Braves Bulletin

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

  • 8/14/2019 Braves Bulletin

    1/6

    STAR VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL OCTOBER 2008

    Braves BulletinBefore the start of the 2008-09 school year, Star Valley High School was focusing on its goals for not only thenext year, but also forthe next five years. To this end, a committee comprised of school board members,administrators, teachers, parents, and students met throughout the summer to define the vision and mission

    statements for the school.

    MISSION POSSIBLE Homer Bennett, who is serving as theChairman for the School Improvement Team,

    conveys the following message to the patrons

    of Lincoln County School District #2:

    The employees of Star Valley High School

    have always worked hard at providing the youthof our community the best education availablein Wyoming and the surrounding states. Our

    teachers, administrators, and support staff haveall dedicated themselves to helping our

    students become ready for the 21st centurychallenges they will face when they leave us.

    As we begin the NCA accreditation process[North Central Accreditation ensures that aschool is committed to raising student

    performance and held accountable forimproving learning], were excited at the

    prospect of defining ourselves as a school thatprepares students through a vision of Rigor

    (higher- order and higher-level instruction),Relevance (real-world application), andRelationships (personalizing instruction for

    every young person, in a safe, secure, learningenvironment). Our journey will allow us to take a

    good look at ourselves and, with theparticipation of our stakeholders, continue

    towards a goal of consistently improving ourinstruction.

    We would like our patrons to know how

    privileged we feel to work in a community thatholds education in such high regard, and wewould like to welcome your involvement in

    moving our students forward. Please feel freeto communicate with us either in person, or

    electronically through the links provided via theStar Valley High School website.

    SVHS Phone Number: 885-7847

    SVHS Web site: www.svhs.lcsd2.org

    Star Valley High Schools Mission Statement (Proposed)

    The mission of Star Valley High School and its stakeholdeis to provide a safe, secure, respectful, and stimulatingenvironment where all students will be engaged in arigorous, relevant curriculum.

    Success will be measured through local, state, and nationtesting. All students will be challenged to becomecollaborative workers, effective communicators, and critithinkers with problem solving skills.

    Their development will be fostered by positive relationshiAll students will be guaranteed equal access to availableresources.

    Upon graduation, they will demonstrate personalaccountability, become responsible citizens in a democrasociety, and be prepared for the challenges of an ever-changing global society.

    S.V.H.S. Selects New Vision and Mission Statement

    SVHSs New Vision: Bravely PreparingStudents for the the Ever-changing Worldthrough Rigor, Relevance, and Relationshipsin Academics and Activities

    Star Valley High Schools Vision Statement LogoProposed

    (Newsletter for Parents and Students)

    Rigor

    RelationshipsRelevance

    Academics Activities

    Bravely

    preparingfor the

    ever-

    changingworld

  • 8/14/2019 Braves Bulletin

    2/6

    STAR VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL OCTOBER 2008

    Counselling Office InformationUPCOMING EVENTS

    Oct. 10 12:30 University of Wyoming room 120

    Oct. 13 8:30 am Brigham Young University

    OCT. 14 PSAT- 10th and 11th Grades

    12:30 Bridgerland Tech. room 120

    OCT. 17 FALL BREAK

    OCT. 22 12:30 Utah State University room 120

    6:00 to 8:00 Utah State Univer. Open

    House

    2:00 Wester Wyo. Comm. College room

    120

    Oct. 27 2:30 Casper College

    NOV. 12 4:30 to 7:30 Parent-Teacher Conference

    ETNA

    NOV. 13 4:00 to 7:30 Parent-Teacher Conference

    AFTON

    NOV. 14 NO SCHOOL

    NOV. 18 2:00 Central Wyoming College room 120

    NOV. 25 8:30 AM - ASVAB Test 11th Grade

    NOV. 26 BRAVES IN ACTION (SERVICE DAY)

    EARLY RELEASE FOR THANKSGIVING

    DEC. 3 PLAN Test for 10th Grade

    10:00-2:00PM Univ. of Wyo. Applic. Day

    DEC.23 EARLY RELEASE FOR HOLIDAYS

    NOTE: Due to travel, weather, and schedule changes,

    dates and times may be changed. Please call

    FRESHMEN IN THE HOUSE

    A house full offreshmen? A nightmarishthought for some teachersand parents. However, StarValley High Schools (SVHS)Freshman House is not at allscary. In fact, it is provingto be a great program.

    Since Freshman House is anew program, there areprobably a few questions.

    1--Who put the freshmen inthe house?

