February 25-March 1, 2013

Celebrating Success
Thank you all for not missing a beat last week with our spotty weather caused schedule. Thanks for your great attitudes and flexibility all week long.

As you know we have some truly remarkable students at CHS.  Via the Panther Report I will be sharing the extraordinary recognitions and awards earned by students in this year's senior class of 2013.  Did you know that we have a National Merit Honors Finalist at CHS? This honor and accomplishment goes to Marcus Braatz.  When Marcus heard this news, he came to my office to tell me how happy he was because now maybe CHS would be in the newspaper highlighting what a great school it is...so true Marcus!
This weekend was the Northern Arizona National History Day Competition and CHS students "swept" the competition in the individual exhibit category.  This means that most of Northern Arizona high school entries at the state competition in April will be from CHS alone. YES!
Oh and guess what else? We have two teachers from CHS who are among the five finalist for Coconino County Teacher of the Year. Congratulations and thanks for representing CHS, Christine Sapio and Terry Wilson. We are so proud for you!

PLCs 
This Wednesday, February 27 is the last Wed of the month. We will keep this day as planned for you to collaborate with colleagues outside of your small Collaborative Team. We will not meet as a large group.  Please submit your Collaborative Team minutes to Tadd via the common drive.

Faculty Meeting Make-up
There is only one Wednesday afternoon in the somewhat distant future available for us to make up our faculty meeting that was scheduled for last week (Snow day). Because March 6th and 13th are already spoken for (Common core phase 1 training and make up day for those on S3) it looks like the next available Wednesday is March 27th. So March Wednesdays will look like this...
March 6 ~ Common Core Phase 1 here at CHs in the mini-theater (S3 team has a separate, unrelated  all day training at FRC).
March 13 ~ For members of the CHS S3 team there will be a repeat Common Core Phase 1Training at MEMS.  All others regular PLC Collaborative Team time.
March 20 ~ SPRING BREAK 
MARCH 27 ~ CHS Faculty Meeting
Please plan accordingly

The Moment of Truth
ALL 10th grade students and those 11th and 12th graders who have not yet passed or are working to exceed will be taking
AIMS Writing on Monday, Feb 25
AIMS Reading on Tuesday, Feb 26
Students should go directly to testing sites first thing both days
Sophomores in the large gym
Junior and Seniors in the small gym
IEP students have been notified of their accommodation locations
* Two days of standardized testing requires a lot of mental energy and is a worthy accomplishment.  Upon completion of these two days of testing, please remember to take a minute and congratulate all of our tenth grade students for their efforts and for completing the two days of testing. 

Link Crew news
The 2013-2014 Link Recruitment Assembly will take place the last 20 minutes of 6th period on Wednesday, February 27th. (This was scheduled for last week during during Pathways). Sophomores and Juniors will be released for the assembly via the PA system. Please do not release students any earlier.

Dates to Remember

• 2/25, 26 AIMS
• 2/26  Incoming 9th grade Parent Information Night 6:00 PM Mini-Theater
• 2/27 SZ out of the building S3 and PARCC
• 2/27 Links Crew Assembly 12:30 PM 
• 2/28 Madrigal Dinner South Commons 7:00PM

For your convenience, on the upper right hand side of the PantherReport blog you will find a section entitled Frequently Used Forms.  These forms can be printed from your computer.  I am working on adding more commonly used forms. Please let me know if there are any forms you would like included for this section. 

PantherReport February 19-22, 2013

Celebrating Success
I want to tell you all how much we enjoy being in your classrooms. It is a privilege to walk into your rooms at CHS and see students who want to be  "students" and teachers passionately teaching and lighting up the minds of our students. It has also been fun to see some of the teaching techniques we were reminded of by Dr. Schmoker, in use. Brian Locke's note taking tool is awesome and much to Brian's surprise his students have taken a liking to the tool and are committed to completing the form each week. Thank you all for your dedication and commitment to our kids.

