THE COUGAR CONNECTION
THE COUGAR CONNECTION
Embedded Files
The Catoctin High School Newsletter • September 5, 2025
Catoctin High School Homecoming
Catoctin High School Homecoming
It's time to show your school spirit and celebrate Catoctin High School Homecoming! This annual tradition begins on Monday, September 22 with Spirit Week.
Spirit Week
Monday, 9/22 Super Trouper Trios
Tuesday, 9/23 NO SCHOOL
Wednesday, 9/24 Disco Divas
Thursday, 9/25 Rhyme Without a Reason
Friday, 9/26 Class colors (9-White, 10-Carolina Blue, 11-Navy, 12- All colors)
Homecoming Parade
There will be a Homecoming Parade on Friday, September 26th, from 4:00-4:45 pm. Beginning at the Public Works parking lot (behind the Thurmont Food Bank), the parade will head north on Water Street and Rt. 550 and will end at the high school.
The Pep Rally is Friday, September 26th, 11:15 am-12:10 pm. The Homecoming Game kick-off is 6:30 pm against the Boonsboro Warriors. Homecoming Court nominations will take place September 1-8 and voting will take place September 17-22. This year, we are introducing a nominee questionnaire, which is due September 15. The underclass court members will be announced at the pep rally, and the senior royalty will be announced at the homecoming game halftime show.
Homecoming Dance
The Homecoming dance theme for 2026 is "A Night in Greece"! The dance will be held Saturday, September 27th, from 7:00-10:00 pm in the gym. Students must arrive by 8:00 pm and there will be no re-entry. The cafeteria and patio will have games and tables to relax. Tickets are being sold for $25 during all lunch shifts Wednesday, September 17 to Friday, September 19 and online now through September 21. Students must have a signed dance form in order to buy tickets. If bringing a guest, a photocopy of a guest ID is required with the dance agreement. Paper dance forms are in the office, cafeteria and media center.
Cinderella's Closet
Cinderella's Closet
Cinderella’s Closet will be open for students during school in the media center.
The closet is open Saturday, September 6 at the Community Show from 10 am - 2 pm and will also be open in the evening on Wednesday, September 17th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm for parents and students to visit.
Cinderella’s Closet is a collection of gently used donated dresses, suits, accessories, and shoes available to students using a “donate as you wish” or trade a piece of formal clothing for another! All proceeds collected benefit our CHS Community Outreach Program. You can preview some of the items in our online catalog: Cinderella's Closet. The catalog it is updated as new donations arrive.
SchoolCash Online
SchoolCash Online
SchoolCash Online is an easy to use and safe way to pay for your children’s school fees. Now, with a few clicks, you can pay for your child’s yearbook, class trips and so much more from your own home. All you have to do is register an account, attach your children and in no time you will be able to make payments online. Catoctin High School uses SchoolCash Online for a variety of items! For more information or to register: SchoolCash Online Registration Information
Mark Your Calendar!
Mark Your Calendar!
September 17: Cinderella's Closet open 5-7 pm
September 19: Mid Term; Fair Day 3.5 hour Early Dismissal for Students
September 22 - 26: Homecoming Spirit Week
September 23: Schools Closed
September 26: Homecoming Football Game
September 26: 2 hour Early Dismissal
September 27: Homecoming Dance. Tickets available on SchoolCash online until 9/21.
October 2: Schools Closed
October 17: Schools Closed
October 20 & 21: Senior Portrait Make-Up Dates Appointment sign-ups will be available in mid-September.
October 27: Term 1 Ends
October 28: Schools Closed
School Meals Information
School Meals Information
Breakfast and lunch is served daily for students. Breakfast is $2.00 and lunch is $3.05. Parents may visit https://LINQConnect.com to add money to student meal accounts, set up automatic payments, transfer money between your family’s student meal accounts, see student purchases and account balances throughout the year and more! There are no added fees to place money on a meal account for the 2025-26 school year!