    Jamie Holyoak, ActivitiesDirector, felt a need forEvery Student to be KnownValuedInspiredEvery day,which became the theme ofthis unique program. Fusingsimilar programs in Kentucky

    and Florida, Holyoak createda pilot program during the2007-08 school year. Thegoals of the Freshman Housewere to help studentsentering high school feelconnected, academically andsocially, and to help studentsstay in high school and tosucceed. Eighty studentswere randomly selected toparticipate in the program;five teachers (Kevin Waldron,Polly Erickson, Linda Linford,Rachael Taylor, and JulieAagard), and SchoolCounselor Josh Frazier werechosen to mentor and tomonitor these students.

    2--What happened inFreshman House? Ateacher carefully monitored

    each students grades,discipline, and attendance.during homeroom. Charactereducation assemblies wereheld monthly, focusing ontraits like excellence,understanding, attitude, andcompassion. In addition,when a student was eligible

    academically anddisciplinarily, he or she wasable to attend fun activities,like two plays and dinner in

    Jackson, a trip to Simplot, aski trip, a picnic, and amovie.

    3--What were the results ofFreshman House the firstyear? Based on the data,Freshman House was a hugesuccess during its first year.

    Among last years freshman,a record 0% drop-out ratewas attained.

    4--What are the plans forFreshman House this year?Motivated by the success ofthe program, SVHS decidedto include all freshmen inthe House for the 2008-09school year, and over 16teachers are involved inmentoring and in tracking

    these students progress.Even though the number ofstudents and teachers in theprogram have changed, the

    goal is the same: Every

    Student: KnownValued

    InspiredEvery day.

    For Your Information: Youmay be the winner of an Ipodor an Itunes gift certificate!Keep reading and learning

    about SVHS!

    PAGE 2

  • 8/14/2019 Braves Bulletin

    3/6

    STAR VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL OCTOBER 2008

    INVENTING EDUCATION

    Fuel and energy costs are climbing daily.; as a result, costs for fueling vehicles, heating homes, andfeeding families are sky-rocketing. With prices increasing without an end in sight, the interest in findingalternative fuel sources is at an all-time high. Who will help solve the worlds, nations, and regions risingcosts for energy? Who will help develop alternative forms of energy? Amazingly, the answer may come from

    Star Valley High Schools Technology Department (Tech Dept.). In May 2008, SVHSs Technology Department submitted a grant proposal to investigate alternativesources of energy. In early August, SVHS was awarded a$53,000 grant funded from the State AdvisoryCouncil for Innovative Education. SVHS Teachers Randy Hokanson and Farren Haderlie acted quickly tointegrate a new course: Inventors Club. The class, which appeals to technology students and to academicstudents, develops projects with such skills as construction, welding, drafting, math, computers, writing, andscience. The chief goal of each project is to create a workable, alternative energy source.

    Its an amazing teaching experience, says Technology Teacher Randy Hokanson. The studentshave to deal with resources, develop interpersonal skills as they explain and plan their ideas with otherstudents, research information from alternative energy sources, integrate innovative technology, constructtheir projects using various technical skills, and then evaluate the effectiveness of the finished product.

    Who knows? Perhaps SVHs students will aid in solving energy problems and reducing every-daycosts for the essentials.

    Members of the Inventors Club cook hot dogs using solar power on a sunny fall day.

    If you have any suggestquestions, or commentabout The Braves Bullplease contact MelanieRobinson by phone 885or by e-mail:

    [email protected]

    A FRIENDLY REMINDER.

    Parents/Guardians: You can check your students grades 24/7. With todays technology, a parent/guardian can check a students grade and know exactly how that student is doing in each class. Manyparents/guardians check grades daily or weekly. Lincoln County School District #2 has an Internet-based program for attendance and for grades. A parent/guardian can check a students grade anywheretheres Internet access. Whats more...checking a students grades is easy, and grades can be e-mailed toyou daily or weekly. If you do not know how to check grades on the Internet, call 885-7847.Administrators, counsellors, and secretaries can teach you how.

    PAGE 3

    Parent/Teacher

    Conference Remi

    November 12 in E

    from 4:30 to 7:

    November 13 in A

    from 4:00 to 7

    SVHS would like parents to attend.

    mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]
  • 8/14/2019 Braves Bulletin

    4/6

    STAR VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL PAGE 4 OCTOBER 2008

    WHEN DOES GPA + ACT X (307) = $$$

    In the state of Wyoming, when you have the right GPA and ACT score and go to college inthe 307 area code, you can receive up to $1600 per semester from the Hathaway Merit Scholarship.

