CAPITAL HIGH SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

Principal: Vice Principals:Clinton H. Giles Our job is to improve, not just maintain.” Tommy Canterbury

Wendy Bailey Susan Young

Angela Cruikshank

TutoringIf you determine your child is having problems in a specific curriculum area, after school tutoring is available from 3:15- 4:15. Tutoring will begin before the end of the first nine weeks. The schedule is as follows:

Monday: Math, Ms. D’Esposito Rm. 137Tuesday: Science, Mr. Coleman Rm. 157 GWednesday: English, Blaul Rm. 226Thursday: Social Studies, Mrs. Kerner

Rm. 207

Grade Reports1st 9 weeks Midterm 9/23Report Card 11/1

2nd 9 weeks Midterm 11/30Report Card 1/17

3rd 9 weeks Midterm 2/10Report Card 3/20

4th 9 weeks Midterm 4/20Report Card 6/1

AP® Exams

All students who are taking an Advanced Placement® (AP®) Course during the 2011 – 2012 school year are required to take the Advanced Placement® Exam in May. Each exam costs $87. Payments are being accepted now. Please make checks out to Capital High School and write the name of the exam(s) to be taken in the memo line.

Starting with the 2011 – 2012 school year, students who receive a

score of 3 or better on an exam are eligible for an exam fee reimbursement. The Advanced Placement® Fee Reimbursement Request Form must be submitted to Mrs. Young by October 3, 2011 in order to qualify. The form will be sent home through the Advanced Placement® teacher.

September Counselor Corner

Welcome back and best wishes for a successful school year. Every student is assigned to a counselor according to the alphabet of their last name- Mrs. Lori McNabb (A-E), Mrs. Lisa Dorsey (F-K), Mrs. Jackie Schimmel (L-R) and Mrs. Jennifer Stowers (S-Z). The counselors have an open door policy. We strive to meet the needs of all of our students with emergencies taking first priority. Students can see their counselor before school, between classes, at break, during their scheduled lunch period and during class with a signed permission from their teacher. Parents can call, email or schedule an appointment to talk to their child’s counselor. Each

counselor’s email can be found at www.capitalhigh.org .

Test Date Reminders:

9th-11th graders will have the opportunity to take the PSAT on October 12. The PSAT/NMSQT lets you assess your critical reading, mathematical reasoning, and writing skills, get specific suggestions on how to improve your academic skills, prepare for the SAT with a personalized study plan, enter National Merit Scholarship Corporation competitions for recognition and scholarships, use My College Quick Start to access free resources and information about college and career planning. The cost of this test is $17.00. Sign up with Mrs. Woolwine in room 125.

All 11th graders and any interested 12th grader will be taking the ASVAB on October 14. The ASVAB Career Exploration Program can help students learn more about themselves, the world of work, explore occupations in line with their interests and skills and develop an effective strategy to achieve their career goals.

10th graders will take the PLAN in October. This test predicts how well they will do on the ACT.

ACT 2011-12 schedule:Test date Registration Deadline October 22, 2011

September 16, 2011December 10, 2011

November 4, 2011February 11, 2012

January 13, 2012April 14, 2012

March 9, 2012June 9, 2012

May 4, 2012

Register at www.act.org . If you do not have internet, see your counselor for a packet. Fee waivers are available to those who receive free or reduced lunch. See your counselor for a waiver. Capital High School is a testing center for the ACT.Seniors do not wait until the last date to take the test. You should plan on taking the test several times to improve your score.

Senior/Parent night was on Thursday, September 8th at 6:00 p.m. in the LGI. Judy Kee, from the West

Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, discussed financial aid.

