CHS Newsletter
News You Can Use - February 2019
Clinton High School
Email: jagile@clintonwis.com
Website: https://www.clinton.k12.wi.us/
Location: 112 Milwaukee Road, Clinton, WI, USA
Phone: 608-676-2223
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clintoncommunityschooldistrict
Twitter: @clintonwischool
Important Dates
February 15th - Midterm 3 Ends
February 20th - 21st: ACT + Writing and ACT WorkKeys Exams for Junior students.
February 23rd - Local Solo/Ensemble
February 25th - March 1st: Youth Risk Behavior Survey for all high school students.
March 1st: Application deadline for Early College Credit Program and Start College Now.
From the Principal's Desk....
High School can be a time for students to have fun and experience significant individual growth. Often times that individual growth is accompanied with certain levels of nervousness, fear, and stress. Anxiety is an emotion or feeling that everyone experiences throughout their life but depending on an individual's age and/or the level of anxiety, it can be shown in different ways. The article linked below discusses how anxiety often shows itself in teenagers.
While anxiety is common in teenagers, there are times when the negative impacts of anxiety can impact a student's daily life with families, friends, education, etc. If this is occurring, I recommend you reach out to an outside agency and/or a school counselor to see what resources and tools are available. Anxiety is extremely treatable and often times is about teaching individuals coping strategies they can utilize when stressful experiences peak.
If you'd like more information on Anxiety in Children and How to Help, Clinton Community School District is hosting a parent information session on March 12th at 6:30 p.m. Stateline Mental Health, as well as a panel of high school students, will be presenting information on anxiety and its impacts. Click here for a flyer with more information.
Also, there is a free community-wide training being held on March 9th at Clinton High School. The Youth Mental Health First Aid training deals with supporting youth that may be experiencing some difficulties in regards to mental health, anxiety included. Click Here for a flyer and registration information.
From the District Office
Referendum Facts: Linked here is the referendum fact sheet. I would encourage you to take a few moments to review the information and contact Janae Gile, or the District Office at 608-676-0995 with any questions you may have.
Community Activities Program: CCSD is excited to announce the development of a Community Activities Program (CAP) and is currently looking for individuals who would be interested in leading activities that would benefit our greater community and/or enroll in our current offerings. There are several new classes starting this week! Check them out on the district website (click here). Call the district office for details at 608.676.0995.
CCSD Snow Day Makeup Schedule
- Makeup day #1: Monday, February 18, 2019 (makeup from no school on Monday, Jan. 31, 2019)
- Makeup day #2: Friday, May 24, 2019 (makeup from no school on Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019)
- Makeup day #3: Friday, June 7, 2019 (makeup from no school on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2019)
Also, beginning Feb.18th, the school day will be extended to 3:33, instead of 3:30.
PBIS Students & Staff of the Month
Malik Bullock
Kelsey Beaumont
Kallie Inman
Sam Duggan
Kim Ciochon
Bob Butler
Jen Dammen
CTE Month
Career & Tech Education Month
February is Career and Technical Education Month. By taking Agriculture, Business and Marketing, Family and Consumer Education, and Tech Ed classes students improve their academic purpose through meaningful experiences. CTE classes engage students, prepare them for careers and/or post-secondary education and provide students with leadership opportunities within their fields and community. Clinton High School has 3 active Career and Technical Student Organizations: FFA, DECA, and SkillsUSA. These organizations provide excellent opportunities for education and career growth. Career and Technical Education teachers partner with business leaders in the area to provide real world experiences. Many of these partners offer job shadows, internships and youth apprenticeships. Thank you to our all our local partners! CTE courses are for everyone; it prepares students with life skills. Agriculture classes help students become aware of the food industry, ecological issues and animal welfare. Business and Marketing classes help students become informed consumers who understand how the business world works and learn valuable computer skills. Family and Consumer Education classes teach family living skills that anyone can benefit from. Tech Ed classes help students learn more about problem solving, welding, construction and automotive services. CTE is critical in ensuring that the United States leads in global competitiveness. CTE prepares students to succeed in further education and careers. Approximately 21% of high school graduates go directly into the job market after high school. Clinton High School CTE has the tools to help your child get there. The CTE staff is ready and available to answer any questions you might have about our programs. We look forward to continuing to serve your child through our robust Career and Technical Education Program.
