Calvert Connection
Calvert High School Newsletter
December 1, 2024
Principal's Message
As we return from Thanksgiving Break, I want to share my gratitude for CHS families, staff and community for your continued support and involvement in our school community. It has been instrumental in our students' achievements and growth. Together, we are creating an environment where our students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Thank you for your partnership and trust in our school. We look forward to continuing this journey and continuing to achieve milestones and achievements this school year.
Marking Period 1 Highlights
Academics
- Students demonstrated a commitment to academic excellence in Marking Period 1. Compared to Marking Period 1 report cards of last school year, the number of As and Bs have increased while Cs, Ds and Fs have decreased
- 462 students earned Honor Roll and of those students,168 received High Honor Roll.
Culture
- More than 80% of students met Winter eligibility requirements based upon MP 1 grades
- More than 80% of students earned a CAV Card based upon MP 1 grades, attendance and behavior
- In MP 1 we prioritized building our culture and positive student involvement with Cav Cards, a school-wide PBIS event, spirit days and underground spirit days. Colleges/universities, mental health organizations, voter registration and summer employment opportunities were made available for students to learn more about. Our students participated in and/or supported athletic teams, fine and performing arts and academic activities such as the Fall Math Competition and civic participation in the school and Calvert County community.
Climate
- More than 90% of students demonstrated a commitment to appropriate behavior (0-2 discipline referrals, no out-of-school suspensions and/or no in-school intervention) in MP 1
- Class cutting decreased more than 50% in MP 1 this year as compared to MP 1 of last school year.
- When interacting with people at Calvert High, I feel welcomed and that I belong. 85% agree
- I have at least one adult at Calvert High School that I can go to with problems or concerns. 88% agree
- There is at least one adult at Calvert High School who cares about me. 92%
Parents and guardians, we thank you for your support of the CCPS policies of No Hoods in the building and No Phones in class or in the hallway. Students started the year strong in adhering to these county rules, however we are seeing an increase in the number of students who are on their phones in inappropriate locations or who are wearing a hood while in the building. We are asking for your support in speaking with and reminding your child of the expectations. Students who do not follow these expectations will receive consequences as permitted by the CCPS Code of Conduct, including their phone being placed in the main office for them to retrieve at dismissal. Phones not being permitted in the classroom is having a positive impact on academics, community building and student interactions. We ask for your support and partnership as we enforce these Calvert County policies.
We look forward to continuing our commitment to excellence this year. As always, thank you for your continued support.
Commitment to Excellence, the Cavalier Way!
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!
Lunch Reminder
Parents bringing lunch for their child must be done during or prior to their scheduled lunch period. Lunches are not allowed in classrooms. As a reminder, students can not order or have food delivered from food apps such as Door Dash. Any orders delivered to the school will be held in the main office until the end of the day.
UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES & EVENTS
CHS Athletic Events: Calvert (smacathletics.org)
December 11
2-Hour Late Arrival Professional Learning
December 23-January 1
NO SCHOOL Winter Break
January 2
2-Hour Late Arrival (Teacher Work Time)
January 17
End of 2nd Marking Period
2-Hour Early Dismissal (Teacher Work Time)
January 20
NO SCHOOL Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 27
Report Cards Available-Marking Period 2
January 31
NO SCHOOL Professional Learning
CAVS Work Hard
Students in Ms. Hysan's AP Psychology class were engaged in a Rotation testing the different theories of Sensation and Perception.
Students exercised their senses of taste, touch, processing, depth perception and vestibular sense.
Ms. Piper's Cultures & Cuisine students made Chicken Alfredo from scratch.
CAVS Get Involved
Celebrate the season with creativity! Join us for a festive showcase of holiday-inspired art, hosted by Calvert High School's National Art Honors Society. This group of kids have talent to share with our community and are eager to be showing their work. Come on out for a cozy evening of art, cheer, and holiday fun! Keep warm with our hot cocoa bar! --Ms Hall, Art Teacher
Health Curriculum
Students in Health 1 and 2 will participate in the family life and human sexuality component of the health curriculum. Typically, this takes place within the last 6-weeks of the Health course. Parents will receive an opt-out letter outlining what is taught in Family Life and Human Sexuality. Teachers will email this letter through Home Access Center (HAC). Any parents who would like to excuse their child from family life and human sexuality topics, should return the letter to the teacher. We encourage parents to speak with the teacher to further understand what is being taught and to determine if there are specific elements in which you would want your child to participate. Students who are excused from family life learning objectives will receive appropriate alternative learning in health education outside of the health classroom.
If you have any questions regarding the curriculum, please contact your child’s teacher. You can find the opt-out letter attached below.
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.
Counseling Office Information
November Newsletter: https://secure.smore.com/n/cutv0
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.
CHS College Visits for Students
Sign up to meet with college representatives visiting CHS. Use the QR code to sign up for a visit and to see the updated list of schools.
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.
CAVS Are Kind
CHS PBIS
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
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.
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, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law in its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth programs. Calvert County Public Schools does not refuse enrollment of a prospective student, expel a current student, or withhold privileges from a current student, or prospective student, or the parent or guardian of a current or prospective student because of an individual’s race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, age, national original, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. Calvert County Public Schools does not discipline, invoke a penalty against, or take any other retaliatory action against a student or parent or guardian of a student who files a complaint alleging that the program or school discriminated against the student, regardless of the outcome of the complaint. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of Student Services Director of Human Resources 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. ************************************************ Anti-sexual, Anti-racial and Anti-disability Harassment Statement 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 they have 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 (CCPS) 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.
443-550-8000
Discrimination can manifest itself in behaviors such as bullying, harassment, or intimidation of individuals.
Revised – September 30, 2024
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.