HAWK TALK -...
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HAWK TALK http://www.gilbertschools.net November 2015 PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE Dear Hawk Families, November brings AzMERIT results. As you will recall, we administered the new AzMERIT last spring. The results will be mailed to you around the middle of the month. You will receive a report with detailed information about how your child performed on both the English language arts and math portions of the test. This test represents just one of many measures that shows your student’s progress. The test results, while meaningful, should be considered in context with how your child is doing in their classes - on homework, tests/quizzes, assignments and other projects. This year’s results may seem lower than what you have come to expect from previous years’ testing results. Please don’t be alarmed – we expected lower test scores due to the change to a new test and higher standards. Assessment expectations have been raised for what our students need to know and be able to do by the end of a school year. If your student’s scores are lower than anticipated, it does not mean that your student’s academic performance has declined or that teachers are not providing children with appropriate instruction. Your student’s teachers are still your best resources for information. They can answer many questions you may have about how to use these results to support your student’s learning at school and at home. I encourage you to review the results and discuss any concerns with your student’s teachers. For more details about AzMERIT, please visit the Gilbert Public Schools District website at www.gilbertschools.net. On an entirely different note, as we enter the holiday season this month, I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. We have much to be thankful for in the Highland community. Regards, Melinda Murphy Principal Highland High School
Transcript of HAWK TALK -...
HAWK TALK http://www.gilbertschools.net November 2015
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
Dear Hawk Families,
November brings AzMERIT results. As you will recall, we administered the
new AzMERIT last spring. The results will be mailed to you around the
middle of the month. You will receive a report with detailed information
about how your child performed on both the English language arts and
math portions of the test. This test represents just one of many measures
that shows your student’s progress. The test results, while meaningful,
should be considered in context with how your child is doing in their
classes - on homework, tests/quizzes, assignments and other projects.
This year’s results may seem lower than what you have come to expect from previous years’ testing
results. Please don’t be alarmed – we expected lower test scores due to the change to a new test and
higher standards. Assessment expectations have been raised for what our students need to know and be
able to do by the end of a school year. If your student’s scores are lower than anticipated, it does not
mean that your student’s academic performance has declined or that teachers are not providing
children with appropriate instruction.
Your student’s teachers are still your best resources for information. They can answer many questions
you may have about how to use these results to support your student’s learning at school and at home. I
encourage you to review the results and discuss any concerns with your student’s teachers.
For more details about AzMERIT, please visit the Gilbert Public Schools District website at
www.gilbertschools.net.
On an entirely different note, as we enter the holiday season this month, I hope you all have a wonderful
Thanksgiving. We have much to be thankful for in the Highland community.
Regards,
Melinda Murphy
Principal Highland High School
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The Advanced Culinary Arts students visited Scottsdale Culinary College where they ate lunch prepared and
served by students. The trip included a tour of the kitchen and facilities.
Team Rivalry in Support of Breast Cancer Awareness!
Highland High School Hotline Number—480.507.1421 Page 3
Congratulations to HAWKS CROSS-COUNTRY, GILBERT CITY MEET CHAMPS!
Hawks Never Quit!
Pictures provided by Coach Montgomery
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SENIOR SCOOP
by Lance Smith, Assistant Principal
SENIOR KEY DATES:
11/24 Jostens on Campus taking Graduation Orders—4th/5th Hour
12/11 Deadline for Graduation Announcement Orders—4th/5th Hour
1/6-1/11 Senior Credit Checks—Career Center
2/1 AP Registration Begins—Bookstore
2/2 Senior Panoramic Picture—Main Gym—3rd Hour
2/29 AP Registration Ends
3/11 Deadline for Seniors—Extra Mile Hours
3/11 Last Day to Drop a Class without a W/F
3/31 Cap & Gown Photos—Auditorium Lobby—7:00 a.m.—1:30 p.m.
4/2 PROM—8:00 p.m.—11:00 p.m.
4/6 Senior Graduation Visits—Counselors
4/6-7 Jostens Distribute Cap & Gowns—Bookstore
4/22 All Online Coursework (outside of Gilbert Public Schools) must be completed and transcripts
submitted to the Highland High School Registrar.
4/29 Senior Slide Show—Auditorium—3A/3B Schedule
5/2-13 AP Testing
5/9 Scholarship Reception—Cafeteria
5/13-17 Senior Final Exams
5/15 Baccalaureate—Auditorium—3:00 p.m.
5/17 Senior Picnic
5/19 Mandatory—Graduation Rehearsal —Hawk Stadium—7:00 a.m.
5/19 Graduation—Hawk Stadium—7:00 p.m.
In order to receive important updates and information, please keep your contact information up-to-date.
