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!

Next Meeting

7.24.13 - Yes!

4.16.13 Meeting

Citizen Advisory Committee Meeting

April 16th, 2013

Agenda (5:30-6:30)

Principal’s Office

1.       Welcoming – Celebrate (10 min.)

1. Celebrate – Operation Preparation

2.       Review of Group Norms, LEADER Values, and Purpose of Committee

3.       Data Review (5 min.)

1. Moose Quarterly

4.       End of Year Parent Survey and Student Survey w  (20)

1. Revisions

5.       Focus Areas and Communicating with Staff (20)

a.       Parent Volunteers

6.       End of Year Event Planning Started

1. Last Day of School
2. Prelude to Project Graduation

7.       Future Meeting Dates Established

8.       Focus Areas and Action Steps