Little Elm High School
Weekly Newsletter - November 25, 2018
November: A Month to be Thankful
End of Fall Semester - Finishing Strong
The end of our first semester is only three and a half weeks away now. 18 school days are still available for students who are struggling in one or more class. There is still time to turn in missing work, redo a summative assignment or attend tutorials for extra help in preparing for semester exams. Students, especially Freshmen, need to understand that it is never too late to make a positive change. Most classes are year- long which means that the first semester grade averages with the second semester grade. For example, if a student currently has a 55 in a full year class it would take an 85 second semester to average the two for a year end average of 70 which would mean credit would be awarded for both semesters. So any improvement students can achieve now can mean less is needed in the Spring to pass for the year.
The week of December 3-7 some students will be taking STAAR EOC exams. These exams are a state graduation requirement. This is an important opportunity especially for any senior who still needs to pass one or more EOC exam. There will be only one more opportunity to take these exams before graduation. The Spring administration of STAAR EOC’s will not provide results until the week of graduation meaning if a senior still needs to pass an EOC in the Spring, we will not know until the last minute whether they will be able to participate in graduation. It is important to successfully complete this graduation requirement now so that in the Spring semester seniors can just focus on completing credits needed and not have to worry about an EOC exam. Please see the tutorials times posted below for help in preparing for these important exams.
Semester exams are also an important assessment since they average as 15% of the final semester average. Students who have had exemplary attendance and grades may be eligible for a semester exam exemption. Please see the Exemption Criteria and Procedures linked below for details and timeline. This Friday, November 30 is an important date on the exemption timeline. ALL absence notes must be turned into house offices by this Friday so that attendance records are accurate to determine exemption eligibility. ANY unexcused absence will prevent a student from receiving exam exemptions. Please get those notes turned in by Friday!
Another important deadline is also approaching. Students who wish to request a schedule change for the Spring semester must do so by December 7. The procedure for requesting changes is linked below. Please remember as stated in the course guide, "Random changing of courses at the beginning of school and semester will not be honored due to the effect such changes have on classroom enrollment and the disruption of instruction." Counselors will work with students to make the needed changes in Spring schedules according to the list of allowable changes. Please note that a change in level such as moving from an AP class to an on-level class requires a specific procedure called SAVE which includes the student attending a minimum number of tutorials, taking advantage of summative re-take opportunities, and a required parent, teacher, administrator meeting. Even in the SAVE process, all schedule changes will depend on seats available in the requested course. Please do not wait until the last minute to request a change.
These last 18 days of the Fall semester are full of important deadlines. Please read the provided information on STAAR EOC testing, exam exemptions, and schedule changes to ensure a smooth finish for the Fall Semester while also preparing for success in the Spring Semester. In the words of Alexander Graham Bell, "Before anything else, preparation is the key to success."
Making Thanksgiving Perpetual
As we prepare for the week of Thanksgiving Break, I wanted to thank the many people who contribute to our school community.
Thanks to our students who put their faith in us to teach them the things that will prepare them for success in whatever they chose to do after they leave LEHS.
Thanks to our custodians who are continually cleaning up after 2100 teenagers and 200 adults.
Thanks to our food service staff who prepare breakfast and lunch for 2100 teenagers every school day.
Thanks to our teachers who care about kids and work hard everyday to ensure quality learning takes place.
Thanks to our club sponsors who see a need to provide an extra opportunity for students to get involved.
Thanks to our counselors who help kids and families with a wide range of decisions.
Thanks to our office staff who provide excellent customer service to students, parents, teachers, and community members.
Thanks to our maintenance crew who keep our air conditioning working and our lights always glowing.
Thanks to our coaches, band directors, drill team director, theater directors, choir directors, cheer coaches, AcDec coaches, UIL Academic coaches, CTE organization sponsors (DECA, HOSA, FCCLA, Law Enforcement, Culinary, FFA, AV/Media Tech) for providing our students with opportunities to learn leadership, team work, and community service.
Thanks to our Athletic Department who work long hours to provide opportunities for our student athletes to learn and perform in their chosen sport in a quality venue whether that is stadium, gym, or field.
Thanks to our administrators for working with kids, teachers, and parents on academic, social emotional, and basic needs.
Thanks to our librarian and media tech aide for making sure students have resources - books, computers, online tools.
Thanks to our College Readiness Coordinator for planning meaningful activities that help students and parents realize that college is more than a dream.
Thanks to our nurse and nurse's aide for taking care of our students medical needs.
