Little Elm High School
Weekly Newsletter - March 31, 2019
Feeding the Heart and Soul: A Fine Arts Education
Research has found that Fine Arts Education is closely linked to many things we as a nation demand from our schools – academic achievement, social and emotional development, civic engagement, and equitable opportunity. Student involvement in the arts is associated with gains in math, reading, cognitive ability, critical thinking, and verbal skill. The fine arts also provide learners with non-academic benefits such as promoting self-esteem, motivation, aesthetic awareness, cultural exposure, creativity, improved emotional expression, as well as social harmony and appreciation of diversity. The arts promote the understanding and sharing of culture. They promote social skills that enhance the awareness and respect of others. The fine arts enhance perceptual and cognitive skills.
In today’s Information Age, learning is not limited to what you know, but is dependent upon how to find information and how to use that information quickly, creatively, and cooperatively. Today’s students are inundated with data but are starving for meaningful learning. To be successful in post-secondary pursuits, students must understand how to solve problems, know what makes arguments plausible, be skillful at building teams and coalitions, and be able to incorporate the concept of fairness into everyday decisions. Students need to be thinkers, possess people skills, be problem-solvers, demonstrate creativity, and work as a member of a team. The arts provide all of these.
Little Elm High School offers comprehensive Arts programming. Successful completion of one year of Fine Arts Coursework is a Texas graduation requirement. LEHS students may choose to complete their Fine Arts requirement in the area of Choir, Band, Dance, Theater, or Visual Arts. Each area of Fine Arts offers multiple courses. This is a busy time for all of our arts programs. Theatre just finished their One Act Play competition. Choir has UIL competition this week. Winter Guard will be traveling to Dayton, Ohio for the WGI World Championships on April 3-7. Band will compete in the UIL Concert and Sight-Reading contest April 16-18. Our Blue Angels are planning a spectacular Spring Show for April 5-6. The all district Art Show will be held Tuesday, April 16 at Zellars from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM where you can see many LEHS entries! Visual Arts students will be competing at the State VASE Competition on April 26-27. As you can see April is a month packed with Fine Arts activities. Good luck to all of these groups in their competitions and performances!
An effective education in the fine arts helps students to see what they look at, hear what they listen to, and feel what they touch. Engagement in the fine arts helps students stretch their minds beyond the boundaries of the printed text or the rules of what is provable. In the words of Julie Garwood, “Education isn’t just about feeding the brain. Art and music feed the heart and soul.”
Renee Pentecost
Principal
Little Elm High School
Click image to submit a Lobo Shout Out!
Congratulations February Students of the Month
Brandon Crossley is a senior who has been a member of the LEHS football, basketball, and track teams. He was recently named the Football Team MVP for the 18-19 season and also named the District 8-5A Basketball Defensive Player of the Year. Brandon is currently competing for LEHS in Track and Field events. He will attend Colorado State University in the Fall on a full scholarship for football. Here are some comments by Brandon's teachers:
Ms. Bausher, Science - "Brandon is a leader both in the classroom and on the field. He is friendly, enthusiastic and determined to be successful in everything he does. He has a winning attitude!!"
Coach Hatcher, Football - "Brandon is very self-motivated, he wants to be the best and makes everyone around him better. He is the ideal student-athlete he performs just as good in the classroom as he does on the field."
Coach Coffey, Social Studies - "Driven - whether it’s in athletics, classroom, or outside of the school setting. He puts his mind to accomplish something and goes 100% at it. His personality and determination makes him someone special in this community that students and teachers should take note of. He goes after his dreams and embodies success."
Mia Whitehead is a senior. She is an athletic trainer and will be attending Texas Tech in the Fall. She was recently named Athletic Trainer of the Year for football. She also serves as President of our PALS program. Here are some comments about Mia from her teachers:
Ms. Bausher, Science - "Mia is delightful in the classroom. She is a ray of sunshine and her smile is infectious. Mia has a professional approach to everything she does, and her humble leadership is magnetic."
