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New to PJHS?
New to PJHS?
Open the most recent update below, or scroll down to learn more about:
Athletic Seasons
Eligibility
Sports Physicals
More . . .
Requirements to Participate
Requirements to Participate
Register on 8to18
Sports Physical on File with School Nurse
$90 Activity Fee Paid*
*Free/Reduced available
Athletics Updates | SUMMER 2023
Athletics Updates | SUMMER 2023
Athletics Updates
Please take a moment to catch up on the latest news in Python Athletics! Reach out to to us with any questions or concerns. Be sure to include Mrs. Kemp on the note as she can often answer questions before Mr. Haws gets the chance to read them.
Tara Kemp - kemptc@unit5.org | Admin Asst.
Jon Haws - hawsj@unit5.org | Athletic Director
Registration | COMING SOON!
Registration is now closed for all current seasons, however, the 2023-2024 registration will open soon! More information will be shared as it becomes available. Be on the lookout for messages through Infinite Campus, Facebook, Monthly Newsletter, and more.
Summer Camps | OPEN
Registration is open for summer camps for all incoming 6th-8th grade students. Go to 8to18 by clicking on the "Registration" tab on this website for camps hosted at PJHS. Any camps that are hosted by Normal West will require registration on their athletics website. See below for current flyers!
Cheer Camp (PJHS)
Volleyball Camp (PJHS)
Softball | Tryout Information
Tryouts for softball take place on July 24th. Click here for more information! Remember that registration and sports physical requirements must be satisfied prior to the day of tryouts. Activity fees are collected later, once the roster is finalized. There may or may not be cuts based on the number of players and skill level.
Baseball | Tryout Information
Tryouts begin on Monday, July 31st and will be a multi-day event. Click Here for more information! Remember that registration and sports physical requirements must be satisfied prior to the day of tryouts. Activity fees are collected later, once the roster is finalized. There may or may not be cuts based on the number of players and skill level.
Athletic Seasons
Athletic Seasons
FALL 2023
Softball
Tryouts: May begin July 24
Season: August 2 - September 23
Baseball
Tryouts: May begin July 31
Season: August 9 - September 30
Cross Country
Practice: May begin July 31
Season: August 12 - October 14
WINTER 2023-2024
Girls Basketball
Tryouts: May begin August 28
Season: September 9 - December 14
Boys Basketball
Tryouts: May begin October 14
Season: October 28 - February 15
Wrestling
Practice: May begin November 28
Season: December 4 - March 9
Volleyball
Tryouts: May begin November 27
Season: January 1- March 16
Bowling
Tryouts: TBD
Season: January - April
SPRING 2024
Track & Field
Practice: May begin February 26
Season: March 11 - May 18
CROSS-SEASONAL
Cheerleading
Tryouts: September
Season: August-February
Dance/Poms
Tryouts: September
Season: August - March
Eligibility
Eligibility
Eligibility Process
Thursday - A report is run each Thursday and sent out to all staff. Teachers work with students and guidance EOP to verify missing assignments and allow the student opportunities to complete work or raise the grade. Students are responsible for checking their grades and initiating conversations for ways to improve.
Friday - A final report is produced and shared with the AD. The AD confirms with the Guidance EOP and teacher(s) that students have had ample time to complete the tasks and were made aware of their appearance on the Eligibility Report. An email is sent to the family and coach(es). It is not an expectation of teachers for late or missing assignments to be graded instantly upon completion. Time, effort, and consideration is needed to produce an accurate grade for an assignment.
Saturday - The athlete can still play, despite status for the coming week.
Monday - The student is ineligible for exactly one week 8am-8am, Monday to Monday.
Ineligible Athletes
Cannot play in games, but are able to practice at the coach's discretion
Should sit on the bench during games, but not in uniform
Cannot participate in games even if the grade is improved during the week of consequence
Review / Appeal
A parent / guardian may reach out to the Athletic Director to appeal the eligibility status. Note that mistakes and lack of communication between teachers and students is possible, especially due to absences, holidays, etc. We always want to make sure that a student is only held out of a contest when they are truly ineligible and, likewise, students who are not meeting academic standards shift their focus to classwork instead of the playing field.
Sports Physical
Sports Physical
Must be submitted to the office BEFORE attending a tryout or practice
Valid for 395 days (Ex: physical on 8/1/22 is valid through 9/1/23)
6th grade physical counts toward a sports physical
Activity Fees
Activity Fees
$90 for each sport
Paid through Infinite Campus account
Coaches do not collect payments
There is no cost to tryout for a team or begin practices, but once on the official roster, the fee must be paid prior to participation in the first athletic contest of that season.
