Dear Parents:
One of my favorite pastimes in July is blackberry picking and I’ve done
it for years on my favorite mountaintop in
Within five minutes the ticks have located me. I loathe the critters but know that, if I’m
to get any berries at all, I’ve got to be willing to put up with ticks, all
measure of flying insects, skin-ripping brambles, and spiders of all
sizes. In return, if I work steadily and
carefully, the payoff comes in the cobblers and pies to be made and savored.
Blackberry picking is strangely similar to educating young people. The challenges are many but the product is
well worth the effort. Just as one must
search for blackberries among thorny briars, wrapped around young cherry trees,
and interspersed under
We adults – educators and parents – must never lose sight that, just as
each blackberry on the vine ripens at different rates, so, too, do young
people. They unfold in their own time –
physically as well as emotionally and intellectually – and that’s good.
Done right, teaching and learning require hard work.
For teachers, it’s countless hours spent preparing lessons and grading
student work, being on top of things consistently and creatively from 8 a.m. to
3 p.m., reading extensively and going to staff development sessions to remain
current in one’s knowledge and thinking, collaborating with colleagues,
planning and attending special student activities, going to (and sometimes even
coaching) athletic events, and on and on.
Our teachers and other staff members work hard to create and maintain
exceptional academic, behavioral, extracurricular, and faith development
opportunities for our students.
Students have to work hard, too.
We want them to come to school on time and prepared, bringing proper
materials, books, and assignments. We
want them to focus and participate in classroom activities. We want them to
show respect and to earn it by being people of integrity, compassion, and
diligence. Most importantly, we want them to bring their enthusiasm for
learning and for doing their best.
We also expect a lot from our students’ families. By choosing to have your children in our
school, you, too, are buying into the well-defined “package” that is Charleston
Catholic. As we, the faculty and staff,
work with your children to try to help them make good use of their God-given
abilities and talents, we need your support.
We want everyone in our school community – faculty, staff, students,
parents, coaches, and others -- to recognize and celebrate what is good and
beautiful in everyone else and to work together to benefit our students.
As always, if we are attentive, nature
provides reminders for us humans. We
hope to inculcate in our children the willingness to persevere through the
difficult times, to learn how satisfying it is to do one’s best, to accept
responsibility, to strive individually and collectively for the welfare of the
group. We adults help point the way, to model the values and demonstrate the steps. We depend upon one another to be a part of
our village, to care beyond our individual family members, to support one
another in difficult times, to enjoy the carefree moments when the sun is
shining and all is right with the world.
I am reminded time and time again of the beauty of our Charleston
Catholic community. May each of us enjoy
its warmth and do what we can to keep it vibrant, positive, and strong.
It’s going to be a great year.
Warmest
regards,
Debra
K. Sullivan, Principal
WELCOME – We greet our newest
faculty members to the CCHS community, Ashley Andersen and Ginny Cook. Mrs. Andersen, who hails from the northeast,
graduated from Holy Cross and the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and
will be teaching advanced honors geometry and trigonometry/precalculus
classes. Ms. Cook, with her Master’s in
Classics from
CONDOLENCES -- We express
our sympathy to Chase Whitt and his family on the recent death of Chase’s
maternal great-grandfather. Please keep
Chase’s family in your thoughts and prayers.
SCHEDULING CLASSES – Student schedules
will be distributed during registration.
Scheduling is a herculean, complex task.
In addition to analyzing students’ and parents’ requests, other pieces
of the puzzle are important:
standardized test scores, grades, teacher recommendations including
information about each student’s work ethic, class offerings, and so on. The faculty and staff go to great lengths to
place students in appropriate courses. Please assume that the schedule your child receives is the best one
possible! Unless there is a critical
reason to change a student’s schedule, it will not be changed. Keep in mind that all CCHS classes are part of a college preparatory
program and, therefore, ALL of our classes are presented at college
preparatory levels. Students’
placement in courses varies from year to year and subject to subject -- our
students are not “tracked” within an inflexible framework! Each year, students’ records are reviewed to
ensure suitable placement in classes.
PLEASE NOTE: If a student needs a tutor in any class or
does not enjoy a particular subject, aspiring to Advanced Placement or
advanced level courses is a misplaced concentration of effort. Success in advanced/advanced honors/Advanced
Placement courses in any subject is predicated on the understanding that
the students in these classes enjoy the
subject matter, enjoy putting forth the extra effort needed in these classes, are
appropriately prepared academically, and have a natural affinity for these
courses. All CCHS courses are taught at the college preparatory level at the
very least, and our graduates’ successes in college reflect the veracity of
this statement. Encourage your
children to bloom where they are planted and to do their best, using every
ounce of their God-given ability. It is
far better for a student to be successful, productive, and comfortable in
honors and college preparatory courses than to struggle unhappily and with
modest success in advanced, advanced honors, or Advanced Placement courses.