Parents still have the option of sending cash or check with their student(s) for purchases or deposit in a meal account. Once you register for a LINQ Connect parent account, you can download the LINQ Connect app from the Apple App Store or Google Play for easy access from your smartphone.
Free and Reduced Meal Benefits
Breakfast and lunch is served daily for Catoctin High School students. You may add funds to your student's cafeteria account using Linq Connect.
FCPS participates in the School Breakfast Program and National School Lunch Program which offers free or reduced meals for students. We encourage families who think they qualify (or unsure if they qualify) to complete the free and reduced-price meal benefits application online. Families must reapply for benefits every year. Even if you were approved last year, you must reapply for this year or your meal benefits will end on October 6, 2025. For more information on school meals costs and reduced meals programs please visit: Meal Benefits
Special Dietary Needs
For students with special dietary needs, visit https://www.fcpsnutrition.com for Special Meal Accommodations instructions and school menus. A new special dietary form is required each school year. Parents may also place restrictions on snack/a-la-carte purchases by contacting the FNS office.
New Bell Schedules
New Bell Schedules
Our bell schedules are different from previous years (to accommodate FLEX* time on Wednesdays and Connections** time on Tuesdays and Thursdays). We will spend some time ensuring students understand the bell schedules and how the time should be used each day.
View the new schedules here: CHS Bell Schedules 2025-26
*FLEX - the second half of each block will be dedicated to reteaching, reassessment, make-up work, etc. (no new instruction).
**Connections - this is time in our schedule every Tuesday and Thursday during which clubs and Honor Societies will meet and students can also be pulled by a teacher for support.
Smart Pass
Smart Pass
We have been successfully implementing a new tool to help manage student movement throughout the building. Although we are still navigating the ins and outs of the system and how to best use it to meet all of our needs, it has already proven to be an effective tool to foster efficiency, accountability, and safety. Please see the details below about SmartPass and how it is being implemented at Catoctin High School.
Important reminders regarding arrival, dismissal, and parking
Important reminders regarding arrival, dismissal, and parking
Student safety is an important priority and we need the cooperation of everyone who enters our campus to ensure that, especially in our parking lots. Important reminders regarding arrival, dismissal, and parking:
Most students and families are adhering to the guidance below - THANK YOU! Your cooperation helps to ensure the safety of everyone on campus!
Arrival/Dismissal
When dropping off or picking up students at school, please use only the upper parking lot (closest to the baseball field) and follow the red arrows as indicated on the photo below.
Pull around as close as possible to the location indicated by the star with the red dot, but use the entire starred area for dropping off students. This will maximize the number of students able to exit vehicles at the same time and will facilitate the smoothest possible flow of traffic.
We encourage students who are being dropped off to arrive 7:00-7:15 am, when traffic is lighter.
The front lot is for staff and visitor parking only.
The bus loop is only for bus traffic both before and after school.
Student drivers are permitted to park in the upper parking lot or the lot by the gym (just not in the front, staff only lot).
Student walkers should take great care when crossing the parking lot and roads; use the crosswalks and cross Sabillasville Road at the crossing guard. Please do not walk out in front of vehicles and pay attention to the traffic around you.
All drivers (student and adult) are asked to exhibit caution and to drive slowly and alertly at all times. All vehicle drivers and passengers are reminded to wear their seat belts.
Regardless of their means of transportation, all students are expected to be in their first block class, ready to learn, by 7:30 a.m.
Thank you for your attention to this important guidance; everyone's cooperation will help ensure a safe arrival for all.
MESSAGE FROM OUR PRINCIPAL
MESSAGE FROM OUR PRINCIPAL
Dear Catoctin Community,
With more than two weeks of school in the books, I am excited to share a good report thus far. Our staff has engaged students in learning and making connections, our students have stepped up to meet academic and behavioral expectations, and our community has shown great support for our school.
