Thursday, October 28, 2010

RESULTS OF BLOOD DRIVE ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27 AT DUTCH FORK HIGH SCHOOL...Because of your efforts, a total of 151 pints of blood were made available, and are ready to help save lives. Please pass on my congratulations and gratitude to everyone who participated in the drive, as well as those who helped with planning and recruitment. Each pint of blood collected can help save up to three lives, so Dutch Fork High School has made an even greater impact than these numbers show.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Band Reaches Finals at National Competition

SILVER SPIRIT - MARCHING BAND EARNS SPOT IN FINALS AT BANDS OF AMERICA REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AT TOWSON, MARYLAND

The Dutch Fork "Silver Spirit" Marching Band travelled to Baltimore, Maryland to compete in the Bands of America Regional Marching Band Championship on Saturday, October 23rd.  The band's efforts were rewarded by earning a spot in the coveted finals championship round later that night.  The band placed 10th out of some of the best and most accomplished band programs in the country.

More information about the Bands of America organization can be found at the following line:   http://www.musicforall.org/.

Volleyball Team Begins Playoff Run Tonight!!!!!!

Congratulations to our Dutch Fork Varsity Volleyball Team as they finished up the regular season 16-7 and 10-2 in Region 4, 4A! 
The Silver Foxes Volleyball Team will take on Clover High School in tonight’s first round of the State Playoffs at the Dutch Fork High Arena.  Game time is 6:30 pm.
Congratulations to our Dutch Fork Varsity Volleyball Players that were selected to the All Region Teams!
Region 4,4A
1st Team All Region
Ty Laporte – Region Player of the Year!
Raveen Golston
2nd Team All Region
Becky Boyle
Abby Welden
Cindy Robarge-Esposito – Coach of the Year 
Red Cross Blood Drive - tomorrow - Wednesday - 8:30 AM @ DFHS - Arena
Look what students at dutchforkhighschool students did with skin! http://ping.fm/KtFKV
Congratulations to the DFHS Cross Country Teams
http://ping.fm/ZXj6h

Friday, October 22, 2010

All-Region Cross Country

The DFHS Boys and Girls Cross Country Teams had 4 runners selected to the All-Region Cross Country Team!  For the boys, who finished 3rd, and are ranked 6th in the State:
Roland Hakes 2nd overall
For the girls, who finished as region runner ups,
Amelia Syfert 2nd overall
Taylor Quindlen, 5th overall
Haley Saxby, 7th overall
Next stop, Mid-State Qualifier!
dutchfork students had questions of Comm f/Agriculture Hugh Weathers. Read http://ping.fm/fGSHM green
Dutchfork Girls Golf! Amazing year! http://ping.fm/vCdII sports golf

Dutch Fork Girls Golf Team is as strong as Ever!

The DFHS Girl's Golf Team had a great year but came up just short of qualifying for the state tournament.  With a young team they are poised to make a run for a State Title in the years to come.  Nicole Chin (Freshman) is one of the rising stars who qualified for the State Tournament as an individual by shooting a 76 at the State Qualifying Tournament.  We will be cheering on Nicole as she competes in the State Tournament October 25 & 26 at Lexington Country Club.

Creating a Positive Online Footprint with State Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers

By Robert S. Jackson, Ed.S., Assistant Principal for Instruction\
     Kelly Payne, Social Studies Teacher
    













With the emphasis on emerging technologies and the national focus on renewable energies, there is a great potential for increasing student engagement in the classroom when you are able to interact with some of the brightest minds in the business. Schools can transform their models of teaching and learning to reflect broad changes in information interactivity and address the new intellectual demands and opportunities in a 21st century learning environment. President Obama recently stated "the transition to clean energy has the potential to grow our economy and create millions of jobs -– but only if we accelerate that transition." Dutch Fork High is accelerating that transition for students...

Education by and large has been a closed type of profession. The refrain we hear all too often is, “just let me close my doors and teach.” Without sharing, there is no education. The “It Kids” Current Issues class is making new connections and working to increase networks to enhance student learning. This is a cutting edge approach to learning than has traditionally prevailed, and still prevails, in schools. It has the potential to expand an unlimited amount of learning opportunities for our students.

