Our junior high teachers were up bright and very early — leaving school at 4:30 a.m. — to attend IXL Live, a hands-on professional development event focused on using IXL, an online learning platform that helps students build skills in math, language arts, and more through personalized practice and real-time feedback.
Even with different levels of experience using IXL, everyone found the day well worth it — from learning how to get started, to discovering new tools, to fine-tuning and expanding current classroom practices. It was a great day of learning and collaboration, and we can’t wait to bring these ideas back to our students!
Even with different levels of experience using IXL, everyone found the day well worth it — from learning how to get started, to discovering new tools, to fine-tuning and expanding current classroom practices. It was a great day of learning and collaboration, and we can’t wait to bring these ideas back to our students!
Happy Principal Appreciation Week, Principal Jones! "The Illinois Principals Association (IPA) encourages all communities in Illinois to celebrate Principal Appreciation Week October 20-24, 2025, and Principal Appreciation Day on Friday, October 24, 2025” (ilprincipals.org).
From PIP and PreK through elementary, junior high, and high school, Ms. Jones shows up for students, staff, and families. She doesn’t just lead from an office; she rolls up her sleeves, listens, supports, and grows alongside every part of our community.
Remember the recent football game when Ms. Jones and other principals took a pie in the face to raise money for breast cancer awareness? How about her spooktacular enthusiasm at Halloween Town? That kind of fun spirit and heart is exactly what makes her stand out.
She:
• Engages with students at all grade levels, making each feel seen and valued.
• Partners with teachers and staff—listening, collaborating, and creating a great environment for learning.
• Welcomes parents and families. Always open, always accessible, always invested in our children’s success.
• Lives our school’s mission every day with kindness, innovation, and genuine care.
Ms. Jones, thank you. Thank you for your dedication, for leading with purpose, and for being the kind of principal that makes our school feel like a true community. You are appreciated beyond words, and this week—and always—we celebrate you!
One of the most important executive functioning skills is self-advocacy — the ability to ask for help and take ownership of learning. Encourage your child to talk directly with teachers when they have questions or concerns. Learning to speak up respectfully builds confidence, independence, and the skills they’ll need for high school and beyond.
💬 Encourage Self-advocacy
-Teach your child how to speak up respectfully when they don’t understand something or need help.
-Practice what to say: “I’m not sure I understand this — could you explain it another way?” or “Can I check with you after class?”
-Encourage them to email or talk to teachers directly before you step in as a parent.
-Praise efforts to communicate and problem-solve, even if the situation isn’t resolved perfectly.
💬 Encourage Self-advocacy
-Teach your child how to speak up respectfully when they don’t understand something or need help.
-Practice what to say: “I’m not sure I understand this — could you explain it another way?” or “Can I check with you after class?”
-Encourage them to email or talk to teachers directly before you step in as a parent.
-Praise efforts to communicate and problem-solve, even if the situation isn’t resolved perfectly.
When kids stop to think about what worked, what didn’t, and what they could try next time, they’re strengthening executive functioning. Reflection turns mistakes into learning and helps students become flexible problem-solvers. Try asking, “What’s one thing you’d do differently next time?” to spark thoughtful conversation and growth.
💬 Encourage Self-Reflection and Problem Solving
-Ask open-ended questions like, “What’s your plan for starting that project?” or “What’s one thing you could do differently next time?”
-Encourage them to check their own work before turning it in.
-Play games that require thinking ahead — board games, puzzles, or strategy video games.
-Model your own planning — talk through how you organize your day or remember things.
💬 Encourage Self-Reflection and Problem Solving
-Ask open-ended questions like, “What’s your plan for starting that project?” or “What’s one thing you could do differently next time?”
-Encourage them to check their own work before turning it in.
-Play games that require thinking ahead — board games, puzzles, or strategy video games.
-Model your own planning — talk through how you organize your day or remember things.
Students in Mrs. Lisa Lorenzen’s classes took a break from science and math to spread a little kindness. Each class painted kindness rocks to brighten our school and community with encouraging messages and creative designs.
Strong executive functioning isn’t just about organization — it’s also about managing emotions and communicating clearly. Encourage your child to pause, breathe, and name their feelings before reacting. Modeling calm, respectful communication helps students learn that frustration is normal — but how we handle it makes all the difference.
📅 Communicate
-Use TeacherEase together multiple times a week.
-Remind your child that asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.
❤️ Emphasize Emotional Regulation
-Teach simple strategies: deep breathing or taking a short break.
-Help them name their feelings (“I’m overwhelmed” → “Let’s make a plan together”).
📅 Communicate
-Use TeacherEase together multiple times a week.
-Remind your child that asking for help is a strength, not a weakness.
❤️ Emphasize Emotional Regulation
-Teach simple strategies: deep breathing or taking a short break.
-Help them name their feelings (“I’m overwhelmed” → “Let’s make a plan together”).
Executive functioning includes planning and prioritizing — and big tasks can feel overwhelming for many students. Help your child by breaking assignments or chores into smaller, doable steps. “Let’s do this part first, then take a quick break.” This builds focus, reduces frustration, and helps students feel capable instead of stuck.
⏰ Break Tasks Into Manageable Pieces
Practice this skill outside school — cooking a meal, doing laundry, or cleaning a room all require following steps.
Encourage use of timers (e.g., work 15 minutes, break 5 minutes).
Praise progress, not perfection — small wins build confidence and motivation.
📱 Support Time Management
-Practice estimating how long a task will take — then check if they were close.
