News from the Ridge
Shortridge High School News and Updates
February 7
Dear Friends,
It's "Expo Month" at the Ridge-- starting this week with the MYP Personal Project Expo showcasing the work of our sophomore class. The Expo is completely virtual and can be accessed by visiting our Virtual Expo page linked here. The MYP Personal Project site starts Monday, February 8th, 2021 @ 6:00pm through Friday, February 12th, 2021. Links on the Expo Page will go live for the scheduled time of each event.
Have questions about Personal Project or curious about Shortridge? Mr. Merle, our MYP Coordinator, will be available via Microsoft Teams three times during PP Expo week for Q&A. Feel free to stop by and ask a question or just say hi! Hopefully, one of the times will work with your schedule, but if not, feel free to reach out to Mr. Merle via e-mail at merleg@myips.org.
PP/SHS Q&As:
- Session 1 - Monday, February 8th, 2021 - 6:00-6:30pm
- Or join by phone at: 1-463-900-4198 - Conference ID: 126780167#
- Session 2 - Wednesday, February 10th, 2021 - 12:30-1:00pm
- Or join by phone at: 1-463-900-4198 - Conference ID: 946653145#
- Session 3 - Friday, February 12th, 2021 - 9:30-10:00am
- Or join by phone at: 1-463-900-4198 - Conference ID: 695039952#
The week of March 22nd will be asynchronous (not live instruction). Assignments will be posted on Schoology and our teachers will be available for office hours, and students will have a two-week window to complete (by the end of Spring Break).
ISTEP testing starts this week for all Juniors attend in-person (fully virtual/remote Juniors will start testing next week. More details below.
Reaffirming COVID protocols:
- Don’t forget to screen your students daily for COVID-19 symptoms before sending them to school. Be sure to refer to the COVID-19 Screening for Parents and check for signs of illness, including fever, chills, sore throat, cough, diarrhea, nausea, headache, or new loss of taste or smell.
- Please continue to report to Shortridge if you, your family, or your student are exposed to COVID. We continue to track exposures and infections and are required to report these to the district and Marion County Health Department. Call 317-226-2810 to report.
Below you will find additional updates, celebrations, and important information from the Ridge.
Go Blue Devils!
Dennis Thomas
Principal
Additional Updates
Use this link to access our Hybrid bell schedule. This is a change from our full virtual schedule.
For updates and additional information on Shortridge's remote and in-person plan, visit our complete FAQ found here.
Choice Application Lottery
Even though the first round of the Choice Application Lottery window for 2021-22 just ended Jan. 29th, you can still submit your application.
- Sixth-grade families at K–6 schools should apply to their preferred middle school.
- Eighth-grade families must apply for their preferred high school.
- Other families interested in exploring the many exciting IPS school options can learn more and apply through Enroll Indy at enrollindy.org.
Yearbook sales are now $35 until March 19, 2021. Prices will go up after that date. Here is the link: https://link.entourageyearbooks.com/ use SHORTRIDGE to search the school’s yearbook when you open the link.
Seniors, Share your baby pictures, quotes and favorite moments captured at Shortridge at shortridgeclassof2021@gmail.com. If you have any questions please email Mrs.Griffin at griffind@myips.org or Cassandre Barthelemy.
Academics
The Counselors are in the process of meeting our students to schedule classes for next year. Below are presentations and documents shared at our 10th-grade parent meeting. These outline the important choices your student makes going into their Junior year at Shortridge.
CP/DP Updates:
- CP and DP Program Information slides from our 10th-grade parent meeting on Jan 27th.
- SHS CP Quick Reference Guide
- SHS DP Quick Reference Guide
CP/DP Updates in Spanish:
Student Services
Class of 2022 ISTEP Testing Begins:
ISTEP testing for the class of 2022 will begin Tuesday, February 2nd, with practice testing for all in-person students and continue throughout the month of February. This test is required and mandatory for all juniors to complete. The test must be taken in person. If your student is remote, we will be in contact with the dates and times for them to come in and take the ISTEP test.
