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Principal's Office
September-December Dates
Sept. 22 - End of lst Six Weeks
Sept. 26, 27 - Parent/Teacher Conf.
2:00 Dismissals
Sept. 28 - No School
Professional Development
Sept. 29 - No School
Teacher Comp Day
Oct. 30, 31 - Professional Development
No School
Nov. 3 - End of 2nd Six Weeks
Nov. 22, 23, 24 - Thanksgiving Vacation
Dec. 21 - Midterm Graduation 4 p.m.
Dec. 22 - End of 3rd Six Weeks
Dec. 25-Jan. 3 - Christmas Vacation
2006 Statewide Parent Involvement Conference
The Conference Committee is pleased to announce the Statewide Parent Involvement Conference is scheduled for Oct. 15 and 16, 2006 at the Kearney Holiday Inn Hotel and Convention Center. Open to superintendents, principals, teachers, paraeducators and parents, the packet of information for this Conference is available on line at:
http://www.nde.state.ne.us/Title 1/index.html. Three types of registration are possible:
Pre-registration on or before 10/6, 2006 $40
Registration received after 10/6 $45
On-site registration $45
World Language Department
The World Language Department at GISH offers courses in three languages: Spanish, French and German. At present, the staff of six Spanish teachers, one French teacher and one German teacher serve well over one thousand students.
Level four Spanish (7-8) is offered as a dual credit course. Students enrolled in this class will be able to receive three college credit hours upon completion of this course.
This semester we have two sections of Spanish for Natives, and expect to continue to offer this course every year. Many Hispanic students this school year are also enrolled in French classes. Approximately 42% of students taking French in the fall of 2006 are of Hispanic descendent.
The teachers of World Languages at Grand Island Senior High are looking forward to having the opportunity to teach your students. We hope that your son/daughter has a great year and a productive one.
Career Education Department - Storage Sheds for Sale
Too much stuff in your garage????????? Why not purchase an 8≠x12≠ storage shed from the Carpentry Class at Senior High. They have a barn-style appearance and come with free delivery. If you order early, you may choose the shingle color to match your house. The sheds are priced at $900. We will make a total of four sheds and one of them is already sold.
For more information call Mark Brei at
385-5950.
SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is an organization for students involved in any of our career education courses at Senior High. This organization encourages the development of job-related skills needed by people as they enter the work force. The club also provides opportunities for students to be involved in a variety of activities. We have social meetings, professional development opportunities, community service activities, and the chance for students to compete in skill and leadership contests at the SkillsUSA State Leadrship and Skills Conference in March. We encourage all students to get involved in some sort of extracurricular activity and this is one opportunity they may choose.
HOSA
HOSA, Health Occupations Students of America is a National Career and Technical Education organization offered at GISH. Although not listed on page 11 of the student planners, students may join by contacting Mrs. Kropp in Room 201. Dues are $15.00 for any student interested in the profession of health care. Members Morgan Hurt and Cynthia Osorio competed in the Health Career Display category at the National Leadership Conference for HOSA in Anaheim, California in June of 2006. They also participated in a student Leadership Academy at the conference. Both students graduated in 2006. Cynthia is a freshman at UNL in the NU Paths Scholarship program planning to become a physician≠s assistant and Morgan is attending CCC in nursing. State competition for HOSA will be held in March 2007 in Omaha.
Did you know?????
Childhood obesity is an epidemic in America today. About 15 percent of children are obese and another 30 percent are overweight. Experts blame the problem on too much television and too little exercise, along with soda and junk food crowding out fruits, vegetables and healthy drinks in youngsters≠ diets.
The Grand Island Public Schools has assembled a Wellness Committee that is developing guidelines for our schools to follow to obtain a healthier school environment. Be on the lookout! These will soon be published!
If your family needs assistance in providing healthy meals for your students at school, contact your school or the Nutrition Services Department for a Free and Reduced Meals application. You may qualify! If you qualified for free or reduced meals last year, but not have filled out a new application for the current school year, you should have done so before September 8. Any student who was free or reduced and has not re-applied and has been approved will be required to pay the full price for meals after that date.
Kris Spellman, RD, SFNS
Director of Nutrition Services
Grand Island Public Schools
Social Studies Department
The GISH Social Studies Department would like to welcome students back to the 2006-2007 school year. We are excited about the social studies opportunities offered to our students. These opportunites include classes in American history, world history, government, economics, psychology and sociology.
