Course Selection for 2016-2017

Pretty soon, your student will start the process of selecting courses for next year. Teachers are starting their course recommendations soon, so I wanted to give you some information to help your student to navigate this process effectively. Remember the Power of 15? (Check my post from September 18 for a refresher.) We want your student to leave here with 15 college credits, so part of the course selection process should be to determine a path that will get your student into a dual credit or AP course in specific subject areas before he/she graduates.

Here are some things you can be doing right now to help your student with the course selection process:

• Start the conversation with your student about course preferences for next year. For every course, find out why they are interested. There should be a purpose behind every decision.
• Look at the Curriculum Guide under the Academics tab on our school website to see the common next steps in a sequence, as in the chart below, select the one that best fits your student’s interests and abilities. Are there multiple levels of the same course? See if your student is interested in moving up a level to be appropriately challenged.

• Start the dialogue with your student’s teachers. Or better yet, have your student reach out to them. Ask them which course best suits their interests and abilities. If the teacher doesn’t mention the course your student is interested in taking, ask about that course specifically. Teachers can only base their recommendations on the concrete information they possess about a student, including grades and skill levels. Some wildcards in this discussion include your student’s areas of interest, career aspirations, and motivation. Being proactive about the courses your student wants to take will make it easier for the teachers to make their recommendations.

Harper’s Promise

The deadline for freshman students to apply for Harper’s Promise is December 15. I’ve included this information in my blog before, but I want to include just one more push.

So far, just over 100 freshmen have applied for the opportunity to go to Harper at NO COST. If I had to guess, the 550 students who haven’t filled out an application yet see themselves leaving Fremd and going directly to a four-year university. Without question, graduating from a four-year institution should be the goal. In that case, please consider applying for Harper’s Promise as insurance. Insurance exists to protect you in case life doesn’t turn out the way you envisioned. Four years is both a short AND a long time. A lot happens in that amount of time. Don’t believe me? Look back at how much your freshman student has changed since 5th grade. It wasn’t that long ago, was it?

The best part about this insurance? It’s free to you! The application can be filled out in five minutes. You have nothing to lose, and a free education to gain. Copies of the application are available in our Student Services Office, or you can access the application here.

Holiday Craft Fair

Looking for unique gifts? Be sure to stop by our Fremd Viking Boosters Annual Holiday Craft Fair on Saturday, December 12 from 9am-4pm. Over 250 crafters offer handmade items, seasonal decor, stocking stuffers, sweet treats, gourmet food, pet items, art, jewelry, and more. Concessions are available all day. The Viking Spirit Shop will be open. Free admission. Proceeds directly benefit our students.

Highlights and Successes:

• Congratulations to Coaches Martin Zacharia, Mike Bruce (Congressional Debate) and Jackie Dickens (Lincoln-Douglas & Public Forum Debate) and the Fremd Debate team on their success at the CoIllinois Congressional Debate Association Tournament. The following students won awards:  Congressional Debate, Varsity Division: Nabeela Syed, 2nd Overall Tournament Speaker and 1st Place Chamber Award;  Congressional Debate, Novice Division:  Shreya Mukherjee, 1st Place Chamber Award; Hari Krishna Yagatili, 2nd Place Chamber Award; Ananth Sriram, Best Presiding Officer; Hari Krishna Yagatili, Best Presiding Officer; and Srihari Prakash, Best Presiding Officer.
• Congratulations to Nabella Syed on making it to the Semifinal Congress of the annual Glenbrooks National Debate Tournament, which drew competitiors from 35 states.
• Congratulations to swimmer Grace Grzybek on medaling at State in the 100 Back and finishing 12th this year. Grace was also Honorable Mention All State.
• Congratulations to the 400 free relay Team on taking 14th place at State and the Medley Relay Team on taking 17th place.
• Congratulations to Coach Bob Widlowski and the Boys Basketball Team on winning 2nd place at the Mundelein Thanksgiving Tournament. Patrick Benka and Kyle Sliwa took All- Tournament.
• Congratulations to the this week’s Viking Pride recipients:  Melissa Adrian, Sarah Akutsu, Evelyn Ayala, Jeffrey Bellino, Lauren Berryhill, Adam Cajandig, Nicolas Flowers, Caleb Franceschi, Takehiro Handa, Gabriella Iaccino, Mariana Kanellos, Adam Kemp, Andy Kraft, Amelia Marshall, Noemi Mena, Eden Schultz,Nick Seroni, Peter Seyring, Joe Unger and Jason Yim.
• The Harper Area High School Art Show Reception was last night.  Fremd Award Winners are: in 2D- 1st Annie Cha, 2nd Lauren Gregory, 3rd Stephanie Dodgen, Honorable Mentions:  Jade Danford-Klein, Liz Han, Linqui Kong. 3D-1st Phoebe Fu, 2nd & 3rd Emma Aftelak, Honorable Mentions: Hillery Benjamin, Sonia De LaTorre, Mia Algrim  and the Harper Facuty Award Winner (Best in Show 2D) Lauren Gregory.

Upcoming Home Activities and Varsity Events

December 4	Boys Basketball vs. PHS - 6:00 p.m. Girls Basketball vs. PHS - 7:30 p.m. Wrestling @ PHS - 6:00 p.m. Variety Show - 7;00 p.m. Auditorium
December 5	Freshman Placement Testing - 7:00 - 10:30 a.m. Girls Bowling @ Arlington Lanes - 9:00 a.m. Wrestling Triangular @ FHS - 9:00 a.m. Girls Basketball Shootout @ FHS - 10:00 a.m. Boys Basketball @ Elk Grove H.S. - 6:00 p.m. Variety Show - 7:00 p.m. Auditorium
December 6	Competitive Cheer Competition @ Crystal lake Central H.S. - 9:00 a.m.
December 7	Girls Bowling @ Arlington Lanes - 4:30 p.m.
December 8	Late Start - classes start 8:50 a.m. Scholastic Bowl Tournament @ FHS -3:00 p.m. Girls Gymnastics @ Conant H.S. - 6:00 p.m. Winter Choir Concert - 7:00 p.m. Auditorium
December 9	Girls Bowling @ Arlington Lanes - 4:30 p.m. PLTW Information Meeting - 7:00 p.m. Student Cafeteria
December 10	Winter Orchestra Concert - 7:00 p.m. Auditorium Boys Basketball @ Hoffman Estates H.S.

For a more complete list, please visit our Athletics Page.

Staff Spotlight

Mr. Baima is Director for V-Show this weekend.

Name: John Baima

Position: College Counselor

Years at Fremd: 16

Life Before Fremd: Worked at several schools in three different states and in CPS.  Also worked as a counselor at a YMCA on the north shore of Oahu.

Hobbies/Interests: Hanging out with my family and traveling.

Insider Tip for Parents: Have your child fill out his/her own college applications!!!  There is nothing wrong with assisting and advising, but this is an important life lesson for students who are beginning to take the next step toward independence.

Ask the Principal

Are you curious about something at Fremd but have never asked? Email me at ktenopir@d211.org. If your question is pertinent to a wider audience, I will include it in the next blog post.