October 2023

Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Thursday, October 26, from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm and Friday, October 27, from 8:00 am – 11:00 am. Friday, October 27, is a day of non-student attendance; so, no instruction will take place on that day.  

Regardless of your student’s progress, we encourage you to schedule conferences with all of your student’s teachers, as well as their psychologist, social worker, and school counselor.  Students are welcome and encouraged to attend conferences, as students who attend conferences tend to stay engaged and take ownership of their learning.  For convenience, families will have the option to attend conferences virtually or in-person.

Regardless of your method of attendance, Skyward will be used to schedule all Parent-Student-Teacher conferences. Skyward’s scheduling feature allows parents to schedule conferences with the staff member of their choice via Skyward Family Access. Using this feature, parents will have the opportunity to view conference schedules, check availability, sign-up for 10-minute conferences with the staff member of your choice, and select the method for the conference. This process is quick, intuitive, and user-friendly. When scheduling conferences, please pay attention to the “Available Methods” section of your conference settings. You must select either “In-Person” or “Virtual.” By selecting one of these two choices ahead of time, both you and Grant faculty will be fully prepared for your conference. 

Please consider transition time when switching from one meeting to the next before finalizing your conference schedule. If you are attending conferences virtually, Zoom links will be provided through Skyward and an email will be sent to the email addresses associated with your Parent account. We encourage all parents/guardians to use their student’s school-issued Chromebook to ensure easy access to Zoom conferences. If you choose to use your student’s Chromebook, their name will appear within the Zoom waiting room. If you choose not to use your student’s Chromebook, please edit your name in Zoom so teachers are aware of who you are and when to let you into the meeting. Teachers will only add participants to the meeting based on appointments scheduled through Skyward.

Detailed instructions on how to schedule conferences will be available on the district website, in the included attachment, and through Skyward Family Access. Conference scheduling will open on Wednesday, October 11, and will be available through October 27.

If parents have any questions regarding conference scheduling, or if you are a non-native English speaker and require translation services, please contact Ms. Ali Wilhelm in the Student Services Office at 847-973-3419 or awilhelm@grantbulldogs.org. 

We look forward to seeing you virtually at Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences.

Conference Scheduling Guide - English
Conference Scheduling Guide - Spanish

Thank you,

Dr. Jeremy Schmidt
Principal

September 2023

Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year!  We had an amazing kick-off to the school year with excellent attendance at Material Pick-up Days, Freshmen Orientation, and Parent University.  Moreover, our “Freshman Five” first day of school schedule and Red Carpet Welcome were a few strong ways to start off our new school year. 

The building has a great feel to it this year, and with more than 468 incoming freshmen and over 1,828 total students enrolled, we certainly continue to be a big place.  Undoubtedly, the uniqueness of each individual contributes to the power of the whole community.

As a school community, every year we learn, grow, and work to improve, and this year is an excellent example of that philosophy in action.  Student voices from forums like the Student Council, Keep It RED, Principal’s Advisory Council, Student Athletic Activities Leadership Committee, and National Honor Society have significantly shaped school-wide improvements to the campus.  Please ask your students about the new changes this year. 

Some of these improvements are physical, tangible changes.  Students are getting used to the building’s new directional signage for our colored hallways and a new snack café that has been named by student vote as  “The Dawg Bowl.”  The hallway signage will help students navigate the halls, and The Dawg Bowl will be open daily to provide more food and drink options for students.  Moreover, select staff are piloting eHallpass, a digital version of a traditional, physical hall pass.  Students are beginning to become familiar with the system, and we are interested to see how the pilot progresses.

If you have senior students, check in with them and ask if they’re part of “The RED Zone.”  Seniors who “Keep It RED” have schedules that don’t show study halls with assigned rooms.  Instead, they have the daily flexibility to report to multiple areas on campus to study, socialize, or grab a snack.  Eligibility for “The RED Zone” will be updated quarterly; so if your student isn’t eligible yet, encourage them to keep it respectful, engaged, and dependable to qualify next semester.  If your student isn’t in the RED Zone and believes they meet the criteria, please have them see their school counselor for an appeal form.

Instructionally, this year again we are continuing to use Skyward as our Student Information System and Schoology as our learning management platform.  Parents have access to both systems, giving you access to your student’s academic progress.  Please contact our Technology Department with any access questions.  Both systems’ information give parents timely information and easy starting points to talk with your children about their school day.

The excitement that comes with every new school year is tangible and real, and this year undoubtedly has a great feel to it.  We know that each and every student contributes in some way to the larger Grant community, and we look forward to all of the ways that individual students will embrace the opportunities and challenges that present themselves this school year.  So, I am confident speaking for the entire staff when I say that we look forward to all of the fantastic things that your student will accomplish this year!

Keep It RED,

Dr. Jeremy Schmidt
Principal

July 2023

Welcome to the onset of the 2023-2024 school year!  With over 468 incoming freshmen and over 1,828 total students enrolled, we certainly continue to be a big place, and the uniqueness of each individual contributes to the power of the whole community.  Each and every member of our school contributes in some way, and we pride ourselves on offering a wide variety of opportunities for everyone.  There are many ways to get engaged, and this always begins with academics but also includes “saying yes” to new experiences offered in athletics and extracurriculars.  We know that students who try new activities and get engaged always have good experiences, and I am confident that there is something new outside of the classroom that every student can enjoy being involved in. 

As a school community, every year we learn, grow, and work to improve, and this year is an excellent example of that philosophy in action.  Student voices from forums like Student Council, Keep It RED, Principal’s Advisory Council, Student Athletic Activities Leadership Committee, and National Honor Society have significantly shaped school-wide improvements which students will notice upon returning to campus.  Students will see physical changes to the building with new directional signage for our colored hallways and a new Bulldog Coffee Café that will be open from 7:00 A.M. – 3:30 P.M.  Moreover, qualifying seniors who “Keep It RED” will notice their schedules don’t show study halls with assigned rooms.  Instead, they will have the daily flexibility to report to multiple areas on campus to study, socialize, or grab a snack.  Eligibility for “The RED Zone” will be updated quarterly, so keep it respectful, engaged, and dependable!

It all begins again on August 14, 2023, our first day of school.  This year again, freshmen will arrive on campus at the normal time for a regular start at 7:40 A.M.  Sophomores through seniors will not arrive on campus until the Flex Start time of 9:25 A.M.  Bussing will be provided for all students for both the regular and Flex Start times.  If sophomores, juniors, or seniors arrive on campus early you can wait in the Commons until 9:00 A.M.  Please check the school website for the 2023-24 bus routes and schedules.

From 7:40 A.M. – 8:55 A.M., freshmen will follow “The Freshman Five” abbreviated bell schedule.  This time will allow freshmen to become comfortable with the building, follow their class schedule with only freshmen in the building, and meet their Big Dawg Mentors and teachers. At the conclusion of “The Freshman Five”, freshmen will join sophomores, juniors, and seniors to follow the 9:25 A.M. Flex Start schedule with all students present.  The day’s schedule is included with this letter. 

I am confident speaking for the entire staff when I say that we look forward to all of the fantastic things that you will accomplish this year!  Prior to our first day, review your schedule and bring it with you the first day, enjoy the remainder of your summer, and plan on making this a great year!

Keep It RED,

Dr. Jeremy Schmidt
Principal