High School LC Newsletter

Hello MS Learning Coaches!

We are back to school on December 2nd for a full 3 weeks of school. After winter break (12/23-1/1), time will fly by and the end of the semester will arrive fast. To be ready, ensure you are checking on your students courses each week to ensure they are not missing work. I would love to see all our student unplug and relax over break. Our final due dates are the first and third Sunday of the month. Ensure your students have all missing work in prior to 12/20 so they can relax instead of work over break.

The teen mind is always changing and adapting. Make sure time on devices is limited. Read a book, play board games or make up your own game, get crafty or create new artwork, get outside for fresh air, help a neighbor, or go out and explore. I know as an adult making dinner gets old, plan a day where your high school student plans and makes it (they might even surprise you).

Please read through this newsletter for a variety of updates as well as attendance and LC Advisory recordings at the end.

Vision of a Graduate Focus

This month's focus for staff as part of our Vision of a Graduate is being a contributor. Teachers support students in this goal by encouraging student feedback and engagement in class, allowing students to share their perspectives, and facilitating open ended discussions and projects.

Where students can practice this skill

ClassConnects are one example that students have access to each day. This could be in class, homeroom, or clubs. Asynchronously, in communications to teachers or in work they do at home or in their communities. Students can contribute ideas, time, skills, and/or material items in reaching a common goal.

How this applies to the real world after HS graduation

In any job, employers are looking for staff who contribute. It could be as complex as coming up with new ideas or processes or as easy as looking for a staff member to contributes to a positive work environment. We also have many students who are passionate about various causes. They can contribute time to volunteer, ideas to bring awareness to communities, or material goods to support others.

Did you know we have classes that can earn college credit? While we have more traditional AP (Advanced Placement) courses in which students learn AP content and prepare for an AP Exam, we also have dual credit reading and writing courses. This semester, Ms. O'Rourke is teaching a College Reading class. Students who successfully complete the requirements in the course can earn both high school and college credit!

Last Month they completed an Author Project Presentation where they researched and presented on a author from Wisconsin. They not only learned about authors right here in our state, but also practiced research, writing, presentation, and communication skills.

k12 Zone is a virtual world where students can take part in activities and connect with other students via mic, camera, and/or chat. K12 National Zone is not run by WIVA staff. The zone is monitored by Stride and AI chat bots send alerts for concerning conversations in the chat. Students are expected to follow school appropriate behavior and expectations while in the Zone as outlined in our student handbook. See the link at the bottom for the Digital Citizenship Guide.

Why K12 Zone? Over the years students and LCs have advocated to have more social opportunities outside of class where there is not a planned agenda, but rather gives times for students to chat and make friends. While WIVA offers clubs and connections in classrooms, the Zone can support student's social needs.

K12 National Zone is turned on throughout the day. This is an opportunity for students to connect to other k12 school students from WIVA and across the U.S. While this is a great opportunity to learn about students in other states, students do need to attend their required CC sessions. If you find this becomes a distraction or would not like your student to partake, you can request to have them banned from the zone through your student's counselor.

K12 Zone Digital Citizenship guidelines: K12 Zone Digital Citizenship Guidelines.pptx

Each month our high school student of the month will be posted on our website. Congratulations to this month's winner and other nominees!

Notification of Language Assistance Services: Any parent who is limited in speaking, writing, or reading English may request the school to provide access to services such as interpreters and/or translated documents. To request services please email Miriam Mueller-Owens at mmowens@wivcs.org. Prompt access to the appropriate services and/or translator will be coordinated.

Asistencia de idioma: Cualquier padre que se limita al hablar, escribir o leer Inglés podrá solicitar a la escuela para proporcionar acceso a servicios tales como intérprete y / o documentos traducidos. Para solicitar los servicios envíe un correo electrónico o llamar al Coordinador de ELL. Se coordinará el pronto acceso a los servicios apropiados y / o al traductor.

When questions arise it is important to know who to go to for the best support. If you have general questions, your student's homeroom teacher would be your first point of contact. If you have questions about a course, the teacher for that class is the best to go to. However, we know other needs arise. Counselors and mentors are also here to support your student.

Counselors: information surrounding your schedule, graduation readiness, college or career planning, or personal well-being

See the HS Counselor Corner Newsletters:

October - https://secure.smore.com/n/b8jgm-counseling-corner

November - https://secure.smore.com/n/qt6s3

Mentors: how to school online, resolve technical issues, and problem solve.

See who to contact below.

Are you having computer issues? You can call or chat with tech support. When you do this make sure to keep your ticket number in case our school needs to look into progress on the solution.

Call: 866-512-2273

Online: https://www.help.k12.com/s/ and you will see on the bottom right a "chat with us" option

If your student will be absent for a partial day, you can let the teacher know and then make sure to view recordings or complete missing work when your student returns. If your student will be out an entire day call the attendance line or email to let them know. When students are absent 3 or more consecutive days a doctor note is required. If you are planning a vacation please complete the pre-planned absence form linked below.

Attendance Line: 608-838-9482 ext 0 -or- Email: Wiattendance@wivcs.org

Attendance | Smore Newsletters

Pre-Planned Absence Form

Learning coach advisory at the middle school is time for admin to connect to learning coaches to share ideas and gain feedback about our school and programming. Below are the topics for the year, past recordings, and upcoming dates. Sessions are held in Engageli and will appear on your LC log in ClassConnect schedule Fridays at 12:30pm

September 27: See you at the back to school bash!

October 25: Graduation and Grades

November 22: STAR

December 20: PLP

January 24: Phone and Internet Safety

February 28: State testing

March 21: Xello

April 25: 8th Grade LC Session

May 23: SY25-26 Planning

In addition to HS LC Advisories that are held with the High School administrators, Dr. Cutler and Lynne Heinzelman host a monthly all schools advisory. Our Family Council will be presenting at some of these as well! Hear from other Learning Coaches about great ideas that they have used. These sessions are the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 5pm.

Dec 6 - Asynchronous Day for students - they DO have class and work to complete, no live CCs

Dec 23 - Jan 1 - No School - Winter Break

Jan 2 - School is back in session

Jan 17 - Last day for final exams - watch email for final exam schedule reminders

Jan 20 - No School

Jan 21 - Virtual Field Trip and Fun Day

Jan 22 - Sem 2 begins

Do you want to see the whole calendar? Check it out: https://wiva.k12.com/academic-calendar.html

Upcoming outings: https://secure.smore.com/n/ge08v-upcoming-gatherings-24-25

(You can bookmark this link as it gets updated as new events are added throughout the year, it can also be found at the bottom of each monthly newsletter.)

High School Associate Principal

Quote of the Month: “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” ~Dr. Jane Goodall

What is Ms. Twanow reading? Ms. Twanow is reading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: MinaLima Edition with her daughters; this edition has gorgeous illustrations and paper pop-ups that add to the experience.

High School Principal

Quote of the month

"Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things, but just look what they can do when they stick together." ~ Vesta M Kelly

What is Ms. Cherney reading?

A few years ago I cut my subscription to National Geographic Magazine. As much as I loved the publication, I could not keep up. Thus, I have a stack of magazines from years back that I haven't gotten through. In place of a book at night, I have been reading various articles. I find myself drawn to the scientific topics and perspectives it brings. I also love the images. I know we have many students to love art and photography. I would love some day to see a name I recognize as a photographer in that magazine!

Email: ccherney@wivcs.org
Website: wiva.k12.com
Location: 4721 Dale Curtin Drive, McFarland, WI, USA
Phone: 608-838-9482