THE COUGAR CONNECTION

The Catoctin High School Newsletter  •  April 5, 2024

https://edu.fcps.org/chs/

Little Shop of Horrors Debuts April 18

This spring, the Catoctin High School Drama Department is trying something a little different – a double cast show. “Little Shop of Horrors” - the horror comedy rock musical - will take over the CHS stage on April 18-20. The “Green” cast, led by George Hawkins and Colette Hartman-Carstensen as Seymour and Audrey, will perform on Thursday, April 18 at 7:00 pm and Saturday, April 20 at 7:00 pm. The “Red” cast, led by Doug Whitworth and Anna Code in the same roles, will perform on Friday, April 19 at 7:00 pm and Saturday, April 20 at 1:00 pm. Each main cast brings their own interpretation of the characters. The actors are encouraged to make their own acting and staging choices to ensure the performances are unique.

Creation of the various Audrey II puppets has taken months to complete. The man-eating plant begins as a small handheld puppet, then grows three times until it and its grasping vines take over most of the stage. Meanwhile, the cast has been hard at work memorizing lines, practicing songs, and perfecting their dance steps. The crew has also been busy creating sets, lighting, and effects that will draw the audience into this bone-chilling story. 

The show is rated PG-13 due to violence, substance abuse, and mild language. What happens when a young florist finds a plant that is out of this world? Come find out at CHS April 18-20! Tickets can be purchased at the door or on showtix4u.com. 

Pictured from left to right: George Hawkins, Colette Hartman-Carstensen, Doug Whitworth, Anna Code.

Solar Eclipse 

When students and staff return from Spring Break, much of the nation will be engaged in activities in conjunction with the solar eclipse taking place in the afternoon of April 8, 2024. In Maryland, we will experience a partial eclipse, with peak timing at approximately 3:20 p.m. and coinciding with school dismissal time in Frederick County Public Schools. As a result, the timing does not lend itself to major viewing events across FCPS schools, other than the eclipse event hosted by the Earth and Space Science Lab (ESSL), which will be open to the public. FCPS will be operating on a normal schedule on April 8, 2024.

The solar eclipse is also a learning opportunity for students, so FCPS has distributed instructional resources for teachers, including an activity booklet provided to all elementary schools. In addition, it is important that all students, staff, and community members know that there are important safety considerations for viewing an eclipse, as it is not safe to look directly at the sun without specialized eye protection. Below are additional resources that highlight the importance of eye safety during the eclipse. 

• How to View A Solar Eclipse Safely (AAS)

• Solar Eclipse Safety (NASA)

• ESSL Video About Eye Protection for Eclipse Viewing (ESSL)

FCPS is asking our community to join us in reminding students about the importance of these safety precautions during the afternoon of April 8. If families are participating in eclipse activities with their children, these will be considered excused absences.

We know that the community joins us in our commitment in providing safe learning experiences for our students.

Future Leader Seminar

On April 16th the Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC) is hosting a "Future Leader Seminar". There will be the opportunity to attend a policy maker panel and mini workshops! The panel will feature a variety of speakers including county student leaders and legislative representatives. This is open to all students in middle and high school.

Final Senior Meeting - Mandatory!

Seniors - please plan to attend the final senior meeting at 7:35 am in the auditorium on Friday, April 12.  

CHS PROM: 24 GOLD MAGIC

The 2024 Catoctin High School Prom, "24K Gold Magic", will be held on Friday, April 26 from 7:00-10:00 pm at the Thurmont Event Complex.  

Prom is open to Catoctin High School juniors and seniors and their guests. Guests must be grade 9 or older and under age 21. Tickets will go on sale in the cafeteria beginning April 15 and via student accounts on SchoolCash online beginning Tuesday, April 9.  A signed dance agreement form is required to purchase tickets. Tickets are $25 per person. 

In order to be eligible to purchase tickets, students must:

In order to attend Prom, students must be present for a full day of school. Per FCPS policy 400-98, a student's daily attendance is considered present for the full day if he/she is present for more than half of the school day. If students are planning to leave school early, they must have a parent/guardian note and they should not leave before 11:00 am.  If a student arrives late to school, he/she will not be permitted to leave school early if he/she plans to attend Prom.  Students will not be eligible to attend Prom if they have an unexcused absence on Friday, April 26 from school and/or classes - any absence will require a note from a parent/guardian.

