Update~February 24-28, 2014

Celebrating Success
Congrats to our award winning CHS band and Orchestra who once again wowed and woad a packed auditorium during the first spring concert performance. BTW this was the maiden performance in our newly renovated auditorium (Still waiting on new sound system and curtains).

Speaking of awards...congratulations to Krista Dobosh and student actors who created the PBIS Expectation videos. The videos were entered in a film contest and took first place. Nice work and we look forward to the next series that will be filmed this April by our LINKS Crew.

Community Development 
Last week McKenzie and our S3 Community Development Team hosted a fabulous Spaghetti Dinner for five CHS students (A couple brought their parent or guardian) and one FHS student student. The intent of the event was to help some of our at-risk (At promise) students meet and connect with community members outside of school. It was a really special evening and the goal of the event was indeed reached.

Penny Wars
With all your help Coconino NHS raised over $2600.00 for luekemia and lymphoma research and family support.  In Tessmer's words,  This was amazing!!

Arial has been safely packaged and shipped off to for inspection to be ready for the annual Robotics Championship. (Arial is the name of the ball kicking CHS Robot).
Good luck Arial!

Reminders

• AIMS Writing 2/24 and Reading 2/25.  Monday and Tuesday we will have a combined lunch schedule. Thank you in advance for your help in covering classes and working on your prep hours to assist with AIMS. Below is the bell schedule for Monday and Tuesday.  Please plan to come to the gym to help out during prep periods on Monday and Tuesday. 

• TIME	PERIOD
  7:55-8:50	1
  8:55-9:50	2
  9:55-10:50	3
  10:55-11:50	4 or 5
  11:50-12:20	Combined Lunch
  12:25-1:20	6
  1:25-2:20	7

• 
  

School Wide Student Behavior Management
Please keep in mind that we are continually monitoring and adjusting to help make this system work. It takes all of us!

So what's happening? 

Tier 1- Depends on how teachers handle behavior concerns in the classroom, hopefully in line with the classroom management plans submitted to Cris in the beginning of this school year. 

Tier 2-This is what happens when classroom Tier 1 plans and strategies are not helping to modify behavior.  This year Tier 2 continues to focus a great deal of attention on Tardies. We have recently expanded the focus to include trying to catch and correct chronic truancies. Here's what we are trying to implement: 

3 Unexcused Tardies = Lunch Detention (We are doing our best to get notifications to students in a timely manner)
3 times in Lunch Detention for tardies = 1 day In school Suspension (ISS)
Repeat offenders require increased time in ISS.
We pull daily reports from Synergy,  so it is critical that everyone is marking tardies in Synergy.  Also, it is super helpful if teachers are in the hallways during passing periods.  

Tier 3- Is handled on a case by case basis and always involves administration. Aside from addressing the infrequent immediate Tier 3 infractions such weapons, illegal substances and violence, each Monday a group of about 12 people, including RTR teachers, counselors, home-school liaison (Ella Mayes), CICO coordinator (Kallie VanderVaulk), PBIS Coach (Krista Dobosh), S3 rep (Theresa Freas), SPED Rep (Patty Harper), Jim Popham and all three CHS administrators meet for an hour to review a list of about 15-25 names that are potential tier 3 candidates. The names are divvied up and each of us take a few students to follow up with. Some students are assigned ISS, others Alternative to Suspension (ATS), some  Out of School Suspension (OSS), some are put on a 30 day conditional Students Status contract, and others are released from CHS to attend on-line school, PLATO Night School only, Ponderosa, Summit, GDE etc,  and phone calls home to parents and guardians are made by each of us.
This is by no means a magic bullet that will cure all of our student conduct issues, and is always a work in progress, but with everyones help and commitment, it is sure to help.  

Data (yes another angel got some wings)

M-Minor or Classroom Referral

Thank you for helping to promote our CHS Guiding Principles RESPECT  RESPONSIBILITY  INTEGRITY

Looking Ahead~ Please mark your calendars

• March 26 ~ Faculty Meeting.
• April 2 ~ 8th grade visitation
• April 9 ~ Spotlight on Success event during our April Faculty Meeting.  This is a time for each department to share highlights with all of us. Each group will have about 2-3 minutes to share. 

