The
November/December 2016
SY 1617, Issue 3
GRIZZLY GROWL
GALENA HIGH SCHOOL FIVE STAR BOOSTERS’ NEWSLETTER
Grizzly Growl
November—December 2016
SY1617, Issue 3
Published monthly by
Washoe County School District
Galena High School
3600 Butch Cassidy Way
Reno, NV 89511
Phone number:
775-851-5630
Website:
www.galenahigh.com
Thomas Brown
Principal
Julina Colt
PTO President
Editors
Ardis Parmer
[email protected]
Allison Combs
[email protected]
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
PTO News
2
PTO Forms
3
Administration
Counseling Corner
Calendar
4-8
9-11
12
Galena Celebrates Academic Success
By Thomas Brown, Principal, Galena High School
W
e have much to celebrate here students involved in activities outside of
at Galena. I am happy to
the classroom. And while chasing those
announce that graduation
championships and 1st place trophies is
ceremonies for the Class of 2017 will be
important, they are sometimes elusive
held at Lawlor Events Center and are set
despite our student’s and coaches best
for Tuesday, June 13th at 1:00 p.m.
efforts. What remains constant is the
Mandatory Graduation
positive experiences students have when
Practice for Seniors will
they participate in
be Tuesday, June 13th, at
activities outside of the
2017 GHS
11 a.m. at Lawlor Events
classroom. With that in
Graduation
Center. Much more
mind, I would
information will come on
Tuesday, June 13th encourage all students
this topic in the coming
to get involved in a
at Lawlor Events
months. I hope that you are as
winter activity!
Center
excited as I am to celebrate the
Finally, congrats and
many success stories from this
recognition go out to
outstanding class.
students in our drama and music
Seniors will take finals with the rest of the departments. Whether it was the Band’s
student body on June 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th.
Performance of Champions, Strings fall
concert, or the amazing play “The
This month, we honor Abigail
Phantom Toll Booth” our students never
Bartholomew, John Lee, and Mackenzie
Sullivan as recipients of the National Merit cease to impress not only me but the many
folks who watch them perform. They are a
Semifinalist Award. This recognition is
class act, put many hours of hard work
bestowed upon the top 1% of students
into their craft, and are fine examples of
nationwide based on the PSAT test. We
why we love the well rounded,
also received notice that two Galena
comprehensive, Galena High School!
students were also National Merit
“Commended” students. Zoie Harmer
Staying involved in your child’s
and Khalid Aziz received this recognition. education.
This honor puts these Galena students
Hopefully everyone had a restful
among the top 5% of students nationwide. October break. On October 12th, 1st
I would also like to celebrate all of
quarter came to an end. With that,
those students and families who participate quarterly grades were distributed on
in extra-curricular activities. Our fall
October 24th. Please take this opportunity
activities programs came to a close in
to check on your child’s progress in school.
November and I would say that it was
Celebrate achievements and ask the
another outstanding fall for Galena
necessary questions where improvement
athletics and activities. In Band, Soccer,
needs to take place. The end of 1st
ROTC, Cross County, Girls Golf, Tennis, semester (December 15th) will be upon
Volleyball and Football, we had many
us before we
(Continued on page 5)
5-Star PTO News
Academics
Achievement
Activities
A Message From the President
T
he sports complex BBQ was a great success. Thank you to everyone who
helped and came to support Galena High School. A huge thank you to the
Hagan, Elliott, Miner, Hicks, Angella, Hall, Baron, Pezonella, Willow,
Werbeckes, and Walker families for all their help to make this event so successful! We
hope to see great strides in the construction of the events plaza soon.
Already, the busy holiday season is here. Here's wishing all of you a peaceful time to
appreciate what the holidays bring! We are having our first Sip n Shop at Southcreek
on Monday, November 7th during normal business hours. Start out at Whispering Vine
with a nice glass of wine, then shop for the Holidays in the participating shops, and
restaurants that display our Grizzly paw print and they will give back a percentage that
goes directly to our senior scholarship fund. Tickets will be sold prior to the event, and
the day of at Whispering Vine for $10.00. Feel free to contact me. Thank you for your
support. Hope to see you there!!! Let's make it a success.
If your child is participating in a winter sport, remember it is not too late to
purchase a GHS athletic pass that is good for attendance at all home games and
supports student achievement and academic enhancements too. Please fill out the
membership form on page 3 and return it to the office. Our annual “No FundraiserFundraiser” is ongoing . Please consider making a donation to this one-time fundraiser,
without having to sell a thing you can make a difference benefiting the students of
Galena. We appreciate your thoughtful consideration, please see and complete the form
on the next page. Remember we are the sole organization that supports classroom
learning and enables teachers to more effectively do their jobs. Many thanks to all
those who have contributed to our efforts this year. Please know your time and
financial support is greatly appreciated by all.
