The Bird Call
News and Notes from Clever High School
It's a Learning Experience
On a recent road trip with my wife and two sons, we worked our way through several of the classic games designed to pass the time until we reached our destination. "Would you rather...", "If you had one superpower...", "You're stranded on a desert island..", and more. In all honesty, I think they play these games to keep me from telling my best dad jokes to an audience that can't escape (Classics like, Sundays are always a little sad, but the day before is always a sadder day!).
As we worked our way through the different games, we inevitably landed on the "if you had any three wishes, what would they be?" question. We all gave the same fairly predictable answers and moved on to the next game. It got me thinking though and I found myself asking the same question with a different spin - If I had any three wishes for our students, what would they be? After some careful consideration, I narrowed my list down to these three:
First, I wish our students knew the power of believing in themselves. Henry Ford famously said, "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't - you're right". Learning, fostering, and nurturing self-efficacy are invaluable, and mastering this trait is extremely difficult, especially at a young age. However, the impact that believing in one's own ability to successfully accomplish a task is astounding.
Secondly, I wish our students recognized that failure is an EVENT, not a character trait. It is a situation and can be overcome. Failing does not make you a failure. It is an opportunity to grow. Failure is not the opposite of success, it is part of it. In realizing this, students will learn to take risks and become comfortable outside of their comfort zone. We don't just need problem-solvers, we need problem prognosticators - individuals who can foresee or predict a problem before it exists. This level of innovative thinking does not occur under the constant fear of failure.
Finally, and most importantly, I wish every student could see his/herself through the eyes of the adults in their lives that love and care about them. So often our students are facing struggles that are very real to them. Issues that affect them deeply and cause them to doubt their abilities or their worth. As a parent and an educator, I have come to realize that the lens I see my own sons and our students through is often very different than what they see themselves. Similar to how a butterfly does not have the ability to see its own wings and may spend its life never seeing the beauty that others do, the same can be said for our students. I am guilty of taking for granted the talent and potential that surrounds me every day, for assuming our students know their value and are receiving the reinforcement they deserve. It never hurts to offer encouragement and kindness to others. The extra effort might make all the difference.
If you ask me what my three wishes are in a year from now, there is a decent chance that these would change. The truth is, there are a lot of things I wish for our students, and narrowing it down to three is somewhat arbitrary. More than anything, this reflection has given me a sense of optimism as I am reminded that the best is still ahead for them and that it is not too late to help make positive changes in their lives.
The end of the semester will be here before we know it. This newsletter is filled with important information and I hope you find it helpful. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Go Jays!
Joe Casey
High School Principal
Email: caseyj@cleverbluejays.org
Remind: Text "@clever9-12" to 81010
Twitter: @CleverPrincipal
Make-Up Days!
Hickman's Happenings
Character Education in the HS
Our character word of the month for March is Self-Control. A Clever Bluejay with Self-Control sees the big picture, sets goals, and commits to them. They are able to use their technology appropriately and show affection to others appropriately. Above all, they think before they act and have inner strength that can resist peer pressure.
A+ News:
Sophomores and Juniors: To meet your 50 tutoring hours requirement for A+, you need to take the A+ tutoring class, which is a ½ elective credit. This can be taken during summer school or during the school year (fall semester if you are an incoming senior, spring semester if you are an incoming junior). When registration opens for summer school and next school year, please remember to sign up for the A+ tutoring class.
Senior Attendance Appeals: Attendance is still being tracked for seniors and if you are below 95% cumulative attendance, you will be receiving paperwork in the mail describing the attendance appeals process. Please be watching for this paperwork and make sure to complete it by the deadline.
Senior Male Students: Just a reminder that one of the requirements for A+ is to sign up for the Selective Service. If you have reached the age of 18 (or 17 years and 3 months), please go to https://www.sss.gov to register.
Seniors: Just a reminder to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). This is one of the requirements to be eligible for the A+ scholarship. If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Hickman or Mrs. Waisner.
Students and parents should first set up a FSA ID: https://fsaid.ed.gov
File the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. This is a free website - beware of other sites which may charge a fee!!
