Volume 1, Issue 2 Winter 2007
From Very Good to Great
Raider Pride
STOWE HIGH SCHOOL
Dear SHS Parent/ Guardian, It is hard to believe the holidays are behind us. I hope all of you enjoyed a season rich in rewarding experiences with family and friends—–and all the white stuff on the mountain isn’t so bad either! I was able to spend some time with my daughter and son newly returned from college; you can get used to the ‘empty nest’, but, it is great to have all the familiar sounds and activities again!
The first semester is rapidly drawing to a close with mid-term exams scheduled for January 15-18. Please try to plan accordingly as we strive to eliminate all distractions to ensure students will focus on their studies.
tion Pizzazz, and simply developing relationships with teachers, staff, students, and many of you has been deeply satisfying. It feels like a good fit for me and hope to serve as your principal for many years to come.
I have truly enjoyed working with your student during the first half of the school year. Exciting fall athletics, marching with the Band during Octoberfest, the National Honor Society Induction Ceremony, Opera-
(continued on p.4)
Jeffrey Maher, Principal
Streamlined 08-09 Course Scheduling Process We have worked hard to make our next course scheduling process more efficient. Our intent is to make it both simpler and more supportive
for students, parents, and teachers to develop a schedule that is appropriate with the fewest conflicts. Special thanks to Amy McArdle, Sandy May-
nard, and Maryanne Hough for their hard work on streamlining this process. See Guidance Corner, pages 2 and 3 for details.
Inside this issue:
Special points of interest: From Very Good to Great 08-09 Course Scheduling Process Guidance Corner
1&4
• “Secure the Building Drill—–Week of January 7-11 1 2-3
Food Service Goes Green
3
From the Nurse
3
• Mid-Terms Exams—–January 14-18 • Operation Pizzazz—–January 24, 4-7 p.m. • Friday Program Starts January 25
Guidance Corner Course Selection Process and Timeline for 20072008 The course selection process and registration timeline has been moved up this year to ensure that all students receive their schedules by the beginning of May and adjustments to schedules are completed by the end of May. Another change that has been made is that the guidance counselor will work specifically with current 8th graders and current juniors while TA’s will work with current freshmen and sophomores. Starting in January we will post the program of studies on the school web site and distribute paper copies to students. Students are encouraged to take some time and familiarize themselves with the Program of Studies and reflect on their long and short term academic goals before
meeting with the guidance counselor or their TA. We encourage students to speak with their TA’s, the guidance counselor, teachers and parents before the course registration period. Ideally, the student’s course selections will be a blend of courses that not only meet the graduation requirements but also interest and challenge the student while providing a solid foundation for their career aspirations.
their parents will have an opportunity to meet with the principal and the guidance counselor to discuss ninth grade courses, and obtain an overall orientation to high school. Parents will also be able to make appointments with the guidance counselor for their student’s individualized course selection and registration meeting at this time. Appointments can also be made by contacting Beth Allen,guidance administrator, after February 6th.
Current juniors will have an opportunity to meet with the guidance counselor in individualized meetings to assist with course selection and registration from February 18 -22nd. TAs will meet with current freshmen and sophomores during a special extended TA period on February 12th for course selection and registration. On February 6th there will be an informational evening meeting where current 8th graders and
This entire process is an exciting time to help chart your student’s future! January 7
Program of Studies to be posted on School web site and available to students
February 6
Ninth Grade Information Night for current 8th Grade parents and students
February 12
Current freshmen and sophomores to meet with TA’s to select courses and complete registration. Current 8th graders and their parents meet with the guidance Counselor to select courses and complete registration.
February 11-15
February 19
Tour of Green Mountain Technical Center for interested students.
Week of May 5
Schedules will be mailed home this week.
May 12-30
Schedule adjustments will be made in the guidance office.
