Cat Chat Newsletter - February 2018 

 
   

   
Dear Cienega Families,
 
Just recently, we successfully finished class schedule registration for the 2018/2019 school year. Current 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students selected their choices for next year's class schedule. If your student did not get a chance to register, please have them see his or her counselor as soon as possible.
 
Parent-Teacher Conferences are scheduled for this Thursday, February 8th from 1:30 - 6:30 p.m. in the Student Union. I encourage all of you to join us and meet with your student's teachers to discuss his or her academic progress. If you need more than a few minutes to discuss concerns, please contact the teachers to schedule a time to meet during their office hours.
 
Also, consider joining us for Vail Pride Day on Saturday, February 17th at the Pima County Fair Grounds. Student work will be displayed, awards will be given out, and it is a great opportunity for the community to come together.
 
We look forward to seeing you at conferences and Vail Pride Day. Your involvement in your child's education is an important part of keeping our Cienega community strong.
 
 
Sincerely,
 

Nemer Hassey
Principal

IN THIS ISSUE
PARENT SURVEY
VAIL EARLY COLLEGE
FAFSA
BOOKSTORE
SENIOR INFO
CHS THEATER PRESENTS
AP EXAM INFO
NJROTC
ACT PREP CLASSES
SKILLS USA
FOOD DRIVE
COLLEGE & CAREER CHRONICLE
SENIOR PICTURES
VOLUNTEER CORNER
PHAT CAT WINNERS


PARENT SURVEY 
 

VAIL EARLY COLLEGE 
 

Attention parents of Juniors!  Join us tonight for an informational meeting regarding Vail Early College at 6:30pm in the Student Union.


FAFSA 
 

BOOKSTORE 
 

We will be at Parent-Teacher Conferences on Thursday, February 8th to answer any questions you might have, and accept payments for Class Fees, Activity Fees and AP Tests.  We look forward to meeting you.
 
Please contact us if you have questions.
 
Kathy Good, Bookstore Manager, goodk@vailschooldistrict.org , 879-2824

Molly Koenig, Bookstore Clerk,   koenigm@vailschooldistrict.org , 879-1819
 

IMPORTANT SENIOR INFORMATION
 

Seniors: There are only a few months before graduation. If you have not yet completed the FAFSA, do so as soon as possible. Go to fafsa.ed.gov to complete the application. Click on this link for a very helpful worksheet to get you started.
 
SchoolWay App:
If you have not yet downloaded the SchoolWay, I highly encourage you to do so. The senior counselor sends push alerts to your Smart phone, or texts or emails if you don't have a Smart Phone. Go to www.myschoolway.com to download the App. Join the Vail School District, then Cienega High School and then the GROUP: Class of 2018.
 
Graduation Reminders: 
Cap and Gown and Announcements: Contact Jostens at 1-800-567-8367
Ceremony is Saturday May 19th
Graduation Rehearsal is Friday May 18th
Honors Night is Wednesday May 16th
 
Testing Dates :
There are only a couple more opportunities to take the SAT or ACT this year!
Go to www.collegeboard.org for dates and deadlines for the SAT
Go to actstudents.org for dates and deadlines for the ACT
Or use the Counselor website for all of this information http://chsstaff.vail.k12.az.us/~johntritz/testing.htm
 
General Reminders:
  • If your student is taking any courses through correspondence or Dual Enrollment through Pima, it is their responsibility to bring the transcript from that school to the registrar in order to get credit for the class and to be able to participate in graduation ceremonies. This deadline is MAY 1st unless taking a Pima class. That deadline will be two days after the class has been completed.
  • If nine absences are accumulated in any class regardless of the reason, unless it is a school related activity, THE STUDENT WILL NOT PASS THE CLASS AND WILL NOT GRADUATE IF THE CLASS IS A REQUIREMENT FOR GRADUATION. Refer to the student agenda for exceptions to this policy.
  • Seniors planning on attending a four-year college should have applied to their schools by now.  You may lose valuable scholarship opportunities by procrastinating any longer.
  • Be sure to check the CHS Website for updated scholarship opportunities. The link can be found by entering the website at http://chs.vail.k12.az.us click on the "Counselor" link, from there click on "Scholarships". This page is updated regularly, so check back often.
  • Senioritis can sometimes creep up on students.  Please be aware of this and monitor your students attendance and grades carefully so that there will be no unhappy surprises in May when it is time to celebrate the graduation of your son or daughter from Cienega.
  • Please utilize PowerSchool on a regular basis and stay informed of the progress your son or daughter is making in his or her classes (https://ps.vail.k12.az.us/public/home.html)
   

