The Sapling - A Cedar Post Publication

welcome to

sandpoint high school 410 south division avenue

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the sapling // a cedar post publication

A B O U T

the sapling

P

rinting of this publication was paid for by Sandpoint High School and is an official product and reflection of the school.

It was written, designed, and published by unpaid members of the Cedar Post newspaper staff (below) along with SHS administration and faculty adviser William Love.

S TA F F

cedar post TYSON BIRD Ball State University

10 Things I would tell my freshman self

by Sarah Wells

1

Don’t sweat the small stuff

Grades are a huge part of high school, but don’t worry if you can’t finish a 10-point activity or worksheet if you have bigger projects to focus on. Prioritize assignments by point value.

2

Focus on yourself

What others think of you is none of your business.

Don’t waste time trying to impress people; be unapologetically yourself and love who you are. Devote time to making yourself proud of who you’re becoming.

EMILY GRAHAM Eastern Oregon University

3

Avoid peer pressure

Don’t be afraid to say “no” to things you’re uncomfortable with. Almost everyone will understand and accept your decision.

4

Don’t be judgmental

Be compassionate and considerate toward others.

How someone talks, dresses or associates with people doesn’t affect you, so don’t worry about it.

5

Pass your classes

Every class you fail will have to be made up at another time, which prevents you from taking classes you’re actually interested in.

Inevitably, when looking back on the past three years of high school, there are things I wish I would have realized sooner. Here are some of the lessons I learned along the way:

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Always do your best

Getting good grades pays off immensely (to the tune of thousands of dollars, or more, in scholarships).

I promise you that every time you had to put in extra effort to make an assignment perfect is worth it.

7

Your SAT/ ACT matters

I highly recommend taking both the SAT and ACT if you plan on applying for scholarships; some will require both. Your score is extremely important, so put as much effort into studying and preparing as you can.

8

Respect teachers

9

It gets better

Respect the hard work and passion your educators devote to you. Their job is to help you grow academically, so do your part in being a cooperative and engaged student.

High school is a difficult time for almost all students, but looking back as a senior, all the things I struggled with helped me become a better person.

10

Enjoy the journey

One minute you’re a freshman on your first day of class, and the next you’re a senior walking at graduation. Enjoy it while it lasts.

you know you’re a Bulldog when...

MEGAN O’HARA University of Oregon DESIRAE STORKS Class of 2014 PRESTON COLE Western Washington University JORDAN GARRETT University of Colorado COOPER KING Senior, SHS SARAH WELLS Senior, SHS

your

SUPERINTENDENT

is on

TWITTER

@lposdwoodward

MOOSE MADNESS is the

SUPERBOWL of Sandpoint High

PARKING is

AN ART FORM

you have the SNOW-DAY HOTLINE

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SPEED DIAL (208)263-2312

the sapling // a cedar post publication

Sandpoint High School operates on an A and B day “block” schedule with four class periods each day. Here are some tips for making the most of your schedule.

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c il p o u

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ID Card itself Make sure to buy college-ruled notebook paper and notebooks Some teachers will ask that you designate a notebook to their class for “notebook check” grades

third period classroom.

First lunch means eat before third period.

Second lunch means eat after third period.

You may have different lunches

on A and B days

depending on where your 3A/3B classes are.

Freshmen and sophomores cannot eat lunch off-campus,

only outside or in the Commons. backpack

water bottle

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en

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Some teachers will specify that you use pencil or pen to complete assignments You can only get into sporting events at a discounted price with an ASB sticker, which is different than the

Check a map posted in the hallway to see which lunch corresponds to your

e nt I D ud

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first & second.

encil

the basics & some helpful tips

pe ns

Sandpoint High has two lunch periods:

&p

school supplies

5. If you ever get confused, remember: you will never have the same day twice.

6. You can only miss five of each day (A and B) before you will need to makeup credit.

ch

3. Keep your class schedule with you during the first week of school.

4. In case of a snow day, skip that day.

For example, if school is canceled on an A day, you come back to school on B day.

LUNCH works

s

1. Keep a binder for both A days and B days, but make sure you don’t leave assignments in the wrong binder.

2. Do your homework the day it is assigned, rather than the night before.

how

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notebook binder

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the sapling // a cedar post publication

A B O U T

SHS Clubs Joining a club is often as easy as attending meetings. Certain clubs require an application or are only open to certain students (these are noted on our list).

Don’t see a club you like? Not to worry!

Starting a club is very easy. First, find an adviser to sponsor the club. Next, establish club leadership (usually a president and vice president). Decide on meeting times and write up a description of the club’s purpose to present to the Student Leadership adviser or a class officer. They will provide you with a Club Authorization Form and begin the process of getting your club approved by the administration.

