Fort Dodge Senior High Newsletter TOGETHER WE RISE: Raising the Bar, Closing the Gap, Believing Kids Do Well If They Can March 2019
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL Snow, Snow, Snow—Hard to believe that it is March with this much snow around! As we head into spring, we at FDSH are trying
to stay focused on our academics even when Reminder: Spring Break there are so many distractions and interrup- tions. While snow days continued to hit us March 21st through March 25th through February, there are so many other distractions that also interrupt learning in
schools. One such interruption is cell
phones. Cell phones have given us an increased desire for immediate
gratification that continues to fight for the attention of the student
during school. Cell phones have also endangered our society with
making more poor choices “anonymously” than ever before. Has your
child’s cell phone use taken over common sense in your home? Well,
I happened upon an article where Janell Hoffman, a parent of a teenag-
er, designed her “cell phone rules for my son” that I thought would be
a great tool for our FD parents to use with their children: Stay connected for School Information: Cell Phone Rules for My Son by Janell Hofman
Follow us on Facebook at Fort Dodge It is my phone. I bought, I pay for it. I am loaning it to you, Community School District Aren’t I the greatest? Follow us on Twitter at @FDCSD Check the Virtual Backpack under I will always know the password. events at www.fdschools.org
ORT DODGE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT -continue page 3
Fort Dodge Senior High Newsletter TOGETHER WE RISE: Raising the Bar, Closing the Gap, Believing Kids Do Well If They Can Page 2 March 2019
Discipline Policy
FDCSD students will act in a responsible manner in school, on school grounds and at all school sponsored activities. Students, staff and guest will treat each other with respect and courtesy, use appropriate behavior and language, and follow expectations. Here is our complete School Discipline Policy for your review.
Mental Health Services
Concerned about your child? The Fort Dodge Community School District is committed providing supports to students. A full-time licensed Mental Health Therapist serves the Middle School two days a week and the Senior High three days a week. Services include, mental health assessment, in school therapy, crisis intervention, and community referrals/resources. Contact:
Deb Koestner-Rees, MSW, LISW, C-LGBTAPP, C-SUD 515-574-5747 ext. 58084—[email protected]
WINTER WEATHER If school must be canceled, delayed or dismissed early due to weather conditions, announcements will be made via:
Infinite Campus Phone Calls & Texts
FDCSD Facebook and Twitter
www.fdschools.org ANNOUCEMENTS FDCSD Hotline
TV Stations: WHO, KCCI & WOI
Radio Stations: KWMT, KKEZ, KXFT, KZLB, KIAQ, KVFD, KTLB
The Messenger Website
If you currently d not receive phone calls/texts from the District and would like to, please log into your Infi- nite Campus Parent Portal and change your Contact Preferences.
Fort Dodge Senior High Newsletter Page 3 TOGETHER WE RISE: Raising the Bar, Closing the Gap, Believing Kids Do Well If They Can March 2019
Do not ever ignore a phone call if the screen says “Mom” or “Dad.” Not ever.
Hand the phone to one of your guardians promptly at 7:30 p.m. every school night and every weekend night at 9 p.m. It will be shut off for the night and turned on again at 7:30 a.m. If you would not make a call to someone’s landline, wherein their parents may answer first, then do not call or text. Listen to those instincts and respect for other families like we would like to be respected.
It does not go to school with you. Have a conversation with the people you text in person. It’s a life skill.
If it falls in the toilet, smashes on the ground, or vanishes into thin air; you are responsible for the replacement costs or repairs.
Do not use this technology to lie, fool, or deceive another human being. Do not involve yourself in conversations that are hurtful to oth- ers. Be a good friend first or stay out of the crossfire.
Do not text, email, or say anything through this device you would not say in person.
No pornography, you cannot ever erase what you see.
Turn it off, silence it, put it away in public -- especially in a restaurant, at the movies, or while speaking with another human being. You are not a rude person; do not allow the iPhone change that.
Do not send or receive pictures of your private parts or anyone else’s private parts. Don’t laugh. Someday you will be tempted to do this despite your high intelligence. It is a risk and could ruin your teenage/college/adult life. Cyberspace is vast and more powerful than you. It is hard to make anything of this magnitude disappear--including a bad reputation.
Don’t take a zillion pictures and videos. There is no need to document everything. Live your experiences. They will be stored in your memory for eternity.
Leave your phone home sometimes and feel safe and secure in that decision. It is not alive or an extension of you. Learn to live without it. Be bigger and more powerful than FOMO -- fear of missing out.