2011-12
REGISTRATION DAYS – As reported in June’s newsletter, the following times have been set
aside for students to pick up their schedules, pay class fees, and pick up/buy
gym uniforms. Schedules for each
grade level will only be available during the times listed below, so it is
critical that parents and students adhere to the schedule listed. If families with more than one child
would like to pick up schedules and so on for all their children at one time, they
must come on Thursday, August 11, from 2:30 - 4 p.m. At all other times, schedules and other items
for each grade level listed will be the only ones handled at particular time
slots. There will be no exceptions.
Wednesday,
August 10 9 - 10:30
a.m.: Seniors only
10:30 – noon:
Juniors only
CLOSED
NOON - 1 P.M.
1
- 2:30 p.m.: Sophomores only
2:30 - 4 p.m.:
Freshmen only
Thursday, August 11 9
- 10:30 a.m.: 8th graders only
10:30 – noon:
7th graders only
CLOSED
NOON - 1 P.M.
1
- 2:30 p.m.: 6th graders only
2:30 - 4 p.m.: Families with more than one student
wishing to register all their children at one time; also, anyone unable to come
at scheduled times
To help with your planning, know that you will need to write separate checks for class fees, P.E. uniforms, and PVA
uniform apparel. All prepaid P.E.
uniforms will be available for pick up at registration and additional P.E.
uniforms will be available for purchase.
NEW AND USED TEXTBOOKS
FOR 2011-12 -- You can access our
online bookstore from the CCHS website (charlestoncatholic-crw.org). Our 2011-2012 booklist will be available
online beginning Wednesday, August 10, at 9:00 a.m. (open 24-7) to coincide
with the registration days at school. The booklist includes images of the
textbooks and ISBN numbers. ESCO will provide free shipping for the first
two weeks on your first purchase and 100% refunds for the first thirty days
that the ESCO bookstore is open. You may purchase books through ESCO,
through an online seller of your choice, or from other CCHS families. If you order new books from ESCO, and
if you chose a credit in the book buy back offered during the June buyback
period, you must have your yellow certificate number in order to apply your
credit to new purchases. There is a link
on the CCHS website.
In
June, ESCO bought back all books that we were using, regardless of the point of
origin, because we were new to their process. For the 2012 buyback, ESCO
will pay 40-50% of the purchase price for books purchased from them that
we will use again the following year. Books that have not been purchased
from ESCO will receive up to the "C" quality price quote, based upon
market demand.
Please consider the book adoption schedule when
planning your book purchases. You might not want to buy a brand new book
at full price if the book will be changing the next school year! We
follow the state adoption cycle which is currently as follows: 2013
Social Studies; 2014 Science and Health; 2016 Integrated Reading/Literature
English Language Arts; 2017 World Language; and 2018 Mathematics. This
schedule is subject to change based on state decisions, availability of
textbooks, and introduction of new courses.
During registration, if you need assistance, computers
in the CCHS library will be available for families to order books through ESCO.
PLEASE READ
AND SAVE THIS NEWSLETTER -- and refer to it often. Many
of the questions that you might have now and in the future may be answered by
referring to items in newsletters rather than by calling the school
office. The newsletter (sent out
approximately every 5 weeks with student academic reports) and the
Student-Parent Handbook provide information that you will need to know. Newsletters and the handbook are also
available on the CCHS website (www.charlestoncatholic-crw.org).
FORMS TO BE RETURNED --
1) On the first day of classes, each middle and
high school student will receive an assignment notebook which contains the
Student-Parent Handbook. The first page
of the handbook should be torn out and signed by parents and students,
acknowledging that they have read the handbook.
This form must be returned to
homeroom teachers by Monday, August 22.
2) At registration,
parents will receive the emergency card.
which should be completed and submitted during registration.
3) Off-campus lunch forms for grades 10 – 12 are due Thursday, August 18 by 8 a.m. Off-campus lunch is a privilege which may be
revoked by the school. Additionally,
parents do not have to allow their children to leave campus for lunch. It is the parents’ choice.
4) In-lieu of transportation forms are due to homeroom teachers by Monday,
August 22. Families living in
5) PVA forms should be turned into the office within the first couple of weeks of
school. PVA volunteer forms and ALL
ordering forms for white polos, green polos, and fleece will be available at
registration and are on the website.