CHS THEATER DEPARTMENT PRESENTS...
 

 
 

AP EXAM FEES
 

AP Students and Parents!!!!
 
This is a reminder that we are accepting payments for AP exams from today until April 1st. Many students pay for their exams in advance of the final deadline in order to alleviate the burden on their parents. You can even pay for one exam every few weeks to help with the cost.
 
How much does an AP Exam cost? - $94 (less if student is eligible for free/reduced lunch)
 
Where do I make the payment? - CHS bookstore
   
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call our Instructional Support Teacher, Eric Tatham, at (520) 879-2864 or send him an email at tathame@vailschooldistrict.org 

 
NJROTC HAPPENINGS 
 
 
 
NJROTC Cadet Epiphanie Donkeng has received a Letter of Assurance (LOA) to attend the U.S. Military Academy (West Point).  An LOA is given to highly qualified candidates and gives a conditional Appointment to West Point provided the candidate successfully completes the application process during the remainder of the high school Senior year. Congratulations Epiphanie!

 
 
ACT PREP CLASSES 
 
 
SKILLS USA CONSTRUCTION COMPETITION 
 
 
Cienega Construction Technology students were hard at work at the Regional Carpentry Competition  at Sahuarita High School on Friday, February 2nd. Students were trying hard to better last year's first and second place finish.  Great Job Bobcats!

 
 
 
 
NHS FOOD DRIVE  
 
 
COLLEGE AND CAREER CHRONICLE 
 
 
It's Already Time to Prepare for Next Year

January and February are important future planning months for students at Cienega High School. This is the time of year when we focus on registration. We typically start the next year's registration during the last week of January and conclude during the first week of February. The two week process begins with credit checks and presentations of courses offered. During the second week, students are able to use their electronic devices to enter their course choices into PowerSchool.
 
During our first meeting students work with their counselors according to their grade level in the Student Union. Each student receives a copy of his or her transcript and is walked through the process of conducting a credit check. This is an excellent time for students to recognize that they may need to make up courses or work on improving their grades. Sometimes students may also learn that high school credit they earned at other schools do not appear on their transcripts. This gives us an opportunity to fix any issues, prior to the students' senior year.
 
The first registration meeting is also the time for to students to learn or review how their simple and weighted grade point averages are computed. They also learn how class rank is determined. Students are kept abreast of their academic progress annually in attempt to help prevent any senior year surprises.
 
Counselors then present courses that are available for the upcoming school year. The discussion includes an explanation of any new courses. Counselors also explain how distinction points can be earned for taking honors courses or advanced placement courses. Other opportunities such as career and technical education courses, and internship opportunities are also explained. Students are shown the updated course description book and are guided through choosing courses for their next year in high school. Students are then instructed to list their chosen courses on their course selection sheets. The goal is for students to take their course selection sheets home and discuss their chosen courses with their parents.
 
The second meeting with students occurs the following week. It entails students entering their course selections into PowerSchool, using their electronic devices. Students are informed that when they enter their choices into PowerSchool, we are unable to determine which period they will have particular classes or which particular teachers they will have. There is no way to make those choices during registration. They are simply choosing the classes they want.
 
Registration is done in January in order to help our school make decisions about how many sections we may need of particular classes in order to best serve the educational needs of our students. The individual student schedules are not actually generated until summer.
 
