Palmer High School
October Principal's Post
State of the Campus Address
This weekend marks the end of the season for some of our fall activities. Tennis season is coming to an end, cross-country running season is competing in their region championship event this weekend, and the 44th Annual Potato Bowl will be hosted at Palmer High Friday night at 7:00pm. GO MOOSE! This indicates the time of year when students are settling into their new routine for the school year, and the newness is wearing off.
I often find myself addressing stakeholders (parents & guardians) about the status of the current school year this time of year. I have a philosophy that we should live life through the windshield, not the rearview mirror. With that said, we can reflect, learn, and grow from our experiences (that rearview mirror).
This time last year I found myself airing some of our struggles in correspondence to families at the beginning of the year. A high percentage of students were struggling. Students were struggling with high absenteeism, which is the greatest variable in a student’s success. Students were learning how to be students again in the wake of the pandemic, and failure rates were genuinely concerning.
I am happy to report that we (as a school) are in a much better place this year. Students are engaging academically much better than last year. Attendance has improved; however, it is not back to what it was pre-pandemic. Students and staff are settled into the school year, and we are finding our stride.
Looking through the windshield, we feel like our best recipe for success in through a partnership with parents & guardians. Encourage good attendance, monitor your students’ academic progress via ParentVUE, reach out to your student’s counselor, teacher or school administrator if you have concerns. The end of the first quarter is in a few short weeks. This will establish eligibility for our upcoming winter sports, so the time is now to check their academic status.
Reach out if you have questions or concerns.
Principal Reid
Clarity On PHS Four C's Time
Last year the district began the program known as 4c's (College & Career readiness, Credit recovery or acceleration, & Community). Four C's meet four days a week at the end of the school day (Tuesday-Friday). On Tuesday all the students do a grade check and goal sheet with their mentor teacher. Tuesday is when they plan for the rest of the week based on their individual needs. I will provide several examples to help parents better understand what opportunities it provides for our students.
Today, like many Fridays, we have over one hundred students out for athletics. It is likely that teachers are doing assessment (test or quizzes) on Fridays. On this upcoming Tuesday, these absent students can set up time Wednesday through Friday to meet with their teachers to take that make-up test or quiz.
To meet student’s needs, each core subject area offers academic intervention opportunities. The best example of this is math lab, where students can get more direct instruction on a topic with which they are struggling. Wednesday through Friday are fluid where students are going where they signed up to go on those days, based on their needs at that time. Students can also choose to stay in their four c's assigned class and have a quiet work environment to complete schoolwork/homework.
If a student is failing a class, the academic strategy is to place the struggling student with the teacher (or another teacher in the department) in the subject they are failing. We have many credit-deficient students, so we offer a handful of credit recovery classes each quarter. This is intentional for students that previously failed a core class that is required for graduation. This quarter we have a section of English 2, Biology, next quarter we are offering credit recovery for World Studies, and Physical Science.
Students can also use this time to advance their credits. Next quarter we are offering an Alaska Studies and Health class, and there is an entire menu of courses through I-Tech (the districts online platform) for students to advance their credits.
Having incentives for students is important for motivating the less motivated students and to reward students that are doing well. Juniors and seniors that are on track to graduate and are in good academic standings can sign up for off campus. This time can be used for community service. Peer tutoring is a great use of service hours for students. Many of 11th and 12th that are working are able to start work earlier on these the day.
Freshmen and sophomores doing well in their classes can sign up for an incentive oasis. These are areas of the school designated for students to go once they are launched from their four c's teacher. This is providing an opportunity for kids to be kids and enjoy time with their peers in supervised areas of the school.
The entire model is designed to meet students’ needs and in theory, to motivate students to do well in their academic pursuits. We are doing progress report grade checks every 4.5 weeks to reevaluate where all the students (grade 9th-12th) are academically and reel them in if they are sliding.
If you have questions or need clarity about how four c's is serving your student, as always, we are available to meet or talk.
Guidance Counseling News
Freshman & Sophomores can take the PSAT for free in the spring semester.
The 9th/10th grade PSAT test date is March 1st. Registration will open November 1st, students will sign-up in a designated core class.
Class of 2023 Senior Families:
To stay in the loop during your student’s senior year, please sign up for REMIND and bookmark the Class of 2023, All Things Senior link on our PHS webpage. Important information and deadlines we will be shared and updated in both places.
REMIND Code for Parents: text @h2ceebf to 81010
https://sites.google.com/apps.matsuk12.us/phs-class-of-22/home
**Don’t miss out on our Financial Aid Night on October 3rd @ 6:30 pm, in the PHS Theater
This is a perfect opportunity to have both parents and students walk through the daunting task of understanding financial aid and ask questions. Financial Aid Night will cover a variety of topics, how to fill out the FAFSA, what types of financial aid are available. We will also have a representative from UAA, Mat-Su College, Jostens (cap & gown order), and our yearbook staff available for questions.