PARENT-TEACHER
NIGHT -- Mark Wednesday,
August 24, on your calendar as a time to meet CCHS faculty and staff and
other members of our school community.
We start the occasion at 7 p.m. in the Basilica of the Co-Cathedral of
the Sacred Heart. Since your children
spend a fair amount of time in the beautiful Basilica (dedicated in June 2010)
during their years at Charleston Catholic, it is important that parents get a
glimpse into this aspect of school life.
And at what other time do we have the opportunity to all get together,
as parents of children enrolled at CCHS, to realize how many of us there are
and who we are? Since the CCHS community
is interconnected in so many ways, and since it will have a major impact on
parents and students alike, it’s good to know who else is in the “network.” Following the orientation session in the
Basilica, we will head over to the school where parents will follow their
children’s schedules of classes.
Following classroom visits, the Parent Volunteer Association’s
hospitality committee, with help from sixth grade parents, will provide
refreshments in the Commons. This
evening has become a traditional, enjoyable way to open the school year, renew
acquaintances, and welcome newcomers to the CCHS community. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
PARENTS OF INCOMING
6TH GRADERS -- At the Parent Back to
School Night on Wednesday, August 24, you will be meeting as a group in the
library with the 6th grade teachers after the opening session in the
Basilica. This gathering will give you
an important opportunity to ask about assignment notebooks, homework, uniforms,
lunch, and all the other nitty-gritty things you want to know. So keep a list of all of your questions! Afterwards, parents will rotate through the
classrooms to gather information on the goals and expectations of
individual teachers. The transition to CCHS need not be difficult! Read the Handbook in front of the students’
assignment notebook to know what is expected at CCHS.
ADVANCED PLACEMENT RESULTS (2010-11) – Mid-July brings news from the College Board about our students’ AP
exam results. Once again, the results are phenomenal! Since there
is little change from year to year at the national level, we are using the
State and
A
number of our students received special recognition for their college-level
achievements on the AP tests. Special congratulations to AP Scholars (students who earned a 3 –
which is the “passing” rate -- or higher on three exams) Ellie Baldwin, Emma
Busse, Michael Carbone, Samantha Istfan, Sarah James, Andrew Kaz, Christian
Kim, Whitney Merrill, Matthew Phillips, Alexandrine Ratnani, and Meg Whelan; to
AP Scholars with Honor (students who
received an average score of at least 3.25 on all exams taken and a score of 3
or higher on four or more exams) Diane Bronikowski, Harrison Kesner, Lindsey
Merrill, Michael Robinson, Chris Skaggs, and Meredith Summers; and to AP Scholars with Distinction (students
who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken and scores
of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams) Chelsea Harris, Jennifer Head,
Michael Mallory, Cecilia Nease, Christine Snyder, and Katie Stricker.
Additional kudos to Michael Mallory who was named a National AP Scholar, an
honor bestowed on students in the
|
|
% of graduating class taking at least 1 AP exam |
% of graduating class who took an AP exam and “passed” (i.e., scored
3 or higher) |
% of total AP students with scores 3+ (2011) |
|
CCHS |
82.8 |
60.9 |
65.8 |
|
WV |
<20 |
7.6 |
45.5 |
|
US |
28.3 |
16.9 |
60.2 |
|
% of students “passing” AP exams |
Eng Lang&Comp (11th grade) |
Eng Lit&Comp (12th grade) |
|
|
Computer Science |
Physics |
US Gov’t & Politics |
Human Geography |
|
CCHS |
87.5 |
84.0 |
58.3 |
80.0 |
100.0 |
80.0 |
75 |
72.0 |
|
US |
60.8 |
57.4 |
55.7 |
82.8 |
65.0 |
72.9 |
51.3 |
46.9 |
REPORTING STUDENT PROGRESS – mid-term progress reports are sent out 4 times a
year and quarter/semester reports are sent out four times annually. Mid-term
progress reports state actual numerical
grades while quarter/semester reports list letter grades.
FAMILIES
WISHING NEWSLETTERS/REPORT CARDS/PROGRESS REPORTS SENT TO TWO ADDRESSES – must send in 12 stamped addressed envelopes by
the end of August.
IF YOUR LAST
NAME IS DIFFERENT FROM YOUR CHILD’S NAME – please put the child’s full name on all checks
issued to CCHS.