If your child has not mentioned registration, ask your child to show you the classes he or she has chosen. If the chosen classes do not meet your approval, let your child's counselor know. Even if the second part of registration has been done, it does not mean changes cannot be made. We want to do what's best to help your child attain their post-high school college and/or career goals.

Dainah L. Graham
College & Career Counselor
Bobcat Scholar Academy
(520) 879-2819
 
 
SENIOR ADS FOR YEARBOOK
 

Hey Senior Parents!

Have you ever wanted to recognize your senior for all the great accomplishments they have achieved throughout their academic journey? How about with a senior ad in the back of the 2017-18 yearbook! Create your's today on  Jostens.com! Only 4 full pages remain, order today to secure your space. Deadline is February 14!


 

STUCO HAPPENINGS
 





PHAT CAT DRAWING WINNER
 

Congratulations to Abigail Tittle, she was the Phat Cat Drawing winner on Friday, January 26 th. Abby won a women's Fossil watch. Congrats Abby!



 


________________________________________________

Thank you parents for your support. We truly appreciate your involvement! 

Cienega High School

DATES TO REMEMBER

 
2/8 - Parent/Teacher Conferences
 
2/16
Half Day  
12:40 dismissal 
 
2/17 - Vail Pride Day
 
2/22 - 2/23 - Rodeo Break

3/9 - CHS Theatre presents the Children's Show 7pm 
 
3/12-3/23 - Spring Break
 
3/9 - Cap & Gown Orders Due

3/30 - No School

4/6 & 4/7 - CHS Theatre presents Anything Goes

4/19 - Senior Parent Night

4/30 - Band Concert

5/2, 5/3 & 5/4 - SEP

5/7 - Choir Concert  
 

QUICK LINKS


CHS
INFORMATION

Cienega High School
Vision Statement
 
Cienega High School creates an educational environment utilizing partnerships among community, parents, and staff to assist students in maximizing their academic potential and promoting life-long learning.
 
Front Office   - 879-2800     Attendance   -  879-2803   
Bookstore     -  879-2824 
Registrar       - 879-2812

Health Office - 879-2810
Volunteer Coordinator
879-2811                  


Front Office/200 House   
Principal
Nemer Hassey
Secretary - Chris Rich 879-2816 
Senior Counselor
John Tritz - 879-1843 
Bobcat Scholars Counselor
Dainah Graham - 879-2819
                        
300/700 House
Assistant Principal
Dean Nourse

Secretary - Kim Thielke 879-2855
Freshman Counselor
Eric Boxley - 879-2854

  
400/600 House/Athletics     
Assistant Principal
Kelly Hadden
Athletic Director - Whitney Holland - 879-1813            

Secretary -  Sandi Morrison
879-2892
Counselor A - L
Colette Alvarado 879-2904

500 House/Special Education/Security          
Assistant Principal
Kim Middleton
Secretary - Cassandra Bahrychuk 879-2874

Counselor M - Z
Sylvia Lewandowski-879-2817

Special Education Secretary Patty McKnight 879-1804
 
Communications Coordinator
Elizabeth Taggart - 879-2878  
 
 
 
CHS website: chs.vail.k12.az.us               

Moodle:

Silhouette Photography - 886-1710  (Senior pictures for yearbook)
      
Sodexho - 879-2090 or mymealtime.com   

District Office - 879-2000

Transportation - 879-2475


Get your YEARBOOK today!

 
 
 
 

CHS Online Store
Spirit Wear & More!


 Click here for Online Ordering  

 

 

ALL SALES FROM OUR ONLINE STORE BENEFIT CHS BOBCATS 

 


Job Openings

Are you looking for a job?

 

The Vail School District is looking for dynamic, energetic and positive staff members. Please click on the link below for the job descriptions, qualifications, salary guide, and the application process.

 

Click for job openings here   

 

Cienega High School
Yearbooks

It's that time of year again to pre-order your yearbook. 
www.jostensyearbooks.com