Palmer High School January
Principal's Post
Welcome to 2023- Forecasting the School Journey
I would like to begin by welcoming all the Palmer High School families to 2023. Reflecting on 2022- it was quiet the year of extreme weather conditions. We started 2022 with a week-long epic weather event that measured wind speeds over one hundred mph. That was followed by ice and snowstorms in February that closed our beloved Hatchers Pass recreational State Park for the remainder of the winter. Our summer started out with the longest stretch of our most desired weather, summer days- with eighteen hour days that allow us to actually expose our skin to the much needed sunshine. That wonderful stretch of summer weather was followed by the wettest August and September on record. We capped it off with what was deemed snowmageddon. Alaska has always been known for its extreme weather, but 2022 was one for the books and will not soon be forgotten.
My segue into the school climate is an attempt predict what your student and families might expect for the second half of their senior year, junior year, sophomore year, or freshman year, respectively. Like predictions in the weather, it's a forecast and forecast don't always come to fruition.
Seniors are entering the final semester of their thirteen-year journey of education. For parents and students this might be a bittersweet final stretch. The realization that graduation is just a few short months away can be both exciting and nerve racking. One of our greatest transitions in life is graduating from high school and launching into adulting. The advice I can provide from 26 years of experience working with high school students is to find the assurance that all your seniors ducks are in a row with regards to the classes and credits needed to graduate. They should be checking in with their counselor for this reassurance. My other advice for our seniors and families is to enjoy the final stretch of their high school experience. Take some time to slow down and reflect on this long journey.
Juniors are now well over the hump of the halfway point of high school. I often point out to all the classes (9th-12th) that high school will fly by. It seems to be a time in life that picks up momentum as the years go by. Through the pandemic we have had many students struggle to accumulate the credits needed towards graduation. Tell your junior student to get a better grasp of where they are with credit counts, what they still need to achieve. Encourage them to stop in and see their counselor. Focus on making it a priority to have a smooth senior year.
Sophomore year can be one of the more difficult years in high school. The classes get more rigorous and there are more core area classes that are required with fewer electives. Speaking in generalities, after one year of high school sophomores often think they have it all figured out which can lead to being overconfident yet poorly informed. That's the definition of sophomoric. The sophomore year is also the year that many students get their driver’s license. It's an awesome rite of passage in our culture but one that comes with tremendous responsibility and opportunity to make bad choices. That's the nature of being independent. Parents, keep a close account on your sophomore students.
Freshman just completed the first of eight semesters of a high school journey. Take a hard look at how they did their first semester. One of the most important indicators to success in high school is how a student does their freshman year. If they had a great first semester of high school, it's a very good sign that they will be successful in high school. If not, there is still plenty of time to intervene and get them the help they need to be successful.
One variable that is common for all students a families no matter what grade they are in, is being an engaged and involved parent in your students journey make a difference in the outcome. Monitor their progress, and have conversations about how things are going. They act like they don't like it, but they really do like to know that we care! By the way, first semester final grades were uploaded today (Friday, January 13th) in Parentvue.
As always, if you have concerns about where your student is in their high school journey reach out to get the help needed for their success.
Principal Reid
Guidance Information - Upcoming Opportunities & Events
MSBSD is offering a FREE in-school PSAT for any 9th or 10th grade. Test date is March 1, 2023. The last day to sign up is Friday, January 20th. Please email shannon.uschmann@matsuk12.us to sign your student up.
A Real World Financial Experience! Financial Reality Fair, sponsored by Matanuska Valley Credit Union, will be at PHS January 25th 11:45 am -1:45 pm.
A Get REAL Financial Reality Fair is a fun, hands-on way for students and young adults to learn about managing personal finances. Community members and credit union staff assist students in making decisions about everyday expenses and provide financial advice to help keep a budget. **Participate and you have a chance to win a gift card! (information flyer attached)
Open to Juniors and Seniors. Please email shannon.uschmann@matsuk12.us to sign your student up.
Scholarships - the only way to have shot at winning scholarships to apply for them! Scholarships are being updated daily on the students google classroom and on PHS Counseling page.
Important Dates for Seniors:
May 9th: Senior Awards Night
May 11th: Senior’s Last Day, Senior Send Off & Picnic
May 16th: 7:00 pm Graduation
9:00 am Graduation Practice
IB CAS Project Event
To provide an example and promote an upcoming CAS project, I will share more information about Soup Night. There are three IB diploma candidates working together on this project. It began with pottery. A home project that began with learning how to throw pottery. That builds an inventory of bowls. It was the genesis of the idea of Soup Night. The IB art students applied the glaze to give the bowls a beautiful finish, and ready for soup.
The culmination of the project will transpire as Soup Night on Saturday, January 21st at Palmer High from 5:30-8:00pm. All proceeds will go to the Palmer Food Bank. There will be an assortment of soups and for the first 80 attendees the homemade bowl is yours to keep. The students organizing the event are still looking for silent auction items and trivia prizes.
If you are interesting in donating items contact Palmer High at 746-8400.