Tri-Point Upper Elementary/Jr. High

Parents,
If you have not registered your students for the 2025-2026 school year ..
Please do so as soon as possible. This can be done by logging in to parent's Teacherease accounts or by going to the District Office.
It is important to have your student registered as soon as possible, for their schedules for the upcoming school year to be completed.

-The first day of student attendance is August 19th.
-Please look on media sites for upcoming messages about the start of the school year.

*If you have any questions please contact 815-686-2247 ext 200

Thank you

https://www.teacherease.com/common/Login.aspx?

JH softball practice has been moved to Kempton . The practice will still be from 3:30 - 5:30.

JH Sports Reminder : Tri-Point Junior High fall sports are right around the corner. Softball and cross country are starting soon. Softball will have their first practice on Monday, July 28 from 3:30 - 5:30 in Cabery, and will practice at the same time for the remainder of the first week. Cross Country will have their first practice on Wednesday, August 6 at 6:00 at the junior high in Piper City. Practice schedules for both sports will be handed out at the first practice. A reminder, in order to participate in practices, students must have an updated physical (given to coach at first practice ) , fees must be paid, and they have to be registered for school by July 25th to attend first practice.

Two Rare Prairie Cicada Species Discovered in Kempton “I hear one over here,” said Pru Davies, a student at Tri-Point High School, while looking for a rare species of prairie cicada south of Kempton. Ball’s prairie cicada , Okanagana balli, is known to be found from less than a dozen old prairie sites in Illinois, mostly in the Chicago region. This species was never observed at this site or elsewhere in Ford County until this week, when Tri-Point students Pru Davies, Phoebe Davies, Hunter Davies, and Luke Tompkins began searching for it with science teacher Scott Saffer, art teacher Akiko Thorson-Saffer, and Mick Montoya. Shed exoskeletons were found near Sugarloaf, the glacial hill south of Kempton, and the group surveyed the railroad and prairie sites that Don Gardner has reconstructed there. This small cicada is about an inch long and makes its quiet buzzy call from thick clumps of prairie plants. The species is on the Illinois watch list and has been proposed for the threatened species list in Illinois due to its rarity and loss of habit. Only .01% of original prairie remains in Illinois, and those sites are threatened by invasive species and disturbance. English Prairie and the railroad adjacent to it have allowed it to survive here, and Don Gardner’s restored prairie sites at Sugarloaf and in Kempton are adding more habitat. The group heard several of the rare insects calling, and collected one from Sugarloaf. Dr. Katie Dana, research biologist with US Army Engineer Research and Development Center in Champaign and expert on prairie cicadas in Illinois, confirmed the initial identification and will be processing DNA to confirm it. Dr. Dana had previously documented a population of these rare cicadas at Weston Prairie Cemetery in Mclean County. Phoebe Davies also caught one of the little grass cicadas, Cicadettana calliope. This ¾ inch long cicada is only a little more common, and has been proposed for the Illinois watch list. Both cicadas will be deposited in the Illinois Natural History Survey insect collection. The students also plan to continue their reintroduction project with the larger prairie cicada, Megtibicen dorsatus, at Don Gardner’s prairie in late July. This will be their fourth year reintroducing them, and they are still waiting to see how long it takes for them to emerge from the ground and establish a population in the prairie. The group has presented their work at wildlife conferences and to Master Naturalist classes, and plan to publish their research in scientific journals once completed.

2025-2026 Return to School Reminders : -First day of school will be on 8/19/25 -Incoming 6th graders will be due for physicals, updated immunization records and dental exams. If your student does not receive vaccinations , the ISBE form must be signed by a physician and given to the school office. -Any students wanting to play sports will need a new sports physical -Please look at the school's website , app or Facebook for information on upcoming school registration and school supply lists. -Please remember the district will require proof of residency this school year. Documents can be uploaded to online registrations. If you have any questions about the upcoming school year, please contact the District Office at 815-253-6299. Thank you

The tradition continues. The 8th-grade students met with this year's kindergarten students to deliver the books they created for them. The books were very creative and all about the kindergarten students. This year marked a full-circle moment as this year's 8th-grade students were Ms. Storm's first kindergarten class. This tradition has been going on for over 30 years!! Thank you to Tri-Point Pace for awarding a grant to pay for the books this year. In addition, thank you to the staff member who helped this year to keep the tradition alive: Ms. Storm, Ms. Weston, Mrs. Andrews, Mrs. Hoffman, Ms. Shiner, and Mrs. Platz.