Coach McGuire, Science - "Mia is a dedicated student that goes above and beyond in the classroom and on the court/field. She is always first to volunteer and help out and has a fun personality. She is very involved and is a great representation of LEHS."
Mrs. Brown, Math - "Mia is extremely intelligent and a hard worker. She is also very responsible and takes care of business. I have no doubt that she will excel in her future endeavors. Mia also works very well with others in our OnRamps class. Her collaborative skills are excellent and will also help her in the future. She is a wonderful individual."
Ms. Olenski, PALS Sponsor - "Mia is an outstanding student that expects excellence from herself and those around her. She has worked hard to be a great part of our Little Elm community over the past two year."
Mrs. Nicoli, Science - "Mia is the type of student teachers dream of having. She is organized, involved, helpful, and pleasant to have in class. She is just a good person!"
Coach Kidwell - "Mia Whitehead shows, outstanding dependability, remarkable commitment,, great leadership the last four years in the Sports Medicine Program. She makes our game days run smooth from start to finish -whether she's assigned to cover Football, Men's Basketball, Baseball Tournaments, or Track Meets. I can rely on her to give 100% every single event. Mia is respected and looked up to by her peers. Not only does she work hard for us week after week, but is just as diligent in the classroom too (always keeping high grades a priority). Mia Whitehead will truly be missed next year while she's away at Texas Tech University."
Congratulations March Students of the Month
Magnus Chandler -
From Ms. White, English, "What I like best about Magnus is that we don't always agree on discussions in class. He's opinionated and is great about giving his reasons and facts to defend his positions. Recently we've been reading as a group a play in class, and Magnus always volunteers to read. He always put some extra gusto into the parts, which usually has the class laughing, but also keeps them interested."
From Mrs. Eby, Science, "I have had Magnus as a student every year since his freshman year. Magnus has one of the kindest hearts of any teenager I have met. He is always willing to help someone out, no matter what kind of day he is having. He is honest, and hardworking, and I know is going to do great things beyond high school."
From Mr. Dawson, Social Studies, "Magnus Chandler is a great young man, he continually strives to be the best that he can be. In and out of the classroom, he brings a level of spirit that lifts everyone up around him. Magnus is a great example of a Lobo."
Ashton Conner -
Coach Chris Brown, Football - "Ashton is one of the most pleasant students that I have ever been around. He is extremely respectful and polite. He has a strong drive to be great at whatever it is he is doing."
Mrs. Quint, FCS teacher, "Ashton is a pleasure to have in class. He has great contributions to class discussions, and is very responsible in getting all of his class work done."
Mrs. Nicoli, Science, "Ashton is a blast to have in class. He always has something positive to say. He creates many smiles in 3rd period."
Mr. Dawson, Social Studies, "Ashton Conner represents LEHS with a smile. Every day he tries to lift the spirits of his peers and staff. His humor and never ending school spirit, he really shows what it means to be a Lobo."
Austin Montgomery -
From Ms. White, English, "Austin has been a student that I always expect great work from. We've started writing articles for journalism class and his work has been surprisingly interesting. He has real dedication to his classes."
From Mrs. Nicoli, Science, "Austin is extremely smart, while he is quite first thing in the morning, his work shows his intelligence. I cannot wait to see what Austin accomplishes in life after high school."
From Mrs. Davis, Health Science - Pharmacy Practicum, "Austin is in my Pharmacy Practicum class and interns at CVS Mondays-Thursdays. Austin has a great work ethic and is driven to succeed! His pharmacist always has great things to say about him. He is doing a great job representing LEHS in the community!"
From Mr. Dawson, Social Studies, "Austin is an amazing young man and leader. He sets an example for his peers about being cool under pressure, resilient, and confidence. Austin is a great example of a Lobo."
Congratulations to our LEHS Boys State Delegates!
