Tiger Times
ONTO SEMESTER 2
Dear Tigerland,
It's officially here ..... the second half of the school year, which means you get an extra long Tiger Times today. First, as we go into second semester, please encourage your student to have a strong start to second semester so they are not playing catch up at the end of the school year, when all they want to do is get out and enjoy that spectacular weather. A few announcements with semester two beginning surrounding some questions that have been coming up as of late with students and families:
AP Charges: I will send out another reminder, but at the top of February we will move forward with charging all families for the AP tests that their student will take in the May 2025. Click here for that schedule of tests. The costs for AP exams was laid out in an letter that was sent to ALL parents of AP students during the first two weeks of the school year. To review that letter once more (that would have been emailed to you), please click here.
Adding/Dropping Classes: School policy very strictly lays out how a student can add or drop a class once it has already began. A few things to keep in mind:
- The deadline to drop is 10 days into the semester that the class began. For a year long class that date has passed and thus it is not feasible for them to switch; and, for a semester long course that begins this Monday, that date would be Mon., Feb. 3, 2025.
- When a switch is being considered it is for "limited reasons" that it will be considered. With respect to this, it is VERY important that regardless of making the request "students must continue attending class and completing assignments until notified of the decision regarding the adjustment."
- When considering a switch the entire Tiger Team (Dean, Counselor and Social Worker) along with the teacher of the class that the student is attempting to switch out of, will convene to determine whether the switch is really warranted.
- In conjunction with a requested switch or adjustment, there also must be room somewhere else for the student to go.
Required Course Load for EPHS Students: All Seniors are required to be full-time students at EPHS and in order to be considered a full-time student they must, at minimum, must be enrolled in five (5) courses each semester. Underclassmen (9th-11th graders) are required to enroll in seven (7) courses each semester. Keep in mind, if a student (no matter what grade) is an competing in any IHSA sanctioned activity or sport, the requirement here may be higher, in particular for seniors if they want to remain eligible and compete.
Juniors Who Desire to Graduate Early as Seniors: Any junior who seeks to graduate early next year (i.e. at the close of semester 1), they NEED to submit all paperwork to their counselor (and then to me for final approval) prior to the close of their junior year. If there is anyone in the class of 2026 who is interested in being able to do this, they should seek out their counselor now to see if they have the appropriate credits to make it happen.
Academic Eligibility for the End of Winter, Spring Season and Fall of 2025 Athletics: The Illinois High School Athletic Association [IHSA] has strict bylaws (see bylaw 3.020) that all student athletes must adhere to in order to be able to participate and/or compete in an IHSA sanctioned activity or sport. In order for an athlete to be eligible for a season, the semester prior it is required that they MUST have earned 2.5 credits; or, put another way, that they passed 5 academic courses. Here is what that means for our current season through Fall semester of next year:
- Current Winter Athletes:
- For Athletes Who Were Ineligible in Fall Semester: If they were unable to participate in Fall or the first half of winter athletics due to not having enough credits from Spring 2024, but now have achieved 2.5 credits during Fall 2024 (as of 9AM Tues., Jan. 21), they are now applicable to resume competition for their winter sport; however, this agreement must be in conjunction with the head coach of that sport.
- For Athletes Who Were Eligible during Fall Semester: When final grades are put in for the close of the semester at 9AM on Tues., Jan. 21 and the student falls short of achieving 2.5 credits, they are now rendered ineligible and cannot continue to compete with their winter sport AND any potential Spring 2025 sport.
- For Spring 2025 Sports: When final grades are put in for the close of the semester at 9AM on Tues., Jan. 21 and the student falls short of achieving 2.5 credits, they are now rendered ineligible and cannot compete in any Spring sport for the entire season.
- For Fall 2025 Sports: When final grades are put in at the close of spring 2025 and the student falls short of achieving 2.5 credits, they are now rendered ineligible and cannot compete in any Fall sports for the entire season, unless they participate in credit recovery over the summer to make-up the needed classes. They must also finish those course prior to the start of the 2025-2026 school year.
Should you have any questions about the eligibility of your student, please reach out to your student's counselor or our Asst. Principal of Activities & Athletics, Mr. Tony Sylvester at sylvestera@epcusd401.org.
PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES (FEB. 12 & 13)
Second semester Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Wed., Feb. 12 and Thurs., Feb. 13; which also means that students will not be in session on Fri., Feb. 14. Each evening period will be split like the fall. Virtual appointments with staff will be during the 315-5PM period and in-person appointments will be during the 5-7PM period.
Registration for these appointments will be the same as always, which is through our PowerPTC system, which you can access here; please note that it will not work with the app. You can access directions as to how to register here. Registration will open on Tues., Jan. 21 at 6AM for you to book times; and, it will close on Mon., Feb. 10 at 1159PM.
Please note that on the night of Parent-Teacher Conferences that if you are coming into the building that you will need a photo ID to enter; security will be checking upon entry and entry will be only through the Main Entrance to EPHS, which is doorway #1. As well, only those who have pre-scheduled, in-person conferences will be allowed to access the building. Please reach out if you have questions.
