A National School of Excellence Mandeville High School A Publication of the PTSA Volume 25, No. 2—November/December 2014 Mark Your Calendar MHS Chooses Teacher of the Year November 8.......... SAT Testing 11........ PTSA General Meeting 13........ Interim Reports 14........ Deadline for Senior Quotes 17-21.. Food Drive 19&20 Dear Finder Performance 24-28.. Thanksgiving Holidays December 2.......... PTSA General Meeting 6.......... SAT Testing 9.......... Chorus Christmas Show 10........ Senior Breakfast 12........ Band Holiday Concert 13........ ACT Testing 16-19.. Nine Week Exams 19........ Student 1/2 Day, End of Nine Weeks 22-Jan 2....Christmas Holidays Mandeville High School faculty selected its 2014-2015 Teacher of the Year—Cheryl Williams. Mrs. Williams has been teaching for 18 years (grades 4th–12th), ten years at MHS. She teaches Biology at MHS, and prior to becoming a teacher she worked as a physical scientist for the Department of the Navy at Stennis Space Center in MS. While at Stennis, she co-authored two internal research publications for the Department of Navy. At MHS she sponsors FCA, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, coaches the Equestrian Team, and is a member of the PBIS (Positive Behavior Incentive and Support) Team. This past summer Mrs. Williams was given the Chairmen’s Award by API (American Petroleum Institute) Delta Chapter in New Orleans who recognize educators in the six Florida Parishes. Some interesting fun factoids about Mrs. Williams: She has been married 20 years and has two children. Her family raises poultry and started “Eggs on a Mission” last spring to raise money to send with Mrs. Barbara Kellar to Uganda. This fund raiser enabled a small village to purchase 200 chickens! Additionally she will be running her first half-marathon (13.1 miles) in Denver, Colorado! Boo Fest Space Exhibit The annual Boo Fest at Lakeview Regional Medical Center held its trick-or-treat fair on Saturday, October 25. The purpose of the fair was to assist children with special needs through the ACCESS (Adapting and Changing Children’s Environments with Successful Solutions) and the Northshore Families Helping Families organizations. MHS’s own Mr. Noto and Doc Hazlett and their families built the Space Shuttle Center exhibit for this great cause. #1 Skipper Drive, Mandeville • 985-626-5225 • http://mandevillehigh.stpsb.org FROM Principal Bundy Hello Skipper Family, We are having a great school year! I am often reminded by community members what a wonderful school we have. I am extremely grateful for the support of our parents and our local community. Thanks for your commitment to Mandeville High School and your assistance in pursuing excellence. The month of October was busy and exciting. First nine week exams have been completed and report cards were issued to the students on Thursday, October 16. Students enjoyed Homecoming week. Many students participated in the dress-up days and school spirit increased throughout the week. The Homecoming Court was introduced at the pep rally and the football game. We also had the chance to recognize the senior football players and the senior band, Color Guard, ROTC, dance team and cheer team members. The victory over St. Paul’s was thrilling and school pride was overflowing at the end of the game. The singing of the Alma Mater was truly an unforgettable moment as the stands remained packed with proud students and parents. The Homecoming Dance was also a huge success with well over one thousand students attending. I hope your student has found their place at Mandeville High. Opportunities for involvement are numerous. Participation in extra-curricular activities leads to a more fulfilling high school experience. Please encourage your student to broaden their horizons and move outside their comfort zones. Meeting new people and trying new activities will help them be successful in their future. Please check out the calendar included in this issue of the Skipper Scoop. We are a comprehensive high school and the calendar is a good place to see what is scheduled. Please note that Tuesday, November 4 is a school holiday for elections. Thanksgiving holidays start on Monday, November 24. Semester exams begin on Tuesday, December 16 and the Christmas holidays start on Monday, December 22. Feel free to contact me with questions or concerns. My email address is Bruce.Bundy@stpsb.org. Goooooooo Skippers! Bruce Bundy, Principal PTSA–Working for MHS Thank you to all of our parents and students who joined our Mandeville High PTSA! Membership cards were distributed with the first quarter report cards, but it’s never too late to join. We would not be able to give back to the school without the support of our members. The PTSA has sponsored several events since school started. In September, over 500 of our honor roll students were treated to breakfast for the Skipper Scholar Breakfast. Thank you to Denise Sheffield and Lee Elder for coordinating this wonderful affair for our top students! Parents and students also had the opportunity to attend a seminar about TOPS in September. Thank you to Julie Mendel for scheduling this seminar. Look for upcoming seminars in the next few months from the LSU Honors College