Friday, October 30, 2015

Health Professions Club Conducts Job Shadowing

Toni and Kaci job shadowing dental screenings.
The Chadron High School Health Professions Club was invited to participate in a job shadowing experience in dental screenings.  

Dr. James Hadden with the cooperation of the Community Action Partnership of Western Nebraska recently conducted after school dental screenings, sealants and fluoride varnish treatments at the Chadron Middle School.


Wednesday, October 21, 2015

The Palatable Perks of Pavlova (Culinary Class)

(Submitted by CHS Senior, Shoilee Rahman)

The Palatable Perks of Pavlova

     After enduring complex and mundane academic courses all day, partaking in Culinary I allows me to be creative and learn everyday cooking skills. Recently, eggs have stolen the show in Culinary I. We had just finished making creme brûlée in an array of flavors using egg yolk; the whites of the eggs, however, were going to be used for a dessert called pavlova. A meringue-based dish, pavlova is a popular dessert. Known as a "fruit pie" with a "meringue crust," the dessert's origin can be traced back to both New Zealand and Australia, countries who claim they invented the dessert. Named after Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova in 1926, the pavlova recipe was not officially published until 1929. Though its origin remains unclear, pavlova is still considered to be a very rich and prominent dessert today.
   Wholly unfamiliar with this foreign dessert, I approached the pavlova lab with the utmost excitement. Prior to making pavlova at the end of the week, our entire class learned about the techniques behind making pavlova and the characteristics of meringue. Our class quickly learned how to create and distinguish between soft, medium, and stiff peaks in meringue-skills necessary for successfully making pavlova.


     Eventually, the lab began. Grabbing a chilled bowl and whisk from the freezer, my group instantly got to work. We were first instructed to beat the egg whites at medium speed until they held soft peaks. Later on, we beat the egg whites until they held stiff peaks. The egg whites, however, were not the only things that took a beating. By the time we were done creating the meringue, our wrists felt like they would detach from our arms. Partners were definitely convenient during this project because we could switch positions from time to time. To get the necessary flavor and texture, we also added vanilla extract, vinegar, superfine sugar, and cornstarch to the mix. After baking the meringue crust, our group got after the creme chantilly the following day. To the discomfort of our already weak wrists, making the whipped cream involved yet another arm workout.

    After topping the meringue crusts with the creme chantilly and fresh fruits, our group got to the best part-eating. Although the crunchy texture of the meringue was unexpected, I found pavlova to be a refreshing and favorable dessert. My experiences with meringue and whipped cream will help me make a variety of desserts later on. In the future, I plan on making pavlova for my graduation party and other gatherings.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Digital Citizenship Week is Oct. 18-24

(The following was shared with me from our ESU #13 from www.commonsensemedia.org)
It’s Time to Have “The Talk”
You don’t have to be an expert on texting, Instagram, Minecraft -- or whatever else your kids are into -- to have The Talk. Start by reading up on what's going on in your kids’ world (for younger kids and older kids). Ask them to show you what they like online, and why. Make sure to listen :) Then, express a few basic expectations, with the understanding that this isn't a one-and-done kind of chat. Good luck (you’ll be fine)!
Here are the 5 basics to cover during The Talk:
BE KIND.
Try to instill a sense of empathy in your kids. Remember: there’s someone else on the other side of the screen.
  • Younger kids: Treat others like you want to be treated -- and always follow a website’s rules for behavior. Ask: How do you see other kids behaving online? What are some nice things you’ve seen other kids do?
  • Older kids: Post constructive comments, and avoid getting into flame wars with trolls. Ask:What kind of positive behavior do you see online?
KEEP PRIVATE THINGS PRIVATE.
Talk about what’s OK for kids to share online and what’s not.
  • Younger kids: Get kids to think about safety without scaring them. Don’t share your name, address, school, age, etc. Ask: Why don’t we want strangers to know certain things about us or our family?
  • Older kids: Don’t broadcast your location, send photos to strangers, or share passwords with friends. Ask: What kind of information can be unsafe to share, and what’s fair game?
DON’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU SEE.
Just because it’s online doesn’t make it true. Not everybody is who they say they are.
  • Younger kids: Teach kids to be detectives. Ask: How can you tell whether something is true online? What are some signs that something might not be true?
  • Older kids: Use reputable sources. Learn to recognize red flags. Ask: How can you tell what’s a reliable source of information? What are some signs something’s a scam?
DON’T OVERSHARE.
Think before you post. Use privacy settings.
  • Younger kids: Help kids understand what sharing something online means. Ask: Who can see what you’re doing or saying online?
  • Older kids: Encourage kids to pause before they act. Ask: What are some questions you can ask yourself before you share something online? Have you ever regretted something you’ve posted or said online?
STAND UP FOR OTHERS.
If someone’s getting bullied or picked on, speak up, report it, or reach out.
  • Younger kids: Make sure kids know they can come to you for help. Teach them how to flag misbehavior. Ask: What would you do if you saw someone being mean online or in a game?
  • Older kids: Give kids tools to use in a crisis. Ask: If someone was being mean to you online, what would you want your friends to do? Do you know how to flag or report bullying on a social network or in a multiplayer game?