College Visits: Representative from the following colleges will be available during lunch periods. September 14th – Shepherd University15th – Transylvania University21st – Marietta College23rd – Alderson & Broaddus28th - Randolph College29th-30th - Everest Institute

October18th – Salem Women’s College25th – Fairmont State

To think about:“You have to stand for something or you will fall for anything.” (Words from an older Aaron Tippen song) Know who you are, what you believe in, and what you want to stand for. Therefore, you will not be caught off guard when faced with a decision that could change your life forever. Foreign Language NewsNoelia Lerma, the intern teacher from Peñafiel, Spain arrived at Capital High School on

Wednesday, August 31. After a 24 hour trip on Tuesday, she was ready to begin school at 7:00 am on Wednesday. Noelia was here for Open House on Thursday evening to meet and greet the parents and guardians of students in the advanced Spanish classes. Noelia will work with Mrs. Alcazar in the advanced Spanish classes every day and she will study civics with Mrs. Kerner and Classic Films Class with Mrs. Humphries in order to learn more about the American culture while improving her English language skills. Mrs. Ayers has graciously offered to host Noelia this school year. Capital High owes a debt of gratitude to Mrs. Ayers for agreeing to share her home; thus giving the students the opportunity to work with a native speaker of the language they are studying.

If anyone in the Capital High School family would like to include Noelia in an activity that they think would be interesting for a visitor from Spain, please feel free to contact Mrs. Alcazar or Mrs. Ayers. This is Noelia’s first experience in the United States; however, her English is very good. She should meet many people and have different

experiences which will be difficult for one family to offer. We hope that many of our students will invite Noelia to share her culture while enjoying activities with their families.

From the Studio

As usual, while everyone was enjoying the summer, the Dance Company was already hard at work. After performing at Festivall and three Flash mobs, they endured four weeks of classes and two choreography sessions. Now that we are back at school the dancers are taking technique class twice weekly, creating new Hip Hop choreography and working on three new dance works. The fun never stops!

Other dance classes have started their year with a unit about how dance can be used as a means of healthy living. We have discussed eating habits and how to use dance to stay toned and keep the body moving. We will continue with this idea in mind as we move into our first Jazz Unit. We have more boys

than ever involved in dance here at Capital and they are doing great work. Athletes are using dance to gain greater flexibility and agility. Other students are just taking class for the love of the art. It has been a great start to the year.

The Dance Company continues to work hard in preparation for upcoming performances beginning September 8th as we perform a 9/11 commemorative work at the WV Division of Culture and History for the statewide remembrance and September 16th for our school wide assembly. October 1st we will host three dancers from “Royal Flush” as they provide some amazing hip hop workshops on Popping, House, Breakography, and much more! November 4th

is our Homecoming Pep Assembly where we will test out some of those new skills. It should be one to watch this year. Put December 3rd on your calendar as it will be our first showcase and will include all the work we have done so far, as well as some other guest performances.

We had an Inta Juice fundraiser on Sept. 7th, a Welcome Back dance on Sept. 9th and a Pancake Breakfast on Sept. 17th so

there are lots of ways to help us if you would like. We also have Kroger cards and Save Around books. Please contact Ms. Legg if you would like one of the books or cards. Below you will find some bullets regarding things we have upcoming. Please feel free to email or call Ms. Legg for more information on ANY of these events or to book us for a performance.

Email: alegg@kcs.kana.k12.wv.us Phone: 304-348-6500 ext. 159

September 7th Inta Juice

September 8th Performance at Capitol

September 9th Back to School Bash

September 17th Pancake Breakfast

September 25th Dance Company Picnic

October 1st ROYAL FLUSH Workshops

November 4th Homecoming Pep Assembly

December 3rd Dance Company Holiday Madness

December 22nd Performing Arts Holiday

The 2nd Tuesday of Every month is the Dance Booster meeting at 6PM

Performing

Arts

Kanawha County’s Magnet School for the Arts began our school year smoothly with a few new changes. We have a new member in our department and some of our present members are teaching in different areas. Mrs. Kathleen Corbett is the Performing Arts Department Chairperson and the theatre facilitator. She teaches Piano, Mixed Chorus, Vocal Ensemble and VIPs (Show Choir). Ms. Michelle Legg is in charge of our Dance Department teaching Expressive Movement, Dance 1, 2, 3, and 4 (Dance Company). Mrs. Colleen Tan continues to teach our chamber orchestra two periods each day. Mr. Robert Haddy will continue his work with the Drama Department teaching Special Effects Make-Up while continuing to produce the innovative CTV and teach all the Multi-media classes. Mrs. Peggy Snyder is teaching Dual Credit Fine Arts,