and FAFSA! We ended October by honoring our bus drivers during Bus Driver Appreciation Week. Thank you to Walkie Rosenzweig for waking up early and treating our bus drivers to breakfast and handing out little goodies! Teachers were asked to nominate students who went above and beyond to help another student or displayed a random act of kindness. Lisa Henriquez then treated these students to breakfast prepared by the Culinary Arts Students during our Breakfast of Champions! The PTSA has also awarded over $5000 in mini grants to the teachers and student clubs that completed the application. Thank you to Janice Maillot for coordinating this effort for us! Everyone is welcome to our MHS PTSA meetings. They are held the first Tuesday of the month at 12:45p.m in the school conference room. This is a great opportunity to meet other parents and to stay informed about Mandeville High. Thanks again for your support. Please contact me if you have any questions or suggestions. See you around the school, Go Skippers! Ashey Burbank, MHS PTSA President MHS Tutoring Club The MHS Peer Tutoring club offers tutoring every Monday and Friday from 2:36 until 3:30 in the library. Peer tutors can assist students with homework and preparing for tests. Skipper Scoop • November/December 2014 • Page 2 MHS School Store LunchBox lagniappe Located in the Commons • Open daily from 11:15 – 12:45 Cooler weather has arrived and the lunch box has a large selection of hooded sweatshirts and crewnecks. Colors are blue, white, black and grey. Long-sleeve Tshirts have also come in along with a new girl’s fit workout pant and sweatpants. Both styles have an anchor and M with Mandeville written down one leg in sizes extrasmall – extralarge. Talented Theatre III presents Dear Finder The MHS Talented Theatre III class will present the Holocaust docudrama Dear Finder on November 19 and 20, 2014 at 7pm. The play tracks the events and stories of those effected by one of the most traumatic events of our world’s history. This moving look at these tragic events educates and compels the viewer to reflect on the world we live in. There will also be a Mens socks and shoe drive for the Homeless. If you bring in a pack of unworn socks or a pair of mens gently worn shoes, you can receive a dollar off of admission. Tickets are $8 at the door. Listen Up Seniors! There is several new style T-shirts in the jersey soft T fabric. For the ladies there is a new v-neck fitted T-shirt and for the guys a polo style in the kool-tec material. Mandeville hats, license plates, license surrounds, car magnets, key chains and MHS lanyards are some of the spirit items that are available. All make great Holiday or birthday gifts. Start your holiday shopping early. Project Graduation is calling on all seniors to come up with a t-shirt/art design for your party!! Whoever wins the art contest will be given a free ticket into the party 2015 on graduation night, as well as having your design appear on the back of the student t-shirts. The winning artists design will be voted on and announced at the Senior breakfast on December 10th. The class of 2015 theme is: The lunch box is also stocked with poster boards, notebooks, filler paper, 3-ring binders, index cards, erasers, tissues, sharpies, highlighters, glue sticks, and many other school items. Please turn in any drawings to Student Services in an envelope marked Project Graduation T-shirt design contest. We hope to have many designs to choose from!! The Lunch Box is open daily at 11:1512:45, located in the commons. Parents are always welcome. Go Skippers! Bon Voyage on Your Grand Adventure Please let all your seniors know about this opportunity to have their artwork appear on their graduation shirts. Only one design was turned in last year and this is a great opportunity for your students to get their artwork on their shirts. We hope to have many designs for the students to vote on. Thanks for your support of Project Graduation. Jenny Klein, Niki Roig, Kim Lemieux, Walkie Rosenzweig, Tara Dufrene and the rest of the MPG volunteers! Skipper Scoop • November/December 2014 • Page 3 MHS Guidance n o i t a m r News & Info Grading Scale 93–100 85–92 75–84 67–74 0–66 A B C D F Semester Grading Policy We have completed the first 9 weeks of school. The first and second nine weeks grades are averaged together to calculate the final grade for the first semester. Testing Dates The semester average for each course is the only grade that will appear on a student’s transcript. Remember, the second semester grade cannot pull up the first semester grade. Each semester grade stands alone. There is no “Year” average given at the high school level. ACT and SAT registration should be conducted online at: Please check your student’s progress on JPAMS and contact the teacher by email if there are any concerns. www.actstudent.org (for ACT) www.collegeboard.com (for SAT) The MHS High School Code is 191-660. Attention Freshmen: Mrs. Weileman, 9th grade counselor, will be going into the Freshmen English classes during the month of October discussing graduation requirements, college admission requirements, TOPS, dual enrollment, and testing. She will be giving the students a manual explaining all of this information