Principal-Jim Whitney

Associate Principal-James Ayre s

Dean of Students-Stephen LaLond e

Activities Director-Rich Reinert

r i A big thank you to those staff members, students and parents who took the time t o

I complete the nomination form for the NPHS teacher recognition program, "Abov e

! and Beyond" that we have started this year . The September honoree is Cortney

! Larsen . Mrs. Larsen is a special education teacher who works with a 9th grade

team in English (Ms. Sear), Physical Science (Mr. Hess), and Geography (Mr .

Livingston) classes . She also teaches a reading class .

A big thank you also to Canteen Grille for their generosity in contributing a $2 5

gift certificate to this teacher recognition program. Mrs. Larsen :

"Goes above & beyond to help all students and classroom teachers .

She is very positive. Cortney is willing to help both teachers an d

students with technology. Her blog is amazing. She is willing to go the

extra mile for her students . Cortney spends hours reading books into

ipods, looking for books to down load, modifying worksheets & tests ,ii

looking for and researching ideas for inclusion . "

ii

Nomination forms are included in the monthly newsletter as well as bein g

/1 available in both the main office and the guidance office . I encourage parents, students,

and staff to nominate a teacher for their efforts going "Above and Beyond" as they perform

their routine task of providing the very best educational experience possible for the students o f

NPHS . Previous nominees will be carried forward and will receive ongoing consideration fo r

this recognition. Please take the few minutes that are needed to complete the nomination form

so that special teacher who has made a difference for students will be publicly recognized .

Thank you to Mrs . Larsen for all the wonderful things she does to help our students to achiev e

1 success at NPHS. The staff, students and administration truly appreciate all you do for everyone a t

NPHS . Congratulations!

Jim Whitney

Principal, NPHS

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES

!First term Parent/Teacher Conferences for NPHS students will be held on Thursday, Oct .23 from

:5 :00 — 9 :00 P.M. and again on Friday, Oct. 24 from 8 :00 — 11 :30 A.M. Please plan to attend .

We hope to see all of you! Attendance on Friday morning is traditionally much lower tha n

Thursday evening . For those of you who are able to do so, coming on Friday will likely be a

• more convenient option .

With the exception of our physical education teachers who will be in the Media Center, al l

i teachers will be in their classrooms . Upon entering the building parents/guardians can pick up

!their child's progress report at a table in the entry way . We encourage students to accompany

!their parent/guardian to conferences .

Nominee's Name:

Date:

Qua(ities that make the nominee so very special to you :

Individual who is making the nomination : (optionaO

P/T Conference Tip s1. Talk to your student before conferences .

-Find out what they think are their best subjects and what

subjects they like the least and why .

-Ask your student if there is anything they would like you t o

talk about with their teachers.

-Make sure your student understands you are meeting with

their teachers in order to help them.

2. Before you go to school, write notes to yourself

about:-Things about your student's life at home, personality

problems, habits and hobbies you feel are important for th e

teachers to know .

-Questions about your student's progress .

-How you and the school can work together to help your

student .

3. At the conference, some good questions to ask are :-Does my student participate in class discussion and

activities?

-Is my student working up to his/her ability?

-How well does my student get along with others ?

-Have you noticed any sudden changes in the way my

student acts?

-How does my student handle testing ?

-Be sure to ask the teacher for specific suggestions on way s

to help your student do better . End the conference by

summing up decisions you've made together.

4. After the conference :-Sit down with your student and look over the progres s

report together .

-Praise your student . Find at least one good thing :

attendance, grades, or no tardies .

-Start immediately .on the action plan you and the teacher

worked out together.

-Discuss the plan with your student. Make sure he/she

knows that you and the teacher care .

-Stay in regular touch with the teacher to discuss th e

progress your student is making . Email works great for this .

WHAT TEACHERS EXPECT

-Attendance : Students should be on time every

day. Parents should make sure their childre n

are in school and on time.

-Preparation : Students should complete their

homework and be prepared to learn and

participate in class . Parents should know

what's going on at school and atten d

parent-teacher conferences .

-Support: Parents should explain the

importance of education to their children an d

support teachers' efforts in the classroom .

-Respect: Teachers deserve respect from bot h

students and parents . Parents should teach

kids to respect authority .

-Appreciation : The teacher's job is not easy .

