February Eagle News 2024
Course Selection
February 7th
Dear Parents ~
We have already begun the course selection process for the 2024-25 school year. The goal for all students requesting courses for next school year should be to choose classes that are rigorous to their academic level, relevant to individual interests, and will help prepare them for their post-secondary goals. Registering students for the most appropriate classes is a vital step in a student's academic success.
Our next course selection night will be held on February 7 from 4:00 - 8:00 pm in the commons and Gym 2. To streamline course selection presentations, we have transitioned to a virtual format you can view as a family prior to course selection night. Presentations were sent to parents via Brightarrow.
All students should bring their Chromebook to course selection night! Incoming freshmen can check out a loaner Chromebook. Upon arrival, please report to the grade-level line of your student's NEXT YEAR GRADE LEVEL where you will receive a course selection sheet and a grade-level course worksheet. You will then meet with faculty in the commons and Gym 2 to help determine the best courses for your student. They will work with you and your student to be sure prerequisites are understood and help obtain instructor permission, where necessary. Once all signatures are collected, students will enter their course choices in the online scheduling portal. Staff members will be circulating to assist with online scheduling questions. Once your student has submitted their course choices, they will turn in their course selection sheet prior to exiting the building.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this process, please call the High School Counseling Office at 920.675.1126. If you were not able to attend last week, I look forward to seeing you on February 7th.
Sincerely,
Nick Skretta, Principal
COUNSELING NEWS AND
PARENT/STUDENT RESOURCES
Early College Credit / Start College Now
Wisconsin’s Early College Credit and Start College Now Programs allow juniors and seniors who meet certain requirements to take post-secondary courses at a UW institution, a Wisconsin technical college or one of the state’s participating private nonprofit institutions of higher education. Approved courses can count toward high school graduation, as well as for college credit. Under these programs a student will not have to pay for a college course if the school board determines the course qualifies for high school credit and is not comparable to a course already offered in the school district. If the course is approved by the school board, the student can receive one-quarter high school credit for every one college credit earned upon successful completion of the course. To obtain the necessary forms or to discuss the possibility of participating in the ECC and/or SCN program, contact the Jefferson High School Counseling office. Applications for enrollment in the ECC and/or SCN programs must be made by March 1st for the fall semester of next school year. Requests will be presented to the School Board and the student will receive notification of the board’s decision.
Seniors - UW System Placement Testing
Registration for the UW System regional placement test opens in February. For more information, check out the UW System Regional Placement Testing website.
Seniors - Scholarships
In you plan to apply for scholarships, please remember the deadline for most of our local scholarships is March 1. If you have any questions about using the scholarship database, please stop in the counseling office and see Mrs. Dwyer.
Unofficial transcripts will be emailed directly to students to use for their scholarship applications. Transcripts will be emailed to students the week of February 5th.
Seniors and Juniors - ASVAB
THE ASVAB CAREER EXPLORATION PROGRAM is a career planning and exploration program that combines a multiple aptitude test with an interest in self-assessment and a wide range of career exploration tools. The ASVAB is scheduled for Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. in the counseling office. Students will receive their assessment results the day of testing.
Click here for a copy of the permission form.
Juniors - Preparing for the ACT
We have a number of resources to help examinees prepare to take the ACT, including the opportunity to take a practice test, and use ACT Academy’s free personalized resources.
ZAPS - ACT TEST PREP
ZAPS - permission slip
World Languages FAQ
The world languages department would like to share responses to some frequently asked questions that parents and students often have when considering high school courses and postsecondary options.
Do I have to take a world language in order to graduate from Jefferson High School?
No. All Spanish and Latin courses are elective courses, meaning that students are not required to take them in order to graduate.
Do I have to take a world language in order to get into college?
It depends on the colleges or universities to which you are considering applying.
Currently, the only University of Wisconsin (UW) System School that requires world language coursework as a criterion for admission is UW-Madison, which requires a minimum of two years of a single world language. Several of the other UW System Schools indicate that applicants typically take world languages classes as part of their college preparatory coursework. Specifically, the average applicant to UW-La Crosse has taken three credits of world languages. Further information about the admissions requirements for all the University of Wisconsin System Schools can be found at http://uwhelp.wisconsin.edu/admissions/freshman/guidelines.aspx.
If you are considering a private college or an out-of-state public university, you should check the admissions requirements on their website and/or contact their admissions office. Your counselor can also help you determine the world languages requirements of prospective colleges and universities.
Lastly, many colleges and universities do not require world languages coursework at the high school level in order to be admitted, but many programs of study at the university level do require students to earn world languages credit prior to graduating. Again, you should consult the websites of prospective colleges and universities and/or speak with your counselor to learn the specific requirements for the programs of study you are considering.
Can I earn college credit by passing the Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish Language and Culture or AP Spanish Literature and Culture Exam?
Yes. Most colleges and universities will award credit for passing either AP Spanish Exam with a score of three, four, or five.
All University of Wisconsin (UW) schools award credit for a score of three or higher on either exam. Further information about the specific number and type of credit awarded at UW System Schools can be found at http://uwhelp.wisconsin.edu/testing/ap.aspx.
If you will be attending a non-UW System School, you should check the school’s website and/or speak to your counselor for specific information regarding the college or university’s policy for awarding credit for AP Exam scores.
What are retroactive credits (aka retro credits)?
Retroactive credits are credits granted in recognition of previous language study at all University of Wisconsin (UW) System Schools.
