August 2021

Welcome to the 2021 – 2022 school year!  We look forward to seeing you the third week of August.  Until then, we have many details to share with you.  If you do not find the answers here, check our website www.illianachristian.org.   You can also call us at 219-558-7066.

CALENDAR NOTES:

August 13 – Computer Skills Test

August 16 – New Viking Night

August 17 – Freshmen First Day of School/Freshman Challenge

August 18 – First Day of School for All Students

August 21 – Challenged to Ride/Disc Golf Tournament

August 24 – Music Parent Meeting (NEW DATE)

August 25 – Underclassmen Pictures

September 2 – Back to School Night

September 6 – Labor Day/No School

September 20 – Golf Outing

September 22 and 24 – Senior retakes

 WHAT’S HAPPENING?

TEXTBOOKS:  Freshmen will receive their textbooks on the day of Freshmen Challenge.  Sophomores, juniors, and seniors will receive their textbooks in homeroom on the first day of school.

 REQUIRED HEALTH RECORDS:

• The Indiana State Department of Health requires that all incoming SENIORS receive a 2^nd MCV4 (Meningococcal) vaccine. Please mail, email or drop off an updated immunization record BEFORE school starts in August. You may email records to sdeyoung@illianachristian.org.
• Any family that has filled out a Religious Objection Form for vaccinations must complete a new form EVERY YEAR. Please send an updated form, for the 2021 -2022 school year, to the office before the school year starts.  You may email updated forms to sdeyoung@illianachristian.org, or bring them to the office.
• REQUIRED FRESHMEN DOCUMENTS: All freshmen are required by Indiana law to submit an UPDATED immunization record and birth certificate or other proof of age before school starts.   Scans and photocopies are acceptable.

PARKING FOR 2021-2022:  For identification purposes, all student drivers must display a parking tag in their car.  The $20 fee will be billed with tuition.  Please carefully read, complete and submit the online form that is available until August 7.  Paper forms will be available after the 7^th.  The parking tags will be distributed in homeroom on the first day of school.

NEW VIKING NIGHT:   All freshman, transfer students and their guardians are invited to attend “New Viking Night” on August 16.  Illiana staff members will be available to answer your questions.  This night is all about getting to know other Viking families and spending time in fellowship. If you have any questions, please contact Admissions Director, Jenna Dutton, 219-558-7066, ext. 41 or jdutton@illianaweb.org.  An email invitation was sent out.  Please be sure to RSVP by August 9, for the dinner portion of the event!

FRESHMEN CHALLENGE:  Illiana Christian High School welcomes ALL incoming freshmen to Freshmen Challenge on Tuesday, August 17, 7:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.  Lunch and snacks will be provided.  Join us for a day of orientation.  When you arrive please meet in The Commons.  You will receive another copy of your schedule, your textbooks, and your Chromebook as well as run through your classes and meet each of your teachers.  Buses will run this day.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL:  The first day of school is Wednesday, August 18.  Please note that we will be dismissing at 2:00 p.m.  Students will report to homeroom by 7:45 a.m. (the first bell rings at 7:40 a.m.).  Students will receive another copy of their schedule in homeroom.

FALL PLAY:  Auditions for this year’s fall play, Radium Girls, will be after school Thursday, Aug. 19 and Friday, Aug. 20.  Students interested in auditioning can find information here .  For more information or with any questions, please email Mr. DeVries at jdevries@illianaweb.org.

 CHALLENGED TO RIDE/DISC GOLF TOURNAMENT:  We’re hosting our annual bike ride event “Challenged to Ride” again! August 21, 2021.  All proceeds will benefit our Student Services department here at ICHS. This year we’re adding a Disc Golf tournament that will be held on Illiana’s campus. Bikes, Discs, family fun! Come one, come all! Tune into our social media channels for more details. Questions? csiersema@illianaweb.org or 219-558-7066 x 22

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT:  Parents are invited to come to school to visit the classrooms and meet their student’s teachers on Thursday, September 2, at 7:00 p.m.  Remember this is for parents only.

 FALL 2021 WASHINGTON D.C. SENIOR CLASS TRIP:  The dates for the trip will be October 19 – 23, 2021.  The fee of $670 is due on September 15.  More information will be shared as it becomes available.  Please do not pay early, and do not combine payment with a tuition payment.  Payment should be given to homeroom teachers for accurate record keeping.

GOLF OUTING:  The Illiana Christian Athletic Association will be holding its Fall Golf Classic at Briar Ridge Country Club in Schererville, IN on September 20. Check-in and lunch is from 11:00 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. with a shot gun start at 12:30 p.m. Dinner and awards follow at 5:30 p.m. Sponsorship opportunities available! For more information, contact Darren DeBoer at (219) 558-7066 ext. 14 or ddeboer@illianaweb.org  or Bonnie Trepton at (219) 558-7066 ext. 24 or email btrepton@illianaweb.org.

SENIOR PICTURES: Class of 2022 retakes will be September 22 and 24.  Please note: while the purchase of a photo package is not necessary, ALL seniors must be photographed by HR Imaging in order to appear in the 2022 Spire (yearbook).  Contact HR Imaging at 815-433-1766 if you have any questions.

MOMS IN PRAYER:  The Illiana Moms in Prayer group will meet the 1^st, 3^rd, and 5^th Mondays of the month.  We meet at Illiana on days when school is in session beginning August 23 at 8:00 a.m.  Meet with us for an hour of prayer for our school, faculty, staff and students.  For more information, email ICHSmomsinprayer@gmail.com or check out the website at www.momsinprayer.org.

