Congratulations to our fall sports teams as they wrap up their league seasons.  Volleyball finished first in league completing an undefeated league season.  They now enter the first round of the State Playoffs which begin on Saturday November 3rd with a home match.  Football finished second in league with their win over Tillamook last Friday.  They will have a play-in game, at home, this Friday night.  Boys and girls soccer finish their league seasons this Tuesday.  Depending on results of those games, each has a chance to participate in the play-in games this Saturday.  Cross country finished last Thursday at the district meet held at Camp Rilea.  We had three all league runners and a successful season overall.  It has been a great fall sports season and I applaud our coaches and athletes for their efforts. 

We are looking for a few more parents to join our Parent Advisory Committee.  This committee will meet periodically throughout the year to discuss school improvement issues.  If interested please contact Mark Everett at the high school. 

This year's senior students, in addition to accumulating 24 credits in the correct content areas, will need to have met the state reading and writing standard as well as meeting the personalized learning requirement in order to graduate.  For seniors who have not yet met the reading and writing standard, they will be provided opportunities to do so on state tests as well as on in class assignments.  We have a Graduate Committee at the high school and we meet monthly to discuss seniors and their progress towards graduation in June of 2013.  Our goal, of course, is that every senior student graduates in June!

Fall has set in now in a big way.  Rain and cool temperatures are now the norm.  With this weather change we typically see student attendance drop off a bit.  I encourage students and parents to work together to insure that regular school attendance continues.  We believe that if students are in classes regularly, progress towards gradaution will continue. 

Congratulations to our volleyball, football, soccer and cross country teams as they complete their league seasons and look to the state playoffs. 

Just a reminder that conferences are this week on Thursday (5-8 PM) and Friday (8 AM-12 PM).  It is important to attend conferences in order to have an opportunity to speak face-to-face with your son or daughters teachers.  If you are unable to attend, I encourage you to contact your students teachers either via email or phone to check on progress in classes. 

We are looking for 1-2 parents who would be willing to serve on the high school Site Council.  This group, made up of parents, teachers, classified and certified staff meets once a month to address issues related to school improvement and professional development.  If interested, please contact Mr. Everett at the school. 

The weather has turned, just in the last few days, to a more typical rainy and windy pattern.  After school sporting events continue and and our fall teams are competing well in their league contests.  Bring the umbrellas and continue to support our teams through the fall!      

Homecoming 2012 is now in the books.  There was the tapping assembly, daily class competitions, dress up days, a poster and float contest a parade a dance and after school sporting events.  It all culminated in the football game on Friday night where the Homecoming Queen was selected and where the football team defeated Seaside High School.  Leadership students and the student body did a wonderful job of showing their school spirit throughout the very busy week of events. 

Congratulations to Maddison Kellas who was selected as the Homecoming Queen for 2012!!

The end of the first grading period is just over a week away.  Teachers will be completing progress report grades next Thursday.  A reminder that these grades are progress to this point in the semester and that there is still 12 weeks left in this semester. 

We will hold parent/teacher conferences on the evening of Thursday October 18th (5-8 PM) and on the morning of Friday October 19th (8 AM-12 PM).  Parents will be given a copy of their students progress report when they arrive at school for conferences.  For those who are unable to attend, we will mail them home.  If you are unable to attend please be aware that you can contact your son or daughters teachers via email or by phone.

With the emphasis on student attendance this year it is very important that parents contact the school or write a note with a specific reason for your students absence.  The more detailed the communication from home regarding absences the more efficient we can be here in the office in terms of getting it excused.  Thanks in advance for your assistance.   

Welcome to this site.  My goal is to provide current information to parents regarding Banks High School.  Doing a blog is new for me and it seems as though it may be a good way to communicate quickly and easily. 

The start to the school year has been a good one.  Within the first week of school all students were presented, in the classroom, with information regarding the revised Student Handbook.  The handbook is now arranged alphabetically to make finding information easier.  It also has some new sections in it but for the most part is similar to handbooks in the past. 

We are putting a strong emphasis on some particular areas of student conduct.  The first is in students having regular attendance.  We are checking daily on students who have unexcused absences and will be in conversation with those students and parents about this issue.  The second is in making sure that all students who are in the hallways during class time, have a hall pass.  The hall pass is the permission for students to be out of class and it is a focus for this year.  The third area is in making sure that students who have cell phones or music devices at school have them "off and put away" during the time they are in a classroom here. 

I have to commend all students on the outstanding way in which they have responded positively to these changes.  There have been some conversations about the changes, with students, but in all cases they have been appropriate and mature.  The feeling in the hallways and in the classes is one which promotes academic achievement and accountability. 

Fall is now here and the weather is turning cooler.  Sports are in full swing, homecoming is next week, the pep band sounds great and after school percussion and jazz band are starting up.  It's a busy, exciting time of year!