Hawk Freshmen Success

Dear Hawk Students & Families,

You have officially completed your first FULL MONTH of the school year and are 8 weeks into the semester, with only a week away from the end of first quarter! Everyday, I am communicating with teachers, students and families individually about the importance of freshman year and being on the right side of the statistics. It is important to discuss our freshman on track data in the classrooms now and help them understand that it is IMPERATIVE that they start now in the journey toward graduation! It is never too early!

Why is it important?

Studies show that being on track as a 9th grader is a BETTER indicator of HS success than race, income, neighborhood, and prior tests scores combined. These students are 3 1/2 times more likely to graduate within four years than those "off track".

What can FAMILIES do to help?

Please engage in conversations about your child's education. Ask them about details regarding homework, teachers, their favorite and least favorite classes, what their grades show on Infinite Campus, and/or if they need help outside of class. Parents can log into Infinite Campus here.

Parent/Teacher Conferences will take place on October10th & 11th, the window to register online for conferences is open through midnight, October 6th. HERE is the link to sign up for a conference.

All freshman should have exchanged chromebooks and chargers. They will need them for the PSAT on October 16th.

Lastly, I hope that the first quarter has treated everyone well. Although there may be new challenges along the way, you can do it. Please know that we are here to help you explore your passion and thrive all the way to 2028!

Thank you for your time,

Jeff Villarreal

AP of Freshman Success

Bartlett High School

(630) 372-4700 ext. 4632

jeffreyvillarreal@u-46.org

Bartlett currently has 527 Freshman enrolled. As we enter October, 90.5% of Freshmen are ON TRACK to Graduate within 4 years. This means that about 50 Freshmen are OFF TRACK. Our school FOT goal is 97.7% by the end of the 2024-2025 school year. For additional information regarding FOT and steps to take, please refer to this ON TRACK CHECKLIST.

Freshman year is HARD! Be patient, have grace, and never be afraid to ASK QUESTIONS. Freshmen struggle with being their OWN ADVOCATE. There are obvious differences between middle school and high school: different and MORE people, information coming at you from all different directions, trying to figure out where you belong and in what club, group or sport, the amount of homework, the pressure to make the grade.

Be sure to check you e-mail, canvas, phone blasts, and PA announcements everyday. Be proactive by monitoring your grades and asking your teachers and counselor questions about anything. Try to find at least one activity to participate in. And know where to and whom you can go for help as soon as you realize that you are feeling overwhelmed or uneasy.

One of the most important things students can do to be successful is to be present and engaged in school. School administration closely monitors attendance to help ensure that students are attending class safely and on time but also for them to have access to quality instruction. The graphic below illustrates the current impact of the average BHS 9th grader's GPA as they miss more and more classes.

527 - Total 1st Time Freshmen

97.9% - Excused Absence Attendance Rate

93.9% - OVERALL Attendance Rate

15% - Rate of referrals for first time freshman in Dean's Office to date (Behavior, Tardies, Cuts Class, etc.)

18% of Freshman are considered "Chronically Absent" by Illinois State's definition:

Illinois law defines "chronic absentee" as a student who misses 10 percent of school days within an academic year with or without a valid excuse. That's 18 days of an average 180-day school year. Excused absences include illness, suspension, need to care for a family member, etc.

What do I do with this information?

• If you call your student in sick, you should still turn in documentation of the illness if possible.
• Be very careful about taking off days in which there is no need to, missing a day in HS is like tearing pages out of a book and still needing to stay in touch with what happened while you were out.
• Cutting classes puts students at risk of referrals, Loss of Privileges, In-School Intervention, etc. NOTHING good happens where students are NOT where they are supposed to be.
• Communicate with the attendance office which can be reached at (630) 372-4700 ext. 4710.
• If there is a case of extreme or prolonged injury/illness/hospitalization, make contact with the nurse (Leiann Neitzke). We can help arrange everything for you!

All counselors are listed below by LAST name, alpha sort and are all located in the Guidance Office on the 2nd floor across from the Main Office.

Vanbooven (A-CAM) Ext. 4191 thomasvanbooven@u-46.org

Miranda (CAN-FR) Ext. 4689 dianamiranda@u-46.org

Fullhart (FU-KA) Ext. 4636 stephaniefullhart@u-46.org

Laursen (KE-ME) Ext. 4637 lauralaursen@u-46.org

Hilvert (MI-PEN) Ext. 4686 cherylhilvert@u-46.org

Ortiz (PEO-SIL) Ext. 4639 melissaortiz@u-46.org

Bean (SIM-Z) Ext. 4687 erinbean@u-46.org

For mental wellness, social-emotional support, your social workers are listed below:

Huggins (A-G) Ext. 4716 amandahuggins@u-46.org

Andrews (H-O) Ext. 4707 alisonandrews@u-46.org

Johnson (P-Z) Ext. 4786 markjohnson@u-46.org

Additional Resources:

Library - Open Every day, EVERY hour. Come during your lunch or study hall.

Before/After School Study Centers - Located in the library. 7-7:30am everyday. Tuesday, Wed, Thur. 3-4:30pm. ***Activity Bus available on Tues, Wed, Thur.***

Hawk Center Tutoring - Located in A-130 next to the cafeteria. Open during ALL lunch periods for study groups, review or quiet study space.

On October 16, all freshmen will participate in the PSAT exam. For many students, this will be their first exposure to a standardized testing environment. This is also great practice to prepare them for future assessments with the pressures of completing sections with specific timeframes. All students should have received an email from Mr. Wichman regarding their testing information including the classroom they should report to on that day. Students are responsible for bringing their charged chromebook to school for their exam. After completion of the test, they may eat lunch at school. Once dismissed by administrators, students can leave the school campus. Transportation will be provided for students who are eligible at 12:40 p.m.

Testing Tips

• Even though this is a practice exam, treat it like it is the real thing!
• Get a good night's sleep
• Eat a good breakfast (A light breakfast will also be available in the cafeteria from 6:30-7:30am).
• Utilize your counselors and online resources:
• College Board- (<-- Link) For grants/scholarships, career exploration, state testing info
• Khan Academy- (<-- Link)Sample tests, test prep, Advanced course practice for all school levels. Set up your own student or parent account!

Bartlett High School strives to be an environment where EVERYONE has a sense of belonging. With 32 athletic teams and over 90 clubs, there is a wide variety of opportunities to explore your passion. Check out the ATHLETIC WEBSITE or LIST OF CLUBS for more information. Additionally, flyers are posted throughout the building and be sure listen in on the daily announcements for updates.

October 10th - End of 1st Quarter

October 10/11 - P/T Conferences

October 16 - PSAT Testing Day

October 23/Nov. 6 - AVID Online Information Session. HERE is the link to the flyer.

End of October/Early November - Freshmen will be meeting with their counselors for registration for next year.