March 2012 - Gilbert Public Schools

HAWK TALK
http://www.gilbertschools.net March 2012
DIVISION I GIRLS SOCCER STATE CHAMPIONS!
NATIONAL MERIT
FINALISTS
The National Merit Scholarship Program has now determined which of the 16,000 Semifinalists named in September
2011 have met all requirements to advance to Finalist standing in the competition. All Finalists will be considered for
National Merit Scholarships to be offered in 2012. These students have shown exceptional academic potential on the
PSAT exam and have maintained a high GPA. The Highland High Finalists in the 2012 Competition for National Merit
Scholarships are: (L-R) Mallory Osugi, Michael Petersen, Vidhya Meyyappa, and Michael Marks.

OPEN ENROLLMENT
It is that time once again for those students attending Highland High School who live outside of the school’s
attendance boundary to submit your Open Enrollment application for 2012-13. Regardless of your current status
at HHS, if you do not live within our attendance boundary, it is a requirement to complete an Open Enrollment
form. It is also important for us to know if you have moved to another address outside of Highland’s boundary.
This would require you to complete a current year Open Enrollment form. The deadline to submit the 2012-13
Open Enrollment form is April 15. Any application received after April 15 will automatically be placed on a
waiting list.
Submitting an Open Enrollment form is not a guarantee of acceptance. All applications will be reviewed and
students will be accepted or denied based on district parameters including the school’s current population, school
staffing, current grades/attendance and discipline, district open enrollment requirements/priorities and the
population size of specific school program areas. It is our goal to notify all individuals who submit their
applications on or before April 15 of their acceptance or denial prior to the end of the current school year, but no
later than June 1. Notification will be by telephone, email or US mail. Parents have 15 days to confirm acceptance
once notification has been provided.
You can pick up an Open Enrollment application at our receptionist desk or print one online by clicking on the
link: http://www.gilbertschools.net/Page/883
AWARDS FOR 25 YEARS OF SERVICE TO GILBERT PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Tom McCann
Social Studies Teacher
Steve Abaroa
Drama Teacher
Maggie Bowen-Levy
Special Education Teacher
These service awards were presented by Dr. Dave Allison, Superintendent, in Appreciation for
25 Years of “Commitment And Dedication to Quality Education.”
Page 2

FEBRUARY HAWKS OF THE MONTH
Audrey Shafer, Makelle Farr, Sherissa Machorro, and Kaitlin Check
Makelle is also the Town of Gilbert Student of the Month.
FEBRUARY EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH
Steve Erwin, Math Teacher Jennifer Duxbury, Dance Teacher Kim Irving, Science Teacher
Kristin Anderson, Assistant Principal, presented the Employee of the Month Awards.
Page 3

2012-2013 COURSE SELECTION INFORMATION
Marcie Taylor, Assistant Principal
All grade levels have completed the 2012-2013 course selection process. If your son/daughter has not submitted
course requests for next year, please send him/her to the Counseling Department before March 9. Schedules will
be mailed home this summer, along with fee payment information.
Course offerings and the master schedule are based upon requests made during the course selection process. Due
to budget, staffing and facility/room limitations, not all courses will be offered and not all requests can be
honored. For these reasons, it was emphasized numerous times that students must select their courses carefully.
Schedule changes will not be permitted for students who receive courses or alternates they selected during this
process. As always, lunch and teacher changes will not be made.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the HHS Counseling Department at 480-813-0051 ext. 4020.
You may also review the information provided to students during the course selection process by going to the
following page http://www.gilbertschools.net/Page/2223 on Highland’s website.
GOLDEN SCHOLAR RECOGNITION PROGRAM
Lance Smith, Dean of Students
The Golden Scholar Recognition Program will be held on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 9:30 a.m. in the Highland
High School Auditorium. The program will acknowledge and honor students who have achieved high academic
standing this year. Parents are welcome to attend.
District eligibility guidelines will be used in determining participation. These guidelines include a 3.8 G.P.A.
during each of the first three grading quarters in which the student was enrolled in a minimum of four courses
with no F’s or I’s. Qualifying students will receive a letter from the Principal after 3 rd quarter grades are posted,
usually sometime around the beginning of April.
CENTRAL ARIZONA ACTING FESTIVAL
Information provided by Steve Abaroa, Performing Arts Department
It was a superior day at the Central Arizona Acting Festival! The Highland Acting Team members received a
Superior rank in the following areas; Monologue, Alyssa Kewenvoyouma; Duet Musical, Alyssa Chandler and
Madie Thatcher; Costume Design, Cassidy Blickensdorf; Short Film, the Highland
Film Team. These students qualified for the International Acting Festival this
summer.
The team members also traveled to Tucson and received a Superior rating. They
were #8 in the Regional Championship.
Page 4