-Set up reminders or alarms for transitions like “start homework” or “get ready for bed.”
Shiloh families,
This is a reminder that we have early 2:05 dismissals on Wednesday and Thursday, and no school on Friday. Please make arrangements for early pick-ups and bus arrivals.
This is a reminder that we have early 2:05 dismissals on Wednesday and Thursday, and no school on Friday. Please make arrangements for early pick-ups and bus arrivals.
Junior high is a critical time for developing executive functioning. Helping kids build these skills doesn’t just help with school — it means practicing organization, planning, and follow-through in everyday life. Each small step builds lifelong confidence and independence!
Executive functioning skills help students manage time, stay organized, and handle responsibilities — all key for success in junior high and beyond. Routines and structure give kids the confidence to know what’s coming next, while organization skills help them keep track of what matters most. Small daily habits, like using folders or visual schedules, build independence over time!
🧠 Build Structure and Predictability
-Keep a consistent routine for homework, bedtime, and mornings.
-Set up a designated homework space with minimal distractions and all needed supplies.
🗂 Teach Organization Skills
-Do a weekly “reset” together — clean a workspace, sort through papers, or organize clothes for the week.
-Encourage using the assignment notebook to track due dates and tests.
Executive functioning skills help students manage time, stay organized, and handle responsibilities — all key for success in junior high and beyond. Routines and structure give kids the confidence to know what’s coming next, while organization skills help them keep track of what matters most. Small daily habits, like using folders or visual schedules, build independence over time!
🧠 Build Structure and Predictability
-Keep a consistent routine for homework, bedtime, and mornings.
-Set up a designated homework space with minimal distractions and all needed supplies.
🗂 Teach Organization Skills
-Do a weekly “reset” together — clean a workspace, sort through papers, or organize clothes for the week.
-Encourage using the assignment notebook to track due dates and tests.
Get ready, the book fair will be here before you know it! It's November 10-14, 2025.
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/shilohhighschool
Set up your eWallet here: https://account.scholastic.com/my-scholastic/profile/ewallet.html?fairID=6044952&sUCN=600128843
Preview the books: https://preview.scholasticbookfairs.com/hub?pkid=SZ&flag=y
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/shilohhighschool
Set up your eWallet here: https://account.scholastic.com/my-scholastic/profile/ewallet.html?fairID=6044952&sUCN=600128843
Preview the books: https://preview.scholasticbookfairs.com/hub?pkid=SZ&flag=y
NO TUTORING THIS WEEK! Due to the early dismissals on Wednesday and Thursday, and no school on Friday, there will be no tutoring this week. Tutoring will resume next Monday, October 27th.
HS Football has a change in the start time
EIU open gym is open to the public
Jr. High boys basketball schedule and 5th/6th boys basketball schedule
To celebrate the last day of the first quarter, Ms. Jones treated the Shiloh staff to Crumbl cookies and chips! It’s been a busy and rewarding start to the school year, and this sweet (and salty) surprise was the perfect way to wrap up Quarter 1. Thank you, Ms. Jones, for always taking care of your team!
“I SPY WITH MY LITTLE EYE”
A willy worm!
Praying Mantis eggs!
Jumpy crickets!
Tall Big Blue Stem Grass!
Exploring the Shiloh Prairie behind the school Wednesday morning, PIP families followed retired science teacher Kendra Saddoris as she led a tour and talked about the various plants, insects, and animals that live in the grassy plot and wetland area. In addition, Shiloh Superintendent Morgan Wilhoit and Principal Amy Jones joined the walk and welcomed everyone who came out on the cool morning. The children practiced using their sense of sight, smell, and touch as they collected various items including milkweed fluff, stalks, leaves, blooms, and seed pods in bags and by attaching their “treasures” to sticky bracelets. After walking the trails in the Prairie, the littles enjoyed playing in a fall-themed sensory bin, trying a ring-toss game with gourds, selecting a new book, and adopting a mini pumpkin to take home.
A willy worm!
Praying Mantis eggs!
Jumpy crickets!
Tall Big Blue Stem Grass!
Exploring the Shiloh Prairie behind the school Wednesday morning, PIP families followed retired science teacher Kendra Saddoris as she led a tour and talked about the various plants, insects, and animals that live in the grassy plot and wetland area. In addition, Shiloh Superintendent Morgan Wilhoit and Principal Amy Jones joined the walk and welcomed everyone who came out on the cool morning. The children practiced using their sense of sight, smell, and touch as they collected various items including milkweed fluff, stalks, leaves, blooms, and seed pods in bags and by attaching their “treasures” to sticky bracelets. After walking the trails in the Prairie, the littles enjoyed playing in a fall-themed sensory bin, trying a ring-toss game with gourds, selecting a new book, and adopting a mini pumpkin to take home.
JV Football
Elementary students had a blast flying kites during PE with Ms. Sisk! Perfect weather, bright smiles, and lots of teamwork made for a fun and active day outdoors.
There will be a meeting for any High School boy interested in playing basketball this year. It will be on Thursday, October 30 in room 11 at Shiloh. The meeting will be 5pm-7pm.
Dear parents,
School pictures are ready!
To order, log in to your account on mylifetouch.com or create an account using your student's student ID number.
All families can also log on and order a FREE Digital SmileSafe card.
More about the Smilesafe program here: https://lifetouch.com/smilesafe/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign=PPD_F23_Po1_US&utm_content=safecard
Thank you!
