Student safety is an important component of everyday life at Sandpoint High School. I want to take this HIGH SCHOOL opportunity to remind you of the policies and protocols Sandpoint High School follows in order to assure the safest learning environment possible for students and staff. We are very fortunate to have a School Resource Officer present at SHS acting as a prevention specialist, educating students on law MONTHLY NEWSLETTER enforcement, and being the eyes and ears of the October 2016 school. In addition we have over fifty security cameras positioned throughout the school monitoring the daily SHS activity, a visitor sign-in protocol, an anonymous security hotline for sharing information (263-3034 ext. 4008), and an automated flashing beacon/voice lock-down warning system. Upcoming Events Students and staff are trained on the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) in Professional Development the following areas: Non‐Student Day Lockout: This is called when there is a threat or hazard outside of the school October 7 building. Classes will resume as normal with the exception of no students will be allowed outside the building until the situation is resolved. Examples include chemical spills, law enforcement situations in close proximity, wildlife Connec ons etc. October 11 Lock- down: This is called when there is a threat or hazard inside the school *PLC Early Release building. The automated beacon and directed voice system will be activated. October 12 Students will move to the nearest classroom or office following the protocol 1:50pm Lock-down, lights out, out of sight. Students will be released from the locked rooms by local law enforcement or administration. Drama Evacuate/Shelter: This is called to move students and staff from one
SANDPOINT
“Thunder on Sycamore Street”
October 14 and 15 Schoolwide Tes ng Day 9th—PSAT 8/9 10th‐11th PSAT 12th– Finance Fair October 19 *PLC Early Release October 19 1:50pm Fall Choir Concert October 27 7pm End of Qtr 1 November 4 Non Student Day Parent Teacher Conferences November 9‐10 One Hour Early Release
location to another. Evacuation will be activated by the fire alarm. Staff will take the students to their designated parking spot in the SHS parking lot and take attendance. If further movement is needed away from SHS staff will be directed to take students to the following route: Out the South parking lot driveway, down the Dover bike path, down Ontario Street to the St. Joseph’s Catholic church. Staff will take attendance again, busing and parental pickup will be staged. Though we live in a great community, we believe in being prepared at all times for any situation in which could occur. We will be conducting a lockdown drill towards the end of October. As usual we will send a Synervoice phone message before the drill as to keep parents informed. Thank You
Tom Albertson, Principal
Congratulations SHS September Students of the Month! C.A.R.E. Student of the Month Tyler Kennedy
Brandon Wolff TJ Oaks Burton Anderson Madeline Albertson
Alex Jones Kelso Garcia Amanda Wikoff J.D. Griffin
Its a Great Day to be a Bulldog!
Derek Dickinson, M. ED October is Bullying Awareness Prevention Month. It is extremely important that we do all we can to prevent bullying in our school. Most incidents fly under the radar because they are not reported. If acts are not reported it is difficult for school personnel to take appropriate action. Below are avenues we provide students to report bullying or harassment. This can be either as a witness or as a victim. Avenues to report bullying or harassment:: Talk to parent(s) or guardian(s) Report to a teacher, counselor or an administrator Report to SRO Spencer Smith Call the Anonymous Bullying Hotline 263-3034 ext. 4008 Even though bullying is a nationwide issue, it is important to know the difference between bullying, and being mean. Each are not appropriate at school, but are treated differently. Often times students characterize actions as bullying when in fact it is a situation of a student who is being mean. It is also important to note that if the situation involves two equal sides in a dispute, and mean actions exist, then it is typically not bullying. Here are some definitions of mean, and bullying according to Signe Whitson of the Huffington Post. Mean- “Purposefully saying or doing something to hurt someone’s feeling once (or maybe twice).” Usually the motivation revolves around having “angry feelings and the misguided goal of propping themselves up.” Bullying- “intentionally aggressive behavior, repeated behavior, that involves an imbalance of power.” Students who bully usually know they are being hurtful and keep doing it “with no sense of regret or remorse.” Again, both of these actions deserve intervention. The lines become blurred when things cross between being mean and bullying, but I believe it is important to know the difference as a parent due to the fact that bullying is a very serious charge included under Idaho State Law. Most cases we deal with as a school involve an isolated incident of meanness or two students involved in a dispute. Next time, your child says they are being bullied, try to determine if this is a situation involving being mean or is it bullying. Next, determine if this is truly a one way act or if it is a dispute between two students that has gotten way out of hand. In any of these cases, feel free to report situations that you feel the school can assist with.
This is mid progress #1, please log in to schoology, with your parent access code, and review your student’s progress. SHS will not be sending this progress report in the mail, unless your student is in jeopardy of failing You will receive a mid semester report card during Parent Teacher conferences November 9th and 10th. If you need assistance with logging in to schoology, with your access code, please contact Arlene at the front desk. 263-3034 ext 4004. New
for Art Students
This year is the first year we are not charging a fee for art classes at SHS. Most of our materials are consumable, so purchasing some basic art supplies for personal use would help. Students have a cupboard for these supplies in Mr. Stafford's room. Ms. Guthrie's students should purchase a simple zippered pouch for their own materials and label each. A suggested list for supplies is located on Schoology. These materials currently exist in the art classrooms, but as time goes by, they will be consumed, sometimes lost, or forgotten.
