PTSA for Freshman!
Freshman: How can we help you? ~ FAQ’s
• Where do I find bus information? Please login to your Home access account to view the bus route information. Please be patient during school start-up as there may be a short adjustment period to get route times in sync. Have your student to his/her stop a few minutes early and be aware that the schedule may be running either a little ahead or behind as students & drivers are familiarizing themselves with this years’ time tables.
• Is there a special schedule on the first day of school? The school day is 7:25 AM -2:25 PM (regular hours). When students arrive, they should report to their first period class. Students should come to school prepared with their class schedule and locker number/combo. Additionally, students will be dismissed 5 minutes early, at 2:20 PM, for the first 2 days of school to help them find their buses, rides home or after-school activities.
• What are my student’s options during lunch? Students may choose to either bring or buy lunch. There will be adults in the cafeteria helping direct students on how to navigate during their lunch period. If students choose to buy lunch, they may use their ID card if there is money on their account or they may pay in cash. Students may eat and socialize in the Commons area during lunch or use their ID card to access the LMC or Resource
Centers. Students may NOT be outside the Commons area without permission.
• What if my student cannot find his/her classroom or is late to class? There are plenty of adults (and even other students) in the hallways helping students new the building get acclimated. We understand that students are trying to “map-out” their routes and get accustomed to a new large building. We have built in a grace period of approximately one week before students are marked as “tardy”. Your student will be informed of this
information during the first few days of school. We have 5-minute passing periods and once your student is settled-in to his/her routine, this is plenty of time to go from class to class.
• Is the school day schedule the same each day? First period starts at 7:25 AM daily. Mon., Tues., Thurs. & Fri the school day ends at 2:25 PM and on Wed. at 2:05 PM. Staff members across the district take part in Professional Learning Communities and high school staff members are working on Professional Development on Wed. after student dismissal. If your child is involved in an after school activity on Wed., he/she will be given direction on expectations of meeting and working in our supervised Commons area until his/her activity begins. Activity Sponsors and Coaches will provide additional information via their meeting and practice schedules/calendars. Remember, high school starts earlier than middle school - begin the “getting up early” routine so your student is ready for the first day of school.
• Beginning in mid-August, class schedules can be viewed online by logging into the eSchoolPlus Home Access Center https://homeaccess.ipsd.org/HomeAccess/
• What if my student does not receive a schedule or the schedule cannot be accessed online? Contact your student’s house to inquire if your student’s registration file is complete and to get further information.
• When will my student receive his/her Activity Pass that I paid for through registration? Students ID’s will indicate that they have purchased an activity pass. He/she will need his/her ID when attending games to show proof of activity pass. If your child loses his/her ID, he/she needs to visit his/her house to purchase a new one.
• How does my student know where to find his/her locker and computer network log-in/password? Your student’s locker number and combination can be obtained by logging in to his/her Home Access Center (HAC) account (same username and password from 8th grade). During orientation, ‘finding and opening one’s locker’ is part of the “tour”. There will also be staff members available to help students during opening days. You will also find your student’s computer network log-in and password through HAC as well. Please emphasize to your student to keep the copy of his/her schedule in a safe place and not to share locker combinations, log-ins or passwords. If your student loses schedule/locker combo/password, he/she should stop in his/her House for assistance. Each student has an individual assigned locker; in fact, students are asked not to share lockers with friends. IPSD has a single sign-on process for students.
• Will my student have a PE locker or PE uniform? During opening days, PE teachers will explain program guidelines including what type of lock is needed. We do not have a PE uniform; however, during PE, students do need to change into school-appropriate attire that is conducive to physical activity. Students must lock their personal belongings in their PE locker during PE class.
• What is a House? Students are assigned to a house based on their last name. The house is an office location where students & parents should go with any questions/concerns. This “hub” (central location) is a good starting point to get direction. Each House is staffed with a dean, two guidance counselors, a social worker, a psychologist, a guidance secretary and a dean secretary. Each house team is ready to work to have a successful year! E-mails can be found under FACULTY & STAFF at http://mvhs.ipsd.org/.
• Who do I call if my student is ill, has an appointment or is going to be late? Please call the attendance line at 630-375-5900 (press 3) or the dean secretary in your student’s House.
