Do You Have Binoculars To Donate?

We created a new Wildlife Science class that is currently in session for the first time.  This class was developed due to student interest for an Ag Program. We hope to develop additional classes in the near future which might include Intro to Agriculture and Plant and Range Sciences.

Portions of our Wildlife Science class will include outdoor labs and field trips to view wildlife in our area. If anyone would be willing to donate binoculars to the school, students would use them for several years during lab experiences.

Wildlife Science students during a lab.

So, if you have binoculars that you are willing to donate to this class, please drop them off at the high school office anytime. Thank you for your support of our programs.

Wildlife Science Examine Owl Pellets

Wildlife science students examined owl pellets, reconstructed prey skeletons and identified "dinner" using a classification key.  Some students had as many as 3 rodent skulls in each pellet!

Congratulations Mrs. Drinkwalter !!!

We are excited to learn that Chadron High School mathematics teacher, Linda Drinkwalter, has been selected to serve as an AP Reader at this year's annual AP Reading!


The AP Program offers 34 courses in a wide variety of subject areas. It is estimated that more than 2.2 million exceptional students from around the globe will take approximately 3.9 million AP Examinations this May.

Almost all exams contain multiple-choice and free-response questions (either essay or problem-solving) that provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their mastery of rigorous, college-level coursework.

This June, Mrs. Drinkwalter will join college faculty and other AP teachers in Kansas City to read and score free-response answers to the AP Calculus Exam.


Participants in the AP Reading:

• receive training in consistent application of the scoring standards, and use those standards to score student responses;
• interact with members of the AP Development Committee responsible for revising the AP Course description and developing the exam, giving and receiving information about the current state of teaching and learning in the discipline;
• discuss achievement, assessment and teaching strategies with college faculty and AP teachers;
• develop a network of professionals in their discipline that will last a lifetime; and
• have the opportunity to earn Continuing Education Units.

Linda Drinkwalter has taught a variety of math courses in Chadron High School including Algebra I, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, and AP Calculus since 1994. She participated in test writing for the State Math Test in 2009 and was first certified by the Advanced Placement Institute for Calculus in 2001.

Art Class Sculpting

Mrs. Bird working with students

Art class at work

Students in Mrs. Bird's Art 9 began sculpting a human bust this week. Sculpting the features in proportion to the size of the head is key. Art 9 students have also drawn a human bust  in preparation for this sculpture project.

Ever Seen A 3D Printer?

Students observe a 3D printer in operation.

Yesterday, industrial technology students in Mr. Budler and Mr. Cogdill's classes listened to a presentation from Tom Termes, Assistant Professor at Black Hills State University describe the new engineering technology program in creation at their Rapid City campus.

Professor Termes demonstrated the uses of Google Sketchup along with other developmental programs used by students to learn drafting and construction design. He also demonstrated some of the newest technology used in engineering including a 3D printer used to create plastic molds.  Students were fascinated watching the machine.

BHSU's new program was created in response to local construction and manufacturing firm's requests for employees to be trained and certified in the use of the newest technologies for their fields.  BHSU will host this program on their Rapid City Campus while offering courses on the Spearfish campus as well as a satellite campus in Yankton at the Regional Technical Education Center.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Jan 21st)

"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education."
    ~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Chadron Wrestling Invitational Jan 18-19

One of the largest sporting events in Chadron takes place this Friday and Saturday (Jan 18 & 19) when the Chadron Wrestling Invitational takes place at the Nelson Physical Activity Center on the CSC Campus.

Come watch 27 teams from 4 states compete in this two day event featuring many of the highest ranking competitors in their states.

New this year!!!  Watch live match scoring, team scores, and view lists of wrestlers on www.trackwrestling.com.  Just click on 'Tournaments' then scroll down and click again on 'Chadron Wrestling Invitational'.

Wrestling begins at 11:00a on Friday and 9:00a on Saturday.

Ticket Prices: All Day

• Adults - $6.00
• Students - $5.00
• Seniors - $5.00 (60+)
• No passes will be accepted!

