CJHS "Chargers Connection"

We are super excited to welcome staff and students to the 2024-2025 school year next week!

Below you will find reminders regarding our school day and from the student handbook. Thank you for taking the time to read through all the information and discussing it with your student. We are looking forward to a successful school year and having a common understanding of expectations. If you need anything or have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out!

~Ms. Nicasio, Principal

nicasim@unit5.org

~Mr. Tripp, Associate Principal

trippd@unit5.org

~Ms. Oxarart, Assistant Principal

oxararta@unit5.org

Streetside Eats will be stationed outside our school for our families to enjoy during our Open House dates!

Please click here for their menu. They will be stationed outside our school during our open house dates. Please help support our PTO!

Show your CJHS school spirit every Friday by purchasing items and helping us raise funds for our clubs!!

Last day to order will be Monday, September 16th!!

Please click here to see your child's team as well as our exploratory and support staff welcome letters!

This year, our administrative team will consist of the following people:

• Principal - Ms. Mariana Nicasio
• Associate Principal - Mr. Dan Tripp
• Assistant Principal - Ms. Aimee Oxarart

Our APs will be working alongside our Guidance Counselors and working with the following:

• Students with last names A-K: Nicole Wiedman & Dan Tripp
• Students with last names L-Z: Jackie DesLauriers & Aimee Oxarart

Ms. Nicasio will be available to address any and all concerns as they arise.

Parents: We understand that throughout the school year there may be questions or concerns that arise.

1. Our admin team asks that you please reach out to the classroom teacher or team first to discuss any events that happened with students within the school year.
2. If the issue has not been resolved with the classroom teacher/team, please reach out to your student's AP (see above for information). They will investigate and problem solve with you and the classroom teacher/team.
3. If the issue is not resolved to your satisfaction, please reach out to Ms. Nicasio (our principal) to further discuss with her.

It is important that our families give us the opportunity to discuss and resolve issues within our building. Thank you!!

Please note we will be offering a before school supervision program for families that are interested. Students will be supervised by a teacher from 7:20 a.m. - 8:20 a.m. At that time, students would join the rest of the students in the gym/cafeteria. Parents will be responsible for transporting their child to school each day.

The program fee is $85.00 per quarter (which equates to about $2.00 per day). The fee needs to be paid prior to the quarter starting. There will be no refund if a student does not attend on any given day.

Friday, August 9th is deadline for sign up. The supervision program will begin Thursday, August 15th and continue throughout the year on all student attendance days. Please click here to sign up!

In an effort to keep our school grounds safe as students enter and exit our school building, please make sure that you are following speed limits and parking in appropriate locations during our arrival and dismissal times.

ARRIVAL: Students arriving on the bus will be dropped off at the entrance of our school. Please DO NOT park or drop off your student at the entrance of our school. Car drop off traffic should be directed toward the north side of our building winding through our parking lot. Students will be greeted by a staff member at the north entrance of our building in the mornings.

DISMISSAL: Please DO NOT park or pick up your student in the entrance of our school. Students leaving on a bus will exit the building through the front entrance. Students being picked up will exit through the north side of our building. Please wait in our parking lot for your student.

While students are on the bus, they are under the supervision of the bus driver. Parents are encouraged to discuss bus safety and appropriate behavior with their children before the beginning of the school year and regularly during the year.

• Bus behavior has the same expectations as the school/classroom.
• Students should be waiting at their bus stop on time.
• Enter and exit the bus only when the bus is fully stopped.
• Choose a seat and sit in it immediately upon entering the bus. Do not stand in the entrance or in the aisle.
• Do not move from one seat to another while on the bus.
• While on the bus and while the bus is in motion, students must stay in their seats with arms and legs out of the aisle.
• Please keep voice level low to minimize distractions to the bus driver.
• Reminder the cell phone use should be appropriate. There should be no taking pictures, movies, or recordings while on the bus.

Reminder that bus riding is a privilege that may be suspended. Frequent or severe reports may result in an immediate bus suspension and referral to the Board of Education for possible suspension from the bus for the remainder of the school year.

Please click here for our 6th, 7th, and 8th grade school supply lists. Items requested help students and teachers in the many tasks and activities they will complete throughout the school year!

Once students learn of their team assignment, please purchase items under specific team requests.

We also ask that you continue to supplement your student with pens/pencils as this is the most lost and needed commodity throughout the school year! Thank you for your support!!

Unit 5 middle schools have all expanded our advisory offerings to include 20 minutes daily for students to explore various topics, including but not limited to the social/emotional realm. We will be incorporating lessons from The Social Institute as a resource. Ms. Nicasio will soon share more information with families on how you can access resources to follow up with your students on advisory discussions. Look for that in the September CJHS Chargers Connection Newsletter. We are excited for this opportunity for our students to connect with a caring adult to start their day.

