Update ~ February 25- March 1, 2019

CELEBRATING SUCCESS...
Our 8th-grade extravaganza was a great success, thank you, everyone! Upon arrival, our incoming freshmen class was greeted by upbeat and enthusiastic Link Leaders who guided the students to the auditorium for a musical treat as our band and orchestra played their hearts out, thank you, Gaby, Jeremiah, Jon, and crews.  Following the concert, 400+ students were served lunch in the cafeteria by our welcoming food service staff, thank you, Sarah and crew. Then the students got a taste of our amazing CTE courses and the opportunities that await them, thank you, CTE! The 8th graders met some coaches, student-athletes, a robot and learned about myriad activities of which they can become involved, thank you Erin Motes and crew. The students learned about leadership opportunities from our JROTC Cadets and they learned about AP and IB and DE, oh my! Thank you, Colonel Morris, Sargeant Alves, Paula, and Chelsea.  And all of the above happened between 11 and 2:30pm.
We didn't stop there...
At 5:30 the doors opened for parents who were treated with a spaghetti dinner prepared and served by our culinary arts students. JROTC proudly posted colors and band & orchestra performed again. Our dance and cheer team led the group in a flashmob to the song "Celebration" and the "Cupid Shuffle". Digital Media provided a "Panther Pulse" episode about the day in the life of a Panther and the evening culminated with an opportunity for parents to walk around school meeting teachers.
It was quite the day, so the two day snow day was surely a blessing.  Thank you all for helping us showcase Coconino High School, you are amazing!
Hope you enjoyed the little break and welcome back!

TECH CORNER...
In preparation for the 1:1 we are looking for building level Tech Coaches. Should you decide to become a tech coach for the 2019-20 SY, you would not need to sign up for a school committee as this would take the place of committee participation. Please read the following invitation:

From Heather Zeigler at FUSD Technology department;
Looking for teacher leaders at each school to provide support for colleagues as we move toward 1:1 Technology in our district.  We are reaching out to secondary educators to encourage individuals interested in technology leadership to apply to be a part of the FUSD 2019-2020 "Innovative Digital Learning Coach Program."

This program will: 

• Require teachers to attend summer training (June 10-13), for which the participants will receive a $600 stipend.
•  Include 11 teachers from FHS, CHS, MEMS, and SMS (11 from each school) and 2 teachers from SHS.
• Seek inclusion of educators from each department (including ELA, Science, SS, Math, CTE, Modern Languages, SPED, Counseling, Elective/Other Subjects, Academy Programs, and Library).
• Be a year-long commitment, that will include two full-day professional learning sessions during SY 2019-20 (subs will be provided).
• Expect participants to engage in ongoing job-embedded peer coaching of department colleagues throughout the academic year, to promote innovative digital student learning through the integration of individual devices. (at least one hour/month).

Please let Les or me know if you have an interest in becoming a technology coach for CHS.

THIS WEEK...
2/26 - 3/1 ~ Rising Senior course selection registration  
2/26 ~  Leadership Team Meeting 3:15 pm Room 201
2/27 ~  Equity, Diversity & Inclusivity Dialogue with Angelina Castagno 1:15-2:00pm Room 204
                                                                                                                           2:15-3:00pm Room 204
2/27 ~ Bilingual Parent Night - CHS Library 5:30 pm
2/28 ~ 10th Grade Round Table Parent Night hosted by CHS Counselors - CHS Library 

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 acknowledge you have read this post by clicking here

Update ~ February 18-22, 2019

CELEBRATING SUCCESS...
CHS English department's annual Poetry Out Loud, helps students find their voice.  CHS junior, Giselle Bennet's powerful message about how poetry saves lives was broadcasted last week on KNAU Radio.  Giselle says "I do see how poetry saves lives. It has saved my life in a way. It’s opened my eyes to a lighter way of showing anger or sadness instead of bursting out, I guess. It’s (poetry) like music. You can read it when you’re upset, or sad, or when you’re happy, and it can put you in a better mood or a better way, or it can show you what can be done about it.  Click here to listen to Giselle recite the poem Enough, By Suzanne Buffam. 