Page 2
R A I D E R PR I D E
From the Health Corner Eileen Crawford, MSN, NCSN, RN This time of year, I like to offer information to students, faculty, staff, and families in awareness and prevention of seasonal health conditions. I offer the following brief overview on the cold and flu, as well as frostbite. Cold and Flu Influenza, commonly known as "the flu", is caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs. The flu usually spreads through the air from person to person when an infected person coughs, sneezes or talks. When these viruses enter the nose, throat, or lungs of a person, they begin to multiply, causing symptoms of the flu. Unlike the common cold, the flu can cause serious illness and can be lifethreatening. Each year over 36,000 people in the U.S. die from complications of the flu. In Vermont, the flu season typically begins in December or January and may last through April. The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu shot each fall. To prevent the spread of flu or any other illness that can be spread from person to person: · Cover your cough. · Wash your hands often and well. · Keep yourself healthy with rest, exercise, and
V O LU ME 1, I S S UE 2
eating healthy foods. Drink plenty of fluids. Stay home if you get sick. Avoid close contact with sick people. Flu symptoms can often be confused with the common cold, but the flu usually comes on more suddenly and is more severe. Symptoms of flu may include fever (usually high), headache, tiredness and weakness (can be extreme), dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body or muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea (much more common among children than adults). · · ·
first checking with your health care provider. Call your health care provider right away if your flu symptoms are very serious.
A person who is sick with the flu can spread viruses. That means they are contagious. Adults are usually contagious from one day before having symptoms to seven days after getting sick. Children can be contagious for longer than seven days. If you start to get flu symptoms: · Get plenty of rest. · Drink plenty of liquids. · Don't use alcohol or tobacco. · Stay home from work or school to protect others from catching your illness. · Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue every time you cough or sneeze. · Take medication to lessen the symptoms of flu, but NEVER give aspirin to children or teenagers who have flu-like symptoms, especially fever, without
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Raider Country
STOWE HIGH SCHOOL
Food Service Goes Green Actually, Stowe Middle & High School has been working on ‘green’ issues for some time, did you know: •
We have been composting and using it in our school gardens for the past two years.
•
All of our fresh, daily muffins, breads, and desserts are made with locally produced corn meal, oats, and whole wheat flour.
Stowe High School 413 Barrows Rd. Stowe, VT 05672 Phone: (802)253-7229
Raider Pride
www.stowe.k12.vt.us/shs
•
A salad bar, with organic choices is available daily.
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A line of organic snack products from Kashi is available.
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Hot lunch is balanced, nutritious, and in many cases contains organic components.
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We recycle.
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In some cases, we are converting back to ‘real’, washable dinnerware.
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The polystyrene we do use has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and is fully recyclable.
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Mrs. Janet Godin, our Food Services Director, has attended several conferences, and, has visited several Vermont schools over the past year to keep current with food practices across the state.
We are committed to green practices, within reason, as influenced by cost and facilities. Your comments and suggestions are welcome.
From Very Good to Great (cont.) Stowe High School is a very good school. All our indicators support the assertion, including our most recent award of a Bronze Medal by US News & World Report. Our school was one of only six high schools in the state to receive a quality designation by this national periodical. Should we rest on this and other laurels? Not a chance. We work every day to improve what we do. Your faculty has long made improvement a priority. Standing committees in curriculum/ instruction/assessment, scheduling, and climate meet regularly to fulfill standards set by the New England Association of Schools
and Colleges. Our efforts are further aligned to a School Board approved Action Plan designed to provide cohesive, coordinated planning within SHS, through the Stowe K-12 School District, and across the Lamoille South Supervisory Union. This work is on-going, comprehensive, and directed at the critical idea that if one student is not well-served by all our efforts, it is one student too many. From what I have observed so far, the strong relationships between students and adults at SHS is a huge strength of our school. These relationships allow us to identify when a student is in need
of further support. A safe and orderly school is the foundation of excellent academics and a healthy, spirited school climate. Just as we have worked on bus safety, we need to practice our ‘Secure the Building Drill’. During the week of January 711 we will choose a day to practice this drill, a five-minute exercise when students stay quiet in pre-planned locked areas. Information gathered from the drill will help us to improve our security procedures, and, like fire drills, condition us to best possible response. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!