Digital Photography, and will continue with the Quiz Bowl team. Mrs. Christie Pennington is teaching the Art 2 and 3 components with AP Art. New to the department this is year is Mr. Kristopher Corbett who is in charge of the Drama Department teaching Introduction to Theatre, Make-up/Masks, Media, Tech Theater and Acting 2, 3 and 4. Mr. Bobby Jenks is in charge of the Instrumental Music Department teaching Guitar, Music Theory, Band (9th Grade) and Band (10-12 Grades). Mrs. Dale Barnett will be teaching Art 1 and Painting.

Our Drama department under the direction of Kristopher Corbett is working on Tom Sawyer to be performed October 20 and 21 in the Capital High School Performing Arts Centre at 7:30 PM. More information will be given in later newsletter articles.

The Dance Company under the direction of Michelle Legg has already had a workshop with WVU’s Dance Instructor, Yoav Kaddar, choreographing a special piece for 9/11 for the members of the Dance Company.

The VIPs, under the direction of Kathleen Corbett, started the year

with conditioning each Monday and Wednesday throughout the summer in preparation for the new show. They also had a wonderful vocal technique workshop at Cedar Lakes during their August camp. Their first choreography workshop with Gates Crisler was held August 20 and 21 where they choreographed their first two songs of their competition show. They will continue working on their competition show with workshops on September 17 and 18 in preparation for their first festival event, SWING SING, November 20 at the Municipal Auditorium.

Our new Band Director, Bobby Jenks, had band camp the first week of August while they blocked their competition show, The Wizard of Oz and The Wiz. The band continued to work on their show all of August in preparation for the first football game, August 25. They did an outstanding job and we are all excited about what they will be able to accomplish this year during their competition season. They compete September 17 at the Spring Valley Band Festival and September 24 at the Cabell Midland and Poca Band Festivals.

Come out and support our band.

Mrs. Colleen Tan is our string teacher and increased the size of our Chamber Orchestra twofold. Mrs. Tan is a member of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, Lake String Quartet, and is the director of the West Virginia Youth Strings Ensemble. The orchestra is working toward their first concert October 21.

With this year’s debut of CTV in September, Mr. Robert Haddy and students have been working very hard. Each year the show has a different theme and new hosts that must work in tandem with those filming the show. So much preparation goes into each of the segments we see on CTV. Mr. Haddy has also had an exciting summer in that he was selected from video tapes submitted last spring to be on Comic Con’s, “Face Off” prelims. For several weeks people from all around the country voted for one of three contestants. The winner will be asked to be a part of the reality show, FACE OFF sometime this fall. Good luck, Mr. Haddy!

PHYSICAL EDUCATION: 

This year we are adding a new twist to our program.  Throughout the semester our physical education classes will be participating two days a week in a fitness program.  The program is designed to help our students become more aware of their fitness level and give them the opportunity to  improve and become healthier individuals.  With the high levels of obesity in our state and the problems associated with this we want our students to understand they have the power to change some negative habits and become healthier and more energetic which can carry over into the classroom.    We have a small weight room in the upper gym we will be utilizing as well as the floor space to do many up to date workouts.  Our goal is to make the fitness program fun so our students will see that getting in shape doesn't have to be something to dread but something to look forward to. 