Counselor's Corner
The ACT test will be given here at Clever High School on April 21st. This will be an online test. 10-12th grade students can take this test for $46. If your student would like to take this test, they need to bring a cash/check into the office by April 7th. We will register for the test together here at school. There will be act prep sessions during PRIDE time on April 2nd (English), April 9th (Math), April 16th(Reading). Students will sign up for sessions when they turn in their money or by emailing and letting Mrs. Waisner know they are attending the sessions. If students attend all three prep sessions and score at or above the national average, the school will reimburse the ACT fee.
If you have any questions, simply reply back to this email, and Mrs. Waisner will be happy to help.
End of Course Exam Dates
May 5 - Government
May 12 -13 - English
May 14 - Biology
May 19 - 20 - Algebra I
Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Dates
May 4 - Calculus 8AM
May 6 - Computer Science 12PM
May 7 - Chemistry 8AM
May 17 - Computer Science Principles 8AM
May 17 - Statistics 12PM
Scheduling and Individual Career & Academic Plans (ICAP)
Students will be completing their ICAP's soon and will begin scheduling for next year. Please watch for emails and announcements.
Seniors
Multiple local scholarships are available and will be due very soon. Please continue to look at the scholarship webpage.
Senior Awards Night - May 12th @ 6PM
Bluejay Signing Day - Tuesday, May 11th
Virtual Learning
Click below for a link to our expectations for students learning remotely. While originally designed to help our Bluejays@home learners navigate virtual learning, this information applies to any student who finds him/herself learning from home.
Officer Barney's 4-1-1
Hello again from Officer Barney.
“Medical marijuana”, “Rx pot”, or “Rx marijuana”. Is it a real medicine or just a drug? Here’s what several medical societies have to say:
American Society of Addiction Medicine: Rejects a process whereby State and local ballot initiates approval medicines by unqualified individuals to make that determination.
American Cancer Society: Does not advocate inhaled marijuana or legalization.
American Glaucoma Foundation: Does not recommend marijuana in any form currently.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society: Studies do not show a clear benefit, not recommended.
The American Academy of Pediatrics: Believes changing adult marijuana laws impact adolescence.
The American Medical Association: Believes cannabis is a dangerous drug with a public health concern, and the sale of cannabis should not be legalized.
The American Psychiatric Association: There is strong evidence marijuana is associated with the onset of psychiatric disorders.
FDA (Food and Drug Administration): States passing Rx Mj: These measures are inconsistent with efforts to ensure that medication undergoes the rigorous scientific scrutiny of the FDA approval process and are proven safe and effective under the standards of the FD&C Act.
Compare Rx Mj with any other FDA-approved medicine. Ask the questions. How many circumvent safety of FDA New Drug Unit testing, allow you to grow or make your own, how many are smoked, come in unmeasured doses and unknown strengths, taken as “thought” needed, how many come in crude form (molded bread instead of penicillin), and how many are voted on by the public view of science. Over-the-counter medicines have warning and dosage stipulations because they can be harmful and even fatal if not taken correctly.
You are intelligent and have a brain. Use your brain and do the research. Here is a link to a video “Chronic State” out of Colorado, which gives real-life insight to Rx Mj: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTYs3baYewg or https://vimeo.com/280127474.
Marijuana contains a psychoactive that has a negative impact on the brain, and it’s not like you can buy a new one if you abuse it.
Be smart and safe
Officer Barney
District Long-Range Planning
Important Dates for Seniors
Prom (parent-sponsored): April 24th
Senior Awards/Scholarship Night: May 12th
Seniors Last Day: May 14th
Baccalaureate: May 16th at FBC Clever
Graduation: May 17th at 6:00 pm, Drury University
Last Day: May 28th
Clubs and Activities
Future Teachers of America - Mrs. Neely
Fellowship of Christian Athletes - Coach Jones
Science History Club - Mr. Burry
Clever Student Alliance - Mrs. Money
Art Club - Mr. Schmidt
Future Business Leaders of America - Mrs. Lumpkin
National Honor Society - Ms. Lathem
Future Farmers of America - Ms. Hultz
Student Council - Mrs. Grant and Mrs. Waisner
Yearbook - Mr. Boyles
Speech and Debate - Mr. Rea
Academic Team - Mr. Walker and Mr. McGarry
Spirit Squad - Mrs. Neely
Theatre - Mrs. Scheibe
Math Club - Mr. McGarry