Cat Chat Newsletter - September/October 2016

 
   
Dear Cienega Families,

The end of the 1st quarter is just a few weeks away! This year is already moving so fast.

It is a great time to take a look at your student's grades and come up with a plan for the last part of this quarter.  We have many interventions in place if your student is struggling.  One opportunity we offer high school students is intersession.  This year, intersession will take place over Fall Break during the 1st week only.  Each class will run for two days.  Students grades for intersession are averaged with the grade they earned 1st quarter in the class.  Instead of starting second quarter with a D or an F, students have the opportunity to start with a higher grade, thus giving them a better chance of passing the class for the semester.  If you are interested in this program, please contact your child's counselor.

Free tutoring and reteach is also in place.  Please see the tutoring and reteach schedule in this edition of the Cat Chat to find the days and times a teacher is available for extra help.  Tutoring, unlike reteach, is open to anyone who needs it.

On Saturdays, we are offering ACT prep courses for our juniors and seniors. This is a great opportunity to improve scores. Contact us for information.

Parent - Teacher Conferences are coming up and are a great way to help your student be successful. Parent - Teacher Conferences are set for Thursday, September 15th from 1:30-6:30 p.m. I encourage all of you to come to Cienega to meet with your child's teachers any time between the PT Conference timeframe of 1:30 - 6:30 p.m.

Lastly, there is a FREE App called SchoolWay. This App is another way for us to push information and communicate to parents and students. It is a one-way electronic communication from the school to smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktops of those who have subscribed to the App. I would like to encourage parents and students to download the App to help stay connected with Cienega.

Thank you for your continued support in helping our students become college and career ready. 
 

Nemer Hassey
Principal
IN THIS ISSUE
Fall Intersession
Chili Festival is Coming!
Author's Club
Emergency Services Career Fair
Senior Information
Spirit Week Info
Senior Exit Project
NJROTC
PSAT Testing
STUCO Happenings
ACT Prep Course Info
Reteach & Tutorting
Volunteer Corner
Cat Frat
College and Career Chronicle
Phat Cat Winner

INTERSESSION INFORMATION
 

Dear Parents:  There are some exciting changes happening this year with our Intersession Program.  We are continuing to offer an opportunity to raise student grades during Fall break. Listed below are some of the changes: 
1.  Each session will run 2 full days instead of 4.
2. Credit/Debit cards are now accepted in our Bookstore.
3. Cienega's Intersession will be for Cienega students.
4. Students will be allowed to use their Chromebooks.
5. The intercession teacher in collaboration with lead teachers will choose the most essential objectives from first quarter to review.
6. The grade earned in Intersession will be averaged with the grade earned in the 1st quarter.  This newly averaged grade will then become the official 1st quarter grade, up to a 70%.
7. Registration and payment will be taken in the bookstore.

The registration form is attached to this email.  Transportation will be provided. 
If you have any additional questions, please contact Rod Carrier at 879-2809.  

DOWNLOAD INTERSESSION FLIER HERE 

CHILE FESTIVAL COMING SOON!
 

 
TSW is participating in the 15th Annual Chile Festival. We will be accepting donations for student grown plants and beautiful hand made artisan products. Proceeds go to help support the Vail School District TSW Vocational Training program. We hope you will join us! 

AUTHORS' CLUB OPEN TO ALL
 

Hey, Bobcats! Do you write poems? Stories? Do you just keep a journal about your life? That is called "memoir"! Do you listen to hip hop music and have a sense of rhythm? Do you write some Hip Hop lyrics sometimes? Hip hop is a form of poetry, and it is called "slam," or, "spitting rhymes"! Did you know that?
 
Hmm! Sounds like you might be more of a wordsmith than you thought, right? Stop in to Authors' Club!  We meet in room 524 on Tuesdays during lunch, and first period paws. (Note: PAWS passes  are for official members only).

You can be involved as little or as much as you want. Come in just to hang out with others who love words or share some of your writing too! We can't wait to see you here. Tuesdays during lunch, room 524 with Mrs. Conrad! :)  

EMERGENCY SERVICES CAREER FAIR
 




INFORMATION FOR SENIORS
 

The first quarter of the senior year is coming to a close. Look for a letter from Mr. Tritz in the mail over break. If your student is lacking credits, I will have them listed on the back of the letter. Please make sure to contact me (John Tritz) if you have questions or concerns. If you have not already done so, I strongly encourage you and your student to download the SchoolWay App and join the group called "Class of 2017" for important information that is push notified throughout out the year. Go to myschoolway.com or the App Store or GoogleWay to get the app