Student Council NewsStudent Council has already been hopping this year! We began the year with assisting Coach Kidd from Electric 102.7 with a “Back to Cool” event at a local Kanawha City

church, assisting with 9th grade orientation, a tailgate for our football team on September 2, and one of our biggest activities, the Willy A. Shuman Foundation (WAS—Wear a Seatbelt) all school assembly. This was presented by Mrs. Jane Shuman, mother of Willy Shuman, who was killed two years ago after being in a wreck with a drunk driver. Willy was not wearing his seatbelt, and approximately 90 seconds after he entered the vehicle, he was dead. Ms. Shuman beseeched a rapt student body to make the WAS Pledge, which states:“I pledge to: Always wear a seatbelt, never drink and drive, and never ride in a car with someone who has been drinking.”We encourage all Capital High School students, faculty, staff, and administration to adopt this pledge. For more information, please contact The Willy Foundation at www.thewillyfoundation.org Freshmen Student Council elections will take place Friday, September 9. Good luck to all the candidates!Upcoming Student Council events include:Constitution Day Assembly with guest speaker Delegate Meisha

Poore, Friday, Sept. 16, Fall Sports Pep Assembly Friday, Sept. 23. Please help us increase our school spirit at Capital High School!

Capital High School is a Nut and Latex-Free School!

Beginning in August 2006, a student with life- threatening peanut and tree nut allergies enrolled in our school.

Because of these medically documented conditions, items that trigger the allergic reactions cannot be tolerated within the environment here in the school. By working proactively, we hope to minimize the risk of accidental peanut and tree nut allergen exposure to the student.

We are requesting that you do not bring any item or product that contains peanuts or tree nuts (i.e. almond, walnut, Brazil nut, filbert or hazelnut, hickory nut, pecan, pine nut, pistachio, and macadamia nut) onto the campus. Obviously, food products made of or containing peanuts and tree nuts appear to pose the greatest risk of introducing these allergens into the school environment.

Products that are processed with peanut and tree nut oils should be avoided, also. Some apparently acceptable foods pose a potential risk for introducing these allergens because of cross contamination/contact due to their having been exposed to the oil allergens during their processing. These typically include “chips,” sunflower seeds, granola bars, and nut butters.

Items that are typically sold as “fund raisers” need to be carefully screened to ensure that they comply with the guidelines set forth in this letter.

In advance, we want to extend to all of you our appreciation for your willingness to help us reduce the exposure of students to these products. Just as we have in the past with students whose health profiles required that we work together to ensure that our school environment posed no threat to them, I am confident that Capital High School will rise to the occasion in this instance, also.

Please feel free to contact the administration, the school nurse, or one of the

counselors if you have questions or would like more information regarding this issue.

Respectfully,Clinton H. Giles, Principal

Student Class Schedule

Change Rationale

The administration of Capital High School believes that no student class schedule changes should be granted after student schedules have been finalized at the end of the spring scheduling period.

The above philosophy statement provides for the following policy principles regarding the changing of student class schedules here at our school now being established in writing. The purpose of this documentation is at least two-fold: 1. Needed clarification will be provided for all.

2. Past inconsistencies and irregularities with respect to policy implementation will be eliminated and or discontinued.

Please know that it is understood that exceptions to established policy may be warranted in specific, novel and unique circumstances. Accepting this caveat, please know also that exceptions to this policy will be considered only within the confines of the most strict and narrow, administratively predetermined, parameters.

1. – Schedule change requests will only be entertained during the first two ( 2 ) weeks of the school year.

2. – Schedule changes completed during this two week period will include but not be limited to those changes necessitated due to “technical difficulties” such as having fewer than seven ( 7 ) classes scheduled, having duplications of classes, having no lunch period scheduled, being scheduled into a class that is not compatible/consistent with the student grade level, etc.

3. – No schedule changes will be entertained after the

official Mid-term Progress Report Date has passed.

4. – After the official Mid-Term Progress Report Date has passed, schedule change requests will be tabled or held in abeyance until the approach of the end of the first semester. At that juncture, consultation between the counselor(s), teacher(s), and administrative representation from the school will occur to review each request to determine whether or not the request has merit. Please know that each of these requests will be subjected to the utmost scrutiny and held to the highest academic/administrative standards.