Monday, October 19, 2015

CHS Hosts “Apply2College” Event

Chadron High School Hosts “Apply2College” Event
October 5th-9th

Seniors at Chadron High School took a critical step in the college preparation process when they participated in a college week that concluded with a college application event at the school. Throughout the course of the week CHS students attended a college fair at CSC, wore college attire, played trivia games for gear and prizes, and cheered seniors on as they took their first steps by filling out their first college applications.

The event is part of a statewide Apply2College Campaign sponsored by EducationQuest Foundation. Over 150 high schools statewide are conducting Apply2College events this fall to help high school seniors apply to at least one college.

During the event at Chadron High SChool, seniors got hands-on help with college applications from school staff.

Completing a college application can be overwhelming for many students – especially those from families unfamiliar with the process,” said Loni Watson. “This event was designed to help reduce college application barriers many students face and should increase the number of seniors who go on to pursue higher education.”

The Apply2College Campaign is part of the American College Application Campaign initiative sponsored by the American Council on Education. All states are now participating in the annual program. States that have participated in previous years are finding that as many as 79 percent of students who submit a college application go on to attend college.

Cardinal Singers - Sweet Sing-Sation

SWEET SING-SATION

Presented by the CHS CARDINAL SINGERS

Concert and Dessert Buffet
$4 per person
Tuesday - October 19
7:00 PM - HS Auditorium

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Travel to Germany, Switzerland, and Italy!

Any student or parents interested in traveling to Germany, Switzerland and Italy in 2017 there will be a parent/interest meeting Sunday October 25th at 5 PM in Mr. McCarty's room in the high school. 

The following link will give you a brief look at the trip: 

If you have additional questions, or can't attend, please contact Jill Paopao or Joe McCarty.

Science Studies Bernoulli's Principle

(Submitted from Physical Science class)
What are these kids doing???

Balancing a cheese ball is a new talent being taught for career development in physical science. Noooooo sirrrreeee Bob!  


Students are learning about Bernouilli's principle.  Ask your physical science student about the other interesting activities that they performed during class!!!

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

A Peak Into English III

Our Theme for English III
A Blog Entry Written Collaboratively by Mrs. Lanphear’s Block 1 & Block 2 Classes


Intro to Class
You don't have to be crazy to be in English III, but it helps. With a plethora of American authors and Mrs. Lanphear herself, you'd be in good company. By picking apart the classics, we find tidbits we can use in our own writing. We span our learning from the 19th Century to the Information Age; we've branched into and embraced technology. Despite our collective insanity, we've all got something interesting to say: this is our theme for English III.




Mindly
Integrating technology into our lessons is quintessential to the English III class. We use several apps to further our education in American literature including one called Mindly. Abby Orton discovered the app and introduced it to the class for our Alice Walker project. Students utilized the app to organize ideas about Alice Walker's writing using main points and anecdotes to study the piece. The essence of "In Search of Our Mother's Gardens" is creativity, which we connected using our mind(ly) maps.


