Monthly Highlander
December 22, 2023
From the Superintendent's Office
Dear Proviso Community,
As we approach the festive season, I extend warm greetings and heartfelt wishes to each member of our cherished Proviso community. The holiday season is a time of reflection, joy, and unity, and I am honored to take this opportunity to convey my sincere wishes to you and your loved ones.
As we navigate through another year of challenges and triumphs, it is heartening to witness the resilience and spirit of our community. Our students, families, and staff continually inspire us with their dedication to education, growth, and the well-being of one another.
May this holiday season be filled with moments of joy, love, and connection. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or another meaningful tradition, may the spirit of the holidays bring warmth to your homes and hearts.
As we bid farewell to this year, let us welcome the new one with optimism, hope, and a shared commitment to the success and flourishing of our schools and community. Together, we can look forward to finishing this school year with continued learning, collaboration, and accomplishments.
I express my deepest gratitude to our entire Proviso, faculty and staff for your ongoing support and engagement. Your commitment to the success of our students and the prosperity of our community is truly commendable.
I would also like to extend a special holiday greeting to our Board of Education for their time, commitment, and dedication to the Proviso school community.
Wishing you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season and a New Year filled with health, happiness, and prosperity.
Warm regards,
Dr. Bessie Karvelas
Acting Superintendent
Proviso Township High School District 209
Digital Advancements: PSAT Experience and Academic Excellence Recognition
In October, thousands of students participated in a new digital version of the Practice Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT), which had formerly been administered in a paper and pencil format. The new digital format continues to assess the knowledge and skills students acquire in school, emphasizing their relevance to college and career readiness. The digital SAT Suite is designed to be easier to take, administer, more secure, and more relevant.
Ninth-grade students took the PSAT 8/9, while 10th and 11th-grade students took the PSAT/NMSQT. The NMSQT exam is co-sponsored by the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. By taking the PSAT/NMSQT as juniors, students may fulfill the requirements to enter the National Merit® Scholarship Program, an academic competition for recognition and scholarships.
The Board of Education acknowledged the top 5 performing students from each school in grades 9, 10, and 11. We take immense pride in our students and their outstanding performance.
Applications for CTE & Early College Programs Now Available
District 209 offers the opportunity for students to earn transferable college credits, dual degrees, or industry-recognized certifications and credentials through its Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Early College programs.
Applications for the following programs are now available:
- Early College Credit
- Dual Credit at Proviso
- CTE Program
- Dual Enrollment at Triton Tech Campus
- Dual Enrollment at Triton
All applications must be submitted by Friday, January 19, 2024!
For more information on these programs including step-by-step application instructions, available pathways, course offerings, important upcoming dates and more, please visit the CTE and Early College webpage at www.pths209.org/domain/3410 on our District website.
Please send all questions to Dr. Alexander Brandon, District Director for Career and Technical Education and Early College at cte_earlycollege@pths209.org.
Consider attending one of our upcoming CTE Parents Night Events!
If your student is interested in the CTE and Early College program, please consider attending one of these events. See graphics for more details.
What You Need to Know About the 2024–25 FAFSA Updates
The U.S. Department of Education has unveiled significant updates to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form, aiming to simplify the application process and extend financial aid to more students. The redesigned form, set to launch by December 31, 2023, introduces a seamless transfer of federal tax information directly from the IRS, eliminating the need for the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. This change is expected to benefit around 4 million additional students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds. Additionally, starting in the 2024–25 award year, the revamped FAFSA incorporates changes to student aid calculations, expanding Federal Pell Grants to an estimated 610,000 more students from low-income families and offering greater accessibility to federal student aid.
To aid in the transition, the Department is implementing a soft launch period, allowing students and families to complete and submit the 2024–25 FAFSA form online by December 31. During this period, the Department will monitor site performance, conduct maintenance, and make updates to enhance the user experience. Full processing of FAFSA forms is set to begin in late January, providing ample time for students and families to complete the form. The Department is actively updating messaging to guide students, families, and institutions through the changes and encourages regular check-ins on StudentAid.gov for the latest information. For institutions, state aid agencies, and college access partners, planning for FAFSA completion events in late January and February is recommended, taking into account the potential impact of the soft launch and planned site maintenance during December and January. Detailed school-level data on FAFSA completions will be available in April 2024 due to the phased implementation of the 2024–25 FAFSA process. For more information and resources, please visit the link below. For additional information and resources, please visit the link below.
Proviso seniors and families, please attend our upcoming FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Info Workshops. This vital session will clarify the financial aid process, and offer valuable insights for post-secondary education preparation. Workshops will be held on Thursday, January 11, 2024, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at each of the Proviso campuses. Community partners in attendance will be Triton College, Introspect Youth Services and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC). Interpreters will be on hand to assist with any inquiries.
District Spotlight
Surprise Visits for Proviso Student-Athletes from Chicago Pro-Athletes
Members of Proviso's football, flag football, and basketball teams received surprise visits from Chicago Bears Quarterback Justin Fields and Chicago Bulls Point Guard Jevon Carter on December 19, 2023.
