APRIL MESSAGE FROM MARY JANKOVICH
Dear Shabazz Community,

I hope you all are having a wonderful Spring Break! As we begin the month of April, we'll have wrapped up third quarter, and quarter grades should be finalized and viewable by Friday, April 9. Keep in mind fourth quarter will start on Monday, April 5--can you believe it? We will continue our tradition of finishing strong here at Shabazz, and no doubt our students and staff will do the same as we begin the last quarter of the 2020-2021 school year. Again, please take time to check in with students, to find out what's working for them and what they're struggling with around school. We need to make sure we are all working together to provide support.    
 
Some of our juniors will be taking the ACT on Monday, April 13. We wish them all the very best. Our counselor, Elizabeth Long, has been working hard around ensuring students and staff are prepared. 

Speaking of students entering the building, we have approximately 57% of our students returning for face-to-face instruction here at Shabazz. Staff have been working hard to develop and implement our protocols around health, safety and concurrent teaching---we are ready to go. For those that are returning for face-to-face instruction please be looking for a “return to Shabazz safety” powerpoint with embedded videos the week of April 5-9. Moving forward, please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns about any of our health and safety protocols that our reopening team has developed.  
 
Just a last reminder, watch for those fantastic informational emails Hannah sends out. They are intentionally crafted and full of information . . . with more to come - always.
 
Thanks as always for your support.

Mary Jankovich
Principal
HANDY QUICK LINKS AND APRIL CALENDAR
CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS
ACT Update for Juniors

If you’re planning to take the ACT in person at Shabazz on April 13, please watch your email for more specific updates and instructions for the day of the test! All students should plan to arrive at Shabazz by 8:30 that morning and most students will be done with the test by 1:30 pm.

To Prepare:


If you opted to receive a voucher to take the test this summer or fall, more information will come via email in April and May. 

Questions? Contact Elizabeth Long
Shabazz School Counselor
No Tuesday VLT Meetings for Quarter 4

Unfortunately the Tuesday VLT meetings were not as popular as we had hoped. Therefore, we will be canceling them for the rest of the year. We look forward to continuing to see everyone online and in the building!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Important Information for Families of Students Returning in April

Our work to prepare buildings to safely welcome back staff and students has centered around our top mitigation strategies - physical distancing, face-coverings, hand hygiene, cleaning/ventilation, and contact tracing. We're also incorporating required daily health screening for staff and students into our overall strategy. 
 
Every morning at 6 a.m., if your child is learning in-person, will receive an automated email from MMSD prompting you to monitor your child's health. You'll need to do this before your child leaves for school. 
 
The email will ask three questions: 

  • Does your child currently have any symptoms of illness? (Symptoms will be listed.)
  • Have you been exposed to anyone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days or been considered a Close Contact of someone with COVID-19 in the past 14 days? (Close Contact will be defined.)
  • Has your tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 10 days?

If the answer to all three questions is No, you do NOT need to fill out or submit the screener and your child can come to school. 

If you answer Yes to any of the three questions, you do need to complete and submit the screener and your child must stay home. Once you submit the screener, you'll receive a response with instructions on next steps, depending on which question(s) you answered Yes to. 

All answers are completely confidential and HIPAA compliant. Our school nurse is the only person who will have access to responses in order to follow up with families.
 
If you have questions, please visit our frequently asked question page or contact our school nurses:

Now Accepting Applications for Semester 1 - 2021-22 School Year

Do you have a family member or friend who may be interested in attending Shabazz next year? We are now accepting applications for the 2021-22 school year. All MMSD students who are currently in grades 8-11 are welcome to apply.

Click on the picture above to watch our new video, highlighting everything that makes Shabazz a special place.

The process begins by completing a short Application Form online. For more information about applying to Shabazz visit our admissions page.
Save the Date! Graduation 2021

Our 2021 Graduation will take place on Tuesday, June 8 at Monona Terrace. Arrival time is 6:30 - 7:00 pm, and our ceremony begins at 7:00 pm. Expect to hear more specific details in the months to come, but here is some information that we can share with you now.

  • Shabazz will provide every graduate with a 2021 graduation face mask and a graduation yard sign. 

  • Graduates may wear whatever they want to the ceremony. We provide the traditional Shabazz multicolored tassels, as well as a graduation cap (Seniors have already chosen their cap color). When seated during the ceremony, the multicolored caps will look like a field of wildflowers - our mascot.  

  • 2021 graduates will be showcased in a digital billboard campaign in Madison. If you would like to participate, please submit this Billboard Consent and Photo Submission Form. This form is due on Friday, April 30. If the form is not submitted, we will assume consent is not given.

