Ranger Nation,

As we approach the Winter Break, I want to take a moment to express how proud I am of all our students for their hard work, dedication, and resilience throughout the first semester. Parents and community members, your support and partnership have been invaluable in helping us create a thriving and supportive environment for our Rangers.

The holiday season is a time for celebration, rest, and connection with loved ones. However, I also know it can be a challenging time for those who have experienced loss or are missing loved ones. Please know that you are not alone—you are deeply loved and appreciated as part of the Chisholm Trail family.

I pray that this break brings each of you the rest, relaxation, and joy you deserve. Let’s use this time to recharge, reflect on our accomplishments, and prepare for an exciting and successful second semester.

Stay safe, take care of one another, and enjoy this special season. I look forward to seeing all of you refreshed and ready to continue achieving great things in the new year.

Thank you for being part of what makes Chisholm Trail High School such a special place. Wishing you all a wonderful break! #CTogether, Rangers...Ride!!!

Please read below for important information on All Things CTHS!!!

Dr. Winston McCowan Jr.

Principal

Chisholm Trail High School

RANGERS...RIDE!!

FIETTS

#CTogether

State Coordinator-TASSP

VIOLET BENGE: VBENGE@EMS-ISD.NET

ALICIA ABBOTT: AABBOTT@EMS-ISD.NET

OR HAVE YOUR STUDENT RETRIEVE ONE FROM THE ATTENDANCE OFFICE (LOCATED IN FRONT OFFICE)

• Dec 20th Early Release/End of 1st Semester

• Winter Break 12/23-1/6

• Jan 6th Professional Development/Student Holiday

• Jan. 7th First Day of 2nd Semester

• Swim & Dive: NA

• Gymnastics: NA

• Wrestling: 12/21 @ Birdville 9a, 1/4 @ Judson Invitational @ Judson HS

• Girls Basketball: 12/20 @ Aledo 6:15p, 12/27-28 @ Austin HS Tournament, 1/3 vs Fossil Ridge HS @ CTHS 6:15p, 1/7 @ Saginaw HS 6:15p

• Boys Basketball: 12/20 @ Aledo 7:30p, 12/26-12/28 CTHS Tournament, 1/3 vs Fossil Ridge HS @ CTHS 2:30p, 1/7 @ Saginaw HS 7:30p

• Girls Soccer: 12/31 vs Naaman Forest @ CTHS 11:30a

• Boys Soccer: 1/2-1/4 Johnson County Showcase @ Cleburne

• For Sub-Varsity Basketball and Soccer Schedules please go to Rank One (link below)

• Rank One Athletic Schedules for CTHS: https://www.rankonesport.com/Schedules/View_Schedule_All_Web.aspx?P=0&D=E1CC292D-1576-4227-989B-2CF74E75B8F3&S=2173&Mt=

PLEASE OBSERVE our new policy on ONLINE TICKETS ONLY for all athletic events in the district! There will be no cash sales at the gate.

Tickets can be purchased at https://www.emsisd.com/gametickets or through the HomeTown Fan App.

We also have an Activity Pass which is a great deal, $43 for adults and $23 for students. It is valid for admission to all home games, all sports excluding varsity football, post-season and tournaments. That pass is available for purchase at the same link.

The link to our most recent parent night, “Youthful Internet Trends” (cyberbullying, sexting, sextortion, privacy/safety tips, digital citizenship, monitoring apps) is now posted on our website: www.emsisd.com/parentnight

BASKETBALL PRACTICE 2024-25

Location: Prairie Vista Middle School

Time: 6:00-7:00 p.m. (possible time change if we need to divide by age groups)

Monday, November 18 - Meet and Greet

Monday, December 2

Monday, December 9

Monday, December 16

Wednesday, January 8

Monday, January 13

Wednesday, January 22 (team pictures at MCMS only)

Monday, January 27

Monday, February 10

Monday, February 24

Competitions: March 1 and March 8

*Possible practice March 3 for competition

Week 18

Monday:

- This is it! Our final round to find out which main character wins the title, “Merriest Main Character.” The QR Code for voting can be found in the hallway outside of the counselors office.

- The Multicultural Club will be meeting Tuesday, December 17th in room 107. If you plan on participating in this year's New Year's Around the World Celebration in January, please be sure to attend this meeting.

- Congratulations to the Chess Club after a successful weekend at the Willow Creek Tournament. The team took home 2nd place in the Under 900 Rating division and Sam Bui finished 3rd overall in the Over 900 division. Our next tournament will be in January which means there is still time to join.

Everyone is welcome, and we meet Mondays from 4:30 to 5:30. You can also see Mr. Farrer in room 831 for more information.