Students with questions about these criteria should speak with an administrator.  If you have other questions about Prom, please contact Junior Class Advisor Nicki Wangness.

Catoctin's Kayla Delcid selected as a 2024 Carson Scholar 

Congratulations to CHS student Kayla Delcid for being named a 2024 Carson Scholar.  Kayla was chosen because she demonstrated the highest standards of academic achievement, integrity, and civic and social responsibility. 

With this honor, she will receive a $1,000 scholarship award that will be invested for her college education. In addition to the scholarship money, she will receive a medal and a certificate.  Kayla will be honored at the Carson Scholars Fund’s 28th Annual Maryland Awards Banquet on Sunday, May 19, 2024!.

CTC Student of the Month 

Congratulations to CHS student Owen Cook who selected as CTC Student of the Month by the Student Achievement Committee at CTC. Owen Cook is in the Landscaping program at CTC. 

Trammel Wins 2nd place in 400m

Congratulations to CHS student athlete Furious Trammel who recently placed 2nd in the 400 meter at the Adidas Indoor Track Nationals.  He had an indoor personal best time of 48.55!

MESSAGE FROM OUR PRINCIPAL

Dear Catoctin Community,


Spring is officially here and hopefully we will get a break soon from all of these spring showers!  A new season offers the opportunity for change - the spring brings warmer weather (usually), blooming flowers, outside sports, and the spring musical.  The spring sometimes also brings out poor decisions by some teenagers - reckless driving, substance use, and inappropriate dress for school, as examples.  We will continue to reinforce good decision-making by students so that they are safe and well and focused on their learning while at school.  We know that our voice partnered with yours in these conversations can make a positive impact.


Unfortunately, one aspect of our community that is not likely to change this spring is our traffic woes.  According to the State Highway Administration, the work on both Route 77 and Route 550 will continue into the coming months.  We know that this impacts the traffic flow into, out of and around our campus and that can be a source of frustration for all of us.  Early arrival to school is even more important now than ever.  We have been watching our morning traffic, in particular, more closely recently; it continues to be that things don’t get too backed up until after 7:15 AM on most mornings.  We open our doors to welcome students into the building and to breakfast (if they wish to partake) starting at 7:00 AM, so arrival between 7:00 and 7:15 will help to avoid the worst of the traffic.  With that being said, we have also been reflecting on our practices to see if there are changes the school can make to affect positive change.  Starting Monday (April 8), we are going to try the following:


We realize that these fixes are not magical, however we are hopeful this will alleviate at least a few of the challenges (and reflect our responsiveness to some of the concerns and suggestions that have been shared).  We will continue to evaluate the challenges and consider other possible solutions.


Thank you, as always, for your partnership and support.  As we navigate the spring and look ahead to the quickly-arriving summer, we will continue to focus on student learning while also tending to all of the other details that are part of our school and community.


Go Cougars!


Jen Clements

Principal

MONTHLY GUIDANCE AND INFORMATION FOR PARENTS / GUARDIANS

Attendance Update

We are in the final quarter of the school year and good attendance is as important as ever.  For some students, term 4 grades will make the difference between earning a credit or not or even the difference of matriculating to the next grade or being retained.  At this time of year, students are also preparing for AP exams, standardized state tests, and/or end of course projects.  Whatever your focus, finishing strong is important.  

The last day of school is currently Friday, June 7 (and I am hoping that we are past the weather that would warrant closing schools).  Please make every effort to plan vacations after June 7 so that students are present until the last day - important learning, practice, and work will be happening until then.  

Thank you for prioritizing good school attendance!

Attendance = Opportunity

As a feeder, we continue our commitment to attendance knowing that being at school each day opens opportunities for our students.  Below is the attendance rate for January for each school: 

*Attendance rate: An overall school attendance rate of 94% or higher is considered proficient.

**Chronic absenteeism: A student is defined as chronically absent if he/she misses 10% or more of the  school days.

Course Grades:

We are in the second half of this semester and the final quarter of the year; it is a great time for students to assess their status both in regards to their grades and their credits.  Grades (and thus credits) are awarded in accordance with FCPS Regulation 500-05 - Grading, Reporting, and Intervention (Secondary) .  Some important aspects to note:

A final course grade of a D is the minimum to earn the credit.  However, this grade reflects “a minimally acceptable performance” and thus students are encouraged to strive for a higher level of achievement.

The final course grade (for one semester courses) is determined by the combination of the two term grades.

