PHS April Newsletter
2022
Dear Pella High School Families
This is a busy time of year for students with a new season of sports well underway and several activities in place for the spring. Prom is coming up on April 23 at Central College, the music department will feature their band, orchestra and vocal students in the Carnaby Club event on April 29 and 30 (7:00 PM in the HS Auditorium), with Tulip Time the next week.
Students and staff at Pella High School have recently completed the ISASP testing. Students focused and put forth great effort during the week, and to celebrate their efforts, students and staff participated in a lunch time celebration with yard games followed by a talent show in the afternoon (see pictures below).
It has been a great year, and we look forward to the spring weather and closing out strong in the fourth quarter of school.
Thank you,
Adam Beckel
Principal
Derek Schulte
Assistant Principal
April Health And Wellness day for 10th grade
On Friday, April 29th, 10th grade students will be attending a county event featuring a day of learning focused on health and wellness. The event will be held at Pella Christian High School - 300 Eagle Lane, Pella, Iowa 50219.
Pella High students and staff will take part in the event, which will include 50 experts on a variety of areas related to mental health and wellness. These experts will lead breakout sessions throughout the day, covering topics like healthy eating, positive thinking, recognizing addiction, benefits of yoga, self-defense, social media, managing conflict, situational awareness and understanding mental illness, among many others.
The event will feature a keynote presentation. The keynote will be shared by Nathan Harmon.
Here’s what you need to know:
Description of Sessions HERE
The following agenda will be followed:
9:00 - Students will be bussed to Pella Christian
9:30 – Keynote Presentation with Nathan Harmon
11:00-11:45 Breakout Session #1
11:45-12:45 Catered Lunch (Free to all students)
12:45-1:30 Breakout Session #2
1:45 - Wrap up and Closure
2:15 - Busses leaving and return to schools
Dress to participate in activities such as yoga
No computers needed and phones put away during sessions
This opportunity is provided by the Marion County Coalition for Suicide Prevention, and many other community partners. It is going to be a great day--please consider sharing your gratitude with those presenting and organizing!
Senior Day of Service - April 20
Senior Awards Night - Wednesday, May 11, 2022
Senior Awards Night is scheduled for 7:00 p.m, in the Pella High School gymnasium, due to construction in the auditorium. The Class of 2022 will be recognized and celebrated for scholarships and awards they have earned. Students who completed the application process for Dollars for Scholars will receive an email invite and should attend to receive their scholarship. Please dress appropriately; business casual is encouraged.
College Planning - Financial Aid
Monday, April 11th at 6pm, ICAN will be presenting a Financial Aid event in the Pella HS Auditorium. The planning for post-secondary education greatly hinges on financial aid for families, especially as educational costs continue to rise. The regulations for families of seniors to-be are allowed to apply for aid starting October 1st of senior school year. Tax forms filed for 2021 will be needed for the FAFSA process.
ICAN (www.icansucceed.org) is an organization with fabulous resources including FAFSA filing and appointments for families with questions. Please join ICAN Monday evening for the Financial Aid Night.
Senior Volunteer Hours
Any seniors collecting volunteer hours for our Distinguished Service Program should submit all the hours they have by Friday, April 29. If they are planning to accumulate hours during Tulip Time, they should still submit their other hours by the 29th, so we can try to complete the logging process before Senior Awards Night. Tulip Time hours will still be counted; just turn them in the Monday after. The final deadline for seniors’ hours will be Monday, May 9.
Conditions For Learning Survey - Administered on April 25
Pella High School is getting ready to administer an annual school climate and culture survey called Conditions for Learning to students in grades 9 through 12. This survey administration is required by the state’s plan to meet a federal law called the Every Student Succeeds Act. Our school will conduct the survey on May 3rd during Homeroom. All Iowa public school districts will use the Conditions for Learning Survey to improve safety, student engagement and the overall learning environment so that all Iowa students have optimum conditions for learning. Our work to improve safety, student engagement and the overall learning environment will have a lasting impact on the future.
We will ask your child to simply fill out a confidential Survey. The Survey will focus on issues ranging from student safety, to positive student relationships, to school rules and how they are enforced. A high rate of participation by students in completing the Conditions for Learning Survey is important for obtaining the most complete school climate data for our school. Support from you in communicating to your students that this is their chance to be heard and to be part of the effort to improve conditions for learning at their school is critical.
Upcoming Calendar Dates
School Calendar
Semester Two
APRIL-
April 6: Professional Development: 90-Minute Early Dismissal
April 11: Financial Aid Night
April 12: 12-week grades due
April 15: No School - Good Friday
April 18: No School-Make up snow day #5
April 20: Senior Day of Service
April 23: Junior/Senior Prom (Format Pending)
April 27: Professional Development: 90-Minute Early Dismissal
MAY-
May 3: 15-week grades are due
May 5: Tulip Time - 11:15 Dismissal
May 6: Tulip Time - 11:15 Dismissal
May 11: Senior Awards Night
May 11: Professional Development: 90-Minute Early Dismissal
May 18: Seniors Last Day
May 20: Graduation
May 25-27 (9th -11th) : Semester Assessments, Laptop Return, & Student Check-Out
May 27: Last Day of School - 12:30 Dismissal
May 30: Memorial Day (No School)
May 31: Teacher Work Day - No School