The General: September 2013 Issue

Books Change Lives - Creating Independent Readers
There is perhaps no more powerful impact on student engagement and learning than a student's ability to read and makes sense of what they're reading. I see the power of reading in the lives of our Generals on a daily basis. At Thomas Nelson we are blessed with great access to reading material, both print and non-print, and continuously encourage our Generals to read independently. Independent reading is powerful because it gives students CHOICE and allows them to learn from the PERSPECTIVES of others and see the world anew. Additionally, active independent readers are more likely to fulfill our mission of college, career, and citizenship preparation. I found the video below from John Maxwell to provide a meaningful summary of additional benefits of independent reading for parents - it also makes a couple of recommendations for books. 

Project Lift-Off Initial Meeting  -

September 25th (NCHS Media Center)

Mrs. Shelley Hendricks (NCHS Principal) and I will be hosting any interested parent for an initial Project Lift-Off (Project Grad) meeting on Wednesday Sept. 25th from 5:30 to 6:30 in the NCHS media center. If interested please click on the following link to sign-up. Project Lift-Off Interest Form

Senior/Junior Future Story Symposium - October 2nd  - 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
All Junior and Senior Parents and Generals are invited to our first Future Story Symposium of the year. During this time we will be hosting a number of college and career future story partners in the media center, commons area, and college and career cafe. Confirmed participants include: 

Confirmed Participants:

Career/Technical Schools:

• Paul Mitchell School-Louisville

Colleges/Universities:

• ECTC
• • Brescia University
  • Spalding University
  • McKendree University--Radcliff
  • Campbellsville University
  • Lindsey Wilson College
  • Bellarmine University
  • Berea College
  • St. Catharine College

  
  Military:

  • U.S. Army National Guard

  
  Future Story Supports:

  • Balfour
  • KHEAA
  • UPS Metro College Program (JCTC, University of Louisville)

  
  

  
  

Also Invited:

UL

UK

WKU

EKU

Bellarmine

Georgetown

Kentucky Wesleyan

Midway

Morehead State

Murray State

St. Catharine

School of Art @ Spalding University

Thomas More

Union

Asbury

Northern Kentucky

Sullivan University

Sullivan School of Technical Design

Transylvania

Empire Beauty Week

Brown Mackie College

Daymar College

Devry University

Galen College of Nursing

Indiana Wesleyan

Kentucky State

Spencerian

Phoenix

Strayer University

University of the Cumberlands

Army

Navy

Army National Guard

Balfour

 
Upcoming Future Story Events
Paying 101: KHEAA senior/parent workshop presented by Jo Newton: December 16, 6:00 p.m., Media Center

FAFSA 1:1 workshop for senior parents facilitated by Jo Newton: January 9, 5:00-7:00 p.m. (30 minute sessions), Washington House College & Career Center. 

The General: August 2013 - Towards Continued Growth

Learning from ACT Growth - G20 Making History
Our class of 2014 cohort made history with an ACT composite average of 20 this past March. While the data was just published through the Kentucky Dept. of Education we had a good sense throughout the past year that our juniors, now seniors were working towards history. As a community of professionals, our classroom LEADERs continue to learn from the ACT data in order to support our upcoming class of 2015 cohort with continued ACT success. 

As we met with our seniors during the first week of school they expressed not only pride, but a sense that they're not quite finished making history yet. Students within our first graduating class continue to work diligently on college preparatory coursework, industry certification in a career trade, college acceptance, and resume building. We will continue to support each student with their future story through our weekly LEADER Prep course! 

PROJECT LIFT-OFF and Future Stories
We will be meeting with interested parents in the next four weeks to form a "PROJECT LIFT-OFF" parent and student leadership team. Traditionally deemed "Project Graduation," our end of the year event will focus not only on the celebration and the rite of passage that is high school graduation, but will also focus on providing our Generals with the inspiration to lift-off into their future story pathways.

The symbol of the aircraft carrier has been used throughout this year with both students and teachers to convey the role that Thomas Nelson plays within student's lives. We are an essential platform for students to be prepared to lift-off into their future stories. If you or anyone that you know are interested in being a part of the Project Lift-Off planning team please click here to fill out the interest form.

READY FOR LIFT-OFF

The General: July 2013 - Back to School Edition

Back To School Bash - B2SB2013 
We will be kicking off this school year with our first annual "back to school bash" B2SB this coming Monday the 5th of August. This event will couple an introductory open house for all Generals from 5 to 7 along with a back to school bash on the football field from 7 to 9. The open house will afford all parents and students the time to walk through their schedules, get into their lockers, meet teachers, and get a better feel for the expectations at TNHS. 

B2SB2013 Offers Choices for All
In large part due to the planning of Vice Principal Mrs. Heather Warrell, Parent Volunteer Coordinator Amy Durbin, and House LEADERs the back to school bash will offer choices for everyone. Miniature golf, human jenga, bocce ball, corn hole, an obstacle course, and pugil sticks are just the start of what is an array of options for parents, Generals, and teachers to celebrate the opening of Thomas Nelson High School's second year. Grade level house teams and athletic teams will be hosting events, selling TNHS apparel, and giving away items to those who compete and win. You are invited and we hope to see you there to celebrate the opening!

Tips for Transitioning "Back to School"

The transition from summer break back to school is an important one for all of us at Thomas Nelson. We are here to partner with you throughout this year to ensure that your General has a remarkable year. Here are a few tips for parents and students for taking charge of going back to school. 

