Our first official FULL week at school with our students and staff is complete! Our students have already begun a dive deep into their coursework, began conversations and goal setting with their advisors, started numerous outreach opportunities, and participated in our first "Green Day" of the year on Wednesday!

Who uses assignment notebooks? EVERYONE in HS^2!

While some students have utilized planners or calendars in the past, the majority has gotten away from writing down assignments and don't have a good system for keeping track of their daily work!

Therefore, HS^2 is bringing back assignment notebooks for all students! We are hopeful that by starting this habit early on in the school year, the students will be able to work on better managing their time and prioritizing their work load all year long!

You should be able to ask your student(s) at any time to see their assignment notebook for a detailed list of things they need to do each day!

We are excited to welcome students and families to meet in person on September 22nd and 27th to establish a parent-student-advisor relationship and communication loop through our student-led conferences! You should have received an email on how to set up a conference with your student’s advisor. If you did not receive an email, or if the times/days do not work for you, please contact your student’s advisor through the “staff contact” link found at the bottom of this newsletter.

Wait...I thought there were only Blue and Gold Days? What are Green Days? Green Days are a feature of HS^2 that helps students continue working on content, catch up on late work, get ahead in their classes, or explore other opportunities. Every Wednesday is a Green Day in HS^2, and students enroll for their Green Day classes at the beginning of each week using a Google form that is sent out during advisory. The classes each student chooses are only for that specific Green Day, and may change the following week.

While students are still required to attend their Legacy classes on Green Days (following the campus blue/gold schedule), many HS^2 teachers do not require a student to take particular classes that day, or will offer flexibility of which block they sign up for. When a class is not meeting, students have agency to still sign up for extra course work time, sign up for extra time in a class that wouldn't normally meet on that particular day, or sign up for unique classes such as Outdoor Games, Courtyard Clean-up and Salad Time, Scholarship Writing, and Reading Room.

Every Friday, the HS^2 students will be sending emails home to guardians and advisors regarding progress. These emails should prompt more in-depth conversations between students and guardians, with a focus on celebrating successes and making plans for growth. If you haven't already received an email from your student, you will be receiving one today and should continue to do so throughout the year! A broken down view of the body of the email is shown here:

What do you like about HS^2?

I like the flexibility and the many outreach opportunities that HS^2 has provided me. The HS^2 Staff is also awesome! They have provided me with so much academic guidance over the years.

What has been your favorite outreach experience?

My favorite outreach experience has been CNA. I was able to get my Nursing Assistant Certification and got the opportunity to work throughout the school year while also gaining workplace experience credits.

What is your favorite class/subject?

So far, my favorite class has been AP Human Geography and AP Psychology. Additionally, I have really enjoyed all the science classes that have been offered.

What do you want to do after high school?

I’m planning on attending a 4-year university, most likely majoring in one of the sciences. I am also considering going into the Healthcare Field.

Congratulations to Owen E. for being honored as a Semi-Finalists by the National Merit Scholarship Program!

Approximately 16,000 students NATIONWIDE, or roughly one-third of the 50,000 high scorers qualify as Semifinalists. To ensure that all parts of the United States are included in this academically talented pool, Semifinalists are designated on a state-by-state basis. Semifinalists represent the highest scoring entrants in each state.

To be considered for a National Merit Scholarship, Semifinalists must advance to Finalist standing by meeting additional rigorous academic standards.

Congratulations and GOOD LUCK Owen!!!

In this issue of HS^2 Counseling News, you will find information about:

• Mental Health Updates
• Post High School Planning Checklist
• PSAT Information and Registration
• College Application Tips
• ... and more