THE COUGAR CONNECTION

The Catoctin High School Newsletter  •  November 21, 2023

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

Catoctin FFA students "Evolve" at the 96th annual national convention

The National FFA Convention is held every year and attracts FFA members from every state including Alaska and Hawaii. This year's 96th National FFA Convention was held in Indianapolis, Indiana from November 1 - 4, 2023.  The convention theme was EVOLVE.  Sixteen Catoctin High School FFA members attended this year's convention, joining over 72,900 other FFA members, advisors and guests from across our nation. The National FFA Convention and Expo is one of the largest student conventions in the world with a mission to develop, educate and inspire.  Throughout the week, members were able to participate in sessions, contests, workshops, and a career expo.  

Click here for photos and details on the awards and honors earned by these dedicated students.

The chapter thank everyone for all of the support in helping us to participate in the 96th National FFA Convention. These students have gained skills and memories that will last a lifetime. 

SGA Spirit Week supporting sleep in heavenly peace

Next week will be dedicated to educating students about Sleep in Heavenly Peace, which happens to be our county SGA beneficiary for the Superintendent’s Cup this year! The Superintendent’s Cup is an annual competition amongst secondary schools in support of a particular organization. Sleep in Heavenly Peace provides beds and bedding for those in need.  

The CHS SGA encourages the community to make monetary donations or donations of twin sheets, comforters, pillows for SHP. Donations can be dropped off to the front office, media center, or during all three lunch shifts. Check out those Black Friday sales for donations! We are excited to support this wonderful organization this year!

Students and staff are invited to show their school spirit for Sleep in Heavenly Peace during SGA Spirit Week at CHS from Monday, November 27 - Friday, December 1:

Santa's Workshop

Catoctin High School invites local families to participate in our annual Santa's Workshop on December 2nd from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Various CHS organizations are excited to provide holiday-themed crafts. We’re also holding a Winter Gnome Plaza where your child can shop for gifts for their parents. Items will be $10 and less. SGA has invited their sponsored organization Sleep in Heavenly Peace and they will have a representative present that day for families who would like more information about their programs.

SENIOR CLASS MEETING recap

Seniors, if you were unable to attend the Senior Meeting on November 17, please take time to review the slide show that was presented at the meeting. There are several important links including one for attendance, cap and gown ordering, and safe and sane information.  

Senior meeting 1 ppt.pptx

Senior Class of 2024 T-shirts & Sweatshirts

The Class of 2024 is holding their fall t-shirt and sweatshirt sale now through December 15th.  Cost is $15 for short-sleeve t-shirts, $20 for long-sleeve t-shirts, and $25 for crew neck or hooded sweatshirts.  Order yours today through SchoolCash Online. 


Students Celebrate Women in Mathematics

On October 17th Hood College held a "Sonia Kovalevsky Day" to celebrate women in mathematics.  Sonia Kovalevsky was the first woman to receive a doctorate in mathematics and the first woman to be appointed as a full professor of mathematics.  

Catoctin was well represented by Tatiana Owens, Leyna Durrschmidt, Delaney Hench, Sophia Gagliardi, Lauren Kelley, Brynn Lee, Jocelyn Hernandez, Faith May and Grace May.  These ladies worked in teams of three to solve a difficult math modeling challenge.  

Out of all of the FCPS students who participated, we had two teams earning top prizes.  Leyna, Jocelyn and Tatiana earned a second-place overall award and Faith, Delaney and Brynn earned first place in the presentation category.  

Well done ladies, we are all so proud of you!

CHS Collection site for "Homeless for the Holidays" program

In response to the hardships our students, families, and community face, the CHS FCCLA Club is excited to lead the efforts as a donation site for this year's Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership (SHIP) "Homeless for the Holidays" program. 

You can drop off new, full-sized hygiene products at Catoctin High School beginning starting November 6th and continuing through December 22nd.

Click here for a list of hygiene items that we are seeking to distribute to local young people in need as well as a full list of our 2023 drop-off locations.

Together we can make a difference through sharing and caring this holiday season. 

CHS State Testing: Assessment Schedule

Catoctin High School will be administering state assessments Dec. 4, 2023 – Jan. 11, 2024. Most students will take the tests during their regular class block. 

Catoctin HIgh School students:

High school RVP students testing at Catoctin High School:

Students should report to the high school front office by 7:15 am, and check-in at the front office upon arrival. RVP students should be finished by 11:00 am at the latest.

Important Notes and Reminders for Students:

Reminder: Return Federal Impact Aid Surveys

Please remember to return the 2023 Federal Impact Aid survey to school immediately.  This survey is used to collect information from families regarding military service and/or residence or employment on federal property. The Federal Impact Aid survey is administered every year, but this year the survey is in paper form.

Why is it important to complete the Federal Impact Aid Survey?

Federal Impact Aid is a federal education fund that reimburses school districts for lost revenue and additional costs associated with the presence of tax-exempt federal property including military installations, Federal low-rent housing facilities, national laboratories, and other federal buildings and lands, etc. Frederick County Public Schools may receive financial assistance from the Federal Government (under Public Law 81-874) based on the number of pupils whose parents/guardians are active in the military or whose parents live or work on federal property in Maryland.

If a parent/guardian is active in the military or lives/works on federal property and has multiple students in Frederick County Public Schools, a survey must be completed for each student.

For more information, go to https://www.nafisdc.org/impact-aid-resources/about-impact-aid/.

Breakfast and Lunch Cafeteria Accounts

Parents/guardians are asked to please regularly check the balances on your student's lunch account.  You may pre-pay for meals, check account balances, and view charges to your student's account using LINQ Connect.  You may also add funds to student accounts by sending cash or checks to the cafeteria with your student's school ID number.

