Congratulations Graduates

I love celebrating the success of students and there is no way I can let the year end without sharing pictures of students from graduation.  I tried to get all of my students, but unfortunately that wasn't possible - in part because of my off-alpha kids and in part because I just couldn't get everyone, but here are most of my students...

Congratulations again to all of you!  I am so proud of you and hope that fact that you are now Kilbourne Alumni makes you proud too!

Summer School

I feel like I have been talking about nothing but summer school for weeks now (even though I know that isn't really true).  Hopefully if you are planning on taking summer school through Worthington you are already signed up for your class as the registration deadline for credit recovery has passed.  I don't know if they have a waiting list for students who were not able to get signed up before the registration deadline - you could try to contact the summer school office to find out (and I'd definitely recommend that if you were planning to make up a class this summer).  Here is the link to Worthington's Summer School website:  https://www.worthington.k12.oh.us/domain/180

Summer school for Worthington starts next Monday.  You will be attending class from either 8-10 or 10-12, but please be aware that in order to get through the whole course it will be important that you work more on your own outside of the designated summer school time.  This is particularly critical for students who have multiple credits to make up during the summer!  Summer school will be at the Worthington Academy (which is located in the Phoenix Middle School building) from June 5-June 30th and you must attend every day until you have finished all of your classes.

However, some students are planning to do summer school through an outside online school provider and will then transfer the credit back into Worthington.  This is definitely an option for students.  Most of our kids tend to use TRECA because what I have heard is that they are the most cost effective option for get-ahead credit (and one of the more reasonable schools for credit recovery... granted, nothing can beat Worthington's option of free).  The cost for each semester of credit through TRECA is $85.  Their summer school registration deadline is June 9th.  Here is the website where you will sign up: https://treca.org/programs/summer-school

One note regarding TRECA - if you plan on earning your Government credit through them, please be aware that you must sign up for both Government A and Government B in order to fulfill the state's standards for the Government course.

If you want to take a class through a different summer school provider, that is absolutely fine - just make sure they are an accredited school.

Good luck if you will be taking classes this summer - I know it will be a way to stay cognitively engaged with your learning.

Happy Memorial Day

I love the quote that "America is only the land of the free because it is the home of the brave." I cannot imagine the courage and conviction it requires for men and women to make the decision to serve in our nation's military. I am incredibly grateful that there are people who are willing to dedicate their lives to protect our country. On Memorial Day, I hope you will join me in thinking not only of those who have sacrificed their lives for our freedom and for the families they left behind, but also for all who have proudly served to make us the home of the brave. 

To me, realizing the fact that each person who is a part of our nation's military is just like the other Kilbourne kids is both humbling and overwhelming.  In fact, right now I know of 3 of my former students who are presently attending boot camp, another who is at the United States Naval Academy, and one more who graduated from the Naval Academy this weekend not to mention the many others who are currently serving in the military and/or are already veterans. I am so grateful to each and every one of them!

God Bless America and all who have made the choice to serve! 

(And I have to admit to something that might be frowned upon, but yesterday in church a WWII veteran was wearing his full military uniform and holding an American flag in his hand and I loved seeing him so much that I took this picture.  So while it may not have been a great idea to take a picture in church, how awesome is it that he can, and does, still wear his uniform proudly!)

Heavy Heart

My heart is so heavy for the Worthington community.  Once again, tragedy has impacted the students, parents and community members and, once again, I have been amazed and inspired by your strength and dedication to caring for one another.

As you are probably aware the son of Mrs. Kraft, one of our WKHS teachers, died in a tragic accident at the Worthington Hills Country Club pool.  Jude was 6 years old and had just finished Kindergarten at Bluffsview Elementary School.  I had the opportunity to meet Jude, and his sister Alivia, multiple times, but even more impactful was hearing the stories that Jude's school counselor and principal shared about what a wonderful and loving little boy he was.

There is no way that I could ever comprehend why this happened, but the reality is that nothing can bring Jude back and so we are left with the sadness, the heartache, the confusion and the hurt.  My heart breaks for every person involved - for the Kraft family, for Jude's friends, classmates and teachers, for the lifeguards and staff at the pool, and for those in the community who were enjoying the start of summer and witnessed this tragedy.  It is normal to feel lost and sad at times like this, but because this pain doesn't feel comfortable or good it is also normal to wish that there was a "quick fix" that could take it all away.  And unfortunately that doesn't exist.

