Tiger Update December 2015 Newsletter

TIGER UPDATE
RIPON HIGH SCHOOL
LUMEN CHARTER HIGH SCHOOL
NEWSLETTER
December 2015
Volume 26, Number 3
Dear Students, Parents and Staff,
December is an extremely busy time. We will host many athletic contests and fine art performances
throughout the month. I am always impressed by the number of people that come out to watch our talented
students - thank you!
With being in the middle of a construction project, parking is at a premium. Obviously, parking is available in
the east lot behind school, but there are also other locations available. You are welcome to park in the staff
parking lot on the south side of school, and the west parking lot located by the new construction. You can
enter the school from the south side through entrance V and walk through the school to the gym or auditorium.
We appreciate your patience as the construction project is moving forward.
This time of year also reminds me of the importance to take time for yourself to rest and relax. Put the
computer away, turn the cell phone off, unwind and enjoy food, family, and friends over the holiday season.
Hoping you have a safe and rejuvenating break!
Sincerely,
Randy Hatlen
RHS/Lumen Principal
DECEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS
SENIORS - CLASS OF 2015
Math Meet at Fond du Lac High School
Winter Band Concert at 7:00 pm
15
Winter Choir Concert at 7:00 pm
21
Board of Education Meeting at 6:00 pm in
the RMS Media Center
24-1/1 No School
1/4
Classes Resume
Important Dates to Record:
7
Please check our website for office hours
over winter break.
Sporting Events
Please refer to our high school
website for an
up-to-date list of weekly sporting events:
http://www.ripon.k12.wi.us/calendars/fall-sports.cfm
May 27, 2016—Graduation Practice at 1:00 p.m.
Practice is mandatory for seniors if they plan on
participating in the graduation ceremony.
All fees and fines must be paid by May 26, 2016.
Graduation is Saturday,
May 28, 2016 at 11:00 a.m.
Continue to watch for graduation information all year.
SENIORS - SCHOLARSHIP MONEY
Seniors: Be sure to check your school
email account for scholarship and
graduation related emails from guidance
and the office.
PARKING DURING EVENTS
Due to our building project, we are asking for
your help to alleviate the congestion in the back
(east) parking lot during after school events.
Parking is available in the staff parking lot on the
south side of school. In addition, parking is open
in the west parking lot. You can enter the school
from the south side through entrance V and walk
through the school to the gym or auditorium.
Parking in those areas frees up room in the back
lot for visitors that are not
familiar with our school.
Thank you for your help.
REQUESTING TRANSCRIPTS
High school students should request transcripts
electronically using parchment.com. The
electronic method is advantageous to students
and streamlines the transcript request process.
There is a small fee for every
transcript sent.
SENIOR PICTURE INFORMATION
Senior photos for the 2016 yearbook are due:
no later than February 1, 2016
Electronic file is preferred (300 dpi, jpeg);
please send to:
[email protected]
Photo requirements include:
Head/shoulder shot
No hats or other props
Color or black and white
Wallet Size
INDEPENDENT STUDY AND
TEACHER’S ASSISTANT
REQUEST DEADLINE
Attention Students: The deadline for submitting
Independent Study course requests and Teacher’s
Assistant requests for 2nd semester is December 15.
Request forms and directions are available in the
guidance office.
Guidance Department Information
School Counselors
Ms. Leah Gullickson
Students whose last names begins with A-L
Mr. Steve Hazell
Students whose last names begins with M-Z
2015-2016 Testing Information
ACT Assessment Test Dates
Test Dates
2015-2016
Registration
Deadline
Late
Registration
December 12
November 6
November 7-20
February 6
January 8
January 9-15
April 9
March 4
March 5-18
June 11
May 6
May 7-20
You can register for the ACT Test online at
www.actstudent.org/start
S
SAT Assessment Test Dates
Test Dates
2015-2016
Registration
Deadline
Late
Registration
December 5
November 5
November 23
January 23
December 28
January 12
March 5
February 5
February 23
May 7
April 8
April 26
June 4
May 5
May 25
You can register for the SAT Test online at sat.org/register
ACT TEST PREP COURSE
UW-Oshkosh is offering an ACT test prep course
that takes place on Saturday mornings from
January 23rd to February 27th and costs $200.
For more information and to register, go to
uwosh.edu/go/actprep.