for the students and parents. Each teacher will be posting on his/her website when Mrs. Weileman will be visiting the class, so that you can ask you student about the manual. The Guidance Office is located in the Administration Building. Counseling assignments are as follows: Mr. Sean Esker 12th Grade Ms. Mandy Rhodes 11th Grade Mr. Richard Yeadon 10th Grade Ms. Courtney Weileman 9th Grade Ms. Nancy Howard Registrar We ask that parents call in advance before coming to school. The phone number for the guidance department is 626-5225, extension 231. The guidance counselors are trained to assist students in the capacity of academic advisors. However, it is important for the student and the parent to understand that the final responsibility for meeting high school graduation requirement, college admission requirements, and TOPS requirements lies with the student and the parent. For more information and updates on Louisiana High School graduation requirements, visit the Louisiana Department of Education website at http:// www.louisianabelieves.com/academics/graduation-requirements. For more information and updates on the TOPS program, visit the TOPS website at www.osfa.state.la.us. Skipper Scoop • November/December 2014 • Page 4 ACT Testing Date: Saturday, December 13, 2014 8:00 a.m. SAT Testing Date: Saturday, December 6, 2014 8:00 a.m. Registration deadline for both: Friday, November 7, 2014 The ACT and SAT college admissions tests are given several times a year at various locations throughout the nation. For information, test dates, and online registration, go to www.actstudent.org. for the ACT or www.collegeboard. com for the SAT. One must register through ACT or College Board. The TOPS code is 1595. The ACT will be administered at MHS in October and April. Fee waivers are available for those who qualify. Have your student contact his/her counselor for information. Calling All Basketball Fans! The Mandeville High Boys Basketball team will be hosting their famous Skipper Classic Basketball Tournament beginning Thursday December, 4 and concluding on Saturday, December 6. Three exciting days of watching all of your favorite basketball players-especially the District 6-5A champs of the 2013-2014 season-our Mandeville Skippers! Bring the family for great food, great cheering and most of all GREAT BASKETBALL! Senior Spinnakers (from left to right): Payton Ibos, Samantha Primes, Mandy Iverson, Madison Pastorello, and Bailee Bellevue. It’s a tradition for the Senior Spinnakers to wear the teams’ beautiful “white” Spinnaker uniforms on Senior Night. These uniforms are usually only worn during competition season. Senior Night with the Spinnakers H&W Club Invites New Members The Health and Wellness Club has gotten off to a busy start. During the month of October, members met with a Navy Seal to learn about the physical demands of the position. They also got up out of their seats and followed along as Zumba instructors led a mini-session. The club promotes healthy lifestyles and choices that affect both mental and physical well-being. Future plans include meeting with yoga instructors, mental health professionals, strength trainers, Body Combat instructors, nutritionists, as well as participation in community events. Look out for an upcoming bake-sale too! See Mrs. Davis (room 250) or Mrs. Hymel (room 259) if you’re interested in joining. The Spinnakers recently celebrated Senior Night at the last home game of the football season. The seniors and their parents participated in a pre-game presentation before the MHS vs. St. Paul game. The Skippers beat St. Paul for the first time in several years, it was the homecoming game, and Senior Night. It was a night filled with great memories. In addition to preparing for the half-time performances at all the football games, the Spinnakers are busy preparing for their upcoming competition season. The team will participate in the Universal Dance Association State Competition in Hammond and the American All-Star State Competition in Lafayette in January 2015. Then the team will travel to Orlando, Florida in February to participate on the national stage at the Universal Dance Association National Dance Team Competition. The Spinnakers will also perform their jazz and pom competition routines during halftime at a couple of the boys varsity basketball games. After competition season, the Spinnakers end their season by marching in a Mardi Gras parade with the Skipper Band. PTSA Mini-Grants Awarded to Teachers and Clubs MHS-PTSA is pleased to announce the successful completion of the 2014-2015 Mini-Grants program. A total of twenty-four Teacher and Club Mini-Grant applications were received, and most requests were able to be partially or fully honored. calculators, scientific calculators, Kindle Fire tablet and Kindle WIFI reader, rhythm instruments, e-text resources, fiction and non-fiction history books, environmental science/recycling equipment, as well as sports equipment. Items that will soon appear in classrooms and club meetings include: glassware, instruments, and laboratory equipment, DVD duplicator, lighting and electrical equipment, floor microphone, graphing Many thanks to all teachers and club sponsors who took the time