So what do we do with all these feelings?  You feel them.  Express them in safe and healthy ways, find trusted people to talk to, to ask questions of, to seek support and encouragement from and to allow yourself the chance to truly feel whatever it is that you are going through.  It is ok if you don't feel anything.  Shock and numbness are natural.  It is ok if you are sad and cry.  And yes, it is ok to laugh and find joy too.  All of your feelings - happy and sad - are important and it is of the utmost importance to honor them.  Try to be patient with yourself if you have lots of different emotions.  Try to identify what it is you are feeling and why that feeling might be presenting itself for you.  And if you are struggling with the intensity of your feelings, please seek help and support.

I realize that for many students who follow my blog you may not know Mrs. Kraft, you probably didn't know Jude, you may not have been at the pool when he died, and you may not feel any connection to this tragedy, but what I will ask of you is to pick one of the adults in your life - ideally your mom or dad or guardian - and give them a big hug.  You don't have to say anything to them, just hug them.  That is a gift you will give them and it will mean more to the adults in your life than you can possibly imagine.  Mrs. Kraft would give anything to be able to hug her son tonight, but she cannot and so if we are able to celebrate and honor love through the compassion of a hug, then we are honoring Jude's life and the fact that love conquers all.

Remember that you are forever important to me and that I am here for you if there is anything I can do to help you now or in the future!

Another Year Ends...

Wow. It still amazes me that the school year is over. After the heart-breaking way the year started with the water polo car accident that lead us all to take pride in pulling together to be "Worthington Strong" to the quiet, simple moments that you have experienced (good and bad) away from the spotlight or attention of others, this has been quite a year.

I consider myself so fortunate to be able to work with my students, your families and an incredible Kilbourne staff every day. I appreciate your willingness to let me walk alongside you in your journey through high school. And I get so many positive moments throughout the year when you share your lives with me!

But today I think my heart is about to burst with all of the love and kindness I have experienced. The WKHS PTO recognized me with a Staff Member of the Year award. (Thanks PTO!)  To think that some of my students and/ or parents thought enough of me to nominate me is so humbling. But just as meaningful as that public recognition was the hug I received from one student who thanked me for everything this year and the note written on a scrap of notebook paper I found stuffed in the box outside my door expressing gratitude to me. And another family brought in a gift of treats for Lexi with a touching card. Now, I realize that, at times, I can be sentimental, but wow! The way I felt today... I hope everyone has a moment when you feel that loved and appreciated. Thank you to everyone who played a part in making today so meaningful and memorable for me! It means so much more than you can possibly imagine!

And now, it's summer! Thank you ALL for a good school year. I hope you have a safe and wonderful break. Congratulations on finishing exams and making it through another school year successfully.

Good luck on exams!

How was the first day of exams? I hope you did well and are feeling prepared for the final two days of exams. Remember, if you have studied and done the work that necessary, you have nothing to be worried about. As you know, you earn credits based on your semester grades. Most classes are graded on a scale that gives 40% to your 3rd quarter grade, 40% to your 4th quarter grade, and 20% to your final exam and that cumulative grade is your semester grade which will appear on your transcript. With exams worth so much, it is often able to help you improve grades significantly.  This is a reminder that there is always hope!

Lexi and I both wish you all the best of luck during exams!  You will do great.  Remember, we are around if you need anything over the next few days... and, we definitely hope you will stop to see us and say good-bye before summer vacation!

A letter to my seniors on graduation day

Dear Seniors,

I often hear people say that “high school is the best time of your life.”  And I adamantly disagree.  I hope for all of you that you will leave Kilbourne with wonderful memories of time spent with friends, of learning and growing, and of experiences that helped to shape you into the wonderful young men and women that you are today.  But now as you prepare to leave Kilbourne behind, I want to remind you that the best is ahead of you!  You have so much potential and so many opportunities open in your future.  That path will be different and unique for each of you and I cannot wait to see all that you will accomplish in the years to come.  

I want to remind you that I am proud of you, that I believe in you and I am always here if there is ever anything I can do to help you.  In just a few short hours you will walk across the stage and become graduates of Worthington Kilbourne High School and step boldly into your future.  I hope that it is a moment you will cherish forever.  

Congratulations!  I am so proud of you!

