Scot Nation: Newsletter
November 2017
THIS IS BIG, HUGE!
I want to extend a huge "thank you" to each of you for your support and encouragement during the Apply Kansas: College Application Month event on October 18th. Our seniors did a great job of staying focused and left knowing they had just made a few more steps forward on the path to their bright futures. Eighty seniors completed 110 college applications! Now, excitement is building as acceptance letters start to roll in. When you see our seniors, please congratulate them on a job well done and encourage them to keep pushing forward through the other steps that will ensure they have a smooth transition to college.
Since being here at HP full-time in August, I have seen glimpses of greatness that let me know I was in the right place and my role as a College and Career Advocate made a difference. Yesterday, the seniors went above and beyond my expectations and let me know It's DEFINITELY Great to be a Scot!
Have an amazing day,
Dr. Duncan
Counseling Corner: College & Career Ready
DECEMBER 9TH
Register by November 3rd (THAT IS FRIDAY)
Late Registration November 4-17
Photo Upload by December 1st
HPHS has had numerous representatives from different colleges and universities visit and have taken many students to campus visits as well as college and career fairs.
VISITS & EVERYTHING COLLEGE & CAREER
NOVEMBER
2ND-USMC/PITT STATE (LUNCH)
3RD-FRIENDS UNIVERSITY (LUNCH)
6TH-UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS (LUNCH)
7TH-EMPORIA STATE/WYO TECH;Automotive Diesel School (Scot Time)
7TH-INDEPENDENCE CC (LUNCH)
9TH-WASHBURN UNIVERSITY (CAMPUS VISIT)
10TH-RESER'S HIRING FAIR (BRING A RESUME & DRESSED APPROPRIATELY) 10-12 noon
Must be 18 to be considered for a position on this day, but all those interested should attend so that you know what to expect when you are 18.
14TH-NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE (SCOT VISIT)
15TH-MANUFACTURERS IN THE CLASSROOM (SCOT TIME)
(Local Manufacturer will be here to discuss job opportunities and educational paths to secure positions)
16TH-EMPORIA STATE (CAMPUS VISIT)
16TH-USMC (LUNCH)
17TH-CAREER EXPLORATION FAIR 8:00-NOON IN SMALL GYM
21ST-SCHOLARSHIP WRITING WORKSHOP
27TH-COFFEYVILLE CC(LUNCH)
28TH-HIGHLAND CC (SCOT TIME)
29TH-BARTON CC & FORT HAYES (SCOT TIME)
FAFSA COMPLETION, ASAP
FAFSA
Nationally, the window to complete the FAFSA opened October 1st. Students and families began completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Sunday, October 1st. It's not too late!
Any student wanting a post-secondary education at a junior/community college, 4 year university, technical or trade school will need to complete this application. The sooner the better!
Go to www.fafsa.ed.govto begin your new FAFSA for the 2018/2019 academic year. You and one parent/legal guardian must also have an FSA ID, which serves as your electronic signature. To create one, click on the lock icon near the top of the FAFSA website.
A district-wide FAFSA completion event will be held in Mabee Library at Washburn University on Thursday, November 9th from 6-8PM.Dr. Duncan will be available to assist families complete the FAFSA on Wednesday, November 8th from 4-6PM at Highland Park. You will need to bring 2016 tax information with you. If you have questions, please contact Dr. Duncan at aduncan@tps501.org or (785)-438-5800 or stop by her office in Room 136.
ACT DATE 2017-2018
DECEMBER 9TH
Register by November 3rd
Late Registration November 4-17
Photo Upload by December 1st
FEBRUARY 10TH
Register by January 12th
Late Registration January 13-19
Photo Upload by February 2nd
APRIL 14TH
Register by March 9th
Late Registration March 10-23
Photo Upload by April 6th
JUNE 9TH
Register by May 4th
Late Registration May 5-18
Upload Photo by June 1st
JULY 14
Register by June 15
Late Registration June 16-22
Upload Photo by July 6
SENIOR PHOTOS
Retakes will be November 7th for Seniors!