to research and request materials that will enhance the learning and extracurricular activities of many students at Mandeville High School. Skipper Scoop • November/December 2014 • Page 5 MHS Band Take Honors Crystal Logiudice Photography Congratulations to the Skipper Band for receiving the title of Reserve Grand Champions in class AAA during the 2014 Louisiana Marching Band Circuit Championships. This year’s competition show is titled Gettysburg. Did You Know? Pass Your Guidance Quiz CREDIT – A credit (or unit) is awarded to students who pass a yearlong class, such as English I. Each semester class is worth one-half credit. A student has the capability of earning 3.5 credits per semester, or 7 per year. A total of 24 credits are required for graduation. GPA – This stands for Grade Point Average, which is calculated at the end of each semester of high school. It is the average of all seven classes per semester, using letter grades. On a 4.0 scale, an A receives 4 points, B = 3 points, C = 2 points and a D = one point. This is a cumulative average, meaning that your GPA is reconfigured every semester, so each semester builds on the one(s) before it. It is very difficult to raise your GPA once it drops, so keep that in mind throughout high school. OVERALL GPA VS. CORE GPA – Your overall GPA is computed using all seven classes per semester. Your core GPA is computed from your core curriculum, which includes your English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Foreign Language, and Fine Arts classes. RANK – Students are ranked in their class based on their cumulative GPA. A student’s rank is re-configured every semester. Your final rank is determined when you graduate. Weighted grades will help your rank. WEIGHTED GRADES – Honors and gifted classes in English, math, science and social studies receive an extra quality point for achieving an A, B, or C in those classes. This means an A in an honors or gifted class is worth 5 points instead of 4, a B is worth 4 and a C is worth 3. Due to weighted grades, a person’s cumulative GPA can be higher than a 4.0. EOC TEST – This stands for End Of Course Test. These tests are the ones you will take after you complete certain courses. As a freshman, you will take the Algebra I End Of Course test. (If you are in Geometry and Biology, you will take the End Of Course test in those subjects.) As a sophomore you will take the End Of Course test in English II, Biology, and Geometry, and as a junior you will take the End Of Course test in English III and American History. You must pass all of these tests in order to graduate. These tests replace the GEE21, which is in the process of being phased out. ACT TEST – This test is a college entrance exam that is commonly used in the southern region of the United Sates. The other college entrance exam is the SAT. TOPS – The Tuition Opportunity Program for Students is a comprehensive program of state scholarships awarded to students who maintain a 2.5 GPA in the approved college prep core curriculum and have scored a composite score of at least 20 on the ACT. Students who meet these two requirements and complete the FAFSA form will have their tuition paid by the state if they attend a college or university in the state of Louisiana. TOPS is a wonderful opportunity offered to high school students. If you plan to go to college, make it your goal to always maintain a minimum core GPA of 2.5. TOPS core requirements differ for each grade level. Please visit http://www.osfa.la.gov/ to see current requirements as TOPS requirements are subject to change. Skipper Scoop • November/December 2014 • Page 6 (C) Commons (L) Library (B) Boys (G) Girls (H) Home (Aud) Auditorium (A) Away (V) Varsity (JV) Jr. Varsity Sun Mon November Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 SD9 TMS Volleyball Social Updated 10/15/14 Walkathon 5 11 – 2 Gym MarchBand LMBC Comp TBA 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 SD10 French Club 7am Science Club 7am Next Gen both lunches Spirit Club 7am Election Day SAT Daylight Green Club 2:36 Holiday Savings Time Robotics 2:36-4:00 StuCo 2:36 (L) Life on Purpose 7am XC New Jr Class Meeting HJ Ends Orleans Metro WintGrd 3-5 (C) Writing Club Pep Rally SSA Christmas parts Drama 2:36-3:15 2:36-3:30 MarchBand (all Choirs) V Volleyball Bi V Football @ LA Showcase JV Swim Meet @ Christmas Reh. District Covington 7pm TBA Francos (Chorus Room) Wrestling Dual vs. Covington (H) XC District @ Font St Pk 3:00 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 SD11 Latin Club 7am FCA 7am SADD Club 7am Spirit Club 7am Wrestling Sr Class Meeting Writing Club Key Club 7am Mandeville HJ 2:36-3:30 Christmas Reh. Guys HR- Interim Reports Life on Purpose 7am Open (H) V Volleyball (Chorus Room) Jr Class Ring Regionals Equestrian 1:45-3:00 Next Gen both lunches V Volleyball V Volleyball Orders Christmas Reh. Ren. Fest FT (Srs) Green Club Drama 2:36-3:15 Semifinals Finals (Chorus Rm) 2:36-3:30 Theatre III Reh. PTSA General Mtg Theatre III Reh. Robotics 2:36-4:00 2:36-5:30 Theatre III Reh. Theatre III 12:45 2:36-5:30 Theatre III Reh. BJV Soc @ Nlake 5 2:36-5:30 Rehearsal MAΘ 2:36-3:30 2:36-5:30 V Volleyball 9am-4pm Faculty Meeting BJV Soc @ CYSA 5 Quarterfinals Grades