Scholarship Reminder

Just a quick reminder that the deadline for most of the local scholarships is just a week away! Please put forth the time, energy and effort required to work on completing all of the applications for which you may qualify.  The deadline for most of the scholarships is the end of the school day on Friday, April 7th. Be sure to review your applications and verify that you have all of the required pieces ready to be turned in by the deadline. Hopefully if you needed recommendation letters for your applications you have already requested those as it will be difficult (if not impossible) for teachers to write letters in one week for you.

Additionally, there are scholarships available at the community, state, and national levels. There are many scholarship search engines that you can use as a resource to help you identify scholarships that might be a good fit. With so many different scholarships, it can feel a bit daunting, but remember, if you are able to earn one of the scholarships, your time would certainly be worth the effort.

Here are a few of the scholarship search sites that might help you (and the WKHS counselor website has even more):

http://www.fastweb.com/
http://www.collegeboard.com/
http://www.collegenet.com/
http://www.scholarships.com/
http://www.scholarshipmonkey.com/

It is also important to remember that you should never pay for a scholarship - scholarships should be giving YOU money, not the other way around.

College Credit Plus Reminder

All students looking to earn free college credit in classes next year MUST turn in the College Credit Plus intent to participate form by Friday, March 31st!  This is a firm deadline established by the State of Ohio and we cannot extend it so please make sure you get your form turned in to us!  

Just as a reminder, this includes college classes on the college campus, online college classes, college classes taught by CSCC instructors at WKHS (English, Psychology, Government, Sociology, African American History, Physical Geology, Ethics, Classical Mythology, or Art History), and the COTC classes taught by the WKHS teachers which can get you college credit for the exact same class you may have already signed up to take (Pre-Calculus, Honors Pre-Calculus, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, Intro to Programming Logic and Intro to Business).  If you have any questions about College Credit Plus - stop and see me or watch the video on the counselor website.  (www.wkhscounselors.com).  The intent to participate forms and video sign-off forms are also available on the counselor website.

Also, for those of you who are planning to participate in CC+ next year, once you have submitted your Intent to Participate form, will still have some additional steps to complete.  You need to apply to the college that is offering your anticipated course and you need to follow any of their other requirements that they maintain including their placement tests.

Cut Them Free!

For a while now I have been reminding students individually that as they start narrowing down their college choices that it is important to cut the other schools free. I realized that I had not mentioned this for everyone to hear... so I want to remind all seniors that as you begin identifying which college or the few colleges that are still in the running that it is important for you to notify the other colleges that you do not intend to attend their school beginning next year. Please wait to tell the schools that you will not be attending until you are completely sure that you are no longer considering them. However, I realize that many of you have narrowed your choice to a smaller group of colleges and you have completely eliminated others from consideration. Those which have been completely eliminated are the colleges I am recommending you notify as soon as possible. This is important because it allows the college to plan for their upcoming student body and to know if they have room to accept other students off of their wait-lists. Think about your classmates who might be on the waiting list for a school and they want to hear back from the schools as quickly as possible and there are other students across the country in the same situation. Colleges can't begin opening up additional slots until they know which students will or will not be attending. If you received scholarship offers from one of the colleges that you have eliminated from the running, this can also potentially allow the college to offer that money out to other students which, again, can help people such as your fellow classmates. Believe me, the colleges will not be angry with you for deciding that you will not be attending their school - they understand that this is part of the process, so just go ahead and take a few minutes to let them know of your intent to attend a different college.

National College Fair

The National College Fair is coming to Columbus next Sunday, April 2, 2017.  This will provide students and parents with a wonderful opportunity to meet with admissions representatives from hundreds of colleges to learn about the opportunities available on their campus.  This college fair will take place at the Greater Columbus Convention Center from 1 - 4pm and is free.