GIRLS WHO CODE -- SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES
Is your daughter interested in coding or at least curious about it? Keep in mind that this is currently a field that is still very male dominated. As a result, girls who have an affinity towards this or who show skill in it, will oftentimes have more scholarship opportunities open to them. This career path is also the future given ongoing computer and technological needs.
Girls Who Code (a program offered outside of EPHS) offers program options so that high school students can choose a coding experience that fits their curiosities. Please note that no actual prior coding experience is needed. Here are two options:
1. The Summer immersion Program [SIP] is 2-week live virtual classroom experience where students will meet like-minded peers as they design creative computer games, gain practical college and career advice from industry professionals and explore tech careers. Those who are eligible can then also apply for either a $300 SIP Student Grant, plus laptop and hotspot access.
2. Pathways is a flexible, 6-week program for students to learn at their own pace with step-by-step video tutorials. Participants can explore cutting-edge topics like cybersecurity, data science and -- brand new for 2025 -- responsible artificial intelligence design.
If you are interested, please see this flyer with instruction as to how to apply.
ACTIVITIES & ATHLETICS CORNER
This Week's Focus: Varsity Club & Girls Basketball
Varsity Club: This particular activity is advised by Social Studies teacher, Vanessa Cleys and Science Teacher, Emily Schoenbeck; this is their first year advising this organization. There are currently 55 varsity athletes who are apart of this organization. While predominantly upper-classmen, there are several freshmen and sophomore varsity athletes coming from our Cheerleading, Cross Country and Track & Field programs. They are lead by student president: Alyssa Andersen (12) who plays varsity: volleyball, basketball and soccer; the vice president is Meredith Brayton (11) who plays varsity: volleyball, basketball and softball. The group meets every third Thursday at 7AM until first period. To be a member, students must compete on the varsity level of an athletic team who are then vetted by the sponsors for final membership.
The focus of this group to teaching these athletes to be leaders not only in the school, but also within the community. As a result, there participated in MANY volunteer opportunities. The advisors want them to be able to see that not everyone lives like themselves and the true distance that they have the ability to go when helping others. The group talks often about doing good things and being good people.
This year they have did a food drive for Go Beyond Hunger in Oak Park. They raised just over 425 non-perishable items for the organization. They went to Feed My Starving Children (featured in an earlier issue of the Tiger Times) and Cradles to Crayons where they sorted through clothing and cleaned shoes to create clothing packs for needy families. For semester two, the group will kick things off by doing a card drive through the organization Cardz for Kidz, which sends cards to any individual who may be in need of an uplifting thought, from kids, to men and women overseas, to the elderly. Then, this February they will be doing a pet supplies drive (February) for the non-for-profit Famous Fido, which is an animal shelter where Ms. Schoenbeck actually adopted her dog, Ollie (see picture in upper right-hand corner). They are also planning to do something in connection with our elementary schools. The Varsity Club is doing incredible things for our community! Keep up the good work.
Girls Basketball: The head coach for the Girls Basketball program is Ms. Marinelle Arenga who is a graduate of EPHS. She is in her thirteenth year of coaching here, and seventh as head coach of the girls program. She, herself played basketball all four years while at EPHS and then went on to play NAIA in Deerfield at Trinity International College. There are 3 levels (Frosh/Soph, JV and Varsity). The Varsity Asst. Coach is English Teacher, Mr. Marty Blake. The JV Coach is Mr. Gabrion Caushi and the Frosh/Soph Coach is Mr. Louis Ingratta, who is a teacher at John Mills Elementary School. Our JV program currently has only one loss out of 16 games played and are undefeated in conference play!
The Varsity program is made up of thirteen (13) athletes. Coach Arenga states that she has a super talented senior group of students, of whom are: Alyssa Andersen, Cariana Atiles, Jessie Craig, Megan Nettelhorst, Lauren Scheidt, Gianna Velazquez. Many of these athletes are 3-season athletes. Atiles and Nettelhorst have been playing at the varsity level since their freshmen year. This year's captains are Andersen and Nettelhorst. For Thanksgiving the team competed at a Ridgewood tournament against Lisle, Leyden and Westinghouse (CPS) high schools. During Winter, EPHS hosted it's own tournament, and they competed against: Maine East, Northside Prep (CPS) and Streamwood high schools. It should also be noted that our JV Girls Basketball team took first in this tournament.
The transition to competing within the Upstate-8 conference has not been easy; many of the schools within our conference are division 4A (i.e. larger schools). Senior night for the team will be on Fri., Feb. 7 when they taken on Streamwood High School. EPHS will also be the host site for the start of the March to State for Girls Basketball, which will be held on Tues., Feb. 18 and Thurs., Feb. 20. Stay tuned for more information on that. Go Tigers!
Have a great weekend Tigerland. Remember that we are off on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day that day; stay warm, it's supposed to be quite cold. And, friendly reminder, if you need dinner plans for tonight, order from or go to Top Butcher at 7128 W. Grand Ave. in Chicago between the hours of 4-7PM and the EPHS Athletic Boosters will get 15% of the proceeds. Be sure to mention the schools name or show the flyer below. Thanks!
Dr. Brode-Rico
