Benton High School Dec 2013 Newsletter by Kelly Lock

The Cardinal News Newsletter for Parents & Students - December 2013 Live Right...Learn Right...Southside Greetings Benton Students, Parents, and Patrons, I want to take a moment to thank each of you for the wonderful support you have given us as we have transitioned administrative staff this year. It has been an absolutely awesome quarter and a half! We have seen an overwhelming level of support this year from our Community as we have tried new things like the Southside Pep Assembly. We plan to continue to work with the other Southside Schools, Parents, students, and staff to help build the best schools in the state. If you have any ideas for how to improve, or just to give us feedback, please do not hesitate to call or email me. As we enter the winter months, it is important to make sure you are all registered for the district’s ParentLink alert. This is the best way to be notiEied of snow days or emergency information from the St. Joseph School District and Benton High School. To register, just go to http://www.sjsd.k12.mo.us/sjsd and on the right side under “Resources” click on “Parent Alert System.” You can sign up for both district news/alerts as well as Benton only alerts. If you have a smartphone, I also would urge you to get the free app St. Joseph School District where you can always have the latest BHS calendar as well as other SJSD school calendars/news and receive alerts and notiEications. Here are some upcoming dates that will be of interest: December 5

Progress Reports sent home with Students

December 9 & 10

1st Semester Government End of Course Exam (Required to Graduate)

December 12

ASVAB testing for those that signed up

December 14

ACT Test

December 16-‐19

Final/1st Semester Summative Exams. December 19th will be a 2-‐hour early out. Grades will be mailed home on January 10th.

December 20

Last day of school for 2013. This will be a 3-‐hour early out.

January 6

First day of school for students in 2014; White Day – students will receive new schedules before school.

January 14

1-‐hour Benton only early out. STUCO will also be having a Prom Fashion Show during CAMP.

January 20

No School, Martin Luther King Day

January 23

Progress Reports sent home with Students

February 13

Progress Reports sent home with Students

February 17-‐18

No School. President’s Day/Teacher Professional Development

Again, thank you for all your support of Benton High School. We enjoy the time we spend with our students, and we are really looking forward to the rest of this school year. Please come out and support our winter sports and activities. From all Benton Cardinals, we wish you a Happy Holiday season! Respectfully yours, Beery Johnson 1

POLICY AND PROCEDURES TO REMAIN ELIGIBLE @ BHS ALL SPORTS AND ACTIVITIES REQUIRE STUDENTS TO FOCUS ON COMMITMENT TO THEIR EDUCATION AND FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES OF THE MISSOURI STATE HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION AS WELL AS THE SJSD & BENTON HIGH SCHOOL.

A great Start to a New Year at BHS! Congratulations to all Students, Parents, Coaches, and Sponsors for beginning the year with spirit and enthusiasm. It is evident that Athletics and Activities have proven to be a vital part of success in the Classroom. Our Students have proven this belief for many years when they dedicate themselves to learning and yet make the commitment to be an involved Student in Activities and Athletics. We thank them for their involvement.

Administration and Staff of Benton High School firmly believe that any Student failing should not be permitted to leave School for any activity during the School day. This belief emphasizes the importance and value we place on each and every Student of Benton High School, and further encourages our Students to prepare themselves for the next level of their career. The final phase of eligibility pertains to a financial commitment. In these difficult economic times, we realize that money is stretched and in no way want Students and Parents to take away the growth of your Sons or Daughters, however Student fees must be paid in a timely fashion. The following deadlines must be met to remain active and eligible for any School extra-curricular sponsored event. During Registration, payment in full can be made, yet we understand that a payment plan may be a selected option and partial payment on a quarterly basis can be another opportunity. This option is based upon 1/4 payment at registration, 1/4 payment at the nine week grading period, 1/4 payment prior to Semester or 16 weeks, with final payment by the completion of the Third Quarter. Please feel free to contact myself or Mrs. Vining to assist with these options.

As we look to the future of BHS Activities, we must continually emphasize Education and Grades in order to remain eligible, especially for all MSHSAA sponsored events. According to the Missouri State High School Activities Association, every Participant must be enrolled and passing 80% of His or Her classes each previous Semester. For Benton, that means each Participant must be enrolled in a minimum 7 of 8 classes and passing above Failure in 7 of those 8 classes. The SJSD and Board of Education instituted policy that encourages Students to take ownership in their academic success by stating that all Students must pass Semester Classes with GPA of 2.0 and/or hold a Cumulative GPA of 2.0 during their career at Benton High School. I am proud to say that in emphasizing this as a School District we have created a higher Student success rate among our programs.

