Saline Alternative Education
State-Wide Assessment Program
ACT/MME: This notice was sent to all Saline High School juniors in early February. Saline Alternative High School families received a similar mailing on February 8, 2012. If you have questions regarding the upcoming ACT/MME state-wide assessment, please contact:
Carol Melcher, ACT/MME Site Supervisor
734-429-8006
Dear Parents and Guardians of Junior Students:
On March 6, 7, and 8, 2012, your child will be participating in the Michigan Merit
Examination (MME). This three-day assessment includes the ACT Plus Writing,
The ACT WorkKeys Test and Michigan Merit components of the MME. The state of Michigan requires this test for all high school juniors. In addition, the Saline School Board recently adopted policy requires all students to complete the entire MME assessment with a reasonable best effort as a high school graduation requirement. Because of this new Board policy, seniors that have not previously taken the MME must also test prior to high school graduation.
Saline High School and the Saline Alternative High School will be in full, regular session for grades 9, 10 and 12 during the three-day assessment period. In order to minimize testing distractions, the MME will be administered at Liberty School, located at 7265 N. Ann Arbor Street, Saline, MI. Students may self-transport to Liberty School if the completed parent permission slip (enclosed) is returned to Saline High School by March 5, 2012. Bus transportation will be provided from Saline High School to Liberty School and back on all three days. Buses will leave the east entrance of Saline High School at 7:50 am each morning. All students must arrive at Liberty School no later than 8:00 am each day.
On Tuesday, March 6, 2012 (Day One of testing), Saline High School students are allowed to eat lunch on their own or they may return to Saline High School in time for “C” lunch at the school. On Wednesday, March 7 and Thursday, March 8, all students must return to Saline High School for their regularly scheduled lunch period. Please review the enclosed three-day testing schedule on page two of this letter for further information.
Each student is required to bring the following items to the testing sessions: photo identification (valid driver’s license, school ID, state ID), several sharpened #2 pencils, and an approved calculator. A list of approved calculators is provided in this mailing. All students will receive room assignments for the three-day Michigan Merit Examination one week prior to the scheduled test dates.
Your support is appreciated in having your child prepared for this important assessment cycle. Adequate sleep and proper nutrition are essential for optimal test results. If you have questions regarding the Michigan Merit Examination test cycle at Saline High School or Saline Alternative High School, please contact me at the phone/email listed below.
Sincerely,
Carol Melcher, Principal, Saline Alternative High School
ACT/MME Site Supervisor
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The NEW Saline Alternative High School
Saturday School is canceled for Saturday, November 12, 2011.
Please enjoy the Saline Craft Show at Saline Middle School!
Upcoming Important Dates
NOVEMBER 16
PREPARING FOR TOMORROW TRANSITIONS CONFERENCE AT WCC. For high school juniors and seniors and their families from 8:30 am until 1:20 p.m. at the Morris Lawrence Building at Washtenaw Community College. The conference is free, but lunch is not provided. See Ms. Melcher for more information.
November 18
DEADLINE to submit a senior photo for the Saline High School yearbook. Contact Mrs. Trainor, 429-8000, ext. 2356.
December 7
FINANCIAL AID NIGHT- learn about about sources of financial aid and how to apply for it. 7:00 in the HS Commons.
February
YEARBOOK ordering needs to be completed by this month. Order your yearbook HERE.
Building Security at Liberty School
In a continuing effort to enhance building security at Liberty School, the following changes will take place on February 23, 2011.
VISITORS
All visitors to Liberty School must enter the building at the District Office entrance (Door #1) located in the front of the building. ALL visitors must sign in and wear a visitor pass while in the building.
LITTLE STAR DAY CARE
The entrance for Little Star parents will be locked at 9:00 am and unlocked at 3:00 pm (unless previous accommodations have been made with staff). Persons entering after 9:00 am and before 3:00 pm must enter the building at the District Office entrance (Door #1), sign in at the office, and wear a visitor pass while in the building. Parking is available in front of Liberty School as needed.
ALTERNATIVE HIGH SCHOOL
The Alternative High School entrance will continue to be locked at 8:00 am and unlocked at 3:00 pm. Between the hours of 8:00 am and 3:00 pm students must enter the building at the District Office entrance (Door #1) and sign in at the office.
YOUNG ADULT AND LIBERTY CLUB
Enter Liberty School at Door #3. This door will be locked at 8:00 am and unlocked at 3:00 pm. Between the hours of 8:00 am and 3:00 pm students must enter the building at the District Office entrance (Door #1) and sign in at the office.
COMMUNITY EDUCATION
All classes must enter at the District Office entrance (Door #1) and sign in with the Community Education office.
SENIOR CENTER
Senior center classes that have been previously arranged will use Door #3. All other classes must enter the building at the District Office entrance (Door #1) and sign in with Community Education.
STAFF
All perimeter doors except the District Office entrance (Door #1) will be locked between the hours of 8:00 am and 3:00 pm unless specifically noted above.
THANK YOU SALINE!!
What a tremendous response! Over 30 HUGE bags of clothing and another 25 large trash bags filled with gently used household items were donated to the Military Order of the Purple Heart on Wednesday, February 9, 2011. A proud moment, indeed, for the students of the NEW Saline Alternative High School, this community-wide effort will benefit military families in Southeast Michigan. Learning the importance of giving back to the community has been a focus of instructional efforts at the NEW Saline Alternative. Students have demonstrated their ability to organize, publicize and carry out a community wide initiative. And the results - well, you make us PROUD to be from Saline!