Happy holidays!
Arts
Athletics
Galena High
School
5-Star Boosters
2016-2017
Meeting Schedule
PTO meetings are
scheduled for the 3rd
Wednesday of each month
as listed. The meetings will
be held in the front office’s
Conference Room on the
following dates:
November 16th
January 18th
February 15th
March 15th
April 19th
May 17th
6:00 pm
6:00 pm
6:00 pm
6:00 pm
6:00 pm
6:00 pm
All PTO members are
welcome and encouraged
to attend.
Julina Colt
(775)772-6897
[email protected]
Hi Galena Families,
The Teacher Appreciation Committee will be hosting their annual teachers' luncheon
and gift card raffle on December 15th. The luncheon and raffle are a wonderful way to
show the Galena staff how much we, the parents, appreciate the time and effort our
staff puts into the educational experience of our children. The teachers LOVE this
event and greatly look forward to it each year. Galena has over 100 staff members. So
in order to make this a successful raffle, we will need a large number of gift cards from
any store and smaller increments will insure that everyone is a winner.
Please consider uplifting and thanking your student's teachers by donating gift cards
for the raffle. This is a easy way for Galena parents and
families to show our appreciation. All card donations can be
given to Mrs. Williams at the front office (Mr. Brown's
secretary).
Thank you for your assistance in expressing our appreciation
for our hard working Galena staff.
Don’t miss Disney
Grad Nite 2017
June 13-14th
Presented by Galena 5 Star Boosters.
See GHS website for application.
THE GRIZZLY’S GROWL
PAGE 2
5-Star Booster News
Galena 5-STAR Boosters
Membership Form 2016-2017
Please print clearly, as this information will be used in our on-line Directory!
Student(s) attending Galena: ______________________________________________________________________
please include last name if different from parents’)
Parent 1 Name: _______________________________
Parent 2 Name: __________________________________
Home Address ____________________________________________________________________________ _
Street
City
Zip
Home Phone: _________________________________ Parent Cell: _____________________________________
Parent Email: ______________________________________________________________________________
Check here _____ if you DO NOT want this information in the Galena Boosters Directory.
Student(s) grades:
___FR__SOPH__JR__SR
We ask each Galena family to donate a minimum of $35 to our “No Fundraiser Fundraiser,” in addition to your $35
Boosters membership. The Booster’s goal for 2016/2017 is to raise $40,000. This includes senior scholarships, teacher
requests for classroom needs, printing and distribution of the Grizzly’s Growl, school-wide events, teacher appreciation,
and other Booster-sponsored programs.
v
“No Fundraiser, Fundraiser”
$ ____________
Check one: Baby Bear ($35) ___ Momma Bear ($80) ___ Poppa Bear ($205) ___ Other $ _____________
Type of Membership (Choose One)
Type
v
General
Cost
Select One
$35
$ ____________
Arts
$120
$ ____________
The Arts Pass includes Boosters membership ($35) and admission for 2 adults to the three
Major drama productions of the year, and all regular choir, orchestra and band concerts.
$85 goes to the Galena Fine Arts Dept.
Athletics
$130
$ ____________
The Athletics Pass includes Boosters membership ($35) and admission for 4 family members to
all Galena regular home games. $85 goes to the Galena Athletic Dept., and $10 to the Endowment.
Academics PLUS
$240
$ ____________
The Academics Plus Pass is a combination of the Athletics and Arts Passes. $85 each goes
to the Athletic and Fine Arts Depts. $65 to the Boosters and $10 to the Endowment
Total
Please return this completed form to:
Galena High School Boosters
3600 Butch Cassidy Way
Reno, NV 89511
GRIZZLY GROWL
Page 3
$ ____________
Administration
Don’t Miss...
SENIOR SPOTLIGHT
Nov 17, 2016 at 7 p.m. Galena Theater
To raise funds for scholarships, the Class
of 2017 is putting on a show, November 17,
2016 in the Galena Theater at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets are $10, and we hope to sell out.
Every dollar raised from this fundraiser will
be awarded as scholarships for the Galena
senior class.
The 6th Annual Senior SPOTLIGHT
Show will feature singers, dancers, a fashion show,
HOW YOU CAN HELP:
1. Encourage your senior students and their
friends to get involved in the show.
2. Buy tickets to attend the show.
3. Senior students will also be holding a
BAKE SALE on the night of the show;
therefore, donate baked goods and cases of
bottled water.
4. Buy baked goods.
a band and more!
