EAGLES NEST
October 11, 2019
EAGLE NEWS
AP Exams - Registration Update
Online AP Exam Registration Open through November 8
Students may register for AP exams online through November 8 using the College Board AP Classroom Portal, https://account.collegeboard.org. The $94 cost for each exam is due upon registration via our school online payment service.
For specific payment instructions, contact Andrea Covington, andrea_covington@hcpss.org.
After November 8, paper registration forms and checks payable to Centennial High School must be submitted to Mrs. Covington. College Board will assess a late fee of $40 for registration after November 15.
Students who receive Free and Reduced Meals (FARMs) qualify for AP exam fee reductions.
Attention Seniors - College Essays on PSAT Day
On Wednesday, October 16, the English department will provide seniors the opportunity to have their college essays read by an English teacher other than their own.
The sessions, which will be held in the cafeteria and are not mandatory for seniors, will run from 7:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Here’s how the process works:
When you arrive, you will sign up for a meeting on one list (posted at 7:20 a.m.). Students may not sign names for other seniors. Beginning at 7:25 a.m., students will be called in order by the next available teacher. Teachers will work with students who are not currently enrolled in their English classes.
How to prepare for your meeting:
1. Bring your latest clean copy of ONE college essay, either in print or on your laptop (no phones, please).
2. Bring the prompt that you are responding to, and any unique word limits or requirements.
3. Be prepared to share a specific focus for the reader ("Does it answer the second half of the prompt?" "Is it too much about my father?" "Am I dancing too much around my answer?").
When your conference ends, you have three options:
1. Stay in the cafeteria to work on your essay;
2. Go to room 606 to study; or
3. Go home.
At the conclusion of this session at 11:15 a.m., Period 4 will begin for an adjusted afternoon bell schedule for all students.
Dancing With the Staff
Centennial's annual Dancing With the Staff competition is coming up on Thursday, October 17th at 7pm, and this year, it's all about the movies! Join us as 23 teams compete for the title of Dance Champion. Who will win? It's up to you! Help vote for your favorite staff & student duo. Tickets are only $5 and include 2 votes. Extra votes may be purchased 2 for $1.
Please contact rebecca_clark@hcpss.org with questions.
Regularly monitoring your child’s progress
With the changes to the recently revised Board of Education Policy 8020 Grading and Reporting: Middle and High School, middle and high schools no longer will distribute interims. In lieu of interims, secondary students and parents/guardians are encouraged to regularly monitor progress via the gradebook in HCPSS Connect - Canvas. Elementary school teachers do not use Canvas for grading, and will continue to distribute interims.
Middle/high school students and parents can use the directions below to access current course assignment scores and grade averages.
Accessing Progress Grades in Canvas
To access grades in Canvas:
1. Log in to HCPSS Connect with the email address you provided in Family File.
2. Select the Canvas (Gradebook) tab on the left side of the screen and select the Canvas link in the middle of the page.
3. In Canvas, navigate to the Grade Overview page by selecting the Grades icon on the dark grey navigation bar or select the View Grades button at the bottom of the Coming Up/To Do list on the right side of the screen. The Grade Overview page will show the current averages for each of your middle or high school children’s courses.
4. Select a course name to view the individual assignment scores for that course.
Grades can also be viewed in the Canvas Parent mobile app for iOS or Android. See the guide linked below for more information.
Any questions regarding assignment scores or current course averages should be directed to that course teacher. If help is needed to view the information due to a technical or access issue contact Student Services at 410-313-2857.
Humanities students and parents
On the evening of 22 October, at 7 pm, Dr. Scott E. Casper, the Dean of the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences from University of Maryland, Baltimore County
will be addressing the Humanities students and their parents on the opportunities and advantages available for those who choose to major and/or minor in a Humanities subject
as part of their college/university program, wherever they chose to go, after graduating high school. In turn, he will also be speaking on career choices and opportunities for those students after college. Also, Dr. Casper and several representatives of the UMBC faculty and staff will also be addressing specific grants and scholarships available to students. Refreshments will be available as well as the opportunity for students and their parents to converse with these professional Higher Education Humanities scholars and the university staff.
PSAT Day: Wednesday October 16, 2019
All 9th – 11th grade students will be participating in the administration of the PSAT on Wednesday, October 16.
The PSATs will take place on Wednesday, October 16th, beginning at 7:45 am. All 9th grade students will participate in the PSAT 8/9 while 10th and 11th grade students will participate in the PSAT/NMSQT. The test will only be offered once and there is no make-up date for students who are late or absent from school.
All students have been pre-registered.
Students should look at posted lists outside the cafeteria and media center prior to Wednesday to find their testing location. Staff members also have lists and can help students find their testing locations.
Please bring a scientific calculator to use for the test.
Cell phones, Smart watches, earbuds, Bluetooth devices, iPads, laptops, etc. should be left at home or off and put away in a backpack at the front of the classroom.
What Will Seniors do on PSAT Day?
Seniors are encouraged to choose one of the following activities:
Use the day to make other college visits with family or work on college applications and essays at home. Families may use one of their discretionary leave days (please send a note in with your student or email dhowse@hcpss.org.
Seniors who do come to school on October 16 will go to the cafeteria to work on college applications and essays, with teacher support.
