Blue Devil Bulletin

Hello, Lodi High School Families!

Transitioning into a new school year can be extremely exciting for our students and parents because the beginning of the year can offer new opportunities, experiences and friendships. Please continue to encourage your high schooler to get involved by joining a club or co-curricular because it allows them make the most of their high school experience. There was a tremendous amount of participation during our most recent Homecoming Week that hopefully will spill over to the remainder of the Fall and into the Winter sports and activity season.

With Homecoming week here and gone I wanted to thank all of the students, teachers and advisors that helped make a the week a success. One highlight was the over $2000 that was raised at our Powder Puff Fundraiser Night. That doesn't happen without the generosity of parents and community members attending that worthwhile event. So, thank you for your participation!

Also, as a reminder, parent/teacher conferences are this Thursday, Oct. 5 from 3:30 to 7:30 pm. Be sure to read in the Bulletin how to sign up for a scheduled conference with your child's teachers.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support of our students, teachers and other staff members at LHS!

Go Blue Devils!!

Mr. Jelinek

October Dates

Hello, High School Families.

This Thursday, Oct. 5, is our first round of Parent/Teacher Conferences at LHS. They start at 3:30 pm and will conclude at 7:30. As we have done the past few years, we will again ask parents/guardians to schedule a 15 minute conference with their teachers. When scheduling you will be given the option of a conference via phone conversation, Google Meet, or in-person. If you choose to conference through Google Meet, please be sure to look for a Google Meet Calendar invitation from the teacher which will confirm the conference.

Here is the Link that will direct you to our teacher's schedules for the evening.

Also, Post Secondary Night which was originally scheduled for Oct. 5, has been rescheduled for Nov. 30. On that night a representative from Madison College will be in attendance.

The winter sports code of conduct player/parent meeting will be Monday, October 16 at 7:00pm in the high school gym. All players and a parent/guardian should attend. Hockey players will be allowed to leave after the code of conduct portion of the meeting.

If you attended a code of conduct meeting for fall sports, you do not need to arrive until 7:30pm. At that time, each winter sport coach for boys' basketball, girls' basketball, wrestling and dance team will hold a player/parent meeting.

On Tuesday, Oct 5, LHS was lucky enough to experience a visit from the Lieutenant Governor of the great state of Wisconsin, Sarah Rodriguez. Lt. Governor Rodriguez was able to visit with students during lunch, speak with Ms. Barlow's AP U.S. History class, get a tour of our Thailand Distance Education classroom with Mr. Fassbender, work and visit with Ms. Moldenhauer and our Creative Economics class, and be interviewed by students from Mrs. Potter's Writing for Publication class. It was great to have someone of such political stature learn more about the wonderful experiences are students are having at LHS.

The 2023 Homecoming was a huge success again this year!

Here are some of the HIGHLIGHTS:

• New tradition of Class Golf Carts in the Parade
• Area businesses once again display our class banners
• Sophomores win the Powder Puff Championship
• Over $2000 was raised at the Powder Puff Fundraiser Night
• Football team wins 44-14 over The Milwaukee School of Science
• More than 35 Individuals from the community and surrounding area present at the Career Fair
• LHS students provide service at over 18 locations in the community

Once again on the Friday of Homecoming, LHS hosted the annual Career Fair. Students were able to attend 5 sessions in the morning where more than 35 individuals shared information about their careers. The event included 14 former students, 11 parents of students, and 2 school board members. It also featured 6 presenters with experience in the trades or manufacturing, 7 presenters with experience in marketing and sales, 4 small business owners, 3 presenters with a job related to human resources and several presenters with experience in science or the medical field.

We'd like to give a huge thank you to all of our presenters for taking time out of their busy schedules to help give some guidance and share information with our high schoolers.

Here is a link to this year's presenters.

Post-Secondary Planning Meeting Rescheduled for Nov. 30th

Due to the FAFSA not being available until December this year, the Post-Secondary Meeting that was scheduled for October 5th at 6:00 p.m. has been rescheduled and will now take place on November 30th at 6:00 p.m.

UW System Applications

The University of Wisconsin System Colleges are now accepting applications. Students are encouraged to apply early in their senior year. The UW System application is available online at apply.wisconsin.edu. More information about the UW System can be found on The UW-HELP website at uwhelp.wiscsonsin.edu.

Madison College

Seniors interested in applying to Madison College should submit an application as soon as possible. Please check Madison College’s website for specific program information: madisoncollege.edu.

Financial Aid

This year, seniors can begin applying for federal financial aid in December of 2023. There will be a representative from Madison College’s Financial Aid Office at LHS’s Post-Secondary Night on November 30th to discuss the financial aid application process. In addition, families can get help completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) by attending a Free Wisconsin College Goal event (dates and locations for 2023-24 events are still to be determined). Students have a chance to win a scholarship just by attending a Wisconsin College Goal event. More information can be found at https://collegegoalwi.org/. Information about the FAFSA, including a link to the application, can be found at https://studentaid.gov/.

