COUGAR NEWS 2023-2024

Congratulations to the Speech & Debate Team this weekend at the Jersey Village tournament.

Poetry Semi-finalists – Mwaita Chipinda

6th Place Extemporaneous Speaking – Ally Gill

5th Place Impromptu – John Magee

6th Place Impromptu – Peyton Tegeder

World Schools Debate Quarter-Finalist – Kat Waters, Ross Stroble, Sisi Altom and Arav Mehta

2nd Place Worlds Schools Debate – Kyle Piepho, Hazel Roberts, Hannah Obregon, Eric Wolfe, and Allegra Aguirre

Way to go team! We are so proud of your accomplishments!

The Cougar Charms Elite Team and Officers kicked off their contest season this weekend at the Cheer America Houston Competition and we could not be more proud of everything they accomplished!

Officer Awards

1st place senior small jazz

1st place senior small contemporary

Grand Champion Senior Small contemporary

best technique- senior small jazz

Elite Awards

1st place senior large contemporary

best execution- senior large contemporary

AND

An at-large bid to THE DANCE WORLDS!!

Congratulations Charms!!

This past Sunday, the Tomball High School Cheer team Competed at NCA State of Texas competition where they placed 1st out of 32 teams in Large Varsity Gameday Division and also received the sideline spirit award.

The cheer team also had the highest score of the entire competition where they earned the Herkie High Point for the Gameday Competition!

Our Mascots placed 2nd and 5th in their respective categories and had an amazing performances!

Great Job and Good Luck at UIL!!

The Academic UIL Journalism team competed in the state-wide Centex Virtual competition last week and medaled in all five events.

In News Writing, Saige Klein won first place, Meghan Schilder took 7th and Charlotte Hildebrandt took 10th.

In Feature Writing, Saige took 6th place and Natalia Martinez took 8th.

In Editorial Writing, Lauren Nolen took 8th place, Emma Parada took 9th and Natalia took 10th.

In Headline Writing, Meghan took 3rd while newcomer Julielle Avila took 4th.

And in Copy Editing, Natalia took 7th place.

Congratulations to the whole team!

After an eventful day of preparing and creating, the robotics team donated over 25 build-a-bears to the local LBJ hospital.

Please see attached the Tomball High School Fall Final Exam Schedule.

Things to pay attention to......

• There are two early release days. Buses will run at their normal time 2:40 on Tuesday, December 19th. If you can arrange transportation that day for your student since they get out at 11:40 it is appreciated. If you are unable, we will provide a study hall for any students waiting on the bus.
• Everyone takes Fall Final Exams (Exemptions only happen in the Spring)
• Students may NOT take an exam BEFORE their scheduled time.
• Students who miss exams can make them up with teachers any time AFTER the scheduled test time. We will have a final make up Exam opportunity on Saturday, January 13 at 7:30 am.
• Students can NOT be checked out during an exam period. Parents, please look at the exam schedule and plan on checking your student out before a class with an exam starts or after a class with an exam ends. We will not pull students from a class during an exam as it is a distraction to those taking the exam still. Please plan accordingly.
• SENIORS: Please pay attention to Review and Exam Times. Late Arrival and Early Release periods are overridden by the Exam Schedule so make sure to ask off of work or let them know what time you are available these days.

Week of December 18th-20th

College & Career Counselor Corner

• College 101 with Dr. Z - Our amazing Dr. Salazar Zamora, TISD Superintendent, is bringing a group of 2023 Tomball High School grads back to THS on January 9th for the College 101 with Dr. Z event. Grads will share their college experience, offer valuable advice and answer questions that you may have about life after high school. The event is for juniors and seniors ONLY and sign-up is limited to 100 spots (sign-up closes January 7th or if reaches capacity). Click HERE to sign-up!
• TISD Service Cord Update - TISD has updated the hour requirement for students to earn the TISD Service Cord. Class of 2024 - 120 hours, (update) Class of 2025 and beyond - 160 hours. Students submit all hours through their Student Link (same login as HAC, can also be accessed through HAC by clicking on the Tomball “T”). SENIOR DEADLINE APPROACHING: MARCH 1, 2024.
• FAFSA (Free Application For Federal Student Aid) - The 2024-2025 FAFSA us undergoing changes and will open in December 2023 (date TBA). More information to come! How can you prepare? Student and parent(s) can create their FSA ID prior to December 2023 (recommended!). In the past only one parent needed an FSA ID, but with the new changes all parents will need one. It’s quick and easy! All you’ll need is your SSN, cell phone number and/or email address. Click HERE to create the FSA ID.
• Financial Aid Night - Click HERE for the information from the December 6th event.
• (DATE UPDATED!) FAFSA Workshop January 16, 2024 from 6:00-8:00 pm in the LGI (Rm 1253). This event is specifically for seniors and their parents/guardians ONLY. We will review the updates to the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and assist families start/complete the FAFSA. Come and go event, enter through main entrance off Quinn road. Doors close at 7:30 pm. Please feel free to bring your own computer, Chromebooks will also be available. Recommended to have FSA ID created for student AND parent(s) prior to the event (by 1/12/24 UPDATED!)
• SENIOR GIRLS - The Cypress-Woodlands Junior Forum Founding Members' Scholarship is available to graduating senior women. This $1,000 scholarship is awarded to young women who have made the effort during their high school career to volunteer their time and talents to their community. The primary criterion used to evaluate the applicants is their Community Service. Academic performance and financial need are secondary considerations in determining the scholarship recipient(s). Applications are available in the counselor’s office (Rm 1359) or online at: https://www.cwjuniorforum.org/application/ Application deadline is January 12, 2024. Please submit to room 1359 by 3:00 pm.
• LOCAL TOMBALL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR SENIORS - Many of them are LIVE! As we hear back from scholarship donors more will be added to the list through January. Click HERE for all the information.
• Opportunity for Juniors: Girls State & Boys State - Great leadership opportunity for juniors! THS will pay for one boy and one girl to attend the events. Application and deadlines apply to be considered to represent THS. Click HERE for more details. Application deadline: January 19th!
• Student taking Dual Credit for the FIRST TIME in 2024-2025 - Get a head start by submitting you application to LSC. Follow these application instructions!! All the details on the process and First Time in Dual Credit Student meeting will be shared when we return in January, but having your application submitted and receiving your LSC ID number will be a great head start!
• CURRENTLY ENROLLED 2023-2024 Dual Credit Students - Mrs. Nichols will meet with you when we return in January with all the instructions you’ll need for the 2024-2025 school year! Be sure that you make your spring 2024 course fee payments by January 6th! Copy of the fee payment steps HERE.