Love, Miss Abbott

I also offer one last piece of advice before you graduate... pick a place where you will meet your family after the ceremony has finished.  (And do not select the bottom of the first set of escalators leaving the Battelle Grand...)  I realize that this is tough since you have probably never been down there, but when you and your family are arriving to line up, make a plan about where you will meet before heading in your separate directions.  It is CHAOTIC after the ceremony ends and everyone is anxious to leave to get food, to get water, to take picture with friends, to see their extended family and this is just one more added stress that can be managed by deciding ahead of time where you are going to go to try to find one another.  Each year too many people are trying to get on their phones to call to find people and the noise and the craziness just seems to make that a much more difficult task than it seems like it would be so trust me on this one and just decide up front where you will meet.  :-)

Baccalaureate

Reaching the end of the school year and all of the graduation related festivities are among some of the most special moments for high school students and their families.  Graduation weekend kicks off each year with the Baccalaureate service. Held annually at a local church, this event is sponsored by the Activity Club and celebrates the accomplishments of the WKHS seniors, honors the impact they have left on the school and community, and wishes the seniors good luck as they move on in life toward the exciting activities and adventures ahead.

Many of my students were a part of last night's inspirational service.  Ronnie Dahn sang beautifully, Anna Chen performed an inspired flute solo, Danielle Barker showcased her incredible dance talents, and Abby Souder put together the photo slide show which was so fun to see.  It is amazing to look at the baby pictures and the pictures of each senior now and think about how far you have come and all you have been through.  Cassidy Crouch and Anna Chen helped introduce the Keynote Speaker and then Cassidy also helped lead everyone in the WKHS Alma Mater.  And some of the talented artwork of our WKHS seniors was also on display at the event.

As if all of that was not enough, Diane Souder, the parent of one of my students, (mom of Abby) was the parent speaker and she gave a wonderful and touching talk!  I loved her encouragement for you to take care of your mind, your body and your soul!  It was an insightful and meaningful message from a passionate, caring and dedicated mom.

It was also exciting for me to see and listen to the Keynote Speaker, John Carey.  John was a senior at WKHS in my first year and he was one of my students.  I remember him fondly and it was so exciting to be able to see him again in person.  I have been able to follow his career from afar, but to be able to give him a hug and congratulate him in person was also special.  John was unique in that he knew exactly what he wanted to do for the rest of his life while he was in high school and to see that he has never given up on his dreams and has worked tirelessly to achieve his goals is so powerful.  I hope that no matter what you hope to pursue in your own future that you will never lose sight of the fact that you can do anything if you refuse to give up and still maintain balance on what is right for you - a message John so clearly articulated.

This whole evening was made possible because of the Activity Club and their student planning committee which included some of my students: Anna Chen, Abby Eymann, and Abby Souder.

Graduation Rehearsal Reminder

Tomorrow morning is graduation rehearsal for seniors. Don't forget, this is a mandatory requirement for all seniors who plan on attending the commencement ceremony.  I'll be honest, it is a long and rather boring time - not at all like the excitement you will have during the actual ceremony on Sunday! The rehearsal is very important though and it will be worth it when everything goes well during the actual commencement ceremony. One of the most important details that seniors need to remember to pass along to their parents after the rehearsal is which side of the stage you will be on at the commencement ceremony. As a general rule, assuming you are one of my students, you will be on "Stage Right" which means that if you are standing on the stage you are on the right side or, put another way, looking at the stage you will be on the left side. This is the side where you be seated as well as the side where you will go up the stairs to receive your diplomas. Trust me, your parents will not be happy if they end up being on the "wrong" side and don't have a good view of your special day. 

Also, please remember that if you have not taken your cap and gown out of the plastic bag, you should definitely do this. You will need to iron it and make sure that it looks nice before the graduation ceremony. 

Rehearsal starts at 10:00am and you should be done around noon followed by pizza to celebrate. Don't forget, if you still have textbooks, you need to get them turned in before graduation rehearsal or else you have to pay for the books to be able to walk in the commencement ceremony.

Senior Project

Today, the seniors who participated in Senior Project spent several hours in the commons showcasing their experiences and accomplishments. 21 of the students participating were "my" students and I tried to get a picture of all of them together, but that just wasn't possible with so many people talking to them to learn about their experiences.  My students who participated in senior project included: Tamanna Afrin, Ndidi Anaraodo, Lauren Anderson, Rory Arthur, Tristan Ballinger, Danielle Barker, Kayla Beals, Sam Beerman, Maddie Case, Hannah Chambers, Danielle Chan, Erin Cheung, Nick Contreras, Charlie Cox, Cassidy Crouch, Ronnie Dahn, Holly Dargenio, Abby Eymann, Skyla Ferguson, Nate Skidmore, and Abby Souder.

