Schedule Changes
Student schedule change requests will not be honored as our staffing for programs and classes were done last spring based on student choices at that time. When students change classes, they change class sizes and structure of other programs. Therefore, the district continues the policy of no schedule changes unless a student is misplaced or there was a clerical error on our part. Thank you for your understanding.
PASS/FAIL REQUESTS
When planning ahead for your student, remember that Maine West offers students the opportunity to take elective courses PASS/FAIL. This grade designation does not impact grade point average. It is important to note that courses required for graduation and those for accelerated credit are NOT eligible for PASS/FAIL. Applications are available at the end of the first quarter and again in the end of the third quarter and are due by the end of the second week of the second and fourth quarters respectively. If you have any questions about PASS/FAIL, please contact your student’s counselor.
Emergency School Information
Maine West High School will again be using the AlertNow automated calling system to provide information on school closings or for emergency communication. Parents will receive a phone call at home with a recorded message. The phone number used will be the contact number provided as part of the student registration materials.
To verify school closings, parents can also check the school website (www.maine207.org). School closings will also be reported on local media.
FROM THE DEANS’ OFFICE
Parents, you can help in our efforts to provide an environment that is conducive to learning. Be the first check of your student's attire. This is the first check, but some students leave the house wearing one outfit then change into inappropriate attire after leaving home. Maine West has a dress code that is outlined on page 13 of the Discipline Code.
The Code states the following:
"Students are expected to wear opaque clothing that covers them from shoulder to mid-thigh. Clothing which displays obscenities, gang affiliation or cult symbols, sexual connotations, drugs, alcohol or violence is prohibited."
We will be speaking to individual students that are in violation of this code and issuing a consequence if necessary.
Regular attendance is one of the most important factors affecting student achievement. Results of study after study demonstrate that students who attend school regularly do better than those who are frequently absent. Poor or irregular attendance diminishes learning and lowers student achievement. Chronic absences only disrupt our ability to increase achievement levels of all students.
We are motivated to make sure students attend school! Students will see their Dean for any unexcused absence and assigned a two or four hour detention. Additionally, students who have additional unauthorized absences will risk being withdrawn with a failing grade.
The 207 School Board has an authorized attendance policy as well. Students who have 4 authorized absences in a semester will receive a letter. Students who reach 6 absences in a semester will be required to attend a meeting with their parent or guardian and school personnel. Students who reach 8 absences in a semester face disciplinary action. Specific information can be found on page 5 & 6 of the Discipline Code.
Please remember that a parent or guardian must call the Attendance Office by 3:00 p.m. the day of the absence. The Attendance Office number is 847-827-7746 and may be reached 24 hours a day.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your student, don't hesitate to contact the Deans' Office at 847-803-5884. Thanks for your assistance in our efforts to increase performance levels of all students. When we work as a team, your student wins!
Student Parking
All pre-paid parking tags have been distributed and student parking is still available. Parking spots in C-wing are available for $90.00 in the Deans Office.
Phone Messages/Dropping Off Items
Only messages that are an emergency will be delivered to students during the school day. An emergency is defined as relating to an "unexpected serious medical condition or injury." It is up to the student to make arrangements in advance to pick up lunches, books, sports equipment, musical instruments, flowers, etc. Items brought to the Student Personnel office will be accepted only with the understanding that the student is responsible for picking the item(s) up on their own. Students will NOT be contacted to pick up these items. In addition, remember that students’ cell phones are to be off and away during the school day so please do not call or text your student, you may put them at risk of disciplinary action through the Dean's Office.
GOVENOR QUINN SIGNS SEXTING LEGISLATION - Colleen F. O'Keefe
In an effort to eliminate the recent "sexting" phenomenon by adolescents, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed legislation amending the Juvenile Court Act to prohibit the electronic transfer of indecent visual images by minors. (P.A. 096-1087).
Pursuant to the amendment, the Act now prohibits a minor under the age of 18 from electronically distributing or disseminating any material that depicts another minor nude or engaged in any sexual or lewd conduct. Electronic transfers include transfers via computer or any other electronic communication device. A minor who violates the Act may be found to be in need of court supervision. If a minor is found to be in need of supervision, the minor may be ordered to obtain counseling or other supportive services or ordered to perform community service.
Homecoming 2010
This year’s Homecoming theme is “In the Heart of the Jungle.” We will kick off the weeklong celebration on September 27th with some traditional Maine West Homecoming events and some new ones too!!!! Take a look at our dress up days and the daily events throughout the week. It will be an unforgettable week of celebrations!
Monday (Sports Attire Day)
- AMAZING WARRIOR RACE - 6:00 p.m.
o Teams complete challenges as they race to the finish
Tuesday (Jungle Animal Day)
- Girls Varsity Tennis - 4:30 p.m.
