PMSA Weekly Update

Greetings PMSA Family and School Community,

We are one week out from the 2024 SAT Suite of Assessments, and we are feeling confident that our students will soar. On Wed. 4/3, all freshmen through juniors will complete the required Digital Readiness Check on their school-issued devices in preparation for next week’s PSAT 9, PSAT 10, and SAT exams. The purpose of the digital readiness check is so students can log into the Bluebook Testing app and confirm that their personal information is correct and verify that their devices are ready for test day. The PMSA admin team met with the Director of IT as well as Building Maintenance Manager to discuss technology needs so we can ensure each testing room is equipped appropriately. We want to thank our school testing coordinator, Ms. Amy Paulus for providing proctor training for all teachers and support staff, ensuring all student accommodations were properly recorded in College Board, and for championing all the testing logistics.

In other news, while Grades 9-11 took a full-length PSAT/SAT practice test on March 11, a large group from our Class of 2024 engaged in community service projects. The purpose was to promote acts of kindness, fuel the spirit of volunteer work, and provide an opportunity for students to learn more about the villages they come from.

Forest Park Public Library - prepared a craft for an upcoming children's event. (Chaperone: Ms. Fiala).

Broadview Park District - set up Easter event and helped organize storage room (Chaperones: Ms. Jarmoc, Ms. Schmidt, Ms. Popadowski).

Second Baptist Church - Maywood - helped organize and distribute food supplies at Food Pantry (Chaperone: Mr. Mendoza).

Aperion Care Nursing Home Westchester - served residents breakfast (Chaperones: Mr. Brown and Ms. Mejstrik).

Forest Park Walking Tour in support of Animal Care League (ACL) of Oak Park - students passed out flyers to local businesses in Forest Park with information about the ACL and animals in need of good homes. (Chaperones: Mr. Zak, Ms. Duvall, Ms. Duran).

Berkeley Park District - students helped clean up the park to get it ready for spring weather and outdoor events. (Chaperone: Mr. Godinez).

Westchester Community Church - Students helped organize resources for an upcoming Yard Sale to benefit the Westchester Food Pantry. (Chaperone: Ms. Paprocki).

Quinn Center of St. Eulalia Maywood - Students organized the art room and helped clean up the garden space. (Chaperones: Mr. Rutstein and Ms. Weiner).

Fred Hampton House - Maywood - Students toured the museum and learned about Hampton's role during the Civil Rights Movement.

Maywood Village Hall - Students assisted with filing and organization. (Chaperone: Dr. Wardisiani).

On a final note, this week (4/1 - 4/5) is National Assistant Principals Week! Hats off to our very own Dr. Walker (Assistant Principal of Student Success), and Ms. Mason (Assistant Principal of Instruction). Both leaders are instrumental in supporting the climate and culture and academic goals of PMSA. These two special individuals work tirelessly and relentlessly in their respective roles, and we are fortunate for the time, talents, and fortitude that they bring to D209 and our students!

Ms. Chiganos

Interim Principal

We appreciate our two Assistant Principals Ms. Mason and Dr. Walker. Thank you for all of the hard work and effort that you put in to support our students.

NHS presented their Spring Fling Community Event on March 13th at PMSA. Prospective middle school students and other community members participated in a panel with students from all three schools along with our Co-Interim Superintendents. Each member of the panel answered questions and provided feedback on student life in Proviso District 209. In addition, there were several clubs including PMSA Black Student Union and Proviso West SEED club as well as local organizations such as the Forest Park Library, Sha'Poppin Popcorn Store in Westchester, the Firehouse Dream, and the PMSA PTO.

Sergeant Battistoni from the Forest Park Police station worked with the Driver’s Education students at PMSA. She reviewed the steps for getting pulled over by law enforcement and showed the students some local driving crashes. Drunk goggles were a huge success as the students had to perform various tasks while under the influence.

Thank you Mrs. McCormick!

On Monday, April 1, 2024, Jack Baldermann from Solution Tree visited PMSA staff to assist teachers in implementing the Professional Learning Community (PLC) model. Mr. Baldermann acknowledged the high performing results of PMSA and the quality work being done to increase student achievement.

Mr. Baldermann focused on three areas:

1. Identify the strengths of your team.
2. Use student performance information to collaborate during PLC time.
3. Focus on the things we can control to maximize problem-solving at the most local level.

Throughout the school day, Mr. Baldermann met with individual departments during their common duty period. He distributed an article entitled, “Harvesting for Strengths,” written by Katie White, author of Unlocked: Assessment as the Key to Everyday Creativity in the Classroom. Teachers shared their reflections after reading the article and identified ways they could harvest the strengths of their students through careful analysis of student data. Ms. Duran stated that

“Using student reflections helps. Doing peer evaluations also helps students learn about their own writing.” Mr. Baldermann said that it is a great way to get students involved in their own learning.