On the first day of school, we met with the students (by grade level classes) - we shared our expectations, priorities, and opportunities for support with them. I am hopeful that they will keep this information in the back of their minds as we progress through the year. Included here are the slides of information if you wish to review and discuss with your child(ren). The most important message I hope the students left with is that we prioritize both their safety and education every day and that they each have an important role in their individual success and in the positive environment in our school community.
I have also included below links to information that was shared just before school started. If you are like me, those days were a whirlwind and it was hard to find time to focus on all the details. If you did not already have a chance to review this information, I encourage you to do so as it will help set the context for our work this year.
The slides that we presented during the FAQ session (for those who were unable to join us and a reminder for those who were here but want to reference the information again).
A slideshow with some helpful information and guidance for students and parents as we begin the school year.
I shared in my last letter my excitement for this year - our awesome start has only fueled that positive feeling. I hope you and your child(ren) feel the same way; but if you have had struggles (or do in the future), please do not hesitate to reach out - we are here to help!
Go Cougars!
Jen Clements
Principal
resources for families
resources for families
Catoctin High School Pantry
Families in need of school supplies or other items should email kelly.gruber@fcps.org.
Local Food Banks
Thurmont Food Bank, 10 Frederick Road, Thurmont. For more information call 240-288-1865.
Emmitsburg Food Bank, 130 S. Seton Avenue, Emmitsburg. For more information call 717-642-6963.
FCPS Free and Reduced Meal Benefits
All FCPS students can apply for free or reduced-price meal benefits. Apply online here. Paper copies are available in the main office. You must reapply every year for benefits. You can apply at any time during the year.
Child Protective Services (CPS): 301-600-2464
To get help for physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect.
Crisis Services: Dial 211
To get help when you feel really anxious or really depressed and need someone to talk with so that you can stay safe.
Maryland Anonymous Tip Line: 1-833-632-7233
To report threats or situations that put your safety or others’ safety at risk.
Suicide Prevention Hotline: 988
To get help if you are thinking about suicide.
Free Mental Health Crisis Care Center Open 24/7
Free, walk-in services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for immediate, face-to-face support for anyone experiencing an emotional, mental health, family or relationship crisis in a safe, welcoming space. Frederick County Mental Health Association Crisis Care Center, 340 Montevue Lane, Frederick. For more information call 2-1-1 or 301-662-2255. Services are available for all ages. There is no cost for services and no appointment is necessary. For more information, visit https://fcmha.org/how-we-help/behavioral-health/.
PTSA - We Need You!
PTSA - We Need You!
Membership in the PTSA helps us provide:
School Improvement (Requests by Staff to Improve the School such as equipment or signage)
Staff Appreciation (Luncheons and Teacher Appreciation Gifts)
Honor Roll Awards
Senior Appreciation (Signage, Awards, Graduation Gifts, Scholarships)
New ideas to make CHS the best experience for all students and staff.
Parents, students, grandparents, staff, and community business are welcome to join! Join the Catoctin High School PTSA here: https://fspta-00020926.givebacks.com/store?limit=21&live=true. For more information and a paper membership form visit: PTSA Membership Info
Follow the PTSA on Facebook! Search for Catoctin High PTSA or visit https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563952568524 Find out what the PTSA is up to and how you can help!
catoctin sports boosters
catoctin sports boosters
Catoctin High School Sports Boosters is a parent-based organization which provides support for all CHS athletes, sports teams and coaches. The Sports Boosters program is needed to cover the additional expenses not covered by the very limited Athletic Department budget. We raise money through fund raisers, concession sales, sponsorship and membership.
Al l of the money raised goes to support our athletic programs. With continued cuts to the Athletic Department's budget the burden falls on the Sports Boosters and the individual sports programs to come up with the needed funding to run successful programs. In addition, Catoctin is a 1-A school with a limited number of student-athletes and spectators which is how budgets are determined, because of this we are already at a disadvantage compared to the larger schools in Frederick County.
Please consider becoming a Catoctin High School Sports Booster Member. Help Catoctin Athletes by signing up now. Anyone can join. For more information: Sports Boosters
Page updated
Report abuse