SpHS PrinciPALs' Pulse for April 25, 2025
Spangdahlem High School Newsletter
Upcoming Events:
April 26:
Baseball @SHAPE
Softball hosting SHAPE
Soccer @Brussels
Track @Wiesbaden
April 28 - May 02:
NOCTI Assessments
Parents: Come have lunch with your student
April 29:
Parents: Write thank you card or text your Sentinel
April 30:
ROTC Unit Inspection
Purple Up Day - Wear Purple
SpHS Annual Art Show | 1600 - 1800
May 01:
Principal's Day
News & Announcements Section: SENIORS: Help us celebrate our seniors for Decision Day 2025:
Submit photos of students wearing college, university, trade school, or military gear they'll be attending next year. Submissions go to socialmedia@dodea.edu and Stacey.derose@dodea.edu
Include in your submission:
- First name of student
- School name
- Chosen college/program/military branch
Visit: https://spangdahlemhs.dodea.edu/news/articles/decision-day
R.I.S.E. Shout-Out: Safety Champions – Gavin & Jason
This month, we’re celebrating our RISE trait SAFETY — Protection from harm, danger, or risk while fostering a space where everyone feels valued, supported, and welcome. We’re proud to recognize Gavin and Jason, two incredible students who stepped up when it mattered most.
When a fellow classmate began feeling overwhelmed and upset, Gavin and Jason didn’t hesitate. They noticed, they cared, and they acted with quiet strength. Without drawing attention, they gave their peer the space he needed, but also made sure he had a safe and welcoming place to regroup during the activity.
Gavin and Jason, your empathy and instinct to protect the emotional well-being of a classmate show true leadership. You are not just classmates...you are Sentinels on the RISE.
Well done, and thank you for making our community stronger and safer.
#SentinelPride #RISE
HELLO Sentinel Nation,
We are celebrating the last week of the Month of the Military Child! The kiddos have been having a ball, and have felt so seen and appreciated. Thank you to all the organizations and squadrons who made this possible. A special shout out to our MLFC, our Booster Club, and our School Liaison Officer for supporting all the events and activities this month.
As we continue honoring Month of the Military Child, next week’s theme is “Honoring our Students & Parents”. Celebrations this week will include opportunities for parents to come have lunch with their students on Monday, April 28th at 12:35 PM. We ask that if you plan to buy lunch from the cafeteria that sign up HERE, if not, just come by and eat with your child.
Don’t forget that we are doing Month of the Military Child “Shout Outs” to place on Facebook. If you are interested in this, we invite you to submit a photo of your child along with a short message or thank-you blurb recognizing their strength, contributions, or experiences. To submit one for your child, please use this link: https://forms.gle/ZVaVtGbJpKNREoxZA
Spring Sports Clinic for students in grades K-6 on May 16, 2025: We’re excited to announce that our high school spring sports teams will be hosting a Spring Sports Clinic for students in grades K-6 on May 16, 2025! This event will give young athletes a chance to learn and play baseball, softball, and soccer while supporting our high school teams' travel to the Euros tournament. Every participant will receive a clinic hat, reusable water bottle, and a burger/hotdog meal as part of the experience! The cost is $75 per student/$15 off additional siblings. For more information click HERE.
Weekend Sports Information: Good luck to our Sentinel athletes this weekend!
- Baseball is heading to SHAPE (Saturday)
- Softball plays SHAPE at HOME (Saturday)
- Men’s Soccer and Women’s Soccer will play AWAY at Brussels
- Track & Field is competing AWAY in Wiesbaden
This weekend, come cheer on our women’s softball team as they take on SHAPE at home. The first game starts at 10 a.m., and your energy makes a difference! All our other athletic teams will be competing away…best of luck to them as they represent our school with Sentinel Pride.
Looking ahead, May is just around the corner, and with it comes Teacher Appreciation Week from May 5th to 9th. Let’s take this time to thank the teachers who dedicate themselves to our students every single day. A kind note, a small token of appreciation, or even just a sincere “thank you” can go a long way.
Also, mark your calendars for May 7th—Nurses Appreciation Day! We’re grateful for Mr. Onyango, our amazing school nurse, who takes such great care of our students. Be sure to stop by and wish him well!
Volunteer through Club Beyond: This summer, Club Beyond is inviting high school students to participate in a week long Service Project. Click HERE to find a brief fact sheet with all the relevant details. This service project is an excellent opportunity for students in need of volunteer hours. Throughout the week, they would be serving at a minimum 80 hours.
