NewsletterJanuary/February 2018

The 2017-18 Parent Cats newsletter is available online every month during the school year so spread the word to family and friends.

Go to: www.parentcats.org and click on “newsletter.”

Read this to learn more about upcoming activities, organizations, board member updates, volunteer opportunities and other exciting LHS news.

THIS ISSUEincludes

SUBSCRIBEto our newsletter

• Join US• Volunteer opportunities• Cookie Day• Graduation Party News• Co-Chair opportunity• SPIRIT STORE!• Ask Principal Koulentes• January Highlights• December Highlights• Featuring: Girls Basketball• FAST update

Email parentcats@gmail.com and include “Subscribe” (or “Remove”) in the subject header.

JOIN USparent cats meetingWednesday, February 7, at 7:00 pm in Room 1107.

Stay up-to-date on the goings on within LHS as it affects your students. Get updates from Principal Koulentes, D128 Board Members, Committee Chairs and guest speakers. Make a note of all future meetings:

• Feb 7 - Wednesday • March 6 - Tuesday • April 4 - Wednesday• May 3 - Thursday

All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIESget involved

Interested in getting more involved in Parent Cats? Consider sharing your time or talents! click on the link here to check out available opportunities. Upcoming opportunities include:

• Spirit store shifts• College Resource Center• Winter Dance Coat Check • Freshman English Field Trip• 2018 Grad Party

COOKIE DAY!100th day/100th year

SENIORS & PARENTS2018 graduation party

JOIN OUR TEAM!gym uniform co-chair

SHOW YOUR SPIRITwildcat merch Freshmen orientation was a great success with record sales! We sold out of our class of 2022 t-shirts and took in several orders that night. The shirts are in and can be picked up at the LHS spirit store during our regular store hours, which are on Fridays from 9 am to 3 pm! Come check out our new items! We are also in need of volunteers to work 2 hour shifts on Fridays and at special events. Come join the fun and Sign UP here

ParentCats hosted a Cookie Day to celebrate the LHS Centennial on the 100th day of school on Friday, January 26. Lots of volunteers showed up to help pass out cookies to students as they were dismissed at the end of the school day.

Be on the look out for information and on-line forms for the 2018 Graduation Party in early February! This year’s graduation party will be held on Thursday, May 24, 2018 (after the ceremony) from 11:00 pm - 4:00 am. There will be music, food, games, and dancing. The goals are to have all graduating seniors participate and provide an alcohol and drug-free environment. This event is always a huge hit with graduates as they have one final celebration as the LHS Class of 2018!

We are looking for someone to help co-chair the LHS gym uniform sales. Pre-sale is done during the summer along with LHS on-line registration, and orders are then organized for distribution at Freshman Orientation, and during the 1st week of LHS classes. Contact Colleen Pacholski with questions cdpacholski@comcast.net

ASKprincipal koulentesQ&A Sessions with Principal Koulentes have been incredibly insightful and strong! Past discussions have included:

• Report cards

• Honor Roll letters and recognition at school

• Changing the student discussion from “what’s your major?” to “what problem do you want to solve”

• Value of CLC as an alternative to universities

• Later Start Task Force including what proposed schedules might look like,

• AP curriculum and value,

• Stress management for students and parents,

• Athletic Director search process,

• Military Month and suporting events to celebrate and support military families,

• Code of Conduct, • PE exemptions for lower level varsity athletes,• LHS policy and protocol during the Pledge of

Allegiance and National Anthem,• New pool construction, • Student parking, and • The driving force behind the

“Life of a Wildcat” program.

Thank you for your questions and keep them coming! Submit questions and topics to parentcats@gmail.com. Then, don’t forget to attend the meeting as Dr. Koulentes will lead a discussion based on your questions and input.

IN CASE YOU MISSED...january meeting highlightsDr. Koulentes discussed the new SAT for juniors that will take place on Tue 4/10 at LHS (free). He also provided information on free test prep options like Kahn Academy tutorials (www.kahnacademy.org)that have been developed by the College Board. Stats show that 20 hours of practice increases the score 150 points. LHS also offers an incentivized drop in lab where juniors can practice during lunch with trained teacher to help.