A Message From the Den
By David Hawley, Dean of Students
Tardiness
We are at the 1st quarter mark of the
school year and tardies are beginning to
accumulate. Students are allowed four
tardies each semester before receiving a
consequence. The fifth tardy is one
reflection activity (lunch detention) and
the consequences increase after each
additional tardy. Excessive tardiness,
more than 30 minutes late, will result in a
lunch time reflection activity (20 minutes),
unless your student receives their 5th or
more tardy (tardy consequence +
excessive tardy). You can access your
child’s attendance report on Infinite
Campus to verify attendance. Please
inform your student to keep in mind that
the weather is beginning to change and
plan accordingly when driving to school
to make sure they are in their class before
8:00 AM.
administration team will continue to
enforce our dress code policy. Double
check your child’s attire in the mornings
before they leave for school. Please help
us by asking them to change if what they
are wearing looks questionable. A
violation of our dress code will result in
changing into other clothes and possible
additional consequences.
School Safety and Secret Witness
Our administration team and school staff
are working hard to keep our students
safe at Galena High School. Remind your
child that Secret Witness offers monetary
rewards for reporting and if they see
anything suspicious they should report
that information. If at any time a student
feels they have witnessed or heard of
anything that shouldn’t be occurring on
school campus, they can make a Secret
Witness tip without anyone knowing their
Dress Code
identity. The Secret Witness phone
We have seen many inappropriate dresses, number is (775) 329-6666. Students can
skirts, and jeans (rips above mid-thigh),
also text the tip to 274637 then enter
and shirts (showing abdominal area and
Tip725 with their message. With over
shoulders exposed) around campus.
1400 students on the campus, we all need
Dresses and skirts need to be no shorter to work together to keep our students and
than middle of the thigh. Our
staff safe.
WE CAN HELP!
Safe Talk For Teens is a
Nonprofit Early Intervention &
Prevention Resource Center. We
offer teens & parents a safe place
to talk while maintaining
Confidentiality.
Our services are FREE and our
objective is to redirect, assist,
guide, refer, and motivate
teenagers to make better
decisions by focusing on their
values and setting goals.
For more information, ask your
school counselor and/or call
775-823-2700 to schedule an
appointment with Joe Dufur,
Director/Case Manager
[email protected]
www.safetalkteens.org
Check out our FB page!
www.facebook.com/SafeTalkFor
Teens
Administration
Celebration continued from page 1
By Principal Thomas Brown
know it and the end of semester grade is what goes
on the permanent transcript. If you have any questions
about grades, please contact teachers, counselors and/or
administrators so we can work together to help you child
be successful in school.
The end of quarter and semester is also a good
time to get feedback from you. We are always
looking to improve our school and in order to do that
we need to know how we can serve you better. Please
email ([email protected]) and let me
know how we are doing. What are we doing well and
needs to continue? What do we need to do a better
job of in meeting the needs of you, your family, and
your children?
Museum by 10:00 p.m. to pick them up. The dance is for
all Galena students and is a great time to get out and enjoy
the social aspect of being a high school student.
Tuesday, November 29th, Galena will hold its annual
Winter Concert at 7:00 at the Atlantis Resort. Please
come out to this wonderful event and see some fine young
musicians in actions.
Students will be out of school from December 16th to
January 8th for the winter break. First semester ends
before the break this year, with final exams will be held
December 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th. December 12th
students will take their 7th period final then attends the
rest of their 1 – 6 class periods. December 13th students
will take 1st, and 2nd finals. December 14th, student will
take 3rd, and 4th finals. December 15th, students will take
Important information about weather related school 5th and 6th finals. School will be released at 2:30 on
delays/cancellations.
December 12th and 11:45 on the other finals days.
As we move through Fall and into Winter I would like
Remember that the semester grade is the mark that is
to mention the delayed start procedures due to winter
recorded on a student’s permanent record so work hard,
weather. First, please understand that I do not make the finish the semester strong and earn those credits.
decision to have or not to have a delayed start. That
For those students working on A+ courses, Galena will
decision is made by folks at the district office. They
have a lab open from January 2nd – January 6th from 8 am–
survey the situation and make the best decision possible
1pm. Contact your counselor or A+ teacher for more
given the information they have. Also understand that we
information
are a very large district and what is good for some is not
Finally, in closing, I would like to extend my best
always the best decision for all schools. But, when we
wishes
to all of you and your families. I hope you have a
have delayed starts all schools must be included. When a
relaxing,
enjoyable, and safe holiday season.
delayed start is called for, the district officials will
communicate information through radio and TV media.
They may also utilize the ConnectEd phone system to
directly inform you of the delayed start. I will also be
communicating this information on Facebook
(www.facebook.com/ItsGoodtobeaGrizzly ), Twitter,
June 13th and on our Webpage (www.galenahigh.com)
14th, 2017
I would ask that you plan accordingly and leave your
house early to allow plenty of extra time to get to school.
