Cat Chat Newsletter - April 2018 

 
   

Dear Cienega Families,
   
It is amazing that we are now in our final weeks of the school year. It's the time of year to encourage all of our students to have a laser focus on academics, attendance, and behavior. After working so hard for the last seven months, we all must "finish the race" with success. You can support your child by checking their progress on PowerSchool and by contacting teachers to help with this process. Tutoring and reteach are still going on almost every day, classroom instruction is going strong, and finals are just around the corner. We don't slow down until the very last day of school.
 
I am so excited for our seniors and their future endeavors as they prepare to graduate from Cienega. It will be very busy in the final months of the school year. SEP presentations are scheduled on May 2-4, 2018. This can be a very stressful time for our seniors as they are checking off the final boxes and thinking about what comes next. Please assist your senior in their final weeks as a Cienega student.
 
Mark your calendars: Here are some events that are coming up in the final weeks.
  • April 12th @ 5:00 p.m. All Fine Arts Department Show Extravaganza
  • April 14th @ 10:30 a.m. Annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser at Del Lago
  • April 19th @ 6:00 p.m. Senior Parent Night - Student Union
  • April 19-29th Pima County Fair
  • April 23rd @ 7:00 p.m. Band Concert at VTOTA
  • April 26th @ 6:00 p.m. NJROTC Awards Night
  • April 28th Prom
  • April 30th @ 7:00 p.m. Band Concert at VTOTA
  • May 2-4 SEP Presentations
  • May 7th @ 7:00 p.m. Choir Concert
  • May 16th @ 6:30 p.m. Honors Night
  • May 17th @ 5:00 p.m. Powder Puff Football
  • May 18th @ 6:00 p.m. Baccalaureate
  • May 19th @ 4:00 p.m. Graduation at the TCC
 
I appreciate the hard work and dedication of our teachers, staff, students, and our parents.
 
Sincerely,

Nemer Hassey
Principal

IN THIS ISSUE
FOOD DRIVE
SPRING BREAK
YEARBOOK
SPECIAL OLYMPICS
SPRING BREAK 2018 JAPAN
SENIOR INFO
NJROTC
COLLEGE & CAREER CHRONICLE
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
PHAT CAT WINNERS

MARCH MADNESS FOOD DRIVE 
 
 
NHS would like to thank everyone who helped make our March Madness Food Drive a success!! Mr. Wootan was the tournament champion, bringing in over 3,000 points. In total CHS donated. OVER 2,000 LBS of food to the Vail Food Bank.  A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!
 

FROM THE BOBCAT BOOKSTORE
 
 
Important information from the Bobcat Bookstore for your future planning:

Seniors' chromebooks, textbooks and calculators will need to be returned as soon as possible after finals.  Any lost items will need to be paid for prior to noon on Friday, May 18th.

Underclassmen will need to return all chromebooks, textbooks and calculators before 2:00pm on Thursday, May 24th. Any fees on Freshman, Sophomore, or Junior students' accounts will need to be paid by that same deadline, 2:00 pm on Thursday, May 24th.

After Monday, May 7th, all payments will need to be made by cash or card only.

Please encourage your child to return any materials they are no longer using to the Bookstore as soon as possible. For example, if they read a book in English class during first or second quarter but still have it, it can be returned at any time.

Please contact us if you have questions.

Kathy Good, Bookstore Manager goodk@vailschooldistrict.org
520-879-2824

Molly Koenig, Bookstore Clerk koenigm@vailschooldistrict.org 
520-879-1819

SPRING BREAK 2019 
 
 
Want to spend spring break 2019 at the beaches, or in the rainforests, and mountains of Ecuador?  Mr. Thomas and Dr. Rathman are leading an 11-day trip that will include whitewater rafting, snorkeling, treks in the Amazon rainforest and a train ride through the Valley of the Volcanoes.  An informational meeting for parents and students will be held on April 19th, 6 pm in room 519.  Join us on the adventure of a lifetime!







YEARBOOK
 

SPECIAL OLYMPICS 
 
 
 
We are so lucky to have the Special Olympics Torch Run start and pass through Vail on Tuesday, May 1st. The run will begin at Walgreens on Colossal Cave Road then travel up Mary Ann Cleveland Way ending at Empire.  Participants will travel their leg of the race based on the their endurance level with travel arrangements to pick up students who finish at Empire for the Torch Run celebration.
 