- "Want to spread some holiday cheer this year? Send a candy cane with a sweet message to a friend, teacher, or someone special! Purchase in the cafeteria during your lunch period for $2 from December 11th-18th. Candy cane grams will be passed out on Thursday, December 19th. Help support the business organization, DECA, and their members go to their district competition in January."

- Seniors! Your last chance to get your photo taken for the yearbook is Tuesday, 12/17. Please contact Ms. Sledge in room 303 or at esledge@ems-isd.net to schedule.

- Congratulations to the Ranger Wrestling Teams, as the boys and girls teams each took 3rd place at the EMS-ISD Tournament out of 25 schools! Individual Tournament Champions include Ethan Orat and Shafa Nawabi for the boys, and Hailey Aguirre for the girls. The Wrestlers will wrestle again on Saturday at Birdville!

Tuesday:

- This is it! Our final round to find out which main character wins the title, “Merriest Main Character.” The QR Code for voting can be found in the hallway outside of the counselors office.

- The Multicultural Club will be meeting today in room 107. If you plan on participating in this year's New Year's Around the World Celebration in January, please be sure to attend this meeting.

- "Want to spread some holiday cheer this year? Send a candy cane with a sweet message to a friend, teacher, or someone special! Purchase in the cafeteria during your lunch period for $2 from December 11th-18th. Candy cane grams will be passed out on Thursday, December 19th. Help support the business organization, DECA, and their members go to their district competition in January."

- Seniors, today is your last chance to get your photo taken for the yearbook! Contact Ms. Sledge at esledge@ems-isd.net TODAY to find a time to get your photo taken!

- Each day this week we will conduct tardy sweeps at random times. If you are caught in the tardy sweep two times you will be issued an entire day of ISS. Instruction is important, get to class on time.

Wednesday:

- This is it! Our final round to find out which main character wins the title, “Merriest Main Character.” The QR Code for voting can be found in the hallway outside of the counselors office.

- "Want to spread some holiday cheer this year? Send a candy cane with a sweet message to a friend, teacher, or someone special! Purchase in the cafeteria during your lunch period for $2 from December 11th-18th. Candy cane grams will be passed out on Thursday, December 19th. Help support the business organization, DECA, and their members go to their district competition in January."

- Each day this week we will conduct tardy sweeps at random times. If you are caught in the tardy sweep two times you will be issued an entire day of ISS. Instruction is important, get to class on time.

- FCCLA is doing a toiletries and clothing drive for homeless youth. Please bring warm clothes, blankets, and basic toiletries to room 506. Let’s share the Chisholm love and help our neighbors out.

Thursday:

- This is it! Our final round to find out which main character wins the title, “Merriest Main Character.” The QR Code for voting can be found in the hallway outside of the counselors office.

- Baseball season is right around the corner. Tryouts will be held Saturday January 18th at 1 PM at the Chisholm Trail Baseball Field. Participants must have a current physical on file and up to date rankone online paperwork to participate. Please see the legendary Coach Chavez for any questions regarding tryouts.

- Each day this week we will conduct tardy sweeps at random times. If you are caught in the tardy sweep two times you will be issued an entire day of ISS. Instruction is important, get to class on time.

- FCCLA is doing a toiletries and clothing drive for homeless youth. Please bring warm clothes, blankets, and basic toiletries to room 506. Let’s share the Chisholm love and help our neighbors out.

Friday:

- This is it! Our final round to find out which main character wins the title, “Merriest Main Character.” The QR Code for voting can be found in the hallway outside of the counselors office.

- Baseball season is right around the corner. Tryouts will be held Saturday January 18th at 1 PM at the Chisholm Trail Baseball Field. Participants must have a current physical on file and up to date rankone online paperwork to participate. Please see the legendary Coach Chavez for any questions regarding tryouts.

- Each day this week we will conduct tardy sweeps at random times. If you are caught in the tardy sweep two times you will be issued an entire day of ISS. Instruction is important, get to class on time.

- FCCLA is doing a toiletries and clothing drive for homeless youth. Please bring warm clothes, blankets, and basic toiletries to room 506. Let’s share the Chisholm love and help our neighbors out.

Exciting news! The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2025-2026 academic year is now available. This means you can start applying for federal financial aid for your upcoming college education. Please visit the CTHS FAFSA Information site linked below for instructions on how to start your FAFSA application.

https://www.emsisd.com/site/default.aspx?PageID=48624

Don't delay! Applying early gives you the best chance to secure the financial aid you need for college. Additionally, completing the FAFSA application or officially opting-out is a state graduation requirement! Please contact your school counselor with any questions or concerns.