Galena 5 Star Boosters are proud to
Clearly, if the roads are in poor condition it will take
present the 2017 Disney senior trip
everyone longer to get to school. The delayed start
procedure is in place to allow for roads to be plowed and
give everyone extra time to get to school safely.
Applications available on GHS website and
will be emailed to all Galena senior families.
Important Events
On December 10th, Galena will hold its annual
Sign ups will be on a first come, first serve
Winter Ball. This dance is at the Discovery Arts
basis. Plan on joining us for a last chance to spend
Museum. The dance runs from 7 – 10. If you are not
time with your fellow seniors at Disneyland!!!
called to pick up your child early, please be at the
THE GRIZZLY’S GROWL
PAGE 5
Administration
Curriculum and Testing Corner
By Teresa Burrows, Junior/Senior Assistant Principal, Curriculum & Testing
Our sophomores and some juniors took the PSAT in October. Galena HS tested 454 students on October
Students will be receiving the results approximately in mid-January, 2016. Our sophomore and junior
counselors will be distributing the results to students upon receipt of the individual scores. National Merit
and Scholarship information will come directly from College Board.
The first semester is coming to a close within six weeks of this mailing. The nine-week progress report
scheduled to be issued on Oct. 24th. November 15th will be the last Academic Warning for the first semester.
This is the time of year that students start to feel the pressure of finals fast approaching and the time crunch to make-up
missing work and/or preparing themselves for finals. Start now by asking your teachers if there is anything you need to
do prior to finals to ensure you are prepared for finals week. Know your goal – pass all of your classes – earn your
credits for the semester and keep your education plan on track!!! 1. Students should go see the teacher before or after
school. 2. Students should turn in all homework and study for tests, as well as, turn in those projects.
The finals schedule is listed below:
19th.
7* FINAL SCHEDULE w/ 1-6 Classes
8:00-9:45
7* Final
9:45-10
Nutrition
10:00-10:40 1* Period
10:45-11:20 2* Period
11:20-11:50 Lunch
11:55-12:30 3* Period
12:35-1:10
4* Period
1:15-1:50
5* Period
1:55-2:30
6* Period
2:45-3:45
8* Period
ATTENDANCE TID-BITS FOR THE MONTH…
Turn notes in within 3 days of your return to school.
Bring attendance notes or street pass requests to the
office in the morning.
Never leave during the school day without a Street
Pass.
Dec 13th, 14th, 15th
1-6 FINAL SCHEDULE
1st/3RD/5TH Final 8:00-9:45
Nutrition Break 9:45-10:00
Passing Bell 9:55
2nd/4TH/6TH Final 10:00 – 11:45
Finals by Day
Monday – Dec. 12th 7*
Tuesday – Dec 13th 1* & 2*
Wednesday – Dec 14th 3* & 4*
Thursday – Dec 15th 5* & 6*
Advanced Placement Exams Fees. If you have not
paid your $95 exam fee (per course), please pay your fees to
the Galena bookkeeper. Payment for AP exams can be
paid at any time to the Galena book keeper, prior to the
exams. You can make payments on the $95.00 per AP
Exams for your students. If your student is taking an
Advanced Placement course an exam fee is required.
Advanced Placement Exams will be given on May 1st – 12th,
2017.
Advanced Placement/College Night will be held February 1, 2017, at 6:00 PM in the Galena Theater.
The College Night portion of the evening will give students and parents a snapshot of what colleges are looking for and
the best preparation for college. The Advanced Placement portion of the evening will give students and parents an
opportunity to learn about Galena’s Advanced Placement Program. It is highly recommended you attend if you are
planning on or considering taking an AP course(s). Currently, Galena offers 20 AP courses: Biology, Chemistry, Physics
1, Physics C Mechanics, Environmental Science, Calculus, Statistics, Psychology, English Language, English Literature,
US History, American Government, Human Geography, European History, Music Theory, Studio Art, French
Language, and Spanish Language and Literature.
THE GRIZZLY’S GROWL
PAGE 6
Administration
Testing Information: The State Assessment requirements for a standard diploma are listed below. Students in the
2017 & 2018 cohorts demonstrate passing of each EOC exam by passing the aligned courses. Students in cohorts 2019
and later must meet the cut score for passing each EOC exam. All students are required to take a College and Career
Ready (CCR) exam. This year the CCR is on Feb 28, 2017 and is the ACT + Writing.
Year
Class of
2017, 2018
End of Course (EOC) Exams and College and Career Readiness
(CCR) Assessment
• EOC: Math I (Algebra 1), Math II (Geometry), ELA I (Gr 10/Eng 3-4 Reading) &
ELA II (Gr 10/Eng 3-4 Writing)
• CCR: ACT with writing
• EOC: Math I (Algebra 1), Math II (Geometry), ELA I (Gr 10/Eng 3-4 Reading) &
Class of 2019 ELA II (Gr 10/Eng 3-4 Writing)
• CCR: To be determined by NV State Board of Ed.
