From the President

Dulaney High School
PTSA Newsletter
From the President...
December 2011
My daughter and I were discussing the fact that I would like to discuss teen suicide in
this month’s letter due to the tragic loss of an 18 year old from the Dulaney community. As I began to do research for this article I was using numbers, statistics and warnings. My daughter said”Mom, no one wants to read research in your letter. You need
to discuss what the kids at Dulaney (and most high schools) are going through.” So, she
wrote me an article that she felt was more appropriate and told me to edit it. I am
leaving it as she wrote it. I feel her words express my thought and concerns.
NOVEMBER
29 Meet the Coaches, 7:00 pm, Auditorium
DECEMBER
3 SAT
6 Financial Aid Night, 7:00 pm-9:00 pm, Satellite Cafeteria
9 Interims distributed to students
10ACT
14 Grad Gala Committee, 7:00 pm. Library
15 Parent Teacher Conferences, (By Appointment Only)
15 Winter Concert A, 7:30 pm, Auditorium
(snow date 12/16)
21 Winter Concert B, 7:30 pm, Auditorium
(snow date 12/22)
23 Winter holiday begins at end of school day
JANUARY
2 School reopens
9 SIT Team Meeting, 3:00 pm-4:30 pm, Library
11 Grad Gala Committee, 7:00 pm, Library
12 Open Mic Night, 6:00 pm-8:00 pm, Auditorium
16 Martin Luther King Day- SCHOOLS CLOSED
18 Registration Information Night, 6:30 pm,
Aud .(snow date 1/25)
19 PTSA General Meeting, 7:00 pm, Library
20 Second marking period ends
20-21 Cabaret, 6:00 pm, Satellite (snow dates 27
Thanksgiving is here, and the holiday season is just getting started. Now is the time
when the world seems to become a happier place for most, when we all become more
appreciative of what we have. Now is the time that we have to remember just how
special our own children are, because they may not be the ones feeling happy. We
need to pay attention to them, their feelings, and their reactions, because a lot of times
they’re smarter than we hope. They know how to cover up their frowns with smiles,
their scars with bracelets, and their lack of appetite with “stomach sickness”. Our babies are growing up, and becoming their own people. With that comes a lot more responsibility, something we don’t fail to remind them of, a lot more stress, and a time of
insecurity.
Even my daughter’s friends, who are some of the most beautiful, wonderful girls I
know, have major insecurities and issues with depression. The happiest, peppiest kids
can go home and cry, as my daughter has countless times. So many kids that I know go
untreated in their illness due to the fears and unawareness of their parents. Kids see
depression as something wrong with them, and often times don’t realize that it’s not
their fault at all. Going to therapy can be a miracle for some, but just having someone
to talk to can work wonders. You need to make yourself that person for your children
to talk to. You need to create an environment in which they can feel comfortable talking to you about their day, other kids at school, and their own feelings, because if you
don’t do this, you could lose them in more ways than one.
Keep a look out to see if your child is having difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions, fatigue and decreased energy, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, any disturbance in sleeping patterns, whether that be sleeping less or more,
irritability, loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, overeating or appetite loss, persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems, persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" feelings, or any hints at thoughts of suicide or attempts at
self-harm. All of these can be signs of depression. Feel free to contact the school guidance office at 410-887-7635 as well as for help.
As we remember all the things we are thankful for, remember your children, their
health, and their happiness, and do your very best to keep them happy and healthy. Be
involved in their lives, so that they can stay a part of yours.
From my family to yours, we wish you all a wonderful holiday season. May this year be
filled with love, joy, and health for those that you love.
Andrea Olsen
Free to Good
Peer Tutoring Club
The Dulaney High
library is now
offering our extra yearbooks, 1966-2005, to the
community. This is on a
first come first served basis.
Would your high school student like to tutor others
students before or after
Please call Mrs. Senft at 410school? Do they feel confi- 887-7644 to check availability
dent in a certain subject?
Please send them to see
Mrs. Senft in the Library.
You can earn Student Service Learning Hours too!
SGO News
The annual CANNED FOOD
DRIVE has begun! We will be collecting cans from November 14thDecember 9th. Cans will be collected in students’ homerooms. Each
student will receive a ticket for every
can that is brought in and that ticket will be entered into a
drawing before winter break for some cool prizes!!!
