How it works: The Thursday Round Up
While you could read the Round Up all the way through from top to bottom, it's not necessary to do so. Here are the sections of the Round Up and what each has in it. Come winter, a Summer Opportunities section will also be included. Have an event that is low/no cost that would be great for high school students? Let me know!
News from the Homefront:
Welcome back!
Are you looking for me? My office is in the library. Find me in the room behind Mr. Lazaro's desk and the library printer. Or you can email me.
Do you want to change your schedule?
You're not alone! We're dealing with some pretty complex schedule jenga right now so please do everyone a favor and put in a request to see your counselor. We are not letting folks head to counseling without having an appointment. Fill this out and your counselor will get back to you. As long as you start the process (submit a request to your counselor) before 26 August, you should be just fine.
College Application Workshops
Each year I offer Friday morning Early Bird (8:00-8:50) workshops on how to put your college application together. There are multiple sessions and we start at the beginning and move through the whole thing. These will start TOMORROW Friday morning, 22 August in the library and the sessions are as follows:
A Note to Seniors:
I know many of you are eager to see me to work on college essays and applications. I am here to help with that! Do yourself and me a favor and email me or visit me to set a specific time to meet. While it is true that most of the year, drop ins are fine, last year it became frustrating for folks to wait for others with appointments to finish first. Many of you have 1st period or last period release and those are popular times. I can see about 3-4 people per period. But I will give you a specific time (first 25 min, last 25 min, etc). I'll create a SmartPass for you so you know when to come. It gives both you and me anxiety if you're sitting there waiting. We have PLENTY of time before anything is due (even those 15 October dates!), and indeed some schools have not even finalized their essays yet. I promise we will have your work in tip top shape by the time it's due.
9th Grade Class Officers
Are you interested in serving as a class officer for the class of 2029? There is an interest meeting TODAY during lunch in the Tri-Lab. Your Leadership teachers will go over the expectations, responsibilities, and roles during the meeting. If it sounds like it's for you, be sure to get your application in by Saturday 16 August at 11:59pm.
Help Ms. Apicella's Classroom!
Ms. Apicella has a project on Donor's Choose for this year's AP English Language and Composition classes. Support her project! Or buy something on her Wishlist for 9th and 11th!
Do you want to be a student representative to the State Board of Education?
Virginia's Board of Education is looking for representatives who can provide a student's eye view of education in the Commonwealth. The Board works closely with VDOE to provide student perspectives and plays a vital role in the creation of policy concepts with Virginia Board of Education. Applications are due by September 15. The Board is comprised of one student from every Superintendent’s Region in the Commonwealth. Students are chosen based on demonstrated academic achievement and passion for educational policy issues. You must be a senior to apply.
National History Day:
Love history? Want to take on a cool project this year? National History Day is a historical inquiry centered around a theme. This year's theme is Revolution, Reaction, Reform. There are a variety of ways to show your ideas on this. Create an exhibit, documentary, website, paper, or performance. Last year's winners in the state competition for exhibit came from WAHS! They not only won the regional and state competitions, but they took home some scholarship money for a special award they won. If this sort of thing appeals to you, come see me!
Independent Study
Are you interested in doing an Independent Study? We get started a little later than other courses, so if you want to explore something you're curious about, learn a new skill, or refine ones you already have, let's get you going! Information is available on this website!
Help for all:
WAHS' Mental Health Support Specialist is Alanah Horning (kids tend to call her Ms. Alanah). She can help you with various basic needs you might have. Questions? Reach out to her!
Welcome back!
Are you looking for me? My office is in the library. Find me in the room behind Mr. Lazaro's desk and the library printer. Or you can email me.
Do you want to change your schedule?
You're not alone! We're dealing with some pretty complex schedule jenga right now so please do everyone a favor and put in a request to see your counselor. We are not letting folks head to counseling without having an appointment. Fill this out and your counselor will get back to you. As long as you start the process (submit a request to your counselor) before 26 August, you should be just fine.
