CHS Summer SWAG

Hey Chietains,

I hope you are enjoying a wonderful summer break. To those of you who are new to our Clairemont family, this is the Clairemont School Week At A Glance also known as the SWAG. SWAG is a weekly newsletter emailed out on Sunday afternoons during the regular school year. It is intended to provide students, staff, and families with timely information about upcoming events and important announcements for the coming week. The SWAG is also posted on our school's website. This Summer edition of our SWAG has a few updates and opportunities that I encourage you to check out.

Finally, CHS will be mailing out an informational packet to ALL families in the next few weeks. This packet will have all the information you and your student need to have a fantastic 2021-22 school year. Enjoy the rest of your summer break and we will see you all very soon.

Your CHS Admin Team

CLAIREMONT HIGH SCHOOL ENROLLMENT

We are happy to have you as part of the Chieftain Family and look forward to an amazing school year. Clairemont High School is a safe, inclusive community resource committed to success for every student, we provide stellar academic and technical preparation, career readiness, and co-curricular activities while supporting diversity, community responsibility and personal growth. For next school year, our enrollment will be done electronically (online). All documents and information for the 2021-2022 school year will be submitted online via our 2021-2022 Enrollment website. Once you have submitted the required information and documents, one of our enrollment specialists will call or send you an email with any questions.

If you have questions or concerns related to enrollment, please note the following:

• If the students last name starts with A through E, contact Ms. Pena, tpena@sandi.net

• If the students last name starts with F through L, contact Ms. Fulton, hfulton@sandi.net

• If the students last name starts with M through Q, contact Ms. Perretta, lperretta@sandi.net

• If the students last name starts with R through Z, contact Mr. Durham, sdurham@sandi.net

Returning Student Enrollment Requirements:

• Enrollment Form for 2021/22 School year English | Spanish

• Health Information Exchange Consent English Spanish

• Universal Form (Facts for Parents) English Spanish

All of the required documents to be scanned or completed electronically and submitted via our Online 2021-2022 Enrollment website

New Student Enrollment Requirements for Marston Middle School Students:

• Enrollment Form for 2021/22 School year English | Spanish

• Health Information Exchange Consent English Spanish

• Universal Form (Facts for Parents) English Spanish

• Copy of IEP/504, if student is currently enrolled in a Special Education Program

All of the required documents to be scanned or completed electronically and submitted via our Online 2021-2022 Enrollment

LETTER FROM FORMER CHS FOUNDATION PRESIDENT

My fellow chieftains, it has been my pleasure serving as the President of this Foundation for the past 5 years. I am grateful that when the world went crazy, my children, all now alumni, turned to the TRIBE, which included friends that may not have gone to Clairemont, but had become CHIEFTAINS by association. It would be impossible to put in words the appreciation I have to so many people in this community for all the many things I have to be grateful for, more than I probably know. I have seen so many things change in our time as members of this TRIBE, but one thing has never changed, it is the SPIRIT to go on, to thrive, to share and to celebrate life.

I feel I would be remiss to next year’s board and our growing community if I did not share some words of wisdom that will ENSURE the best educational experience here at CHS and beyond…

JUST SHOW UP, when you can, and be a 100%, even if 100% is relaxed and at PEACE doing nothing at all. Show up early, show up late, show up every single time, or don’t show up at all, stay home and be a 100% fine. You do not have to do much to thrive in this world, find what you love and contribute because you can. Sometimes as parents, administrators and staff we become preoccupied with numbers, which are lovely things, but they cannot define SPIRIT, it can’t be quantified. If a child is happy, enthused and inspired, they will learn. They learn first from their parents, mentors and guides. They will not do what we say unless it comes from a happy, enthused and inspired source.

If you want a child to succeed in this world, then as the parent, the mentor, the guide, be inspired to give all you can when you can and find the joy in the giving, in the learning, in the willingness to try and fail and to try again, because willingness and inspiration is all you need to succeed when you experience the joy of being able to give something you love.

One of the hardest things about volunteering is knowing when to say no. The second hardest thing is leaving a labor of love and trusting that the community you cared for will be 100% fine without you…or maybe it is that you will be a 100% fine without it? This past year has driven home, what the past two decades of volunteering, has led me to discover. The bonds forged in the enthused SPIRIT of giving and sharing can NEVER be broken. I have seen the truth behind PRIDE in this TRIBE and the truth behind Once a CHIEFTAIN Always a CHIEFTAIN. These are not slogans or cheers they are the SPIRIT that embraces this community and the SPIRIT our TRIBE is called to share.