Thanks to our hall monitors for helping us keep our hallways safe.
Thanks to our support personnel who provide specialized services to students.
Thanks to our parents who support our school in many ways such as booster clubs, fundraising, attending student events, and monitoring academic progress.
Thanks to our central office administrators who provide support, resources, and leadership.
Thanks to our community for showing their support from passing the Bond package which will ensure first rate facilities for our kids to attending the many events all over the district.
The mission of LEISD is to Engage, Equip, and Empower each student to reach their full potential. This is a bold mission that requires a caring and committed community. I will continue to be thankful every day for being fortunate enough to work with just that type of community. Together we will become "The Destination District."
In the words of Henry David Thoreau, "I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual."
Renee Pentecost
LEHS Principal
Attendance Matters - Semester Exam Exemptions
Fall exams are almost here!
2018-19 LEHS Exam Exemptions
- Students are eligible to earn semester final exam exemptions based on academic performance, attendance, citizenship and community service.
- The start date for exam exemption eligibility was Sep. 5, 2018.
- US History courses are excluded from Fall exam exemptions. Dual Credit, OnRamps, AP and Online Languages courses may also be excluded from exam exemptions in order to meet their program requirements.
- The final eligibility report will be run through the house offices and posted by Dec. 7, 2018.
- It is extremely important that all parent and doctor notes be turned in to your house office by Dec. 7, 2018. Notes turned in after this date will not impact students’ eligibility for exam exemptions.
- Students wanting the FamiLE exemption must turn in their documented 30 hours to house offices by Dec. 7, 2018.
- House offices will generate the official list of students eligible for exam exemptions.
- House offices will provide exemption cards through 3rd period classes to students listing the number of exam exemptions for which they are eligible.
- Students choose which class(es) they want to request an exemption and notify the teacher. Exemption cards will have eligible classes printed on the card.
- Teachers will have final approval of exemptions if the use of the exemption could result in a failing grade.
- ANY absences after exemptions have been printed can void the exemption. Teachers will verify eligibility if absences occur December 10 - December 19.
- Students must be present on exam days even if they are exempt.
- Each teacher will initial the exemption card to verify the exemption has been used and collect exemptions used in their class. Cards will be turned into Mr. Reza's office on January 3.
- A MISSED EXAM will be averaged as a zero and can impact whether a student earns credit for the course.
- Transfer students must attend school in district for a minimum of one full quarter to be eligible.
Attendance on Exam Days -
- Friday, December 14th and Monday, December 17th are FULL attendance days. You may leave after 5th period if you are exempt for your exam on that day and if you have transportation (walk, drive, or parent pick-up). If you stay on campus to wait for a ride, you must still report to scheduled classes.
- On Tuesday, December 18th ALL students must attend 3rd period (7:20 AM to 7:25 AM) for attendance purposes. If you have exemptions for the remainder of the day (4th, 5A, and 5B periods) you may leave after 7:25 AM if you have transportation (walk, drive, or parent pick-up). If you stay on campus to wait for a ride, you must still report to all scheduled classes and should bring something to study or read.
- On Wednesday, December 19th ALL students must report to 3rd period (7:20 AM to 8:35 AM) and if you have exemptions for the remainder of the day (1st, 2nd, and 3rd periods) you may leave after attendance has been taken if you have transportation (walk, drive, or parent pick-up). If you stay on campus to wait for a ride, you must still report to all scheduled classes and should bring something to study or read.
- On any exam day a student may leave when they have finished the exam period of their last exam for the day if they have transportation (walk, drive, parent pick-up).
STAAR Retesting Coming - December 3-7
Please make note of the Fall STAAR Retesting dates that are just a week away. Students, If You will be testing please take advantage of the STAAR tutorials that will take place this week. Parents, if your LEHS student will be retesting please avoid any appointments that could cause your child to miss their testing date. There are limited opportunities to take the STAAR EOC's which are a graduation requirement. It is extremely important for students who need to retest to be present on the day of testing as well as be well rested and eat a healthy breakfast.
Click on banner above to go to the LEHS Graduation web page for the latest information on graduation.
Deadline - November 30
LEHS Student Council is hosting a sock and shoe drive, if you have new or gently used shoes or socks, donate to the front office of the house office. It ends November 30th.
Thank you!
