From the Principal – Did You Know?
Greetings! It’s warmer, it’s March, and the end of winter is in sight! Things are looking up.
Just a few things for you today. First of all, thank you for the positive feedback on my emails to you. I appreciate that you are taking the time to read them and to stay connected to school.
Did you know that this weekend is the beginning of Daylight Savings Time? Move those clocks AHEAD on Saturday night–or do it now so you don’t forget.
Did you know that the Graduation date for this year WILL NOT change even if our school year is extended? Graduation remains May 30th.
Did you know that we have a mountain of lost and found items ranging from boots to jackets to glasses to many sets of car keys? I’m not sure how kids get home without some of these essential items but perhaps you can send your kids in to check out the “pile” in the main office. If things are not claimed, we give the items to the nurse’s office to wash and reuse with kids who have a need or we donate them to Goodwill or the Salvation Army.
Did you know that if you have old drugs in your medicine cabinet, they could get into the wrong hands–a child’s hands? Please…..take the time to bring all the old prescriptions to the pharmacy where they have a disposal process. I know we would all feel terrible if our own homes were a child’s source of drugs. Remove the temptation.
Did you know that there is a new iPad/iPhone scientific FREE calculator out there? It’s called PCalc Lite and it has many options you might be interested in like RPN mode, multiple undo and redo, unit conversions, and constants. Check it out.
And finally, did you know that heroin is becoming a widely used drug? You can Google the signs and symptoms, but if you hear words like Smack, Horse, Mud, Brown Sugar, Junk, Black Tar, Big H, Dope, and Skag–that’s what they are talking about. Talk to your kids.
Thanks for the help with Twitter……I appreciate it. We move forward.
Congratulations to Ike Erickson- State 50 Freestyle Champ!!!
Congratulations to Isaac Erickson, Virginia high school senior for winning the state title in the 50 Freestyle Event. Way to go Ike!!
From the Principal – Did You Know?
Do you know about Twitter? Do you know all the problems that Twitter causes us here at school?
Do you know how long it takes to deal with one single problem on Twitter? Do you know that we can’t possibly fix all the relationships, the bullying, the mean comments, the mob mentality, the lies or anything else on Twitter? Do you knowthat we don’t care what Justin Bieber ate for breakfast?
Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter “problems” end up at school at some point. I’m asking for help in stopping this–or help in controlling some of this. If I had a Twitter Jail, I could fill it up. Would it fix anything? I don’t think so. For some reason, kids being mean to kids, is something that happens less often in a face-to-face situation and more and more often in an on-line format. It’s cowardly. It takes on a mob mentality. Kids think it is a private conversation but fail to see that the whole entire world could be listening in. Where did we go wrong in telling them about this? It’s like a rumor mill on steroids!
Did you know we blocked Twitter on the iPads? Did you know we can’t block your kids’ phones? Parents have to do that. Parents have to monitor their kids’ Twitter and Facebook accounts. If Twitter becomes threatening, parents must contact law enforcement.
Imagine 750 kids with phones. Imagine the Tweets that are going on during the day if each kid Tweeted just one Tweet. Imagine how irresistible it is for them NOT to Tweet back some comment when they feel safe and they feel like no adult is “listening.” It is a false sense of security and anonymity. It is a virtual nightmare for schools to monitor and deal with.
What can we do to help each other? We can teach them right from wrong–over and over again. Some will never get it. Some kids will learn hard lessons. Some kids will be hurt. Some kids will help others in a positive way. Wouldn’t it be nice if kids used Twitter to boost the morale of other students? Wouldn’t it be nice if kids sent positive messages to kids who are picked on at school or neglected at home? Think of all the GREAT possibilities of these social networks.
Did you know that for the most part, kids are “good”?
Did you know I depend on you parents to help us out here at school?
I hope I thank you enough for all of your support. Patience, patience and more patience. They will grow up to be very nice people in a few years if they aren’t already.
OH, and maybe you could Tweet your children……tell them you love them in front of the whole world. Pass along something positive and send someone some happiness. You will be amazed at how powerful those words are and how good you feel as well. Lead by example.
Have a good weekend–we have all earned one. Breathe.
From the Principal – Did You Know?
Good afternoon……and Happy Valentine’s Day! Our place here looks like 1-800-FLOWERS!! The agenda today is short so here we go….
Did you know that we changed the look of our website? You can still type in the old address and you will be automatically re-directed to the new site. Here’s the address if you want to take a look: http://www.vmps.org/vhs-
Did you know that you can now email anyone here at school by clicking on the staff directory on the front page of the high school website? Before you had to copy and paste the address into your email program. We hope this is a quicker way to reach people.