• What is Fresh Connect? A leadership program that pairs upperclassmen with groups of incoming ninth graders. The upperclassmen serve as mentors for the ninth graders and assist them with becoming familiar with the high school requirements and help facilitate a smooth transition to high school. During part of your student’s lunch
period through September, he/she will meet with mentors on Thursdays to participate in this program. There will be lunch meetings once per month- Oct. thru Jan. Topics: Oct.- Homecoming, Nov.-Academic Check-in, Dec.- Finals, Jan.- Check-in/Graduation. This is very valuable to the start of your student’s high school experience.
• What is ACCESS? ACCESS is part of our students’ lunch periods. During lunch, students may eat lunch in the Commons or utilize the LMC or Resource Center if they have their ID. Additionally, your student may have an ACCESS period on his or her schedule. During this time, students may use the LMC, Resource Center or remain in the Commons to work independently.
• Is there a dress code? District #204 does have a student dress code policy and we expect students to dress appropriately for school. This is a good time to transition your student from the summer mindset to the mindset of working in a school setting. You may refer to our student handbook online and your child will also have a handbook to share with you from school readiness days.
• How can my student find information about joining a club or sport? Your student should listen and watch for announcements during the school day about upcoming meetings or try-outs. The student handbook is a great resource as well as the school’s homepage. Your student can also ask his/her guidance counselor. An Activity Fair will take place on late August / Early September in the Commons during the lunches.
• Can my student use his/her cell phone at school? Students are permitted to use cell phones in non-instructional areas as outlined in the student handbook under the Electronic Devices policy and for instructional purposes as directed by his/her teachers. Note- students may not make or receive calls on cell phones. If your student needs to speak with you during the school day, he/she can report to his/her House for assistance. This updated policy
and expectations will be reviewed with students early in the year. We ask that your student be respectful and responsible. Also, please remind your student to keep his/her phone safe as the devices are valuable both personally and monetarily.
• Will my student have homework every night? Yes, this is very likely. Your student will receive syllabi or course calendars so he/she can plan accordingly. Some classes lend themselves to nightly review and practice while others may have out-of-class work but not necessarily every night. During our Curriculum Night you will learn more about this and you may always contact your student’s teacher if you have questions.
• Where can my student get extra help? Resource Centers- Math (H108) and Sciences (E122) and Eng/SocStud/World Lang (G222) are open each period of the day and staffed by content area teachers. Also, your child should speak to his/her teachers to find other options and there may be opportunities to meet with his/her teachers.
• How can I contact a teacher? Teachers are listed by department on our homepage under FACULTY & STAFF. Here you will find e-mail addresses and phone numbers. You may also call the school directly at 630-375-5900 and be transferred to the teacher’s extension.
• What if I need to talk with the school nurse? Please feel free to call Ms. Grant, our School Nurse, at 630-375-1113 or Ms. Kluge, our Health Assistant, at 630-375-1555. Their emails can be found on our homepage.
• What is the role of my student’s school counselor? Your student’s school counselor is a great resource. He/she can work on academic advisement, post high-school planning, class schedule and personal issues/questions/concerns. Your student’s counselor may also refer you/your student to others in the building who can help. Contact the House to make an appointment.
• How do I get school announcements and updates? Check METEA’s homepage, you will see the daily posting of the PA announcements. Watch for Mustang News e-mails every Friday as well.
• Where can I buy Mustang wear? You or your child may purchase plenty of black and gold attire from our Athletic Booster organization. Look for announcements for sale dates and times. Mustang wear is also sold during school-wide events and contests. You may pay by check, cash or credit card.
• Are there parent organizations in which I can become involved? We have a PTSA, Athletic Boosters, Assoc. of Music Parents, Latino Mustangs Parent Org. as well as District 204’s IPEF. Informational tables are set-up outside the auditorium for you to visit after this event as well as during other school-wide events such as Curriculum Night. You may also contact officers of each organizations. Their contact information is located on our homepage under PARENT ORGANIZATIONS. If you have interest in other parent groups, contact us.
• How will I be informed of school closing information? The district announces weather-related school closings by 6:00 am through the following: a Connect-ED phone call, announcement posted on the district's website, local television & radio stations, message on the district's information line at 630-375-3015 & Emergency Closing Center's website at http://www.emergencyclosingcenter.com/ecc/search.jsp. The district link is:
http://ipsdweb.ipsd.org/subpage.aspx/SchoolClosings. District #204 will only announce when schools are closed. If schools are not closed, it is ultimately the responsibility of parents and guardians to decide if conditions safely allow for their children to attend school. If children are kept home due to weather conditions, it will count as an excused absence.
