AHS Weekly Happenings
January 19-22, 2016
Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Competitive Edge
"It's a really big honor," AHS Principal Eva Nadeau said. "It makes me proud because we stand out from any other school in the Texarkana area, and we stand out nationally, too."
AHS is one of two schools in Arkansas to offer the College Board-created AP Capstone Diploma. Nationwide, it's offered at 136 schools.
Students earn the special diploma by taking an advanced placement seminar class in 10th grade plus an AP research class in 11th grade. In the seminar class, students complete a group research project and are given opportunities to learn critical and creative thinking, collaboration, and argument development.
In the research class, students complete an independent research project on a topic of their choice, thereby getting a deeper understanding of ethical research practices, methodology and information analysis. At the end of the course, they present the project for a grade and defend their argument and research in front of a committee.
"We had a number of students taking at least six courses, and that was it," Diana Lowe, advanced placement coordinator and secondary curriculum director, said of the top students taking advanced placement classes. "It was just a competition for the top 10, or the top spot. It wasn't anything to take them to the next level for a prestigious college interview or a governor's scholarship interview. This is just going to bring some maturity."
Results come in the summer before senior year, so students are prepared to include the achievement on college and scholarship applications, Lowe said.
"That's what will change," she said. "If you found out the summer before you go to college, it's too late to reap the benefit."
AHS is beginning at the freshman level this year in the GATE 9 class, which is part of the gifted and talented program. There, 27 students are learning how to research and collaborate on projects and are excited to take on the additional responsibilities of the AP Capstone program.
Amy Claire Mugno's goal is to be a surgeon, and she plans on attending the highly competitive University of California-Los Angeles. She said completing this program is just the first step to holding a scalpel.
"I feel like this diploma will make me more competitive against all the other students, and it will make me stand out among all the others," she said.
Freshman twins Reese Chesshir and Mica Chesshir aim to attend Ouachita Baptist University. Reese wants to study pre-med and become an anesthesiologist, and Mica has her sights set on becoming an author.
"I think it will help me get prepared for the work in college, and it will help me get noticed to get into Ouachita, and get a scholarship maybe," Mica said. Of the extra work involved, she said, "I think it'll be worth it for what the end result would be."
Their mother, Jennifer Chesshir, said the girls are staying up later doing the work, and she supports their educational endeavors.
She said while attending the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, she did semesters of research in both biology and chemistry and presented a papers at the end.
"Never having done that before in high school, it was all new to me," she said, "so this is just preparation for what they're going to have to do in college."
Amy Claire's mother, Jen Mugno, also supports her daughter's ambition.
"I've talked to Amy Claire about it too and explained to her that it is going to take extra work and a lot of extra research, and she's totally fine with it," Mugno said. "She really believes it's going to give her a competitive edge when she goes to college."
That extra work is welcome, she said, as education holds a top spot in their household.
"Education is No. 1. It's important to us, so that's not a problem," she said. "I think it challenges Amy Claire. I think it probably gives her a competitive edge when she goes to apply to colleges. I think it teaches them public service, leadership, critical thinking. I think that our district is very lucky."
AHS will hold parent meetings Jan. 21 for those interested in pursing the AP Capstone Diploma.
Eighth-graders will meet at Arkansas High's Red Wall from 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m., with ninth-graders meeting from 6:30 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
For more information, call 870-774-7641.
#AHSCHALLENGEPOLARPLUNGE - Support Special Olympics
We want to take the time to challenge YOU to participate in the Polar Plunge that will be held on Saturday, February 20th at Minton's Sportsplex. There is a $50 donation fee for each person who plunges. If you don't want to plunge but are willing to donate for someone to plunge, please let Candice Carver know.
We would like to challenge all clubs to get together and create a team to plunge. Teams can plunge with a wild and crazy name and/or in a costume of theme.
If you are too chicken to plunge, you have the opportunity to purchase a chicken out shirt for $25 that will support Special Olympics..
Please contact Candice Carver with any questions that you may have. We can't wait to see what AHS comes up with.