Pepsico STEM Accelerator
Pepsico and the Little Elm High School chapter of DECA, an association of marketing students, continued their three year tradition of collaboration and learning at the annual Pepsico STEM Accelerator. Forty Five members of Little Elm DECA spent the day at Pepsico’s STEM accelerator where they were hosted by senior executives and technology staff members. The students, who are mainly seniors, heard from Pepsico executives about how they got their start in STEM careers. Students then toured the new Pepsico Cyber Fusion center where Pepsico tracks it’s global network of computers. Students concluded the morning session with lunch and mentoring sessions in small groups with various Pepsico employees.
In the afternoon our students were divided into five teams and rotated through sessions devoted to leading edge Pepsico development projects. The sessions included AVRL, the Advanced Voice Recognition Labs, Kickstart a new interactive merchandising product, Computer vision showing how Pepsico is experimenting with Virtual Reality, little bits a simple tool to create electronic inventions and proof of concepts, and Raspberry Pi a programming tool. Students then created their own custom bag of Lays Snacks and took pictures with their new friends and mentors at Pepsico.
The officers and advisors of Little Elm DECA are extremely appreciative of the time and energy Pepsico invests in our chapter and High School. Pepsico and Little Elm High School look forward to a day in the not too distant future when our alumni of this program become STEM employees and mentors at Pepsico.
Message from the US Surgeon General
Surgeon General Calls E-Cigarettes Dangerous to Young People
A new report from the US Surgeon General says e-cigarette use among youth and young adults has risen to the level of a public health concern.
https://cancer.org/latest-news/surgeon-general-calls-e-cigarettes-dangerous-to-young-people.html
Driver's Education Course Enroll Now!
A driver’s education course will be offered second semester at LEHS, starting on January 7th. It will include classroom and behind the wheel instruction. Successful completion of the course will enable the student to apply for their driver’s license. Enrollment will be limited so it will be on a first-come first-serve basis. Classroom instruction will be after school from 3-5pm Mon-Fri. The driving instruction will be on a schedule of your choosing. More details to follow. Students must be 15 years of age or older as of January 16th to enroll. Fee for the class is $400 made out to Little Elm High School. See Coach Cousins or your counselor for an enrollment form. Bring the attached documents and payment ASAP to Coach Cousins in room 1l08; as this class fills up very fast.
Chad Cousins/Social Studies Teacher/Coach/Driver's Ed
Fall Athletic College Signings
Baseball - Logan Kohler - University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
Soccer - Reagan Dykes - St. Edwards University, Austin, Texas
Soccer - McKenzie Betancur - Harding University, Searcy, Arkansas
Soccer - Ashley Waggoner - Tusculum University, Greeneville, Tennessee
Soccer - Isabella Argentine - East Texas Baptist University, Marshall, Texas
FREE Holiday Concert at LEHS
Monday, December 3, 2018 at 7:30 PM – 9 PM
Please be sure to arrive before 7:15 p.m., as non-ticket holders will be allowed to claim any unfilled seats at that time.
Tickets are FREE and available at Eventbrite. Click here.
Report Harmful, Harassing, and Bullying Behavior
LEISD has an on-line tool called "Anonymous Alerts" that students, parents, and teachers can use to report harmful, harassing, and bullying type behaviors. Anonymous Alerts bullying reporting mobile app helps combat bullying and other negative activity in schools by empowering students to speak up. Social and peer pressures are some of the hardest obstacles for students to overcome. Anonymous Alerts encourages students, parents and staff to quickly, easily, and anonymously report bullying, cyber-bullying, gang-related issues, and other sensitive topics through private messages to school officials by building. All reports remain completely anonymous even during a two-way email conversation, although submitters have the option to reveal their identity if they prefer to have a person-to-person discussion.
To send a report from the Web/Internet go to: www.anonymousalerts.com/littleelmisd/
To send a report from your phone:
- Download the Anonymous Alerts® app for free from the Apple Store, Google Play store, and the Chrome store
- Start the App, enter login: leisd and password: leisd
- Send important reports to school officials
- Add a screen shot or photo about the incident
Texas A & M University Road Trip
NHS Members - Scholarship Opportunity
About the Program
Since 1946, more than $15 million in scholarships has been awarded to outstanding NHS senior members. The scholarship program is supported by the parent organization of NHS, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).
2018–19 Application Process
- October 1—NHS Scholarship application process opens. NHS advisers must download the application procedures here and distribute to senior members in good standing.
