Update - November 26-30, 2018

CELEBRATING SUCCESS...
Welcome Back CHS! Hope you all enjoyed some special time with family and friends. 
November has been a month of successes and celebration for our CHS JROTC.
In early November our cadets competed in Keams Canyon with schools from all over Arizona and New Mexico. They took home first, second and third place trophies in physical fitness, color guard and marksmanship.
Shortly thereafter the Panther Cyber Patriot competed with over 6000 teams nationwide where students acted as I.T. professionals tasked with finding cybersecurity vulnerabilities. Then, our CHS Panther Battalion JROTC Color Guard opened the "Coconino Community College 22 Push Up Challenge" to raise awareness for veteran suicide. (Twenty-two veterans take their own lives in this country every day) - This important event was organized by Panther alum, Brianna Monell.
Congratulations on a successful fall!

INSTRUCTIONAL ROUNDS...
Our strategic plan outlines our commitment to work together to foster academic relationships that ensure the achievement of rigorous learning expectations for all.  Another commitment is to adopt the continuous improvement model toward excellence. It is the hope of the Instructional Rounds Team to help meet these goals and that we develop a shared practice of observing, discussing and reflecting on our teaching and learning practices.
This week we begin the much awaited instructional rounds.  About 20-25 teachers will be making rounds this week and are looking forward to observing in our classrooms.

STRATEGIC PLAN...
Thank you to all who have completed the survey. There's still time if you have not had a chance to take the survey  Click here for the survey. 

No meetings, no school day events this week 👍

LOOKING AHEAD...
12/4 ~ Leadership Team Meeting 3:00 - 4:00pm Room 201
12/5 ~ Freshman Contact day, 7th period
12/5 ~ Faculty Meeting 2:00-2:45 pm
12/6 ~ 301 Holiday Self Care with David McCain 3:00-5:00pm Room 204

Mission 

Coconino High School strives to build upon the tradition of Panther Pride - A positive environment that honors yet unifies all cultures-and work in partnership with parents and the greater community to encourage each student in his/her pursuit of academic excellence and to instill a lifelong enthusiasm for learning.

Vision To create and maintain a vibrant school culture that exemplifies academic excellence and model global citizenship. 

Guiding Principles Respect ~ Responsibility ~ Integrity

Press on! Panther Strong!

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Update ~ November 19 & 20, 2018

CELEBRATING SUCCESS...
How about that Lip dub? Congratulations to the talented digital media student crew and to Jeremy Gemetta, Daniel Vidales and leading actor, Bryce Brothers.  This year's Lip Dup surpassed all expectations and should be up for an Oscar soon, great job!

MORE CELEBRATIONS...
Over the weekend our CHS FCCLA members participated in leadership and career connection workshops and networked with FCCLA members from across the country. They also participated in a community service project creating dream catchers for terminally ill patients. In the skills demonstration events, all of our students landed in the top 3 of their division.  Congratulations to CHS students Mackenzie Atkins, Adeline Travis, Cheyenne Eyrich, Emily Blink and Anisa Ayala and their teacher Laura Locke.

DID YOU KNOW?...

There is scientific proof that being grateful is plain good for you.  Scientists studying positive psychology found that a one-time act of thoughtful gratitude produced an immediate 10% increase in happiness and 35% reduction in depressive symptoms.  Every act of gratitude counts, and it can be as small as saying thank you or telling someone important how much they mean to you. Happify Daily Blog Post

Sooooo, with Thanksgiving a few short days away I wanted to let you all know how important you are to me.  I am so grateful to be the principal of this amazing school.  Without you, Coconino wouldn't be the special school that it is. I am grateful for your willingness to come to school every day to meet the ups and downs of our work, for caring about each other and our students. I am sincerely thankful each day that I get to work with such inspiring, caring, creative and wonderful people. To you all, I send a heartfelt thank you and happy Thanksgiving. 

STUDENTS REACT TO BEING TOLD THEY ARE IMPORTANT...
If you have a chance check out this video.  Some of you have already seen this, but the video is a reminder to tell kids how important they are.  Click here to watch 

If this inspires you to take pictures or video, please share them with me. 

PIES AND PINS...
Celebrating you!  Please stop by the large conference room sometime between 11:00am and 2:00 pm on Tuesday,  November 20, for a piece of Thanksgiving pie and for those who have been with FUSD for five or more years, your loyalty pin.

Mission 
Coconino High School strives to build upon the tradition of Panther Pride - A positive environment that honors yet unifies all cultures-and work in partnership with parents and the greater community to encourage each student in his/her pursuit of academic excellence and to instill a lifelong enthusiasm for learning.
Vision To create and maintain a vibrant school culture that exemplifies academic excellence and model global citizenship.
Guiding Principles
Respect ~ Responsibility ~ Integrity

Press On! Panther Strong!
Please click to acknowledge you have read this post

Update ~ November 13-16, 2018

CELEBRATING SUCCESS...
A special thank you to all of the members of our CHS family who have served in our military.  We are forever grateful.

