October 2013
From the Desk of Mr. Dorethy
High School Principal
Reminder there will be three early out days in October. The first day will be October 11th at 11:30 am for a School Improvement Day, there will not be any lunch served. The second early out day will be October 23rd for a teacher in-service; school will be dismissed at 2:00 pm. School will be dismissed on October 24th at 2:00 pm as well so that the conferences can begin at 3:00 pm.
No School on October 14th in honor of Columbus Day.
No School on October 25th for Parent Teacher Conference.
Parent/Teacher Conferences will take place on October 24th from 3:00 pm to 7:30 pm and on Friday October 25th from 8:00 am to 11:00 am. All of the high school teachers will be located in the high school gym. Parents will be able to talk to any or all of your students’ teachers without making any appointments again this year.
Parents could have downloaded your student’s mid-term reports from PowersSchool on September 20th. If you did not receive your child’s mid-term please call the office and we will send one.
Twenty Unity High School Athletes attended the Character Champion Presentation at JWCC on September 17th. They heard many excellent speakers talk about sportsmanship in high school athletics. The Quincy Exchange Club sponsors this activity and it is a great day for our student, athletes, and coaches.
There will be a Red Cross Blood Drive sponsored by the High School Student Council on Oct 21st from 11:30am-6:00pm in the high school gym.
Senior nights: volleyball will be on October 15th against West Hancock and the senior night for football, band, golf and football cheerleaders will be on October 18th against Pleasant Hill prior to the game.
The volleyball team will be playing in the Unity Regional Volleyball Tournament October 28-31. When we find out when the Mustangs play we will send out an email to let everyone know. Mustang season passes and WCC Conference Passes will not be honored due to the fact it is an IHSA sponsored event.
Golf Regionals, boys will be at Hamilton on October 8th and the girls regional will be held at Rushville on October 9th.
Just a reminder too that the daily announcements are available to all parents by going to the school web page, unityhs.weebly.com. The announcements are posted for each week and it allows parents to know what is happening at Unity High School. Check out our awesome high school web site as it provides a great resource for our students and parents. Click on Photo Gallery to see pictures from homecoming and all current sports at UHS. Also like our Facebook page at UHS – Mustang Country.
Student Picture retake day will be October 10th. Students who were not here on the original picture day will be able get their pictures taken on that day. If you want picture retakes, please bring back the originals for the retake day.
The ACT Test will be offered at Quincy Senior High School on October 26th.
If you have a question about attendance, academic, dress code, discipline guide, etc. here at UHS, please look in the Student Handbook or call the High School Office at 936-2116 x 141. The handbook can be viewed on our web site.
All of the high school students are really enjoying the use of their MacBook. If you are experiencing any technology issues please contact our IT Expert Gabriel Forrester at 217-936-2116 x199.
This school year has gotten off to a great start. You as parents should be very proud of your students because they have done a great job of starting the school year. The staff and I really appreciate your support at Unity High School.
No School on October 14th in honor of Columbus Day.
No School on October 25th for Parent Teacher Conference.
Parent/Teacher Conferences will take place on October 24th from 3:00 pm to 7:30 pm and on Friday October 25th from 8:00 am to 11:00 am. All of the high school teachers will be located in the high school gym. Parents will be able to talk to any or all of your students’ teachers without making any appointments again this year.
Parents could have downloaded your student’s mid-term reports from PowersSchool on September 20th. If you did not receive your child’s mid-term please call the office and we will send one.
Twenty Unity High School Athletes attended the Character Champion Presentation at JWCC on September 17th. They heard many excellent speakers talk about sportsmanship in high school athletics. The Quincy Exchange Club sponsors this activity and it is a great day for our student, athletes, and coaches.
There will be a Red Cross Blood Drive sponsored by the High School Student Council on Oct 21st from 11:30am-6:00pm in the high school gym.
Senior nights: volleyball will be on October 15th against West Hancock and the senior night for football, band, golf and football cheerleaders will be on October 18th against Pleasant Hill prior to the game.
The volleyball team will be playing in the Unity Regional Volleyball Tournament October 28-31. When we find out when the Mustangs play we will send out an email to let everyone know. Mustang season passes and WCC Conference Passes will not be honored due to the fact it is an IHSA sponsored event.
Golf Regionals, boys will be at Hamilton on October 8th and the girls regional will be held at Rushville on October 9th.
Just a reminder too that the daily announcements are available to all parents by going to the school web page, unityhs.weebly.com. The announcements are posted for each week and it allows parents to know what is happening at Unity High School. Check out our awesome high school web site as it provides a great resource for our students and parents. Click on Photo Gallery to see pictures from homecoming and all current sports at UHS. Also like our Facebook page at UHS – Mustang Country.
Student Picture retake day will be October 10th. Students who were not here on the original picture day will be able get their pictures taken on that day. If you want picture retakes, please bring back the originals for the retake day.
The ACT Test will be offered at Quincy Senior High School on October 26th.
If you have a question about attendance, academic, dress code, discipline guide, etc. here at UHS, please look in the Student Handbook or call the High School Office at 936-2116 x 141. The handbook can be viewed on our web site.
All of the high school students are really enjoying the use of their MacBook. If you are experiencing any technology issues please contact our IT Expert Gabriel Forrester at 217-936-2116 x199.