I am confident that I am leaving the board in hands which will contribute to the success not only of our students, but to the Administration, Staff and Community members they have the opportunity to support.

Jason Payne has been our Parliamentarian and was invaluable in bringing our bylaws up to date as well as contributing to the financial successes of the Theatre Department’s fundraising efforts. He is calm, consistent and has a variety of first hand life experiences in the arenas of effective resource management of people, product and money. I have no doubt that his self-motivation and impartial leadership will prove to be valuable tools in the continued growth of our organization and our community in his position of Foundation President.

Paula Cunningham, a long time Chieftain fan and Cheer Leader not to mention fundraising, grant writing, theater, sport, music, dance, art, food, children and Community enthusiast (and that is only the beginning of the list), has worn many caps in her history with Clairemont and the Foundation and her history with me ; ) I have known and volunteered with Paula since I began volunteering. She is, without question, my mentor in the world of volunteering with PTA’s, PTSA’s and Foundations. Long before I knew about “The PRIDE in the TRIBE”, we shared life, on and off campus, working and playing, raising our children and learning with the changing times and ALWAYS in the SPIRIT of the TRIBE. I can assure you she is over-qualified for the job of next year’s Foundation Vice President.

Amy Lowry has been volunteering since we first met over 15 years ago working together on our neighborhood block parties. She spearheaded a revitalization of our neighborhood watch and has been a whole-hearted, hard working, self motivated contributor to every event I have had the pleasure of working on with her. Like many of the members of the board, and our community, Amy has talents in many arenas: organization, creation and motivation to name just a few. Her attention to details and efficiency at collecting, managing and sharing information is a perfect fit in her role as Foundation Secretary.

Heidi Fifield willingly and enthusiastically took on the role of Treasurer at the beginning of this year when Mary Jane Smith accepted the position of Financial Clerk at CHS. In the months she has served as treasurer, she has more than proven her skills and eligibility for her position. She has experience with volunteers and volunteering and is always eager to contribute what she can, when she can, 100% with a positive and selfless attitude that is a welcomed and valuable asset to our board. Heidi will continue in her role as Foundation Treasurer.

Chris Herndon has played a key role in giving the Foundation a platform to share information with the community. Chris modernized the website created by a student for the Foundation several years ago. Under her care the site is becoming an effective tool for promoting events and sharing information. In addition to her help in the organization and promotion of campus and community events, she reliably shows up and gives her 100% to as many of the school events as her schedule allows. Her diligent attention to details will continue to improve the website and inform the Community as Foundation Communications Director.

Heidi Fulton is the Admin Aide for CHS and probably needs no introduction for most of the members of this TRIBE. Her commitment to her children and her community extends way beyond the confines of our campus and brings with it an energy that is impossible to ignore. I knew from the moment I started to work with her, I was going to have a great time doing whatever we did. She continually amazes and inspires me as she unwaveringly contributes all she has to our TRIBE with a creative, caring, and strength of SPIRIT that has no limits. Her love of this community, combined with her talented marketing background has helped put CHS in the SD spotlight, literally!!! She is a born connector, a passionate champion for the children and the perfect person to keep the Foundation connected with the campus administration and staff as the Administrative Representative .

Sandra Landerer is the newest member of the board. She will be sharing her passion for hospitality by helping to feed our community, making everyone feel invited, appreciated and inspired to give. Her input will be a valuable addition to the board in her role as Member at Large.

I would like to take a moment now to thank the members of the board that will be moving on. First I would like to thank Katie Simas who has served the past three years as Vice President of the Foundation. Katie is a great person to have by your side, to be perfectly honest I don’t even know everything she did, she helped with fundraising, hospitality, event planning, keeping track of what was going on in the different facets the Foundation served, I knew that if I had a question she would lead me in the right direction. Like everyone I have had the pleasure to serve with, I look forward to seeing what we can do together in the future. Mary Jane Smith served as our treasurer for two years and would have continued for a third if she hadn’t been hired to the position of Financial Clerk at CHS. Mary Jane worked calmly and quietly on her own, contributing her talent for creating and keeping financial organization as our organization was growing and the need for financial accuracy and transparency grew as well. The roles of Treasurer and Secretary are the two most important in any organization that deals with money, and especially when children and non-profit are thrown into the equation. As an unorganized woman with little time or money sense, my gratitude to Mary Jane and all the treasurers and secretaries I have worked with cannot be expressed strongly enough! Christine Groves has been a presence on the board for years, even when she was leading the PTSA in addition to supporting theater, girl scouts and every organization where she could share her passions by providing students a fun and engaging environment to learn and grow. This past year, the PTSA has been blended into the foundation, consolidating the efforts of our community, Christine brought with her all the knowledge and experience of the PTSA funded and sponsored events and programs particularly Grad Night and College Bound. The task would have been overwhelming without her energy, persistence and determination.

