Viking Survival Guide 2015-2016 Geneva High School Viking Survival Guide 2015-2016 Intro Slide

GENEVA HIGH SCHOOL FIGHT SONG Geneva, Let’s Go! To opponents our strengths show Fight to the last And be steadfast ‘Til victory is ours You do your best We’ll do the rest On the sidelines cheering you Yes, Geneva, Let’s Go! ‘Til victory is ours! Shout it out! Fight, Fight! PTO Presentation

What do the students need to know for the 1st day of school? All buses arrive and depart at the diagonal drive in front of the Contest Gym All students may enter through the Main Entrance or the Mack Olson Entrance on Logan Avenue PE classes will meet in the auditorium for the first three days Breakfast is offered daily Planner Writing Instrument Pen/Pencil Notebook Folders Books Susan speaking * Remember that Wednesday, August 19, is a full day.

Absences, Late Arrivals, and Early Releases. If your child is absent, please call the attendance line as soon as possible. The number is: 630-463-3801 Please leave the student name and ID# Students should always sign in and out of the Deans Office when arriving late or leaving early. If you are going on a vacation or a college visit, your student should pick up a pre-arranged absence form in the Deans’ Office. The completed form should be returned to the Deans’ Office prior to the absence. A student may be dropped from a class for excessive absences or tardies. Susan speaking

Dress Code Modesty in attire is expected. Some examples of what is not permitted: excessively short shirts/skirts/shorts, hats and clothing that promote violence, alcohol, tobacco, or drugs. Refer to the student handbook/planner for specific guidelines regarding student dress and appearance Reed speaking

Additional Information Students should not share lockers or combinations. - Please encourage your child to LOCK their hall lockers and PE lockers at all times! Backpacks and oversized purses must remain in students’ lockers during the school day Electronic devices are permitted, on a limited basis, at school. Electronic devices should be turned off and out of sight in academic settings. Electronic devices may be used during passing periods, in the cafeteria, and at a teacher’s discretion in a classroom for educational purposes. In the event of illness at school, students must follow Health Office protocol outlined in the student handbook. Mike speaking

Student Goal Setting Short, medium, and long range goals Specific and realistic Academic as well as social/co-curricular Action plan for reaching each goal Revisit/revise as students progress Student Success is our Goal! Doug speaking

Student Assistance: Teachers Counselors Social Workers/School Psychologists Health Office Staff Administrators: Deans, Assistant Principals, Principal PST- Problem Solving Team Utilize resources provided by GHS – We want your child to be successful! Doug speaking

Standardized Assessments: 9th Grade: ACT ASPIRE (Fri., Nov. 13) 10th Grade: PSAT (Optional on Wed., Oct. 14) 11th Grade: Practice ACT (Fri., Nov. 13) ACT at GHS (Tentatively Tues., March 15) ACT, SAT (Optional on multiple Saturdays) 12th Grade: PARCC Exam in Spring 2016 (for students enrolled in certain English, Math, and Science courses…TBA) Doug speaking

GHS in the 21st Century! Student email addresses Home Access Center (HAC) 304Connects Social Media communication (Twitter, Facebook) Naviance Doug speaking

Be An ACTIVE Parent! Parent/Teacher Organization (PTO) Co-Presidents: Deb Dickinson, Michelle Rueth Booster Organizations Chaperoning Dances (Homecoming, etc.) Geneva Theatre Boosters Scott speaking

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! List of upcoming dates. (handout) Corn Boil @ Burgess Field Wednesday, August 19 5:30 PTO Back-to-School Night Wednesday, September 2 7:00 pm – 9:15 pm Homecoming Week – September 27 – October 3 Parent/Teacher Conferences Monday & Tuesday November 23 & 24 Online registration info forthcoming via 304Connects Scott speaking

PLCs? Personal Learning Choices EVERY Thursday from 7:40 am until 8:25 am PLC link on the GHS website Tom Speaking

THE BEAUTY OF THE STRUGGLE Once upon a time, a man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It was then that the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly emerged easily but it had a swollen body and small shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly, expecting at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. NEITHER HAPPENED! Tom Speaking

THE BEAUTY OF THE STRUGGLE In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It was never able to fly! What the man did not understand was that the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening in the restricting cocoon was nature’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon. Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If we were allowed to go through life without obstacles, we would not be as strong as we could have been. And, we would never fly! - Anonymous Tom Speaking

Have a great school year and welcome to Geneva High School! Tom-closing remarks *Please complete and return the evaluation sheet. We appreciate your feedback!