What is it?
Mission Statement
The mission of the Arizona Law Enforcement Torch Run is to raise funds and awareness for Special Olympics Arizona statewide. We carry the Torch representing the Flame of Hope and dedicate ourselves to helping Special Olympics Arizona throughout the state.

History of Law Enforcement Torch Run  
The Torch Run program began in 1981, when Wichita, Kansas Chief of Police Richard LaMunyon saw an urgent need to raise funds for and increase awareness of Special Olympics. The idea was simple: provide local law enforcement with opportunities to volunteer with Special Olympics in communities where the officers lived and worked.  The Law Enforcement Torch Run is a series of intra-state/intra-nation runs that take place in the spring and summer in the United States and around the world. Throughout the course of the Torch Run, participants collect contributions from individuals and businesses, asking to help raise support for incredible Special Olympics athletes. The Torch Run is much more than just a run; it is a year-round campaign to raise awareness and funds for Special Olympics Arizona.
 
Our inclusion students will be participating in the Special Olympic torch run. We anticipate law enforcement and students from other Vail schools will be running by Cienega around 10:00am. More information to come in the school announcements.

SPRING BREAK 2018
 
 
Cienega EF tour group in Japan over Spring Break with teachers Jack Erickson,  Robin Rathman and former teacher Kalyssa Koontz as they visited the Bamboo Forest in Arashiyama, Kyoto.

IMPORTANT SENIOR INFORMATION
 
    
Graduation Reminders:
  • Graduation meeting for parents is on Thursday May 19th at 6:00 PM in the Student Union. Details about the ceremony and the Do's and Don'ts at the Tucson Convention Center will be discussed.
  • Graduation Ceremony is Saturday, May 19th at 4:00 PM at the Tucson Convention Center.
  • Graduation Rehearsal is Friday May 18th at 8:40 AM in the CHS gymnasium. Attendance is mandatory for all students who will be in the ceremony.
  • Honors Night for Seniors is Wednesday, May 16th. I will be handing out honor cords to those who are graduating with honors. I will be recognizing every student who is on the Wall of the Future and I will be presenting certificates to everyone who has received any scholarship. I would like to recognize everyone who has received a scholarship, but in order to do so, I need to know what honors or awards your son or daughter has earned. Forms are available outside of Mr. Tritz's office and available on the counselor link of the CHS website. Have your senior bring in their acceptance letters or enlistment papers to be added to the Wall of the future. Every time a student's name is on the wall, they are entered in the drawing for a free iPad to be given away at Honors night. Student must be present to win.
  • National Signing Day celebration: On May 1st during PAWS there will be a national signing day celebration in the student union. An ice cream social sponsored by STUCO and CatFrat will be given to celebrate their commitment to their future. Students who are on the Wall of the future were given a College Bound or Military Bound T-shirt to wear that day.
  • Senior Parade: On May 11th at 8:45 AM we will have 3 busses available for students to celebrate their graduation by going back to the middle schools and elementary schools in a parade style fashion. Seniors will wear their cap and gown and students from the elementary and middle schools will line the sidewalks of their schools as our seniors parade around the campus while the band plays Pomp and Circumstance. Students can sign up at the front desk starting April 18th.
General Reminders:
  • If your student is taking any courses through correspondence or Dual Enrollment through Pima, it is their responsibility to bring the transcript from that school to the registrar in order to get credit for the class and to be able to participate in graduation ceremonies. This deadline is MAY 1st unless taking a Pima class. That deadline will be two days after the class has been completed.
  • If nine absences are accumulated in any class regardless of the reason, unless it is a school related activity, the student will not pass the class and if the class is a required class for graduation, the student will not graduate.
    • Attendance appeals can be scheduled beginning May 1st with Juanita Mari (located in the library.)
  • Seniors planning on attending a four year college should have applied to their schools by now.  You may lose valuable scholarship opportunities by procrastinating any longer.
  • College bound seniors should have completed the FAFSA by now. If it has not yet been completed do so before May 1st. Here is a link to get you started.
  • Be sure to check the CHS Website for updated scholarship opportunities. Click on the "Counselor"link, from there click on "Scholarships". This page is updated regularly, so check back often.
  • Senioritis can sometimes creep up on students.  Please be aware of this and monitor your students attendance and grades carefully so that there will be no unhappy surprises in May when it is time to celebrate the graduation of your son or daughter from Cienega.
  • Please utilize PowerSchool on a regular basis and stay informed of the progress your son or daughter is making in his or her classes https://ps.vail.k12.az.us/public/home.html .
 
