SIUSLAW NEWS SCHOOL NEWSLETTER ❚ NOVEMBER 2015
SCHOOL
ZONE
A Monthly Newsletter for the Siuslaw and Mapleton Schools and Florence Community PTA
Siuslaw ‘aspires’
to create
opportunities
T a k i n g t h e
p l u n g e
As a part of Siuslaw Middle School’s
eighth grade curriculum, approximately
25 students participate in the
ASPIRE/Health class taught by Mrs.
Wells each quarter.
Through this class, students learn how
to make informed healthy choices as
guided by the Oregon Department of
Education’s Eighth Grade Health
Standards.
But, Siuslaw Middle School takes it
one step further by encouraging students
to look toward their futures. This is
where the ASPIRE part of the class fits
in.
ASPIRE is a mentoring program
designed to help students develop edu-
cational goals beyond high school.
One focus of this class allows stu-
dents to research possible career choices
and the paths they need to take to get
there.
Students took a survey which ranks
potential career choices based on their
current interests, complete a “Reality
Check” to see just how much money
they will need to make to maintain the
lifestyle they want to live “when they
grow up” and discover which classes
they need to take in high school to put
them on the right track.
During the first quarter, Ms. Girard,
SMS Counselor, advised students on
what to expect in high school, the
importance of a grade point average
(GPA) and how to calculate it, and vari-
ous options for after high school .
Girard discussed with the students the
ins and outs of technical schools, 2-year
colleges, 4-year colleges and universi-
ties and the military.
In addition, she brought up financial
aid options available for students,
including a new bill passed by the
Oregon legislature instituting free com-
munity college tuition.
While many students may not yet
know what they want to do when they
grow up, it is important for them to start
thinking about their future now.
In the spring, students will begin
making decisions about high school
classes which will affect future opportu-
nities.
See
ASPIRE page 3
Financial aid
night welcomes
area 12th graders
Siuslaw High School (SHS) ASPIRE is
holding a Financial Aid Night on Monday,
Dec. 14, at 6:30 p.m. in the SHS library.
The event will be open to all area high
school seniors and their parents, including
students who are homeschooled or from
Mapleton High School.
Lane Community College will provide
current updates on filing for federal and
state funds and the Oregon Promise.
Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA) is the key to opening finan-
cial aid opportunities at any qualifying
post-secondary program, from certificates
to degrees.
The FAFSA offers the PELL Grant,
worth $5,750, as well as others such as the
Oregon Opportunities Grant, worth
$2,100, and manages student loans.
The Office of Student Access and
Completion (OSAC) application makes
available over 400 scholarships including
the Ford Foundation, which pays 90 per-
cent of students’ college costs.
OSAC also manages Oregon Promise,
where students with a grade point average
of 2.5 or better who attend community col-
leges within 6 six months of graduation
get help with their tuition.
At the event, find out additional infor-
mation and sample food prepared by the
SHS culinary arts’ catering program.
—Submitted by Bou Kilgore
CYAN MAGENTA YELLoW BLACK
Eighth-graders plan for
future, tour U of O campus
SHS ‘Team USA’ competes in fundraiser
at Seaside leadership conference
COURTESY PHOTO
Mrs. Ellis and the SHS Student Leadership team Taylor Coolige, Tyler Williams, Evan Johnson, Caleb Parades, Claire Waggoner, Elyssa
Rose and Holly Hicks get ready to enter the Seaside Polar Plunge for Special Olympics earlier in November.
S
iuslaw High School’s
(SHS) Student Leader-
ship Team participated
in a Polar Plunge for Special
Olympics during a two-day
conference on Nov. 8 and 9.
Student members of the leadership class
traveled to Seaside for with Mrs. Ellis for
the Oregon Associated Student Council
(OASC) Fall Conference.
Students were able to hear inspirational
speakers, interact and vote for student state
positions and attend workshops to learn
about new ideas and projects to apply to
their school.
Before leaving Florence, the students
raised money in order to participate in the
Polar Plunge, a fundraiser for Special
Olympics.
The Polar Plunge was a dawn obstacle
course set up on the beach in Seaside, which
included building a sand castle, running
through cones and jumping into a pool.
The obstacles were “easy ... but you’ll
still have to do them in the freezing cold, so
it will be challenging,” the OASC said on its
website. “This will be a fun and exciting
event to participate in and it’s for a great
cause.”
Each participant had to raise a minimum
of $25 for the “privilege” of participating in
the plunge.
All proceeds went to support Unified
Sports and other Special Olympics pro-
grams in Oregon schools, focusing on pro-
grams that create more accepting school
communities and provide sports and leader-
ship opportunities for all students.
Each team was asked to have a team cos-
tume or to coordinate. Siuslaw went for the
“Team USA” look.
Regarding fundraising, Elyssa Rose was
the top individual for the conference.
Siuslaw also was the top team for
fundraising, which means that the Siuslaw
“Team USA” won two out of three OASC
school pride prizes.
Students had a blast at the conference, and
are excited to bring back fresh ideas into the
school and to apply them for the communi-
ty as well.
—Submitted by Claire Waggoner
AVID All-Stars earn field trip
COURTESY PHOTO
Mapleton School District announced that it has 41 First Semester AVID All-Stars. These students earned a special field trip to the
Oregon Coast Aquarium on Friday, Nov. 13. In order to get to go on the trip, students had to be in attendance at least 95 per-
cent of school days, not be tardy more than two times, turn in their homework and folder and get their binders signed every
night. “This is a big accomplishment,” said teacher Carrie McNeill. “We are hopeful that more of our students will meet the AVID
expectations and be able to go on the next trip.”