The Flu - A Guide For Parents

Our school nurses would like to share this information from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention during this timely flu season. Please click on this link for "The Flu - A Guide For Parents", which provides great information for parents. 

Remember, always call our office right away if a student will not be in attendance due to any reason. Thank you!

~Mr. Mack

What is influenza (flu)?

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccination each year.

Every year in the United States, on average:

• 5% to 20% of the population gets the flu;
• more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications;
• 20,000 of those hospitalized are children younger than 5 years of age; and
• a range of 3,000 to 49,000 people die from flu.

Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), are at high risk for serious flu complications.

How does the flu spread?

Flu viruses spread mainly from person to person through coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. Sometimes people may become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 days after becoming sick. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

What are the symptoms of the flu?

Symptoms of flu include:

• fever (usually high)
• headache
• extreme tiredness
• dry cough
• sore throat
• runny or stuffy nose
• muscle aches
• Stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, also can occur but are more common in children than adults

Although the term “stomach flu” is sometimes used to describe vomiting, nausea, or diarrhea, these illnesses are caused by certain other viruses, bacteria, or possibly parasites, and are rarely related to influenza. Also see Cold Versus Flu.

How long is a person with flu virus contagious?

The period when an infected person is contagious depends on the age and health of the person. Studies show that most healthy adults may be able to infect others from 1 day prior to becoming sick and for 5 days after they first develop symptoms. Some young children with weakened immune systems may be contagious for longer than a week.

What is the difference between a cold and the flu?

The flu and the common cold are both respiratory illnesses but they are caused by different viruses. Because these two types of illnesses have similar flu-like symptoms, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. In general, the flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, and dry cough are more common and intense. Colds are usually milder than the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose. Colds generally do not result in serious health problems, such as pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations.

How can you tell the difference between a cold and the flu?

Because colds and flu share many symptoms, it can be difficult (or even impossible) to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. Special tests that usually must be done within the first few days of illness can be carried out, when needed to tell if a person has the flu.

More information about Flu: The Disease.

Top

Preventing and Treating the Flu

What can I do to protect myself against the flu?

CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against this serious disease. While there are many different flu viruses, the flu vaccine protects against the three main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. The vaccine can protect you from getting sick from these three viruses or it can make your illness milder if you get a different flu virus.

If you do get the flu, antiviral drugs are an important treatment option. Antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. Antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. This could be especially important for people at high risk. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms).

In addition, you can take everyday preventive steps like staying away from sick people, frequent hand washing, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces, especially if someone is ill, to decrease your chances of getting the flu. If you are sick with flu, reduce your contact with others and cover your cough to help keep germs from spreading.

What kind of flu vaccines are there?

There are two types of vaccines that protect against the flu. The “flu shot” is an inactivated vaccine (containing killed virus) that is given with a needle, usually in the arm. The flu shot is approved for use among people 6 months of age or older, including healthy people and those with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease). A different kind of vaccine, called the nasal-spray flu vaccine (sometimes referred to as LAIV for Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine or FluMist^®), was approved in 2003. The nasal-spray flu vaccine contains attenuated (weakened) live viruses, and is administered by nasal sprayer. It is approved for use only among healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant.

Each of the two types of vaccine contains three influenza viruses, which are chosen based on information about recently circulating strains. Each of the three vaccine strains in both vaccines – one A (H3N2) virus, one A (H1N1) virus, and one B virus – are representative of the influenza vaccine strains recommended for that year. Viruses for both vaccines are grown in eggs.

* “Healthy” indicates persons who do not have an underlying medical condition that predisposes them to influenza complications.

How do flu vaccines work?

The seasonal flu vaccine protects against three influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. This season's flu vaccine provides protection against the three main viruses that research indicates will cause the most illness this season -- an influenza A (H1N1) virus, an influenza A (H3N2) virus and an influenza B virus. About 2 weeks after vaccination, antibodies that provide protection against influenza virus infection develop in the body.

Flu vaccines (the flu shot and the nasal-spray flu vaccine (LAIV)) cause antibodies to develop in the body. These antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses that are in the vaccine.