College Application Workshops
Each year I offer Friday morning Early Bird (8:00-8:50) workshops on how to put your college application together. There are multiple sessions and we start at the beginning and move through the whole thing. These will start TOMORROW Friday morning, 22 August in the library and the sessions are as follows:
- 22 August – Decision types, Demographics and Numbers: GPA, SAT, ACT
- 29 September – Activities/Honors Section of Common App
- 5 September – Writing the College Essay
- 12 September – Supplemental Essays
A Note to Seniors:
I know many of you are eager to see me to work on college essays and applications. I am here to help with that! Do yourself and me a favor and email me or visit me to set a specific time to meet. While it is true that most of the year, drop ins are fine, last year it became frustrating for folks to wait for others with appointments to finish first. Many of you have 1st period or last period release and those are popular times. I can see about 3-4 people per period. But I will give you a specific time (first 25 min, last 25 min, etc). I'll create a SmartPass for you so you know when to come. It gives both you and me anxiety if you're sitting there waiting. We have PLENTY of time before anything is due (even those 15 October dates!), and indeed some schools have not even finalized their essays yet. I promise we will have your work in tip top shape by the time it's due.
9th Grade Class Officers
Are you interested in serving as a class officer for the class of 2029? There is an interest meeting TODAY during lunch in the Tri-Lab. Your Leadership teachers will go over the expectations, responsibilities, and roles during the meeting. If it sounds like it's for you, be sure to get your application in by Saturday 16 August at 11:59pm.
Help Ms. Apicella's Classroom!
Ms. Apicella has a project on Donor's Choose for this year's AP English Language and Composition classes. Support her project! Or buy something on her Wishlist for 9th and 11th!
Do you want to be a student representative to the State Board of Education?
Virginia's Board of Education is looking for representatives who can provide a student's eye view of education in the Commonwealth. The Board works closely with VDOE to provide student perspectives and plays a vital role in the creation of policy concepts with Virginia Board of Education. Applications are due by September 15. The Board is comprised of one student from every Superintendent’s Region in the Commonwealth. Students are chosen based on demonstrated academic achievement and passion for educational policy issues. You must be a senior to apply.
National History Day:
Love history? Want to take on a cool project this year? National History Day is a historical inquiry centered around a theme. This year's theme is Revolution, Reaction, Reform. There are a variety of ways to show your ideas on this. Create an exhibit, documentary, website, paper, or performance. Last year's winners in the state competition for exhibit came from WAHS! They not only won the regional and state competitions, but they took home some scholarship money for a special award they won. If this sort of thing appeals to you, come see me!
Independent Study
Are you interested in doing an Independent Study? We get started a little later than other courses, so if you want to explore something you're curious about, learn a new skill, or refine ones you already have, let's get you going! Information is available on this website!
Help for all:
WAHS' Mental Health Support Specialist is Alanah Horning (kids tend to call her Ms. Alanah). She can help you with various basic needs you might have. Questions? Reach out to her!
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College Visits:
Upcoming Events:
- 9 September – Denison
- 9 September – Randolph
- 11 September – University of Richmond
- 1 October – Longwood
- 2 October – UVA
- 15 October – Elon
Upcoming Events:
- 26 August – Drop/Add date
- 1 September – Labor Day (no school for students)
- 4 September – Back to School Night 6:30-8:30
- 10-11 September – Underclass Picture Day
- 11 September – Regional College Fair (CHS)
- 18 September – Post High Planning Night 6:00-7:00
- 26 September – Teacher Work Day (no school for students)
- 2-3 October – Senior Picture Day Make Ups
- 3-10 October – Spirit Week
- 10 October – End of 1st Quarter
- 11 October – HOCO!
- 13-14 October – Teacher Work Day and Professional Development Day (no school for students)
- 16 October – Family Conference Night 4:30-7:00
- 18 October – Craft Vendor/WAHS Cheer Fundraiser
- 21 October – PSAT (10th and 11th)
- 22 October – Family Conference Night 4:30-7:00
- 2-3 November – Teacher Work Day and Professional Development Day (no school for students)
- 19 November – School Picture Make Up Day
- 26-28 November – Thanksgiving Break
- 7 December – Winter Band Concert
- 18 December – End of 1st Semester
Use Your Brain for Fun (&$)!
Photo by Joe Ciciarelli on Unsplash
Humanities & Social SciencesWant to be a Senate Page in the General Assembly? Get your application in by 17 October. We've had folks get in this program before!
California Freethought Day invites students in middle school through high school to submit a piece of writing in response to a prompt. Awards vary. Get your limerick in by 31 August or your speech or video by 10 September If you are a woman identifying person who wants to start your own business, consider applying for the Be the Change Scholarship. Apply by 15 September. Just Poetry is taking submissions for their fall issue until 30 September. Submit your work today. Student work will be eligible for up to $500 in scholarship money! The Junior Science and Humanities Symposium invites you to present your original research and work in these fields. The registration will open this fall. |
Photo by ThisisEngineering on Unsplash
STEMJoin the Presidential AI Challenge! Do you have a plan for how AI could solve a community issue? Then you have a project!
