Parents,
The end of Hex 4 will be this Friday. Please be in contact with your students and their teachers if you have any concerns. We will have report cards posted next Wednesday. This milestone is one third of the semester. As we had mentioned earlier, each student started the semester with an A in each of their classes. If they do not still have A's in their classes, it might be a good time for a conversation about what has or maybe, has not happened in these classes. Please work with your students to understand that their effort and attitude in their school work needs to be on the positive end of the spectrum. If there is anything we can do or any questions you have, do not hesitate to contact individual teachers or myself.
You may be asking yourself..."What can I do?" "What can my student do?" "How can we get over the hump and get our grades up?" I will review some of the programs and opportunities we have in place for all of our students.
1. All teachers are here from 7:50 - 3:30 on most days. School is from 8:32-3:12. Most of our teachers are here before and after these times on many days and are also available by appointment. I tell many of our students that teachers are very welcoming to students coming in for help, and will usually go out of their way to help a student who takes some initiative. I know in my own classroom I was always very willing to help a student who came in for extra help!
2. Success Center runs every night from 3:30 - 4:30. We have a teacher in there who will answer questions and do whatever they can to help struggling students. Every day at the end of school I walk around and find the freshmen and sophomores that are on that list and remind them to stay. If they do not, I try to call the parents and let them know. I do not get every parent called every night, depending on the unique situations each day, but I have spoken with several of you. Juniors and Seniors are welcome to attend Success Center if they wish. If parents would like to set up mandatory Success Center attendance for their student please let us know. I envision the following conversation:
Dad: Brody!
Brody: Yes Dad?
Dad: I see you are missing some assignments.
Brody: Yes I am.
Dad: Does your school still have that Success Center to ensure that late and missing assignments are made up and that you do not fall behind in your classes?
Brody: Yes it does.
Dad: You will be staying every night after school until all of these assignments are completed. Your principal said he would be happy to make sure that we have a way so I know if you are not there. He even said that I could ask for a signed note from the Success Center teacher each night at 4:30 so I know you were there!
Brody: Wow dad! I will get my stuff done and turned in! Thanks for caring so much!
Now I don't know if that is exactly how it would go - but I can hope.
3. We have set up an opportunity for peer tutoring in several areas. We have not had much interest in this program as far as I have heard. If your son or daughter is interested in a peer tutor they can sign up with Mrs. Schoenwetter. One thing your son or daughter could also do is seek out a friend in one of their classes or an upper class men that could help them out as well.
4. Our library is also open each morning as a quiet place to finish up homework from 8-8:32.
5. The link for parent access to grades is as follows:
http://jmc.whancock.org:8080/scripts/JMChs11-12/JMC_CGI_1112.dll?module=Parent
Please take some time and look at your children's grades. An LI means "Late Included" it means that the score is entered as a zero but can still be turned in.
It takes a lot of effort to get good grades. If the student, teacher and parent are all pulling in the same direction we can move mountains!
