Kimberly High School October 2024

Dear KHS Families,

I am frequently asked, "What makes Kimberly, Kimberly?" Recently, Mr. Paske, Mrs. Weyers, and I had the privilege of answering this question during a presentation to our Board of Education.

The answer is clear: Excellence doesn’t happen by chance. It is the result of what we practice every single day.

• Achievement: Kimberly High School is one of the highest achieving in the state. Additionally, our achievement scores have steadily increased over the past several years.

• Collective Commitment to Excellence: Our staff and students work tirelessly, upholding a culture of excellence.

• Continuous Improvement: We remain focused on growth and place high importance on our data.

We are incredibly fortunate to be part of this vibrant school community. I deeply appreciate the intentional efforts of our staff and students to foster a sense of belonging and growth within each classroom. It has been a rewarding experience to observe firsthand the remarkable work and energy that our students and staff invest each day.

As we look ahead to the end of the first semester, it's also the time for our 9th–11th grade students to begin planning their 2025-2026 schedules. High school is an important time for students to explore their interests and options, and we are fortunate to offer a wide array of courses, each providing unique learning opportunities. I am pleased to announce that we will be adding two new dual-credit courses in partnership with FVTC for the upcoming school year: Technology in Education and Introduction to Educational Practices. For more information about these courses, as well as our full course offerings, please refer to our Course Description Handbook available online.

Looking further ahead, we are also preparing for state testing. Our state-mandated assessments for grades 9-11 will take place in March. Specific testing dates and schedules are provided in this 2024-25 State Testing document. We offer multiple opportunities for students to prepare for these assessments, including ACT prep sessions. These details are also available in this newsletter. Additionally, students can access a free portal for practice tests, which mirror the content, question types, timing, and format of the actual test. Directions for accessing this portal can be found here. We know that students perform better with additional practice, so we encourage everyone to take advantage of these resources and practice on their own as well.

Finally, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the unwavering support from our families. We are so fortunate to have such a strong and supportive KHS community. On behalf of our entire staff, I wish you all a wonderful holiday season!

With great Papermaker Pride,

Mrs. DePeau
Principal

December:

9 - Carols in the Commons

16 - Winter Band concert at 7:00 pm

23 -January 1 - Holiday break

January:

1 - Holiday break

24 - Early release

24 - End of 2nd quarter

The Darboy Kiwanis Club and the Times Village announce the KHS Student of the Month!

Bennett Verboomen for the month of November

Cayly Bureau for the month of December

Graduation Celebration is the time-honored drug and alcohol free Post Grad Party. Seniors should register now for the best after party filled with food, games, prizes and fun!

See the instructions to purchase this on Infinite Campus through the school store here.

Parents of Seniors- graduation will be here before you know it! Please join us starting in January to help plan the best Post Grad party around for the Class of 2025. Meetings will be help in the KHS LMC from 6:00-7:00 pm on January 8, February 5, March 5, April 9 and May 7. Please contact Kelly Jansen kjansen@kimberly.k12.wi.us to sign up!

March 11, 2025 is ACT day!

The ACT is a challenging three hour test that covers English, Math, Reading, and Science. The scores matter for college admissions (technical, two-year, and university programs), military scholarship, educational scholarship, even the workforce.

The KHS ACT Preparation Program is a FREE opportunity for all 11th grade students at KHS to understand the test, analyze their performance, set appropriate goals, and train for the ACT.

All KHS 11th grade students took the PreACT test on September 27.

Once the scores come in, our work begins!

Join our Google Classroom

View our program calendar

Career Planning

December Career Planning:

• Freshman students will finish their 3 month rotation learning and hearing from departments/KHS Paths they are interested in at KHS. Students have seen what opportunities and class options they have as they prepare to schedule their classes in the next couple of months.
• Sophomore students will finish their rotations learning about all the post-secondary options (employment, apprenticeship, military, technical college and 4 year college). Learning about all post-secondary options will help them find a path that fits best!
• Juniors and Seniors will attend their final breakout session that will help them learn about a specific career or help them learn about a life skill based on their own individual plan for the future.

January Career Planning:

During the upcoming months, students in grades 9-11 will be using their time to navigate the KHS coursebook, learn about the courses offered at KHS, and put together a schedule for the following school year. Our hope is that students will look at all of the options available to them and find classes that fit their interests and educational goals and needs at KHS. Please talk to your students as they work through the scheduling process.

All students in grades 9-11 will have a conference with their advisor to discuss their class options and goals for their future. This will allow students and advisors to communicate and discuss courses to take, things to be involved in and next steps as they continue to plan for the future.

Seniors will be sharing their goals for the future and what their plans are post-graduation. We will continue to help prepare them for the next step after high school.

Seniors attending a 2 or 4 year college: Complete the FAFSA.

(Free Application for Federal Student Aid) ~ The improved FAFSA form will be available for students and parents by Dec. 1, 2024. Students who complete the form will receive a confirmation and see their estimated student aid eligibility. All families are encouraged to apply as many scholarships or programs require this information to earn other awards.

FAFSA Support Opportunities

1. College Goal Wisconsin

It will take more than good luck and best intentions to pay for college. You need a plan of action, and it should include College Goal Wisconsin!

College Goal Wisconsin is affiliated with a national event that provides free information and assistance to families who need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®), the federally required form for students seeking financial aid, such as grants and loans. Completing the FAFSA is the first and most important step in qualifying for aid.