AVID STUDENTS: OH THE PLACES YOU'LL GO
AVID, which stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a college readiness program designed to help students develop the skills they need to be successful in college. The program places special emphasis on growing writing, critical thinking, teamwork, organization and reading skills.
KSU Encuentro: October 3rd
Parent Teacher Conferences
Additionally, thank you for the positive feedback regarding our change to the format for parent convenience.
If you did not come to Parent Teacher Conferences, it is important that you are staying up-to-date on your student's academic progress, attendance and graduation status. You don't want to find out too late that your student is failing, being referred for truancy, or not on track for graduation. Please contact your student's counselor to set up a time for a phone call or meeting.
Poetry Slam:GEAR UP
https://www.facebook.com/Highland-Park-High-School-1406126639644202/
I was so impressed with the ability of our 20 students who were courageous enough to step on that stage and share their art. They spoke their truth and we were able to visualize through the power of their words. Tears and laughter at the same time.
Proud Principal!
This Week’s Leaders of the Band: Our Very Own Haley Beutler
Haley Beutler is a senior at Highland Park High School. She has served as Secretary / Treasurer on the HP Band Council for 3 years. She has been high winds section leader for 2 years. She has played clarinet in the high school band all four years. While playing clarinet, she has participated in the marching band, concert band, pep band, and jazz band, lettering each year. Haley has been a member of the Topeka Youth Wind Ensemble for two years and was recently selected to perform with the United States Air Force Band at the Topeka Performing Arts Center on October 18. The demands of the high school band has helped her to become a very confident person. She exceeds all the challenges that are thrown her way.
From Haley:
Music has had a huge impact on my life since an early age. I started playing clarinet in elementary school. Being in band at Highland Park High School has influenced my life so much. It has given me the opportunity to improve my leadership skills, social skills, and has made me a more responsible person. I am currently undecided about what college I want to attend after I graduate high school. I want to study chemistry and criminal forensics. I most definitely want to continue playing in the band while attending college because it is such an important part of my life.
Tuesday, NOVEMBER 7TH
TEACHERS,
Please post in your classroom this week and mention to the students. Thank you
SENIORS WHO MISSED THE FIRST GRADUATION PHOTO OR WOULD LIKE A RETAKE FOR LACK OF PREPARATION THE FIRST TIME WILL ALSO TAKE PHOTOS ON THIS DAY. THOSE SENIORS WANTING A RETAKE WILL NEED TO BRING THE PREVIOUS PICTURE PROOF BACK WITH THEM. THIS WILL HELP THE PROCESS MOVE MUCH FASTER.
Let's Talk About Talented Artists...ART IS LIFE!
Also, from Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) .Members of Students Against Destructive Decisions ((SADD) volunteered to face paint Saturday to help with their carnival activities. They painted with Topeka High students from 11am-2pm. They were busy painting hearts, ninja turtles, butterflies, spiders and more. Dariauna Carter and Ariyana Gassity stayed the entire day giving back!
The beautiful shot are from Mrs. Brown's Photo 1 Class. Thank you Mr. Berklund for capturing the artists getting these shots!
DEBATE TEAM IS GREAT!
This Month at HPHS...Mark Your Calendar
November 7th-Picture Retake Day for all grade levels including Seniors. Please post this in your classroom this week and mention to the students.
November 7th-Special Education Parent Information Night 6:30 to 7:30 PM in the Media Center. This is for parents who have been invited by the PI.
November 9th-HP's Veteran's Day Assembly (Adjusted Schedule TBD)
-All Veterans PLEASE CONTACT SMSGT ADAMS VIA E-MAIL to let him know branch, rank, years of service, tours of duty. He has a list but wants to make sure it is accurate. Thank you!