The National College Fair is organized by the National Association for College Admissions Counselors.  One major difference from the Columbus Suburban College Fair is that they do ask all students to register for the fair in advance.  Registering will allow you to provide your information one time so that you save time from having to fill out information cards as you walk through the college fair.  You will print and bring the pass with an indicated barcode so that as you walk around and talk to college admissions representatives they can scan the barcode to receive your information.  This allows you to spend your time talking about academics and other opportunities on campus instead of filling out the same information multiple times.  You can register at www.nacacfairs.org/ncfstudentregistration to receive fair details, avoid lines onsite and share your contact information with your choice schools. Students who register using their smart phone can also save the image of the barcode for later use.  Be sure to bring your barcode print out with you to the college fair!

When you are at the fair you will be able to pick up the on-site locator for the latest school list and a booth location map.  In addition to talking individually with college admissions representatives, you can also attend a workshop on topics such as writing a great essay, financial aid, and getting the most out of the college search process.

I hope you will take advantage of this great opportunity to further your college search.

College Admissions Decisions

This is going to be a big week for students and college admissions decisions. Most of the schools that have yet to announce their decisions will be releasing them over the next several days. This can be a very stressful time for students. Try to take a deep breath and relax – you have done the best job to put yourself in the best situation possible with your applications. 

The other reminder that I would like to make is intended for all students (in all grades) who are not currently waiting to hear if you have been accepted into a particular school – getting the decision can be hard enough, but often the more difficult aspect is being asked, “Did you get accepted?” by well-meaning friends. Trust me on this one, if they were accepted, the students will be telling everyone – you won’t need to ask. If they don’t offer up the news about if they were accepted or not, then be sensitive to the fact that more than likely they did not get accepted and don’t ask about it as it puts them on the spot to share disappointing news.

If you are stressing out awaiting the news or struggling with the response you received from the colleges, feel free to stop in and see me so we can talk about it.

Also, on a separate note - don't forget - this week is the final week to submit your College Credit Plus Intent to Participate forms for next year!

Diploma Presenter

It is always a clear sign that the year is coming to a close when seniors are given the forms to select who they want to present them with their diploma at graduation.  This is one of my favorite traditions at Kilbourne!  In case you aren't familiar with it, each high school senior has the option of picking a teacher, coach, administrator, counselor, secretary, or other Worthington staff member who has played a significant part of your life to give them their diploma.  It is a way to make the graduation ceremony much more personal and memorable.  Seniors received their diploma presenter request forms and have until April 5th to submit their requests.  Please be sure to submit your form to the co-curricular office so that your preferred presenter can be invited to participate at graduation.

Sleep

"I'm soooo tired!"  I can't even begin to tell you how many times I hear that phrase repeated over and over again - especially over the past week and a half.  It seems that the time change and losing an hour of sleep was throwing everyone for a loop and then the wacky bell schedules to accommodate for the testing this week has many students feeling a little off.   I know that it can be challenging to juggle your time, but you have control over your sleep choices.

The biggest suggestion I have for you is to go to sleep earlier!

I realize this isn't always easy with the time commitments you have with other activities, but ultimately it comes down to making choices that prioritize taking care of YOU.  Make the most of down time that you have during the day - 30 minutes after you finish eating your lunch, 10 minutes at the end of a class, 30 minutes when you're checking twitter, instagram and snapchat  - it all adds up and you can use that time to get more of your school work completed so that you don't have as much left waiting for you to complete at night.

If your sleep pattern has flipped (meaning that you struggle to stay awake during the school day and then are up all night long) then it is important to try to flip it back.  You can do this by working to try to stay awake during the day.  If you tend to fall asleep in your classes, talk to your teacher to find out if he/ she would allow you to stand up in the back of the room during class, try to focus on details related to your classroom notes so that you are focused and engaged on the material being covered, and consider chewing gum or drinking water.  None of these are huge ideas, but often times the little adjustments can help make a big difference.

Here are a few articles related to the importance of sleep:

5 iPhone apps that will help you sleep tonight

Lack of sleep can tremendously affect how our brains deal with emotions

How to cope with common sleep problems

Thank you notes

A thank you note is a simple enough idea - let someone else know that you appreciate them or that you are grateful for something they did for you. I don't know about you, but a lot of times I am terrible at writing thank you notes.  (In fact, right now I have a list of thank you notes I need to write to people for their kindness after my grandma died.) It doesn't mean that my gratitude is any less, but... and that is where everything falls apart. If I don't express my gratitude to the person who has been a positive influence in my life or who has done something nice for me or gone out of their way to help me, then how do they know how much I appreciate it? See the problem?