Other departments including Wellness, Art, World Languages, Science, and Social Studies weighed in on the harvesting strength philosophy and identified ways to highlight student performance while addressing areas needing growth.

Mr. Baldermann concluded each session by reminding teachers to (1) focus on your responsibility on student learning; (2) take action on the data examined during PLC time and what you learn from each other; and (3) focus on what you can control, not on things you cannot.

Further PLC work will focus on examining student performance information to inform instruction.

Gallery on five will be featuring a new Art Exhibition during the month of April!

The Exhibition will include selected works from PMSA's student entries at the Triton High School Art Competition.

We would like to congratulate senior Cameron Cobb on becoming a 2024 Golden Apple Scholarship award recipient. This prestigious award is given to aspiring teachers and is an intense and competitive process. Over 3,000 students across Illinois turned in an application.

Golden Apple future teachers will learn from master practitioners to become a teacher who changes lives in an Illinois school of need.

Congratulations to student Amiyah Parks for winning the 2024 ONEGOAL scholarship. She wrote an essay for the program and was awarded $20,000.

Amiyah is still deciding on the university that she wants to attend and plans to major in Biology!

Hapy Ramadan to the students/families/ staff observing this sacred time.

Sunday March 10th-Monday April 8th, 2024.

Important: PSAT/SAT Schedule and Details

Testing Schedule:

- Tuesday, April 9, 2024: PSAT 8/9 & PSAT 10 (Grade 11 and 12 students do not attend)

- Wednesday, April 10, 2024: SAT Testing for Grade 11 students and select Grade 12 students (Grades 9, 10, and select Grade 12 students do not attend)

Test Duration:

- School day start time remains the same. Transportation home adjusted to approximately 12:15 pm on April 9th and 1:15 pm on April 10th.

Test Details:

- Assessments conducted on student-issued devices using Bluebook application.

- Click to Download the Bluebook Digital Testing App | College Board

- Utilize free practice tests on the application for preparation.

Reminders for Students:

- Bring calculator, two #2 pencils, student ID.

- Breakfast and lunch provided.

- No cell phones allowed.

-Hoods and hats CANNOT be worn.

- Bring charged laptop and power cord.

The end of 3rd quarter is Friday April 5th.

Parent Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday April 18th from 6-8pm. Report cards will be distributed. This is the perfect time to meet with your child's teacher regarding their progress.

The Cap and Gown fee is $35. Seniors can go to room 008 and pay Mr. Brown in person OR click the link below to pay online.

Time: 4:00 PM

Location: UIC Pavillion

TICKETS ARE NOT REQUIRED.

Monday:

Multicultural Club (214)- 3:30-4:30

Key Club (425)- 3:30-4:30

Genealogy Club (407)- 3:30-4:30

Yearbook Club (424)- 3:30-4:30

Medical Club (422)- 3:30-5:00

Tuesday:

Culinary Club (322)- 3:30-4:30

Black Student Union (307)- 3:30-4:30

Student Council (400)- 3:30-4:30

Art Club (504)- 3:30-4:30

Astronomy Club (409)- 6:45-7:30 am

Intramurals (Wellness Area)- 3:30-4:30

Robotics (Proviso West Manufacturing Lab)- 3:30-5:00

Wednesday:

Newspaper Club (316)- 3:30-4:30

Girl's League Club (217)- 3:30-4:30

Class of 2026 (210)- 3:30-4:30

Class of 2024 (421)- 3:30-4:30

Class of 2027 (400)- 3:30-4:30

Mental Health Club (213)- 3:30-4:30

Self-Defense (Multi-Purpose Room) - 3:30-3:50

Taikwondo (Multi-Purpose Room) - 3:30-3:50

Art Club (504)- 3:30-4:30

Chess Club (427)- 3:30-4:30

Thursday:

Gospel Choir (008)- 3:30-4:30

Class of 2025 (213)- 3:30-4:30

SASS (323)- 3:30-4:30

Video Gamer Club (306)- 03:30-4:30

Intramurals (Wellness Area)- 3:30-4:30

Robotics (507)- 3:30-5:00

Parents of seniors, please make sure to create a FAFSA account!

PTO members have also been hard at work planning a yard sign project to raise funds and increase school pride in our communities. More information to come.

It’s not too late to join the PTO. The PMSA PTO holds their monthly meeting the first Wednesday evening of each month at 6:30 PM at the PMSA Library Resource Center. Can’t meet in person? Join us remotely on TEAMS.

