December 2016 Edition

O’Gorman High School

3201 S Kiwanis Ave

Sioux Falls SD 57105

A Message From the Principal:

Knight Letter

Dear O’Gorman Parents & Students:

As we begin the final month of the fall semester and move into the Christmas season, I would like to share a

reflection with all of you. At this time of the year we look forward to giving and receiving gifts from one

another. I believe Catholic education is a gift, and the SFCS community gains immeasurable benefits from

this gift each day.

At O’Gorman we are blessed to have the opportunity to learn about and practice our faith, to serve others and

to build our relationship with Jesus Christ. Our mission directs us to model Gospel values, and to nurture our

faith. This is what Catholic education provides. Catholic education is the gift that just keeps on giving. We

would like to wish all of our families a safe and blessed Advent and Christmas season and a Joyous New

Year!

STUDENT SCHEDULES:

After Christmas break students will receive their spring semester schedules on Tuesday, January 3rd. Students

will have until Friday, January 6th to drop and add courses pending availability. Please remember that we will

add a student to a course if an opening is available. However, we will not overload a course unless it is the

only way to make a student’s schedule complete.

COMPREHENSIVE SEMESTER EXAMS GUIDELINES & SCHEDULE:

School begins at 9:00 a.m. each day and ends at 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 20th & 21st. The school day will end at

11:15 a.m. on Dec. 22nd.

Students need to be on campus for their scheduled exams only. Open Campus applies to all students

during semester exams. Regular dress code will be in effect.

It is critical that students make every effort to complete their semester exams at the scheduled times.

Students may report to the library for silent study. The cafeteria will be available for study as well.

No lunch will be served; however, ala carte will be available on semester exam days.

The schedule for semester exams is listed below.

Tuesday, Dec. 20th Wednesday, Dec. 21st Thursday, Dec. 22nd

9:00-10:00 Period 1 Period 3 Period 6

10:15-11:15 Period 2 Period 4 Period 7

11:30-12:30 Period 8 Period 5

“The greatest gift you will ever receive will never be found under a Christmas tree. It is far too

valuable to be stored in any other place but in the depths of your heart.”

Anonymous

Yours,

Kyle L. Groos

Principal

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Tuesday, December 6……………………….…………….…….Semester Test Package Order Deadline

Thursday, December 8 ………………………………………………………...…….Late Start 9:00 a.m.

Thursday, December 8…………………………………….…………………...…...…..All School Mass

Friday, Saturday & Sunday, Dec. 9, 10 & 11………………...….Our Little Christmas Spectacular Play

Monday, December 12……………………………….Band Winter Concert 7:00 p.m. (Lorang Theatre)

Wednesday, December 14 ……………………………...Christmas Vespers 7:00 p.m. (Lorang Theatre)

Tuesday through Thursday, Dec. 20,21 & 22…………………………………….………Semester Tests

Friday, Dec. 23 through Monday, Jan. 2…………...………………..…....Christmas Break (No School)

Tuesday, January 3 ........................................................................................................ .School Resumes

Essential Phone Numbers

Attendance: 575-3310 (Pam Gordon)

Counseling: 575-3320 (Sue Knight)

Lunch Accounts: 575-3356 (Carrie Keuser)

Activities / Rentals: 575-3300 (Aaron Strand)

Knight Locker: 575-3391 (Betsy Weber)

Tuition Accounts: 575-3367 (Jessica Aning / Mary

Haiar)

IMPORTANT DATES

Principal’s Message………………………..……………………….…….………..………….........1

Important Dates ………………………………………….……………….……………..………...2

Parent Information………………………………………………………………………………….3

General Information …………………....……………………….…………..……….……..……4-5

Campus Ministry……………………………….....….……….………………………...…...…...6-7

Counseling………………………….…………..………...……………………….……............8-11

Our Little Christmas Spectacular ………………...……...………...……………….………….....12

Christmas Joy Vespers …………………………………………………………………………...13

Semester Care Package Order Form ………………………………………………………......…14

SFCS Information ………………………………………………………………………………..15

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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PARENT INFORMATION

The time has come again for your child to start pre-

paring for semester tests, and what better way to start

him/her off than with a semester test care package.