Class of
2020 and
later
• EOC: Math I (Algebra 1), Math II (Geometry), ELA Combined (Gr 10/Eng 3-4 Reading &
Writing), Science (Life/Biology)
• CCR: To be determined by NV State Board of Ed.
Important Curriculum and Testing Dates
November 8th November 28th December 12th – 15th
January 12th February 1st February 15th February 28th March 17th April TBD
April 24th – May 31st
May 1st – 12th
May 16th June 9th June 13th
No School – Election Day
Academic Warnings Notices Mailed
Semester Finals – modified schedule
First Semester Report Cards Issued
AP/College Night, 6:00 PM
Academic Warnings Notices Mailed
ACT – Career and College Readiness – Juniors ONLY
Nine-Week Grading Period – Progress reports issued April 13th
Nevada Science Assessment – Sophomores ONLY
End of Course Exams
Advanced Placement Exams
Academic Warnings Notices Mailed
Second Semester Ends – Reports Cards Mailed June 21, 2017
Class of 2017 - Graduation @ 1:00 PM Lawlor Events Center
THE GRIZZLY’S GROWL
PAGE 7
Administration
Galena Updates
By Erika Sanchez, Assistant Principal
Infinite Campus and Other Resources:
Our first quarter ended on October 12, 2016. That said, it is
important that all of our grizzlies continually practice good
study habits and keep up on their school work. As a parent,
it’s important to be supportive by checking Infinite Campus
and monitoring your child’s progress. Within Infinite
Campus, parents will also be able to find teachers’ contact
information if they are in need of communicating with the
teacher. Encourage your child to take care of all missing
assignments as soon as possible. In addition, suggest that
your child asks his/her teacher about additional tutoring
resources if he/she is feeling overwhelmed.
will be $15 pre-sale or $20 at the door. There will be a $3 fee
if you do not have your student ID at the dance. Please note
the parking is very limited. We highly recommend you give
your child a ride to this dance. If you are not called to pick up
your child early, please be at the Museum by 10:00 p.m. to
pick him/her up. This dance is for all Galena students. If
your child is planning to invite a friend who attends another
high school, paperwork for a guest pass must be completed
and submitted one week prior to this event. Please see Mrs.
Barrett at the front office for more information on guest
passes.
Attendance:
If your child is absent, he/she has three days to bring an
excuse note to the office. You may also call our attendance
secretary Tricia Vasquez at 775-851-5630 extension 30515 to
excuse your child’s absence. In the event that your child is
truant, a truancy letter will be issued in addition to lunch time
reflection activities. A third truancy will result in a citation
from school police. You can access your child’s attendance
report on Infinite Campus to verify any unexcused absences
or late arrivals to class. Excessive unexcused tardies will be
addressed in the discipline office and can lead to out of
school suspension. If your student is driving to school,
remind them that it is very important for them to keep the
cooler weather in mind when planning their commute to
school.
Winter Ball:
Our annual Winter Ball will be taking place on Saturday,
December 10th from 7-10 p.m. This year we will be at the
Terry Lee Wells Discovery Museum located at 490 S. Center
Street Reno, NV 89501. The attire is semi-formal and tickets
Holidays:
I wish all of our Galena family a relaxing and safe Holiday
season. Enjoy the great meals and savor the moments we get
to spend with those we love most. I am grateful for the
opportunity to continue to work at such an amazing school
with an outstanding staff and an exceptional student body.
Thank you all very much for making it so good to be a
Grizzly!
-Erika Sanchez
[email protected]
851-5630 extension 30503
Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation
determines what you do. Attitude determines how well
you do it.—Lou Holtz
Si usted habla español y necesita ayuda puede mandar un correo
electrónico y lo podemos traducir o dejar un recado al 851-5630
extensión 30503.
Georgina Montejano es nuestra facilitadora de padres de familia y su
número es 851-5630 extensión 30694.
Galena Welcomes New Assistant Principal—
Meet Freeman Holbrook
Mr. Holbrook comes to Galena High School after
serving as the Dean of Students at Damonte Ranch High
School for the past two years. Mr. Holbrook started a
career in police work after graduating from the University
of Nevada, Reno. He began coaching football in 2004
and has coached at three different schools, including
Galena. Mr. Holbrook joined the Washoe County
School District as a teacher in 2008 and was appointed by
Governor Sandoval to the Nevada State Board of
Education in 2013 where he served the citizens of
THE GRIZZLY’S GROWL
Nevada for four years. He is
married with four amazing
children and loves to camp, fly
fish, ski, travel and watch
football.
Mr. Holbrook is always visible on the Galena
campus and attending Galena extra curricular activities.
Please take a moment to give him a big Galena welcome.