Free / Reduced fees are available for those who qualify
Transportation
Transportation
First Student Bus
Provided for most AWAY games
Players can be signed out by a parent in lieu of riding the bus home - Coach's Discretion
A player must have written permission to go home with another student's family
Players must scan their ID's when entering/exiting bus - NEW!
No Bus
In-town games on non-school days (Unit 5, BJHS, Metcalf, etc.)
Games w/ late start times when it's determined that the second team should remain in class (Ex: B team for Baseball/Softball)
One-Way Bus
In-town games on school days (Unit 5, BJHS, Metcalf, Corpus Christi, etc.)
Parents take players home
No sign-out required
Players must scan their ID's when entering/exiting bus - NEW!
Activity Bus
Each middle school has an activity bus to use for extra-curricular events
Bus fits a driver and 14 additional occupants (15 total)
Coaches may be required to drive the bus to ensure a timely arrival when First Student cannot accommodate our needs
IESA Competition
IESA Competition
Parkside Jr. High School is a member of the Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) for Athletics. Each sport is sanctioned to encourage safe and fair opportunities for its participants and member schools. Most activities include a regular season schedule and postseason schedule known as the IESA State Series. Postseason contests are often determined by regular season success and the class designation (size of school).
State Finals at PJHS
IESA Cross Country State Meet - Class 1A, 2A, 3A, 4A - October 15th
IESA 8th Grade Girls Basketball State Finals - Class 4A - December 10th & 15th
Helpful Links
Home Games
The following teams play their HOME events on campus
Baseball
Softball
Cross Country
Cheer
Basketball
Volleyball
Wrestling
Athletics Updates | March 2023
Athletics Updates | March 2023
Registration | CLOSED
Registration is now closed for all current and future athletics. Per recent School Board action:
"Facing a more than $11 million annual education fund deficit, the Unit 5 Board of Education voted recently for significant cuts to sports, clubs, music, and other school programs for the 2023-24 School Year. These reductions are in addition to the $2 million in reductions the board made last spring.
Changes for the 2023-2024 school year [include the decision to] eliminate all junior high sports, clubs, and activities for grades 6-8"
From the April 4th Referendum Fact Sheet: "If the referendum passes, the school board will be able to reinstate the cuts."
Track & Field | Rosters
Track is underway! Due to the large number of participants (100+), careful consideration will be made to determine participation in meets and status on the team. Typically, we do not make cuts for track, however, with the increase in participation, guidelines will be put in place to maintain a positive environment and ensure accountability for grades, behavior, and attendance. Students who fall short of expectations in those areas will be given notice, and the Athletic Director will make decisions on student-athletes remaining on the team or being released from the activity. The following items are grounds for dismissal from the team at the discretion of the Athletic Director:
Multiple Behavior Referrals
In-School or Out-of-School Suspension
Attendance / Tardiness to Class
Grades
The Student Handbook (p. 54-57) has more information on expectations of student-athletes. Read below for an excerpt that relates to the information above:
BEHAVIORAL CONDUCT Misconduct by students involved in co-curricular activities including athletics will not be tolerated. Misconduct shall include but shall not be limited to:
● Insubordination; or
● Any behavior or action which is negligently or intentionally injurious to a person or property or which places a person or property at risk of injury or damage; or
● Any behavior which disrupts the appropriate conduct of a school program or activity; or
● Hazing, bullying, or harassment of any kind; or
● Use of profanity; or
● Exhibition of bad sportsmanship; or
● Violation of any school rules or regulations or law. Coaches and school officials will impose disciplinary measures appropriate to the offenses committed. The discipline imposed for any particular offense shall be at the sole and exclusive discretion of the coaching staff and school officials. Refer to the Athletic Code in the Appendix.
Please reach out to Mr. Haws with any questions or concerns: hawsj@unit5.org
Athletics Updates | February 2023
Athletics Updates | February 2023
Registration | Now OPEN
Registration is now open for the sports listed below. Note that several require tryouts due to roster limitations, however, there are some activities that do not require a tryout, and students of all experience and ability levels are encouraged to join.
Track & Field
Bowling*
*Tryouts required - stay tuned for more information. View the Athletics Brochure for start dates for each activity.