In addition to a personal note of encouragement from

you, the care package will include all kinds of fun

treats.

Instructions are simple. All you have to do is write a

note of encouragement, put their name on the outside

folded message and send it to O’Gorman High

School, attention: Pam Gordon. The cost is only

$5.00, and we will do the rest!! The deadline for

submission is December 6th, so don’t delay!

Your encouraging words will be the last your child

reads before taking his/her first tests…start your stu-

dent off on a good note! Proceeds will benefit the

Staff Scholarship Fund. Form can be found on page

15 of this newsletter.

CARE PACKAGES

2016-17 Knight Legend Yearbook

2016-17 Knight Legend Yearbooks are on sale now

for $65. Get your limited edition before January 1st

and save on the price increase. These may be ordered

online at jostensyearbooks.com or by mailing a check

for $65 to:

OGHS Attn: Doug Basche

3201 S. Kiwanis Ave.

Sioux Falls, SD 57105

They make a great Christmas Gift!

YEARBOOKS!

We are already making plans for summer school and

driver education (summer 2017). Our summer school

schedule will run from June 5th to June 30th. Classes

will run from 8 a.m. – noon. The final determination

for the actual course offerings will depend upon the

number of students who register for a particular sum-

mer school course. Registration numbers will drive

our decision.

In addition to summer school, we will once again offer

driver education. The classroom portion of the driver

education program will take place the week of May

22nd – May 26th. The classroom portion of driver edu-

cation is thirty hours in length. Specific dates and

times for the driving portion of the driver education

will be determined at a later date.

The registration forms for driver education and sum-

mer school is posted online at http://

ogorman.sfcss.org/academics. You can also find the

list of courses being offered during summer school in

our course description book which is made available

to our students in January. The book can be accessed

online as well at http://ogorman.sfcss.org/academics/

SUMMER SCHOOL &

DRIVER’S ED

When determining school cancellations and/or late

starts due to inclement weather, SFCS will utilize

the following:

The SFCS President works in collaboration with

the Sioux Falls Public Schools, Sioux Falls Chris-

tian Schools, as well as representatives from the

National Weather Service, City of Sioux Falls, and

local emergency personnel to determine current/

future weather patterns, road conditions, and in-

town response times and weigh the options to en-

sure the safety of all students and families.

Most recommendations and decisions are made

by 4:30 a.m. with ongoing monitoring of the situa-

tion. The family always has the final decision in

sending their child to school or keep them home if

they think the weather is too dangerous.

SFCS WEATHER-RELATED

INFORMATION

PARENT INFORMATION

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GENERAL INFORMATION

On November 4th, Samantha Messier participated in South Dakota’s MNTN

(Music Teacher’s National Association) contest held at Northern State in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

She competed in senior voice and was chosen as alternate (2nd place) to go to Boulder, CO, in

January to compete in the six state Midwest divisional competition.

Abi Bell has been named this year’s Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen. This

award is unique because teachers nominate and vote for a student based on the personal

characteristics of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism. She is now eligible to write an

essay to compete for a scholarship.

Congratulations! SD Jr. Honor Choir: Matthew Meyer, Elli Richardson, Molli Schlenker &

Genevieve Westerman. National ACDA Middle Choir: Matthew Meyer, Elli Richardson, Molli

Schlenker & Maddie Thie. Carnegie Honors Choir: Katelyn Czmowski, Kaitlyn Earley, Kailie

Hopkins, Matthew Meyer, & Elli Richardson.

Congratulations to the following students who were selected to play in the East Central Honor

Band at SDSU. Honor Band: Ally Byrd, Ethan Dingman, Jake Meyer & Hannah Olson.

Festival Band: Hank Freese, Molly Lacasse & Sam Peterson. Jazz Band: Micah Impecoven,

Trudy Jones, Sam Lindberg, Nathaniel Pekas, Olivia Roers & Michael Sulaiman.

Notable Knights

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Debate Season off to a Great Start ~ The debate season is off to a great

start with place winners at all three weekend tournaments so far.

