Incline Village Schools

Incline High School Principal John Clark has announced he will retire at the end of this school year.

“I feel that it's time to let someone else take over,” Clark said Monday. “It's time, you get to the point where you've done something for so long you're ready to move on. I'm starting to have grandchildren now and I'm looking forward to spending more time with them.”

Clark served as principal at Incline for eight years at the end of a long career in public education. Clark has served as a public educator for 45 years — 33 in the Washoe County School District and 20 as a principal.

Messages to WCSD administration seeking comment on Clark's decision and on the search for a replacement weren't immediately returned Monday.

Clark's decision will mark the second time in as many years an administrator has left Incline. Nichole Truax resigned from her post as Incline Middle School site administrator earlier this month. Sharon Kennedy replaced her.

A representative from the district offices, Lyndi Cooper-Schroeder, will be at Incline High School on Friday 9/11 at lunch in the library to provide an orientation to our Internship class for interested students.  

This class is open to Jrs. and Srs. who are GATE(GT)-certified and/or are taking AP/Honors classes and have at least a 3.0 overall GPA.  It's a great career internship opportunity that provides 86 hours with a mentor in the student's choice of fields.  Students can earn 1/2 elective credit.  It helps with college admission and looks great on transcripts!  For more info, e-mail me at the below address.

For more information you can contact Lyndi Cooper-Schroeder at:  lcoooperschroeder@washoe.k12.nv.us

The 2009 SAT scores for the Washoe County School District continue to outpace the state and national averages, but the five-year trend is downward. Scores from last year, however, have improved, possibly signaling a reversal of the trend.

The scores reported here are for 1,239 test-takers. SAT scores are reported in three areas: critical reading, mathematics and writing. The SAT program uses a scale from 200 to 800 in each area.

In critical reading, the WCSD mean score was 519 compared to the Nevada score of 501 and the national score of 501.  It improved 5 points from last year’s score of 514.

In mathematics, the WCSD mean score was 528 compared to the Nevada score of 505 and the national score of 515. The math score improved by 8 points from last year’s 520.

In writing, the WCSD mean score was 495 compared to the Nevada score of 479 and the national score of 493. The writing score improved by 2 points.

An analysis of the scores also shows a steadily increasing number of minority test-takers, but their mean scores are consistently lower than white students. For example, over the last five years the number of Asian students taking the test increased from 90 to 135; African-American test-takers increased from 29 to 43; Mexican or Mexican-American numbers went from 55 to 98 and other Hispanic numbers increased from 24 to 51. In critical reading, white students had a mean score of 532 while African-American scores averaged 456, Mexican-American scores were 470 and other Hispanic average scores were 481. The mean score for Asians was 500.

“These results, when we’re compared to state and national averages, look good on their face, but a deeper look reveals an achievement gap that we are committed to eliminating,” Superintendent Dr. Heath Morrison said. “Our teachers are doing an outstanding job of laying the foundation for success on these challenging exams; we just need to ensure that all of our students benefit from excellent instruction,” he added.

Seniors:  Jostens will be here on Tuesday and Wednesday, September 8th and 9th, at lunch, by the library, to help you order your graduation gowns and class rings.

Packets are available at the front office.

A reminder to all student drivers:  You need to fill out a vehicle registration slip indicating what vehicles you will be parking here at the school.  

The slips can be found at the information table located in the front office.  You will need to do this even if you did it last year.  If you use the school parking lots, you are required to submit your vehicle info.  All persons failing to do so will have to answer to Officer Tapia!!!  If you have any questions and/or concerns, please speak to him.

Attached, please find the information on the submission of your senior picture and quote. Please note that the form must be submitted with your senior quote.

All Senior portraits and quotes MUST be in hand to:

• Ms. Henderson/Room 305
• By Tuesday, October 13th - NO EXCEPTIONS

Questions? E-mail (amhenderson@washoe.k12.nv.us) or see Ms. Henderson in room 305 prior to October 13th.

Members: All meetings are in room 212, Ms. Holman's room and will start promptly at 11:51. Bring your lunch as some days you will not have time to go off campus and then come back on time for your afternoon class. Please write down the following schedule in your planners, calendars, blackberries, or whatever you have to keep yourself informed. You are required to attend these meetings and the fundraisers.

