The PHS Post

As we begin the last week before 1st Semester Final Assessment Week please take a moment to check your grades and follow up with your teachers if you have questions. Please note the schedule for Finals Week and make sure to schedule re-assessments and/or make-ups by 4pm on Thursday, January 12.

Semester 1 - Final Assessment Week - January 9 - 13

Semester/Unit Review

• Monday, January 9 - PHS Regular Daily Schedule for Periods 1-8

• Tuesday, January 10 - PHS Regular Daily Schedule for Periods 1-8

Final Assessment/Project Days

• Wednesday, January 11 - PHS Regular Daily Schedule for Periods 1-8 (Homeroom Schedule)

• Thursday, January 12 - PHS Regular Daily Schedule for Periods 1-8

Re-assessment / Make-up

• Friday, January 13

• Students sign-up with individual teachers by 4pm Thursday, January 12 for a Friday re-assess/make-up time slot between 8:15am - 11:15am - If you do not have any re-assessments or make-ups you do not have class on this day.

Academic Eligibility

Please see the visual below sent out from the PHS Activities Department regarding Academic Eligibility. If you have questions please contact Rocky Bennett in the Activities Office 319. 848. 5361 or email rbennett@crprairie.org.

Be Safe and Have a Great Week!

Mrs. Hawley

As we look towards Semester 2 we would like for you to be aware of the following information regarding attendance; additional information will be shared in the next week.

In our goal to increase student attendance, we continuously monitor unexcused absences and skipped classes. As we move into the second semester, we want to make you aware that any student who accumulates 10 unexcused absences, which includes skipping classes, within an individual course will be dropped from that course and ineligible to receive credit for the semester.

In any given semester, this change would affect a small percentage of PHS students but it is important for all students and families to be aware. We understand that some absences are unavoidable and ask that you call PHS on the day in which your student is not attending and the reason for their absence at 319.848.5360. Your student’s daily attendance information is also available in the Campus portal.

If you have any questions or concerns about your student’s attendance, please contact the PHS Main Office.

Please take the time to have a conversation with your student about the importance of following parking expectations at Prairie High School. As the the weather becomes cooler, there has been an increase in the vehicles parking illegally, leading to unsafe driving conditions in all parking lots. Parking spots are clearly marked and it is important that all drivers abide by the expectation that these are the only spots in which vehicles should be parked. When students park beyond the markings, it prevents safe traffic flow and increases the risk of accidents to occur. There are ample designated parking spots available in Lots A, B, C, and E for those that have been issued a parking pass. For those that are still on the waiting list for a parking pass, there is space available in Lot F.

Students who are unable to follow safe driving and parking expectations at Prairie High School will be given a warning for the first offense and a $25.00 parking ticket that will be changed to the student’s InTouch account for any further offense. If multiple violations occur, students will risk having their parking privileges revoked.

Thank you for partnering with Prairie High School in this effort to promote safe driving and parking on campus!

Mr. Jackson

Dean of Students (A-L)

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.

Congratulations to all of the PHS students in Mrs. Beatty's and Ms. Widmer's classes who were recognized by the College Community School Board for their hard work in the Prairie Cares Market for providing food boxes to Prairie families each week. In the last 10 months, they have helped give out over 40,000 lbs. of food from HACAP to our Prairie families. THANK YOU for your service!

Underlining or highlighting text is pretty, and it makes it look like you’re studying, but the research just doesn’t back it up as a study strategy.

What it does help with is helping you focus during your initial reading. As you read text the first couple of times, highlight it, mark it up, and really engage with it. This is part of what is called annotating, and it is part of what it means to really read deeply, not just skim.

If you do a close reading while you are first reading, using highlighting, sticky notes, taking regular or visual notes, and really focusing on it, then highlighting during studying doesn’t help, according to the research.

To use highlighting effectively:

• use more than one color (particularly effective if you have a code for the colors, e.g., red = conflict or blue = equations)

• avoid using it as a way not to take notes – taking handwritten notes is vastly superior

• use a highlighter on notes you’ve taken, not just on text in a book

Visual notetaking can also help you engage with text. Don’t worry about your drawing skills :)

Please consider participating in the 2023 Drake Physics Prize Examination. Since 1970, Drake has offered this scholarship opportunity to encourage interest in physics, astronomy, and physical sciences, and to give recognition to outstanding high-school students.

Any high school sophomore, junior, or senior can compete in the Physics Prize. A variety of awards are available, however the first place award is an unrestricted four-year, full-tuition scholarship to Drake University!