9TH
GRADE OUTDOOR EDUCATION DAY – Plans are underway
for our second CCHS freshman class outdoor education day. Scheduled for Thursday, September 8, at Camp
Virgil Tate, our freshmen, their teachers, and school staff, will spend the day
together learning, reflecting, playing, and creating. Details will be forthcoming in the permission
slip to be sent home in early September.
MRS. THOMAS’ TIDBITS –
1) Do you “Twitter?” Keep up with the latest news, information, and
deadlines from Mrs. Thomas’ office by signing up on Twitter at CCHScollegeprep
to receive periodic “tweets” which may be sent to your e-mail or phone as a
text message.
1) SAT and ACT testing and registration dates
(CCHS code: 490-205)
SAT and SAT Subject Tests (can register
on line -- www.collegeboard.org:
TEST
DATE
DEADLINE
LATE REGISTRATION
October 1
September 9
September 21
November 5
October 7
October 21
December 3
November 8
November 20
January
28
December 30 January 13
March
10
February
10
February 24
May 5
April 6
April 20
June 2 May 8
May 22
ACT: (can register on line -- www.act.org)
TEST
DATE
DEADLINE
LATE REGISTRATION
September 10
August 12 August
26
October 22
September 16 September 30
December 10 November 4 November 18
February 11
January 13 January 20
April 14 March 9
March 23
June 9 May 4 May 18
2) Seniors will need to complete their fine arts requirement by the end
of the third quarter and community service hours by the second Friday of May of
their senior year.
3) Seniors wanting their applications mailed to the colleges before
Christmas vacation must have their materials to Mrs. Thomas by Tuesday, November 1.
4) Mrs. Thomas handles college visit requests. Students should get
the forms from her and return the completed forms to her at least 2 days before
the trip. Seniors are allowed 2 college visit days; juniors are
allowed 2 college visit days. College visits must be made before May
1.
5) AP tests are required of students enrolled in AP Art History, AP
English 11 and 12, AP Human Geography, AP Biology, AP Calculus AB and BC, AP
Computer Science, AP Economics, AP Physics, AP Psychology, and AP World
History. AP testing fees for these courses are included on the
registration fee schedule. Students wishing to take AP tests for other
courses (e.g., Spanish, U.S. History) may do so and must notify Mrs. Thomas in
February.
6) College representatives will start visiting soon, typically during the
lunch period. Juniors and seniors may come to the library after picking
up their lunches to meet with the representatives. Students should take
advantage of this opportunity to learn more about different colleges.
7)
Mrs. Thomas will host a seminar, “The High School Years at CCHS: Prelude
to College,” for 9th grade parents and other interested parents at 6 p.m. on Wednesday,
September 14, to learn more about making academic plans for high school and
college. There will also be meeting with parents of juniors on Monday, September 12,
at 6 p.m. to review the college selection process and
with parents of seniors for the college application process on Wednesday, September
7, at 6 p.m.
8) Senior parents need to complete their parent questionnaires,
available at the CCHS website, and return them to Mrs. Thomas by Friday, August 26. This information is used in
writing student recommendations from the school.
9) Check the website calendar and Twitter (Twitter ID: cchscollegeprep)
for important dates, e.g., college rep visits, parents meetings, deadlines,
etc.
10) Scholarship information will be listed on the college counseling
section of the website and is also available in Mrs. Thomas' office.
11) Wendy’s High School Heisman Program -- All seniors with
at least a B average who are athletes on CCHS teams are eligible to
apply. The link to the online application is available at www.wendysheisman.com.
Seniors must submit online applications no later than Wednesday, September
28, 2011, the CCHS deadline. In order for the application to be
considered by the national Heisman Review Committee, the application must first
be reviewed online by Mrs. Thomas, hence the September
28 deadline. Students should notify Mrs. Thomas once they have
submitted the application online.
12) New students (except those from Sacred Heart, St. Agnes, and
St. Francis) must mail final report cards and achievement test results to the
office by August 11.
NOTES FROM THE
PARENT VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATION (PVA)
1) The 2011-2012 PVA Parent Registration Packet is available
online on the CCHS website. Volunteer packets will be given out at
registration. The CCHS website also includes PVA sign-up forms for all
activities. You’re encouraged to become as involved as you can!
Please submit completed PVA volunteer forms to the school office during the
first couple of weeks of school.
