This Week at GHS: January 13

Good afternoon Greendale High School families,

Well, this is the end of the first semester and starting next Tuesday, exam week will be upon us. Doing well on exams should be the focus of the students and hopefully, you will see a lot of studying. Please be aware that students do not have to be in school when they do not have an exam scheduled, but we do offer the MPR and the IMC as study spaces. The schedule and more information are again included for you below.

Second semester schedules were distributed to students on Wednesday. Although there is usually very little “wiggle room” when weaving their intricate schedules, they should advocate to their guidance counselor if needed.

This week’s picture shows Mrs. Tarnowski's and Ms. Hulett's PreCalculus students using iPads to explore present value annuities by simulating the purchase of a car and home. Students chose cars and homes, investigated loan rates and terms and calculated monthly car and mortgage payments to learn about exponential calculations.

I have again included last week’s important announcements concerning after-school supervision and the cancellation of the semester two open house in order to create of new parent/teacher communications in April. Please, read on.

Have a great weekend with your families. Go Pack!

Now, in no particular order…

Final Exams
We have made efforts to make the exam schedule both study-friendly and time-friendly for students as they navigate these important final exams, often constituting 20% of the final semester grade. Final examinations will review and consolidate the major learning objectives of the semester. All students must take exams. If there are any questions about exams or the following schedule, please contact your guidance counselor. The following are student expectations during exam week and some additional details:

• Students using our bus service will be picked up at the normal time each morning. Buses will take them home at the end of each day’s final exam session (regular time on Tuesday and 11:45 a.m. on the other days). Please see the schedule below.
• Students need to be in the classroom on time for each exam for which they are scheduled.
• If students come late for an exam, they have the option of going to study hall or leaving the building. They will then have to return during the make-up period for that exam at the school’s discretion.
• Students are generally not permitted to leave the classroom once exams begin.
• Attendance in periods where a student may have a study hall is not mandatory. Study spaces in the IMC and MPR, however, will be available all hours for those who wish to study. During the exam day, students are allowed to enter and exit the building via the main entrance if they have an appointment with their counselor or via the MPR doors if they are here to study.
• The first day of exams, Tuesday, January 17, includes teacher-guided study sessions for each class your student has. In the past, we spread these sessions out across the exam week, but student and parent feedback pushed us to do them all at the outset of exams. This way, each student is armed with as much information as possible about their upcoming exam and can create their own study schedule according to their needs. These sessions are optional, so it is possible for a student to come to school at 12:30 p.m. just to take their third hour exam. Please click the link below for exam schedule.

New Structures for Semester Two Parent/Teacher Communications
The high school teachers value time engaged in academic conferencing with our parents through our traditional Parent-Teacher conference nights. On the other hand, for years, we have wrestled with the very low turnout for Spring Open House. We also have thought that a late February Parent-Teacher conference session is too early in second semester to do much good. Albert Einstein defined insanity as: “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” We don’t want to argue with Albert, so we are making some pretty radical changes to our Spring Parent-Teacher contact times. Please read on:

New Structure for Semester Two Parent/Teacher Communications
The high school teachers value time engaged in academic conferencing with our parents through our traditional Parent-Teacher conference nights. On the other hand, for years, we have wrestled with the very low turn-out for Spring Open House. We also have thought that a late February Parent-Teacher conference session is too early in second semester to do much good. Albert Einstein defined insanity as: “Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” We don’t want to argue with Albert, so we are making some pretty radical changes to our Spring Parent-Teacher contact times. Please read on:

Here is what is currently on the GHS calendar. THESE ARE BEING ADJUSTED, please see below:

• Semester Two Open House: February 2, 6:30 – 8:15 p.m. Cancelled.
• Spring Parent/Teacher Conferences: February 23, 4:00 – 7:30 p.m., Unaffected.
• Spring Parent/Teacher Conferences: February 24, 7:30 – 9:00 a.m., Cancelled.
  

The adjusted plan is:
Eliminate Spring Open House to gain additional Parent/Teacher Conference Time. We will have an expectation for a direct communication (most likely an email via the PowerGrade gradebooks) from all teachers to any parents of students new to their classroom.

• Keep the February 23 Parent/Teacher Conferences from 4-7:30 p.m. Since this is early in the semester, parents interested in meeting any teachers new to their students will still have the opportunity.
• Eliminate the February 24 morning Parent/Teacher Conference time. This eliminated time, along with the eliminated Open House, allows for additional Parent/Teacher Conference time.
• Create an additional evening of Parent/Teacher Conference time on Wednesday, April 4 from 4:00–7:15 p.m.
  

