Families and Students: 

We are excited to welcome our students back for the first day of school on Tuesday, August 18. Whether you're joining JTHS for the first time or returning for another year, we're grateful to have you as part of our school community. Our faculty and staff are looking forward to supporting every student as they begin a successful school year. 

For helpful information, refer to the Student Handbook and visit our Back-to-School Resource Webpage. Important back-to-school reminders are below. 

Get Involved at JTHS! 
At JTHS, strong family and community partnerships are at the heart of our students' success. We warmly welcome families, students, and community members to take part in our many events, committees, and outreach opportunities. Visit the Get Involved at JTHS Webpage to learn more.  All are welcome! 
 
Points of Pride 
JTHS is a comprehensive and innovative high school that is unique in our area. We have lots to be proud of! View the Points of Pride webpage to learn more. 
 
Student Media Permissions   
We love celebrating our students' achievements! To help share their success stories, your child's name, picture, video, or classwork may occasionally appear in District publications and other approved outlets that highlight the great things happening in our schools. If you DO NOT wish to have your child’s information shared, please complete the Refusal of Permission for Media Participation Form.   

Cell Phone Rules 
A new cell phone rule started this school year to help students focus in class. The new rule follows a state law Governor Pritzker signed on July 28, 2026, banning cellphone use by public school students during class time.  

At JTHS, during class time, students must turn off their phones and put them in the storage space in each classroom. Phones stay there until the bell rings at the end of class.  

Smart glasses or AI-enabled glasses, including Meta glasses, are not permitted in JTHS buildings or at JTHS-sponsored events. 

Students may use their phones during passing periods and lunch. For more information, and answers to frequently asked questions, please click HERE. 

Thank you for partnering with us to help our students develop the skills and habits they need to succeed. We appreciate your continued support and look forward to a school year filled with learning, growth, and opportunity. 

Safety and Security  
Keeping our JTHS community safe is something we all share together. If you ever notice something that doesn't seem right, please don't hesitate to speak up. We've made it easy to reach us, and you'll find several ways to share your concerns below. 

• Contact a staff member or trusted adult.  View the staff directory HERE or complete the Contact Us form on the website. 

• Report concerns anonymously to the School Violence Tip Line at 1-800-477-0024.   

• Report bullying through the Bullying Report Form. You may choose to submit it anonymously or include your name. Photos and videos can also be uploaded with your report.  

• Complete the Request for Support Form. Once submitted, a team of school support staff will review the situation and work to assist the student. This form does not open until the first day of school. 

• Dial 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline   

• Text HOME to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line   

• Contact Safe2Help Illinois: Dial 844-4-SAFEIL, Text SAFE2 (72332), or email HELP@Safe2HelpIL.com   

Attendance
Regular attendance is essential for academic success.  We understand that students might be absent in cases of illness or serious family crisis. If a student must be absent or tardy to school, the parent or guardian must call the Attendance Office the same day stating the reason for the student’s absence or tardiness (24-hour voice mail is available).  View our Attendance Matters at JTHS flyer to learn more about the importance of attendance. 

• Central/AVAC/Transition Center Attendance Office 
  (815) 727-6801   

• West Attendance Office 
  (815) 727-6900  

• Pathways Attendance Office 
  (815) 727-6810 

Student Support Table 
Starting Monday, August 24, 2026, staff will greet freshmen arriving after 7:20 a.m. and upperclassmen arriving after 8:20 a.m. at a Student Support Table near the main student entrance. Staff will do a quick check of attendance, grades, and schedule, and may connect students with a dean, counselor, or social worker if needed.  

Students with take-out food or drinks in disposable containers will be asked to throw them away. Afterward, students will call a parent or guardian to share their late arrival before heading to class with a pass. Our District Tardy Policy, outlined in the Student Handbook, still applies. 

Hallway Sweeps 
Beginning Tuesday, August 25, 2026, staff will conduct hallway sweeps after the bell rings during Periods 3–8. This practice helps staff account for students during the school day while encouraging students to arrive to class on time so they do not miss valuable instructional time. 

Permission to Leave Campus 
Students are not permitted to leave the building during the school day without permission. There are rare occasions when students must leave during the school day. When such a time arises, parents or guardians must call the attendance office with the date, time, and reason for early dismissal. Students will receive a “permit to leave” the building for the designated time. Please note that due to the volume of calls and availability of staff, requests for permission to leave campus should be made at least two days in advance. Request for early dismissal received within 30 minutes of the end of the school day may not be able to be fulfilled. 

Unauthorized Presence & Propping Doors/Allowing Entry 
JTHS schools and buildings remain locked during the school day. Students and visitors must enter and exit through the Main Entrances at each campus or building. Students and staff should never open doors for anyone attempting to enter through any other location. 

Security personnel are stationed at the Main Entrances to verify that students present a valid school ID and visitors provide proper identification. In addition, all exterior doors are alarmed and monitored. Opening an exterior door without authorization or attempting to enter through any entrance other than the Main Entrance immediately alerts security personnel. 