Membership Info: There is a $10 dollar membership fee per family. We are hoping to also collect an ADDITIONAL $10 fee for fundraising to allow us to do events, activities, and support our students and teachers/staff. If you have already filled out our membership form and paid dues for the 2023-24 school year, we thank you. If you have not, please see below.

To officially join the PTO for the 2023-24 school year, please click on this link to sign up:https://form.jotform.com/232345952911154. To pay your dues you can use Zelle (thepmsapto209@gmail.com) OR bring a Check (PMSA PTO) or cash to a meeting.

Remaining Meeting Dates: May 1, 2024. Any questions? Thepmsapto209@gmail.com or text President Anissa Butler at 630-240-2191.

Thanks for your support,

Anissa Butler (President),

Maria Barba (Vice President)

Kim Arnold (Treasurer)

Kathleen Franzwa (Secretary)

Parent Advisory Councils (PACs) empower parents to serve as partners in the education of their children at schools that receive Title 1 funding.

Parent Advisory Councils (PACs) bring together parents/legal guardians, teachers/staff, and community stakeholders to work with their school principal in the planning, design, implementation, and evaluation of the Title I Program.

PACs empower parents to inspire and assist their children in achieving educational goals.

Title I Program Goals

The main goal of Title I is to provide instructional services and activities which support students in meeting the state’s challenging performance standards. The Title I program strives to increase academic achievement by providing direct instructional support to students and effective professional development for teachers. Title I program promotes parent education and involvement.

PAC Committee Members

Maria Scavella- Chair

Patricia Patrick-Gutierrez -Co-Chair

Maria Escobedo- Secretary

Berenice Garcia -Outreach Coordinator

PMSA PAC Tentative Monthly Meetings and Workshops 2023-2024

• April 17
• May 8

All Meetings times 6:30-7:30pm

Feel free to contact the PMSA PAC by email at pmsapac209@gmail.com

Learn more about Title 1

https://www.isbe.net/Pages/Parent-and-Family-Engagement.aspx

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 227 781 097 904

Passcode: H5SEEG

First Baptist Church of Melrose Park is looking for volunteers! Community service hours are available for food pantry delivery on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month from 8-11:30 am. They are also looking for food distribution volunteers for the Thursday of each month on Fridays from 9 am-12 pm.

Please contact sister Cynthia Mobley for more information.

(708) 217-3553

Routes are posted online under Transportation. The posted route listing is organized by student ID numbers to make it easy to identify your student's route information.

Arrives at PMSA at 4:45 pm

Departs PMSA at 5:00 pm

The activity bus will drop the students off at their bus stop location. It is important that all students know their bus stop location and that they share it with the bus driver.

Click the button below and visit the Proviso Transportation page to find your bus stop location.

It’s that time of year to consider opportunities for PTHS 209 Summer School 2024.

This summer, we are offering courses for students who want to get ahead and accelerate their learning, classes for students who need to make up credits to be on track for graduation, and enrichment opportunities that can be taken to improve learning and add recreational fun throughout the summer months. Whatever the case, we are here to support our families and students!

Summer School 2024 registration begins on April 1st and ends on May 31st.

Please note: All summer school offerings are dependent upon enrollment and staffing.

Credit Recovery will take priority over all other programs.

Summer School runs Monday through Thursday from 8:00 am - 1:00 pm. (No school on Fridays.)

Each Summer School session is 12 days.

Dates are below.

• Session 1:
  Monday, June 17, 2024, through Wednesday, July 10, 2024
  Off on Wednesday, June 19; Wednesday, July 3; and Thursday, July 4
• Session 2:
  Thursday, July 11, 2024, through Wednesday, July 31, 2024
  
  

Locations: Summer School will take place at Proviso East and Proviso West High Schools.

Transportation: There will be no bus transportation provided by Proviso Township for Summer School.

Food Service: Food service will be provided for all students attending Summer School, which includes breakfast and lunch.

Fees: Students and families are encouraged to take advantage of our 2024 Summer School programs. There will be no fee if students complete registration by May 31, 2024. For any students who register after the May 31 deadline including walk in’s, a $100 registration fee will be required prior to placement in the requested course(s).

For specific information about Summer School 2024 programs, please see the link below.

Summer School Program 2024

Please contact Tony Valente, District Coordinator at 708-338-5929 if you have any questions.

• Athletics (East)
• Athletics (West)
• Enrollment & Registration
• Food Menus

• Online Payment Portal
• Paper - Online Tutoring

• PowerSchool
• Schoology (Parents)
• Schoology (Students)
• Transportation