Litchfield High School

Seniors, please remember that we will be meeting at the Unit Office on Tuesday January 4th at 8am. We will discuss the transition to college, trade school, and military with recent LHS alumni. We will return to LHS during 2nd hour. Please email Mrs. Cress to let her know if you will need transportation to the Unit Office that day.

December 20, 2023 Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s) and Students, Beginning the second semester of the 2023-2024 school year, LHS and LMS will be using a new tool to assist in combating the use of vapes on school premises. Both LHS and LMS administration will be utilizing a handheld wand device to assist in searches when there is reasonable suspicion “that the particular student has violated or is violating either the law of the school or district’s student rules and policies,” as outlined in the Search and Seizure policy below. We want to assure parents, guardians, and students that the handheld wand will only be used in instances of reasonable suspicion of an individual in possession of and/or using a vape or in possession of any other item that could impact student and staff safety. This handheld wand will allow administration to conduct the search efficiently and respectfully for all parties involved. It is our duty as administration to uphold a safe and secure learning environment, and we will continue to review and develop policies that help us to do so. If you have further questions, please contact the building administrator. Search and Seizure In order to maintain order, safety, and security in the schools, school authorities are authorized to conduct reasonable searches of school property and equipment, as well as of students and their personal effects. “School Authorities” includes school liaison police officers. School Property and Equipment as well as Personal Effects Left There by Students School authorities may inspect and search school property and equipment owned or controlled by the school, such as lockers, desk, and parking lots, as well as personal effects left there by a student, without notice to or the consent of the student. Students have no reasonable expectation of privacy in these places or areas or in their personal effects left there. The building principal may request the assistance of law enforcement officials to conduct inspections and searches of lockers, desks, parking lots, and other school property and equipment for illegal drugs, weapons, or other illegal or dangerous substances or materials, including searches conducted through the use of specially trained dogs. Seizure of Property If a search produces evidence that the student has violated or is violating either the law or the school or district’s policies or rules, evidence may be seized and impounded by school authorities, and disciplinary action may be taken. When appropriate, evidence may be transferred to law enforcement authorities. Students School authorities may search a student and/or the student’s personal effects in the student’s possession (such as purses, wallets, knapsacks, book bags, lunch boxes, etc.) when there is a reasonable ground for suspecting that the search will produce evidence that the particular student has violated or is violating either the law or the school or district’s student rules and policies. The search will be conducted in a manner that is reasonably related to its objective of the search and not excessively intrusive in light of the student’s age and sex, and the nature of the infraction.

Seniors, please remember that we will be meeting at the Unit Office on Thursday, January 4th at 8am. We will discuss the transition to college, trade school, and military with recent LHS alumni. We will return to LHS during 2nd hour. Please email Mrs. Cress to let her know if you will need transportation to the Unit Office that day.

Again, it is NOT too late to register for tonight's event at 7:30 pm about the ABCs of Substance Use and Vaping! Are you a parent who wants to know more about substance abuse and vaping? Learn how to spot the signs your child may be vaping or becoming addicted to substance use. Join us and learn to ask the right questions, spot the basic signs, and learn to communicate with your child. You can register right up to the last minute, even if you can't attend the live event. By registering, you will be added to the follow-up email list and receive a recording of the session the following day. Use this link to register: https://cookcenter.info/Dec13Litchfield

LHS Final Exam Dates are as followed: Friday, December 15th Monday, December 18th Tuesday, December 19th Make up finals will be on Wednesday, December 20th For full schedule details please refer to the live feed on LCUSD #12 app. **Transportation will not be available for bus riders, please arrange transportation for your students. If this is an issue please contact LHS at 217-324-3955 and ask to speak with Ms. Logsdon.

It is not too late to register for our session on Substance Abuse and Vaping! This session will be offered on December 13th at 7:30 pm. Do you know the signs to watch for if your pre-teen or teen is vaping or becoming addicted to substance use? Learn to ask the right questions, spot the basic signs, and learn to communicate with your child. This session covers the following: Signs to watch for including health issues, behavioral signs, and addiction signs as well as How to talk to your child about vaping. Simply scan the QR code to register!

