SHS does not mail hardcopy report cards at the end of each term. Student final term grades are visible in PowerSchool. Parents/Guardians can contact the main office to request a hardcopy. At the end of the school year, SHS mails a final report card containing grades for each term of the school year.

Students had a busy day on October 29th as all of our junior students took the ACT Test at Concordia free of charge. (We would like to thank our school board for continuing to fund this for our students) The freshmen and sophomores took the PRE-ACT Test and our seniors spent the day applying to schools, visiting with college, trade, and military representatives, and applying for scholarships. Thank you to our School Counselors for planning a productive due for our students.

Please join us Wednesday, November 13th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm for Parent Teacher Conferences. There will be a Junior Parent Presentation by the SHS counselors at 5:45pm in the High School Theater.

Senior portraits for the yearbook are due no later than Friday, December 6. Portraits must be in full color, vertical, cropped from the waist up or closer, and submitted as high-resolution JPEGs to Mrs. Christensen at julie.christensen@sewardschools.org. See Mrs. Christensen in the library if you have questions. Parent/Guardian Baby Ads - Yearbook Senior parent/guardian ads are due no later than Friday, February 14. Ads may include up to three photos along with a message. Senior parent/guardian ads will be a 1/4 or 1/2 page. These ads cost $50 for a 1/4 page ad or $95 for a 1/2 page. These ads will be sold & submitted online directly through our Walsworth Yearbook site, the cost does not include a yearbook, that must be purchased separately. You may buy your yearbook and purchase senior ads at: https://tinyurl.com/84keer9n

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The 140th annual Seward High School commencement ceremony will be held Sunday, May 18, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. in the south gym at Seward High School. This information is being provided as early as possible for family planning purposes. Additional information regarding the ceremony will be provided in subsequent newsletters.

Seward FFA is already busy and preparing for multiple events and competitions. The Seward FFA chapter consists of 88 members for the 2024-2025 school year. These members are the ones who completed all pieces to the membership information and paid dues. Each member should have picked up their Seward FFA t-shirt. The chapter's most recent events include: Husker Harvest Days, Ag Appreciations Luncheon, Elementary Ag Safety Day, Regional Land Evaluation (congratulations to Esten Johnsen for earning his way to STATE), State Land Evaluation, and Feed-A-Farmer. Current events are the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, ID and Fruit Sales. The National Convention is Oct. 22nd-Oct. 26th, and there are 12 members attending. Our biggest fundraiser of the year is happening NOW! We are selling fruit, jerky, candy, cookie dough, and Jisa Cheese. Each member should have picked up their packet at our fruit sales meeting on Oct. 15th, where we went over all the important details. Packets are due Nov. 8th and all items should be in the week of Dec. 2nd. Please make sure all money is included in the packet, and checks are made out to Seward FFA. We encourage members to sell as many items as possible, as there is a competition between families. Other rewards include receiving a free t-shirt for selling 20 items or $400 worth, or receiving a free sweatshirt by selling 40 items or $800 worth. If you are a new member or freshman top seller you have the opportunity to win a free FFA Jacket. We also have scholarship money to the top seller out of the whole chapter. Each year the top seller will get a $100 scholarship that will be awarded to them their senior year. Our fundraiser money will be going towards competition fees, and state convention. Our chapter is also preparing for LDEs (leadership development events). There is a practice schedule in google sheets with times available for both Mrs. Cast or Ms. Eggerling. To help us prepare for this district contest we are hosting a community showcase the night of November 19th at Seward High School. Everyone is welcome to come support our members. All information about events & updates will be sent to member emails. Check Emails Daily!

Some of our upcoming events include:

Oct.15- Nov. 8th Fruit Sales Fundraiser

Oct. 22-26 National FFA Convention Contest

Oct. 30 District Livestock Judging Contest

Nov. 4th FFA Fall Festival with Pet Parade

Nov. 5th Chapter meeting in access

Nov. 5th Announcement of Adopt-a-Family Christmas project

Nov. 7-8th PSC Conference & Ag Ed Symposium

Nov. 8th Fruit Sales Fundraiser Ends

Nov. 13th Nebraska Ag Summit @CUNE

Nov. 19th LDE Community Showcase, 5;30pm @school - everyone is welcome

Nov. 25th Food Drive

Students have access to extra assistance study group on Monday-Thursday each week from 3:45-4:45 p.m. in the Seward High School library. Students have access to Seward High School staff members. Students needing computer access are also welcome to attend.

The last day of classes before winter vacation is Friday, December 20. Classes will dismiss early at 1:30. School resumes with the start of second semester Monday, January 6. The staff at Seward High School wishes our families a happy holiday season!