Pumpkinstakes in Watertown ~ October 29

Alex King -1st in Varsity Domestic Extemp & Seamus Duffy, finalist

in Varsity International Extemp

Jack Fitzgibbons -1st, Noah Arends -2nd & Ellie Schelske -3rd in Novice Extemp

Washington Warrior ~ November 4

Sarah Eckerstorfer -1st, Christopher Vaska- 3rd, Megan King -5th & Sam Diedrich

Outstanding Presiding Officer in Student Congress

Alex King -5th in Varsity Domestic Extemp

Roosevelt Sweetstakes ~ November 5

Mali Farmer & Abigale Muller -2nd in Novice Public Forum Debate & Abigale Muller was

named the Outstanding Speaker in Novice Public Form

Brandon Poirier -3rd in Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate

Golden Eagle Cup ~ Aberdeen November 11-12

Alex King -1st in Varsity Domestic Extemp & Seamus Duffy -1st in Varsity International

Extemp

Eloise Asfora & Sam Diedrich -Outstanding Presiding Officers in Student Congress

Megan King -2nd in Varsity Student Congress & Zack Wei -3rd in Novice Student Congress

Anjum Shaik & Zack Wei -1st in Novice Public Forum Debate and Sam Diedrich & Alex King

-4th in Varsity Student Congress

George McGovern Speech & Debate ~ Mitchell ~ November 18-19

Sam Diedrich & Alex King - 1st in Varsity Public Forum Debate

Brandon Poirier –2nd in Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate

Notable Knights

The virtue for December is Service

GENERAL INFORMATION

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O†Gorman High Schoo l

O†G Campus Ministry

Teach like Jesus!

December 2016

Bishop Dudley Hospitality House

Advent Project

“Christ continues to call out to us, asking us to love and serve him by tending to our brothers and sis-

ters in need.” -Pope Francis

This year O†Gorman students and staff are once again adopting the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House

for Advent. Last year was a great success, and we at O†G hope to continue a long tradition of support

between our students and the poorest of the poor in the Sioux Falls community.

With everyone’s help, we will make sure that all who stay at the BDHH on Christmas Eve will wake up

with a gift Christmas morning. 175 adult stockings and 40 child stockings will be filled with items that

the guests of BDHH often have to share or go without. Razors, deodorant, socks, hats, gloves, sham-

poo, conditioner and more will bless each individual. Children will receive many of these same items

as well as a toy. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve Christ in our community.

In addition to the stockings, each student advisory group will fill boxes with items that the BDHH can

use throughout the year. A list of requested items can be found below.

Parents are welcome and encouraged to participate in this opportunity. The final advisory collection

will take place on Monday, December 19. Collection boxes are available throughout the high school.

May Jesus Christ reign in your heart this Advent season!

Bishop Dudley Hospitality House Advent Project Big Box Item Suggestions

Reading Glasses

White Copy/office

paper

Stamps

Disposable Surgical Gloves size L and

above (non-latex preferred)

Men’s Undergarments (Size L and XL)

Women’s Undergarments (Size L and

XL)

Kleenex

Toilet Paper

Garbage Bags 13 gallon & 39 gallon

Foot Powder

Neosporin

Large Band-Aids

Razors

Aerosol Deodorant

Egg or Elbow

Macaroni Noodles

Coffee

6 oz. Styrofoam Coffee Cups

Napkins

Paper Towels

Cream of Chicken or Mushroom Soup

Laundry Soap

THANK YOU

FOR BRINGING THE JOY OF ADVENT TO THE

BISHOP DUDLEY HOSPITALITY HOUSE!

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O†G Campus Ministry

December 2016

Students rise early to serve

breakfast at The Banquet.

Questions or comments?

Contact Jon Konz

EMAIL: jkonz@sfcss.org

PHONE: 605-575-3347

Intermission

On Jan. 6, 2017, Holy Spirit Parish will host an evening of wor-

ship, adoration, and dynamic faith witness at O+Gorman High

School. Registration is available online.

More details: http://www.partnershipforyouth.org/details/

March for Life Pilgrimage

Join over 100,000 of your closest pro-life friends in Washington,

DC on Jan. 25-29, 2017 to witness, defend, and protect life!