    The state of Wyoming has established a generous scholarship program, in the name ofGovernor Stan Hathaway, that rewards eligible Wyoming students with scholarship money to attend

    the University of Wyoming or a Wyoming community college. The program provides merit- andneed-based awards to eligible students.

    What are the chances of a student receiving the Hathaway Scholarship? Parents andstudents can look at the chart (below) and see what type of scholarship a student can get.

    Merrit Award

    Eligibility Criteria

    Opportunity Performance Honors

    Award Amount $800. SEM $1200 SEM $1600 SEM

    Minimum High

    School gpa

    2.5 3 3.5

    Minimum ACTScore

    (Composite)

    19 21 25

    Length of Award 8 Full-TimeSemesters

    8 Full-TimeSemesters

    8 Full-TimeSemesters

    High SchoolCurriculum

    See Next Chart See Next Chart See Next Chart

    Need AwardAmount

    25% of annualunmet need. $100 /semester minimumaward. $750 /

    semester maximumaward.

    25% of annualunmet need. $100 /semester minimumaward. $750 /

    semester maximumaward.

    100% of annualunmet need. $100 /semester minimumaward. Total unmet

    need is maximumaward.

    For more informationabout the specific courserequirements on theHathaway ScholarshipProgram, contact the

    Counseling Department aStar Valley High School orcontact

    Kay Post, Director

    State Department ofEducation

    School Improvement Un

    2020 Grand Avenue, Suite500

    Laramie, WY 82070

    307-777-5599 [email protected]

    Picture courtesy of the Centerfor the Arts and the OffSquare

    Theatre Company, Jackson, WY.

    In October 2007, approximately 600students attended William ShakespearesRomeo and Juliet at the Center for the Arts inJackson. Attending the play was a positiveexperience for students; hence, SVHS ispreparing to take the students to see a matineeperformance of another Shakespearean play, AMidsummer Nights Dream on October 23(Thursday

    --red day

    )and October 24

    (Friday

    --

    gold day).

    The Offthe Square TheatreCompany along with the Center for the Artshas graciously invited SVHS students to seethe timeless comedy at a reduced price of$5.00 per student. (The non-school ticketprice is $20 for students, $30 for adults, and$55 for the gala event.)

    Interestingly, this age-old comedy hasa modern twist. This magical tale of love andmarriage is set in 1958, a far cry from the 16thcentury, when Elvis was king, and poodleskirts, black leather jackets, and greased-back

    hair was the norm.

    The main characters have morphed into DClark and Olivia Newton John, and the sonare right out of American Bandstand.

    The SVHS administration strongencourages the arts and visual and culturalliteracy, and SVHS encourages all students attend the performance. This is an amazin

    experience at a rock-bottom price.

    SVHS recognizes the generousoffering from the Center for the Arts and tOffSquare Theatre Company. The EnglishDepartment at SVHS believes that theresnothing quite like seeing a play performed.When a student sees a live-performance oplay, the cultural and artistic influence upostudents becomes apparent. Its like readitranscript of a Monday night NFL game ve

    watching the game. Theres no comparison

    (P.S. SVHS is going to attend Scrooge on D

    17th and 18th at the Center for the Arts.)

    A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM in the fall

  • 8/14/2019 Braves Bulletin

    5/6

    Principals Corner

    STAR VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL PAGE 5 OCTOBER 200

    A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL HARRIS

    The year is just sailing along. Its hard to believe we are already a third of the way through the first

    emester. It has been a great start in spite of the many construction projects we have had going on during

    he beginning of the year.

    The sidewalk project is nearly finished and has been open for about a week. It will be well worth the

    nconvenience we have had to deal with once the snow starts falling, as the new sidewalk has hydronic heat

    n it and should stay clear and ice free all winter long. The track and field projects are also completed at this

    me. They are still fine-tuning the new heating and air controls, but we are nearly finished with that project

    s well.

    Our test results arrived just before students returned. I am happy to report that last year our students

    id very well on the state PAWS assessment. We made Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) under the No

    Child Left Behind Act requirements. In quick summary, our 11th grade students in the district led the state

    n districts of similar size) in the number of students proficient or advanced in both reading and writing.

    We were also second in math. This is a reflection of the great students, parents, and teachers that we have as

    well as a community that values education. The test results for PAWS and ACT will be featured in more

    epth in a future issue.