Busy teachers appreciate a smile or a short not

of thanks .

-High Standards: Parents should instill in

children a desire to do their best, not just to

settle for getting by .-Academics First : Parents should remind kid s

that academics come first . Sports,

extracurricular activities, clubs, and jobs ar e

secondary .

Upcominq Event s

October 1 6

Quarter 1 EndsOctober17

K-12 NO SCHOOLOctober23

2 :00 PM Dismissa l

Parent/Teacher Conferences

5:00 - 9:00 PM

October24

NO SCHOOL

Parent/Teacher Conferences8 :oo - 11 :30 AM

TIME WITH THE PRINCIPAL

Our 2nd meeting will be coming up on Monday, November 17 . At these sessions I

meet with interested parents regarding high school issues in an attempt to provid e

the parents with more detailed information/explanations on a variety of NPH S

matters . The sessions will run from 7 :00-8 :00 p.m. in the NPHS media center . I

will also allow some time to answer questions you might have about NPHS . The

November newsletter will have the topic to be presented .

Flowers/Balloons/etc .NPHS will not acceptdeliveries f

florists, iparents or friends for s

CI ▪ CI

for any occasion.

JI'***1

a

Website visitors will now be able to stay currenton various topics impacting NPHS thanks toAmelia Rundquist and Kylie Nichols . These twogirls will interview teachers, students, an dcoaches about ongoing school activities . Find outwhat is happening in your school by listening tothe Bulldogger Podcast located atwww .nppsd .org. Make sure to check back as ne wpodcast episodes will be added throughout th e

year .■/

IOW

1. 1

I _ i

We Need Your 1eedbick!Parents — please stop by our booth at

Parent-Teacher Coneerenees to fill out a quic k

survey, and you can pick up a free bottled water t o

keep you hydrated while you visit with you r

student's teachers !

-Community Connections Substance

Abuse Prevention System 30-696-335

ATTENDANCE

Regular school attendance is of the utmost

importance during your high school career .

Excessive absences will have a negative effect

on your grades and progress in school . Any

▪ time a student is absent from school, it is th e

• responsibility of the parent/guardian to cal l

the Attendance Office (535-7105) to verify

the student ' s absence . Failure to request that

the absence be excused may result in no credi t

being given for those classes missed .

*Students need to stop at the attendanc e

• office for an admit slip after any absenc e

before returning to class .

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) is a nationa l

student organization for students in grades 7-12 who ar e

interested in business or business education careers . Through

involvement in FBLA students are provided with an excellent

opportunity to develop leadership skills, meet new people with

• similar interests, and make a meaningful connection with th e

community through partnerships with local businesses an d

• organizations. North Platte High School is in the process o f

▪reactivating its FBLA chapter and is looking for students wh o

are interested in fields related to business and technology o r

students who are simply looking to belong to an extracurricula r

activity . Sign-up will be the weeks of September 22nd an d

29th . There will then be an informational meeting on the wee k

of October 6th . For more information please contact Mr. Billy

Wilson (wwilson@nppsd .org) or Mrs . Cynthia Elliott

(celliott@nppsd .org) . The number for the high school is

535-7105 if that is more convenient .

Infinite Campus Parent/Student Portal • Business will be booming at NPHS!! !Coming up during the month of Octobe r

parents/guardians will have the capability to view

K-12 unofficial lunch balances via the Infinite Campus

Parent Portal . Middle and high school students wit h

Student Portal access will also be able to view their

lunch balances .

2

'9th A Football w/Oga11ala - 4 :30 PM9th Vball w/ Ogallala (H) 4:30 PM

3I Cross Country @ Holdrege - 3 :00 PM

V Football @ Lincoln N SSeacrest Field - 7:00 PM

*.J

G Golf GNACgig%

V Vball

October

1

9:00 AM4

@ Columbus - 9:30 AM

15V Softball State @ Hastings

1610/JV/V Vball w/ McCook (H)

5:30 PMB Tennis State @ Omaha 8:00 AM

Cross Country District TBA9thB Football @ McCook 5 :00 PM

9 Vball @ McCook 5 :00 PMFALL PLAY

V Softball State @ HastingsQuarter 1 Ends

17V Football w/Lincoln NE (H)

7:00 PMTennis State @ Omaha 9 :00 AM

V Softball State @ HastingK-12 NO SCHOOL

189thA Football @ Scottsbluff

11:00 AM9 Vba.11 @ Scottsbluff 11 :00AM

Marching Band Contest @ LincolnPSAT Tes t

8:00 AM - 12 :00 Noon20

10 Football @ Ogallala 5:00 PMJV Football w/ Kearney (H)

4:00 PM

0

"Those who bring sunshine-to the lives of others cannotkeep it from themselves ."

