Dear HHS Families,

This is a busy week with lots of events happening at school as we count down to Fall Break next week.

Tuesday morning, 12th grade students will take the ACT from 8:30-12:00. Important information about the ACT is below, so pay close attention to the items students must bring. Also Tuesday morning, 9th grade students who have returned permission slips will be attending field trips to various local businesses as part of their Industry Experiences in the 865 Academies. For 10th and 11th grade students, Tuesday is a regular school day with a slightly adjusted bell schedule.

On another note, our Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) are collecting donations to help support the recovery efforts from the tragic floods in upper East Tennessee. Donations can be delivered to the school's Main Office, or students can deliver donations directly to Room 513 until Thursday of this week. See the attached flyer for further information. We deeply appreciate your help with this.

Best regards,

Spencer Long, Ed.S

Executive Principal

Halls High School

Dedicated to Excellence

Dear Parent/Guardian,

On October 1, 2024, the ACT® test will be administered to 12th grade students during the regular school day at no cost to you. No registration is required by you or your student. The ACT test scores will provide you with information about your student’s progress towards college readiness and is widely used by colleges in making decisions about admission. The ACT results may be used at the high school level to identify students who need assistance with certain subject areas or academic skills, to evaluate effectiveness of instruction, and to make adjustments to curriculum to improve instruction. In addition, colleges use ACT scores for admissions decisions, course placement, academic advising, and loans and scholarships. Technical colleges use ACT scores as a standard for entrance into various programs. This test also provides Knox County Schools with information on college and career readiness of our students. Students participating in the statewide ACT administration can select for free up to four colleges (or other reporting agencies) to receive their ACT scores.

Knox County Schools requires each student to take the ACT exam as a graduation requirement. It is important that your senior attends and take the exam on October 1. Statistically students who take the ACT more than one time score 2.9 points higher on average than their peers who only test once.

The ACT test will be administered to all 12th grade students on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at 8:30. This day is a regular school attendance day for 11th, 10thgrade students. The 9th grade will be on a field trip. All 12th grade students will report to assign rooms for testing. Students will need proof of identification, an approved calculator, two #2 pencils, and charged KCS Chrome book. Test must be completed on a KCS device. After the test is completed, 12th grade students will be dismissed if the student has a signed dismissal form from the parent. This form must be filled out and returned to Mrs. Polston by September 27, 2024. Forms are available in Mrs. Polston’s room or here. No email dismissals, fax dismissals, or phone dismissals will be accepted.

Please make sure your student is well-rested and arrives promptly at 8:00 am at Halls High School on the testing day to ensure a successful testing experience. For more information about the ACT, check the school website or call Mrs. Polston for more details. To help your child prepare for the ACT, practice tests can be found at https://www.act.org/content/act/en/products-and-services/the-act/test-preparation.html

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at 865-922-7757 ext. 73128.

Good Luck to the seniors on test day.

-Trina Polston, Halls High School, Testing Coordinator at Halls High School

Tuesday Night Lights is an annual event designed to provide unforgettable memories and experiences for Hall's students with disabilities. Experiencing the thrill of scoring a touchdown to a cheering crowd while their name booms from the loudspeaker or cheering for a crowd can be the highlights of a student's high school career. Tuesday Night Lights allows students who might never experience these exploits a taste of these athletic adventures. Contributing to the pride, joy, satisfaction, and pure delight experienced by our student-athletes is an event not to be missed. We will kick off our Tuesday Night Lights event on October 15th at 7:00pm. There's no charge for admission, but donations are always appreciated.

We will crown a new Homecoming King or Queen on October 25, 2024! Be sure to help us celebrate our candidates and this special ceremony! All Halls High School Alumni and our community, are invited to attend. Tickets are $10 online or at the gates.

Golf:

October 1st Regional @ Oak Ridge

Girls Soccer:

October 1st vs. CAK on turf (Senior Night)

October 3rd @ Jefferson County

Volleyball:

October 1st vs. Clinton

October 3rd @ Powell

Cross Country:

October 2nd @ Roane State

Football:

October 4th @ Heritage

• October 1st - 12th Grade ACT Retake

• October 3rd - Ignite (homeroom) schedule

• October 3rd - Sophomore Class Meeting w/Balfour 9:45am
  

• October 7-11 - Fall Break

• October 17th - Sophomore's Order w/Balfour during lunches
• October 17th - Parent Night w/Balfour (Sophomore orders)
  
• October 24th - Senior Pictures Make-ups
• October 25th - Homecoming @HHS
• November 1st - Tennessee Promise Application Deadline
• November 5th - Student Holiday
  
• November 7th - Senior Meeting w/Balfour 9:45am
• November 14th - Senior's order Cap & Gown w/Balfour during lunches
• November 14th - PARENT NIGHT w/BALFOUR (SENIOR CAP & GOWN ORDERS) 5-7pm
• May 22nd, 2025 @5:30pm - Graduation
  

I-213 Instructional Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

https://rb.gy/uac8tv

Order your yearbook!