• Where do I find bus information? Please login to your Home access account to view the bus route information. Please be patient during school start-up as there may be a short adjustment period to get route times in sync. Have your student to his/her stop a few minutes early and be aware that the schedule may be running either a little ahead or behind as students & drivers are familiarizing themselves with this years’ time tables.
• Is there a special schedule on the first day of school? The school day is 7:25 AM -2:25 PM (regular hours). When students arrive, they should report to their first period class. Students should come to school prepared with their class schedule and locker number/combo. Additionally, students will be dismissed 5 minutes early, at 2:20 PM, for the first 2 days of school to help them find their buses, rides home or after-school activities.
• What are my student’s options during lunch? Students may choose to either bring or buy lunch. There will be adults in the cafeteria helping direct students on how to navigate during their lunch period. If students choose to buy lunch, they may use their ID card if there is money on their account or they may pay in cash. Students may eat and socialize in the Commons area during lunch or use their ID card to access the LMC or Resource
Centers. Students may NOT be outside the Commons area without permission.
• What if my student cannot find his/her classroom or is late to class? There are plenty of adults (and even other students) in the hallways helping students new the building get acclimated. We understand that students are trying to “map-out” their routes and get accustomed to a new large building. We have built in a grace period of approximately one week before students are marked as “tardy”. Your student will be informed of this
information during the first few days of school. We have 5-minute passing periods and once your student is settled-in to his/her routine, this is plenty of time to go from class to class.
• Is the school day schedule the same each day? First period starts at 7:25 AM daily. Mon., Tues., Thurs. & Fri the school day ends at 2:25 PM and on Wed. at 2:05 PM. Staff members across the district take part in Professional Learning Communities and high school staff members are working on Professional Development on Wed. after student dismissal. If your child is involved in an after school activity on Wed., he/she will be given direction on expectations of meeting and working in our supervised Commons area until his/her activity begins. Activity Sponsors and Coaches will provide additional information via their meeting and practice schedules/calendars. Remember, high school starts earlier than middle school - begin the “getting up early” routine so your student is ready for the first day of school.
• Beginning in mid-August, class schedules can be viewed online by logging into the eSchoolPlus Home Access Center https://homeaccess.ipsd.org/HomeAccess/
- As far as school supplies, your student should bring a notebook, pencils and pens the first day of school. Generally, your student will need a notebook and folder for each class, but teachers will give more details in case something like a binder, calculator, or other class specific items are needed.
- If your student loses his/her ID, he/she needs to purchase a new one for $5.
• What if my student does not receive a schedule or the schedule cannot be accessed online? Contact your student’s house to inquire if your student’s registration file is complete and to get further information.
• When will my student receive his/her Activity Pass that I paid for through registration? Students ID’s will indicate that they have purchased an activity pass. He/she will need his/her ID when attending games to show proof of activity pass. If your child loses his/her ID, he/she needs to visit his/her house to purchase a new one.
• How does my student know where to find his/her locker and computer network log-in/password? Your student’s locker number and combination can be obtained by logging in to his/her Home Access Center (HAC) account (same username and password from 8th grade). During orientation, ‘finding and opening one’s locker’ is part of the “tour”. There will also be staff members available to help students during opening days. You will also find your student’s computer network log-in and password through HAC as well. Please emphasize to your student to keep the copy of his/her schedule in a safe place and not to share locker combinations, log-ins or passwords. If your student loses schedule/locker combo/password, he/she should stop in his/her House for assistance. Each student has an individual assigned locker; in fact, students are asked not to share lockers with friends. IPSD has a single sign-on process for students.
• Will my student have a PE locker or PE uniform? During opening days, PE teachers will explain program guidelines including what type of lock is needed. We do not have a PE uniform; however, during PE, students do need to change into school-appropriate attire that is conducive to physical activity. Students must lock their personal belongings in their PE locker during PE class.
• What is a House? Students are assigned to a house based on their last name. The house is an office location where students & parents should go with any questions/concerns. This “hub” (central location) is a good starting point to get direction. Each House is staffed with a dean, two guidance counselors, a social worker, a psychologist, a guidance secretary and a dean secretary. Each house team is ready to work to have a successful year! E-mails can be found under FACULTY & STAFF at http://mvhs.ipsd.org/.
• Who do I call if my student is ill, has an appointment or is going to be late? Please call the attendance line at 630-375-5900 (press 3) or the dean secretary in your student’s House.