Our department is proud to be the only department at GISH to offer THREE Advanced Placement classes: AP World History, taught by Mr. Craig Burchess; AP Goverment taught by Mr. Dale Burch and AP Micro and Macro Economics taught by Dr. Joe Watkins, who has come out of retirement to teach the economics classes. Graduation requirements at GISH stipulate that students must take 30 hours of social sciences. This breaks down to 10 hours
of American history, 10 hours of world history, five hours of economics and five hours of government.
New to the Social Studies Department this year is Tamara Bailey who will be teaching American history. She is also co-sponsor of the Key Club. Ms. Bailey comes from Lincoln where she was teaching at Northstar High School. New head of the Social Studies Dept. is Mr. Jim Jeffries, who replaces Dr. Watkins at his retirement.
Special Education Department
Welcome back for the 2006-2007 school year! We have some great opportunities for our students. A Financial Planning Seminar for parents and guardians of students with special needs will be happening on Monday, Oct. 9 at Grand Island Senior High in the Little Theater at 7:00 p.m. Scott Adams and Doug Gilbert will present information on: planning for your child with special needs, government benefit eligibility, guardianship and conservatorship, and financial security and funding options. For more information please contact Cindy Hahn at the Indra House at 385-5624.
Once again, representatives from Vocational Rehabilitation Services will be available at Parent/Teacher Conferences. Vocational Rehabilitation Services is an excellent resource to take advantage of when planning for the future. A few services Voc Rehab can provide are: job placement, notification of job opportunities, finding a career to match your skills, and helping with the training needed for the job you desire.
We hope you will take advantage of these two opportunities provided for you!
Communicative Arts Department
The Communicative Arts Department is the place to be. We are excited to welcome four new members to our department: Amy Almquist, Angela Robinson, Chandra Severance and Adam Vander Tuig. Mrs. Almquist, a former graduate of GISH, will be teaching freshman English classes. She most recently taught in Omaha. Angela Robinson, whose last teaching assignment was in Yuma, Arizona, is co-teaching a sophomore class with Mr. Charles Hamner and Mrs. LaNita Roeser. In addition, she is part of the University of Nebraska College Prep Academy. A recent college graduate, Chandra Severance, is teaching sophomore English. Adam Vander Tuig completed his Master≠s Degree at Cambridge University. His responsibilities include junior and senior English classes. We are excited to have these individuals with their new ideas and enthusiasm working with GISH students. We invite you to meet these new staff members.
The sophomore English class has a new look. This class will be a full year, not a semester class as it has been. Additional writing and reading opportunities are part of the class. Speech, which has been a semester class at the sophomore level, has been integrated into all levels of the English curriculum: freshman, sophomore, junior, senior classes. These changes in curriculum organize all classes within the English Department around a balanced literacy model.
Media Musings
Success for your student goes hand in hand with his/her reading abilities, and like any other activity, reading requires practice. Being able to read well gives students a solid foundation in which to excel in all areas of their schooling. We need to take the time to encourage reading, especially for high school students who have many more demands on their time.
YALSA, a division of the American Library Association, has published some simple ways to encourage reading at home: ≥read to your teenagers as well as to your younger children, make a time and a place for reading in your home, encourage talking about reading in your family, set a good example-read on your own.≈ If you are having a hard time finding a good book to read, check out the following web site that has some intriguing book lists. Each year the International Reading Association and the Children≠s Book Council publish annotated booklists. The lists are created by the votes of thousands of children, young adults, teachers, and librarians. The lists range from the year 1998 to current lists http://www.reading.org/resources/tools/choices.html. ; YALSA also has a link on the followingwebsite:
http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/teenreading/tipsenc/tipsencourage.htm that has tips for helping your teen build literacy skills. These are easy to accomplish with minimal fuss. Ideas include having your teen make out the shopping lists, writing your teen letters to compliment him/her on something well done, encourage your student to read independently a little each day, look at shopping ads together and estimate the money you could save if you buy different brands or shop at different stores, and (probably the most powerful) model reading and writing to your student.