And I am pretty confident that many of you face the same problem. So I want to remind you of the importance of thank you notes. They do not have to be long or flowery - simply thank the person who has helped you. This is especially important for teachers who have written recommendation letters for you. Many people do not realize the time and effort it takes to write a good recommendation letter. If you didn't thank your teachers at the time they wrote your recommendation letters, perhaps now - as you wrap up your college application process - is the perfect time! Thank them for their help and support in your college applications. It is important to make sure that they know how much you appreciate their help along the way. It won't take you a long time, but it will certainly mean a lot to them. 

Before I close this post, I want to be very clear - I am NOT talking about writing to me! I do NOT need nor am I in any way hinting, asking for, or needing you to write a thank you note to me! I just figured we could all use a reminder in the importance of writing thank you notes and expressing our gratitude for those around us... now if only I could remember where I left my blank thank you notes.  :-)

Stressed?!?

How are your stress levels?  Hopefully the tests from today and tomorrow are not creating too much stress for you.

Stress comes from a range of events and life experiences. When positive things happen such as getting a new job, dating someone new, or graduating from high school, stress levels increase. And, obviously, stress levels are higher when negative things take place like failing a test, fighting with family or friends, or having a lot to do in a limited amount of time. Quite simply, the reality is that stress is a part of life and it cannot be escaped, but it is important to learn healthy strategies for dealing with stress.

What is a stress reliever for one person may not work for someone else so you will need to think about strategies that tend to work best for you.  One suggestion is to think back to other stressful times in your life and consider what you did in those situations that helped you to deal with the stress.  Below are just a few examples of some strategies that people have found effective.

Deep breathing is frequently overlooked as a strategy, but it is one of the most powerful and can be done in every setting.  Slowing down your body and decreasing your heart rate by focusing on your breathing can help shift the chemicals in your brain because when you are feeling stressed the chemicals that cause a "fight or flight" reaction are geared up putting your body on edge.  By breathing, you are showing yourself that you don't need to be prepared to have a "fight or flight" reaction and it can shift the chemicals in your brain so that you can relax.  If you don't know how to take deep breaths (yes, I really mean that - because there are effective ways and ineffective ways), please check out this website to learn more: http://www.lifehack.org/324889/heres-how-breathe-youre-stressed-out

Talk it out!  Talking to trustworthy people around you is an effective stress management strategy.  You can talk to family members, friends, teachers, religious leaders, siblings, and obviously you  can come see me to talk.

Distract yourself with something enjoyable.  When used within reason positive distractions can help give you a break from the stress you are currently feeling.

Get the thoughts and feelings out of your head.  Journal, write, draw, or color.  Any safe source of personal expression can be helpful.

Physical activity is another beneficial strategy for managing stress.  Take a walk, work out, dance, run, lift weights, or play a sport you enjoy.

Embrace the power of music.  Performing music or listening to music can have a powerful impact on your mood and overall stress levels.  

If you are an animal person, spend some time cuddling your pet or Lexi hopes you will come visit her and pet her for a while - yet another easy, positive stress reliever.

If you are struggling with feelings of stress, brief or long-lasting, then one other suggestion I have for you is to download the free app called the Virtual Hope Box.  It has the option for you to include pictures or videos of people important to you, there is a great deep breathing visual that you get to set for yourself, and lots of other strategies for coping.

Believe me, I know that it isn't easy to deal with the stress of high school so please, remember that I am always here to listen and help in any way possible.  Also, know that you have been through bad days before and your success rate for making it through them is 100% so you will be able to make it through this too.