CTHS Counseling Team

SUBSTITUTE INCENTIVE INFORMATION

•Competitive pay with higher rates on Monday and Friday

•Long Term Sub Pay ($175 day)

•Bonuses:

• $200 after subbing for 45 days, 90 days and 135 days
• $50 for recruiting a new substitute
• NEW: March 1-May 26 $50 for subbing 10 days

https://www.emsisd.com/applytosub

• OUR CTHS STAFFULTY IS AMAZING!!!

• Huge Shoutout to CTHS Volleyball, Cross Country and Tennis!!

• Huge Shoutout to CTHS Football for going 7-4 and 5-3 in District!!

• Shoutout to Boys and Girls Basketball, Golf, Gymnastics, Band/Choir, Boys and Girls Soccer, Swim, and Wrestling!! All of our Student-Athletes are Amazing!!

• Shout out to Elliott Seutter for being named a National Merit Scholar Semifinalist and Zachary Felder for being named a National Merit Commended Scholar!! Rangers... Ride!!

Huge shoutout and congratulations to Grace Hurst and Krissi McFarland for being named this months "Shining Star" Award of Excellence recipients given by the EMS ISD Special Programs Recognition Program!!

Academic Principal Meredith Birdwell (All Seniors) mbirdwell@ems-isd.net

Vanessa Holmes (All Juniors) vholmes@ems-isd.net

9th/10th A-G Kevin Wilson kwilson@ems-isd.net

9th/10th H-M Jennifer Orona jorona@ems-isd.net

9th/10th N-Z Angela Martin amartin@ems-isd.net

Testing/504 Coordinator Dr. Jennifer Sanchez jsanchez@ems-isd.net

• Michael Brown – Lead Counselor, Last Names Q-R​

• Courtney Gregg – Last Names S-Z​

• Shannah Lockhart – Last Names L-P​

• Ashley Piskorski – Last Names E-K​

• Lauren TeGantvoort – Intervention Counselor​

• Christa Whitmire – Last Names A-D​

Please welcome to The Trail our new Nurse, Mrs. Latoya Rogers!!!

Mrs. Rogers is a wife and mother of 4 children. She is also an Army Veteran and has been a nurse for 19 years. Her background has been working in Medical/Surgical, Telemetry, Oncology, Outpatient Surgery, and School Nursing. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her family. If you get a chance, please swing by and say hi to our newest Ranger Family member!!

Safety reminder for parents-

Any & all medications including over the counter medications like Tylenol, Benadryl, etc. MUST be kept in the Nurse's office/Clinic. Student should not self-carry unless they have a written permission for their inhaler or Epi-pen emergency prescription with proper forms completed with the Clinic. This is for the safety of our students. If you have questions or need to keep any OTC or prescription medications on campus, contact the Clinic.

Updates from the Trail Clinic:

DING DONG COVID'S GONE! We certainly wish that was the case. However, COVID is no longer a public health emergency which means COVID testing will NOT be provided in the clinic this year. I know many of you will likely question how this will impact screenings, sending students home, quarantine and testing requirements.

Screenings and sending students home will revert back to the previous standard that include the following:

*Appearing obviously ill

*Fever of or greater than 100.0

*Vomiting

* Diarrhea

COVID testing MAY be recommended in some cases, but NOT required to return to campus. Students will be required to be fever free for 24 hours without medication and have no episodes of vomiting or diarrhea before being allowed to return to campus. If the student is tested and positive for COVID, please contact the clinic for quarantine instructions and return date, which will be 5 days from the start of symptoms.

As a reminder, please make sure the campus has the correct phone numbers and emergency information. Students are REQUIRED to be sent home when ill and therefore the ability to

If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the clinic.

To ensure student safety and keep fire lanes clear, the road between the HCTC and CTHS Field House will be closed all school days from 9:00am to 4:45pm. CTHS parents may pick up their students in the HCTC back parking lot which can be accessed via the HCTC north entrance. Parents dropping off or picking up students at the CTHS Field House during the school day can do so using the HCTC front or back parking lots.

Thank you for your help keeping our students safe.

Transportation Jobs Available! Parents, are you're looking for a part time job that offers flexibility, aligns with your child's school schedule, and lets you serve children? GoldStar Transit is hiring bus drivers and bus monitors for EMS ISD routes. Visit www.emsisd.com/transportation, click on Apply for a Job, and make a difference in childs' lives.

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3100 Northwest College Drive, Fort Worth, TX, USA

wmccowan@ems-isd.net

(817)232-7112

emsisd.com/chisholmtrailhs