Wilson Memorial High School

Hornet News August 2008

Dates to Remember

Aug. 4-8 Camp Wilson

9:00-12:00 am session

1:00-4:00 pm session

Aug. 7 Schedules are ready, 8:30AM - 4:00PM

Aug. 12 9th Grade and New Student Orientation Picnic, 6 PM; Meeting at 7 PM, Fees collection 8:30 AM - 7 PM

Aug. 13 Meet the Team Night,
7 PM,

Aug. 25 Meeting College bound seniors 6:30

Sept. 1 Labor Day Holiday-Yeah!

Sept. 9 Tutoring begins 3:30 - 4:30 PM.

National Honor Society

New member deadline

Sept. 10 Progress Reports

Welcome Back!

The administration and staff of WMHS welcomes all students, both returning and new, back to the Hive for another great year. It is always exciting to start a new year, and we hope that this year will be the best ever for our students, our staff, and all those parents and community leaders who support opportunities at WMHS.

Please read this Hornet News carefully and watch for other important information to be brought home by your student the first few days of school. The Augusta County Handbook for Students and Parents contains lots of important information you will need throughout the school year. The Wilson Supplement to the handbook gives you more precise information that relates specifically to WMHS. Each teacher will also be sending home his or her course requirements and syllabus along with their classroom discipline plans. Both students and parents are asked to sign the WMHS Honor Code. Emergency Care Cards must be completed, signed and returned. Students new to WMHS must sign the Acceptable Use Policy before they can access any computers.

Start the New Year Off Right

ü Be on Time! School starts Tuesday, August 19. First bell rings at 8:13 AM

ü Dress for Success! School is your primary job for the next 180 days. Don’t make inappropriate dress a barrier to your success.

ü Be Prepared! You’ll need two 3-ring binders, paper, pencil, pen, and anything else you normally use on the first day. Individual teachers will let you know if you need any additional materials. Upperclassmen may purchase a Wilson Planner.

ü Bring a Little Money! Breakfast costs $1.25. Lunch cost $2.25. Students needing free/reduced prices will be accommodated for the first 10 days of school while forms are being processed.

ü Park Where You Want! Parking passes will be sold to seniors on the first 3 days of school, then to juniors the next 2 days. The cost is still $25.00. Sorry, but no parking passes for sophomores. A valid driver’s license will be required before a parking hanger will be issued.

ü Know Your Bus & Driver! Any changes in bus schedules/lines communicated to each household by the bus driver.

Hornet News August 2008

Happening at the Hive…

All students are encouraged to join at least one club each year at WMHS. These clubs offer leadership opportunities and unique ways to extend classroom experiences into a more social realm. Please check the list of club opportunities available and begin thinking about your club choices. Clubs begin meeting Sept. 10.

Art Club

Chess Club

Defending & Educating About Wildlife (DEW)

FCCLA

Fins, Feathers, and Fur

French

Future Farmers of America (FFA)

Sign Language Club

Key Club: Organizational Meeting Monday, August 25, 3:30 to 4:00 See Jodi Myers for more information

Latin

Math Club (24 Club)

Partners Club

Ruriteens (after school)

Spanish

Technology Students Association (TSA)

Varsity Club (after school)

Young Writers

Wilson Is Going Green

The Wilson Complex is in the early stages of planning for recycling. We have discovered that the buildings of this entire complex throw out a lot of plastic, paper, and aluminum that can be recycled. The three schools, central office, transportation, VVTC, and Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center are working together to provide receptacles and a local recycling center will empty them regularly. We hope that, in time, this complex will be helping to reduce landfill waste. Watch for future updates in the Hornet News.

National Honor Society

2008 Induction News: The National Honor Society will hold its annual induction ceremony in October. Any junior or senior with at least a 3.5 GPA, who demonstrates outstanding leadership, service, and character, may obtain a Student Activity Information Form from Mrs. Pannill or Ms. Ritchie. This form must be completed and submitted with a cover letter no later than 3:30 pm. on Tuesday, September 9th2008 if a student wishes to be considered for membership.

