Dear Shabazz Community,

I hope you and your family had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I can't believe we are already heading into December.

We have an incredibly busy three weeks ahead of us, both before Winter Break and into January, with many updates and changes to our calendar. Please know that when we make significant changes to our calendar we have the support of students at the very center. We know that this is a difficult time of year and the additive stress of the pandemic only adds to stress and frustration. By intentionally making some of these shifts we hope to assist students to ensure they all get what they need to finish quarter two (Semester 1) strong.

Please be mindful that we will end class instruction on Tuesday, January 12. The days that follow, or that you see indicated, are Student Support Days. These are very important days in which students can have a one-on-one with their teachers in order to receive the direct support that they may need to successfully finish the quarter/semester.

Please note that it is the student's responsibility to sign up (can be multiple times) to work directly with their teacher. If you could, please assist with this support and check in with your student to ensure they sign up with their teacher and get what is needed. Thank you!
 
Mary Jankovich
Principal
Handy Quick Links and Monthly Calendar
DECEMBER/JANUARY CALENDAR

December 9
Student Support Day
NO REGULAR CLASSES

December 11
Semester 2 course offerings will be available on the Shabazz website 
See info below under Student Support

December 21 - January 3
NO SCHOOL
Winter Break

January 11
Altered schedule: Per 1,2,3

January 12
Altered schedule: Per 4,5,6

January 13
Teacher Prep for Student Support Days
NO REGULAR CLASSES

January 14, 15, 19, 20, 21
Student Support Days
NO REGULAR CLASSES

January 18
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
NO SCHOOL

January 22
End of Q2 and End of Semester 1
NO SCHOOL
Calendar Highlights
Student Support Days
Student Support Days are very important days in which students can have a one-on-one meeting with their teachers in order to receive the direct support that they need to finish the quarter/semester strong.

On these days, there will be no regular virtual classes.

Student Support Days are:

December 9
January 14, 15
January 19, 20, 21

Please note that it is the student's responsibility to sign up (can be multiple times) to work directly with their teacher. Parents and guardians, please assist with this support and check in with your student to ensure they sign up with their teacher and get what is needed. Thank you!
OUR SHABAZZ COMMUNITY
Art Classes, Brian's Jokes, Hannah, Gil's Popcorn: Our Students Are Thankful for Shabazz

Denise's Mind Body and Soul class created this jamboard to celebrate all that they are thankful for about Shabazz. Click below to view!
Shabazz Celebration Team Gives Every Student Recognition for Quarter 1 Growth

At the end of Quarter 1 the Shabazz Celebration Team honored every student with a hand-written note mailed to their home. Shabazz staff chose one of the five aspects of the graduate vision that exemplified the growth each student displayed during the quarter. These attributes, taking personal responsibility, positive risk taking, being a creative and critical thinker, being an effective communicator, and being a contributing and positive community member are the core of a Shabazz graduate. We believe in every one of our Shabazz students and appreciate their endurance during this virtual learning experience. 
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Seniors - Post High School Action Plan

Just a reminder that all MMSD seniors have been asked to complete a Post High School Action Plan this year. This document is a place where students will be able to document, reflect on and get support around their plans for next year. 

Seniors, please remember to share your plan with your Virtual Learning Coach and your family! Watch for upcoming information around small group sessions that will be offered to support you in completing your plan!

Questions? Reach out to Elizabeth Long, Shabazz School Counselor (emlong@madison.k12.wi.us)
Shabazz Taking Applications for Semester 2

If you know of someone who might be interested in attending Shabazz next semester please share this link or forward this newsletter to them with a note about how wonderful Shabazz is! The window to apply will remain open until December 17. Thank you!
STUDENT SUPPORT
Semester 2 Course Selection Process

It’s almost time to begin choosing courses for the second semester of this year! The semester 2 course selection process will be a little bit different this year and students will be working directly with their Virtual Learning Coach to support them through the process. 

Meeting with the Virtual Learning Coach will be essential in supporting students to choose courses that move them along a path toward graduation. If you’re unsure who your Virtual Learning Coach is, please look at your schedule in IC. Under the HR period, your Coach will be listed.

Step 1: Review course offerings

Step 2: Students meet with Virtual Learning Coach 
Monday, Dec. 14 - Friday, Dec. 18
Purpose of meeting:
Review transcript and make initial selections for Semester 2 courses

Step 3: Complete semester 2 course selection google form
Monday, Dec. 14 - course selection form emailed to all students & families
Students/families complete course selection form choosing semester 2 courses
Course selection form due January 6, 2021

Step 4: Student Schedules Finalized 
Tuesday, January 19, 2021 - schedules available in Infinite Campus
 Students review semester 2 schedule

Step 5: Semester 2 (Q3 & Q4) course change requests
Tuesday, January 19 through Friday, January 22
This is the only opportunity to request changes to semester 2 schedules
A note from Susan Kaye: Support for Parents and Guardians of Struggling Teens

The Washington Post article, "Parenting a struggling teenager is devastatingly lonely. It doesn't have to be", by Kathi Valeii, was recently shared with me by a parent of one of our students. I have been working with families for almost three decades, and one of the things that I'm painfully aware of is how much isolation parents experience when their child isn't doing well. Often the experience is one of self-blame, fear of, or actual judgement by others, and helplessness about how to do anything to make a difference. Continue reading >>>

The author talks about breaking this isolation and silence.  We encourage parents to let us know if they would like to participate in a monthly parent meeting that could be used for this purpose. Contact Susan Kaye at skaye@madison.k12.wi.us if you would be interested in participating.
Student Support Staff Contact Information

Our full-time Student Support Staff are available to our students and families Mondays through Fridays from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. Click here for more information

Julie Evert, PST/Special Education Dept. Head

Aaron Geiger, School Psychologist

Susan Kaye, School Social Worker

Morgan Lange, School Nurse

Michelle Leh Rameker

Elizabeth Long, School Counselor

Conversations with Student Services staff members are confidential; however, there are some exceptions if the situation involves risk of harm to the student or someone else.
POSTSCRIPT
ZZZZZZ . . . How Crawford Spent His Thanksgiving Break
Shabazz City High School
1601 Sherman Avenue
Madison WI 53704

608-204-2440