The tradition continues. The 8th-grade students met with this year's kindergarten students to deliver the books they created for them. The books were very creative and all about the kindergarten students. This year marked a full-circle moment as this year's 8th-grade students were Ms. Storm's first kindergarten class. This tradition has been going on for over 30 years!! Thank you to Tri-Point Pace for awarding a grant to pay for the books this year. In addition, thank you to the staff member who helped this year to keep the tradition alive: Ms. Storm, Ms. Weston, Mrs. Andrews, Mrs. Hoffman, Ms. Shiner, and Mrs. Platz.

Reminder : Today is the last day of student attendance and is a 2:10 student release time. The staff of the Upper Elementary and Junior High would like to wish all our students, families and community a great summer break!! To our 8th graders going to the Tri-Point High School, we wish you nothing but the best in Cullom next year. Please look to media sites throughout the summer for updates on the 2025-2026 school year!

5/22-Fun Day 5/22-Track Breakfast 5/22-2:10 Out 5/22-JH Dance (6th -8th Grades ) 5:00 in Piper 5/23-STUDENTS LAST DAY!!! 5/23-2:10 Out

Congratulations to the 8th graders !!! The 8th grade class defeated the JH/UE Staff for the first time in seven years. Congratulations on your win!

Upper Elementary/Junior High : 5/22-Fun Day 5/22-Track Breakfast 5/22-2:10 Out 5/22-JH Dance (6th -8th Grades ) 5:00 in Piper 5/23-STUDENTS LAST DAY!!! 5/23-2:10 Out

Upper Elementary/ Junior High: We will be selling candy bars to students if they would like some the next couple of days. $1.00

Junior High Dance: 6th - 8th Grades

Upper Elementary/JH : 5/21- Staff V. 8th Grade volleyball game 5/22-Fun Day 5/22-Track Breakfast 5/22-2:10 Out 5/22-JH Dance (6th -8th Grades ) 5:00 5/23-STUDENTS LAST DAY!!! 5/23-2:10 Out

The 2024-2025 Girls’ Basketball and Softball teams were honored with a recognition and celebration luncheon on Thursday, May 15th. A heartfelt thank you and warm congratulations to all twenty-five student-athletes for their unwavering commitment to both their education and their respective sports. It is a true joy to witness your growth and improvement.

INFORMATIONAL MEETING - 2027 Trip to Europe Tomorrow..Tuesday May 20 5:45 pm at the junior high. Please use door #13 to enter. RSVP or sign up from the QR code or here https://bit.ly/438DWdz or email your attendance or interest to Annie Galindo at galindoa@tripointschools.org

Parents :

Opportunity to visit London and Paris…Windsor and possibly Normandy! Short Informational Meeting Tuesday, May 20 at 5:45 pm RSVP or sign up from the QR code or email your attendance or interest to Annie Galindo at galindoa@tripointschools.org

Junior High Awards Night : Parents/Guardians, The Tri-Point Junior High School Awards Night will take place on May 15th, 2025 at 6:00 PM in the Piper City Gym. Students will be given awards in the following areas: Attendance Honor Roll Star Charger Awards Class Awards (SS, Sci., Math, Reading, PE, Art Band, Choir,) Principal Award Extra Mile Award Legion Award In addition, we will recognize the 8th grade class for their hard work and wish them the best as they move on to Tri-Point High School next year. Parents of 6th and 7th have been notified by email, if their student will be receiving an award. (with the exception of honor roll ...that is not yet completed ) We appreciate your continued support as we work together to raise school and community-wide expectations and instill the ideas of academic excellence that the students of Tri-Point deserve. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school office, at the number or email listed above. Regards, Tri-Point Junior High Office

Reminder : 5/22-2:10 Students Out 5/23-2:10 Students Out 5/23-Students Last Day