Education, Activities, and Athletics are vital to the success of all Students of BHS. Thank you for your commitment to Benton High School.

Student success obviously is our goal, and in order to be successful you must focus on the subjects you are enrolled in during your career in education. Therefore, the

Mike Ziesel BHS Activities/Athletics

December 2013 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri 1

SAVE THE DATES!!

Sat

December 19th 2 Hour Early Dismissal (K-12)

Early Out

December 20th 2 Hour Early Dismissal (K-12) Last Day of School in 2013

Sat

January 3rd No School Staff – Professional Development

January 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri 1

*3*

PD for Staff

January 6th First Day of School in 2014 January 20th No School – Martin Luther King Day

February 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thur Fri

Sat

February 17th No School – President’s Day

1 2

17 * 18 * 19

PD for Staff

February 18th No School Staff- Professional Development

COUNSELING CENTER ON TWITTER Follow the Benton Counseling Center on twitter - @BHS_Counseling - for information, news, and updates. 3

TEST AND REGISTRATION DEADLINES Test Date

Registration Deadline

December 14, 2013 February 8, 2014 April 12, 2014 June 14, 2014

November 8, 2013 January 10, 2014 March 7, 2014 May 9, 2014

Late Fee Required November 9 - 22, 2013 January 11 - 24, 2014 March 8 - 21, 2014 May 10 - 23, 2014

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To register for the ACT students must go online to www.actstudent.org

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Benton High School is a testing site please use this code 211020 when signing up for the ACT

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Please use our school CEEB code 262890 to send your scores to Benton High School

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Effective immediately, many colleges and universities, such as the University of Missouri and Northwest Missouri State University, will require that all students have their standardized test scores sent directly from ACT or the College Board (SAT) to the university. These schools will no longer be taking test scores from high school transcripts. It is the student's responsibility when registering for the ACT and/or SAT to designate which colleges and/or universities should receive their scores. A fee will be assessed if a student requests scores be sent to a college or university AFTER taking the test. ACT and College Board (SAT) allow you to send your score to four (4) colleges or universities for free at the time of registration.

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Students who qualify for free/reduced lunch can request a fee waiver form from their friendly counselor. There is a limit of 2 waivers per student during their high school career.

COMMUNITY SERVICE Each Benton High School Student must have a minimum of 10 hours of Community Service to graduate and walk with their Senior Class. Verifications forms can be picked up and turned back in to the Counseling Center. It’s never too early to complete your hours!!!

RECYCLE YOUR STYLE We are opening a Student Clothes Closet within our Counseling Department!! We are now accepting donations of gently used clothing items (this means they should still be in good shape!!). We are particularly in need of t-shirts, sweatshirts, jeans and coats. Thanks for giving back to our School!!!

A+ NEWS It is nearing the half way mark for this school year and what has your student done about getting involved in the A+ program? This is a state program designed to help pay for two years of college for qualified graduates. Requirements are simple. Sign an A+ Agreement Form * Maintain at least a 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale * Maintain a 95% attendance record * Complete and submit the FAFSA report * Maintain a good citizenship record and avoid unlawful use of drugs and alcohol * Perform 50 hours of unpaid tutoring for younger students (must be in a SJSD building with a SJSD teacher) * Register for selective services, if applicable * Attend an A+ designated high school for the last three full years of high school. It’s not too late involved, but don’t delay......contact Luke McCoy at luke.mccoy@sjsd.k12.mo.us or 816-671-4030. Luke McCoy, Assistant Principal

BHS SEASON PASS In order to accommodate our Cardinal Families, we have Season Passes for sale that will get you into all Home Sports Events. Cost of these Season Passes are per person and are $35 for Adults and $10 for 7th and 8th Graders. For more information or to purchase a BHS Season Pass, contact Carlene Vining.

PARENT AND STUDENT PORTAL Students and Parents have access to grades, attendance, assignment descriptions, Teacher comments, and more by accessing the PowerSchool Parent and Student Portal. Students - please see your CAMP Teacher for your log-in information. Parents, please contact BHS at 816-671-4030 for information on how to gain access.