The Homecoming “Fiesta” was a great success. Students
were dressed up every day for Spirit Week and we sold
the most tickets to the dance that we have in over 3
years! Let’s keep up the awesome school spirit Dulaney!
Upcoming events include the Winter BLACKLIGHT
dance in February and Sports Night in March!
Stacy Herring
Dulaney High School
Mathematics Department
From the Principal...
December 2011
Dear Students and Parents/Guardians,
CONGRATULATIONS to the 1061 students who earned Honor Roll status including 106 students with the
remarkable achievement of straight A’s. This level of success does not just happen. These students have
worked hard, actively participated in class, did their homework and committed to extra study time to maximize
learning in every class. The maturity and self-discipline demonstrated by these students will serve them well in
all future endeavors. Many more students were very close to honor roll and we encourage them to continue to
strive for excellence.
Thank you to the PTSA parents who contributed to the delicious reception on Wednesday morning of American Education Week. And an extra special THANK YOU to Claire Rock and Andrea Olsen and for coordinating and overseeing the event. We are very pleased that over 100 parents visited Dulaney during the week. In
the upcoming weeks there are many more opportunities to see many of our talented Dulaney students at work.
Check the calendar for concerts, plays, academic competitions and the beginning of winter sports.
GO LIONS!!
Lynda M. Whitlock, Principal
Will You Help Amy?
Amy is a 12-year old who has been abused and neglected, her mother, who is a drug addict has
now abandoned her. Amy came to Woodbourne, and is now looking for a family to share their
hearts and their homes and become her foster family. Woodbourne is Maryland’s oldest charity and
we’ve been caring for children since the American Revolution.
Woodbourne’s foster parent program serves boys and girls between the ages of six and 21. These
children have suffered from severe abuse and neglect and need foster homes to help them overcome their behavioral and mental health issues. Foster parents receive training and support, as
well as a monthly stipend. If you feel that you could open your heart and your home to a child,
please contact Michelle Willis at 443-901-0350 x4125.
Page 4
Dulaney High School
LTRC Snow Club – High School
Program
High School Program
Join fellow High School students interested in skiing or snowboarding on Friday evenings starting January 7th. Seven Ski Liberty, Roundtop and Whitetail
trips planned all departing from Ridgely
Middle School parking lot at 3:30 PM returning at
11:00PM.
“Night Club Cards” purchased through this program valid every evening at all three local ski areas. Register on
line www.ltrc.org access Snow Club
Service
Learning
Requirements
All students must
complete 75 Hours of
Student Service
Learning in order to
receive a Maryland
State Diploma. There
are currently 56 seniors
who have not met the
Upcoming Concerts * Thursday, December 15, 2011- Winter Concert "A" - 7:30PM (SNOW DATE 12/16/11)
* Guitar GT levels III and IV, Ninth Grade Band, and Concert Choir
* Wednesday, December 21, 2011 - Winter Concert "B" - 7:30PM (SNOW DATE
12/22/11)
* Guitar GT level IV, Dance II, III, IV, and Company, Wind Ensemble, Chamber Singers,
Symphonic Winds, and Combined Orchestra
* Thurday, December 22, 2011 - Winter Assembly - period 2A and 2B (Assembly Day
schedule)
state requirement. If
you have questions
please call Mrs. Senft
at 410-887-7644.
After attending cheer camp and trying out for All-American, the following
cheerleaders were chosen as All-American Cheerleaders and have the opportunity to perform in the world famous London New Year's Day Parade:
Amira Braddy
Kelly Schaefer
Caitlin Walther
Page 5
DHS PTSA Newsletter Deadlines
2011-2012
ISSUE
PROMPT Wed
SUBMISSION Wed FILE TO PRINTER Mon
Distribution
September*
8/10
8/17
October
9/14
9/21
9/28
November
10/12
10/19
10/26
December/January
11/16
11/23
11/30
February
1/12
1/19
1/25
March
2/15
2/22
2/29
April
3/21
3/29
4/4
May
4/18
4/25
5/1
June
5/16
5/23
July/August
8/23
8/30
5/30
No newsletter
after June mtg.
DULANEY PTSA NEEDS YOU!
