School Notes

PT Conferences and Course Registration

Hard to believe that second semester is staring us in the eyes.  To say that it's been a fast-moving school year is an understatement!  Two quick things:

Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Tuesday, January 26 from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  Along with classroom conversations, the school is hosting four parent informational sessions throughout the night:
 5 p.m.  Financial Aid and the FAFSA--Media Center
6 p.m.  Infinite Campus--Media Center
7 p.m.  9th grade Orientation--Theatre
7 p.m.  10th grade PLAN results and analysis--Media Center

The 2010-2011 course registration process will begin in two weeks.  First step is to distribute the course registration book to students.  This will occur on Wednesday, February 3.  The next two weeks of advisory will focus on reviewing the book and selecting classes.  Soon after February 17, students will register on-line with their guidance counselor here at school.  This will be the first year we register using the Infinite Campus registration system.  We are looking forward to it!

Achieving Graduation for All

A friend sent me a copy of the 2009 National Governor's Association study "Achieving Graduation for All; A Guide to Dropout Prevention and Recovery".  Among the challenges listed in the publication:

• At least one student in five drops out of school.

• There are 5 million 18-to 24-year-olds in America that lack a high school diploma.

• The dropout crisis costs the United States $300 billion in lost wages and increased public-sector expenses.

• The highest state graduation rate is 88% (Nebraska).  Minnesota is at 86%.

• Dropouts who find work are paid annual salaries averaging about $7,000 less than a high school graduate and $26,000 less than a college graduate.  Over a lifetime, a high school dropout earns $1 million less than a college graduate.

• Individuals with traditional diplomas typically outperform GED recipients with respect to employment, earnings, and other labor market outcomes.  However, earning a GED is often better than earning no high school credential at all. 

Here in Saint Peter, we are not immune to these challenges.  We are fortunate in that our drop-out numbers are significantly lower than the national or Minnesota average.  However having even one student choose to end school is too many, and we continue to work at providing support and services for students facing these difficult decisions.   

For a copy of the full report, go to www.nga.org/center