October 2015
Volume 2 Issue 2
ATHENS DRIVE HIGH SCHOOL
COUNSELOR CORNER
1420 Athens Drive
Raleigh, NC
athensdrivehs.wcpss.net/
Important Dates
10/06 Parent Workshop
6:00 PM
10/14 PSAT
10/16 Early Release/PLAN
Parent Workshop
10/23 Quarter Ends
10/26 Teacher Workday
The transition through high and beyond is different for every child. When we talk about
“transition,” we’re referring to the process of preparing your teenage child to be collegeand career-ready through high school and beyond. The Student Service Department is sponsoring a Parent Workshop. This interactive workshop is designed for parents to learn more
about how to help your teen plan for the future and become an effective self-advocate. This
workshop would benefit parents with students from all grade levels. It is never too early to
start planning.
10/30 Report Cards
11/11 Holiday
11/25-11/29 Fall Break
Guest Speakers will include:
Inside this issue:
Anthony Garnes, Wake Tech. Community College Outreach Officer
1
Tori Sharpe, Financial Aide Advisor
Parent Workshop
PSAT/NMSQT
Elizabeth Hunter, NCSU Office of Admission
PLAN
2
Sgt Kyle Kovalenko, US Army
PSAT
Wayne Bragg, Career Development Coordinator.
Ne Grading Scale
3
Sarita Broadway, CFNC Senior Regional Representative
Anti-Bullying Month
4-5
Alyssa De Santis , ECU Office of Admission
Cyber-Bullying
6-7
Grace Suggs, Meredith College Office of Admission
Character Education
8
Nicole I. Kuhns, Appalachian State University Office of Admissions
Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2015
Time: 6:00– 7:30 PM
Place: ADHS Auditorium
We look forward to seeing you at he meeting.
Page 2
ATHENS DRIVE HIGH SCHOOL
All 10th graders will be taking the PLAN on
October 16, 2015. PLAN is an educational assessment students usually
take in tenth grade. It includes four multiple-choice tests; English,
Math, Reading, and Science. Taking ACT Plan as a 10th grader is a
great way to prepare for the ACT Test. The PLAN test measures academic progress in high school and is designed to improve students’
preparation for education, training, and work after high school while
they still have time to adjust their high school courses. All 10th graders
will assigned a testing area to take the test. To find out information
about the PLAN please visit www.act.org/planstudent.
The PSAT is a nationwide, multiple-choice test taken by about 3.4 million high school students
every year–mostly sophomores and juniors. A great primer for the SAT. the PSAT includes
math, critical reading and writing questions. However, with no algebra II or essay section, it is
shorter than the SAT and ACT.
The PSAT doesn't count towards your college admissions. However, it is the qualifying test for
National Merit Scholarships. That means that the highest scoring students may win scholarship money.
The PSAT will be administered at ADHS on Wednesday, October 14 2015. All 10th graders will
be taking the PSAT and will be automatically registered for the test. To learn more information about the PSAT visit
www.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt/
Page 3
Volume 2 Issue 2
New Grading Scale
In January 2015, the North Carolina State Board of Education approved a standard 10-point grading
scale to begin with the 2015-16 school year for all students in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12. This scale will
be applied for coursework beginning with the 2015-16 school year; grades from prior years will not be
altered to fit the new scale.
Local school districts are required to follow the new scale at the high school level (grades 9-12). Under
the new scale, grades and grade point average calculations (high school only) will be applied as follows:
A: 90-100 = 4.0
B: 80-89 = 3.0
C: 70-79 = 2.0
D: 60-69 = 1.0
F: < 59 = 0.0
These grades will be reported on the transcript as numeric grades, rather than letter grades as have
been reported in prior years.
In addition to the grade scale change, new standards for quality points will take effect for students entering high school for the first time in the 2015-16 school year and thereafter. This change will not
affect students who entered high school prior to the 2015-16 school year.
The new quality points standard will provide an additional .5 quality point to Honors courses and a 1.0
additional quality point to Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate courses, community colleges courses, or four year university or college courses taken in high school. This new standard provides the same additional quality point to all college-level coursework.
ATHENS DRIVE HIGH SCHOOL
Page 4
National Bullying Prevention Month
Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) is committed to creating a bully/harassment free environment
where all students are safe. ADHS has a zero tolerance policy for bullying and will be sponsoring events
throughout the month of October to bring awareness to this issue. Below is some important information
about bullying.
Types of Bullying
Physical bullying is any unwanted physical contact between the bully and the victim. This is one of the most
easily identifiable forms of bullying.
Examples include:
* punching
*pushing
* shoving
* school pranks * teasing
*fighting
*kicking
* Inappropriate touching * headlocks
* Use of available objects as weapons
Emotional bullying is any form of bullying that causes damage to a victim’s psyche and/or emotional wellbeing.
Examples include:
* spreading malicious rumors about people
* keeping certain people out of a "group"
* getting certain people to "gang up" on others (It also could be considered physical bullying)
* ignoring people on purpose
* the silent treatment
* harassment
* provocation
Verbal bullying is any slanderous statements or accusations that cause the victim undue emotional distress.
Examples include:
* directing foul language (profanity) at the target
* commenting negatively on someone's looks, clothes, body etc.
* tormenting
* harassment
* rumors
* personal abuse
* being laughed at
Cyber-bullying is any bullying done through the use of technology. This form of bullying can easily go undetected because of lack of parental/authoritative supervision.
Page 5
Volume 2 Issue 2
Bullying Prevention Tip Sheet (www.StopBullying.gov)
It is the priority of the Wake County Board of Education to provide every student and employee in the school system
with a safe and orderly learning and working environment.
To this end, the Board specifically prohibits harassing or bullying behavior at all levels.
All complaints of harassing or bullying behavior made by students shall be promptly and thoroughly investigated by
the principal or designee.
Violations of this policy shall be considered misconduct and will result in disciplinary action up to and including longterm suspension or expulsion in the case of students.
Warning Signs of Bullying