• Sept. 2 - plan the car-wash fundraiser
• Sept. 23
• Oct. 28
• Nov. 18
• Dec. 9 - Santa's Helpers
• Jan. 27
• Feb. 24
• March 17
• March 24 - planning for Induction Ceremony
• March 25 - Induction Ceremony - for new inductees ONLY
• April 21
• May 19 - Elections for new officers (2010-11 school year)
• June 16 - for Graduation NHS Seniors ONLY - stole distribution for graduation!

The deadline for registering for the October 10, 2009, SAT test is September 9, 2009.

If you haven't visited the College Board website, www.collegeboard.com, and set up an account for your college bound student, you should do so.  You may also visit the websites many informational areas without registering, but for SAT information (including signing up for the test and seeing the results of your test), you need to be registered.

When the student registers for the test online, they can get free practice materials including an official SAT practice test, The Official SAT Question of the Day™ and the SAT In Focus™ tools: Skills Insight™ and My SAT Online Score Report. It's a great site where you and your child can go together and research what is needed to prepare for college.

Another great site for SAT prep is through the Washoe County Library Learning Express, where, on the left hand side, you will see "College Preparation".  Follow the directions to where you would like to go.  You will need to sign in for this service.

The SAT is offered Oct. 10, Nov. 7, Dec. 5, Jan. 23, March 6, May 1 and June 5. The ACT is scheduled Sept. 12, Oct. 24, Dec. 12, Feb. 6, April 10 and June 12. Pre-registration for the ACT and SAT is required.

WOLF Part-time enrollment will be suspended August 31 through September 30.  Part-time enrollment will open again on October 1.

Purchase your 2010 Targe by December 1st and have your name embossed on the cover for no extra charge! 2010 books are $70.00. Payment plans available.

ALSO - 2009 yearbooks are still available for purchase at the discounted price of $40.00.  See Ms Henderson in Room 305 for details.

“Benefiting more than one student for more than one year”

Parents and Incline High School supporters are encouraged to join the Incline High School Boosters. A membership form is attached to this article, or you can sign up during Back to School Night on Sept. 9 or a sporting event. The Boosters will have a table outside the gym at Back to School night, which begins at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Twenty percent of Boosters’ donations come from membership fees so everyone should sign up. If you have already turned in your membership form, you can pick up your membership cards at the same table.

Boosters support academics and athletics at IHS.

The next Boosters meeting is at 5 p.m. Sept. 23 in the Teacher’s Lounge.

What does a Boosters’ membership buy you? 

The following guidance was issued this morning (September 3) to all principals in the Washoe County School District concerning the President’s address to school children.

President Obama will deliver a live address to the nation's school children on Tuesday, September 8th at 9:00 a.m. Pacific time. The speech will be available on the White House website at www.whitehouse.gov.

According to the US Department of Education, the President will focus on the importance of hard work and setting educational goals. He will also call for a sense of shared responsibility among students, parents and educators.  These ideas are consistent with the goals of our Blueprint for Student Success.

This is an optional activity, both for teachers and students, and each school is encouraged to plan appropriate activities as they see fit. If you have parents who do not want their child to watch the address, please provide them with an alternative activity during the speech.

The Washoe County Health District is hosting a walk-in vaccination clinic Friday in Reno for area seventh graders.

From 8 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4:30 p.m., the health district is offering the Tdap vaccine, which protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis to seventh grade students. The Tdap vaccine is $16.

The vaccine is required for public school students and strongly encouraged for all students.

A clinic won't be held locally as it was last year at Incline Middle School, said Judy Davis, a spokeswoman with the county. All vaccinations this year are being distributed at the Health District's Ninth Street office in Reno, Davis said.

The office is located at Building B on 1001 East Ninth Street, Reno.

Flu shots

As students head back to school, and area administrators are still watchful for the H1N1 (swine flu) virus, parents and residents may be anxious for flu vaccinations.

While there is no vaccine for the swine flu, regular flu vaccinations are available currently at the Village Market Pharmacy for a price of $35. The shot is available without an appointment anytime during business hours.