- Girls Varsity Volleyball - 6:00 p.m.
- POWDER PUFF Football Game- 7:00 p.m.
- Annual MW Bonfire - 8:30 PM
Wednesday (Wacky Dress Day”
- College Night at Maine East – 7:00 p.m.
Thursday (Class Color Day)
- Freshmen (Orange), Sophomores (Green), Juniors (Yellow) and Seniors (Blue)
- Outdoors Movie Night - 7:30 p.m. on the tennis courts
Friday (Gold & Blue Day)
- Homecoming King and Queen Announcement at Assembly
- Homecoming Parade - 4:30 p.m.
- Homecoming Football Game - 7:30 p.m.
- Fireworks - 11:00 p.m.
Saturday
- MW Girls Varsity Swim for the Cure
- “In the Heart of the Jungle” Homecoming Dance - 7:30 p.m.
ATHLETICS
Welcome back Warriors! The athletic department is in full swing preparing for the upcoming fall season. We would like to recap some of the accomplishments our athletes achieved in the spring. Congratulations to the Baseball team, who were Co-Conference Champions for the second year in a row. Congratulations also go out to Taylor Stephenson and Mike Conneely who represented Maine West at the State Track and Field competition in May.
Most fall sports are off and running, but cross country, both boys and girls, and JV girls tennis are always looking for athletes. We look forward to a great fall season. Come dressed in Gold (Gold Rush Game) to the stadium for our first home football game on Friday September 3rd to cheer on our warriors.
Your Maine West Athletic Boosters would like to welcome all of our school’s athletes to a new school year. We hope everyone has had a great summer and you’re all powered up to get started academically and physically. Your coaches are geared up and so are we, while you were out for the summer we were busy planning and searching for new ideas to improve our interaction with you and your family. We’ve developed a NEW Website www.mwboosters.com and a new email address “mwbooster@gmail.com” Check it out and email us back with your suggestions or comments. We look forward to hearing from you. Enjoy your school year and remember “Study Hard and Play Hard. ” You’ll win at both!
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
It's not too late for students to complete their summer reading. The Maine West summer reading list includes a variety of texts, ranging in levels of difficulty and length. These books, selected by an English Department committee, provide a rich assortment of excellent reading. You can select a book from our school list, or you can select a book of similar literary quality. All students are required to read at least one book this summer (and Accel./AP students have additional reading as well).
Follow this link in your favorite browser for more information - bit.ly/9hW3HE
FINE ARTS DEPARTMENT
The Maine West Fine Arts Department’s year is off and running! I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to our new staff that will join our work in creating amazing arts experiences for our Maine West Students. Britnee Fierro joins our Art Department teaching Design and Materials. Her home school is Maine East. Janet Taylor is a new teacher to District 207. She will be teaching Photography I and her home school is Maine South. Barbara Rieger joins our Speech/Drama/Broadcasting Department by teaching Oral Communications. Later in the year, she will be directing the Spring Play. Her home school is Maine South. Finally, Michael Boyle is our new Guitar teacher at Maine West. He will be teaching Guitar II and his home school is Maine South. I know that these excellent arts educators will bring their creative gifts to the classrooms of Maine West.
I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome back our two Speech Team Coaches—Amy Schultz and Kurt Lipa. Amy has assumed the role of Head Coach and Kurt will continue to serve as assistant coach. Watch for future announcements about Speech Team which will begin on October 1st.
I would also like to congratulate students Ben Brissette, Catherine Bustos, Amy Ksandr, and Angie Gallagher for being selected to participate in the 2011 Illinois All State Theatrefest’s production of Into the Woods. Being selected as a member of the production is an awesome honor and we are proud of this accomplishment. In addition to our students, two faculty members will also work with the production: Bernie Gerstmayr will direct the Orchestra and Christopher Jensen will be the Technical Director. How great that so many Maine West students and faculty will be part of this production!
In an effort to go green, we will not be printing the Maine West Fine Arts Calendar for mass distribution. Traditional paper copies can be requested by calling the Fine Arts Office at 847-803-5895. Hopefully, this new method of communicating our events will be a useful and effective tool for all members of the Maine West community.
The Fine Arts Boosters have begun their work as well. In an effort to go green here as well, the membership form is now available online too:
This form can be mailed back to the Fine Arts Department or brought in to the Fine Arts Office. The Boosters support the creative endeavors of the Music, Art, Speech/ Drama/Broadcasting, and Dance programs with financial assistance not provided through the District 207 Budget. Please consider joining them in their important work.