Student-athletes from Proviso East and West football teams, alongside Proviso East's girls flag football team, gathered in the auditorium, anticipating an event co-sponsored by local non-profit organizations, Jadspep Football Organization, and Empowerment Church. The students engaged in fun competitions and discussions on what contributes to the success of student-athletes both on and off the field. The excitement escalated when the special guest was revealed to be Bears starting quarterback, Justin Fields.
Fields shared words of wisdom and his principles for success, concluding by gifting each student their own authentic Bears jerseys.
Later in the day, Proviso East's Boys and Girls Varsity Basketball teams received a special visit. Jevon Carter, a 2014 Proviso East graduate and current Chicago Bulls player, surprised the teams with brand-new basketball shoes. Carter emphasized the importance of giving back to his former high school, recalling the impact of former standout athlete Michael Finley, who similarly contributed during Carter's time at Proviso East.
"When I played here, there was a guy by the name Michael Finley who did this for us," said Carter. "I felt like it was only right to come back and do this for you all, because one day one of you might be me one day."
District 209 expresses gratitude for these connections with Chicago's professional teams, athletes, and local organizations investing in the students of Proviso.
Proviso West High School's NJROTC Shines in Annual Military Inspection
Proviso West High School's NJROTC recently hosted its Annual Military Inspection (AMI) on December 18, 2023, a special day where cadets and officers showcased their dedication and skills. Conducted by the Area 15 NJROTC Manager, Master Gunnery Sergeant Rampa, the inspection included tests on cadets' knowledge and marching, all of which they successfully passed. Dressed in their uniforms, cadets exemplified the values of NJROTC and expressed gratitude to parents, school administration, and especially the Area Manager, Senior Chief Hawley-Williams and board member, Jenny Barbahen for their support and participation in this significant event.
The Counselors’ Collaborative – Scholar Success Through Collaboration
Beginning in the 2022 – 2023 school year, the counseling teams from each campus meet at least once a month to collaborate and learn together. The Counselors’ Collaborative grew out of a need for standardized procedures and professional learning for the district’s counselors. The monthly meetings focus on growth and development by establishing a community of learners and providing professional development and support to school counselors.
Dr. Sharon Williams, Deputy Superintendent of Schools and Derrick Svelnys, District Coordinator of Data and Enrollment, partner with Julie Fregien, the district’s OneGoal leadership coach to plan and facilitate the monthly collaboratives. The most recent session focused on using data to support counselors’ work with scholars. Mirroring the school and district leaders’ data tool, the counselors’ dashboard was introduced to the team. Ms. Fregien facilitated guided practice with Dashboard. School teams used Dashboard data to create Senior Priority Lists. These lists will support the Graduation Excellence strategies to improve each school’s graduation rate.
Anastasia Skoupas, College and Career Counselor at Proviso West High School exclaimed, “We became data nerds in under two hours!”
Amy Paulus, College and Career Counselor at Proviso Math and Science Academy shared: “The counselors’ Dashboard is a helpful tool to drill down to identify students who need our extra support and attention.”
As leaders of Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in schools, PTHS D209 counselors have begun to learn and practice the Three Signature Practices of SEL from the CASEL Foundation (https://casel.org/).
The three signature practices are:
1. Welcoming/Inclusion Activities
2. Engaging Practices
3. Optimistic Closures
At the December meeting, Dr. Williams led a high energy welcoming activity where each member of the team had four minutes to greet as many team members by name and make some type of physical connection. Team members reflected on the activity as a way to positively impact the energy and connection of the group. Counselors were actively engaged in activities throughout the meeting and Ms. Nikki Mejstrik, school counselor at PMSA, ended the collaborative by reflecting on the many talents and expertise of the counselors and how she appreciated learning and collaborating with her peers. Finally, Ms. Mejstrik wished the team a restful and peaceful winter holiday break. It was a fitting ending to the collaborative and the hard work our school counselors put in each day!
Board of Education Corner
Nutrition Services
To view the full menu, please visit Nutrition Services Menus.
Breakfast Menu
Lunch Menu
Evening School Menu
Upcoming District Dates
62nd Annual Holiday Basketball Tournament at Proviso West
The competition promises to be fierce and full of talent at the 62nd Annual Proviso West Holiday Basketball Tournament this year, scheduled to take place from December 27-30 at Proviso West High School!
Best of luck to all the 16 participating teams this year!
For more information on participating teams, game schedules and ticket purchasing, please click the linked website below!
January
8 - School Resumes
9 - Board of Education Meeting (PMSA, 7:30 p.m.)
15 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School)
16 - Parent and Community Engagement Committee Meeting (PMSA, 5:30 p.m.)
17 - BOE Finance Committee Meeting (PMSA, 5:30 p.m.)
23 - Board of Education Meeting (PMSA, 7:30 p.m.)
26 - Building Institute Day (No School)
29 - BOE Policy Committee Meeting (PMSA, 5:30 p.m.)
For more event details and upcoming dates, click the link below.