On a slightly different note, if you are currently enrolled in an AP course, the deadline to sign up to take the end of course AP exam is Wednesday!  Taking the AP exam (and doing well) is how students have the opportunity to earn college credit for the classes you completed in high school.  Please remember that the colleges are responsible for establishing their own policies about what scores are required to be able to earn credits at their school.  The fee for each AP exam is $100 (unless you're on free/ reduced lunch) and must be submitted online by March 22nd.  Additional information about the AP tests and the online registration link is available on the Worthington website at www.worthington.k12.oh.us and then you will find it in the Gifted Services area (which is located in the Academics tab).

Reminders

I have several important reminders for you today...

- As you know, this past week started the 4th quarter.  All of your teachers have now updated and posted your 3rd quarter grades on Infinite Campus.  Students and parents both should log into Infinite Campus and look at your 3rd quarter grades and print a copy of your report card if you want to have one.

-  Freshmen and Sophomores - don't forget beginning at 7:45am on Monday and Tuesday you will be taking your English End of Course Assessments.  It is essential that you arrive at school on time and ready to focus on your tests.  As you already know, the scores you earn on these tests will determine the number of points you will earn toward graduation.  (You must earn at least 4 total points from the English tests so these are important tests to show up for and put forth your best effort.)

-  Juniors - tomorrow and Tuesday morning will be your chance to take the ACT free of charge.  Yes, you must be there on time (no late arrivals these next 2 days!) and yes, you do need to take it again even if you have already taken the ACT and done well on it.  

A few things I need to be absolutely sure you are aware of before testing... This is a formal, official administration of the ACT.  Even though WKHS teachers are administering the test, you are held to the very strict standards that ACT sets forth.  If you do anything that goes against ACT protocols you will be dismissed from the test.  This includes having a cell phone on, going back and filling in the bubbles of previous sections, or working ahead.  Please, be focused and give this test your best effort.  Don't forget, these scores can count for your college applications.  This means that tomorrow when you are filling out your information, one of the questions you will be asked is which 4 colleges you want to have your scores sent to automatically.  Please be thinking about this ahead of time so that you can select 4 colleges.  You definitely want to take advantage of this option as this is the only way to send your scores for free.  Also, for those of you who plan on taking CC+ classes through CSCC next year, please consider using one of your 4 free score reports to send your results to CSCC so that they will know you have met the benchmarks to take their class and you won't have to go to their campus and take their placement tests.  (For any juniors who have already taken CSCC CC+ classes, you will not need to use one of your free results on sending scores to CSCC.)

-  For Seniors ONLY the next 2 days are late starts.  Your start times each day are different for Monday and Tuesday because of the difference in the times required for testing of the 9-11th graders. Aren't you relieved that all of your tests are completed already?!?

-  The bell schedule that you will be on once the actual school day begins (following the testing time) will be VERY different than normal.  I blogged about the actual bell schedules a little over a week ago, but as a reminder you will begin with 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th periods so that everyone gets their lunch periods as close to normal times as possible and then you will proceed to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 8th periods.

Musical - How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Last night I had the opportunity to attend this year's musical - How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.  We have incredibly talented students and it was fun and exciting to see all of their hard work and dedication pay off. I had many students who had roles in the show.  

Those who were featured on stage included: Marty Arnold, Alex Contreras, Nick Contreras and Cassidy Crouch.

While those who were showcased on the stage often get all the attention, the show wouldn't have been a success without the help of many behind the scenes.  This included: Adia Abshire, Tamanna Afrin, Marty Arnold, Alyssa Bayerl, Jocylyn Blake, Kaleigh Brophy, Dylan Buford, Brennan Cesta, Conor Conklin, Taysia Curry, and Erica Eyen.

And, of course, a musical wouldn't be possible without music and my students who were a part of the Pit Orchestra included: Madeline Allen, Kurt Boker, Jordan Castelli, Anna Chen, Katie Coppel and Charlie Cox.

Congratulations to all of you on an outstanding musical!  For those of you who didn't attend last night's production, you still have 2 more opportunities to see the show.

Common Data Set

There are some people who love to get wrapped up in data... and others (like me) who are thankful that someone else can get lost in the data and then tell me what I want/ need to know. However, there are some places that even I appreciate and treasure basic data facts and college admissions data is one of those areas. There are lots of options for reviewing data and finding useful information about college admissions data. To help make it easier to understand the information nearly all college websites have a feature called "Common Data Set" that will allow you to review their data on admissions, financial aid, and a million other things that might interest you. The easiest way to find this information is to search for common data set on each school's website.  Have fun exploring and comparing colleges!

