THE COUGAR CONNECTION

The Catoctin High School Newsletter • February 7, 2025

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

registration now open for spring sports

Catoctin High School is excited to share that online athletic registration (OAR) for spring sports is now open. A parent/guardian must complete OAR and the student must turn in a hard copy of an updated (dated April 1, 2024 or after) sports physical to the head coach or Athletic Director prior to the first day of tryouts/practices. The physical must be completed on the FCPS physical form (updated form for 2024-25).

- March 1, 2025 - 1st day of Spring Tryouts/practice
- Online Athletic Registration (must be completed prior to March 1, 2025)
- Sports Physical Form - If a physical was submitted for the fall or winter sports season, it is on file and does not need to be resubmitted. New athletes must submit a sports physical dated April 1, 2024 or later and must be completed prior to March 1, 2025)
- Coach DIrectory
- The tryout schedule will be available soon and will be sent via School Messenger.

Requirements once player is selected to a team:

- Pay the FCPS Non-Refundable Seasonal Athletic Fee - $185. Note to parents: You will not be able to pay online until your student athlete is selected for the team and the roster has been finalized.
- Payments will be due no later than Thursday, March 20 by 11:59 pm and should be made via SchoolCash Online.

For questions, contact the team head coach or Athletics Director Brett Campbell.

Attention Seniors and Senior Parents/Guardians

A senior meeting was held today for senior students with important information regarding graduation. You may view the slide show from the meeting here. If you did not sign the agreement or were not able to attend, please make sure you review and understand the information and complete the form linked in the first slide. Please contact senior advisors Mrs. Hayes or Mr. Gadra if you have questions.

Save the Date: PROM 2025

The Catoctin High School junior/senior Prom will be held on Friday, April 25, 7:00-10:00 pm. More details about attendance and eligibility guidelines will be coming soon.

chs to Celebrate Cultural Heritage Day!

Catoctin High School students are invited to share their culture and heritage with us on Wednesday, March 12 during all lunch shifts for a celebration of YOU and who YOU are! Students wishing to participate should complete the form located in the "Class of 20xx" Schoology groups no later than Friday, February 14th to reserve your spot!

CHS Fundraisers

FFA Strawberry Sale

The annual Catoctin FFA Strawberry sale is happening now! To order, contact Mrs. Poffenberger, Mrs. Shriner, or any Catoctin FFA member! Strawberries are $4.5/quart, $16/half-flat (4 quarts), $28/flat (8 quarts). Orders due Monday, February 10.

Valentine's Day Carnation Sale!

The Class of 2026 Junior Club is selling carnations for Valentine's Day! Students can pre-order flowers in the main office or in the cafeteria during lunch shifts. The long stem carnations (with an option personal note) are $3 each or 2 for $5 and will be delivered during block 2 on February 14. See Mrs. Wangness in the main office for more information or to purchase.

Hersheypark Tickets

The CHS Science department is selling discounted Hersheypark tickets. Proceeds are helping support a class field trip this spring. Tickets that are valid for the whole season are $50 each and tickets that are valid through 7/31/25 are $42 each. Order online here (be sure to include your contact information when ordering): Full Season Tickets or Early Season Tickets

MESSAGE FROM OUR PRINCIPAL

Dear Catoctin Community,

On January 28, we hosted the Catoctin Feeder Community Dinner. The evening was a great success as we welcomed many families for dinner and provided information and resources from many different organizations. At our community event, we highlighted the “No Place for Hate” work that is taking place at each and every one of our schools. This was a great opportunity for us to collectively and publicly show our commitment to ensuring that every student is treated with kindness and respect and thus feels a sense of belonging in our schools.

We are part of a truly special community, one in which so many people treat each other and our schools with great regard, respect, and compassion. It is my belief that this potential for kindness and respect lies in each and every student in our feeder and I would love to see that displayed in every interaction. Thank you for your positive contributions to our community and for encouraging positive citizenship from your students.