SOPHOMORE PLANNING CONFERENCES
You and your student are invited to participate in the
10th Grade Student and Parent Educational/Career
Planning Conference. Unlike traditional Parent
Teacher Conferences that discuss current grades, this
conference typically lasts about 30 minutes and will
focus on your student’s educational and career
development and their post-secondary plans.
Sophomore conferences help parents gain insight into
their student’s development and help students gain
insight into the direction they are headed in the
future. Our task is to determine how we can help them
create and achieve broadly based goals for their
future. Planning conferences are not intended for
discussions of student behavior or current academic
concerns. Additional appointments may be scheduled
to discuss those issues.
Conference Appointment Times
Appointments need to be scheduled during the school
day during your student’s study hall. If your student
does not have a study hall, the conference can be
scheduled during another class time. The conference
is intended for both you and your student to be
present!
Please call 748-4637 to schedule your
conference, or e-mail your counselor directly.
We look forward to seeing you!
Leah Gullickson
(students with last names A-L)
[email protected]
Steve Hazell (students with last names M-Z)
[email protected]
MARIAN UNIVERSITY OPEN HOUSES
2015-2016 Open Houses will be held from
9:00 AM - 12:30 PM on the following dates:
Friday, Feb. 5
Saturday, Mar. 5
Registration is required. To register, go to:
https://www.marianuniversity.edu/visit/
or call Margaret Lowell at 920-923-8785.
$$$ SCHOLARSHIP AND FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION $$$
Scholarships are an outstanding source of financial aid because they are FREE! Last year, RHS students
received well over $800,000 in scholarships, which helped pay the costs of postsecondary education for many
students.
One excellent source of scholarship opportunities is the Fox River Scholarship Center website
(www.foxriverscholarshipcenter.org). At the website, click on “Find Scholarships,” and be sure to provide
enough information about yourself to filter out scholarships that don’t apply to you- at the very least, indicate
that you attend Ripon High School. New scholarships are added to this site as they are received, so it’s a good
idea to check the site regularly. RHS students receive scholarships from this website every year, so don’t pass
it by.
Any RHS student who is pursuing education beyond high school should fill out the two-page local scholarship
application after first semester is completed. By filling out the local scholarship application, you are eligible to
be considered for numerous scholarships. The local scholarships are offered by Ripon area clubs, businesses,
and organizations and most of the scholarships are specifically for RHS students. The local scholarship
application can be accessed by clicking on the “High School Financial Aid” link on the High School
Counseling Services website. The application should be filled out and turned in to Guidance after first
semester has ended, but before the deadline of February 22. Applications should be typed, since copies will be
provided to scholarship providers and readability matters.
National scholarships are open to students across the country. For that reason, there is a great deal of
competition for them. They are easiest to find online through websites like www.fastweb.com or
www.scholarships.com. One way to locate scholarship opportunities is to simply do a search for “scholarship
websites.”
Two things to keep in mind as you fill out scholarship applications are: 1. The students who are awarded the
greatest number of scholarships are typically the ones who filled out the most scholarship applications, and
2. Never pay for a scholarship.
Financial aid starts with filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. You need your
parents’ tax information for 2015 to fill this out completely, so it can’t be completed until after that is
available. The FAFSA application is at www.fafsa.ed.gov. If the website you are at charges a fee to help you
fill out the FAFSA, you are at the wrong website.
If you have questions, please see your counselor.
AFTER SCHOOL MATH LAB
The Math Department offers an after-school Math
Lab during the school year. The goal of the lab is
to provide extra math help for students. Students
can drop in anytime, no appointment is necessary,
and they are welcome to attend as many nights as
they wish.
Monday (3:15-4:00) in room 133 (Mrs. Holba)
Tuesday (3:15-4:00) in room 137 (Mrs. Valasek )
Wednesday (3:15-4:00) in rm. 131 (Mrs. Truesdale)
Thursday (3:15-4:00) in room 135 (Ms. Peterson)
Friday (3:10-3:30) all math teachers are available
Happy Holidays
MUSIC DEPARTMENT NOTES
The Winter Band Concert will take place on Monday, December 7 at 7:00 pm in the auditorium. Please join us
for a night of music.
The Winter Choir Concert will be held on Tuesday, December 15 at 7:00 pm in the auditorium.
The finale will feature all of the choirs accompanied by members of the high school staff.
NEWS FROM THE FUTURE BUSINESS LEADERS OF AMERICA
The FBLA group held a food drive for both food pantries in town the week of November 2-6. Twelve boxes
of food were donated by the students at the high school. Thank you for your help.