Sir James M . Barrie

The PLAN test, an

achievement test given to al l

10th grade students, has been

rescheduled from October

10th, 2008 to December 3rd ,

2008. More detailed

information will be in the

November newsletter .

Meet @ Scottsbluff

Senior Photos are due Dec.

15 . Photos should be

billfold sized and colored .

No hats are allowed.

Photos should be submitted

to Mr . Burkle in Room

1404.

V Softball GNAC Tournament @McCook - 10 :00 AM

V Boys Tennis GNAC Meet @Kearney

Grand Island Harvest of Harmony6

JV B Tennis @ Kearney cTV Invite9:00 AM

9 Vball w/ St . Pat's (H) 5 :00 PM10 Football @ Kearney - 5 :00 PM

JV Football w/Lincoln SE (H)5:00 PM

7G Golf District TBA

10/JV V Vball w/Ogall ala (H)5:00 PM

JV Cross Country McCook Invite

214:30 PM

' 1/10 Band/Choir Concert 7 :30 PM

1

232:00 PM Dismissal

1

Parent/Teacher Conferences5:00 - 9 :00 PM

10/JV/V Vball @ Scottsbluff 4 :00 PM9A Football w/ Lexington (H)

5:00 PM24

NO SCHOO LParent/Teacher Conference s

8:00 - 11:30 AMV Football @ Fremont 7:00 PM

Cross Country State TBA25

V Vball @ Grand Island 1 :00 PMState Marching Contest @ Lincoln

ACT TEST8:00 AM - 12 :00 Noon

2710 Football @ Lexington 4:00 PM

28Varsity Vocal Concert 7:30 PM

30National Honor Society Induction

7:00 PM3 1

V Football ass A 1st Round TBA

B

9 Vball @ Kearney 4:30 PM8

8:00 AM - 12 :00Noon9

V Softball Districts TBAB Tennis w/ McCook (H) 3 :30 PM9th A Football @ Kearney 4 :30 PM

8:00 AM - 12 :00 Noon10

--Si 1-)('7 ,V Football @ Lincoln High

Beechner Fld 7:00 PM ,> )1V Softball Districts TBA

Cross Country GNAC Meet @Lexington 2 :00/2:30 PM

11JV/V Vball @ Kearney 12:00 PM 1

13G Golf State TBA

9th Vball @ Ogallala 5:00 PM10th Vball @ Ogallala 6 :15 PM10 Football w/ Hastings (H)

6:00 PMJV Football @ Grand Island 6 :30 PM

'

14Fall Play

G Golf State TBA

I

I

Guidance OfficeOctober(308) 535-7105 Option 4

Transcripts-Scheduling-Scholarships-

Grade Point Average-Credits, etc .

Mr. Caruso-students alphabetically A-G

Mrs. Horst-students alphabetically H- N

Mrs. Hammond-students alphabetically O-Z

Mrs. Pettera-all 9th grade students

Teresa Schumacher, Guidance Secretary

Colleen Ashburn, Registrar

16

End of Teen 1 !

17 NO SCHOOL (K-12)

18

PSAT Test - 8 :00am.

23

2 :00pm dismissal

23

Parent/Teacher Conferences

5 :00 — 9 :00pm .

24 NO SCHOOL (9-12)

24

Parent/Teacher Conferences

8 :00 - noon

25

ACT Test - 8 :00am.

SENIOR INFO: Local scholarship

applications will be available for seniors to

pick up in the Counselors' Office on September

23rd. There are two sets of scholarship s

available — the "blue" and the "gold" . The blue

information sheet lists all of the scholarship s

available by various organizations which requir e

a separate application for their scholarship and

the organization selects the winner(s) . The gold

information sheet lists the scholarships available .

