#StayTRU
Truman High School Newsletter-October, 2023
Awesome in October
At Truman, in addition to all things autumn, we are looking forward to events that involve YOU! We are also very excited for Parent-Teacher Conferences on Tues. 10/17 and Weds. 10/18 (more details below).
Fall sports are looking at the 2nd half of their seasons, conference and district play-offs, while Winter Sports are anxious to get started. Marching Band is in festival season and we look forward to fall concerts. Thespians are working hard for our musical in November, Mamma Mia! As you can see, our students are busy making an IMPACT in many ways in the life of our school
October can also present some challenges: we lose an hour somewhere along the way, and our days are shorter. At school, the newness of the year has worn off, and we are fully involved in learning and coursework, homework and projects, tests & quizzes. For some, the struggle sets in and it can feel like things are too hard. On the contrary, this is the moment for opportunity, for growth, for learning. We join you in helping our kids learn to persevere through a challenge to find that resilience that will serve them well in their future beyond high school.
We continue our focus on the important of daily attendance as well as academics and we are seeing gains already. Your partnership with the school and your hard work as a parent is making a positive IMPACT.
As always, we are humbled by the privilege of you entrusting your most precious gifts-your students-with us and we are grateful for the partnership with you in helping them discover and pursue their dreams.
Picture Make-Up Dates
Oct. 12th & Oct. 13th- SENIOR PORTAITS ONLY These dates are for any senior who did not have a portrait session this summer. This is your senior's yearbook photo. If they do not have their photo taken by Strawbridge, their photo will not be in the yearbook. Seniors should go down to have their picture taken during their English class.
As a general reminder, please be sure that you did not inadvertently mark your students as NO PHOTO during registration as this can prevent their photo from being included in the yearbook.
Parent Teacher Conferences!
WHAT: Brief meetings to discuss student learning progress. We will also have some breakout sessions available.
WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 17th 3:30pm-7:30pm
Wednesday, Oct. 18th 3:30pm-7:00pm
WHERE: In Classrooms at Truman HS
WHY: To strengthen communication and partnership amongst students, parents, & teachers.
HOW: We are currently working on this. Feedback indicates parents and staff prefer appointments and we are working on a system other than Canvas to do this. Stay tuned for communications next week.
Senior Class of 2024 - Class Meeting
Thursday, Oct 26, 2023, 08:45 AM
THS Auditorium
Considering College-Attend the NCAC National College Fair!
Staff & Student of the Month for September
Logan Treloar-Logan Treloar is the IDEAL Patriot. He makes sure to honor his many commitments throughout the school year. He also makes time for his little sister and brother. He knows that he is a leader on the football team and models grit. He knew that a lot of my kids looked up to him and made sure to be a good example. He has great time management skills and is a joy to teach.
Collin Sizemore-Mr. Sizemore's additional efforts in the early AM and late PM for students is above and beyond. Is very positive with all staff and students. He goes the extra mile doing whatever needs to be done.
Truman PTSA Mtg
We are very lucky to have such an active and committed PTSA at Truman HS-many high schools no longer have a PTSA!
Several studies show that students do better when parents are involved in their education and the life of the school.
Don't miss this opportunity to get connected and involved with a great group of parents who have our students' best interests at heart.
Haven't joined PTSA yet? No problem.
Visit and follow their Facebook Page at the following links: https://www.facebook.com/groups/297650478495369
Wednesday, Oct 11, 2023, 07:00 PM
Truman High School, South Noland Road, Independence, MO, USA
Attendance Matters
All students continue to set an attendance goal, reflect on that goal each week, and have check-ins with their teacher to monitor their progress & identify barriers to attendance.
What can parents do to help students continue to have strong daily attendance?
--understand how the school calculates attendance
--recognize the important statistics below
--schedule appointments and vacations outside of the school day and school year
--set and maintain expectations of good attendance at home
--communicate with the school regarding every student absence
--reach out to the school for assistance with students who struggle to attend daily
Did you know that.....
