Sprague High Year-Start Info

Dear Sprague Families and Students,

Welcome to the kickoff of our 2024-25 school year!

We are excited for the upcoming year, and can’t wait to see all of our students at Sprague in September. At this time we anticipate having student schedules available for students and families to view on August 16th. On August 19th, we will open our online scheduling process that will allow students to request a schedule change. We will send out another ParentSquare message with additional information about the beginning of the school year. I want to take this opportunity to highlight a few things that are in place for this summer and the coming year.

This year, we will be handling all Taking Care of Business Day items online (or by appointment in the Sprague office). We will have the full month of August to take care of these items, and some items can wait to be taken care of until school starts in September. Please see the newsletter below for more information about these items.

Sprague will be moving to a no cell phone policy for this next school year. Based on feedback from our teaching staff, our student leadership/student advisory committee and other high schools, we believe it is in the best interest to enact this new cell phone policy. Additional specific information is coming with detailed information about the policy changes and all students will have this policy change reviewed with them in September. We’ve also decided to move back to having a closed campus for our Freshman class. All freshmen will need to remain on campus or have a note from their family to walk home for lunch.

We’ve been busy this summer getting all our staffing hired and ready for our opening on September 3rd and 4th. I anticipate we’ll have a few staffing changes and I’m grateful that it appears we will be fully staffed to start the school year. Our staff make a huge impact, having high quality staffing is always a priority.

I’d encourage all students to sign up for a sport, activity, or musical program for this upcoming year. Being involved in your high school has a major impact on graduation rates and the success of our students. You don’t need to be an expert musician, athlete, or leader to get involved, you just need to commit and show up. Olympians strive to impact our community through all endeavors!

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the Sprague Main Office at 503-399-3261.

Sincerely,

Chad Barkes

Principal

Beginning this school year, Sprague HS will have a new cell phone policy designed to help students be more focused on their work and develop deeper connections with their peers and teachers. The expectation is that during all class time, students will need to keep their phones turned off/silenced and put completely away. The only time students will be allowed to access their phones is before/after school, during passing time and during lunch.

Headphones and earbuds will be considered in the same category as phones and will not be permitted during class time.

We understand this is a big change and the Sprague staff is committed to helping students develop positive new classroom habits.

Non-adherence to policy:

If a student is unable to follow the cell phone policy, our staff may:

1. Remind the student of the expectation and ask them to put it away

1. Confiscate the phone and turn it into the Office

1. Write a referral and communicate with families

On October 10, 2024 there will be an opportunity for 12th graders/seniors to take the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) at Sprague High School. If you are a senior and interested in taking the test on this day, please call the Sprague Office at 503-399-3261 to sign-up. This will be on a first come, first serve basis. The deadline to be added to the list is Friday, September 6, 2024.

For additional information about the SAT, please visit https://blog.collegeboard.org/parents-guide-sat.

*Juniors will be taking the PSAT on October 10th. All Juniors are automatically signed up for the PSAT, so there is no need to sign up with the office.

ParentSquare is the communication tool that the Salem Keizer School District uses to send communication to our families. The district, school administration, teachers, and coaches will use ParentSquare for email, text and app notifications.

We will be sending out bi-weekly newsletters through ParentSquare beginning August 27th. Please keep an eye out for an email from the school with the link to the newsletter each week, so you don’t miss out on important information and events.

Please check out this link for additional information: ParentSquare & StudentSquare

Each year, parents and/or guardians of all students in Salem-Keizer Public Schools (SKPS) must complete registration or enrollment verification.

To begin the registration/verification process, please log in using your ParentVUE Account, click on Online Registration and select “2024-2025 Online Registration” from the drop down menu. If you started an enrollment verification for the current school year, but did not submit the form, please finalize, or delete to begin a new registration for the 2024-2025 school year.

If you do not have a ParentVUE account set up, you can set it up directly on the login screen by clicking “Existing Parent Request Activation Key”. If you need assistance, or if you have any questions concerning online registration/enrollment verification, please contact the Sprague office at 503-399-3261 for assistance.

School fees are listed in the following table and can be paid through the online payment portal beginning August 1st, or by scheduling an appointment time to come to the Sprague office to make a payment with the Sprague Bookkeeper. We accept checks payable to Sprague High School, cash, or credit card. There is a 2.75% transaction fee for credit card purchases. The purchase of an ASB card, Parking Permit and other fees are optional.

Making a payment through the Online Payment Portal:

• Go to the online link: Online Payment Portal

• User Name: Student ID number (found on students ASB/ID card)

• Password: Student Last Name (Case sensitive - as it appears in ParentVUE)

*Make sure to keep a copy of your receipt for your records. You will need to bring in a copy of the receipt if you are purchasing a parking permit.

Cost of Fees:

• Past-Due Fines and Fees - *If applicable. *Please note all fines/fees must be paid prior to purchase of any optional items. This includes but is not limited to parking passes, athletic participation fees, ASB cards, and dance tickets.
• Parking Permit - $20 (see requirements below)
• ASB Card - $40.00
• 2024-2025 Yearbook - *More information will be shared soon.

Information about the purchase of a 2024-2025 Yearbook will be shared with students and families soon.

Applications for parking permits will be processed beginning August 1, 2024. Please call the Sprague Main Office at 503-399-3261 (beginning August 1st) to schedule an appointment to bring in the required paperwork and pick up a permit. Permits can also be purchased at any time after school starts from the Bookkeeper in the main office.

Requirements for purchasing a parking permit:

• Pay all past-due fines and fees.

• Pay the non-refundable $20 permit registration fee (through the Online Payment Portal or with the Bookkeeper).

• Documents to bring with you to your appointment:

• Receipt of registration fee payment

• A completed Sprague Parking Permit & Registration Form

• Valid Oregon Driver’s License

• Current vehicle insurance card

• Valid vehicle registration

Students interested in having a locker can request a locker through the online Locker Request Form. Students may request to have a locker partner through this request process as well. In order to assign locker partners, both students must submit a request and list their preferred locker partner in their request.

Once the request has been processed, students will be able to see their locker number and combination in their StudentVUE account (after August 15th) under the student information tab.

*Requests will be processed as quickly as possible, but there may be a delay in cases where a partner is requested but we haven’t received a request from both students.

*Confirmations with locker information will be emailed to student school email accounts, and not to personal email accounts.

Bus information can be obtained on the Salem-Keizer School District website: https://salkeiz.k12.or.us/students-families/bus-riders.

Meals, including breakfast and lunch, will be provided free for all students. Food Service information can be obtained on the Salem-Keizer School District website: https://salkeiz.k12.or.us/students-families/food-services.

Pictures for ID/ASB cards and school photos will be taken on Thursday, September 5th and Friday, September 6th. Picture retake day will be on October 22nd.

• ID Card Photo - Every student, including Seniors, must have an ID photo taken. ID cards are free and are required for use to check out library books, textbooks, get meals in the cafeteria, and to attend activities and dances.

• ASB Card Photo - ASB Card is $40.00 and is optional. We highly encourage all students to purchase an ASB card. The ASB card gives free or discounted access to athletic events and other school activities throughout the year. Funds from the sale of ASB cards goes directly to supporting student clubs and activities.

• School Portrait Photos - School photo purchase is optional. Dorian will send home order packets to each student’s home. Photos can also be pre-ordered or ordered later, through the Dorian website at Dorian Picture Day Information.

Draft class schedules will be available beginning August 16th to view in StudentVUE and ParentVUE. If you need assistance with accessing your StudentVUE or ParentVUE account please contact the Sprague office at 503-399-3261.

If you would like to request a schedule change, please be aware that this process has moved to an online platform. The link can be found here Schedule Change Request. Please note that it is the student who must sign in through the website using their SKPS email address.

The schedule change system will be accepting requests starting Monday, August 19th until Friday, September 6th. The requests are processed in the order in which they are received, so the sooner you make the request the more likely we will be able to accommodate the change. Please note that schedule change requests will not be processed until August 19th and later. Although we will try to honor every request, please bear in mind that some changes may not be possible. Once submitted, your counselor will communicate additional questions through your school email; be sure to check your junk mail folder.

Fall sports registration is open on ArbiterSports (formerly FamilyID). The Fall sports season starts August 19th. Please remember to get your sports physical taken care of ASAP. Athletes must have a current sports physical that is active through the end of the season. Athletes will not be able to participate until the registration process is complete.