All students at all Frederick County Public Schools can apply for free or reduced-price meal benefits.  Meal Benefit Applications for school year 2023-2024 are available both on paper (available in the school's office) or online via LINQ Connect. We encourage all families who feel they qualify (and those who are not sure if they qualify) to fill out the electronic free and reduced-price meal benefit application online. Families who have had meal benefits in previous years, must reapply for school year 2024.  Filling the application out online at LINQ Connect is the quickest and most confidential method. 

For more information please visit www.fcpsnutrition.com.

MESSAGE FROM OUR PRINCIPAL

Dear Catoctin Community,


I will admit this is almost exactly the same message I shared at this time last year (and, quite likely, the year before).  It is so timely and appropriate that I will continue to share it this November (and in the years to come).  We have a lot to be thankful for at CHS!


Last week was American Education Week and this week we observe Thanksgiving.  These two celebrations provide us a great opportunity to recognize and be thankful for the work of our educators.  Teaching is both challenging and rewarding.  In my opinion, there is no greater responsibility than nurturing and fostering the growth of our youth.  There is also no greater reward than seeing the happiness and/or satisfaction of a child/student/mentee who is learning and thriving.  The role of educators has never been more integral in the lives of our children than now.  I would encourage all students and parents/guardians to send an email or message of gratitude to those educators who have positively impacted your learning and your life or that of your children….a small message of thanks can mean the world to the recipient and can reinforce the purpose and the impact of his/her work.


This week, we are also celebrating some of our distinguished graduates.  Our students leave a lasting legacy during their time at Catoctin High School; these graduates are also great examples of the positive impact Cougars have long after they leave the halls of Catoctin High School.  I challenge all of our students to think about the positive effect they will have during their time at CHS but also the good they will impart after graduation.


During this season, I am especially thankful for our staff and their strong commitment to our school and our students.  I am also thankful for our students and our community - together we will continue the legacy of Cougar excellence and pride.


Happy American Education Week and Happy Thanksgiving! 

 

Go Cougars!

 

Jen Clements

Principal

MONTHLY GUIDANCE AND INFORMATION FOR PARENTS / GUARDIANS

Good attendance requires a strong partnership between home, school, and students; communication is an important component of that partnership.  To that end, parents/guardians and students will hear from the school when there are concerns about attendance.  We may do any/all of the following:

We understand that a student’s attendance at school can be impacted (positively or negatively) by many factors; it is our goal to understand what is affecting it and work with the family to affect positive change.  Please don’t hesitate to reach out to the school if you are struggling with your child’s attendance - we are here to help!

In high school, especially, lack of attendance can significantly and negatively impact a student’s progress toward graduation.  In addition to the natural consequences of missed school (missed instruction, etc.), there is also the possibility that credits may be denied due to poor attendance (the details of which are spelled out in Regulation 400-98, Student Attendance).  It is our goal to support good attendance which in turn supports student learning and achievement.  As I remind students all of the time - we can help them in many ways when they come to school (but can not do much to support them if they do not attend.)  Thank you for your partnership and your support of your student’s good attendance.

Attendance Update  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 October 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.


Attendance = Opportunity

Online Tutoring available 24/7

Our school is proud to announce that we’ve teamed up with TutorMe to offer 24/7 online tutoring to all students! 

TutorMe is a place where our students can build the connections they need to learn and thrive. Through TutorMe, students connect with a tutor who’s an exact match for what they’re looking for – whether you’re stumped by an algebra equation, craving a confidence boost, or looking for an extra challenge.  There’s more to TutorMe than live online tutoring. Through the TutorMe Writing Lab, you can submit drafts of any written assignment and receive detailed feedback from expert writing tutors in just a couple hours. Reference the TutorMe Support Guide to get started:  TutorMe Student Support Guide (English)  ESP. Guia de Apoyo- TutorMe (Spanish)

Click on the TutorMe icon in Clever to get started today.

College Visits to CHS

The following colleges will be visiting Catoctin High School and representatives will be available to meet with students during STEP.  Students can find the link to sign up in the Schoology "Class of 202x" groups. For questions, contact Mr. Stack.  

Financial Aid/FAFSA Finish Night

Wednesday, December 13th 

5:30 - 8:30 pm CHS Auditorium

Frederick Community College's Assistant Director of Financial Aid will explain the federal financial aid process and how to navigate paying for college.  Immediately following will be 1:1 assistance completing the FAFSA application** with financial aid experts.  Parents and students are welcome. 

**The FAFSA application will not be available until December 2023 due to updates and changes to this application. 

SAT Location Change

Middletown High School is the new SAT test center in Frederick County with the closure of GTJHS as a testing site. Electronic test tickets emailed for the December 2 test administration by the Educational Testing Service indicate that the test center is GTJHS, but students should report to MHS.  

free Mental Health Crisis Care Center Now Open 24/7

The Frederick County Mental Health Association's new Crisis Care Center is now offering 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. The center, located at 340 Montevue Lane, Frederick, is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for both in-person and virtual visits. 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/.  

View flyer:  English   Spanish

resources for families

Catoctin High School Pantry 

Local Food Banks

FCPS Free and Reduced Meal Benefits

NEED HELP?

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

Crisis Services:    Dial 211

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

Suicide Prevention Hotline:    988

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. 

Catoctin Safe and Sane Class of 2024 t-shirts are now on sale!  Visit this link to order: Class of 2024 T-shirt 


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 will be held at 7:00 pm via Zoom Meeting from your home. All are welcome to attend! For more information, email CatoctinPTSA@gmail.com or contact:

community news

These flyers have been approved for electronic distribution by FCPS: