Miller Times

NHS Parent-Teacher Conferences
Oct. 17, 2002
12:30-4 p.m. - 5:30-8 p.m.

The NHS faculty and administration cordially invite you to parent-teacher conferences held on Thursday, Oct. 17 in individual teacher classrooms.

Students will be dismissed from school at 10:50 a.m. on Oct. 17 and 18; conferences will be held on Thursday only.

As parents, you will have the opportunity to meet with teachers on a walk-up basis without scheduled appointments.

We do ask that each conference be limited to approximately five minutes in length so that all parents may be served. Teachers will have an appointment sheet that lists their prep times in the room that evening if additional conference time is needed.

Parents should park in the main southeast parking lot and enter through the auditorium doors. Student nine weeks grades will be distributed by staff just inside these doors.

A listing of teacher locations will be provided if you do not know your student's teachers. However, it will save you time waiting in line if you come prepared with your child's schedule.

On behalf of the NHS faculty, we look forward to meeting you.


ISTEP+ testing begins Sept. 24
ISTEP+ will be administered to all sophomores plus juniors and seniors who need to retest on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, Sept. 24, 25, and 26. Testing will occur between 7:35 and 10:52 each day.

It is imperative that all students be present for testing because there will be no make-up dates.

In addition to the dates listed above, sophomores only will be given a pilot test on Thursday, Sept.19, during study hall.

To insure adequate space and personnel to administer the ISTEP+, juniors and seniors who have passed the ISTEP+ will be excused from attending school during the testing hours on Sept. 24, 25, and 26. These students have been provided permission slips that must be signed by a parent or guardian and returned to attendance office by Sept. 23.

Juniors and seniors who wish to attend school all day will be required to stay in a supervised study hall until 10:52, or they may arrange to be supervised by a teacher who is not involved in testing. Regular afternoon classes will continue for all students.
Freshmen and sophomores are required to attend school all day every day of ISTEP+ testing. Freshmen will attend classes on an altered schedule but will arrive and depart at the regular times.

Any student in grades 10, 11, or 12 who has moved to NHS from out of state is required to take and pass the ISTEP+ to be eligible for graduation.

Prior to testing, additional information will be mailed to parents of those students who will be testing.

Questions may be directed to any of the counselors by calling 776-6257.


Important Dates
Sept. 24-26 ISTEP+ Testing, 7:35-10:52 a.m.
Sept. 28 ACT given at NHS
Oct. 1 Waiver Day; students released at 12:05 p.m.
Oct. 1 Powder Puff Game, Swanson Field, 6 p.m.
Oct. 4 Homecoming Parade, 3:30 p.m.
Cct. 11 End of the first grading period
Oct. 12 SAT given at NHS
Oct. 17 Parent Teacher Conferences; students released at 10:50 a.m.
Oct. 18 Half Day for students and teachers; released at 10:50 a.m.
Oct. 19 PSAT given at NHS
Oct. 24-25 Fall Break


Here & There
Waiver Day is Oct. 1
In the student planner, Sept. 17 is listed as a waiver day. That date is incorrect. It should say Oct. 1. Please make corrections to your schedules.

Evening guidance schedule
The guidance office will be staffed by one of the counselors on Tuesdays from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Please enter the building through the administration doors.
Sept. 24 Mrs. Bean
Oct. 1 Mrs. Kimmel
Oct. 8 Mr. Wittstein
Oct. 15 Mrs. Bean
Oct. 22 Mrs. Nelsen
Oct. 29 Mrs. Helton
Nov. 5 Mrs. Kimmel
Nov. 12 Mrs. Bean
Nov. 19 Mr. Wittstein
Nov. 26 Mrs. Nelsen
Dec. 3 Mrs. Helton
Dec. 10 Mrs. Kimmel
Dec. 17 Mr. Wittstein

For an appointment, please call 776-6257.


Medication information
Welcome back to school!

There may be times during the year your child will need medication during school hours. Please remember all prescription and nonprescription medication (including cough drops) must be supplied and brought to the health office by a parent or guardian.

Medication brought to school must be in the original container. If samples are used from the doctor's office, a written order stating specific administration instructions will be needed.

For prescription medication given both at home and school, we suggest you ask the pharmacist to provide and extra, labeled bottle. This way the medicine does not need to be transported to and from school. Prescription medication should be labeled with the student's name, date, medication name, dosage, time, and doctor's instructions for administration. Before giving any medication to your student, we will also need a signed permission form from you. These forms are available in the Nurse's Office.

If your student has a chronic disease or medical condition which requires emergency self-administration of a medication, please follow the procedure in your school handbook.

If you have any questions or concerns, please consult the nurse at your school. We want every student to have a safe and healthy school year!