Link to register:

https://students.arbitersports.com/organizations/sprague-high-school

Participation Requirements for all OSAA and Salem-Keizer Public Schools Athletic & Activity Programs:

1. Student must be enrolled in at least 5 classes (and 8 are highly recommended) during the season they wish to participate.
2. Passing a minimum of 5 out of 8 classes from Semester 2 of the 2023-24 school year and pass 5 out of 8 classes during the previous transcripted semester with at least 2.5 credits.
3. Student has credits and is on-track to graduate.
4. Student Athlete has a current physical on file that will not expire during athletic season (sports physicals are valid for 2 years).
5. Student is covered by medical insurance.
6. All fees and fines must be paid in advance unless it is a sport with tryouts (volleyball and soccer) fee is required 10 days after teams are made. All other sports must have a payment made before the first game/competition.
7. Student must live within the Sprague High School boundary or have applied and been approved for an in-district or intra-district transfer. All transfer students will need to complete required OSAA paperwork before participation.
8. Students being homeschooled, attending a charter, or private school must register with Sprague and fill out additional OSAA paperwork before participating in practices or tryouts.

OSAA Sanctioned Sports Offered at Sprague High School for 2024-25:

• Fall Sports (8/19): Cross Country, Football, Soccer, Volleyball, Cheerleading, Dance
• Winter Sports (11/18): Basketball, Swimming, Wrestling
• Spring Sports (3/3): Baseball, Golf, Softball, Tennis, Track

Participation Fees:

First sport - $125

Second sport - $75

Third sport or more - No Charge

Athletic Fee payments can be made online through the SKPS Online Payment Portal - https://skpay.salkeiz.k12.or.us/, or with the Bookkeeper in the Sprague office during office hours. During the summer, the office will be open Monday – Friday, 7:30 am – 3:30 pm (closed 11:30 – 12:30) daily. Staff is limited over the summer, so please call ahead to the Sprague office at 503-399-3261 to make sure the Bookkeeper is available.

Attention all Incoming Freshmen!

Join us for a program focused on your child's transition from middle school to Sprague High School! Sign up today for an Amazing Race at Sprague High School on Friday, August 30, 2024! Amazing Race Application 2024 Please sign up soon as spots are limited!

Incoming 9th graders will be at Sprague from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on Friday, August 30. Lunch will also be provided, at no charge. Bus transportation will be available on limited bus routes.

Parents and families will be encouraged to join their students after lunch for sessions specifically targeted for helping both students and their families transition to high school.

Did you know:

• The single most predictive indicator of high school success is your child’s academic standing during the ninth grade?

• The transition to freshman year is an important step in helping your child enter postsecondary education (college and career)?

• Developing and sustaining positive social relationships with peers and adults is part of the successful transition to high school?

This day includes:

• Includes AVID-inspired sessions in organization, study skills and techniques!

• Learn about Sprague culture and how to become an Olympian!

• Participate in team building and get involved, find your classes before the first day of school!

• Discover new ways to deal with stress and take care of yourself!

• Make new friends!

• Get tours of the building and find your locker!

• Learn how to read a high school transcript and understand why credits matter!

If you have questions, please contact Gretchen Hall-Wunderlich, Summer Program Coordinator

at hall-wunderlich_gretchen@salkeiz.k12.or.us or 503-399-3261

This day is for FRESHMEN ONLY!

Only freshmen and our outstanding leadership students will be in the building on this special day. This will be a day for orientation and fun, and a chance to meet your new classmates, as well as staff members. You will attend each of your classes for a short period that day and hear about activities at Sprague and ways to make your high school experience a positive one. Here are some helpful hints:

• Students will start in the gym beginning at 8:30 am. Students will be able to view their schedule online through StudentVUE, or they may have their schedule printed in the main office.

• Dress to be active. You will be participating in active team bonding and school spirit activities - skirts, dresses and heels may be tricky!

• No need for backpacks, books, etc. You will not be given any homework, and you will not need to take notes. The idea is to be able to have fun and be active, so leave the books and backpacks at home - trust us!

On the first day of school (September 4th) students should come with paper, pencil, and a pen. Individual teachers will let students know what supplies will be needed for the school year on the first day of classes.

On Mondays, students will attend all 8 periods. Tuesday and Thursdays will be A-Days with students attending periods 1 - 4. Wednesdays and Fridays will be B-Days with students attending periods 5 - 8. Students will attend all 8 periods on the first day of school on September 4th. See below for the calendar through the first three months of the school year.

• Link to A/B Block Schedule
• Link to School Calendar

Attendance Reporting - 503-399-5520

Website: https://sprague.salkeiz.k12.or.us/
Location: 2373 Kuebler Boulevard, Salem, OR, USA
Phone: 503-399-3261