Dear Lancer Parent/Guardian,
Thank you for your attendance at Curiosity Day and Curriculum Nights!
It has been a busy two weeks at Palombi. We practiced our ALICE drills last week, with teachers practicing locking down, discussing with students how to barricade rooms, how to prepare if someone were to access the room, and when it would be safe to evacuate the building. We also completed our first fire drill, tornado drill, and bus drill. Both the police department and fire department reviewed our ALICE drills and fire drills as well.
Students began MAP testing in their ELA/Math classes this week, and we will be conducting MAP makeups next week. These assessments provide us with a baseline for creating our Wildly Important Goals for the year. Both our staff and students will be utilizing these goals to improve upon our performance.
Sincerely,
Angela Sisi
Principal
Lake County STEM Conference
We are excited to share that the Lake County STEM for Girls Conference is returning again this year! The Lake County STEM for Girls Conference is hosted by a group of educators volunteering to bring STEM to middle school girls in our county. The conference hosts women from various STEM fields who work with the attending students by engaging in hands-on activities with real-world applications. Each session is interactive and inspiring!
We have a STEM fair and also invite parents/guardians to attend adult sessions to learn more about saving for college, how to support students in high school academic paths, and mindfulness. We have a fantastic keynote and an enthusiastic closing for both students and parents!
This year the conference is being held at Vernon Hills High School on November 4th, 2023.
Tardies
Every year we have a grace period for students, so they can get acclimated to the school, before we begin to count tardies. This week we have begun to hold students accountable for tardies, both to school as well as to individual classes.
Athletics
Boys and Girls Soccer, Softball and Cross Country are in full swing. Boys Soccer has their first home game today against Beach Park. Softball will begin their season tomorrow against their cross town rival Antioch Upper Grade. Our fall sports pictures are scheduled for Monday September 11th. Click here to order! Our schedules are posted on our website. Basketball, cheer and poms season starts in October. Tryouts are the week of October 16th. Students need to attend all tryout days AND have a current physical on file prior to tryouts. Basketball, Cheer and Poms Tryout Form
Activities
Session 1 of after school enrichment clubs will begin the week of September 11th and end the week of October 16th. Forms and money are due this Friday, September 8th and can be given to first period teachers or Ms. Kaplan (room 310). Click here for the form. Students must be picked up from all enrichments at 4:00 p.m. at the activity entrance. There is also an activity bus available at 4:00 p.m. that costs $5 per ride. If your student signs up for the basketball clinic on October 3rd, 4th, and 5th, please make sure they have a physical on file!
Mondays: Garden Club, Gaming Club
Tuesdays: Art Club, Spanish Club
Wednesdays: CPR/AED/First Aid Certification, Movie Club
Thursdays: Dungeons and Dragons Club
October 3rd-5th: Basketball Clinic
NJHS
Applications for National Junior Honor Society will be emailed to all eligible 7th and 8th graders in November. Students must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.8 or above during their middle school years to be invited to apply.
Palombi Players
Palombi Players will have our first meeting on Tuesday, September 12th from 2:20 pm - 4:00 pm. Auditions for “30 Reasons Not to Be in a Play” will be on Monday, September 18th and Tuesday, September 19th until 4:30 pm. Please reach out to Ms. Dahowski (emily.dahowski@district41.org) or Ms. Stellwagen (gretchen.stellwagen@district41.org) with any questions.
Washington D.C
8th grade students interested in attending the Washington D.C trip over spring break please reach out to Miss Koenig! kaitlin.koenig@district41.org
OWLS Field Trip
Attention 8th grade parents and students! Our annual OWLS field trip still has spots available on either trip (Friday, September 29th and Thursday, October 5th). Information packets have been sent home with students. If you are in need of one, please contact Mrs. Rhodes at mrhodes@district41.org. OWLS is a great way for 8th grade students to get to know other students in the grade level, build leadership and problem-solving skills, and have FUN!
Health Office
Immunizations and physicals are due by October 15th, 2023, for all sixth graders, and all new students. Letters will be mailed home with missing requirements. Documents can be emailed, faxed, or dropped off in the health office. Additionally, please make sure the health coordinator is aware and/or updated of any changes to your student’s history.
6th Grade News
The 6th grade teachers wish to thank all of the 6th graders who have transitioned nicely into their new routines of switching classes, using lockers, arriving to classes on time, coming prepared to classes, and turning in their homework. All of these changes are not easy, but we are impressed by the efforts and positive attitudes all around us. We look forward to a fantastic school year!
CAMP DUNCAN TRIP - 6th Grade
Sixth graders will be given the opportunity to participate in an all-day team building activity at Camp Duncan in Ingleside. They will attend with their advisory either on Oct. 23rd or Oct. 24th. Thanks to our PTO for covering the transportation cost. Palombi will be sending out permission slips to students soon. Please be on the lookout for these slips.
Yearbook Pictures
School picture day is September 28th. To order pictures click here. Pictures ordering will close at 8am on September 28th. If you are having problems with the link above, please copy and paste https://AccessMyEvent.com/K5FPW1 into your browser.
Yearbook
The 2024 Yearbook is on sale for $30. This is the lowest price of the year and includes free icons (when you add personalization)! Buy your yearbook now! Reserve your copy online at jostensyearbooks.com or call 1-877-767-5217. Don't delay, order today! This promotional sale ends October 7th. The cost of the book returns to the original price of $35 on October 8th.
Limited supply of 22/23 yearbooks are still available please reach out to Amanda Foy (amanda.scheltensfoy@district41.org) or Stephanie Horne (stephanie.horne@district41.org) for more information to purchase.
IMPORTANT DATES
Sept. 11 BOE Meeting at 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 11 Afterschool Enrichment Clubs Begin
Sept. 12 Palombi Players Informational Meeting
Sept. 13 First LEAD Activity
Sept. 18/19 Palombi Players Auditions
Sept 21 Palombi Players Callbacks
Sept. 25 BOE Meeting at 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 28 Picture Day
Sept. 29 First OWLS Field Trip
Oct. 5 Second OWLS Field Trip
Oct. 6 Institute Day - No School
Oct. 9 Columbus Day - No-School
Oct. 15 All immunizations and physicals due
Oct. 16 Basketball, Cheer, & Pom Tryouts Start
Oct. 16 BOE Meeting at 7:00 p.m.