W.I.N. Update -  Sept. 1, 2025

Dear Parents and Families,

We’ve had an exciting week here at ILHS! 🎉

🏌️‍♀️ Our Ladies Golf team continues their strong season with a win over Northwestern!

🏈 Both of our Football teams earned big victories over Lancaster! We’re looking forward to our first home football game this Friday, September 5th, against Andrew Jackson High School—come out and cheer on our Warriors!

We also had a fantastic Back to School Night on August 27th. It was a wonderful opportunity for parents to hear from teachers about how the school year is starting, learn more about class expectations, and see how we’re supporting student success. If you weren’t able to attend, we missed you!

Every day, our students are traveling the “Highway to Success 521,” where learning and personal growth come through immersive, real-world experiences and hands-on opportunities. Our goal remains simple but powerful: to get 1% better each and every day.

This year’s theme, “Warrior Up,” is a call for students to approach their journey with courage, resilience, and determination as they prepare for graduation. We encourage you to ask your child: How are you planning, preparing, and expecting to WIN?

Thank you for your support as we continue building a strong school community together.

Proud to serve you,

Rick Parker

Principal

A few important School Rules reminders:

  • Tardies: Being on time matters! Daily tardies can add up quickly, so please make it a priority to arrive on time.

Tardies

  • Dresscode: Students are not allowed to wear midriff showing or their pants down below their waist. 

Dresscode

  • Cell Phones and Earbuds: These electronic devices are not allowed during the school day

Cell phones

We know these reminders may sound firm, but they are in place to help our students succeed and to build a strong Warrior Mindset—one that values responsibility, respect, and resilience.

Here is What’s Important Now (W.I.N.) for next week:

🚗 Student Drivers

  • Thank you for parking in your assigned spaces during the first week!

  • Parking violations are being enforced. Please make sure you are parking in your correct spot each day.

🚙 Parent Drop-Off & Pick-Up

  • Thank you for helping keep traffic moving by using two lanes in the morning and afternoon.

  • You’ll notice a yellow curb in front of the school – this is the official drop-off/pick-up zone.

    • Once you are in the yellow zone, please unload/load immediately instead of waiting to reach the very front.

  • For safety reasons:

    • 🚫 Do not pick up or drop off students in the student parking lots or on the bus access road.

    • ✅ Please remind your student to walk to the front of the school at dismissal so the line can move smoothly. FLEX early release students are only allowed to be picked in the Bus Loop.

Thank you for your cooperation and teamwork as we work together to make drop-off, pick-up, and parking safe and efficient for everyone!

📣 FLEX Schedule & Dismissal Update

Parents, please take a moment to review these important reminders so we can keep afternoons safe, smooth, and successful for all students.

📝 Student Responsibilities

  • Students must sign up for a FLEX activity every day of the week.

  • 9th graders: You may not select the study hall in the main gym (this is for upperclassmen).

✅ Early Dismissal

  • If a student has a free 4th block or early dismissal, they must sign up for the “Leaving Early” activity in FLEX.

🚗 FLEX Pick-Up

  • If you arrive after 3:55 pm, please use the regular afternoon car line. The FLEX line closes at that time.

👩‍🎓 Freshman Families

  • If you are not able to pick up your student for early dismissal, 9th graders must attend FLEX.

  • Freshmen are not allowed to:

    • Go to study hall in the gym (reserved for upperclassmen).

    • Sit and wait for pick-up until the end of the school day.

🕒 FLEX Attendance

  • If a student is assigned to FLEX but does not attend, it is considered cutting class.

Thank you for your support in helping us keep routines clear and consistent for students!

📄 Parent Permission

  • If you do not want your student to leave campus, please complete the “Opt Out” form (even if you filled out the first version—it contained an error).

    👉 Opt Out Form

⏰ Deadlines & Attendance

  • Students who don’t sign up will be auto-assigned to an open activity at 12:00 AM.

  • Students can make changes until 12:07 PM each day.

  • Attendance is required in FLEX. If a student skips their scheduled activity, the teacher will write a referral, and an administrator will assign consequences.

Thank you for working with us to make FLEX a successful part of the school day!

Updates for Band Students and Parents

🎶 Indian Land High School Band Update

Upcoming Visits & Events

Get ready for some special visitors and important nights!

  • September 17: Financial Aid Night at 6:00 p.m. (open to all, especially seniors)

  • September 18: USC Columbia private visit at 2:30 p.m. in the Fishbowl. Make sure to sign up in the counseling lobby ahead of time!

  • Please take a moment to log in to PowerSchool and update your family's contact information. Having your most current phone numbers and email addresses on file is the best way for us to communicate with you, especially in case of an emergency.

  • If you do not have a Powerschool account here is “How to create Parent Portal Accounts”.

Step by Step Guide to Assist Parents with Username/Password Issues

Step by Step Guide to Create a PowerSchool Parent Portal Account

For Seniors (Class of 2026):

Please check out the information about Senior Portraits Senior Portraits-FAQs

Senior Individual Graduation Plans (IGPs)

It's time for seniors to start planning for the future! An IGP is like a roadmap for your final year and beyond.

