Weekly Update 1-20-25
Good evening, this is Rick Parker, Principal of Indian Land High School, calling with a Monday Weekly Update. There is a lot happening today. I hope you are celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on this Monday Holiday. Dr. King had a great quote to live by: “EVERYONE can be great. Because ANYONE can serve. You only need a HEART full of grace. A SOUL generated by LOVE.” We have the inauguration of the 47th President of the United States and we have the National College Football Championship between Notre Dame and Ohio State. Enjoy these special events!
I finished the Grade Level Reset Assemblies last week with juniors and seniors. I challenged all students to reflect on these four questions: What brutal facts do I need to confront? What actions do I need to start? What actions do I need to stop? What actions do I need to continue? That means develop a PLAN for second semester. Plan meaning Prepare Learn And Navigate as they play the second half of the game. Keeping that W.A.R.R.I.O.R. Mindset of continuous improvement by turning up of the volume, pushing through and rising to the top is our goal! Attached is the video I shared with the students.
Here is What’s Important Now for next week:
Monday - Martin Luther King Holiday - No School.
FLEX starts back. Please make sure your child signs up for priority, MESH, or other activities.
For JUNIORS, it is time to sign up for the Spring 2025 Administration of the ACT or SAT. Juniors, please select ONE of the TWO tests to be administered here at school this spring by completing JUNIOR ACT or SAT. Registration closes on January 24, 2025.
Attendance Protocol Updates
· To notify ILHS of your student's absence, please send an email, with any necessary doctor's notes attached, to the following address:
ilhs.attendance@lcsd.k12.sc.us
· You may also include the student's teachers' email addresses in the same email to let them know of their absence, but we must be notified at the above email address to properly code their absence. We do not receive attendance changes over the phone.
A few reminders:
· Students are given 10 "parent notes" per year. Missed class time excused with parent notes will need to be recovered.
· If you have a doctor's note, dental note, etc. to provide, we can code the absence as "Medical" to help reserve your parent notes.
o While you may send in hard copies of these notes, you can also simply scan/take a photo/screenshot them and email them to the attendance email address.
· Please allow up to 48 hours for attendance changes to be put into PowerSchool.
· For tardiness or early dismissals due to medical appointments, please scan/take a photo/screenshot and send in the medical note so we can excuse the tardy or early dismissal.
· Students that need to dismiss early must bring a handwritten note from the parent or guardian to the main office with time and parent signature. Students will be given a pass to leave class at the indicated time (Phones nor emails will be accepted for early dismissal).
Save the date for all January Warrior University topics:
1/23 6-7pm- Trafficking presentation by LightHouse For Life
1/28- Lancaster County Career Center- 5:30-7pm- 8th & 9th grade family night @ LCCC
1/30- 6pm- Rising Junior (Sophomore) Family IGP Night- this will prepare you for your student's upcoming IGP meeting where, among other topics, they will choose courses for their Junior year- come hear about the new SC Math Pathway that will be in effect next academic year
1/31-4th block- Rising Junior (Sophomore) IGP Workshop for all sophomore students
Cell Phone Policy: Our students are doing a great job adjusting to the no cell phone policy. Please remind your student that Ear buds and Smart watches are included in the policy. Student’s cell phones, ear buds, and smart watches should kept in their book bags only allowed to be used before school or after school. No cell phones will be allowed to be used in class, during class transitions or lunchtime. Consequences on the Behavioral Student Matrix will begin with warnings and lead to Refuse to Obey. The attached video on the Cell Phone Policy was sent out December 18th to the District and all school websites.
From our PTSO:
Looking for a fun way to support the Indian Land High School? Looking for a reason to get dressed up on a Saturday night? Then join us February 22nd at this year's 2nd Annual Indian Land Gala. This event is a great way to connect with other families & community members and the silent auction is sure to have something to catch your eye!
What is the Indian Land Gala? Last year we wanted to find a way to bring parents, staff and community members together to support Indian Land High School and hosted our first Indian Land Gala. Over 15 businesses from Indian Land partnered with us and over 120 people attended the event. This year we are hoping to have more than 150 people attend to increase our support.
Last year, this Inaugural event was held in March at the Dairy Barn and was a HUGE success, raising more than $14,000 for our school. The money was split between the ILHS Athletic Booster Club, ILHS Band Booster Club, ILHS PTSO & Ultimate Warrior. With that money the Athletic Booster was able to buy some well needed sporting equipment, Band was able to purchase uniforms (still not enough as our Marching Band is growing at an alarming rate) and the PTSO was able to provide 2 - $500 scholarships for seniors & provide a meal for over 200 staff members all 5 days of Staff appreciation week.
We would love to see you at this year's Indian Land Gala on February 22nd at the Ballantyne Hotel. Your support is needed to help us continue to provide a great environment for our children.
If you are interested in sponsorship, please reach out as we have several options available.
Sincerely,
Indian Land Gala Committee
I leave you with this quote: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Have a great evening!