Little Elm High School
Weekly Newsletter - December 4th, 2015
Failure is Instructive
Most conversations about achievement in schools center around how to help students become successful. We rarely look at how students learn from their struggles and failures. When we accept failure as an opportunity for students to receive feedback on their strengths as well as areas for growth for the purpose of improving, we reframe a negative experience as a good, constructive, essential part of learning. Failure can be a master teacher if we do not allow it to be the final outcome. How do we help students accept failure as a part of the learning process? We provide students with multiple opportunities to continue to show mastery of content. We give students meaningful feedback on how they can improve and then provide students the time and support to make revisions until they reach the goal. In this type of learning environment failure is not acceptable and students understand they will at times fall short but they know the expectation is that they will do better. John Dewey, an early educational reformer, said it best, “Failure is instructive. The person, who really thinks, learns quite as much from his failures as from his successes.”
One way to convince students that failure is often a pit stop along the road to success is to expose them to the many stories of famous high achievers who failed big time before they “made it.” Thomas Edison tried 10,000 different materials before he found the right one for the light bulb filament. Failure? No, that’s data and lots of it. Or as he put it, he learned 9,999 ways that didn’t work. Edison went on to hold more than 1,000 patents and invented some world changing devices. JK Rowling was a single mom living off welfare when she first began writing the “Harry Potter” novels. Rowling is now internationally renowned for Harry Potter series and became the first billionaire author in 2004. Before Microsoft was born, Bill Gates suffered failure in business and is now known to be one of the wealthiest men in the world. Walt Disney was fired by his editor in 1919 from his job at the Kansas City Star paper because he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” Steven Spielberg was denied by USC’s prestigious film school not once but twice. As a sophomore, Michael Jordan was rejected from his high school’s varsity basketball team. These are just a few examples of famous people who had big failures before they made it big. Students need to understand the key to success is to learn and grow from their failures.
With our fall semester coming to an end, we need to help students understand that failure cannot be the final outcome. What are the supports that students have available on their journey of improvement? All teachers offer optional tutorials to give students additional time, re-teaching, or revision opportunities. Students can be assigned by their teachers to Reflections which is a mandatory tutorial for students who have missing work. Students who fail a semester or full year course may take an accelerated self paced course called credit recovery. Students who fall behind on credits can participate in specialized programs (Evening Academy, AIMS, and GOALS) that help them get back on track to graduation. See your house counselor if you want to know more about these programs. LEHS is committed to support all students in their learning. Please contact teachers, counselors, or administrators if you need our help. We are a team of educators dedicated to helping all of our students reach their goals.
Renee Pentecost
Principal
Little Elm High School
Information about Dual Credit and Schedule changes for second semester
NCTC Dual Credit Agreement/Registration Forms for the Spring, 2016 Semester are
available from Mrs. Susan Holloway in House Office A-D (across from the cafeteria)
starting Monday, November 30th.
Students will have an opportunity to register at Little Elm High School for their Spring Semester classes on Thursday, December 3rd from 8:30-2:00 in the LEHS Library.
Students can also register at any NCTC campus through January 13, 2016.
NCTC classes begin on January 19th.
Schedule change requests for Semester 2 (Spring,2016) will be accepted beginning December 4th through December 10th no later than 4:30 PM. A Schedule Change Request form may be received and returned to the Alpha House Office assigned to the student. Email schedule change requests will not be processed.
This process continues to support the LEHS procedure that the 2015-2016 Master Schedule was prepared for the entire school year based upon requests for courses made last spring. Therefore, in accordance with LEHS procedure, the following are the only requests that will be considered:
- Approved dropping of a PreAP or AP course
- Adding a course for graduation requirements
- Approved changes for e2020
- Approved Athletic/Band changes
REMINDER: All students must be enrolled in courses based on meeting graduation requirements. All Grades 9, 10 and 11 must be enrolled in 7 class periods. Grade 12 students must be enrolled in at least 5 class periods.