This school year has gotten off to a great start. You as parents should be very proud of your students because they have done a great job of starting the school year. The staff and I really appreciate your support at Unity High School.
From the Desk of Mr. Klusmeyer
Middle School Principal
The 1st quarter will end on Friday, Oct. 18. Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, October 24 (3 – 7:30) and Friday, October 25 (8 – 11) in the MS gym. If you can’t make it to the conferences, your child’s report card will be mailed home. I encourage you to take full advantage of the opportunity to meet with the faculty and staff to talk about your child.
Picture retake day will be Thursday, October 10 in the morning. If you have any questions, please contact the middle school office.
ACTIVITIES
Congratulations to the UMS baseball team on finishing a fine season with a 7 - 9 record. They lost in the regional semifinal to Nauvoo.
The MS girls’ basketball team opened their season on Sept. 24 with the 7th and 8th graders defeating Brown Co. The 5th and 6th grade basketball teams have also begun their season. Their next home game is Wednesday, Oct. 2.
The boys’ basketball team will begin practice on Monday, Oct. 14. There is a sign-up sheet outside the MS office.
As we begin our home basketball season, students are reminded that they are expected to stay in the gymnasium to watch the game. No students will be allowed to run throughout the building or around the school grounds. If a student does not show good sportsmanship or follow the rules, he or she will be asked to leave the premises.
ACADEMICS
Please Be Proactive in your child’s education by checking to make sure they have their homework done. Homework is a great tool for students to master the concepts being taught. If you do not have access to Power School to check your child’s grades, please let the office know.
DATES TO REMEMBER
October 10 – Picture Retakes
October 11 – School Improvement Day – 11:30 Dismissal – No Lunch
October 14 – Columbus Day – No School
October 18 – End of 1st Quarter
October 23 – 2:00 Dismissal
October 24 – 2:00 Dismissal – Parent-Teacher Conferences 3:00 – 7:30
October 25 – No School – Parent-Teacher Conferences – 8:00 – 11:00
Picture retake day will be Thursday, October 10 in the morning. If you have any questions, please contact the middle school office.
ACTIVITIES
Congratulations to the UMS baseball team on finishing a fine season with a 7 - 9 record. They lost in the regional semifinal to Nauvoo.
The MS girls’ basketball team opened their season on Sept. 24 with the 7th and 8th graders defeating Brown Co. The 5th and 6th grade basketball teams have also begun their season. Their next home game is Wednesday, Oct. 2.
The boys’ basketball team will begin practice on Monday, Oct. 14. There is a sign-up sheet outside the MS office.
As we begin our home basketball season, students are reminded that they are expected to stay in the gymnasium to watch the game. No students will be allowed to run throughout the building or around the school grounds. If a student does not show good sportsmanship or follow the rules, he or she will be asked to leave the premises.
ACADEMICS
Please Be Proactive in your child’s education by checking to make sure they have their homework done. Homework is a great tool for students to master the concepts being taught. If you do not have access to Power School to check your child’s grades, please let the office know.
DATES TO REMEMBER
October 10 – Picture Retakes
October 11 – School Improvement Day – 11:30 Dismissal – No Lunch
October 14 – Columbus Day – No School
October 18 – End of 1st Quarter
October 23 – 2:00 Dismissal
October 24 – 2:00 Dismissal – Parent-Teacher Conferences 3:00 – 7:30
October 25 – No School – Parent-Teacher Conferences – 8:00 – 11:00
September 25, 2013 – 6:00 p.m. – Board of Education Office and Unity High School Gym
Visitors Present – 6
Public Participation/Recognitions
- Recognized Maggie Bowles for being selected as Unity HS Student of the Month.
Financial Items
- Approved bills and activity fund reports.
- Held FY14 budget hearing. No public comment was offered. Adopted budget calling for $6,155,309 in revenue and $6,585,187 in expenses. The budget projects a year end balance of $626,458. The district’s General State Aid has been reduced by just over 11% this year (approximately $300,000). These reductions are a result of budget problems from the State of Illinois. Similar reductions are happening to school districts across the state. The board will spend time in months ahead reviewing long-term projections. The board will continue the work of addressing funding issues with a goal of a balanced budget in FY16.
- Reviewed annual salary compensation report. This will be posted on the website by October 1st.
Informational Items
- Recognized the Unit 4 Foundation’s generous support of teaching and learning. The Foundation has purchased 5 LCD projectors and SMART Boards for Mendon Elementary.
- Discussed several ideas of how to gather community input at addressing long term financial planning. Mr. Kurz will begin work of soliciting volunteers for an advisory group of parents and community members. Mr. Kurz will also look for opportunities to visit groups and organizations to share information about the district and solicit input and feedback.
- Discussed the ongoing work between administrators and teachers who are a part of the evaluation committee.
- Reported some classes have been selected to administer a trial version of the new PARCC assessments. These will replace the old state assessment system next year. Students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades have been selected to participate. Unity High School will have geometry classes piloting the test as well. This will be a good opportunity to learn more about the new assessment system.
Action Items
- Approved FY14 budget.
Next Meeting
- Regular Meeting – Wednesday, October 16th at 6:00 p.m. in the Board of Education Office.