To help maintain a safe and secure school environment, students and staff must never prop exterior doors open or allow any student or visitor to enter the building through any entrance other than the Main Entrances. Propping a door open, opening an alarmed exterior door without authorization, or permitting unauthorized entry through any location other than the Main Entrances is considered unauthorized presence and will result in disciplinary action in accordance with School Board policy. 

Items Prohibited from School 
There are items that are not allowed on school property because they are considered a weapon.  If a student brings one of these items on school property or to a school-sponsored function, regardless of whether the student intends to use the item or not, they can face an expulsion recommendation and the involvement of the Joliet Police Department.  

Items include, but are not limited to, the following: Mace, Pepper Spray, Box Cutter, Pocket Knife, Any Lookalike Gun/Weapon, Airsoft/Pellet Gun, Gel/Water Gun, Gel/Orbeez Gun, BB Gun, Gun/Rifle, Brass Knuckles, Kubaton, Taser.   A more extensive list of items prohibited on school grounds and the associated school board policy is HERE.   
 
Vapes & Substance Use 
At JTHS, the use of, possession of, or being under the influence of controlled substances at school or school-sponsored events will lead to student discipline and behavior health team intervention.  Substances prohibited in school include, but are not limited to, vapes, e-cigarettes, alcohol, edibles, and marijuana. Students found in possession of any prohibited substance may be assigned a safety check upon arrival at school. 

Student Attire Expectations 

• Students may not wear any head covering inside the premises, except for approved religious or medically prescribed head coverings.  

• Clothing that advertises alcohol, drugs, tobacco, gambling, promoting violence, or obscene or vulgar language is not permitted.  

• Students must wear clothing including both shirt and pants or skirt, or the equivalent (dresses, leggings, yoga, pants, shorts, sweatpants) that covers private parts in opaque material (not able to be seen through). 

• Clothing must cover undergarments. 

• Students will wear shoes that are safe and appropriate for course assignments, athletics and other conditions.  

• Visible piercings are allowed but must be removable. Jewelry is prohibited during any class or activity when a staff member believes it poses a health or safety risk based on the activity. This includes but is not limited to rings, watches, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, eyebrows, nose, lip piercings etc. Students enrolled in JROTC must follow uniform guidelines. (School Board Policy 7:160)  

Student IDs 
Students must wear a current student ID during the school day and at extracurricular events/activities. Permanent picture identification cards are issued annually. Identification cards must be worn appropriately around the neck via a school-approved lanyard or clip. If a student arrives to school without his or her permanent ID, the classroom teacher/security will issue a temporary ID to the student for that day and habitual issues will be addressed through students being issued a replacement ID that is $10. 
 
Student ID Scanners for Attendance/Tardies 
To enhance security while encouraging a culture of timeliness, JTHS uses a student ID scanner system for recording attendance and tardies. Each student has a barcode on their ID. When students arrive to class, they will scan IDs to record attendance and tardies in Infinite Campus.   

Additionally, JTHS is utilizing electronic hall passes, so students may be asked to present their ID to staff in the hallway to check the status of their pass. 
 
Parking Rules
Parking at Central and West is limited. Staff have their own assigned parking spots. Students who want to park at school must have a parking permit. Click the links below to learn more: 

• Joliet Central High School Parking Information 

• Joliet West High School Parking Information 

Transportation Delays & Bus Routes 
Families may experience transportation delays if their student is a bus rider due to a shortage of bus drivers and transportation staff. We encourage families to provide transportation for their students if possible. Student drivers and car riders should plan ahead and arrive to campus early due to the increase in traffic from students being dropped off. Students who arrive late to class due to JTHS transportation delays are not marked tardy.  Unfortunately, the shortage of bus drivers is an issue that school districts are facing nationwide.  JTHS is currently hiring bus drivers and transportation staff.  If you or someone you know is interested in one of our open positions within the Transportation Department, the link to apply is HERE.  We appreciate your patience as we work diligently to safely transport students to and from school.  The most current and up-to-date bus route schedules are posted on the Transportation Website. 
 
Versatrans My Stop App 
As we continue to navigate the ongoing nationwide bus driver shortage, Joliet Township High School is relying more than ever on the Versatrans My Stop app to keep families informed about student transportation. While this app has been available for some time, we are now using it to send direct push notifications when bus routes are delayed or combined. This means you’ll receive timely updates right on your phone—no need to call in for information. These notifications will pop up immediately if you are in the application; if you do not have the application open, yet you are logged in, you will see the notification show up similar to how other notifications show up on your smartphone. Please note that My Stop is only available for morning and afternoon routes. It is not available for field trips and activity buses. For more information about Versatrans My Stop, including step-by-step instructions for downloading, visit the JTHS Versatrans My Stop Web Page. You can also contact the Technology Help Desk at (815) 727-6860. You can also email centralhelpdesk@jths.org or westhelpdesk@jths.org for assistance. 

I'm truly looking forward to this school year and to working hand-in-hand with our students, families, staff, and community as we support one another along the way. 
 
Dr. Karla Guseman 
Superintendent