THE EAGLE’S NEST Eden Prairie High School’s Monthly Family Newsletter Volume 24, Issue 3 November 2013
November Calendar 4
5
GR 9: Concert Band Ensemble, Wind En semble Concert, AUD 7pm General Election Day
8
Trimester/Quarter Ends NO SCHOOL
11
PTO Meeting 7pm Lakeside Lab
15,16 EPHS: Musical Performance, PAC 7:30pm 21,22 EPHS: Musical Performance, PAC 7:30pm 23
EPHS: Musical Performance, PAC 1:30pm &7:30pm
28-29 Thanksgiving Break December Calendar 5
Conn McCartan
For the month of November we at EPHS are going to focus on the many ways we can be in gratitude with our lives. Obviously, with Thanksgiving falling in November, we decided it would be appropriate to commit to focusing on gratitude every day this month. Staff and students will be involved in several activities focused on this theme. Examples will include my “Words of Wisdom” messages each week. I encourage families to ask their students about this as the month progresses and invite you to include any ways you can live in gratitude during November. Conn McCartan
Student Directories are completed. If you ordered & paid for a Directory, your student should have received it in their Connections class. If they have not passed it on to you, please check with them. If you believe you ordered one & your student did not receive it, please contact suemalina@comcast.net. There are a few extra copies available -- contact suemalina@comcast.net to get one while supplies last.
EPHS: Orchestra Con cert, PAC 7pm
6,7
Madrigal Dinner 6:30 pm Main Commons
7
Madrigal Tea 1:30 Main Commons
12 EPHS: Conferences 4 to 8pm 17
Principal’s Perspective
EPHS: Choir Con certs, PAC 6:30 & 7:45pm
Dec 23 thru Jan 3 Winter Break Jan 6 School Resumes
EP Spirit Store The holiday’s are just around the corner and the Eden Prairie High Booster School Spirit store has wonderful gift ideas for both students and parents! There is new merchandise arriving weekly, including Under Armor baseball caps and polo’s for men and Under Armor jackets for women. New t-shirt and sweatshirt styles will also be in for the holidays. There are great hats, mittens/gloves, blankets and stadium chairs for the upcoming playoff games. Please remember that all proceeds go back to support all of the activities at Eden Prairie High School. Store hours are Monday - Thursday 11 to 1 and Friday 11 to 3.
“Technology and your Child at EPHS” Monday, November 11, 2013 - 7:00 pm – EPHS Lakeside Labs – enter at EPHS South Entrance. We will be featuring our own EPHS students in demonstrations created by them to showcase how they are using technology everyday to enhance learning. Experience the classroom of the future today! Time will be allowed for Q&A. Plan to join us for these exciting demonstrations of the iLearn initiative in action. Coming Up for our Staff is the Conference Café on Thursday, December 12. Sign-up Genius: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/8050E45ACAD2-ephs7. Please consider helping us provide for this very appreciated effort – it is one of the small things you can do that makes a big impact on the staff. We will be catering part of this event and can use your donations of cash, water, take away goodies (chips, granola bars) and most definitely your home baked treats. We also offer a Holiday Gift Card Tree; please consider donating a $10.00 gift card from your favorite store or restaurant (or both). We show our festive appreciation by drawing staff names to win these gift cards that parents have so generously donated. Gift Cards can be dropped at the EPHS Principals’ office marked “December Conference Café” or mail to: EPHS, Attn: Martha Nordmann, 17185 Valley View Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55346. Cash Donations are also accepted; our committee will shop for you! Checks payable to EPHS PTO. We always say “thank you” and sincerely recognize the efforts our parent volunteers, staff appreciation committee, and parent group (PTO) have put in to make sure the EPHS staff knows they are loved! Our first Conference Café (October) was a success – many thanks! Our October “What I Wish I Knew” meeting was wonderfully attended by our many parents at EPHS. Thank you to our parent panel of Susan Reinking, Cindy Becker and Bill and Susan Paulus who enjoyed sharing their wisdom, advice and stories to help you and your child with your college search and selection. We are glad we can bring this type of information to you; please let us know if you have any questions or feedback you would like to share. We are very interested in welcoming new faces to our PTO team. Looking for parents interested in getting more involved as their child continues through EPHS. Job shadows needed for various committees, please consider PTO part of your volunteer path. Contact Roxane Gilje, President at rockygilje@hotmail.com or Elaine Larabee, Past President at elarabee@comcast.net for more information. You will enjoy being part of this great parent team! Read our parent newsletter at http://www.edenpr.org/Page/609
