Notes from North

Thunder Families and Students:

All students, including seniors, should read the information below. We wish all students who are testing the best of luck!

Note: Do not reply to this SMORE message as it is not linked to Dr. Segura's email. Instead if you have any questions or need support, please call the school main line at 815-334-2100.

General Information About Testing in April:

• Juniors will take the ACT on Wednesday, April 9, starting at our regular time (8:35 AM).
  
  

• Freshmen, sophomores, and seniors are excused from school that day.
  
  

• Parents/guardians do not need to call in to excuse their student.
  
  

• Freshmen will take the PreACT Secure 9, and sophomores will take the PreACT Secure on Wednesday, April 16, also starting at 8:35 AM.
  
  

• Juniors and seniors are excused from school that day.
  
  

• Parents/guardians do not need to call in to excuse their student.
  
  

Please make every effort to ensure your student is in attendance and on time. Testing begins promptly at 8:35 AM. Your support in getting our WNHS Thunder to school by 8:15 AM is greatly appreciated!

The ACT is a required test for graduation, per the Illinois State Board of Education. Students may not substitute a national test date for this test. If your student is a senior and took the SAT last year, that fulfills the testing requirement to receive a high school diploma this year.

To be as prepared as possible, students should:

• Get a good night’s sleep before the test.
  
  

• Eat breakfast. If they cannot eat at home, they should arrive early enough to grab breakfast in the cafeteria.
  
  

Additional Testing Information:

• Testing begins at 8:35 AM sharp.
  
  

• Students should report to their testing room by 8:20 AM.
  
  

• Late arrivals will not be allowed into the testing room once testing begins (per ACT guidelines).
  
  

• Room assignments are posted outside of the attendance office and in the cafeteria on the message boards.
  
  

• Students must bring:
  
  

• A calculator
  
  

• A pencil for use on scratch paper
  
  

• Cell phones and smart technology (e.g., Apple Watches, smart pencils) are not allowed in testing rooms. These should be left at home.
  
  

• A snack will be provided during the testing break.
  
  

• Standard testing will end around 12:45 PM, and students will be released after materials are collected.
  
  

• Sack lunches will be available for purchase in the Commons after testing.
  
  

• Buses will depart at the regular time (3:30 PM).

The PreACT Secure 9 and PreACT Secure are important practice assessments that prepare students for the ACT required during junior year. These tests help students build readiness for college and career planning and guide us in supporting academic growth.

To be as prepared as possible, students should:

• Get a good night’s sleep before the test.
  
  

• Eat breakfast. If they cannot eat at home, they should arrive early enough to eat in the cafeteria.
  
  

Additional Testing Information:

• Testing begins at 8:35 AM sharp.
  
  

• Students should report to their testing room by 8:20 AM.
  
  

• Late arrivals will not be allowed into the testing room once testing begins.
  
  

• Room assignments are posted outside the attendance office and in the cafeteria on the message boards.
  
  

• Students must bring:
  
  

• A calculator
  
  

• A pencil for use on scratch paper
  
  

• Cell phones and smart technology are not allowed in testing rooms. These should be left at home.
  
  

• Students with approved accommodations will test in separate rooms. Some may require a second day of testing.
  
  

• Standard testing will end around 12:00 PM, and students will be released after materials are collected.
  
  

• Sack lunches will be available for purchase in the Commons after testing.
  
  

• Buses will depart at the regular time (3:30 PM).
  
  

Seniors are not required to attend school on either testing day. Parents/guardians do not need to call them in absent.

Seniors are encouraged to use these days productively by:

• Job shadowing
  
  

• Visiting colleges
  
  

• Working on scholarship applications
  
  

• Planning for post-secondary goals
  
  

Students can log into SchooLinks to explore college and career options, find scholarship opportunities, and more.

Important: If your senior was contacted by their counselor to take the ACT this year (because they missed it last year), they must take the ACT in order to earn their diploma. This applies only to those specifically contacted by a counselor.

To report a student's absence, please call 815-334-2400.

Dr. Joshua Segura

WNHS Principal

Design Your Path