selah high school newsletter

SELAH HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
NOVEMBER 2013
TABLE OF CONTENTS
NOTE FROM MR. REES………………….…..........PAGE 2
UPCOMING EVENTS………………………………..PAGE 3
PAY FOR FEES/FINES ONLINE…………….…..PAGE 4
CYBERBULLYING ISSUES……….........................PAGE 5
TESTING DATES….………………………………….PAGE 6
COUNSELING CORNER..………………………….PAGE 7
SENIOR INFORMATION….………………………PAGE 8
ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENTS………..…………..PAGE 9
ATHLETICS…………………………………………….PAGE 10
FALL PRODUCTION!……………..………………...PAGE 11
GRADING INFORMATION…………...…………...PAGE 12
GRADING INFORMATION………………………..PAGE 13
THE MEMORY PROJECT/ART…………………..PAGE 14
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Selah High School
Community Connection
NOVEMBER 2013
Greetings parents and students! There is a lot of good information in this newsletter for your
use. As I scan through the newsletter it reminds me that Selah High School never sleeps! Use
this newsletter, the district website and our school website to stay caught up on all of the great
activities taking place here. And as always, please feel invited to contact any of us if you have
any questions or concerns.
Special kudos to our football team for being named the 2A state champion for academics! This
is the second consecutive year they have won this award which is an amazing accomplishment
by our coaches, and most importantly, our bright students!
In this newsletter you’ll see several pages dedicated to assessment/grading practices at the high
school. We hope you find the information useful as we strive to measure academic learning as
accurately as possible with our grading practices.
If you have specific questions about assessment/grading at SHS you can contact us at 697-0800
to set up an appointment. You can also go to the link below and enter a question or comment
about assessment/grading at SHS at any time. An email answer will come back within 24
hours.
http://www.selah.k12.wa.us/SHS/index.cfm
When you get to the page click the link: “Have a comment or question about grading?”
DATES TO REMEMBER:
NO SCHOOL ON NOVEMBER 11
TWO HOUR EARLY RELEASE ON NOVEMBER 27
THANKSGIVING VACATION NOVEMBER 28 & 29
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UPCOMING EVENTS
NOVEMBER
NOV. 4
LATE ARRIVAL
NOV. 7
JOSTENS AT SHS DURING LUNCHES TO COLLECT SENIOR ORDERS
NOV. 7
SHS EVENING OF JAZZ IN THE STUDENT CENTER @ 6:30 PM
NOV. 8
SHS VETERAN’S DAY OBSERVANCE AND ASSEMBLY
NOV. 10
SHS AND JR HIGH BANDS @ THE VETERAN’S DAY PARADE
NOV. 11
VETERAN’S DAY/NO SCHOOL!
NOV. 12
SHS WINTER SPORTS PARENT MEETING GRADES 9-12 @ THE
STUDENT CENTER, 6:00 PM
NOV. 13
SPECIAL EDUCATION PARENT ADVISORY IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE BOARD ROOM
FROM 6:00-7:30 PM
NOV. 14
BOARD MEETING IN THE DISTRICT OFFICE BOARD ROOM @ 7:00 PM
NOV. 15
LAST DAY TO TURN IN LATE SENIOR PICTURES!!
NOV. 15
FALL PRODUCTION, “KILROY WAS HERE!” @ 7:00 PM IN THE COMMONS
NOV. 16
FALL PRODUCTION, “KILROY WAS HERE!” @ 2:00 AND 7:00 PM IN THE COMMONS
NOV. 16
KNOWLEDGE BOWL REGIONAL COMPETITION
NOV. 17
FALL PRODUCTION, “KILROY WAS HERE!” @ 2:00 PM
NOV. 18
WINTER SPORTS BEGIN FOR GRADES 9-12
NOV. 23
WINTER BALL IN THE STUDENT CENTER, 8:00-10:30 PM
NOV. 25
LATE ARRIVAL
NOV. 27
TWO HOUR EARLY DISMISSAL
NOV. 28-29
THANKSGIVING VACATION. NO SCHOOL!!
NOVEMBER WORD OF THE MONTH
GRATITUDE
Gratitude is feeling and expressing thankfulness and appreciation.
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SHS OFFICE HOURS
7:00 TO 3:30 PM
Please make payments by Friday, October 4, 2013
Selah Junior High and High School are accepting online payments. Parents are able to log on and view student accounts, pay fines, class fees, purchase a yearbook, pay certain club/activity fees, and more! Guests may also create an account to purchase fundraiser items, give donations, etc.
