THE COUGAR CONNECTION

The Catoctin High School Newsletter • November 6, 2024

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

Sustainability Awards Presented to Catoctin's Conservation Club students and Teacher

Science teacher Brian Brotherton, CHS Class of 2024, the members of the Catoctin High Environmental Conservation Club, and Class of 2024 graduate Gina Lin were each presented a 2024 Frederick County Sustainability Award for their "outstanding contributions to help the Frederick County community make progress toward climate and environmental justice goals." The awards are given each year by the Frederick County Sustainability Commission to businesses, organizations, and individuals based on demonstrated leadership, innovation, and success in sustainability efforts.

Mr. Brotherton was recognized with an individual award for spearheading sustainability initiatives that led to Catoctin High school becoming a certified Maryland Green School while advisor of the school's Environmental Conservation Club (ECC). The student members of the ECC were recognized as a student group for their support of the environment and volunteerism in year-round activities such as solid waste reduction, tree planting, environmental advocacy, and community education about sustainable lifestyle practices. Catoctin High alum Gina Lin was recognized as a student for her passion to helping save our planet and for volunteering much time and energy to lead the school’s efforts to become a certified Maryland Green School.

"We are very proud of the work of Mr. Brotherton and the Conservation Club and they are very deserving of this Sustainability Award. Their work in our school and within the community is affecting positive change now and for the future," said Catoctin High principal Jennifer Clements.

ECC members Katilyn Bartlett, Keelyn Swaney, Olivia Baker are shown (L-R) receiving their award for the club.

2024 Frederick County Sustainability Award winners.

Mr. Brotherton receives his individual award.

2024-2025 Family Survey

Catoctin High School invites you to participate in our school’s 2024-2025 Family Survey. Your feedback is important to us! Your responses will remain anonymous and will be combined with the responses of other families.

This survey impacts the CHS School Improvement Plan, and we hope to show an increase in participation and results this year. Responses to the survey are reviewed by FCPS Central Office, as well as the CHS School Improvement Team. Every comment is read. If you have positive feedback, we welcome your input. If you have any concerns, please note them and, if possible, provide suggestions for improvement. Every suggestion will be discussed and considered.

To access the survey online, go to: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/24_25_SysSur-Families

Important: If you have more than one child enrolled in FCPS, please complete one survey per child.

If you require a paper survey, please contact Assistant Principal Mary Jacques at mary.jacques@fcps.org or at 227-203-3150.

The survey will remain open until Tuesday, November 19 at 11:59 pm EST.

Thank you in advance for your feedback!

Mark your calendar!

- November 7 - Food Drop at TMS, 3:30-4:30 pm, Back Parking Lot
- November 15 - 1st Day of Winter Sports / Try-Outs
- November 20 - Winter Sports Parent Info Night, 6:00 pm
- November 20 - College Financial Aid and FAFSA Workshop at CHS, 5:00 pm
- November 22 - Mandatory Senior Meeting for students, 7:35 am
- November 26 - 2-Hr. Early Dismissal
- November 27-29 - Thanksgiving Break

Help us support special olympics

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 or at other locations around the county. Items needed:

winter Sports Season begins november 15 - registration now open

Catoctin High School is excited to share that online athletic registration (OAR) for winter 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).

- November 15, 2024 - 1st day of Winter Tryouts/practice
- Online Athletic Registration (must be completed prior to November 15, 2024)
- Sports Physical Form - If a physical was submitted for the fall 2024 sports season, it is on file and does not need to be resubmitted.
- Coach DIrectory & Try-out Schedule
- 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 Wednesday, December 4, by 11:59 PM and should be made via School Cash Online.

