 12:40 p.m.
- Wednesday, November 10 - Fall Sports Awards at 6:30 p.m. in PAC
- Thursday, November 11 - Veterans Day Celebration - Live Stream starts at 9:40 a.m.
- Tuesday, November 16 - Board of Education Meeting - 7:00 p.m.
- Thursday, November 18 - Winter Sports Meeting 6:30 p.m. in PAC
- Tuesday, November 23 - Early dismissal at 1:51 p.m.
- Thanksgiving Break - NO SCHOOL 11/24, 11/25, & 11/26
Episode 4
The Bee Light is on NHS this week... Click on the image below to read more in our ZBTHS Spotlight!
TikTok Videos
The Bee Leaders and NHS have helped to come up with a series of positive Tik Tok challenges to counter the inappropriate ones that are out there.
October’s challenge is “Teach an educator a dance or handshake”
November’s challenge is “Thank a veteran or an educator”
December’s challenge is “Give a gift or help a neighbor”
Click on the links below for some of the videos from October
What's happening in Athletics?
FALL SPORTS AWARDS - Wednesday, November 10 - in the PAC at 6:30 PM
WINTER SPORTS PARENT/ATHLETE MEETING - Thursday, November 18 - in the PAC at 6:30 PM
WINTER SPORTS TRY-OUTS / START-UP DATES
CHEER - October 25 & 26 @ ZB New Tech Campus Gym
GIRLS' BASKETBALL - November 1st, 2021 @ 3PM, ZB Horizon Campus Main Gym
BOYS' BASKETBALL - November 8th, 2021 @ 3 PM, ZB Horizon Campus Main Gym
WRESTLING - November 8th, 2021 @ 3 PM, ZB Horizon Wrestling Mat Room
GIRLS' BOWLING - November 15th, 2021 @ 3 PM, Sunset Bowling Lanes (Waukegan)
BOYS' SWIM - November 22th, 2021 @ 3 PM, ZB Horizon Natatorium Swimming Pool
What’s Happening in the College and Career World?
ZION-BENTON TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL
Our Vision: Empower students to thrive in today's global society.
Website: www.zbths.org
Location: Zion-Benton Township High School, West 21st Street, Zion, IL, USA
Phone: (847)731-9300
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZBPride
Twitter: @zionbenton