I hope you have a safe and enjoyable St. Patrick's Day while watching all of the March Madness games!

College Articles of Interest

There is so much related to selecting and applying to a college that students and parents need to know and I work really hard to try to stay on top of articles and latest trends so that I can help each of you on your own individual journeys.  Below are some of the articles related to various aspects of college that I think may interest you.  Happy Reading!

General College Related:

Let’s end the craziness of college admissions

11 college tips from the editor of the Princeton Review

Starting the college process: How to choose the school that’s right for you

Why so many college students decide to transfer

College correspondence can be overwhelming

50% of college admissions officers report checking applicants’ social media

Why college applicants should clean up their social media

Why almost everybody should apply for college financial aid

What is a research university?

Find the right college as an average student

How to write the perfect college admissions essay

5 types of scholarships to look for

A successful college search begins with the right questions

How to get the best college financial aid package

Which colleges might give you the best bang for your buck

College advice: How I read an application

Tired of people asking where you’re going to college?  Here’s what to say.

College Visit Related:

20 things for your college visit checklist

6 questions you need to ask on college visits

4 ways to tour college without stepping foot on campus

ACT/ SAT Related:

Avoid 3 mistakes to excel on ACT English section

Master key skills on the redesigned SAT Math section

Athletics Related:

4 things to consider before committing to play a college sport

5 hard truths about athletic recruiting

Does college athletics = big bucks?

How college coaches evaluate parents on the sideline

A quick parent guide to getting quality video for a highlight film

Test Prep Reminders

Next week is a key week of tests and, as you have heard, Monday and Tuesday, March 20^th and 21^st will function on a late start bell schedule with 9^th and 10^th graders taking the English End of Course assessments and 11^th graders taking the ACT.  (Monday the 20^th will be the ACT registration steps and Tuesday will be the actual ACT test.)  I wanted to give you a few friendly reminders as you prepare to think about the tests.

Don’t stress yourself out over the tests.  Yes, there is a lot of focus on testing, but your test results are simply one snapshot of your abilities and do not define you.  Try to remember that it is not the end of the world if your results aren’t where you would want them to be and so simply go into the testing experience with a positive outlook and do the best that you can without stressing yourself out over it.

Get a good night’s sleep in the days leading up to the test.  So many of you function in an exhausted state of being and that can be particularly challenging when you are trying to focus so intently and move through material quickly as you will need to do on the ACT (and probably also the End of Course assessments).  This will not be news to you, but being tired makes it difficult to concentrate, it makes it easy to be distracted by other things (including the thought of how tired you are), and it leads many to feeling frustrated and overwhelmed.  Please, try to sleep – you need and deserve it.

Eat something on the morning of the tests.  I always feel like this is such a stupid, cliché thing to say to people prior to tests, but do you know how often I am meeting with students and can hear their stomachs growling?  This cannot be an ideal situation for testing.  So, even if you don’t want to focus on the fact that the food will help your brain and body have the nutrition it needs to perform at it’s optimal level, then at least look at it from the perspective that you won’t have to listen to your stomach growling for the hours of testing.

Academically, you are prepared for the tests and so I sincerely hope they will go well for you!

Common App Essays

The Common Application is an application website that many colleges use allowing students to fill out one application that can then be submitted to various colleges.  The Common Application has announced the essay questions prompts for next year's applicants.  So, juniors, take a look at these prompts and start brainstorming what your answers might be for each question.  After you list your thoughts for each question, look at which response tells the best story of who you are and will be the best introduction of you to the admissions committee.  Then it is time to start drafting and editing and drafting some more.  :-)  Students who utilize the common app will be asked to select and answer one question in 250-650 words.  (Please don't worry about word count on your first draft - it is always MUCH easier to cut words than it is to try to add more in later.)