There are no individual application forms — just

the one page where the student checks the

scholarship he/she is interested in and completes

some demographic information . All of these

local scholarships are due by Wednesday,

December 17, 2008 . This information is als o

listed in the Post High School Planning Guide

(orange cover) which each senior should receive

from their counselor in September/October a s

they have their "senior talk" .

A reminder to students wanting to take the ACT

and/or SAT College Entrance exams . The first

ACT exam will be given Saturday, October 25 and th e

registration deadline was September 19, 2008 .

The next ACT will be December 13 with a registration

deadline of November 7, 2008 . ACT exams are given at

NPHS in October, December and April and at NPCC in

October, December, February and April . SAT exams

are given at NPHS in November and January .

The PSAT/NMSQT test will be administered to college-boun d

juniors and sophomores on Saturday, October 18, 2008 at

8 :00am in the High School Media Center. This is the qualifying

test for National Merit scholarship . Students must sign up for this

test in the Guidance Office with Mrs . Schumacher . The cost of

this test is $18 .00 payable by check when you register . Please

make your check out to NPHS . You will receive a bulletin that

contains valuable information and practice test questions whe n

you register . Deadline to register is noon, Thursday, Octobe r16th . There is no refund if you fail to show up for the test . There

are a limited number of test books so the first 50 registrants will

be able to test.

North Platte High School Ambassador Program

"Do you like to interact with people of all ages?"

"Do you enjoy speaking in front of groups of people? "

"Do you enjoy promoting NPHS? "

If SO, the North Platte High School Ambassador Program

might be something you would like to consider .

The NPHS Ambassadors will assist with events at the North Platte

Public Schools . They will serve as the official studen t

representatives of the school and will serve in any capacity that the

administration requests .

SELECTION CRITERIA

* Must be a junior/senior in good academic standin g

* Must exhibit good character

* Must exhibit good communication skill s

* Must complete the application process

Applications can be picked up in the Counselors' Office an dmust be completed and returned to the Counselors' Offic eASAP.

Also, a list of available scholarships along with

their deadline date and a list of Special Program s

is available at any time on our North Platte High Schoo l

website www.nppsd .org. A listing of college and military

visits will be found in the Counselors' Calendar . Students should

check weekly in the Counseling Office for updated information on

scholarships and college/military visits .

N Ui'Se ' S eminJersStudents are NOT ALLOWED to text/call parents when they ar eill . Students must come to the nurse's office if they do not fee lwell . If it is determined they need to go home ,parent/guardians will be contacted and the student will b ereleased only through the nurse's office .

It is recommended that your child bring a Dr .'s note to the

office if he/she has been seen by a doctor for an injury, surgery ,

or illness . Thank you for your cooperation . =

ALL MEDICATION, both prescription and over-the-counter (which includes Tylenol, Ibuprofen, etc.) :

1. Must be brought to the school BY THE PARENT/GUARDIAN

AND

2. Must be picked up BYTHE PARENT/GUARDIAN

when medication is discontinued or remains at the end of the school year.

This policy is for the safety and well being of all our students / staff .

Also remember :

*ALL MEDICATION is kept in the nurse's office .* Students ARE NOT to carry any meds on themselves at school (except can carry cough drops, eye/ear drops, and

topical medications) . Students may carry and self administer emergency medications (ex . inhalers, epipens) ONLY

afterdocuments have been completed and signed byadoctorandparents/guardiansand returned to the nurse's office.

*No medication will be given unless it is in the original containerso that it can be properly identified . This means pills

in an envelope or baggie with a note will not be given and must be picked up by the parent or it will be destroyed .

*No medication will be given without a signed Medication Permission form (available at the school) from the parent /

guardian that tells the school what the medicine is, the amount to be given and the time it is to be given .

Students Steppin' Out for Education 200 8

Over 149 volunteers, organizations and businesse s

made this year's walk for education possible for ou r

schools . The North Platte Public Schools Foundatio n

organized this event with the direction of voluntee r

chairperson Betty Knepke . The walk has always bee n

a rain or shine event . This year the resolve of the walkers was tested by rain storms

that moved in just before registration started and continued throughout the entir e

walk, tailgate party and pep rally . The weather did not affect the enthusiasm of th e

walkers that participated on September 12t h

The walk for education this year raised more than $22,000 for North Platte schools .