College Goal Wisconsin offers the following:

• In-Person or Virtual Sessions

• English and Spanish help is available

• Attendees earn a chance for a $1000 Scholarship

To check locations Click Here

Sign up to attend: Click Here

What to bring: Click Here for more information.

2. FAFSA Thursdays - this resource is at FVTC, but can be used by anyone!

Career Interest/Aptitude Test

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB): This assessment is open to all Juniors and Seniors. If there is enough interest, we will offer the ASVAB at Kimberly High School for juniors and seniors. This assessment helps students explore their skills and interests, identify potential career paths, and learn about various entry routes into different fields. While the ASVAB is administered by the military, taking the test does not obligate students to enlist. However, if a student is considering military service, the ASVAB is required to determine eligibility for enlistment and to help match individuals with roles based on their strengths and abilities.

To register, please sign-up here by January 13, 2025. Test Date: TBD

Accuplacer: Need to take the Accuplacer for technical college admission? Stop into Student Services by December 20th to sign up or if you have questions about the exam.

Student/Family Wellness

9 Tips to fend off holiday stress from Mayo Clinic

While there is a lot of excitement with the holidays, it also can be a stressful time for families. Here are some tips to help ensure that everyone can enjoy this season! (Read the full article here)

1. Plan ahead to stay organized.

2. Say no to lessen your commitments.

3. Plan spending and stick to it.

4. Create relaxing surroundings by listening to music or spending time outside.

5. Maintain healthy habits by trying something new outdoors.

6. Share feelings with family.

7. Respect differences and others viewpoints

8. Be realistic with how much you can handle.

9. Take a break for yourself.

KHS 2025-2026 Scheduling Process

It is hard to believe that we are already thinking about scheduling classes for next year. Below is a summary of the dates when information will be shared and when students will begin the process to select their courses in Xello. A more detailed plan will be shared next month.

** Junior (Class of 2026) Scheduling Information **

• January 6 ~ Counselors meet with all juniors in the Auditorium to hand out scheduling materials and provide a demonstration on how to input course selections in Xello.

• January 28 ~ KHS Career Planning Work Day - Students will have time to explore options, ask questions and enter requests into Xello.

• February 11 ~ All KHS student course requests are submitted into Xello.

** Sophomore (Class of 2027) Scheduling Information **

• January 7 ~ Counselors meet with all sophomores in the Auditorium to hand out scheduling materials and provide a demonstration on how to input course selections in Xello.

• January 28 ~ KHS Career Planning Work Day - Students will have time to explore options, ask questions and enter requests into Xello.

• February 11 ~ All KHS student course requests are submitted into Xello.

** Freshmen (Class of 2028) Scheduling Information **

• January 9 ~ Counselors meet with all freshmen in the Auditorium to hand out scheduling materials and provide a demonstration on how to input course selections in Xello.

• January 28 ~ KHS Career Planning Work Day - Students will have time to explore options, ask questions and enter requests into Xello.

• February 11 ~ All KHS student course requests are submitted into Xello.

Scheduling Help Sessions

Students can stop in Student Services (bring a device) to ask questions and get help regarding their course selections with a counselor on any of the following dates/times during Extended Learning Time:

• Jan 15th ~ 2:10—3:00 PM

• Jan. 22nd ~ 2:10—3:00 PM

• Jan. 29th ~ 2:10—3:00 PM

• Feb. 5th ~ 2:10—3:00 PM

** 8th Grade (Class of 2029) Scheduling Information **

January 21 ~ High School Counselors are at JRG and will meet with all 8th graders to present the scheduling information.

February 3 ~ All JRG student course requests are submitted into Xello.

Kimberly Area School District is seeking support from our community. Make a difference and consider becoming a substitute teacher or a substitute paraprofessional

Flexible and Rewarding

• Earn extra income while your child is at school.
• Turn your volunteer hours into a paid position.
• No prior teaching experience is needed.
• Maintain a flexible work schedule.
• Help students succeed.

Apply here today!

Pertussis Update

We want to let you know there have been cases of pertussis (whooping cough) reported in our community. The health of our students, staff, and families is a top priority, so we want to keep you informed.

What is Pertussis?
Pertussis is a contagious respiratory illness that spreads through droplets from coughs and sneezes. It can affect anyone, but young children and infants are especially at risk.

Symptoms:
Early symptoms may resemble a cold and last 1-2 weeks:

· Runny nose

· Sneezing

· Low-grade fever (between 99.5°F and 100.3°F)

· Mild occasional cough

Later symptoms include severe coughing fits, a "whoop" sound when breathing, or vomiting.

Preventive Measures:

1. Monitor Symptoms: If your child shows symptoms, please consult your healthcare provider and keep them home if symptomatic.

2. Hygiene: Remind children to wash hands frequently, cover coughs, and avoid close contact with the sick.

See the DHS fact sheet for more information. If you have questions please contact your health care provider, Outagamie Public Health Department @ (920) 832-5100, or your school nurse. Thank you for your diligence in helping to control the spread of infections at school and in the community.

Below are the links for our Free and Reduced Lunch program. If you are approved for Free and Reduce lunch, and would also like to have fees waived, it is necessary to also fill out the Sharing of Information form.

Monthly Food Service Newsletter

Free and Reduced School Meals - Application

Free and Reduced School Meals - Information

Free and Reduced School Meals - Sharing Information with Other Programs