Download music that is new or classic or different than the millions of your peers that listen to the same exact stuff. Your gen- eration has access to music like never before in history. Take advantage of that gift. Expand your horizons.
Play your game with words or puzzles or brain teasers every now and then.
Keep your eyes up. See the world happening around you. Stare out a window. Listen to the birds. Take a walk. Talk to a stranger. Wonder without googling.
You will mess up. I will take away your phone. We will sit down and talk about it. We will start over again. You and I are always learning. I am on your team. We are in this together.
I love you!
Fort Dodge Senior High Newsletter TOGETHER WE RISE: Raising the Bar, Closing the Gap, Believing Kids Do Well If They Can Page 4 March 2019
Go Big for Kids and support the Fort Dodge Community Schools Foundation Annual Fundraiser Go Big, Go Dodgers.
In 2018, your support helped add the following to our district: Wrist heart-rate monitors for FDSH PE Sensory rooms at Cooper Elementary and FDMS MakerSpace equipment for elementary libraries Outdoor classroom at Riverside Early Learning Center Metalworking machinery and tools at FDSH Instruments for FDMS and more! The Big event is Friday, April 5, at 6 p.n. at Fort Frenzy. There will be live music by Lone Tree Revival, a live auction, food, tailgating games, a cash bar and more!
Tickets are $40 per person ($20 for FDCSD employees and one guest). Go to www.fdcsfoundation.org to purchase tickets or make a donation.
FDCSD 7-12 Grade Athletic Physicals March 7
Athletic physicals for current 7-12 grade students will be held on Thursday, March 7, from 5–6 p.m. at Fort Dodge Senior High gym. The cost is $15.00. All 7-12 grade Dodger student athletes are encouraged to attend. A sports physical needs to be current and on file in the nurse's office prior to the first day of practice of the athlete’s sport season. Seniors out for spring/summer sports must have a physical that stays current through the end of their season. FDSH students can have their pre-workup (height, weight, heart rate and blood pressure) done with the athletic trainer and school nurse February 27, February 28 and March 6 during 5th period, or before or after school February 27 – March 7. All athletes will receive their physical form at the time of these initial screenings. The front of the form must be completed and signed by a parent, and brought with the athlete on March 7 in order for the physical to be completed. Payment must also be made at this time.
Fort Dodge Senior High Newsletter TOGETHER WE RISE: Raising the Bar, Closing the Gap, Believing Kids Do Well If They Can Page 5 March 2019
FDSH Link Crew 50 FDSH Students Volunteer Time to Transition Freshman Students Here at Fort Dodge Senior High we are fortunate to have a group of 50 junior and senior students who volunteer their time to help transition freshman students during their first year of high school. This group, called Link Crew, is lead by Freshman School Counselor, Carrie Traver and Instructional Coach, Emily Klocke. This is the fifth year that Link Crew has been at FDSH. Link Crew has been financially supported by the school district, The Greater Fort Dodge Growth Alliance, and the FD Schools Foundation. Link Leaders are selected by a large group of applicants. The committee takes into consideration each applicant's attendance, grades, behavior, extracurricular activities, community involvement, and teacher recommendation as well as an in-depth application process. The first task of a Link Leader is to undergo 8 hours of training during the summer, prior to the start of school. During the training, leaders learn how to positively represent our school, run small group team-building activities, and provide school tours. From this training, Link Leaders are then ready to host the four hour freshman orientation that is held before the first day of school. Next, Link Leaders are each asked to take a small group of freshman students under their wing and maintain contact with them throughout at least the first semester of school. As a result of this, the Link Leaders from the 2018-2019 school year logged more than 17,000 minutes of contact with freshman students during first semester. Next, Link Leaders assist in hosting 8th Grade Parent Night, which is held in late January. Link Leaders provided tours to over 200 8th grade students and their parents on that evening. Last, Link Leaders are called to duty whenever a new student comes to FDSH after the start of the school year, no matter the grade. They help new students in grades 9-12 by providing tours, walking students from class to class in between each period, and making sure they have someone to sit by at lunch on their first day. These connections can last beyond just the first few days as well. Any one interested in being a part of Link Crew should contact Ms. Traver or Mrs. Klocke at Senior High.