 

Alice Walker’s Personal Essay
As the English III classes dove into our literature books for the first time, we began with an interesting personal essay titled: "In Search of Our Mother's Gardens," written by author Alice Walker. Walker is a product of an African American, impoverished family and the memories from her childhood, particularly of her mother, inspired this unique work. While searching for a deeper meaning to the essay, classes discovered the main idea of the piece was simply that despite difficult times and rough circumstances, the creative spirit that lives within someone does not have to be dulled and is grown within families. Walker points out, "I went in search of the secret of what has fed that muzzled and often mutilated, but vibrant, creative spirit that the black woman has inherited, and that pops out in wild and unlikely places to this day" (Walker 1295). This essay broadened our knowledge of American literature, as well as provoked thoughts on what "creative spirit" means in our own lives!


  

Perspectives on Creativity
Creative perspectives range from person to person depending on age, gender, and societal views. Younger children are more openly creative, while adult males find it difficult to define creativity. When asked the question, "What is the most creative thing that you do?" adult males at the high school struggle to answer; however, younger children respond without thought. Children are more likely to think outside the box. Our class concludes that society has taught children to think differently about creativity, regardless of gender.



Langston Hughes & Closing Reading
Our class also studied a great African American poet, Langston Hughes, and his American experience. We investigated his poem, "Theme for English B," multiple times using the close reading plan. Through popular vote, we decided upon which skill to expand on, such as: finding the main idea, determining the author's purpose and making inferences. As a group, we discussed the similarities and differences that were caused by race discrimination, the theme of the poem, and the different perspectives on American experience. To test our individual skills, each student was asked to identify who, what, when, where, why and how the author described his experience.


Read the poem.



The Result of Close Reading
After a close reading and discussion of "Theme for English B," it was discovered that many students connected to the text. One of the lines in particular: "I guess being colored doesn't make me not like/ the same thing other folks like who are other races," was especially relatable to our class. In high school, no matter where you are, students are always faced with stereotypes, and classified by their pursuits and appearances. Hughes struggled with this because his skin color set him apart from his Caucasian counterparts, who had the same passions and preferences as he did. This revealed a new perspective--although groups may be stereotyped for their perceived preferences and passions, we are individuals with many surprising common interests.



Quilt Exploration
Next, our instructor told us to go home and explore our lineage. Not only did we discover our own cultures, but other classmates' cultures as well. We connected with each other through our heritage and our family's passed down creativities. Our origins brought us together and sparked interesting class discussions, including the difference of women and men's knowledge of heritage. We found that the women knew exceedingly more when it came to historical information, sparking many heated and involved discussions about gender roles in our families. We connected not only to our families, but to each other through intriguing facts, culture, and information about heritage.



Quilt Family Histories: Part 1
The second block of English III is chock-full of interesting stories involving the students' ancestors. The stories range from jail breaks in New Mexico to setting up schools in Alaska. In the early 1900s, a student's great-great-uncle bought and sold stolen horses. Although he did not know they were stolen, he went to jail; however, his brothers quickly broke him out. One extraordinary story included a relative getting struck by lightning twice and living to tell the tale. A different student’s ancestor was a self-made millionaire and used his money to build new schools in Alaska. These are just a few of the many exhilarating family stories discovered as a result of our English III assignment.






Quilt Family Histories: Part 2
We learned many interesting facts about our fellow classmates' history from the quilt blocks. There were many famous and infamous characters in our classrooms' history. Walt Mays's quilt contained a story about how two of his ancestors traveled on the Mayflower. John Billington, one of these ancestors, was the first person hanged in the New World. April Hardy's story was about how she is related to Blackbeard and the Vikings. Daniel Smith's quilt told a story about his ancestor, John Chapman-- alias Johnny Appleseed. Our classmates have many varying traditions and unique cultures. Shaylee Gunwall's quilt explains how her family makes homemade ravioli and pasta sauce passed down by her family. Aries Ottesen's family has cookies, chocolate cake, and fattigman (a Norwegian cookie or pastry) passed down in her family.  All in all, we learned that each of us have stories and physical items passed down from our ancestors that are an important part of our families.