All athletes must be registered on 8to18 - Click Here
All athletes must have a valid sports physical on file in the main office to participate
Track & Field | STARTING SOON!
Track is starting soon! Coach Brenda Shawgo is returning for her 2nd year at PJHS, but she will now be in the Head Coaching role as Coach Bliss stepped down. See below for important information regarding Track & Field here at Parkside Jr. High.
First Practice: Monday, 2/27 - 3:45-5:00pm
Typical Practices: Monday-Friday (on school days only) from 3:45-5:30pm
Parent Meeting: Tuesday, March 7th - 5:30pm (after practice) in the gym
Girls Volleyball | 7th & 8th Grade
7th and 8th grade volleyball is underway! The girls are part-way through their season and have a few home games coming up, and they would love to see more students in the stands to support! Admission is FREE for Parkside students for all home events with the exception of post-season tournaments and special PTO events, such as the one on 2/14 - see more info below.
2/2 - 4:30 PM vs. Mahomet
2/4 - 10:00 AM vs. Morton
2/14 - 4:30 PM vs. El Paso-Gridley** (See below for additional info - PTO Event!!)
2/16 - 4:30 PM vs. BJHS
Girls Volleyball | 6th Grade
6th Grade volleyball is learning a TON in their first season wearing a Pythons uniform. Our girls play every Monday evening at Eastview Christian Church against other local schools. It's a great way to introduce the sport to our youngest Pythons and prepare them for 7th and 8th grade competition.
PTO Event | Python Pride Night - 2/14
The Parkside Jr. High PTO is putting together another great event for our students! On Tuesday, February 14th, the PTO is encouraging all students to come out and support our volleyball team as they host El Paso-Gridley. The cost for this event is $3 per student, and their ticket will gain admission to the contest along with a concessions item.
Athletics Updates | December 2022
Athletics Updates | December 2022
Registration | Now OPEN
Registration is now open for the sports listed below. Note that several require tryouts due to roster limitations, however, there are some activities that do not require a tryout, and students of all experience and ability levels are encouraged to join.
6th Grade Volleyball
Bowling*
Track & Field
*Tryouts required - stay tuned for more information. View the Athletics Brochure for start dates for each activity.
All athletes must be registered on 8to18 - Click Here
All athletes must have a valid sports physical on file in the main office to participate
Girls Volleyball | 7th & 8th Grade
7th and 8th grade volleyball is underway!
8th Grade Tryouts - Completed
7th Grade Tryouts - Completed
Girls Volleyball | 6th Grade
The 6th grade team does not have tryouts. All are welcome to join, but must be registered on 8to18. Coach Sara Seifert will lead the program and communicate more information as it becomes available. Please take a look at important dates below, and reach out to Mrs. Kemp (kemptc@unit5.org) & Mr. Haws (hawsj@unit5.org) if you have any questions.
First Practices:
- Friday, 12/9 from 4:00-6:00 pm @ PJHS
**Parent Meeting to follow: 5:30-6:00 PM
- Friday, 12/16 from 4:00-6:00 pm @ PJHS
First Game:
- Monday, January 9th @ Eastview Church
Format:
Parkside will enter two teams in the Eastview league--Parkside Orange and Parkside Black. We will play on 8 consecutive Mondays, beginning on January 9th. Other games may be added to the schedule to promote more skill development through competition. Teams will be split equally to the greatest extent possible, and the focus will be on FUN and skill development!
Activity Fee:
$90 due prior to the first game. Those who qualify for free/reduced fees will have the same benefits for participation in volleyball. Checks should be made payable to "PJHS" and turned into the main office.
Jerseys:
A jersey will be provided by the school to be turned in after the last game. Students are responsible for black shorts or spandex along with knee pads. A clean pair of athletic shoes is also important for player safety.
Athletics Updates | November 2022
Athletics Updates | November 2022
Registration | Now OPEN
Registration is now open for the sports listed below. Note that several require tryouts due to roster limitations, however, there are some activities that do not require a tryout, and students of all experience and ability levels are encouraged to join.
Volleyball*
6th Grade Boys Basketball
Wrestling
Bowling*
Track & Field
*Tryouts required - stay tuned for more information. View the Athletics Brochure for start dates for each activity.
