SANDPOINT
Semester 2 - Gets Under Way!
HIGH SCHOOL
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER February 2017
Upcoming Events
As we start the second semester I wanted to take the time to remind parents about the advantage of afterschool Access. Access is a time everyday afterschool from 2:45 to 3:20 for students to go get assistance from teachers on subjects needing more attention, make-up any missing work, or study with other students. Though your student may tell you they do not need to attend it has proven to be very beneficial for student success. Please encourage your student to attend Access on a regular basis even if they have not been requested by one of their teachers. Attendance continues to be an important element of student success. If students are not present they have a more difficult time reaching their academic goals. Please be reminded that the Idaho State requirement is attending 90% of the schools days in order to receive credits. If there extenuating circumstances which creates excessive absences please communicate to Patsy Sletager via email at
[email protected].
PLC Early Release Feb. 15 1:50pm Idaho State assessment requirements will be approaching quickly. All juniors will be taking the SAT test on Tuesday April 11th followed by a mid-April Idaho Minute to Win It! Standard Achievement Test window for all 10th grade students. I appreciate Feb. 17 parent support encouraging students to give their very best effort to reflect true 6:30pm measurement. Spring is just around the corner! Sweetheart Dance Tom Albertson, Principal Feb. 17 8pm President’s Day PLEASE VOTE MARCH 14! Feb. 20 March 3 is the last day for an application for a mail in absentee ballot to be No School received by the county clerk not later than 5pm for the March 14 election. Request your absentee ballot here SHS Choir/Jazz Concert Feb. 22 Mail completed ballot to the Clerk 7pm Bonner County Clerk Election Administration 1500 Hwy 2, Suite 124 Sandpoint, ID 83864 Science Circuit March 17 9 ‐10:30am & 12‐1:30pm March 18 9‐11am Please Vote March 14 Spring Break April 3‐7 Prom April 22
SHS Gradua on June 9 6:30pm
Valentines Day
Just a reminder with Valentines Day coming up please do not have flowers or gifts brought to the school we will not be able to deliver them or have them picked up in the office. We have asked the local florists to assist us with this task by making alternate delivery plans. Thank you for respecting the instructional time for students and staff!
Derek Dickinson, M. ED School can be very difficult for many students. I know for myself, math was a class that I had to work extremely hard at. Algebra in particular was my nemesis and it took me until my college years to somewhat figure it out. Our dedicated teachers offer time during Access everyday, and in many cases extending into longer periods of the evening, to help students one-on-one. For many students, getting academic help right after school can be hard, especially for those that work or ride a bus. Getting the attention they need may be difficult as certain teachers may get busy helping multiple students during Access. Perhaps additional help is needed, so where can a student or parent turn to? On a recent in-service day a few teachers and myself had the opportunity to visit the Bonner County Library. While at the library we learned about some great programs aimed at helping students. One of which is their tutoring program available at the Library’s Lifelong Learning Center. Students can meet with tutors specifically in the subjects of Language Arts and Math. The library does a fantastic job of trying to best match a tutor to the specific needs of the student. They meet once a week for an hour and the student can bring in work they are struggling with. In some cases, the volunteer tutor may even work directly with the teacher to best help the student. To check out the program or to enroll go the link: http://ebonnerlibrary.org/index.php/student-enrollment. In addition to the tutoring program, I would like to mention that the library offers an extensive digital library as part of their website which includes many excellent resources to help students such as: SAT and ACT exam prep Admissions and placement test prep Resources to help improve math, science and language skills Software tutorials Encyclopedias and other resources to assist in researching topics Much, much more Check out http://ebonnerlibrary.org/index.php/eresources to visit the Digital library. I encourage you to explore the library as there are great resources to help students succeed.
ART NEWS The Human Rights Art Exhibit is still showing at the POAC Gallery downtown next to the Panida Theatre. This year's exhibit is very moving and very well crafted. Please stop by to view this artwork, Monday thru Friday until 4pm. The Pre-AP AP Studio Art class is exhibiting art at the annual U. of Idaho state wide student art exhibit in Moscow. This show: "VISUALIZING SCIENCE" opens February 22nd with an opening reception for the artists and judging on Feb. 24th. This is a juried exhibit and first prize is a 1000.00 scholarship to U of I. The People's Choice Award is usually some kind of mobile device, such as an ipad. Our students traditionally do very well at this show. It is a great opportunity to visit the U of I Art and Architecture Department and take in the show's opening on the night of the 24th from 3-5pm. If you are considering visiting U of I, this event would make for a great road trip destination. It is well attended from students across the state. Coming up in March is the district wide student art show, again hosted by POAC.