2) PVA Polos and Fleece - IMPORTANT
UPDATE: The fleece jackets (both charcoal and heather gray) worn by CCHS
students are being phased out. A student currently owning a gray fleece that is
in good shape and still fits may wear that fleece as part of the uniform during
the 2011-12 school year. New black jackets with the CCHS logo may be
ordered at August registration. Order forms for CCHS logo jackets, white
uniform polo shirts, and green athletic/academic competition polo shirts are
available on the CCHS website. For questions, please contact Lisa
Dundervill (344-2566) for jackets, Paula Jameson
(949-2478) for green polos, and Lisa Cassis (925-5946) for white
polos. Please note that high school students who are members of athletic
teams and academic competition teams are permitted to wear a CCHS hunter green
polo shirt to school on designated dates – normally home games and other days
designated by the principal.
3) INNISBROOK ORDERS – may be placed throughout the
year and will be shipped directly to you -- and CCHS will get credit for your
order. Go to www.innisbrook.com and click on “Buy
Innisbrook Products” and enter CCHS school number 121949. Contact Lisa
Dundervill (344-2566) for more information.
4) CAFETERIA VOLUNTEERS -- If you are interested in
helping in the cafeteria for the interim schedule (August and September 2011)
please send your name, email address, complete mailing address (street, city,
and zip code) and phone number to Cyndi Persily at cpersily@hsc.wvu.edu
or call her at 546-8471. The regular cafeteria volunteer schedule
for October 2011 through June 2012 will be completed for the school year after
volunteers submit their CCHS Cafeteria Volunteer Form following 2011-2012
school registration.
5) PVA DUES are $75 per family. In addition to
buying materials to support the school’s instructional program, this fee covers
operational expenses of special student projects (e.g., Project Graduation,
moving up reception, baccalaureate reception) so funds will not be solicited
for various activities. We’ll still be looking for your time, talent, and
good cooking!
6) Parent involvement is critical for the successful operation of
the CCHS athletic program. Helping transport students to games and
practices, working gates, being supportive of the players and coaches,
attending games, and participating in the team lunch program are just a few
ways that parents help. EVERY parent of an athlete is needed to support
the teams! Each sport is allocated a few team lunches.
Guidelines and dates for these lunches (designated away games only) will
be distributed to parents at the beginning of each season, once team rosters
have been established.
7) Athletic
family passes are available through the PVA. These passes are good
for immediate family members only (not cousins, in-laws,
ex-in-laws, grandparents, fiancées, etc.) to attend CCHS home games. The
passes do not cover away games, tournaments played at home, homecoming games,
or any SSAC tournaments. Cost is $150 for all home middle school
games only, $175 for all home high school games only, and $200 for all home
games (both levels). A $100 student or senior citizen pass for all home
games is also available. Each adult in a family will be issued a pass
that must be shown for admission to games. PASSES MAY BE PURCHASED DURING
REGISTRATION DAYS AT THE PVA TABLE. An order form for sports passes is
also in the PVA Parent Registration Packet so you may order them later in the
semester. Please ask Eileen Goldberg if you have questions about
these passes.
LUNCH TIME – Thursday, August 18, marks the first full-day
of school and the opening of our food service program. CCHS has three separate lunches: sixth grade lunch, seventh-eighth grade
lunch, and high school lunch. Students
in grades 10 - 12 may go off-campus for lunch if they have submitted their
parents’ permission on the official school form. In order for students to go off-campus for
lunch beginning Thursday, August 18, their permission forms must be returned to
homeroom teachers by 8 a.m. that morning.
Notes/phone calls from parents will not be accepted for off-campus lunch
privileges. Off-campus lunch is a
privilege and will be rescinded for students who arrive late to school, are
late after lunch, display unsafe driving practices at lunch time, or who are
being disciplined for other reasons. Parents may also withdraw their children’s
lunch privileges at any time during the school year by notifying Ms.
FitzGerald.
MOODLE
– How can parents know what is going on in the classroom? Go to the CCHS website beginning August 22
and check the CCHS Course Extranet (moodle).
Teachers will post dates for quizzes, tests, and major assignments. Use this invaluable tool – you’ll be amazed
at what you can learn!
WORLD YOUTH DAY -- A group of 15
youth and adults from the
CCHS CONTINUES TO MOVE AHEAD IN
TECHNOLOGY -- We continue to equip classrooms with SmartBoards and
projectors, with most classrooms fully equipped now. In fact, of 32 classrooms, 29 (91%) have a SmartBoard and/or
a mounted projector. Twenty-eight of our classrooms have
SmartBoard/projector combinations and 2 with mounted projectors only.
Three SmartBoards are on order which leaves only two classrooms to equip.
