One method of evaluating the quality of our curriculum is to administer nationally normed standardized testing. For this process to be successful, all grade levels should be tested using at times various instruments to evaluate all dimensions of the education process. Faith Lutheran uses the following instruments:
Middle School
Iowa Test of Basic Skills (6,7 & 8)
Nevada State Writing Proficiency Exam (8)
High School
ACT Program for Educational Planning - EXPLORE (9)
You can request information about any university or scholarship search engine from their individual home pages. Most have an on-line form you can fill out and submit. If not, they will give you their address to request information. Check this information periodically. As more information is made available, this site will
be updated.
Peterson’s Guide http://www.petersons.com Great search engine. Will allow you to search for a college, then send a message to the college for information. Fill out the instant inquiry form once and then you can send it to as many colleges as you like.
COLLEGE PLANNING MEETINGS
In the fall semester, counselors meet with seniors and their parents individually. Counselors will meet with juniors, sophomores, freshmen and 8th graders individually throughout the rest of the year. Each student is given a copy of his/her current transcript and advice about what to do now in the college planning process.
The following are answers to questions that are commonly asked during these meetings:
- When should I apply for college? Students should apply for college during the fall of their senior year. Each college/university has a different application deadline, but most are between November 30th and March 1st. You do not want to turn in your applications late, so seniors should check the deadlines of the schools to which they are applying and get started on the process as soon as possible.
- How much of this process is my counselor able to help me with? For some universities, the application process is quite extensive. Your counselor can help with just about anything. However, it must be understood that all the work ultimately needs to be done and submitted by the student and his/her parents. In general the college application process involves, filling out the actual application, requesting letters of recommendation, writing application essays, requesting copies of tests scores and transcripts, filling out housing applications, filling out scholarship applications, and filling out financial aid information forms like the FAFSA and/or any individual institutional financial forms (counselors cannot help file financial aid forms as the information involved is personal). Keep an eye on the counselor’s calendar, as there will be a financial aid/FAFSA night during the fall semester hosted by Concordia University, during which parents are free to ask any financial aid questions they have.
- When should I take the SAT? If you are a junior in Algebra II or lower, take it in March or later of your junior year. If you are a junior in Pre-calculus or higher, you can take it anytime during your junior year. Seniors who have not yet taken the SAT should take it as soon as possible.
- Should I take the ACT? We recommend that you take both the SAT and the ACT because some students do better on one than they do on the other and a higher score can qualify you for college admission and/or various scholarships.
- What is the difference between the two tests? It’s complicated, but the basic difference is the ACT has a science section and includes math questions through trigonometry while the SAT does not have science and includes math questions through Algebra II but not trigonometry. In addition the ACT does not penalize for wrong answers while the SAT takes a ¼ point away for every wrong answer.
- How do I qualify for the Millennium Scholarship? You must graduate with a 3.25 or better cumulative GPA for all four years of high school. If you do, Faith will send your information to the Nevada State Treasurer’s Office and you will qualify to receive funds up to $10,000 if you attend college or university in Nevada.
- What do I need to be admitted to UNLV or UNR? UNLV and UNR recently increased their admission requirements. Starting with the class of 2008, both universities will require a 3.0 or better GPA in the student’s core classes or a combined SAT Math and Critical Reading score of 1040 or an ACT score of 22. You can check what core classes they will accept on their websites.
- Should I take an SAT/ACT prep. class? If you are interested and have the means, go for it, but remember that a prep. class will not teach you the material that will be covered on the test. You learn that in high school. A prep. class will teach you how to get the most out of the knowledge you already have and give you pointers about how to answer the types of questions that will be asked.
Classroom Guidance Middle School Bullying/Harassment Lesson
Introduction:
We are here today to talk to you about bullying, harassment, conflict resolution and tolerance. Bullying and harassment include any unwelcome verbal, physical or electronic abuse or discrimination. It is important to understand that talking, texting or spreading rumors about someone behind his/her back is also considered harassment. It is also important to understand that, even if you are “just joking” and don’t mean any harm, you may still be harassing someone if your comments are unwelcome.
The school has a strict policy against harassment of any kind. The policy in the handbook states that those guilty of harassment may be suspended, expelled or have criminal or civil charges brought against them.