Senior project is a great opportunity for Kilbourne students.  Seniors who elect to participate in senior project spend the 4 weeks of their high school career out shadowing and assisting at various career sites.  My students selected a wide range of careers including (among others) doctors, nurses, sports information professions, teachers, marketing and design, firefighters, welding and engineering. This opportunity allows students the chance to learn more about what a career involves.  This up-close, in depth look at what a job really entails enabled the students to decide if this specific career is what they'd like to pursue in the future.  In talking with the students today some felt that this experience solidified their future plans and others felt it was valuable because it helped them realize that this was not the job they wanted to pursue for the rest of their lives - valuable information either way. It sounded as if they all had meaningful and informative experiences during the month as they spent time in a career field of interest. Congratulations and Great Job on your Senior Projects!

College Credit Plus Testing Reminder

At this point everyone who is participating in College Credit Plus (CC+) classes next year at WKHS (or on a campus) should have applied to the college and submitted your required forms.  If you do not remember doing this, please visit www.wkhscounselors.com to see the reminder of the steps you are supposed to complete for each college and which classes are being offered through which college.

The one aspect which is still remaining for many students is submitting your qualifying test scores to place you into a class.

If you are taking classes through COTC you were notified if you needed to achieve scores to take the math classes and should have taken your placement test today.

If you are taking classes through CSCC you must submit qualifying scores.  You can either submit ACT or SAT scores or you need to take the placement tests.  Here is the summary of what you will need to know/ scores you will need to achieve for CSCC:

- If you were already taking CSCC classes last year then you have met the qualifying scores and do not need to do anything else.

- If you took the ACT and earned an 18 on the English section and a 22 on the Reading section then you have met the benchmark standards required.  Download your student score report and turn it into the Counseling Center before the end of the school year.

- If you took the SAT and earned a 490 on the Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing section then you have met the benchmark standards required.  Download your student score report and turn it into the Counseling Center before the end of the school year.

- If you have not taken the ACT or SAT yet or do not have the qualifying scores, then you will need to take the Placement Tests at Columbus State.

You can take the test at any of the CSCC testing branches. (Delaware, Dublin, Westerville, or Downtown)

You will need to take the reading and writing placement tests.  This usually takes about 2 hours to complete (approximately 1 hour per test).

You will need to achieve the CSCC designated scores in order to reach the level required to take the CC+ classes.  You will need to earn a Reading Test score of 80 and a Writing Test score of 5.

Please note that you will need to have your Cougar ID number in order to test.  I strongly suggest that you visit the CSCC website (search testing on their site and it will take you to the right page) to review the information about what to expect on the placement tests so that you do as well as possible on your first attempt. It is possible to retake the placement test if needed.

The deadline to submit scores and/or complete your placement testing is suggested by May 24th, but students have until July 1st to meet the CSCC requirements and submit scores directly to CSCC.

With so many students taking CC+ classes, I cannot stress enough how critical it is that you take care of these testing requirements so that you are able to take your intended classes next year!  If you have testing questions, please check the college testing pages and if you still aren't sure, feel free to let me know.

Academic Signing Day

Approximately 30 WKHS seniors participated in the Academic Signing Day ceremony this morning. Students are given the opportunity to participate in this ceremony if they have been awarded $4,000 in academic, merit or fine art scholarships. ($4,000 one time or $1,000 renewable for 4 years) Each student came onto the stage and announced the scholarship they had received, and where they would be attending college.  

During the ceremony five of "my" students participated and were celebrated not only for their accomplishments, but also for all that is ahead of them in the future!  A special congratulations to (L to R): Abby Souder, Catie Duzzny, Anna Chen, Nick Contreras, and Erin Cheung.  Congratulations to each of you!

Final Exams Approaching

This week (Wednesday and Thursday) the seniors will complete their final exams. Seniors will be on a regular bell schedule along with the rest of the school, so your teachers may be splitting lengthy exams over two days.

For underclassmen, you have just 5 days of class remaining before your final exams. As with semester exams, these exams will be done in blocks. The final exam schedule is below for your reference.