Dr. Koulentes also discussed two Health and Wellness programs that will be rolled out:

• Project Green Dot, which focuses on interpersonal violence (bullying, sexual harassment, sexual violence), is a program that trains students and staff on strategies on what to do if they see acts of violence. Staff and 80 students will have been trained by end of school year, followed by all seniors, juniors, sophomores and freshmen next year.

• RAD Systems (Rape, Agression, Defense) is a 6-week program that trains students on how to evaluate situations, how to protect themselves and how to remove themselves before something happens. This will be taught to Sophomores in PE class next year and will allow them to be RAD-certified when they get to college. After registering, the college can see how many and where RAD-certified students reside so they can be of help. This program is also available outside of school. www.rad-systems.com

Scott Luce of the D128 Board reported contract negotiations are in progress and the new pool is on schedule and on budget. He also mentioned different ideas that are being considered in place of the old pool, such as a potential multi-use space.

Casey Rooney of the Calendar Planning Committee reviewed the process of planning the calendar year with the D128 administration. They discuss feedback of any changes made the prior year, e.g. moving finals to before Holiday Break which was well-received this year. The calendar is designed around graduation, which is set by the District. Casey also shared the changes to come over the next few years (graduation will be on Thursday before Memorial Day).

Dr. Koulentes discussed a new initiative this school year. The Freshman and Sophomore Leadership Academy will develop leadership skills guided by the question “How do I lead in my community and what contributions can I make?” Over 40 sophomores and 48 freshmen have signed up to participate.

On January 19th, the Principal Advisory Board, made up of 30 LHS students, invited ELL (English language learners) and transfer students to Wilmot Mountain for tubing and dinner. The mission was to build camaraderie and a connection to LHS.

Dr. Koulentes also presented research and current plans on recreating workspace and classroom environments for students. Spaces will be designed to inspire and encourage creativity and collaboration.

For the complete minutes from All ParentCats meetings, please click here

IN CASE YOU MISSED...december meeting highlights

LIBERTYVILLE HIGH SCHOOL presents... 

JOHN UNDERWOOD & LIFE OF AN ATHLETE -

HUMAN PERFORMANCE

PROJECT

1 3 / / M A R C H / / 2 0 1 8

7 : 0 0 P M

L H S A U D I T O R I U M

John Underwood, former NCAA All-American & professional distance runner, isan international human performance expert.  He consults at all levels of sport--

professional, Olympic, collegiate, and high school.  He has coached 28Olympians and he has advised many teams, including  Alabama Crimson Tide

football, the Miami Heat, as well as multiple international sport federations. Coach Underwood's message is essential for athletes and non-athletes

interested in improving performance.  All students, parents, and communitymembers are invited to this special presentation.

Taking your mental andphysical performance to new

levels

STAFF APPRECIATION: Each varsity basketball player selected one teacher who she felt had made a difference in her days at LHS. Thank you to all of these special teachers for coming to the game and for making Libertyville High School a better place! GRANDPARENTS DAY: The girls had a lot of fun with their grandparents and other special guests. We’re glad the grandparents could come to celebrate their favorite LHS basketball players!!

LIBERTYVILLE VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL

TEAM UPDATE: The varsity girls have had a great season. Their record is 12-11. This young team has gotten better and stronger with each game. After winning three out of the last four games, the Wildcats look to finish strong with 4 games left as they head into Regionals. COMMUNITY SERVICE: This winter, the Wildcats partnered with Lake County Haven, an organization that assists homeless women and children. It was a great experience for the basketball girls to be connected with a charity close to home. The teams held a bake sale to raise money for the Haven. All levels of the basketball program also participated in a Community Service Day where they made lunches for the women and children living there and distributed flyers around the community to promote awareness of the Haven. The basketball teams were also able to tour the Haven facility. LADY CATS NIGHT: This was a special night for us to celebrate our feeder teams and give the young Lady Cats a chance to come be a part of Libertyville High School basketball!

2017-2018 SEASON

]

Upcoming Games

FEB 2 @ Stevenson

FEB 7 @ Mundelein

Week of 2/12 REGIONALS

Fine Arts Support Team

FAST NEWS February 2018

LHS students join with Clarisse Austin after Big Fish

The Illinois High School Theatre Festival Was A Success 35 LHS students took an extra long weekend over January 11-13, 2018 to enjoy the Illinois High School Theatre Festival at Illinois State University. They participated in workshops and saw many shows including the All State Production of Big Fish. Our own Clarisse Austin was an Ensemble

Cast Member as well as the Dance Captain for the show.