The Drake Physics Prize Test will cover topics in physics that would normally be studied by students during the first semester of their high-school physics course: kinematics, dynamics (Newton’s laws), circular motion, universal law of gravitation, harmonic motion (simple pendulum and mass-spring systems), impulse, linear momentum, conservation of momentum and collisions, work, energy and conservation of energy, torque, rotational kinematics, dynamics and energy, angular momentum conservation, mechanical waves, and sound.

You can read full details about the scholarship here.

Your students can sign up for one of the following virtual exam times:

• Wednesday, February 1, 2023: 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. CST

• Wednesday, February 1, 2023: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. CST

• Thursday, February 2, 2023: 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. CST

• Thursday, February 2, 2022: 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. CST

• Friday, February 3, 2023: 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. CST

• Friday, February 3, 2023: 1 p.m. – 3 p.m CST

Apply Here

Mrs. Hoffman

Sign-Up for Kirkwood - Last Call to Register

Kirkwood registration for second semester courses started this week. If you are interested in taking courses, please see Mr. Stoffer to sign up. The sooner that you sign up, the better chance you have in receiving the sections/professors that you want. The deadline to sign up is January 3, but we would encourage everyone to sign up before winter break. Here are a few things to consider:

1. Seniors - if English Comp 2 is on your second semester schedule with Mrs Mullins, you do not need to register for that, you will do it the first few days of the semester.

2. If you are in an Academy at Linn Regional, you are already signed up for second semester courses.

3. If you have never applied to Kirkwood before, the instructions are linked below. Please do that before you stop in to sign up for sections.

4. Below is a linked course list that shows how the courses you select would transfer to Iowa, Iowa State, and UNI.

5. Prairie does not pay for Winter Term courses.

Apply to Kirkwood

Kirkwood Course List

Scholarships

Seniors, here are a few scholarships that just opened up that you can work on over break. Some of them are need based, so make sure you have your EFC from your FAFSA ready to upload.

The Greater Cedar Rapids Scholarships are now available on XELLO

Due Date to Student Services: February 15, 2023

Please see each scholarship for eligibility requirements:

• Merveaux Academic Excellence $500.00
• Glidden Community Service $500.00
• Outstanding Student Leader $500.00
• College Opportunity $500.00
• Kalous Opportunity (renewable for 3 years) $1,000.00
• Prairie Golf $1,000.00
• Kleiman Nomination Application Only (Potential $5000 renewable)

Prairie General Applications - Due March 19, 2023

Prairie Internal Scholarships Application now on XELLO

Prairie Internal Kirkwood Scholarships Application now on XELLO

Fall Scholarship List - Make sure to check XELLO for the information and applications!

National Scholarships-Student Scholarship Organization

Events and Information

• Volunteer Cord Process

Testing Information

• ACT Dates
• SAT Dates

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

• ICAN Transition Guide
• ICAN College and Career Ready

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.

What is the FAFSA?

Have questions about college and career planning?

Reach out to Ms. Rawson at nrawson@crprairie.org or schedule an appointment here.

1. All About Internships You gain real-world experience through a 45-hour supervised internship where you earn elective credit in exchange for your time. Internships count as a class.
2. Why Do an Internship? There’s no better way to learn skills related to your future career and the workplace in general. Even if your internship isn’t directly related to what you want to do for a living, it will still help you develop important workplace skills like teamwork, organization, and public speaking. Other reasons to pursue internships include:
3. Learning about a field before you commit to it. Invest in yourself and get an inside look at jobs in a field you’re considering. Figure out sooner than later if they’re a good fit..
4. Improving your resume. Employers/Colleges/Universities/Military/Trades all expect to see varied experience with accomplishments and skills you’ve learned. An internship is a great place to get that experience.
5. Networking. It’s tough for high school students to network when they’re not in their chosen field yet. Internships let you meet people at all levels of the company where you’re interning, and those connections can be valuable.
6. Getting job offers. Sometimes internships can lead to full-time employment. However, even if they don’t, they’re a great way to get your foot in the door in general.
7. Earn elective credit. Consider an internship a class outside of school, based 100% on your career interest area. Internship experiences guide your post-high school plans by knowing first-hand what areas of work you might enjoy and what areas you don’t. Both are equally valuable.

Stop in and visit with Mrs. Gudenkauf in Student Services to learn more or email her at mgudenkauf@crprairie.org.

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