We are starting a Teen Advisory Board for the Media Center. the TABs initial meeting was held on September 12, periods 4, 5 and 6. Students meet during their scheduled lunch period to start a new year of promoting reading and the Media Center. Encourage your student to take part. We need creative people to help plan and market events for the year such as Teen Read Week in October.
Have you or your student tried any books by Nebraska≠s own Alex Kava? If you love suspense and mystery, she≠ll have you wanting to read more. One of her books was chosen as the ≥One Book, One Nebraska≈ for the spring of this year, and Edith Abbott Memorial Library will host Ms. Kava on September 21. What a great way to meet an author of well-crafted books.
Fine Arts Department
The Fine Arts Department would like to welcome Eric Shepard to the GISH staff. He is the new vocal teacher and a recent UNL grad. He will be teaching Girls Choir, Islander Entourage, Islander Protégé and Islander Prestige Show Choirs as well as Singers. He is also the musical director for ≥Cats.≈
We would also like to welcome Joshua Harris who will be assisting Mr. Kordik with 9-12 Band and is also teaching at several elementary schools and Walnut.
We have already been busy with various camps this past summer and our band traveled to the State Fair in late August for a performance.
The Fine Arts Department will perform the Broadway smash hit ≥Cats≈ October 26-29.
Check out highschoolsports.net for all of the Fine arts and other activities going on at GISH.
Fine Arts Dept. Teachers: Christine Kier,
Theatre 1/2; James Kordik, Director of Bands;
Jessie LaBrie, Vocal Music; Eric Shepard, Vocal Music; Christa Speed, Strings and Orchestra;
Jeff Stern, Art; Greg Ulmer, Director of Theatre, Dept. Chairperson; Doug Whitman, Art.
First Semester Home Fine Arts Dates
Oct. 7 - Harvest of Harmony
16 - Vocal Concert
25 - Dress Rehearsal ≥Cats≈
26-29 - ≥Cats≈
Nov. 7 - Orchestra Concert
9 - Veteran≠s Day Parade
12-14 - Show Choir Kids Camp
14 - Show Choir Premiere Night
28 - City One-Act Festival
30 - Dress Rehearsal One-Act
Dec. 10 - Holiday Band Concert
11 - Vocal Recital
15-17 - ≥A Christmas Carol≈
18 - Holiday Vocal Concert
19 - Holiday Orchestra Concert
22 - Holiday Tour
Picture Retakes
Student picture retakes are scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 19. Exact amounts of money must accompany the packet, as no change will be available that day.
Homework Assistance
Could your student use some help with his/her homework? A free service is offered Monday-Thursday from after school until 5:45 in the Multipurpose Room. Mrs. Ulmer and Ms. Ross, certified teachers, will be on hand to assist students.
Mathematics Department
The Math Department is pleased to welcome three teachers new to our department this year. Karen Killion comes to Senior after twenty plus years at Westride and is teaching six sections of first year algebra. Karey, who is a graduate of Senior, has one son who just graduated and another who is a senior at GISH. Amy Meier, a full-time science teacher at GISH last year, now has split assignment. She is teaching four sections of first year algebra and two sections of science this school year. She is also an alumnus of GISH. Scott Fox joins us from the Business Dept. for one section of first year algebra while the rest of his assignment is from his old department. Just to be different, Scott did not graduate from GISH. We have been very fortunate to have these people join us; it proved difficult to find replacement math teachers this year and thse are three talented, proven teachers. When you get a chance, give them a hearty welcome. We want them to stick around a lot of years with us.
Science Department
The Science Department would like to introduce three new science teachers to Grand Island Senior High. Ms. Lacey Wilson is teaching Environmental Science, Science 1-2, and Biology. Lacey is looking forward to spending this next year in Grand Island, where she is a little closer to home than she has been for quite some time. Lacey is originally from Litchfield, Nebraska, but for the past five years she has been far from central Nebraska. After graduating high school from LHS, Lacey attended Black Hills State University in Spearfish, South Dakota on basketball and academic scholarships and studied biology and computer applications. After a year and a half in Spearfish, she decided to transfer to Chadron State College and changed her major to Secondary Education with a field endorsement in Natural Science and a supplemental coaching endorsement. After completing her teacher internship with Alief Independent School District in Houston, Texas, Lacey graduated from Chadron State College with honors this past May. Lacey would like to thank you for this opportunity to teach your children as her students and is looking forward to all the fun that will be involved in this next year of learning.