Support Mr. Atkinson
Hey everyone,
I am going to be participating in the Texarkana Bridge City Project sponsored by the Texarkana Homeless Coalition. Basically, I will spend Friday night on the street in a box to raise money for and awareness of the homeless in our community. I have placed pledge forms in the lounges of both the Freshmen Academy and the North Building. The money will go directly to the Texarkana Homeless Coalition. For more information please visit their website and thank you so much.
Razorback Sport Schedule
1/19 El Dorado JVG.VG.VB Basketball Home 5:00
1/20 Hot Springs Bowling Away 3:30
1/21 Hope 7G.8G.9G Basketball Away 5:00
1/21 Hope 7B.8B.9B Basketball Home 5:00
1/22 Little Rock Hall VG.VB Basketball Away 6:00
1/26 Benton JVB.VG.VB Basketball Away 5:00
1/27 Lake Hamilton Bowling Home 3:30
1/28 Greenbriar Bowling Away 3:30
1/28 El Dorado 7G.8G.9G Basketball Away 5:00
1/28 El Dorado 7B.8B.9B Basketball Home 5:00
1/29 Sheridan JVB.VG.VB Basketball Home 5:00
Instructional Walk-Throughs
Teach Me: Student-Led Instruction Strategies
By: Rosshalde Pak
Teaching tools, tricks, and ideas are an essential component of a teacher’s ‘arsenal’ when it comes to having engaged students and strong teachable moments.
The one tool that I rely heavily upon is a concept I termed as ‘Teach Me,’ though you may heard it called by other terms. Simply, the idea behind Teach Me is when the teacher lets the student teach a concept to them.
The student goes through the whole concept, or study, giving it to you in extreme detail. What it basically means is that your student becomes the teacher; teaching it to you.
Benefits of the "Teach Me" Learning Exercise
- Lets you see where a child needs reinforcement
- Teach Me is a way to put the power of learning into the hands of your student/learner
- Allows students to be the teacher
- Allows, and gets students, to recall -- in detail what they have learned
- Gives them ownership over the learning
- Increases a student's verbal communication skills
- Gives a student multiple ways to remember and retain information that they have learned
4 Specific Goals of Student-led Instruction
1. Have the student be able to understand what they are learning in the greatest detail possible.
2. Empower a child with their learning; to show off what they know and be the one in charge, to be the one explaining it to you, their teacher. It’s a sense of pride and accomplishment for the student. This can especially true when a child teaches their parent; which doesn’t get to happen very often.
3. This is a fantastic tool for educators because it allows them to see what their students do and don’t know, what they fully understand, and where the teacher need to fill in the gaps of their learning.
4. Improve a student’s oral communication skill.
Teach Me in Action: How to Let Your Students Teach You
Have a learner take whatever it is that they are working on and go through all that they know about it. Ask them questions about the concept, ways to carry it out, what they think of it. Allow them the time to elaborate it in their own way.
Don’t correct or offer support or suggestions. This is crucial to the learning process; once a student is admonished, it can become difficult for them to regain the confidence to try it again. It is just as a student would be engaged with a teacher; it may be difficult for both parties involved – but that’s fine. The goal is to help your learner learn, take the lead, and build up their confidence.
As the ‘student’ be sure to ask them questions, offer no support or suggestions. Be sure to ask them for examples, or explanations as to why a particular part is needed. In the exact same way that when a teacher is explaining a new lesson, their class asks for clarification, examples, ideas, and explanations on how/why a particular concept is the way it is.
Please make sure you are putting two grades a week into your grade book and are keeping grades posted for students.
AHS Staff Meeting
Tuesday, Jan 19, 2016, 04:00 PM
1500 Jefferson Avenue, Texarkana, AR, United States - Student Union
Current 8th & 9th Grade GT Meeting
Thursday, Jan 21, 2016, 05:30 PM
1500 Jefferson Avenue, Texarkana, AR, United States - Red Wall
English Interim Assessment
Wednesday, Jan 13, 2016, 08:00 AM
Arkansas High School, Jefferson Avenue, Texarkana, AR, United States
Arkansas High School Razorbacks
Email: eva.nadeau@tasd7.net
Website: www.tasd7.net
Location: 1500 Jefferson Avenue, Texarkana, AR, United States
Phone: 870-774-7641
Facebook: facebook.com/arkansashighschool