SSAE High School Bytes
December 2019
Welcome
Ram Award Winners
Each month students will be recognized for going above and beyond in academics and upholding the social contract.
Math
Thursday, December 12, REQUIRED IN BUILDING Knowledge Check - during math classes. Students should be at 60% mastery or better in their respective courses and earned at 70% or better in the Aleks grade book by Dec 19.
English
Science
Biology: Students did an awesome job on their 3D DNA models. We will spend the next few weeks until break talking about genetic traits and how those passes on.
Chemistry: December 3 to the USAFA to tour the Chemistry research lab! We are entering the last stretch of the semester and finishing up stoichiometry. Next week we will be doing a lab and making lava lamps!
History & More
World History- Students are diving into World War I by completing a project on a topic of their choice.
Teen Leadership- Students continue to build relationships with one another and are working on speeches.
Academic Fitness- Students are wrapping up their Academic Fitness by making a brochure about what skills and advice they want to pass on to others.
Art
College Adobe Illustrator- digital portfolios, digital landscapes, digital creatures
College Drawing- realistic graphite perspective drawings, Prismacolor drawings, portfolios college papers
Fine Arts- My Art Galleries, your choice 2D or 3DCollege
Spanish
Welcome, December! Spanish students will present their final project on December 3rd and 5th. We will also review some topics to be ready for the final exam on December 10th. I wish you all a happy holiday season.
Engineering & More
Want to Get Ahead Over Break?
SSAE Community Clothing Giveaway- Shop for FREE
SSAE is excited to have a clothing giveaway again this year run by our high school National Honor Society and Community Service Club students. Please come to shop genty used clothes for FREE. Shopping is open to our whole community, so please invite others to participate. See you there!
Colorado Springs Fire Explorer Program
The Colorado Springs Fire Explorer Program provides exposure to the fire service and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) for interested youths ages 14-21. This is a hands-on learning program and a great opportunity for any student interested in Fire/EMS services. They are now taking applications for a January 2020 start date. There is a fee, a monthly training obligation, and a one-year commitment. Participating students must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA at all times. For more information or specific questions, you can contact Marjorie Essigmann by calling 719-574-2215 or by email at Essigmann@aol.com.
Bal Masque' Dance, Saturday, December 14, 2019
- Student Council presents Bal Masque', a winter dance that will be an experience you do not want to miss. Bal Masque - the masked ball - will take place on December 14 from 7:30 to 10:30 at the Ponderosa Lodge at La Foret. This historic building will bring a classic atmosphere to our event!
- Bal Masque is a masked ball that is themed with the longest-running musical of all-time - the Phantom of the Opera! We will have today's best dance themes play at the dance, but we will also be featuring the most well-known songs from the broadway show throughout the evening.
- Students are encouraged to bring a masquerade mask to enjoy at the dance, but we do have a few requests. Please do not put it on until after you have entered the dance, and it cannot be full-face. It must be decorated in a school appropriate manner. If you want to get your mask approved in advance, you can bring it to Mr. Barela or Mr. Wixom.
- Tickets are on sale for $10 through December 4. After that, they will be $15 until the day of the dance. If you wait until the day of the dance, you can still buy your ticket for $20 at the door. Buy your tickets early and often at the front desk!
- Guest form for out of building guestsFinally, you might be asking what is the dress code for such a prestigious event. There is no formal dress code, however considering the theme and venue, most students will be dressed up (perhaps not quite to the level of prom, but a few will choose to).
SENIOR REMINDERS
Senior Quote- DUE January 31
Senior Picture Yearbook submission- DUE January 31
Senior Slideshow Photos- DUE December 20th
Cap & Gown Orders
End of Semester Important Information
- The week of December 9 is the regular school schedule.
- Edgenuity stops assigning work on Friday, December 13, 2019.
- If a student has below 70% as of December 15, he/she will need to come in on Monday, December 16 through Thursday, December 19, 2019, to reach at least the 70% mark.
- If a student has 70% or above, he/she may work from home on December 16 through Thursday, December 19, 2019. No regularly scheduled classes will be happening this last week.
- ALL student work is due Friday, December 20, 2019, at 8:00 AM. (ALEKS is due by 3 PM December 19 because the student would need to take the last knowledge check in the building.)