Welcome home Mr. Holbrook!
PAGE 8
Counseling Corner
Senior Notes
By Mandy Campbell,
Senior Class Counselor
I
t is already November 2016 and
the senior year is flying by!
There is still plenty of time for
students to bring up their grades to
where they want them to be before final exams in December.
Students need to stay diligent on their classwork and
communicate with their teachers when issues arise. Now is
the time for your senior to be thinking about what he/she
will be doing next year. Since most jobs and careers do
require additional training and education, we always keep
students informed on post-high school educational options.
We also have military recruiter on campus each week and we
do post jobs in the library. The fall is the time to finalize
college applications: where to apply, how to apply to each
school, gathering letters of recommendation (if required), and
working on essays (if required) for college applications. The
same essays may also be used for scholarships.
This time of year can be particularly stressful for many
seniors as they are trying to stay on top of their classwork,
complete multiple college applications, meet deadlines, and
follow up on scholarship applications. The use of a planner
or calendar can be especially helpful in keeping track of dates,
deadlines, passwords, websites, contacts, etc. We encourage
students to stay as organized as possible through this process
and for the remainder of the senior year. Try to set a goal to
complete all college applications, by an early deadline, within
a reasonable time frame (e.g. Winter Break). Remember that
the UC (University of California) and CSU (California State
University) systems often have application deadlines of
November 30th! Early action is also usually in Nov. If you
have any questions about specific admissions requirements
for any school, contact the admissions office directly (or their
websites) at those colleges.
Even though many seniors may want to attend college
out of state, applying to a “safety” school (which may include
Nevada) is fast, easy, and may kick-start students on the
application process. Both the University of Nevada and
Truckee Meadows Community College applications for fall
2017 are open. Most colleges, including Nevada, encourage
students to apply online. STUDENTS APPLYING TO
THE UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA SHOULD APPLY
NOW (February 1st is the DEADLINE, but do not wait until
then!). Students who apply early will hear admission status
earlier; Early Registration is a smart way to go at Nevada, so
students get the classes they want.
Applying to college is always a three-step process:
complete the application on the college’s website, order
THE GRIZZLY’S GROWL
official transcript from Galena on
Parchment.com to be sent to college(s), then
also order test scores from ACT/SAT to be
sent to college(s). If your student plans to
live on-campus, he/she should complete any
applications for housing ASAP; Nevada, for
example, has had wait-lists for housing the
past three years. Many colleges, especially
private universities, use the Common
Application as their application. The Common Application
allows students to enter their information just once and it can
be sent to multiple schools. For all recommendations, I need
a resume from the student detailing Activities on campus, off
campus, community service, employment, honors and
awards. All students have received a resume template I need
in order to write an adequate letter of recommendation.
Keep in mind that many colleges may also require a
supplemental application and essays in addition to the
Common App- students need to double check this!
Your student has already received information on how
and where to look for scholarships (they should be doing this
right now! Start with Galena website under “scholarships” on
left margin), but students and parents should also working on
the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online
which can be started NOW—for the first time ever you can
submit FAFSA in the fall. We have another FAFSA
workshop for parents on Nov 10, at 6 p.m. in the Galena
Library. The FAFSA is the required application for federal
and state financial aid programs and is used by colleges to
determine financial aid packages; these include grants,
scholarships, work study, and loan offers. The application is
free.
November 6th is the 2016 College Fair. Over 80 colleges,
universities, and tech schools will be in attendance, each
having one or more booths. Students should attend, sign up
in advance at www.wacaccollegefair.com. It will be held at
UNR at the Joe, NOON – 4 p.m. that Sunday—which is
daylight savings time. There are breakout sessions beginning
at 11:30.
Please keep an eye on your student for signs of senioritis.
We want every single senior to graduate in June 2017! Please
use our Infinite Campus program to monitor your student’s
grades and progress. The student should communicate with
his/her teachers, but if that breaks down, you can email your
student’s teachers via Infinite Campus if you have specific
questions about issues/grades in their class. The semester
ends on December 15th and final semester grades will be
posted on their transcript shortly thereafter. Seniors cannot
afford to fail any of their classes! Identification and
intervention to address any failing grades right now is critical.
Let’s keep those grades up and have a strong end to the first
semester of the senior year!
PAGE 9
Counseling Corner
practice tests and lessons
(www.khanacademy.org/sat). Also,
remember to register now for a spring test
By Shinae Watterson, Junior Counselor
date at www.sat.org/register. Galena will
provide the ACT test here at school on
hope the school year is going well for you and your
February 28th (writing included) for all
student. As you know, our first quarter ended on
juniors. This is a graduation requirement so
October 12th. Although those grades are only
please make sure your student attends.
