October Eagle News
School District of Jefferson Authorized to Award Wisconsin State Seal of Biliteracy
The Wisconsin Department of Public Education in September authorized the SDOJ to award the State Seal of Biliteracy, a designation on graduating students’ diplomas. Jefferson is only the 18th district out of 421 in the state to achieve this status, and it is a direct reflection of the value the community places on multiculturalism, languages learning, and intercultural communication.
To earn the Seal, students must show intermediate-high proficiency in English and at least one other language. Unlike just speaking and understanding two languages, biliterate students have the reading and writing skills necessary to help them succeed in careers, college education, and the community. In addition, English-speaking students receiving the Seal have shown their sociocultural awareness through their world languages courses.
Students in Spanish and Latin at Jefferson High School will be eligible to earn the Seal based on their proficiency test scores in both English and their second language, including the ACT English and Writing sections. They also need a qualifying score on the district´s standardized test in their language, or a passing grade of 3 or better on their ACT Exam.
Although Spanish and Latin are the two world languages offered in the School District of Jefferson, students can earn the Seal of Biliteracy in any of dozens of languages, including French, German, Chinese, Arabic, and Ojibwe. Upon graduation, Seal recipients receive a certificate from the State of Wisconsin, along with a special designation on their transcripts sent to technical colleges, universities, and potential employers. The Seal is a testament from the State of Wisconsin to students’ abilities to communicate with clients, colleagues, and neighbors in English and their second language.
HOMECOMING WEEK ACTIVITIES
October 1 - October 7
Sunday - October 1st
Seniors vs. Freshmen and Sophomore vs. Junior. Games will start at 5:30 on the practice and main football field. The Championship game will follow directly after on the main field under the lights!
Dress Up Days - ALL WEEK
Volleyball games will be held the week of Homecoming during I/E in Gym 1 and Gym 2 on Monday and Tuesday. The Championship game will be in Gym 1 on Thursday.
Lunch Games - ALL WEEK
We will be running different carnival-style games during lunches, where we will be handing out prizes for the winners each day! Weather permitting, all “carnival” games will be held outside.
Friday - October 6th
Football Game starts at 7pm!
Saturday - October 7th
Homecoming Dance
Starts at 7pm
Doors close at 8:00
$8 in advance and $10 at the door
Please see Mr. Clarksen or Ms. Hart about ordering your ticket in Advance!
Wisconsin Education Fair
On Thursday, October 5, we will be hosting a trip to the WI Education Fair in Janesville. If you would like to attend, please stop by the counseling office to pick up a permission slip. Permission slips must be returned to the counseling office by the end of the school day on Tuesday, October 3. The bus leaves promptly at 8:30 am and returns to school around 12:30 pm. We will stop for lunch before returning to school. See the flyer below to register for this event.
PLEASE RSVP AT THIS LINK: FAMILY NIGHT RSVP
AVID APPAREL: https://jeffersonavid-23.itemorder.com/shop/sale/
STUDENT & PARENT RESOURCES
PARENTS:
SCHOOLOGY 101
What is Schoology and how does the Counseling Department use it to communicate with your student?
Schoology is our Learning Management System (LMS). The Counseling Department uses Schoology to communicate pertinent grade level information to students and parents via the “Class of“ courses. There is a wealth of information relating to social/emotional learning, academic resources and study strategies, college and career readiness, homeroom resources, graduation, scholarships and financial aid, and so much more!
If you would like to see information that is being shared with your student through the use of these courses, please use this SCHOOLOGY 101 link for "how to" instructions to create your parent access account. Don't know your parent access code? Contact Mrs. Dwyer at 920-675-1126 and she will provide you with your code. If you have any questions, please reach out to your student’s counselor.
Mrs. Shannon Mooney - students with the last names A-K
Mrs. Amanda Wallace - students with the last names L-Z
Parents of Juniors
All juniors will be taking the Pre-ACT on Wednesday, October 25, 2023.
