There is no better time & This Week

As we head into the final week of the quarter, I am reminded of a phrase that Mr. Cooke (a former WKHS English teacher) used to say often to his students - There is no better time.  He is right.  There is no better time!

It is normal to tell ourselves that we will do an assignment, write an essay, or clean up our room later.  I suspect you are like me in telling yourself things like, "I have a lot of work to do tonight, I will work on it tomorrow" or "It's the weekend, I deserve to relax today, I will work on it tomorrow" or "It's for school, I will wait and do it during the week."  Whatever the phrases that you tell yourself, I encourage you to pause and really see this for what it is - a procrastination strategy.

Believe me, I do understand that this is common.  Unfortunately, I am seeing a great deal of it right now with students who need to be working on their college applications and especially with drafting their essays.  It becomes so easy to think that you will work on the essay tomorrow or next weekend, but there really is no better time.  The moment when you have right now is the best time to begin working on your application.  Something else will always come up - a paper, more homework, something fun that you want to do with your friends, spending time with your family, sleeping, and the list goes on and on.
With it being the final week of the quarter it will be a busy week of papers, tests, and quizzes, but there are also several key events you and your parents will likely want to know about and remember.

Tomorrow, Monday, October 16th and Wednesday, October 18th, are Parent/ Teacher Conferences.

Monday, October 16th at 7pm in the WKHS Auditorium is also the Planning for College Information Night.  This evening is primarily targeted at junior students and parents, but freshmen and sophomore students and parents wanting to get a glimpse at what to expect ahead are definitely invited to attend as well.

Wednesday, October 18th from 5:00 - 7:00pm in the Computer Lab is the College Application Completion Workshop.  All seniors who have not completed ALL of their applications are strongly encouraged to spend a few hours working on your applications.  Bring your materials and work on filling out Common App, drafting and revising your essay, filling out your transcript release card, etc.  If you still have work to do on your applications this is FOR YOU!

The quarter ends on Thursday and you do not have school on Friday so that is always something to look forward to as well.

Clearly, it will be a busy week.  So I hope you will please try to use each day productively.  There is no better time than now.  It will be worth it in the long run!

Homecoming

This was a fun week of Homecoming festivities and it will be topped off tonight with the dance.  Pictured above are Ava Burson (Homecoming Court Senior Attendant) and Kennedy Dauphin (Homecoming Queen).  Have fun today as you get all dressed up and I hope you enjoy the pictures, dinner and the dance.  Most of all, please stay safe and make good choices! I will be at the dance so if you have any problems, don't hesitate to let me know.

College Admissions Test Stats

Last weekend many seniors spent a few hours on Saturday morning taking the SAT. Now that the test is over it's time to sit back and wait for your scores. I thought you might be interested in learning more about the past scoring trends in the nation and in Ohio for the ACT and the SAT.

Last year the average composite ACT score in Ohio was a 22.0. 

The average composite in the nation last year for the ACT was a 21.0.

120 Ohio students earned a perfect score (36) on the ACT Composite last year.

All of the Ohio and national data is available here from ACT.

Last year the average SAT score in Ohio was an 1149.

The average SAT score in the nation last year was a 1060.

And, if you are curious about how WKHS students, compare, last year the average ACT score for graduating seniors was a 25.0 and the average SAT score was a 1219.

Also, on a separate note, tomorrow we are on a different bell schedule for the homecoming assembly:

1st Period: 7:45 - 8:27
2nd Period: 8:32 - 9:14
3rd Period: 9:19 - 10:08
4th Period: 10:13 - 10:55
5th Period: 11:00 - 11:42
6th Period: 11:47 - 12:29
7th Period: 12:34 - 1:16
Assembly: 1:26 - 2:13
8th Period: 2:23 - 3:05

College Application Completion Workshop

It may seem scary how fast time flies and that college application deadlines are rapidly approaching.  I don't want you to be haunted by your applications!  Even though it may be getting dark outside, on Wednesday, October 18th, from 5:00 - 7:00pm, the counselors will be in the computer lab to assist you.  The most important trick is to bring your information with you.  Sometimes the essays may seem spooky and common app can be ghastly, but do not be afraid - the counselors are here to help!  No costumes are required, but we will have some treats.  You don't want to boo hoo because you miss it.  :-)

Students are in very different places in their application process.  Some of you still haven't started and so this will be a great opportunity for you to get started with your applications with our support and assistance.  Most of you have started, but are struggling to get finished and so if you need help finalizing your essays or just finding the time to be able to work through your application and get it finished, this is the perfect opportunity to complete your applications.