OBSERVATION SEASON...
Spending time in your classrooms is a highlight for an administrator. It is a treat to see and hear the learning that happens every day in the walls of our school.  On behalf of Steve, Les and I, thank you for your professionalism, for your thoughtful attention to lesson planning and for sharing your professional growth goals and plans. Each year they get better and better.  A special shout out to CHS science teacher Kelley Smith, who continues to go above and beyond in all that does. If you want to see an exemplary professional growth plan or to talk about ways to integrate feedback during instruction, see Kelley.

VISITORS...
Tomorrow, 11/13 in the afternoon, we will be hosting a special educator, Mindy Degraff.  Mindy developed an innovative problem-based learning curriculum for grades K-6, known as Team Master Mind, that has garnered national recognition. Mindy is curious to see how this curriculum might fit in the secondary setting. I will be guiding Mindy around our building between 1:00 and 1:30 tomorrow.

301 OPPORTUNITIES AROUND THE CORNER...

Instructional Rounds, The basics: 11/14, 3:00-4:30 pm Room 311

Managing Stress with Self-Compassion: 12/6,  3:00-5:00 pm Room 204 CHS.  Each of us is a powerhouse with the capacity to influence others in a positive way. Yet, sometimes the stress of the classroom drains our energy and blocks our power. In this interactive workshop, participants will learn tools to take care of themselves by managing stress effectively. Instructor David McCain

Guideposts for Success: Using Research to Improve the Transition IEP: 11/27/18, 12/4/18, 12/11/18 3:00-5:00 PM Appropriate for general and special education teachers, this course will explore why some students with IEPs are successful while others fail. Instructor Russ Randall

*Sign up through TNL

CALENDAR...

11/14 ~ All school PLC Mini-theater 1:30pm

11/21, 22, 23 ~ Thanksgiving Holiday No school
11/26 -30 ~ Instructional Rounds 

11/26 - 30 ~ Native American Heritage Spirit Week

12/5 ~ Links/Freshman Contact Day
12/5 ~ Faculty Meeting 2:00-2:45 pm Mini-Theater
12/18 ~ Safety Drill 12:35 pm 

12/7 ~ Annual Holiday Door Decorating Contest

Mission 
Coconino High School strives to build upon the tradition of Panther Pride - A positive environment that honors yet unifies all cultures-and work in partnership with parents and the greater community to encourage each student in his/her pursuit of academic excellence and to instill a lifelong enthusiasm for learning.
Vision To create and maintain a vibrant school culture that exemplifies academic excellence and model global citizenship.
Guiding Principles Respect ~ Responsibility ~ Integrity

Press on! Panther Strong!

Please click here to acknowledge you have read this post

Update ~ November 5-9, 2018

CELEBRATING SUCCESS...
Congratulations to all of our fall sports teams, players and coaches. Thank you for your hard work and dedication!  It was an outstanding season for our Panthers!

NOVEMBER
What's the story with November 9?
This is an additional full contract day for all FUSD staff dedicated to district-wide professional learning. Our superintendent and his cabinet secured this day for all of the certified, classified and licensed professionals to learn together. The theme is You, Matter! The learning will revolve around cultivating a responsive culture based on knowledge and commitment to the wellbeing of all students and all staff.

Certified Staff (6-12), Licensed Professionals (6-12) and Administrators

Are automatically registered and required to attend the Youth Mental Health First Aid workshop at Coconino High School

The day will be broken into three sessions.  

Time: 7:30 to 7:45 Registration – CHS North Commons 

Session 1 ~ 7:45 to 9:45 

Session 2 ~ 10:00-12:00 pm

Lunch on your own ~ 12:00-1:00 pm.  

Afternoon check-in ~ 1:00-1:15 pm

Session 3 ~ 1:15-3:15 pm

Anything else? 

Yes...

November 7 ~ Faculty meeting 2:15 pm- Mini-theater

November 12 ~ Veteran's Day School Holiday

November 14 

This day is one of four Wednesday afternoons that is designated as a "Vertical PLC Day". The intent is for schools to be able to meet and collaborate with colleagues outside of their subject area or grade level C.T., and other schools. Some departments have scheduled these meetings while others didn't even know this day was a vertical PLC Day.  At CHS we will meet with those who do not already have scheduled vertical CTs to share details about our ACT ASPIRE data and school letter grade information. 

Time: 1:30 pm

Location: Mini-Theater

November 21,22 & 23 Thanksgiving Holiday No School

ALSO...
November is National Native American Heritage Month.  Our CHS Native American Club is planning to honor the Native American Culture by promoting Native American Spirit Days at the end of this month, November 26-30
11/26 Moccasin Monday
11/27 Turquoise Tuesday
11'28 Clan Shirt Wednesday
11/29 Traditional Thursday
11/30 Full Attire Friday (which will also include a frybread sale for both 1st and 2nd lunch)
Click here for more information about celebrating Native American Culture  

Mission 
Coconino High School strives to build upon the tradition of Panther Pride - A positive environment that honors yet unifies all cultures-and work in partnership with parents and the greater community to encourage each student in his/her pursuit of academic excellence and to instill a lifelong enthusiasm for learning.
Vision To create and maintain a vibrant school culture that exemplifies academic excellence and model global citizenship.
Guiding Principles
Respect ~ Responsibility ~ Integrity

Press on! Panther Strong!

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