I know that the stress of having 20% of your grade in one test combined with the anticipation with finally being done with another school year can seem overwhelming. Remember, the time you spend studying now will determine how well you do on your exam, so please take the time to study!

Monday:7:45 - 9:45 2nd period exam
10:00 - 12:00 5th period exam
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch
1:05 - 3:05 8th period exam

Tuesday:7:45 - 9:45 1st period exam
10:00 - 12:00 6th period exam
12:00 - 1:00 Lunch
1:05 - 3:05 7th period exam

Wednesday:7:45 - 9:45 3rd period exam
10:00 - 12:00 4th period exam
12:00 - 1:00 NO Lunch Provided!
1:05 - 3:05 Exam Make Up Period

I would also like to wish a very Happy Mother's Day to all of the WKHS moms!

Arts in Action

I love the fact that WKHS students have such varied talents and abilities.  Each of you have your own personal gifts and your willingness to share them with the school and community benefits all of us.  I consider myself fortunate to have the chance to get to know you and learn about so many of those gifts, but it is also exciting when your talents are on display for everyone to see.  Arts in Action is one of those days when the varied artistic talents of our students are celebrated and, at the same time, other students have the chance to explore and test their hand at different art related endeavors.  I love the fact that students get to try out the various art forms because I think it helps everyone realize just how difficult it is to create the amazing works of art that
were displayed on Friday.  It was a bit of a chaotic day in my office so I didn't get to take as many pictures as I would have liked, but I enjoyed every minute of seeing your artwork displayed and I am in awe of your talents.

Senior Recognition Night

Tonight was the Senior Recognition Night - a time when graduating seniors are honored for the contributions and awards they have received over the last four years of high school.  In addition, tonight also celebrated the scholarships that the seniors have been awarded.

It was such a special evening to celebrate your accomplishments.  I am impressed by all that you have achieved over the last four years and I was grateful to be able to participate in your evening of well-deserved recognition!

I would have loved to try to force all of my students to gather for a group picture, but with so many of “my” students being honored tonight there was no way that I could pull that off.  Congratulations to all of the students honored and please know how proud I am of you.

Also, as you have heard, tomorrow is Arts in Action and we will be another modified bell schedule in order to give students the opportunity to experience all of the great activities involved in the day.  Here is the bell schedule:

1st Period: 7:45 - 8:24
2nd Period: 8:29 - 9:08
3rd Period: 9:13 - 10:00
4th Period: 10:05 - 11:05
5th Period: 11:10 - 12:10
6th Period: 12:15 - 1:15
7th Period: 1:20 - 2:20
8th Period: 2:25 - 3:05

Tomorrow's Schedule, Sr Survey & iCanBike

Oops!  Sorry, I started writing this post yesterday before going to my other job at hospice planning on getting it ready to post today, but when it was time to leave for work, I inadvertently hit "publish" instead of "save" and the post went out a day early and incomplete.  I am sorry for that!

I am still including the post (with the times actually included this time) below, but I also wanted to share with you a great volunteer opportunity for this summer.  The Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio sponsors a week long camp called iCanBike that provides differently abled campers a safe, supportive and fun opportunity to learn to ride a two wheeled bicycle.  The camp will be held at McCord Middle School this year (instead of WKHS) from June 5th through June 9th.  Volunteers must be at least 16 years old and physically able to walk or run alongside the participant as they master the skill of riding a bike.  Volunteers will be partnered with a single camper and you will work together for the week for 75 minutes each day.  There are sessions spread throughout the day to match everyone's availability.  There will be a mandatory training session on Sunday, June 4th at 5:00pm.  Students who have volunteered for this camp in the past have shared how fun and rewarding this experience had been for them as well as for the campers who were learning to ride their bikes.  Anyone interested in learning more or registering to be a volunteer should go to http://dsaco.net/event/icanbike

Tomorrow we will be on a modified 3A/ 3B bell schedule (see below).  All students will go to designated locations during 3A and then you will have normal 3rd period class during 3B.  This is to allow all 9th, 10th, and 11th graders to hear the speeches from the candidates running for class officer positions.  Seniors will be in your FINAL homeroom of high school!  How exciting and crazy is that?!?