Please visit the Selah School District website for the link and instructions
or go to https://wa-selah.intouchreceipting.com/
DIRECT LINES
To bypass the main office computer operated telephone answering system, dial these numbers direct for your specific business:
Attendance:
697-0810
Student Records:
697-0808
Athletics:
697-0806
Counseling:
697-0809
Teachers can be reached before and after school or during their prep.
All other calls will be put through to their voice mail. You can email a
teacher by using their [email protected]
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It’s that time of year again and we are seeing an increase in
the number of cases with student “drama” at SHS. As parents and
educators, we are usually unaware of the behavior that takes place
on social media. Parents/Guardians, you can help by encouraging
your student to refrain from harmful behaviors and to ignore these
types of postings, tweet, emails, texts and Facebook posts. Please
see below regarding the districts standpoint on this issue.
INTERPERSONAL CONFLICTS
Students need to interact and relate with others in a positive manner. Gossip, rumors, innuendos, supposition,
drama and general chaos caused by this behavior is
unacceptable at Selah High School.
What is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology. Electronic technology includes devices and equipment such as cell phones, computers, and tablets as well as communication tools including social media sites,
text messages, chat, and websites.
Examples of cyberbullying include mean text messages or emails, rumors sent
by email or posted on social networking sites, and embarrassing pictures, videos, websites, or fake profiles.
Www.stopbullying.gov/cyberbullying/what-is-it/index.html
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Selah High School Testing Dates for 2013-14
Tuesday/Wednesday, November 5, 6— Fall WAAS-DAPE
Testing (Reading, Writing) for
Special Services Students
Tuesday/Wednesday, November 12, 13— Fall WAAS-DAPE
Testing (Math, Science) for
Special Services Students
Wednesday, January 29, 2014—End of Course (EOC) Testing
makeups, Math/Science
Tuesday, March 18th—Writing Day 1 High School
Proficiency Exam (HSPE)
Wednesday, March 19th—Writing Day 2 High School
Proficiency Exam (HSPE)
Thursday, March 20th—Reading High School
Proficiency Exam (HSPE)
March 10-27 (exact dates TBD) — Spring WAAS-DAPE Testing (Reading, Writing, Math Science) for
Special Services Students
Tuesday, June 3rd—Math End of Course (EOC)
Wednesday, June 4th—Science End of Course (EOC)
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Selah High School
Counseling Corner
Inside the
Counseling
Office
Senior Information
If you plan to apply for scholarships, now is the time to ask
those special teachers, administrators and employers for letters
of recommendation. Most scholarship applications request 2 or
3 different letters. Make sure
you allow several weeks for the
letters to be completed. It is also
a good idea to provide an activities resume. Once you have the
letters you can bring them to Rena in the counseling office to be
placed in your senior file for safe
-keeping.
College Applications
College Catalogs
Community Service
Forms
Testing Materials
Scholarship Bulletin
Transcripts
Military Information
Seniors, please make sure to
check the daily bulletin. Many
community service opportunities
and other important information
is posted. You may also check it
on the Selah High School website:
www.selah.k12.wa.us
Please call our
office if you would like to schedule an
appointment with a counselor.
697-0809 / 697-0808
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Mrs. Elliott (last name A-K)
697-0824
Mrs. Wilson (last name L-Z)
697-0807
SENIORS AND PARENTS
Do you have pictures on your phone or camera that would be suitable for the yearbook? Well, Community Upload is an easy place where students, staff, and parents/
guardians can upload pictures for possible use in the yearbook. The yearbook staff is
the only ones who can view or download these photos. This is a great way to get more
comprehensive coverage of school events, sports, clubs, and everyday events. The access
code is “shsyearbook” If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Jorgensen-Johnson
Yearbooks can be purchased for $50.00 in the ASB or main office. I’m glad I didn’t purchase my high school yearbook, said nobody EVER!
The next due date for the yearbook is BABY PICTURES
A baby picture, no larger than 2 ½ x 3 ½ inches, or you may submit 1 baby picture
on a CD. Write name and “baby picture” on CD label or back of picture.

Get an order form (SHS website, graduating seniors) and include a written congratulatory note to your senior within 40 words.


$20.00 (payable to SHS yearbook)
Deadline is for baby pictures is Friday, December 13, 2013 (Late submission $30.00 accepted through 1-10-14)

Parents and Students: The “Graduation in Washington” toolkit is a resource
for families to help you better understand state graduation requirements.