Comes home with damaged or missing clothing or other belongings

Reports losing items such as books, electronics, clothing, or jewelry

Has unexplained injuries

Complains frequently of headaches, stomachaches, feeling sick, trouble sleeping or has frequent bad dreams

Has changes in eating habits, are very hungry after school from not eating their lunch

Loses interest in visiting or talking with friends

Is afraid of going to school or other activities with peers, suddenly has fewer friends

Loses interest in school work or begins to do poorly in school

Appears sad, moody, angry, anxious or depressed when they come home

Feels helpless, hurts themselves, and talks about suicide

Blames themselves for their problems and often feels like they are not good enough

Avoids certain places
What Can Parents Do?

Contact a school administrator, counselor, social worker or psychologist for
help

Provide positive feedback for students demonstrating appropriate behavior

Use alternatives to physical punishment to stop bullying behavior
Page 6
ATHENS DRIVE HIGH SCHOOL
CyberbullyNOT: Stop Online Social Cruelty
Cyberbullying is being cruel to others by sending or posting harmful material using the Internet or a cell phone.
Types of Cyberbullying
Flaming – angry, rude arguments.
Harassment – repeatedly sending offensive messages.
Denigration – “dissing” someone online by spreading rumors or posting false information
Outing and trickery - disseminating intimate private information or tricking someone into disclosing private information, which is then disseminated.
Impersonation – pretending to be someone else and posting material to damage that person’s reputation.
Exclusion – intentional exclusion from an online group.
Cyberstalking – creating fear by sending offensive messages and other harmful online activities.
How, Who, and Why

Cyberbullying may occur via personal web sites, blogs, email, discussion groups, message boards, chat, instant messaging, or text/
image cell phones.

A cyberbully may be a person whom the target knows or an online stranger. A cyberbully may be anonymous and may enlist the aid of
others, including online “friends.”

Cyberbullying may be a continuation of, or in retaliation for, in-school bullying. It may be related to fights about relationships or be
based on hate or bias. Some teens think cyberbullying is entertaining – a fun game.

Teens may not be concerned about the consequences of harmful online behavior because: They think they are invisible or can take
steps to become invisible, so they think they can’t be punished. There is no tangible feedback about the harm they cause, so it seems
like a game to them. Harmful online social norms support cyberbullying: “I have a free speech right to post whatever I want, regardless of the harm I cause.
The Harm

Cyberbullying can cause great emotional harm to the target.

Online communications can be very cruel and vicious.

