News from the Ridge
Shortridge High School News and Updates
Shortridge's Weekly Newsletter
August 22, 2020
Dear Friends of Shortridge,
Orientation Week (O-Week) concluded on Friday... Our first week together was focused on two things, building relationships and learning the Shortridge Way. Couple items we address this week--learning what remote classes will look like, meeting our teachers, how to navigate Schoology (online course platform), and Teams (video conferencing app). Building relationships is always important, but as we adapted to virtual school, remote learning, it is even more critical. This is why each day in every class, we ask for the students to check in with their teacher and advisor.
Monday, our first day of school, I shared with our students and staff that starting the school year fully remote is new for all of us, and affirmed that we are all uncomfortable. Regardless if you are a veteran or first-year teacher, a senior, or freshman, this is new and uncomfortable, we must acknowledge this discomfort and give grace to each other and, most importantly, give grace to ourselves. What I ask of our Shortridge family is to lean in, embrace the discomfort, and celebrate the opportunity to grow and improve. I hope that you had the chance to talk with your student about school this week, about their classes, advisory (ATL), and our Friday Connect speaker.
Each month we will highlight an IB Learner Profile trait, and this month's trait is Communicator. In this virtual world, for us to be successful as a student, teacher, coach, counselor, or administrator, we must stay connected. To ensure that you receive all Shortridge communications, your contact information must be current. We post updates and events on our webpage, Tweeter and Instagram feed, email, and this newsletter. As we will continue to reflect and look for ways to improve, we need to be able to communicate any changes with you and the greater Shortigde community. Please let our Malinda Scott, our FACE coordinator, know if we need to update your contact information.
Next week will begin our formal instruction with all A-Block classes meeting Monday and Wednesday, and all B-Block classes meeting Tuesday and Thursday. It is essential and required that your student logs into each class, on time, through Schoology, and joins the Teams video conference. Here is a link to our daily schedule along with guidance on how to log in and access Schoology and Teams. Also, Monday is picture day (additional info below).
This is the first run of our weekly newsletter. Our goal with this newsletter is to share timely updates, celebrations, and important information. We love to get your feedback. Please email Malinda Scott, our FACE coordinator, with your feedback and any information you would like to share.
Go Blue Devils!
Dennis Thomas
Principal
Orientation Week (O-Week)
Virtual O-Week was a first for everyone this year! Students and staff participated in relationship building activities that revolved around “ice breakers” and team building! The end of the week, during our “C” schedule, students took part in a “World Changing 101: Whole School Assembly” with our first guest speaker from the ACLU.
This month, our IB Learner Profile focus is “Communicator”. As a Communicator “We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.” What a great time to grow and focus on this on this profile trait!
Looking forward to more great weeks this school year!
Andrea Salmon
Assistant Principal
First Week Town Hall Meeting
A copy Wednesday, night's presentation about the first week of school and remote learning plan can be found here.
Look at the week ahead
- Monday, August 24 is Picture Day from 1000 am – 600 pm. Pictures will be taken in the cafeteria — the same location where families picked up their textbooks and computers. More information can be found here. Masks must be worn in the building, but not during the actual picture taking.
Technology Updates and Resources
Academics
Class of 2020 DP Students
Next Week's (and future week's) Bell Schedule: Linked here
- Instruction will be delivered daily by student’s teachers using Microsoft Teams and Schoology.
- Student Attendance will be taken every period by the student’s teacher.
- Need to log in at scheduled start time for each class
- Students and teachers will follow a set schedule daily as assigned in PowerSchool.
- Students will receive their school’s curriculum, access assignments, and complete assessments through our Single-Sign-On (SSO) Clever.
- The student day is 900 am to 400 pm.
- Teachers should record lessons in Teams so lessons are available to students to view in the event they are absent or need additional support.
MYP Updates:
- Grade 9/10 - We hope students found the Intro to MYP and Intro to Personal Project videos from Mr. Merle helpful. Please feel free to reach out with any questions. We'll work to make those short videos available via the school website ASAP. Mr. Merle is also planning to create a longer video explaining the MYP Assessment System used at Shortridge in detail. Look for that soon!
- Grade 10 - The next video in Mr. Merle's Personal Project video series will be released next Friday, August 28th, 2020. In that video, we'll highlight the work of last year's sophomores and start you on the path of choosing your own topic for Personal Project under these new circumstances.
Day in the Life A / B days (80 min blocks)
Student Services
Athletics
Athletics continues next week, with practices from 400 - 600 pm.
As we move closer to contests, please download our app and follow us on Twitter @Blue_Devils_SHS for the most up to date schedules and announcements.
Our practices continue to run, and if a student still wants to play boys/girls soccer, boys tennis, boys/girls cross country, football, cheerleading, or volleyball, please reach out to Craig Huljak, huljakc@myips.org, and we can get them joined in!
Events hosted by Shortridge can only be attended by two family members per athlete, and masks will be required. We will also be doing online ticketing, and that information will be released soon. Go Blue Devils!
Craig Huljak
Athletic Director
Future Center
The Shortridge Future Center is excited for the opportunity to continue supporting scholars in their 3E journey this school year. Through programming offered through the Future Center, scholars will have the opportunity to engage and become informed about each of the 3E’s – Enrollment, Enlistment, and Employment – in order to understand all of their post-secondary options and how they fit their future goals. Examples of programming offered throughout the year, and contact information for the Future Center staff can be found in this brief informational Powerpoint – https://tinyurl.com/FCInfoSlides
An extension of the Future Center is the Butler Writer’s Studio. Staffed by Butler students and run by Mr. Chris Speckman, SHS Writing Specialist, this resource is designed to support scholars with one-on-one academic writing support, college and scholarship essays, or any type of writing a scholar engage in for leisure.
The Future Center is always here to answer questions you may have as a parent, so please never hesitate to reach out to us.
Upcoming Future Center Events
- Senior College Application Night
- Tuesday, August 25
- 6:30 to 7:00
- Teams link to join meeting - https://tinyurl.com/2021CollegeNight
- Senior Open Teams Meetings
- Tuesdays and Thursdays
- 12:00 to 1:00
- Fridays
- 2:00 to 3:00
- Ernst and Young College MAP Program Information Meeting
- Interested Juniors Only
- Friday, August 28
- 12:00
Andrea Harris
Future Center
PTSA / FACE
PTSA
SHS PTSA welcomes you to a promising new year! This is quite the year to be starting a new school, and I wanted to touch base with you on a few important things. First and foremost, be assured we are doing our very best to maintain a sense of normalcy and sense of community for our families.
As parents, we all support our children in their educational journey. As a PTSA, we work collaboratively to support the staff and students of SHS and create a community where all feel welcome. Even though we do not know what the future will hold for this school year, our mission holds firm.
This is your PTSA! We welcome and encourage you to attend all of our meetings (via zoom for now), events (socially distanced or virtual), and/or volunteer your time (opportunities tbd). To join the SHS PTSA, please follow this link: https://my.cheddarup.com/c/ptsa-membership-gift-campaign-campana-de-membresia-y-rega
Members who join before September 1st will get a car magnet to show your Blue Devils pride!
Since this year is going to be ever-evolving, I urge you to join our Facebook group, “SHS Blue Devils Family Group.” This is an easy platform to ask questions and stay up to date on what is happening at our school.
We are always here for you if you have questions. You can either reach out to the general PTSA email or email me directly.
Samantha Weinbrecht
SHS PTSA President