At what age should a child be vaccinated?

CDC recommends that all children aged 6 months up to their 19th birthday get a flu vaccine. CDC also recommends that people in contact with certain groups of children get a flu vaccine in order to protect the child (or children) in their lives from the flu.

The following contacts of children are recommended for influenza vaccination by CDC:

• Close contacts of children younger than 5 years old (people who live with them) should get a flu vaccine.
• Out-of-home caregivers (nannies, daycare providers, etc.) of children younger than 5 years old should get a flu vaccine.
• People who live with or have other close contact with a child or children of any age with a chronic health problem (asthma, diabetes, etc.) should get a flu vaccine.
• In addition, CDC recommends that all health care workers be vaccinated each year to keep from spreading the flu to their patients.

Children 6 months up to 9 years of age getting a flu vaccine for the first time will need two doses of vaccine the first year they are vaccinated. If possible, the first dose should be given in September or as soon as vaccine becomes available. The second dose should be given 28 or more days after the first dose. The first dose “primes” the immune system; the second dose provides immune protection. Children who only get one dose but who need two doses can have reduced or no protection from a single dose of flu vaccine. Two doses are necessary to protect these children.

What are influenza antiviral drugs?

Influenza antiviral drugs are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or an inhaler) that fight against the flu by keeping flu viruses from reproducing in your body. Antiviral drugs can make your illness milder and make you feel better faster. They may also prevent serious flu complications. This could be especially important for people at high risk.

How are antiviral medications used for flu?

While getting a flu vaccine each year is the best way to protect you from the flu, antiviral drugs can be used as a second line of defense to treat the flu or to prevent flu infection. For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started soon after getting sick (within 2 days of symptoms). When used this way, these drugs can reduce the severity of flu symptoms and shorten the time you are sick by 1 or 2 days. They also may make you less contagious to other people.

Flu Resources for Schools

Where can I get more information about the flu?

For more information and updates about the flu, call CDC’s hotline or visit CDC’s Web site. You can call the CDC Flu Information Hotline (English and Spanish) at:

800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)
888-232-6348 (TTY)

You can visit CDC’s flu Web site where you can access the following:

• Information about preventing the spread of flu in schools;
• “Cover Your Cough” posters formatted for printing;
• “It’s a SNAP” toolkit, which includes activities that school administrators, teachers; and students and others can do to help stop the spread of germs in schools.

Find contact information for your state or local health department.

See Key Facts about Seasonal Flu, a fact sheet including information about flu symptoms, how flu spreads, and how to prevent flu.

See The Flu: A Guide for Parents  [252 KB, 2 pages] , a flyer answering questions about the flu, how to protect your child, treatment, and more.

For more information about both the flu shot and the nasal spray vaccine, visit Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine.

For more information about treating flu and flu symptoms, including information about why children or teenagers with flu-like symptoms should NOT take aspirin, visit Other Important Information For People Sick With Flu.

Photos of iPads in the High School

You didn't see this on a student desk 10 years ago!

This is our first semester with student iPads so I thought I'd walk through some classrooms yesterday to show pictures of the variety of uses of this technology in our school. We are excited to provide this opportunity to blend technology with our curriculum for students to gain digital knowledge. Many teachers provide notes, worksheets, videos, and pictures all viewed from the iPad for students.

Gov't class viewing Nebr. voter registration online. 

Lunch time!

Viewing an online voter registration form.

Hand written notes on a teacher handout.

Taking notes on a teacher handout.

Science class viewing notes while completing lab sheets.

Spanish notes online.

Online notes during a teacher lecture.

New iPad Tab!

Check out the new iPad tab (above) linked to this blog site. Mr. Paopao and our technology department will be providing information on the use of iPads in our schools. Please view the current article regarding the importance of Digital Citizenship.

The site will also host the mandatory training videos and slideshow which we'll have each parent and student review prior to checking-out an iPad to a new student.

Thank you to our Technology Department for providing this information for parents and students!

The Importance of Student Attendance!

