Solon High School
Monthly Update-February 2021
Second Semester is underway!
Good morning SHS families,
As we continue to work hard to provide the best possible education under our current conditions we are thankful for all of the support and understanding. Every day is an opportunity to learn and grow, and we will continue to do just that. Our first round of conferences are on Thursday as we are already in week 3 of our 2nd semester classes (1st and 3rd blocks). If you have not yet signed up for a slot and would like to, please do so prior to Wednesday night. The signup is below under "Important Dates." As always reach out with any questions or concerns. Enjoy the week, Zach
For ALL things Solon High School please remember to visit this page.
National Honor Society
Silver Cord
Reminder to Seniors that if they want to complete their silver cord requirements, all paperwork needs to be turned in to Mrs. Sutton in the Media Center by May 1st. All students interested in silver cord can check out more information here. Questions? Students can contact Mrs. Sutton by email or schedule an appointment.
2nd Semester Schedule if you need it again
Congratulations!
Process Reminders for Contact Tracing
The following provides a review of this process when the school receives notification of a positive case.
1. You will receive an email stating there was a positive case in the classroom. At this time, we begin an investigation into the close contacts and other details surrounding this case.
2. If your son/daughter needs to quarantine you will be called by a nurse. This means both parties were within 6 ft for a minimum of 15 consecutive minutes without masks being worn consistently or correctly.
3. If you don’t receive a phone call from a nurse indicating the need to quarantine, you may receive notification (phone call or email) that he/she was a close contact but does not need to quarantine since masks were worn in the classroom.
***PLEASE NOTE: Johnson County Public Health is calling close contacts not being quarantined due to mask use. They are encouraging families to be on a “light quarantine.” This means while they are allowed to come to school, they should otherwise be home when outside of the school day.
4. If your son/daughter is not a close contact to the positive case, you will receive a final email communication indicating the investigation is complete.
We understand the communication can be confusing at times. Johnson County Public Health follows up on each positive case. Due to the number of cases and possible contacts, they may not be aware of a subsequent exposure at the time they are making the call. This means that while your child may not be exposed from one exposure, they may be from another. Please feel free to ask them questions about the case they are calling you about. When did the exposure take place? Did both individuals wear masks during the exposure?
Please see this document “Quarantine vs. Isolation.” This will help explain the scenarios the nurses talk through when your family is affected by Covid.
Amy Link and Kris Elijah are always happy to help you navigate through this process. Please reach out to either of them with questions.
Middle & High School Nurse
Amy Link, RN, BSN
319-624-3401 x1404
LV & SIS nurse
Kris Elijah, RN, BSN
319-624-3401 x1288
2020-2021 Yearbook
Please use the following link to upload any school candid photos:
*Please note: It allows for a nice variety of picture choices in your yearbook when used. This is a great way to get the most pictures possible for our book this school year and a good way to include our e-learning students too!
We encourage adding a tag to the photo uploads before uploading, so that pictures get categorized correctly in your yearbook. (Examples: Musical, 2nd block Algebra, lunch outside)
Hey Senior families!
Dates to ADD to your calendar
Feb. 4th, 11th and 25th- 1:45 Dismissals
Feb. 4th- Conferences for 1st and 3rd blocks: The sign up can be found HERE
Feb. 15th- NO school (Professional Development for our teachers)
Feb. 18th- Regular day (3:15 dismissal)
From the Counseling office
Mike Thompson, Solon HS Counselor
Contact Information:
Phone: (319) 624-3401 extension 1117
Email: mithompson@solon.k12.ia.us
Website: https://sites.google.com/solon.k12.ia.us/solon-hs-counseling/home
Celebrate National School Counseling Week!
The week of February 1 - 5 is National School Counselor Week. School counselors help students and teachers in numerous ways. School Counselors are: actively engaged in helping students examine their abilities, strengths, interests and talents; work with parents as they encounter the challenges of raising children in today’s world; focus on positive ways to enhance students’ social/emotional development, career development and academic development; work with teachers and other educators to provide an educational system where students can realize their potential and set healthy, realistic and optimistic aspirations for themselves. School counselors are certified, experienced educators with a master’s degree in school counseling. The combination of their training and experience makes them an integral part of the total educational program.
J-FAST
The Solon CSD has partnered with J-FAST to offer Mental Health services to all students in our district. J-FAST is a great resource if you have concerns about a child in crisis or overall questions about Mental Health resources. Check out this flyer for more information.
Summer 2021 Workplace Internships Opportunity
The Workplace Learning Connection (WLC) will be offering internship opportunities to students in grades 10 & 11 for summer 2021. An internship is a 60-hour on-site experience. Over the past three years, more Solon HS students have completed an internship during the summer months because they have more time to schedule the hours. Solon HS students who have completed an internship experience continually report that the experience solidified their career plan. Students who successfully complete an internship receive three (3) elective credits.
The internship portal is NOW OPEN and WLC is accepting Summer 2021 internship applications. Current sophomores and juniors are eligible, with applications DUE by 3PM on Friday, February 12th!
Here is the link to the WLC Internship Page: https://www.kirkwood.edu/workplace-learning-connection/internships/
Rochelle Sowers is Solon HS's Internship contact. Contact Rochelle with any questions. (Rochelle.Sowers@kirkwood.edu or 319-887-3651)
February is Career & Technical Education Month
As the residential construction industry continues to struggle with labor shortages, businesses and local home builders associations are finding new ways to recruit the next generation of skilled labor. Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month® is a public awareness campaign that takes place each February to celebrate the value of CTE.
The Greater Iowa City Area Home Builders Association wants to invite your students to participate in a job shadow, whether in-person or virtual, with a builder, remodeler, electrician, HVAC professional or career of the student’s interest during the month.
Reach out to the IC HBA office with questions or job shadow requests.
Karyl Bohnsack, Executive Officer
Greater Iowa City Area Home Builders Association
PO Box 3396
Iowa City IA 52244
Phone: 319-351-5333
Website – iowacityhomes.com
2021 -2022 Course Registration
We’ve started the process of preparing our students for the 2021 - 2022 school year. For us, that means preparing students with course selection. I have a website (2021 2022 Course Registration Page) that will contain information related to course registration. Our goal is to have all students in grades 8 - 11 select courses for 2021 - 2022 and enter those course selections into PowerSchool by March 5. The current plan is to have PowerSchool ready and available for students to enter course selections on February 10.
Current juniors and sophomores are eligible to take college credit courses. I have shared with these students the process of exploring options and registering for these courses. More information about registering for college credit courses can be found on my 2021 - 2022 Course Registration Page.
Scholarship Information
I continue to update my Scholarship Page. The 2020 - 2021 Comprehensive Scholarship List section contains scholarship information that comes from various businesses, organizations, colleges, etc. These scholarships are for our current seniors.
Also on this page is a section dedicated to scholarships for juniors.
FAFSA Step-by-Step: Sponsored by Iowa College Access Network
Parents of seniors, Iowa College Access Network (ICAN) can assist you and your senior with FAFSA completion. The ICAN representatives can also assist with all you financial aid questions. Our ICAN Representative is Lupe Hernandez. Lupe's contact information is:
Lupe Hernandez, Student Success Advisor
(319) 423-7702
ICAN’s website: https://www.icansucceed.org/
ICAN’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ICANsucceed
Activities Schedules
Thanks!
Solon High School
Email: zwigle@solon.k12.ia.us
Location: 600 West 5th Street, Solon, IA, USA
Phone: 319-624-3401
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SolonHighSchool/
Twitter: @wiglezac