Did you know that we don’t have school this Monday the 17th? It’s President’s Day!
Did you know you can check to see where your kids have been on their iPads? Look in their “history”. If they turn off their history option, turn it back on. You are the boss of the iPad.
Did you know that there are many FREE apps for math in the iPad world? If you have your own personal iPad, you can go to this site and download any of these highly recommended and FREE math apps: http://www.tcea.org/
Are you watching the Olympics? Do you know the science and math behind how athletes go faster, jump higher, soar longer, skate faster, shoot hockey pucks better? It’s not just luck. Take a look at this site:http://www.nsf.gov/news/
OK….tonight when you ask your kids what they did at school today and they say “nothing”–it’s just not true. They just did so much that they just don’t want to go over it all again. That being said, ask them what the best part of their day was……and you will usually get a little more info out of them– even though it’s like pulling teeth.
See you next week!
From the Principal – Did You Know?
Greetings! It’s a great day at VHS!!!
This week’s message will be a smattering of information and hopefully you will find something of interest here today.
Did you know that April and May will be MCA test months? Try not to plan any vacations in those two months. Test windows are set by the state and we are “graded on attendance.”
Did you know that the MCA Reading assessment questions are comprehension and vocabulary questions?
Did you know that the reading samples the kids read are non-fiction as well as fiction? Do they do a lot of non-fiction reading at home? Even the newspaper qualifies as good practice.
Did you know you could help your student study for the MCA Math test by practicing on this website? www.ixl.com/math/
Did you know that you don’t need a dictionary if you have Google? Just type “define _____” in the search box and it will look it up for you.
Did you know that we offer iPad training for adults? There is a training scheduled for next Wednesday, February 12th, from 4:30 to 6:30 in the Roosevelt. Call 749-5437, Ext. 1990 (Community Ed) to get into the class.
Are you curious and interested in what’s really going on in the world with people who “think” about things and “talk” about things? Then you need to check out this site: TED Talks at www.ted.com/topics These people are talking about “ideas worth spreading.” Challenge your brain and check this out.
And speaking of brains, have you ever asked yourself, “What is wrong with that child?” And we are talking about teenagers. Well, I have asked myself those very words. We all know more today about how the brain works but just to make you feel better, you should read this article: Adolescent Angst: 5 Facts About the Teen Brain. www.livescience.com/21461-teen-brain-adolescence-facts.html
By the way……I hope you outdid your child when it came to the math facts. See you next week!
From the Principal – Did You Know?
Happy Friday!
I did not get an article out last week due to Google problems. My world pretty much stops when I don’t have Google and Email. I actually reverted back to paper and pencil. Imagine that!
I want to concentrate on two areas today: PSEO (Post-Secondary Enrollment Options) and General Education Opportunities. There is this idea out there that every child MUST get a 4-year degree in order to “make it” in this world. That is just not true.
Did you know that there is a very high need for people who hold an Associate Degree as well as a High School Diploma? Yes, a high school diploma still carries a lot of weight!
Did you know that the following jobs are in high demand with a good salary attached to them ranging from $55,000 to $108,000 as an annual salary according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics?
Registered Nurse – $64,690 – Associate Degree; Dental Hygienist – $68,250 – Associate Degree; Power Distributors and Dispatchers – $68,900 – High School Diploma; Elevator Installers and Repairers – $70,910 – High School Diploma; Nuclear Power Reactor Operators – $75,650 – High School Diploma; Administrative Service Managers – $77,890 – High School Diploma; Radiation Therapist – $74,980 – Associate Degree; First Line Supervisor of Police and Detectives – $78,260 – High School Diploma; Transportation Storage and Distribution Managers – $80,210 – High School Diploma; Construction Manager – $83,860 – Associate Degree; General and Operations Managers – $94,400 – Associate Degree; Air Traffic Controller – $108,040 – Associate Degree
An Associate Degree is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by Community Colleges or Junior Colleges upon completion of a Course of Study–usually lasting 2 years. (Wikipedia) This is not a complete list. Are you surprised?
Did you know that math teachers say that kids still don’t know their math facts? Do your own little check at home. If you see the same thing, have your kids download the Math Expert App. (Before you do your little check at home though, you might want to brush up with this app yourself–you know, they might test you back. I don’t want you to look bad.)
Did you know it is very important to understand PSEO before your kids register?
Did you know that if a student fails a PSEO course at the college, it is on their college transcript forever along with possible academic probation and/or suspension?