In January of 2011, CCHS bought 27 new Windows 7 computers for our main
computer lab. In addition, we built and equipped a third computer
lab which increased our lab capacity from 47 to 63 workstations. We also
have two wireless question/response clicker systems available to
teachers. Mr. Hoffmann continues to tweak the school website and internal computer
network. This summer, our aging file servers were replaced and storage
space was increased by a factor of 20 with the purchase of a network storage
device. Always looking for ways to increase communication with the CCHS
community, CCHS now has Twitter accounts for the school calendar, sporting
events, college counseling, and school closings and delays. Details are
on the CCHS website. We continue to expand the infrastructure and
services to benefit our CCHS community.
RENOVATIONS -- Our CCHS community
prides itself on the condition of its buildings, a reflection of our standards
of excellence in academics, faith and personal development, and extracurricular
activities. Just as we take care of our
own homes, we must take care of our home-away-from-home. Students are expected to
accept personal and community responsibility for the condition of the
facilities. Students are expected to act
responsibly and maturely, to take care of the facilities, and to contribute to
the well being of themselves and others.
We are blessed to have excellent maintenance and housekeeping staffs who
work diligently to keep school property – both downtown and at the athletic
facility -- in good repair and clean. In
the summer, in addition to thorough
cleaning and regular maintenance, we
try to do a little bit extra each year as we continue to upgrade school
facilities. Around the campus, there are
new table cloths in the Commons, newly renovated boys’ (2nd floor)
and girls’ (3rd floor) bathrooms, 3 new HVAC units on the roof, and
a freshly painted back staircase.
VIRTUS– All
parents or other adults who volunteer, coach, drive students, chaperone, etc.,
are required by the Diocese to complete the diocesan sexual abuse awareness
training before being allowed to work with our students. A session is scheduled
for Tuesday, August 23, in the CCHS Commons at 6 p.m. Go to www.virtusonline.org and choose the Diocese
of Wheeling-Charleston to register.
Another option available is completing the training online. At the VIRTUS website, go to Options, scroll
down and choose online. Allow 1- 1½
hours to complete the program. Print out
the certificate of completion and submit it to Ms. FitzGerald. It is still necessary to complete the
background check and sexual abuse awareness statement which can be done by
clicking on the link at the school website at www.charlestoncatholic-crw.org.
STUDENT DRIVERS – Please encourage your student drivers to be
responsible, safe drivers. Talk to them
about speeding down the street in front of the school (showing off for
friends?), pulling out of parking lots too quickly, ignoring pedestrians,
changing lanes abruptly, speeding through yellow lights, texting or talking on
cell phones while driving, fiddling with the radio, and so on. Tragedies happen in an instant. If you see inappropriate or reckless driving
by our students, please note the license plate and make of car and notify Ms.
FitzGerald.
STUDENT PARKING – We thank Monsignor Sadie for once again making
arrangements for our students to pay $50 for monthly parking in the lot at the
corner of
COMMUNITY
SERVICE AND FINE ARTS/HUMANITIES REQUIREMENTS – Students who attended CCHS during the 2010-11
school year may begin to fulfill next year’s community service and fine
arts/humanities requirements during the summer months. These activities must be submitted during the
first quarter in order to receive credit.
6th graders and other students new to CCHS in 2011-12 may not
begin to work on these requirements until after the requirements are discussed
in theology and English classes in August.
One summer opportunity is the YWCA’s Girls’ Night Out event which
benefits the Resolve Family Abuse Program.
Help is needed August 11 and 12.
Please contact Jewell Hughey at carolinajrh@suddenlink.net
for info.
