John Poilek
Principal
john.poilek@omeresa.net

Hello and happy summer!

Congratulations to everyone on a very successful 2023-2024 school year.  Our school saw many updates and changes through the last year and I thank everyone for their contributions and pride in our school!

A big thank you goes out to our community families and parents.  It is absolutely IMPOSSIBLE to do what we do here at Shadyside High School without your support and efforts.  Thank you for the strong values you instill into our students and thank you for the positive, supportive climates in your homes and in the town.  This town beams “Pride” and I am so happy that is passed on to the next generation.

A big congratulations goes out to the Class of 2024!!  I wish everyone in the Class of 2024 the best of luck in the future.  If you ever need anything, please reach out to us!!

A big thank you goes out to our custodial staff that performs the tasks to ensure our students’ and staff health. We will maintain the same level of nightly “deep cleaning” that we’ve used for the last few years to cleanse classrooms and hallways.

Speaking of a clean and welcoming building, our custodial and maintenance staff are hard at work refinishing floors and touching up the walls to get SHS ready for the fall.  I want to thank Tommy Duncan, Terry Gilham, the entire custodial staff, and the student workers on the summer work crew.  Without all of your efforts, we would not have a functional facility.

As a reminder, our entire catalog of classes is intended to be taken in a face-to-face manner, in person, at SHS.  In the interest of academic performance, students must be in attendance.  Educational research supports a strong correlation between absenteeism and low academic performance.  While we recognize that there are times when a student must miss school due to illness or other issues, we strongly advise these absences be minimized.

We do have two virtual learning opportunities available at Shadyside.  The first is our traditional Edmentum program.  Students registered for these classes should be prepared to traverse an entire year’s worth of curriculum at their own pace and under their own guidance.  While our teachers can make the best effort possible to help a student with an Edmentum class, there should be no expectation of guidance from the school should with these classes.  The other option is our new Virtual Learning Program (VLA.)  In VLA, the student actually has access to a teacher through an Online interface to help with the educational process.  The VLA program is bit a more intensive and may only be utilized with prior approval from administration.

Safety has always been at the forefront of our planning at Shadyside Local Schools.  This year is no exception.  We are constantly evolving and adjusting to make our buildings as safe as they can be for our students and staff.  This year, we will continue  to use our single point entrance plan.  ALL STUDENTS will enter through the main doors at the front of the building.  Upon entering, high school students will turn left and use the tables in the gym hallway to sit while waiting for the opening bell.  Students may also stand in the art room hallway or gym/auditorium hallway.  Senior high students may not pass the office in the main hall before the opening bell rings.  High school students should also refrain from entering the gym prior to first period.  Junior high students will no longer enter the multi-purpose room doors.  They, too, will enter the main entrance at the front of the building and then turn right.  Junior high students will still wait for the opening bell in the multi-purpose room.  Junior high students may not go to the art hall or gym/auditorium hall before the opening bell.

All side doors will remained locked at all times and be considered “exit only.”  Any student caught opening a door to allow access to the school will be subject to the student handbook for creating a safety hazard.

I believe that this entry plan maintains the separation of senior high and junior high students in the morning while creating a situation where there is only a single point of entry.  This entry will be supervised by staff, administration, law enforcement, or any combination of the three every day during morning drop-off times.  Reminder that the opening bell rings at 7:40 AM and first period begins at 7:45 AM.  THERE SHOULD BE NO STUDENTS ROAMING THE HALLS PRIOR TO THE OPENING BELL AT 7:40 AM.  A note to students: personal accountability will be of a HUGE emphasis this year.  You must be where you are supposed to be at all times.  Students that are found to be truant in-school, which means you’ve gone to classroom or location not previously approved, will face increased disciplinary actions.  This is simply a safety precaution and something that we value at SHS.

Students will have the privilege in participating in our one-to-one Chromebook program at SHS, too.  Every student will get a Chromebook to use throughout the year.  Students are reminded that the device is the property of the school and they are simply borrowing the Chromebook.  It must be cared for and returned in the same condition at the end of the year.  Also, given that students have Chromebooks, there will be NO CELL PHONES or TABLETS in class.  They must be kept away during class time at SHS.  If they are used for ANY REASON (including but not limited to: checking messages, checking the time, as a calculator, etc.) it will be confiscated and sent to the office.  Headphones and ear buds are also prohibited.  Anything that could potentially interfere with a student’s ability to hear creates a learning obstacle as well as a safety hazard.  Smart watches that are used inappropriately are also subject to the technology policy and may be confiscated.

In addition to the rules and regulations of the building, parents always want to know what sort of supplies their student may need for the upcoming year at SHS.  My answer is that different teachers at the high school like different things.  There is no real supply list because supplies are not really universal through SHS.  Most teachers would prefer that you keep a three-ring binder specific for their class.  A folder for each class would probably be the minimum.  Beyond a place to keep documents for the classes, writing utensils are very important.  Pens and pencils would be required in most academic rooms and marking instruments like colored pens, markers, or highlighters would be an added luxury, but not necessarily a requirement.  Most assignments are either provided on hard-copy in class or digital through Google Classroom, so there is no real need to purchase an excessive amount of notebook paper.  One small notebook per class would be more than enough.  Something like a large, multi-subject notebook would sort of take care of all needs, depending on your organizational preferences.

I want to take this opportunity to welcome everyone back to Shadyside High School.  Thank you all for your continued support of what we are doing at SHS.  Our staff is wonderful, our students are incredible, and our families and community are sensational.  What a town, what a school!

Its a great time to be a Tiger!  Thank you for being part of our school!  Best of luck to everyone this year!

If you have any questions or need help with anything regarding your son or daughter’s education, please do not hesitate to call us at 740.676.3235.

Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,

John Poilek

Principal, SHS