Volume XI • Special Issue • September 19, 2012 Waunakee Community High School Waunakee, WI

The Purple SageFreshmen

Which extra-curricular is for you?

If you are interested in...Community: • HERO CLUB---> Work locally to help people in our community• STUDENT COUNCIL--->Volunteer, fundraise for causes, and help to make changes in the school • PAY IT FORWARD---> Help with the community, manage the community garden, work with Waunakee Neighborhood Connection as well as international causes

Science/Agriculture:• SCIENCE OLYMPIAD---> Compete in science, math and engineering based competitions• FFA---> Attend the Dairy Expo, develop leadership skills and gain further knowledge in agriculture

English/Literature: • PURPLE SAGE---> Write for our school newspaper• ONE ACT---> Prepare a single act of a play and perform it in front of the school and community • FPS---> Write a booklet solving a current problems in a future scene• FORENSICS---> Prepare a speech and/or skit to perform in front of a judge

Business/Marketing:• FBLA---> Compete to test different business skills, grow as business leaders and take part in social events. • DECA---> Manage the school store, compete in DECA districts and participate in monthly activities.

How To Pass Your Exams:• Get a binder for each subject• Start organizing your notes now• Do not cram all your studying into one day• Arrange a study group• Get help from your teachers (review night)• Do the study guides• Get enough sleep• DO NOT procrastinate

Benefits of Extra-

curriculars:

• Chance to meet new people

• Looks good on applications

• Fun opportunities

• Makes you look good

• Gain further knowledge

about your interests

What do you wish you would have done to

prepare for college during your freshman year?I wish I did more clubs and

community work becasue I know colleges are really looking for a lot of involvement in the community

and with school clubs.– Sophomore Lexi Magnes

KEYA: Get books from your lockerB:Chat with your friendsC: At three minute bell start runningD: Make it to class on time

HOW TO MAKE IT TO CLASS WITHIN 10 MINUTES

SPECIAL ISSUE: Your personal guide to college planning

Page 2 September 19, 2012The Purple Sage

Sophomore

[I] looked up colleges online, took the PSAT in October, made guide-lines for what I wanted in a col-lege and put together junior and senior classes to prepare for the

major.– Junior Aedan Gardill

School Year

AP classes:• AP Statistics • AP Computer Science • AP Language and Compo sition

• AP Psychology (I & II)• AP Biology (must

• AP Literature and Composition*• AP US History*• AP Economics*• AP Calculus*

* Classes are only available to seniors

Colleges look highly upon students with a lot of volunteer experience, so it is important to get involved early on. Organization: Waunakee Neighborhood ConnectionInformation: WNC was started six years ago. They accept donations and run a free store for anyone who needs it. According to Waunakee Neighborhood Connection’s website, “WNC’s mission is to help improve and create a difference in the lives of our Greater Waunakee Area Neighbors by making connections to distribute resources to those in need in a manner which blesses and enhances our entire community.” In addition to the store, WNC runs many other programs to help out in the community. As it is a local organization, getting involved is very easy. Stay Updated by “Liking” WNC at facebook.com/WaunakeeNeighborhoodConnection An easy way to donate: Go to goodsearch.com and type in Waunakee Neighborhood Connection as the charity you would like to help. Every time you search for something, WNC raises money. Note that you do not need to make an account. Simply press “continue without registering”, and WNC will still recieve money.Volunteer Opportunities in the near future: WNC is in need of volunteers at all times. They can never have too much help around the store. Here are just a few of the opportunities WNC offers: Handy Person: Help out with small repair jobs around the store. Saturday Store Lead: Volunteer one Saturday a month and work well with and lead people; training will be provided. Donator: Drop off toiletries, household items, or new/gently used articles of clothing. WNC also ac- cepts monetary donations to help pay for things like rent, utilities and costs pertaining to programs.In addition to many set programs, WNC is open to starting new positions relating to something you are passion-ate about. All you have to do is contact them. To reach WNC, call (608) 849-5740 or visit their website, Wauna-keeNeighborhoodConnection.com.

What did you do to prepare for college during your sophomore year?

Extra-curricularsPreparing for college as a sophomore is as easy as getting involved in your school and com-

munity. Colleges love seeing students who not only excel in school, but also have active rolls in clubs and organizations. Joining clubs and organizations, especially taking on a management position, demonstrates important traits of a leader. When a student takes part in multiple clubs, it shows multi-tasking skills by juggling being active in extracurriculars and maintaining your grades. This is simple as there are many great clubs in our school offered to each student (For a list, see Student Organizations on the High School website). Colleges also love seeing volunteer-ing because it shows care and concern for your community. Sometimes it is difficult to find vol-unteer opportunities but they can actually be found through our school and some clubs (HERO club, Pay it Forward, Student Council etc).