HOPE -- Sincere thanks to the many people who worked to make HOPE a success
again this year! Our group’s efforts to make 11 homes warmer, safer and drier
included metal roof installations; building additions; foundation work;
electrical work; and window, door, and floor replacements. Special thanks
to Jim Weimer and Bill Mehle who spent countless hours before, during, and
after the week of HOPE coordinating the work plans for all of the houses,
troubleshooting the inevitable complications that arose, and overseeing the
week-long program! Thanks to the following individuals for their help:
Kellianne Egan; the administration and staff at
The project could not work without the adult work
crew leaders who share their time and talents and the college-age alumni who
return for the week of HOPE: Bill Mehle, Mike Sokolosky, Paul Jameson, Fred
Armstrong, Emily Neff, Rick Lough, Kellianne Egan, Nick Casey, Kari Park, Paul
Sheridan, Melanie Schlarb, Jim Weimer, Mike Covelli, Margaret Santmyer, Ray
Prudnick, Todd Witsberger, Brian Farkas, John Blake, Terri Blake, Taylor
Farris, Erin Casey, Josh Arnold, Emily Sokolosky, Tara Garvin, Adele Willis,
Haley Schlarb, Casey Garvin, Jonathan Santmyer, Hillary Frame, Emily
Witsberger, Ben Williams, Will Johnson, and Garner Marks. Thank you to
this year’s HOPE participants: Mackenzie Polen, Kelsey Higgins, Caleb Lee,
Haston Gerencir, Michael Robinson, Kathryn Dundervill, Tommy Casto, Graham Davis,
Meg Whelan, Bo McKown, Tanner Jameson, Ian Lough, Taylor Deer, Rachel
Silverman, Alec Cable, Emily Cline, Dominic Rendinell, Sarah Klenk, Nick
Goliath, Alex Schlarb, Patrick Nease, Heidi Buscher, Michael Carbone, Sarah
James, Gianna Covelli, David Zekan, Zachary Ayoob, Victoria Thomas, Chelsea
Harris, Daniel Smolder, Alex Casingal, Brody Prudnick, Sam Willson, Alexandrine
Ratnani, Erica Marcus, Paul Witsberger, Kit Thomas, Logan Shrewsbury, Meredith
Summers, Will Farkas-Worthy, Anna Wood, Lauren DiFilippo, Joe White, Emily
Blake, Samantha Busch, and Michael Mallory.
ARE YOUR CHILDREN READING “THE REAL THING?”
-- Please encourage your students to read the
original text of novels. They are doing
themselves a disservice by using novel summaries such as “Spark Notes.” By actually
TECHNOLOGY CONCERNS – Please encourage open communication with your children about their
use of technology, including cell phones, social networking sites, and the
like. Each day seems to bring new
concerns – cyberbullying, proliferation of sexting, stalking, and so on. Don’t assume that because we live in
LOCKS ON LOCKERS – are required in middle school. Locks will be given to 6th graders
the first week of school. Other students
needing new locks can buy one at registration.
High school students typically do not lock their lockers and those who
do have locks on their lockers usually leave them dangling, fulfilling no
useful function and damaging the locker paint in the process. If your high school students are not going to
lock their locks, don’t buy a lock, please.
Locks sold by the school (with plastic sleeves to protect the paint) are
the only ones students may use. Students
are discouraged from bringing valuables to school. The school will not be responsible for
anything that is lost or stolen from a locker.
PHOTO WEBSITE – If you haven’t seen it, go to
the CCHS website and check out unofficial CCHS photographer Russ Miller’s
website. The photos of athletics and
events are truly spectacular! All of us
benefit from Mr. Miller’s devotion to our students as he works to create a
history of CCHS in photos.
WHEN DOES THE
BUILDING OPEN EACH DAY? -- When Mrs. Sullivan goes to the front door on
CELL PHONES, IPODS, AND OTHER TECHNOLOGY -- As has
been our policy in recent years, the use of cell phones and other electronic
devices is prohibited during school hours (8 a.m. until 2:45 p.m.). Such
electronic items, if present in the building, must be turned off and not
visible (i.e., kept in backpacks).
Students can check their cell phone messages immediately after school to
see if their parents have called to update them. Students who are texting, checking
messages, playing with, or otherwise handling cell phones or other electronics
in the classroom or in any location within the building during the school day
will have these items confiscated.
Should this happen, the item will be returned to the parent/guardian of
the student (i.e., not to the student) owning the item. A $25
fee will be assessed for each additional infraction. If students need to use the phone during the
school day, they may use the office phone or, if they are at lunch or break,
the one in the Commons.
TELEPHONE
MESSAGES -- Because
of the number of students enrolled and the limitations on office staff and
telephone lines, we strongly urge parents to make arrangements with their
students regarding transportation, appointments, etc. before students leave
home. If you must leave a message
for your child, call the office. The
names of students who have messages are announced at the end of each school
day.
ASSIGNMENT
NOTEBOOKS – will be
distributed by the teachers on the first day of class.
BOOKSTORE
REMINDER -- The
bookstore is open each day from 7:45 a.m. - 8 a.m. and from 2:45 - 3:15
p.m. Mrs. Anderson will have computer
disks, pencils, pens, envelopes, composition books, assignment books, and
notebook paper, payable at the time of purchase.
HIGH SCHOOL
DANCES -- High
school dances are held from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. and students sign in/out. Parents need to know that students are
permitted to sign out prior to the end of the dance. Once a student leaves the dance, the student
MAY NOT return to the dance. Parents
having questions about when their children arrived at/left a school dance
should call Ms. FitzGerald to request this information.
