High School Families:
I hope everyone is enjoying the cooler weather. The change in temperatures has greatly improved the conditions for getting outside and watching some of our fall activities. It has been exciting to see our students competing, performing, and representing Lake Hamilton High School throughout the fall season.
Beginning next week, our 10th-grade students will begin ATLAS interim testing. Testing will take place October 6, 7, 8, and 9. Students will test in the following areas:
October 6: Geometry
October 7: Biology
October 8: Reading
October 9: Writing
These interim assessments give our teachers and students valuable information about where students are in their learning and where additional support may be needed as we continue through the school year.
We will also be offering ACT WorkKeys testing to our senior class on October 6, 7, and 8, with October 9 reserved for make-up testing for students who need it.
These assessments measure essential workplace skills and can help students demonstrate their readiness for college, career, and future employment. One message we have been sharing with our seniors is that Garland County is an ACT Work Ready Community. For students who plan to enter the workforce directly after high school, earning a WorkKeys credential can be an important way to demonstrate their workplace skills and help connect them with employment opportunities.
Students who earn a Gold or Platinum WorkKeys Certificate may also meet one of the criteria for recognition as an Honors Graduate. We encourage all seniors to take this opportunity seriously and do their best!
Parent-Teacher Conferences - October 13 & 15 - 3:40-6:40 each night.
Our first Parent-Teacher Conferences of the year will be held on October 13 and October 15. Our teachers will be in their classrooms and look forward to visiting with parents about their child's progress, successes, and areas where additional support may be needed.
We will also have several important opportunities available for parents during both conference nights.
On October 13, we will have an advisor from National Park College (NPC) available to assist families with completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA is an important step for seniors and their families, as it is required to receive many forms of state-sponsored financial aid and scholarships. The FAFSA became available last week for this year's senior class. If you need assistance completing the application, please take advantage of this opportunity.
Another important process for our seniors is the Scholarship Application Management System (SAMS). SAMS goes live on October 1 and is where students will accept scholarship funds they plan to use at a college or trade school. We encourage our seniors and their families to make sure they understand this process and complete any necessary steps.
Access to Acceleration Scholarship — A2A
On both October 13 and October 15, we will provide an overview of the Access to Acceleration Scholarship (A2A) for parents of current 10th and 11th grade students. Both nights, the session will start at 5:00 in the high school auditorium.
A2A is a scholarship program that provides opportunities for current high school students to take concurrent-credit courses. This information is especially important as families begin discussing course selections and planning for the 2027–28 school year.
The same information will be presented on both nights, so families only need to attend one session.
With the first semester now about halfway complete, it is exciting to begin looking ahead to where our students are headed in the spring. There are many opportunities ahead for our students, and we want to make sure our families have the information and resources they need to help their students take advantage of them.
As always, please reach out if I can be of any help. It is a privilege to work with your students and families, and I appreciate your continued partnership with Lake Hamilton High School.
Clint Jones
LHHS Principal
clint.jones@lhwolves.net