We need all Senior Parents for the Class of 2024 to get involved.

Make sure you follow SPO 2024 on

Facebook: Tomball High School SPO 2024

Instagram: ths_spo_2024

NEW WEBSITE: www.thsspo2024.com

You can also email us at spoths2024@gmail.com

OUR NEXT MEETING is scheduled for Thursday, January 11th in the cafeteria of Tomball High

Some SPO Senior Events already scheduled:

MR. DEBONAIR COMPETITION: February 8

POWDER PUFF FOOTBALL: April 10

PROJECT PROM: April 21

BACCALAUREATE: May 19

SENIOR SUNSET: May 17

Attention all Seniors! Registration has officially opened for Mr. Debonair 2024, “ One Ken of a Night.” This year we are paying tribute to the man of all men, Ken. So we’re calling all class of 2024 Ken’s and their Barbie’s to show off their best style, attributes and talents in one fun-filled evening on February 8, 2024 . Are you Kenough? Find out by registering via the links below or during your lunch the week of December 11-15. Registration open through January 22, 2024.

If you’re a “Ken” please follow the link below for contestant registration:

If you’re a “Barbie” to assist a “Ken” contestant, please follow the link below for registration:

Parents we need your help with

Mr. Debonair 2024 “One “Ken” of a Night.” Volunteer opportunities start as early as next week. Please see sign up genius below and be part of this memorable and fun event! Make sure to put your senior’s name under comments so you can earn points for volunteering.

THS and TMHS 2024 Senior Parent Organizations are proud to announce our first ever joint fundraiser! With the generous donation from Fred Haas Toyota County and Fred Haas Nissan we have been given a once in a lifetime opportunity to raffle off a brand new 2024 Nissan Kicks or Toyota Corolla! ONE HUNDRED PERCENT of ticket sales will go directly to each SPO organizations that sell. We would like to thank them for this amazing opportunity!

The link below take you directly to the site to sell tickets virtually near and afar! We will also be handing out ticket books at our meetings starting September 7 to THS SPO Members. Members will earn points for selling tickets.

Our goal for THS SPO is to raise $50,000.00 that will go towards our Senior’s Project Prom and other SPO events. In order to make this a reality, we will need every THS SPO member to sell at least 12 tickets to reach this goal. We know that we have a great group of parents and community that can make this the biggest and best fundraiser ever!

Tickets will be

$24.00 for ONE

$100.00 for FIVE

Link https://my.cheddarup.com/c/support-the-ths-class-of-2024?cart=1b4d5e8f-7cab-41f4-b8f9-97be47382c21%21%2161311201

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THS SPO Membership registration is $40.00 and includes one THS SPO 2024 T-Shirt. Only one membership per household is needed. Please be sure to read the full details when registering.

Let’s make this a great year for our Seniors!

SPO Membership 2024

Mark Vierkant @THS_Mr_Vierkant

Lisa Streat @THS_Ms_Streat

Daniel Craft @THSAP_Craft

Sara Cooley @THS_cooley

Jennifer Foley @THS_jennlee

Carl Moise @C_Moise22

Carrie Sack @CSackTHS

The purpose of the Cougar News Weekly Newsletter is to inform the community of everything going on at Tomball High School.

Feel free to email MarkVierkant@tomballisd.net with any celebrations of our students!!

I put together the newsletter, but depend on Parents, Students, Staff and the Community to get me stories to share with the community of Tomball.

Please share anything newsworthy for consideration. Photos to go along with the story is a wonderful touch to the story for the reader.