Be aware that the list on this page is not exhaustive and does not include more recent club additions: Outdoor Adventure Club (adviser: Mr. Hastings), Human Rights Club (Mrs. Dillon), Creative Writing Club (Mrs. Crumb) and Fellowship Christian Athletes (Mrs. Alsager).

in the service clubs Honor Flight

Adviser: Mr. Nitcy Honor Flight Club honors and supports World War II veterans by conducting fundraisers to help send them to the memorial in Washington, D.C.

Interact

Advisers: Mrs. Mire, Mrs. Haynes & Mrs. Roos Interact, a division of Rotary Club, works with community members and organizations to fundraise for various causes. A recent project supported the local food bank.

Key Club

Adviser: Mrs. Leura Holt Key Club, a division of Kiwanis, teaches leadership through service to others.

Recently, Key Club raised money for the Eliminate Project which aims to eliminate Maternal Neonatal Tetanus worldwide.

National Honor Society (NHS)

Adviser: Mrs. Auld National Honor Society is open by application to grades 10 through 12.

Members must attend

O

ne of the best ways to get involved at Sandpoint High School is joining a club. In addition to providing you with new peers and an enriching learning environment, clubs are also helpful when applying for colleges or scholarships because they show your well-roundedness as a student.

80% of meetings, maintain a 3.5 GPA, and contribute 25 hours of community service per school year.

Student Leadership & Pep Club

Adviser: Mrs. Hawkins Student Leadership and Pep Club are the elected student officers of Sandpoint High School. These clubs work with the administration and other clubs to organize events like homecoming.

academic clubs Academic Decathlon

Adviser: Mrs. Stockman Academic Decathlon (AcaDeca) is offered as both a club and a class. This club studies a unique theme each year, ranging from the music of China to the art of the Great Depression. AcaDeca competes on local, regional, state, and national levels.

Art Club

Adviser: Ms. Guthrie Art Club offers an after-school outlet for students to work on artwork outside the classroom,

especially if art classes do not fit in their schedule.

Glasswork Club

Adviser: Mrs. Dillon Students interested in glassblowing or glass arts will feel at home in the Glasswork Club. Members should be comfortable working in the glass lab.

Le Club de Français

Adviser: Mlle. Stockman Also known as French Club, Le Club de Français explores the French language and culture beyond what is offered in class.

Math Club

Adviser: Mrs. Search Math Club is for students who are interested in math, but not necessarily in what is taught in a classroom. This club attends competitions that challenge members to think about math in completely new ways.

Mime and Masque

Adviser: Mrs. Hunter One of the oldest clubs at SHS, Mime and Masque puts on theater productions and provides thespian students a place to express themselves.

college & career Business Professionals of America (BPA)

Adviser: Mrs. Nieman BPA provides students with the opportunity to compete in local, state, and national technology- and business-oriented competitions.

Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA)

Adviser: Ms. Kennedy HOSA is set up similar to BPA, but for students interested in the health and medical fields.

Model United Nations (MUN)

Adviser: Mrs. Smith MUN is offered as both a club and a class. The central focus of MUN is preparing students for a national Model United Nations Conference in New York City, New York.

Skills USA

Advisers: Mr. Gray, Mrs. Meschko, Mr. Love, Mr. Stark Skills USA offers competitions in a variety of Professional Technical Education fields.

the sapling // a cedar post publication

tech for Sandpoint High School has made a strong effort toward integrating technology into classrooms. Here are some Apple and Android applications that students may find helpful in their academic lives.

Wolfram Alpha

$1.99 Apple / Android Wolfram Alpha is invaluable for help with math homework or for use as an at-home graphing calculator.

EasyBib

Free on Apple / Android EasyBib can automatically generate citations by scanning book barcodes or by searching ISBN or title.

Schoology

Free on Apple / Android SHS manages grades, schedules, and more through Schoology. Download the mobile app to stay connected.

Google Drive

Free on Apple / Android Access your online student drive and Google applications provided by SHS with this mobile app.

StudyBlue

Free on Apple / Android Some SHS teachers have pre-made flashcards or other study materials available on StudyBlue, but you can always make your own too!

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school-wide

testing

Wednesday, October 14, 2015 is a school-wide testing day for freshmen, sophomores and juniors (seniors will be off-campus at the Finance Fair). Here is what to expect on that date for test takers. freshmen

sophomores

juniors

With the discontinuation of the ReadiStep test, freshmen may take a test called the PSAT 8/9, which is designed to be the first stepping stone toward eventually taking the SAT as a junior.

The PSAT 8/9 will have a reading test, a writing and language test, and a mathematics test. All three areas of concentration are on the SAT as well.

This test is a possibility for school-wide test day, but has not been finalized.