While I understand that coming back to school or not leaving after practice isn't very appealing, the reality is that it will make a difference.   By spending a few hours on focused application work, I am confident you will find the progress you make on your applications worth the sacrifice.  So, unless you have finished 100% of your applications, I hope you will join me and the rest of the counselors in the computer labs on Wednesday the 18th to work on finishing them!

PSAT Reminder

Don't forget - tomorrow is the day when Kilbourne students, as well as many other students around the country, will take the PSAT.  

If you are one of the students who will be taking the PSAT, you will report directly to your assigned room when you arrive to school on Wednesday morning.  Please plan on leaving your book bag and your cell phone (turned off) in your locker.

You should bring your student id with you in order to check in.  You will also need to bring number 2 pencils (no mechanical pencils allowed), a calculator, and I would recommend a watch. 

As a reminder for all of the other students - you will be on a late-start schedule that does not include any traditional classes starting at 12:00pm.  The afternoon will be the activities you have selected to participate in for the remainder of the day.

Good luck on the PSAT!

(And for those seniors who will be making college visits tomorrow, don't forget that I want to have a picture of you on whatever campus you visit!)

College Planning Information Night

Save the date!  One week from today, on Monday, October 16th the WKHS Counseling department will be hosting a Student and Parent College Planning Information Night. Over the last few years, this program has received some of the best feedback out of all of the information nights we host. The students and parents who attended this meeting in the past have expressed how much this helped them get started and move forward with the college search process and developed a better understanding of what to expect along the way.  The meeting is primarily targeted at juniors, but sophomores and freshmen are welcome to attend if interested. The meeting is at 7:00pm in the auditorium. 

I hope you will plan to attend! And yes, I want you to bring your parents to this meeting and no, I don't want you to just send your parents instead... this is YOUR future and you are responsible for deciding what direction you will take.

The Week Ahead

This week has a lot of unique schedules and highlights.  This is Homecoming Week which means that there are a range of festivities and activities to celebrate and honor the tradition and experiences of high school at WKHS.

Here are some of the Homecoming highlights of what to expect this week:

- Windows are painted in the commons - they look great. Congratulations to everyone who worked so hard to design and create the masterpieces.

- You have been voting for Homecoming Court and several of my students are among those nominated these include: Blair Andrews and Kayla Balemian for freshmen, Elizabeth Cantrell for sophomores, Maxim Estevez-Curtis and Demetrius Barlow for juniors, and Ava Burson, Kennedy Dauphin, and Charles Costello for seniors.

- Tomorrow (Monday) is Pajama Day.

-  Tuesday is 80's Day.

- Wednesday is USA Day and Wednesday night is the Bonfire at 7:30pm behind the school.  While there, homecoming attendants for grades 9 - 11 are announced and the senior king and queen candidates are reduced to 3 each.

-  Wednesday is also the PSAT testing day.  This means that all 9th and 10th graders (and hopefully most of the 11th graders) will be testing for the majority of the day.  After testing is over, 9th - 12th graders will all have a range of opportunities to select on how you will spend the rest of your day.  You will have a 30 minute rotation that takes you through lunch, time with us as your counselors, and a grade specific activity arranged by the administrators.  The final hour and a half will be the choices such as cleaning up the grounds volunteer work, quietly studying, assisting with homecoming decorations, etc.  Please note that there will not be any traditional classes held on Wednesday.  As I have mentioned previously, seniors, this is a great day to make college visits or set up job shadowing experiences since you won't have to miss out on classroom instruction.  

- Thursday is a Beach Day (school dress code still applies). 

-  Friday's theme is a Pink Out.  

-  On Friday, there will also be an assembly between 7th and 8th periods and that is where the Homecoming King and Queen will be crowned. The football game is Friday night  - a great opportunity to come out and support your wolves! 

- Saturday is the Homecoming Dance from 8:00 - 11:00pm.