SPFC projects under way
SPFC (NHS's PTO) welcomes every high school parent to another exciting new school year! Please feel free to join us in the high school cafeteria for our monthly meeting the third Tuesday of each month at 6 p.m.

The August meeting featured Mr. Cook, principal, who updated us on the new themed cafeteria which will feature a dairy bar, another serve area, seat 385 and have banquet facilities available for the community. He informed those attending that Prom will take place at the Ritz Charles this year.

Another feature at the meetings was and will be every month, student government representation. Rachel Reed, student body president, gave an update on activities such as community involvement goals, the homecoming dance Sept. 28 and a project for Sept. 11.

Near the main office you might want to check out the Wall of Fame committee's work (Suzanne McMahon and Jane Snyder) which highlights band, football, soccer, and cheerleading summer acitivites.

SPFC sponsors the Academic Banquet (Tami Redden, Leslie Ringle and Cindy Wolfred) which honors top 10% NHS students at an elegant spring banquet. Plans are under way.

Shirley Agnew and the Parent Involvement Committe is collecting parent volunteer forms for parents who would like to help out at NHS. Fill one out if you haven't already! The Chianellos and Haases are preparing for after prom, Susan Mangus is chairing high school scholarships, Annette Alvey is advisory council rep and Penny Jamison and Kim Hirschfeld are organizing Faculty Lunches and Blah Days.

SPFC is a vital organization which is proud to sponsor events such as the Challenge Retreat to develop leadership skills in high schoolers as well as help with high school events such as homecoming, registration packets, academic banquet and after-prom. We always welcome new faces, so
Please plan to attend a meeting in the future! Dates are Oct. 15, Nov. 19, Jan. 21, Feb. 18, March 18, April 15 and May 20. Hope to see you.

The Executive Board
Carol Land, President
Cindy Wolfred Vice-President
Claudia Southard, Secretary
Peggy Miller, Treasurer


Information from the nurse
Who gets head lice?
Anybody can get head lice. If you have a head, then you can get head lice. They don't care if it is a clean or a dirty head. Typical symptoms of head lice are: an itchy scalp; scratching at the head; tiny red bit marks or scabs on the scalp; white or black nits (eggs) stuck to the base of the hair. So, be sure to check your student.

How do you get head lice?
Head lice are usually spread by head to head contact with someone who already has lice. Elementary age children often put their heads together while at play or even working. Lice can walk extremely fast, but they cannot jump or fly. Lice can also be spread by sharing combs, brushes, hats or clothing.

How do you get rid of head lice?
Pediculicide shampoos kill head lice and their nits. These shampoos are available at any discount store or pharmacy. Regular shampoo will not kill lice (you can't drown them either). Combing out all the nits is necessary because if even one nit is left in the hair and it hasn't been killed, that nit will hatch! Nit pickin' takes time and patience. School policy states a student must be nit-free and louse-free to return to school...

How do you avoid head lice?
Do not share combs, brushes, barrettes or headbands. Do not share hats or coats. Take your own pillow and sleeping bag on an overnight. Make a once a week head check at home. Contact the school nurse for questions or further details.


PSAT to be given on a Saturday
On Saturday, Oct. 19, NHS will participate in a state-sponsored program meant to encourage and prepare students to do well on college entrance exams. This program allows students to take the PSAT (Preliminary Student Aptitude Test) at NHS at a minimal expense.

Test results allow the establishment of norms for both juniors and sophomores. For juniors, results are also used by the National Merit Scholarship Program to identify and qualify students for a variety of scholarships.

For those sophomores and freshmen who are academically ready, this test provides an excellent opportunity to learn test strategies and for exposure to college entry testing in a timed environment.

In order to facilitate the nearly three (3) hours needed for PSAT administration, this year the PSAT will be conducted on Saturday, Oct.19. Testing starts at exactly 8:30 a.m. with students being required to report by 8:15 a.m. Testing will finish at approximately 11:30 a.m.

Juniors, sophomores and selected freshmen will be provided information and practice materials during the weeks of Sept.16 and 23. While the PSAT serves as an early college entrance exam practice for 9th and 10th graders, it is an important test for any junior thinking of going to college. Juniors are urged to attend!

The cost is $5.00 and may be paid by cash or check, made out to NHS. Monies will be collected in class about a week after the initial information sessions.

Questions about this important testing program may be addressed to any of the guidance counselors at 776-6257.


HEA 1108-Diplomas for Veterans
This Act in Section 2 adds I.C. 20-10.1-30 as a new chapter to the education code provides a program for eligible veterans to receive a high school diploma if they did not earn one prior to entering military service. The veterans eligible for this program are those that served in World War I and World War II. A veteran who has received a GED is also eligible for this program. The surviving spouse or a surviving relative of an eligible veteran may apply for a diploma under this program on behalf of an eligible deceased veteran.
If interested in learning more about this program, contact the high school main office or guidance office.