THE COUGAR CONNECTION

The Catoctin High School Newsletter • December 20, 2024

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

CHS Drama hosts murder mystery dinner theater

The Catoctin High School drama department will present A Slice of Life and Death, a murder mystery dinner theater event on January 11 at 5 pm in the CHS Auditorium.

In this performance, written by CHS drama teacher Evan Felmet, a county pie contest goes off the rails when the judge winds up dead! Which of the three contestants poisoned him, and why? Figure out the mystery while you enjoy a delicious dinner from Thurmont Kountry Kitchen!

The show stars Doug Whitworth, Delaney Hench, Jayden Myers, Wendy Schenck, Anna Code, and Jacob Torres. Stage Manager is Terra Mixon, student director is Andi Bentz.

Tickets are being sold online (only) at https://cur8.com/16998/project/126922 and must be purchased by January 4. Cost for the dinner theater (performance and meal catered by Kountry Kitchen) is $50 per person for adults and $40 for children under 10 and students.

Mark your calendar!

- December 23 - Jan. 1 - Winter Break, Schools Closed
- January 2 - Schools Reopen
- January 2 - 6 - Class Assemblies on Course Registration and Course Offerings
- January 7 - Course Registration materials distributed in STEP
- January 8 - Registration Information Night. Learn more about course offerings and special programs available for students.
- January 11 - Slice of Life and Death Murder Mystery, 5:00 pm
- January 14: Course Registration Materials DUE (return to STEP teacher or School Counselor)
- January 16, 17, 20 - Schools Closed
- January 28, 5:00-7:00 pm - CommUNITY Night at CHS
- March 7, 5:00 pm - FCPS Jazz Festival at Walkersville High

Senior class tshirt sales end january 5

Last chance to order the official CHS Class of 2025 Senior T-shirt! Orders accepted through January 5. Seniors can order through their SchoolCash Online account or by visiting these links:

Long Sleeve T-shirt $20 Short Sleeve T-shirt $15

Happy Holidays!

Winter Break for schools is December 23 - January 1. During this time, our school and office will be closed. We look forward to resuming our work on Thursday, January 2. Best wishes to all for a happy holiday and an enjoyable break!

DRIVING, DROP-OFF, AND PARKING

We have established processes and expectations related to driving and parking on campus in an effort to ensure the safety of everyone who visits. Please, please, please do your part to create a safe campus by adhering to the following - they are for the safety of all:

- During arrival, the front bus loop is for buses only. All student drop-offs should take place in the upper lot (near the baseball field).
- During dismissal, car riders should also be picked up in the upper lot.
- The lot directly in front of the building is for staff daily parking only (visitors who will only be in the building for a short time between 7:30 and 2:20 may use this lot for short-term parking).
- 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.

Thank you for your partnership in ensuring our students’ safety on the campus of Catoctin High School.

Spanish Honor Society Serves Community

Four CHS Spanish Honor Society students spent an evening serving as Spanish translators for a Christmas event at the Thurmont Community Closet. The event is held annually at the start of the Christmas season. The purpose of the event is to serve families in need and provide them a way to have clothing, gifts and home goods for their own needs or to give as gifts. Catoctin students Kayla Delcid, Aliyah McClain, Mackenzie Braitman, and Jared Turner (pictured left to right with teacher and advisor Lynne Griffin) did a great job interacting with the Spanish-speaking community and providing translating services.

Catoctin High School Counseling Office Updates

The start of the spring semester is quickly approaching and we are excited for all the possibilities that it brings. Please make note of the following important dates/events:

Registration for the 2025-2026 school year will begin after students return from winter break. Please note the following event date/times:

- January 2nd-6th: Class assemblies to review the registration process and course offerings from each department.
- January 7th: Registration materials distributed during STEP
- January 8th: Registration Information Night. Learn more about course offerings and special programs available for students.
- January 14: Registration Materials DUE (return to STEP teacher or School Counselor)

CTC Students Compete at SkillsUSA Local Competition

Congratulations to the following CTC students for placing in the local SkillsUSA competition on December 10, 2024.

- Cameran Boone, 4th place, Automotive Service Technology
- Clair Daly, 5th place, TV Production
- Nick O'Connell, 5th place, Residential Wiring
- TJ Pickett, 1st place, Plumbing
- Geo Rinker, 3rd place, Advertising Design
- Tanner Shorb, 1st place, Welding

The Catoctin Chronicle - December Issue now Online

Check out Catoctin's newspaper: The Catoctin Chronicle online by visiting (https://catoctinchronicle.org. The December issues is now available to readers!