APRIL TESTING AND
ALTERED SCHOOL DAY SCHEDULES
Lance Smith, Dean of Students
April testing will include ALL freshmen and sophomores and those juniors and seniors needing to pass AIMS and
any juniors or seniors who have signed up to try and EXCEED on Math AIMS.
NO SCHOOL TEST DAY—Tuesday, April 10. All freshmen and sophomores and those juniors or seniors
needing to pass the AIMS Math test must report to school at the regular time. Freshmen will participate in
Stanford 10 testing, while all Sophomores and any Juniors/Seniors testing will be taking AIMS Math. Only the
students participating in AIMS Math and Stanford 10 should attend. On this day, buses should only pick up
students required to test. Those students who are not required to test should not attend school. Buses will depart
from HHS to take students home at 1:00 p.m.
LATE START DAY—Wednesday, April 11, will be a LATE START DAY. All freshmen and those sophomores
who have not taken AIMS Science must attend. On Wednesday, April 11, testing begins at 7:30 a.m. and the
regular instructional day begins at 10:00 a.m. (students should arrive a few minutes prior). Buses will run double
routes to pick up those students who are not testing. On Wednesday, April 11, bused students not taking the
AIMS Science test will be picked up two hours later than normal at their regular bus stop.
The No School Test Day Schedule for Tuesday, April 10 and the April 11 Late Start Schedule for AIMS Science is
included for your convenience. Again, busing will run both days for students needing transportation. If you
should have additional questions about testing, please call 480.813.0051, extension 4057.
NO SCHOOL TEST DAY
Tuesday, April 10, 2011 AIMS Math
A Hour: No A hour classes
Testing 7:30 - 11:45
Lunch 11:45 - 12:45
*Buses Depart at 1:00 p.m.
LATE START TEST DAY
Wednesday, April 11, 2011 AIMS Science
A Hour: No A hour classes
Testing 7:30 - 9:45
1st 10:00 - 10:34
2nd 10:39 - 11:13
3rd 11:18 - 11:52
4th 11:57 - 12:32
5th 12:37 - 1:12
6th 1:17 - 1:51
7th 1:56 - 2:30
Page 5