Recently, South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture Hugh Weathers visited Dutch Fork High School to share with our students some of the current issues that are happening in our state as it pertains to Agriculture. Through his message, our students gained valuable insight into the ebb and flow of the Department of Agriculture along with new and emerging topics being discussed. Some of the questions that were asked by students are as follows:

1.      Even though agriculture is an important segment of South Carolina’s economy, why do we have a separate state agency with a statewide elected official overseeing this segment?  What other segment of our economy gets its own agency and constitutional officer?
2.      What influence has agriculture had on South Carolina’s immigration influx?  How involved is your agency in protecting migrant farm workers?
3.      The Department of Agriculture places inspection stickers on gas pumps all over the state.  Isn’t there a more logical agency to inspect and test gas pumps?
4.      What are the long-term health risks of eating genetically engineered food?
5.      What’s the status of the new Farmers Market?  How much will it cost to relocate the old market and how much have we spent so far?  How will the State ever recover those costs and how long will it take to recover them?
6.      Given that we live in a world where economic borders are less important than they’ve ever been, what’s the best reason to promote the Certified South Carolina Grown program?
7.      Why do state laws say that the Commissioner of Agriculture needs to have “a competent knowledge of manufacturing …, commerce, chemistry and publicity” {Section 46-3-30} yet they also say that the Commissioner doesn’t have the right to do scientific or educational work in agriculture {Section 46-3-80}?  What sense does that make?
8.      If we haven’t grown up farming, what sort of career opportunities exist in agriculture today?
9.      How did it happen that our Commissioner of Agriculture went to USC rather than Clemson?
10.  We’ve seen that more state budget cuts are on the way.  What effect are state budget cuts having on your agency?  Where do you plan to cut next?
11.  The state’s spending transparency website indicates that the Department of Agriculture spends quite a bit on advertising.  What are you advertising?
12.  Where can we expect to see growth in South Carolina’s agricultural economy and what’s the future for family farms (as opposed to corporate-farming operations)?

We remain sincerely appreciative of the timed dedicated to Dutch Fork High by Commissioner Weathers. Our students will be able to interact with the curriculum on a higher level of cognition because of this experience. We plan to continue to invite the brightest minds across all emerging industries to come and share with our students the essential skills needed in order to become college and career ready.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Congratulations to DutchFork Volleyball athlete Ty LaPorte who committed to OleMiss! We are proud of you! SEC sctweets

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Dutch Fork Students Build 3D Models of Human Skin!

By Carl Tilson, Science Teacher,
















The students at Dutch Fork High School are taking their creative skills to a new plateau in order to master learned material. In their Human Anatomy and Physiology class, under the facilitation of Mr. Carl Tilson (teacher), students built 3D models of human skin to demonstrate all of the anatomical features found between the hypodermis and the outermost layer of the epidermis. This project required students to translate 2D diagrams, microscopic studies and lecture topics into a 3D model that demonstrated all of the features of human skin. They were asked to use Styrofoam blocks as their base and then mold, paint or carve the features in detail. According to Assistant Principal for Instruction, Robert Jackson, "when students embrace heads on, hands on learning, they will better position themselves for holistic content mastery. Teachers are encouraged to continue with this type of exploratory (project based learning) to help students fully master standards and/or indicators."  We are extremely proud of these students as they continue to demonstrate their mastery of Human Anatomy.

Monday, October 18, 2010

Ashley Sease Selected As "Young Entrepreneur of the Year"

By: Norma Brown, Business Teacher











YEScarolina, a local organization whose mission is to train teachers to teach entrepreneurship has just announced that, Ashley Sease who attends Dutch Fork High School, has been selected a winner in the annual “YEScarolina Young Entrepreneurs of the Year” competition. 
YEScarolina is the program partner for the national organization, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE), in South Carolina.  “Nothing is more rewarding than empowering young people with the belief that they can make a difference in their lives,” comments Jimmy Bailey, CEO/Founder of YEScarolina.  “The remarkable results prove that NFTE’s unique entrepreneurial curriculum works and provides a structure for channeling creativity into profits.”  From 2003 to 2010, YEScarolina had trained 525 teachers to become NFTE certified and these teachers in turn have touched thousands of young South Carolinians with this wonderful and innovative entrepreneurship curriculum.
Ashley Sease will be attending the YEScarolina Annual Gala and Youth Entrepreneurship Celebration in Charleston, South Carolina on October 21 and 22, 2010.  She will showcase her business plan and product, if applicable, at the Gala being held at Memminger Auditorium on Thursday evening.  She will attend classes at the College of Charleston on Friday morning, with a college entrepreneurial student mentor.  At noon on Friday Ashley will attend an awards luncheon where she will receive her $250.00 award money. Ashley is a senior at Dutch Fork High School and is the project manager for DECA an association of Marketing students and her advisor is Norma Brown 
Ashley’s business she will showcase is a fashion line, self-titled, Ashley Lauren.  Which according to The Spirit of Outreach “has a certain ring of celebrity to it.”  Her vision is a group of girlfriends, different sizes, come to her store and be able to shop together and have fun again.  Sease wants women to love their bodies no matter what size.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Dutch Fork Experiences "The National Day on Writing"

By Kathy Lott, English Teacher











“These words are yours to keep*” Writing Six-Word Memoirs

In celebration of “The National Day on Writing,” sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English, Dutch Fork High School invites you to participate in writing your six-word memoir.