“progress” marks, it is very important that students take
There is no cost or need to sign up for this
necessary steps to improve any low or failing grades to
school test date. If you would like additional information
ensure they are passing by the end of the first semester in
December. December grades are permanently reflected on regarding the ACT test or plan to register for an additional
spring date you can visit www.actstudent.org/start. At each
your student’s transcript. The junior year is a challenging
website, students create an account to register for future
academic year, with Algebra 2 and many students taking
tests and then later to get scores and to send score reports
Advanced Placement (AP) classes for the first time. It is
crucial to make sure that your student is not falling behind to colleges next school year. The SAT and/or ACT is a
required admissions component for most four-year colleges,
in any classes, especially in their core classes and classes
including the University of Nevada, Reno.
required for graduation.
A strong academic transcript (good grades!) in a
Please encourage your student to talk to his/her
challenging and rigorous high school curriculum is a
teachers one-on-one to help the student learn to advocate
primary factor in college admissions decisions. Please
for themselves. If more involvement is needed, you or your continue to encourage your student to put in that extra
student can email your student’s teachers directly via
effort in all of their classes to ensure their academic success,
Infinite Campus – click on schedule and each teacher’s
a timely high school graduation and to best prepare them
name (or email through our school websitefor their post-high school goals. Now is the time to make
www.galenahigh.com and click on the “staff” link). Good sure a plan is in place to address any credit deficiencies
communication with your student’s teachers is vital for
and/or any additional classes that need to be taken in order
student success. If you are not connected to Infinite
to meet college admissions requirements. If you would like
Campus yet, please contact Donna Williams in our office so an unofficial copy of your child’s transcript provided please
that you can monitor your student’s progress regularly.
let me know and I am happy to provide one.
Many juniors recently opted to take the PSAT on
As always, please feel free to contact me at with any
October 19th; those scores will be back after Winter Break. questions or concerns at
In preparation for taking the actual SAT test in the spring, I [email protected] or
recommend checking out the Khan Academy site for
extension 30525.
Hello to our Juniors Families!
I
Hello Sophomores’ and Parents of Sophomores’,
Thank-you to the parents who attended Navigate
Galena on September 21st. We had a good turnout and I
hope you left feeling more informed about sophomore year
and more connected to Galena High School. I hope to see
you there again next year for information on navigating your
child’s junior year. The power point from Navigate Galena
is available on galenahigh.com under the counseling tab, for
anyone who missed it.
All high school students and parents are invited to
attend the College Fair at UNR Joe Crowley Student Union
on November 6th. If you are interested, this is a free event
and is a great way to gain exposure to many different
colleges and universities. Registration online is
recommended wacaccollegefair.com (In past years, the lines
were very long for people who had not preregistered.). The
fair runs from Noon until 4 PM.
THE GRIZZLY’S GROWL
Sophomores! It will soon be your chance
to drive the family mini-van! If you need
information on Drivers Education courses
go to http://bit.ly/commeddriversed or
call 829-9010. Students age 15 are
qualified to take the 30 hour drivers’ education class. The
class and 50 hours behind the wheel (with your parent/
guardian) is required in the state of Nevada.
Remember that the grades you are getting now are a
“progress report”. You have nine more weeks to study and
improve your grades before they are on your permanent
transcript at semester. So work hard, stay diligent and study.
Tracy Melcher
Sophomore Counselor
[email protected]
PAGE 10
Counseling Corner
Greetings Freshmen!
A
t this point in time, you should have already
received your progress report card. The semester
ends on December 15th so there is still time for you
to improve! As we discussed in our Freshman class
presentations, the final semester grades in December (and
June) “count” and will be permanently reflected on your
high school transcript. Communicating with your teachers
is the first and most important step to start improving your
grades. Ask them what you can do to get your grade up and
when you can come in for extra help (lunch, before or after
school, etc.). Your teachers are here to help you, but it is up
to you to be proactive, advocate for yourself, and take
advantage of the help offered to you. We understand that
starting high school can be a little bit intimidating and we
are more than happy to help facilitate the process of getting
your student extra help…..so please, do not hesitate to ask!
Parents: We encourage you to have a conversation
with your student about how their first semester has gone.
Based on the level of your student’s success, some questions
that might be beneficial are: “What seemed to work well this
semester?”… This question will get them thinking about the
positive things that really worked to help them be successful
so they can be mindful of carrying them on to the second
semester. Another question could be: “What areas (i.e. tests,
assignments, organization) did you struggle in and what
could you do differently second semester to turn them
around?”….This question will help focus on coming up
with some solutions. Just a couple of ideas for conversation
over the Thanksgiving and Winter Break!