- (Please see additional information about the application process in the Frequently Asked Questions section)
- December 7—Deadline for student applications AND deadline to request recommendations
- December 14—Deadline to submit recommendations
2018–19 Award Distribution
575 national semifinalists – $3,200 scholarship
24 national finalists – $5,625 scholarship
1 national winner – $25,000 scholarship
600 total recipients
NHS Scholarship Webinars for Students
Students: How to Shine in Your Scholarship Applications
Watch this on demand webinar to get tips and best practices for transforming your service and leadership experiences into compelling stories for your scholarship application.
Scholarship Opportunities
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for this award, applicants must:
- demonstrate at school, at the workplace, and within the community the attributes of leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship;
- demonstrate strong academic performance (minimum 3.0 grade point average/4.0 scale or equivalent);
- be citizens of the United States of America;
- be current high school seniors attending high school in the United States (students living on U.S. Armed Forces base and homeschooled students are also eligible); and
- plan to enroll in a full-time undergraduate course of study toward a bachelor’s degree at an accredited four-year college or university in the United States for the entire upcoming academic year.
Semifinalists will be required to provide a recommendation from a community leader, such as a high school principal, elected official or executive director of a nonprofit organization, and must provide documentation to certify academic performance and financial need. Finalists will be interviewed via Skype or telephone by a member of the selection committee. Learn more about the qualifications of a GE-Reagan Foundation Scholar. Counselors and teachers, download the flyer using the link below:
Eligibility
The Charles Butt Scholarship for Aspiring Teachers is available to prospective teachers who are currently in, or plan to enter, an eligible teacher preparation program at a Raising Texas Teachers partner university. Aspiring Teachers can apply in the fall of any year between their senior year of high school and junior year of college. See below for the lists of eligible programs at each university.
To be eligible for the scholarship, students must be committed to teaching in a majority-economically disadvantaged school or in a shortage subject area (in a school where more than 50% of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch, or as a math, science, bilingual, or special education teacher) in a Texas public school. Preference is given to Texas residents. Visit the scholarship website here for more information.
he Charles Butt Scholarship application opens on September 17, 2018. The close date for applications for each program is listed below. To receive the scholarship, you must also be admitted to the university through which you are applying.
University - Close Date
Our Lady of the Lake University (Residency program) - January 18, 2019
Rice University - January 15, 2019
University of Houston - January 18, 2019
Southern Methodist University - December 14, 2018
Texas A&M University- Special Education program - January 10, 2019
Texas Tech University - December 1, 2018
Trinity University - January 18, 2019
University of North Texas-Dallas - December 7, 2018
UTeach Natural Sciences at UT Austin - February 9, 2019
UT Austin College of Education - February 9, 2019
UT-Rio Grande Valley (STEP UP) - January 18, 2019
If you have any questions, please email Raisingtxteachers@ryht.org.
Terry Scholarship
For more information: https://terryfoundation.org/future-scholars/freshman-scholarship/
Selection Criteria
- Academic Achievement
- Demonstrated Leadership
- Financial Need
Affiliated Universities
- The University of Texas- Austin
- Texas A&M University
- University of Houston
- Texas State University
- The University of Texas- Dallas
- The University of Texas- San Antonio
- Texas Tech University
- University of North Texas
- Texas Woman’s University
- Texas A&M University- Galveston
- Sam Houston State University
- The University of Texas- Arlington
- The University of Texas- El Paso
College JumpStart Scholarship
Deadline: 10/17/18
Available to: High School Sophomores through College Seniors
Award Amount: $1,000
**Click image below to be taken to scholarship website.
Scholarship Search Site Provided by College Board
College Covered
While you are there, check out the website College Covered. Do you want to know what you need in a winning college essay, what college entrance test score you need, or what makes a top notch college application? Get what you need to help get into the college of your dreams with the help of College Covered.
An App Matches Students with College Scholarships They Can Use
Little Elm High School
Chris Reza - Associate Principal (creza@littleelmisd.net)
Alen Palislamovic - White House Principal A - E (apalislamovic@littleelmisd.net)
Ruben Molinar - Grey House Principal F - Li (rmolinar@littleelmisd.net)
Kyle Heller - Blue House Principal Lo - Ri (kheller@littleelmisd.net)
Terilyn Thomas-Monday - Gold House Principal Ro - Z (tthomas-monday@littleelmisd.net)
Website: http://www.littleelmisd.net/Domain/9
Location: 1900 Walker Lane, Little Elm, TX, United States
Phone: (972) 947-9443
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-Elm-High-School/736775073135970?notif_t=page_fan
Twitter: @LittleElmHS