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The Sandpoint High School foyer is the drop off station again this year! Our SHS Key Club is sponsoring the drive, and would like you, if have gently used coats to donate them. Please consider giving to those in need. All sizes are welcome and much appreciated. Colder weather means warmer clothing and your donation can help others in our community! The annual coat drive ends Oct. 31
C.A.R.E. Corner Caring Adults Recognizing Excellence @ SHS
What a great start to the school year! CARE (Caring Adults Recognizing Excellence) has been in full swing with many exciting things to report! We started the year out offering our annual free BBQ at the New Student Orientation in August. It was well attended and always a great time welcoming new families into the SHS community! With all three of our home football games already complete, we have already wrapped up our concessions at the Chuck Wagon for the season. Although we had much fewer home games to sell and fund raise, we had record sales and are well on our way to support our budget, that in return is spent on supporting our school, staff and students! Thank you so much for your patronage! One of these programs we facilitate and fund is the Get the Basics Program. We were able to purchase basic items and supplies teachers specifically requested to help in their classrooms. Along with the facilitation of our committee members, many families generously helped purchase items and donate money, and it was a huge success again this year! Thank you to all who have already donated and volunteered this year. There will be many more opportunities throughout the school year to help as little or as much as you would like. If you are not, and would like to be on the email list, please contact us at
[email protected] to sign up or get more information.
Counselors’ Corner ~ October October 19th is School Wide Testing Day Ninth graders will take the PSAT 8/9. It measures the reading, writing, and math skills students learn in school. It also uses the same format and question types as the PSAT and SAT. It provides tools to help improve students’ skills and target course selection, as well as, resources to encourage students to start thinking about post secondary plans and careers. Tenth and Eleventh graders will take the PSAT. The PSAT is a standardized test which provides firsthand practice for the SAT. It measures skills in critical reading, math and problem solving, and writing. Students will also gain access to college and career planning tools. It is the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) for Juniors. Twelfth graders will participate in the “Bulldog Finance Fair...Life after Allowance” at First
Christian Church. This seminar will focus on personal finance via a program titled “My Life, My Money”. Students will bring home an information sheet the week of October 10th.
First Genera on College Program SHS's award-winning First Generation College Program is returning! Any student whose biological mother or father does not have a Bachelor's degree (four year college degree) qualifies to participate in the program. Keep your eyes open for more information! Contact Jeralyn Mire 263-3034 ext. 4021, if you have questions. First Generation College Group Initial Meeting – Monday, October 17th, 2016.
The counseling department at SHS provides a comprehensive developmental program for all students. Cindy Albertson—Class of 2017 and Freshman with last names P-Z Linda Sprinkle – Class of 2018 and Freshman with last names H-O Debb Nusbaum – Class of 2019 and Freshman with last names A-G Jeralyn Mire – Post Secondary Transition Amanda Skinner– Registrar and Counseling Office Assistant Amanda Ott– College and Career Mentor
Senior Parents: This year’s post-secondary planning schedule of events will be a little different than previous years. If you’ve been through the process before with other children, please take note of some new dates and deadlines.
FAFSA: The FAFSA ( Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is going to be available to start completing on October 1st 2016. Students and parents should use their 2016 Tax Information to complete the FAFSA. Please make sure to go to this site https://fafsa.ed.gov for questions, and assistance with the FAFSA
Important Dates: Application Week – October 31st – November 3rd This will be followed immediately by our FAFSA night in response to this year’s FAFSA opening date moving to October 1st, 2016 as well as some colleges moving up their priority deadlines. (Eg. University of Idaho FAFSA priority deadline is December 1st, 2016) FAFSA Night @ SHS– Wednesday, November 9th, 6:30pm. This will be held in conjunction with parent-teacher conferences, also on the 9th from 5-7pm
SHS Mime & Masque presents
Thunder on Sycamore Street By Reginald Rose
October 14 & 15, 2016 7:00pm ~ $5 general admission Sandpoint High School Auditorium SHS Mime & Masque presents Thunder on Sycamore Street. Sycamore Street is a peaceful street, yet there's an underlying excitement. Joseph Blake, a new man in the neighborhood, is not welcome. His neighbors have decided to force him out because he once served a brief term in prison. Also, though his daughter is a model student, the neighbors don't want their children to associate with her. They form a mob and plan to march on the Blake house. Only one man, Arthur Hayes, fights an inner battle. In a scene of tremendous power, Blake stands up to the crowd.
Congratula ons to Hannah Fingel and Jacob Jackson for being named Sandpoint High School’s Elk Students of the Month for September
Hannah Fingel
School wide Tes ng Day Bulldog Finance Fair October 19th!
Jacob Jackson