The toolkit was updated in September of 2013 with new materials and information.
The document includes:
2013–14 Key Dates
2013–14 State Testing Information
State Graduation Requirements
Alternatives to Passing State Exams
State Testing for Students in Special Education
Waivers, Appeals and Graduation Ceremonies
Options for Students not Graduating After Four Years of High School
Resources Available Online
To download this excellent resource, go to:
http://www.k12.wa.us/graduationrequirements/pubdocs/GraduationToolkit.pdf
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WE ARE SO PROUD OF OUR VIKINGS!!
Congratulations to the Selah Varsity Football team for being the 2A WIAA Fall Scholastic Academic State Champion for 213 with a 3.314 GPA. This is the second year in a row the team
has been named Academic State Champions.
Congratulations to the Fall Varsity teams for their outstanding GPA’s. A big thanks to
everyone involved in the education of these young men and women. It’s great to know
Selah is producing excellent student-athletes.
The following are the G.P.A.’s for Selah High School Fall Varsity Athletic teams:
CROSS COUNTRY – BOYS – 3.69 (Outstanding)
CROSS COUNTRY – GIRLS – 3.641 (Outstanding)
FOOTBALL – 3.314 (Distinguished)
SOCCER – Girls – 3.422 (Distinguished)
SWIM – GIRLS – 3.238 (Distinguished)
VOLLEYBALL – 3.595 (Outstanding)
Congratulations to the Selah Medley Relay team for qualifying for the State 2A Swim meet on November 13-14 in Federal Way:
Melanie Garza, Kya Raschko, Elyse Kuebler, Brittany Borchert,
Katy Cousins, Erin Herzog, Tori Skelton
Excellent job!
Congratulations to Matt Schrenk and Brigham Cardon for qualifying for the 2A State
Cross Country Championships at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco this Saturday. Matt
was also the winner of the Boys’ District Cross Country Meet at Apple Ridge on Saturday.
Congratulations to the Selah Girls Cross Country as they qualified for the championships
as a team by placing 3rd at the District Meet Saturday. Team members are Maggie Rees,
Lily Tyrrell, Bailey Horton, McKenzie Graham, Chloe Williams, Ana Rocha, Haley Coburn,
Ester Packard and Andrea Canzobre-Silva.
GOOD LUCK AT STATE ON SATURDAY!
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WINTER SPORTS MEETING – SELAH HIGH SCHOOL (GRADES 9-12)
The Winter Sports Meeting for Selah High School athletes is scheduled for Tuesday, November 12
at 6:00 pm in the high school commons. This meeting is for parents and athletes who are planning
on turning out for boys’ basketball, girls’ basketball, boys’ swim, and wrestling. Mike Lewis, District Athletic director, will explain the WIAA, district, and school eligibility requirements. Coaches will explain their team rules and expectations. Practices will begin on Monday, November 18th.
Please make plans to attend if your son or daughter will be participating in winter sports at Selah
High School.
ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY PAPERWORK/FEES
The following items must be completed and turned in to the high school athletic office
(grades 9-12):
Co-Curricular Form (signed and dated) (Only needs to be filled out once per year)
Current Physical (within past 12 months) signed by a doctor
ASB Card - $30.00
District Participation (Transportation) Fee - $70.00
High School Participation Fee - $5.00
Athletic Fee – Varies with each sport
Fines/Fees – All outstanding fines/fees need to be paid/cleared before athlete is eligible to
compete in contests
Winter Sports Packets will be available on Monday, November 4. All forms and fees must be in
the high school athletic office before the athlete can participate in practice. Do not turn in forms
to coaches. The athlete must be cleared by the athletic department before practicing.
START DATES/TIMES FOR WINTER SPORTS’ FIRST PRACTICE
Monday, November 18 – High School boys’ basketball, girls’ basketball, boys’ swim,
and wrestling.
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Kilroy Was Here!
The Selah Players salute the brave men and women serving in the military in this year’s fall
musical/comedy, Kilroy Was Here! to be performed this coming November. The setting is a U.S.O.