Instructional time is precious; therefore, students are not allowed to leave classes during the first 5 or last 5 minutes of class. Students should utilize the passing period time to ensure that they have the needed class materials as well as using the restroom if needed.

ALL students must have an ID to ride the bus and to use for lunch throughout the school year!

• ALL students must use their student ID when boarding and exiting buses. This includes all field trips and athletic events.
• To expedite lunch lines, ALL students must have a student ID or they will be sent to the guidance office to issue a new one.

Students will be issued new IDs on the first day of school. Please come to the guidance office immediately if you lose your ID. First lost ID is free, thereafter they are $3 and will be charged to IC accounts.

If students do not have their ID for lunch, they will be sent to the guidance office for a replacement.

Students are not allowed to receive deliveries during school hours including, but not limited to food items (McDonald's, Jimmy Johns, etc.). Deliveries for food will be refused.

Students may bring a lunch from home or purchase lunch through our cafeteria. Students may also carry around a refillable water bottle.

Students are to use discretion in their dress and are not permitted to wear apparel that causes a disruption in the school environment.

• Student dress (including accessories) may not advertise, promote, or picture alcoholic beverages, illegal drugs, drug paraphernalia, gangs, violent behavior, or other inappropriate images.
• Student dress (including accessories) may not display lewd, vulgar, obscene, or offensive language or symbols, including gang symbols.
• Coat and sunglasses may not be worn in the building during the school day.
• No head coverings are allowed that obscure the view of the student's face (unless for religious purposes). Interpretation and enforcement of this rule is up to administration discretion.
• Hairstyles, dress, and accessories (scarfs/headbands) that pose a safety hazard are not permitted in the shop, laboratories, or during physical education.
• Metal studs, chains longer than jewelry, and any other objects that may be used as weapons or that

  may be hazardous to persons or property are specifically prohibited.

• Clothing that fails to adequately cover the body, or which is torn or altered in an explicit or

  suggestive manner, will not be permitted. Shirts, blouses and tops which are not tucked in must be long enough to cover the midsection when the student is in a standing or sitting position. Pants or shorts must be worn at the waist.

• Appropriate foot wear must be worn at all times. Slippers and shoes with wheels are prohibited.

If students have any questions regarding acceptability of a particular item of clothing, please see your AP before wearing the items to school.

Please note that a student whose dress causes a substantial disruption to the school environment will be asked to correct the violation before returning to class. Refusal to do so will be subject to discipline. Consequences may be assigned for flagrant first offenses or any subsequent offenses.

Please note students will be utilizing their lockers this school year before school, during passing periods, and after school.

This means backpacks MUST be kept in lockers during the school day.

This means...

• From 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. - the cell phone ringer is on silent and the cell phone is out of sight.
• It should never be in the student's hands during the school day.
• If your student chooses to keep their phone on their person (pocket or pencil pouch), the cell phone may be confiscated by school personnel if the ringer goes off or they are using it.
• This includes the use of Smart Watches - talking into it or manually texting.

We’re going to do our part to help our students make good choices and minimize disruptions to our learning environments. Parents, we need your help to partner with us to keep unnecessary distractions out of our learning environment.

Should not be worn in the hallway or classrooms unless given permission by the teacher and connected to the student's Chromebook only.

Reminder that students will need a gray t-shirt with their last name on the back, black athletic shorts or sweatpants (it's okay if they have stripes or logos), athletic shoes and a lock. Shorts and t-shirt can be purchased at CJHS or an outside store.

CJHS PE clothes and locks will be available for purchase during PE classes. Your child will need two combination locks for this school year, one for their hallway locker and one for their PE lockers. While you can purchase locks on your own, we highly recommend that you purchase locks through CJHS as doing so allows us to provide support should your child forget their combination.

PE shirt and shorts are $10 each ($20 for the set). Locks are $18 for the pair ($9 for a single). Payment is accepted in the form of cash or check.

Part of being responsible is coming to school prepared with all our materials so we are ready to learn! A big part of your materials is your laptop! Students should make sure their laptop is fully charged and ready to use for the next school day. Students should be charging their laptop overnight and bring their charger just in case they need it throughout the school day.

Should a student forget their laptop or charger and need a loaner, they will receive a caution for not being prepared for class! Please keep in mind that we have limited supplies of loaners.

Reminder that the school day begins promptly at 8:45 a.m. Students may come into the building at 8:20 a.m. and wait in their assigned space (cafeteria/gym - see above) until the bell rings at 8:35 a.m. Please note that there is no staff supervision before this time unless your student is involved in before school clubs or sports practice. No students will be allowed in the hallways prior to 8:35 a.m. without a pass.