HHS CLASS OF 2012
Kristin Anderson, Assistant Principal
Baccalaureate is Sunday, May 20, 3:00 p.m. in the Auditorium. Tickets are not required, but seating is limited.
Students who plan to participate should be in Hawk Hall by 2:30 p.m., dressed in their cap and gown. Students
may sit with their friends.
Commencement Rehearsal will be on May 24, at 7:00 a.m. in the football stadium. If your child is not at rehearsal
and on time, s/he may NOT participate in the ceremony.
Commencement Ceremony will be on Thursday, May 24, at 7:00 p.m. in the football stadium. Appropriate attire:
gown, hood, cap and tassel. Caps and gowns are purchased through Jostens. Their phone number is 480.756.0555.
The tassel should be placed on the left side of the cap. Caps are not to be altered in any fashion or manner.
Gentlemen: Shirt, slacks, socks, and dress shoes are required. No jeans or shorts are permitted.
Ladies: Dresses or blouse and slacks and dress shoes are required. No jeans or shorts are permitted. Be sure to
have your daughter bring bobby pins for her cap if necessary.
Students dressed inappropriately will not be permitted to participate in the ceremony.
Behavior: Students with inappropriate objects—balloons, beach balls, signs, noisemakers, etc., in their possession
shall have the object confiscated and/or the student will be removed from the ceremony. Students seeking to
disrupt the ceremony in any way shall be removed. Students smelling of/or under the influence of alcohol, drugs,
etc., may not participate in the ceremony and will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action in accordance
with the District policy.
Your child’s immunization record will be in the envelope with his/her diploma. It is very important that your
child keeps this record. DO NOT throw it away.
CLASS OF 2012 GRADUATION TIMELINE
March 28
April 12-13
April 16-17
April 21
May 4
May 10
May 18-22
May 20
May 22
May 24
May 24
Cap & Gown Photos – Auditorium Lobby – 7:00AM-1:30PM
Jostens will Distribute Caps & Gowns – Bookstore
Senior Graduation Visits - Counselors
PROM – 7:30-11:30PM
Senior Slide Show – Auditorium – 3A/3B Schedule
Yearbook Signing Party – Cafeteria – 3:30PM-6:00PM
Senior Final Exams
Baccalaureate – Auditorium – 3:00PM (students report @ 2:30PM)
Senior Picnic – 1:30PM – 3:30PM
Graduation Rehearsal – Hawk Stadium - 7:00AM
Graduation – Hawk Stadium – 7:00PM (students report @ 6:15PM)
Professional photographs will be taken as your child receives his/her diploma cover. We will have both sides of
the stadium open for seating of parents, relatives and friends. There will also be handicapped seating available on
the track. Handicapped seating is limited to four seats per family. Call 480.813.0051, extension 4072 to request
handicapped seating.
Page 6

SENIOR YEAR ONLINE AND CORRESPONDENCE COURSES
Kristin Anderson, Assistant Principal
Online and correspondence courses require students to work diligently on coursework and have the work
completed one month prior to Graduation. The LAST DAY to complete Distance Learning finals is April 19.
Please follow the guidelines given to your child when s/he signed up for each course. If you have further questions
regarding online courses, please contact Scott Lymer at Scott.Lymer@gilbertschools.net.
Seniors with Distance Learning, keep these dates in mind…
March 12-16: Spring Break, the Office is closed.
March 22: Last day for students graduating in May 2012 to register for online courses.
April 16-19: Final exams week for all May 2012 senior graduates - All finals and projects MUST be completed
and submitted on or before April 19.
GRADUATION ORDERS
Parents of Seniors - If you have not ordered your child’s cap and gown for graduation, time is running out!
Delivery of graduation items will occur at school on Thursday, April 12 and Friday, April 13. Students may
pick up their orders if they have been cleared of any fines or fees and any previous books that have been checked
out through the Library or Bookstore.
To still order, you must go directly to the Jostens store. If you have questions, please call Jostens at 480-756-0555.
Jostens is located at 150 W Ray Road #6, Chandler, AZ. Seniors can pick up their pre-ordered items in the
Bookstore beginning Thursday, April 12.
Starting March 19, Seniors should begin checking with the Library staff and Theresa in the Bookstore to ensure
they have been cleared of any fees, fines or missing books.
PARENT SUPERINTENDENT COUNCIL UPDATE
by Liz Deardorff, Parent Representative for Highland High School
The Gilbert Education Foundation (GEF) is in the process of reorganizing with a new board
of directors in place. GEF is offering the High School Senior Scholarship this year.
Applications will be accepted until March 30. To qualify, you must be a graduating senior
of GPS with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. The student must intend to major in
Education or be a current GPS employee or a dependent of a current employee. For more
information and the application, go to GPS and click on Gilbert Education Foundation
under the Quick Links.
The next Volunteer Network (Vnet) meeting is April 19. Booster Club Presidents —be sure
to visit their website, gpsvnet.net, for fundraising ideas and networking opportunities with
other booster clubs.
Page 7