All athletes must be registered on 8to18 - Click Here
All athletes must have a valid sports physical on file in the main office to participate
Girls Volleyball | Open Gyms & Tryouts Announced
7th and 8th grade tryouts will take at least two sessions to determine the roster. All players should plan to attend each day of tryouts. 6th graders are welcome to tryout for the 7th grade team, however, the vast majority of 6th grade players should expect to play on the 6th grade team--more info on that soon! It will be similar to the 6th grade boys basketball setup (see their info in the October Update). We will need a volunteer coach to lead that group and ensure that our 6th graders have an opportunity to play the sport they love while representing PJHS!
8th Grade Tryouts
Monday, 11/28 - 6:00 PM
Tuesday, 11/29 - 6:45 AM (before school)
7th Grade Tryouts (6th Grade welcome to join)
Friday, 12/2 - 4:00 PM
Saturday, 12/3 - 10:00 AM
Open Gym (All Levels)
Saturday, 11/19 - 10:00 AM
Monday, 11/21 - 4:00 PM
6th Grade Boys Basketball | Final Notice
The 6th grade team does not have tryouts. All are welcome to join, but must be registered on 8to18. Coach Brandon Clutts will lead the program and will communicate more information as it becomes available. Please take a look at important dates below, and reach out to us if out to us if you have any questions.
First Practices:
- Thursday, Oct. 27th, 6-8 pm @ PJHS
- Saturday, Oct. 29th, 10am-Noon @ PJHS
- Thursday, Nov. 3rd, 4-5:30pm**
**Parent Meeting to follow: 5:30-6:00 PM
- Saturday, Nov. 5th, 10am-Noon
First Game:
- Thursday, November 17th @ Eastview Church
Wrestling | Open Mats & First Practice
Open Mats Schedule - Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Week 1 - 11/1 & 11/3
Week 2 - 11/8 & 11/10
Week 3 - 11/15 & 11/17
First Official Practice - November 28th from 4:00-6:00 PM
All athletes must be registered on 8to18 - Click Here
All athletes must have a valid sports physical on file in the main office to participate
Athletics Updates | October 2022
Athletics Updates | October 2022
Registration | Now OPEN
Registration is now open for the sports listed below. Note that several require tryouts due to roster limitations, however, there are some activities that do not require a tryout, and students of all experience and ability levels are encouraged to join.
Volleyball*
6th Grade Boys Basketball
Wrestling
Bowling*
Track & Field
*Tryouts required - stay tuned for more information. View the Athletics Brochure for start dates for each activity.
Girls Volleyball | Open Gyms & Tryouts Announced
7th and 8th grade tryouts will take at least two sessions to determine the roster. All players should plan to attend each day of tryouts. 6th graders are welcome to tryout for the 7th grade team, however, the vast majority of 6th grade players should expect to play on the 6th grade team--more info on that soon! It will be similar to the 6th grade boys basketball setup (see their info below). We will need a volunteer coach to lead that group and ensure that our 6th graders have an opportunity to play the sport they love while representing PJHS!
8th Grade Tryouts
Monday, 11/28 - 6:00 PM
Tuesday, 11/29 - 6:45 AM (before school)
7th Grade Tryouts (6th Grade welcome to join)
Friday, 12/2 - 4:00 PM
Saturday, 12/3 - 10:00 AM
Open Gym (All Levels)
Saturday, 11/19 - 10:00 AM
Monday, 11/21 - 4:00 PM
6th Grade Boys Basketball | Coach Found!
The 6th grade team will play in the Eastview School league--we have a coach who will be named once all is cleared through HR. PJHS participated last year by entering two teams--Parkside Orange and Parkside Black. Games are played each week on Thursdays at Eastview Church (Airport Rd.) while practices are held at PJHS. The opportunity for 6th graders to play basketball was made possible by parent volunteers to lead the program. If you are interested in working with this group as an assistant coach, reach out to Mr. Haws - hawsj@unit5.org
Practices for 6th grade will begin on Thursday, October 27th from 6-8 PM, and games will start on November 17th. Coaches will help determine practice dates and times to work around their schedule. Note: If you registered for basketball to tryout for the 7th grade team, you are good to go! We use the same signup for all levels of each sport. Once rosters are chosen, your son will be moved to the appropriate team, and the coach will have access to the information you provided for communication purposes throughout the season.
Wrestling | Open Mats & First Practice
Open Mats Schedule - Tuesdays & Thursdays, 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Week 1 - 11/1 & 11/3
Week 2 - 11/8 & 11/10
Week 3 - 11/15 & 11/17
First Official Practice - November 28th from 4:00-6:00 PM
All athletes must be registered on 8to18 - Click Here
All athletes must have a valid sports physical on file in the main office to participate
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