Parents of Freshmen - Freshmen Conferencing
Dear Parent/Guardian,
The school year is well underway as our new freshmen transition through the first year of their high school experience. Each year, the Counseling Department, in accordance with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s School Counseling Standards, schedules individual planning conferences with freshmen students in the months of October/November.
Each conference will not only review a student’s academic progress, but also discuss social acclimation, along with goal-setting for the future. Additionally, counselors will share resources for success such as time management, organization, and study skills referencing our commitment to AVID and Brain-Based study strategies. When necessary, intervention-based services are assessed, as well. This structure is designed to guide students, individually, to achieve maximum success in high school, to identify support services/resources, and to plan for life beyond graduation.
Your student’s individual planning conference will take place with his/her assigned counselor within his/her study hall hour during the months of October/November. If your student does not have a study hall, appointments can be made during IE. Each appointment should take no longer than 30 minutes. All content for the conference can be found in Schoology Class of 2027 under “freshmen conferencing”. Counselors will determine whether further follow-up is needed.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Counseling Department at 675-1126 or email Tanya Dwyer, Counseling Administrative Assistant, at dwyert@sdoj.org.
Shannon Mooney, M.Ed
School Counseling Department Chair
Jefferson High School
Counselor Assignments:
Shannon Mooney (Student Last Names A-K)
Amanda Wallace (Student Last Names L-Z)
Parents - All Grade Levels
September Homeroom Curriculum - Parents can access all homeroom curriculum via Schoology.
SENIORS:
ASVAB
The ASVAB is not a test, but a tool used to measure a student’s strengths and provides suggested career paths based on those strengths. Students do not need to be interested in military enlistment to participate in this battery.
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
8:00 am - 11:00 pm
Counseling Office Conference Room
Deadline to register: Monday, October 16, 2023
If you are interested in participating, please stop by the counseling office to pick up a permission slip.
If you are unable to participate this time, no worries! We will be offering a second ASVAB test date on Thursday, March 14, 2024.
JUNIORS:
PSAT
The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a standardized test administered by the College Board and cosponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMCS). Scores from the PSAT/NMSQT are used to determine eligibility and qualification for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
JHS Library
Deadline to register: Friday, October 6, 2023
Cost: $18 (cash or check made payable to JHS)
If you are interested in participating, please stop by the counseling office to pick up a permission slip.
ASVAB
The ASVAB is not a test, but a tool used to measure a student’s strengths and provides suggested career paths based on those strengths. Students do not need to be interested in military enlistment to participate in this battery.
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
8:00 am - 11:00 pm
Counseling Office Conference Room
Deadline to register: Monday, October 16, 2023
If you are interested in participating, please stop by the counseling office to pick up a permission slip.
If you are unable to participate this time, no worries! We will be offering a second ASVAB test date on Thursday, March 14, 2024.
PRE-ACT
All juniors will be taking the Pre-ACT on October 25, 2023.
IMPORTANT FAFSA UPDATE
The FAFSA Simplification Act was enacted by Congress as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. This law reduces the number of questions students will have to answer on the FAFSA, makes crucial changes to the Higher Education Act of 1965 to expand Pell Grant eligibility and removes outdated restrictions to make federal student aid more accessible to students.
Due to the major changes, the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid has indicated they will be ready to offer the simplified application for the upcoming cycle. However, they are delaying the release until December 2023, two months after the usual October 1 release. Presently the department has stated that the 2024-2025 FAFSA will be ready mid-December 2023. However, they are not required by law to have it available until January 1, 2024.
The delay will have some clear implications for students and families. This is the largest FAFSA overhaul in recent years, and it will require not only the federal government to implement changes to their processes, but states and schools need to prepare for the change as well.
If you have any questions about how this affects your financial aid package, please reach out to the Student Financial Aid Office at the University you will be attending.
FILE YOUR FAFSA
Beginning January 1
How Do I Get My Transcript?