NJROTC HAPPENINGS 
 
 

 
The NJROTC Academic Team competed at the NJROTC Area 11 Regional Academic Competition held Saturday, 24 March 2018 at Point Loma High School, San Diego, CA.  24 of the top NJROTC Area 11 schools competed.  Our team was 1 of 3 Arizona NJROTC schools to qualify for the meet.  Our team was knocked out in the 5th round by the top NJROTC school from Los Angeles. 
 

 
On Saturday, 24 March 2018 NJROTC Cadets assisted with the American Legion Post 109 Produce on Wheels With-Out Waste (POW WOW) Community Service Event.
 
 
On Saturday, 7 April 2018 NJROTC Cadets presented the Colors for the UDT-SEAL Association's charity "Tucson Desert Golf Classic" at the Arizona National Golf Club.  The cadets later in the day also presented the Colors for Congresswoman Martha McSally at her U.S. Service Academy information day held at Empire High School.   
 
 
COLLEGE AND CAREER CHRONICLE 
 
 
The Importance of the FAFSA
 
Students are often excited to learn that they have been accepted for admission to college. However, it's important for students to know that they will be able meet the financial demands of college. In most cases, the first step for determining whether or not the financial need will be met is to complete the FAFSA.
 
The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is the primary tool used by colleges to determine whether students qualify for need-based or merit-based aid packages. It is also used to determine a student's eligibility for federal loans, grants or work-study.
 
There are many reasons students and their families should complete the FAFSA. Consider the following.
 
  1. Most families underestimate their need for financial aid. The FAFSA considers factors like expenses, various costs associated with school attendance and family size. Applying for aid is the only way to know if you will qualify for aid.
  2. Your financial situation could easily change. Having a completed a FAFSA on file facilitates the process of applying for reconsideration if your financial circumstances change in the future.
  3. The FAFSA is needed if you want to be considered for federal student loans.
  4. Some colleges require the FAFSA to be completed for students to qualify for non-need based or merit scholarships. Often, scholarship money goes unspent because students have not completed the FAFSA and as a result, are not awarded scholarships.
  5. Many families erroneously believe FAFSA completion will hurt their child's chances of being admitted to college. The truth is, there is very little chance of losing a spot in college because you applied for aid.
You can complete the FAFSA by going to the following website:
https://fafsa.ed.gov/ If you require further assistance, contact any counselor on campus.
 
You have nothing to lose and so much to gain!
 
Dainah L. Graham
College & Career Counselor
Bobcat Scholar Academy
(520) 879-2819
 
 
VOLUNTEER CORNER 
 
 
Happy Spring and Summer Bobcat Volunteers!

If you have ANY VOLUNTEER HOURS for this school year, please email them to me as soon as possible with your NAME, EVENT/CLUB/SPORT and TOTAL # of HOURS. Each school tracks our TOTAL volunteer hours and turns them in to Mr. Baker, our school superintendent. Thank YOU for volunteering! YOU are a Blessing!

We have several volunteer opportunities available to you. Please contact me directly and specify which event and date you're interested in.

~ The SEP's are coming, the SEP's are coming ~

We need YOU to judge our SEP's ( Senior Exit Project),   NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY, just a willingness and a positive attitude! Is that YOU? If so, let's schedule your SEP date NOW. 
UNDERCLASSMAN PARENTS...this is a great way to find out what our SEP entails, how to prepare for them, as well as easing any fears of the unknown for you and your student. Try it, I think you'll like it and it will be bring peace to both you and your student about their future Senior Exit Project! You won't be disappointed!   
SEP DATES and TIMES:
WEDNESDAY, MAY 2nd ~ 
3:45pm-7:30pm 
THURSDAY, MAY 3rd ~ 
3:45pm-7:30pm
FRIDAY, MAY 4th ~ (1/2 day for students)
1:00pm-4:30pm

I CREAM SOCIAL - SENIOR CLASS:
~ TUESDAY, MAY 1st ~
9:30am-11:45am - Set-up, serve and clean-up 
Need 6-8 Volunteers if possible