Our CHS Transition team was recognized by several people at the state level for their recent accomplishments:
Following the successful CHS Career Fair, the team registered 40 + Juniors and seniors for the ASVAB and helped 30 + seniors to initiate work on the FAFSA.  They also referred 10 students for Vocation Rehab services. Way to go team!

FYI

The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers at  the Northern Arizona University are hosting a Science Night Event at Coconino called Noche de Ciensias. Students will participate in STEM related competitions focused on civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and computer science engineering. All high school, middle school, and elementary school students are encouraged to participate at this event. Prizes will be awarded to winners and dinner will be served for all participants and their families. The event will take place in the cafeteria on March 5 at 6:00 PM. Flyers will be in your mailboxes this week. 

A Word from the Panther Book Store
Please come to the bookstore and check out our new items and help support our Panthers at the same time.

Items in the bookstore include:

Polos, hoodies, sweatpants, t-shirts (long and short sleeved), NEW CHS Beanies, NEW panther beanie stuffed animals, CHS stadium blankets, duffel bags, school supplies and so much more! 

Reminder

Wednesday, February 20 is a faculty meeting. The topic of the meeting is Emergency Response Planing.  Please bring your orange card, used during lock down drills, to the meeting.

1:15-2:30PM. The meeting will be followed by a short presentation about future Employee Compensation. 2:30-2:50PM.

* Stay tuned for weather related changes

Dates to Remember (Quiet week at CHS)

2/20 Band & Orchestra combined Concert 7:00 PM

2/22& 23 ABODA Band competition at CHS.  Begns at 8:30 AM in the main auditorium. 

 

PantherReport February 11-15

CELEBRATING SUCCESS
With each passing week CHS has more and more reasons to celebrate. Last week 45 CHS Students proudly read poetry out loud as their peers listened and cheered them on. Around the corner and down the hall in the library, World History Students displayed and shared their excellent projects about turning points in United States history. As Jen Parker remarked "What a fine example of challenging, academically rigorous student work". Great work English and Social Studies Teachers.
On Friday the CHS Chamber Singers sang at the NAU Madrigal Festival and received a rating of Superior for their performance!!  Congratulations to our Chamber Singers!
Wrestling Season concluded with a state championship title for CHS Wrestler Gabe Galaviz, Way to go Gabe!  Jared Krall finished second and Jerome Crowther third.  The CHS wrestling team overall took third place at the state championship. Congratulations coach Popham and wrestlers!

COMMON CORE and PLCs
As I mentioned in last week's Panther Report CHS has an opportunity to host the Common Core Phase 1 training during the school work day. In compliance with the Arizona Department of Education,  FUSD will be implementing ELA Common Core Standards in all content areas beginning school year 2013-14. As we all know, in order for successful implementation, teachers need adequate training and preparation time. Toward that end Gretchen has arranged for various trainings.  She is working on a plan for a four session training to take place on Wednesday afternoons in March, April and May at CHS. The tricky part is that each session will begin at 1:15 and last 2.5 hours, ending at 3:45.  Gretchen is working on funding so you can be paid for the time beyond your contracted work day,  or we might be able to add a fifth day and end each session earlier.  I am pushing for four sessions and extra pay, but would like to know your thoughts about this.  If this all works out, The Common Core workshops will be our PLC focus for the following four dates: March 6, April 3, April 7 and May 1.  A few of you are currently taking or have already been through the training in which case you would not need to attend the four trainings at CHS.

NEED 301 HOURS?
Or Career Ladder ICP points? Or, Professional Development Seat Hours and Recertification Hours?  Beginning this Wednesday from 3:00-3:30 PM Tadd Ragan and Mike Vogler will be offering brief workshops on implementing Effective Lesson components and Tier 1 Intervention strategies.  See e-mail from Tadd sent on Friday, 2/8.  

COMPENSATION:   On February 20 at 2:30, Derek Born (FEA), Connie Padilla-Meraz (FESA) and Dietrich (HR) will be at CHS  to walk staff through the two compensation increase proposals submitted to IBS.   