“Legend has it that Ernest Hemingway was once challenged to write a story in six words. Papa came back swinging with, ‘For sale: baby shoes, never worn’” (Smith Magazine).

What is your story? Distill it into six words, and post it on our banner in the Commons during the day on Wednesday, October 20. For more ideas, see http://www.smithteens.com/

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Good Grades vs. Hard Classes: What's Better on a Transcript?

Good Grades vs. Hard Classes: What's Better on a Transcript? Plus: how to approach teachers about bringing up your grades.













By: John A. Williams

I heard that colleges want to see honors and AP classes, but I'm afraid that I won't be able to get good grades in those classes.  Is it better to get a B in an honors class or an A in the normal class?

The transcript-versus-GPA question is a tough one. But from a pragmatic college-application standpoint (and looking at many transcripts and college-application decisions firsthand), it's clear that taking harder classes and getting a few B's is better than taking easier classes and getting A's.

Harder classes look really good on a transcript. It shows that you're trying to push yourself and get as much out of your high-school curriculum as you can.  And, yes, there is a risk to taking harder classes.  While B's are OK—though not great—you really, really want to avoid C's.

If you're faced with a report card with two or more C's, it's better to take easier classes and get all A's (and a B or two).  It's the reality of the college-application acceptance rates for both elite private schools and large state schools.

Go for the harder classes and make the adjustments you need to get an A or a B.  If you find yourself struggling in a class and getting a C, talk to your teacher.  Teachers are really on your side: they want you to learn the material and do well, and will work with you to bring up your scores.

OK, fine. I'll talk to my teacher. What do I say?
Here's what not to do.

1. Don't try to talk to teachers right before class.  Teachers are usually working through the lessons in their head and pulling together their material.
2. Don't grade-grub. The first words out of your mouth should not be "I want to find out how I can get a better grade" or "I want to know if there's any extra credit I can do."
3. Don't expect to retake a quiz or a test simply because you weren't aware of it and didn't study.

Instead, try these three strategies:
1. Write your teacher an e-mail asking him when a good time to talk would be.  You can also try to catch a teacher before or after school, during breaks, or during the first part of lunch, but be mindful that he may be busy or have a lot on his mind.  It's best to set an appointment and be prompt when that appointment time arrives.

2. Make sure you're doing your part .Teachers want you to learn the material, but also expect that in doing so, you turn in your homework and are prepared for quizzes and tests. If you're doing those things, talk to your teacher about the best way to study for tests and strategies for learning the material better. Ask what he thinks your weak spots are and the skills you need to focus on. Asking about how to learn better is a lot different from asking about how to get a better grade.  If you learn the material, then better grades will follow.

3. For one week, fully apply yourself and keep track of your efforts.  When you meet with your teacher, show him what you've been doing and how you've been preparing. Doing so shows the teacher you're serious, and often a teacher can offer real and helpful advice on what you can do to learn the material and get the grade you want.

Have a question for the admissions coach? Send an e-mail to John Andrew Williams.

John Andrew Williams is a certified life coach and college consultant, is the founder of Top Ten Skills, a coaching firm dedicated to helping students navigate high school, the college application, and beyond. He's the author of Future-Proof: A Students' Guide to Acing the College Application.

Dutch Fork Students Engaged Through Socratic Seminars!

By Kelly Payne, Social Studies Teacher














On October 7, students and faculty members from, Dutch Fork High School,  Chapin High School and Irmo High School participated in an all day Social Studies Socratic Seminar held in the Irmo High Media Center. The day’s agenda included a continental breakfast hosted by the Irmo High PTO, followed by an explanation of the day’s activities and how the sessions would be conducted.
  • From 9:00 until 10:30, Dr. Sara Burrows led the students in a 90-minute discussion on the topic of “Balancing Civil Liberties While Keeping America Safe in a Post 9/11 World”.
  • From 10:45-12:15, Mr. Neil Mellen led a discussion on “Some Thoughts on Education”, followed by a buffet luncheon at Zorba’s Restaurant.

