Calvert Connection
Calvert High School Newsletter
September 7, 2024
Commitment to Excellence, the Cavalier Way!
Principal's Message
Thank you to all of you who attended our Open House this week. Parent and guardian presence and engagement are what help make our school community successful. It was wonderful to see so many of you taking the time to meet school staff and learn more about the year ahead. Your involvement is crucial to student success and we appreciate your continued support. Together, we can make this school year memorable and productive for all our students.
The following information was shared with your child during grade-level assemblies and at Open House. At Calvert High, our priorities are fostering a positive climate, building a culture of excellence, and promoting academic achievement. Staff are working hard to create classroom communities and build relationships with and between students. We are preparing opportunities for students to engage positively and have fun at school, are committed to recognizing students for their achievements and supporting all students in achieving academic success. Behaviors that disrupt or negatively impact these priorities are not acceptable at Calvert High.
Parents and guardians, please speak with your child about appropriate behavior and interactions within our Cavalier community. Every student deserves to come to a school with a positive learning environment and enjoy their high school experience. Together, we can ensure a great school year.
If your child needs support with interpersonal conflicts, self-management, or other challenges, please partner with our school staff. We are committed to supporting our students. However, if a student engages in our non-negotiables—such as fighting, disrespect, or non-compliance—they will receive the highest appropriate consequence because behaviors such as these do not belong in our school. This expectation of excellence also includes after-school events. Participation in and attendance at extra-curricular activities are a privilege and not a right. If behavior during school or at an event goes against the CCPS Student Code of Conduct, your child may lose the ability to participate in or attend them.
Last night we had our first regular season home game of the Fall. The weather was perfect, the turn-out was great and our fans in the stands did a great job supporting our Calvert High varsity football team, marching band and cheer team. During the 4th quarter there was an incident outside of the stadium where multiple students who do not attend Calvert High School initiated an altercation with a CHS student. Calvert County officers and Calvert High staff contained the incident and students involved face consequences from the CCSO and Calvert County Public Schools.
This incident is not indicative of our first two weeks of school nor is it an accurate representation of the majority of Calvert High students. Thank you to the students, staff, parents and guardians, and community members who came out to support our Cavaliers and continue to support Calvert High.
UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES & EVENTS
CHS Athletic Events: Calvert (smacathletics.org)
September 11
2-hour Early Dismissal Professional Learning
September 27
NO SCHOOL
September 30
2-hour late arrival Teacher Work Time
October 2
Interims - Marking Period 1
October 14
2-hour Late Arrival
October 18
NO SCHOOL--Professional Learning
Homecoming Game
October 19
Homecoming Dance
October 31
End of Marking Period 1
CAVS Work Hard
CAV Time
See the attached for a schedule template to review with your child. It is important that students have plan on where they will go each day because all students must be in a classroom during Cav Time.
The second attachment contains a listing of our current club/group offerings. Please review them with your child to help them find positive ways to be involved at school.
Ms. Cwalina's AP Human Geography class participated in a collaborative activity to begin the school year. Students combined content knowledge with teamwork, communication and perseverance to achieve their finished product.
ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES
ATTENDANCE EMAIL Send notes for student absences, students arriving late or needing to leave early to the CHS Attendance email. Please direct correspondence to CHSAttendance@calvertnet.k12.md.us. All secretaries in the main office have access to this email address. Thank you!
CAVS Get Involved
Testing
PSAT, AP and SAT ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS
Submit requests for College Board accommodations (AP, SAT) to Dona Hook, Assistant Principal, at hookd@calvertnet.k12.md.us. Completed request forms for AP exams are due by December 19, 2024.
PSAT 2024
The PSAT will be administered digitally to all 10th grade students on October 16th. 10th grade students will be automatically registered without a fee. Any 9th, 11th or 12th grade student can register to take the PSAT for a fee of $18. Please complete the registration form and return it to the finance office!
PSAT Registration Form 2024.pdf
Questions: Dona Hook hookd@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Athletics
Calvert High athletic information: https://chs.calvertnet.k12.md.us/athletics
Athletic Director: Jason Cranford cranfordJE@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Athletic Game Information
- Admission cost for regular season athletic events is $6.
