The Roar
Gilbert High School's Principal Newsletter
2015 Winter Edition
What's In The Roar?
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Principal's Message
Dear GHS Students, Parents and Family Members,
It is amazing that we are already nearing the end of the Fall Semester! As we approach the final exams, please pay attention to the schedule. For those of you with Freshmen, please know that our schedule differs significantly from what they are used to at the junior high school.
For all of the parents, please help us make sure your student has the best opportunity to succeed on those critical exams. Please make sure they get a good night’s sleep and a good breakfast before heading to school on those days they have an exam!
Our students have had a great semester; I’ve always maintained that I have the best job around since I get to spend my days with an amazing group of students and a wonderful faculty and staff.
Next semester Gilbert High School will be undertaking our accreditation process with AdvancED. This process is critical for any high school as it means that our students’ credits are accepted in postsecondary institutions (colleges, universities, trade schools, etc.). Gilbert High School has a long and proud tradition of being accredited in Gilbert Public Schools and we are excited to showcase the opportunities we offer students here on campus.
Part of this process involves surveying students, faculty and parents. Recently you may have seen an email for this survey; please take a moment to fill out the survey. AdvancEd requires over 20% of our parents to respond, so every response helps! We will collect the data, and share it both internally as well as with our AdvancEd team that will visit us in the spring. Here is the link below:
In order to complete the survey, please go to:
http://www.advanc-ed.org/survey/public/8777855
Thank you for any and all assistance in this critical matter! We appreciate all of your support and help in this matter as we look to move through this critical process!
I wish you the very best this holiday season. I do hope you have a wonderful Winter Break, and a very Happy New Year’s!
Sincerely,
Christopher Stroud
Principal
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Upcoming Events
December 3-4 7:00 p.m. ................... Danceworks and Advanced Fall Concert
December 8 7:00 p.m. ...................... Winter GHS Orchestra Concert
December 9 7:00 p.m. ...................... Performance Theatre Showcase
December 10 2:45-4:00 p.m. ........... Final Exam Fall Frenzy
December 10 5:30-8:00 p.m............. Winter Event
December 10 7:00 p.m. .................... Band Concert
December 15 7:00 p.m. .................... Choir Concert
December 15-18 ................................ First Semester Final Exams
December 21-January 1 .................... Winter Break (No School)
January 4 ............................................ School Resumes
January 11 6:00 p.m. ......................... Parent Advisory Meeting
January 15 6:00 p.m. ......................... Mr. Wonderful Pageant
January 18 .......................................... Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School)
January 19 7:00 p.m. ......................... Choir Regional Honor Recital
January 22 7:00 p.m. ......................... Performance Theatre Show
January 25 6:30-8:00 p.m. ................ Freshman Preview Night
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Final Exam Schedule
Fall 2015 - Semester One
Tuesday, December 15
A Hour ................... 6:30 - 7:25 Final Exam
8th Hour ............... 2:35 - 3:30 Final Exam
Wednesday, December 16
A Hour (Final) ................... 6:30 - 7:25
1st Hour (Final) ................ 7:30 - 8:46
2nd Hour .......................... 8:51 - 9:43
3rd Hour ........................... 9:48 - 10:40
4th Hour .......................... 10:45 - 11:37
5th Hour .......................... 11:42 - 12:34
6th Hour .......................... 12:39 - 1:32
7th Hour .......................... 1:37 - 2:30
8th Hour (Final) ............... 2:35 - 3:30
Thursday, December 17 (Half Day)
4th Hour (Final) .............. 7:30 - 8:46
3rd Hour (Final)................ 8:52 - 10:08
2nd Hour (Final)............... 10:14 - 11:30
Friday, December 18 (Half Day)
5th Hour (Final) .............. 7:30 - 8:46
6th Hour (Final) ................ 8:52 - 10:08
7th Hour (Final) ................ 10:14 - 11:30
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The end of our fall semester is quickly approaching which means final exams and Winter Break. In preparation for these important events, you will find a copy of our final exam bell schedule for your reference. In addition to this information, you will also find some helpful reminders related to final exams:
- A and 8th hours will not meet on Thursday, December 17th and Friday, December 18th.
- Students are not required to be on campus during their lunch hours on Thursday, December 17th and Friday, December 18th. Students should report to campus for their scheduled final exam times during these two days.
- EVIT students must be on our campus during their scheduled final exam times.
- Please remember to avoid taking students out of classes or exam times as this will assist in their academic performance. Due to test integrity , students will not be allowed to take their final exams prior to the scheduled dates. Students who are not available to take their final exams will be issued a grade of "I" for the classes which they did not complete exams for. Students should plan to schedule a make-up time following our Winter Break to complete their missed exams.
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AFJROTC
JROTC performed in their first drill competition at Hamilton High School on Nov 14th receiving five trophies in a 14 category meet (two 1st place, one 2nd place and two 3rd place). We also had three cadets win individual awards during the event drill down (a 1st place, a 2nd and 3rd place).
The annual JROTC Dining Out will take place on Dec 4th at EVIT. The Dining Out has served the Air Force well as an occasion for military members to meet socially at a formal military function. It enhances the esprit de corps of units, lightens the load of demanding day-to-day work, gives the commander an opportunity to meet socially with their subordinates and enables military members of all ranks to create bonds of friendship and better working relations through an atmosphere of good fellowship.
The Dining Out represents the most formal aspects of Air Force social life. The purpose of the Dining Out is to bring together members of a unit in an atmosphere of camaraderie, good fellowship, and social rapport. The basic idea is to enjoy yourself and the company. The Dining Out is also an excellent means of providing hail and farewell to members of a unit. It is an excellent forum to recognize individual and unit achievements. The Dining Out, therefore, is very effective in building high morale and esprit de corps.
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GHS Unified PE Invitational Basketball Game
Gilbert High School Physical Education Department is proud to present our fourth annual GHS Unified PE Invitational on Friday, December 4, 2015 in Tiger Gym. Our special guests are CVHS Unified PE!
Who: Athletes are Unified PE students. Game jerseys will be provided and athletes will change out/wear PE clothes and game jersey. (PE clothes and athletic shoes daily, please)
Where: GHS Tiger Gym. Bleachers will be available for spectator seating.
Please sign in at the Front Office prior to attending the game to obtain a Visitor’s Pass, as per Gilbert Public Schools policy.
When: Tip off is scheduled for 9:30 with an adjusted 2040 minute running clock. At the conclusion of the game, both teams will be available for photo opportunities in Tiger Gym.
A postgame celebration for both teams will be held in the Mini Gym prior to CVHS’s departure.
Donation/Support: Pre game donations of paper goods, bottled water and snacks are appreciated. Your support helps Unified PE students succeed at GHS! All involved are looking forward to a fun and active PE good time!
Lisa Madril and Rich Swanson
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Performing Arts
Orchestra
GHS Orchestras received very high ratings at the annual Arizona Band and Orchestra Directors Association (ABODA) Fall Orchestra Festival, held at Highland High School on October 2 and 3. The Symphonic Strings received a Superior with Distinction, the highest rating possible. Chamber Orchestra and Concert Orchestra both received Excellent ratings and were very close to receiving Superiors.
The orchestra students will be featured in small chamber ensembles on Saturday, December 5 at the annual Morning with Musicians chamber music breakfast held in the GHS cafeteria. Brio Tuscan Grill provides a full breakfast buffet for the event, which runs from 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. Tickets are $5 before the event and $7 at the door. Proceeds benefit the orchestra program.
Concurrently on December 5, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the orchestras will be hosting a mattress sale fundraiser in Manzanita Hall. If you are in the market for a new mattress, this is the time to buy because prices are at least 50% off of retail. Simmons Beautyrest, Restonic and Southerland Brand products are available, and the mattresses will be delivered to your home within a week of purchase. For every mattress sold, the GHS Orchestra students receive a commission.