FROM THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE:

If you have questions, about anything related to Illiana admissions and re-enrollment, they can be directed to Director of Admissions, Jenna Dutton, at 219-558-7066 ext. 49 or jdutton@illianaweb.org.

• CARPOOLS: Are you interested in being part of a carpool to and from Illiana this year?  Are you looking for a ride or can you take another passenger in your vehicle?  Illiana can help connect families who need help making arrangements for carpools.  Please email Marie Limback at mlimback@illianachristian.org with your name, home address, phone number, and indicate if you need a ride or can offer a ride.  Limback will share your information only with other families who have indicated an interest in carpooling, so families can then connect with each other.

TRANSPORTATION:

BUS SIGN UPS:   The 2021 – 2022   bus registration link is open if your student will need bus transportation next school year, please take a moment to register them.  There is transportation from South Holland, Lansing, and Highland.  The bus registration fee for next year is $215 and will be billed on your August tuition statement.  Contact Duane Kamstra with questions at dkamstra@illianaweb.org.

 

FROM THE BUSINESS OFFICE:
2021 – 2022 TUITION, GRANTS, and EFT:

The tuition rate is $10,945.00, a $100 enrollment fee credit will be reflected on your August tuition statement.

• The first tuition payment for each student is due by August 15.
  ·      Payments for August – June will be $995.
  ·      The Foundation Fund makes an optional discount of $215 available to all students, please complete and return

the form with your August payment.

·      The Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) form is linked here. To sign up for EFT payments, return the completed form to

the office with your first payment via check or cash by August 15. EFT payments will begin with your September payment.

• Please call Kathy West (ext. 11) if you have questions or for information.

P.I.E:

• The official PIE (Parents involved in Education) email with all the information about PIE and volunteer PIE credit openings will be sent out later this week. PLEASE read thru everything!
• Want to get involved at Illiana? Meet other parents? See your kids at lunchtime? We are looking for a Walt’s Fried Chicken manager, about once a month on Tuesday’s from 10-1:45. Please contact Terri for details. 708-259-0749
• SCRIP:  Scrip tuition credit will be paid out at the end of July.  It will be posted on your August statement.

ATHLETIC NEWS:

• Tryouts:
  • Boys and Girls Soccer – August 2, 3, and 4. Girls: 3-5 p.m.  Boys:  5-7 p.m.
  • Girls Volleyball – August 2, 3, and 4. Grade 9, 3-5 p.m.  Grades 10, 11 & 12, 6-8 p.m.  (note change)
  • Boys Tennis – August 2nd 3:30 – 5:30 p.m., August 3rd 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., August 4th 3-5 p.m. (note time change)
  • Cross Country will begin practicing on August 2.
• SPORTS PHYSICALS: :   All students participating in sports must register on Final Forms.  All athletes must be registered BEFORE tryouts begin.  If you have questions, contact Bonnie Trepton at 219-558-7066 ext. 24, or btrepton@illianaweb.org.
• All athletes must turn in a valid IHSAA Pre-Participation physical and consent form completed and signed after April 1, 2021 to be eligible for tryouts and to compete during the 2021-22 athletic season. The physical form is available here and on the website.

 

The Athletic Department enlists the services of a certified athletic trainer. The trainer, Melissa Vargas, will be available at many of the home events and after school on practice days to provide athletes with prompt treatment as well as preventative measures such as taping, bracing, etc.  Every student who participates in sports at Illiana will be assessed a fee of $50 per sport to help defray the expense of this program. This fee will be added to your tuition statement.

 

COUNSELING OFFICE UPDATES

SCHEDULES:  Schedules are available online through your family portal.  Students will receive a copy in homeroom on their first day of school.  Due to new enrollments, section balancing and schedule changes throughout the summer, please check your schedule just before school starts as it may have changed since you reviewed it online. The counselors will be in the office starting the week of August 9.  If any changes are needed, please email your requests to your counselor.  Some changes can be made after school starts but only under very limited conditions.  Students whose last names begin with the letters A-K, contact Mrs. Melanie Benes (mbenes@illianaweb.org) and students whose last names begin with letters L-Z, contact Mr. Neil Zandstra (nzandstra@illianaweb.org).

ACT:  Students who wish to take or retake the ACT must register online at www.actstudent.org.  Our school code is 145555.  This code should be used for both SAT and ACT testing registration to ensure your scores are sent to Illiana so they can then be included on your transcript.

SAT:  Illiana will now be offering the SAT in the Spring for every Junior as a required test.  If your student wants to take the SAT on a national test date, go to www.collegeboard.com to register using the school code above.

COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID NIGHT/FAFSA INFORMATION:   Parents of juniors and seniors are invited to the College Financial Aid night on September 20, at 7:00 p.m., in the Commons.  This is an important seminar to attend as you begin college and financial aid applications.  Please make this a priority.

 GENERAL REMINDERS:

STUDENT INSURANCE:  Illiana does not have medical insurance coverage for your child.  If your child is hurt, even if at school, we do not have a policy to cover that injury.  We expect that all our families have their own health insurance.

 PARENT-STUDENT HANDBOOK:   The Parent-Student Handbook contains important information regarding academics and student life here at Illiana Christian High School.  The Handbook is located on our website.

 DIRECTORY:  The directory is available on your Family Portal>ParentsWeb>School Information>Directory.  You may search by Family or School Staff.  The School Staff option will display all faculty and staff and their contact information, including email addresses.

SECURITY:  After the school day has started, doors will be locked. Anyone arriving after 8:00 a.m. must use the entrance by flagpole.  Late students and all visitors, will need to be buzzed in by the office staff.  Late students must sign in and receive a pass.  Visitors are required to sign in at the main office and wear an identification badge.    You must sign out when you leave.

  

**ALL DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.