Polar Plunge 2019
Getting ready for Polar Plunge 2019!
Brrr! So. Cold.
DECA @ the Polar Plunge
Someone Special & Me Dance 2019
Jasmine Prince Selling Raffle Tickets
With their Someone Special!
Dancing the Afternoon Away
Department & Extracurricular Information
Art
Advanced Art 1 is currently working on a stylistic painting based on famous artist’s works. Advanced Art 2 students are problem solving their way into a plaster cast sculpture. 3D Art students are working on constructing 3D letters. Painting students are working on their first color mix painting using only Red, Yellow, Blue, Black and White to mix all the colors in their painting which is challenging. Painting 2 students are creating motivational paintings that will be displayed around school. Finally, 2D students are working on color theory packets and projects with 2D 2 completing complementary color paintings.
Choir
The Choir Department has had a busy time. The Blenders competed in the ICHSA Nationwide contest in Milwaukee. The group did very well in the competition placing in the middle of the participants. The Blenders and CYC Out! Will be competing in the local and district solo/ensemble festivals. The local festival will be on February 23 -8-3:00. Please check with your student for times. All Choir students will participate.
DECA
DECA is just one of the CTSO Organizations at Clinton High School. DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. Our focus is on competition, Cougar Cave (our retail lab), and community service. Students have been busy preparing to compete at the State Career and Development Conference at Grand Geneva next month. At competition students will participate in leadership workshops, network with members of DECA from around the state, take a cluster test, do two role plays in front of a judge, and receive chapter awards. If you see Kendyl Bagley, Erin Bauer, Drew Holloway, Kallie Inman, Cora Laatz, or Colin Tracy wish them luck! Retail Lab- This month has been busy planning two of our biggest community service projects as well. Earlier this month we hosted our 4th Annual Someone Special and Me Dance. It was a great turnout and every had a blast.
CHS DECA officers play a vital role in the daily operations of our Business & Marketing Retail Lab, the Cougar Cave. Students in Business and Marketing classes run the enterprise throughout different classes all school year. Our DECA Officers take leadership positions within the lab. To better serve our CCSD Community, we expanded to vending services this year. We started with beverage vending that showcased our school brand water and other Smart Snack Compliant beverages. We just added a retail vending kiosk through a partnership with Spirit Box, a DECA stakeholder and partner. Our retail kiosk accepts debit cards, credit cards, Apple Pay & Google Pay. With our Cougar Cave only open after school, the retail kiosk gives us the opportunity to provide services 24/7. Our Cougar Cave still offers a variety of spirit wear and Smart Snacks. Our cookies and slushies are a huge hit after school. Be sure to check us out!
English
The Forensics season is going strong! Our team competed at the SubDistrict tournament at Turner High School. Our team competed in Informational Speaking, Solo Acting, News Radio Broadcast and Impromptu. Congrats to Maddie Rankin, Gillian McCabe, Alexei Cooper, Madi Miethke, and Sami Rosillo!
English 9 is finishing up the Africa Unit with everyone’s favorite: speeches! Students are sharing one example of the consequences that occur when a character, or person, makes a choice, which is what they have been studying for the entire unit. They discovered through reading their novels that even when a person or character makes a choice with positive intentions, the consequences are sometimes unfairly negative. Our next unit focuses on Latin America, specifically the Dominican Republic in the 1970s, Argentina in the 1970s, characters making their way through Mexico to get to the US, and the drug trade in Bolivia.
English 10 students are giving their narrative speeches. They were tasked with telling a story about their lives similar to the non fiction stories students are currently reading. Net they will be starting research for a persuasive speech on a controversial issue in the world today.
English 11 & AP English Language students are getting ready for the ACT that is coming up on February 20th and 21st. In the English classrooms, we have been focusing on familiarizing ourselves with the reading and ELA test, how to take these tests and incorporating any helpful hints that will help them with the English/Reading test, as well as other parts of the test. Wish the juniors good luck!