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

Dual Enrollment Important Dates and Reminders:

The deadline for spring high school-based Dual Enrollment course registration has passed. However, If there is a course you were interested in taking, a special approvals form could be submitted but that will not guarantee that a student will be added to the course.
The last day to withdraw from Fall FCC courses has passed. At this point a student will receive the grade they earn in the course. Keep in mind that both a failure and a withdraw could impact financial aid and that a grade of a D will not transfer to another college.
12/13/24 - Last day of fall high school-based courses. Open campus courses follow FCC timeline.
- - Grades for FCC Dual Enrollment courses impact Athletic Eligibility at CHS
12/15/24 - Deadline for spring Open Campus enrollment
- - Counselors will help determine if you are eligible and if your course selection is appropriate, or help you come up with an alternate plan. You must meet eligibility requirements for any FCC course you are interested in taking.
  - And as a reminder, FCPS will cover the costs of 2 open campus courses for Juniors and 4 open campus courses for seniors for the entire year. High School based courses are still free.
  - If this is your first time taking an FCC course, please see: “Getting Started” resource.

Early College Program

If you are interested in Early College Program, please see the Early College page on FCC’s website: https://www.frederick.edu/admissions/dual-enrollment.aspx#tab-4. This page includes information sessions and the active application window.

Required Senior Meeting for Students

November 22nd at 7:35 am in the CHS Auditorium

The senior timeline of events leading up to graduation will be presented and discussed.

The Jostens representative will be present information about ordering cap & gowns.

Please note:

- The AM CTC bus will wait for am CTC seniors.
- This meeting is considered an excused absence from Virtual School to attend as long as you communicate that you are attending.
- FCC students will need to communicate with their professors to determine if they are excused to attend the meeting.

Catoctin FFA “Engage” at 97th National FFA Convention & Expo

National FFA convention is held every year and attracts FFA members from every state including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The 97th National FFA Convention was held in Indianapolis, Indiana from October 23 - 26, 2024. While at the convention, 20 Catoctin FFA members joined over 71,000 other FFA members and guests from across our nation. The National FFA Convention and Expo is the one of the largest student conventions in the world with a mission to develop, educate and inspire. This year’s convention theme was ENGAGE!

Throughout the week, members were able to participate in sessions, contests, workshops, and a career expo. Check out their adventures and see how they performed in their competitions: Catoctin FFA National Convention

FFA Annual Citrus and Nut Sale

The Catoctin FFA Chapter is selling Florida fresh citrus fruit and Catoctin Mountain Orchard Apples as well as nuts, apple butter, and cider. Orders are due by Monday, November 18th, 2024. Pick up is the week of December 9th, 2024.

For more information contact Sarah Shriner at sarah.shriner@fcps.org or call 227-203-3150. To order, use the online order form or print a paper form and mail (or email) to Sarah Shriner, Catoctin High School, 14745 Sabillasville Road, Thurmont, MD 21788.

MESSAGE FROM OUR PRINCIPAL

Dear Catoctin Community,

Term 1 has ended and report cards will be issued on Friday (every student will receive a copy of his/her report card to bring home on Friday, November 8). Please take some time to review the grades and comments and to talk with your child about his/her challenges and successes. I suggest these questions to help guide that conversation:

In what classes are you finding success? How will you keep working to maintain that success?
Where are you struggling? What are you going to do differently or additionally that will help you overcome those challenges?

While the midpoint and end of the terms are great times to review and talk about grades, students and parents/guardians can and should access grades and other course information in Schoology regularly (this information is accessible at any time). Students should check on assignments and grades on a daily basis. I would encourage parents of high school students to check once a week and ask your child if/when you have questions or concerns. You are welcome to reach out to the teacher, also, if you have questions or concerns that they are best equipped to answer. Resources and support for Schoology (if you are not already a regular user) are available here: https://www.fcps.org/student-services/schoology. We want to foster independence for our high school students, but it is important to have checks in place to ensure they are on the right track (and so parents and the school can partner when students are struggling). It is our collaboration that provides the greatest support for the success and well-being of our students.

Go Cougars!