LEHS SEMESTER EXAM EXEMPTIONS AND SCHEDULE
EXEMPTIONS POLICY
Only junior and senior students may earn exemptions in on level and Pre-AP class final exams at the end of the fall and spring semesters. All students in any AP class must take the fall final but may be exempt from the spring final if they take the AP exam for the class and meet the rest of the criteria for exemptions. Exemptions in the on level, Pre-AP and Spring AP classes can be earned if:
*The student has an average of 90 or higher in the class for which exemption is requested; and the student has no more than three (unexcused or excused) absences in the class for which exemption is requested, or
* an 80 - 89 and no more than two (unexcused or excused) absences in the class for which exemption is requested.
Additionally, the student requesting the exemption must not have:
- An out-of-school suspension for the semester the exemption is requested,
- An in-school suspension for the semester the exemption is requested.
Courses that require a State End-of-Course exam are not eligible for exemptions unless they pass the EOC and meet the other exemption requirements.
Schedule and Where to go Each Day
Please see the attached document for the schedule of tests and times each day.
Even if you are exempt from an exam, you must come at the beginning of the day on Thursday and Friday and check-in with your third period class at 8:50 am. You must follow the exam schedule, reporting even to the classes you are exempt in and staying until you have taken your last exam for the day. After you have completed your last exam for the day you may leave if you have transportation. You must exit the building and leave campus.
ALL THINGS YEARBOOK!
Dear Class of 2016 Parents
When yearbooks arrive each spring, seniors immediately turn to the back of the book to check out the senior recognition ads! The deadline to purchase an ad in the yearbook to honor your senior is quickly approaching. Senior ads must be purchased by December 15. Sizes range from 1/8 page ($40) to a full page ($250) and may be purchased online at www.jostens.com OR with a check/cash in room 1229. All content (photos/text) for the ads should be sent directly to mgentry@littleelmisd.net or dropped off in the front office for Michelle Gentry. Content must also be received by December 15.
Senior ad purchases and designs are kept confidential, so if you're hoping to surprise your senior with a special message, we've got you covered! Be sure to order by December 15th.
The LEHS yearbook program is on Twitter!!! Follow us @leb16deal and tag your friends at school events (#lehsbigdeal), and your pictures may be used in this year's book!
Memo: Student Handbook Procedure Change Regarding Top 10 Ranking
To: LEHS Students and Parents
From: LEHS Administration
Procedure determining who is eligible to be ranked in the top ten of each class was previously limited to students who had been continuously enrolled in LEHS for the four semesters preceding graduation. Since we recognize the top ten ranking students in each class each year, this procedure is being refined as follows to be inclusive of all classes (Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors):
Old procedure:
Top Ten Graduates
To qualify for top ten graduate honors, a student must have been continuously enrolled in the District high school for the four semesters preceding graduation and must have completed the Recommended or Distinguished Achievement Program. Eligible students ranking in the top ten shall be recognized during commencement ceremonies.
New procedure:
Top Ten Ranking for Each Class
To qualify for top ten honors, a student must have been continuously enrolled in the District high school for both semesters of the award year and must be working to complete the Recommended or Distinguished Achievement Graduation Program. Eligible students ranking in the top ten shall be recognized during end of year award ceremonies for Seniors as well as underclassmen.
This change will take effect immediately and will apply to this year’s top ten ranking in all classes. This change does not affect Board Policy EIC (local) regarding the designation of valedictorian and salutatorian which still requires continuous enrollment at LEHS for four semesters prior to graduation.
Memorándum: Cambio en el procedimiento del manual de conducta aplicado para el listado de los 10 mejores estudiantes
A: LEHS Estudiantes y Padres de Familia.
