At A Glance
November 20-December 1st
Please Accept Our Apology
I myself learned I would have two sessions in the auditorium on Monday morning during our meeting. I asked for clarity since so many different e-mails went out and I got worried about teacher plan time or the lack there of, etc.
This was discussed about a month ago when we first shared there would be a Basketball Event, but we failed with a capital "F" on helping the planners to finalize to get things out in a sufficient amount of time.
Please accept our apology and know that we will do a better job in the future.
We owe you, and promise to make it up to you.
One and Done!
With the increased level of violence we've had, I requested a No Tolerance for Fighting at HPHS which is not the same for all schools in the district. We want to support each of you and increase the level of feeling safe and secure on campus. Alas, in some cases, we are working against parents, as well who advise their students to fight and/or come to help assault a student.
We have attended one long-term suspension hearing and there are a few more to come for either violent behavior or drug related behavior. These kinds of things take us away from instruction and availability to you and students. Please know that we are working in the same direction with you to change culture at HPHS. Thank you for your support in this area.
"Due to an increase in violent acts at school over the past few weeks, in an effort to maintain order and a safe environment, anyone involved in an altercation or fight will be suspended with a recommendation for long-term suspension for the remainder of the school year and placement at an alternative school."
Huge Thank You to Dr. Anderson & Mr. Dick for their support!
I LOVE YOU, BUT YOU ARE NOT ON MY ROSTER
We have several students who seek refuge in a teacher's class who is not actually the teacher for that hour or even on the schedule at all due to a relationship. I appreciate that many of you are trying to help, but it feels like enabling students. I've been embarrassed in a few meetings with students who are not in line to graduate and their parents. As I am discussing attendance, the student will say, "I'm here, I just don't like that class, that teacher, those students, so I go sit in so-and-so's class to do my work." They are being counted absent impacting our Daily Attendance, the student's attendance, and then parents look to me and say, "Why are you allowing my student to stay in another teacher's class? Why are they not getting credit for being here? Why would a teacher allow this knowing that it has a negative impact on my student?"
Please know that this serves as a warning, and starting Monday, November 27th, no student who is not on your roster for the time they are in your room will be allowed to stay in your classroom. Please tell the students that you want to help them, but you can't get into trouble because of keeping them in your classroom. Blame me!
My example I've used is this, "What if I showed up to TWest and told Mr. Dick, 'Hey, I'm here...I'm still a principal but feel better working at your school instead of my own.' That's simply not the way life works."
We have had students sitting in the class of the wrong teacher and get into an verbal disagreement with a student who is on the roster. Again, difficult to explain to parents.
If you feel that you are struggling with a student and need an administrator, social worker, or counselor to help with this change, please contact us so that we can help.
We are working to get a "Time-out" space for things like this instead of ISS for students who need a break, but this would not be a permanent class for students, but just for recovery or for the hour, etc. This was discussed, because we continue to have students trying to check themselves into the ISS room, as well. I have a meeting with a parent about this, as well.
Our students have habits we have to eliminate.
Again, if you need help with this, we will be ready. We may need to contact parents about this, as they will want to be involved with this transition.
FROM THE MENTAL HEALTH TEAM: TRANSGENDERED STUDENTS
Several members of the mental health team attended a presentation from Dr. Peg McCarthy--Licensed Clinical Psychologist in private practice for 18 years, and TPS Board member--entitled, "Meeting the Needs of TransgenderYouth in the School System: TPS Policy and Regulations." We thought we would share a few nuggets regarding privacy, names/pronouns, and powerschool.
Topeka Public Schools has developed a very comprehensive policy and regulations to ensure nondiscrimination of transgendered students at school (Regulation 8100-03).
PRIVACY: All persons, including students, have a right to privacy. This includes the right to keep private one's transgender status or gender non-conforming presentation at school.
TIPS:
1. DO NOT disclose information about a student's transgendered status UNLESS LEGALLY REQUIRED or the student says it is okay
2. The student decides how much they want to share. Use the student's legal name when contacting parents UNLESS the student or the parent has specified otherwise.
