tinued progress in five categories (Academic, Growth, Gap, College/Career Readiness and Graduation Rate). Each of these categories carry a 20% of a score that each school will receive. While I expect that the overall score for HCHS will be favorable and will show that we are on the “upper-Proficient”  end  of  the  scale,  we all have to remember that this is a starting point. We certainly have some work to do in order to show continual progress even after we one day are identified as a Distin-guished school. It is all about the work to continue to improve and make every student at HCHS college OR career ready by the time that they graduate. If you have ANY questions once

these score reports are pub-lished and each school report card is made available on our website, please let us know. - R. Lasley

Good News cont inues. . .

From the Athletic Office

The Buzz...

I am pleased to report that we have received more good news regarding assessment given to Hancock County High School students. Our current sopho-mores have achieved an overall 18.0 composite on the PLAN exam that they took last month. This composite is up from the 17.8 that the Class of 2014 had marked this past year and only the second highest HCHS PLAN score ever achieved. This is great news consider-ing  that  the  “College  Ready”  baseline for PLAN is 18. How-ever, we are working to continue to make this average higher so that more HCHS students are going to be considered college ready by the time they graduate. In an effort to give our sopho-mores a better understanding of each individual PLAN score and what it means, Mr. Goodall, our College & Career Readiness Coordinator will be going over their PLAN score reports next week. Be sure to ask your child

for their score report and let us know if you have any ques-tions.

Also be prepared to receive School Report Card data show-ing results from a totally new testing and accountability sys-tem that was implemented last school year. The first week of November, the state will re-lease data to the media outlets showing this new system of accountability for schools. Please note that this new sys-tem CANNOT be compared to any previous year because the overall score is calculated dif-ferently. Schools will be given an overall category of Needs Improvement, Proficient or Distinguished. Schools will ultimately try to  achieve  a  “Distinguished”  rating which would put them in the Top 10% of schools in the state, but the overall goal is for each high school to show con-

Upcoming Events

October

20—Pretty in Pink Semi-formal Dance (8:00 to 11:00), Com-mons Area

26—Pathway to Careers Day #5 (Early Dismissal), 1:30

27—ACT Exam, HCHS (8:00am)

29—PLAN score report by Goodall (all 10th) - 3rd Pd.

31—Bed-sheet Fundraiser FINAL Day (3:00)

November

2—SENIOR PROJECT—Research is DUE (LEAD)

5 & 6—No School, Profes-sional Day/Election Day

7—ASVAB Exam (8:00), Media Center

9—Pathway to Careers Day #6 (Early Dismissal), (1:30)

12—Veteran’s  Day  Assembly  (1:15), Gym

13—Junior ACT Practice Exam (8:00am), Gym

16—Junior ACT Practice Exam, English Review

19—Junior ACT Practice Exam, Math Review

20—Junior ACT Practice Exam, Science Review

20—Pathway to Careers Day #7 (Early Dis-missal), 1:30

Hancock Coun ty H igh Schoo l

“Continuous  improvement  is  better  than  delayed  perfection…”

- Mark Twain

October 19, 2012

Volume 7, Issue 2

Attention Hornet Fans: We are entering a very ex-citing time of the year, sports wise. Our Football team is closing in on the playoffs with a very good season shaping up. It is looking like we will be hosting a home playoff on Nov. 2nd. This will be a huge night for our football team and we hope that you can take part in being a member of a large and vocal crowd.

Our Cross Country team is running hard to close in Re-gional and State competitions, which are coming up soon. We want to wish them the best of luck in their efforts.

Also, the basketballs have starting bouncing in the gym and that season will be here before we know it. Excitement abounds and we hope you can be a part of it. The school is offering Season Sports passes for the basketball season. Call the school (927-6953) or email David Hobbs at david.hobbs@hancock.kyschools.us for more information.

Go HORNETS!! David Hobbs, AD

Tom Magan, Guidance Counselor

Guidance Notes—October/November

The Buzz... Page 2

ACT Dates and Deadlines

SAT Test Dates—see Mr. Magan for more information

If your child is having difficulty at school (academically, socially, emo-tionally) please contact Tom Magan or Laura Kessans at the high school 270-927-6953. We are here to help you and your child in any way we can. Depending on the circumstances, there are other services outside our building that are available to our stu-dents and even their families. Some are listed below. If there are any needs other than those you see listed, please call the school and Mr. Magan or Mrs. Kessans will find what you need.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org Sunrise Children's Services 1-877-992-5242 Lighthouse Counseling Services 1-270-689-0073

Test Date Registration Deadline (Late Fee Required)

October 27, 2012 September 21, 2012 Sept. 22 – Oct. 5, 2012

December 8, 2012 November 2, 2012 November 3 – 16, 2012

February 9, 2013* January 11, 2013 January 12 – 18, 2013

April 13, 2013 March 8, 2013 March 9 – 22, 2013

June 8, 2013 May 3, 2013 May 4 – 17, 2013

ACT and SAT dates have been posted in all Senior English classrooms and the guidance office. All ACT tests will be given here at Hancock County High School except the September and April dates. Our school number is 181-410; our site number is 201-520. You must have an ACT score to be accepted by a Kentucky College or most any college. Out of state colleges will now accept the ACT scores. You may pick up registration packets in the guidance office, or you may register online. You can practice for the ACT and the SAT tests on your computer for free, these are very good tests:

IMPORTANT ACT INFORMATION - If you are taking the ACT on October27th, make sure you download a photo to the ACT registration website. Also make sure you have printed out your registration ticket with a photo ID located in the top left. A separate photo ID is also required you must have this information with you to be admitted for the exam.

Please arrive by 7:30.

Page 3 Volume 7, Issue 2

PLAN Assessment for 9th and 10th Grade

Brad Goodall will be going over these score reports with your child on Tuesday, October 30. The PLAN is a very import ACT predictor exam and we want to be sure to answer any questions you or your child may have. If you have any ques-tions regarding this exam, please do not hesitate to contact the school. Score reports will be attached to Report Cards in December. If you would like your child’s  PLAN  report  before  then,  please  stop  by  our  office.

1. If you would like to make a college visit during the school week, please see Mr. Magan for a College Visit Form. Any senior wanting to take a college day needs to complete a college visit request form in the guidance office prior to the visit day. The request must be signed by a parent or guardian and approved by administration. Additional days may be awarded under spe-cial circumstances by the principal .

2. Scholarships: JFK Profile in Courage Essay Contest - due January 5th. Go to www.jfklibrary.org for information and essay submission. Voice of Democracy speech competition - due November 1st. Speeches are due to Mr. Magan on Wednesday October 24th. Speeches will bed recorded on Thursday and Friday. The Kentucky Concrete Association Essay contest is due Thurs-day November 1st. See Mr. Magan for more information.

3. Any senior who qualifies for free/reduced lunch can take the

ACT for free. If your child wants to take the ACT, please see Mr. Magan before you register. Students that qualify can have up to two ACT exam fees waived.

4. Applying to Colleges: Seniors need to be applying for admis-sion to colleges at this time. Make sure that you send Mr. Ma-gan a request to send your transcripts to the colleges. He will prepare the transcript for you to mail.

5. Sending ACT scores to colleges: Colleges request an official copy of your ACT scores. You must send those scores from the ACT website.

6. Local scholarship applications: A new local scholarship applica-tion will be available in November. Mr. Magan will email the application to all seniors when it is available.

7. When scholarships are available, they will be emailed directly to the seniors and also placed on the message board outside the guidance office.

Junior Information

Governor's Scholar Program - Juniors applying for the 2013 GSP selection must have their applications turned in to Mr. Magan by December 4th at 3:00pm. Those applications will then be judged by a local selection committee and the top 5 will be sent to the state. Please take your

time filling out the application. This is how local and state committees will select ap-plicants. Applicants also should have taken the PSAT on October 17th.

Senior Corner

Impor tant Financial Aid Info for SENIORS! Financial Aid: Hancock County High School will be hosting two very important financial aid meet-ings for seniors and their parents.

Paying for College 101 - November 1st from 6:00pm to 7:00pm in the high school media cen-ter. A financial aid advisor from KHEAA will be available to answer questions and offer advice for meeting the financial burden of college. FAFSA financial aid application completion - Thursday January 3rd from 5:00pm to 7:00pm OR Friday January 4th from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Students and parents will fill out the financial aid application using the previous year's income tax returns.

higher of graduates deemed as Col-lege / Career Ready will require the support of teachers, parents, and com-munity. The goal has been set, procedures are in place to assist all students, now is the time to take the necessary steps to make College / Career Readiness a priority. If you have any questions about this process OR would like help in getting your child college and/or ca-reer ready by the time they graduate, please give me a call.

Thanks, Brad Goodall, CCR Coordinator

College and Career Readiness is a term that is now used frequently in Ken-tucky Schools. For a Kentucky High School, College Readiness is meas-ured with the following tests:

ACT (Meeting Benchmarks in Eng-lish 18, Math 22, Reading 21, Sci-ence 24, and Composite 21 scale score out of possible 36 ), and Compass Placement Tests (English 74, Math 36, Reading 85 score out of possible 100).

For Career Readiness the following tests are used:

Armed Services Vocational Apti-tude Battery (ASVAB) test scoring a 50 AFQT,

WorkKeys (ACT test to measure job skills – Reading For Informa-tion, Locating Information, Applied Math) test earning a Silver Certifi-cate, and Kentucky Occupational Skills Stan-dards Assessment (KOSSA – Ken-tucky Assessment for Career and Technical Education programs).

With the various assessments, col-leges and future employers can gain insight  into  a  student’s  abilities.  Each  Kentucky High School will be held ac-countable for preparing students for College / Career. The goal for Hancock County High School is 72% for the graduating class of 2015. To reach the goal for 72% or

From the Of fice of Brad Goodall, College/Career Readiness Coordinator

HCHS Mission In an effort to achieve our Vision, the faculty & staff at HCHS will strive to make every student successful in one or more of the fol-lowing areas:

Demonstrate proficiency in State and National Standards. Successfully meet the ACT requirements and other college-prep stan-dards. Successfully complete the WorkKeys assessment requirement leading to a Kentucky Employability Certificate. Accelerate learning through multiple Advanced Placement (AP ) offerings. Fostering community involvement through extra- and co-curricular activities.

Primary Business Address 80 State Route 271 S. Lewisport, KY 42351 e-mail: rick.lasley@hancock.kyschools.us

Phone: (270) 927-6953 Fax: (270) 927-8677

Hancock Coun ty H igh S choo l

“Preparing  Students  for  Success in the 21st Century”

We’re on the Web! Www.hancock.k12.ky.us/hchs/index.htm