Seniors, it is really important that you go to homeroom during the 3A period.  During this time you will be asked to complete a Senior Survey to give feedback to the counselors and administrators.  Your input is important to us because we want to be sure that we are meeting the needs of all of our students and the data from the senior surveys helps us to plan accordingly.  The survey is electronic and you will easily be able to complete it during homeroom so please take a few minutes to share with us your honest feedback.

Tomorrow's Bell Schedule:
1st Period: 7:45 - 8:32
2nd Period: 8:37 - 9:24
3rd Period Attendance and go to designated site: 9:29 - 9:39
3rd Period Assembly/ Homeroom: 9:39 - 10:04
3rd Period Class: 10:04 - 10:50
4th Period: 10:55 - 11:41
5th Period: 11:46 - 12:32
6th Period: 12:37 - 1:23
7th Period: 1:28 - 2:14
8th Period: 2:19 - 3:05

If you have any questions, please come see me!

May Socratic Society

WKHS is an impressive school because of the quality of our students - not only for what you contribute in the classroom, but the difference that you make in all aspects of life.  On Friday morning a ceremony was held to induct students into the Socratic Society. Staff members are given the opportunity to recognize students for excellence in one or more of the core Socratic values of Scholarship, Integrity, Personal Effort, Compassion, or Lifelong Learning. Students are only eligible to be selected for this honor one time during their high school career.

A special congratulations to "my" students who were among those recognized this month: Mackenzie Bennett, Brandon Biehn, Kurt Boker, Natalie Bott, Noah Cavallaro, Olivia Cheung, Leah Coen, Maggie Crozier, Tyler Davis, Maysun Denhart, Catie Duzzny, and Deane Elliott. I am proud of you all and I'm thankful for the positive difference you make every day!

Spring Cleaning

Another school year is winding down (but it is NOT over so you still need to apply yourself fully!) Perhaps the fact that it is the spring and exams are coming quickly may lead you to decide to do some "spring cleaning" of your school materials. As you go through your bookbag, and homework/ study areas there are a few questions to keep in mind. Does your system work for you? Are you able to find everything you want and need without having to search? Do you spend more time organizing and looking for the piece of paper that you know has the answer than you do actually completing the project or assignment? Do you know what you want or need to save for the future? And yes, I am talking about more than just digging out of your room just in case your parents decide to convert your room into a guest bedroom after you go to college... :-)

Keeping your notes organized and any study guides, equation summary sheets, as well as old tests and quizzes in a way that will allow you to pull upon that information in the future is very important. I can tell you that from my experience in college, if I had not saved my notes from calculus in high school then there is no way that I would have passed that class in college! Your notes can often be the most useful resource (assuming you take good notes each day) because you are re-writing the main topics in your own words and organizing the information in a manner that makes sense to you. Old study guides, tests and quizzes are all very useful when trying to study for an upcoming exam.

So, take a little time now to prepare for your upcoming final exams and (for the seniors) for college when you might want or need this information by getting organized today. If you need help with talking about some better strategies for organizing your materials, feel free to stop in and we can talk about some different ideas to see if one of them sounds like it could work for you.

ACT/ SAT Admissions Tests

At this point most of the junior students have received their scores from the March ACT.  My hope is that you will take the test at least once more because statistics indicate that most students improve their score by repeating the tests.  If you haven't signed up for the ACT/ SAT yet, it isn't too late, but the deadlines are here so it is important to register now!

The remaining test dates for this spring are:

SAT - June 3, 2017

Registration Deadline: May 9th
Register online at http://www.collegeboard.com/

ACT - June 10, 2017

Registration Deadline: Friday, May 5th (Today!)
Register online at http://www.act.org/

To answer some of the more frequent questions I have had lately about the test dates -

- Yes, I know that the tests are right at the same time as exams and school ending. Sorry, I can't control that for you.

- Yes, there are test dates in the fall so that you can take or repeat a test at that time.

- No, there are not any dates over the summer.

- Yes, if you need to take the SAT II (Subject Tests) it is ideal to take those tests during the June test date. Double check with your individual colleges to see if they are going to require subject tests and, if so, in which particular subjects.

If you have any other questions about the ACT or SAT visit the "Testing" page on the WKHS Counselor website, the actual ACT and SAT websites, or stop in my office and see me.