NASA invites you to their Student Launch Challenge. This is a 9 month challenge for those interested in aerospace engineering! Interested in a career in engineering? The Virginia Space Grant Consortium offers a number of free (my favorite price!) programs for students interested in STEM. There is programming for students in 6th-12th grades. The high school programs come with a week at NASA's Wallops Island for top performing students. Applications open tomorrow! Programmers, get your plans in place for the Congressional App Challenge. WAHS has had a winner in the past so we can definitely do it again! Check the contest out! The Junior Science and Humanities Symposium invites you to present your original research and work in these fields. The registration will open this fall. |
Visual and Performing ArtsAre you a filmmaker passionate about free speech? The Youth Free Expression Film Contest is taking submissions until 8 September. This year's topic is Free Speech.
California Freethought Day invites students in middle school through high school to submit a video in response to a prompt. Awards vary. Get your speech or limerick in by 10 September The Naval and Maritime Photography Contest invites amateur photographers to submit their work for consideration by 30 September. Prizes are up to $500 Young Arts recognizes talented students in the visual, literary and performing arts. Submit your application by 8 October. The Jack Kent Cook Scholarship awards artists up to $10,000 for college. It's open to people 8-18 so get your fall app in! It's due by 15 November |
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Self Care:
link to good sleep hygiene: https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-hygiene
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Scholarships
Start Here:
JLV College Counseling Or Schools with Full Ride Merit Scholarships The Gates Scholarship is a scholarship for people of color who are Pell Grant eligible. It is a scholarship that makes sure that all of your expenses for higher education are covered (award amount will vary depending on school chosen). Apply by 15 September. Questbridge is a program that connects outstanding students with financial need to colleges. It is a full tuition scholarship program. Apply by 30 September Coca Cola offers a $20,000 scholarship to students with financial need. Apply by 30 September. Dr. Pepper has a scholarship sweepstakes worth up to $10,000. Golden Doors is a scholarship program for students who are DACA eligible or undocumented. They partner with 21 different schools. There is career counseling, mentorship, and more. Apply by 1 October. Young Arts recognizes talented students in the visual, literary and performing arts. Submit your application by 8 October. The Jack Kent Cook Scholarship awards artists up to $10,000 for college. It's open to people 8-18 so get your fall app in! It's due by 15 November Do Good Things for PeopleAlbemarle Families Helping Families has a virtual option for folks who want to work with them on fundraising.
Neighbor to Neighbor helps seniors and folks with disabilities socialize and get support. All you need is a phone and some compassion! Do you believe in sustainability? Twice is Nice is a resale boutique whose proceeds support seniors in our area. And the thrifting is also great! Caring for Creatures is looking for volunteers to help out with all their rescue animals. Check out their options. |
"The Best School" and "The Best School for You" should be one and the same. You're not buying a pair of shoes. You're going to school for four years. Just because it's a good brand name, doesn't mean it fits you or that you're comfortable there.
College Corner
Christopher Newport
Start the year off right!
Did you forget to do this over the summer? No worries! Do it now!
Make a Common App Account: Most schools use Common App and one of the things to do is make your account and fill out the demographic information. This usually requires input from adults in the home, but it's something to get out of the way before you begin the other parts. Common App has been revamped this year so if you did do this in the spring and then you come back and look at it and it's completely different it's ok. Everything is still there, I promise!
Visit or decide on colleges you want to apply to: If you can’t visit, look online. Check out the pics (Do the people look like your people? Do you like the campus? Are students doing things you’re interested in doing?). Read the mission statement and the school’s values. Are they the same as yours? Is the school strong in the areas you are strong in (STEM, Arts, Social Sciences, Humanities)? Is the school going to challenge you without affecting your mental health?
Create a High School Resume: Include the in and out of school activities you spend time on. This is where your sports, jobs, clubs, community service, internships and summer programming should go. Be sure to include any honors you might have received (honors societies, college scholar from College Board, academic awards, entrance to Gov School, etc.). Did an Independent Study? Add that. Journalism, Yearbook, Arts, etc all go on it. Use this guide to help: Thursday Round Up
Decide about testing: Are you going test optional? Do you want to try the ACT? Plans for the SAT again? Decide what is best for you and how to go about it. If your verbal is 100 points or higher than your quantitative score, consider the ACT. It has a reading section, a writing section, a math section, and a science section. Quantitative is really only 1/4 of the test and may be better for some folks.