I encourage you to attend our numerous events during the coming school year. You’re sure not to be disappointed with the amazing talent, imagination, and creativity displayed by Maine West Students. Please do not hesitate to contact the Fine Arts Office at 847-803-5895 if you have any questions.
COLLEGE NIGHT
District 207’s College Night for students from all three Maine high schools will be held at Maine EAST on Wednesday September 29th, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Students and their parents are invited to meet with representatives from over 200 colleges and universities from all over the country. Seniors can begin the admission process, and underclassmen can obtain information. Local two-year as well as four-year institutions, large and small, public and private, will be represented.
A college advisor will also be at College Night to speak with parents about financial aid. This presentation is very helpful for parents, so try to fit it into your evening, along with speaking to the representatives of the various colleges. Carpooling is recommended.
Be sure and check the Maine West CRC website for other college/career/scholarship information.
College Entrance Test Preparation
Again this year all juniors throughout Illinois will participate in the Prairie State Achievement Exam (PSAE) program. Instituted six years ago, the PSAE test spans a two-day period and includes an ACT exam. The ACT exam is widely accepted by colleges and universities throughout the country to fulfill part of the admissions requirement. This year the test will be administered here on April 27 and 28. This exam is important to the school as well as each individual student, as results are used, in conjunction with other information, to assess the effectiveness of our instructional practices. Juniors are highly encouraged to take an additional ACT in the spring on a Saturday. Most students do better the second time they take the test, and an improved score can make a difference in college admissions and scholarships.
This year the juniors will have the opportunity to take an actual ACT exam before the PSAE. We will be administering a discontinued copy of the ACT to the juniors on September 23 in conjunction with the testing of our ninth and tenth graders.
As we have done in the past, we will give the EXPLORE Exam to all ninth graders. All tenth graders will take the PLAN Exam. Both these exams parallel the ACT exam and thus offer an opportunity for students and parents to predict how they might do on the test, as well as highlight areas that might need to be worked on to improve certain academic skill areas. These two tests will be given on September 23 along with the mirror ACT for the juniors. Data obtained from these tests will also be analyzed by the faculty to ensure that the curriculum addresses all the skills that are being measured on the exams.
Seniors who wish to take the October 23 National ACT are reminded that the registration deadline is September 17. Students who are on Free Books/Free Lunch can request a voucher in the CRC to help pay for the National ACT.
Student Pictures
Tuesday, October 5 is the make-up day for student pictures. Any freshman, sophomore, or junior who missed getting their picture taken during gym class, may go to L101 during their free period and get their picture taken. This will be the only make-up day.
Parent-Principal Connection
If you are interested in meeting with the Principal and a group of parents to make changes, give input, and talk about Maine West, please join us at 5:00 p.m. in the Principal’s Conference Room (L102) on any or all of these days. We’d love to have your input!
October 4
November 1
February 7
March 7
April 4
May 2
June TBA
Parent Organizations
There are many ways to become involved with Maine West and your child’s education. Consider joining one of our parent organizations.
After Prom
Athletic Boosters
Dollars for Scholars
Fine Arts Boosters
Hispanic Parent Group
Parent-Principal Connection
Insurance Program
“All Kids” health insurance program provides all Illinois families with affordable, quality healthcare for their children, if they are uninsured. If you are interested in learning more, please go to www.allkidscovered.com.
CLASS OF 2011 AFTER PROM
This will be our 20th Anniversary of holding this event for our seniors. After Prom takes place right after the Senior Prom on Friday June 3rd at 11:45 p.m. thru Saturday morning 5:00 a.m. All seniors are invited to join After Prom whether or not they attend Senior Prom.
We are looking for volunteers to be on the committee to make this another successful event. Our chairperson is Dan Winiecki and he will be organizing this event as he did last year. If you are interested on being on the committee or volunteering some of your time, you can email Dan Winiecki at mwafterprom@aol.com. Please make sure you leave your name, phone number and email address. You do not have to be a senior parent to be involved as we are looking for freshman thru senior parents as volunteers. There will an informational meeting at the beginning of November.
DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS
The school year has begun and we want to welcome those returning and all newcomers to Maine West High School. We welcome new members and it is easy to become a Dollars for Scholars member by completing the form that was sent in the August mailing. Family membership is still $25.00 and all of the funds go toward Maine West student scholarships.
We are jump starting our fundraising campaign with our first E.A.T. (Eat Around Town) at Wendy’s on Lee (just north of Oakton) on Wednesday, September 15 from 5:00 to 8 p.m. DFS will receive 15% of ALL purchases. Please tell your family, friends, and neighbors to join us for a quick bite or relaxing meal after school, work, or a school practice or event. You can eat in, carry out, or go through the drive-thru and no flyer is needed at the time of purchase.
