SLHS Health Academy

SLHS is introducing Health Academy, an opportunity for high school students to "get their feet wet" in a health propelled career track. This is a wonderful opportunity for students that are certain they want to work within the health field, and for student even thinking they may want to. This first semester we will be offering two courses: Health Occupations (6th period) & Medical Terminology (7th period). Students receive both high school credit and college credit upon successful completion of these courses.

Health Occupations (HSC109)

Student will discover the main options available, including roles and responsibilities, in health career options. This course is designed to provide the student with the information necessary to make their health career choice.

Medical Terminology (HSC114)

Studies medical terminology, including spelling and definitions.

 

Interested students should come and talk with me ASAP!

This would look really good on scholarships & applications.....

2013-2014 Youth in Philanthropy Application

The Okoboji Foundation Youth in Philanthropy Initiative is an annual program for high school students intended to empower students to make a lasting positive impact in the Lakes Community.

Students receive community service hours as they learn about the work of the Okoboji Foundation and other nonprofits in the Lakes Community.  Tentative nonprofit highlights for 2013-14 include Memorial Park Splash Pad, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Humane Society of NW Iowa, Lakes Area Hockey Arena, Disc Golf in Kenue Park and Iowa Lakeside Lab Walking Trail.Students also participate in fundraising for their own grant process and recommend awards of $100 to $24,999 for Community Needs Grants to area nonprofits.

All high school students interested in personal development, community awareness and leadership skills are invited to apply.  YIP participants from previous years are invited to reapply.  All applications will be read and scored; 20-25 students will be selected to participate. 

ELIGIBILITY:  Students who attend Okoboji, Spirit Lake, or Harris- Lake Park High School in Dickinson County Iowa are eligible. Applicants should commit to attend YIP meetings one Wednesday per month from 6:00 – 7:15 p.m. from October through May. 

·         Applications must be received on or before:   September 13, 2013

·         Everyone who applies will be notified about participation by Sept. 27, 2013

·         Please contact the Okoboji Foundation with any questions:  712-332-7177

·         Applications may be emailed to info@okobojifoundation.org  (Note:  Please save and send as Microsoft Word document)

or mailed to:  Okoboji Foundation, P.O. Box 593, Okoboji, IA 51355

Additional information about Youth in Phinathropy is available at www.okobojifoundation.org, click on Youth Tab

Should you take the PSAT?

Are you a sophomore who would like some extra practice in standardized test taking?
     If so, maybe!

Are you a junior?????????????
    If so, then I would say YES!!!!!!

"The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a program cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT. It also gives you a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools.

The PSAT/NMSQT measures:

• Critical reading skills
• Math problem-solving skills
• Writing skills

You have developed these skills over many years, both in and out of school. This test doesn't require you to recall specific facts from your classes.

The most common reasons for taking the PSAT/NMSQT are to:

• Receive feedback on your strengths and weaknesses on skills necessary for college study. You can then focus your preparation on those areas that could most benefit from additional study or practice.
• See how your performance on an admissions test might compare with that of others applying to college.
• Enter the competition for scholarships from NMSC (grade 11).
• Help prepare for the SAT. You can become familiar with the kinds of questions and the exact directions you will see on the SAT.
• Receive information from colleges when you check "yes" to Student Search Service." -CollegeBoard

The PSAT will be administered on October 16. Register by notifying me. Registration deadline is September 16. 

                                                                                                                 

2013-2014 College Visits

ATTENTION SLHS JUNIORS & SENIORS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have you been on a college visit? Have you checked out college campuses?? How many???

I firmly believe in the power that college visits have on the decision-making of choosing a college. Why? Because I know first hand how beneficial they are. Sit back, get comfortable and enjoy the short story I am about to tell...

Once upon a time when I was a sophomore in high school I had a conversation with my cousin, a junior, who had just returned from a band camp held at an Eastern Iowa private college (name will remain unidentified). She couldn't stop ranting and raving about how great this college was, how the campus is so beautiful, and that all freshmen are given laptops.

WHAT?!?!?!??!?!?!?!??!?!

Free laptops? Seriously?! I was sold. Ok, now understand that I started this story with once upon a time meaning this took place a long time ago when laptops were almost unheard of and they weighed a measly 20 lbs., minimum. Regardless, they were the coolest thing since sliced bread and receiving one for free was all it took for me to declare I would be attending this unidentified Eastern Iowa college upon high school graduation. 

For the next year, I broadcasted my post-graduation plans to anybody and everybody. I couldn't wait to attend this college! That is until I became a junior and my parents insisted I go on a college visit to this particular institution. 

Mom, dad, my younger brother and I jumped into the family minivan early one morning and began our 4 hour trek to visit the college of my dreams, I could hardly contain my excitement!

We arrived at our destination, and before we went to the campus we drove around the town/city (I can't say for sure otherwise you'll be able to identify this college I speak of) to check out the surrounding area. First red flag, I wasn't really sure about the location. I was envisioning palm trees and white sandy beaches, houses with pillars and gold siding. Maybe not exactly that, but definitely not what I was seeing in the surrounding neighborhoods. I kept my feelings to myself and kept my positive attitude going forth into the college visit.....and then we parked at the visitor parking lot on the campus and got out of the vehicle. Second red flag, I got an instant gut feeling and it wasn't pleasant. I can't explain why I wasn't overjoyed and head over heels in love with what I was finally seeing, I just knew it wasn't at all what I was anticipating! I swallowed my feelings yet again and my family and I met with the people at the colleges admissions and began our tour of the campus. 

Long story slightly shorter, our tour was intended to take 2 hours and within 20 minutes my family and I were loaded back in our minivan and headed home. 

The End. 

So why do I stress and stress to my students to actually VISIT the colleges they are thinking of attending? Because you have to feel comfortable where you are going to be living for the next 2+ years in order to flourish both personally and academically. It's a key factor in whether or not college will be a positive experience.

So, now for some college visit opportunities!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Juniors, seniors, and their parents are welcome to attend scheduled college visits for the 2013-2014 school year. 

Wednesday, September 11th : South Dakota State University 
Friday, November 15th: Cornell College OR Kirkwood Community College 
Friday, March 21st: AIB College of Business OR Des Moines Area Community College 
Wednesday, April 16th: DeVry University OR The Art Institute International of Minnesota 

Sign-up to attend one, two, or all of the scheduled college visits here! 
Deadlines to sign-up are a week prior to the scheduled visit. 

Schedules!

Want to avoid the long lines at registration on August 9th? Come see me now! Today is officially my first day at high school counselor at Sprit Lake [whoop! whoop!] and I'm here at my makeshift desk in the high school library (i.e. my office is nearly demolished at this point, but will look FABULOUS by the first day of school) from 8am to 3pm. Stop in, say hello, finalize your schedule, AND....(drum roll, please)...put your name in the prize drawing! Students that finalize their schedules BEFORE registration to avoid the craziness will get their name in the drawing. I will announce the winner via Twitter on August 8th.