Ten of Ripon's Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) students participated in the Wisconsin Fall
Leadership Conference, November 16-17, at the Madison Marriott West Conference Center with over 600+
other FBLA members. They listened to Patrick T. Grady of TRI Leadership Resources, LLC speak. Patrick is
a former middle school and high school educator who now travels full-time throughout our nation inspiring
and encouraging individuals to do their best in all that they attempt. He is dedicated to helping others to
improve themselves through the use of each person’s individual talents, skills, abilities, and mental attitude.
The two day conference had
workshops on topics such as
BAA’s, competitive events,
leadership, social media,
time management and
community service. There
was a presentation on Safe
Student Driving, which is a
WI CTSO initiative for 2015
-2016. Half of our students
toured the Monona Terrace
and learned about its history
while the other half toured
the Electronic Theater
Controls business and
learned what they do.
Students also enjoyed some
chapter bonding time over
bowling and mini-golf while
they were there. A great
time was had by all who
attended.
Ripon Area School District Bylaws & Policies
3122 - NONDISCRIMINATION AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
The Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of the Protected Classes. Protected Classes include: race; color;
national origin; age; sex (including transgender status, change of sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity); pregnancy;
creed of religion; genetic information; handicap or disability (in accordance with Policy 1623, AG 1623A, and 1623B); marital
status; citizenship status; veteran status; military service (as defined in 111.32, Wis. Stats.); national origin; ancestry; arrest
record; conviction record (In accordance with Policy 4121); use or non‑use of lawful products off the District’s premises during non-working hours; declining to attend an employer-sponsored meeting or to participate in any communication with the
employer about religious matters or political matters; or any other characteristic protected by law in its employment practices.
December 2015
Dear Parents:
The winter season is here and with it comes the possibility of an early dismissal, a 2-hour delay or the closure of school
due to inclement weather. As a district, we understand the decision to open or close schools in bad weather has a big
impact on families and that students are served best by being in school. However, our top priority is the safety of our
students.
How do we make school closing decisions?
The decision to dismiss early, delay or close the schools is based on a careful analysis of all the relevant factors, including: road conditions throughout the district, the amount of snow and ice, the weather forecast, temperatures, wind chill
factors and what the surrounding townships are planning for plowing schedules given the timing of the storm. The
Superintendent of Schools is responsible for the final decision based on the above factors and input from the
transportation contractor and collaboration with surrounding school Superintendents.
When is the decision made?
The decision is typically made by 6:00 a.m. in order to notify the media and the bus drivers.
How is the public notified?
The school district website is the best source of information on school closing and delayed openings. On television, tune
in to WBAY (ABC – Channel 2), WFRV (CBS – Channel 5), WGBA (NBC – Channel 26), or WLUK (FOX – Channel
11). On the radio dial, tune in to WRPN (1600 AM). The WRPN-AM website is also updated for any school delays or
closings. Parents will also be notified by phone using the Infinite Campus Messenger calling system.
What does a 2-hour delay mean?
In the event of a delayed opening, all bus routes are delayed by 2 hours. If the roads are not cleared, or the storm does
not proceed as predicted, another decision to close schools for the entire day may be made by 8:00 a.m., so it is important for students and parents to continue to monitor the situation whenever a 2-hour delay is announced. (Note: A 2-hour
delay on a Wednesday will result in the cancellation of the normal late-start meetings and schedule. The day would follow the regular 2-hour delay schedule with school beginning at approximately 10:00 a.m.)
What about early closings?
Every effort is made to keep students in school for their full day once they arrive. If conditions are severe and warrant
an early closing, the information will be on the district website and posted on TV stations. In addition, parents will be
notified by phone using the Infinite Campus Messenger System. Be sure the District has your current contact telephone
numbers. Parents should discuss a plan with their child regarding what the child should do in the event s/he should
arrive at home first (ex. having the child report directly to the home of a trusted neighbor).
What are the rules for making up a snow day?
Our district provides enough instructional time under state law that the equivalent of three cancelled days will not have
to be made up. June 6, June 7, and June 8 are designated as make-up days if more than three days are cancelled.
In conclusion, please remember that the decision to close school or delay openings due to inclement weather is based on
the best information available at the time the decision is made; however, we can never be sure how the weather will affect all 117 square miles of the school district. If you do not feel that it is safe for your child to attend school or your
teenager to drive to school, use your best judgment. Weather-related absences are excused absences. Your support is
appreciated.
