Summer Camps

Last week one of my posts talked about what you were planning for the summer. Many students will seek out opportunities to learn new and different information through the chance to attend summer camps. We have organized all of the summer camp information that we have received on the WKHS Counselor Website. If you are interested in learning about the opportunities available, check out the link on the left for "Summer Camp Opportunities" and you can also find it in the Upcoming Events area. There are also experiences available at http://www.enrichmentalley.com/. And, hopefully it goes without saying, but if you end up participating in a camp on a college campus, I'd like you to bring a picture back of you somewhere on campus! :-)

Credit Flexibility

I want to start off with a disclaimer… this post is going to give you a broad overview of Credit Flexibility, but it will, in no way, provide all of the information or details about the Worthington Schools Credit Flexibility program. The entire plan is 27 pages long and can be found here. The development of this plan has taken over a year and there are a lot of different aspects so if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to let me know. If I don’t know the answer I will certainly work to find out for you.

As you know, you must earn credits in order to graduate from high school. Typically, you sit through a semester of classwork taught by a teacher and earn ½ a credit when you pass the class. This traditional format can be called “seat time” credit. The simplest way that I can explain credit flexibility is that it is any other way a student earns high school credit other than the traditional seat time credit option. So, for example, a student can develop an independent study project for credit, a student can demonstrate proficiency of a course material by completing an end of course test, project, or combination of test and project, or a student can elect to complete a course through some other program such as online or through a correspondence course.

Demonstration of Proficiency is the first category for credit flexibility. This is basically a way for students to declare that they already have proficiency or understanding of the course content and objectives and that they will demonstrate that proficiency. Each department was required to go through all of the courses offered and determine if it could be assessed through a one time test, through a test plus some type of performance or if it must be through performance alone. For example, a math course likely falls in the test only category. So, a student who wants to demonstrate that they are proficient in Algebra 2, for example, would complete a credit flex application indicating that he/ she would be demonstrating proficiency in Algebra 2. The tests will then be administered on designated dates 3 times each year and the student would complete the test on the date he/ she had selected. Whatever grade he/ she earned would be reflected on the student’s transcript. A course that is test plus performance might be a Chemistry class where the student would complete the test for the course, but also have to demonstrate that he/ she had knowledge of how to complete some lab elements fundamental to the course curriculum. A performance only option might be a theater course where the student would perform in various plays and programs and earn his/ her credit in that manner.

Educational Options is the second category for credit flexibility. This would be any student designed project or program to earn credit in some area of interest. The most common way that I see this option being used is with independent study programs. One of the neat aspects of this category is that it does not have to be for a course that is already in existence. So, if a student has a passion for underwater basket-weaving and can demonstrate how he/ she will study and develop this area of learning and how it will meet various learning targets then it could be possible for the student to earn high school credit for this area of study.

All of the other aspects of earning credit would also be classified as educational options. Courses that are designed, developed and accredited, but provided by a source outside of the traditional Worthington Schools option would be examples. This includes courses that are completed through Post-Secondary Enrollment Options, online courses, and correspondence courses.  These credits are transfer credits as another educational provider serves as your official teacher of record.

If you are interested in completing a course through Credit Flexibility, you must complete an application to have it approved before starting your work. The application is available on the district website.  (It is a form, so you will be able to type directly into the application and then print out the completed application to submit for approval signatures.

There are a lot of students for whom credit flexibility will be a great option. Please be cautious though because each attempt you take to complete a course through credit flexibility will be reflected on your transcript. As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to stop by and I will do my best to answer them for you.  (We also have several pages of information related to credit flexibility on the WKHS Counselor site in the Academic Options section.)