Many thanks to all of the parents, teachers and students who have already joined Dulaney’s PTSA for the 2011-2012 school year.
But we still have a long way to go. The membership drive is ongoing and we need to increase support in order to reach our goals for
the year. Your PTSA membership will help to:
 Support the school’s academic departments
 Keep you informed via the PTSA monthly news bulletin
 Beautify the school with landscaping and building enhancements
 Publish the school directory
 Host social events and boost school spirit
 Financially support the classes
Dues are only $6.00 per person, and we encourage all members of the family to join. Simply complete the tear off below, enclose cash or check
made payable to Dulaney High PTSA and send to your child’s homeroom or mail to the main office.
PTSA Membership
Mr. _______________________________ Mrs. ______________________________$6.00/each
Student(s) ____________________________________________________________$6.00/each
Address______________________________________________________
Zip Code______________________________
Total Amount Enclosed ________________
Parent/Guardian Phone #_________________ Email Address____________________________
A portion of your dues is paid to our county, state and national PTA organizations.
Thank you for your support!
Dulaney High School Sports Boosters
To Support Our Student-Athletes
Sports Boosters is a community of parents, friends and coaches of Dulaney High School StudentAthletes who through membership, fundraising activities, talent and time provide financial and general support
of the athletic program and athletes in many ways, such as:
Bull and Oyster Roast (November)
Athletic Trainer
Concessions (All events)
Membership Drive (Fall, Winter, Spring)
Spirit Wear Orders (year-round)
Brick Sales (year-round)
Homecoming Hall-of-Fame Hospitality Tent
Annual Mulch Sale (April)
Sports Physicals
Financial Donations to Teams
Facility Improvements – 2011/12 new Press Box completion after BCPS approves final plans
Sports Boosters Membership
How can we support
DHS Student Athletes?
Be a Sports Boosters Liaison for a team
Attend meetings – 1st Monday each month, 7pm
Volunteer to help in a fundraising event
Name: __________________________________________ Phone: _______-_______________
________________________________________________________________________
Street
City
Email: ____________________________________
Support Level
Support Level: ______________________
Shirt
Paw Magnet(s)
GOLD ($125)
Polo S M L XL
2
SILVER ($65)
Tee S M L XL
1
0
0
BRONZE ($35)
Zip
Special for GOLD Level:
Homecoming game Hall-of-Fame hospitality
tent admission
NEW: your name on a banner that will hang
in the stadium/gym.
$15 of membership may be directed to a specific team (indicate team(s)):
1._____________________
Make checks payable to
2. _____________________ 3. _____________________
Dulaney Sports Boosters
Mail To:
Drop Off:
Dulaney High School Sports Boosters
Dulaney Sports Boosters’ Mailbox in school office
255 Padonia Road, Timonium, MD, 21093
Questions? - Call Gina Woodard (410) 592-6055
Dear Dulaney Parents, Students, and Guests,
The Performing Arts Department would like to thank you for your continuous support over the years! We
have enjoyed working with the students in our various performing ensembles. They continue to prove that they are
Dulaney's finest. They have worked very hard to present the high level of performance. We would like to make a few
requests of you in continued support of our programs.
ENTERING AND LEAVING THE AUDITORIUM
There have been some questions in the past about what is expected of audience members at our various concerts. The first is punctuality. Our programs begin at 7:30. The doors will remain open until that time. To be respectful of both our performers and audience, individuals who arrive after 7:30 will be asked to wait until there is a
break between numbers to enter the auditorium. We expect that parents and friends will remain at the concert until it has finished. Please use the restrooms before the concert, during intermission, and after the concert with the
exception of extreme emergencies. We cannot have people leaving after each musical or dance number. It is entirely too disruptive!
EXPRESSING OUR APPRECIATION FOR PERFORMERS
We are trying to educate our students to the proper rules of etiquette for professional concerts. The only appropriate behavior in this environment is applause at the end of a performance. Of course, flowers presented at the
end of the concert are another nice way to let the students know their performances were appreciated. (Name calling,
noises, etc. are not permitted.)
VIDEOTAPING AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES
The balcony is reserved for parents wishing to make video recordings of the concert; this includes the use of
cell phones and other small illuminated devices for video recording. Children are more than welcome to sit with their
videotaping parents. All other students are to remain on the main floor of the auditorium. Flash photography is prohibited at the concerts. Flashes can cause the performers to lose concentration and orientation when performing or
moving across the stage. This can (and has in the past) caused injury.
