Greetings!  Believe it or not, the 2023-2024 school year is down to only a handful more weeks.    

As you should be aware, our students will be participating in EOC (End of Course) exams in their Algebra I, (some) Algebra II, Biology, English II, and Government classes.  I am very proud of our faculty and students for their serious approach to the testing and we look forward to receiving the results from the state.

Furthermore, we are anxiously making plans to graduate more than 280 East High Seniors on Saturday, May 25th, at 4:30 p.m. at the Family Arena in St. Charles.  The class of 2024 has been a truly remarkable one and, while we will miss them when they go, we will rest easier knowing that they will make our world a better place.  Finally, while I do not anticipate any problems during the last few weeks of school, students should be reminded that any serious disciplinary infractions can result in the loss of the privilege of participating in the graduation ceremony.  I ask that all parents remind their students to not participate in any so-called “Senior Pranks” at the end of the year.  Incidents resulting in property damage or that jeopardize the safety of others will be dealt with in a very serious manner.  Let’s make sure that the end of the 2023-2024 school year is a positive one for all!       

Separately, I would like to once again take the opportunity to recognize some of our Lions who continue to impress, both in our classrooms and in our community.  For example, this week our National Honor Society inducted 60 new members.  Students were selected based upon their achievements in the realms of Scholarship, Leadership, Community Service, and Character. Our Student Council was recently recognized as a National Gold Council of Excellence and is the only StuCo in the county to have attained the honor. 

Additionally, Claire Gwak has been selected to the 2024 Missouri Scholars 100, a statewide program that honors 100 of Missouri’s top academic students in the graduating class of 2024.  

Finally, our extracurricular programs finished the winter strong and are off to a great start this spring. We want to celebrate the outstanding performances of Madison McQueen and Riley Kortkamp, who have once again proven their prowess by repeating as state qualifiers in wrestling. Joining them is Maya West, who secured her place as a state qualifier in swimming for the second year in a row. Our basketball court saw some historic moments, with Hailey Morgan, Jaden Jones Crawford, Brandon Odom, Donovan West, Ryan Hasheider, and Ashley Rusthoven setting new records. Notably, our girl's basketball team set a school record with an impressive 20 wins. 

Our Baseball team is off to a sizzling start at 15-7, including a 5-2 conference record. For the track enthusiasts, take note of Tyler Anderson, Ashley Rusthoven, and Avery Foster, who have been breaking their own records this spring and don’t seem to be slowing down! The girls' track team has secured victory at the FZE Invitational, and our golf team's triumph over Liberty puts them in contention for our first-ever conference championship at Wolf Hollow Golf Club later this month. In Tennis, Tyler Friedman and Nico Pruitt clinched the conference championship at number four doubles, while Kaden Goodyear and Charlie Shortt, Kyle Koester and Jacob Rojano earned bronze accolades at the GAC doubles tournament. With College Signing Day behind us, we're proud to announce that at least 17 Lions will continue their athletic journeys at the collegiate level. Our athletes aren't just excelling on the field; they're also making meaningful connections off it. The recent suicide awareness night, organized by our volleyball team, showcased the unity of our athletic programs. Moreover, our students had the opportunity to meet Olympic hopeful Riley Tejcek during lunches.

Beyond sports, our performing arts and clubs have been thriving. A total of 24 students from our band, choir, and orchestra will compete at the state competition this weekend. Plus, our theatre department's production of Oklahoma received rave reviews. Let's not forget about our Winter Guard, whose highest score ever secured them a commendable 3rd place at the state competition. FBLA and DECA have also been making waves, with 13 students advancing to the state competition and two earning spots in the international arena, Kyle Koester and Maddie Schimanski. 

Last but not least, our Student Council hosted a successful multicultural night where visitors could experience cultures, food, and performances from countries represented by our East High student body. In addition, our Student Council is gearing up for the inaugural Special Olympics Unified event on May 10th, where we'll welcome St. Charles High School for a kickball game on our baseball field.

Your support for our extracurricular programs is invaluable, and we invite you to witness the talent and dedication of our students firsthand at East High School.

 In closing, on behalf of the East High Staff, we thank you for sharing your children with us and wish all of you a successful final few weeks of our 2023-2024 school year!