Cyberbullying can be happening 24/7. Damaging text and images can be widely disseminated and impossible to fully remove. Teens
are reluctant to tell adults – for fear of overreaction, restriction from online activities, and possible retaliation by the cyberbully.
There are emerging reports of youth suicide and violence related to cyberbullying.
Responsible Management of Children’s Internet Use

Parents have a moral and legal obligation to ensure their children engage in safe and responsible behavior online!

Keep the computer in a public place and supervise its use.

Find out what public online sites/communities your child uses and periodically review what your child is posting. Emphasize that these
sites/communities are public and that your child should never post personal contact information, intimate personal information, or
provocative sexually oriented material. (Your child may argue that you are invading his/her privacy. These are PUBLIC places!)

Tell your child that you will investigate his/her private online communications if you have reason to believe that he/she has engaged
in unsafe or irresponsible behavior. You can install monitoring software to do this.

Make joint Internet use management agreements with the parents of your child’s friends – addressing the time they can
spend online, approved activities, and a mutual parental agreement to monitor and report.
Page 7
Volume 2 Issue 2
Prevent Your Child from Being a Cyberbully

Make it clear that all Internet use must be in accord with family values of kindness and respect for others and any violation of this
expectation will result in monitoring of all online activities using Internet use monitoring software.

If your child is being bullied at school, work with the school to stop the bullying and make sure your child knows that he/she should
not to retaliate online.

Preventing Your Child from Becoming a Target of Cyberbullying

Frequently discuss the concerns of public disclosure of intimate personal information and the value of modesty.

Visit and discuss the values demonstrated by others in your child’s favorite online communities.

Insist that the school intervene effectively to address any in-school bullying.

Seek to “bully-proof” your child by reinforcing your child’s unique individual strengths and fostering healthy friendships with teens
you can trust to be kind.
Warning Signs that Your Child Might be the Target

Expression of sadness or anger during or after Internet use.

Withdrawal from friends and activities, school avoidance, and decline of grades, signs of depression and sadness.

Pay close attention if your child is being bullied at school or having any other difficulties with peers. These are the teens that are
most often targeted by cyberbullies.
Action Steps and Options to Respond to Cyberbullying

Save the evidence. Identify the cyberbully(s). Ask your ISP for help.

Clearly tell the cyberbully to stop.

Ignore the cyberbully by leaving the online environment and/or blocking communications.

File a complaint with the Internet or cell phone company.

Seek assistance from the school, if the cyberbully also attends the same school. (But because of free speech protections, if the cyberbullying is occurring totally off-campus, your school may only be able to provide informal assistance, not formal discipline.)

Send the cyberbully’s parents a certified letter that includes the evidence of cyberbullying. Demand that the actions stop and harmful
material be removed.

Contact an attorney to send a letter or file a lawsuit against the parents based on defamation, invasion of privacy, or intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Call the police, if the cyberbullying involves threats of violence, coercion, intimidation based on hate or bias, and any form of sexual
exploitation.
Reporting other concerns ...

If you have suspicions your child is involved with an online sexual predator, call the police. Do not talk to your child, he/she could
warn the predator.

If you see any online threats of school-related violence, call both the school and the police.

If you see any material that raises concerns a child is emotionally distressed and may be contemplating suicide, self-harm, or other
violence, contact the counselor of the school the child attends.
Nancy E. Willard, Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use Additional resources are available at http://cyberbully.org.
© 2006 CSRIU Permission granted for schools to copy and distribute.
Athens Drive High School
The Character Trait for October is RESPECT!!
Wake County defines this trait as having the
determination to do the right thing even when
others don't;
the strength to follow your conscience rather
than the crowd. Attempting difficult things that
are worthwhile. (WCPSS)
Please encourage your student/child to treat
others as they wish to be treated, it works!!
Student Services Staff
Student Services Department
1420 Athens Drive
Raleigh, NC 27606
Please visit the Student Services
Department and get to know our
wonderful staff
Phone: 919-233-4060
Fax: 919-233-4026
Teresa Brown, Dean of Students
Website:
Dr. Margaret Baber, SAP Counselor
adhs-studentservices.weebly.com/
Shernita Telfair A-D Counselor
Georganne Griffin, E-K Counselor
Donti Coats, L-R Counselor
Cheryl Hegarty, S-Z Counselor
Laurie Pappadake, Data Manager
Geraldine Watson, Registrar
Edith Gomez, Guidance Technician