pfc newsletter O A K
P A R K
H I G H
April 2012
The Principal’s Message Dear Parents, This month’s message is about maintaining focus on what’s immediately before us while preparing for what’s up ahead. Spring break gives us a chance to take a deep breath before our final kick to the end of the fourth quarter, and with only ten weeks of school left before the summer break, OPHS staff and students are working hard on the business at hand while strategically planning for the next school year. These remaining weeks are extremely busy, and there is much to distract students from their studies. So, it is critical to keep our focus on student achievement in the classroom and in the home. State assessments and the College Board Advanced Placement exams are near and final exams follow quickly thereafter. OPHS students are involved in many cocurricular activities, and while we encourage and support student success in all arenas, we stress the importance of academic preparation, attendance, and punctuality. Please help us support your child’s success by continuing to keep absences and tardies to an absolute minimum and by monitoring home study and assignment completion. Here’s an idea of just how much is happening between now and June 16th. Twenty five percent of Oak Park High students (347) are participating in Spring sports. League and tournament competition is well underway in track and field, lacrosse, volleyball, baseball, softball, tennis, and golf. There are still two large dances, Spring Fling and Prom, one senior retreat, three awards ceremonies, two concerts, a rally, the Powderpuff game, Earth Week, play rehearsals, Senior Week, Commencement, as well as fundraisers and comedy sports. Various clubs and other on-
S C H O O L www.oakparkusd.org/ophs campus groups also have events and happenings that further impact the students’ schedules. This is all in addition to the class-work, homework, quizzes, projects, papers, and tests OPHS students have yet to complete. And this is a time when most academic courses are designed to peak, right before the standardized testing period as teachers prepare students to synthesize, apply, and demonstrate the cumulative knowledge and skills they have learned throughout the year. Seniors are looking forward to their senior activities, which start next month with the “must do” day, senior picnic, beach day and a trip to Magic Mountain. Their year ends with Commencement and Grad Night on June 15th. We are trying to stave off senioritis, which sets in as they begin to get a glimpse of the finish line and make decisions about which college they’ll attend in the fall. It’s still important that they finish strongly so that their final transcripts don’t reflect a dip in effort and grades. Meanwhile, for the fall OPHS students, course advisement is almost complete as they currently finish up meeting individually with their counselors to finalize course selections for next fall. Summer school registration information is available online at www.friendsofoakparkschools.org, and staff and parents are confirming fall registration dates and arrangements for August. Summer conditioning and sports camp information will be made available in the upcoming weeks. Parents will also receive notification on registration in the next few weeks as we get the website updated. The PFC newsletter will publish the dates and times as well as other important information. We are ordering all the equipment and supplies Continued on page 3