IMPORTANT DATES
August 26 - Class Meetings (During the school day)
September 2 - SCHOOLS CLOSED (Labor Day)
September 3 - Club Fair for Students in Gymnasium (During lunches)
September 5 - Underclassman Pictures (9th - 11th Grade Students)
September 12 - Q1 Interims (Please check PowerSchool for updated grades)
September 14 - Battle of the Bands @ CHS Stadium (3:00 pm - 8:00 pm)
September 25 - Homecoming Parade - Downtown Christiansburg (7:00 pm)
September 27 - Homecoming Game vs. Pulaski County (7:00 pm)
September 28 - Homecoming Dance @ CHS (7:00 - 10:00 pm)
IMPORTANT ATTENDANCE INFORMATION
Students who attend school regularly have been shown to have higher levels of academic success. Here at CHS, promoting and encouraging regular attendance is a top focus. It is important to note that all absences (excused or unexcused) count towards your child's total absences for the school year. As we begin 2024-25, here are a few important attendance policies to be aware of:
Morning Tardiness & Late Check-Ins
- The morning tardy bell rings at 8:05 - therefore, in order for students to be considered present and on time they must be IN CLASS by 8:05. Students should set a daily goal to be in the building by 8:00 AM. Students who are just entering the building at 8:05, coming up the stairs by the gym, or in the main office hallway when the tardy bell rings must check in on the computers in the office to get a tardy slip.
- To encourage students to arrive on time, administrators will be checking students' tardiness records daily.
Checking Out Early
- If your student will be checking out early, please contact the CHS Main Office to inform our staff of the time they need to depart class. Students must still check out on the computer in the main office before they can leave the building.
- If you plan to email the main office regarding your student’s checkout, please email Elise Epperly at eepperly@mcps.org, Jaclyn Kodsi (jaclynkodsi@mcps.org, and Sarah Viers (sarahviers@mcps.org) as early as possible in the morning so we can communicate with your child and their teacher.
- If your student needs to check out unexpectedly, please call the main office to give permission for your child to leave school. Students must check out on the computer in the main office before leaving the building.
- All checkouts are considered unexcused unless a student provides a note from a doctor, dentist, therapist, etc. If the nurse sends a student home due to illness, the check-out is excused.
- Students who are 18 years old may NOT check themselves out of school. We must hear from a parent/guardian to give permission for them to check out early.
Sports & Extracurricular Activity Participation
- Students who participate in an afterschool extracurricular event, must be present in school ALL DAY or have an EXCUSED check in/out in order to be eligible to practice/play/participate in their sport or extracurricular activity for that day.
- In order for a check-in or check-out to be considered excused, students must bring a note from their doctor, dentist, therapist, etc. appointment to the main office the same day. This note may also be faxed to CHS from the doctor's office. Without a doctor's note, your child will not be eligible to practice/play/participate that day.
Daily Absences
- It is required that parents/guardians contact the school (phone call, email or signed note) to document the reason for student absences. Absences will be considered unexcused (code B) if no communication/documentation from the parent/guardian is received.
- Please email the main office staff at the following addresses to ensure we are aware of your child's absence: Elise Epperly - eepperly@mcps.org, Jaclyn Kodsi - jacklynkodsi@mcps.org, Sarah Viers - sarahviers@mcps.org
- Students, (usually juniors and seniors) are allowed to take 3 excused absences for college visits. Students must show proof of their visit such as a campus brochure, email confirmation, etc. for the absence to be considered excused.
- Absences for vacations and travel for non-school-sponsored sport events (travel/club sports) are considered unexcused (code C).
- Absences due to illness are considered excused as long as you contact the main office via phone call or email. However, administrators may require a doctor’s note for 4 or more consecutive absences or for chronic absenteeism in order for the absences to be considered excused.
Thank you for your cooperation with these important attendance policies and for helping us reach out goal of lowering our chronic absenteeism rate!
CELL PHONE POLICY
We understand that the new cell phone policy being instituted this year is a big shift for our students and families, but we are looking forward to the positive impacts this will have on our school, such as enhancing the learning environment and minimizing distractions throughout the school day.
Despite some initial concern and worry over the new cell phone policy instituted by MCPS, it has been received positively by students, staff, and families. At most, CHS confiscated a total of 31 cell phones or other devices on the first day and we have not had greater than eight devices over the past two weeks. To the natural observer, you will now see students with their eyes up in the hallways, hear a buzz in the lunchroom, witness more students checking out library books, students engaging in conversation, and something we did not account for, learning how to read a traditional clock. But overall - it has been a welcomed and significant positive change to the culture and climate of our building.
Please take an opportunity to review Policy 7-3.3 to ensure both you and your student have a strong understanding of the new expectations for cell phone use and possessing a cell phone. It is equally important to note that a student can possess a cell phone, but it must be "OFF AND AWAY" during the school day (class time, transitions, lunch, etc.) The policy also addresses that other connected devices, such as earbuds and smart watches, are also held to the same expectations.
1st Offense:
Cell phone will be confiscated and can be picked up in the Main Office at the end of the school day by the student. Students will not be released early to pick up their phone.
2nd Offense:
Cell phone will be confiscated and will need to be picked up by a parent/guardian in the Main Office.
