PHS Newsletter

We're off to a great start! We're so happy to be back with students; we can't say it enough - we have such great kids and staff here! Homecoming week is next week already, so please take note of the schedule changes to facilitate our festivities.

Josh Manning, Principal

Derek Schulte, Assistant Principal

Matt Fouch, Activities Director

Senior parents, you should be extremely proud of your students. They engaged in the "Senior Challenge" yesterday, and it was a moving experience. I was impressed by the authenticity and vulnerability of our seniors, and I would encourage you to ask them about it. We will do a recap in four weeks during iLead. Class of 2025, you are amazing people!

Homecoming week is September 9-13

*Please note that our homecoming schedule has changed some this year because of multiple activity conflicts and an effort to make participation more inclusive for all students.

Important Dates for Our Students:

Tuesday, September 3 - Homecoming Court is announced

Monday, September 9 - King and Queen Coronation @ 11:00 am

Wednesday, September 11 - Homecoming Activity Day

• 8:05-8:25 iLead

• 8:30-9:30 Class Activities

• 9:40-10:40 Powder Puff @ Stadium

• 10:50-11:50 Jungle VB in gyms

• 11:55-12:40 Lunch

• 12:45-1:45 Lip Sync

Friday, September 13 - Homecoming Friday

• 11:30am: Tailgate Lunch

• 2:40pm: Pep Rally at HS Main Gym

• 7:00pm: Homecoming FB Game at Central College

• 9:30pm-11:30pm: Homecoming Dance at Pella HS Commons

Picture retakes at the high school are scheduled for Wednesday, October 9th.

During the summer break, senior Maddie Schroder (pictured left), secured a place on the Junior Olympic USA Shooting Team in International Skeet Shooting! She will have the opportunity to travel with the team to international competitions beginning next Spring. Earning a place on this team is an incredible achievement and a testament to Maddie's hard work, dedication, and skill in the sport. Congratulations!

In late August, Cameron Knouse competed in the World’s Championship Horse Show as a junior exhibitor in the American Saddlebred show pleasure division in Louisville, Kentucky. Congratulations, Cameron!

Marion County Bank once again demonstrated their unwavering generosity to our staff and the entire Pella Community School District. They treated our staff to two delicious cakes and presented the district with a check from funds raised through their Report Card Debit Card Program. We are deeply grateful for their continued support and commitment to our community. Thank you, Marion County Bank!

ACT Information

Mon/Tues, Oct 7 & 8 - ZAPS ACT workshop @ Pella HS

An ACT workshop is planned at Pella High School for October 7 & 8. An instructor from the ZAPS organization will lead students in a classroom setting workshop with tips and strategies for the ACT standardized test. It is encouraged for juniors to take the ACT test in April or June if they anticipate attending a four year institution. Visit the Doorway to College website for registration, study tips and statistics on the ZAPs workshop benefits. Another ZAPS workshop is being planned in March for ACT preparation closer to the Spring testing dates.

Workshop Flier

The ACT registration website has all testing dates and deadlines for the 2024-25 school year.

PSAT

Wednesday, Oct 16 - PSAT

PSAT testing info

The Preliminary SAT is co-sponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The PSAT/NMSQT is available to students in grade 11 and is a great practice for taking the SAT. This year’s test will be administered on Wednesday, October 16th. Students wishing to take the PSAT/NMSQT may sign up on the form emailed to them beginning September 2. The deadline for signing up is September 9. Please note, this is an optional opportunity for students; if you have questions about whether you should register your child, please contact the counselors.

REGISTRATION CONFIRMATION DEADLINE: September 9 by 8:00 AM

PSAT testing:

Date: Wednesday, October 16, 2023

Time: 8:15am- 11:15am sharp

Where: Pella High School - in Library C

Cost: $18.00 payable online through Infinite Campus (allow 24 hrs for fee to appear after registering).

PSAT EXAM SIGN UP LINK

College and Career Planning

The Pella HS counseling office is available to students and parents to assist with college and career planning. If more information is needed, please contact one of the counselors, Mrs. Manning or Mrs. Van Zante, to schedule an appointment.

College Admission representatives visit Pella High School from time to time. When a college schedules a visit, junior and senior students may attend the session to gain a better understanding of that institution. Most visits are scheduled during lunch in the commons. The daily announcements will notify students which colleges will be visiting that week, so they can plan to attend and learn more about their colleges of interest.

For important information pertaining to seniors, please see the link below, which can be found on our high school website:

​​https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RpDV0x93FxMzFeqEzEVeVui7N-yM_t8BAdAitSrul6M/preview

The Senior Bulletin also includes local and other scholarship opportunities. As we receive information about scholarships, we will add it to the bulletin in order of the scholarships’ deadlines.

Breakfast is served at the high school from 7:30-8:54 daily.

Lunch Procedure Updates:

• Cashier on the left-hand side will only take complete meals (no à la carte items). If students do not have a complete meal, students will be provided with a fruit or vegetable. If students purchase a second complete meal, the additional charge will be $4.85.

• If students have funds available in their lunch account, students may purchase à la carte items from the cashier on the right-hand side.

• To purchase an additional entrée for $2.50, students will need to have an entrée ticket. These tickets can be bought during breakfast or lunch. If students buy a ticket during lunch, students will need to return to the start of the line to pick up their entrée, so we can avoid moving backward through the serving area.

PHS is starting a new leg of our Leader in Me Journey this year. The journey title “Empowered Learning” is going to put into practice everything we have learned these last three years from the 7 Habits, to the 4 Disciplines of Execution, and finally the Speed of Trust. The goal of applying these three foundations of Leader in Me is empowered and engaged students. We will move our culture from a “We Direct Learning” school to a “We Empower Learning” school. Our students will take charge of their learnings and actively engage our school.

We want to invite our families to engage and empower their students as well. Ask them how this happening right now in our school. Ask them how they can start taking charge of their learning at home. And, be on the lookout for opportunities for families to connect in the engagement process. Our students will once again have an opportunity to show their families how they are leading their learning at our Future Ready Conferences in November. More details and information will be coming in future newsletters!

Thank you for partnering with us as we engage and empower the learners at Pella High School this year!

Applying to college? Please follow these steps on the Pella District website for any official transcript requests: pellaschools.org/transcript or click HERE.

September

2nd No School - Labor Day

11th 90 minute early dismissal for PD

17th 3-Week Grade Check

18th 90 minute early dismissal for PD

25th 90 minute early dismissal for PD

October

2nd 90 minute early dismissal for PD

8th 6-Week Grade Check

9th 90 minute early dismissal for PD

16th 90 minute early dismissal for PD

23rd 90 minute early dismissal for K-6 conferences

24th No School

25th No School

29th Mid-Term Grades Due

30th 90 minute early dismissal for PD

Twitter - @pellaschools and @pellahigh

Facebook - Pella Schools

Instagram - @pellaschools

Website

www.pellaschools.org