Counselors Corner Counselors are excited for students to build individual academic and post-secondary plans by using Naviance/Family Connection. Activities have been planned for each grade level:
9th Graders: To date, Freshman saw their counselor and set goals on Naviance indicating the grades they would like to have by the end of term 1. This included the purpose of their grades for each course, why it is important to them, and the action plan they would need to take to achieve those grades. In addition, they completed a “getting to know you” survey in Connections. Upcoming events for 9th Graders: November 13th: Students will review goal setting November 13th: Students will do a resume building activity February 5th: Students will complete a graduation credit check list and start to build a 4 year plan
10th Graders: November 19th: 10th Grade Meeting with Counselors to discuss student’s skills, abilities, and interests November 20th and November 27th : 10th grade students will complete the Career Interest Inventory
11th Graders: To date, Juniors saw their counselors in October to discuss post-secondary planning and began a college search using Naviance/Family Connection in Connections. Students will be encouraged to add “colleges that they are interested in” on Naviance/Family Connection.
12th Graders: To date, Seniors saw their counselors to start developing plans for their right fit after high school. Naviance/Family Connection is used to submit post-secondary materials. On October 23rd, Students will review and be walked through the scholarship search function. Upcoming Events: May: Students will complete a Senior Survey using Naviance/Family Connection
Other Important Information: Financial Planning Evening for Parents of Students 9-12 The EPHS Counselors are hosting the annual Financial Planning Evening for parents and students on January 16th, 2014 from 6:15-8:45 p.m. Please use the east entrance by the east commons. Again this year, a range of sessions/topics will be presented by financial planners, state universities, the University of MN, private colleges, ROTC and military academies, and local scholarship programs. Parents can choose a maximum of three sessions from the menu of choices. The sessions will allow parents to access information depending on their interest and readiness. Any parent (9-12) interested in learning about how to finance a post-high school education should consider attending. The program details will be posted on the high school website soon.
Eden Prairie Community Education Classes K-12 Science Fair – Saturday, January 11, 2014 Looking for an opportunity for your child to explore their curiosity of the world? Then join us for this year's 9th annual Eden Prairie Schools Science Fair to be held Saturday, January 11, 2014 from 9:00 am to 12:30 pm at Eden Prairie High School. All K – 12 students are encouraged to participate. Students are asked to develop a project in one of three categories: Life Science, Physical Science, or Earth and Space Science. Before the Science Fair, students learn about the scientific process and design experiments that include isolating, controlling and testing variables. The Science Fair is then your child’s opportunity to share their experiments and results with judges and interested community members. All participants receive feedback and participation certificates. Additionally, students in grades 6 – 12 have a chance to receive a Science Fair ribbon and to compete at the regional Science Fair. The cost is $15 for the first child, $10 for the second child in same family and $5 for each additional child in the same family. Fee assistance is available. REGISTRATION DEADLINE: December 6, 2013. Learn more and register online at www.epcommunityed.org. See and Speak to Your Child's Health - Thursday, Nov. 14 from 6:00 - 8:30 PM Do you ever worry about some of the things you have said to your children? Do you find yourself at a loss for words? Would you like some verbiage that strikes a chord with your child's innate health? Do you wonder if your children will know how to listen to their internal guidance system? Acquire the vocabulary and direction that will honor and tap into your child's