February Eagle News
Course Selection
February 1st and 6th
Dear Parents ~
It is time to begin the course selection process for the 2023-24 school year. The goal for all students requesting courses for next school year should be to choose classes that are rigorous to their academic level, relevant to individual interests, and will help prepare them for their post-secondary goals. Registering students for the most appropriate classes is a vital step in a student's academic success.
Course selection will be held on February 1 and 6 from 4:00 - 8:00 pm in the commons and Gym 2. To streamline course selection presentations, we have transitioned to a virtual format you can view as a family prior to course selection night. Presentations were sent to parents via Brightarrow on January 24. All pertinent grade-level links are included within the presentation. Please use this link to sign up for a time slot on February 1 and this link to sign up for a time slot on February 6.
All students should bring their Chromebook to course selection night! Upon arrival, please report to the grade-level line of your student's NEXT YEAR GRADE LEVEL where you will receive a course selection sheet and a grade-level course worksheet. You will then meet with faculty to help determine the best courses for your student. They will work with you and your student to be sure prerequisites are understood and help obtain instructor permission, where necessary. Once all signatures are collected, students will enter their course choices in the online scheduling portal. Staff members will be circulating to assist with online scheduling questions. Once your student has submitted their course choices, they will turn in their course selection sheet prior to exiting the building.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this process, please call the High School Counseling Office at 920.675.1126. I look forward to seeing you on either February 1st or 6th.
Sincerely,
Nick Skretta, Principal
Jefferson High School presents
Disney’s The Little Mermaid
By Kathryn Steib, JHS Drama Business Manager
Jefferson High School Eagle Theatre Council invites you “under the sea” as we present Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Returning to four shows (instead of three), performances will be April 27, 28, and 29 at 7:00 PM and April 30 at 2:00 PM in the JHS Performing Arts Center. The musical is based on the 1989 Disney film, which was based on the classic story by Hans Christian Anderson. Ariel, daughter of King Triton, yearns to experience life above the ocean. Her desire to find love and the influence of the sea witch Ursula lead her to a decision which will affect her life forever.
Production staff for The Little Mermaid includes: Director Ryan Clarksen, Assistant Director Kim Hart, Scenic Designer Julia Hardin, Vocal Music Director and Choreographer Cassandra Pacelli, Pit Orchestra Director Denise Reichhoff, Costumers Amy Rundle and Angie Griffith, and Business Manager Kathryn Steib. Student production staff includes Lilly Duddeck (Student Assistant Director), Easton Hansen (Stage Manager), Faith Preston and Annie Utrie (Assistant Stage Managers).
Senior Emma Roehl will play Ariel, with senior Matthew Buchholz as Prince Eric. Rowan Wilson, also a senior, is Ursula. Landyn Alvarado, freshman, will play Ariel’s father, King Triton. Ariel’s sidekick, Flounder, will be played by sophomore Piper Crabtree. King Triton’s assistant Sebastian will be played by freshman Michael Wilson.
Other cast members in feature and ensemble roles include seniors Aspen Wolter and Kieran O’Reilly, juniors Hunter Jacobson, Lilly Harmon, Rosalyn Doebereiner, and Jordan Fleege, sophomores Max Franchi, Mackenzie Denton, Jesa Muehlenbruch, Ellie Ebel, Joey Shoop, and Haley Petersen, and freshmen Abbygale Ewing, Alex Rue, Emily Werni, Anne Wontor, Nathan Harmon, and Johannah Kraus.
Since 2006, Mrs. Denise Reichhoff has expertly led the pit orchestra for JHS musicals. Pit orchestra members for The Little Mermaid are seniors Jordan Gehl, Lilly Kamenick, and Brian Siegler; junior Joey Pupanek, sophomores Claire Griffith and Anthony Schunk, along with staff members Mrs. Reichhoff and Ms. Smet.
Disney’s The Little Mermaid will take to the JHS stage April 27-29 at 7:00 PM and April 30 at 2:00 PM. Advance tickets are $7.00 for students/senior citizens and $8.00 for adults. Tickets will be one dollar more at the door on performance nights. Specific ticket information will be available on the Jefferson High School Facebook page as well as the JHS Eagle Theatre Facebook page.