Dear future travelers,

I am excited to announce that I will be leading a group of students on a once‐in‐a‐lifetime educational tour to Japan in the summer of 2026 and you are invited. Halls students will get to explore famous historic sites, discover the rich heritage and diversity of different cultures and get to eat some amazing food!!

Students will grow and mature as individuals and return home with a whole new worldview. We have chosen to travel with Explorica, because of their exceptional safety record, their supportive service and their glowing reviews from other teachers in our community who travel with them.

Explorica programs offer the perfect mixture of fun and learning, and they provide everything we need.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me directly (elizabeth.lynch@knoxschools.org)

**The NEW interest meeting will be Tuesday, September 17th, 2024 Time: 4:00 PM Place: Halls High School Library

I hope to see you there!

At the meeting we will discuss:

1) How this opportunity will benefit your student

2) What we’ll see and do on our trip

There are limited spots and 14/36 are filled!! Register your child for more information and an itinerary today!

www.explorica.com TOUR ID: Lynch-1286

The Class of 2025 Graduation Ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 22nd, 2025, at 5:30pm on the Halls High football field.

September is Suicide Prevention Month. KCS would like to make the following resources available for facts, education, and support. Please know that School Counselors are available at Halls High School for referrals including social/emotional topics, academics, or post-secondary support. ProjectU will be handing out resources for Suicide Prevention Month on September 10th. This is Suicide Prevention Awareness Day, please join us in wearing purple and teal!

https://secure.smore.com/n/g7erx

Senior families, please check senior memo every couple of weeks for information on college application deadlines, scholarships, college visits, financial aid information, and much more! The senior memo is your go to source of information for everything postsecondary related. Senior memo is updated very frequently with new scholarships and events, so be sure to visit often!

Follow this link to the Senior Memo from the school counseling office:

https://secure.smore.com/n/u4e2p

Parent/Family input helps the HHS counselors better serve students and meet their needs as we open school year 2024-25. We look forward to supporting your child's academic, college/career, and social/emotional growth. Please fill our our Parent Needs Assessment: https://forms.gle/nVay2gwvyZH5XwpX8

This week our Seniors began Senior Meetings with their school counselor. These meetings will run through fall break and are intended to provide the students with helpful information relevant to their postsecondary plan.

Parents are welcome to attend these meetings with their student. Many students have already booked an appointment with their counselor, but students who have not yet scheduled an appointment may do so by logging into the Class of 2025 Canvas page here:

https://knoxschools.instructure.com/courses/1029805/pages/meet-the-counselors

If you would be interested in being on the School Counseling Advisory Council, please reply to this email to let us know. The Council Meets in the HHS Library twice each school year (this year on Oct. 15 and March 25) from 4:15pm-5:15pm.

The purpose of the SCAC is to gather feedback and input from a variety of stakeholders in order to help the counseling department serve students to the fullest. The only thing that will be asked of you is that you attend the meetings and be prepared to provide input. We look forward to hearing from you!

Have you thought about joining PTO? Or how about purchasing a T-shirt? EVERY dollar from your membership or purchase goes directly to support our staff and classroom enrichment.

You can join PTO and/or purchase a shirt at this link:

https://knox-99996618.givebacks.com/store?limit=21&live=true

If you purchase a shirt, please email us at HallsHighPTO@gmail.com to arrange pickup. We have sizes XL & 2XL remaining.

TN Promise: Seniors, apply NOW!

The TN Promise application closes on November 1, 2024! Any senior who has not completed this application should complete this on their own OR see Ms. Helt in College & Career for help ASAP.

Tennessee Promise is both a scholarship and mentoring program focused on increasing the number of students who attend college in our state. It provides students a last-dollar scholarship, meaning the scholarship will cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees not covered by the Pell grant, the HOPE scholarship, or the Tennessee Student Assistance Award. Students may use the scholarship at any of the state’s 13 community colleges, 24 colleges of applied technology, or other eligible institution offering an associate degree program. Applicants must complete the Tennessee Promise application by November 1, complete the FAFSA by March 15, attend a mandatory meeting, and complete eight hours of community service each semester to be eligible for the award.