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HIGHLAND FFA WELL REPRESENTED AT FFA CONVENTION
Highland FFA was well represented in the National FFA convention in Louisville, Kentucky. The convention set
a new attendance record with over 65,000 in attendance. Seventeen members of the Highland High School
Chapter competed in the Career Development Event Contest October 28-30.
Agriculture Sales- Silver Division Team Horse Evaluation-Silver Division Team
Austin Turner - Gold, 11th high individual, $400.00 prize Shelby Arrington - Silver
Keaton Haviland - Silver Briar Lopez - Silver
Carson Pickron - Silver Morgan Berrigan - Bronze
Brendan Cluff - Bronze Bryce Palfreyman - Bronze
Farm Business Management-Silver Division Team Market Plan Team - Bronze Division Team
Steven Rojo - Silver Jarom Bloomfield - Bronze
Morgan Nurenberg - Silver Rylan Carson - Bronze
Ryan Hill - Silver Taylor Northrop - Bronze
Alexandra Wals - Bronze Agriscience Fair - Silver Division Team
Kaylyn Barnett - Silver
Erynn Labut - Silver
SEMIFINALISTS IN THE
2016 NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION
L-R Savanah Dickerson, Amanuel Belay, Annaliese Pickett, Ammon Gilliland
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The girls swim team had an awesome fall with a 5-2 record. They are coming up on their State swim meet.
Congratulations to Sarah Jolley, Alena Ellsworth, and Christina Johnsen for making it in the 4x50 and 4x100
relays. Christina is also an individual state qualifier in the 100 backstroke and Kyla Yetter is an individual
state qualifier in 100 and 200 free.
Congratulations to Nathan Bitter! Nathan was selected as a member of the 2015 NAfME All-National
Ensembles Symphony Orchestra, Trombone. The 2015 All-National Ensembles Program took place at the
Gaylord Opryland Hotel and Conference Center from October 25-28. The final performance took place at the
historic Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, TN.
Arizona Interscholastic Press Association (AIPA) Awards 2015 AIPA Fall Yearbook Contest
Riley Bowers Excellent for Sports Spread A Season of Champs
Riley Bowers Honorable Mention for Sports Spread We Find a Way or We Make One
Yazmine Lapadu Honorable Mention for People Spread Class of 2017
Caitlyn Lee Honorable Mention for Academics Spread Express Yourself:
Performing & Visual
Sadie Nielson Honorable Mention for People Spread Class of 2017
Savannah Powers Honorable Mention for Feature Writing Music Coming Together
The state dive qualifier took place Friday, October 30, at Phoenix Country Day. Melanie Hatch was 18th out
of 55 at the state dive qualifier with a score of 231.75. Joshua Obolewicz was 24th out of 37 with a score of
210.90 at state dive qualifier. Joshua Obolewicz and Melanie Hatch both will be competing this weekend in
the state meet at Skyline High School. Melanie competes Friday and Joshua competes Saturday.
Information provided by Justine Anders.
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ONLINE COURSES TAKEN OUTSIDE OF THE DISTRICT
New this year: If your son/daughter takes an online course outside of Gilbert Public Schools, he/she will need
to take a GPS final and receive a grade of at least 70% to get credit for the course he/she wants to transfer in,
otherwise it will be posted to your child’s transcript as elective credit, regardless of the subject. Elective classes
are the exception and a district final is not required.
Alec Saucerman was selected as the September 2015 Gilbert Town Council Student of the Month. Alec is a
senior at Highland High School. This presentation took place on October 29, at the Council’s regular
meeting. Alec was nominated by Kathryn Rizzo, Science Department Chair.
Dear Parents,
Below is information regarding the State required Civics test for Graduation. This information is also available on our
Gilbert Public Schools website www.gilbertschools.net.
If you have any questions regarding this information, please email Brandie Harris, Director of Assessment & Curriculum,
CIVICS TEST AND HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION
Background—In the Spring of 2015, the Arizona legislature passed the American Civics Act (House Bill 2064). This bill
will require students, beginning with the Graduating Class of 2017 (currently Juniors), to pass a civics test based on the
United States Immigration and Naturalization civics questions. Students will be required to score 60% or higher in order
to graduate from high school or obtain a high school equivalency certificate. As a courtesy, the AZ Department of
Education, with help from the Maricopa County Education Service Agency and Arizona educators, has developed a
mostly multiple choice version of the required test.