Below are the common app essay questions to help you get started: 

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback or failure.  How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea.  What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

4. Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma-anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and new understanding of yourself or others.

6.  Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time.  Why does it captivate you?  What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7.  Share an essay on any topic of your choice.  It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.


There have been several articles recently released related to Common App's new essay announcement and so several of them are below for your reference:

The Common App essay prompts are changing

New and improved common application prompts

Freedom returns to common app essays

4th Quarter and Studying

Can you believe that today kicked off the start of the 4th quarter?  It doesn't seem possible that we would be heading into the final quarter of the year, but we are and the reality is that for many students the 3rd quarter was a struggle.  This means that as we head into the 4th quarter it is imperative that you finish the 2nd semester and the year off strong.

One critical component that many students seem to struggle with is studying.  Recently I have been hearing lots of people saying that they are doing all of their homework, but are still not doing well on tests or quizzes.  If that sounds familiar to you, then chances are you are struggling to study effectively.

Reviewing content and reading through your notes is not the same thing as studying.  It is essential that you DO something with the content and knowledge you have gained in your classes.  It is that process of actively interacting with the information which helps to solidify it in your brain so that you have it accessible on your tests.

Please remember that the WKHS counselor website has lots of information about stud strategies that you can consider trying.  (It is located under the academic category in the section on Student Success.)  Additionally, don't forget that the Academic Assistants in Room 209 are available to help you study and I am also more than happy to work with you on study skills.

Below are additional articles related to studying which will also help give you ideas to consider to put yourself in the best position possible entering the final quarter.

10 college study tips high school students can master now

Your high school study habits may not work in college, here’s why

Technology tips that can help you study this year

This one minute life hack will make you do everything better than before

How to overcome test anxiety

Teaching good study habits, minute by minute

Hone the top 5 soft skills every college student needs

Local Scholarships

Have you been on the Kilbourne Counselor website lately to check out the local scholarships that are now available?  The Kilbourne Counselor website is www.wkhscounselors.com.  These scholarships provide a great opportunity for students to earn some additional financial help for college. And, with the scholarships being local, it means that there would be less people applying for the scholarships (compared to national scholarships) which gives you a better chance of receiving one of the scholarships.

Please take the time to carefully read through the criteria for the scholarships to see which ones would be appropriate for you to apply for and then start working. When you go to the WKHS Counselors website and read through the local scholarships you will be able to click on the link to each scholarship application.

Most of the deadlines for completed applications is the end of the school day on April 7th (some are earlier) and no late applications can be accepted. I cannot stress enough the importance of planning ahead and starting to work on these scholarships now!

Also, please pay attention to see if the applications require a written recommendation letter and ask your teacher(s) for a letter as soon as possible - especially if they have not already written a rec letter that you can use for the scholarships.

Also, don't forget that a complete list of all the other scholarships that we are aware of are also featured on the Kilbourne Counselor website in the scholarship area.

March 20th and March 21st Schedules

As you have heard, on March 20th and March 21st all 9th and 10th grade students will be taking the English End of Course exams and all 11th grade students will be taking the ACT.  Because of the amount of time needed for the tests, we will be under a very different bell schedule.  (Seniors, you will get to sleep in during the testing period.)  Below are the bell schedules for your reference.  Please note that the lunch periods will be first after periods of the day after testing has concluded because we want to be sure that you get lunch at a reasonable time of day.

Monday, March 20th:
Testing: 7:45 - 10:05
Break: 10:10 - 10:25
4th Period: 10:30 - 11:00
5th Period: 11:05 - 11:35
6th Period: 11:40 - 12:10
7th Period: 12:15 - 12:45
1st Period: 12:50 - 1:20
2nd Period: 1:25 - 1:55
3rd Period: 2:00 - 2:30
8th Period: 2:35 - 3:05

Tuesday, March 21st:
Testing: 7:45 - 11:05
Break: 11:10 - 11:25
4th Period: 11:30 - 11:52
5th Period: 11:57 - 12:19
6th Period: 12:24 - 12:46
7th Period: 12:51 - 1:13
1st Period: 1:18 - 1:40
2nd Period: 1:45 - 2:07
3rd Period: 2:12 - 2:34
8th Period: 2:39 - 3:05