The third term of the 2024-2025 school year will begin Monday, January 6, 2025. Students and parents/guardians should be advised that schedule changes will only be made on a limited basis once the new term begins when there is a scheduling error or some other educationally significant variable making it necessary. Students will be given an opportunity prior to the start of term 3 to request schedule changes. The purpose of completing this process prior to the start of a new term is to prevent unnecessary interruptions to classroom instruction once a new term begins.

The SHS Music Department has had a successful fall season! The Pride of Seward High Bluejay Marching Band received Superior ratings at 4 out of 5 competitions, including the NSBA State Festival. Seward was also recognized for their 40th year of participation at State. The Vocal Performance class shared music with residents at assisted living facilities and other schools, and the annual Opening Night choral event hosted a great dinner and show. SHS music students have been selected for many upcoming honor bands and choirs, including 22 singers for the Concordia National Honor Choir on November 1, 9 instrumentalists for the Doane Fall Festival of Winds on November 2, and 18 instrumentalists for the Concordia National Honor Band on November 15. Additionally, Kayla Albright was selected for the Nebraska All State Orchestra, and Sophie Matthias, Kyla Novak, Brynlie Robbins, Avery Rodocker, Madison Sides, Lucy Huntington, Emma Matulka, Samantha Quist, Brecken Grady, and Adam Rickert were selected for the Nebraska All State Choir. These ensembles are very competitive, and it's a great honor to earn a spot to perform. Many of these students are going to be performing with these groups for their 2nd or 3rd times! There are several home concerts in November and December. The wind ensemble and jazz band will perform on Monday, November 4, all instrumental ensembles on December 9, and all vocal ensembles on December 16. All concerts are at 7pm in the SHS theater and will be live streamed. Please join us to listen to all the wonderful music our students create!

Encourage Respect: Teaching your teen to be respectful at home can make them more considerate and improve their relationships with friends, teachers, and bosses. Try these ways to promote respect.

Address the behavior: When your adolescent sighs, stomps off, or talks back, it may seem easier to overlook it than to argue about it. But letting them get away with it won’t help them-or you-in the long run. Take the time to discuss their behavior and to set consequences.

Offer Strategies: Talk about appropriate ways for them to handle situations where they tend to be disrespectful. For instance, if they often ask for your input and then roll their eyes at your suggestions, spell out what she could do instead (Say, Thanks, but I’m not sure that will work because…”). Or agree on a look or gesture that quickly communicates to them, “Think of another way to respond!”

Respond Respectfully: Demonstrate respect with how you react to their behavior. If you’re in public, you might pull them aside to keep the matter private. Let them know what they did was wrong. Then explain what will happen if their rudeness continues (your shopping trip will be over or you will not be playing your games anymore).

Making College Possible: Suggestions for Parents/Guardians:

The following list of suggestions comes from the EducationQuest Foundation. These suggestions are research-based and consistent with the message being delivered by Seward High School staff on a daily basis. The goal of providing this information to parents/guardians is to help create a consistent message between home and school.

You can help young students make college possible by:

• helping them understand academic requirements for admission into a four-year/two-year college or trade program and encouraging them to take rigorous courses in high school. This will be especially important as we register for the upcoming school year in January and February of term 3. Additional information regarding the upcoming registration process will be included in the January newsletter.

• encouraging them to get involved in extracurricular activities to gain leadership and teamwork skills, increase scholarship opportunities, and stay out of trouble.

• guiding them to helpful resources if they are struggling academically, socially, or emotionally. Please contact the staff at Seward High School if your student is struggling in any one of these areas. Our staff is driven to serve and we have a wide-array of resources and interventions both at the school and through school-community partnerships to help provide our students the support they need.

• helping them explore career options – and research colleges that fit their desired career choices - mynextmove.org / educationquest.org / bigfuture.collegeboard.org.

• helping them understand ways to pay for college including financial aid. Seward High School will provide several opportunities throughout each school year to help support parents in obtaining this valuable knowledge.

• coordinating visits to area colleges and universities.

Seniors…A Guide for Your Journey to College From EducationQuest
(Winter Suggestions):

• Watch for communication from the colleges you applied to via your online student portal, email or mail.

• Having completed the FAFSA, be prepared for verification. The college(s) may request documents to verify your FAFSA information.

• Watch for financial aid award notification from colleges which you listed on the FAFSA.

• Continue to apply for scholarships.

Exploring Careers (From EducationQuest):

Exploring careers before you select a college will help you find the school that best fits your career interests and goals. Follow these steps to get started:

• Learn more about your interests and skills. Complete at least two interest or skills assessments to learn about careers that might be a good match.

• Ask your school counselor about assessments at your school.