During the Spring of 2023 we gave our 9th and 10th graders an opportunity to take the Practice ACT. This was optional and 48 of our current Juniors elected to take it. Because we would like to give all of our current Juniors access to the Practice ACT exam, to better prepare them for the real ACT that they will take this Spring, on Wednesday, Oct. 25 our 11th graders will get this opportunity.

More information will be shared with our Juniors and their parents/guardians as the date approaches.

Lodi High School will offer four signing dates during the 2023-24 school year for prospective student-athletes. The dates are determined using the initial signing date for each period as listed on the National Letter of Intent website.

The dates will be:

• November 8, 2023

• December 20, 2023

• February 7, 2024

• April 17, 2024

Signings will occur in the Lodi High School gym during intervention period (2:34-3:13pm). Student-athletes are asked to invite any family, friends, teammates, and coaches that they would like to attend this special event.

The Lodi High School Athletic Booster Club once again hosted the Fall Tailgate Party. At this annual event teams share highlights of their seasons so far and introduce their seniors. The Cheerleaders also have an opportunity to lead the crowd in some cheers. Thank you Booster Club for all of the support you give both financially and with the time you invest in our student athletes and their families every year!

Making sure our students and staff are safe on a daily basis is the most important priority for LHS administration. During the months of September and October, Associate Principal, Jason Marshall, and Principal, Joe Jelinek, train students through presentations and safety drills using the program ALICE. ALICE is an active shooter preparedness program that the district has used for several years now. ALICE stands for: Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate.

Please reach out to Mr. Marshall or Mr. Jelinek if you have any questions or concerns.

If you are a student, or you have a student, enrolled in an Advanced Placement (AP) course at Lodi High School during the 2023-24 school year, please take note of the following information. AP courses provide students with an opportunity to challenge themselves with college-level courses while in high school, growing their academic skills and confidence. Colleges and universities increasingly are looking for academic rigor as part of admission decisions. AP courses on transcripts are great evidence of academic rigor. At highly selective universities, such as UW-Madison, some AP coursework is the norm for accepted students.

AP courses also provide students the opportunity to earn college credit by taking AP exams in May. Generally, students who pass the exam with a score of 3, 4, or 5 receive college credit from the institution they will attend. Credits are awarded differently depending upon the college or university, so it is important to check with those schools regarding details.

One of the tasks that AP students have is to decide whether they will take AP exams. Students will need to indicate their decisions through their College Board accounts for each AP course in which they are enrolled.

• Deadline for this decision is Wednesday, November 1

• Students who decide after November 1 to take an exam for an AP course may have a $40 late fee in addition to the exam fee for each exam..

• Students who indicate through their College Board accounts that they plan to take an AP exam may cancel their exam prior to November 15 by informing Ms. Kinonen. These students will not be subject to a cancellation fee.

• Any exam cancellations after November 15 may result in a $40 cancellation fee for each exam.

The fee is $98 for each AP exam taken. Any student who participates in the free and reduced lunch program should contact Ms. Kinonen about exam payment. You may pay (after November 15) via credit card in Infinite Campus, with a check made out to Lodi High School, or with cash. Please drop off your cash or check at the high school office or mail your payment to:

Lodi High School

Attn: Megan Kinonen

1100 Sauk Street

Lodi WI 53555

If you have any questions regarding AP exams, please contact Megan Kinonen by email (kinonme@lodischoolswi.org) or by phone (608-592-3853 x4414).

Appreciate a Staff Member!

We have so many amazing educators here at Lodi High School! Last year, Mr. Jelinek and Mr. Marshall sat down with each staff member, and one of the common themes that came up was how much our staff love to be appreciated by the families that they serve. When you experience a staff member who is going above and beyond or deserves some recognition, please consider giving them a shout-out through our staff appreciation google form. Your appreciation will be put on a staff appreciation poster and shared with that staff member.

Ordering the 2024 Yearbook

Basic yearbooks cost $50. Your name can be engraved on the front cover for an additional $8.

• To pay by debit or credit card, click here: Jostens Online Orders Payment plans are available online.

• To pay by cash or check, send your payment with the student's name to the high school, c/o Renee Potter. Please make out checks to Lodi High School. If you want to order personalization, icons, etc., please fill out the Semester 1 Sales Form (good through 12/22/23).

Don’t remember if you ordered a yearbook this year? Check the 2024 Sales List (updated monthly).

Submitting Class of 2024 Senior Portraits

Deadline: Friday, October 20, 2023

Pose

• Head and shoulders photo, please. The focus of the photo should be on your student’s face.

• No uniforms, action shots, props, pets, etc.

• Please do not print anything extra on the picture, such as name, graduation year, etc.

Format

• One VERTICAL portrait

• JPEG file (no png or HEIC files), at least 1 MB

• If friends/family are using a phone to take the senior photo, set the resolution at the highest setting.

