Voting for Class Officer

Tomorrow we have another 8-minute homeroom bell schedule. (below)

1st period - 7:45 - 8:34
2nd period - 8:39 - 9:28
Homeroom - 9:33 - 9:41
3rd period - 9:46 - 10:35
4th period - 10:40 - 11:29
5th period - 11:34 - 12:23
6th period - 12:28 - 1:17
7th period - 1:22 - 2:11
8th period - 2:16 - 3:05 

During the homeroom time freshmen, sophomores and juniors will vote for the 2013 - 2014 class officers and seniors will meet in the auditorium for a brief meeting.  Good luck to all of "my" students who are running for a position in student government!

Summer Plans

Summer is a great time to relax and unwind from the hectic schedule of homework, studying and the general day to day expectations of school. But your summer shouldn’t just be wasted away into day after day of doing “nothing.” The summer is a perfect time to explore your passions, investigate your interests and indulge in fun activities that you might not have time for during the regular school year. As we reach the last few weeks of school, I wanted to encourage you to start thinking about what you will do this summer to make sure that you have a productive summer and don’t spend the entire break being bored.

So, what are some ideas of how you can spend your summer? Consider taking a class (or two) in summer school. This is especially important if you are behind in credits and not doing well in school. Success rates of summer school completion are very high – in part because you are able to focus on just one subject at a time and you generally have smaller class sizes so the teacher can focus more one-on-one time with each student. If you are planning on taking a class in summer school it is important to sign up as soon as possible to make sure that you will not be closed out of the class of your choice.

Perhaps you are looking for ideas that do not involve more school… Summer vacation is a great time to expand your resume and pursue your passions by volunteering or working a summer job. Many students don’t know where to volunteer and the truth is the sky is the limit – anything that interests you has the potential for being a volunteer service project. Get creative in your approach! There are a lot of requests that are currently being publicized around school. For more ideas about existing needs for volunteers you can visit FirstLink. If you are looking for paid opportunities, nothing beats hitting the pavement and submitting applications.  Speaking of resumes, during summer break, you should really spend an hour or two updating your resume. (And if you don’t have a resume, the summer is a great time to make a resume – you can use the tool in OCIS or create your own.)

If you are starting to consider different careers, perhaps you have a family member or friends that would allow you to shadow them for a day or two on the job to see what their particular career is really like as this will help you determine if that career is truly of interest to you.

Hopefully you are taking the time to visit colleges from your potential list and getting an idea of what you think about different schools. (Don’t forget to take a picture of you somewhere on campus for me!) 

Current juniors (Soon to be Seniors) – this summer is going to be busy as you prepare for your senior year. In addition to college visits, you can also begin drafting your college application essays and preparing for the ACT and SAT exams.

Of course, there is always spending quality time reconnecting with your family, going on vacation, reading, and even attending camps or other formal activities which can be a part of the summer for many.

The bottom line is to try to be productive this summer – at the very least it will give you great stories to share next fall when people ask you what you did over the summer.

Time is Running Out

Seniors have just 19 days remaining (graduation is exactly 4 weeks from today) and underclassmen have 23 days (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 teachers 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 4 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!

Prom

Tonight is prom night for WKHS juniors and seniors. This is an exciting and memorable night for students and I hope you have a great evening. Let's be honest, I also hope that it is a safe evening! You want prom to be memorable because it was a positive experience...

Congratulations and Good Luck to Sarah Adams and Jenna Boue who are on the Prom Court!

Hopefully you have finalized all of your plans and are looking forward to a great night both at prom and at After-Hours. I am looking forward to being a chaperone at prom again this year because I love seeing "my" students dressed up and enjoying themselves. It should be fun.

One last reminder about safety - please remember to talk with your parents before you leave tonight about what you will do if you end up in an unexpected situation and need help. If, for any reason, you need help tonight while at prom - you know that you can find me. Have a good time - be smart and please be safe!

WKHS Choir

Tonight was the last major choir concert at WKHS for the year and it was an incredible night!  I have to be honest, I always love the choir concerts.  They showcase the amazing talents of so many of our students and they also feature one of my favorite Kilbourne traditions - the processional performance of Come to the Water.  If you've never seen this entrance, it is truly magical and you should search for it on YouTube as there are several different performances of it available online.  (Although, I have to say, it isn't nearly as powerful as being there in person.)

Tonight's performance of Come to the Water was, by far, the most special that I have ever seen.  It was not just the top choirs singing this traditional song - the stage was PACKED with every member of the Kilbourne Choirs plus a ton of choir alumni who came to honor and celebrate the impact that Mr. Griffin has had in their lives.  I have to be honest, I cried.(a lot!)  It was powerful and emotional and incredibly moving.

Mr. Griffin has led the choir program since Kilbourne opened and the performance of Come to the Water at every concert was his creation.  Tonight also marked Mr. Griffin's final full choir concert as he plans on retiring at the end of this year.  As the alumni flooded onto the stage tonight I was in awe that so many former students from the last 22 years had found time on a random Thursday night in April to attend the concert.  It speaks volumes of the impact that he has had on so many lives - as did the hugs that his current students gave to him as they left the stage tonight.