Student participation was up this year with 475 students pre-registering to walk .

McDonald Elementary set the record for pre-registered walkers with 50% of thei r

students participating. Actual participation was hard to track due to the weather, but

many grabbed umbrella and joined the soggy fun .

Students did not have to raise funds to participate but the students of the distric t

showed real school pride by raising just under $14,000 . The top sponsored student a t

each school was awarded a $100 Savings Bond underwritten by North Platte's financia l

institutions . The top sponsored student in the district was Gabby Menghini a t

Washington and she was awarded a $250 Savings Bond for her effort .

There were prizes for attaining sponsorship levels and those prizes included Bulldaw g

Pennants, Bulldawg Bobble heads, Bulldawg Paws and Bones and Bulldawg Duffl e

bags. Prizes were presented at the schools on the day of the walk . Students also wo n

over 100 prizes at the walk like iPods with iTunes cards, t-shirts, games, foo d

certificates and more . These prizes were a result of the generosity of many Nort h

Platte individuals and businesses .

Corporate Sponsors for the walk were First National Bank and Great Plains Regiona l

Medical Center . They helped to sponsor the event and supported the walkers durin g

the walk with bottled water and snacks . Matching Sponsors at every school ensure d

that much of the money that the students raised were matched .

WHEN IT COMES TO TEEN PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE,PARENTS NEED EDUCATION AS WELL .

You care about your students . And you probably know them as well as anyone . That's why you should be aware that whileteen drug use is down overall, one category is actually on the rise — the abuse of prescription drugs . In fact, for the firs ttime ever, there are just as many new abusers (12 and older) of prescription drugs — such as pain relievers, depressants ,and stimulants — as there are of marijuana.' Between 1995 and 2005, the number of substance abuse treatment admission sfor prescription pain relievers increased by more than 300% .'- The bottom line is clear : Abusing prescription drugs canhave serious consequences and ruin promising lives .

Most students use prescription drugs appropriately — to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, an dphysical pain. There is, however, a growing trend of students using and sharing these drugs to get high, often in combinationwith other drugs or alcohol . Seventy percent of persons aged 12 and older who abuse pain relievers say they get them from afriend or relative .' Obtaining these drugs can be as easy as opening the family medicine cabinet, a friend's purse, or locker.And since there is no smoke or smell, prescription drug abuse can be hard to detect .

This problem can be prevented. And as a schoolprofessional, you play an important role .Learn to recognize the sits and symptoms ofprescription drug abuse, and encourage parents,grandparents, and other adults to :

• Safeguard all drags in their homes . Monitorquantities and control access .

• Set clear rules for teens about all drug use ,including not sharing medicine and alway sfollowing the medical provider's advice anddosages .

• Be a good role model by following these samerules with their own medicines .

• Properly conceal and dispose of old or unuse dmedicines in the trash.

• Ask friends and family to safeguard thei rprescription drugs as well.

For more information on prescription drug disposal guidelines, as well as the risks, signs, and symptoms of teen prescriptio ndrag abuse, visit www.TheAntiiDrug .com, or call 1-800-788-2800 .

Signed,

American Academy of Pediatrics

American Association of School Administrators

American Medical Association

American Pharmacists Association

American School Counselor Associatio n

American School Health Association

SAMHSA, 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (September 2007) .2 Treatment Episode Data Set, SAMHSA, 1995-2005 .3 SAMHSA, 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (September 2007) .

Office of National Drug Control Policy

Watch for Signs & Symptomsof prescription drug abuse in your school :

Pain reliever

Constricted pupils, nausea an dabuse : vomiting, and respiratory depression .

Anxiety and delusions, flushed skin ,and chest pain with heart palpitations .

Slurred speech, dizziness, an drespiratory depression.

National Association of School Nurses

National Association of Secondar ySchool Principals

National Education Associatio n

Partnership for a Drug-Free America

PTA

PARENTS .T H E A N T I D R U G .

MiEovaLivaE

t ..

The above pictured energy drinks may contain a quantity of alcohol and shoul d

not be consumed by persons under the age of 21 . Take a close look at the

container label if you suspect a student is in possession of one of these drinks.

If alcohol is an ingredient, confiscate the container and report it immediately t o

an administrator . For more information contact Mr . Ayres or Mr . LaLonde,

North Platte High School .