In Closing
So far in this course, our class has discussed the differences between race and  gender, and used technology to present and share our ideas. Our theme for English III is to investigate American voices, including our own. Recently, we used social media to inform others about our favorite books and why they should read them too! We shared our recommendations on Twitter using: #CHSreads. This year, English III has already been full of learning, and we're sure that we will continue to discover new American experiences and expand our perspectives.



10th & 11th Grade Health Screenings This Week

(The following information was mailed to parents from the CPS School Nurses)

For Sophomores and Juniors only:

The 2015-16 Chadron High School Health Screenings will be held on Thursday, October 15th for all sophomores and juniors. This is a routine school day so we will be pulling students for a short time to complete a vision screening and hearing screening (provided by the Lion's Club), dental screening (provided by CAPWIN dental) and blood pressure, height, weight, and BMI (body mass index) screenings.  These screenings are not only a requirement by the State of Nebraska but also very important in early diagnosis of potential barriers in a student's ability to learn and grow!

Parents: if you do not want your student(s) to participate in the free screenings, you will need to come to the school and sign a waiver. However, since the screenings are a state requirement, we will need you to provide the school with documented results from your private provider (hgt, wgt, BMI and BP), from your private eye doctor the resultes of a vision screening, from your private dentist the results of a dental screening, and from your private hearing specialist the results of a hearing screening all by December 1, 2015

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Your School Nurses,
  Jenni Pyle RN-BSN
  Patrick Jespersen RN-BSN

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

CHS Homecoming Oct. 12-16th

Picture

#Cardshomecoming

Homecoming week at Chadron High School will be October 12th-October 16th

Here is a summary of what will be happening:

Dress Up Days:

  • Monday - "Flare Out" - wear apparel from your favorite sports team.
  • Tuesday - "Twin Day" - wear matching outfits with your bestie.
  • Wednesday - "Disney Day" - wear your Disney apparel or dress up as your favorite character.
  • Thursday - "Geriatrics vs. Pediatrics"  - Upperclassmen dress up as an elderly person and Underclassman dress up as a little child.
  • Friday - "Spirit Day" - show your school spirit by sporting your cardinal gear and repping CHS.

Activities:
  • Monday 
    • ​Home - Freshman, JV, and Varsity Volleyball vs. St. Thomas More at 4:00, 5:00, and 6:00
    • Home - Freshman Football vs. Hemingford at 5:00
    • Away - State Girls Golf in North Platte
  • Tuesday
    • ​Away - JV and Varsity Volleyball in Sidney at 5:00 and 6:00
    • Away - State Girls Golf in North Platte
  • Thursday
    • Powderpuff Girls Football at 6:00pm on the HS football field
      • Upperclassmen vs.Underclassmen (sign up at the office)
    • Powerpuff Boys Volleyball at 6:30pm
      • Upperclassmen vs.Underclassmen (sign up at the office)
    • Football Jersey Auction at 7:00pm in the HS Gym
    • ​Away - District Cross Country in Ogallala
  • Friday
    • Pep rally in HS Gym at 1:00pm
    • Home - Varsity Football vs. Gordon-Rushville at 6:00pm
    • Homecoming royalty and the coronation of the king and queen at halftime of the football game.

Homecoming Dance:
  • When: Friday, October 16th from 9:00pm - 12:00am
  • Where: High school commons
  • Cost: $5 per person at the door - If you bring canned goods, you will receive $1 off at the door.
  • Attire: The attire will be semi-formal (see link for examples: https://goo.gl/6eMQkv)

Monday, October 5, 2015

Students Need To Be In School On Time Everyday!

The biggest issue Chadron High School faces this year ... is attendance. Parents, please help us by having your student in school on time, everyday!

One of the most important things your child can do to achieve academic success is also one of the most basic: going to school everyday!

In fact, research has shown that your child's attendance record may be the biggest factor influencing his/her academic success.


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 or late bus, 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 excused 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 ata 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!

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.
(http://www.wsfcs.k12.nc.us/Page/19885)

No School Wednesday, Oct. 7th

There will be no school on Wednesday, October 7th due to a scheduled teacher inservice. Practices will begin after school at normal times.