SENIOR PREVIEW NIGHT —April 24 HHS Auditorium 7:00 p.m.
This event is for “Junior” parents and will provide a preview to your child’s senior year. Items on the agenda
include: Counseling, Bookstore, Yearbook, Jostens, Senior pictures, and general information. This will be a night
filled with information to help jump-start the Senior Class for Graduation in May of 2013.
Attention Sophomores:
Jostens will be visiting your Social Studies Classrooms on Friday, March 2 to provide you with information on
class rings. Order dates for class rings will be the following week on March 6 and 7 in the cafeteria during both
lunch hours.
MARCH ACTIVITIES
1 Student Suicide Prevention Training – A/B schedule
1 Band Concert – Auditorium – 7:30PM
2-3 ABODA Festival – Auditorium
6 Choir Concert – Auditorium – 7:30PM
6 Student Council Senate Meeting – Lecture Hall – 2:30-3:30PM
6-7 Jostens on campus taking Ring Orders – 4 th /5 th Hour
6 AIMS Writing Make-Up
7 AIMS Reading Make-Up
7 Orchestra Concert – Auditorium – 7:30PM
9 Early Release Day – Grading Day
9 Last Day to Drop a Class w/out a W/F
12-16 Spring Break – No School
20 NHS Applications Available
20 Student Council Senate Meeting – Lecture Hall – 3 rd Hour
20 Variety Show – 7:00PM
21 Mr. Highland Pageant – Auditorium – 7:00PM-9:00PM
28 Cap & Gown Photos – Auditorium Lobby – 7:00AM-1:30PM
28 Jazz Concert – Auditorium – 7:00PM
29-31 Jazz Festival – Auditorium – All Day
Tickets are currently on sale for the 3rd Annual Highland Jazz Festival. John Fedchock will be
performing on Friday, March 30 - 7:30 p.m. Joe Lovano will perform on Saturday, March 31,
at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for each concert with special discounts for students and senior
citizens at $15 each.
Don’t miss these two great nights of outstanding jazz and the chance to support your local band
program. For more information, go to— www.highlandjazz.com or contact Kevin Bennett at
480.813.0051, extension 2729.
Page 8

HEALTHY HAWK TALK
Cold vs. Allergy
Have a cough, runny nose and congestion? Welcome to cold and flu season. Or is it allergy season? Often it’s
difficult to tell. Even doctors have a hard time determining whether you are suffering from a cold or allergy. Both
produce very similar symptoms but there are many differences as well.
COLD
ALLERGY
Cause Viral Allergens; pollen, mold, dust
Contagious Yes No
Cough Often Sometimes
Aches Sometimes Never
Fever Rarely Never
Itchy/Watery Eyes Rarely Often
Duration 3-14 days Days-Months
Cold and Allergy symptoms overlap quite a bit. In general, a cold will last approximately 7-10 days. If you are
symptomatic longer than this, you are most likely experiencing an allergy. Both can be treated at home with
plenty of fluids, and over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol, Motrin and Antihistamines.
If allergies become severe, your doctor can prescribe allergy shots, prescription strength antihistamines, and nasal
steroids. Asthma symptoms can also arise with the onset of allergies and should always be treated by your doctor.
You should also consult your doctor if these symptoms become severe, if there is difficulty breathing or
development of a fever 101 degrees and above.
Avoiding those who have a cold or the allergen that causes an allergy is the best form of prevention. Adequate
rest, hydration, and hand washing are also key factors with prevention. As both of these conditions lower your
immune response, I encourage you to ensure that both you and your children are up-to-date with their
immunization schedule. There has been a recent outbreak of Pertussis (Whooping cough) and Mumps in the
Gilbert area. Prevention is the key to good medicine and good health!
In good health,
Helen Sandrolini RN BSN
Janet Vogelsang HA
Page 9

WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!
Christian Allen
(182 lb) Arizona State Division I Champion
Undefeated Season
The Championship Assembly in Hawk Hall!
GIRLS SOFTBALL WINS!
Rod Huston, Athletic Director
The Spring sports season began where Winter sports left
off with the girls softball team winning the prestigious
Dobson/Marcos Tournament. The girls started off with a
22-0 smashing of the Prospectors from Apache Junction
and followed that up with a 7-6 win over Horizon High
School. They continued to win throughout the week and
finally defeated a strong Mountain Ridge High School for
the Championship on Saturday 16-8.
Page 10