Teacher Appreciation Week

This week is national Teacher Appreciation Week!  WKHS is blessed to have a staff of incredible teachers who are committed to their student's success - not only in the classroom, but also in life.  I can think of so many examples of teachers going the extra mile to help students.  They are often found: spending time before or after school reviewing material with students, cheering on kids at concerts and games, responding to e-mails and text messages on evenings and weekends to clarify questions, developing exciting and engaging learning experiences, writing beautiful recommendation letters, listening to a student who needs to talk after a bad day, and countless other examples that make an impact in ways big and small.

Thinking about all of our awesome teachers also led me to think about the educators I encountered in my life who made a positive impact.  In no way could I thank them all because, quite honestly, I had amazing teachers who made me love learning, but I decided that in honor of teacher appreciation week I would send notes to a few of them.  Ultimately I picked 4 people who I had as teachers in middle school or high school and wrote them each a note that I sent today.  I'm fairly confident that 2 of them will remember who I am since I have seen and talked to them since I graduated from high school.  The other 2 are far less likely to remember me and I am 100% ok with that.  My note wasn't about them remembering me, but rather making sure that they knew that what they taught me, the care that they showed, and the impact they had on my life was long lasting.

It's been a LONG time since I was in high school and I wish I wouldn't have waited so long to tell them how grateful I am for their role in my life.  I hope that this week you will take a moment to simply say thanks to one of the teachers at Kilbourne who has had a positive impact on your life.  You never know - maybe your kind words to them will stay with them for years to come.

AP Tests

Over the next two weeks many WKHS students will be putting the knowledge learned over the course of the school year in their classes to the test with the Advanced Placement Exams. The tests are held at the WEC on designated days and I know that many of you have been spending an extraordinary amount of time studying to prepare for the exams. Good Luck! Stop by sometime and let me know how you felt after the tests.

May Socratic Society

Yesterday morning was the ceremony 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! (Left to Right): Kaitlyn Custer, Elizabeth Borchers, Shefa Alnajjar, Andrew Fahmy and Grayson Biglin as well as Michael Burgess and Shane Bennett who are not pictured. I am proud of you all!

College Admissions Tests

I hope that all of my junior students have registered to take one of the college admissions tests (ACT or SAT) this spring. If you haven't signed up for one of the tests 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 1, 2013

Registration Deadline: Tuesday, May 7th

Late Registration Deadline: May 22nd

Register online at http://www.collegeboard.com/

ACT - June 8, 2013

Registration Deadline: Friday, May 3rd (Tomorrow!)

Late Registration Deadline: May 17th

Register online at http://www.actstudent.org/

(Don't forget to sign up for the ACT plus Writing!)

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

- Yes, I know that the tests are right after exams and school ends. Sorry, I can't control that for you.

- Yes, I know that some of you are leaving town on the same day as a test date. You know what you can and cannot control and if you cannot go to camp (or vacation or whatever else you have planned) late then you will not be able to test on that date. You can consider the option of arriving to your intended location early and taking the test there if that works for your family...

- 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.

If you have any other questions about the ACT or SAT visit the ACT and SAT websites or stop in my office and see me.

It's Decision Time!

Seniors, by now you are hopefully well aware of the fact that today, May 1st, is national college decision day.  The colleges have all united in the fact that they will not require you to make decisions about where you will attend prior to May 1st, but this is one of the deadlines that is firm.  As you are aware, through the college application process each college has their own timeline and often have different application deadlines, financial aid deadlines, and announce their admission decisions at different times, but May 1st is a universal deadline among all colleges requiring students to declare their decision.  Please remember that this not only means that you have informed the college of your choice that you intend to attend their college, but it also typically includes submitting a deposit.

Also, your Post Secondary Information Forms are due back to the counseling center tomorrow.  This is a mandatory form and it provides us with the information we need for Senior Recognition Night and your Commencement Ceremony program.  Believe me, it is critical that the information we highlight for these events is accurate and we cannot do this without your help!  These forms were sent out in the senior packet that was mailed home at the beginning of March, but if you cannot find your copy, we have extras available on the WKHS Counselor website and in the Counseling and Career Center.  Please be sure that you complete both the front and back of the form.