I recently read this article posted by the Atkins Academic and Technology High School. It does a great job of speaking about the importance of regular attendance as well as lists tips for parents on how to encourage students to attend daily.

~Mr. Mack

One of the most important things your child can do to achieve academic success is also one of the most basic: going to school every day. In fact, research has shown that your child's attendance record may be the biggest factor influencing her academic success. 

Benefits of daily attendance

By attending class regularly, your child is more likely to keep up with the daily lessons and assignments, and take quizzes and tests on time.

There are other benefits as well:

 

Achievement:students who attend school regularly are more likely to pass reading and math assessments than students who don't attend school regularly.

Opportunity: For older students, being in school every day gives them a chance to learn more about college and scholarship opportunities, and to take the important exams they need to build a successful academic record.

Exposure to the English language: Regular school attendance can also help students who are learning English by giving them the chance to master the skills and information they need more quickly and accurately even in other subjects!

Being part of the school community: Just by being present at school, your child is learning how to be a good citizen by participating in the school community, learning valuable social skills, and developing a broader world view.

The importance of education: Your commitment to school attendance will also send a message to your child that education is a priority for your family, going to school every day is a critical part of educational success, and that it's important to take your responsibilities seriously including going to school.

What you can do

 

Asa parent or guardian, it is possible to plan ahead in order to limit your child's absences, make school attendance a priority, and help your child from falling behind if it is necessary to miss a day of school.You can do this in the following ways:

Help your child get to school on time every day.Babysitting, problems with a car, and the weather are not permissible reasons to miss school. Frequently coming to school late may also be noted on your child's permanent record, and will make it difficult for your child to stay caught up with the first lessons of each morning. Teach your child how to set and use an alarm clock, and keep the television turned off in the morning.

Follow the school's guidelines and attendance policy, and report absences immediately. At the beginning of the school year, review the school's rules and make sure you understand whom you need to call if your child is going to be absent.

Check homework. Check each night to see that your child understands and completes the day's homework assignments.

Take an active role. Stay involved with your child's daily experiences at school by asking how the school day went, and then listening carefully to what your child shares with you both the successes and struggles. Make it a point to meet your child's teacher and friends.

Locate potential sources of anxiety.If your child frequently appears upset or reluctant to go to school and cannot tell you why, schedule an appointment with his or her teacher or school counselor to talk about possible sources of the anxiety.

Keep updated on school events and announcements. Read the school documents that your child brings home and take note of important announcements and dates, such as back-to-school night and parent-teacher conferences.

Try to limit the amount of time that your child misses school due to medical appointments or illness. If possible, avoid scheduling doctor's appointments during the school day.Allow your child to stay home only in the case of contagious or severe illnesses.

Students who miss days, weeks, or months of school at a time will have a difficult time passing their courses and catching up to their peers. For older students, prolonged absences may make it very difficult to graduate from high school.

Schedule family events with your child's school schedule in mind.Plan holiday celebrations or family trips during weekends or school vacations. In the case of family emergencies or unexpected trips, talk to your child's teacher as far in advance as possible and set up a way that your child can work ahead or bring important homework on the trip.

Plan ahead. Encourage your child to prepare for the next school day by laying out clothes the night before and helping to fix lunches.

Promote good health.Make sure that your child eats a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, and has opportunities to exercise every day through a sports team or playtime outside.

Create a restful environment. Finally,make sure that your child can relax before bedtime by doing something quiet like reading rather than do something stimulating, like watching television. Ensure that your child gets enough quality sleep ideal amounts range from 8 to 12 hours. Getting enough sleep will help her get up on time, be refreshed in the morning, and feel ready for a full day of learning ahead!

By making your child's school attendance a priority, you will be taking an important step in supporting your child's school success, and setting a good example. Remember every day counts!

Senior Financial Aid Meeting January 15th

“Seniors only” edition!