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Visual Arts
The Visual Arts Department at Gilbert High School is looking forward to another exciting year full of school and museum visits, and meaningful art making. We are excited to welcome Mrs. Laura Kawa and Mrs. Christina Cooper to our department and are looking forward to the great things they will contribute.
This school year started off with various art displays at both the District Office and here on campus. As always, please stop by to check out work located by the front office and in the south hall at the District Office to see some amazing things by GHS artists.
October started off with a visit from Columbia College in Chicago. Students were invited to participate in an hour-long lecture about the school from their recruitment representative.
November was about Veteran’s Day and students participated in the First Annual Veteran’s Day Art Show and Auction sponsored by About Care in Chandler. Congratulations to Arana Yrastorza and Angel Garretson for submitting the best art in the competition!
We are expecting two visits in December from prospective art colleges: The Herberger Institute at ASU and the Oregon College of Art and Craft. We are also looking forward to student participation in National Portfolio Day where students can get feedback from the top art schools in the United States and look for scholarships.
In the new year, we are excited to be taking our annual LA Field Trip to visit Art Center School of Design, as well as the LA county Museum of Art, Watts Towers, and The Getty Center. We will also be visiting with Kraig Foote, owner of Art One Gallery in Scottsdale, as well as other art colleges from around the country. We have also been invited to participate in the New Horizons Art Show at the Shemer Art Center in Arcadia and are looking forward to hosting the 6th Annual Art Festival - Art Attack at the Water Tower in March in the Heritage District of Downtown Gilbert.
Photo Club and Art Club
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Recognition
Town Of Gilbert Student of the Month
Every month, the Town of Gilbert recognizes one student from Gilbert High School as the Student of the Month. Students chosen for this award exhibit positive character traits, work hard academically and show pride in their school. These character traits are Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship.
Town of Gilbert Town Council website:
http://www.gilbertaz.gov/departments/clerk-s-office/boards-commissions/town-council
September 2015 - Abby Boatwright
October 2015 - Alexxis Grant
November 2015 - Amanda Rosenberg
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Department Students of the Month
Agriculture
Shelby Reno and Austin Seals
Business
Alexxis Grant and Caleb Stimson
Counseling
Azyannah Hart and Nathan Floyd
English
Tiesa Camacho and George Bato
FACS
Victoria McGowan
Fine Arts - Performing
Amanda Rosenberg and Spencer Timothy
Fine Arts - Visual
Sofia Lopez and Zackary Whitney
Industrial Education
Krystina Butts and Jonathan Grindle
JROTC
Madelyn Valadez and William Castillo
Math
Joseph Boatwright and Jade Geiger
Modern Language
Brielle Dotson and Jared Ball
Physical Education
Hailey Martin and Micah Gomez
Science
Christa Rosales and Jordan Moss
Social Studies
Nikita Kolar and Caleb Duran
Student Services
Monica Lopez and Cody Anglin
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Tigers Reader's Corner
Study Tips For Finals
Finals week can be the most stressful time for a student, whether in high school or college. Ensure your student is prepared for exams with these study tips, which can help conquer final exam anguish.
1. Create a study guide. Outlining the important information needed to learn can be helpful, both in creation and to refer during study time.
2. Ask questions. Your teacher is there to help! Ask questions regarding the material and the exam so that preparation is easier to organize.
3. Stay well-rested. There is a lot to be said about a good night of sleep.
4. Study for the style of exam. If it is multiple choice, focus on definitions and concepts. For essay exams, focus on the understanding of the concepts presented, with examples in mind.
5. Pace yourself. Make sure to stay focused. A great way to do so is to pace study time rather than opting for the dreaded all-nighter. Create a study schedule and take breaks when necessary.