- Online tickets for CHS games can be purchased at: Calvert High School Tickets by GoFan. This link includes access to the Student and Parent Pass for the Fall season. This pass can only be used for HOME games.
- There will no admittance after the 3rd quarter.
- Re-entry is not permitted (you may not pay to re-enter)
- Backpacks and bags are not permitted.
- No profanity
- No throwing items in the stands or on the field/court
- Prohibited items include weapons, drugs, alcohol, tobacco, electronic cigarettes, outside food and drinks, laser pointers, non-service animals, sports equipment, and other items deemed inappropriate by the school administration.
- Please help us maintain our campus pride by throwing your trash away.
Transportation
Student Parking Permits
Parking permits for 2024-2025 are on sale for Seniors and Juniors. Please review the Student Parking Rules and Regulations/Application document included below. Students must return the signed and completed parking application to the main office and include payment. Please bring a copy of the vehicle registration and a valid driver’s license for the student named on the application. The parking fee for this year is $60.
Starting Tuesday, September 3rd, we will be checking vehicles for parking permits on display and that students are parking in their correct space. Students who are not parked appropriately will be asked to move their vehicles and may jeopardize their ability to purchase a permit and park in the student parking lot. Students are to park in only their numbered parking spot
Students who do not follow parking rules and regulations such as speeding or reckless driving in the student parking lot and onto Dorsey Rd or parking without a permit may have their permits revoked and face school disciplinary consequences.
Parking permits will continue to be sold during the school year until the parking lot is full.
CHS Transportation Remiders
Reminders
- Afternoon student pick-up: please back into a parking space to wait for your student. This helps to alleviate a traffic back-up.
- Please drive at a safe speed when dropping-off/picking-up students.
CHS Back Parking Lot
- The CHS back parking lot is for student drivers only. Drop-off and pick-up for students is in the Kiss and Ride lot located at the front of the school.
- No student can park in the back lot without a school issued parking permit.
Student Drivers
- Parking permits must be visible at all times while parking on school grounds.
- Students who are chronically late to school may have their parking permit suspended.
- Be mindful of your speed and cautious when entering and exiting the parking lot.
- The law requires that you stop at the stop sign at the Dorsey/Dares Beach intersection. Drive safely or you risk having your CHS parking privileges suspended.
CAVS Are Kind
Yearbooks
Fundraisers
Calvert High FAST (Family and School) Information
•New this year is the Calvert High School Family and School Team! Check out their Facebook page for volunteer opportunities. "CHS FAST"
Formerly known as PTSO
•A great way to get involved to support CHS!
•Examples: staff appreciation events, treats at award ceremonies, help with homecoming and prom
Counseling Office Information
Student Crisis Hotline: Students can text “Hello” to 741741 at any time to be connected to a crisis counselor 24/7. Check this link for more crisis resources: http://suicidehotlines.com/maryland.html
Be sure you are checking the Guidance website CHS Guidance and Twitter CHS Guidance Twitter to get up-to-date info on College visits, scholarships, forms, and other important events.
Technology
Having trouble with a student laptop? If you are having software issues or password issues, requests can be sent directly to the IT HelpDesk at helpdesk@calvertnet.k12.md.us. If a student is having hardware issues, broken screen, laptop will not turn on, etc., see Ms. Mignardi in the library
Home Access Center Reminders (HAC)
Reminders regarding the Home Access Center that will make life easier.
- Students’ log in to HAC using their Office 365 credentials. Remember to use a capital S and their student ID number as their login (do not include the entire email address, just S + the student ID number).
- New parents and/or those who have never logged into HAC are able to self-register with their address and email address that the school has on record.
- Parents who are having trouble accessing HAC and have not been able to successfully reset their own password, can contact Ms. Hickey in the Main Office at 443-550-8880 or hickeyk@calvertnet.k12.md.us If you are sending an email, be sure to include your child's information.
Laptop Expectations
Volunteering at CHS
Do you have extra time to help out at CHS? In order to volunteer in the school AND/OR chaperone field trips, you must complete a 2023-2024 CCPS Application. This information can be found at the link below.
