Editor’s note: In addition to this piece, the RoundTable has also published a District 65 101 on everything students, parents and families in elementary and middle school need to know.
Somehow, the summer is already winding down, and it’s time to talk about preparing for the upcoming school year.
Evanston Township High School will open its doors for the first day of the 2022-23 academic year in less than two weeks, on Monday, Aug. 15, and a new superintendent – longtime Principal Marcus Campbell – will be at the helm for the first time in 16 years after Eric Witherspoon’s retirement at the end of June. The Wildkit Marching Band also kicked off its fall season on Tuesday, Aug. 2, with the first day of a four-day camp at Eastern Illinois University down in Charleston, Ill.
Plus, all fall sports are holding their first practices in a few days, on Monday, Aug. 8. So, without further ado, here’s everything you need to know ahead of the new year, from health-record requirements to COVID-19 testing and beyond.
Freshmen and transfer student orientation
Between Monday, Aug. 8 and Tuesday, Aug. 9, ETHS is hosting six different orientation sessions for incoming ninth-graders, transfer students and their families to meet school staff and counselors. Additionally, new students and families will have a chance to walk around the school campus, find their lockers and locate their individual classrooms for each of their courses. You can find all the details you need to attend orientation at this link. Here’s a list of the orientation sessions and who should attend each one:
- Student last name A-F: 9 a.m. Monday, Aug. 8
- Student last name G-M: 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 8
- Student last name N-Z: 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9
- Spanish session: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9 in room N112
- Transfers: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9 in the East Cafe
- Freshmen make-up session: 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9
All sessions except for the Spanish-speakers and transfers orientations will start in the ETHS main auditorium and last about three hours. The schedule includes a welcome in the auditorium, meetings with counselors, Chromebook pickup for students and time to explore the high school.
Registering for fall sports
ETHS boasts 35 varsity and club sports, and most of the information you need to sign up for a sport or for fall tryouts is available on the How to Register for Sports page on the ETHS website. Students interested in participating in sports have to register online at myeths.com, and they must provide parent consent and a doctor’s physical on file with the school nurse’s office. Incoming freshmen, juniors and new athletes also have to complete an imPACT Baseline Test as part of the school’s concussion protocol. Student-athletes can find more information about the start dates and levels for all fall sports here and more sport-specific information here.
Any students who do not complete the registration requirements by the start date listed for their sport have to email athleticscontact@eths202.org and the varsity coach to notify them of their registration.
Additionally, a meeting for all fall athletes and parents/guardians will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 at the ETHS auditorium.
Class schedules and key dates
Starting this Sunday, Aug. 7, all students can view their class schedules online at the Home Access Center. If any students have trouble finding their schedules or accessing the online portal, they can email homeaccesscenter@eths202.org or call 847-424-7121. ETHS will not provide printed schedules or mail them home this year.
On the first day of school, all freshmen will start their day at 8 a.m. with an assembly in the auditorium. Student ambassadors will be on campus to assist any new students with their schedules or to point them in the right direction. Freshmen will then go through a 15-minute class period for each of their courses before dismissal at 11:05 a.m. All ninth graders are encouraged to stick around for a picnic lunch from 11:10-11:40 a.m. that day, as well.
Sophomores, juniors and seniors will report to school at 12 p.m. after freshmen have completed their day, and they will also go through 15-minute blocks for each of their classes during the afternoon. Regular daily schedules will then start on Tuesday, Aug. 16.
ETHS will distribute printed student ID cards on the first day of school, and students can also access their own virtual IDs online at their myETHS account. New students will have a chance to take their ID photo during orientation, and more information about IDs is available here.
During the first few weeks of school, ETHS is also hosting several meetings for parents and families. Here’s a comprehensive list of those gatherings:
- Bilingual parent meeting: Thursday, Aug. 18, time and location yet to be announced
- Orchestra and choir parent night: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23 in the auditorium
- Family Talk Series on supporting students during COVID-19: 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 24 at ETHS
- Virtual career planning and college application process seminar for parents and guardians of seniors 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 25, Zoom link to be announced
- ETHS Open House: Monday, Aug. 29, start time to be announced
- Band parent night: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30 in the auditorium
Payments, fees and free/reduced price meal applications
Annual school fees are due for all families this coming Tuesday, Aug. 9, and any fees paid after that date will have a late fee of $30 added. You can view all of your outstanding balances on your myETHS account, and you can pay any bills at the ETHS Web Store. Students and families can also save time on paying for school meals by adding funds to their online SNAP meal account.
Families can also apply to receive free or reduced price meals by Aug. 9 here, and they can find more information about applying here.
Health requirements and COVID-19 information
ETHS strongly encourages all students and staff to get their COVID-19 vaccine booster shot before the first day of the year. Those who are fully vaccinated but not boosted may still be required to quarantine if they are deemed a close contact with someone testing positive for the virus. Anyone who tests positive will have to provide contact tracing information and stay home for at least five full days. All positive tests should be reported to the nurses’ office at nurses@eths202.org.
Additionally, the school is still providing free optional SHIELD testing for COVID-19 throughout each day during the upcoming school year.
Masks will remain optional at ETHS for the time being, though the school website states that “anyone who chooses to wear a mask will be supported in their decision to do so at any COVID-19 Community Level, including low.”
If you have any further questions about the start to the school year, please contact us at news@evanstonroundtable.com, and we can point you in the right direction or find someone who can help you.
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