(The Serviceman’s Home Away From Home) club in Brooklyn in 1942, where soldiers and sailors can
take a turn on the dance floor with club hostesses, thanks to the new jukebox. But the war isn’t far
away. Ships leaving the nearby Navy yard are being sunk by enemy U-boats. Could there be spies
hiding out at the club? Allied intelligence suspects the club is unknowingly harboring Axis spies. It’s
up to Private Joe Kilroy, a young soldier who draws a curious cartoon face everywhere he goes (and
this is causing trouble!) to protect the location of the next Allied convoy. He’s the only one who
knows where the next one will converge. The enemy agents are stopping at nothing to learn his secret. The suspense keeps building until a wild radio broadcast brings down the house. We guarantee
there won’t be a dry eye after the stirring ‘Together We Must Stand’ and a tribute to all branches of
the military. The score also includes such hits as ‘Don’t Say No To The U.S.O.’, ‘Slap That Jukebox,’ ‘Jitterbug Saturday Night,’ and ‘Rat-tat-tat That Rivet,’ with classic Andrews Sisters style
harmony. This sensational show has it all – humor, suspense, nostalgia and terrific music sure to
keep those toes tapping and hands clapping.
The Selah Players will present this G-rated musical directed by Karen Jochen this coming November in the high school student center. Performances will be held on Friday, November 15 th at
7:00 pm, Saturday, November 16th at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm, and Sunday, November 17th at 2:00 pm.
Tickets will be sold at the door and the doors will be open 45 minutes before each performance. Ticket prices are: Adults: $7.00 and Students: $5.00. For more information call Mrs. Jochen
at 697-0800.
Join us for a patriotic salute to our G.I. Joes and Jills of the 1940s in a musical/comedy with
more twists and turns than a roller coaster ride this coming November 15th, 16th, and 17th. We look
forward to having you as part of our audience.
Cast List:
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Madeleine Pelson
Mariah Byrd
Jared Martin
Kayla Schoonhoven
Emily Mendoza
Tony Valencia
Samantha Clark
Meagan Russell
Ryan Kerslake
Aubrey Heim
Kaylah Holland
Dominique Pena
Mathysyn Ford
Samuel Hepner
Tyler Davis
Michelle Kent
Desteny Fowler
Mackenzie Coleman
Jackie Bobeck
Gunnar Newell
Ben Blakney
Rhyannonn Hobbs
Grace Monsen
Gabe Vargas
Gabrielle Ellis
Janet Hede
Sarah Black
Andrew Davis
Armando Garfias
Haley Barnett
Assessment/Grading at Selah High School
Information Guide for Parents
Introduction: Why would we change assessment/grading practices?
Brief History
Between 1870 and 1910 the number of US high schools grew from 500 to 10,000. During this massive growth the practice of
percentage grades became accepted practice. A thorough research study conducted in 1912 demonstrated that the 100 point
scale actually increases the subjectivity of grades rather than making them more precise. Schools moved to fewer grade delineations until the widespread use of computer-based grading systems that all used percentage grades. Researchers, educators,
teachers, students and parents are now understanding the problems with the 100 point scale.
What are we assessing?
Traditionally, teachers have assigned “points” to behavior, effort, punctuality and other non-academic factors. All of these
factors contribute to a final grade in an academic class. These factors are very important skills for students to develop (ask any
employer) but they are not true academic measures. We can all agree that the purpose of grading is to measure academic
learning. Our job is to make sure we are doing just that. Our past practices of grading were inferior measures of true academic
learning by students.
Some frequently asked questions from parents and students
What changes have been made at Selah High School?
This year our teachers have separated product and process criteria in grade books, putting at least 70% weighting on product
and 30% on process. Products are tests, projects, performance tasks; “end of unit” types of assessments. Process criteria are
things like homework, practice in class, participation, effort, etc. Process and product are both important, but assessing a student’s summative academic learning (i.e. product) is a more accurate measure of what the student has learned.
When were these changes implemented?
We moved to 70%-30% weighting this fall. Teachers are allowed to weight product/process at a higher rate than 70/30 if they
like. Classes that are offered by more than one teacher (e.g. Geometry) are required to have the same weighting. However,
many teachers have been separating product and process criteria for several years. More and more of our teachers are being
convinced that measuring academic achievement with more weight is best instructional practice.
Will these changes affect my student’s GPA or chances to be accepted to a college or university?
High Schools who have made these changes—and who are intentionally improving their instructional practice—are saying that
GPA’s are actually going up, as are success rates on the AP exams. You can access the following link to read about schools
who have celebrated increased student learning through this process:
http://allthingsplc.info/evidence/evidence.php
After speaking with representatives from CWU, WSU, YVCC, U of Arizona and Whitworth it is clear that they all consider
GPA but not as a single factor. They consider many factors including community/school involvement, essays, standardized
test scores, success in honors level courses, etc. Weighted GPA becomes a larger factor for them when they are awarding merit
based scholarships. In a weighted GPA, more GPA points are awarded for AP and honors level classes.