    A couple of important events coming up are parent-teacher conferences in November. We will be at

    tna Elementary on Wednesday, November 12th from 4:30-7:30 p.m and then on Thursday, November 13th

    we will be in the SVHS cafeteria from 4:00-7:30 p.m. We look forward to seeing you there to discuss yourhilds progress. We will also be having our Braves in Action service day on Wednesday, November 26th.

    his is a half-day service opportunity organized by the SVHS student body officers. It is a great

    pportunity for our students to give back to the community that supports us in so many ways. Please have

    our students join us ready to work on that day!

    We invite you to look at our district and school websites for more information and to look at a

    alendar of events. The district website is: www.lcsd2.org. From the district page you can click on the

    chool link or a calendar link. The schools website is: www.svhs.lcsd2.org. Please feel free to contact

    eachers, counselors, or administrators if you have any concerns or suggestions. We look forward to more

    ontinued success throughout the year.

    Left to Right: Principal Shannon Harris,

    Activities Director Jamie Holyoak,

    Assistant Principal Shelly Cowell

    Dont Forget

    Mark your

    calendars.

    November 6, 7,

    and 8 (Thurs,,Fri., & Sat.)

    7:00 pm

    SVHS students will perform the musical Grease.Admission is FREE!

    With a school version (edited for content)

    and with the original songs, this musical is sure to beentertaining.

    GREASE IS THE WORD

    http://www.lcsd2.org/http://www.svhs.lcsd2.org/http://www.svhs.lcsd2.org/http://www.lcsd2.org/http://www.lcsd2.org/
  • 8/14/2019 Braves Bulletin

    6/6

    Hey, Students! Would you like to win an Ipod? An Itunes gift certificate? Heres what you have to do. Cleawrite your student i.d. number __________________ Return by October 31 to Attendance Office.1. Take The Braves Bulletin, this newsletter, home.

    2. Have your parent(s) or guardian(s) read The Braves Bulletin, which includes some useful information about what is happening aValley High School.

    3. Have your parent(s) or guardian(s) answer all the brief questions (located below).

    4. Bring this page, not The Braves Bulletin, to the attendance office. Bring this form back by October 31

    5. Well draw for the prizes during one of the upcoming assemblies.

    6. Dont try to cheat. IF THIS PAPER WITH YOUR STUDENT I.D. IS DRAWN AS THE WINNING PRIZE, WE WILL CA

    YOUR PARENT/GUARDIAN TO MAKE SURE THAT HE OR SHE FILLED OUT THE BOTTOM PART OF THIS FORBEFORE YOU GET YOUR PRIZE. Remember--cheaters dont win Ipods!

    When you bring this form to the attend. office, the top part of this sheet will be separated from the bottom part, and the top part wput in a box for the drawing.

    DETACH HERE DETACH HERE DETACH HERE DETACH HERE DETACH HERE DE

    Parent/Guardian Questionnaire The information /comments that you provide the school will be used to help SVHS make decisions about instruction, and technology. Because the top part is separated from the bottom part, this questionnaire is anonymous. If you have any questions

    please call Melanie Robinson at SVHS 885-7847 or e-mail ([email protected]) Thanks for your input! We value the opinions of parents, guarand community members.

    On the first (front) page (bottom, left corner) ofThe Braves Bulletin, SVHS has been working on a mission statement to guide th

    school for the next five years. Please answer the following questions about the mission statement:

    1. Please write down two parts of the mission statement that you liked.

    2. Please write down something that you think is the weakest part of the mission statement or something that needs to be added tomission statement.

    3. Please circle one of the choices for this question: Do you feel that the proposed mission statement for Star Valley High School

    addresses the challenges in education in todays world?

    Choice A: Not at all Choice B: Somewhat Choice C: Mostly Choice D: Complete

    4. Please circle one of the choices for this question: Do you feel that Star Valley High School has a rigorous (higher-level, appropriainstruction to prepare students for college or the workplace) curriculum?

    Choice A: Not at all Choice B: Somewhat Choice C: Mostly Choice D: Complet

    5. Please circle one of the choices for this question: Do you feel that Star Valley High School has a relevant (real-world application fcollege or the workplace) curriculum?

    Choice A: Not at all Choice B: Somewhat Choice C: Mostly Choice D: Comple

    6. Please circle one of the choices for this question: Do you feel that Star Valley High fosters relationships (personalizing instructio

    for every young person, in a safe, secure, learning environment)?

    Choice A: Not at all Choice B: Somewhat Choice C: Mostly Choice D: Comple

    7. What are the three most important skills that students need when they graduate?

    1.

    2.

    3.

    DATE:______________________________________ Please write the date that you finished this questionnaire. Thank you!

    mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]