We need to have everyone here for the Financial Aid meeting on January 15~

By:  Carolyn Hinrichs

Whew!  Where did the fall semester go?  Now that the holidays are over, it’s time for our seniors to get serious about their plans for next year.  We have a list on the wall in the Guidance Office that shows the names of all seniors and the schools/programs that they are considering.  I tried to sit with each student and help them fill out at least one on-line application, so that they could see how easy the process is.  Most of our students took advantage of this offer and many are receiving acceptance letters.  Good job!

The next step in this process includes the difficult task of deciding how to fund a students’ plans for higher education.  We are fortunate that EducationQuest personnel are available to visit with CHS  students and parents every year.  This year, our presentation will be held on Tuesday, January 15 at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium.  The folks from EducationQuest will be informing our student body regarding the FAFSA process, student loans, grants, work study and anything else that the audience has questions about!  I hope to see every one of our seniors and a parent/guardian in attendance, because it REALLY does simplify the process and take away the fear factor!

In addition, the EducationQuest personnel have offered to assist parents INDIVIDUALLY with their FAFSA’s on February 13 and 14.  I can give you a list of the documents required; all you need to do is show up with your documents and they will fill out the FAFSA for you!  I can’t begin to tell you how helpful this is!  The only catch is that there are a limited number of spots available.  Call 1-800-666-3721 to schedule your appointment for help.

Please keep in mind that PIN numbers will be required when completing the FAFSA (one for the student and one for a parent).  You can apply for these anytime at pin.ed.gov.  The PIN is your signature for the online FAFSA.

January 15th is a BIG day……….are you ready?
CSC scholarship application deadline (students must have already applied for admission as well).
UNL scholarship deadline.  Although the admission application serves as the scholarship application in most cases, anyone wanting to apply for Diversity/Service/Leadership scholarships needs to submit additional paperwork by the 15th.  Students can submit it online in their MyRed account.
Board of Trustees scholarship deadline (for students with at least a 25 on their ACT; these students may apply for a full-tuition scholarship at CSC, Peru or Wayne).  Deadline?  1/15 (again!)
Chadron High School Foundation scholarship deadline…...students are only competing against their peers, so everyone should give it a try!  Please turn in paperwork to the Guidance Office.
Finally, this year, our Financial Aid presentation is on the same day.  The meeting starts at 6:30 in the Auditorium.  An invitation to dinner was sent out last week.  If you RSVP’d, please plan to join us in the Commons for a meal/speaker ahead of time (5:45-6:30 p.m.).
5:45 Dinner in the Commons (if you RSVP’d to the Guidance Office by 1/8/13)
6:30 Meeting in the Auditorium for everyone (no RSVP necessary)

Dates to keep in mind……

Monday, 1/14           Southeast Community College will have a rep here

February 6            Parent/Teacher Conferences (5-8:30 p.m.)

February 13-14 Bring your doc’s and get help with your FAFSA (appointment needed; 1-800-666-3721)

Wednesday, 5/8 Calculus AB Advanced Placement test (morning)

Thursday, 5/9 English Lit Advanced Placement test (morning)

Friday, 5/10 Statistics Advanced Placement test (afternoon)

Wednesday, 5/15 United States History Advanced Placement test

Second Semester Begins!

Happy New Year!!   I hope everyone had a great break! Classes for second semester begin Thursday, Jan 3rd at 7:55am.

Here are a couple of quick notes for students and parents:

1. Report cards for second quarter and first semester will be sent home with students on Wednesday, January 9th. Parents and students can login to the Campus Portal to view final grades this Friday afternoon.
2. Students wishing to make schedule changes for this semester anytime this week. The deadline will be this Friday afternoon.
3. All Fridays in January are full days EXCEPT January 18th. On January 18th there will be a noon dismissal for the whole district.
4. The next Parent/Teacher conference for the high school will be Wednesday, February 6th from 5:00-8:30. This will be a great time to 'check-in' with teachers early in the new semester.

Finally, a reminder that the 2012-2013 school calendar for the district can be viewed on the home page of chadronschools.org  This allows all K-12 students and parents to view the early-out Friday schedules as well as other special dates and times of conferences or releases.

We look forward to having all of the students back from break and beginning second semester!