American Legion Boys State is among the most respected and selective educational programs of government instruction for high school students. It is a participatory program where each student becomes a part of the operation of his local, county, and state government.
Boys State has been a program of The American Legion since 1935, when it organized to counter the fascist-inspired Young Pioneer Camps. The program was the idea of two Illinois Legionnaires, Hayes Kennedy and Harold Card, who organized the first Boys State at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.
The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors a similar program for young women called Girls State.
At American Legion Boys State, participants are exposed to the rights and privileges, the duties and the responsibilities, of a franchised citizen. The training is objective and practical, with city, county, and state governments operated by the students elected to the various offices.
Planning on Taking Dual Credit Next Year?
Need a Scholarship?
Tuesday, April 9 - STAAR English I EOC, All Freshmen and English I re-testers
Thursday, April 11 - STAAR English II EOC, All Sophomores and English II re-testers
Monday, May 6 - STAAR Biology EOC, All Freshmen and Biology re-testers
Tuesday, May 7 - STAAR US Hisotry EOC, All Juniors and US History re-testers
Wednesday, May 8 - STAAR Algebra EOC, All Freshmen and Algebra re-testers
Also see the AP Testing Calendar linked here.
In preparation for these important graduation requirements, we are planning some specialized tutoring during the school day. In January we administered a STAAR benchmark assessment from TEA and experimented with a block schedule. As you know we have one period (5th) that is already on a block schedule (meets every other day). While this schedule is not practical for the entire year, it was a successful schedule for providing extra time for special projects. We will use this special schedule on the following dates:
April (A-2, B-3, A-16, B-17, A-24, B-25, A-30, B- May 1)
A days odd periods; B days even periods - See bell schedule below.
This schedule allows for extended time (1 hour 45 minutes each period) on a single day. While this extended time will allow EOC teachers the opportunity for strategic EOC preparation, other teachers will have the opportunity on these dates to plan other extended time projects needed in their content area.
Boys Varsity Soccer
Girls Varsity Soccer
Fan Bus Permission Form
Softball
Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Lobos win 8-1 against Justin Northwest HS
Friday, March 29, 2019
LEHS Softball hosted LEAYSA Night
Baseball Senior Night - March 26
Tryouts for Student Athletic Training/Sports Medicine Program next year starts soon. Those interested in receiving a digital application need to Contact either Lkidwell@littleelmisd.net or mstine@littleelmisd.net to receive the application by email.
-If you enrolled in Sports Medicine or Athletic Training Courses for 2019-2020 please check your school email to complete the Digital Application that was sent to you.
**DIGITAL APPLICATIONS & HANDBOOK have been emailed out**
-Can take up to 30-45 minutes to complete with Parent/Guardian
–DUE COMPLETED & SUBMITTED APRIL 11th
NOTES:
Section 14: to be completed by parents/ guardians
Section 15: 3 Teacher References DUE April 17th
-Mandatory Parent/Student Meeting April 15th in LEHS Cafeteria
(Bring Copy of 3rd 9 weeks Report Card)
-Orientation April 23rd -Tryouts Begin April 24th
Click on banner above to go to the LEHS Graduation web page for the latest information on graduation.
Ticket Sales Update
Tickets are now:
$75 EACH
$140 COUPLES
See Ms. Busher in Room 2255B.
Prom Salon
Each year CIS offers free hair and make up before prom for any of the students attending LEHS. We usually host it at Little Elm Public Library, but since they are booked the day of the prom, the location is TBD. It most likely will be at the school. Please pass on the info to your students. The sign up is below.
May 18th from 11am-2pm
Amanda Zimmerman, MS, LPC
Traditional Site Coordinator at Little Elm HS, room 2229
Communities In Schools of North Texas
Office: (972) 947-9443 ext. 20016
Prom Dress Code
If your prom date has graduated or attends a different high school, the linked form must be filled out and turned into Ms. Bausher in Room 2255B by May 10th.
Please note that if your date has graduated, a background check is required. Please go to this link and have your date fill it out before May 10th.