AP Exam Registration Reminder

If you want to take an AP exam, the deadline to sign up to take the AP exams is just 2 weeks away!  Taking the AP exam (and doing well) is how students have the opportunity to earn college credit for the classes you completed in high school.  Please remember that the colleges are responsible for establishing their own policies about what scores are required to be able to earn credits at their school.  The fee for each AP exam is $100 (unless you're on free/ reduced lunch) and must be submitted online by March 22nd.  Additional information about the AP tests and the online registration link is available on the Worthington website at www.worthington.k12.oh.us and then you will find it in the Gifted Services area (which is located under the Academics tab).

Procrastination

Procrastination is one of the more common problem areas that students battle. Every year I meet some students who are "master procrastinators." The reality is that some people don't mind putting everything off until the last possible second and then working like crazy to get everything accomplished before the deadline, but this can result in a lot of unnecessary stress. Procrastination certainly doesn’t mean that you are lazy or incapable, but it is often a sign that something is getting in your way of completing your tasks and responsibilities. If you are interested in learning strategies for gaining control over your tendencies to procrastinate, it is important to remember that there are no quick fixes. As with most things in life, what works for one person will not necessarily work for someone else so it is important to find a strategy that will work effectively for you. I doubt that any of these suggestions will be ideas that you have never heard of before, but it comes down to deciding that you want to try to make a change. So, reward yourself for progress made because it does take time to improve.

Some ideas to help combat procrastination:

Plan ahead.

Break your big projects, assignments, or responsibilities down into smaller, more manageable tasks.

Commit to spending at least 15 minutes working on something that you have been avoiding.

Remind yourself that there is not going to be a better time – not tomorrow, not next weekend, or next month – something else will always come up that continues to contribute to the procrastination.

Ask for help.

Focus on the desired outcome – rather than your fear or inaction.

Be realistic – most tasks take far longer than you expect.

Minimize Distractions… and take care of whatever is distracting you.

Let go of perfectionism. (And, for those of you who are perfectionists, I know that this is a hard one, but the reality is that many things aren’t worth doing perfectly, so just start and do your best – it will still be better than not doing it at all.)

Recruit a friend to help keep you accountable. (If you tell someone else about your goal or plan to battle your typical procrastination blocks, you may be more likely to follow through, but please make sure it is a friend who will help you stay accountable not convince you that it is OK to put off starting your paper for a few more days.)

Do the hard part first… or… do the easy part first. (Whichever is more motivating to you is the one you should choose.)

Keep track of your progress so you don't lose sight of how much you've accomplished.

The bottom line is that if you get it done when you need to instead of procrastinating, you’ll feel better about yourself and have less stress… so get to work. :-)

Students of the Month

Last Friday morning was the ceremony to honor the students who were selected as March Students of the Month. Students are nominated as students of the month by Kilbourne faculty and staff for their academic achievement, good citizenship, and/or service to the school or community. Students can only earn this recognition once in their high school career.

Seven of "my" students were among those honored this month. Congratulations to (left to right): Devon Billingsley, Lily Burhenne, Lindsey Buterbaugh, Ava Burson, Hannah Chambers, Catie Duzzny and Oscar Brashear. I'm proud of you!

3rd Quarter & GPA Calculator

I am sorry that I have been gone from blogging for so long!  I really didn't intend for my few days break to be a full week, but I appreciate your patience.  We celebrated my grandmother's life today with a great gathering and now that I have finished that I will have my evenings free to do things like blogging again.

It is hard to believe that the 3rd quarter ends on Thursday.  Many students are trying to guesstimate what they need to do in order to raise their grade point average.  Remember, the quarter grades are not included in the calculations for your cumulative GPA - that is only based upon your semester grades.  However, this GPA Calculator will allow you to calculate what grades you would need to earn in order to achieve your desired GPA.  Please note that you will need to include your current cumulative GPA and total number of credits earned at this point.  You can find that information on Infinite Campus.

Good luck finishing the 3rd quarter strong!