  • Start applying to colleges and universities now! The University of Arizona has two early admissions deadlines. If all paperwork is submitted and application fee is paid by October 18th, you will receive a decision by November 8th. If all paperwork and application fees are paid by November 8th, you will have a decision by December 6th. After that, a rolling admissions process (first in, first processed) will be used. Currently ASU and NAU only have a rolling admissions process. Right now, a decision is made in about 4 - 6 weeks. Students wanting to apply for the Barrett Honors College at ASU should be aware of new changes in the process. The early action deadline to apply is November 1st.
  • College night is Tuesday, October 25th at the Tucson Convention Center from 6:30 - 9:00 P.M. Parking is free. Hundreds of colleges from across the country will be available for questions.
  • College Representatives are now on campus regularly. Check the Class of 2017 Web page on the counseling link for updates, or download the SchoolWay APP and join the group Class of 2017 to get push notifications.
  • Fall Testing Deadlines for SAT and ACT:
    • All seniors attending a 4 year College or University must take the SAT OR ACT. It is strongly recommended to take it this fall if a student has not already done so. Practice tests are available in the counseling office.
  • Scholarship opportunities are listed and updated on the Cienega Website on the "Counselor Page." View the site often for regular updates.
  • Financial Aid night is September 21st at 6:30 in the Student Union. The FAFSA is now open on October 1st and uses the 2015 taxes for income. Parents are highly encouraged to attend this event. Representatives from U of A, NAU and Grand Canyon will be there to answer questions.


SPIRIT WEEK INFO
 




SENIOR EXIT PROJECT
 
 

The complete Senior Exit Project packet is available on the moodle. These are the upcoming SEP deadline dates.  
 


If you have any questions, please contact Rod Carrier at 520-879-2809

NJROTC HAPPENINGS
 
 
On Saturday, 27 Aug 2016 Vail NJROTC Cadets participated in the JROTC Buckeye Union High School "Toughest Team Challenge".  The athletic meet was attended by various JROTC programs from across the state.  Our NJROTC team came in 1st place in the Physical Fitness Challenge and 3rd place in the Dodge Ball Tournament. 


   
    

PSAT TESTING
 
 
Attention Sophomore and Junior Parents:

Cienega is hosting a PSAT on October 19th.  The PSAT will help your student prepare for the SAT and other college admission requirements including the National Merit Scholarship Program for juniors.  The registration fee is $20 and can be paid for in the CHS Bookstore.  Space is limited so register early!
Contact Rod Carrier at 520-879-2809 or carrierrod@vailschooldistrict.org for additional information.
 
Download flier here  
 

STUCO HAPPENINGS
 
 

Student Council will be hosting a Pre-Game Prep on Friday, October 14th at 6:00 pm (Location is tbd). Come and join us for games, face paint, and music. It is free of charge! Don't forget to attend the varsity football game afterwards at 7:00pm to support your Cienega Bobcats! 
 
On Tuesday, October 25th during PAWS, Student Council will be hosting a Haunted House for Cienega students and staff to come and enjoy! Tickets will be pre-sold for $2 by all StuCo members prior to the event. Be sure to purchase the tickets before they run out! 
 
Cienega High School's Homecoming will be on Saturday, October 15th from 7:00pm to 11:00pm in the Cienega Student Union. Tickets go on sale on September 15th. Tickets are $15 prior to the dance and $20 at the door! Dress is semi-formal. Guest forms are available in the front office and must be turned in by October 13th! Guest forms must be turned in for any guest that is not a Cienega student. Do not forget to bring your ID! We hope to see you at Homecoming!

   

ACT PREP COURSES
 
 

Please find the fall 2017 ACT prep courses and dates attached.  Courses will begin on August 20th so students can start preparing for the ACT tests that are coming this fall. The $35 fee will enroll your student into
3 sessions! We are committed to helping all Cienega students to increase their composite scores.  Contact Eric Tatham @ 520-879-2864 for questions.

  
 DOWNLOAD FLIER HERE
   

MATH/ENGLISH RETEACH & TUTORING
 
    
Cienega Families:

In order to help you and your student (s) be informed about the programs we are offering at Cienega, please find the current RETEACH and TUTORING schedules for the first semester of 2016-17 attached.  If you have any questions, please direct them to our Instructional Support Teacher, Eric Tatham.  He can be reached at (520) 879-2864.

Sincerely,
CHS Administration

DOWNLOAD MATH/ENGLISH RETEACH SCHEDULE HERE
DOWNLOAD FREE TUTORING SCHEDULE HERE

VOLUNTEER CORNER
 
    
Thank YOU to all of our Costco volunteers, families, students, staff, cheer coaches, cheer squad, mascots and NJROTC Cadets for donating your time, shopping with us, (97 reams of FREE paper, Woohoo), and your AMAZING donations for our school wish list! Wow! Thank YOU for blessing our school!!! YOU ROCK!




NEW and seasoned volunteers...please COMPLETE or RENEW your ONLINE Volunteer APPLICATION HERE   Click the link to apply online and hit SUBMIT and you're done!