WHERE DO YOU FIND SCHOLARSHIPS Visit our website (www.bentoncardinals.org) then under CARDINAL LINKS click on “Apply for Scholarships”. You will find a list of Scholarships available to our Students, which are arranged by Month. Be sure to look ahead for deadlines.

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STUDENT FEE PAYMENT PLAN INFORMATION Monday - December 9, 2013 - will be the last day to purchase a yearbook for $60. If you need to check to see if you have already placed an order for one, please see Mrs. Vining. After Semester break the cost will be $70. For those that purchased a yearbook and did not pay in full, payment must also be received by December 9th as well.

For those who are on a payment plan for School fees, in order to stay current please make a payment before leaving for Christmas Break or as soon as we come back. Online payments are accepted for your convenience - please note a $2 processing fee will be assessed to each transaction. Just go to www.sjsd.schoolwires.net/page/12570. To begin you will need to select the number of students at Benton you will be paying fees for online and enter their student ID and names. Once you have entered this information you will need to follow directions in order to complete your transaction.

BIRDHOUSE ANNOUNCEMENT New merchandise has arrived at the Birdhouse...come and check it out!!! T-Shirts, Sweats, and Hoodies...the perfect Christmas gift for those that are hard to buy on your gift list!! The Birdhouse is open during CAMP and during some evening activities. If you would like to make an appointment to purchase merchandise, please send an e-mail to either of our Birdhouse Representatives - Jenny Moore (Jennifer.Moore@sjsd.k12.mo.us) or Ronnie Knight-Beck (Ronald.Knight-Beck@sjsd.k12.mo.us) or call the School at 816-671-4030 and ask to speak with either of them.

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FAFSA INFORMATION NIGHT Attention 2013-2014 Benton Students and Parents...mark your calendars to join us for FAFSA Information Night on Thursday evening, January 30th, at 6:00 pm in the Auditorium!!!

Come and learn more about the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Not only will you leave knowing all you need to know about FAFSA but you can also get your questions answered about grants, scholarships, loans and work study to help fun your education!

BHS LADY CARDINAL SOCCER INFORMATION Benton Girls Soccer Pre-Season Workout Activities will begin on Tuesday, January 7, 2014. The location will be dependent on weather conditions, but girls should come prepared with running/tennis shoes. Please contact Coach Janner via email (Joseph.Janner@sjsd.k12.mo.us) with any immediate questions and/or concerns.

HEALTH CORNER Yes, it’s that time for of year for colds and the flu!!! PLEASE...if your child is sick, keep them home. DO NOT send them to School or DO NOT have them come see the Nurse and have “her” send them home.

The number one fight against the flu and colds is HAND WASHING! Other steps that help in avoiding the cold or flu bug are avoid touching your eyes and mouth, cover your cough and sneezes, and get an Influenza Vaccine! Although there’s no cure for the common cold, it is important to make yourself comfortable while you recover. Be sure to get plenty of rest, drink plenty of fluids (not soda - preferably water), and take over the counter cold medicines - these won’t “cure” you but will make the cold more tolerable. If you have a fever greater than 101 degrees, severe body aches, chills, non-productive cough (dry), or chest discomfort see your Doctor - you may have the flu! A great website for reference is www.dhss.mo.gov Have a Wonderful Holiday Season! Carol Stephenson, RN

SJSD APP MAKES IT EASY TO CONNECT WITH SCHOOLS Parents, Students and the Community are now able to find St Joseph School District news all in one place through the new SJSD mobile application. Parents and the Community can use the app for day to day updates and news. They will automatically receive District news, and can elect to receive news from individual Schools. In an emergency, such as a snow day or building “lock down,” Parents and Community Members who have enabled alerts through the app will receive a push notification (SMS) notifying them of the emergency. The app is available for free download for Android and iOS devises. Just go to your iTunes or Google Play app store and search for ‘St. Joseph School District’ to download the app. If Parents prefer to receive phone calls, texts, or e-mails for emergencies, they can still sign up on the District’s homepage www.sjsd.k12.mo.us using the “Parent Link Alert Sign-up” link on the right hand side of the page under “Resources”. 7