Upon returning, the students were led in another 90-minute discussion led by Dr. Brent Nelson on the topic “Enemies Into Friends: How the United States Can Court Its Adversaries”. Student participants included: from Chapin High School -  Harrison Church, Carolyn Hagerty, Stuart Hope, Alex Meert, Ryan O’Neill, and Haley Spearman; from Dutch Fork High School - Reggie Gallant, Nick Wyatt, Tanner Mirt, Taylor Moore, and Michael Shedd; from Irmo High School - Aariel Dees, Alex Drake, Brittnee Hill, Hector Mireles, Katherine Stewart, and Will Watkins. A special thank you goes to Nancy Benitez and Martha Hutchinson from Irmo High for recording all of the discussions that took place. Teacher organizers for this event were ,Kelly Payne (DFHS), Anastasia Sease (CHS), and Tommy Collier (IHS).

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Mayor Benjamin Visits the "Den of Payne"

By Robert S. Jackson, Assistant Principal for Instruction
     Kelly Payne, Social Studies Teacher,












By now, you know that a long list of elected officials (with special knowledge, talents, or interesting careers) have visited Dutch Fork High School with the hopes of enriching the curriculum and widening educational horizons for students.

During the discovery process, students are allowed the opportunity to interact with these community persons via a question and answer segment. These high school students don’t ask “softball questions” either. Also known as the “Den of Payne,” the "Current Issues" classroom is full of tomorrow’s leaders and the students stay keenly in tune to issues at all levels: local, state and federal.

Today we had the opportunity to hear from Columbia’s Mayor Steve Benjamin. Mr. Benjamin spoke to the Dutch Fork students two years ago, prior to announcing his bid for mayor.

Student Questions for Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin:

We’re aware of the controversy over hiring your two assistants under the city payroll. How did you work that out? And how do you think it will affect your relationship with the Council going forward?


When you were in our classroom two years ago you talked about the importance of transparency. How do you intend to expand the transparency initiatives that were begun by your predecessor?


Columbia doesn’t seem to have much of a commercial job space. What can the city do to change that?


The Columbia Police Department seems to have a revolving door with its leadership. (6 Police Chiefs in 5 years) What causes the high turnover in leadership at the City Police Department?


What plans do you have for making our riverfront more attractive for the community to use? Do you have any serious visions for turning the riverfront into an area more community friendly? Public access, parks, fountains, recreation areas, not just building condos.


How long do you plan to serve as mayor and what do you plan to run for next?


Having been elected as Columbia’s first black mayor, have we gotten beyond the politics of race?

It is amazing how embracing new forms of engagement and assessment will inspire students to think critically, analyze topics, and develop viewpoints that will add to the body of knowledge. Stay tuned as we will continue to empower students to do more with their educational experiences.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

PSAT Administration

By: Robert S. Jackson, Assistant Principal for Instruction








On Wednesday, October 13, all 10th grade students and paying juniors will take the PSAT test during blocks 5B and 6B.  There will be NO delayed opening tomorrow for this reason.  Students need to be at school on time and report to their designated testing classroom. Alphabetical rosters are posted beside each testing room door on the 200 hallway.  Please bring your own calculator and #2 pencils.  Get a good night's rest, eat a good breakfast before coming to school, and do your very best on the test! We plan to see more National Merit Award winners.  

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Great opportunity for students majoring in Education!

Fabulous Scholarship opportunity for education majors to receive $24,000!  Check out our fan page on Facebook to see the scholarship video!

If you have never gone to our fan page, you will love the custom Facebook page! Click the "Like" button and then head over to the wall for the post about the scholarships. 

Dutch Fork High School seeks to engage students, parents and the community, so share this link on your wall so others kind see what great things we have going on at Dutch Fork High School!

Monday, October 4, 2010

What's New with PSAT/NMSQT

What's New with PSAT/NMSQT®
by The CollegeBoard

Posted by Robert S. Jackson, Ed.S., Assistant Principal for Instruction








As the school year begins, we're excited to tell you about some changes the PSAT/NMSQT Program is making. This year, the PSAT/NMSQT will be reporting on an updated set of skills, the same college readiness skills reported on by the SAT® and ReadiStep™. We've also improved our reporting tools to provide you and your students with even more actionable feedback.
For Educators:

  • Improved Summary of Answers and Skills report with aggregate feedback to identify skill gaps and improve instruction
  • New PSAT/NMSQT Skills Insight tool that explains each skill and demonstrates the link between skills and scores
  • Updated alignments with state standards to better show how the PSAT/NMSQT measures the skills tested in your state
  • New College Readiness Benchmarks that help identify which students are on track to be college-ready
For Students:

  • Redesigned Score Report Plus that shows performance on each skill tested
  • Improved online My College QuickStart™ tool with more personalized improvement advice and practice questions

For more information, visit www.collegeboard.com/psatreports.
 
As the school year goes on, we will provide additional information and resources to help you and your students take full advantage of the new PSAT/NMSQT reporting.

Best wishes for a successful year!