*Research shows that students who miss fewer than the equivalent of two (2) full days in September continued to miss fewer than two days a month for the remainder of the school year.
*This year, we have 155 instructional days with students (140 at the time of this newsletter), so students who miss the equivalent of 15 full days of school or more for the year will be chronically absent?
*There are 72 instructional days in first semester, which means students missing the equivalent of 7 or more days 1st semester would be chronically absent.
Help your student Strive for Less Than 5
full day absences each semester.
It's Concert Season
Orchestra Concert-Wednesday, Oct. 4th, 7pm
Choir Concert-Thursday, Oct. 19th, 7pm
LITERACY FOCUS
We have also created our building's definition of literacy at Truman High School.
Each day during 5th block there is time built in specifically for literacy. During this time teachers and students may be involved in SSR (Silent Sustained Reading) or other literacy activities that involve visual literacy, writing, etc.
We appreciate your support at home to promote literacy with your student as we continue to focus on helping students become literate consumers and creators. Read with them & encourage reading at home-even digitally. Write with them & encourage writing at home. Practice listening and speaking skills. Explain how literacy is important for you in your work and in your life. Ask them to explain their understanding of literacy to you-what it means and looks like in their various classes. Doing these things can help reinforce what students are experiencing at school and validate their relevance and importance.
Trunk or Treat
WHAT: A trick or treating event sponsored by STUCO and various THS clubs, teams, & organizations for children in our community.
WHEN: Sun., Oct. 22nd 1pm-3pm
WHERE: Truman High School Parking Lot
WHY: To provide a fun, safe, trick or treating experience for children in our community
HOW: THS student clubs/teams need to sign up via their email. Deadline approaching soon.
Participating children-show up in costume, bring a bag/bucket-something to hold your candy, and your parent.
Sunday, Oct 22, 2023, 01:00 PM
Truman High School, South Noland Road, Independence, MO, USA
Testing Information
In high school, we have a number of assessments we give students. All assessments, be they a test, project, paper, or performance, are an opportunity for students to show what they know and can do. Additionally, they provide feedback to students, teachers, and families about student strengths to build upon as well as areas to focus on for improvement. In short, tests or assessments help teachers, students, and parents monitor a student's learning progress and growth.
As we wrap up the 1st quarter of the school year, many students will be taking Common Benchmark tests in core classes to see how they have progressed in their learning of the concepts covered in that first unit(s) of their courses.
You may also hear about the following tests:
ASVAB-Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery. It measures strengths and weaknesses in four basic domains: verbal, math, science & technical, and spatial. It provides career information for various civilian and military occupations and is an indicator for success in future endeavors, such as college, career, vocational, or military. Students general take a baseline in 10th grade and then many students may take it again their senior year
ACT Work Keys-This test is written by the same group that creates the ACT. It is meant to measure a range of hard and soft skills relevant to any occupation, at any level, and across industries. Students take this test their junior and or senior year. Test results can qualify students to receive a National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC), which can help inform potential employers about the skill level of the student and can help set the student apart in interviews for full or part-time work. Some 5,000 business in Missouri recognize this credential.
ACT-American College Testing. This test contains four multiple choice tests: English, Math, Science, and Reading as well as an optional Writing Test. The test measures skills that are most important in post-secondary education, but which are acquired in high school. Most colleges and universities use the scores to admit and place students in their coursework. Many dual credit courses at Truman require a certain score on the ACT to take the course for dual credit.
EOC-End of Course Exams. These are state required exams in Algebra I (or Algebra II for those who took Alg I in 8th grade), American Government, Biology, & English II. Students take the exam for the course when they have successfully completed the course. Taking these exams in these courses is a graduation requirement in the state of Missouri.
On March 12th, Extreme Test Day, all freshmen will attend a college visit, all sophomores will take either the ACT or Work Keys, and all juniors will take the ACT. See below for other ACT National Test dates. Students who take the ACT more than once have better college options and have better chances of improving their scores.