Both the Raley's Pharmacy and Incline Village Community Hospital say vaccinations are expected any day now but do not have updated pricing information. When they arrive, vaccinations will be offered at both sites on a walk-in basis.

Also, visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu for pages of information regarding the H1N1 virus.

September is Hispanic Heritage month, and a celebration of Hispanic culture will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sept. 13 at Miguel Ribera Park, 3925 Neil Road, Reno.

There will be music, dancing and food and an opportunity for the entire community to enjoy elements of various Hispanic cultures.

Vendors will present their arts and crafts, and there will be educational booths. The Hispanic Heritage Festival is sponsored by Nevada Hispanic Services, a nonprofit that serves the needs of the Hispanic community.

Details: Jesse or Nelson at 775-826-1818 or Nevada Hispanic Services' Web site at www.nhsreno.org.

Two essay contests and nominations for teachers' awards, all sponsored by the Truckee Meadows Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 3819, have deadlines coming up this fall.

Students in sixth, seventh or eighth grades are invited to write an essay for the Patriot's Pen contest by answering this question: "When is the right time to honor our military heros?"

Winners will receive prizes and have the opportunity to advance to the next level of the Patriot's Pen competition. The deadline for this essay is Nov. 1.

Students in grades nine through 12 are invited to write an essay -- and submit a recording of the essay being read -- for the Voice of Democracy contest answering this question: "Does America still have heros?"

Winners will receive prizes from then local VFW post and have an opportunity to advance to the next level of the Voice of Democracy competition. The deadline for this essay also is Nov. 1.

Teachers who promote civic responsibility, flag etiquette and patriotism are eligible to be nominated as an outstanding teacher. There are three different levels of competition: Kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers; sixth- through eighth-grade teachers; and ninth- through 12th-grade teachers. VFW members will choose one outstanding teacher in each grade category to receive the post's Teacher's Award. Nov. 1 is the deadline for nominations.

There is no charge to participate in any of these contests.

All essays and nominations should be submitted to: VFW Post No. 3819, 1300 W. Second St., No. 65, Reno, NV 89503.

Contact youth activities chairman Paul Capron at 775-772-6568 with questions and to obtain an application.

Additional Facts:

• What: VFW-sponsored essay contests and outstanding teacher award
• Deadline: Student's essays and nominations for the teacher award are due by Nov. 1
• Details and applications: Youth Activities Chairman Paul Capron at 775-772-6568

As you may know, the typical seasonal flu and H1N1 or “swine flu” can both be easily spread from person to person. Therefore, we are taking steps to reduce the spread of both types of flu in the Washoe County School District. We’re sanitizing all common surfaces daily and encouraging the use of hand sanitizers. We’re isolating students who become sick and sending them home until they get better. We want to keep schools open to students and functioning in a normal manner during this coming flu season. But, we need your help to do this.

Here are a few things you can do to help:

• Teach your children to wash their hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. You can set a good example by doing this yourself.
• Teach your children not to share personal items like drinks, food or unwashed utensils, and to cover their coughs and sneezes with tissues. Covering up their coughs or sneezes using the elbow, arm or sleeve instead of the hand is an effective way to prevent spreading the flu when a tissue is unavailable.
• Know the signs and symptoms of H1N1 flu:  fever of 100 degrees or greater and a cough and/or sore throat.
• Keep sick children at home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have symptoms of illness and they are fever-free for at least 24 hours, without using fever-reducing drugs.  Keeping children with a fever at home will reduce the number of people who may get infected.
• Do not send children to school if they are sick. Any children who are determined to be sick while at school will be sent home. We will call you to come pick up your child.

We are working closely with the Washoe County Health District to monitor H1N1flu conditions and make decisions about the best steps to take concerning schools. We will keep you updated with new information as it becomes available.

If the H1N1 flu becomes more severe, we may take additional steps to prevent the spread such as:

• Conducting active fever and flu symptom screening of students and staff as they arrive at school
• Making changes to increase the space between people, such as moving desks farther apart and postponing class trips, and
• Dismissing students from school for at least 7 days if they become sick.

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