Fort Dodge Senior High Newsletter TOGETHER WE RISE: Raising the Bar, Closing the Gap, Believing Kids Do Well If They Can Page 6 March 2019
School Bus Expectations FortDodgeResources.com hile not every child rides the bus to school every day, all stu- A Directory of Resources & Nonprofit dents will travel on a school bus Organizations in the Greater Fort Dodge Wat some point during the year. Please take Area a minute to review the PBIS expectations for riding the bus with your child. Students should be
· Respectful by using appropriate voice levels and language and listening to the driver
· Responsible by being on time, taking care of their things and keeping the bus clean
· Safe by keeping their hands and feet to them- selves, staying seated and walking when get- ting on and off the bus
· Kind by using good manners and treating others as the way they would want to be treated FortDodgeResources.Com is an online re- source directory that includes information on Thank you for helping us to provide a more than 100 nonprofit organizations, positive environment and experience for agencies and services in the greater Fort our students who ride the bus daily or for Dodge area. From human services to arts and special events. recreation, FortDodgeResources.com will pro- vide you with the information you need to help you find resources, services and programs available to you in the greater Fort Dodge area. Organizations and services can be found by category, alphabetically or by keyword search. This directory is brought to you by YouthNet. Check it out!
OUR SCHOOLS. OUR COMMUNITY. OUR PRIDE.
Fort Dodge Senior High Newsletter TOGETHER WE RISE: Raising the Bar, Closing the Gap, Believing Kids Do Well If They Can Page 7 March 2019
“Big Fish ” 2019 FDSH Musical Rehearsals are underway for the 2019 FDSH musical production, "Big Fish" with 48 high school students and two elementary school boys from the Fort Dodge community in the cast. "The story is very different from what has been done in recent years," says Mary Jo Laupp, theatrical director for the production. "The driving force behind this story is not a romance. It's really all about the relationship between a father and a son." This is also one of the busier shows for the chorus in recent history with a total 13 scenes that involve some or all of the chorus. Matt Drees, vocal director and pit conductor for the show shares, "This year especially, the chorus is heavily involved in the quality of the music as well as a variety of scenes." "Big Fish" has never been staged here in Fort Dodge so this will be a first for our community. The cast and crew are excited to share this powerful story about family relationships without community. One last note - the production will once again be a part of the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards program through the Des Moines Performing Arts. Anyone interested in helping behind the scenes - we can always use help with set construction! - can send an email to [email protected]. The production runs April 25, 2019, through April 27, 2019 and tickets - which will go on sale soon! - will be $12 for adults and $8 for students.
Fort Dodge Senior High Newsletter TOGETHER WE RISE: Raising the Bar, Closing the Gap, Believing Kids Do Well If They Can TOGETHER WE RISE: Raising the Bar, Closing the Gap, Believing Kids Do Well If They Can PagePage 5 8 OctoberMarch 2019 2017 P arent Tips!
What can I do now to help my child prepare for College! R 1. Check out our counseling website: www.fdschools.org/schools/fort-dodge-senior- O high/fdsh-counseling-dept/ 2. Have your child prepare their resume NOW so that when it is time to start applying U for scholarships, that part is done. Don’t forget to include Leadership, Service, and D Community Involvement.
3. Take a college visit with your child. Don’t send them alone. Your life experience helps them in asking the right questions. 2 4. Take virtual tours online at the college’s website. Take time to visit websites of possible colleges that your child may be interested in.
B 5. Support your child academically. Encourage structure study time and routine for E your child to perform well at school. GRADES count as much as CREDITS. Good grades qualify your child for scholarships and college acceptance. Prepare now for the future.
A 6. Put away $ for college. Don’t wait until their senior year! College can be expen-
sive. Reduce the financial stress by preparing and saving now. D 7. Consider choosing a college by Christmas. This will allow your child (and you) to focus on that transition. Your child can then apply for scholarships specifically for O that college. In addition, it reduces stress in the family/household when this deci- sion is made. Nobody wants to spend their last few months of their senior year “not D knowing” what is next.
G 8. LOVE your child. It’s a stressful time for them as much as it is for you. They will want to spend time with their friends. Find away for that to happen as much as E finding time for them to spend with family. Both are important to your child.
R 9. Provide opportunities for your child to demonstrate independence. Give them choices. When they go off to college, you wont be there to make most of their de- cisions. They will need practice at home under your guidance in making good de- cisions. Give them opportunities to do so.
10. AssureOUROUR them SCHOOLS.SCHOOLS. that they OURdonOUR’t haveCOMCOM toMUNITY.MUNITY. know “the OUROUR rest PRIDE.ofPRIDE. their lives ” right now. Guide
Fort Dodge Senior High Newsletter TOGETHER WE RISE: Raising the Bar, Closing the Gap, Believing Kids Do Well If They Can Page 9 March 2019
Health Building Heath Skills and Character In health, for the first part of the semester, the students have intro- duced themselves to their classmates and I. We have also re- viewed that basic concepts of being a health literate person. Which includes risky behaviors, influences on health, balancing the health triangle, and abstinence. Once the base knowledge was there we used technology skills to research a person that has ac- complishments in health. The students then presented their healthy people to classmates. With finally wrapping up the first unit we will be learning more on building health skills and character. Starting with interpersonal, conflict resolution and self-management skills. Then finishing up with decision-making and developing character. To wrap up the second unit we will find strengths and weaknesses and set goals to improve them.