3rd Offense:
Cell phone will be confiscated and will need to be picked up by the parent/guardian in the Main Office. Progressive disciplinary action can be taken at this time and a meeting with the parent/guardian will be necessary.
* Should a student refuse to turn in their cell phone or other electronic devices, this will lead to immediate disciplinary consequences.
Please review the attached flier for additional details:
Cell Phone Expectations (link)
JOIN THE PTSA
The Christiansburg High School Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) welcomes you to a new school year. We also want to invite you to our first meeting of the school year that is scheduled for Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 5:30PM in the library. Below is a link to join PTSA for this school year and/or make payment (if you haven't already), as well as the attached form if you or your child are interested in joining. We invite all of you to become part of the CHS PTSA. Parents, students, teachers, administrators, staff and community members are all welcome to enroll. Joining the PTSA is a great way to support our school and our children. Money raised from PTSA memberships and other fundraising events goes directly to programs benefiting our school – teacher and staff appreciation events, senior graduation events and scholarships, among others. Other reasons to be part of the PTSA include:
- Find out directly from the Principal and staff what is happening at our school.
- Interact more closely with students, administrators, faculty and staff.
- Share your skills and talents with others for the benefit of our children and school.
- Meet other families to work, volunteer and celebrate together.
- WE NEED YOU!
Please spread the word to anyone interested. Forms and dues can be turned in to the front office. We hope to see all of you back for another great year.
https://christiansburghsptsa.givebacks.com/store?limit=21&live=true
9th GRADE ORIENTATION MEETING PRESENTATION
In case you missed our Open House Event for 9th grade students and families on August 8, we wanted to share the information with you that was presented in the orientation meeting.
FAFSA HELP - CARDI
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and the VDOE are introducing Cardi, a new chatbot designed to assist students and families with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). With FAFSA completions in Virginia currently down by 10% compared to last year, Cardi is designed to increase submissions and ensure students receive the financial aid they need.
Key features of Cardi include:
24/7 access for instant FAFSA assistance
User-friendly and easy to understand language
Features both FAFSA and Virginia-specific financial aid information.
To see Cardi in action and to share it with your students, please visit FAFSA and FSA ID texts.
MCPS LITERACY TEAM
If you are interested in joining the MCPS Literacy Team and assisting with developing the MCPS Literacy Plan, please review the attached letter.
Literacy Team Letter (link)
MCPS COMMITTEE VOLUNTEER FORM
Montgomery County Public Schools (VA) have a number of standing committees that meet regularly throughout each school year. These committees assist us by fostering productive dialogue and varied perspectives. We strive to build committees that reflect the diversity within our communities. Please use this form to express your desire to volunteer for one or more of our committees, should there be any available openings. We likely cannot accept every volunteer - the committee chairperson will contact you directly if your services are needed.
FENTANYL AWARENESS
Virginia Code requires that schools provide information to students and families regarding Fentanyl Awareness. Please review the attached flier if you would like to gather more details.
Fentanyl Awareness Flier (link)
CHS EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM OPEN ENROLLMENT
The ECE Program at CHS operates a Developmentally Appropriate Preschool Lab for 3 and 4 year old children. It is available to families living in the Montgomery County School District.
We plan learning centers based on the needs
and interests of our children.
Children learn from active interactions with their surroundings and others in an environment that is psychologically and physically safe.
Our program and daily routines enhance the child's social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development while encouraging a positive self-concept, self-respect, and a caring attitude toward others.
CHS Early Childhood Education Program Open Enrollment Flier (link)
HOMECOMING PARADE
If you are interested in having a club, group, team, or organization join us for the 2024 Homecoming Parade, please take an opportunity to fill out the attached registration form by SEPTEMBER 11, 2024 at 2:00 pm.
HOMECOMING DANCE UPDATE
Due to impacts of construction not being has significant as expected, the Homecoming Dance will now be shifted back to Christiansburg High School on Saturday, September 28. Please refer to the attached flier for more details!
Tickets sales will take place every Wednesday during lunch until September 25. If your student is planning to bring a guest, those forms will be available at the ticket sales table and/or the CHS Main Office.
PARENT/TEEN DRIVER EDUCATION MEETING
If your student is enrolled in Driver's Education for the 2024-25 school year (Semester 1, Semester 2, or Full Year), there is a driver's education course requirement that every student and family must complete. All students enrolled in Classroom Driver's Education must attend a 90 minute Parent/Teen Driver Education meeting outside of class time. Parents are highly encouraged to attend with their teen. However, parents may opt out of attending this meeting. If parents choose to opt out, they must complete the parent opt out for PRIOR to their child attending a meeting. Students are required to attend and meeting with a parent or with their parent's completed opt out form.
Each family will be receiving a more detailed hard copy letter in the mail regarding the Parent/Teen Driver Education Night, but there is also a copy linked below. Please note that if you are unable to attend the meeting at Christiansburg High School on October 9, the letter specifies the dates at each of the other high schools (Blacksburg, Auburn, and Eastern Montgomery) that you can attend if needed.
If you have any questions, please contact Kelley Sutphin @ ksutphin@mcps.org
2024-25 Driver's Education Parent/Teen Letter (link)