Staff Appreciation Luncheon
~ FRIDAY, MAY 4th ~
10:45am - 1:00pm 
Set-up, serve lunch and clean-up
Need 2-4 Volunteers

LAPTOP PICK-UP DATES:
~ MAY 7th and 8th ~
8:30am-12:30pm
1-2 Volunteers needed
~ MAY 16th, 17th and 18th ~
8:30am-12:00pm
12:00pm-3:30pm
4-6 Volunteers needed for each shift each day

HONORS NIGHT BANQUET:
~ Wednesday, MAY 16th ~
4:00-6:00pm - Set-up
6:00-8:30pm - Serve cake, cookies and punch
8:00-9:30pm - Clean-up 
Need 6-8 Volunteers for the night

Any questions or to volunteer, please contact me at burtona@vailschooldistrict.org or (520) 879-2811.

Thank you for your consideration. We appreciate you and your willingness to give of your time and talents by volunteering at Cienega High School!

Thank you! I look forward to hearing from YOU soon!

Amy Burton, Volunteer Coordinator 
 

PHAT CAT DRAWING WINNER
 

Congratulations to Wyatt Carrizosa for being the Phat Cat drawing winner on Friday, March 9th. Wyatt won a FREE tuxedo or suit from Nick's Menswear. Congrats Wyatt!



Congratulations to Chase Feldt for being the Phat Cat winner on Friday, April 6th. Chase won gift cards for Texas Roadhouse, Native, Roadhouse Cinemas, and Coldstone Creamery. Congrats Chase!


 


________________________________________________

Thank you parents for your support. We truly appreciate your involvement! 

Cienega High School

DATES TO REMEMBER


4/17 - Cat Frat Meeting

4/17 - Junior Parent SEP Information Night

4/23 - Band Concert
4/28 - Prom

4/30 - Band Concert

5/2, 5/3 & 5/4 - SEP

5/7 - Choir Concert

5/19 - Class of 2018 Graduation Ceremony

6/2 SAT Testing 
 

QUICK LINKS


CHS
INFORMATION

Cienega High School
Vision Statement
 
Cienega High School creates an educational environment utilizing partnerships among community, parents, and staff to assist students in maximizing their academic potential and promoting life-long learning.
 
Front Office   - 879-2800     Attendance   -  879-2803   
Bookstore     -  879-2824 
Registrar       - 879-2812

Health Office - 879-2810
              

Front Office/200 House   
Principal
Nemer Hassey
Secretary - Chris Rich 879-2816 
Senior Counselor
John Tritz - 879-1843 
Bobcat Scholars Counselor
Dainah Graham - 879-2819
                        
300/700 House
Assistant Principal
Dean Nourse

Secretary - Gianni Wanaka 879-2855
Freshman Counselor
Eric Boxley - 879-2854

  
400/600 House/Athletics     
Assistant Principal
Kelly Hadden
Athletic Director - Whitney Holland - 879-1813            

Secretary -  Sandi Morrison
879-2892
Counselor A - L
Colette Alvarado 879-2904

500 House/Special Education/Security          
Assistant Principal
Kim Middleton
Secretary - Cassandra Bahrychuk 879-2874

Counselor M - Z
Sylvia Lewandowski-879-2817

Special Education Secretary Patty McKnight 879-1804
 
Communications Coordinator
Elizabeth Taggart - 879-2878  
 
 
 
CHS website: chs.vail.k12.az.us               

Moodle:

Silhouette Photography - 886-1710  (Senior pictures for yearbook)
      
Sodexho - 879-2090 or mymealtime.com   

District Office - 879-2000

Transportation - 879-2475


Get your YEARBOOK today!

 
 
 
 

CHS Online Store
Spirit Wear & More!


 Click here for Online Ordering  

 

 

ALL SALES FROM OUR ONLINE STORE BENEFIT CHS BOBCATS 

 


Job Openings

Are you looking for a job?

 

The Vail School District is looking for dynamic, energetic and positive staff members. Please click on the link below for the job descriptions, qualifications, salary guide, and the application process.

 

Click for job openings here   

 

Cienega High School
Yearbooks

It's that time of year again to pre-order your yearbook. 
www.jostensyearbooks.com