How to Submit: Three Options

1. Upload photo via Google Form: Senior Portraits Submission Form

2. Email photo to the yearbook adviser, Renee Potter: pottere@lodischoolswi.org Please include the student's name.

• The school district's email filter can sometimes block unfamiliar email addresses or very large files. Always expect an email confirmation when submitting electronically.

3. Send a printed photo to Renee Potter via postal mail or have your child drop it off. The photo will be scanned and returned to your student. Please make sure the student’s first and last name is written lightly on the back.

Want to Save Money on Your Senior Portraits?

Hiring a professional photographer can get expensive. But we can connect you with experienced photographers who are happy to provide assistance! Please contact Whitney Robarge for options at robarwh@lodischoolswi.org or 608-592-3853 ext. 4438.

Questions?

Email Renee Potter at pottere@lodischoolswi.org

LHS Yearbook Website Link

Nurses Notes October 2023:

It’s hard to believe that we are going into the month of October already. October is a good month to have a yearly flu vaccine and updated COVID vaccine.

The CDC recommends children 6 months and older an annual flu vaccine by the end of October. The CDC also recommends all eligible individuals 6 months and older shoulder an updated COVID-19 vaccine. When children and their families are vaccinated, it helps protect the risk of getting seriously ill.

For more information:

• CDC Flu Vaccination Recommendations

• CDC Updated COVID Recommendations

Sleep is important so your high school student(s) are ready to learn. Two out of three high school students sleep less than 8 hours per day recommended by the CDC, and lack of sleep can have a variety of negative effects on mental health and cognitive function. Chronic lack of sleep can have long-term effects on memory, concentration and overall mental health. Here is more information Helping You Teen Succeed in High School

A friendly reminder with any virus to keep your child home until they are 24 hours vomit, diarrhea, and/or fever free without fever reducing medications and symptoms have improved.

Please reach out to any changes in your students' health or if you have any questions or concerns.

Janelle Sivam RN, BSN

School Nurse

Lodi High School 608-592-3853 Ext 4484

LES/OSC 608-592-3842 Ext 2103 Cell: 608-573-1851 Fax: 608-592-1025

Fall Greetings to all our Students and Families!

What a great start to our new school year! The Scott Ness Family donated sweet corn for all the schools to eat. This is the second year in a row the Ness Family has partnered with Taher and Lodi schools in bringing farm fresh local food to our cafeterias. Thank you also to Connor Anderson, the FFA and his classes for picking up the corn and helping our staff shuck it all. We all shucked about 900 ears of corn!

Our harvest this month is pears, plums, mint and eggplant. We also went to Italy this month. We had hot Italian Turkey Pieggas and next week we will have a plant based zucchini pesto pasta. Please come and try some!

We have the Great Apple Crunch coming on October 12th . We will have local apples for everyone to

try at lunch time. Also in October, watch for our Kung Pao Chicken - spicy chicken over rice from the Sichuan Province of China. Lots of fun things to look forward to.

A few reminders:

*Please do not ruin or throw away the silverware from the cafeteria. Replacing silverware increases our costs.

*Please make sure if you are buying things for other students that your parents are aware. If you

are a parent and do not want your student buying things for other people, please have that conversation with your student. Thank you in advance for your help addressing this issue.

*We are still looking for students to be on the student food advisory council. Contact Diane in the

Foodservice Department.

As always we thank everyone for your support of Taher-Lodi School Foodservice!

Interested in enjoying the fall weather and getting outside? Join Hiking Club! This is a new club offering open to all high schoolers. Our first hike will be October 11th. We will venture various trails around the Lodi area during five different Wednesdays after school this semester. Please fill out the google form sign up found at this link: https://forms.gle/rWLqn5ApZUN1oT1z9 There will also be an activity fee of $25 that you can pay in the office. If you have specific questions, please reach out to one of the club advisors: Ms. Steinhorst, Ms. Bercher, Ms. Caelwaerts, or Mr. Olson.

Lodi High School was recognized as one of the Gold Standard Schools of Financial Literacy in the state of Wisconsin. All schools in the state that require a financial literacy class as a graduation requirement, were honored. Only 24.6 percent of high schools in the nation are recognized as Gold Standard Schools so this is a great honor for our students and staff.

Way to go, LHS!!!

Congratulations to Lodi High School who was named by US News and World Reports as one of the Best High Schools in the State of Wisconsin. This is a great recognition for the high school, but is really an honor for the entire District. The best predictor of how successful a student is going to be in high school is how well they did in middle school. The best predictor of how a student does in middle school is how they did at the Elementary School or in OSC which is predicated on the work that is done in the Primary School. So even though the high school was named in the press release, this is a district wide recognition of the outstanding work our students and staff do on a daily basis.

Our LINK Crew Leaders, led by Mr. Radloff and Ms. Ashbeck, once again helped prepare our incoming 9th graders for their transition into LHS life. We are extremely fortunate to have students that are willing to take the time to make all of our LHS family feel welcome!

1st Advocate Video of the 2023/24 School Year