Tiger Tracks
Parent Newsletter - Issue #278 - April 19, 2020
Dear Tiger Family,
Having more meaningful conversations allows people to be themselves and feel like they’re being seen, heard, known, and loved. In this episode of The Harbor by Jostens, Mike shares three tips for how to have deeper conversations with others. Being more meaningful with our words helps us appreciate the people and the world around us in a brand new way!
Visit https://www.jostensrenaissance.com/theharbortv/ and enter JOSTENS for the username and password to view the full version or see below for a preview of the episode.
Click here for critical thinking questions about the Meaningful Conversations video.
We are One, We are Family, We are Tigers!
This Week in Virtual Tiger Territory
Monday, April 20-Friday April 24
Tiger Students engage in teacher facilitated content instruction through Schoology
Daily
Free Grab & Go Meals offered at THS from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m
Messages from our Tiger Staff!
Global Issues Summit Information
Our Global Issues Summit is Sat. April 25th from 10-12 on Zoom. We hope you choose to join us. Registration is now open up until the day of GIS. Once the attendee registers they will be sent emails via eventbrite with the Zoom link and explanation of the day. The day will feature a live keynote, option of interactive breakouts, GSA Student Capstone Presentations, and a panel of community leaders.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/global-issues-summit-tickets-94339071703
Student Leadership 101 Program seeks current Sophomores for 2020-2021 cohort
The Fort Bend ISD Board of Trustees offers an exciting and dynamic two-year leadership development program for high school students, called Leadership 101/102. Sophomore students interested in leadership development during their junior and senior years are invited to apply to participate in the district’s 2020-2021 Leadership 101 program. Three students per high school are selected through a competitive application process. During their junior year, the program explores leadership skills through topics such as youth advocacy, service and volunteerism, local government in action, business, and health care through monthly seminars and site visits. During their senior year, the entire cohort moves together and participates in Leadership 102, by working with non-profit agencies in the community. It is Fort Bend ISD’s goal to develop leadership at all levels and to positively impact the climate and culture of our schools and community through the leadership of our students and staff.
Students interested in participating in the program should visit https://studentleadership.fortbendisd.com to obtain an online application.
The application is NOW AVAILABLE and is due no later than 4:00 p.m. on MONDAY, JUNE 1st.
The 2020-2021 cohort will consist of students representing all high schools in the district. Applicants should be in good academic and behavioral standing, have an interest in developing their personal leadership skills and be willing to accept the attendance expectations before submitting an application.
If you have any questions, contact Michael Madden at Mike.Madden@fortbendisd.com
Fine Arts End of Year Placement Requirements
Fort Bend ISD’s Fine Arts programs continue to be a source of pride for our community. Last Tuesday, the NAMM Foundation designated our District one of the “2020 Best Communities for Music Education” in the nation for the eleventh consecutive year. Through the pursuit of artistic excellence, students’ lives are transformed as they embody the attributes outlined in the District’s Profile of a Graduate in real-world applications. For many students, their Fine Arts elective is their favorite class during the day and keeps them engaged at school. In these uncertain times, people in large numbers are connecting to the Arts as a means of creating shared experiences during social distancing.
Staying Connected
During this period of online learning, we want to keep our students engaged in developing their artistic craft. It is imperative students actively participate in activities outlined in the Schoology online courses for their Fine Arts subjects. Over the next few weeks, students will continue building the skills necessary for future success in their artistic discipline, as well as learn audition and portfolio requirements for placement next year.
High School Placement for 2020-21
At the high school level, students wishing to participate in Band, Choir, Orchestra, Dance Team, Theatre Productions, and Art II-IV courses must complete an audition or portfolio review. Each campus Fine Arts program has set up procedures and deadlines for the audition/portfolio submission process. Contact your high school Fine Arts teacher for more detailed information about these placement requirements.
AP Exam Information
For the 2020 administration only, College Board will allow students to cancel the AP Exam(s) for a full refund. A decision to take an AP exam does not need to be made at this time. All students that registered for the AP exam will receive a test access code from College Board. A student choosing not to access the AP online exam on the assigned test date will indicate a cancellation of the exam and a refund due. All requested refunds will be confirmed with College Board and processed after the AP exam administration window.