Parents, please urge your students to apply to Tennessee Promise regardless of their plans for after graduation. Even if they do not intend to enroll in a two-year institution, plans sometimes change!

TN Promise information & application link can be found here: https://www.collegefortn.org/tnpromise/

10/31: University of Tennessee, Knoxville field trip

Our field trip for SENIORS to UTK on Halloween is almost full! Parents, if your senior has their money AND permission form turned in, please remind them about this field trip on 10/31. We have had low turnout on field trips due to students not being aware that they are signed up to attend. Be sure that your student has this marked on their calendar. Note: if you have signed a permission form in Parent Square but have not paid the $10 FT fee, your student is NOT signed up to attend. If you are unsure whether your student is signed up, feel free to reach out to Caitlyn Helt (caitlyn.helt@knoxschools.org).

Students will not need to bring money to this field trip, as their $10 fee covers their lunch on campus!

Dual Enrollment

Any students enrolled in an online dual enrollment course must meet with Ms. Helt monthly to check progress on grades. As a reminder, those upcoming check in dates are October 21 and November 11! Any student who does not meet our expectation of a 70% grade or higher will be required to meet with Ms. Helt weekly until this grade is above 70%. Students who miss checkpoints or meetings related to dual enrollment may be written up.

December 5, 2024 Events

9:00 am: TN Promise mandatory meeting (HMS auditorium)

Time TBD (during school): Business Fair (HHS Library)

6:00-7:30 pm: College Fair (HHS Commons)

6:00-7:30 pm: FAFSA Workshop (HHS Library)

Freshman Industry Visits

This Tuesday, October 1st, many freshman students will participate in industry visits within our community, marking a significant step in their educational journey. These structured learning experiences are designed to bridge classroom instruction with real-world applications, allowing students to gain valuable insights into the competencies and skills needed in various professional environments. We are enthusiastic about the freshmen engaging with local organizations and look forward to fostering meaningful interactions that benefit both our students and partners. Attire Expectations - Parents, please remind your freshman to follow the appropriate attire expectations that their seminar teachers have been telling them about for weeks. All students are expected to wear their grey Halls Freshman Academy shirt (that was issued the second week of school) or a Halls shirt, to their Industry Visit. Any students attending Tindell's or Ironworkers MUST wear pants and closed-toe shoes, or they will not be able to attend, no exceptions. All students on every industry visit should wear appropriate shoes, like sneakers or comfortable work boots. Pajama pants, short shorts, crop tops, house shoes, slides, sandals, crocs, and slippers are unacceptable attire for the industry visits. Unfortunately, students not following the attire expectations will not be allowed to attend the industry visit.

October 1st:

Tindell's - Mr. Travis White, Ms. Karen McCracken & Ms. Lori Ridings

Knox County Parks and Recreation - Ms. Whitney Fitzsimmons

Douglas J. Aveda - Ms. Uriah Richey & Ms. Marleen Wens

Knoxville Zoo - Ms. Abby Weaver & Ms. Louise Hargis

DeRoyal - Ms. Lauren Butler

October 18th:

TVA Credit Union - Ms. Brooke Wells

Iron Workers Local 384 - Ms. Amanda Goodman

October 30th:

UT Medical - Ms. Jadyn Kilgore

Upcoming Guest Speakers

We are pleased to have the opportunity for more guest speaking events focused on various industries, providing students with insights into the diverse pathways offered at Halls High School. Upcoming dates and pathways are detailed below:

October 2nd - Cosmetology Pathway - Thank you to Douglas J. Aveda for fulfilling all guest speaking needs for this event!

October 16th - Construction Pathway (MEPS and Structural) - A big thank you to BESCO-Engert, Local 102, DelAir, TN PHCC, and Denark Construction for meeting so many needs for this event!

Pathway Fair

This Thursday, October 3rd, our students will host a pathway fair in the library for freshmen during their seminar classes. The event will be facilitated by our 11th and 12th grade pathway students.

Questions? Email justin.bailey@knoxschools.org or heidi.moles@knoxschools.org

FrAc Commitment to Graduate

Last Thursday was a fun and special time during Ignite, when freshmen students made their commitments to graduate from high school! We look forward to seeing these students achieve their goals!