Check out the Diocesan video at https://www.youtube.com/

watch?vvvv=H_YOAflODI8

More details : http://www.sfcatholic.org/youth/

O come, O come Emmanuel!

Advent Reconciliation

On Wednesday, November 30,

priests of the Sioux Falls area

offered the Sacrament of Pen-

ance to students and staff.

Guy’s Group meets Thurs-

days at 7 a.m.

Donuts. Faith. Prayer.

Ski with the Seminarians

Catholic men 12 years of age and up are invited to ski with the

SF Diocese seminarians on Dec. 29, 2016. Mass, skiing, pizza,

prayer, and vocation stories will all be part of the event!

More details: https://skiwithseminarians2016.splashthat.com/

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COUNSELING DEPARTMENT NEWS

SENIORS: If you haven’t started the college application process, you should do so ASAP! Applications should be submitted by Christmas break. The application process affects deadlines on scholarships, financial aid, and college housing. If you need help, come see us! COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID has changed for seniors entering college in the fall of 2017. You can apply for financial aid as of October 1st and use 2015 taxes. Most financial aid deadlines will remain as in the past, but families are encouraged to complete the FAFSA as soon as possible. SENIOR ATHLETES who plan to participate in college athletics must register with the NCAA (www.eligibilitycenter.org) or NAIA (www.playnaia.org) to confirm academic eligibility for college programs. See Mr. Hagg for more information. JOB SHADOWING: The Shadow Ed representative (Linda Rodman) is at our school during 4B and 5C lunch periods every Friday that school is in session. Students interested in shadowing a particular career field should stop by the Counseling Office or contact her at shadow@siouxfalls.com. CAREER/COLLEGE INFORMATION: www.SDMyLife.com is an online college and career information system available to all students. Students who need their login information should come to the Counseling Office. There is also an ACT Prep program called Method Test Prep, check it out. PSAT: The results of the PSAT will be available in early December. It was administered at O’Gorman on October 19th to 79 sophomores & juniors. Results will be given to the students as soon as they become available. PEER RELATIONS REPORTING is available on the OGHS homepage. Use this tool to report concerns you have about peers or yourself. Remember Mrs. Jones and Mr. Hagg’s doors are always open to talk about personal, family, or academic questions and concerns you have. You can walk in or make an appointment with Mrs. Knight if they are not immediately available. REGISTRATION FOR 2017-2018 will take place in late January and early February. Counselors will provide students with registration information, and students will register online. AP courses and senior Theology courses require an application. Information regarding AP courses will be available online in January.

ACT Register on-line at www.actstudent.org

It is recommended that students take the ACT for the first time during the spring of their junior year, preferably the April test date.

O’Gorman High School is a National ACT testing site. O’Gorman’s School Code is 421-175 and our Test Center Code is 157-640.

SAT Register on-line at www.collegeboard.com/sat

Test Date Registration Deadline

(regular fee) Late Registration Period

(additional fee required) Photo Upload Deadline

February 11 January 13 January 14-20 February 3

April 8 March 3 March 4-17 March 31

June 10 May 5 May 6-19 June 2

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Seniors must take the ACT or the SAT for college admission. It is usually not necessary to take both tests. Juniors and seniors interested in either of these tests should stop by the Counseling Office for registration information and deadlines. Questions can be addressed to the Counseling Office at 575-3320. COLLEGE REPRESENTATIVES SCHEDULED: These visits give students an idea of admission requirements, costs, programs available, and timelines to follow. All college visits are listed in the daily student bulletin and posters are displayed with dates and times. Students must get a pass from the Counseling Office no later than 8:00 a.m. on the day of the visit. The following colleges are scheduled at this time:

COLLEGE VISITS

SCHOLARSHIPS: The Counseling Office is continuing to receive scholarship information. Seniors and parents are encouraged to check the counseling webpage every few weeks as new scholarships are posted as they arrive. SOUTH DAKOTA OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP: The South Dakota Legislature established five requirements that all South Dakota high school graduates must meet in order to establish their initial eligibility in the Opportunity Scholarship program. These requirements specify that a recipient must:

1. Be a resident of South Dakota at time of high school graduation. 2. Have an ACT composite score of 26 or higher before the beginning of post-secondary education. If

using a SAT score, the sum of the verbal and mathematics scores on the SAT must be at least 1090. 3. Complete high school course requirements with no final grade below a "C" (2.0 on a 4.0 scale) and a

cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (grade of "B") prior to graduation (Note: One unit of high school credit equals 1 year of instruction).