See you Monday, April 28th. It is an ORANGE (A) Day—Blocks 1, 2, 3, 4.
30/60/90 Calendar: Please review the 30/60/90-day calendar HERE.
As always, thank you for trusting us with your kiddos! We do not take it lightly.
Sophomore Year: Preparing for Next Year and Beyond
As we approach the end of the school year, it's a great time for sophomores to start thinking about their future academic and career goals. Here are some steps you can take now to set yourself up for success:
- Academic Planning: Review your course selections for next year. Ensure you're taking classes that align with your interests and future college plans. If you feel ready, consider challenging yourself with advanced courses.
- Extracurricular Activities: Get involved in clubs, sports, or volunteer opportunities—colleges in the U.S. value well-rounded students who demonstrate leadership and commitment outside the classroom.
- Research Colleges: While visiting colleges might not be feasible, you can still explore them online. Look at virtual tours, read about different programs, and start a list of colleges that interest you. Use the free Schoolinks account, which all students can access, and the College Board site for starters.
- Standardized Tests: Prepare for standardized tests like the SAT or ACT. Many online resources and practice tests are available to help you prepare.
- Build Your Resume: Track your achievements, activities, and work experience. A strong resume will be useful for college applications and future job opportunities.
Remember, planning and staying proactive will make the transition to junior year smoother and help you achieve your long-term goals. Keep up the great work!
Booster Club News: Booster Club Spring Swag is now available. To order, please follow the link: https://forms.gle/GyqX3U8zwGyvUpkQ6
SpHS Students in Action
SENTINELS R.I.S.E.: We are proud to launch the R.I.S.E. Model at SpHS, a program that recognizes students (and student groups) who exemplify Respect, Integrity, Safety, and Effort.
SCHOOL GOALS: We continue to focus on three key goals in our School Action Plan: strengthening math and literacy skills while fostering social-emotional growth. These goals are designed to support every student’s academic success and well-being.
ASPEN NOTIFICATIONS: Our Student Information System, ASPEN, allows you to receive notifications about grade updates and student absences. To take advantage of this feature, please login to ASPEN Portal (https://dodeasis.myfollett.com/aspen/logon.do) to do this. Should you need support doing this, please contact our Educational Technologist.
CELL PHONES: Cell phones, headphones, and AirPods are not permitted in the classroom unless authorized by the teacher. Please respect the privacy of others and refrain from using cell phones in restrooms to take pictures/videos or to capture images of others without permission. Students may use cell phones, headphones, and earbuds during lunch & free time; however, one ear must remain free at all times. Please ensure you view the updated policy.
DRESS CODE: Please ensure you and your student are aware of the dress code. Should we have dress code infractions, teachers and/or administrators will send out emails to students and sponsors.
PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION (PDA): While we encourage positive and respectful relationships, PDA is not appropriate in a school setting and does not align with the expectations for behavior on our campus. Please take a moment to discuss this with your student, as continued violations may result in consequences.
As we seek to better our school. This SPHS Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire will always be available on the newsletter to give your feedback.
Sign Out Procedures: To ensure student safety, school staff must always account for students’ whereabouts. Parents and guardians are required to visit the front office and present a photo ID when signing out a student during the school day. This policy helps ensure that only authorized individuals pick up students. The only exception applies to students 18 or older, who MUST present prior written permission from a parent/guardian to sign themselves out for excused absences—this must be done each time an absence occurs. Phone call dismissals will not be accepted for any student under any circumstances.
Additionally, if someone not listed in our student information system’s "release" list needs to pick up your child, prior authorization is required in writing. Please understand that this policy is in place for student safety and is not intended to cause inconvenience.
STUDENT TARDIES: In the absence of a very important role (registrar/attendance clerk) at our school, we are asking that you review your student’s absence record and ensure accuracy. We also ask that as you review, speak to your student(s) about the importance of arriving to class on time. A LARGE number of students are remaining in the commons, even after tardy warnings are given by me and other staff. Your support in reinforcing this expectation is greatly appreciated.
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Office Hours |
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| Regular Hours | Wednesday Hours | Delayed Start | Early Dismissal |
| 0700-1600 (Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri) |
0700-1600 | 0700-1600 | 0700-1600 |
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Instructional Day |
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| Regular Hours | Wednesday Hours | Delayed Start | Early Dismissal |
| 0800 - 1440 (Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri) |
0800 - 1350 | 1000 - 1440 | 0800 - 1125 No Lunch Served |
| It is the responsibility of the parents or guardians to notify the school every time a student is absent. |
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