SEAT BELT MYTHS AND FACTS MYTH: Belts are uncomfortable or inconvenient. FACT: Initially people may find safety belts uncomfortable, confining or inconvenient because they’re not used to wearing them. Those people who have made wearing seat belts a habit can testify that once their use becomes a habit, there is no discomfort or inconvenience. It can’t be overemphasized that the serious discomfort and inconvenience of motor vehicle crash injury in no way compares to the imaginary discomfort or the inconvenience you may think you feel wearing a belt the first few times. MYTH: The belts in my car don’t work. FACT: It’s important that everyone realizes that newer shoulder belts are made so that you can move comfortably but they will still lock up in sudden stops or crashes. Many people mistake this freedom of movement as a broken mechanism. Newer shoulder belts are designed to lock up only when the car changes speed or direction suddenly, not when the occupant changes position. MYTH: Drivers in air bag-equipped vehicles don’t need to wear seat belts. FACT: Air bags provide supplemental protection in frontal crashes, but motorists can slide under them if they are not wearing a seat belt. In addition, air bags will not help in a side or rear impact or rollover crash. Motorists should wear a seat belt for protection in all types of crashes. MYTH: I don’t want to be trapped in a fire or underwater. FACT: Crashes involving fire or water happen in only 1/2 of one percent of all crashes. So it doesn’t happen often. However, when they do occur the best chance of survival rests in remaining conscious, uninjured, and in full control. The greatest danger is with the impact that precedes the fire or submersion in water. If you’re not using a seat belt, it’s very likely that you will be knocked unconscious or severely injured. If you’re belted, it’s very likely you will be able to unbuckle yourself and get out of a potential fire or submerged car situation. MYTH: I’d rather be thrown clear in a crash. FACT: Being thrown safely clear in a crash is almost impossible. When you’re thrown, you may be thrown through the windshield, scraped along the pavement, or even crushed by your own vehicle or another one. The idea of being thrown from a car and gently landing in a grassy area beside the road is pure fantasy. Your best bet in a crash is to stay inside the vehicle, securely held by your seat belt. MYTH: Belts can hurt you in a crash. FACT: Properly worn seat belts seldom cause injuries. If they do, the injuries are usually surface bruises and are generally less severe than would have been the case without any belt. Without the belts, you could probably have been thrown out of the vehicle and been injured severely. It is true that sometimes the force of a crash is so great that nothing could have prevented injuries. Studies have consistently shown that injuries in most serious crashes would have been much more severe had seat belts not been worn. MYTH: I’m not going far and I won’t be going fast. FACT: This is the comment that so many people living in rural areas use when asked why they do not wear a safety belt. It’s important to remember that most crash deaths occur within 25 miles of home and at speeds of less than 40 miles per hour. This emphasizes that everyday driving from just one neighbor’s home to another, to school, to the store or just one farm to another poses the greatest danger. MYTH: The chance that I’ll have an accident is so small, those things only happen to other people. FACT: This is an attitude that is universal to everything we do. It’s comfortable to think that accidents only happen to other people. However, one out of three people will be seriously injured in a car crash sometime during their lives. This is really a significant risk. We never know when it will occur or how it will occur. The answer -- buckle up every time on every trip. MYTH: I’m a good driver, it won’t happen to me. FACT: You may be a good driver but you cannot always control the other drivers on the road. The statistics related to motor vehicle crashes and drunk drivers are devastating. Even if you are driving defensively, a drunk driver coming around the next curve may not be. Again, you never know what might happen. Play it safe. Buckle up every time -- every trip.

SCHOOL TO BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM The School to Business Partnership Program allows one more way for the District to be engaged with and reach out to the community for assistance. These Partnerships provide opportunities for students to receive various time, energy, and resources from the business community to enhance their educational experiences. Partnerships encompass many activities from employees serving as volunteer mentors in classrooms and internship programs to financial assistance for field trips and student rewards. There are 8 businesses that are actively involved with Benton High School. They include Buffalo Wild Wings, Drury Inn & Suites, LifeLine Foods, J McBee Photography, Panda Express, Rolling Hills Auto Plaza, Triumph Foods, LLC and Wal-Mart. Thank you to each and everyone of you!

Check out some of the sites Benton High School has on the web: Website: http://www.sjsd.k12.mo.us/Domain/8 Power School Parent/Student Portal: http://ps.sjsd.k12.mo.us/public/home.html Calendar of Events: http://www.sjsd.k12.mo.us/domain/3819 Announcements: http://www.sjsd.k12.mo.us/domain/1312 Scholarships: http://www.sjsd.k12.mo.us/Page/9004