Supporting your student
SSAE Parents/Guardians- The end of the semester is quickly drawing near, and the stress of completing course work and concerns about grades can be hard on students, raising stress levels and inducing anxiety. Your student's health and well-being is of utmost concern, so here are a few tips to help get your student through this stressful time:
- Allow for breaks! Allow your student to take time away from schoolwork; it is important to allow them to de-stress and give themselves a "brain break" once in a while. Do something fun with them, go to dinner, or watch a movie and let them have free time before bed to unwind from their schoolwork.
- Encourage them! Be their biggest cheerleader, offering your assistance and guidance along the way. Give them something to look forward to in the end to help motivate them (a special day out, a special dinner, etc.) as they push through to the end of the semester.
- Keep expectations real! We all want our children to do well in school and to succeed, but keeping expectations within reach is important.
- Praise them! Even the slightest progress should be acknowledged. Letting them know they are doing a good job completing their work, focusing, or staying on task can go a long way. We all like to be complimented for a job well done; your student is no different.
- Talk to (and hear) your students! Checking in and talking with them and really listening to and hearing them is important. This will allow your students the chance to share how they are feeling, express concerns, and ask for your help when necessary.
- Ask Questions! If you see that your student is struggling and is over-stressed, ask them about it. Be sure to use open-ended questions. Ask them how they are feeling. Ask them what they are thinking. Ask them how you can help them. Asking them about these things will help you better understand what they are going through and how you can help them get through these stressful times.
We acknowledge that this can be a stressful time for parents and families, as well. We want to remind you to take time for yourself and care for yourself, as well. After all, when you are at your best, your student will feel it and know it, which in turn, helps them. Thank you for all of your support over the course of the semester and know that our faculty and staff are here to support your students whenever and however we can.
Students- You are almost there!
STUDENTS- The end of the semester is quickly drawing near, and the stress of completing course work and concerns about grades can be stressful and overwhelming. Here are some tips for you to help you get through this stressful time.
- Stay Positive! Although there is a lot to get done and the work seems endless, you will get through it! The next two weeks will fly by, and all of your hard work will be rewarded with some much-needed time off. And remember, don’t be too hard on yourself simply do your best. After all, you don't need to be perfect to be amazing!
- Set a schedule for yourself and stick to it! Schedules help keep you on track by helping you to effectively manage your time and stay on task. Procrastinating only creates undue stress and adds to your workload in the end.
- Set small & attainable goals! Set goals that you can reach easily and quickly and then re-set new goals once they are obtained. Celebrating each little “win” along the way helps keep you motivated as you move on to your next goal. Be proud of each step in your journey as each of those steps leads you to the finish line.
- Allow for breaks! Allow yourself to take scheduled breaks away from schoolwork; it is important to take breaks in order to de-stress and give yourself a "brain break" once in a while. If you find yourself struggling with an assignment, taking a break from it and coming back to it at a later time can give you a fresh outlook making it easier.
- Ask for Help! Don’t wait until you are drowning. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but rather a strength. Please take advantage of all the student supports that we have in place for you. Utilize the extra support offered by teachers, support coaches, and interventions to help you with your academics. We truly want you to succeed and are there to support you along the way.
- Take care of YOU! Your emotional and physical health is important for school success; a healthy body makes for a healthy mind. Make sure to get at least 8-hours of sleep each night, avoid technology before bed, eat right, drink lots of water, and find some time for exercise. Reach out to the school counselors for social or emotional concerns such as overwhelming stress, depression, and social issues. Our counselors are available to you throughout the day; information shared with our counselors is confidential and isn’t shared with anyone else.
The semester is almost over, and break time is near. Work hard now so you can enjoy your well-deserved time off later. We are all here to help you along the way, so please reach out for help anytime you need us. YOU'VE GOT THIS!
Upcoming Important Dates
December 2019
12/10/19- FINAL EXAM for World Language
12/12/19- ALEKS Knowledge Check- inbuilding
12/13/19- Last day for assigned work in Edgenuity
12/14/19- SSAE Community Clothing Giveaway 8:00-1:00 PM
12/14/19- Bal Masque' Dance at La Foret 7:30-10:30 PM
12/17/19- Coffee with the Principal (parents)
12/20/19- ALL student work due at 8:00 AM
12/23/19-1/6/19- Winter Break (no school)
January 2020
1/7/19- School starts back up