Texting and Driving?
Students sat riveted to their seats this morning during a showing of this impassioned video produced by AT &T: Dangers of Text Messaging While Driving http://goo.gl/JssKI So many of the students are tied to their cell phones. Is it becoming an obsession? And what might be the ultimate cost of that obsession? Great talking points and self reflection on how attitude and behavior shapes character.
PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES
Please join the NEW Alternative High School staff on Thursday, October 13, 2011 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm for Parent-Teacher Conferences. We hope to have 100% parent participation! It is only through an effective school to home partnership that we ensure the success of all of our students.
If you are unable to attend, please call for an appointment to meet with your child's teachers at a more convenient time. (734) 729-8006.
Early Graduate
When Steven Hoskins started school at the NEW Saline Alternative High School for the 2010-2011 school year, it was with a renewed sense of purpose. At age 19, he knew that the window of opportunity in which to complete his high school course requirements was closing quickly. For Steven, the new format proved to be exactly what he needed.
In just seven weeks, Steven completed TEN credits, including courses in Financial Math, Geometry, Economics, Government and Physical Science. He worked diligently, asking for assistance from his instructors as needed, but for the most part, focused on the prize. And that prize was handed to Steven on December 10, 2010: his high school diploma.
In the photo, Steven holds his diploma as he receives congratulations from one of his teachers, Mr. Brad Woehlke. The two are standing in front of Steven's long list of "trophies" that designate completed courses.
Congratulations to Steven Hoskins, one of the first to graduate from the NEW Saline Alternative High School!! Steven has plans to continue his education at Washtenaw Community College.
Toys for Tots
Students at the NEW Saline Alternative High School are immersed in service learning as a part of their everyday curriculum. During the holiday season, many additional opportunities exist for students to become involved in giving back to the greater Saline community. This past week, the students used proceeds from their can and bottle drive to purchase several toys for the Saline Fire Department's annual TOYS FOR TOTS campaign. Pictured, along with several of the students, are Fire Chief Craig Hoeft and Firefighter Kevin Dillen.
The students were rewarded for their generosity with a personal tour of the fire truck.
From left: Mike Rothman, Sarah Spencer, Travis Derby, Brittany Otis, Alexandrea Kalmbach and Tori Vincent
Mr. Woehlke Named Wal-Mart TEACHER OF THE YEAR!!
Mr. Brad Woehlke will be honored as one of the recipients of the Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year Award at the Saline Area Schools Board Meeting on December 14, 2010. A recent email from Assistant Superintendent Laatsch notes the schedule for the evening. Please join us in congratulating Mr. Woehlke for his dedication to the students at the NEW Saline Alternative. Staff, students, parents and interested others are invited to the SAS School Board Meeting on December 14 at Liberty School to celebrate with Mr. Woehlke.
http://www.teacherscount.org/booster/nominate.shtml
Brad,
NEW COURSE, NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Today, December 6, 2010, begins the third marking period of the 2010-2011 academic year. Students are doing well with online coursework, service learning and related electives. Preparations are underway to help students bolster scores on the ACT/MME, scheduled for March 1-3, 2011. The examination is required of all students in their third year of high school and attending a public school in the state of Michigan. All juniors and seniors who’ve not previously taken the ACT have been enrolled in the ACT English Language Arts class. Using the Kaplan ACT Advantage course, the students will learn critical test-taking strategies, review content and practice English, reading and writing skills necessary for a good result on the ACT test. Most of the students took a practice ACT test in October; the results of that practice test indicate that skills are rusty and in need of remediation. Parents will be receiving a copy of their student’s results by mail along with a course syllabus for the ACT ELA class. At the NEW Saline Alternative, it is important that students build skills that will enable them to transition into the workforce or prepare them for college. The ACT ELA class is a means to that end.
Financial Aid Night
The Saline High School Counseling Department presents the Saline High School Financial Aid Information Night this Wednesday, December 8, 2010 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Saline High School Commons. Please encourage all of your Seniors, Juniors and their parents to attend this important informational session with Guest Speaker Cynthia Van Pelt from the Office of Financial Aid at Eastern Michigan University. Please contact Kathy Mussio at 734-429-8038 with any questions regarding this event.
Are Today's Students' Brains "Wired" Differently?
A recent article in the New York Times posits that today's youth are wired for distraction and mired in expectations of instant gratification. How can we, as educators and parents, respond and program appropriately for these students? Clearly, we are at the intersection of education and technology. How those two are intertwined will shape educational programming of the future, and will ultimately determine our students' preparation for post-secondary educational settings and the workplace. http://nyti.ms/9uicBt
Race and Ethnicity Reporting – New U.S. Department of Education Requirements
The U.S. Department of Education has instituted changes in the way race and ethnicity data is collected in public schools, starting with new enrollments for the 2010-2011 school year. This change will allow individuals to more accurately identify themselves given the increasing diversity of the nation’s population. We would also like to give continuing students the opportunity to re-identify their race and ethnicity using the new reporting format. Further information and forms can be found at this link: