Greetings CAV Nation!

I am beyond excited to welcome everyone back to CHS for what hopes to be an amazing 2024-25 School year. As a reminder, Monday August 12 is Transition Day for 9th grade students ONLY. Students in grades 10-12 will begin school on Tuesday, August 13.

Please take a moment and read this week's issue of The CAV Contact. This issue has information about student drop off, course schedules, CAV Expectations, fees, the student and family operations manual, athletics, and more.

I appreciate your commitment to helping every CAV CHOOSE GREATNESS by developing CONFIDENCE in their abilities, being ACCOUNTABLE for their learning and success, and building a VISION for what they want to achieve before and after graduation.

Do not hesitate to email me at tconnolly@ccps.us or call me at (804) 633-9886 if you have questions or concerns.

Kind regards,

Thomas W. Connolly, Ed. D.

Principal

Caroline High School

Please use THIS LINK to review the Operations Manual for Students and Families.

An enormous thank you to our school counseling staff who have been working tirelessly to complete student schedules and process hundreds of class change requests. THANK YOU COUNSELORS!

Parents & Guardians, if you are dropping your child off at school then you must enter the student parking lot from the first entrance on route 207 East. Posted safety cones will guide drivers through the parking lot towards the main office entrance, where students will be dropped off. Please see the image above this message. The red line shows the parents path to dropping off students. The Blue line shows students drivers where to park as they enter the parking lot. Any students needing breakfast must walk directly to the cafeteria after arrival.

• Students may not be dropped off at school prior to 7:10 am.

• Parents may not enter the Staff Parking Lot off of Devil’s Three Jump Road to drop off their child

• Parents may not drive through the bus parking lot in the back of the school.

On the First Day of School, ALL students must report to the cafeteria to pick up a colored copy of their students schedule. This will be the most up to date copy of their schedule. Students will not be permitted into first period without this copy of their schedule.

Student schedules are available in PowerSchool. If you need to request a class changes or have any other questions about your schedule, please use this GOOGLE FORM reach your counselor. Counselors will be addressing schedule corrections in the order they receive them in the google form (emailing your counselor for a change will result in delaying this process, so please make sure to fill out the google form). Course Changes will be considered for the following reasons

Course Changes will be considered for the following reasons:

• Incorrect Level of the Course (Example: A student is scheduled for Spanish 3 and should be in Spanish 2)
• A college recruiter/admissions provided alternate recommendations for your course schedule to aid in the admission process
• A student failed a course the previous year and needs to retake the course this school year.
• If a student has on open block in their schedule.
• Other requests for schedule changes will be reviewed and considered on a case by case basis.

The last day to make any schedule corrections will be Friday, August 23. If you need assistance logging into PowerSchool, please contact our school registrar Ms. Minor at kminor@ccps.us or by calling (804)633-9886.

Student fees can be paid through myschoolbucks for the 2024-2025 School Year. You may also contact Ms. Laura Beasley in the main office at lbeasley@ccps.us or by calling (804) 633-9886. The fees are linked here.

We expect all CAVs to CHOOSE GREATNESS, and we will reward those students who consistently meet our high expectations. CHS offers opportunities for all students to engage in learning and various activities. In order for students to participate in pep rallies, field trips, dances, and other events sponsored by CHS, each student must:

1. Have a passing grade in all classes (evidence of academic improvement will be used on a case-by-case basis for students who are failing a class)

2. Have no more than three unexcused tardies from the time the event is announced to the day before the event.

3. Have no more than 3 unexcused absences from the time the event is announced to the day before the event.

4. Have no cell phone/communication policy violations from the time the event is announced to the day before the event

5. Remain in good behavioral standing (no more than one per nine weeks).

1. Fighting, vaping, drugs/alcohol, and other major offenses can disqualify you from participation for the year.

Cell Phones and other Electronic Devices - At the school board meeting on 7/8/2024, the CCPS school board voted on a new cell phone policy. Students will not be allowed to use or have cell phones and other electronic devices out during the entire school day.

Personal Communication Device Policy

1. Per CCPS School Board Policy, personal communication devices:

1. May not be turned on, in use, or in a location that allows the student to hear or see the activated device during instructional time.

2. Must be stored in a backpack, bag, or purse; teacher designated area within the instructional setting; lockers; or in a vehicle.

3. Smartwatches must be placed on silent mode throughout the instructional day.

2. Instructional Setting:

1. The instructional setting includes, but is not limited to: classrooms; hallways; media center; auditorium; cafeteria, gymnasium; inside and outside physical education areas; locker rooms; restrooms; school administrative offices; and nurse’s clinic.

3. Enforcement Procedure

1. If a student violates this policy, then the cell phone or device will be confiscated by school administration and the parent must pick up the cell phone or device from the front office.

4. Emergency Communication

1. If parents need to communicate with a student they can do so by contacting the CHS main office, or before and after school. In the case of an emergency parents should contact the front office.