The primary purpose of the PSAT 8/9 is to prepare students for the PSAT/NMSQT and SAT later in high school.

Sophomores will be taking the PSAT along with the juniors on this date.

As sophomores, the PSAT will not count toward entry into the National Merit Scholarship Competition, but it will provide students with a valuable benchmark to chart their progress when they take the PSAT again as juniors.

The PSAT also has a reading test, a writing and language test, and a mathematics test.

The only major differences between the PSAT and the SAT are that the SAT is longer and it includes an essay portion, whereas the PSAT does not.

Juniors will also be taking the PSAT, but this time, they will be eligible for entry into the National Merit Scholarship Competition (NMSC).

NMSC recognizes the top 50,000 scorers nationwide on the PSAT as either Commended Scholars, Semifinalists, or Finalists in the competition.

While the actual scholarship amount from NMSC is $2500 for finalists, having recognition as a National Merit Scholar can make students eligible for many college-specific scholarships.

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the sapling // a cedar post publication

a balancing act

tips to balance your social and academic lives

failing to PLAN

is planning to O

1

Plan your study time first and your social time second.

4

Prioritize according to what will matter in the long term.

9 tips to

FAIL ace a

ne of the most important elements for success in high school is planning.

With eight classes, sports, friends, family activities, and more, it can be overwhelming at times to organize everything.

The school provides each student with an agenda book at the beginning of the school year.

(If you do not receive one and you want one, stop by the front office and ask).

The agenda is a useful tool for keeping track of homework, important

due dates, and test dates.

When your teacher announces an assignment or date, write it down in the agenda book so you can avoid the “I forgot to do it” talk later.

The key to successfully using the agenda book is to check it before you begin your homework and plan your time for each assignment. Just writing down an assignment won’t guarantee that you will actually remember to do it. Check your agenda regularly and plan ahead.

T E S T

2 5

Clubs are a great way to combine social and school time.

Don’t get distracted by your phone, use it as a learning tool.

3 6

Study groups broaden your understanding of a topic through collaboration.

If you have the chance to get ahead on work in a class, do so!

1

Always take notes. Writing things down in addition to listening to them as they’re presented aids in retaining info.

2

Make flashcards to practice vocabulary, practice matching terms, or to memorize a speech.

3

Don’t cram. Study in short intervals throughout the week leading up to the test to maximize repetition.

4

Keep notes in a binder or notebook.

Avoid having loose paper; it’s easier to lose it or wrinkle it.

5

Spend time studying the things you don’t know rather than stressing over the things you do know.

6

When you get to the test, answer the questions you know and return to the ones you don’t after you finish.

7

Use mnemonic devices (like acronyms) to help remember things in quirky ways.

8

Have someone quiz you or quiz yourself before the test. You can download flashcard apps that help track your progress.

9

Sleep on it. Make sure to take care of yourself and get plenty of sleep before a test or quiz.

how to: have school spirit

1. go to as many sporting events as possible 2. cheer loud & proud at games 3. paint/make signs to encourage the team 4. never turn down a dress-up day 5. don’t be afraid to overdress in red & white 6. promote unity in your class & school 7. attend all assemblies and events 8. enjoy friendly school-rivalries 9. become a member of a school club 10. learn the Fight Song & other chants

the sapling // a cedar post publication

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4staff members

TO KNOW Lyn Evans

Bookkeeper Almost all fees, fines, and purchases can be paid at Lyn’s window. Yearbooks, ASB Cards, class fees, parking, and dance tickets are all purchased with the Bookkeeper.

Patsy Sletager

Attendance Officer Patsy is the person your parents need to call to excuse an absence.

Patsy also deals with tardies and is the person to contact if you need to leave for an appointment (don’t forget a note!)

Arlene Mitton

Receptionist/Activities Assistant Arlene can answer almost all questions about Sandpoint High activities. She is the first person to see if you have questions about athletics/activities or need to see an administrator.

Norma Holt

Librarian If you need to check out books for classes or just to read for enjoyment, see Norma in the Library.

Norma also helps with IDLA class registration and IDLA finals.

Check out http://sh.lposd.org/our-staff to familiarize yourself with your new teachers and administration

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bucket list Any senior will tell you that four years of high school can pass you by in an instant. One minute you are walking into Sandpoint High School for the first time, and the next you are walking across the stage at Memorial Field on graduation day. Below are ten things to try and do before leaving SHS.

Go to at least one game for each SHS team.

Join a community service program.

Try every restaurant in Sandpoint.

Travel outside of Idaho.

Experience the adrenaline rush of trying to make it to Joel’s and back during lunch.

Go to Schweitzer.

Go to a homecoming dance and prom.

Join an SHS club.

Be a teacher’s aide or office aide.

graduate.