AIMS Away...Have a great week!

Update ~ February 18-21, 2014

Celebrating Success
  
"Don't worry our teachers are so amazing here, they can handle it" responded a CHS student at our standing room only, 8th grade parent information night last Thursday. This was in response to a parent who posed a question about class size and my response was the average class size is 31 to 1.  The student quickly interjected her sincere reassurance to the audience that due to the expertise of our teachers they need not worry-This response even got an applause. 
Thank you CHS counselors for organizing and hosting this successful evening. 

Seventeen years and holding strong, Panther Strong!  The 17th annual CHS art exhibit is up at Brandy's Restaurant. This exhibit displaying current artwork by our talented students is a must see.  The show will run from Feb. 10 through March 10.  

Girls Basketball is holding strong. Congratulations to our girls who, once again,  beat FHS in the first round of the sectional state tournament. The Lady Panthers will play again on Friday night at CHS. And, our Panther Wrestlers came away from the State Championship with two state Champions: Congratualtions to Collin Anderson and Gabe Galaviz. 

Go Panthers!

FYI

• This Friday, February 21, from 7:30-4:30pm CHS will host Arizona Band, Orchestra Directors Association (ABODA) concert festival in the north end of our campus. 

The inside Gates will be closed during the day on Friday. 

PE Students will use courtyard entrance to enter through the main gym to the locker rooms for class.

Language students only will be permitted into the language hall for class.   Dortha ,Izabel entrance/exit will be used for access to the north parking lot via outside side walk.

Please remind students of our Panther hospitality while we host this event

• On Tuesday 2/18 and Wednesday 2/19 the state S3 team will be conducting a site visit and audit at CHS. Normal school day routine will not be disrupted, but wanted to let you know. 

Dates to remember

2/18 PBIS Mtg 3:00-4:30pm

2/18 & 2/19 S3 State Audit

2/21 G V Basketball @ CHS

Update~February 10-14, 2014

Celebrating Success

Congratulations to CHS junior Leah Weinzinger! Leah won this weekend's Northern Arizona Poetry Out Loud regional contest at the Coconino Center for the Arts.  She'll compete against 8 other students in the state finals in Tucson on March 15.

Congratulations to all the winter sports athletes, CHS had a strong season- A definite highlight was Friday night when our Girls Varsity Basketball team took home a big "W" against FHS at their house.  Way to go Lady Panthers! Wrestling finished strong with a win over FHS as well, woo hoo!!! And our boys Varsity Soccer team made it all the way to state. Go Panthers all the way around!

Congratulations are also in order for CHS Teacher Loren Hudson. Loren presented and was approved for his Doctoral Dissertation Prospectus last week.  Loren will defend his dissertation in May. Nice work Mr. Hudson!

AIMS

AIMS Reading and Writing are on the horizon. Please keep an eye out, and carefully read all correspondence from CHS Testing coordinator, Carrie Johnson. 

Monday, February 24 ~ AIMS Writing

Tuesday, February 25 ~ AIMS Reading

Accreditation/AdvancedEd

Heads up- All CHS Faculty and staff will be asked to complete a rather lengthy School Self Assessment (AKA Survey). You can expect this survey to be distributed at the end February and due back by the end of March. 

Links ~ Freshmen Academic Follow up

Thursday, February 13th during combined lunch the Link Leaders will be holding a small-group academic follow-up with 9th grade students. This will take place in room 211 and lunch will be provided. 

If you know of any freshmen students who might benefit from an academic check in, please email names to Krista or Theresa 

Dates to Remember

2/10 Group Data Meeting 8:00am room 204

2/13 8th grade parent information night 5:00pm Mini Theater

2/14 Happy Valentines day! No school 2/17

Update ~ February 3-7, 2014

Celebrating Success
National History Day Exhibits...Wow!  Extraordinary displays of learning and a great deal of student pride. Congratulations to our Social Studies Teachers and students. We will undoubtedly have many students move up the ranks to the state finals.
Dramatic interpretations of Shakespeare's work...Wow! Watching the students perform sent shivers up my spine. Congratulations  to Terry Wilson and her students. I can't wait to see what's next.