It’s Academic

Reading

To promote life-long reading and the pleasures of leisure reading all students and staff will read for 15 minutes prior to the start of our first lunch period. Families wishing to donate reading materials may drop off their books, magazines, etc. in the basket located in the Media Center.

Tutoring

Beginning Sept. 9th, tutoring for all students will be offered every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 to 4:30 PM. Students may stay for assistance in any subject area. Students are expected to stay for the entire hour. Bus transportation is available. Please see Mr. Harrison for the bus route.

Report Cards

Report cards are distributed every 6 weeks and Progress Reports are distributed at the interim. All teachers distribute progress reports during class. D/F progress reports are mailed home. Check the Hornet News for the dates.

Cell Phones/iPods & other electronic devices

Cell phones are not allowed in school. We have discovered through experience that students have great difficulty making wise choices regarding the use of their devices. Understanding that families rely on cell phone communication for safety reasons, we allow students to carry phones and use them after school hours. If we see them during school hours, phones will be confiscated, and parents will be asked to pick them up from the office.

1st Offense: Phone or other device is confiscated and student receives warning.

2nd Offense: Phone or other device is confiscated and student receives 3 days out-of-school suspension (OSS).

Use of any electronic filming device: 5 days out-of-school suspension (OSS)

Fees

The list of fees for this school year is included in this issue. Schedules may be picked up as fees are paid starting on Aug. 7th. The office will be open daily from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.

Dress Code

The dress code for school is included in the WMHS Supplement. Please encourage your student to dress for success and not make fashion choices that are inappropriate for the school setting.

Honor Code

The WMHS Honor Code is the cornerstone of our discipline code. Students pledge not to lie, cheat, or steal. Those violating this pledge are appropriately disciplined. Students and parents are asked to sign this Honor Code indicating their support of our efforts to ensure an orderly environment based on trust and honorable conduct.

Attendance Regular prompt attendance at school is the first step towards insuring academic success. Please reference the WMHS Supplement for specific attendance procedures.

Displaying Affection

Holding hands is considered to be an appropriate display of affection between students. All other forms of physical touching are not acceptable.

Hornet News August 2008

MEAL FEES
Regular / Reduced
Breakfast / $1.25 / $0.30
Lunch / $2.25 / $0.40

WMHS, WMS, and WES have been selected for a second year to pilot a program for Augusta County Public Schools. A web page will be created that will allow parents to electronically place credit on their child’s meal account. A parent can place funds on any child’s account regardless of their grade level. An option available with this system is to automatically replenish the child’s account when the child’s meal account balance falls below a specified level. A monthly deduction can electronically be transferred from a parent’s bank account into the child’s meal account with a $1 per transaction fee. Parents will also be able to view their child’s account balance online. The cafeteria will still be able to accept money on a daily basis as in the past. Look for more information as school begins!

Student Schedules

Schedules will be ready for students on Aug. 7th, and will be released to students when fees are paid (Please see section, School Fees, for dates, times, and costs). Students who cannot get their schedules early will get them in homeroom the first day of school. Homeroom assignments will be posted on the walls near the Guidance Department.

Students are reminded that their printed schedule reflects their schedules for both first and second semesters. If you need assistance reading your schedules, the secretaries will be glad to help you.

Student schedules are arranged based on graduation requirements and elective choices reflecting student’s career pathways. Conflicts in scheduling may result in students being assigned to their alternate choices in elective classes. All students make alternate course selections at the time of registration and these choices are honored, if possible. Forms for requesting schedule changes will be available in homeroom on the opening day of school. Counselors will see students as quickly as possible, but students must follow their printed schedules until a change is approved by a counselor.

School Supplies

Each student is asked to purchase two three-ring binder notebooks. Please have these with you on your first day of school.

School Fees

The fee structure adopted for Augusta County Public Schools for the 2008-2009 school year is included in this issue.

Fees must be paid before schedules are released. If your student still owes fees or fines from last year, that total will be added to this year’s charges. Partial payment schedules can be arranged with the bookkeeper, Mrs. Jennings, There will be no fee reimbursement when a student transfers after the beginning of a semester, sorry. School fees may be paid during the following dates and times in WMHS office.