Local Volunteer Opporunity: WNC

Brittney Hauke, Ellen Drewry, Katie Christensen

take Biotechnology and Human Anatomy and Physiology before en-rolling in the AP Biol-ogy course)

Sophomore

Page 3September 19, 2012 The Purple Sage

College Prep

Public Colleges vs. Private Colleges

How to schedule a college visit or tour1. Research colleges that are interesting and would be best for you 2. Choose several colleges you researched and found intriguing3. By going on the college website of your choice, you can see what type of visits they offer. Some options include a campus visit along with an information session or a campus walk-ing tour4. Find the correct form to fill out in order to at-tend (this usually involves creating an account at that college) 5. Choose a date and time6. Submit the request form and keep checking for fol-low up e-mails7. Make sure to arrive on time or let them know if you are running behind

Loans:

Most college students take out a

loan or two at some point during

their college career. The impor-

tant thing to remember about

them is that the government,

bank or whatever group that

hands them out is going to want

that money in the future, plus

interest.

Scholarships: This is the term most people are familiar with. Just like grants, they do not need to be repaid and are awarded for lots of different things. When applying for scholarships, search around to see what is available and check when deadlines are due. The same advice from grants applies to scholarships: apply early and apply to a lot.

Grants: Grants can come from either federal or private institutions, just like loans. There is one big difference be-tween the two: you do not need to repay grants. Yes, the previous statement is correct. The FAFSA is a big part of the grant process as it determines how much grant money someone gets. There are also merit-based, need-based and stu-dent-specific grants given out by private organizations. The best advice for grants is to apply to as many as you can.

Public colleges:The main difference between public and private colleges is the price tag. Because public colleges get most of their funding from the state, their tuition is cheaper than private colleges. Being an in-state student will lower the price even more. Some out-of-state colleges have agreements with certain states to give their students in-state tuition as well, but otherwise, the price is much higher. Private colleges:Private colleges are given money by alumni and friends, so their price tags are going to be much higher than those of public schools. However, keep in mind that they have the best financial aid. Some students get so much financial aid it is actually cheaper to go to a private school than a public one. Also, most private colleges have smaller class sizes, so it is easier to get one on one attention with professors and a more personalized learning experience.

At the end of the day, public vs. private does not matter. The most important thing is the student feels comfortable at the school they finally choose to attend.

Both the PLAN and the PSAT are important tests sophomores need to be aware of and prepare to take.PLAN: Everyone takes this test first as a freshman, but it is still important to do well on it your sopho-more year. Not only does it measure your current academic level, but it also helps you explore career paths and plan out the rest of your high school years. The PLAN test is also considered a precursor to the ACT, and the tests are very similar in style. The test is split up into four sections: English, Math, Reading and Science. The English section is made up of two categories, Usage/Mechanics and Rhetori-cal Skills. Testers will have 30 minutes to complete that section. Math is also split into two sections, Pre-Algebra/Algebra and Geometry, with 40 minutes given, and Reading and Science are given 20 and 25 minutes respectively. This year, the PLAN test will take place September 20 for the first three hours of school. For more information on the test, visit www.act.org.PSAT: The PSAT is a test taken by both sophomores and juniors. It stands for Preliminary SAT and is also referred to as NMSQT, or National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. That means this test is used for entrance into the National Merit Scholarship Corporation scholarship program. This test does not count toward the scholarship when taken as a sophomore, but it is still recommended to take it. It is good practice for the SAT and the junior year PSAT. Scholarships mean big bucks for college, so it is not something one wants to turn down. Just like the SAT, the PSAT has sections on critical reading, critical math problem-solving and writing. The test is held in the fall, so listen to the announcements to find out when it will be scheduled. For more information and study tips, visit www.collegeboard.com and search for PSAT.

Page 4 September 19, 2012The Purple Sage

Juniors

ACT TEST

DATES

October 27, 2012

December 8, 2012

February 9, 2013

April 13, 2013

June 8, 2013

ACT Breakdownk

English - 75 questions in 45 minutes - Time to read each passage: one minute, 20 seconds - Time to answer each question: 30 seconds Math - 60 questions in 60 minutes - Time to answer each question: one minuteReading - 40 questions in 35 minutes - Time to read each passage: three minutes, 54 seconds - Time to answer each question: 30 secondsScience - 40 questions in 35 minutes - Time to read each passage: two minutes, nine seconds - Time to answer each question: 30 secondsWriting - OPTIONAL. 30 minutes

Thinking about passing

on the writing section?

Check the websites of

the colleges where you

plan to apply to see

the entrance

requirements.

Check registration

deadline dates on

actstudent.org at

least a month in

advance.

Remeber to bring a photo ID and registration ticket to the testing location on test day.

What do you wish you would have done to

prepare for college during your

junior year?

I wish I would have studied more so I could

have gotten a 35. – Senior Jacob Mehlhoff

• Answer every question—there is no penalty for guessing.• Read the directions and questions carefully.• Pace yourself.• Answer the easy questions first, then go back and answer the

more difficult questions.• On difficult questions, eliminate as many incorrect answers as

possible, then make an educated guess.• If you complete a test before time is called, recheck your

answers.