Seniors who attend ARL are expected to attend ARL classes on October 16.
What are the advantages of PSAT participation and results:
The PSAT helps students prepare for the SAT. Students can become familiar with test format and test question types. Also, student scores predict SAT performance and can help with choices about further student preparation.
The PSAT registration also allows qualifying participants to be entered into scholarship and recognition programs (grades 10-11).
The PSAT is an introduction to many of the requirements for college and career-readiness.
Students will begin to receive information from colleges and universities as they explore their options.
Student performance will help to identify needed skill development and areas for improvement.
Students: Please remember to get a good night's sleep, eat a balanced breakfast, and report to school on time. Also, students should remember a calculator for use during the test! No calculators will be distributed or delivered to students on test day!
Please contact Tracy Scaltz, Assistant Principal (tracy_scaltz@hcpss.org) with questions about the PSAT.
Students with Testing Accommodations:
Some students receive testing accommodations at the high school due to a disability documented through a 504 Plan or IEP. These accommodations do not automatically apply to the PSAT or SAT. All accommodations must be approved by College Board. It is often recommended for students to take the PSAT without accommodations. This helps students and their parents to determine if the accommodations will be beneficial on the actual SAT. Please speak with your guidance counselor and/or case manager for additional information on the application/approval process.
UPCOMING EVENTS
See what’s happening at CHS! (and add our Google Calendar to your phone!)
CELEBRATE CENTENNIAL:
Got great news about our students, staff, or community? Send it and we’ll shout it out!
PTSA/Boosters
See what’s happening with CHS PTSA or CHS Boosters by clicking the names or by visiting our website.
Please visit the Community News and Programs page on the HCPSS website for announcements of upcoming events and programs sponsored by non-profit organizations (http://www.hcpss.org/community-news-and-programs/).
Youth in Conversation
Youth in Conversation (YIC) is inviting all interested high school students to meet twice a month to have facilitated dialogues and create Podcasts. Our goals are to address the challenges and gifts of diversity, teach dialogue skills to use in difficult conversations and provide leadership opportunities for students to create environments where all feel welcome. The first meeting for the 2019-2020 school year will be on October 14. Email Rebecca Dietz at hoco.convo@gmail.com for more information and to sign up.
Youth in Conversation is a program of HoCo.Convo in collaboration with the HCPSS Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, the Howard County Office of Human Rights, the Local Children’s Board, the Columbia Association Multicultural Programs and the Mediation and Conflict Resolution Center.
College Admissions Panel Discussion
River Hill PTSA is presenting a panel discussion on college admissions. For more information, Click Here.
HC DrugFree Updates:
Free Parenting Classes for Parents/Guardians of 9-14 Year Olds: HC DrugFree and the Howard County State's Attorney's Office will once again provide the evidence-based series Guiding Good Choices for parents to gain skills and knowledge to reduce the risk that their children will use drugs. This 4-week series will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, October 22, 29 and November 5, 12 at Wilde Lake Middle School in Columbia. Parents are expected to attend all 4 sessions. To register, go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GGCOct2019 or see attached flier. Free workbook included. If you have questions, email Joan Webb Scornaienchi, HC DrugFree’s Executive Director at Admin@hcdrugfree.org or call 443-325-0040.
Teen Advisory Council: HC DrugFree’s Teen Advisory Council (TAC) meets one Monday evening a month from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at The Barn/Teen Center in the Oakland Mills Village Center and is open to all Howard County high school students. Community service hours are available for all meetings and events. TAC will meet on Monday, October 21. To access the registration form, please visit HC DrugFree’s Teen Advisory Council page at http://www.hcdrugfree.org/teen-advisory-council-1 Refreshments provided at meetings, so must RSVP to Admin@hcdrugfree.org or call 443-325-0040.
Community Service Hours: All students (elementary through college) can receive community service hours for volunteering during any HC DrugFree event. For information, please email Admin@hcdrugfree.org or call 443-325-0040.
Save the date. Dispose of Old EpiPens, Medication and More: Howard County’s next convenient drive-thru medication and “sharps” (needles, syringes and EpiPens) collection will be held on Saturday, October 26 between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in the Wilde Lake Village Center parking lot. HC DrugFree and the Howard County Police urge all families to clean out unwanted or expired over-the-counter and prescription medications and sharps. Visit HC DrugFree’s website at www.hcdrugfree.org and go to the Events/Drug Take Back Day page for more information about medication disposal, email Admin@hcdrugfree.org or call 443-325-0040.
DALE CARNEGIE YOUNG ADULT LEADERSHIP PROGRAM TO RUN THIS WINTER
The Dale Carnegie Young Adult Leadership Program, open to all H.S. students teaches life skills in communication, leadership, interpersonal skills, public speaking, stress management, and self-confidence. This is a world renowned program offered at River Hill High School back by popular demand. Listen to what the Richard Montgomery High School principal has to say about Y.A.L.P: https://vimeo.com/289566507 and
INSIDER LOOK Young Adult Leadership Program https://vimeo.com/storiastudio/insiderlook
YALP is the high school version of the internationally renowned Dale Carnegie Course. Warren Buffett, American business magnate, investor, author and philanthropist, is a graduate of the Dale Carnegie Course…listen to what he has to say: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1I0AP28qy0