6. Visualize. If it is easier to create mind maps or diagrams to visualize the concepts that have been learned to help relate to one another than do so. This is especially beneficial when learning concepts that build upon the understanding of one another, like in a science course.
Last, Make it Fun! It is easier to focus if a gameplan is adopted. Quiz yourself, create acronyms or reward yourself for a job well done. Create a gameplan – literally – that allows you to accomplish tasks and be rewarded for each.
(source: http:www.fastweb.com/student-life/studyskills)
Spotlight On New Books Coming Soon
The Rule of Thoughts, Book 2 by James Dashner
The Mortality Doctrine Series continues. From the New York Times bestselling author of the Maze Runner series comes The Rule of Thoughts, the exciting sequel to The Eye of Minds. Fans of the Divergent
series by Veronica Roth and The Hunger Games will love the new Mortality Doctrine series.
Game of Lives, Book 3 by James Dashner
Michael used to live to game, but the games he was playing have become all too real. Only weeks ago, sinking into the Sleep was fun. The VirtNet combined the most cutting-edge technology and the most sophisticated gaming for a full mind-body experience. And it was Michael’s passion. But now every time Michael sinks, he risks his life.
Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs
The adventure that began with Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and continued in Hollow City comes to a thrilling conclusion with Library of Souls.
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
From the author of Eleanor & Park and Fangirl comes her new novel, Carry On. Carry On is a ghost story, a love story, a mystery and a melodrama.
Winter by Marissa Meyer
The last installment in The Lunar Chronicles series. Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters?
Ebooks Take Hold in Schools – Slowly
Source: School Library Journal
To read the article in its entirety access this site using the link below.
http://www.slj.com/2014/11/industry-news/ebooks-take-hold-slowly/#
Sixty-six percent of schools nationwide offer ebooks, up from 54 percent in 2013, and overall, the figure is steadily growing, according to School Library Journal’s fifth annual “Ebook Usage in U.S. School (K–12) Libraries” report. While ebook collections in school libraries have grown between 2010 and 2014, with growth projected to continue, the median number of ebooks per school remains low at 189 titles in comparison to 11,300 print books in a school collection. The slow growth of ebook adoption in typical school libraries is attributed to limited access to ereading devices and cost of ebooks, according to the report, released in October 2014 and sponsored by Follett. Low ebook usage is also due to user preference for print books, lack of student awareness of ebook availability, and lack of training about the downloading process. School-owned devices are most often used to read library ebooks, reported at 92 percent (same as last year’s figure), with the school desktop computer as the favored platform at 68 percent and student-owned tablet at 52 percent (up from 39 percent last year). Dedicated ereaders jumped in use from 30 percent in 2013 to 50 percent this year.
“There is no denying this is the future of libraries,” says one survey respondent. “We still have many, many students and teachers who prefer to have print books, but because of cost and maintenance, constant care, and a never increasing budget, it makes more sense to purchase digital books that can’t be lost, destroyed or held hostage by the patrons.”
Library Hours for the Week of December 14-18
- Monday, December 14 7:15 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, December 15 7:15 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, December 16 7:15 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Thursday, December 17 7:15 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.; 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.*
- Friday, December 18 7:15 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.; Closing at 11:30 a.m.*
*Library closed during final exam testing
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Tradition and Excellence since 1918
Our Mission
Gilbert High School is dedicated to providing a safe, collaborative learning community that challenges individuals to achieve their full potential.
Beliefs
Gilbert High School believes in:
- the worth and dignity of each individual.
- the ability of all students to learn.
- the use of teaching strategies that foster responsibility, critical thinking, and life-long learning.
- the development of skills that will enable students to compete in a global and technological society.
- the development of career and college ready students.
How to Contact Gilbert High School
Email: noreply@gilbertschools.net
Website: www.gilbertschools.net/gilberths
Location: 1101 E Elliot Rd, Gilbert, AZ, United States
Phone: (480) 497-0177
Twitter: @GilbertHSTigers