Suicide Prevention & 13 Reasons Why (Not)

Do you know anyone who has died by suicide?  There is nothing exciting, or glamorous, or
meaningful, or significant, or positive that comes from someone dying - especially when they take their own life.  Unfortunately I know a few people who have died by suicide and their deaths haunt me.  The thought that their pain was so overwhelming that they could not imagine that it would ever be able to get better is scary and heartbreaking.  I wish they had reached out for support.  I wish they could have realized how much they were cared about and loved.  I wish they were still here today.

There has been a lot of talk about the new Netflix series called "13 Reasons Why."  I have heard from several of my students and some of the staff about why you like the show.  That you want to know more about the various characters and what happens next.  That you believe it shows the importance of why we have to watch out for one another, to be kind, and to prevent horrible events like bullying and sexual assaults.  I whole-heartedly agree with all of that.

But I can also tell you that there are a lot of down-sides to this show - ways that it is dangerous and scary and has the potential to cause more harm than good.

When an individual makes the final decision to take his or her own life the reality is that no one else except for that person can make the choice to live.  Don't get me wrong on this - we can all absolutely do a TON to try to help support, encourage, care, love and get help for someone if they are having suicidal thoughts.  We have a responsibility to speak up and help our friends to try to save their lives.  But ultimately, if we have done all of that and the individual still makes the decision to kill his or herself, then that was no one else's decision.  Suicide is very complex.  There are so many issues at play in a person's life that contribute to the decision to die by suicide.  Earlier this year we had international suicide prevention experts, Dr. Darcy and Dr. Paul Granello speak to the WKHS staff and the parents in the district.  They gave the example of a girl who was in college that called home asking for money for pizza and her mom said no and the girl killed herself that night.  She didn't kill herself because she was denied the money for pizza, but that is how so many people try to look at the cause and effect of suicide.  This show does that too.  Although it isn't addressed in the series, her death was a wide range of factors and issues that extend far beyond just 13 people and situations.

Someone who dies by suicide does not get revenge.  They don't put us in our place for wronging them by killing themselves.  And their message about how to treat someone is not heard only by killing him or herself.  In fact, I would argue that the most effective way to spread that message is to stay alive and advocate for it - to show one person and then another the importance of care and compassion.  The other reality, those who I have known who died by suicide were feeling unbearable sadness and hopelessness.  They were turning those emotions inward and were not lashing out at others.  In fact, I genuinely believe that they did not want to hurt those around them even though their death has left gigantic holes which can never be filled.

It makes me sad that in the show the counselor is portrayed as someone who doesn't care.  I care about all of my students deeply.  I would do anything in my power to try to help you find the resources and support that you need in order to help keep you alive.  I would never want to think that by watching a show that anyone would possibly think it isn't worth reaching out for help because an adult such as myself wouldn't care anyways.  Please, let me say it again.  I do care and if you are struggling, then please come to see me!

The American Foundation of Suicide Prevention has done a great deal of research on suicide prevention and what helps and what hurts in those efforts.  Sadly, many of the components of this show go directly against the guidelines that help prevent suicide.  In fact, some of what happens in the show is known to increase the suicide contagion effect.  That is unbelievably scary to me!

The series also does not show that there are a lot of other options for seeking help other than just killing oneself.  So, let's talk about that for a moment.  If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please get help now!  Contact a suicide hotline - 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text START to 741741.  Tell your parents, a teacher, or me - any caring and compassionate adult will take steps to try to help.  If they don't know how to help then know that you can also call 911 or go to the Emergency Room.

Here are some resources related to the show 13 Reasons Why to help students and parents know the real (non-fiction for TV look) impact of suicide and this show.

JED: What viewers should consider

Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE) and JED Talking Points

National Association of School Psychologists have information for educators, families and students

Save a friend: Tips for teens to prevent suicide

Suicide risk factors and warning signs

Voices: How "13 Reasons Why" gets suicide wrong

Nationwide Children's Hospital: Should Parents be Concerned with this Netflix Series?

How to talk with your teen about 13 Reasons Why

Why teen mental health experts are focused on 13 Reasons Why


And, before I close, how about I give you 13 reasons why NOT to die by suicide?
1. Your family and friends need you in their lives
2.  Your teachers, counselor and school community needs the impact that you bring
3.  You have a bright future ahead full of possibility
4.  You can help advocate for the importance of appropriate mental health services
5.  There is help available to you - suicide is preventable
6.  All of the little moments in nature you don't want to miss out on - beautiful sunsets, catching snowflakes on your tongue, the smell of a campfire burning, seeing a shooting star, enjoying a thunderstorm, etc.
7.  The hope that things will change and it will not always feel like this
8.  You have a purpose
9.  You aren't alone even when you feel as if you are
10.  You are more than whispers, rumors, lies or cruel attacks
11. You deserve your own love, pride, affection and belief in yourself
12.  Someone else needs you
13.  You matter and you make a difference!

