The PHS Post
March 6 - March 10
Class of 2023 - Submit your Senior picture to sholdaway@crprairie.org...
Safety First! Wear your PHS Student ID - All Day - Every Day!
PHS Students: READ your EMAIL...
CHECK THIS OUT - the PHS Assignment Page...
The PHS Assignment Page is a single-stop reference for students and families to stay up to date on what is happening in all classrooms. On the PHS Assignment Page teachers provide a weekly update of daily assignments, long-term assignments and projects, and upcoming assessments and intervention opportunities.
For a more detailed understanding of what is happening in an individual classroom, please talk to your student or reach out to their teacher. Need assistance enrolling in the "Guardian View" of Google Classroom? Individual teachers can assist with this too.
PHS Student Services...
Please view our updated Program of Studies for the 2023-2024 School Year!
Counselors have met with all juniors and are finishing up meeting individually with all sophomores this week.
March Scholarships- XELLO
Seniors, here are a few scholarships that you can work on. Some of them are need based, so make sure you have your EFC from your FAFSA ready to upload.
Prairie General Applications
Due March 19th 2023
Prairie Internal Scholarships Application now on XELLO
Prairie Internal Kirkwood Scholarships Application now on XELLO
Two New Scholarships:
New **Prairie Ready** Example 1 Example 2
New Chen Innovation STEM Scholarship — Due April 14th
National Scholarships-Student Scholarship Organization
Events and Information
Testing Information
ICAN Support
- ICAN Financial Aid Resources (FAFSA)
- Call ICAN 877-272-4692 or visit www.icansucceed.org/apt to set up in person or virtual appointment
Student Planning Guides
Available NOW...
Mercy Urgent Mental Health Care
The start of the school year can cause some anxious feelings for students. This is common. But sometimes those feelings don’t settle down and start to impact life at school and at home.
Mercy Urgent Mental Health Care is available to all Prairie students and is conveniently located at the Mercy Prairie Creek office east of the Prairie Campus.
This service is free to all Prairie students and the referral process is simple. If you’d like more information or to schedule an appointment, please reach out to your student’s school counselor. All counselors’ contact information is available at this link.
We are grateful to the Mercy organization for their partnership with College Community Schools.
GT Corner...
7 Things NOT to do while Studying: Tip 5) Turn off the Tunes
Listening to your favorite music while you study is standard practice for many students, but this one is a big no-no. As a general rule, listening to music while studying has a deleterious effect on learning material, even if you like the music.
What does help is to listen to music you like BEFORE you study, so go ahead – blast your fave tunes for a few minutes before hitting the books.
However, silence is golden during the actual study session.
You may think it’s helping you, but what it’s actually doing is giving you something to focus on other than what you’re supposed to be focused on. If you like that thing better than studying, you think you’re doing great, when what you’re really doing great at is distracting yourself.
Some of the best research has “fast and loud music disrupts reading comprehension” as part of the study title. Is that what you’re really going for in studying? I think not.
The only studies that have shown any positive correlation between music and studying have looked at low level classical background music. Be honest: is that what you’re listening to?
If you’d like to read about what happens in the brain, read this article from the Washington Post.
Music enriches life in so many ways. Studying isn’t one of them, though, so turn off your headphones and focus.
Mrs. Hoffman
College and Career Transitions...
Scholarship Opportunities for Juniors!
The QuestBridge College Prep Scholar Program supports high-achieving junior students from low-income backgrounds with the knowledge, confidence and resources to apply to some of our nation's top colleges. Awards vary from fully paid summer programs, mentoring, new computers and more. Applicants must meet the following criteria:
High school junior in the United States
Rank in the top 10% of their class
Have taken rigorous courses while in high school (AP, concurrent enrollment, etc.)
Demonstrate financial need
Be involved in co-curricular and community service activities
The Horatio Alger Scholarship Programs assist high school students who have faced and overcome great obstacles in their young lives. Applicants must meet the following criteria:
Be enrolled full time as a high school junior in the United States
Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree at an accredited non-profit public or private institution in the United States (students may start their studies at a two-year institution and then transfer to a four-year institution)
Demonstrate critical financial need ($55,000 or lower AGI)
Be involved in co-curricular and community service activities
Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0
If you are interested in learning more about these scholarship programs, please complete this form to be contacted to attend an informational meeting.
FAFSA Updates!
Well done, seniors! As of March 1, 2023, 48.4% of the Class of 2023 had completed the FAFSA! This means that the Class of 2023 is well on their way to reaching our 60% FAFSA completion goal. Keep up the great work!
FAFSA Raffle: Student Services announces a second raffle opportunity. Submit the FAFSA by Sunday, March 19th, 2023 for a chance to win some great prizes!
What is the FAFSA?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the single most important form to fill out to be considered for multiple types of federal financial aid (grants, loans, and work study). However, did you know that completing the FAFSA is often required to be considered for many different scholarship opportunities, regardless of income.
