Good afternoon, this is Rick Parker, Principal of Indian Land High School, calling with a Sunday Weekly Update. We had a great EOC Celebration Party for all the students who scored 80% or higher on their 1st semester EOC. The students enjoyed the food, drink, and DJ but didn’t do a lot of dancing! LOL! It was fun to give back to the students and show them how proud I was of them. We had a well-attended Rising Junior IGP meeting on Thursday evening where students and parents received a lot of information to help their child develop their Plan for the next two years! The presentation can be found on the ILHS Counseling website. I have attached it for your convenience. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1B0Ddj0iVva03ypM21LUQoM19zAy2Q9eM32OUPahLpdY/edit?usp=sharing
This is week is National Counselor Week! Please take a moment and send a thank you to your child’s counselor! “Anything is possible when you have the right people there to support you!” Misty Copeland, African American Ballet Dancer
February is Black History Month. Indian Land High School presents its second annual Celebration of Black History, sponsored by Student Council (STUCO). Last year we were excited to host the Lancaster Trailblazers Photo Exhibit that highlighted the achievements of local pioneers. This year we would like to continue the tradition with a focus on modern day entrepreneurs. We are seeking representation from area businesses.
Inviting you to join our celebration, we are looking for local vendors to bring your business to Indian Land High School on Friday, February 28, 2025 from 4:30-7:00 pm. You are encouraged to bring information, goods, and a community-minded spirit. If you would like to participate, please fill out the Google form using the link below. We look forward to hearing from you.
Link to Google Form: https://tinyurl.com/yc7z66cd
Looking for something fun to go see? Our SRO Officer Sapp is becoming a Cheerleader for Special Olympics!
Here is What’s Important Now for next week:
Monday 2/3 – All students complete a Two-Page LCSD Survey in their FLEX Time.
Here is a copy of the survey: LCSD Two-page survey 2025
Here is the Opt-out Form if you wish your child not to participate.
Tuesday 2/4 – Student Cancer Walk during FLEX Time: Student have to donate to walk.
· From the Testing Coordinator
o ACCESS Testing - There will be ACCESS Testing occurring this week for students who need to be tested. The testing window is from February 3 through February 21. Students should have been notified by their teacher if this applies to them, and they will test during the day during this time.
o Juniors - ACT is March 11, 2025 and the SAT is April 9, 2025. Thank you for signing up! More information is to come on these opportunities!
· The New 1st edition “From the Land” Monthly Newsletter is out on social media and websites: https://www.canva.com/design/DAGcvg189sc/ev28WrnYJp5cRgSEUqqNVQ/view?utm_content=DAGcvg189sc&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=hee8fe436a0
The February Newsletter will go out on 2/23.
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:
o Students are given 10 "parent notes" per year. Missed class time excused with parent notes will need to be recovered.
o 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.
o Please allow up to 48 hours for attendance changes to be put into PowerSchool.
o 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.
o 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).
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? You don’t want to miss this event! 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! We have sold over 110 tickets so far and we want to pack the house!
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
Cell Phone Policy: Our students are doing a great job adjusting to the no cell phone policy. Please keep reminding 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.
Lastly, I leave you with the quote of the week: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit.”
Have a great week!