English 12 is continuing to read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, a nonfiction book that tells the story of the woman behind the HeLa cells. Students are discussing the ethical and scientific aspects of these real life events, and correlating them with issues seen in the world today.
Speech is just starting this semester, and we are driving full force with presenting speeches. Students have read from a children’s book to focus on their use of paralanguage; in addition, they are now beginning their Introduction speeches that will utilize the aspects of verbal and nonverbal communication that was discussed in class. These speeches are pretty impressive so far!
FFA
It is an exciting spring for the Clinton FFA chapter! Maddie Rankin and a middle school quiz bowl team recently participated in the district leadership development event speaking contests and now students are beginning to gear up for spring career development event contests where students can judge various animals or test their knowledge on topics such as veterinary science, meat science, or wildlife! The plant science class in partnership with the FFA has begun preparing the greenhouse for a spring plant sale! We encourage you to come visit the greenhouse May 3-4th to buy some spring plants or Mother’s Day gifts! Upcoming activities include our chapter meeting on Tuesday, February 19th at 7:30am and FFA week next week! We have also set dates for banquet and Culver’s Thank You Farmers Event. Banquet will be Wednesday, May 22nd and Culver’s night will be Thursday, May 9th! If students are interested in showing at the rock county fair forms are available on the ag. Classroom door and they are due back Friday, February 22nd. As always, contact Ms. Braukhoff if you are interested in participating or have questions!
Maddie Rankin
Kayla Hart, Malik Bulloch & Tyearra Bulloch
Ms.Braukhoff & Elli Teubert
Foods
Foods 2 students help with the fund raising for the Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics. The Foods 2 students made and decorated sugar cookies to sell to raise money for the Polar Plunge.
Library
Makerspace Power Hour in the LMC
Makerspace activities are now available in the LMC for power hours. Students should sign up in the LMC by the end of the day, on the Tuesday before power hours to participate. The semester started with paper projects of flextangles and paper circuits. Students made light up greeting cards for valentines day by using a template and copper tape as a conductor with a battery and small LED lights. The next few weeks will include making a robot frog, esports, and green room/filming/editing software.
Online Safety: As parents, we worry about the online safety of our children, but may find it hard to start the discussion with them. “The Wisconsin Department of Justice's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and the Department of Public Instruction is teaming up to keep families safe online. The departments have launched a program called "Interact!" that will give parents resources to have conversations with their children about internet safety” (https://dpi.wi.gov/internet-safety/parents). The initial course is only 30 minutes long and includes interactive activities. Further resources are available.
Interact link.
Math
Algebra 1 students are learning about scatterplots, best-fit line, and residuals/correlation. Geometry students … Algebra 2 students are finishing up trigonometric functions with learning about radians and key features of their graphs. PreCalculus students finished up their study on matrices and how they can use them to solve larger systems of equations. AP Calculus students are learning about techniques of integration and how to apply them to real world situations.
The Math Team competed in the Madison Area Math League math meet at Madison West High School on February 6. The JV team earned 3rd place and Wade Rainey earned 2nd place as an individual.
Wade Rainey
JV Math Team
Occupational Therapy
“Occupational therapy practitioners ask, "What matters to you?" not, "What's the matter with you?"
In its simplest terms, occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants help people across the lifespan participate in the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.” Taken from https://www.aota.org/About-Occupational-Therapy.aspx
Get more information about occupational therapy at www.aota.org.
If any of your students are interested in learning more about Pediatric Occupational Therapy as a possible career, they are welcome to set up a time with me so they can see what OT is all about in a school setting. I can most easily be reached at romonk@clintonwis.com
Phy Ed / Health
Students have been competing in a badminton singles tournament the past week. Upcoming is doubles and lastly, we end with pickleball. These units are an activity that is life-long and works on agility, hand-eye coordination, strategy and balance. Although serving may be difficult for some, once it is achieved, staying balanced affords a player the best control of various shots during the volley. Games are rally score playing to 21 and winning by 2 points.