REMINDER (Note from the District Office)

KEYCARDS, BADGES, & SAFETY : All district employees will be issued a white keycard as their ID badge.  Once issued, all other id badges will become unofficial and the expectation will be that all FUSD employees wear their ID badge at all times.  We will be rolling out this process during the month of February for full use in March.

DATES TO REMEMBER

2/13 AZVAB Testing 11:30AM-2:20PM (Mini-Theater)

2/18 No School

2/20 Faculty Meeting 1:15-2:50PM 

2/25 AIMS ~ Writing (Adjusted bell schedule, one lunch)

2/26 AIMS ~ Reading (Adjusted bell schedule, one lunch)

2/26 Incoming Freshmen Parent Meeting with CHS Admin

PLANNING AHEAD-March 14, 5:30-7:00 Spring Open House/Academic Fair

This is our spring showcase event. It would be great to have students present and exhibit during this evening event. If you have students who would be willing to share information about your classes and programs please invite them to participate. 

FYI Our Boys Basketball Team will play Cholla High School in Tucson on Thursday, February 14, in the State Championship Tournament.  GO PANTHERS!!!

PantherReport February 4

Celebrating Success
Did you know that we have a published author amongst us? CHS senior, Brittany Oldroyd wrote and submitted a story to a publisher. Her dream of becoming an author quickly became a reality.  Her book will be available for purchase at book stores nation wide within the next few months. This is pretty remarkable for a young author. Congratulations Brittany!

How about those Panthers? I'm sure by now you have heard that the Coconino Boys Basketball Team beat the Flagstaff Eagles at FHS on Friday night to full house. Woo hoo...Congratulations to Coach Kelley Smith, his coaching staff and of course the players.
Sectionals begin this week. As luck would have it CHS plays FHS at SMS on Wednesday 2/6 at 7:30 PM.
Hats off to the Lady Panther basketball team as well, they played their hearts out on Friday and had a terrific season. Congratulations coaches, staff and players.
Our Soccer teams faired well this winter too: Boys ended up 8, 3 and 1 and Girls 5 and 7.
CHS Wrestlers are still hard at it.

Important information about February
Looks like we are in for a busy month...
This week we have several exciting events.
Tuesday Feb 5 is the annual Poetry Out loud and we have 45 students participating.
Tuesday Feb 6 and Wednesday Feb 7 World history students will be participating in a History Day providing students an opportunity to “do history.” Students are given the opportunity to demonstrate their expertise, and to display their achievements to fellow students and parents.  Guests are invited to view student projects during their student’s world history class on Wed or Thur. History Day.  This is an adjudicated event and judges will select qualifiers for the regional History Day competition held at NAU on Feb. 23.
Wednesday Feb 6  Ed Vesley and Flag PD Detectives will be holding a special seminar for faculty and staff regarding Identity Theft from 1:00-3:00PM in the mini-theater. (Attendance is optional).
Thursday Feb 7 is extended ASP day (No pathways). You will find a lesson in your box regarding Internet Safety.  Please use this lesson as a guide to discuss this important topic with your students during extended ASP this Thursday. (Freshmen students will go with their ASP teachers to the main auditorium to meet with Ed about this same topic).
Monday Feb 18 No school
Wednesday Feb 20 Faculty Mtg
Monday Feb 25 AIMS ~Writing
Tuesday Feb 26 AIMS~ Reading

Also, please be aware that several office staff will be gone this week to attend a Student Information seminar (Synergy).  We will have a skeleton staff in the front office during the latter part of this week. So far, these are the events I know about.  I have a sneaky suspicion that mot events will surface.  I'll keep you posted.

Common Core
Good news, I think...  CHS will have an opportunity to host phase one Common Core Training here in March, April and May.  I will fill you in as I learn more details.

Reduce Stress
Our CHS printing service provided by our students in the transition program can take care of ALL your printing, copying, shredding  etc,  needs. They are at your service and can really help lighten your load. This service is available to everyone. Please contact Russ Randall.

Have a great week everyone!!!