De: La Administración de LEHS
El procedimiento para determinar quien es candidato para estar dentro del listado de los mejores 10 estudiantes de su clase, era antes limitado a solamente aquellos que han estado en nuestra escuela por los últimos cuatro semestres antes de graduarse. Como normalmente nosotros reconocemos a los 10 mejores estudiantes de cada nivel cada año, este procedimiento se esta re-estableciendo para que sea efectivo para todos los niveles ( nueve, diez, once y estudiantes del 12o. grado).
Procedimiento anterior:
Diez Mejores Estudiantes
Para graduarse dentro de este grupo, el estudiante debe haber estado inscrito en nuestro Distrito Escolar por los últimos cuatro semestres de su graduación y debió haber también completado el Programa de Logros Distinguidos ó Recomendado. Estudiantes que cumplan estos requisitos serán reconocidos durante su ceremonia de graduación.
Procedimiento nuevo:
Diez Mejores Estudiantes de Cada Nivel
Para estar dentro de este grupo, el estudiante debe haber estado inscrito en nuestro Distrito Escolar pora los dos semestres del año que busca reconocimiento y debe haber estado trabajando para completar el Programa de Logros Distinguidos ó Recomendado. Estudiantes que cumplan estos requisitos serán reconocidos en la ceremonia de entrega de distintivos para alumnos tanto del doceavo grado, como los niveles inferiores (9, 10 y 11).
Este cambio será efectivo inmediatamente y se aplicará en las categorias de los estudiantes del presente año escolar de todos los niveles. Este cambio no afectará la política del consejo escolar del Distrito local (EIC) en cuanto a la forma en que se designa al primer y Segundo lugar de su generación para lo cual ahún se va a requerir que haya estado en nuestra escuela por los últimos cuatro semestres de su graduación.
LEHS Fine Arts
Craft Fair
December 5th 9AM - 3PM
- Food, Shopping, Entertainment, Fun!! Lots of vendors selling handmade and homemade crafts as well as popular items such as The Pampered Chef, JamBerry, Jewelry and more.
It will be held in the Little Elm High School Cafeteria. 1900 Walker Lane Little Elm, Tx.
- Come out and get your holiday shopping done finding unique gifts for you loved ones. Skip the lines at Wal-Mart and forget those silly shelves at Target!! Mark your calendar for next Saturday!!!
I LOVE A PARADE!!!!
This Saturday, December 5, 2015 the Lobo Fighting Marching Band and Blue Angels Drill Team will once again march in the Children's Holiday Parade in Downtown Dallas and lead the Little Elm Light-Up Parade.
Dallas Children's Parade-STEP OFF 10am-"Miracle on Commerce Street"
***Parade will be broadcast on WFAA-TV Channel 8 in Dallas-Fort Worth at 10am CST the following week onDecember 12 and it will be syndicated nationally throughout the holiday season. Click HERE for a listing of broadcast times.***
Look for OLIVIA from the children's book-the Blue Angels will be marching alongside her in pink dresses!
Lobo Fighting Marching Band will be in their LEHS uniform with Santa Hats playing their traditional holiday melodies-go Lobo Band!
The 2015 Christmas Light-up Parade is another wonderful way to start the holiday season. Please join us in making this year’s parade a memorable experience for all ages. The parade will “step off” at 6:00 pm on Saturday, December 5, 2015 at The Little Elm Recreation Center at 303 Main St. and will end at Christmas at the Beach in Little Elm Park.
LEHS Band Student a Published Composer
Click HERE
Middle School Dessert Theater
December 8th
Dessert Served 6:30PM
Show @7PM in the High School Cafeteria
- All you can eat desserts plus coffee, tea, water, and hot chocolate.
- Choirs to perform renditions of your favorite christmas songs and new choral classics.
- Tickets are $3 Each or $15 Limit Per Family, Children 5 and under are free.
(Please Come!!! This will be fun!!!)
- Special Offer for Staff --- If you help by bringing a dessert and you show your ID at the door, you can get a couple free tickets. Our way of showing appreciation.
