MESSAGE FROM OUR PRINCIPAL

Dear Catoctin Community,

Happy New Year!

This time in the school year is always busy with a lot of important events and school-year milestones. We have the excitement of winter athletics, the beginning of a new semester, and the important registration process for next year.

Our winter athletic season is in full swing. We are excited to have even better access for those who want to watch the action from anywhere; the details regarding live-streamed athletics can be found on the athletics page of the FCPS website (https://www.fcps.org/athletics). If you are coming to watch our indoor events in person, we thank you in advance for your cooperation with the requirement to wear a face covering at all times – it is mitigation strategies such as this that allow us to continue to have athletic events with spectators in person; it is important that we all do our part and comply with these guidelines.

We are in the final days of the first semester. Students are encouraged to finish strong to ensure passing (or better!) grades for Term 2. Virtual learning last year was a challenge for most. It is imperative that we take advantage of the opportunity to learn in person and to recover credits and/or learning that may have suffered last year. As we wrap up the first half of the school year and look forward to the start of Semester 2 next week, I want to offer a few simple, but hugely important, recommendations for student success:

• • Attend school every day that you are well enough and permitted to do so. I know that many have been impacted by COVID in some way (being sick and/or being quarantined); this makes even more important that you attend every day that you can.

  • Put your phone away during class. I have seen (and heard from EVERY teacher) how distracting phones are to students; your attention to your phone significantly and negatively impacts your learning. There is nothing on your phone that can’t wait 80 minutes until your next break between classes.

  • Take responsibility for your learning. Do your assignments, and do your best work. Your grades and your learning will benefit.

As we mark the halfway point of this school year, we are also looking ahead to next school year. The staff have been busy planning already and will ask parents and students to take part in the planning process soon, too. Every student currently in grades 9 - 11 will be asked to complete a course registration form through Schoology in the coming weeks. These are some of the most important pieces of advice related to this process:

• Be thoughtful and purposeful in your course selections. This is your chance to make the most of your time in high school and to position yourself for success after high school. Consult with your counselor if you are not sure what to take.

• Challenge yourself! Pick at least one content area in which you can stretch yourself to take a more challenging course or to try something new. We want you to maximize your time at CHS; we want you to thrive and learn and grown (and you don’t do that by taking classes that are easy).

There is a lot happening at school right now. We recognize that there is also a lot happening for students and families outside of school these days, too. As always, our partnership and collaboration will be integral to supporting our students’ learning and well-being. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to any Catoctin High School staff member if there is any way in which we can support you or your child.

Go Cougars!

Jen Clements

Principal

counseling department

Community flyers

These flyers have been approved for electronic distribution by FCPS:

• Catoctin Rec Youth Softball