August 2003

| School Opens | Transportation | Driving and Parking | Immunizations | Bits and Pieces | New & Returning Staff | Dual Enrollment | NCLB | Important Dates | Parent Discussion Groups |

School Opens Tuesday, August 26 for students

The first day of the 2003-04 school year for students is Tuesday, August 26, 2003. The doors will be open early, and school begins at 8:45. A full day of classes is scheduled, so plan to be here until 3:25.

Class schedules will be available in the main hallway, and breakfast will be served in the kitchen.

The day will begin with an all-school meeting in the Community Room. Terrie Kaiser, principal, will greet students and make announcements. New staff members will be introduced. Following the meeting, returning students will be excused to 1st block classes. All new students will remain in the Community Room for orientation, including a brief synopsis of the Windover Student Handbook. Following a question and answer session, new students will be released to 1st block.

Lunch will be available on the first day. Please turn in Free and Reduced Lunch forms, if you have not done so. For returning students, one is included for you. The price will remain the same--$1.50 if purchased in advance and $1.75 at the door.

See you soon!

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TRANSPORTATION

Windover can provide transpor-tation to our students through County Connection (837-9540) for any student living in Midland County. Students must indicate whether transportation is needed or not on the Registration Card. If indicated, Noel LaJoice will contact County Connection for each student and set up the ride. He will call each student a few days before school starts to announce pick-up times.
Please call the school on Friday, August 22, if you have not been contacted about a ride.

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DRIVING AND PARKING

Approximately 40% of WHS students drive to school. Adequate space is provided for students to park in the lot north of the school. Students park in a single row along the north edge of the parking lot and in a double row at the west side of the lot. Please do not park on the basketball court.
All students who drive must register the vehicle in the office. Please ask any of the office staff for a card. You will need to know your license plate number and your driver’s license number to complete the registration.

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IMMUNIZATIONS

All new students are required to have up-to-date immunization records. In particular, students must have received a series of three Hepatitis B shots, chicken pox vaccine (only if he/she has not had chicken pox) and a tetanus booster. Please check with your family doctor or the Midland County Health Department to secure any needed immunizations.

Updated copies of shot records must be turned in to the office by October 15, 2003 for all new students. Students who have not complied will be dropped from school on October 31. Waivers are available in the office for any student who is unable or unwilling to have immunizations.

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BITS AND PIECES

Absences should be called into the school on a daily basis. They are noted on a log in the office. Call 832-0852 after 7 a.m.

Please update telephone numbers and addresses as changes are made. Again, call the office or stop in with this information. It is imperative that our records are accurate!

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NEW AND RETURNING STAFF

Terrie Kaiser, principal
Greg Armstead, English and U.S. History teacher
Jane Cholcher, math and science teacher
Jack Freeman, culinary arts and computer applications teacher
LoLita Pfeiffer, cultural studies, government and economics teacher
Doug Thering, crafts & technology and screen-printing teacher
Sabrina Menchaca-Canales, counselor
Bettina Youmans, culinary arts para-pro
Crystal Rose, math para-pro—temporary position
Noel LaJoice, maintenance and transportation
Janet Matcheck, administrative assistant, part-time
Tracy Toskey, administrative assistant, part-time
Carrie Ellis, accounting clerk
Donna Gorsuch, math para-pro

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DUAL ENROLLMENT

Students in grade 11 with MEAP endorsements in all subject areas and grade 12 with endorsements in one or more subject areas are eligible to dual enroll at a college, university or vocational school for post-secondary courses. Please contact the principal for more information or refer to the Windover Student Handbook.

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NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND (NCLB)

Windover High School receives Title I monies from the federal government and must comply with the provisions of No Child Left Behind, the latest version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

Title I is the U.S. Government’s program to improve educational opportunities for low-income and disadvantaged students.

Five key components of NCLB for schools, which receive Title I funding are:
1. Annually testing all students in grades 3-8 (once in high school) to check the progress of the entire school and four major subgroups of disadvantaged students.
2. Implementing research-based reading programs in K-3.
3. Hiring and assigning only highly qualified teachers for core curriculum subjects and highly qualified parapro-fessionals as instructional aides.
4. Involving all Title I parents in planning for progress.
5. Offering school choice and supplemental services to all children in under-performing schools. ( MASB Special Report, Spring 2003)

Under this act parents have the right to know the professional qualifications of the teachers. This information is available in the principal’s office and may be viewed by making an appointment.

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and Annual District Report Cards are among the other important components of No Child Left Behind to be discussed in subsequent newsletters.

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IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR

August 26 1st day of school

August 29 No school

September 1 Labor Day—no school

October 6 Half day of school. Fall Open House and Conferences

November 14 No school; professional development.

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PARENT DISCUSSION GROUPS PLANNED

At parent/teacher conferences last spring, parents were asked to indicate discussion topics that would be of interest.

Some of the topics chosen by parents were:
1. Anger management/conflict resolution
2. Depression
3. Drug use and abuse
4. Parenting teens
5. Financial aid
6. Sex/sexuality
7. Learning styles, differences/challenges

Watch for dates, time and presenters in the next newsletter. The format will be discussion with a facilitator over coffee and dessert. Plan to come for an hour or so.