Time is Running Out

Seniors have just 10 days of school remaining (graduation is less than 3 weeks away!) and underclassmen have 15 days of classes (including the 3 exam days) before summer break.

Obviously that means every moment counts if you are not doing well in your classes and you are trying to pull off a passing grade for the semester.  It is essential that you spend the remaining weeks taking care of your classes so that you do not jeopardize your future.

The truth is that this last month of the school year is essential for many WKHS students.

For seniors, I realize that there is a rampant case of senioritis running through the school, but I must remind you that next year you will be heading to college. You have already received your acceptance letters and decided where you will be attending school next year so it seems like your grades this last semester don't really matter... except they do! You must submit a final transcript to your college. If you go back and read the acceptance letters that the colleges sent to you, you will notice the fine print that points out that they can turn you down if you don't maintain the level of grades that they expect from you and your past performance. Last year schools did turn away hundreds of students and I can't even imagine how hard it was for a student to believe they knew where they would be attending to suddenly find out that they couldn't go there any more because they blew off school during their final semester.  The other comment I hear from seniors often is that school doesn't matter now, but that next year, in college, when it matters they will turn it around and try. Well, while I would love to believe you (and I hope you are right), the reality is that it isn't always that easy. Bad habits are hard to break. Next year there won't be anyone bugging you about turning in homework or reminding you that a paper or project is due next week. They won't accept late papers. Most professors won't check attendance and they don't care if you want to throw your money away by not attending class. It is your introduction to the real world. At WKHS if you show up late to class and get a tardy or two you end up with a detention. In the real world, if you show up late for work you get fired. At WKHS if you can't manage to turn in a paper or project on time teachers take points off and it might hurt your grade, but in the real world the devastation of not following through and meeting the expectations of your boss are much more serious. I know, you think I am just nagging and I promise that I am not trying to lecture you, but I am worried. The last few weeks of high school need to be a time to practice developing some good habits. For many of you, you have taken a long enough break at the beginning of this quarter. Spend time studying. Work on your organization skills. Practice taking better notes. All of those things will help you in college and in the future.

For the underclassmen... it is far too early for you to be claiming senioritis (although I heard that from quite a few students recently). The classes that you are taking now will impact your grades and grade point average. Having a higher grade point average doesn't guarantee you admission to the school of your dreams, but it does provide you with more options. For most of your classes - you need it to meet graduation requirements. (Even your elective classes as you need multiple credits of electives to graduate.) It always surprises me when students give up at this point in the year. I don't understand it. If I was faced with the option of working really hard for the last few weeks of school and kicking butt on the exams or taking the class for an entire semester (or year) again over the summer or next year there is no question that I would apply myself now. That is what so many of you need to do. Stop and think about it for a moment. Your 3rd quarter grade was worth 40% of your semester grade. This quarter's grade is worth another 40% of your semester grade and your final exam makes up the remaining 20%. That means that with your exam and this quarter you are dealing with 60% of your total points for the semester. Hopefully you realize that this also means that you can still pass, but you must commit yourself now and not let a single point slip by without trying to earn it.  Every point matters! Talk to your teachers, get input from them on what you need to do differently in order to turn things around in your classes. Please, don't wait until it is too late. If you have already realized that there is no way to pass the class and your teacher agrees that there is no hope, please come and see me so that we can talk about what your plan is to make up the class. Are you going to take it during the summer? Are you going to take it next year? If you are taking it next year does that bump out any of your other classes because you are now missing the requirements? There is a great deal to consider. If you aren't going to be able to pass one class, please work hard to make sure that you pass all of the others. As soon as you realize that one class is a lost cause it doesn't mean that all of the others are gone too. Try to use your time wisely and put more effort into the ones that still have hope. Feel free to stop in and talk to me if you need help developing a plan on how to focus your energy and effort to passing your classes.

Believe me, I do understand that it is hard to focus right now. And yes, I admit that I don't always want to get up and come to school when there are other things that sound more appealing for the day. But we only have one today and the decisions we make today have a much bigger influence than we can imagine. Make the most of today!