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What about students who have test anxiety? Aren’t we putting more pressure on them?
Our teachers are getting very skilled at leading students through the formative assessment process. Simply put, students get practice
time in class—and homework—to master specific skills. These skills are called learning targets. Students who master the targets
slower are assigned to STAT to get more time to practice. After sufficient practice, students take the summative assessment (e.g.
chapter test). Most classes allow students to re-take portions of the test they failed to achieve a passing grade, provided the student
show “evidence of eligibility” by doing some corrective work on their own to prepare for the retake.
Resources to learn more
We have many books and journal articles dedicated to assessing student learning. You can stop by anytime and receive journal
copies or check out a book if you like. No appointment necessary J
You can visit http://allthingsplc.info/ to see resources that our school district uses regularly regarding assessment and instruction.
The following YouTube videos from leading educational researchers and leaders are useful:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7m4762pjH8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM-3PFfIfvI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMJ-vEl4WB8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJxFXjfB_B4
You are always invited to contact SHS at 697-0800 to set up a personal appointment or to connect with your student’s teachers.
…from a student’s perspective
Below is a short interview conducted with Jamyn Carter. Jamyn is a senior at Selah High School and serves as one of the two Student Representatives on the School Board. He has attended public schools in Selah and in Australia.
Q: What changes in assessment/grading have you noticed this year?
There is a less stressful impact because my grade is not solely based on daily work and homework. It’s based more on my
knowledge.
Q: Why do you think Selah High School made those changes?
To fulfill the target of education which is to learn. If you’re not assessing the students’ learning you’re not doing your job. All
you’re looking at is the students’ ability to copy answers and logistical skills more than actual learning.
Q: How have changing assessment policies helped or hurt you? How about for all students?
It has helped me. Teachers are helping me to actually learn stuff. If you don’t get it the first time on a test you can come in and get
help and have a chance to re-assess for a better grade and to actually know what is going on. You can go back and prove to the
teacher that you know the curriculum.
Q: What advice do you have for us as we try to set the best possible assessment policies?
Keep it up. Let the students who do well on assessments continue to do what they’re doing. Give more one-on-one help to students
who aren’t doing as well. My overall view of this is it’s not based on whether or not they can do daily work. It’s based on “Are
they understanding the point of the class?” For example, in a History class, anyone can copy information from a book to a worksheet. The purpose is to actually learn the function of the government and the actual purpose of the jobs.
Q: Is there anything you want parents to know?
In college you’re graded on the Bell Curve in many classes so the people who know the content will set the curve. We’re trying to
prepare students for life. We’re trying to give students the actual knowledge, which should be the point of school. If you assess a
fish on the ability to climb a tree it will fail. It seems like high school has caused students to feel like they’re either monkeys or fish.
We should be learning the content, not just office skills.
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TEA ZIMMERMAN, ARTIST
LOCAL ART STUDENTS MAKE LIFELONG GIFTS FOR YOUTH IN
ORPHANAGE
Art students at Selah High School participate in Memory Project
Art students at Selah High School have joined the Memory Project, a nationwide initiative in which art students create portraits for children and teens around the world who are living in orphanages or similar homes. Given that youth in such situations usually have few personal keepsakes, the purpose of the portraits is to provide them with meaningful mementos of
their youth. The project also allows art students to practice kindness and service to others
while enhancing their portraiture skills.
The Memory Project has been featured on national television several times, most notably when Katie Couric concluded her debut broadcast of the CBS Evening News with a story
about the project’s success at an orphanage in Nicaragua. The project has also been covered
by several major newspapers and magazines, as well as many smaller publications in towns
throughout the United States.
Students at Selah High School are participating as part their advanced drawing class.
To do this, the students receive photos of children who are waiting for portraits, and then work
in their art classroom to create the portraits. Once finished, the Memory Project delivers the
portraits to the children. In total, the students will make portraits for 9 children in Nepal.
The Memory Project is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Middleton, Wisconsin. Since the project began in 2004, more than 50,000 American art students have created
portraits for children in 34 countries.
http://www.memoryproject.org/index.php
ALEX BALBUENA
JESSICA RHINES
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CAMERON BRADER