DECA Competitive Events FDSH Students Compete
January was the kickoff to FDSH’s DECA competitions. The stu- dents competed at the Crossroads Mall in Fort Dodge. Those that competed were Keeley Degner, Aja Jallow, Maritza Santana-Bass, Brittany Sandoval, Asle Thorson, Mason Bodholdt, Jordan Jackson, Rodney Tilawen, and Curtis Barker. On February 24, FDSH DECA was all set and ready to compete at Southeast Polk High School in the Iowa Career Development Con- ference. Unfortunately, mother nature had another plan. Without a makeup date available, Iowa DECA students looked at technology for the answer to their problem. Students were given an opportunity to record and submit their role-plays and presentations. With the help of Speech Coach Lindey Krug, FDSH DECA completed their recordings. The students are eagerly waiting to hear the results. Based on the results, the students will qualify for the International Career Development Conference. Those competing were Curtis Barker, Brittany Sandoval, Maritza Santana-Bass, Aja Jallow, Tay- lor Johnson, Rodney Tilawen, JOrdan Jackson, Conley Daniel, and Michael Schroeder.
Fort Dodge Senior High Newsletter TOGETHER WE RISE: Raising the Bar, Closing the Gap, Believing Kids Do Well If They Can Page 10 March 2019
March 2: 7:00pm: Perspectives in Jazz DODGER DATES @ SH Little Theatre March 21-25: Spring Break March 13: 6:30pm: FDCS Founda- March 4: 7:00pm: FDSH Instrumental tion Meeting @ Central Office March 24: 2:00pm: NHS Induction Mid-Winter Concert @ FDMS Aud. Ceremony March 14: 4:00pm: 9th Grade Conf. March 7: 5:00pm: School Physicals 7- @ SH Freshman Pod March 25: All-State Speech; Indiv. 12 grades @ SH Events @ UNI March 15: Special Olympics State March 9: 8:00am: State Speech Contest Basketball @ Iowa City March 26: 6:00pm: Board of Educa- @ Woodbury Central tion Meeting @ Central Office March 16: Special Olympics State March 11: 6:00pm: Board of Education Basketball @ Iowa City March 31: FCCLA State Leadership Meeting @ Central Office Conference March 18: 7:00pm: Math/Science March 12: 8:00am: ACT Testing @ SH Recognition Night @ SH Little Theatre *See web page for athletic schedules and dates
District Compliance
It is the policy of the Fort Dodge Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, ancestry, age, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, physical attributes, religion, political party preference, political belief, socioeconomic status, veteran’s status, actual or potential parental, family or marital status in its programs, services, and employment practices. If you have questions or grievances related to this policy, please contact Steph Anderson, Director of Student Services-Elementary and Dr. Kirsten Doebel-Secondary, Central Administration Office, 104 South 17th Street, Fort Dodge, IA 50501, (574-5678) or contact the Civil Rights Midwestern Division for U. S. Department of Education Office, 500 W. Madison Street, Suite 1475, Chicago, IL 60661-4544. (Alternate for Section 504 is Lynnae Harvey, Director of Special Needs, 515-574-5675).
The District’s Compliance Coordinator for Affirmative Action is Robert Hughes, Assistant Superintendent, who can be reached at 574-5657 or 104 South 17th Street, Fort Dodge, IA 50501.
The District’s Designated Investigator of Physical/Sexual Abuse of Students by School Employees are Steph Anderson (Director of Student Services-Elementary), and Dr. Kirsten Doebel (Director of Student Services-Secondary). They can be reached at 574- 5678 or 104 South 17th Street, Fort Dodge, IA 50501. The alternate is Corey Moody. He can be reached at 574-5469 or 819 North 25th Street, Fort Dodge, IA 50501.
The District’s Officers for Harassment Complaints and Allegations are Steph Anderson-Elementary and Dr. Kirsten Doebel- Secondary, Director of Student Services. They can be reached at 574-5678 or 104 South 17th Street, Fort Dodge, IA 50501 *************************************************************************************
OUR SCHOOLS. OUR COMMUNITY. OUR PRIDE.