Regulation 500-05 defines the final calculation for grades.  As one example, a grade of B for Term 3 and A for Term 4 results in a final grade of an A.  So, students are encouraged to strive for their strongest performance possible this term in order to achieve the highest final course grade possible. 

Final course grades are the only ones that are reflected on transcripts and used in Grade Point Average (GPA) calculations.

Students’ final grades can be overridden based upon poor attendance or lack of acceptable effort in the second term.  In these instances, we would have been in communication and partnership with the parents/guardians and student to try to affect positive change throughout the semester prior to a grade override.  We want students to be successful, but also need to uphold the standards of attendance and performance in order to award credits.

If you have questions about your child’s grade in a particular class, the teacher will be the best source of insights and information - please reach out to him/her first.  If you have questions about grades in general, transcripts, etc. your child’s school counselor would be happy to help.

Student learning is our highest priority and grades should be a reflection of that.  Good grades can also open doors for students (not to mention lower car insurance rates).  We want to foster student learning and their earning of good grades in support of their future aspirations.  Please reach out with questions or concerns.  

tutoring now available through Pear Deck Tutor 

Frederick County Public Schools partners with Pear Deck Tutor to provide 24/7 online tutoring to all students. The Pear Deck Tutor platform is easy to use and offered at no additional cost to you. With Pear Deck Tutor, students connect on-demand with a tutor who’s an exact match for what they’re looking for — whether they’re stumped by a Calculus equation, craving a confidence boost, or looking for writing feedback. 

The Pear Deck Tutor platform replicates all the best parts of in-person tutoring — including the ability to connect face-to-face through opt-in audio and video. The Lesson Space has all the tools a student may need for real-time collaboration with a tutor in even advanced subject matters.

No matter the field of study, writing skills are fundamental to academic and post-graduate success. Through Pear Deck Tutor’s Writing Lab, students receive prompt feedback on their writing assignments to help them improve their written communication.

Click here to get started with Pear Deck Tutor!

resources for families

Catoctin High School Pantry 

Local Food Banks

FCPS Free and Reduced Meal Benefits

Child Protective Services (CPS):    301-600-2464

Crisis Services:    Dial 211

Maryland Anonymous Tip Line:    1-833-632-7233

Suicide Prevention Hotline:    988

Free Mental Health Crisis Care Center Open 24/7

catoctin high school Fundraisers

catoctin Safe and Sane

Catoctin High School Committee for a Safe and Sane Graduation Inc. is not sponsored by Catoctin High School

Safe and Sane is a non-profit, parent-run, tax-exempt corporation established to address the very serious issues of youth drinking, drug use and driving behavior during one of the highest risk social events of their lives. This will be our 33rd year of providing an alternative way for graduates to celebrate and “JUST SAY NO” to drugs and alcohol! 

Want to get involved? Follow us on https://www.facebook.com/groups/catoctinsafeandsane.  This is the best way for you and your Senior to stay up-to-date on events. 

Safe and Sane is holding an Adopt at 2024 Catoctin Senior. Anyone can post and participate in this program.  For more details visit the Safe and Sane Facbeook page.

Contact any parent of a 2024 senior or email catoctinsafeandsane@gmail.com to grab your tickets and show your support! 

Don't miss these upcoming events:

cATOCTIN SPORTS BOOSTERS

Catoctin High School Sports Boosters supports all CHS sports teams and coaches, all money raised goes to the athletic programs. We raise money through fundraisers, sponsorship, concession sales and membership.  To become a member, please fill out this form.

For more information on CHS Sports Boosters or to make a donation, please visit our website.

ptsa news

CHS PTSA – A PARTNERSHIP IN EDUCATION

We need your help!  The CHS Parent Teacher Student Association exists to help support all of our kids and the professional staff that works so hard on their behalf. We want to continue that level of support and we are looking for volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering you can send an email to CatoctinPTSA@gmail.com.   Join PTSA by filling out this membership form!

CHS PTSA meetings are held monthly via Google Meet from your home. All are welcome to attend! Upcoming dates: April 16, and May 14 at 4:00 pm.  To join the video meeting, click this link: https://meet.google.com/vqc-zgfr-zkh.  Otherwise, to join by phone, dial 1-402-282-0447 and enter this PIN: 952 544 193#.  To view more phone numbers, click this link: https://tel.meet/vqc-zgfr-zkh?hs=5

For more information, email CatoctinPTSA@gmail.com or contact::