Dress Code (from CCPS Policy) - We expect students to maintain an appearance that is not distracting to teachers or students or in any way disrupts the instructional program of the school. Clothing that may be hazardous to the health and safety of other students and teachers and staff must not be worn at school. Maintaining appropriate appearance during school hours and at official school functions is the responsibility of the parents and the students. Pants must be worn appropriately (waistband at the waist) and pants worn below the waist are not permitted. No sagging. Clothing and tattoos that distract others from the learning process are prohibited. This includes clothing and tattoos that display or advertise alcoholic beverages or items prohibited on school property, sexually explicit references, or which convey derogatory messages regarding race, sex, color, national origin, religion, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Inappropriate clothing for school or clothing that is of a safety concern or disruptive to the educational environment includes, but is not limited to:

• Halter tops, tube tops, tanks tops, see-through tops, tops with spaghetti straps, altered t-shirts (sleeves removed), and muscle shirts. Tops must not expose cleavage or the midriff. Sleeveless tops must be 3 inches or more across the shoulder.
• Bicycle/spandex shorts.
• Leggings/Jeggings must be accompanied by a top that covers the front and backside.
• Shorts/skirts/dresses/“skorts” must be at least mid-thigh in length.
• Skirts or dresses with slits must be at least mid-thigh in length.
• Exposed male and female undergarments (top and bottom).
• Holes in pants: Pants with holes/openings may be worn, but they cannot be higher than mid-thigh.
• Pajama pants.
• Flip flops, Heelys (shoes with wheels), bedroom slippers, untied shoes, slides, heels above 2 inches. Flip flops may be worn by secondary school students, but appropriate shoes must be worn when required for participation/enrollment in certain classes/physical activity.
• Hoods or other head wear that cover the face and/or eyes and thus prevents the identification of a student. However, acceptable head cover (except for religious/medical purposes) must be removed due to safety concerns in certain classes such as science labs and CTE.
• Sunglasses, chokers, or chains worn on clothing.
• Nonprescription and/or color contact lenses.
• Rolling backpacks are not permitted in any of the schools, unless there is a legitimate medical need or another legitimate purpose, with prior approval of the principal.

https://www.ccps.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Code-of-Student-Conduct-2024-25.pdf

Caroline County Public Schools provides transportation to and from each school for each student should they choose to ride the school bus. Additionally, the Transportation Department has a dedicated team of drivers to provide transportation home from school activities such a sports practices. Linked below are the bus routes for the 2024-2025 school year.

• Caroline Middle & Caroline High Schools AM Routes
  
• Caroline Middle & Caroline High Schools AM Routes (document 2)
• Caroline Middle & Caroline High Schools PM Routes
• Caroline Middle & Caroline High Schools PM Routes (document 2)

Beginning July 1, 2021, all 12th graders are required by the state of Virginia to receive the Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) for school attendance. Failure to get this vaccination will cause your child to be unenrolled from school until the vaccination is acquired.

If you have not done so already, please schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider where you can learn more about and receive the required vaccines. Once completed, please provide documentation to Nurse Russell at CHS. If your student has been vaccinated, please be sure that you have provided their vaccination record to us.

You can visit the following website for more information about the MenACWY requirement: www.vdh.virginia.gov/immunization/requirements. If you have questions, please contact Nurse Russell at mrussell@ccps.us or 804-633-9886; Erica Hunter at the Virginia Department of Health at erica.hunter@vdh.virginia.gov or 804-864-8057; or Joanna Pitts at the Virginia Department of Health at 804-864-7590 or joanna.pitts@vdh.virginia.gov.

8/12/2024 - Transition Day for 1st time 9th grade students

8/13/2024 - First day of School for all students

8/15/2024 - Senior Sunrise 6:15 am at CHS Stadium

8/30/2024 - Student Holiday

9/2/2024 - Student Holiday

10/11/2024 - Student Holiday

10/14/2024 - Student Holiday

10/18/2024 - Homecoming Block Party and Football Game 4-7

10/18/2024 - Homecoming Football Game 7:00

10/19/2024 - Homecoming Dance 7:00-9:30 at CHS Blanton Gym

11/4/2024 - Early Release

11/4/2024 Parent Teacher Conferences at CHS 1:00-7:-00

11/5/2024 - Student Holiday - Election Day

11/19/2024 - Underclassman awards at 6:00 in the CHS Auditorium

11/27-11/29/2024 - Thanksgiving Break

12/23/2024-1/3/2025 - Winter Break

1/7/2025 - Students Return from Winter Break

1/20/2025 - Student Holiday

2/14/2025 - Student Holiday

2/14/2025 - Parent Teacher Conferences 3:00-6:00 at CHS

2/17/2025 - Student Holiday

3/10/2025 - Student Holiday

3/31-4/4/2025 - Spring Break

4/18/2025 - Prom

4/21/2025 - Student Holiday

5/1/2025 - Senior Decision Day at 6:00 in the CHS Blanton Gym

5/5-5/9/2025 - Senior Exams

5/19-5/22/2025 - Underclassmen Final Exams

5/20/2025 - Graduation 7:00 at Henrico Sports and Events Center

5/22/2025 - Last Day of School

• Caroline County Public Schools Website: http://www.ccps.us/
• CHS Student Dress Code: Coming Soon
• PowerSchool Portal: https://caroline.powerschool.com/public/
• Athletics & Activities Calendar: https://www.battlefielddistrictva.org

Email: tconnolly@ccps.us
Website: https://www.ccps.us/chs/
Location: Caroline High School, Rogers Clark Boulevard, Milford, VA, USA
Phone: (804)633-9886
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CAROLINE-HIGH-SCHOOL-130749860579/
Twitter: @CAVSofCHS