1. Go to Parchment.com.
2. Create an account.
USE A PERSONAL E-MAIL ADDRESS TO CREATE YOUR ACCOUNT!
3. Once you have created your account, request your transcript.
4. When you click on the ORDER button, you will be asked where you want to send your transcript to. You can either search for a college/university/technical school or choose to send the transcript to yourself or another individual.
5. When choosing to send your transcript to an employer, trades program, etc., you will be asked to provide the recipient’s name and email address.
6. If choosing to send by mail, you will be required to provide additional information. Mailing transcripts will take significantly longer to process. Electronic deliver is ALWAYS the fastest!
7. Processing a transcript request can take anywhere from 24-72 hours. Please plan accordingly! The Parchment portal is checked once a day, Monday-Friday.
ATTENDANCE MATTERS!
CLASS OF 2024
To All Prospective 2024 Jefferson High School Graduation Participants
Welcome to your final year with the School District of Jefferson! It is our hope that you have received an invaluable education which prepares you to achieve your dreams. At the end of this school year, the community and your families come together to celebrate your achievements through high school graduation. While this may seem to be in the distant future, your senior year slips by quicker than all of the others and so we need to begin preparing now.
Any eligible student participating in Jefferson High School graduation must have an appropriate cap and gown (maroon for all). In addition to caps and gowns, some students may also wish to order announcements, invitations, and assorted senior material. Seniors are REQUIRED to attend a presentation in the auditorium during homeroom on October 25 regarding ordering of graduation materials. This information will also be shared with parents after the October homeroom presentation. Students will be placing their orders on November 3 during their lunch period.
JHS to Host Skilled Trades Fair on October 13
Due to retirements and economic expansion, there will be significant opportunities for employment in Wisconsin’s manufacturing industry, underscoring the need to ensure a robust talent pipeline now and in the years to come. In fact, according to The Manufacturing Institute, 2.1 million manufacturing jobs in the U.S. could go unfilled by 2030 due to the labor shortage. Manufacturing Month helps to promote manufacturing as a viable career in Wisconsin in an attempt to fill these much-needed jobs.
To highlight the state’s top industry, which contributes $68 billion a year in economic output to the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), WMC will be promoting numerous manufacturing-focused events in October, meeting with manufacturers around the state and, once again, crowning the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin.
On October 13, the JHS Technical Education Department will host a Union Skilled Trades Fair for students. Industries represented at the fair include masonry, electrical, plumbing, laborers, steamfitters, and carpenters, to name a few! Students can speak with industry reps and gain exposure to future career opportunities.
WI Manufacturing Month Resources - click the "For Schools" tab for info geared toward students
2022-23 wage rates for Milwaukee and surrounding areas
(wage based on completion of apprenticeship)
National Archives
We celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month to recognize the achievements and contributions of Hispanic American champions who have inspired others to achieve success. The observation began in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988. The theme for 2023 is “Todos Somos, Somos Uno: We Are All, We Are One.”
Explore the site »
Photo credit: Detail of Hispanic Heritage Select Photos, by David Valdez.
The National Museum of the American Latino
On this webpage of resources curated by the National Museum of the American Latino, you’ll find a list of why and how we celebrate Latino communities and their contributions to American society, a list of virtual exhibits featuring Latino history, bilingual resources, stories of Latino achievements, and more.
Image Credit: Carmen Lomas Garza, Tamalada, 1990, color lithograph, 20 x 27 in. (50.8 x 68.6 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made possible by John B. Turner, 1997.5, (c) 1990, Carmen Lomas Garza
National Parks - Mi Parque, Mi Historia
During this month and throughout the year, we, and our partners, share history, heritage, and accomplishments of Hispanic and Latino Americans of past and present. Join the conversation on social media by sharing your own inspiration and learning more about Hispanic and Latino heritage by using #HispanicHeritageMonth and #EncuentraTuParque.
Explore Mi Parque, Mi Historia
National Park Service Hispanic Heritage Month site
Image credit: National Park Service