Although we understand that the loss of Open House and morning Parent/Teacher Conference time may be disappointing to some parents, we believe the benefits of this additional night of Parent/Teacher Conferences has much potential as an additional communication at a more informative time of the second semester.

Although we understand that the loss of Open House and morning Parent/Teacher Conference time may be disappointing to some parents, we believe the benefits of this additional night of Parent/Teacher Conferences has much potential as an additional communication at a more informative time of the second semester.

After-school Supervision and Our Students
The school is very much in use throughout the late afternoon and night on most weeknights and a safely supervised, educational atmosphere must be maintained for those who use the building after normal school hours. Besides some minor disruptions and loitering, we have not had major issues, but always want to continuously improve the learning environment within our school. To that end, we are communicating with our students, our teachers and our parents the following expectations should students need to remain in the building after normal school hours:

• At the conclusion of the school day, students remaining for co-curricular activities, teacher conferences or library use must be in those locations. All other students must vacate the building hallways by 3:00 p.m.
• Our many students awaiting pick up must do so by the Upper Gym or the front lobby doors. They must be picked up and/or out of the school building by 3:30 p.m. Students who are going to be picked up later must use the school library, which closes at 4:00 p.m., to quietly study and get homework done or they must make arrangements to be picked up at a different location, such as the Greendale Public Library or another off-site location.
• Students who are in the school later due to a co-curricular activity should wait for pick-up at either the Upper Gym or the front lobby doors when their activity is done. They must exit the school in a timely manner and not loiter in the hallways.
• School staff will actively monitor the hallways and lobby areas of the school, requiring all students not engaged in a co-curricular activity, teacher conference or library use to vacate the building in a timely manner. Students who fail to vacate the school premises will be warned and issued consequences in the event that they continue to loiter, up to and including a citation from the Greendale Police Department for loitering.
  

To allow families to discuss these expectations and to develop an after-school plan (where needed), these updated policies will go into effect on Tuesday, January 24 – the beginning of second semester.

Now, there are a variety of good reasons students are in the building past 4:00 p.m. and we don’t want these expectations to cause undue anxiety on these families. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact one of our assistant principals, Mr. Joynt or Ms. Petersen.

College Goal Wisconsin
If your child is presently a senior and is planning on going to a post-secondary school after graduation, you are probably aware of the importance of filling out the Financial Aid Forms at www.fafsa.ed.gov. If this seems like an overwhelming task, you should consider attending College Goal Weekend. This is a free program designed to help families fill out the FAFSA forms. There will be numerous financial aid representatives at each location, ready to help answer any questions they may have. Visit www.collegegoalwi.org for more information and instructions on what to bring and what to do beforehand.

ACT Preparation Course
Greendale Park and Recreation offers a course named PREPARING FOR THE ACT, which is available for students in grades 10-12. This study group will help students prepare, review and take practice tests that should help them get a higher score on the American College Testing (ACT) Assessment. Practice material in English, Mathematics, Reading Comprehension and Science will be used to enhance learning. This has been a popular, cost-effective way to give students that extra boost heading into this important measure of their college readiness. Instructors are successful Greendale High School teachers and have experience delivering this type of material to high school students.

Mondays
January 30-March 26 (excludes February 27)
3:15-4:15 p.m.
Greendale High School Room 111
Fee $50 residents, $60 non-residents
Instructors: Kate Wagner and Sarah Schultz

Pre-registration required, no later than January 25. Check out Greendale Park and Recreation Winter/Spring Brochure (Page 35) at http://gpr.greendale.k12.wi.us/programs/programs_assets/winter-spring-2012.pdf. Download form at http://gpr.greendale.k12.wi.us/programs/programs_assets/Reg%20Form.pdf and submit by mail (Greendale Park and Recreation Dept. 5900 S. 51st Street Greendale WI 53129), or FAX the form to 414-423-2727 or call in a registration to 414-423-2790 with credit card information.

Spring Sports Meeting
The Spring Sports Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 1 at 6:00 p.m. in the GHS MPR. Parents/guardians of all student-athletes who will be participating in spring athletic programs are required to attend this meeting. If there are any questions, please contact Greendale High School Athletic Director Shane Hansen at 423-0110 x4333 or at shane.hansen@greendale.k12.wi.us.

Prom Dress Drive
Student Council will be conducting a drive to collect dresses (long and short), accessories, shoes and purses to support The Cinderella Project, a group that helps kids in the Milwaukee area who may not have money for Prom outfits. Please bring your donations to the boxes on the MPR Stage until January 16.

Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) Meeting
The Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) Meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 17 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. at the District Office. Please RSVP to Director of Pupil Services, Colleen McHugh-Moore at colleen.mchugh-moore@greendale.k12.wi.us.

Parents as Partners Conference
The Parents as Partners Conference will be held on Tuesday, February 7 from 6:00-8:30 p.m. at Greendale Middle School, 6800. The free event will provide learning and discussion opportunities on topics related to raising today’s youth.

The Parents as Partners Conference will be divided up into convenient, 45-minute sessions. Greendale parents and guardians can attend for up to three mini-courses, including Technology Bootcamp for Parents, Parenting with Love and Logic: Birth to Age 6, Leap into Learning, Understanding the Impact of Social Networking, Raising a Healthy Child, Did You Know We Had That Class at GHS?, Using WISCareers for College/Career Readiness, Parenting in the Middle, From Stress to Strength for Parents, Is My Child Gifted?, Conversation with the Superintendent and Understanding Your Child’s EXPLORE Test Results.

There is no cost for the workshop and free childcare will be provided to children who are potty trained. For more information on the Parents as Partners Conference or to register, please click here.

Bingo Night
The Greendale High School Band will host its third annual Bingo Night on Saturday, January 21 at 6 p.m. in the GHS MPR (cafeteria). Twenty-one games of Bingo are played, run professionally by the Bob Kames Foundation. Food and beverages are available and students under 18 may play with a parent present. Participants may play as little or as much as they'd like. There is also a progressive jackpot - someone could walk away with almost $3,000. Proceeds benefit the GHS Band program. This event is open to anyone and everyone. Bring your friends, family and anyone who you know may be interested.

Newly Formed Ping Pong Club Needs Help
From the Ping Pong Club Presidents, Matt Rehberg and Joe Grabowski, juniors at Greendale High School: What makes Greendale High School so special is all of the extracurricular activities it offers its students. There is everything from Math Club, which is over 100 members strong, to the Board Game Club, which was founded this year. None of these activities and clubs would exist if it weren’t for you, parents and Greendale community members. We have to ask for your help once again. We have been trying to get a Ping Pong League established here at Greendale HS. We are anticipating this League will interest our fellow students in the great sport of Ping Pong. It would provide a fun, yet competitive activity for our student body.

Our idea has one small hiccup though: we have no tables. This is the reason we have reached out to you, to ask for your support. We ask that any of you who have a Ping Pong table to please donate it to our club. We ask that you will once more be the supportive community members you are and please spread the word so we can get our Ping Pong club off the ground, literally. Please email our Staff Advisor Marissa Bernal marisa.bernal@greendale.k12.wi.us or the Athletic Director, Shane Hansen Shane.Hansen@greendale.k12.wi.us if you have and questions or wish to donate.

Community Cookbook
We need your recipes. As part of the District’s wellness goal and integrated into the Health curriculum, Greendale Schools is compiling a Nourish – Mind, Body, Community cookbook. We are looking for submissions of healthy recipes from students, families and community members. For a recipe template form, please click here. Send your completed recipe form to cookbook@greendale.k12.wi.us. The deadline is February 1. Inclusion is dependent upon the number of entries.

Greendale Park and Recreation Registration
The Greendale Park and Recreation Winter/Spring Program Book is now available. For the online version, please click here. You can start registering for classes today!

Community Playground Project
Over the years, Greendale community members have assisted in generating the funds to update playground equipment at Jaycee Park, Community Center Park and Lions Park and establish the Daffodil playground. In October 2009, Greendale residents began efforts to raise funds for the replacement of the outdated playground equipment at the 84th & Grange athletic field site.

Anticipated cost is about $15,000. With no taxpayer dollars being used, the project is relying on fundraising. About $8,500 has already been generated. The latest fundraiser is an "I Helped Greendale Play" t-shirts sale. For a flyer, please click here. If you’re not interested in purchasing a t-shirt, but would consider a donation toward the project, that would be greatly appreciated. Donations are tax-deductible and may be sent to: Greendale Park and Recreation Department, 5900 S. 51st Street, Greendale WI 53129. Checks should be made payable to “Greendale School District.” Contact the Greendale Park and Recreation Department at 414-423-2790 for more information or if you would be interested in working on this project.

Mark your calendars for a few other things in January

• January 17 – 20, Final Exam Days
• January 23, No School – End of First Semester
• January 31, Eighth to Ninth Grade Transition Night, Auditorium
  

For all date questions, please use our online calendar. Please click here to view.

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