3. AVOID INADVERTENT DISCLOSURE.
NAMES/PRONOUNS: 1. A student has the right to be addressed by a name and a pronoun that corresponds to the student's gender identity. A court ordered name or gender change is not required, and the student need not change his or her official records. 2. The intentional or persistent refusal to respect a student's gender identity ( for example, intentionally referring to the student by a name or pronoun that does not correspond to the student's gender identity) is a violation of these guidelines.
POWERSCHOOL: The record of a student in powerschool should be modified to prevent disclosure of confidential information and ensure that school personnel use a student's preferred name and pronouns consistent with the student's gender identity. If a student name is presented in quotations in Powerschool, that is the student's preferred name which should be used.
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
- Educate yourself.
- Know the district's policy and regulation
- Know yourself and your biases
- Use the correct name and pronoun!!!
- Know where to direct your concerns at school
- Stand up against bullying and intolerance
While the policy addresses much more than the topics mentioned here, we felt it was important to highlight these three points. If you would like to discuss it further, or if you encounter a sticky situation, any member of the mental health team is available to help.
Veterans Day Celebration at HP...Well Done ROTC
National Honor Society Induction Ceremony
Serving at the Topeka Rescue Mission
STUDENT COUNCIL
Cheer & Dance Giving Back
Blood Drive!
Hi everyone,
It's your once-a-semester chance to Save a Life right here at school! Our next Blood Drive is Wednesday, November 29th, from 8-noon in the Old Collaboration Room. Community Blood Center must collect almost 600 units of blood daily to meet the needs of area hospital patients. Student Council is proud to help them accomplish that goal, if only once a semester. This fall's drive is shortened, so appointments are only available between 8am-noon.
Save a life and get a free Chiefs t-shirt in the process by going to https://www.esavealifenow.org/PublicScheduler//GroupLanding.aspx?DonationGroupID=9392 and signing up for an appointment.
Send any questions my way or talk to a StuCo officer!
Best wishes,
Mrs. Elena Buckner
French Teacher & Student Council Sponsor
Cooperative Learning Coach
Highland Park High School | USD 501
School: 785-274-6120 | Google Voice (call/text): 913-608-9832
Check out my classroom projects!
Invitation to Events
Mark Your Calendar
STUCO Blood Drive
Mentee Teacher Seminar
Friday: Jennings Trip
College & Career
Coffeyville during Lunch
Wednesday:
Barton Community College Scot Time
HPHS Site Improvement Goals
HPHS SITE IMPROVEMENT GOALS
By the end of the 2017-2018 school year, each student will demonstrate growth on the state assessment resulting in a school-wide increase of ten percent growth. Math proficiency will be at or above twenty percent.
By the end of the 2017-2018 school year, each student will demonstrate growth on the state assessment resulting in a school-wide increase of ten percent growth. Reading proficiency will be at or above twenty-four percent.
The overall attendance rate for Highland Park will reach ninety-two percent for the 2017-2018 school year by reducing chronic attendance issues by fifty percent.
As Administrators, Mr. Ackerman, Ms. Johnston, Ms. Watson, and myself (Mrs. Perry), we have added the following goals as the Instructional Leaders at HPHS as our commitment to our students, families, and stakeholders. These goals will not be reached overnight, and we can't do it without the assistance and support of the faculty and staff at HP, the district office and BOE Members, community, families, and especially our students who must put forth a real effort each day:
- Increase the 2017-2018 Graduation Rate based on the current students enrolled to 93% of the 11R's and Seniors and those who finish will be going to college, vocational school, the military, or secured full-time employment.
- Increase school-wide communication with a weekly staff newsletter, monthly newsletter to parents and community, updated marquee, high traffic on Facebook, and visibility in the building and at school and community activities.
- Inspect what we expect and increase teaching and learning with teachers submitting weekly lesson plans, posting power standards, evidence of Building Academic Vocabulary, increased usage of Webb's DOK Questions, common formative assessments, and bell-to-bell teaching.
- It is our goal to help make Highland Park a school we would gladly send our own children to while creating high expectations, producing results, increasing rigor in the classroom, and creating a school culture worth bragging about; where students are safe, challenged, and ready. We (Administrators, Faculty & Staff) will build ladders for students while keeping the standards and expectations high!