Statutory Requirements
Please find the complete test of the statute at the following Arizona State Legislature web address:
http://www.azleg.gov/legtest/52leg/lr/laws/0001.pdf
*School district boards and charter school governing bodies may decide how the test is administered
*Students must correctly answer at least 60 of the 100 questions on the civics test. Students may retake the test
as many times as necessary to pass
*Schools must document a student’s passing grade on their transcript
*Students receiving special education services are exempt from obtaining a passing score unless required by an
IEP
Civics Test
The official list of 100 civics questions included on the naturalization test and free study materials are posted on the U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services website:
http-://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/learners/study-test/study-materials-civics-test
Beginning in the Fall of 2015, the Civics Test will be administered to all of
Cohort 2017 (currently enrolled Juniors) at every GPS high school. The 100
question test will be divided into two 50 question sections that can be
administered during a normal class period. Because the statute is not tied to
a specific high school course, GPS intends to provide as many opportunities
for students to meet the requirement as possible between now and
graduation from high school.
Spring 2016, the Civics Test will be administered again. The administration
will include Cohort 2018 and any Cohort 2017 students who did not meet the
requirement during the initial administration. Moving forward, students in
Cohorts 2017 and later will have at least two opportunities each year to
satisfy the requirement.
Once the Civics Test Requirement is met, students will be notified they have
passed and will no longer be required to sit for the assessment.
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GPS TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT
IS LOOKING FOR GOOD BUS DRIVER AND BUS MONITOR
APPLICANTS!
Bus Driver—$13.08 Per Hour
Paid Training
Must have a good driving record
Bus Monitor—$9.33 Per Hour
Paid Training
Please apply online at www.gilbertschools.net or for more
information, call 480.497.3311.
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SENIORS ENROLLED IN
ONLINE CLASSES
Seniors enrolled in online courses must remain diligent
in completing coursework by specific deadlines.
Any coursework taken through Gilbert’s Global Academy
will automatically be added to student transcripts at HHS.
For students enrolled in an online course outside of GPS, it
is imperative for the student to request an official transcript
be sent to HHS at the completion of any course. Course-
work may only be placed on a Highland transcript through
receipt of a hand-carried or mailed official transcript. For
first semester, please ensure the Registrar has received your
most up-to-date transcript by December 14. This will allow
for these classes to be reflected on the Senior Credit Checks
in January.
In order to prepare for Graduation for the Class of 2016, all
online courses taken outside the GPS District are due to the
HHS Registrar no later than April 22, 2016.
THEATRE ARTS
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Auditorium
November 5, 6, 7
7:00 p.m.
Tickets—$5.00
Cinderella Auditions
will take place on November 23, 24, and 25.
Auditions are open to students, faculty, and staff.
Audition packets will be available the
first week of November in the Choir
and Drama rooms.
Students creating a sign for Highland’s
upcoming production.
Tech students working on the set for Highland’s upcoming production!
The Wardrobe and the Lamp post are
ready to take the audience to the land
of Narnia in Highland’s production of
the classic.
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Hawk Family members show school spirit and support for the HHS Food Drive and Breast Cancer
Awareness! The wearing of pink is in memory of Betty Northey, one of our former Library ladies,
and to honor others on our campus who have been touched by breast cancer.
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November 2015 Calendar
2 Civics Test – Social Studies Classes – through December 4
2-4 Book Fair – Library – All Day
2-10 Food Drive (Extra Mile Club) – Front Office – All Day
3 Election Day – Go Vote
3 Badminton Banquet – Cafeteria – 6:00 p.m.
3 Football Boosters Meeting – Lecture Hall – 6:00 p.m.—9:00 p.m.
4 SPARK Club Culture Festival – Cafeteria – 4th/5th Hour Lunches
4 One Hour Early Release - Professional Learning Day
5 Val/Sal Meeting (top 5%) – Lecture Hall – 4th Hour
5 Drama Play “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” – Auditorium – 7:00 p.m.
6 Drama Play “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” – Auditorium – 7:00 p.m.
7 Drama Play “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” – Auditorium – 7:00 p.m.
9 Winter Sports Parent Meeting – Auditorium – 6:00 p.m.
11 Veterans Day – No School
14 Sycamore – SAT Prep – Lecture Hall – 9:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m.
17 Cross-Country Banquet – Cafeteria – 6:00 p.m.
18 One Hour Early Release - Professional Learning Day
19 Dance Concert “Be Moved” – Auditorium – 7:00 p.m.
20 Dance Concert “Be Moved” – Auditorium – 7:00 p.m.
23 Site Council Meeting – Career Center – 6:30 p.m.
24 Jostens on campus taking grad orders – Cafeteria – 4th/5th Hour Lunches
24 Marching Band Banquet – Cafeteria – 6:00 p.m.
25 One Hour Early Release – Professional Learning Day
26-27 Thanksgiving Holiday – No School
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