Our Testing Coordinators are Ms. Yvonne Rito (ASVAB, ACT Work Keys, & ACT) and Dr. Taisha Newcomer (EOC)
Freshman Commitment To Graduate Ceremony
Blood Drive
Tuesday, Oct 24, 2023, 08:00 AM
Truman High School
Monday Schools
Monday Schools for High School left in October:
10/9 and 10/30 (No Monday School on 10/16 due to Parent Teacher Conferences)
Why would/should a student attend a Monday School?
A student may be required to attend a Monday School as a disciplinary consequence.
A student may choose to attend a Monday School for any of the following:
-Tutoring/Credit Recovery
-Attendance Time Make-Up (for denial of credit due to 7 or more absences)
-Enrichment-Lessons taught by certified teachers.
-Select clubs- Click the following link to see options: https://www.isdschools.org/enrichment-opportunities/
Does my student have to sign up? No, they do not. But it is helpful to familiarize yourself with the options by visiting the website ahead of time.
Will the bus pick them up and bring them home? No. Transportation is not provided and is the responsibility of the family.
Are meals provided? Yes. There is a free breakfast and a free lunch provided.
Does my student have to attend the entire day? If they are there to serve discipline consequences, the answer is Yes. If they are not, the answer is No. Your student can attend as long or as little as they would like. The day is broken up into 3 sessions that are approximately 2 hours each. They can come for the entire day, an entire session, or just a portion of a session.
When does it start and end?
Student's day begins at 8:30 am and ends at 2:15pm.
Session times are as follows:
8:30-10:15
10:20-12:25 (includes lunch)
12:30-2:25
We encourage students and families to be aware of the resources and options provided to students on Mondays to support academic success and use them as you need and are able.
Again, you can find all the information regarding 4-day Week and 5th Day (Monday) opportunities at the following link: https://www.isdschools.org/isd-four-day-instructional-week/
Important Dates at a Glance-November
Mark your calendars!
Nov. 2nd-5th-Fall Musical-Mamma Mia!
Mon. NOV. 6th-STUDENT ATTENDANCE DAY
Tues. NOV. 7th-NON STUDENT ATTENDANCE DAY, PD Day for Staff.
Nov. 9th-Market Day
Nov. 10th-Veteran's Day Assembly
Nov. 15th-PTSA Mtg.
MON. NOV. 20th-STUDENT & STAFF ATTENDANCE DAY
Wed. Nov. 22nd-Fri. Nov. 24-Thanksgiving Break.
Mavericks Day Game-Tuesday, Nov. 7th
Gates open at 9am
Puck Drops at 10:35am
Sports Schedules, School Gear Store, and more
Need to know when your student is playing?
Want to order some Truman Gear?
Want score updates?
Interested in joining our Patriot Booster Club?
Click the link below for your one-stop for all things Sports and Activities at THS.
https://gotruman.com/Truman HIgh School Anti-Bullying Coordinator
taisha_newcomer@isdschools.org
816-521-5350
Are you following us?
Truman High School Official Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/THSPatriots Official Twitter: @THSPatriots Truman High School Official Sports Updates Twitter: @GoTrumanPats Truman High School PTSA -Truman Patriots Club Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/groups/297650478495369 Twitter: @THSPatriotsClub Truman High School Counseling Center Instagram: @counseling_ths Twitter: @Counseling_THS Truman Student Council Instagram: @trumanstuco1 Truman High School Library Media Center Twitter: @truman_library Independence School District Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ISDSchools/ Twitter: @ISDschools
Sporting Event Reminders
1. All students need to show a current year school ID to attend all home and away events or be accompanied by their parent or gaurdian.
2. All middle school schools students must also have a current year student ID AND be accompanied by a parent.
3. No backpacks are allowed in to any events.
4. No re-entry: once students or patrons leave the event, there is no re-entry permitted.
5. All school rules apply to porting events-home and away.
6. Activity passes are available for purchase from our Activities office. Otherwise, there is an entry fee for all events.