PROOF OF
ENROLLMENT FORMS -- for drivers’ licenses may be requested in the school office using
the CCHS request form. It will take two
school days for the forms to be completed by office staff.
MEDICATIONS – For our students who have medical needs which
necessitate their taking prescribed or over the counter medicines while at
school, our goal is to have in the school office one plastic zip-lock bag per
student, well organized and well documented, containing a student’s items. When students need to take prescription
medication at school, the medicine must be sent to the office with a doctor’s
order in a plastic zip-lock bag with the student’s name clearly labeled. Also, any medications kept at school for
various reasons – e.g., asthma, allergies, etc. – should be sent to the office
in a bag with the doctor’s order and an allergy or other medical plan, if
applicable. Over the counter medicine
such as Advil, cough drops, etc. need to be in a plastic bag with student’s
name clearly marked and with specific information stating when such items
should be dispensed. At the end of the
school year, we will ask your students to stop by the office and pick up their
plastic bags with last year’s supplies.
Medications are not kept from one school year to the next.
PARTICIPATION IN SCHOOL SPORTS – To participate in athletic events, students must be in school for the
full school day on the day of the scheduled activity. If a student is late or absent for any part of the day on a game day,
that student is not permitted to play that day. This “full day” policy includes
leaving school for appointments, so students need to avoid scheduling
appointments during the school day. Students are also expected to be on time each
morning following an athletic event.
Students who have long standing medical appointments, family funerals to
attend, or other similar instances may be excused at the discretion of Ms.
FitzGerald. If a student is suspended at school, that student is also
suspended from athletic practices, games, etc. for the FULL DAY on the day(s) suspended (i.e., if a student is
suspended for a Tuesday, the suspension includes involvement in any school
activities -- sports, social, etc. -- for Tuesday evening also). In addition, if a student is suspended for a
Friday, the suspension holds for Friday
evening but does not continue for Saturday unless the student is also suspended
for Monday.
FALL
SPORTS -- Students must have a completed
doctor’s physical (administered after June 1, 2011) to give coaches on the
first day of practice. This physical is good for the entire school
year. Once teams have been selected, students participating on teams must
turn in their athletic fees ($75 per sport) before uniforms will be
issued. A student who has not turned in athletic uniforms from another
sport will not be permitted to participate in the next sport. CCHS
students in grades 7-12 are eligible for athletics if they meet SSAC
requirements (including having 2.0 GPA at end of 2010-11 second semester) and
CCHS expectations, i.e., good behavior. Sixth graders are encouraged to
continue involvement in community and recreational sports leagues. If you
have questions about fall sports – how to get involved, when practices start,
and so on -- please contact Bill Gillispie, CCHS athletic director, at 550-5702
or coaches for individual sports, listed below.
Athletic Director: Bill Gillispie –
550-5702: cchsathletics@yahoo.com
HS
Golf – Bill Gillispie: cchsathletics@yahoo.com
HS
Boys’ Soccer - Sam Fox: sfox@fsblaw.com
HS
Girls’ Soccer – Kevin Nelson: knelson@huddlestonbolen.com
HS
Volleyball - Lindsay Kuncher: lindsay.r.kuncher@wv.gov
HS
& MS Cross Country – Scott Welch: 304-344-3006
HS
Cheerleading – Kari Park: kparkcchs@gmail.com
MS
Boys’ Soccer – Domenic Cipollone: dcipollone@suddenlink.net
MS
Girls’ Soccer - Jason Reeves: jason.reeves@novartis.com
MS
Volleyball - Doug Haag: dahaag@dow.com
NEW CCHS STUDENTS INTERESTED IN SPORTS–New students (7th grade or higher) who have already been
accepted to CCHS for the 2011-12 school year who are interested in playing fall
sports should contact the individual coaches listed above or Bill Gillispie,
our athletic director, for information (550-5702 or cchsathletics@yahoo.com).
GOOD
SPORTSMANSHIP -- is something that is expected of athletes, coaches, parents,
students, and other fans. CCHS is
synonymous with high expectations and we must reflect this excellence in all
activities. Good sportsmanship includes
showing respect to opposing teams, coaches, fans, and officials. People judge our school by viewing the
behavior of those who represent it most visibly. Many times this is the only exposure they
have to a Catholic school community. It
is always best to “be the bigger person” and ignore (and certainly not
imitate!) negative remarks or gestures from others. It is wonderful when game officials remark
upon the impressive behavior of our student athletes, and the collegiality of
our coaches, and the positive vibes from our fans. Let’s work on this together to make it a
great year!
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