Badminton made its debut as a demonstration sport at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. It was not until the 1992 Games in Barcelona that it was officially included on the Olympic programme, with men's and women's singles and doubles events. The mixed doubles event made its debut in 1996 at the Atlanta Olympic Games.
School Counseling
Although it doesn’t feel like it, we are approaching the end of the school year quickly! Here some important dates to remember moving ahead:
February 20th - 21st: ACT + Writing and ACT WorkKeys Exams for Junior students.
February 25th - March 1st: Youth Risk Behavior Survey for all high school students.
March 1st: Application deadline for Early College Credit Program and Start College Now.
March 11th: Second semester parent/teacher conferences.
March 12th: Stateline Mental Health Presentation at CHS (more info coming soon!)
March 25th - 29th: Spring Break!
April 2nd: Application deadline for Youth Internship and Youth Apprenticeship.
April 8th - 12th: ACT Aspire Exam (9-10th grade), Forward Testing (10th grade)
May 7th - 16th: AP Exams
May 29th: Honors Night
June 2nd: Graduation Ceremony!
June 7th: Last day of school for 9-11th grade.
Science
Chemistry How many grams of water are produced when a one-liter bubble of methane is combusted? Just one fun example of what the chemistry students can do at this point in the year. And yes, we did explode those bubbles of methane. Pretty cool, I mean hot if you were close enough. Next up some thermodynamic work.
Physics students have worked on circular motion. We have explored circular motion on earth and in space. Labs were completed demonstrating the effect of circular motion using bicycle wheels, turntables, rotating objects, spinning cups of water, and even toys. With the road conditions lately tangental velocity has been a topic of interest. We utilized polar graph paper to model the orbit of Mercury. With the data we were able to verify Kepler’s Laws of planetary motion. We were able to use mathematics to determine the period of Mercury from the data.
Physics students have been working on Science ACT strategies. Method Test Prep has been used to improve ACT scores. Students must work on their test taking skills to improve scores.
Anatomy students have successfully completed their study of the nervous system. They will research a Nervous or Neurological disorder to share with the class. Next we cover eyes and vision. Students are excited about upcomin
Social Studies
World History: Vive la révolution! Students have begun their studies of some of the most famous revolutions in the world - Latin America, France, Germany, and the United States to name a few.
Global Studies: Students completed their study of Africa and are now exploring Latin America by comparing economies of various Latin America countries to the United States. This research will lead us into a discussion on myths of immigration and reasons for migration.
Global Studies Honors: With our Africa unit behind us we have moved into our Latin America unit and we are coming out the blocks fast with a discussion on current events regarding United States and Mexico to include things like Immigration, Border Security, and the War on Drugs.
Psychology: New semester means new you! And what better way to start the semester than take a look at how Psychology directly impacts you. Students are taking a look at the subfields of Psychology and how they relate to either their personal life or their professional life.
APUSH: Our class has just concluded the Civil War and Reconstruction. We will now explore the Gilded Age of industrialization and America’s growing economic strength in the world.
Sociology: Our class will be looking at the structure and history of sociology and the myriad of social problems that can be explored. We are currently on the topic of violence in America. The class had the opportunity to watch a video presentation given by the mother of a Columbine High School shooter. There will be many opportunities to explore other social issues during the semester.
US History: Our current unit is in the Great Gatsby Jazz Age era of flappers and bootleggers. We are exploring American immigrant population growth followed by the Great Depression.
Work-Based Learning
Work based learning
Summer will be here before we know it. Is your child looking for a summer job or career exploration? Check out these opportunities.
We are partnering with CareerTek to offer a Craftsmen/Women with Character course this summer. This experience is designed to give incoming juniors and seniors a deeper look into the skilled trades, placing them with a professional who is open to sharing his/her experiences over the time they have together. The summer sessions starts in June. Students will be on-site Monday-Thursday with classroom work on Fridays at CareerTek. Students will complete OSHA 10 training, earn summer school credit at Clinton, and college credit at Blackhawk Technical College. If your child is interesting in signing up or if you want more information please submit this form as soon as possible because spots are limited.