We are also excited about our ongoing Target – Take Charge of Education fundraiser. We will be receiving a check for over $1,500 this month – that’s equal to three, $500 scholarships! If you have a Target Visa card, please designate Maine West Dollars for Scholars as the recipient of the money Target donates to the schools. It’s easy to sign up or to register for a new card by going to www.target.com.
September 3rd is the first home football game. Do you know what that means? It is Krispy Kreme Donut time. We will be at all the home football games this season bringing you your favorite donut. We will have a table set up across from the concession stand and also look for us selling the donuts in the stands.
Finally, we are always looking for new ideas to raise money and volunteers, so please come to our next meeting, Monday, October 4 at 7:00 p.m. Also, you can learn more about us on our website at http://sites.google.com/site/mainewestdollarsforscholars. We love to get email, so please send us an email at mainewest.dfs@gmail.com or call Lynne Cook at 847/899-0537 with any questions you may have.
Thank you for your support in the past and upcoming school year.
MARKET DAY
Check out the Market Day website to see the many delicious, restaurant-quality products available for purchase. This month’s internet cut-off date for orders is September 27 with pick-up scheduled for September 30 from 3:30 to 5:15 p.m. in the Maine West student cafeteria. Register your email address to receive reminders and special offers. Our Market day account is 21830. www.marketday.com
RULES MATTER - MAINE COMMUNITY YOUTH ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION
Kids need rules or guidelines in order to make good choices. Rules provide support and structure as children deal with new situations, experiences and friends, like those at the start of the school year. They still need their parents close by during the high school years of exploration.
Teens need - and secretly want - our help and guidance. Most teens expect and still want their parents to play a key role in their lives. They really do listen. They remember our advice when it matters most…even when it seems like they’re not paying attention.
As parents, we are still the #1 influence in the lives of our teenagers. According to the 2010 Illinois Youth Survey, Maine Township High School students reported that their parents are the most believable source of information about alcohol and drugs. And research shows that kids are less likely to use these substances if their parents have clear rules about not using them.
The start of a new school year can be a good time to set clear rules for your teens if you haven’t already...about curfew, telling you where they’re going, who’ll they’ll be with and when they’ll be home, checking in with you when they’re out with friends, and about not using alcohol, tobacco or drugs.
Following rules can help protect your children’s safety and well-being, lower their risk for substance use, and increase their opportunities for success and happiness.
FREE ESL CLASSES
Would you like to improve your English? Free ESL classes are being offered Tuesdays, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. through Doorstep Community Center, 382 S. Mount Prospect Road, Des Plaines. Learn speaking, pronunciation, listening, reading and writing skills. Call 847-502-7322 for more information. Basic and intermediate computer classes are also available in Spanish and English.
Important Dates - September/October
September 1
Late Arrival Wednesday
Period 1 starts at 9:40
September 2
Market Day Pick-up
3:30 to 5:15 p.m. – Student Cafeteria
September 3
Maine West Gold Rush Football vs. North Chicago
7:30 p.m. – Stadium
September 6
No School – Labor Day
September 15
Late Arrival Wednesday
Period 1 starts at 9:40
September 22
Meet the Teachers – Open House
6:30 p.m.
September 23
PLAN/Terra Nova/PACT Testing
7:45 – 11:45 (Seniors No School)
September 27 – October 1
Maine West Homecoming Week
September 28
Powder Puff Football
7:00 p.m. – Stadium
September 29
District 207 College Night
7:00 p.m. – Maine EAST
September 30
Market Day Pick-up
3:30 to 5:15 p.m. – Student Cafeteria
October 1
Homecoming Football vs. Glenbrook North
4:30 p.m. / 7:30 p.m. – Stadium
October 2
Homecoming Dance
7:30 p.m. – Spec Gym
October 4
Parent Principal Connection
5:00 p.m. – Principal’s Conference Room
October 4
Dollars for Scholars Meeting
7:00 p.m. – Warrior Room
October 6
Late Arrival Wednesday
Period 1 starts at 9:40
October 7
Fall Festival of Plays
4:00 p.m. – E209
October 8
Supplementary Progress Reports
Available on Line
October 8-9
Fall Festival of Plays
7:30 p.m. – E209
October 11
NO SCHOOL – Columbus Day
October 16
Marching Band Spectacular
5:00 p.m. – Spec Gym
October 19
Fall Orchestra Concert
7:30 p.m. – Auditorium
October 20
Late Arrival Wednesday
Period 1 starts at 9:40
October 21
Fall Choir Concert
7:30 p.m. – Auditorium
October 25 to October 29
Red Ribbon Week
October 28
Market Day Pick-up
3:30 to 5:15 p.m. – Student Cafeteria