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FROM THE PRINCIPAL…Daniel Starr, Ed.D.

This is the halfway point of the school year and is a good time to take a look at your child’s performance and plan for

the rest of the year. Your son or daughter may be a high honor roll student or maybe just barely passing. In either case,

discuss with them the items below.

How to Get Good Grades (O’Brien, 1999) is a concise review of some tips that students can use to be successful in the

classroom. I have never met a parent who did not care about the grades his son or daughter earned, so I encourage all

parents to think about this and discuss it with their children.

But first, there is a “minitest” to help you and your child recognize some of the important factors that go into being a

successful student. Answer “Always,” “Sometimes,” or “Never” to each of the following statements that best describes

your own habits.

Questions for Students

Always

Sometimes

Never

I complete homework assignments.

I have everything I need when I go to class.

I use the time teachers give me in class to start my homework.

I take good notes.

I ask and answer questions in class.

I use tricks to memorize information

After reading an assignment in a textbook, I know what I’ve read.

I get along well with my teachers.

I am good at taking tests.

I am happy with my grades.

Total for each column

Give yourself 2 points for each time you checked “

Always,” 1 point if you checked “Sometimes” and nothing if you

checked “Never.” Now add your columns to get one total score. Ms. O’Brien provides the following scales for this

mini

test:

20 – 15 points:

You are a very good student.

14 – 10 points:

You are a student who could be getting better grades.

9 – 4 points:

You probably are not getting very good grades.

3 – 0 points:

Your grades must be a disaster!

Now for the important part. These are the 10 steps that Ms. O’Brien outlines.

Step One:

“Believe in yourself.” You will be successful only when you realize you can be.

Step Two:

“Be organized.” Every student in the High School is provided with a Student Agenda Book to list

assignments and to plan ahead. Ask your son or daughter to share this Agenda book with you so you can

see for yourself how it works. You can offer helpful tips to your child to make it even more valuable.

Step Three:

“Manage your time.” Use your study halls and class time wisely. Create a time at home that is your

own and devote it to studying. A common lament we hear is that a student does not have time to

study because he has to work. Why does he have to work, we ask. To pay his car insurance, he

replies. Why does he need a car, we ask. To drive to work, he answers! If you recognize this

conversation, talk seriously with your child about the priorities you will establish together for the

next few months.

Step Four:

“Be successful in the classroom.” This may sound like a “catch22,” but it really isn’t. Success is

measured in small victories – being on time, being prepared, being there every day, participating and

Williamson Senior High School February 2002

asking questions, being respectful to everyone in the class (even the child who is teased by others),

and responding maturely to the different teachers.

Step Five:

“Take good notes.” Taking notes can help you pay attention. It also helps you process the

information the teacher is giving you. The tests the teachers give are usually taken from the notes

presented in class. There are students in every class who are known for their extensive notes. Ask if

you can compare yours with theirs some day to see how well you are taking notes!

Step Six:

“Know how to read your textbook.” There is a strategy reading teachers used called SQ3R. I used it

years ago; Ms. Barone still uses it and has taught it to other teachers. This very simple process is as

follows:

urvey the assigned text. Check out the pictures and their captions, the graphs, and the quotes.

uestion the sections of the text. If you are reading a section with the heading “The Causes of the

Civil War,” change it into a question. “What were the causes of the Civil War?”

ead the text. Answer your question.

ecite your answer back to yourself as you enter this information into the notes you take while

reading. (You do take notes, don’t you?)

eview your notes and/or the chapter assignment before the next class.

Step Seven:

“Study Smart!” Using the strategy mentioned above will help that studying. Instead of cramming

the night before, you will already have a good foundation of the information to be tested. In addition,

use tricks to help you memorize information, and organize your time. The most important strategy,

however, is the simplest – Get Started!