November 21st-Basketball Kick-off 1:30-3:00pm in Main Gym (Adjusted Schedule TBD)
November 22-24th-Thanksgiving Break
KNOWING THE SIGNS OF HIGH SCHOOL DROP-OUTS, HELPS PREVENT DROP-OUTS
Early Warning Signs
The dropout prevention resource that many american school educators are using is the Early Warning System (EWS) Tool, developed by American Institutes for Research (AIR) for the NHSC and customized for Texas by the TXCC. The EWS Tool is an application that tracks student data and, based on specific indicators, flags students who are at risk of dropping out. Researchers have identified ninth grade as a decisive year in a student’s academic career, with ATTENDANCE and COURSE PERFORMANCE being most predictive of whether a student is at RISK OF DROPPING OUT (Allensworth & Easton, 2005, 2007; Balfanz & Herzog, 2005; Neild & Balfanz, 2006). If a student meets certain benchmarks for these “high-yield” indicators, as they are known, he or she is considered OFF TRACK TO GRADUATION.
For example, a student’s absenteeism rate—specifically, the number of days absent during the first 20 days, each quarter, and the first year of high school—provides information about whether he or she is likely to stay in school. A student who misses more than 10% of instructional time during the first year of high school is considered off track (Allensworth & Easton, 2007; Heppen & Therriault, 2008).
In the area of course performance, researchers highlight course failures and grade point average (GPA) as areas to monitor, stressing that even one failed course or a GPA under 2.0 is a red flag. Combining these two indicators, two or more Fs in core academic courses or fewer than one-fourth of the credits necessary for graduation is a sign that a student is off track for graduation, or at risk of dropping out (Allensworth & Easton, 2005; Kennelly & Monrad, 2007).
Based on the combination of indicators, students who were on track at the end of their freshman year were four times more likely to graduate than their classmates who were not on track (Allensworth & Easton, 2007).
AT HPHS WE ARE WORKING TO HELP STUDENTS WHO ARE CURRENTLY OFF TRACK, AND TAKING PREVENTATIVE STEPS FOR THE FRESHMEN. WE LOOK FORWARD TO PARTNERING WITH PARENTS AND STUDENTs, AS WELL AS THE STAKEHOLDERS IN THE COMMUNITY TO POSITIVELY IMPACT THE TRAJECTORY OF THE LIVES OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS. WE NEED YOUR HELP!
HPHS Site Improvement Goals
By the end of the 2017-2018 school year, each student will demonstrate growth on the state assessment resulting in a school-wide increase of ten percent growth. Math proficiency will be at or above twenty percent.
By the end of the 2017-2018 school year, each student will demonstrate growth on the state assessment resulting in a school-wide increase of ten percent growth. Reading proficiency will be at or above twenty-four percent.
The overall attendance rate for Highland Park will reach ninety-two percent for the 2017-2018 school year by reducing chronic attendance issues by fifty percent.
As Administrators, Mr. Ackerman, Ms. Johnston, Ms. Watson, and myself (Mrs. Perry), we have added the following goals as the Instructional Leaders at HPHS as our commitment to our students, families, and stakeholders. These goals will not be reached overnight, and we can't do it without the assistance and support of the faculty and staff at HP, the district office and BOE Members, community, families, and especially our students who must put forth a real effort each day:
- Increase the 2017-2018 Graduation Rate based on the current students enrolled to 93% of the 11R's and Seniors and those who finish will be going to college, vocational school, the military, or secured full-time employment.
- Increase school-wide communication with a weekly staff newsletter, monthly newsletter to parents and community, updated marquee, high traffic on Facebook, and visibility in the building and at school and community activities.
- Inspect what we expect and increase teaching and learning with teachers submitting weekly lesson plans, posting power standards, evidence of Building Academic Vocabulary, increased usage of Webb's DOK Questions, common formative assessments, and bell-to-bell teaching.
- It is our goal to help make Highland Park a school we would gladly send our own children to while creating high expectations, producing results, increasing rigor in the classroom, and creating a school culture worth bragging about; where students are safe, challenged, and ready. We (Administrators, Faculty & Staff) will build ladders for students while keeping the standards and expectations high!