A NOTE FROM THE CAT FRAT PRESIDENT
 
    
Hello Cienega Families-

I wanted to take a minute to introduce myself to you and invite you to our next CatFRAT general meeting.  CatFRAT is the Teacher-Parent-Student organization for Cienega High School, and I am your president this year.  We hold regular meetings generally the 3rd Monday of every month in our library starting at 6:30.  Our next meeting is Monday, September 19 th.  The meeting schedule can be found on our school webpage:  http://chs.vail.k12.az.us/cat-frat/.
 
We support our teachers and students at Cienega primarily with regular teacher and staff appreciation and student recognition events.  We also provide teachers with grant opportunities to purchase services and/or supplies that are not otherwise included in classroom budgets that directly benefit our students.  We do this in a variety of ways.  First and foremost, we ask you to become a member of CatFRAT.  It is only $10 per family per school year.  With over 2,000 students at Cienega, imagine the good things we can do for our teachers, staff and students!  If you don't have time to volunteer or donate in any other way, please consider contributing by membership to CatFRAT.  Our membership form is attached for your convenience. 
 
We have a few other ongoing fundraisers including Fry's Community Rewards, eScrip and Tyson.  All of these fundraisers are simple to enroll and don't cost you anything more than you are already spending.  A flyer was sent with details in your student's registration packet   You can find another copy of the details on our school webpage:  http://chs.vail.k12.az.us/cat-frat/.
 
The agenda for our next regular meeting includes electing a new Vice President and requesting help with our committees, specifically a refreshments and a popcorn sales coordinators.  We also have one donation request from COVE that was brought forward to review and vote on.  If you are at all interested in learning more about these positions and/or the grant request process, please join us on the 19 th.
 
I look forward to meeting you there!
Kindly-
 
Michelle White
 
President, CatFRAT
Cell: 520.275.2093
http://chs.vail.k12.az.us/cat-frat/

Membership Form
 

COLLEGE AND CAREER CHRONICLE
 
    
Career Watch

Geoscientists ( Except Hydrologists and Geographers ): Study the composition, structure, and other physical aspects of the Earth. May use geological, physics, and mathematics knowledge in exploration for oil, gas, minerals, or underground water; or in waste disposal, land reclamation, or other environmental problems. May study the Earth's internal composition, atmospheres, oceans, and its magnetic, electrical, and gravitational forces. Includes mineralogists, crystallographers, paleontologists, stratigraphers, geodesists, and seismologists. Education requirements:  At least a Bachelor's degree (in several states, geoscientists may need a license) . Salary: The median annual wage for geoscientists was $89,700 in May 2015. Employment of geoscientists is projected to grow 10 percent from 2014 to 2024, faster than the average for all occupations. The need for energy, environmental protection, and responsible land and resource management is projected to spur demand for geoscientists in the future.   The top schools offering undergraduate degrees in Geosciences are: California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, CA, the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO, Columbia University in New York, NY, Harvard University in Cambridge, MA and the University of Washington in Seattle, WA.
 
What To Do and When to Do It - September
Freshmen
Get to know your high school counselor.
Evaluate your grades frequently. Take steps to improve - freshman year is important!
Join clubs and organizations that interest you.
Look for services/community opportunities.
Start your high school resume/portfolio and keep it updated.
Make a four-year plan.
Start to investigate potential careers.
 
Sophomores
Evaluate your academic progress.
Take steps to improve your academic progress.
Register for the October PSAT (the deadline is September, 22!).
Join clubs/extracurricular activities.
Document your accomplishments to date.
 
Juniors
Register for the October PSAT/NMSQT (the deadline is September, 22!).
Practice and prepare for the PSAT.
Begin to identify what you want in a college (size, location, extracurriculars, etc.).
Review and update your documentation of accomplishments.
Plan to visit a college during fall break.
 
Seniors
Meet with your counselor to be sure you're on track to graduate.
If necessary, register to retake the ACT and/or SAT.
Update your resume.
Attend college representative visits.
Apply to colleges and for scholarships.
Attend all senior information nights and senior assemblies.


PHAT CAT WINNER
 
    
 
Congratulations to Brielle O'Hara for being the Phat Cat winner this past Friday, September 9th.  Brielle won a $100 gift card from Best Buy.  Congrats Brie!



 


________________________________________________

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

Sincerely,

Cienega High School

DATES TO REMEMBER


9/26-10/7- Fall Break

11/2 - Half day for students

11/11 - Veterans Day No school

11/23-11/25 Thanksgiving No School

12/16-12/20 - FINALS Half day for students

12/21-1/3 - Winter Break



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
Volunteer Coordinator
879-2811                  


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 - Kim Thielke 879-2855
Freshman Counselor
Eric Boxley - 879-2854

  

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

Secretary -  Sandy Morrison
879-2892
Counselor A - L
Colette Clendaniel 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.  Go to www.jostensyearbooks.com

 

Would you like an extra 4 pages in your yearbook that you design?  This year, you can buy an extra 4 pages to be put in only your yearbook.  Go to yearbookyourself.com  

for more information.