Are you an Alum of LEHS?
It is our pleasure to announce that our LEISD Communications department is embarking on the first steps of creating an official Alumni Association for LEHS. We understand that there may be some existing alumni Facebook page(s) and we are trying to make it easier to communicate with alumni. Our LEISD Eduction Foundation has also been working on this project and we're hoping to use the power of our social media to strengthen their efforts.
1. Please use the form, linked here, to submit your alumni information. Share, share, share this form as you see fit to all current alumni groups or individuals.
2. LEISD Communications has created an email address where alumni can get information and communicate with the District - alumni@littleelmisd.net
3. An alumni webpage is a work in progress -www.littleelmisd.net/alumni to share even more information.
We are hoping to capture as many class of 2019 students as we can before they head off to their next adventures. This will be a great place to start - but that's not all. We want as many alumni as we can find, from as far back as we can go. If we could manage to get a few well known alumni to Tweet or share with their alumni friends the efforts can multiply quickly.
Please share, share, share with your contacts, social media outlets, or however you need. Help us engage our alumni to connect our Lobo Nation. One Community, One Pack Alumni united can benefit our current students and keep the Lobo Spirit alive for generations.
Teenagers who are anxious or depressed often turn to pot or alcohol to make themselves feel better. It's easy to get, their friends are doing it, and there’s no stigma attached. It may actually help with their symptoms in the short term. But substance use can also delay and undermine their ability to get effective, lasting help and put them on a collision course with addiction.
This week on childmind.org we feature a comprehensive guide to substance use and mental health disorders, developed in collaboration with the Partnership for Drug Free Kids. In it we examine how substance use interacts specifically with disorders in adolescents and young adults — how does it affect symptoms, behavior, treatment, and long-term prognosis? The guide is for both parents and teenagers themselves, it’s downloadable, and we hope it will enable families to make decisions that will be effective for them, now and in the future.
Resources from the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens
Articles On Teen Vaping
Report Harmful, Harassing, and Bullying Behavior
LEISD has an on-line tool called "Anonymous Alerts" that students, parents, and teachers can use to report harmful, harassing, and bullying type behaviors. Anonymous Alerts bullying reporting mobile app helps combat bullying and other negative activity in schools by empowering students to speak up. Social and peer pressures are some of the hardest obstacles for students to overcome. Anonymous Alerts encourages students, parents and staff to quickly, easily, and anonymously report bullying, cyber-bullying, gang-related issues, and other sensitive topics through private messages to school officials by building. All reports remain completely anonymous even during a two-way email conversation, although submitters have the option to reveal their identity if they prefer to have a person-to-person discussion.
To send a report from the Web/Internet go to: www.anonymousalerts.com/littleelmisd/
To send a report from your phone:
- Download the Anonymous Alerts® app for free from the Apple Store, Google Play store, and the Chrome store
- Start the App, enter login: leisd and password: leisd
- Send important reports to school officials
- Add a screen shot or photo about the incident
North Texas U.S. Service Academies Forum
North Texas U.S. Service Academies Forum
Date: Saturday, April 13, 2019
Time: 8:00 AM - 12:00 Noon; Registration opens at 7:30 AM
Note: This is a “come & stay” event!
Place: The Colony High School
Performing Arts Center
4301 Blair Oaks Drive
The Colony, Texas 75056
Representatives from congressional offices and all five academies (U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and U.S. Air Force Academy), as well as current academy cadets and midshipmen, and representatives from Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps ROTC will be on hand to answer questions. North Texas students, parents and educators are able to hear from and meet with these representatives on a one-to-one basis to become informed about the excellent possibilities associated with attending these premier educational institutions and the sorts of careers they generate.
This free event will begin at 8:00 AM; registration opens at 7:30 AM. It is not a come and go event but "come and stay!"
In addition, this event is of primary importance to current juniors who may NOW begin the application process to receive a congressional nomination to one of the service academies. My nomination application will be available for pickup by those students interested in entering the academies in summer 2020.