It is impossible to talk about the Foundation without expressing a heartfelt thank you to Fletch, a Forever Founding Member at Large whose passion for Clairemont and its students brought the Foundation into creation in part to keep the Model United Nations alive. The Foundation has blossomed into a proud supporter of the many projects Fletch and a team of others have initiated and nurtured here at Clairemont. The Museum of Presidency (one of the largest collections of Presidential Memorabilia in the country), our flourishing garden and lily pond and the various gardens that have sprouted up all over the campus are the result Fletch’s happy, enthused inspiration (and perspiration ; ) The only other person who might give Fletch a run for his money is Meg Moore one of the most SPIRITED dedicated ASB Advisors EVER!!! I have no doubt that Meg Moore’s SPIRIT will be a forever presence at Clairemont High. Her students and she may not always have seen eye to eye but it was never a question that she was on their side! I also want to thank Alfie Nowak, our Athletic Director who served as Member at Large, his willingness to work with the Foundation and keep us connected with the sports department has been a crucial element in our growing success. The camaraderie and kinship he fosters with all of the students at Clairemont is heartwarming to behold.

Last, but certainly not least I would like to thank our fearless leader, Principal Ethan Williams. It is the leadership of an organization that defines it’s direction, predicts it’s probability of success. I have worked with many principals and can honestly say that Ethan embodies the best of all of them. He has a story he likes share about predicting how good of a football team a high school has and the coach says that the type of adults the team members become in the future will tell what kind of team they were that day. With all due respect, I would like to add that it is the foundation upon which that team was built that determines its success. Unquestionably, Principal Williams leads with an honesty, a passion and a genuine caring that reflects a happy, enthused and inspired source and promises an educational experience that will send young Chieftains out into the world already a success. I look forward to the opportunity of volunteering as a “Chieftain Alumni by Association” in support of whatever direction his leadership takes this TRIBE.

The only thing left for me to say is to remember…PRIDE in the TRIBE will never die because…

ONCE A CHIEFTAIN…ALWAYS A CHIEFTAIN!!!

It has been my pleasure to be of service to this Board and this community,

Colleen Kleege

TEACHER CONTACT INFORMATION

A full list of CHS Staff Contact information can be found on our school website at https://clairemont.sandiegounified.org/contacts/faculty__teachers.

One of the many highlights for our student-athletes were the athletic banners posted around the campus highlighting the athletic careers of our graduating class. CHS hopes to make this a new tradition.

Many of you asked about contributing to the banners when we were getting them organized. At the time we didn't have a way of accepting any sort of donations, but we have now set up a donation button on the CHS Foundation Website. We were fortunate this year that the school was able to fund the banners for the 2021 class, this will not be the case moving forward. While the banners are not expensive (they came to about $25 per banner) we would like to ensure that every senior athlete next year is able to get a banner and have it displayed throughout campus as we did this year.

If you would like to make a donation and 'pay it forward' to the class of 2022 student athletes please do so by using the link below.

DONATE TO OUR SENIOR ATHLETE BANNERS

CHS Player's Creed

It is the mission of the CHS athletics program to teach our student-athletes principles that will guide them for the rest of their lives. CHS athletics isn't just about better athletes, but better people. That is why we are so excited to launch our new CHS Player's Creed (see below). In collaboration with the CHS Athletic Leadership council and various stakeholders, the CHS Player’s Creed was developed to outline what we believe it means to be a CHIEF. Every student participating in athletics at CHS, as well as their parent/guardian will be required to sign the CHS Student-Athlete Contract which states the following:

As a student-athlete at Clairemont High School you have the privilege of being part of a memorable and life changing experience. With this privilege comes great responsibility. Therefore, it is the expectation of the CHS admin team and Athletic Director that all who participate in athletics actively work to model character and integrity of the highest quality in the classroom, on the court/pool/field, and in our community. By signing this contract, you agree to strive to live a life worthy of emulating by exhibiting Courage, Humility, Integrity, Endurance, and Focus in all that you do.

ATHLETICS COACHING CONTACTS

For more information about CHS Counseling, check out our Clairemont Counseling webpage.