To earn retroactive credits, you must take a placement test in the language that you are seeking credit during orientation/registration and place into a course that is not the entry-level (101) course. To earn retroactive credit, you must take and pass the more advanced course with a grade of B or better. Unlike AP credit, you must take a college course in the language to earn retroactive credit. The mount and type of credits awarded varies by school and language. Information about UW-Madison’s retroactive credit policy can be found at http://languages.wisc.edu/advising/retro.
Can I earn both Advanced Placement (AP) and retroactive credits (aka retro credits) if I will be attending a University of Wisconsin (UW) System School?
Yes. AP credit is awarded by all UW System Schools when they receive your scores in July. You do not need to take any additional coursework in the language to earn the credit. As explained in the previous response, retroactive credit is awarded upon completion of a more advanced class in the language at the college level. Once you pass the course with a B or better, you will earn retroactive credits. Unlike AP credit, you must take a college course in the language to earn retroactive credit.
If I am planning on attending a University of Wisconsin (UW) System School and earning retroactive credits (aka retro credits), do I need to take an AP Spanish Exam?
Although you do not need to take the AP Exam to earn college credit given the UW’s policy on retroactive credits, keep in mind that you must do well on the UW placement test and pass a more advanced course to earn college credit. In contrast, all UW schools will award credit for a score of three or higher on an AP Exam without the requirement to take another language course and earn a B or better.
Also, since students attending a UW System school typically register for courses in the spring or early summer, it is advantageous to take the placement test even if you have taken or will be taking an AP Spanish Exam given that AP scores are not released until July. Additionally, if you take both the placement test and an AP Exam and do well on both, you have the option of choosing the score/option that suits you best.
4K Pre-Registration for 24-25 is open!
Please go to https://www.sdoj.org/schools/4k/ to learn more or click the link below to register today!
Please share with family, friends, or neighbors who have a child who will turn 4 on or before September 1, 2024.
Use this form to pre-register and reserve a space for your 4K student(s) for the 2024-2025 school year.
There will be a new structure to programming for the 24-25 school year:
School District of Jefferson 4K Programming (Half-day)
Starting with the 2024-25 school year, we will offer 4K in the AM and PM at Jefferson Early Learning Center (located at East Elementary), and in the AM at Sullivan Elementary. Half day programs run Monday - Thursday. The AM sessions run from 8:00 AM - 11:10 AM, and the PM sessions run from 11:50 AM - 3:00 PM.
Full Day Programming (SDoJ partnership with Head Start)
Head Start eligible students will be offered full day placement at the Jefferson Early Learning Center (located at East Elementary). The program runs Monday - Thursday from 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Eligible students will be offered placement in the AM Jefferson County Head Start Classroom, and in a PM School District of Jefferson 4K Classroom. Students will be provided breakfast and lunch through Head Start. After lunch, students will be walked from the Head Start classroom to the 4K classroom, which is located in the classroom next door.
With wrap around care available, through our community partner KidSpace, and free bussing to and from licensed child care centers within district boundaries, our goal is to offer an all-encompassing experience of services for your child.
¡La preinscripción 4K para el 24-25 está abierta!
¡Vaya a https://www.sdoj.org/schools/4k/ para obtener más información o haga clic en el enlace a continuación para registrarse hoy!
Compártalo con familiares, amigos o vecinos que tengan un hijo que cumplirá 4 años el 1 de septiembre de 2024 o antes.
Utilice este formulario para preinscribirse y reservar un espacio para su(s) estudiante(s) de 4K para el año escolar 2024-2025.
Preinscribe a un estudiante 4k para el año escolar 2024-2025
Habrá nueva estructura de programación para el curso escolar 24-25:
Programación 4K del Distrito Escolar de Jefferson (medio día)
A partir del año escolar 2024-25, ofreceremos 4K en la mañana y en la tarde en el Centro de Aprendizaje Temprano Jefferson (ubicado en la Primaria East) y en la mañana en la Primaria Sullivan. Los programas de medio día se realizan de lunes a jueves. Las sesiones de la mañana se desarrollan de 8:00 a. m. a 11:10 a. m. y las sesiones de la tarde se realizan de 11:50 a. m. a 3:00 p. m.
Programación de día completo (asociación de SDoJ con Head Start)
A los estudiantes elegibles de Head Start se les ofrecerá colocación de día completo en el Centro de Aprendizaje Temprano Jefferson (ubicado en East Elementary). El programa se desarrolla de lunes a jueves de 8:00 am a 3:00 pm. A los estudiantes elegibles se les ofrecerá colocación en el salón de clases Head Start del condado de Jefferson por la mañana y en un salón de clases 4K del distrito escolar de Jefferson por la tarde. Los estudiantes recibirán desayuno y almuerzo a través de Head Start. Después del almuerzo, los estudiantes serán acompañados desde el salón de Head Start hasta el salón de 4K, que está ubicado en el salón de al lado.
Con atención integral disponible a través de nuestro socio comunitario KidSpace y transporte gratuito desde y hacia centros de cuidado infantil autorizados dentro de los límites del distrito, nuestro objetivo es ofrecer una experiencia integral de servicios para su hijo.
SDOJ Health Protocols
We are seeing a recent increase in the number of illnesses reported to school. Illnesses reported have included fever, upper respiratory infections, stomach aches, as well as vomiting and diarrhea. Confirmed cases of Influenza, RSV and Covid have been reported. To help reduce the risk of spreading illness to other students and staff we ask that you follow these SDOJ Health Protocols.