MESSAGE FROM OUR PRINCIPAL

Dear Catoctin Community,

As we close out the calendar year of 2024, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your partnership and support of our school and our students. Our work on behalf of students is challenging, yet hugely rewarding; we value the opportunities we have to collaborate with parents, guardians, and our community to support our students’ success and well-being.

The past year has seen successes and challenges. We could say that about every year, but there were some exciting highlights this year:

- Catoctin High School earned recognition at both the state and national level for our culture and practices of inclusion. We proudly earned the accolade of a Special Olympics National Unified Champion School
- Our status of a National Unified Champion School was also highlighted on ESPN.
- CHS earned Green School certification, largely through the work of our Conservation Club.

There are amazing things happening at CHS every day and it is exciting when that gets recognized in very prestigious and public ways.

However, our most important goal and our greatest achievement is our commitment to our students. That will continue to be our focus as we move into 2025.

Students and staff have worked hard in 2024 and have earned the change of pace that Winter Break affords us. I offer my wishes to each and every member of our community for a peaceful and enjoyable holiday and a fun and restful break. Please note that the office will be closed and staff will be disconnected from December 21 – January 1; we will also take this time to refresh so that we are re-energized for the work to come in 2025.

Best wishes to all for a safe, restful, and enjoyable break. Happy Holidays and Go Cougars!

Go Cougars!

Sincerely,

Jen Clements

Principal

attendance updates and information

Attendance = Opportunity

We are in the final days of Term 2 and Semester 1 - good attendance is as important as ever. In order to finish strong in each class, to complete all of the work, and to come away with full mastery of the content, students need to be at school and engaged in their learning every day. December and January are also the winter testing season - it is important (both for the students and the school) that students are on-time and present every day of testing. Finally, attendance plays a role in a student’s final grade; credit may be denied if a student has an excessive number of unexcused absences from class. When we are considering that outcome, a student’s total absences is reviewed, but so is the pattern of attendance (and an improvement can be an important factor). Please let us know how we can support your child’s good attendance.

While we want and expect students to be in school every day, this is also the season of illness and there is certainly the possibility that a sickness will mean a student is unable to attend school for one or more days. In those cases, please communicate regarding your child’s absence (a note when he/she returns and/or an email to chs.attendance@fcps.org). If their illness results in a doctor’s visit, please ask for a note and submit that to the school to appropriately document the absence. When absent, students should be in touch with their teachers and do work from home when possible.

It is our strong partnership and communication that will support students’ good attendance which will support their academic success and social-emotional well-being.

*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

School Improvement Information

Each year, schools engage in the School Improvement process - a cycle of data review, goal-setting, strategy implementation, and back again to review data that helps us to assess our progress and make future plans.

Our School Improvement team has developed our goals this year based upon a review of our data from last year. You can see the highlights of that plan and the ways in which parent/guardians and students can contribute to this work on the sheets linked below:

Parent hot sheet: 24-25 CHS SIP one-pager parent

Student hot sheet: 24-25 CHS SIP one-pager student

Please reach out if you have any questions or would like more information about how we engage in the school improvement process.

One of the data sets we review each year is our Maryland report card - these were recently issued and they describe all schools’ successes in multiple areas including attendance, achievement, and school culture. We are excited that Catoctin’s report shows gains over last year with a total rating of 4 stars. More information can be found here: https://reportcard.msde.maryland.gov/.

scholarship for ctc students

Attention Current CTC Seniors! The CTC 2024-2025 Scholarship Online Application is NOW available! Scholarships are open to all CTC Seniors who have previously completed their CTC program OR are currently attending CTC. Multiple Scholarships are available!

Final Deadline to Apply: Thursday, February 14th at 2:00 pm.

So don't delay, fill out the online application today: Scholarship Application or visit: https://edu.fcps.org/ctc/.

Catoctin High School is officially registered and a team of students are brave enough to #BearTheCold on January 29th! Donate here to support the CHS team: https://support.somd.org/team/595523

fccla seeking donations for students

Catoctin FCCLA students have once again partnered with SHIP (Student Homeless Initiative Partnership) of Frederick County to support youth experiencing homelessness this holiday season. Homeless for the Holidays is a county-wide drive to gather personal hygiene items for homeless students across the county. Drop off your donations at Catoctin High School by December 20 or at other locations around the county by December 31. Items needed:

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!

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 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.

All 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

Catoctin Safe and Sane

CHS Committee for a Safe and Sane Graduation meetings on the second Monday of each month, from 6:30–7:30 pm, on the second floor of the Thurmont American Legion building. Please join us to hear more about how you can get involved!

If you are unable to join our meetings, but would like to be added to our email distribution list, please email catoctinsafeandsane@gmail.com and share you contact information.

Thank you for supporting our seniors!

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