COUNSELING NEWS AND
PARENT/STUDENT RESOURCES
Early College Credit / Start College Now
Wisconsin’s Early College Credit and Start College Now Programs allow juniors and seniors who meet certain requirements to take post-secondary courses at a UW institution, a Wisconsin technical college or one of the state’s participating private nonprofit institutions of higher education. Approved courses can count toward high school graduation, as well as for college credit. Under these programs a student will not have to pay for a college course if the school board determines the course qualifies for high school credit and is not comparable to a course already offered in the school district. If the course is approved by the school board, the student can receive one-quarter high school credit for every one college credit earned upon successful completion of the course. To obtain the necessary forms or to discuss the possibility of participating in the ECC and/or SCN program, contact the Jefferson High School Counseling office. Applications for enrollment in the ECC and/or SCN programs must be made by March 1st for the fall semester of next school year. Requests will be presented to the School Board and the student will receive notification of the board’s decision.
Seniors - UW System Placement Testing
Registration for the UW System regional placement test opens in February. For more information, check out the UW System Regional Placement Testing website.
Seniors - Scholarships
In you plan to apply for scholarships, please remember the deadline for most of our local scholarships is March 3. If you have any questions about using the scholarship database, please stop in the counseling office and see Mrs. Dwyer.
Unofficial transcripts will be emailed directly to students to use for their scholarship applications. Transcripts won’t be emailed to students until mid February after the announcement of the Valedictorian and Salutatorian.
Seniors and Juniors - ASVAB
THE ASVAB CAREER EXPLORATION PROGRAM is a career planning and exploration program that combines a multiple aptitude test with an interest in self-assessment and a wide range of career exploration tools. The ASVAB is scheduled for Thursday, March 16, 2023 at 8:00 a.m. in the counseling office. Students will receive their test results the day of testing.
Click here for a copy of the permission form.
Juniors - Preparing for the ACT
We have a number of resources to help examinees prepare to take the ACT, including the opportunity to take a practice test, and use ACT Academy’s free personalized resources.
ZAPS - ACT TEST PREP
ZAPS - permission slip
Order Your Yearbook Today!
It’s that time of year again! Order your very own copy of the 2022-2023 JHS yearbook for just $55 or you can personalize it for just a few dollars more! Make sure you don’t miss out on your chance to remember a year like none other. You can go online at Jostens.com where, with just a few clicks, you can purchase your very own copy of The J. Your order will automatically be loaded into our directory and available for pickup in August.
Please note the following changes:
Yearbooks will cost $55 until the end of the calendar year. After that, the price will increase to $60.
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Beil via email, beilw@sdoj.org, or swing by his room, #142, if you need to.
Thank you for supporting the JHS yearbook. Go Eagles!
Reasons to Choose Music at JHS
- The College Board, the administrator of the SAT test, identifies the arts (including music) as one of the 6 areas that students should study in order to succeed in college.
- University admissions officers clearly state that students who participate in arts classes continually through high school have an advantage over students who do not when applying for high-end schools.
- During the admissions process, colleges and universities look for students who “stand out” and who have something to offer to the campus. Music students who have played for at least 3 years in high school ensembles are automatically placed in this category (assuming they have met all other university entrance requirements).
- Playing an instrument well can help a student get into a university if they are willing to play in the university’s ensembles. Students do not have to be a music major to take advantage of this. All universities have to have enough musicians on each instrument to feature high-level performing groups. University band and orchestra directors will find a way for a talented student/musician to get into a school.
- Having music on a student’s transcript all through high school shows that a student has developed skills in group work, multi-tasking, spatial reasoning, mathematics, leadership, community spirit, and many other areas. These types of skills cannot be found all together in any other class.
World Languages FAQ
Given that course selection nights - dates set aside for incoming and current Jefferson High School students to select their classes for the upcoming school year - are rapidly approaching, the world languages department would like to share responses to some frequently asked questions that parents and students often have when considering high school courses and postsecondary options.