Clinton High School students going into their Senior year next year have also been invited to participate in Rock Internship Program. The Rock Internship Program is a six-week paid earn-and-learn experience where students will have the opportunity to work in a career field and/or a job that that aligns with their Academic Career Plan. In addition to gaining meaningful career pathway exposure, students will also be developing valuable skills that you can apply to future academic and work environments. This opportunity also starts in June with applications due February 22. If your child is interested in applying please submit an application online and let Mrs. Benisch know.
Besides these great opportunities a handful of other businesses have reached out looking to hire students for the summer. Lake Lawn is having a private hiring event for our students on Thursday, March 7. Apply online at www.LakeLawnResort.com. Grand Geneva has open interviews every Tuesday and Thursday from 1-5. Apply online at https://www.grandgeneva.com/about/employment. All other jobs are updated weekly at the Work-Based Learning Website. Continue to check back for the most up-to-date help wanted ads.
Is your child interested in the health field and/or Nursing Assistant Program? Start College Now applications are due March 1 for next Fall. Have your child see Mrs. Benisch or Mrs. Woodward for an application. Earning a CNA Certificate in high school helps pave the way for your future and opens many employment opportunities with still in high school
World Languages
Guten Tag! There is an old German saying in which February is having a conversation with January and says “Hatte ich die Kraft wie du, frierte ich das Kalb in der Kuh! (If I had the power that you have I would freeze the calf in the cow). This is obviously a dig at January because it has 31 days to 28 for February. Well with the weather being what it has been over the course of this month there might be some truth to that statement! I’m waiting in anticipation for Fruehling (Spring)!
(pictured right-Emma Sullivan & Shayla Mullooly)
German II students are being introduced to the accusative case, the second case of the German language, and all that goes along with it, such as pronouns, possessive adjectives and prepositions. This case deals with introducing a direct object to a German sentence. We took a little time out over Valentine’s Day to create some Valentine’s Day cards with German sayings. There might be one headed in your direction!
German III just finished working on the positive, comparative, and superlative form of adjectives and adverbs. They are now engaged in a fun little project that allows them to make those comparisons using the adjectives or adverbs of their choice in comparing various topics of their liking.
German IV recently wrapped up work on the genitive case, the fourth and final case of the German language that deals with possession and ownership. The cultural theme was eating out at restaurants so the class is now busy at work creating a fictitious restaurant and menu depicting German foods from appetizers, side dishes, desserts, beveridges, and of course the main entrees. Alles auf Deutsch bitte (everything in German please)!
German V recently finished a fairy tale unit on several famous Grimm Brother tales and are getting ready to study a darker side of German history by reading a book entitled Die Weisse Rose (The White Rose), a university student protest/resistance movement directed towards the Third Reich. We will have an opportunity to study the Germany of WW II.
Both German and Spanish programs are preparing to unveil plans for the Germany/Spain trips that will take place next year (2020) over Spring Break. Announcements as to the dates and times of these informational meetings will be forthcoming shortly. Aufwiedersehen!
Spanish 1 students have worked with places, days of the week, seasons of the year vocabulary related to school along with the pertaining grammar. Also, students have been introduced to an audio online platform that allows them to expand their vocabulary and pronunciation.
Spanish 2 students have worked with comparative and superlative structures along with the pertaining vocabulary. They have started to watch a TV show that provides further cultural information. Besides, students continue practicing reading strategies and how to formulate questions and answers in the target language.
Spanish 3 students have worked on the reflexive verbs and holidays and celebrations of the Spanish speaking countries. They have been introduced to a TV series that provides the context to engage the student in conversational activities. Students continue practicing reading strategies and how to formulate questions and answers in the target language.
Spanish 4 students have been working with the imperfect and the imperfect progressive tenses along with the unit vocabulary. They have demonstrated their understanding of Latino art through a series of activities and presentations. They have been introduced to a TV series that provides the context to engage the student in conversational activities.
Spanish 5 students continue reading a novel and they continue working on reading and writing skills for the Language Placement Test along with the grammar and pertaining grammar and vocabulary.