Cell phones are to be turned off and kept out of sight during performances. Text messaging and other activities on a cell phone create unintended illumination that is a distraction to other audience members and therefore
not appropriate audience behavior.
SMALL BABIES AND YOUNG CHILDREN
We would ask parents with small babies or young children to sit toward the back. If they get a little fussy, we
would ask that they be taken to the lobby so that the performance is not interrupted.
STUDENT REQUIREMENTS
The students work very hard to prepare for concerts. The concerts are our means of evaluation and it is not
fair for the students to be evaluated while disturbances occur. We thank you in advance for your understanding and
observance of our policies. By observing them, the students will have the best of environments in which performances
can be "taken to new heights" and the concerts will be most enjoyable for all.
Part of the students’ education is to learn appropriate audience decorum. We also want them to develop an
appreciation for all performers by listening and watching the performances. Therefore, we expect them to remain at
the concert until the performance has finished. The students will be graded accordingly.
Thank you for your continuous support!
Sincerely,
Mr. Dickson (Department Chairman), Ms Cavanagh, Mr. Chesky,
Mrs. McWilliams, and Mr. Wright
TEEN CAREER CORNER
Parent as Career Coach
Do you ever wonder how involved you should be in your teen’s career
decisions? It can at times seem
like a slippery slope. On one hand, your teen wants to be independent
and make his or her own decisions, yet you as the parent still want to help them make good decisions
and perhaps save them from
some of your own mistakes. And in this struggling economy, the career
challenges our youth face are
even more difficult than ours were. But there is hope. You may be surprised to discover we have more influence over our teens than
we think. Despite the struggle to pull away, research shows that teenagers still see their parents as the most influential figures in their
lives and rely on them for guidance as they explore their educational and career goals. But how do we go about providing this guidance in a way that is supportive and not controlling?
As your children enter into the teen years, they are beginning to evolve into young adults. Your relationship with them should evolve
as well. Your role should now be more of a coach than a parent. We need to step back a little and encourage them to think for themselves yet still provide some level of parental guidance. It becomes important to let them face the consequences of their decisions and
teach them how to learn from their mistakes and use them as opportunities for growth. When it comes to assisting your teen with their
career journey, Parent Educator, Louise Berns Robinson, suggests using the analogy of a road trip. The coach (you the parent) is the
passenger on the cross country road trip and your teen is the driver.
The passenger (parent):
Holds the map so they can review the directions and keeps the driver on course. Your teen may feel a little lost at times and
might need assistance with charting a course.
Makes sure the driver doesn’t fall asleep at the wheel. There are many distractions facing our teens these days. We can help
them find ways to stay focused so they don’t veer off the road.
Listens and responds to the drivers needs. We can be a sounding board for our teens and offer them our support and encouragement.
Tunes the radio. Parents can look into resources that their teen can access for further career exploration.
The passenger (parent) DOES NOT:
Grab the steering wheel to change course.
Make the Driver go somewhere he doesn’t want to.
Change the make, color, or model year of the car.
Force the Driver to shift gears.
Where are you seated in the car on your teen’s journey? Are you in the passenger’s seat or are you in the driver’s seat? Are you even
in the car? Some of us may even fluctuate from one extreme to the other. In attempts to prevent a crash, we may decide to do the driving or we may not want to witness a crash so we jump out and let them fend for themselves. Accidents are painful for everyone involved. Some of you may have already experienced your teen getting his license. One of the requirements for practice is a minimum
of 60 hours of supervised drive time where a responsible adult is in the passenger seat. Think of your child’s teen years as one long
drive time. How you react as passenger greatly affects how focused and calm your teen is behind the wheel. The more hours they
have behind the wheel with you as passenger, the greater it will increase their confidence and skills so when they are ready for their
license (or in this case the “real world”) they are prepared.
Next month, I will address effective communication strategies for the parent as career coach. For further resources, check out the
Career Compass section of my website www.signaturelifecoaching.com. In the meantime, don’t forget to “enjoy the ride”.
Lisa Kerr, CC
Certified Career and Life Coach
[email protected]
410-615-8210