Do I have to take a world language in order to graduate from Jefferson High School?
No. All Spanish and Latin courses are elective courses, meaning that students are not required to take them in order to graduate.
Do I have to take a world language in order to get into college?
It depends on the colleges or universities to which you are considering applying.
Currently, the only University of Wisconsin (UW) System School that requires world language coursework as a criterion for admission is UW-Madison, which requires a minimum of two years of a single world language. Several of the other UW System Schools indicate that applicants typically take world languages classes as part of their college preparatory coursework. Specifically, the average applicant to UW-La Crosse has taken three credits of world languages. Further information about the admissions requirements for all the University of Wisconsin System Schools can be found at http://uwhelp.wisconsin.edu/admissions/freshman/guidelines.aspx.
If you are considering a private college or an out-of-state public university, you should check the admissions requirements on their website and/or contact their admissions office. Your counselor can also help you determine the world languages requirements of prospective colleges and universities.
Lastly, many colleges and universities do not require world languages coursework at the high school level in order to be admitted, but many programs of study at the university level do require students to earn world languages credit prior to graduating. Again, you should consult the websites of prospective colleges and universities and/or speak with your counselor to learn the specific requirements for the programs of study you are considering.
Can I earn college credit by passing the Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish Language and Culture or AP Spanish Literature and Culture Exam?
Yes. Most colleges and universities will award credit for passing either AP Spanish Exam with a score of three, four, or five.
All University of Wisconsin (UW) schools award credit for a score of three or higher on either exam. Further information about the specific number and type of credit awarded at UW System Schools can be found at http://uwhelp.wisconsin.edu/testing/ap.aspx.
If you will be attending a non-UW System School, you should check the school’s website and/or speak to your counselor for specific information regarding the college or university’s policy for awarding credit for AP Exam scores.
What are retroactive credits (aka retro credits)?
Retroactive credits are credits granted in recognition of previous language study at all University of Wisconsin (UW) System Schools.
To earn retroactive credits, you must take a placement test in the language that you are seeking credit during orientation/registration and place into a course that is not the entry-level (101) course. To earn retroactive credit, you must take and pass the more advanced course with a grade of B or better. Unlike AP credit, you must take a college course in the language to earn retroactive credit. The mount and type of credits awarded varies by school and language. Information about UW-Madison’s retroactive credit policy can be found at http://languages.wisc.edu/advising/retro.
Can I earn both Advanced Placement (AP) and retroactive credits (aka retro credits) if I will be attending a University of Wisconsin (UW) System School?
Yes. AP credit is awarded by all UW System Schools when they receive your scores in July. You do not need to take any additional coursework in the language to earn the credit. As explained in the previous response, retroactive credit is awarded upon completion of a more advanced class in the language at the college level. Once you pass the course with a B or better, you will earn retroactive credits. Unlike AP credit, you must take a college course in the language to earn retroactive credit.
If I am planning on attending a University of Wisconsin (UW) System School and earning retroactive credits (aka retro credits), do I need to take an AP Spanish Exam?
Although you do not need to take the AP Exam to earn college credit given the UW’s policy on retroactive credits, keep in mind that you must do well on the UW placement test and pass a more advanced course to earn college credit. In contrast, all UW schools will award credit for a score of three or higher on an AP Exam without the requirement to take another language course and earn a B or better.
Also, since students attending a UW System school typically register for courses in the spring or early summer, it is advantageous to take the placement test even if you have taken or will be taking an AP Spanish Exam given that AP scores are not released until July. Additionally, if you take both the placement test and an AP Exam and do well on both, you have the option of choosing the score/option that suits you best.
4K Registration
4K registration for the 2023-2024 school year is open. If you or someone you know has a child who will turn four on or before September 1, 2023, go to SDoJ Website-Jefferson 4K Programs to register.
The School District of Jefferson, in collaboration with our community partner, Head Start, looks forward to providing a quality educational program for your four-year-old in a nurturing, play-based, and developmentally appropriate preschool environment. We offer classrooms at East (East Elementary 4K and Head Start 4K), West Elementary 4K, and Sullivan Elementary 4K.