Galena High School

GO PIRATES!

Wishing a huge good luck to our pirates who are competing in sectionals this weekend! Good Luck to the following Pirate Wrestlers: Emma Duncan Will Anderson Josue Arcos Andrade Good Luck to the following pirate Speech Team Members: Macklan Murphy Julia Dominiak Lilianna Asta Charlie Duncan Emma Blaum GO PIRATES!

Please come out to the Galena Center for the Arts to support our GHS artists at the opening for the new student exhibit from 6-7 PM. There will be some amazing Art - Hope to see you there!

Congratulations to our Galena Academic Challenge Team who took 1st place today at the Highland Community College regional! Gus Nack also took 1st place in the individual Academic Challenge for Math! Go Pirates!

Thank you to Mrs. Watson our GHS Highlighted Teacher this week!

Hello, music enthusiasts! Get ready to savor the perfect blend of talent and hot chocolate at our Tri-M Coffee House on Monday, February 5 at Blaum Brothers, starting at 6 pm. $5 at the door for music, hot chocolate, and baked goods. Join us for a harmonious night filled with performances by our talented musicians at GHS, from acoustic melodies to musical theater to classical. We hope to see you there!

Check out our GHS Staff Highlight!

Pirate Familes and Staff- All Galena students and staff will be on a 2 hour delay due to forecasted freezing rain tomorrow morning and morning Pre-K is canceled. The normal bus times and all start times are pushed back 2 hours. I'm sorry for the inconvenience but we want to keep our student drivers and busses safe in the morning; also to give families time for arrangements. Take your time in the morning tomorrow! Tim Vincent Superintendent Galena Unit School District #120

Good evening Staff and Families- Due to expected ice, snow, and rain tomorrow morning Galena students will be e-learning on Tuesday, January 23. Please look for an email from teachers and principals about procedures, which will be similar to previous weather events. As of now, extracurricular games and practices are on as scheduled but you will hear by noon if anything is canceled in the afternoon or evening. Stay safe! Tim Vincent Superintendent Galena Unit School District #120

The Galena School District and the Galena Education Foundation have partnered to provide the community an opportunity to nominate successful Galena Alumni for the Pirate Pride Award. The mission of the Pirate Pride Award is to recognize graduates who have impacted society in a positive manner through their outstanding accomplishments and contributions. Recognition for graduates (out of school a minimum of 10 years) is based on their contributions, accomplishments, and impact in life after graduation through any of the following areas: Community, State, National or World Impact Professional Careers Military Service Humanitarian Contributions Leadership Positions/Actions Intercollegiate Accomplishments Lifetime Achievements Contributions and accomplishments to the school district More information about the criteria and process may be found in the document below. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ervVWSdyF27-ysF-okd5Ja2fqGyhQRMdg18Ay9p6Mdk/edit To nominate a deserving candidate electronically for this award, please complete the following form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1hupJe9WWNmMa1lqB9w5PwOy3gvz5QxNojjUBqa_u6fM/edit Please consider nominating deserving alumni!

Check out our GHS Staff Highlight!

We are thrilled to announce that we were named the Non-Profit Business of the Year at the Galena Area Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner last night! Thank you to everyone who makes Galena Unit School District #120 such a special place.

Due to forecasted weather conditions, Galena School District will be e-learning tomorrow, January 12th for the scheduled half day of student attendance. All district buildings will be closed all day tomorrow. Enjoy your long weekend and see you Tuesday. Be safe!

Looking for an easy and tasty dinner tomorrow? Please stop by Adobos for a great meal to support our GHS Ski and Snowboard Club! Adobos is hosting the share night Thursday from 4-8! Thank you all for your support of GHS!

Check out our GHS Staff Highlight!

From all of us at GHS, wishing you a safe and joyful holiday! See you in 2024!

We are so proud of GHS Senior Abby Ehrler who was chosen to be an alternate for the United States Senate Youth Program! She was selected as 1 of the top 4 in the state! Congratulations Abby!

Looking for an easy and tasty dinner tonight? Please stop by Adobos for a great meal to support our GHS FBLA! Adobos is hosting the FBLA share night tonight from 4-8! Thank you all for your support of GHS!

Dear Galena School District Community, I hope this message finds you well. I am reaching out to share that tonight, the Board of Education voted 7-0 tonight to put a bond referendum on the March 19, 2024 ballot to ask voters of the district to invest in the future of Galena High School. As many of you are aware, Galena High School has been a cornerstone of our community, providing quality education to generations of students since it was finished in 1957. Over the years, the school has faced facility challenges, and it has become apparent that addressing these needs is essential for the safety, well-being, and continued growth of our students. During the last year, The Core Facility Planning Group, a special task force made up of community members from across the district, including parents, community leaders and school facility experts in the field, met to provide input on the best way to address the facility shortfalls at Galena High School. This group analyzed the high school’s facility needs, financial position and instructional goals, and evaluated previous bond projects. They discussed at length multiple options with the primary goal of taxpayer stewardship. After a year and dozens of hours of analysis, the group unanimously approved a hybrid concept of an addition between GEMS and GHS, as well as a partial renovation of the current high school. In short, Galena School District is asking for a $14.2 million bond referendum for an addition and renovation of Galena High School. The proposed project, with a total budget of $28.2 million, focuses on addressing critical safety and infrastructure needs within the high school. Below are the most significant areas this project will address: -Safety and Security Updates: The proposed renovations include essential safety enhancements to ensure the well-being of our students and staff. This includes upgrades to security systems, ADA access for people with movement challenges, and a secure entrance. -Infrastructure updates: The project encompasses vital infrastructure upgrades, such as updated electrical systems, plumbing, and Air conditioning/HVAC systems, to create a more efficient and sustainable learning environment. -Efficient use of taxpayer funds: The Galena School District is committed to responsible fiscal management. By asking for half of the project funding through this bond referendum, we have taken strides to limit the effect on the taxpayer. If voters pass the bond in March, Galena School District taxpayers will see an approximate $99-104 increase in property taxes per year for every $100,000 in home market value. The three previous unsuccessful referenda ranged between $174-$186, and the Board has gone to great lengths to ensure that the impact to the taxpayer was a primary focus for this project. The district will provide factual voter education through all available channels to ensure that all voters have information about the referendum. This dedicated webpage will be updated continuously throughout the process, and I would be happy to add any additional information that would be helpful to enhance the experience. https://www.gusd120.k12.il.us/page/referendum-information We encourage all community members to stay informed about the proposed project, attend informational sessions, and ask questions. Thank you for your ongoing support of the Galena School District. Sincerely, Tim Vincent Superintendent Galena Unit School District #120

Congratulations to Xela Weber for being names GHS Rotary Student of the Quarter! Xela is involved in drama club and choir. Her favorite class is Foods and her favorite teacher is her Choir teacher, Ms. Streich. She loves to sing, songwrite and hangout with her friends outside of school. In the future she would love a career that focuses on music.