Go Cougars!

Sincerely,

Jen Clements

Principal

attendance updates and information

Attendance = Opportunity

The winter season often poses challenges to good attendance - illness, vacations, and weather are just some of the obstacles that can interfere with regular student attendance. If there is a legitimate and legal reason for your child to miss school - for example, if they are sick with a fever or vomiting, please keep him/her home but be sure to contact the school so that we can note the reason and excuse the absence (email chs.attendance@fcps.org). Please also ensure that your child does attend school (on time and prepared) every day that he/she can. Good attendance is highly correlated with student success at school and we are best able to support our students when they are here regularly. Thank you for your efforts to support your student’s attendance at school!

School Calendar:

This is the time of year that many of us are dreaming of summer vacation. When planning your vacations, please be sure to consult the school calendar to ensure your plans do not conflict with the final days of school. The calendar can be found on the FCPS website: https://www.fcps.org/about/calendar-handbook.

Please note that, as of today, the last day of school is June 11 (but that could change with more snow days). You can also find the calendar posted for the 2025-2026 school year (if you want to check the first day of school for next year - which is August 20). Attendance at school is important and consulting the calendar before making plans can prevent scheduling conflicts for your student.

*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

FCPS Special Education Family Resource Center

The Office of Special Education is excited to announce the opening of the FCPS Special Education Family Resource Center! This is a space for families to come and receive help and resources. An Open House is being held on Friday, February 21, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. to unveil this resource for families. We welcome you to share the following fliers/communication to families via your schools' newsletters so we can spread the word about this resource for families of students with disabilities in our community!

CTC Shadowing for 9th & 10th Graders

Attention 9th & 10th Graders!! Are you still interested in shadowing a CTC program for next school year? You have until Thursday February 20th to request a shadow. Click this link to sign up: https://edu.fcps.org/ctc/shadowing-0

Have you already shadowed this year and you are interested in applying to attend CTC for the 2025 -2026 Academic Year? Please make sure you submit your application before Friday March 7th: https://edu.fcps.org/ctc/applying-ctc

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). For the safety of our staff and students, please do not drop off or pick up students in this 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.

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

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/.

Are you staying up-to-date on CHS News?

Beginning in August of 2024, FCPS began utilizing a new system called "SchoolMessenger" to provide SMS text and email updates to the community to to ensure our community finds out quickly about important information, news, e-newsletters, and events. FCPS and individual schools both use SchoolMessenger.

Catoctin High School students, parents/guardians, and staff members are automatically registered to receive email and text message notifications for the new FCPS message system called "School Messenger". If you're not receiving notices, please make sure you have added broadcasts@schoolmessengermail.com to your address book.

Community members can also sign up for SchoolMessenger to receive notifications. Learn how to sign up: SchoolMessenger Sign Up.

In addition, the most recent Catoctin Connection newsletter (and an archive of issues) is accessible online and also posted on the CHS website.

Out-of-District Enrollment Applications 2025-2026

Out-of-district enrollment applications for the 2025-2026 school year will be accepted by the Office of Student Services from February 1 to March 1, 2025.

Students may be considered for enrollment outside their designated attendance area. Parents or guardians who wish to request an out-of-district enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year must apply by completing the application. All students who are currently enrolled outside of their designated attendance area MUST reapply because approval is granted on a year-to-year basis.

Out-of-district enrollment requests are reviewed by the pupil personnel worker in consultation with the school principal. Please review the factors considered for approval prior to submitting your application. All information is outlined in FCPS Regulation 400-15. The FCPS list of closed schools for the 2025-2026 school year can be found here.

If you have questions, you may contact the Pupil Personnel Worker (PPW) assigned to your child’s school. For assistance completing the form, please call 240-586-8817.

Families will be notified of the decision by April 1, 2024.

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!

The following Safe and Sane information was presented at the senior meeting on Friday, February 7: Senior Meeting Slideshow

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!

Page updated

Report abuse