UPCOMING EVENTS

All are welcome at the

NEXT FAST MEETING Tuesday, February 6th

7:00pm - LHS Conference Room #1107

The Conference Room to the left of the Main Office

WINTER PLAY - “Blithe Spirit”

February 15, & 16 - 7:30pm

February 17th - 2:00pm & 7:30pm

LHS Auditorium

ORCHESIS AUDITIONS

February 20 - 22, 2018

Libertyville High School

ONE ACT PLAY AUDITIONS

February 20 & 21, 2018

LHS Studio Theater

WINTER BAND CONCERT

Wednesday, February 21 - 7:30pm

LHS Auditorium

WINTER ORCHESTRA CONCERT

Wednesday, February 28 - 7:30pm

LHS Auditorium

SPRING PLAY AUDITIONS

February 28 & March 1,2018

LHS Auditorium

D128 SOLO & ENSEMBLE MUSIC CONTEST

Saturday, March 3 - All Morning Event

Libertyville High School

WINTER CHOIR CONCERT

Wednesday, March 7th - 7:30pm

LHS Auditorium

North Shore Jazz Festival  

 On Saturday, January 20, The LHS Jazz Lab Band, directed by Dave Ness, and the LHS Jazz Ensemble, directed by Matt Karnstedt, both performed at the North Shore Jazz Festival and both bands received a "I rating" (a one rating is the highest rating). The Lab Band received a clinic from Travis Heath, head of the music department at Northeastern Illinois University. The Jazz Ensemble received a clinic from Chicago saxophonist Frank Catalano. 

FAST Information

Meetings are at 7:00pm and are generally on the first Tuesday of each month in LHS Conference Room 1107

(The conference room to the left of the Main Office).

Meeting Dates: 9/5, 10/3, 11/14, 12/19, 1/9, 2/6, 3/13, 4/17, 5/8

Website: http://www.d128.org/lhs/parents/parent-organizations/fast

Volunteer Sign Up Link: http://signup.com/go/barQRYH

 

LHS Winter Play Coming Soon!  

Thursday February 15th - 7:30pm

Friday February 16th - 7:30pm Saturday February 17th - 2:00pm & 7:30pm 

LHS Auditorium 

Tickets will be available on February 5, 2018 at http://www.seatyourself.biz/lhs  

LHS Orchesis Dance Company Auditions 

Auditions will take place on February 20-22nd, 2018. For more information go to: http://www.d128.org/lhs/performing-arts/orchesis 

NOTE: Auditions Coming Up! 

For the 2018 Student Directed ~One Act Plays  

February 20 & 21, 2018  

For more information go to: http://www.d128.org/lhs/performing-arts/theatre 

Winter Band Concert February 21, 2018

7:30pm ~ LHS Auditorium

Winter Orchestra Concert

Wednesday, February 28, 2018 7:30pm ~ LHS Auditorium

NOTE: Auditions Coming Up!

Auditions for the Spring Play will take place on

February 28th & March 1st, 2018 For more information go to: http://www.d128.org/lhs/performing-arts/theatre

District 128 Solo & Ensemble Music Contest 

Saturday, March 3rd, 2018 Libertyville High School 

NOTE: Many volunteers will be needed for this event. Please look for the volunteer spot link on our

Facebook page: LHS Fine Arts Support Team (FAST)

 Winter Choir Concert 

   

Wednesday, March 7th 2018  

7:30pm ~ LHS Auditorium 

If you are interested in updates from the Fine and Performing Arts Department, “Like Us” on Facebook.

We are listed as “LHS Fine Arts Support Team (FAST)”

  LHS FAST invites you to…  

Dedicate an Auditorium Seat  

to Someone Special!   

    Know someone who has been involved in the Art, Band, Choral, Dance, Orchestra or Theater programs at LHS? A senior, alumni or faculty member? Someone positively impacted by LHS?    This is a wonderful way to remember, honor and celebrate them and their time at LHS.    For more information go to: http://www.d128.org/lhs/parents/parent-organizations/fast/index  scroll down and click on the link: Dedicate an Auditorium Seat!