C.A.R.E. Corner Caring Adults Recognizing Excellence @ SHS
Congratulations students and staff on completing a great first semester at SHS! CARE celebrated and supported the entire staff by providing a breakfast for them during Finals Week. It is one small way we can show our thanks to our staff and all they do for our children. Thank you to all the parents who helped out! The first week of February is Counselor Appreciation week, in which our CARE committee recognized and showed apprecation to our wonderful counseling department! Next up is Back to the Basics for second semester. Look for an email listing how you can help provide teachers with needed supplies to finish out the year. It is an easy way to support them by donating their requested items on the list! We so appreciate all of the parents who help make CARE possible and make a difference at SHS! If you would like to join please contact
[email protected]
The 4th Annual Science Circuit March 17th & 18th! Explore bright ideas, hands‐on science, and STEM careers with advanced high school science students. Friday March 17th 9:00‐10:30AM & 12:00‐1:30PM* and Saturday March 18th 9:00‐11:00AM
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Sandpoint High School Gymnasium
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! Open to t he Public
*Busing will be provided for LPOSD 5‐6th grade students for Friday sessions. New expanded hours include a Saturday session ‐ open to all!
Counselors’ Corner ~ February The counseling staff and English Department have partnered once again to help students explore and develop their career interests and post-secondary plans. Sophomores will receive their PSAT results in English classes during the second week of February. The students will utilize their results along with the Idaho Career Information System (CIS) website to complete a research paper which focuses on the steps and possible colleges or programs they may be interested in pursuing for their future career. Freshmen will receive their PSAT results the third week of February. Again, the counselors and English teachers will work together to help the freshmen complete a career research paper using the test results and the Idaho Career Information System (CIS) website. The counselors will help students take interest inventories to learn what their strengths are and what possible careers or career cluster would be a good match for their interests. Juniors will receive their PSAT results the last week of February. Students will learn about their PSAT scores and all the great FREE on-line tools available via their College Board accounts, including SAT test prep with the Khan academy. During this time juniors will also register for the SAT. The Idaho State Department of Education pays for all juniors to take the SAT on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Seniors and senior parents remember to get the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) completed by the college priority date. Feel free to schedule an appointment in the counseling office if you still have questions or need help.
First Generation College Group will have the next meeting on Monday, Feb. 13 in the SHS Library. The meeting will begin at 6 pm and pizza is served at 5:45 pm.
The counseling staff will be hosting a local scholarship meeting on Feb. 22 at 8:15 am in the SHS auditorium. All seniors are invited to learn about the scholarship opportunities offered by the wonderful and generous community in which we live.
Congratulations SHS January Students of the Month! Saige Hallock
Logan Sanborn Christian Okon Jacob Fahlund John Taylor Bob Stevens C.A.R.E. Student of the Month C.A.R.E. Studentxxxxxx of the Month
Heather Yunek
Blake Bower Dawson Driggs
SHS MUSIC STUDENTS PERFORM AT PANIDA WITH PROS! The members of the Sandpoint High School Performing and Men’s Choir will be performing with Rob Verdi’s Take 5. This ensemble is a professional Jazz Group made up of some of the finest musicians in the jazz idiom today. This group is made up of jazz brass and woodwind players as well as a vocalist and rhythm. The SHS group will get to perform “Proulx’s Blues, “St. Thomas Way” and “I Want You To Be My Baby” with Take 5 as well as some pieces by themselves. This performance will take place on Thursday, February 23rd at 7:30pm at the Panida Theatre. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased that evening at the door. Don’t miss your opportunity to see this great Jazz Ensemble and some of SHS’s own!
Students in Mrs. Smith's US History 2 class, learn to dance the Charleston as part of their study of the 1920s.
Information Systems Scholarship Winner The National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) awarded sophomore Victoria “Tori” Hewitt with an honorable mention for the Aspirations in Computing (AiC) award. Tori received her award for being active in computer technology by being involved in Sandpoint High’s Information Systems program, CyberPatriot and earning several industry certifications. “I’m proud of her and I look forward to following Tori’s accomplishments as she gains more technical experience. She’s a pleasure to have in class and a valuable member of the community.” Alex Gray, Sandpoint High’s Information Technology instructor. The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing honors young women at the high school level for their technical achievements and interests. Recipients are selected for their computing and IT aptitude, leadership ability, academic history and plans for post-secondary education. The NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing offers both a national and local affiliate competitions to generate support and visibility for women's participation in communities nationwide. The Idaho Affiliate Award ceremony will be held this March at Boise State University. Winner’s receive a $500 scholarship every year to study computer science at Boise State. She, along with Sandpoint High, will also receive a plaque to recognize her accomplishments. Tori has not solidified her post-secondary plans but has a strong inclination to pursue the field of information technology. “I am honored to be selected for this award and I am eager to continue pursuing my education in information technology. I also hope more women from the Sandpoint area become interested in the field.” Tori Hewitt. The Aspirations program is supported nationally by Apple, AT&T, Bank of America, Bloomberg, Google, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Intel, Microsoft, Motorola Solutions Foundation, Northrop Grumman, and the Symantec Corporation. AiC serves 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Island and all U.S. military bases overseas. Find out more at www.aspirations.org.
Congratula ons to Cheyenne Nicholson and Tyler Kennedy for being named Sandpoint High School’s Elk Students of the Month for January
Cheyenne Nicholson
Tyler Kennedy