ADMINISTRATION 2024-25:
Principal - Andrea Young - 443-550-8881 younga@calvertnet.k12.md.us
12th Grade, 10th (A-H) – James Rodenhaver -443-550-8884 rodenhaverj@calvertnet.k12.md.us
11th Grade, 10th (R-Z)– Trey Sirman - 443-550-8882 sirmant@calvertnet.k12.md.us
9th Grade, 10th (I-Q) - Dona Hook -443-550-8916 hookd@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Student Services Lead (SST) - Kristen Morris - 443-550-8883 morrisk@calvertnet.k12.md.us
MAIN OFFICE STAFF 2024-25:
Attendance Email – CHSAttendance@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Sherri Barber (Administrative Secretary) – 443-550-8878 barbers@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Amber Mackall (Front Office Secretary) - 443-550-8879 mackalla@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Mandy Stevens (Attendance Secretary) – 443-550-8891 mailto:stevensa@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Raquel Emond (Finance Secretary) – 443-550-8889 emondr@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Kelly MacDonald (School Nurse) – 443-550-8892 macdonaldk@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Attendance Procedures
ATTENDANCE EMAIL In addition to hard copy notes, you can send notes for student absences, students arriving late or needing to leave early to our attendance email. Please direct correspondence to CHSAttendance@calvertnet.k12.md.us. All secretaries in the main office have access to this email address.
COUNSELING OFFICE 2024-25:
Grade 9 – Katherine O'Neill, 443-550-8894 oneillk@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Grade 10 – Mapri Gray, 443-550-8897 graymd@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Grade 11– LeTea Perry, 443-550-8896 perryl@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Grade 12 – Jessica Ponti, 443-550-8895 pontij@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Guidance Department Secretary – Sharon Kruder, 443-550-8893 kruders@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Registrar – Karen Hickey, 443-550-8898 hickeyk@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Career Advisor - Mary Ann Boyle, 443-550-8919 boylem@calvertnet.k12.md.us
Community Events & Activities
For information about family events and youth activities taking place in our community, visit www.calvertnet.k12.md.us. Please note: These events and activities are not sponsored by the Calvert County Board of Education or Calvert County Public Schools. We provide equal opportunities to outside agencies to distribute materials that offer opportunities to students and/or their parents, but that permission should not be considered a recommendation or endorsement by the school district
Saturday Anti-Vape Education Sessions
Nondiscrimination Statement
Calvert County Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, ancestry or national origin, familial status, marital status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or genetic information in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
Director of Student Services
Director of Human Resources
443-550-8000
For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Assessment System at: https://ocrcas.ed.gov or call 1-800-421-3481.
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Anti-sexual, Anti-racial and Anti-disability Harassment Statement
Discrimination can manifest itself in behaviors such as bullying, harassment, or intimidation of individuals.
Calvert County Public Schools does not tolerate any form of harassment including, but not limited to, sexual, racial, or disability. Any individual (student, employee, or community member) who believes that he or she has been subjected to any form of harassment is encouraged to report the allegation of harassment. Students, parents, and community members may report allegations of harassment to: Ms. Cecelia Lewis, Director of Student Services, Calvert County Public Schools, 1305 Dares Beach Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Employees may report allegations of harassment to: Mr. Zachary Seawell, Director of Human Resources, Calvert County Public Schools, 1305 Dares Beach Road, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
Calvert County Public Schools is committed to conducting a prompt investigation for any allegation of harassment. If harassment has occurred, the individual will be disciplined promptly. Disciplinary actions for students found to have engaged in any form of harassment may result in suspension or expulsion. Disciplinary actions for employees found to have engaged in any form of harassment may result in suspension or termination.
Calvert County Public Schools encourages all students, parents, employees, and community members to work together to prevent any form of harassment.
For further information on notice of non-discrimination, visit the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Assessment System at: https://ocrcas.ed.gov or call 1-800-421-3481.
Calvert County Public Schools Antiracism Statement
Calvert County Public Schools explicitly denounces racism, bullying, discrimination, white supremacy, hate, and racial inequity in any form within our school community. Furthermore, CCPS will not tolerate the values, structures, and behaviors that perpetuate systemic racism.
Each member of the district, individually and collectively, is responsible for creating and nurturing a safe, antiracist learning environment where each student, staff member, and community partner is a respected and valued member of the CCPS community.