It was a very special evening and I am so thankful that I have worked with Mr. Griffin and had the chance to get to know him and I wish him nothing but the best in his retirement.  Congratulations Mr. Griffin and all of the Kilbourne Choir members for an outstanding concert tonight!

Making the Final Decision

This is the final week for seniors who are trying to decide what college they will be attending next year. Remember, there is no right or wrong choice – it is all about what school is the best fit for you and your individual wants and needs in a college. Try to take a deep breath and relax as we head to the May 1st Decision Deadline. Trust yourself and know that you will be successful in the future – no matter where you end up!

As you are starting to think about your different schools and comparing and contrasting them, it is essential that you determine what you really want in a school and what is most important to you in a college. If you are still struggling with your choice, then chances are pretty good that the schools that you have narrowed your decision down to are probably relatively similar.

Take the time to go back and look at the same factors you considered when picking which schools you wanted to apply to and try to get really picky about the different factors that played into your choice. Perhaps creating a chart can help you clarify how important each factor is to you and how each school compares in that category. For example, think about the location of the school. How important is that issue to you in picking a college? The schools are likely within your comfort zone of a location from home, but when looking at two colleges consider how far or close they are from your family. What does it mean to you if the school is 10 minutes away, 4 hours away, or a flight away? How important is it to you to be able to come home for an evening, a weekend, or a holiday? You can also look at the size of the school. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of the different sizes of schools. For example, the larger school might provide additional choices and the smaller school may provide better teacher/ student ratios. What is more important to you? And if both are important to you then you will need to consider what you will do to adapt to make sure that the school will meet your needs. Consider the social life and activities on and around the campus. Is it what you picture for your college years? Most importantly, you need to figure out what categories and issues are critical to you and compare the school on those aspects.

If your school comparison charts are similar and you still can’t decide – go visit the schools again. Sit in on the classes and, if possible, arrange for an overnight visit (yes, you are running out of time for overnight visits). People watch and consider your interactions with the students on campus. Are the students friendlier at one school over the other? What about the professors that you talk to? Are they engaging and whose classes are you most interested in attending? How was school safety? What strategies are in place to help keep students safe? Which campus support staff (admissions, financial aid, etc.) is friendlier and more helpful? (While this is not necessarily a key factor it can give you an image of the school and a glimpse at their values as an academic institution.)  What is the food like?  It will never be as good as your mom's homemade favorite foods, but is there enough variety and appeal to the foods available that you will enjoy the dining hall options?  How do the dorms seem?  How are the career/ job placement services?  How accessible are the things you will need (i.e. laundry facilities)?

Ask yourself if the school will meet your academic needs, if you will have the social life you desire, and if your family can manage the financial investment. As you are progressing through your decision making process, remember not to be shy about asking questions and getting them answered because you are entitled to feel confident in your decision. This is your choice. You are not a victim in this process – you are the key active participant. Remember that if you want to stop in and talk about your college decision I am always here for you, but know that I can’t make this decision for you – just like your family and friends can’t make this choice for you. The good news – the stress is almost over and you will be relieved to be able to finally answer the question that everyone asks endlessly of “Where are you going to college?”

Tomorrow's Schedule and Information

- Tomorrow we are on a Special 3A/ 3B Schedule to allow all of the 9th - 11th grade students to hear speeches from their class officer candidates. The schedule is listed below.

7:45 - 8:30: 1st Period

8:35 - 9:20: 2nd Period

9:25 - 9:35: 3rd Period Attendance and move to designated location

9:35 - 10:05: Class Assembly (Freshmen will meet in the Aux Gym, Sophomores to the Main Gym, and Juniors to the Auditorium.) Seniors will report to their homerooms where you will complete a senior survey needs assessment for the counselors.

10:05 - 10:10: Return to class

10:10 - 10:55: 3rd Period Class

11:00 - 11:45: 4th Period Class

11:50 - 12:35: 5th Period Class

12:40 - 1:25: 6th Period Class

1:30 - 2:15: 7th Period Class

2:20 - 3:05: 8th Period Class

- Seniors, I know that the you don't have to go to traditional homeroom very often, but I'd like to stress the importance of attending tomorrow's homeroom.  The senior survey that you will be completing provides us (the counselors and administrators) with vital information about the needs of our students and the community.  Your honest insight is valuable in helping us to determine planning needs and where and how we spend our time and energy.  We do value your input and make efforts to adjust based upon the feedback we receive.  There are a few bigger examples that you are probably aware of that are a direct outcome of the data we found in the senior surveys - for example, the career fair that is held every other year and the ACT prep course that has been offered for the last 2 years were adjustments we made because of the information in the surveys.  Thank you in advance for providing thoughtful feedback!

- Also, this week I will be out of school all day on Friday. If you know that you need something, please plan to stop to see me tomorrow or Thursday.