For example, the Last Dollar Scholarship is available to students regardless of income and provides up to full tuition benefits for in demand careers at select colleges. The only thing a student needs to do is complete the FAFSA and be enrolled in a qualifying program!
There is zero risk or obligation in completing the FAFSA!
How Can I Complete the FAFSA?
Schedule a Virtual FAFSA Appointment with ICAN here.
Schedule and In-Person FAFSA Appointment with ICAN here.
Schedule an In-Person FAFSA Appointment with Ms. Rawson here.
Or, on your own here.
What Do I Need to Bring to My FAFSA Appointment/Complete the FAFSA?
Students AND Parents need to create an FSA ID prior to their FAFSA appointment or completing the FAFSA
Copy of 2021 Federal Tax Returns (Parent AND Student)
Copy of 2021 W2 (Parent AND Student)
Social Security Number/Alien Registration Number, Date of Birth, Date of Marriage/Divorce (Parent AND Student)
Records of any untaxed income
Child support paid/received
Have questions about college and career planning?
Reach out to Ms. Rawson at nrawson@crprairie.org or schedule an appointment here.
Career Services: Internships and Job Shadows...
Sophomores and Juniors can begin applying for Fall Internships starting on March 6th. The internship program is a great way to develop skills in Professionalism, Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Social Awareness, and Communication. Other reasons to pursue internships include:
Learning about a field before you commit to it. Get an inside look at jobs in the field you’re considering and figure out if it's a good fit for you.
You may earn high school credit while exploring a potential career. This can help you make decisions about your high school coursework and the investment in your post-secondary education.
Improving your resume for college, scholarship, and job applications.
Networking. Internships allow you to meet people at all levels of the company and those connections can be valuable.
Stop in and visit with Mrs. Gudenkauf in Student Services to learn more or email her at mgudenkauf@crprairie.org.
Reminder: ISASP Testing Information and Schedule...
Each year in the spring students across the state of Iowa dive into ISASP testing. Please take a few moments to read the following PHS ISASP scheduling information in regards to your PHS student. Please be cognizant of your students' current grade level, as there are different expectations for each grade. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to 319.848.5340.
This year ISASP testing for Sophomores and Juniors at Prairie High School will take place Monday, April 3 through Thursday, April 6, 2023 and should arrive before 9:15am.
Juniors do not take the ISASP Science assessment so they will not be testing on April 6. So, Juniors on April 6th will be on a two-hour delay schedule with classes beginning at 11:15am. If your Junior rides CCSD transportation or will be at school at the regular 9:15am start time on April 6th, they will remain in the cafe until the school day begins for them at 11:15am.
During the entire PHS ISASP testing window, April 3-6, Seniors will be on a two-hour delay schedule with classes beginning at 11:15am, please see the schedule above and to the left for additional class start times. If your senior rides CCSD transportation or will be at school at the regular 9:15am start time, they will remain in the cafeteria until the school day begins for them at 11:15am.
April 11-21: ISASP Makeup Exams
Need Assistance? We are here to help...
PHS Administration...
Mrs. Karla Hawley, Principal khawley@crprairie.org
Mr. Rocky Bennett, Athletic Director rbennett@crprairie.org
Mr. Travis Sprague, Associate Principal - tsprague@crprairie.org
Mr. Rich Jackson, Dean of Students (Last Names A-L) rjackson@crprairie.org
Mrs. Kelly Klekar, Dean of Students (Last Names M-Z) kklekar@crprairie.org
PHS Main Office - Dean's Complex - Attendance Line...
Mrs. Brenda Haendler, Main Office 319.848.5340
Mrs. Lori Pleiness, Athletic Office 319.848.5350
Mrs. Debie Towe, Dean's Complex/Attendance 319.848.5360
Mrs. Angie Wagner, Dean's Complex 319.848.5340 x2052
Officer Janae Obbink, Student Resource Officer jobbink@crprairie.org
Mrs. Jackie Martin, Nurse 319.848.5340 x2011 jackiemartin@crprairie.org
PHS Student Services...
Mrs. Laura Fisher, Counseling Secretary 319.848.5344
Mrs. Angela Amunson, Counselor (Students with Last Names A-G) aamunson@crprairie.org
Mr. Mike Reshetar, Counselor (Students with Last Names H-O) mireshetar@crprairie.org
Mr. Clay Stoffer, Counselor (Students with Last Names P-Z) cstoffer@crprairie.org
Mrs. Erin Hoffman, Gifted and Talented Coordinator ehoffman@crprairie.org
Mrs. Nicole Rawson, Kirkwood: College and Career Transition Counselor. nrawson@crprairie.org
Mr. Nick Norris, Grades 7-12 Transition Specialist
Mrs. Mary Gudenkauf, Career Services: Internships & Job Shadows mgudenkauf@crprairie.org
Ms. Karinda Bacon, Counselor - Tanager Services
Ms. Kerry Kilker, Community Engagement Specialist