For more information, please contact Robin Vaughan in my Lake Dallas office by email: robin.vaughan@mail.house.gov or phone: 940-497-5031.
It is my privilege to serve the 26th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Sincerely,
Michael C. Burgess, M.D.
Member of Congress
Lobo ColLEgiate Academy Begins in the Fall of 2020
Spring College Readiness Dates to Remember
- TWU GO Center every Tuesday
- Conversation with the Colleges March 27
- Spring Mini College Fair April 18
- Senior Scholarship Recognition Assembly May 1
- College Search Series and College Fair June 12
Scholarship Opportunities
Deadline to Apply: April 13
The Alliance for a Brighter Community (ABC) Foundation, an IRS designated 501(c)3 and Texas Non-Profit Corporation, is proud to offer the 2019 ABC scholarships for students living in the boundaries of and attending high school in the following school districts: Frisco ISD, Little Elm ISD, Prosper ISD, Denton ISD and The Colony High School.
To review all the applications and eligibility please visit www.abrighternorthtx.org/scholarships.
2019 Scholarships Available
2019 Patrice Withers-Stephens HBCU Scholarship for First-Generation
2019 Patrice Withers-Stephens HBCU Scholarship for N.C. A&T State University
Deadline to Apply: April 22, 2019
DeLeon English Campaign
TYPE 1 DIABETES STUDENT
AWARENESS SCHOLARSHIP
Two Scholarships (1) One $500 and (1) One $250
Students of Little Elm Independent School District Only
Submit By Midnight, April 22nd, 2019
The election campaign of DeLeon English established this scholarship in honor of his daughter Amanda and Krista English, along with all student currently living with the daily struggle of Type 1 Diabetes. The goal of these scholarships is to raise awareness of the disease through education of the topic. These scholarships are offered to provide financial aid to students entering the field of healthcare upon graduation. These programs are offered to help offset tuition costs, student loans, and expenses.
This scholarship is presented from residual funds donated by the generosity of supporters.
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM CRITERIA
The DeLeon English Scholarship on Type 1 diabetes student awareness scholarship is awarded to deserving students who are seeking an associates or undergraduate studies at an accredited university or community college related to the field of health; to include, but not limited to public health, nursing, medicine, pharmacology, health promotion, disability studies and majors that will impact and improve the quality of life of those afflicted with life-threatening diseases.
Find more about the scholarship HERE.
Application is linked below.
2019 Taylor Epps Scholarship - Deadline April 5
LEISDEF CoServ Scholarship - Deadline April 12
Ozarka Every Drop Counts - Deadline to Apply April 26, 2019
Linked below are the scholarship materials for the 2019 $10,000 Ozarka “Every Drop Counts” Earth Science Scholarship. Since 2002, Ozarka has awarded students in the state of Texas a $10,000 scholarship.
Scholarship Search Site Provided by College Board
College Covered
While you are there, check out the website College Covered. Do you want to know what you need in a winning college essay, what college entrance test score you need, or what makes a top notch college application? Get what you need to help get into the college of your dreams with the help of College Covered.
An App Matches Students with College Scholarships They Can Use
Little Elm High School
Chris Reza - Associate Principal (creza@littleelmisd.net)
Alen Palislamovic - White House Principal A - E (apalislamovic@littleelmisd.net)
Ruben Molinar - Grey House Principal F - Li (rmolinar@littleelmisd.net)
Kyle Heller - Blue House Principal Lo - Ri (kheller@littleelmisd.net)
Terilyn Thomas-Monday - Gold House Principal Ro - Z (tthomas-monday@littleelmisd.net)
Website: http://www.littleelmisd.net/Domain/9
Location: 1900 Walker Lane, Little Elm, TX, United States
Phone: (972) 947-9443
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Little-Elm-High-School/736775073135970?notif_t=page_fan
Twitter: @LittleElmHS