• Visit the school and introduce yourself to all of your teachers at the open house.
• Ask any clarifying questions you might have to teachers about course visions,syllabi, homework, etc.
• Sign-up to be a part of the parent volunteer team.
• Begin transitioning back to school sleep schedules. 

10.22.13 Agenda

1. Celebrate Growth 

• What's the good word in the community? 
• Still resistance. 
• Students are supportive.
• Sports Programs
• Celebrating Achievement.
• Dean's List, GSP, 
• Future Story Symposium.
•  Data Review
• K-PREP
• PLAN
• INTERIM ASSESSMENTS
• LEADER Prep Progress
• Dean's List Breakfast
• Governor's Scholar Nights

2. Parent Survey Results from Last Year

•  What areas of growth do you see? 
•  What recommendations do you have?

3. School Improvement Planning Team

• Interested parties? 

4. Project Lift-Off Recommendations

Action Steps
- Consider ways to communicate with SOC over meeting times. 

7.24.13 Meeting

Citizen Advisory Committee Meeting, 2013

July 24th 
Agenda (5:30-6:30)

Principal’s Office

1.       Welcoming – Celebrate (10 min.)

1. Celebrate – G20!
2. Student Enrollment 

2.       Review of Group Norms, LEADER Values, and   Purpose of Committee
3.       End of Year Parent Survey Decision and Feedback (5 min.)

             a.  Parent Volunteers
4. Revisiting LEADER Prep
5.      Back to School Bash Brainstorm - Community and Parent Involvement  (30 min.)
             a. Implications for Citizen Advisory Annual Event Planning.

6.       Future Meeting Dates Established (2 min.)

7.       Focus Areas and Action Steps (5 min.)

The General: June 2013

Keeping Our Minds Fresh - Avoiding the Summer Slide
The summer provides myriad opportunities for teenagers to continue growing as students. The extended freedom throughout June and July offers our Generals a time to read, write, and think that aligns directly with their interests. The often referenced "summer slide" points to the loss of learning when young minds sit idle. Indeed, enrichment of the mind comes in a variety of forms and it is essential that we continue to find ways to support our children with an environment that nurtures their own academic and social interests within the context of reading, writing, and thinking. 

The article below is a thoughtful discussion of this issue as it relates directly to parental supports for summer reading enrichment.

Summer Reading Tips: How to Support Your Child as a Reader


History Making Events - Mark Your Calendar

Opening Community Event - Moved to August 5th
We are set to continue making history in early August with our first ever community event taking place on Thursday, August 1st from 5:00 - 7:00 at the TNHS Football Field. This event will serve as an opening to the school year and allow our Generals, parents, teachers, and community members to meet and greet, while enjoying some contests and games hosted by each of our houses. Please join us on the the 1st of August for this event. 

General Orientation - August 5th 
Student orientation for all grade levels will be from 5:00 to 7:30 on Monday August 5th. Student orientation will allow all students and parents to learn more about our college and career culture, review course expectations, while also receiving locker assignments and hard copies of student schedules. More details will be shared about orientation in the coming weeks. 

The General: May 2013 Edition

HISTORY MAKERS
The Lafayette House will be hosting our final House Pride Rally this coming Wednesday and have aptly labeled the theme "History Made." The event will include a number of activities that allow students to celebrate the history they've been making in their first year as Thomas Nelson Generals and will continue to make as they pursue their college and career future stories. Without question, we have a great deal to celebrate in our first year, but we have much more history to make in the years ahead. 

Generals LEADing the Way.

ACHIEVEMENT MAYhem

"The Ceiling Can't Hold Us' was the theme song for Achievement MAYhem.

Both students and teachers alike have been entrenched within Achievement MAYhem throughout the month of May. Over the past two weeks 10th and 11th grade students have taken state aligned End-of-Course examinations and select students have taken a variety of AP examinations. During this time our Generals continue to prove that the sky is the limit. I feel strongly that our Generals and will continue to prove they are capable of performing as well as any students in the state of Kentucky. It's our belief in our students and our community that will determine our success. The answer to how is yes.

What happens in the summer? Continuous cycles of Learning
I've had a number of community members and parents ask me about what our summer plans entail at Thomas Nelson. While we are always learning from our work, the summer offers a concerted time to evaluate the work from our previous year, revise and/or develop visions, and ensure that we are fully prepared for improved outcomes across the school in year two. Building off of the work from last summer, the following visioning teams are in place for the months ahead to ensure we are supporting all Generals. 

Planning and PD Team

Evaluate and revise planning vision.

Recommend best practices in planning for all LEADERs.

Evaluate planning documents and make suggestions about school-wide practices.

Recommend summer PD opportunities.

Evaluate and plan Summer PD opportunities.

School Culture Team

Evaluate and Revise School Culture Vision

Develop LEADER Prep Vision

Recommend use of school space ideas.

Plan parental involvement activities and strategies.

Assessment Committee

Review, evaluate, and revise TNHS assessment vision in alignment with best practices.

Outline best practices in assessment for school-wide practices.

Ensure that assessment practices align with state and national assessments.

Plan assessment PD for LEADERs.

Writing Team

Revise school wide writing vision.

Evaluate and revise vision.

Ensure that writing policies align with EOC outcomes and best practices in writing instruction.

Plan writing PD opportunities. 

LEADing THE WAY
I want to extend a big thank you from the Thomas Nelson staff to all parents and community members that have been integral in making our inaugural year a success. Your support for our work throughout this transitional year has allowed us to work with a great deal of confidence. In turn, we have been able to more directly align our work to the mission of college, career, and citizenship preparation. 

THANK YOU!