resilience. As your comfort increases, you will be able to achieve rapport, have greater impact, and witness your children doing well having "ears on" for you. Cost is $24. Link: https:// edenprairie.thatscommunityed.com/course/fall-adult-2013/see-speak-to-your-child-s-health JFK 50th Anniversary - Tuesday, November 19 from 7:00 - 9:00 PM Join Mr. Cwodzinski to learn about the 50th anniversary of JFK's assassination. Examine our 35th president's life and legacy. Learn about and discuss the election of 1960, Inaugural Address, Bay of Pigs, Cuban Missile Crisis, Berlin Wall, Space Race, Vietnam, Civil Rights and of course his assassination. What a great way to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his death and one of history's most prominent Presidents. Cost is $24. The link is: https:// edenprairie.thatscommunityed.com/course/fall-adult2013/jfk-50th-anniversary Holiday Cookie Bake - various dates There are many holiday cookie classes coming up. Learn how to make classic international cookies! Join our Take and Bake Cookie or Holiday Cookies classes and you’ll leave with 10 dozen cookies. Classes range in price from $24 to $34 and are hosted at various times from December 1 through the 14 at Central Middle School. The link is: https// edenprairie.thatscommunityed.com/search/cookie??sort=name
Driver Education Classes Available Eden Prairie Community Education has a variety of Driver Education classes offered after school throughout the school year. Eligible students need to be at least 15 years of age by the last day of class and either live or attend school in Eden Prairie. The class fee is $110 for 30 hours of class instruction and $300 for six hours of behind-the-wheel driving instruction or $399 if paid in one payment. To register online, you may go to www.epcommunityed.org or call 952-975-6942 if you have questions. Additional Adult Classes Offered through Eden Prairie Community Education: Coachable Moments: Bring out the Best in Your Child Join Irene Kelly, certified coach, to learn how to learn to use coaching skills to support your child to be self-reliant and independent. Using a coaching approach can positively impact your parenting, empower your child and contribute to your child’s success. Class meets Oct. 22 – Nov. 12 with no class on Nov. 5th, from 6:45-8:45 p.m.at the Eden Prairie High School (cost is $75). Please register by Oct. 14, check www.epcommunityed.org for more information. Parenting with a Calm Perspective Approaching parenting from a calm perspective is less stressful, requires less effort and energy, and usually produces better results. Learn how we create so much of our reality through our thinking, as well as the impact of moods (your child’s and yours) and how to parent through them. Class meets two Monday nights, Oct. 21 and 28 from 68:30 p.m. at the Education Center (cost is $48). Please register by Oct. 14, check www.epcommunityed.org for more information. Steve Cwodzinski, High School Teacher, Teaches Adults! Join Steve Cwodzinski for a series of classes offered through Eden Prairie Community Education, including “Our American Presidency,” “Our US Congress,” “Our U.S. Supreme Court,” and “JFK-50th Anniversary”. Classes begin October 15, so register soon (deadline is Oct. 8 for the first class). Classes are held from 7-9 p.m. at Eden Prairie High School (cost is $24). Register individually for each class of interest - check www.epcommunityed.org for more information. Eden Prairie Community Education and ZAPS Learning Company are sponsoring: an ACT preparation course on Sunday, Jan. 19 from 12:30-6:00 pm at EPHS. Participants will receive practice materials, including practice tests, a special study guide and test taking strategies. Cost is $89. For additional information and to register online, go to www.epcommunityed.org.
Volunteers Needed to Help Plan the Taste of Eden Prairie! Are you passionate about EP Schools? Do you enjoy planning events? The planning committee is looking for help in the following areas: Volunteer recruiting and coordinating (consider asking a friend to co-chair this with you, its fun!)
Silent
Auction Solicitation
Volunteering
at the event
Contact Mary Lenker and mention this article at mlenker@edenpr.org Save the Date: Saturday, February 22nd, 2014 MN Viking’s Winter Park in Eden Prairie Come have fun and support the Foundation for Eden Prairie Schools www.FoundationforEPSchools.org Enjoy tastes from over 25 local restaurants, locker room tours, raffle, cash bar, silent auction, live auction, music and more.
Become a sponsor Contact Mary Lenker at mlenker@edenpr.org