Before we talk about what to do if you are being bullied or harassed, we would like to demonstrate a few scenarios. Here is scenario #1.
Skit #1 – Person walking along, trips and spills books all over the floor. While two others help him pick up books, he laughs at himself and blames his clumsiness on the fact that he/she has curly hair. Everyone laughing.
Narrator introduces 2nd scenario:
Now how ridiculous is it to blame clumsiness on the fact that he/she has curly hair?
This is just as ridiculous as some of the things that we hear kids saying about others’ skin color or race or political or religious views.
Here is scenario #2. See if you can tell me what the main difference is from the first one.
Skit #2 – Three people walking along all out of dress code. Mr. Kothe walks up to group and gives the one person a hard time but not the others. Two others laugh and blame it on the fact that he/she has curly hair. Only the two laugh this time and the person is upset.
Narrator breaks in to ask:
What is the difference between the two scenarios?
1 – making fun of self and he’s not bothered
2 – others making fun of him and he’s bothered
Making fun of him/herself for having curly hair made others think it was o.k. to make fun of him/her for that. Don’t goof around about your race, religion or anything else you want others to take seriously. If you ARE proud, BE proud. At the same time, don’t be offended or intimidated when someone’s views, color, race or religion are different from your own. They have as much right to be who they are as you have to be who you are.
Now, what is the first thing you need to do if you feel someone is crossing the line and harassing you?
Need to approach the person and tell them that what they are doing or saying is bothering you.
There is a right way to do this and a wrong way. Let’s see a couple of the wrong ways first.
Skit #3 – Person confronts the others in anger. Results in an argument.
Skit #4 – Person confronts others by accusing them. Results in defensiveness and excuses.
Skit #5 – Person talks about others behind their back. Results in more conflict and brings more people into it.
Skit #6 – Person confronts as he/she should. Conflict resolution happens as the narrator talks about each step.
Person approaches and asks, “Can we talk for a minute?”
Before you can solve a problem you have to get the other person to agree to listen to you. Ask the person to please hear you out and not interrupt you.
Most people tend to only hear the first 10 seconds of what we say. Two or three sentences will be heard the best.
Person says, “It hurts me when you make fun of me for having curly hair because I am really proud of it even if I don’t always act like it.
In the two to three sentences, focus on the behavior that you find hurtful. Avoid putdowns or judgmental statements.
Notice the person shared feelings that he/she experienced as a result of the other’s behavior rather than accusing the person of doing something wrong. “It hurts me when…” rather than “You hurt me when…”
Person continues, “Next time I need you to not draw attention to my curly hair for a negative reason. How does this sound to you?
Notice again the person uses I statements instead of accusatory language. Always explain to the person what you expect to happen instead of the hurtful thing did happen.
If all goes well, you may be able to make an agreement that will make sure nothing like this happens in the future.
We all know that sometimes conflicts are not this easily solved. If you try to approach the person with the problem and it does not go well, what should you do?
Take it to your counselor or to Mr. Kothe.
Out of all the information we have given you today, the most important thing to remember about resolving conflicts is that we MUST forgive others as Christ forgives us.
Matthew 18:21-22
Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Peer Helpers Roster
Peer helpers are nominated by their teachers typically at the end of their freshman year. Each nominee then fills out an application and the final decision is made by the guidance department.
Seniors:
Evan Newton
Kesia Ross
Jessica Nelson
Sydney Spoon
Joe Bravo
Tim Heidorn
Madeline Courvoisier
Lauren Gatewood
Kailey McEvilly
Stephanie DeWyn
Juniors:
Casey Kolnes
Michael Kinkenon
Nathaniel Zieg
Matthew Kim
Krystal Onyema
Cassie Whalen
Alexandria Cannito
Sophomores:
Murad Ahmed
Jake Benowitz
Tori Bakken
Kori Koerwitz
Caitlyn Marks
Taylor Pori
Freshmen:
Dylan Check
Jonathan Romano
Grant Gravitt
Taylor Calmelat
Macy Helm
Kylie Allen
Emily Grant
Bianca Lee
Alexis Tuggle