TPEC ~ Teacher Performance Evaluation 
As you know the state of Arizona now requires that all teachers, regardless of tenure status, to complete two annual observations each school year (two observations equal one evaluation).  As with most things, there is an exception.  I outlined below this possible exception and a few other important pieces of information regarding the new evaluation process. 

• If you have received all Integrating (3.0) or Innovating (4.0) scores on your eval and  thus have an average score of 3.0 or higher, you and your evaluator can together determine if you should sign a waiver to forego your second observation (effectively duplicating your first score).  
• If you have any Applying ratings the hope is during the second round, those areas will improve. 
• If you are a teacher with less than three years experience in FUSD you must complete a second observation.
• Artifacts and evidence~This is the section on the eval tool where you will attach any documents that should accompany your observation: Lesson Plan, description of how technology is used in your classroom, grading rubrics (If one is being used). Anything you would like to share in written form about your lesson.  Last semester some you of sent these items in an email attachment.  Cris sent out a request for you to attach your document in the artifacts section for the first round of observations. For round two we're asking that everyone submit these documents in the artifacts/evidence section of the tool.

What the Tech?
Due to the increase in technology infractions the PBIS Team (Panther Tracks)  is promoting a technology expectation Blitz. Tomorrow, Monday, Feb 3, students will receive a What the Tech? (WTT) worksheet to be completed each period. Teachers are asked to share their classroom expectations for hand held devices with each class and students will take notes and hold on to their forms.  On Thursday during 3rd hour homeroom,  students who show a completed form to their teacher will receive a treat. (Treats will be provided to each teacher before Thursday). The WTT worksheets are in all first hour teacher's mail boxes.

Mood Booster
And, this has nothing to do with substances of any kind:)
Did you know that when a person speaks positively to someone about someone else it improves the mood of both parties.  This is called a second hand complement. I thought it might be fun to test this claim.  This week when talking to your colleagues try it out- Give a second hand compliment by telling one of your colleagues something you appreciate about one of our students.

Spotlight On Success
As I keep saying and hearing, there are so many wonderful things happening all over Coconino High School. In lieu of a traditional faculty meeting in April, I am asking each department to share with the rest of us some highlights of what is happening in your department. You choose what you would like to share.  A formal presentation is not necessary,  but rather a few highlights that your department feels is worthy of mention to the CHS faculty. Kind of like a faculty show and tell. This Spotlight on Success will take place on Wednesday, April 9.

Fundraiser for Cabrina
Cabrina is a student in FUSD and granddaughter to long time FUSD employee, Belinda Shafor. Cabrina was recently diagnosed with a rare inoperable brain tumor. If you would like to contribute to her extensive medical expenses, there will be a table set up in the CHS North Commons during Tuesday's basketball game. Raffle tickets, bracelets, T-shirts and donations are various ways to help this cause.

Planning Ahead

•  We will not have a faculty meeting in February, but you will be asked to participate in a few  more surveys. Details soon.
•  February 6 ~ Pep Assembly
•  February 8 ~  CHS Winter Formal Dance 8:00pm @ SMS
•  February 12 ~ Progress Reports Due
•  February 13 ~ 8th grade parent information night. Teacher need NOT be present at this event, but our counselors are asking for selected students to be here to present information about courses  offered at CHS. Karen Hughes will be sending an email with details this week. 
•  March 26 ~ Faculty Meeting (This will include the annual presentation from the FUSD Governing Board)
•  April 2 ~ 8th grade visitation day 11:00am-2:20pm
•  April 9 ~ Spotlight on Success at CHS. 1:00pm

***Please mark your calendars***

Spirit Week
Spirit Week is this week and includes a pep assembly on Thursday 2/6 in the large gym. 7th period teachers should accompany their classes to the gym for the assembly.

M.I.A
This is the time of year when meetings and various trainings pull us in all directions and unfortunately out of the building. Several office staff and Cris and I will be attending the "Synergy" training this week.  We will be gone Wed, Thurs and Friday. George Moate will join Steve at the helm.