• Use free online tools including:

• H3.ne.gov (high wage, high demand, high skill jobs)

• MyNextMove.org

• NebraskaCareerConnections.org

• BigFuture.collegeboard.org/explore–careers

• Use educationquest.org resources

• Do some research. Research potential careers based on your assessment results.
  

• Review the career diagram below to learn more:

• The six broad “career fields”

• The 16 “career Clusters” that group careers with similar skills and themes

• Additional information can be found at http://www.nebraskacareerconnections.org
  “Now, Next, Later” Career Ladders

• Develop a career plan. Map out the education and training you’ll need for your future career.
  

• Use “Reality Check” at EducationQuest.org to determine if your potential career choices will provide the lifestyle you desire.

• Talk to your school counselor about college majors that will help you reach your career goal.

• Use College Profiles at EducationQuest.org to find schools that offer your potential major(s).

• Participate in activities that match your career interests such as school clubs, community service, job shadowing, internships, and part-time jobs.

All SHS students have a tool they can use to keep them organized throughout their high school career: It’s called their Personal Learning Plan or PLP. Within the PLP, students can map out their five-year plan, record test scores, list their goals, keep track of their graduation checklist, record their volunteer hours, add information to their resume, and much more. Ask your child about their PLP. It is stored in their Google Drive as LastName.FirstName(Class of 20xx)PLP. They can share the document with you for your access and use.

Website: Seward High Counseling Center Page

Phone: 402.643.2988

Email: A-K Kevin Fields kevin.fields@sewardschools.org

L-Z Noelle Baker noelle.baker@sewardschools.org

Winter Sports Practice: will begin Monday, November 18

Boys Basketball Parent Meeting - Wednesday 11/20 6:30 pm - In the HS Main Lobby

Girls Basketball Parent Meeting - Thursday 11/14 6:00 pm - In Mr.Zimmerman's Classroom

Wrestling Parent Meeting - Tuesday 12/3 6:30 pm - In the HS Cafeteria

Bowling Parent Meeting - TBD-Stay tuned

NSAA Moratorium:

There will be no sports practices or competitions from December 22 through December 26 because of the mandatory five-day NSAA moratorium. Additional information regarding sports practices and competitions during the winter break will be communicated directly by the coach of each sport/team.

Winter Activities Policies:

With the winter activities season on the horizon a list of reminders has been provided below in an effort to be proactive regarding the policies of Seward High School. Please contact the school if you have questions or a unique situation you would like to discuss related to the items below.

1. Students must be passing all of their classes to participate in an athletic contest or school activity event. Students who are not eligible may not ride the team/organization bus to away events.

2. Students must be in school all day in order to participate in an activity that afternoon or evening. This includes practices, games, and performances. Staying home in the morning to rest because they are not feeling well and returning to school late morning or early afternoon does not allow a student to participate that day.

3. Students who are slated to be absent for a school activity are encouraged to alert their teachers ahead of time and get work before they leave whenever possible.

An effort should be made to make all non-essential appointments outside of the school day whenever possible (i.e. haircut, etc.). Students attending regular appointments for medical reasons, therapy, and other important/required reasons are encouraged to vary the time of these appointments whenever possible in order to reduce the academic impact a student experiences with any one class within their schedule.

Activities Transportation:

As we transition into the winter activity season, a reminder about the “alternate transportation” policy seems appropriate. Depending on the circumstances, one of two documents will need to be signed.

When students are involved in extracurricular activities they are strongly encouraged to ride on the school provided transportation. The bus ride home is a valuable part of the extracurricular experience, but, if a parent wishes to take their child home after a contest, they may do so. Each coach/sponsor has a check out sheet that allows only the parent/guardian to take their son/daughter home after an event.

In rare or unusual circumstances, alternate transportation may be needed. For example, a student may be taking the ACT until 11:30 am and they are involved in an activity that departs at 10:30 am. If this is the case, a parent/guardian must come into the office at Seward High and sign a waiver at least 24 hours in advance. This release will allow the student to utilize alternate transportation.

In the past, seniors have been able to independently order senior banners for specific sports for their personal use. This option is still available; additionally, the school has also established a new systematic opportunity that allows us to honor more students in more activities as well as save students money by incorporating all of their activities into one banner. Seniors wishing to have a banner displayed in the main lobby may visit: https://middlecreekprinting.com/services/online-stores.html Fans will also find Seward High spirit apparel at the same site.

HOME OF THE BLUEJAYS!

Email: firstname.lastname@sewardschools.org
Website: www.sewardpublicschools.org
Location: 532 Northern Heights Drive, Seward, NE, USA
Phone: 402-643-2988
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SewardBluejays
Twitter: @SewardBluejays