Sincerely,
Dr. Mary Whitrock
Superintendent of Schools
Diciembre 2015
Estimados Padres de Familia:
La estación de invierno esta aquí y con ello viene la posibilidad de un cierre temprano, 2 horas de atraso, o el cierre de la
escuela debido a las inclemencias del tiempo. Como distrito, entendemos que la decisión de abrir o cerrar las escuelas
en mal tiempo tiene un gran impacto en las familias y que los estudiantes son mejor servidos estando en la escuela. Sin
embargo, nuestra prioridad tope es la seguridad de nuestros estudiantes.
¿Cómo hacemos las decisiones de cerrar la escuela?
La decisión a cerrar temprano, a demorar, o a cerrar las escuelas está basada en un análisis cuidadoso de todos los
factores relevantes, incluyendo las condiciones de la carretera a través del distrito, la cantidad de nieve y hielo, las noticias del tiempo, temperaturas, los factores de la sensación térmica del tiempo y cuáles son los planes de las localidades
alrededor con los horarios para remover la nieve durante el tiempo de tormenta. La Superintendente de las escuelas es la
responsable de tomar la decisión final basada en todos los factores arriba y de las sugerencias dadas del transporte
contratado y la colaboración de otros Superintendentes alrededor.
¿Cuándo se hace la decisión?
La decisión típicamente se hace a las 6:00 a.m. para notificar a los medios de comunicación y a los conductores de los
buses.
¿Cómo se notifica al público?
El sitio red del distrito escolar es la mejor fuente de información para el cierre de la escuela y el comienzo demorado. En
la televisión puede sintonizar WBAY (ABC – Canal 2), WFRV (CBS – Canal 5), WGBA (NBC – Canal 26), o WLUK
(FOX – Canal11). En el radio puede sintonizar WRPN (1600 AM). El sitio red de WRPN-AM también es actualizado
para cualquier demora o cierre de las escuelas. Los padres de familia también pueden ser notificados por teléfono
usando el sistema de mensaje de llamadas de Infinite Campus Messenger.
¿Qué significa 2 horas de demora?
En el evento de demora en abrir, todas las rutas de los buses es demorado por 2 horas. Si las carreteras no están limpias,
o la tormenta no procede como ha sido pronosticado, otra decisión para cerrar será hecha a las 8:00 a.m., así que es
importante para los estudiantes y padres de familia continuar monitoreando la situación cuando quiera que se ha
anunciado las 2 horas de demora. (Nota: Una demora de 2 horas el día miércoles resultará en la cancelación de la demora normal – empezando reuniones y el horario. El día será seguido por el horario de la demora regular de 2 horas en el
horario empezando la escuela aproximadamente a las 10:00 a.m.)
¿Qué hay sobre el cierre temprano?
Se hace cada esfuerzo para mantener a los estudiantes en la escuela el día completo ya que han arribado. Si las
condiciones son severas y justifican el cierre temprano, la información estará en el sitio red del distrito y será publicado
en las estaciones de televisión. Además, los padres de familia serán notificados por teléfono usando el Sistema de
Infinite Campus Messenger. Asegúrese de que el distrito tenga sus números de teléfono actualizados. Los padres de
familia deben discutir un plan con sus niños(as) en relación a que es lo haría el niño(a) en el evento de que tenga que
llegar a casa primero (por ejemplo, hacer que su niño(a) se reporte directamente a la casa de un vecino de confianza).
¿Cuáles son las reglas para reponer un día de nieve?
Nuestro distrito provee suficiente tiempo de instrucción bajo la ley del estado para que el equivalente de tres días
cancelados no deberán reponerse. El 6 de junio, 7 de junio y el 8 de junio están designados como los días para reponer
si más de tres días son cancelados.
En conclusión, por favor recuerde que la decisión a cerrar la escuela o a demorar la entrada por las inclemencias del
tiempo es basada en la mejor información disponible al momento de hacer la decisión, nosotros nunca podemos estar
seguros si el clima afectará todas las ll7 millas cuadradas del distrito escolar. Si usted cree que no es seguro para que su
niño(a) asista a la escuela o su adolescente para manejar hacia la escuela, use so mejor juicio. Las ausencias
relacionadas al tiempo son escusas aceptadas. Su apoyo es muy apreciado.
Atentamente,
Dra. Mary Whitrock, Superintendente de las Escuelas