9/18/2023 Principal Newsletter
Dear Parent and Student,
We are approaching the First 20 days of school. Class learning is in full swing and students have taken or are getting ready to take their first outcome assessments in their classes. Teachers have established classroom expectations and routines, behavioral and academic expectations, and are helping to ensure the academic success of students. Teachers have been utilizing the following resources to guide their instruction: First 20 Days & the updated HS SRG Guidebook.
What do you need to be thinking about as you approach the first outcome assessment in classes?
Plan to succeed by completing all essential work. Students and parents should refer to PowerSchool and Google Classroom to make sure all essential classwork is complete. Items marked as “missing” are not complete. Essential work must be completed for learning and to reassess on an outcome.
Pay attention to deadlines posted in the classroom and communicated by teachers. Students who score lower than a 2.0 on an outcome are required to reassess. Students who score a 2.0(proficient/passing) or higher, have the opportunity to reassess. Reassessment must be completed within 10 days by the student after teacher feedback has been given. Students above proficiency must communicate their plan to reassess with the teacher how they will improve their performance.
At Glenwood High School we hold students to high expectations. If students don’t meet expectations, we do not lower the bar for grade level expectations. We re-teach, we reassess, we provide support to ensure students reach higher levels of performance. “You can do better” “I believe in you” “I will coach you into higher performance” “I will not let you off the hook for performance below what I know you are capable of.” This is what we communicate to students when we hold students to high expectations. In academics, in employability skills, and in activities, we focus on growth.
Quotes/Video Clips for Thought:
“It’s not how you start the race that matters, it’s how you finish.”
“What defines us is how we rise after we fall” –Zig Ziglar
Dress Code: We return to business as usual this week.
Please follow the school dress code expectations: No hats, hoods, or head coverings of any kind. Waistlines are not to be intentionally exposed revealing midriff. Shirts must come to the top of the paint waistline. Shoes must be worn at all times. Boys may not wear revealing tank tops/muscle shirts to school. The bottom of shorts must be seen below the shirt/hoodie. To see our complete policy, see our 23-24 Student & Family Handbook.
Week Schedule Reminders, there is no school Monday, Sept. 18th. Students resume classes on Tuesday. Wednesday is a “normal” full day/not an early out.
Technology Expectations: We are protecting instructional time
Students are never to be using their phones in a classroom, restroom, or locker room, or on a pass. Approved times for usage are before and after school, during lunch, and during bell passing. Students are to put cell phones in the classroom designated location. Students will not receive a reminder to “check their phone usage.” The designated organizer/location is the reminder. If students have it out when it should not be, consequences are assigned. Consequences are for the year. 1st offense –device turned into the office. 2nd offense –1 hour detention, device turned into the office, parent contact. 3rd offense –2, 1 hour detentions, parent/guardian needs to pick up the phone from the office; 4th offense; loss of privileges –see the student handbook.
Reminder of our RAMs United Values:
Our Rams Values are “Respect, Achieve and Improve, Make an Effort, and Serve Others.”
Congratulations to our Students of the Week!
Current RAMS United Focus Area: Respectful Words and Actions
Whenever students are on our campus, in a class, hallway, at a school activity, we expect students to use kind words and kind actions towards others. This looks like: using school appropriate language, asking for what you need, saying please and thank you, showing patience with others, following classroom social contracts, following teacher directions when asked without arguing, resolving disagreement or conflict respectfully with others one on one.
Enjoy some Homecoming Highlights!
Homecoming high fives & the homecoming parade!
Have a great week RAM Nation! Reach out if you have questions. We are here to help and welcome your feedback. Every day is a great day to be a RAM!
Lorraine Duitsman, GHS Interim Principal