The ISTEP test is one way that students can meet their graduation pathway requirements. If they are successful in passing both math and English sections of the test, then their graduation pathway is completely outside of their required class credits.
In-person students will complete the test the week of February 8th. It is very important that if your student is scheduled to attend school in person, that they are here that week to complete this testing. They need to bring their school laptop fully charged.
Time To Schedule Classes
Even though a blanket of snow covers the ground and a cool breeze surrounds us, it is time to schedule classes for the academic 2021-2022 school year. Shortridge High School counselors will be meeting with your student individually to evaluate your transcript and help you make choices for courses next year. All Shortridge students follow the IB Curriculum but will be allowed to make elective choices as they relate to the IB Curriculum. We encourage each of you to begin thinking of any questions that you have regarding credits and the graduation pathways as they relate to your graduation goals. Counselors will begin to schedule student meetings February 8th through the first two weeks of March. We encourage parents and students to contact the counseling department with any questions or concerns about your academic plan. Deanna Ziegler (Current Juniors): zieglerd@myips.org Jeffrey Molina (Current Sophomores): molinajeffrey@myips.org Carolyn Claude (Current Freshman): claudec@myips.org Aimee Ladd (Current Freshman): ladda@myips.org
CAP/GOWN/SENIOR SWAG: JOSTENS INFO
Seniors, for information about cap/gown, senior swag, class rings, and more, check out the Jostens website. You can order online or mail-in order form to Jostens. Order deadline (before the price increase) is February 17th.
Cap and Gown Only:
Jostens SHS Website
https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1072816/Shortridge-High-School/
IB Learner Profile for January
Open-minded:
Understanding and appreciating their own cultures and personal histories and are open to the perspectives, values, and traditions of other individuals and communities. They are accustomed to seeking and evaluating a range of points of view and are willing to grow from experience.
Click on Feel Good Friday linked below for more about how to support the trait Open-Minded
Future Center
FAFSA Completion and Finalizing Financial Aid Night
Does your student still need to complete the FAFSA? Do you have questions about filing the FAFSA? Do you need support with finalizing your students Financial Aid?
Join INvestEd Indiana, Tuesday, February 9 at 5:00pm for additional information about these two topics and to receive individualized support. Register and join at this link
FAFSA Deadline is April 15
Shortridge Scholarship Blog
Scholarship resources and opportunities can be found on the Shortridge Scholarship Blog. Check it out at this link
Center for Leadership Development (CLD)
Programming through the Center for Leadership Development offers scholars opportunities for growth in all areas of life. To learn more about the variety of programming offered or attend an upcoming virtual Open House, follow this link
Exploradoor – Summer Opportunities
An online service for teens ages 14-18 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.
Check out the opportunities at Exploradoor here
Project Ready
Project Ready is a signature program of the National Urban League (NUL) that seeks to provide enhanced academic and social support to students ages 11-18 as they prepare for post-secondary success. This program currently targets high school students (9th – 12th grade) and works with students and their families to:
- Increase college awareness
- Understand the correlation between post-secondary success and income
- Academic Advising
- Scholarship Application Assistance
- Free SAT and ACT Preparatory Workshops
- College Tours
- FAFSA Assistance
- College Application Assistance
- Service Learning Opportunities
For more information or to enroll your student in the program, please contact site coordinator Daesha Smith at dsmith@indplsul.org or 317-794-6337.
Shortridge Scholarship Blog
Scholarship resources and opportunities can be found on the Shortridge Scholarship Blog. Check it out at this link http://wsd7.2.vu/SHSScholarshipBlog
Through Their Eyes Scholarship
IUPUI hopes to repair the damage created over 50 years ago with a scholarship for descendants of families displaced when the university was constructed in 1969.
Students who are related to individuals displaced by the development of the IUPUI campus, are pursuing their first undergraduate degree at IUPUI, and can provide appropriate documentation showing familial linkage through documentation or photographs will be eligible for a scholarship award of up to $15,000, renewable for up to four years.