5. – Schedule changes that are determined to be warranted after the Official Mid-Term Progress Report Date has passed will only be granted with administrative approval.

Re: Advanced Placement (AP) Courses

Students who schedule for AP courses will not be permitted to obtain schedule changes during the summer prior to the beginning of the school year. Because of School Master Schedule accommodations,

personnel and staffing commitments, the establishment of curricular priorities, and the signing of student contracts, a student must remain enrolled in the AP class that they (he/she) requested until the end of the first semester.Principle 4 above is applicable in this area.

West Virginia Contract of Rights and Responsibilities in

Learning for StudentsPreamble:

Education is the key to individual success and regional economic health. Educators, students, and parents/guardians/mentors are equally responsible for facilitating success in education; without one party’s active participation the remaining two will not achieve maximum results. Students, parents/guardians/mentors, and educators can affirm the expectations of West Virginia public schools by signing a pledge to support the various rights and responsibilities in the education environment.

The Five Promises

The Five Promises are those developmental

resources — wrap-around supports— that young

people need for success in life:

Caring Adults - All children need support and

guidance from caring adults in their families, at

schools and in their communities. These

include ongoing, secure relationships with parents

as well as formal and informal relationships with teachers, mentors, coaches,

youth volunteers and neighbors. Caring adults are the cornerstone of a child’s development!

 Safe Places - All children need to be physically and emotionally safe wherever they are — from the actual places of families, schools, neighborhoods and communities to the virtual places of media. They also need a healthy balance between structured, supervised activities and unstructured time.

A Healthy Start - All children need and deserve healthy bodies, healthy minds and healthful habits. These result from regular health check-ups and needed treatment, good nutrition and exercise, healthy skills and knowledge, and good role models of physical and psychological health.  

Effective Education - All children need the intellectual development, motivation and skills that equip them for successful work and lifelong learning. These result from having quality learning environments, challenging expectations and consistent guidance and mentoring. 

Opportunities to Help Others - All children need the chance to make a difference in their families, at schools and in their communities. Knowing how to make a difference comes from having models of caring behavior, awareness of the needs of others, a sense of personal responsibility to contribute to the larger society, and opportunities for volunteering, leadership and service.

Everything the America’s Promise Alliance does is

built around the framework of ensuring that

more young people experience more of the

Promises. 

The Five Promises Change Lives

Children who receive at least four of the Five

Promises are much more likely than those who

experience only one or

zero Promises to succeed academically, socially and civically. They are more likely to avoid violence,

contribute to their communities and achieve

high grades in school.

Receiving at least four of the Five Promises also

appears to mitigate gaps across racial and economic

boundaries.

To experience the full power of the Promises,

young people must experience these critical supports throughout their

lives — in their families, at schools and out in their

communities.

Improving the lives of 15 million disadvantaged

youth over the next five years is the goal of the

America’s Promise Alliance.

Through instituting the PARTNERS Pledge here, we at Capital High School are committed to doing our part to ensure that all our students receive the Five Promises. Again, we are asking that everyone at Capital High School - all administrators; teachers; parents; and students - sign this contract (pledge) to assure that our collective efforts (establishing a partnership) will ensure that every Capital High School student receives a

World Class, 21st Century Education.

How to Avoid Tardiness to Class(Locker Routine & TimeManagement Suggestions )(When to Go to Your Locker)7:15 To Locker – Obtain all books andmaterials for 1st and 2nd period classes.Take all of these books and materials toHome Room with you.

After Home Roomduring Extended Walk Time – Depositbooks and materials from previousperiods. Obtain all books and materialsneeded for all classes prior to yourrespective lunch period.

When going to yourrespective lunch – Deposit books andmaterials from previous periods. Obtainall books and materials needed forclasses before 6th period - Take thesebooks and materials to lunch withyou!(Students who have 6th period lunch may need to carrymaterials for 3 class periods prior to then.)

After 6th period duringExtended Walk Time – Deposit booksand materials from previous periods.Obtain all books for 7th and 8th periodclasses.