december 2014 newsletter - taconic high schooltaconic.pittsfield.net/userfiles/servers/server... ·...
TRANSCRIPT
From All of US at Taconic we wish you and your family a safe and a Happy Holiday!!
Congratulations THS , five of our students and five students from PHS attended the SkillsUSA Fall State Leadership Conference November 23rd-25th in Marlborough. All of the students made us very proud, had a great experience, and made new friends from across the state. Every student on our team earned the SkillsUSA Leadership Award, which required an impressive amount of work. Although this was a multi-day workshop on leadership and not an official competition, many of the students also won awards.
Alex Zuber- silver medal for Community Construction Project1st place-Overall Team Quality
Chelsea Lisi-3rd place-Overall Team Quality
Megan Holm-Proactive Leadership Award5th place-Overall Team Quality
Alex Gillette-silver medal for Community Service Project Safety Award2nd place-Overall Team Quality
Alex Kent-6th place-Overall Team Quality
DECEMBER 2014
HIGH SCHOOL
ACONICHOME
OF THE
BRAVES
Get involved with your child’s high school experience at Taconic join PAC
RANDI ROBBINS
Grade: 10th
Favorite School Subject: ABM Intro to Business
Favorite Cafe Food: Popcorn Chicken
Favorite Teacher and Why: Mrs. Hagmaier because she understands her students have other priorities.
Describe THS: Generally respectful group of students and faculty.
What do you do in your spare time: Shopping and watching NetKlix (Being Honest) :)
Plans after High School: 4 year college -‐ NYU or U Maryland
Major? Not a clue but I am very interested in business.
Something about you that would surprise someone: I eat a lot :)
Favorite Song: No Angels
Favorite Color: Purple
Favorite Movie: The Fault in our Stars
Favorite Actor/Actress: Channing Tatum
Favorite Cereal: Lucky Charms
Favorite Book: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
Favorite Animal: Dog
JAKE MCNEICE
Grade: 10th
Favorite School Subject: Chemistry
Favorite Cafe Food: Deli Bagel
Favorite Teacher and Why: Mr. Smith because he’s nice and funny.
Describe THS: I like it. There are alot of cool people and staff.
What do you do in your spare time: Varsity Football, Basketball, Baseball, French Club, Business Professional of America, Senior Leaders.
Plans after High School: Going to College
Major? Architecture, Construction Management, Electrical Engineer, Information Technology -‐ Not Sure.
Something about you that would surprise someone: I like doing funny things on stage.
Favorite Song: “I’m not the only one” by Sam Smith
Favorite Color: Green
Favorite Movie: Ace Ventura Pet Detective -‐ When Nature Calls
Favorite Actor/Actress: Jim Carey
Favorite Cereal: Frosted Flakes
Favorite Book: The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan
STUDENT SPOTLIGHTJake McNeice and Randi Robbins
The Mr. Taconic Pageant was held on Friday, November 21st.
All proceeds benefit the Taconic’s chapter of Business Professionals of America.
The winner were
Mr. Taconic-Patrick Tierney
Mr. Congeniality-Hunter Smead
Mr. Popularity-Andrew Stevens
Mr. Moves-Alex Gillette
Mr. Talent-Nick Turner
Mr. Tux-Alex Stevens
Mr. Speech-Jonathan Placido
! Taconic Pa"ant
Badminton Champions Singles Champion Evan Kalinowski Doubles Champions Josh Berthiaume & Matt Ferris
Over 40 students participated.
JUNIOR COLLEGE NIGHT
It’s Time to Plan for College!!
Wednesday, February 11th
6:00pm
Taconic High School Auditorium
Bring your parents or guardians
Learn what College Reps have to say about Admissions -
Get answers to your questions from the “The
Source”
For scholarships and other information visit the School Counseling Website.
Scan the code
for the website
LET’S TALK COLLEGETaconic High School Counselors and Mr. Burdette are hosting the
annual “Returning Grads Discuss College” program, where Taconic
graduates share their college experiences with this year’s seniors.
We invite seniors to meet with these former THS students for a
Question & Answer on the college experience:
7th period on Friday, January 9th, in the Career Center, room V135
Seniors must sign up to attend, and complete the required form,
available in Guidance.
COLLEGE ROUNDUP
ACT Test is December 13th. The test location is at Taconic High School. Please sign up in the School Counseling Office.
SAT Test Sign Up deadline for the December 29th test is January 24th The test location is at Pittsfield High School. Please sign up in the School Counseling Office
TACONIC
CHORUSUpcoming Events
Dec 5th
Pittsfield Tree Lighting
Ceremony - 6pm
Dec 17th
Winter Concert at St Mark’s Church-6pm
Dress for Success
Dress for Success is the first Thursday in each month. The next Dress for Success is January 8th
Dear Student,
We are accepting applications starting TODAY!
It's time to apply for an unforgettable summer, as we invite you to
the Duke Summer College for High School Students (grades 10
& 11) to earn academic credit, or Duke Summer Academy for High
School Students(grades 9-12) for personal enrichment. Make
friends from all over the globe as you learn in a classroom
environment that is intimate enough to gain the individual attention
you need to thrive.
The application is available on our website today and we encourage
you to apply early as spaces fill quickly!
Applications can be submitted either online or in paper. Please visit
our website for further details.
http://summersession.duke.edu/high-school-students
Email us at [email protected] or
[email protected] with any questions.
Sincerely,
Nicki Charles, Ed.D.
Duke University
Director of International Student Recruitment for Summer Session
919-684-8763
JAWM Stock Challenge
Taconic students participated in the 9th Annual Junior Achievement Stock Market Challenge at the MassMutual Center. There were 155 teams from 27 schools across Western Mass. Congratulations to the sophomore team of Jake Flynn, Cody Latimer, Jacob Galliher, Tyler Coelho, and Justyn Santiago for ranking 8th among the teams. Way to go!!
A Big THANK YOU to SABIC Innovative Plastics and Berkshire Life/Guardian for sponsoring this event
FINANCIAL AID NIGHT at Taconic: Tuesday Dec 16, at 6:30 pm in the school cafeteria.Students and parent/guardian are invited to attend a program at no cost, offered to explain and discuss how financial aid for college works, the process of applying for aid (FAFSA, PROFILE), and important updates to federal, state, and college financial aid info. Speakers include THS School Counselors and Financial Aid officers from local colleges. Please come for valuable information, get your questions answered, and learn about the many scholarship opportunities available.
The Redesigned SAT
COMING IN SPRING 2016
Introducing the Redesigned SATLaunching in spring 2016, the redesigned SAT will be based on the skills and knowledge that research shows to be essential for students' college and career readiness and success. The eight key changes listed below will make the exam clearer for students, more closely connected to K–12 course work, and more useful for college admission officers.
Eight Key Changes
Relevant Words in ContextThe redesigned SAT will focus on relevant words, not obscure vocabulary, that students will use throughout their lives — in high school, in college, and beyond. Students will engage in close reading to interpret the meaning of words based on the context of the passage in which they appear.
Command of Evidence The redesigned SAT will ask students to demonstrate their ability to interpret, synthesize, and use evidence found in a wide range of sources. These include informational graphics and multiparagraph passages excerpted from literature and literary nonfiction; texts in the humanities, science, history, and social studies; and career-related sources.
Essay Analyzing a SourceThe Essay section, which will be optional, will more closely mirror college writing assignments. Students will read a passage and explain how the author builds an argument to persuade an audience. Students may analyze elements such as the author's use of evidence, reasoning, and stylistic and persuasive elements.
Focus on Math that Matters MostThe exam will focus on three essential areas of math. Problem Solving and Data Analysis involves using ratios, percentages, and proportional reasoning to solve problems in science, social science, and career contexts. The Heart of Algebra focuses on the mastery of linear equations and systems. Passport to Advanced Math focuses on the student's familiarity with more complex equations.
Problems Grounded in Real-World ContextsThroughout the redesigned SAT, students will engage with questions grounded in the real world, questions directly related to the work performed in college and career.
Analysis in Science and in History/Social StudiesStudents will apply their reading, writing, language, and math skills to solve problems in a broad array of contexts, including science, history, and social studies. Questions will require them to read and comprehend texts, revise texts to be consistent with data presented in graphics, and synthesize information presented through texts and graphics.
Founding Documents and Great Global ConversationEvery time students take the redesigned SAT, they will encounter a passage from a founding document (for example, the Bill of Rights) or a text from the ongoing global conversation about freedom, justice, and human dignity.
No Penalty for Wrong AnswersThe redesigned SAT will remove the penalty for wrong answers. Students will earn points for the questions they answer correctly.
Further ReadingFor more information on the redesigned SAT, including sample questions and test specifications, visit deliveringopportunity.org.
Students Taking the Current SATStudents taking the SAT before spring 2016 can visit the current SAT site for information on test dates, registration, scores, and more.
Europe Trip• • •
European History Trip: Athens, Florence & Rome.
There is still room and time to enroll on the Taconic European History trip to Europe. This years trip will be to Athens, Florence & Rome. The trip is sponsored through EF tours. Student price includes airfare, hotel, breakfast and dinner as well as entrance to all exhibits and museums. The trip takes place over February break. Registration and payment deadline is the First of November. For approximate cost and more information See Mr. Flynn in room 223 or email [email protected]
EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT CULTURES
Foreign Language Field Trip to the United Nations and 9/11
Memorial Museum on November 10th.
Attendance School
is offered Monday - Thursday in the Cafeteria from
2:30 to 3:00. Any questions, please
see Mrs. Mancari
TACONIC’S
OPEN HOUSE
January 8th
7pm-9pm
Twenty Taconic Chorus students auditioned for Western District Chorus. This chorus is comprised of singers from high school students in the western part of Massachusetts, and 16 of our singers made it into this select chorus. 13 of those 16 students also received an all state recommendation, meaning they scored on the top half and earned the privilege to audition at the state level.
This is an incredible honor, and these students have worked hard. Congratulations
Caroline Fairweather (earned a perfect score!!) - districts and all state recLily Lothrop (placed second) - districts and all state rec
Bri Bigos - districts and all state recSarah Cicchetti (first place) - districts and all state rec
Chrissy Riello -districts and all state recAndrew Stevens (placed fourth) -districts and all state rec
Jacob Giblin - districts and all state recKevin Stasiewski - districts and all state rec
Brice Ovitt - districts and all state recPatrick Tierney - districts and all state recBraxton Vittori - districts and all state rec
Mitchell McCauley - districts and all state recJetter White- districts and all state rec
Nick LaValley - districtsLauren Mangiardi - districts
Kate Parks - districts
Western District Chorus Auditions
Marks close for Report Cards
January 23rd
There is NO SCHOOL
December 22nd---January 2nd
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Taconic High School is to provide a safe learning environment where students demonstrate a strong work ethic and utilize 21st century skills as they strive for success.
Core Values
Take Responsibility
Have Respect
Strive for excellence
21st Century Learning Expectations
1.Student uses appropriate materials and technology to access, evaluate, and apply relevant information for authentic learning.
2.Student works independently and collaboratively.
3.Student communicates clearly and effectively.
4.Student is an active learner, demonstrating creatively and flexibility.
5.Student applies the processes of analysis, evaluation, and creation in problem solving.
6.Student demonstrates personal responsibility, cultural appreciation, and ethical behavior.