Applications for the Through Their Eyes Scholarship will open in January and can be found on the IUPUI Scholarship page here.
Upward Bound
The IUPUI TRIO Upward Bound program supports low-income and first-generation college-bound students in preparing for college.
Learn more by attending an Open House held every Tuesday at 5:30 pm. Email Upward Bound at ubound@iupui.edu for the link to attend.
Or apply here
Helpful Resources
- FAFSA Friday events offered through the Future Center
- Creating Your FSA ID
- FAFSA Checklist
- Scholarship Search Help
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
Butler University An Evening with Staff & Students
Butler University is partnering with the Postsecondary Team to present an Evening with Butler University Staff and Students through a virtual college tour for IPS 11th and 12th Grade students of color and their parents.
This event has been rescheduled due to the District All Staff Meeting on the same date. The new date and information will be shared in an upcoming newsletter! Additional details are linked here
Athletics
The girls basketball teams wrapped up a successful 2020-2021 season with a loss to Heritage Christian in the first round of sectionals. This team made great strides throughout the year while dealing with constant changes and hurdles due to Covid. We are losing three important seniors but our team definitely shows some promise for the future!
Baseball tryouts are on February 9th and 11th from 5:30-7:30 on the second floor of the new gym. If you are new to baseball or you’ve been playing your whole life, they would like to see you out there! If interested please send and email to Coach McElroy at coachmcelry@gmail.com for an invitation.
Girls and Boys Track & Field is starting up on February 8th for conditioning. If interested, please meet at the historic gym at 4:30 on Monday. Should be a great season! Practices will begin the week of the 15th.
Spring Athletics will begin before we know it! Boys Golf, Girls Tennis, Co-ed Track & Field, Baseball, and Softball will start having conditioning and try-outs during February/March. If your child is interested, please keep your eyes out in this newsletter or on Twitter: @Blue_Devils_SHS
Shortridge Athletics currently has two open coaching positions if you are interested or you can share:
Please think about donating or sharing to help fund our Blue Devil Swim Teams (GoFundMe)
Due to Covid, schedules are changing daily. Please download the athletics app and follow us on Twitter at: @Blue_Devils_SHS for all the latest updates.
We will continually be doing our best to keep the athletes, coaches, and fans safe. Masks and distancing will continue to be required. Every little part each of us contributes is one day further that our athletes get to compete.
Shortridge Letter Jackets are always available! Varsity student-athletes gain patches and pins throughout their time with us and this is a great way to show them off! If interested, please contact Randy Wintner at Randy.Wintner@jostens.com to find out more.
Craig Huljak
Athletic Director
Archived World Changing 101 Events
- Speak The Truth
- IPS Board Commissioner Evan Hawkins
- Liane Groth Hulka & Vote Safe Indiana w Ziv Zellars
- Shortridge Racial Equity Forum
- Dr. Payne's interview
- 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
FACE -- Family and Community Engagement
Hello, our wonderful Shortridge Parents/Guardian,
Below you find a link from the Marion County Energy Assistance Program for utility services.
Check the link out to see if you qualify parents. If you do not need any assistance, please give this information to someone that needs assistance.
Parents, I sent out our Shortridge Compact Policy form last year. I would like for every parent to please return this form to me either by mail, drop it off at the school, or email the form back to me if you have already sent in your form "KUDOS" to you. All my information is below. If you need anything or have concerns about something that I am sending out, please contact me, and I will do my best to help you.
Gamma Phi Delta has a scholarship opportunity for minority high school seniors. The deadline I believe to submit the application is February 15th. The link is below. If you have any questions, please only reach out to me. Mrs. Scott
https://www.gpdgamma.org/2018-scholarship
Thank you 🙂
Malinda Scott
Family and Community Engagement Liaison
3401 N. Merdian Street
Indianapolis, IN 46208
317-226-2810
PTSA
Join the PTSA! Your partnership and support are critical for our work at Shortridge!