Link to request an AP exam refund: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=QWJ9SRo5d0KRrL3SqZ9wVKr0Oy4ohIlAv5RbnDv_jhBUMUdCVUM0N0VUQ0JKTzY4VEhYRFdDQ1ZWMS4u
AP Exams are scheduled for May 11-22, with make-up testing June 1-5
All AP Exam information can be found on the College Board AP Students page at https://apcoronavirusupdates.collegeboard.org/students
A Message from College Board- SAT
Due to school closures, we won't be able to administer the SAT® and SAT Subject Tests™ as planned on June 6, 2020.
We're working hard to make the SAT available in school and out of school as soon as the public health situation allows. Students will have opportunities to take the SAT to make up for this spring’s lost administrations.
If it’s safe from a public health standpoint, we'll provide weekend SAT administrations every month through the end of the calendar year, beginning in August. This includes a new administration in September and the previously scheduled tests on August 29, October 3, November 7, and December 5.
Students will be able to register for these administrations beginning in May. We’ll communicate directly with students when the exact date is available. Eligible students will be able to take the exam with a fee waiver. Students who were registered for June and those in the high school class of 2021 who don't have SAT scores will have early access to registration for the August, September, and October administrations.
We'll regularly update our webpage with information.
Snap & Read
Attached below is information that outlines how students can install Snap and Read on their devices (computer or phone). Snap and Read is a text to speech tool that reads aloud written text. It works well within Schoology and when accessing webpages. It reads PDF text as well. Snap and Read installs easily and would be a great support for students who require oral administration or struggle with decoding.
Positive Behavior Intervention Supports for Parents
A Message from THS Librarian Mrs. Spina
We have many ebooks and audiobooks available through our library catalog. Most of these are single user access, meaning that they can only be read by one student at a time. This is particularly true for new titles. I'm working on a how to video that you can share with students. To access ebooks, students (and teachers 🙂) will log in to the catalog with their regular username and password.
This is the best option I've seen for having multiple students reading the same book, especially if you want access to new books. JLG will allow many students to access the same book. They have both ebooks and audiobooks. JLG focuses on new books and also adds new books each month. There are a variety of topics and reading levels covered and the books are specifically selected for children and teens. They also don't require any sign up or subscription. Student just click and read!
Here is info from the JLG website.
I've also attached a helpful how to video from the librarian at Dulles HS.
Scribd is an online ebook service that offers a 30 day free trial. This would require students to sign up, but does not require credit card information. There are many, many books and audiobooks available. This service would include adult content as well.
Preview the books available here.
Audible is also free for the time being. Audible is the audiobook platfrom from Amazon. These are exclusively audiobooks.
Most of you are probably already aware of Project Gutenberg. There are thousands of books available for free here. They are all books that are no longer under copyright in the US, so this would be a great place for your students to access classics.
Teens and Social Distancing
We are thankful for FBISD Child Nutrition Services!
A Message from Nurse Lischau
Counselor and Administrator Splits
Counselors
Dwelvin Oliphant, Lead Counselor
Ladale Webster-Lamb (A-Ch)
Monet Newsome (Ci-Go)
Jeanne Andrews (Gr-La)
Cheryl Clark (Le-Ok)
Brenell Young (Ol-Sh)
Tanya Johnson (Si-Z)
Principals
Sarah Laberge, Principal
Adrienne Garcia, Associate Principal
Damien Bassett, Assistant Principal (A-C)
Lisa Long, Assistant Principal (D-I)
Derryk Pope, Assistant Principal (J-M)
Tara Baker (Pugh), Assistant Principal (N-R)
Erik Smith, Assistant Principal (S-Z)
Travis High School
Website: https://www.fortbendisd.com/ths
Location: 11111 Harlem Road, Richmond, TX, United States
Phone: 281-634-7000
Twitter: @ths_tigers