Entered by Theatre III Reh. V B Soccer Scrim vs V G Basketball @ V B Soccer 4:30 JV/V G Basketball(A) 2:36-5:30 Ben Frank Independence Jam Scrimmage vs Scrim w/STA&Wlkr Newman No Inside Night Tri Theta 4:30-5:30 (L) BJV Soc @ Lshore 5 Youth & Gov’t 7-8(L) Activities 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 SD12 StuCo Food Drive StuCo Food Drive StuCo Food Drive StuCo Food Drive StuCo Food Drive Wrestling @ FCA 7am Spirit Club 7am Font Duals Writing Club Political Thinkers Science Club 7am NHS 7am Life on Purpose 7am All State 2:36-3:30 2:36-3:30 All State MarchBand MarchBand Sr Class Supply Theatre III Reh. Theatre III Reh. Green Club Choir LMEA Choir LMEA Orders 2:36-7:00 2:36-7:00 2:36-3:30 Next Gen both lunches State Swim Meet State Swim WintGrd Tryouts 3-5 WintGrd Tryouts 3-5 Robotics 2:36-4:00 Choir LMEA JV/V G Basketball @ Meet Christmas Reh. JV/V G Basketball vs WintGrd Tryouts 3-5 WintGrd Auditions Loranger 6:00/7:00 BJV Soc vs (all Choirs SSA) John Curtis 5:00/6:00 Drama 2:36-3:15 JV/V B Basketball vs Nlake @ (Chorus Room) XC LHSAA State G Soccer @ BJV Soc vs NOIHS @ Scot 6:00/7:15 CYSA 10 BJV Soc vs Dtown @ Championship Chapelle (Jeff Pg) 5 CYSA 5:00 V B Soccer @ St. V B Soccer @ CYSA 5:00 Youth & Gov’t 7-8(L) Theatre III Play Dear Amant Tourn St.A Tourn G V Soccer vs John Theatre III Play Dear Finder 7pm G Soccer @ C G Soccer @ Ehret 5:30 Finder 7pm Matinee TBA Lafourche Tourney CL Tourney 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 V G Bball @ Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Albany TBA Holiday Holiday Holiday Holiday Holiday V B Basketball @ DS B Soccer @ Tourney V B Basketball @ DS V B Basketball @ G Soccer @ St. LShore Trn V G Basketball @ Tourney DS Tourney Amant Tourney G Soccer @ STA Tourn V G Basketball @ V G Basketball @ St. Amant Trn G Soccer @ BR High STA Tourn STA Tourn 6:00 All State MarchBand 30 2014 December Updated 10/15/14 Sun Mon 1 Tue 2 Latin Club 7am FCA 7am EOC Fall Tests French Club 7am PTSA General Mtg and Luncheon Writing Club Pol Think 2:36-3:30 2:36-3:30 All Choir Reh. (Chorus Rm) 2:36-5:30 Christmas Show GJV Soccer @ Cov 5 Rehearsal JV/V G Basketball @ 2:36-5:30 (Aud) Mt. Carmel 6:00/7:00 JV/V B Soccer vs Holy Girls 9/JV Basketball Cross 5:30/7:15 vs Covington 6/7 JV/V B Bball @ Franklinton 6:00/7:15 Youth & Gov’t 7-8(L) 7 8 Faculty Mtg 2:36 (L) One-Act Reh. 2:36-4:30 Christmas Reh. 2:36-8:30 (Aud) JV/V G Basketball vs Franklinton 6/7 14 15 Latin Club 7am 21 28 Writing Club 2:36-3:30 One-Act Reh. 2:36-4:30 WintGrd 3-5 No Night Activities 22 Christmas Holiday Cheer Kid Camp 9-3 Wrestling Br. Martin Meet (A) V B Basketball (A) Wed 3 Science Club 7am EOC Fall Tests ROTC Inspection (C) Commons (L) Library (B) Boys (G) Girls (H) Home (Aud) Auditorium (A) Away (V) Varsity (JV) Jr. Varsity Thu 4 Fri Sat 5 SADD Club 7am EOC Fall Tests Next Gen both lunches Poetry Out Loud both lunches StuCo 2:36 (L) Spirit Club 7am Life on Purpose 7am Choir Tour Holiday of Lights 6 SD13 SAT Wrestling Shaw Duals Green Club (A) 2:36-3:30 Ballet Apetrei 9:30, WintGrd Camp Robotics 2:36-4:00 11:00, 7:00 pm 9 – 8 (C) WintGrd 6-9 (C) WintGrd Camp 3-9 Ballet Apetrei Wrestling Dual vs. JV/V G Basketball (C) 2:00, 7:00 St. Paul’s (H) BJV Soc vs @ Albany 6:00/7:00 JV/V B Soccer vs Girls 9/JV Bsktball One-Act Auditions Rummel 5:30/7:15 Font 10 @ St. Amant 5/6 GV Soccer @ GV Soc @ 2:36-5:30 Hahnville Tourn Hahnville Trn Ballet Apetrei DR 6 Skipper Classic Skipper Classic Skipper Classic V Boys Bball V Boys Bball V Boys Bball 9 10 11 12 13 SD14 FCA 7am Science Club 7am NHS 7am Spirit Club 7am ACT Key Club 7am Sr Breakfast WWII Mus. FT (Jrs) Life on Purpose 7am Wrestling 2nd Hour (C) Homeroom MAΘ 2:36-3:30 Equestrian 1:45-3:00 PTSA Luncheon Parish Meet One-Act Reh. Green Club 2:36 Next Gen both TBA 2:36-4:30 Robotics 2:36-4:00 lunches V B Soccer @ EJ V G Basketball Chorus Christmas GJV Soc vs NLC 5 Drama 2:36-3:15 Tournament @ Hahnville Show 2:36-9 V G Basketball @ WintGrd 6-9 (C) Tourney WintGrd 6-9 (C) Hahnville Tourney V G Basketball @ BJV Soccer vs BJV Soccer @ JV/V B Bball vs Hahnville Tourney V B Soccer EJ Slidell 5:00 Lakeshore 5:30 S. Lafourche 6/7:15 Theatre I Play 7pm Tournament G V/JV Soccer vs Wrestling Dual vs. V G Basketball @ Band Holiday G V/JV Soccer Lakeshore 5:30/7:15 Catholic (A) Concert 7:00 Aud @ EDW 11/1 Hahnville Tourney G 9 Bsktball @ Slidell BV Soc @ EJ Tourn Talented Music Dist Honor 6:00 Mandeville Band Auditions No Inside Night Recital 7:00 Youth & Gov’t 7-8(L) Broadcast Concert Activities 16 17 18 19 20 SD15 V B Basketball 1st and 4th Hr Exams 2nd and 5th Hr Exams 3rd and 6th Hr 7th Hr Exam FCA 7am @ Country Day Exams Half-Day for One-Act Reh. One-Act Reh. SADD Club 7am Tourn Students 2:36-4:30 2:36-4:30 One-Act Reh. End of 1st Semester B JV/V Soc vs V G Basketball @ 2:36-4:30 BR 3:00/4:30 Northshore 6:00 G Soccer vs Runnels G V/JV Soccer V G Basketball vs 5:30 @ Pan Am (Mt. Covington 6:00 V B Basketball @ Carmel) 1/3 No Night Activities No Night Activities No Night Activities Country Day Tourn 23 24 25 26 27 Christmas Holiday Christmas Holiday Christmas Holiday Christmas Holiday V G Bball @ Wrestling Br. Martin West Monroe Meet (A) V B Basketball (A) V B Basketball @ St. Tourn. V B