  • Finally, all Shabazz students are also welcome to participate in the graduation festivities with their "zone school" (East, La Follette, Memorial, or West). You will receive separate communications from your zone school on their graduation plans.
Send Us a Current Photo for the Yearbook

Shabazz has a long tradition of allowing students to submit a photo of their choosing for the yearbook. This year is particularly important since the photos the school has access to are not current. If interested in an updated photo being featured in the yearbook please email directly to Rachel at rcschramm@madison.k12.wi.us
. . . Speaking of Yearbooks - Still Time to Purchase

Students had an opportunity to purchase a yearbook during online enrollment at the beginning of the year. Families who already purchased a yearbook received a confirmation email from Hannah in February. However, any student can still purchase a yearbook from now until May 14! The cost is $20.00. The order form must be submitted and payment made by May 14.
 
How can you order and pay for a yearbook?
Fill out this GOOGLE FORM to indicate your interest in purchasing a yearbook and how you will submit your payment.
 
Yearbooks should be ready for distribution during the final days of the fourth quarter (early June). Anyone who purchased a yearbook will need to come to Shabazz during designated pick-up times (TBD).
OUR SHABAZZ COMMUNITY
Congratulations Cyrus Dasho

This school year Shabazz City High School took part in the Young Playwrights Program (YPP) offered through the Children’s Theater of Madison (CTM). This process included virtual visits from teaching artist Amina Henry, a professional playwright and freelance author who lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. The goal for each student enrolled in Playwriting class (offered first semester by Colleen) was the creation of a 10-minute stage play.

One student play from each participating high school was selected to be directed and performed by area theatre professionals. Shabazz Junior Cyrus Dasho’s play, The Frog, the Witch, and the Relationship will be part of the virtual YP Festival May 12, 2021.                
Theatre Production Class

This Shabazz’s Theatre Production class is rehearsing two student written stage plays during the second semester with the intention of staging it (via zoom) for a Shabazz audience. 
 
Noah's Lark was written by Denali Jensen. This play tells the story of two college-aged friends who discover that their personal beliefs have the power to destroy their friendship. In this play, the role of Jonah is played by Denali Jenson and the role of Noah is played by Reuben Klingslien.

Out of the Woods was written by Kylie Anderson. The conflict in this play involves three friends who get lost in the woods while trying to make it home before curfew. The role of James is played by Merrick SamsaCorey Wimmer plays Raphael and Penn Wyeth plays the role of Lucas.                                                     
FROM STUDENT SUPPORT
Seniors! How Are You Paying for College?

How are you paying for college? Watch this video!

Reminder! All senior families, regardless of income, should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This will qualify your student for grants, loans, scholarships and work-study. Many colleges require a FAFSA to provide financial award packages to students. FAFSA should be completed as soon as possible to qualify for the most aid. Parents and students need to register for an FSA ID prior to completing the FAFSA. For more information on financial aid check out the Federal Student Aid YouTube Channel 

Apply for scholarships!
All of the local scholarships are now listed in Xello. This is the best place to look for free money to support you next year.

1. Go to Classlink and login to Xello
2. Select College Planning
3. Search for Scholarships
Attn: 9th Graders - Nominate Yourself to Participate in Foundations of Leadership Course!


This is a great opportunity to build leadership skills and earn school credit. Foundations of Leadership (FOL) is a dynamic Advanced Learning course focused on the experiences of LGBTQIA+ youth and youth of color. 

This opportunity is a partnership between MMSD and GSAFE (Creating Just Schools for LGBTQ+ Youth). FOL helps students to develop their capacity for leadership and empowers them to become active partners in racial justice, LGBTQIA+, and intersectional social justice movements. Click on image above to watch a short video.

Students can nominate themselves or be nominated by a youth peer, parent/family member, or school staff.  Please complete this brief form to nominate! Applications are due on May 1. Questions? Ask Susan skaye@madison.k12.wi.us
MGE Assistance to Avoid Having Electricity Turned Off

MGE is offering customers personalized payment plans that will help them avoid late payment charges and disconnection. Without a payment plan in place, customers with past-due balances will be subject to late payment charges starting April 1 and could face disconnection in the future.

For more information regarding personalized payment arrangements for outstanding balances, visit MGE online. Information is available in three languages: English, Spanish and Hmong. Residential customers can call weekdays at (608) 252-7144 (English), (608) 252-7120 (Spanish) or (608) 252-7033 (Hmong) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. to set up their personalized payment arrangement.

Residential customers may be eligible for additional financial support from MGE partner, Energy Services, Inc. (ESI). Customers can visit the ESI website to verify eligibility, schedule an appointment to speak with an ESI representative and apply for funds online. You also can call ESI at (800) 506-5596.

Info is also available in EnglishHmong and Spanish. They also have a list of resources available at mge.com/resources.
Student Support Staff Contact Information

Our full-time Student Support Staff are available to our students and families Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. See our Shabazz Student Support Staff page here.
Shabazz City High School
1601 Sherman Avenue
Madison WI 53704

608-204-2440