  • When: Senior IGP meetings are from August 25 to September 12, 2025.

  • Before the meeting: All seniors must complete the "Senior Exit IGP Slides deck" in their Senior Google Classroom (code: 6xe3d2t).

  • Who needs to attend? Every senior and their parent or guardian should be there in person or by Google Meet.

  • Look for the email from your ILHS counselor for the sign up link (Dr. Coogler's caseload will see the email from Ms. Sha'Tonna Walker)

 Just a heads-up! Individual Graduation Plan (IGP) meetings are held throughout the year, by grade level. We will send an email with all the details for your student's grade when their meeting time gets closer.  

Dual Enrollment Information Sessions

Important! This year’s format is different.

Both NEW and RETURNING students MUST attend their college’s session at the college.

Mandatory for Juniors & Seniors planning to take Spring or Summer DE courses.

Sophomores & Freshmen are encouraged to attend to learn more for the future!


Winthrop University

Application Dates:

  • Spring & Summer 2025: Opens Sept 15 | Closes Nov 1

  • Fall 2026: Opens Jan 4 | Closes May 1

    • Apply by Apr 1 for priority course registration

Info Sessions (Winthrop Campus):

University of South Carolina Lancaster (USCL)

Bundy Auditorium

Sept 11, 2025 | 5:00–8:00 p.m.

Actual Session 6:00–7:30 p.m.

Mandatory for all students and parents (new and returning)  interested in registering for Spring 2026 and/or Summer 2026.


Notes about Books at USCL

  • Free books: Fall & Spring ONLY for Lancaster County residents

  • Summer books (May–July): Not free

  • 4H coded courses: Students always pay for books

  • Students must check USCL email for book pickup instructions

  • Waiver codes for digital books are on postcards from the bookstore or in your professor’s syllabus


Don’t miss these sessions—attendance ensures you have the information you need for success!

Opportunity for Juniors – PSAT/NMSQT at ILHS

Indian Land High School has a limited number of spots for 11th grade students to take the PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) on Wednesday, October 22, 2025. Please review the details below to see if this opportunity is right for your student.

What is the PSAT/NMSQT?

  • The PSAT is a practice version of the SAT that many students took as sophomores.

  • For juniors, this test also serves as the qualifying exam for the National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSQT).

Why take it?

  • The PSAT/NMSQT is optional for juniors.

  • Students who wish to be considered for National Merit recognition or scholarships must take it in 11th grade.

How competitive is National Merit?

  • Over 1.3 million juniors take the test each year.

  • Fewer than 4% earn recognition, and less than 1% earn scholarships.

  • Students typically need to score in the 96th percentile or higher to qualify.

Do I need this test to prepare for the SAT?

  • No. All students can use Khan Academy for free, personalized SAT prep—whether or not they take the PSAT/NMSQT.

Test Day Details

  • Format: Digital – students must bring a fully charged Chromebook.

  • Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2025

  • Cost: $18 (+ online processing fee)

How to Register

  1. Complete the Google Form using your student’s Chromebook:

    👉 PSAT Registration Form

  2. Pay through GoFan to reserve your spot:

    👉 GoFan Payment Link

  3. Deadline to register and pay: Sunday, September 7, 2025

Questions?

Contact Ms. Stephanie Austin, Testing Coordinator at:

📧 stephanie.austin@lcsd.k12.sc.us


Sports Update

We are excited for the sports seasons and after-school activities to be underway.  Lancaster County School District places safety for students, staff, and community members as a priority.  Please join us in keeping our campuses and facilities safe.

Respect

First and foremost, we expect every visitor to our activities to be respectful toward the athletes, thespians, band members, staff, administrators, other guests, and law enforcement partners working at our events.

Clear Bag Policy

All guests to our district events are required to adhere to our Clear Bag Policy. When guests come to our facilities, they will not be permitted into the activities with any bag other than a clear bag. The bags also may not be larger than 12 by 12 inches and 6 inches deep. For more information. click on the Clear Bag Policy.

Weapons Detection

Weapons are not permitted on school property – including during sporting events, forums, and arts performances - unless you are a sworn law enforcement officer permitted to carry with proper identification. Our Safety and Security team will be working entrances to many of our events to screen guests for weapons.

Entry to District Events

Our entry guidelines for school events to promote a safer environment for our community remain in place.

  • Anyone under the age of 18 not currently enrolled in school must be accompanied by a parent, guardian or responsible adult.

  • Elementary and middle school students must have an adult accompany them at events. No elementary

    and middle school students will be permitted to stay unaccompanied.

  • Guests to our events will not be allowed to stand, congregate, or “hang out” in the concourse or

    around the concession stand areas during events.

  • Any violation of rules may result in removal or being trespassed.

Our safety and security team will continue collaborating with the Lancaster Police Department and Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office to ensure everyone can feel comfortable and safe in our facilities.

*This applies to all events open to the public. This does not apply to internal school events that are not open to the public such as prom, dances, club/organization activities