On December 5th at 7:30 pm, we are offering a session for parents regarding Substance Abuse and Vaping. Do you know the signs to watch for if your pre-teen or teen is vaping or becoming addicted to substance use? Learn to ask the right questions, spot the basic signs, and learn to communicate with your child. This session covers the following: Signs to watch for including health issues, behavioral signs, and addiction signs as well as How to talk to your child about vaping.

Parents of seniors, Mrs. Cress met with all seniors today to discuss local scholarships. Students were given a flier with links to applications and a packet with a list of all available local scholarship applications.A detailed email has also been sent to all students and parents. Please make sure you see the email and documents your student will be bringing home.

REMINDER - Early dismissal today. Elementary @ 1:15. LMS/LHS @ 1:30. NO AFTERNOON PRE K. School resumes on Monday 11/2, after the Thanksgiving Break.

There will be an early dismissal for the Litchfield School District on Tuesday, November 21st, 2023. • Elementary Schools @1:15 • Middle/High Schools @ 1:30 • No Afternoon Pre K ** HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS and PARENTS ** There will be a follow up message for you with more details on your dismissal times on this date. • Thanksgiving Break November 21-26. • School Resumes Monday, November 27 at the usual time.

It is NOT too late to register for this evening's presentation at 7:30 pm of 'Why Our Children Self Harm' offered by ParentGuidance.org. What can parents do when they have a child that is self-harming? It can be a scary and confusing experience that is tricky to understand. Join us to learn tools for understanding why this happens and what you can do to help. You can register right up to the last minute, even if you can't attend the live event. By registering, you will be added to the follow-up email list and receive a recording of the session the following day. Simply scan the QR code to register!

Just a reminder, there is no school this Friday, November 10 in observance of the Veterans day. School resumes Monday at the usual time.

Reminder - Early dismissal Wednesday 10/25/23. Elementary out @11:15. LMS/LHS out @11:30. Also, Pre K Buddy Day in the morning. Times were sent home in your newsletter and in the app.

Substitute Job Fair tonight 5:30-7:30 @ Litchfield Library - 1205 S. State Street. Sharing info, filling out paperwork, etc. Teachers / Aides / Custodians / Bus Drivers / Nurses / Secretaries. Please share if you know someone who might be interested! Help make a difference and earn some extra income !

Tomorrow, Wednesday, October 18th students will take part in a variety of activities for school improvement and to help student's meet their own educational goals. Freshmen will take a practice PSAT. Sophomores will take the Accuplacer. Juniors that previously registered will take the PSAT/NMSQT, all other juniors will take a practice SAT. Seniors will work on college/trade school applications and/or resumes as well as participate in a future focused lesson through our idream/icreate program. Sophomores, juniors taking the PSAT/NMSQT, and seniors must bring their fully charged Chromebook to school. All freshmen-juniors will need to bring a pencil and calculator. Seniors should bring anything they need to work on college applications. All students (regardless of late start eligibility) must arrive by 8am. Seniors must arrive by 8:30am. Breakfast will be in the cafeteria until 8am. Lunch will take place at 11:30 followed by our quarter one celebration. Students will be dismissed at 1pm. Thank you! We are looking forward to helping your son/daughter set goals for achievement tests and helping seniors complete the necessary tasks for college/trade school admissions.

Reminder, Litchfield CUSD #12 has NO SCHOOL on Friday October 6 for teacher institute and Monday, October 9th for the Columubus/Indigenous Peoples' day. School resumes Tuesday, October 10 at the usual time.

Reminder -Early dismissal today for LCUSD#12 for School Improvment. Elementary @ 11:15. LMS/LHS @11:30 - no PM Pre K. K-12 students will receive a take home lunch. School resumes tomorrow @ normal time.

Correction - the early dismissal is on Wednesday the 27th (this week). Hopefully this didn't cause too much confusion.

Families of students in grades 3-12: The ESTeam will be administering the BESS screener which is our social-emotional survey tomorrow. 13th. Please click on the link to read the letter from the team: https://5il.co/25lgy

Reminder: Early dismissal scheduled for this Wednesday September 17 for school improvement. There is NO afternoon Pre K. Elementary schools dismiss at 11:15 Middle & High Schools dismiss at 11:30. All students will K-12 will be provided a take-home lunch. School resumes Thursday at the usual time.