Test Taking Tips

Actstudent.org

Kelly Martin, Willie Freimuth

Juniors

Page 5September 19, 2012 The Purple Sage

Average ACT scores for UW colleges

• Madison: 27-29• Marquette: 24-29• La Crosse: 23-26• Eau Claire: 23-26• Stevens Point:

21-25• Whitewater: 20-25• Milwaukee: 19-24

Parachment.com, Admissions.wisc.edu, College.about.com

Pay attention to Mr. Kersten’s ACT/SAT word of the day on the announcements.

Page 6 September 19, 2012The Purple Sage

Jenna Fazier, Jamie Warner, Lydia Dorn, Aidan SchlittlerSeniors

To help me prepare for college I

wish I would have checked in with the colleges constantly. Trusting that everything will go

smoothly, everyone will be on top of things and that there will never be technical issues is very optimistic but it may result in you getting screwed over for certain scholarships and even getting admitted into the college you want.

– St. Olaf Freshman Brandyn Liebe

What do you wish you would have done to prepare for college

during your senior year?

Filling out college apps can be time-extensive work, especially if applying to multiple colleges. There are personal statements to write, interviews to schedule and giant spreadsheets to fill with dates, facts and figures. Make the task easier by reusing informa-tion between forms. This handy organizer will help you stay on track and keep the facts straight between different applications.

Seniors

Page 7September 19, 2012 The Purple Sage

;; . Be sure to fulfill WHS graduation requirementsGraduation is the most important pre-req for college. If you have dropped any classes this year, check with your counselor as soon as possible to ensure you are meeting the require-ments for graduation.

College Checklist

The ACT is a crucial factor in college admissions. Your last oppor-tunity to enhance your score is October 27. You need to register by Setember 21 if you do not want to pay a late fee.

Take/Retake the ACT;; .

Be sure to apply for financial aid as soon as possible. The Free Applica-tion for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available starting January 1, 2013. The counseling office will hold a meet-ing in December for you and your fam-ily to inform you about how to apply.

Apply for financial aid early;; .

Scholarships are one of the easiest ways to earn free money for college. The counseling office will soon have monthly packets of available scholarships. In addition, online databases such as FastWeb.com match available scholarships to you based on your provided information. The Scholarship Drive in April guarantees you money if you participate.

Apply for all of the scholarships you can;; .

Open a checking account;; .Once you get to college, this will be very important. Checking accounts allow you to get a debit card. This is much safer than carrying cash around on cam-pus, and it makes it easy for your parents to send you extra money for emergencies. Checks also give you extra time to deposit money into your account when needed.

We have all heard Mr. Kersten tell us we have to be at school for 90 percent of each semester, which means you can miss 10 days of school. If you are absent for a college visit, be sure to bring back something from the college to prove you were there so those periods missed do not count against you.

Be in class;; .

“I did have a student who ended up getting an F in AP literature. You have to work to get an F in AP lit class, especially with the type of people who take it.” Rachel Guralski, Language Arts Instructor

“The students who chose not to take the exam. They came to class, but they weren’t going to listen, or do, anything.” Erin Schroeder, Math Instructor

“A particular student who, second semester, completely stopped doing homework, didn’t care how bad his grade got. No matter how much you talked to him, he completely cashed out.”Chad Millar, Math Instructor

Senioritis horror storiesWhat is the worst case of senioritis you’ve seen?

Chad MillarMath Instructor

Erin SchroederMath Instructor

Rachel GuralskiLanguage Arts Instructor

“Set;goals.;The;more;you’re;involved;with;school;in;general,;the;easier;it;is;to;keep;track;of;classes.”

“I;know;Mr.;Millar;has;people;sign;contracts.;A;lot;has;to;do;with;the;weather.;The;nicer;the;weather;gets,;the;worse;senioritis;is.;So;stay;inside,;live;in;a;cave.”

“You;can;set;some;goals;your;senior;year.;Give;yourself;something;to;strive;for.;Even;if;you’ve;been;accepted;into;your;college;of;choice,;you;want;to;end;on;a;positive;note.”

What can students do to avoid contracting senioritis?

Sage PageJamie Warner, Jenna Frazier, Lydia Dorn

Page 8September 19, 2012 The Purple Sage

Aidan SchlittlerEditor in Chief

Meet the Staff

Still interested in joining?

Kelly MartinManaging Editor

Ellen DrewryNews Editor

Kelli MielkeOpinion Editor

Jenna FrazierFeatures Editor

Brittney HaukeEntertainment

Editor

Willie FreimuthSports Editor

Hannah FrickeGraphics Editor

Jack FlinchumAd Manager

Caitlin McGuireCommunity

Outreach Director

Katie ChristensenCopy Editor

Jamie WarnerCopy Editor

Anna EvansenSage Page Editor

Lydia DornPhotography

Editor

Sergei CapaulProduction Assistant

We are always looking for other writers and photographers to contribute to The Purple Sage. Want to get involved? For more information, come talk to us at one of our Wednesday morning meetings. Otherwise, look for Aidan Schlittler or Ms. Rademacher in Room 1502.

Here is the 2012-2013 Editorial Board of your school’s award-winning publication