In addition to staying on top of your classes this year
(remember: the goal is graduation 2020 and it starts by
passing your classes your freshman year!), the ninthgrade year is a great time to explore the various ways to get
involved (i.e. sports, clubs, volunteering, and leadership). Be
sure to listen to the announcements each day for more
Dear Grizzly Families,
information on the clubs here at
Galena (announcements are also
posted on our website:
www.galenahigh.com). One thing to
keep in mind as you start to explore
extracurricular options is that it is
often more advantageous to be dedicated and deeply
involved in two or three activities that you really enjoy (i.e.
soccer team, art club, volunteering with a program, etc.)
than to have a bunch of activities that you started and
eventually quit or gave only a slight bit of time and attention
to. ** It is a good idea, however, to sample clubs and
activities as a freshman to narrow it down and discover
what activities or programs you want to devote your time
and attention too.**
Freshmen students: You should start a folder/list
called “Things to Brag About.” List and file away all of the
activities, sports, clubs, volunteering, etc., that you are
involved in. Also include any awards/recognitions you
receive and be sure to update it regularly. This list will come
in very handy in three years when you are filling out college
and scholarship applications!
Ultimately, participate in those sports, activities, and/
or clubs that you love, are interested in, and can dedicate
yourself to while keeping your grades up and not creating
huge amounts of stress. Sometimes this can result in a
balancing act and figuring how to successfully balance
academics and extracurricular activities is a lifelong learning
process! In the end, however, it is not about “how long the
list is” of activities that you were involved in that is
important; rather it is the level of involvement and
commitment that you invested (and hopefully had fun too!).
Keep those grades up Freshman!
Mrs. Dunne/Mrs. Mares
[email protected]
know of an athlete that is going to sign
early and commit to a Division I or
As we wrap up the fall
Division II Institution, please contact
sports regular season, please
me as soon as possible at 775-337-9830.
keep an eye out for
We would like to be sure to get them
upcoming Regional and State
the recognition they have earned.
Tournaments for Girls Golf, Boys and
Finally, all NIAA member schools
Girls Cross Country, Boys and Girls
will be following new procedures for
Soccer, Football and Volleyball. Get
clearing student athletes. The Athletic
out and support our Fall Athletic teams
Clearance Process has changed! If
and players that qualify for the Playoffs.
you are planning on participating in
Congratulations to all of our Student
winter sports you need to go to
Athletes who participated this fall!
registermyathlete.com and register on
National Letter of Intent signing
line. If you participated in a fall sport
day for earlier signers is fast
you will also need to register online for
approaching on November 11th. If you
THE GRIZZLY’S GROWL
winter sports. Instructions for
parents to complete the online
registration are available at the front
office and soon to be on our website. If
you do not register online you will not
be eligible to tryout or participate for a
winter sport. Registration needs to be
completed by November 4th.
Remember, the Grizzly Athletic
Department encourages every student
to participate in as many different
sports as possible. If you are not sure if
you should try out, go for it!
With Grizzly Pride,
Greg Sakelaris, Athletic Director
PAGE 11
Washoe County School District
The Grizzly’s Growl
Galena High School
P.O. Box 30425
Reno, NV 89520-3425
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT #217
Note: Deadline for Grizzly’s Growl September 2012 Issue is August 22nd
November, December 2016 & January 2017
November 2016
2
5
6
7
8
9
11
16
17
22
23-25
28
29
Early Release
SAT
2016 College Fair @ UNR
PTO South Creek Sip n’ Shop
Election Day—No Classes
Early Release
Veteran’s Day Holiday—No School
Early Release
PTO Meeting 6 pm
Senior Spotlight
Blood Drive
Thanksgiving Holiday—No School
Classes resume
Academic Warnings are mailed
Winter Concert
Do you have a new
phone number or
have you moved recently?
If so, please contact Donna Williams
in the office at 851-5630 x7
([email protected])
to update your information.
December 2016
PTO Santa Wrap
SAT Test
3
JROTC Ball
Guitar Concert
6
Winter Week
5-9
Early Release
7
7,8,9 Winter Play
Winter Assembly
9
Winter Ball
10
ACT Test
Full Day & 7th period final “C” Day
12
8:00—11:45 am 1st & 2nd Finals
13
8:00—11:45 am 3rd & 4th Finals
14
8:00—11:45 am 5th & 6th Finals
15
Volunteer Hours due
WINTER BREAK = No Classes
16
12/19 NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS
-1/8
1
January 2017
2-5
6
9
11
12
16
18
21
25
Office Hours during Winter Break:
Week of 12/19 – Office Closed
Week of 12/26 – Office Closed
Week of 1/2 – Office Open 8-3:30pm
Winter Intersession
Last day of Winter Break
Classes Resume
Early Release
Report Cards issued to students
No School—Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Early Release
PTO Meeting at 6 pm
SAT Test @ Reed HS or McQueen HS
Early Release
WCSD Spring Break
3/20—3/31/2017