Early Decision/Early Action: Are you planning to apply to a school early? ED is binding (but if finances really won’t work out, you can wiggle out of it) and EA is not. Sometimes the acceptance rates are much higher so if you know you love a school, can afford it, and want to do it, apply early. If your grades this year have not been amazing and you think you’ll have a better chance of getting into a school because of mid year senior grades, don’t apply early.
Think about essay topics: But don’t write the essay. I know a lot of English teachers end the year with this essay. But you tend to write it when you are pretty burnt out from the school year and I’ve only had one student ever use that one for their college essay. Most folks grow a lot during this summer and come into the year with a different perspective. That is what often makes for better essays. And most of you will write another one for your English class next year as well. This essay takes time and it takes reflection, something we’re all pretty short on in the spring. And, I am also a believer that you should skip the essay prompts all together any way. Your college essay should be the best essay you can write. It will fit a prompt. That said, it’s never a bad idea to read some essays though. If you want to do that, check out the collection of essays I have online.
Have fun! Really, this is an important summer so don’t spend the whole time on this. Remember that you will have opportunities to change your mind, investigate more, or do any of these steps during the school year as well.
Make a Common App Account: Most schools use Common App and one of the things to do is make your account and fill out the demographic information. This usually requires input from adults in the home, but it's something to get out of the way before you begin the other parts. Common App has been revamped this year so if you did do this in the spring and then you come back and look at it and it's completely different it's ok. Everything is still there, I promise!
Visit or decide on colleges you want to apply to: If you can’t visit, look online. Check out the pics (Do the people look like your people? Do you like the campus? Are students doing things you’re interested in doing?). Read the mission statement and the school’s values. Are they the same as yours? Is the school strong in the areas you are strong in (STEM, Arts, Social Sciences, Humanities)? Is the school going to challenge you without affecting your mental health?
Create a High School Resume: Include the in and out of school activities you spend time on. This is where your sports, jobs, clubs, community service, internships and summer programming should go. Be sure to include any honors you might have received (honors societies, college scholar from College Board, academic awards, entrance to Gov School, etc.). Did an Independent Study? Add that. Journalism, Yearbook, Arts, etc all go on it. Use this guide to help: Thursday Round Up
Decide about testing: Are you going test optional? Do you want to try the ACT? Plans for the SAT again? Decide what is best for you and how to go about it. If your verbal is 100 points or higher than your quantitative score, consider the ACT. It has a reading section, a writing section, a math section, and a science section. Quantitative is really only 1/4 of the test and may be better for some folks.
Early Decision/Early Action: Are you planning to apply to a school early? ED is binding (but if finances really won’t work out, you can wiggle out of it) and EA is not. Sometimes the acceptance rates are much higher so if you know you love a school, can afford it, and want to do it, apply early. If your grades this year have not been amazing and you think you’ll have a better chance of getting into a school because of mid year senior grades, don’t apply early.
Think about essay topics: But don’t write the essay. I know a lot of English teachers end the year with this essay. But you tend to write it when you are pretty burnt out from the school year and I’ve only had one student ever use that one for their college essay. Most folks grow a lot during this summer and come into the year with a different perspective. That is what often makes for better essays. And most of you will write another one for your English class next year as well. This essay takes time and it takes reflection, something we’re all pretty short on in the spring. And, I am also a believer that you should skip the essay prompts all together any way. Your college essay should be the best essay you can write. It will fit a prompt. That said, it’s never a bad idea to read some essays though. If you want to do that, check out the collection of essays I have online.
Have fun! Really, this is an important summer so don’t spend the whole time on this. Remember that you will have opportunities to change your mind, investigate more, or do any of these steps during the school year as well.
On the Town
- The Soul of Cville is going on now!
- Adrian Duke is at the Offbeat Roadhouse tomorrow
- Friday is Best in Black Cville 2025: A Night of Black Excellence
- Get ready for Thinkin' Out Loud's Rhythm and Rhyme Sweet 16 Slam Competition on Saturday
- Saturday Charlie Shea is performing
- Take a tour of the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center on Saturday
- Saturday is the Reunion of Monroe and Lafayette
- A. Lee Edwards is performing at Batesville Market on Saturday
- Saturday is a great day for Putting Up the Summer Harvest: Canning and Storing
- Get your lightsabers ready because Saturday is Saber Light Summer Open
- Sunday don't miss Star Wars Episode V at the Paramount
- An Lar, a traditional Irish band, performs Sunday
- Tuesday Violet Crown is host to A Savage Art: The Life and Cartoons of Patrick Oliphant
- Wednesday you can hear Thomas Gunn