Aug. 7th – Aug. 18th from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM

Aug. 12th 8:30 AM to 7:00 PM

Hornet News August 2008

FEE STRUCTURE
Augusta County Public Schools
Instructional Fee (All Students) / $15.00
AP English/Dual Enrollment* / $222.38
Art (per course) / 15.00
Band (per course) / 15.00
Choral Music (per course) / 15.00
Foreign Language (per course) / 10.00
Drama / 10.00
Vocational Classes (per course) / 10.00
Driver Education (Behind the Wheel) / 75.00
Student Parking (Seniors & Juniors) / 25.00
AP Exam Fee (per course) / 84.00
P.E. Locker Fee / 3.00
Athletic Training Course (per course) / 25.00
Advanced Biology II / 15.00
Transcript Request / 2.00

* The fee for AP English includes a $103.38 fee for dual enrollment and a $35.00 fee approved by the county. AP exams ($84.00) are required in English 12 AP, AP Government, AP US History, AP Calculus, AP Studio Art, AP Art History, and AP Latin. PE uniforms are $20.00 and can be purchased in class.

VVTC Fees

Valley Vocational Technical Center requires students to have their own tools, protective clothing, and materials. Students are expected to purchase their own items. If you have questions about VVTC charges, please contact VVTC.

First Day Schedule

8:13 First Bell

8:17 – 8:37 Homeroom (20 min.)

8:42 – 10:02 1st Block (80 min.)

10:07 – 11:27 2nd Block (80 min.)

11:27 – 11:42 Reading Block** (15 min.)

11:47 – 1:42 3rd Block (90 min.) / Lunch (25 min.)

1:47 – 3:17 4th Block (90 min.)

**At the end of Reading Block students should report to their 3rd block class to learn their lunch schedule.

Hornet News August 2008

Schedule Changes

Adequate time will be given for adjusting student schedules.
Students requesting a change are reminded that a parent must sign the Request for Schedule Change form before a counselor can schedule an appointment to discuss the request. New students registering at WMHS for the first time will be given priority the first days of school. All students will follow their schedules until called to the guidance office by their counselor. Schedule changes will be kept to a minimum.

Dates to Remember

Aug. 25 College Bound Seniors Meeting 6:30 pm

Hornet News August 2008

Test Date / Registration
Deadline
Oct. 4 / Sept. 9
Nov. 1 / Sept. 26
Dec. 6 / Nov. 5
Jan. 24 / Dec. 26
March 14 / Feb. 10
May 2 / Mar. 31
June 6 / May 5

Sept. 15 College Night for seniors and juniors at Wilson Memorial High School, 6:30 to 8:30 PM.

Oct. 15 PSAT – Required for Governor’s School applicants and students taking English 11AA and AP classes.

SAT Dates

he registration bulletins for the 2008-2009 SAT I and II are available in guidance. These bulletins contain all the information a student needs to register for the SAT. SAT II tests are subject area test which may or may not be required by a college. Please check with the guidance counselor or the college catalog about whether or not a senior needs to take SAT II. All SAT information is also available on-line, collegeboard.com. Students are encouraged to register on-line.

Hornet News August 2008

College Applications

eniors and their parents should be aware of this suggested timeline for students who plan to attend a four-year college.

By this time … / Do this …
Halloween / Ø Decide on three to five colleges
Ø Request applications from them
Ø Begin work on the application forms
Thanksgiving / Ø Continue college application forms’ process
Ø Complete college applications forms
2 Weeks Before Winter Break / Ø Submit counselor recommendation forms
Ø Submit transcript request form to WMHS Guidance
Ø Mail applications (recommended)
Winter Break / Ø Complete applications for student &/or financial aid
Valentine’s Day / Ø Mail Federal (and other) Application for student aid
April 1st / Ø Colleges will notify students of their decisions about acceptance
May 1st / Ø Students send in deposit and acceptance notice to school choice.

Hornet News August 2008