Once the bell rings, all students must report to their first period class by 8:45 a.m. or they will be marked tardy. If students are not in their first period class at 8:45 a.m., they must check in at the main office before reporting to any class.

The school day ends at 3:45 p.m. At the end of the school day, students are expected to go to their lockers immediately and promptly leave the school premises unless they have a scheduled activity or meeting with a teacher.

Reminder that students must attend regular school attendance all day on the day of an activity to be eligible to participate in or attend any after school co-curricular activity.

We encourage families to make medical visits after school hours but understand this may not be possible all the time. Parent/guardian must contact the Attendance Line at (309) 557-4454 and leave information on our automated system. This should be made as much as possible in advance. All students checking out early must be picked up in the office and signed out by a parent/guardian.

When possible, students are encouraged to come back to school after medical visits to avoid missing learning.

Each day that a student is absent, their parent or guardian must call the attendance line at 309-557-4454 before 8:45 a.m. to explain the reason for the absence.

For all absences, a student will be permitted to make up any missed work, including homework and tests. The student is responsible for obtaining assignments from his/her teachers.

Welcome Chiddix Families!

I am Kelly Winter, your Family Support Coordinator. My job is to support the students and families of Chiddix. My goal is to knock down all barriers families may have to a successful school year and quality education. I serve as a bridge between home and school and foster positive school and home relationships. Basically, I got your back! If you have any questions about all things Chiddix please do not hesitate to reach out to me!

Important back to school info: Unit 5 partners with the Back 2 School Alliance to provide school supplies for qualifying students. Please contact me with any questions about the event.

winterk@unit5.org or call/text 309-989-2637

Go Chargers!

All new students, as well as students entering 6th grade, are required to have a health exam and immunizations prior to the new school year. Students will be excluded from school if these are not up to date.

In addition, students should not take medication during school hours or during school related activities unless it is necessary for a student's health and well-being. When a student's licensed health care provider and parent/guardian believe it is necessary for the student to take medication during school hours or school-related activities, the parent/guardian and healthcare provider must complete a School Medication Authorization Form requesting that the school dispense the medication to the child.

No student shall possess or consume any prescription or non-prescription on school grounds or at a school related function without implementation of this procedure.

Any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our school nurse, Ms. Andrea Powell, at (309)

309-557-4405.

Calling all Chiddix Chargers!!

Do you have ideas or suggestions to improve our school? Would you like to meet with Ms. Nicasio on a quarterly basis to discuss student issues or concerns? Would you like to help work toward solutions to any issues or concerns that students may have? If you answered yes to any of this questions, your voice is important and I am interested in connecting directly with students to listen to your thoughts.

Students would meet with Ms. Nicasio during lunch twice a quarter and eat lunch together with her. Click here for the Google form to indicate your interest and more information will be sent to your email.

We encourage our students to be involved in many of our extracurricular activities that will be starting at Chiddix! Families, please remember that your student must be registered on the 8 to 18 website to participate in extracurriculars.

We have started our Fall season! If you are interested in supporting our Chiddix teams, please check out their schedules on the 8 to 18 website.

This year, Chiddix clubs will be represented on 8 to 18. Here is a list of all the CJHS clubs available for our students!

Things to note regarding Athletics:

• Every sport has an activity fee which is $90.00.
• Sports physicals are required; they are valid 395 days from the exam date. Please submit physicals to the main office before participating in a sport.
• 6th grade physicals (required for all incoming students) count towards a sports physical.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Our annual "unraiser" is the only fundraiser where 100% of your donation goes toward PTO budget and it DOES NOT involve selling products or spending your valuable time.

Please consider a donation of any amount to help support our school community!! Click on the link below for more information.

As summer draws to a close and the new school year approaches, many children and teens start to feel the familiar jitters of returning to school. While some level of anxiety is normal and even expected, for some students, this transition can be particularly challenging. Join us on August 14th at 6 p.m. for a webinar designed for parents, guardians, and school staff to better understand and support young students and teens as they navigate back-to-school anxiety.

Click here to register for this webinar.

All visitors, including parents and siblings, are required to enter through the front door of the building and be checked in. Visitors should identify themselves and inform the front office personnel of their reason for being at school. All visitors to school property are required to present ID for a security check and wear a visitor's badge at all times while in the building.

Mariana Nicasio, Principal

Daniel Tripp, Associate Principal

Aimee Oxarart, Assistant Principal

Phone Numbers:

• General Information: (309) 557-4405
• Guidance Office: (309) 557-4850
• Attendance Line: (309) 557-4454
• School Nurse: (309) 557-4687
• Transportation: (309) 557-4287

Email: nicasim@unit5.org
Website: https://www.unit5.org/Domain/25
Location: 300 South Walnut Street, Normal, IL, USA
Phone: 309-557-4405