Step Eight:

“Use good test taking strategies.” Remember to skip over an answer you don’t know so you don’t

waste valuable time. Mark that problem so you don’t forget it! Understand the key words in essay

questions. These will give you valuable direction as you formulate an answer.

Step Nine:

“Reduce test anxiety!” There are four quick techniques that can help. 1) Take a deep breath and

exhale slowly. 2) Mentally force yourself to relax, from your head to your feet. 3) Close your eyes

(only briefly) and visualizes something pleasant and relaxing. 4) Again with your eyes shut,

visualize your favorite place in the entire world.

Step Ten:

“Get help when you need it.” Every teacher in the High School will answer your questions. This

indicates your desire to understand and to do well.

Parents: The above steps were written with both you and your son or daughter in mind. Your time is crucial to their

success. Be interested; ask questions about classes. Make this a conversation and not just the oneword responses for

which teenagers are famous (or notorious)! As always, please call us if you have questions. The teacher is best able to

answer specific questions about a class, but the Guidance Office or Main Office can help as well.

FROM THE HEALTH OFFICE…Mrs. Showman, R.N.

Springs sports signup sheets are going up the week of January 28

to February 1

. Any student in the High School

interested in playing a Spring Sport must sign up! Physicals will be given on Tuesday, February 26

. Health

History/Sports Approval forms will be handed out and are due back to the nurse by Friday, February 15

ALL

students who will be playing a spring sport are required to have this form filled out and returned to the Health

Office.

Also…all students going on the AFS trip from February 28

–March 3

must hand in their

Medication and

Medical Update Forms

on Monday, February 25

to the nurse. This

MUST

be done in order to participate in this

trip. Thank you.

USED CLOTHING DRIVE

SPONSORED BY

THE WILLIAMSON TRACK TEAM 2002

Have you cleaned your closets or those dressers lately? We

need your unwanted clothes, shoes, belts, sneakers, purses,

linens, blankets, and drapes.

(Please, no rags or fabric scraps. Your donation is

not

cut

up or shredded.)

The St. Pauly Mission is to get wearable

cloth

clothing to people who can use it, here in the

ing to people who can use it, here in the

U.S. and 3

World Countries.

Breen’s IGA

Wednesday, March 20, 2002

4:00

7:00 P.M.

Help us spread the word and thank you for your support.

Your donation may be tax deductible.

For early pickup please call 5243758.

If possible, please put clothing into

If possible, please put clothing into plastic bags

plastic bags.

Be there RAIN OR SHINE.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

P.T.A. is holding it’s

Annual Niagara Chocolate fundraiser!

Students and parents who’d like to participate

may pick up a sale packet in the Main Office.

W.C.S. High School Athletic Schedules – Winter 20012002

ALL SCHEDULES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE!

BOYS BASKETBALL

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Feb 6

@ North RoseWolcott

6/7:30

Feb 1

@ Gananda

6/7:30

Feb 8

Sodus

6/7:30

Feb 5

@ North RoseWolcott

6/7:30

Feb 11

@ Webster Christian

6/7:30

Feb 7

Marion

6/7:30

Feb 12

Red Creek

6/7:30

Feb 11

East Rochester

6/7:30

Feb 14

@ East Rochester

6/7:30

TBD

Sectionals

TBD

Sectionals

TBD

WRESTLING

INDOOR TRACK

FROM THE LIBRARY…

February is the month for the Olympics. Here is a list of current web sites to use to access information about

the Olympic games.

ESPN.com

http://espn.go.com/oly/index.html

Fact Monster

http://www.factmonster.com

MSNBC.com

http://www.msnbc.com/news

NBCOlympics.com

http://www.nbcolympics.com

Salt Lake 2002: Official Site of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games

http://www.olympics.com

http://www.saltlake2002.com

Visions of Glory Web site

http://www.nbcolympics.com/visionsofglory

Yahooligans: 2002 Olympic Games

http://dailynews.yahoo.com/fc/Yahooligans/Olympics

Feb 2

League Tournament