Another powerful message...
CHS CocoNuts Robotics Team was invited to speak on the floor of the Arizona House of Representatives last week about the importance of STEM education in schools.

Thank you CHS teachers for helping our students find their passion and sharing their message with others.

MORE CELEBRATIONS...
Our dance and cheer teams competed in the Valley this weekend. Shelby Hayes and Delaney Merrick placed  1st and 3rd respectively in solo dance and Alexa Kaminski placed first in the cheer solo.  The cheer team placed 5th and dance placed second. Way to go Panthers!

SPRINGTIME...
SY 2019-20 registration begins this week.  In addition to 8th-grade visitation (Wednesday, February 20), registration for classes for the 2019-20 SY starts this week.
Rising Freshmen ~ February 19-22
Rising Seniors ~ February 25-March 1
Rising Juniors ~ March 4-8
Rising Sophomores ~ March 11- 15

SCHOOL CULTURE...
The culture of our school is the foundation for everything else.  Please take a few minutes to talk to our students about our guiding principles of respect, responsibility, and integrity and what those words mean.  Remind them that at CHS everybody is somebody, and a better somebody when they leave.
In that spirit, our professional dialogues about our school culture with Angelina Castagno will begin on Wednesday, February 27.  You should all have received a calendar invite from Les with the specific date and time for your CT's meeting.   Please let Les know if you did not receive this information.

HOT TOPIC...
In the next several months, technology integration in FUSD will take center stage in many conversations. Here at CHS, we have heard from some of you about your feelings regarding technology as we move toward 1:1. CHS Teacher Voices:
"I'm worried about our students becoming less connected with teachers."
"I'm excited about 1:1, I think it will make tech integration so much easier."
"We need a coherent vision and a clear understanding of our (teacher) responsibility."
"Maybe we can find a digital agenda for all of our students to use when we go 1:1."

The district technology committee meets again this week. Please continue to share comments, questions, and concerns with us, and we will share with the committee to help make the transition to 1:1 as teacher friendly as possible.
In the meantime, if you're looking for tech ideas click here for 8 ideas for integrating technology in your classroom. 

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 acknowledge you have read this post by clickin here 

Update ~ February 11-15, 2019

CELEBRATING SUCCESS...
Winter sports have come to an end. Thanks to all of our coaches, our CHS athletes played all season with excellence and heart. Thank you, coaches, for the endless hours you devote to help instill pride, passion, and persistence in our scholar-athletes.  We appreciate you all!

Several of our scholar-athletes have signed to play at the next level. At each of the signing ceremonies, the athletes thanked their coaches, athletic director, and their teachers.  Way to go team!  Congratulations to:

Ashlyn Hernandez- Softball at Embry Riddle
Taylor Brown - Softball at Mesa Community college
Ty Walters - Baseball at Gateway Community College
Keegan Trainer - Football at NAU (Signing ceremony 2/13 in the gym)
Ty Furr - Football at NAU

Congratulations are also in order to CHS Student Pedro Billups.  Pedro took the state title for first place at the state wrestling championships this weekend.

DECK THE HALLS WITH LOTS OF COLOR...
In celebration of National Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) week, our FCCLA student members decorated the hallways with the colors of the organization.
The 2018-19 theme is Believe in Yourself and the message is you can do anything you set your mind to do. Believe in Yourself as you lead others, develop new skills, explore career opportunities, build strong families, and give back to your communities. Make a difference. Be You. Thank you Laura Locke for sponsoring this important student organization!

8TH GRADE VISITATION AND OPEN HOUSE...
On February 20, our CHS students will dismiss at 11:00am and our school will be filled with bright-eyed enthusiastic, and some frightened 8th graders, the class of 2023.  Our Link Leaders will guide groups of students to prearranged classrooms to learn a little about courses offered in high school.

That same night is 8th grade parent night. Following an information session and spaghetti dinner, we will have an open house for our incoming freshmen parents. The open house will be meet and greet style where parents will visit classrooms and meet their future teachers. Please plan to be here for the open house from 6:45-7:30 pm on February 20. Please let me know if you are unable to be here for this open house.
*This is the only open house we will have this semester 

CULTURAL COMPETENCY WORK...
One of our school-wide goals this year is focused on cultural competency, diversity, equity, and unity.
Goal: The CHS learning community will embrace, value and advocate for diversity.