• What is Fresh Connect? A leadership program that pairs upperclassmen with groups of incoming ninth graders. The upperclassmen serve as mentors for the ninth graders and assist them with becoming familiar with the high school requirements and help facilitate a smooth transition to high school. During part of your student’s lunch
period through September, he/she will meet with mentors on Thursdays to participate in this program. There will be lunch meetings once per month- Oct. thru Jan. Topics: Oct.- Homecoming, Nov.-Academic Check-in, Dec.- Finals, Jan.- Check-in/Graduation. This is very valuable to the start of your student’s high school experience.
• What is ACCESS? ACCESS is part of our students’ lunch periods. During lunch, students may eat lunch in the Commons or utilize the LMC or Resource Center if they have their ID. Additionally, your student may have an ACCESS period on his or her schedule. During this time, students may use the LMC, Resource Center or remain in the Commons to work independently.
• Is there a dress code? District #204 does have a student dress code policy and we expect students to dress appropriately for school. This is a good time to transition your student from the summer mindset to the mindset of working in a school setting. You may refer to our student handbook online and your child will also have a handbook to share with you from school readiness days.
• How can my student find information about joining a club or sport? Your student should listen and watch for announcements during the school day about upcoming meetings or try-outs. The student handbook is a great resource as well as the school’s homepage. Your student can also ask his/her guidance counselor. An Activity Fair will take place on late August / Early September in the Commons during the lunches.
• Can my student use his/her cell phone at school? Students are permitted to use cell phones in non-instructional areas as outlined in the student handbook under the Electronic Devices policy and for instructional purposes as directed by his/her teachers. Note- students may not make or receive calls on cell phones. If your student needs to speak with you during the school day, he/she can report to his/her House for assistance. This updated policy
and expectations will be reviewed with students early in the year. We ask that your student be respectful and responsible. Also, please remind your student to keep his/her phone safe as the devices are valuable both personally and monetarily.
• Will my student have homework every night? Yes, this is very likely. Your student will receive syllabi or course calendars so he/she can plan accordingly. Some classes lend themselves to nightly review and practice while others may have out-of-class work but not necessarily every night. During our Curriculum Night you will learn more about this and you may always contact your student’s teacher if you have questions.
• Where can my student get extra help? Resource Centers- Math (H108) and Sciences (E122) and Eng/SocStud/World Lang (G222) are open each period of the day and staffed by content area teachers. Also, your child should speak to his/her teachers to find other options and there may be opportunities to meet with his/her teachers.
• How can I contact a teacher? Teachers are listed by department on our homepage under FACULTY & STAFF. Here you will find e-mail addresses and phone numbers. You may also call the school directly at 630-375-5900 and be transferred to the teacher’s extension.
• What if I need to talk with the school nurse? Please feel free to call Ms. Grant, our School Nurse, at 630-375-1113 or Ms. Kluge, our Health Assistant, at 630-375-1555. Their emails can be found on our homepage.
• What is the role of my student’s school counselor? Your student’s school counselor is a great resource. He/she can work on academic advisement, post high-school planning, class schedule and personal issues/questions/concerns. Your student’s counselor may also refer you/your student to others in the building who can help. Contact the House to make an appointment.
• How do I get school announcements and updates? Check METEA’s homepage, you will see the daily posting of the PA announcements. Watch for Mustang News e-mails every Friday as well.
• Where can I buy Mustang wear? You or your child may purchase plenty of black and gold attire from our Athletic Booster organization. Look for announcements for sale dates and times. Mustang wear is also sold during school-wide events and contests. You may pay by check, cash or credit card.
• Are there parent organizations in which I can become involved? We have a PTSA, Athletic Boosters, Assoc. of Music Parents, Latino Mustangs Parent Org. as well as District 204’s IPEF. Informational tables are set-up outside the auditorium for you to visit after this event as well as during other school-wide events such as Curriculum Night. You may also contact officers of each organizations. Their contact information is located on our homepage under PARENT ORGANIZATIONS. If you have interest in other parent groups, contact us.
• How will I be informed of school closing information? The district announces weather-related school closings by 6:00 am through the following: a Connect-ED phone call, announcement posted on the district's website, local television & radio stations, message on the district's information line at 630-375-3015 & Emergency Closing Center's website at http://www.emergencyclosingcenter.com/ecc/search.jsp. The district link is:
http://ipsdweb.ipsd.org/subpage.aspx/SchoolClosings. District #204 will only announce when schools are closed. If schools are not closed, it is ultimately the responsibility of parents and guardians to decide if conditions safely allow for their children to attend school. If children are kept home due to weather conditions, it will count as an excused absence.