Mrs. Kay Obermiller is teaching Biology this year at Senior High. Kay≠s oldest son is in the Air Force and her second oldest just left college. The remaining three are scattered throughout the Grand Island School System.
Kay received her teaching education from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and is returning to teaching after staying home to raise her children. Kay is excited to be at Grand Island Senior High and is looking forward to a great year.
Mr. Mike Randall is teaching Environmental Science. He is a native of Central City, Nebraska and has spent the past few years in California. Mike is excited to be at Grand Island Senior High and is looking forward to a busy and exciting year.
The Science Department would like to welcome these three new teachers.
Physical Education Department
The 2006-2007 school year is off to a great start in the P.E. Dept. Sections have been added to the Cross Training/Aerobics class and we≠ve added a new class of Sports Officiating to our curriculum.
Our Ninth/Ten P.E. classes are full again. The students have been doing a great job in being responsible and giving a good effort in class. We have started the new year off with the unit on Volleyball. The next unit will get us outside until the weather turns on us. We will be offering Flag/Ultimate Football, Tennis or Soccer for the next couple of weeks. Throughout these units we are continually having the students work on their fitness level by doing some sort of fitness activity daily.
The Weight Training Room is full again with 10 sections. This gives our student/athletes a great opportunity to improve themselves not only physically, but also mentally.
We≠ve added two more sections to our Aerobic Classes, making a total of six. Mrs. Cowgill gives our students a great opportunity to increase and improve their fitness level. She has close to 200 students in her classes.
The newest class added to our department is Sports Officiating. This class is designed to offer students the coursework and experience necessary to become an official in a variety of major sports including football, volleyball, softball, basketball, soccer and baseball. This will serve a dual purpose to get our students out in the community to help in Youth Sports and also give our students a chance to gain employment by working for the NSAA in school sanctioned activities.
The Physical Education Department includes: Nancy Cowgill, Tim Higgins, Kelli Jeffries, Mike Schadwinkel, John Swanson, and Jeff Tomlin.
Business Department
The Business Department is looking forward to another exciting school year. The Business Dept. staff includes the following teachers: Doris Burgland, word processing, computer applications, business technology and desktop publishing; Scott Fox teaching CISCO, word processing, entreprenership, business law, and desktop publishing; Brian Grupe teaching marketing, business relations, and job training; Gretchen Kinne teaching accounting, introduction to business, and economics; Dave Woods teaching word processing, multi-media introduction and multi-media internet; and Greg Ulmer teaching multi-media video. As a department, we are excited about the educational opportunities and experiences we can provide students at Grand Island Senior High.
The mission of Business Education in Nebraska is to prepare all students to live and work as productive citizens in a global society by providing essential business experiences, education and technology skills in a dynamic learning environment.
We believe that to be productive and responsible citizens, all individuals must have the opportunity to learn and apply the principles of business to all aspects of their lives. As part of this educational experience, business students have the opportunity to particpate in two national career and technical students organizations. DECA is a comprehensive organization for students interested in pursuing careers in marketing.
DECA provides students with the opportunity to apply marketing education to prepare them for careers in marketing, management, and entrepreneurship. Through hands-on experiences, marketing students develop the skills and knowledge necessary for life-long career success. FBLA is a national student association for students interested in leadership development or a career in business. Students who have taken or are currently enrolled in at least one business course are eligible to join. FBLA provides the business leaders of tomorrow with the necessary skills to successfully compete in the job market.
DECA and FBLA are two opportunities at Grand Island Senior High that we invite you to take advantage of. Be a part of one or both of our student groups.
September-December Dates
Sept. 22 - End of lst Six Weeks
Sept. 26, 27 - Parent/Teacher Conf.
2:00 Dismissals
Sept. 28 - No School
Professional Development
Sept. 29 - No School
Teacher Comp Day
Oct. 30, 31 - Professional Development
No School
Nov. 3 - End of 2nd Six Weeks
Nov. 22, 23, 24 - Thanksgiving Vacation
Dec. 21 - Midterm Graduation 4 p.m.
Dec. 22 - End of 3rd Six Weeks
Dec. 25-Jan. 3 - Christmas Vacation
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