the appleton north NOCTILUCA Appleton, Wisconsin April 2014 Vol. XIX Issue VII North still making up lost minutes Schedule adjusted late. “We had plenty of options to fulfill DPI for making up minutes, but we felt the changes of extending requirements the two half days and making one half day whole would both By Erik Bakken completely address our current Though winter may tech- lack of minutes and additional- nically be over, North is still ly lead to a most effective use making up missed school min- of instructional time,” said Mr. utes due to the cold weather. Huggins. The Appleton Area School One discussion brought up District cancelled three days the newly made whole day of school in January. North used for Parent/Teacher con- actually did not “use up” the ferences. Usually, there is a amount of cold days allowed session in the afternoon for according to the AASD. How- parents to meet with teachers ever, due to calendar guide- as well as an evening session lines from the District of Pub- to allow flexibility in which lic Instruction, it has become Many of North’s students rely on the bussing system to get to school and home. time parents can attend. necessary for North to make For this reason bus schedules were taken into serious consideration when decid- With the new variations up minutes. ing upon the schedule changes. Photo by AJ Floodstrand to the schedule, the afternoon The DPI allows for five time needed to be eliminated, missed days of school for in- both the passing times and the half days, Friday, March 28 still uncertain as to whether and the evening session be- clement weather, and North longer lunch periods the school and a coming half day on Fri- there will be a day or two in came the only option. has only used three of those has in comparison to the rest of day, June 6. the future that will need to be North administration is dis- days. The guidelines of the DPI the school district. Agreeing on these changes made up. cussing changes to the daily also requires a certain number In a letter given to students, was no small task, as the Ad- But why specifically these schedule for next school year. of instructional minutes in the administration outlined the ministrative Council from changes? There were plenty Conversations continue on school year, a regulation that changes to the school year to North convened with other of ideas that could have been how to improve North’s cur- North has needed to make make up the lost minutes. Time schools in the Appleton Area employed to help North make rent schedule in several ways. some alterations to its schedule was made up by changing the School District, the district of- up the minutes it was lacking, These ideas include adding a to meet. half day of Thursday, March fice, and bussing services. The according to Mr. Huggins. One daily enrichment time where North specifically needs to 27 into a whole day, and add- modifications were made look- of the ideas included starting students can meet with teach- make up these minutes due to ing minutes to two additional ing ahead to the future, as it is school early, or ending school ers or study. District Solo and Ensemble, a success for many By Maya Murzello tive critique on your play- Mozart. ing and you feel good when Each student starts prac- Between band and orches- you get a good score.” She ticing at a different time de- tra, North had 44 students had three entries this year, a pending on the difficulty of advance to state for Solo En- Haydn Concerto in G Ma- their piece. There are three semble. This year the music jor for her solo, a Telemann levels of difficulty to choose festival took place at Apple- Concerto in A major for her from: Class A, Class B, and ton East High School on Feb. quartet, and English Folksong Class C. Only Class A pieces 22 for piano and vocal and Suite for chamber orchestra. can advance to state. Caro- March 1 for band and orches- This year State Solo En- line started practicing her solo tra. Altogether North had 110 semble will be held April 22 in September and her duet in entries. in Oshkosh. The students February. Augustine adds Solo Ensemble is a musi- will be playing the same piece that, “This is also a great op- cal festival hosted by the Wis- but it is harder to receive top portunity to overcome perfor- consin School Music Associa- honors since they are playing mance anxiety.” tion where middle school and with everyone who received a Mr. Thaldorf agrees with high school students perform Elise Edwards and Caroline Augustine performed a duet *1. this sentiment. “Students in front of one judge and he together for Solo and Ensemble. They are among the Caroline Augustine, ju- don’t always realize this, but or she evaluates the performer 44 other students at North that will advance to state this nior, said, “It is a compilation Solo and Ensemble will be based on five categories: tone, year. Photo from Elise Edwards of the hours of practice to per- helpful later in life. It gives intonation, accuracy, tech- form in front of a judge and students confidence to speak nique, and expression. District Solo Ensemble an opportunity to perform for then be critiqued on how to publically in the future.” For each category the mu- happens once a year in late judges against a set of crite- improve your playing.” Au- Through the whole expe- sician is graded on a scale of winter. Appleton East, Apple- ria. Students are not judged gustine has been participating rience, Mr. Thaldorf encour- 1 through 10 with 1 being the ton North, Appleton West, against one another; it is in Solo Ensemble since 7th ages students to think about, best. A *1 means the musi- Kimberly, and Kaukauna high based on the performance of Grade and has advanced to “Where they were when they cian will advance to State schools and their respective the piece.” Mr. Thaldorf has state three times. began this process and where Solo Ensemble. middle schools are involved been involved with Solo En- This year she is advancing are they at the end of it. Did Advancing to state is a in the District Solo Ensemble. semble for twenty- five years. to state for her duet with Elise they learn something? Did they great honor for the performer Mr. Jim Thaldorf, the band Megha Uberoi, sophomore, Edwards for Concerto in D improve? And the next time and the school which he or director, said, “Solo Ensem- said, “Solo Ensemble is a Minor by Bach and her solo they do it, will they be better?” she represents. ble is not a competition, it is good way to get a construc- for Concerto in G Major by NEWS Appleton, Wisconsin April 2014 Volume XIX Issue VII Page 2 Students to receive recognition for global efforts By Megha Uberoi other class with global analy- Next school year at Apple- sis for four years. ton North students who strive There is also a requirement to be globally competent will of cultural literacy over four now be able to get recognized years. Cultural literacy can be for their efforts. The Global practiced by completing inde- Education Achievement Cer- pendent reflections on at least tificate (GEAC) is meant to eight works of international recognize global scholars, or or cultural media. students that have made an ef- For the co-curricular and fort to become more cultural. school sponsored activities Mrs. Shelly Tesch and Mrs. requirement students would Pauline Meyer, both Spanish have to participate in activi- teachers at North, are apply- ties such as: the France, Ger- ing to the Wisconsin Depart- many, or Spain trips offered, ment of Public Instruction travel abroad program with (DPI) to be able to certify this music classes, and partici- program and will hopefully pate in International Club at Students commit to the highest level of language learning by taking AP language receive approval next fall. school. classes, such as Mrs. Linda Meyer’s AP Spanish class. Coming next fall students The certificate is available The certificate is beneficial will be able to be recognized for becoming more global, which includes taking a to students graduating high because it can be used on col- language class for four years. Photo by Maya Murzello school who have successfully lege applications. When stu- completed a global education dents apply to universities the with the help of Mrs. Laura alized that these students had Students at Plymouth High curriculum, and are preparing GEAC will be on your resume Koebel, a Spanish teacher at taken a recognizable effort School have benefited from to be globally competent stu- and will show an intentional Plymouth High School. Mrs. to become more global, and the recognition the certificate dents who are career ready in focus towards international Koebel said the certificate I think that is what set them offers, so hopefully it will Wisconsin and beyond. studies. is beneficial for the students apart.” provide the same benefits to The certificate requires This is especially impor- who receive them. The certificate has certain- students at North. global exposure commitment tant for students planning to “Students have been able ly helped students at Plym- Andrew Syring, sopho- over four years in the areas enter careers in language edu- to put the certificate in their outh High School achieve more, believes that it will of coursework, cultural lit- cation.