Basketball (A) Thomas Moore V B Basketball Tourn (A) 29 30 31 Christmas Holiday Christmas Holiday Christmas Holiday V G Bball @ West V G Bball @ West Monroe Tourn Monroe Tourn BV Soccer @ St. V B Basketball (A) G Soccer Holiday Paul’s Tourney G Soccer Holiday Classic Classic BV Soccer @ St. BV Soccer @ St. Paul’s Tourney Paul’s Tourney BJV Soccer Tourney (H) 2014 Mandeville High School October 2014 Short Clips On the up side… With a teenager in the house, there are going to be times you don’t get along. Try to keep things on an even keel—and your relationship strong—by being upbeat more often than not. Smile, share jokes, and do fun things together. Creating positive moments like these can help outweigh the other times. Logic and art Here’s an interesting way for your high schooler to practice logical thinking: re-create an image with torn paper. She could choose a photograph, then tape or glue pieces of paper onto cardboard to reproduce it. By using colored paper or magazine and newspaper pages, she’ll draw on logic to select matching shades and dimensions. Don’t be late Being on time for school will keep your teen from missing valuable class minutes—and create a habit of punctuality to carry into his career. Plus, too many “tardies” can add up to lost class credit. Encourage him to wake up early enough to have a cushion. Also, he should make backup plans (ride with a neighbor if he misses the bus). Worth quoting “Believe you can, and you’re halfway there.” Theodore Roosevelt Just for fun Q: What do you call a best seller written on a cell phone? A: A txt bk. Goooooo Skippers!! Well said! Being able to speak clearly and confidently in school can boost your child’s self-esteem and her grades. Plus, it will give her practice for real-life situations like being introduced to new people or going on job and college interviews. Share these strategies. Class discussions Teens are often reluctant to raise their hands in class for fear of sounding stupid. Encourage your high schooler to jot down thoughts and questions as she does homework or listens to her teacher and classmates speak. Then, she could use her notes to join in at a natural opening (“I noticed that the book said…”). Have her practice polite replies for views she doesn’t agree with. (“I understand what you’re saying. Here’s another way to look at it.”) Also, she should be careful not to hog conversation time so others can get a turn to speak. Note: Contributing to discussions might raise your child’s GPA, as teachers often include a participation grade. Speeches and presentations Engaging your audience is a skill your teen can use in everyday life—and being front and center in class will help her to hone it. Suggest that she rehearse in front of family or friends. Tip: Work out hand signals in advance to alert her that her pace is too fast, too slow, or just right. Also, ask her to focus on speaking in an enthusiastic tone and using good nonverbal communication (making eye contact, gesturing with her hands for emphasis). She might even videotape herself so she can see her performance and look for ways to improve. Road to responsibility Goal: A responsible teenager. Try these tips to help your child get there. 1. Start with the end in mind. Picture the things you would like your teen to do as a responsible adult (handle home repairs, manage finances). That can help you think of tasks to hand off to him now. 2. Expect him to honor commitments. Casually notice when he does, but act like it’s what you assumed all along. (“Glad you remembered to pick up Mrs. Jeffrey’s mail.”) 3. Don’t cover for him. If he forgets a haircut appointment, he should be the one to call to apologize and reschedule. If he overspends on his debit card, have him pay the fee. Once your child realizes you won’t pick up the slack, he’ll be less apt to drop the ball. © 2014 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated High School Years October 2014 • Page 2 Involved in my school Clubs. Your teen’s high school probably has a club to match his interests, from community service or foreign language to science or the arts. Mention that club meetings are a good way to meet people outside his normal friend group — and that leadership positions (club president, fund-raising committee chair) will boost his resume. Getting involved at school will help your teen build school spirit and connect with both classmates and staff. Encourage him to give his all with these ideas. Tutoring. Does your high schooler excel in a subject like computer science or history? He could share his knowledge and passion as a tutor. Suggest that he sign up for his school’s peer tutoring program or ask teachers to match him with students who need help. Ready for a job? Having a job can show ambition to both colleges and future employers—and provide needed cash. But how do you know if working is right for your teen? ■ Make a plan. Discuss her course load and other commitments, and figure out how much time she has left over. This will help her think through whether getting a job is realistic. ■ Consider a trial run. She might try a job for three months. If she keeps up with her schoolwork and doesn’t seem stressed, she could continue. ■ Limit hours. Suggest that she tell employers she could work 10 to 15 hours a week. Research shows that more than 20 hours can affect school performance. Tip: Your teen is more likely to be successful on the job if she finds one that matches her interests as well as her availability. For instance, if she loves movies, she might work weekends at a theater and be able to see films for free. O U R P U R P O S E To provide busy parents with practical ideas that promote school success, parent involvement, and more effective parenting. Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated 128 N. Royal Avenue • Front Royal, VA 22630 540-636-4280 • rfecustomer@wolterskluwer.com www.rfeonline.com ISSN 1540-5605 © 2014 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated Q & Sports. Playing on a sports team can help your child stay fit and learn important traits like cooperation and perseverance. If he doesn’t make the junior varsity or varsity team, there are alternatives. He might join a sport that doesn’t require tryouts (perhaps cross country or track). Or he could serve as a team manager or videographer. Writer’s block ■ Q When my high schooler has papers to write, he often has trouble getting beyond the blank screen. How can he get started more easily? A A When this happens, tell him that he has a case ■ of writer’s block and that it can happen to anyone, including professional writers. Then, suggest that he try tips that writers use. First, if he’s been staring at the screen for a while, it might help just to get away from the computer. Encourage him to go for a walk or a run — physical activity is known to spur creative thinking. An idea for the perfect opening might spring into his mind as he rounds the block. Or tell him to simply start writing. Remind him that a first draft doesn’t have to be perfect, it just has to be written! Once he gets his thoughts on paper, he can do what all good writers do — review and revise. Parent Marijuana: Still not safe to Also, I showed Noreen how marijuana When my daughter Parent Noreen heard about mari- is not considered safe for adolescents juana becoming legal in several states, she began thinking it must be safe for her to try. This got me worried, so I did some reading online and sent her links with convincing facts. For instance, websites pointed out that using marijuana for recreation is still against the law in most states, and experts disagree on its long-term (and shortterm) effects. Even in places where it has been legalized, it’s illegal for minors. since their brains are still developing. The drug can damage attention and memory, which could in turn hurt her grades. It can also impair her judgment and cause her to take dangerous risks. Noreen seemed surprised by this information. I’m hoping the facts will stick with her, but in the meantime, I intend to keep the conversation going. Mandeville High School November 2014 Short Clips Maps still matter Map and navigation skills are important, even if your teen has GPS. It’s often helpful to have alternate routes, and GPS may not always be available. Have your child use a map and serve as “copilot” on road trips this holiday season. You could ask her to navigate your walking routes from a map, too. Consider your approach When your high schooler makes a decision you don’t agree with, try approaching him as you would another adult. He’ll be more likely to take your advice if he feels like you’re conferring with him, rather than telling him what to do. Example: “If you make plans for Sunday, when will you finish your project?” “Survey says” Give your teen a taste of survey tools she might need on the job one day. Suggest that she find out the most popular movie of the year among her friends. Or have her determine the activities for your family reunion next spring. She can use free technology like SurveyMonkey, Zoomerang, or Poll Everywhere—and report back with the answers. Worth quoting “We know what we are, but know not what we may be.” William Shakespeare Just for fun Q: What does an alien call his patio? A: Outer space! Goooooo Skippers!! Showing grit Does your teenager face obstacles with courage and determination? Can he take challenges in stride? Grit, or mental toughness, will help him stay strong even when it seems difficult. Here are characteristics of people with grit. “I fi nish what I start.” When your teen feels like quitting a project or an activity, sticking with it will build mental strength. If he agrees to paint a neighbor’s garage or enters an engineering contest, he should keep his commitment even if he doesn’t want to. Collecting his own success stories can inspire him to keep going in the future. “I learn from setbacks.” Tell your high schooler to think of setbacks as stepping-stones. For instance, failing his driving test might make him realize that he needs to practice coming to a complete stop, which will make him a safer driver. Or not getting the after-school job he wants could show him that he needs to work on interview skills—a lesson that may help him land his dream job someday. “I’m my own cheerleader.” Suggest that your child cheer himself on. First, tell him motivating things you say to yourself when you’re struggling with something (say, a tough project