Calvin Terrell helped us kick off the year with a gathering and workshop entitled "Learning United". 
Later in the fall, our students participated in a school-wide assembly around topics such as race, discrimination, understanding and accepting differences, compassion and creating a better and more peaceful world. Before the school year begins to wind down we need to come together and reflect how these two events have impacted our school and our professional community and make plans for the future.

In lieu of one large faculty meeting, we will be meeting in small groups arranged by combined CTs at the end of February and into March. NAU Professor and advocate for diversity education, Angelina Castagno will join us for these meetings.  Angelina will help guide us through reflections of our early work with Calvin and help facilitate professional discussions around our perspectives about pressing issues in our school regarding equity, diversity, and unity.
I look forward to our continued work in this area and working together to develop our next steps.
The dates for the CT meetings will be February 27, March 6  and March 27. We will send an email this week with the CT groupings.

SAFETY...
We have a scheduled Lock Down drill tomorrow at the beginning of first period.  You can expect the announcement for the drill right after morning announcements.

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 acknowledge you have read this post by clicking here 

Update ~ February 4-8, 2019

CELEBRATING SUCCESS...
Please join me in celebrating our school counselors.  This week is National School Counseling Week "School Counselors: Providing Lessons for Life,"  The week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors have in helping students achieve school success and plan for their future.  We are so fortunate to have such an amazing counseling team at CHS. A shout out to LaShia, Emily, Meg, Barrett, Donna and Shannon, and the entire counseling office. Thank you for making a difference for our students!

Also, the month of February is CTE Month. This is a national campaign to help bring awareness to Career and Technical Education and to celebrate the value of CTE.  As a part of CTE month, each career and technical student organization has its own week of awareness and appreciation.
The week of Feb 3rd through Feb 9th is SkillsUSA week. SkillsUSA’s mission is to empower its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American Citizens.

On Friday the CHS Automotive Technology members of SkillsUSA participated in the Northern Arizona Regional competition.  CHS Student Technician, Zenon Salas took one of the top 10 qualifying spots to go to the state championships after competing against over 40 other students.

Other Coconino CTE programs that have members of SkillsUSA are Welding, Precision Machining, Digital Photography, Engineering, Digital Media and Culinary Arts.

Congratulations to Zenon and thank you to our CTE teachers and all SkillsUSA participants!

One more shout out...this one to our students in Mr. Suby's Life skills class. Last week they welcomed our VIP visitor, Representative Walt Blackman to their classroom.  The students represented CHS with such grace and enthusiasm. Thanks for making us all so proud!

THANK YOU CHS...
For taking a few minutes to complete the district engagement survey.  We had about a 75% participation rate this year, up from 50% last year.

REMINDERS...

• Attendance Please remember to take attendance within the first ten minutes of class.  This is important for safety, auditing purposes and accuracy in reporting and the whereabouts of our students.  Thank you!
• Building use When you are planning club meetings, school events, community events, 301 workshops, parent meetings, etc. remember that all facility use requests must go through Becky.  The front office often receives calls about events of which we are not aware and notifying Becky helps avoid double booking of spaces.  A facility use form must be completed and sent to Becky, even if the event is in your classroom. 
• Spirit week Each day this week we will have combined lunch and Friday will be a one hour lunch. Click here for this weeks bell schedule and events

ACCREDITATION...

In preparation for the impending AdvancedEd district-wide accreditation in the fall, all FUSD administrators are going through training on the observation tool that will be used by the AdvancedEd review team.  In the next few months, our superintendent will be visiting schools and joining principals in walk-throughs using the observation tool known as the Effective Learning Environments Observation Tool (ELEOT).  Mr. Penca, Les and I, will be visiting CHS classrooms on Monday, February 11.
FYI...
The ELEOT focuses on seven key learning environments that promote effective learning and student success:

• Equitable Learning
• High Expectations
• Supportive Learning
• Active Learning
• Progress Monitoring and Feedback
• Well-managed Learning
• Digital Learning

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 acknowledge you have read this post by clicking here