Naming just a few numbers:
Hot Chocolate and Believe from "The Polar Express", It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas, Jingle Bell Rock, Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer, The Chipmunk Song, Feliz Navidad, Silent Night, Still Still Still, Santa Baby, Let It Snow, Winter Wonderland, a hilarious rendition of Jingle Bells, and much more.
Applebee's All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast
December 12th 8AM-10AM - Little Elm Applebees Location Only On Hwy 423.
- Tickets are $10 Each, tickets can be purchased from choir students, Mr. Kassen, Mrs. Mayberry, or from the front office. Proceeds benefit Little Elm Choir. Students are raising money for their choir trip to New Orleans.
- All you can eat pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs, and hashbrowns. Gonna be fun!!
Choirs to Perform at Six Flags Holiday in the Park
- Tickets were already purchased in advance. If you are free come see us. Performance times will be posted as soon as possible. A detailed itinerary will be sent to parents and students attending the following weekend. Please make sure you have turned in your money and field trip forms.
High School Holiday Choir Concert
Tuesday December 15th 7:30PM in High School Auditorium
Tons of new and old holiday classics, plus a sing-a-long at the end. Please feel free to join us in singing your favorite carols. This is sure to put some magic in your holiday spirit!!!
Administrators and staff are encouraged to join us on stage for the sing-a-long at the end!!
DECA information
Help Needed
Little Elm High School offers several different programs to facilitate student learning in the community. These include earning class room credit for paid employment and for unpaid internships (especially health care related). If you are a Little Elm area employer please consider working with our Little Elm High School students. Any students placed through our coop or intern programs will receive industry specific training and oversight from a teacher. E-mail Rodger Hutley, Marketing Teacher at rhutley@littleelmisd.net for more information.
CTE Student Scholarships
Seniors,
Mahindra USA Inc. and the Career and Technology Association of Texas have announced scholarship opportunities for Texas high school seniors participating in career and technical education to apply for $1000 college scholarships. Deadline to apply is March 31, 2016. Please click here for more information.
Scholarship Opportunity
Click HERE to access the application.
Wendy Swift | HR Manager | Texas Farm Credit
1307 Dominion Plaza, Tyler TX 75703 | O: (903) 617-5353 | C: (903) 253-2821 | F: (877) 206-8334
Attendance Reminders
. Official Attendance-Taking Time: 3rd period (10:40 – 11:30 regular schedule; 10:30 – 11:15 activity schedule)
· A Parent’s Note after an absence must be submitted within 3 days after returning to school.
· A Doctor’s Note is required after an Absence for five or more consecutive days. A doctor’s note is required for any absence beginning with the 6th absence within any semester.
· A Doctor’s Appointment where the student attends school for part of the day and returns with a doctor’s note is not counted as an absence. Please avoid scheduling doctor’s appointments during the official attendance period.
· Excused Absences - A student who is absent (excused) shall be permitted to make up work and will receive one day/class meeting for each consecutive day/class meeting’s absence to turn in make-up work or to obtain any information covered during the absence. In general, absences will be excused for the following reasons:
o Personal Illness.
o Doctor’s Appointments
o Court Appearance
o Family emergency if the principal is contacted prior to the absence.
o Death in family
o Religious holy days.
Little Elm High School
Ruben Molinar - Associate Principal (rmolinar@littleelmisd.net)
Alen Palislamovic - House Principal A - D (apalislamovic@littleelmisd.net)
Randall Ball - House Principal E - K (rball@littleelmisd.net)
Chris Reza - House Principal L - Ra (creza@littleelmisd.net)
Terilyn Thomas-Monday - House Prinicipal Re - Z (tmonday@littleelmisd.net)
Website: http://www.littleelmisd.net/Domain/9
Location: 1900 Walker Lane, Little Elm, TX, United States
Phone: (972) 947-9443
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-Elm-High-School/736775073135970?notif_t=page_fan
Twitter: @LittleElmHS