at work). Examples: “I’ve got this!” or “I’ve handled bigger challenges before.” Then, when he struggles with chemistry equations or with memorizing his part in the school play, ask how he plans to encourage himself. Conferences in high school Meeting with teachers can help you keep your teen on track for graduation and beyond. Prepare for parent-teacher conferences with these suggestions: ■ Carry a list of questions. Ask your high schooler what she wants you to mention, and add questions you have. Aside from specific concerns, find out about her overall performance. (“Does her effort match her potential?” “What are some ways she can improve?”) ■ Make minutes count. Plan to arrive a little early so you’re not rushed. Then, agree on a way to follow up if time runs out. Note: If you can’t attend a conference in person, try to touch base with teachers on the phone or by email. © 2014 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated High School Years November 2014 • Page 2 Stay focused in a high-tech world space. She could put her phone in another room and close Twitter and Facebook windows on her computer. That way, texts and notifications won’t pop up and steer her attention away from homework. When high schoolers do homework, they may be tempted to check Instagram, text friends, or watch music videos. But if your teen is multitasking, she’s probably not doing as good a job or working as efficiently as she could. Consider these ideas. Don’t look! Some kids constantly check for texts and notifications. Encourage your child to fight the urge by physically removing distractions from her study Grateful teens Showing gratitude can make your teen feel better about himself—and make him more pleasant for others to be around. Try these tips. Parent Foreign language success to t n e Par When my son Austin began studying Start a “thank you” habit Thank people for small acts of kindness, and your teen will notice— especially if you’re thanking him! For instance, you could say, “Thanks for noticing our car windows were down.” Also, make it a family habit to write thank-you notes immediately after receiving gifts. Recognize what others do Teenagers sometimes take others’ help for granted. If a teacher tells your child about an internship he might like, encourage him to thank the teacher rather than brushing it off as part of her job. Then, he could update her about whether he got the internship and how it’s going. Refl ect on gratitude Encourage your child to incorporate gratitude into his life. Make it a tradition to say what you’re thankful for at a holiday dinner. Or suggest that he write down what he’s thankful for each day in a gratitude journal. O U R P U R P O S E To provide busy parents with practical ideas that promote school success, parent involvement, and more effective parenting. Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated 128 N. Royal Avenue • Front Royal, VA 22630 540-636-4280 • rfecustomer@wolterskluwer.com www.rfeonline.com ISSN 1540-5605 © 2014 Resources for Educators, a division of CCH Incorporated Take breaks. Suggest that your teenager make a deal with herself: After she has focused on studying for an hour, she can use social media, chat with friends, or play with apps on her phone for 10 minutes. Having time set aside for those activities can help her stay on task. Hint: She should set a timer and get back to work when the 10 minutes are up. German, he was worried about pronouncing words wrong and sounding silly. His teacher, Mr. Taylor, had some advice that made him feel more comfortable. First, he suggested that Austin say words and phrases aloud when he studies rather than reading and repeating them in his mind. That way, he could practice pronunciation alone without feeling embarrassed. Mr. Taylor also encouraged Austin and his classmates all to try using German words with each other outside of class. Because they’re recomhe And s. learning, they might feel less anxious about making mistake as, “How mended that Austin memorize a few “fallback phrases” in German, such me…” do you say…,” “I’m not sure…,” and “Could you help Little by little, Austin’s pronunciation is improving—and so is his confidence. Q “I wasn’t invited!” about her. For instance, maybe her friends Q My daughter sometimes feels & ■ field hockey practice together before left out when friends do things A without her. How can she handle had going out, or perhaps it was easy for them these situations? A Feeling rejected isn’t easy, and it can ■ especially sting for teens since friendships are so important now. You can help your daughter cope by acknowledging her feelings (“I know you’re upset that Jess and Danielle didn’t invite you”). Also, point out that there may be an explanation that has nothing to do with how they feel to make last-minute plans since they live near each other. Explain that it’s normal for friends to hang out one-on-one sometimes, too. Maybe she has asked one friend to do something without the other and didn’t think twice about it. Finally, encourage her to forget about it by doing things she enjoys, like riding her bike or reading a book. Or she could even meet up with other classmates.
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