Did you know that by the time the high school is notified of a student in trouble, it’s often too late to enroll in a high school class which could cause the student not to graduate?
Did you know a junior student must have a 3.0 GPA and a senior student must have a 2.5 GPA in order to enroll in a PSEO class? This GPA is determined at the end of the 3rd quarter.
Did you know that any student taking a PSEO course must pass the Accuplacer tests in: Elementary Algebra, College Algebra (if applicable), Reading and Sentence Structure?
I’m just curious……a couple of weeks ago I suggested you stack your cell phones on the dinner table and that the first one to take their phone out of the pile should have to do the dishes? How did you do?
Announcement: Due to the school cancellations, report cards will be available late Monday. You can still see your student’s grades but the report card option will not be there until late Monday.
Stay positive!
From the Principal – Did You Know?
Did you know that the state dropped the 9th grade writing test as a graduation requirement? In order to graduate, students must still take the 10th grade reading test and the 11th grade math test BUT instead of re-taking either one of these tests (if they did not MEET or EXCEED on the first round of testing) students can now take the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery–which all of our students take) or the ACT test. This makes more sense.
And finally, we could all use a little more drug education. Did you know that the drugs that seem to be popular now are marijuana, heroine, Spice (K2), Salvia, and bath salts? I want to encourage you to educate yourself. Go to this website teens.drugabuse.gov/facts-drugs/spice-salvia-and-bath-salts and read a quick overview of what these drugs are, what the street names are, and how they affect people. It’s shocking to me that anyone would put these chemicals into their body.
Our kids talk in a different language on their cell phones with what I call “text-talk”. The same is true for the world of drugs. As an example, street names for “bath salts” may be labeled as plant food, jewelry cleaner or phone screen cleaner and get this–they are sold on-line and in drug product stores under names like Ivory Wave, Bloom, Cloud Nine, Lunar Wave, Vanilla Sky, White Lightning, and Scarface.
Talk to your kids about these things. Talk about the damage that can be done to them for years to come. Warn them of the “pretty packaging” that these drugs come in. They look like fun and I’m sure kids are wondering what’s wrong with these products if people sell them out in the open? I know–it doesn’t make any sense to me either.
On a bright note, things are going well at VHS. We have good students. We have good teachers. We have good parents. I think it still matters at home if a kid gets in trouble at school. I still feel the support of parents–thank you for that.
An on-line college? What’s that?
Once you graduate from high school, there are many options for students who wish to continue with school. One option is an on-line college. For more information on Who, Where and How, check out this site: http://www.accreditedonlinecolleges.org/
Message from Principal Hakly
January 17, 2014
Did you know that students in grades 7-11 will register for next year during the last week in January? You will be receiving information soon. Please take time to look this information over with your children. Parents must sign off so we know you know what your kids are taking. Make sure you look at the back side of the main registration sheet as I have added more information in order to help parents and students make good choices.
Did you know that we do not allow “casual visitors” to come to school? When other kids come to school with your kids and want to “hang out” it just did not work. It was too distracting for the teachers to have extras and it makes people nervous these days.
Did you know that the state dropped the 9th grade writing test as a graduation requirement? In order to graduate, students must still take the 10th grade reading test and the 11th grade math test BUT instead of re-taking either one of these tests (if they did not MEET or EXCEED on the first round of testing) students can now take the ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery–which all of our students take) or the ACT test. This makes more sense.
And finally, we could all use a little more drug education. Did you know that the drugs that seem to be popular now are marijuana, heroine, Spice (K2), Salvia, and bath salts? I want to encourage you to educate yourself. Go to this website teens.drugabuse.gov/facts-drugs/spice-salvia-and-bath-salts and read a quick overview of what these drugs are, what the street names are, and how they affect people. It’s shocking to me that anyone would put these chemicals into their body.
Our kids talk in a different language on their cell phones with what I call “text-talk”. The same is true for the world of drugs. As an example, street names for “bath salts” may be labeled as plant food, jewelry cleaner or phone screen cleaner and get this–they are sold on-line and in drug product stores under names like Ivory Wave, Bloom, Cloud Nine, Lunar Wave, Vanilla Sky, White Lightning, and Scarface.
Talk to your kids about these things. Talk about the damage that can be done to them for years to come. Warn them of the “pretty packaging” that these drugs come in. They look like fun and I’m sure kids are wondering what’s wrong with these products if people sell them out in the open? I know–it doesn’t make any sense to me either.
On a bright note, things are going well at VHS. We have good students. We have good teachers. We have good parents. I think it still matters at home if a kid gets in trouble at school. I still feel the support of parents–thank you for that.