Sincerely,

Jen Clements

Principal

Monthly Guidance and information for parents/guardians

The research strongly correlates good attendance with school success and, ultimately, high school graduation. Below are some facts related to attendance that highlight the importance of good school attendance (from Attendance Works, www.attendanceworks.org):

- Absenteeism in the first month of school can predict poor attendance throughout the school year. Half the students who miss 2-4 days in September go on to miss nearly a month of school
- Poor attendance can influence whether children read proficiently by the end of third grade
- By 6th grade, chronic absence becomes a leading indicator that a student will drop out of high school.
- When students improve their attendance rates, they improve their academic prospects and chances for graduating.

We appreciate your support in establishing positive attendance habits at home and reinforcing the importance of coming to school on time each day. Please let us know how we can support your efforts.

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.

As we approach the holidays, families are asked to consult the school calendar before planning events and travel. That can be accessed here: https://www.fcps.org/about/calendar-handbook

Please make every effort to plan such that students do not miss school - we have a good amount of time off at both Thanksgiving and Winter Break that allow students and families time for other activities. There are just a small number of school days in the semester after Winter Break, so every day between now and then is integral to students’ strong finishes at the end of their courses.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our attendance secretary or your child’s counselor or administrator with any questions related to attendance.

*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

COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID WORKSHOP & FAFSA FSA ID EVENT

November 20th, 5:00-6:30 PM CHS Media Center

Join us for a comprehensive workshop where financial aid experts from Higher Education will explain the federal and state financial aid processes. You'll learn how to navigate additional resources to help cover college expenses. This session will also review the recent changes to the FAFSA application.

This workshop is particularly beneficial for juniors and seniors (and their parents) planning to attend any post-secondary institution, whether a community college or a four-year college/university. Assistance will be available to help create your FAFSA FSA ID, if needed.

No sign-up is required.

CHS College Visit Schedule

Monday October 21 - UMBC, 1:00-2:00 pm, Room 101
Wednesday, November 6 - Loyola University (MD), 1:00-2:00 pm, Room 101
Thursday, November 14 - Mount St. Mary's University, Lunch shifts, Cafeteria
Friday, November 15 - St. Francis University (PA), 8:00 am
Monday, December 16 - Fairmont State

Must pre-register to attend: College Visits. Visit the registration form for the most up- to-date visit schedule.

Take the ASVAB!

Attention Juniors & Seniors: Not sure what career path to take? Consider taking the ASVAB!

The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) is not just for the military—it’s a powerful tool that helps you discover your skills, strengths, and potential career paths.

- No military commitment required
- Gain insight into careers that align with your abilities
- Get a clearer idea of your future
- Taking the ASVAB can open up possibilities you may not have considered!

Date: Thursday November 21, 7:30-11:30 am

You must register by 11/8/24 to take test: ASVAB Registration

The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) is a multiple-choice test used to assess a candidate's suitability for enlistment in the United States Armed Forces. It measures strengths and potential for future success in military and civilian careers by testing a wide range of skills and knowledge areas.

The ASVAB covers ten subtests:

- General Science (GS) – Understanding of physical and biological sciences.
- Arithmetic Reasoning (AR) – Ability to solve arithmetic word problems.
- Word Knowledge (WK) – Ability to understand the meaning of words through synonyms.
- Paragraph Comprehension (PC) – Ability to obtain information from written material.
- Mathematics Knowledge (MK) – Knowledge of mathematical concepts and applications.
- Electronics Information (EI) – Knowledge of electrical circuits, systems, and electronic devices.
- Automotive and Shop Information (AS) – Knowledge of automotive maintenance and repair, and wood and metal shop practices.
- Mechanical Comprehension (MC) – Understanding of mechanical and physical principles.
- Assembling Objects (AO) – Spatial relationship skills.
- Verbal Expression (VE) – A combination of WK and PC scores.

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 - Class of 2025

For more information visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/catoctinsafeandsane/

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