4. Effective for those students entering into postsecondary education for the first time on or after August 2013, the curriculum requirements specified in section 3 above are not required for any s tudent who has received a composite score on the ACT of at least 28 and meets the ACT college readiness benchmarks scores equaling or exceeding 18 for English, 22 for Reading, 22 for Math, and 23 for Science.

Test Date Test(s) Registration Deadline

(regular fee)

Late Registration Deadline

(additional fee required)

Mail Phone/Online

Jan 21 SAT & Subject Tests Dec 21 Jan 3 Jan 10

Mar 11 SAT only Feb 10 Feb 21 Feb 28

May 6 SAT & Subject Tests Apr 7 Apr 18 Apr 25

June 3 SAT & Subject Tests May 9 May 16 May 24

DATE TIME COLLEGE

December 1 9:00 a.m. Presentation

December 6 9:00 a.m. NDSU

December 6 10:00 a.m. SDSU

COUNSELING DEPARTMENT NEWS

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COUNSELING DEPARTMENT NEWS

5. Attend a university, college, or technical school accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and that provides instruction from a campus locat-ed in South Dakota.

6. Enter into the program within 5 years of high school graduation, or within 1 year of the student's release from active duty military service (if that release is within 5 years of the date of the student's high school graduation). Students seeking to transfer from a regionally accredited university, college, or technical school located outside of South Dakota may do so within two years following high school graduation and be eligible to receive partial award.

High School Course Requirements

4 units of English 3 units of Social Science 4 units of Algebra or higher mathematics 4 units of Science, including 3 units of approved laboratory science 1 unit of Fine Arts 2 units of either of the following or a combination of the two: Approved Career and Technical Education courses Modern or classical language 1/2 unit of Personal Finance or Economics 1/2 unit of Physical Education 1/2 unit of Health or Health Integration (Students entering high school after July 2013)

DAKOTA CORPS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM The Dakota Corps Scholarship was designed for high school students in South Dakota to provide full tuition and generally-applicable fees to selected qualified applicants. Qualified applicants must:

Graduate from an accredited South Dakota high school with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.8 or great-er on a 4.0 scale. Home schooled students will be allowed to provide supplemental information if this requirement is not applicable.

Have a composite ACT score of 27 or greater (or the SAT equivalent). Agree, in writing, to stay in South Dakota and work in a critical need occupation after graduation for as

many years as the scholarship was received, plus one year. The current critical need occupations are: Teacher—High School Math Teacher—High School Science Teacher—Elementary or Secondary Special Education Teacher—High School Career and Technical Education Teacher – K-12 Foreign Language Accountant / Auditor Engineer (includes all fields EXCEPT mining) Information Technology Registered Nurse

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Apply for the Dakota Corps Scholarship for a school period that begins within one year of high school graduation, or within one year of release from active duty of an active component of the armed forc-es.

Attend a participating South Dakota college as an undergraduate student in a program that will pre-pare the student to work in a critical need occupation.

Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national. Among those that qualify, recipients will be chosen based on GPA, test scores, activities, honors, community service, and a written essay. Not all eligible applicants will be selected for a scholarship. From the total pool of applicants, a limited number of recipients will be selected. Also, some South Dakota colleges may limit the number of scholarship recipients they accept, or not participate at all. BUILD DAKOTA SCHOLARSHIP: This scholarship is for students going to South Dakota Technical Schools in high-need workforce careers. It is available to both in-state and out-of-state students. The scholarship pays for tuition, fees, books and other required program expenses. Students must commit to living and working in South Dakota, in their field of study, for three years following graduation. If you would like more infor-mation, talk to a counselor.

COUNSELING DEPARTMENT NEWS

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