Cholla High School January News

Welcome back Chargers!

We hope everyone had a nice and restful winter break. We have hit the ground running to kick off 2nd semester. Teachers will be going over classroom expectations with students to set a positive tone early in the semester. We saw a nice increase in Quarter 2 attendance compared to last year (2.51% Increase!!!). This is showing our attendance sweeps are working and teachers as well as parents are holding kids accountable by emphasizing the importance of being on time every day, every period! We continue to see the most tardies during 1st period. Parents and Guardians, please ensure your child is getting to school on time and in class by the 8:00am bell.

Thank you and I wish everyone a great start to the 2nd semester!

Happy New Year and welcome back to your Spring Semester. Seniors, please remember that this last semester of your high school years will go quickly. It is very important that you attend all of your classes and talk to your counselor to make sure you have all of your credits in order to graduate on time. Graduation will be on Thursday, May 22, 2025, here on the Ed Brown Field.

Juniors, talk to your counselor to make sure you are on track to graduate next year. Juniors, Sophomores and Freshman, if you have failed a class, think about joining the Cholla Before and After School program for credit recovery for any course that you failed. Students meet with your teachers if you have any questions on the curriculum you are learning. All teachers offer tutoring, just ask them directly for their tutoring hours. It is important that all students are attending every class and that you are on time. Parents, please help us by encouraging your child to be on time to class.

If you need any assistance, please reach out to your counselor. We look forward to an exciting Spring semester!

Happy New Year to the Cholla Charger community!

We look forward to all athletes working hard toward academic excellence. Parents, please take the opportunity to discuss how to achieve this excellence with your student-athletes and teachers.

Greetings Cholla Chargers!

It’s a busy quarter, so make sure you and your student stay on top of emails and announcements to avoid missing important updates. Course registration for next year begins January 22nd, with assemblies to review course options. Juniors will meet on January 22nd, while freshmen and sophomores will meet on January 23rd.

If you have or know an 8th grader interested in attending Cholla next year, invite them to our Future Charger Night on January 28th at 5:30 PM. Students will have the chance to meet department representatives, talk with our athletic director, and select their high school courses.

Finally, we’re excited to host our Honors Assembly next Wednesday, January 15th, at 8:00 AM. We’ll recognize honor roll students from Semester 1, fall athletes, and our November and December Students of the Month. Families of honorees should have received an invitation via email.

Thank you for staying involved and supporting your Charger!

IB Seniors and their parents/guardians:

Please read through the information below!

IB Mock exams are coming soon. The purpose of the mock exams is to experience what May IB exams will be like and for teachers to calculate predicted grades which are submitted to the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO).

Below is the schedule for the February Mock Exams, February 10-13.

Morning exams: doors open at 7:30 and exams begin at 8:00am.

Afternoon exams: doors open at 11:30 and exams begin at 12:00.

All exams will be held in the South Gym. No late entry will be allowed.

There is no make-up exam schedule. Make-up exams are at the discretion of the teacher. They have every right to refuse administration of a make-up exam, even for excused absences. The IBO does not give alternative testing dates for May exams, so we do not do so for Mock exams. The expectation is that all students are on time and present for their exams.

If you have an afternoon exam, please take first lunch on the day of your afternoon exam to ensure you have an opportunity to eat. Once first lunch is over, you should go to the South Gym and wait for doors to open. You should not be wandering around campus.

You are expected to be in your classes if you are not actively sitting an exam. It is your responsibility to notify your teachers if you will be missing a class due to IB testing. Attendance will be submitted after students are taking the exam.

If you have any questions, please reach out to me by email or call 520-225-4116

• Wednesday January 15, 2025 Charger Honor Assembly
• Monday January 20, 2025 No School in observance of Dr Martin Luther King
• Tuesday January 28,2025 Future Charger Night
• Wednesday January 29, 2025 No School Professional Learning Day

Discover exciting career pathways and connect with our amazing community partners! Don't miss this opportunity to explore future possibilities and gain valuable insights.

📅 Date: Thursday, February 6, 2025
⏰ Time: 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM

📩 For more information, contact Lupita Cabral at maria.cabral@tusd1.org.

We look forward to seeing you there and helping you explore your future career opportunities! 🚀

Students from Welding Technologies, led by Mrs. Adelina Aranda, and Construction Technologies, guided by Mr. Thomas Lew, recently took an educational field trip to Waste Management's Welding and Fabrication Shops. The visit aimed to raise job awareness and explore potential career placements in the skilled trades.

During the trip, students learned how welders and construction workers play a vital role in equipment maintenance and repair. They also toured the building housing trucks and heavy machinery, gaining firsthand insight into the essential work welders perform in keeping operations running smoothly.

This hands-on experience highlighted real-world applications of their classroom skills and opened doors to future career opportunities in the industry.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 20, our students will have a special opportunity to engage in an important conversation about civil rights. Chris Carlsen from the Arizona Attorney General's Office of Civil Rights will visit all classes to speak about discrimination, civil rights laws, and how they are enforced. He will provide an overview of laws that protect people in areas such as employment, housing, voting, and education. The presentation will also explore what constitutes discrimination and what does not. Joining Mr. Carlsen will be an investigator who will offer insights into how civil rights investigations are conducted and how it is determined if someone's rights have been violated.

In other exciting news, the History & Civics Club is launching its third project of the year: Project Citizen! We are thrilled to welcome Peter Terrazas, who will be co-facilitating this project alongside Ms. Boehler. Project Citizen is a dynamic learning experience where students will investigate community issues, explore possible solutions, and design public policy proposals. This initiative, rooted in the Center for Civic Education curriculum, empowers students to become active participants in their communities.

Stay tuned for more updates, and Happy New Year!

Mark your calendars! On 28 January, the Charger Battalion will undergo a comprehensive inspection conducted by Cadet Command. This all-day event will evaluate the unit's performance, readiness, and excellence in leadership. Cadets have been preparing diligently, showcasing their commitment to maintaining the highest standards of discipline and professionalism.

In other exciting news, on 9 December, a group of selected Cadets had the remarkable opportunity to visit the Western Army Aviation Site in Marana. During this exclusive visit, the Cadets toured the airbase and experienced hands-on training with Blackhawk helicopter simulators. This immersive experience provided valuable insight into Army aviation operations and inspired Cadets to explore future career paths in military aviation.

The Charger Battalion continues to demonstrate excellence both in preparation for major evaluations and in expanding their knowledge of diverse military fields. Stay tuned for updates on the results of the inspection and future training opportunities.

The halls of justice came alive for Cholla High School’s government class during an unforgettable visit to the U.S. Federal Courthouse. Invited to participate in a special civics program, our students embarked on an educational adventure that brought their classroom lessons to life.

Their experience began with a guided tour of the courthouse, where they explored its historic chambers and observed real court hearings in action. A highlight of the day was a presentation by the U.S. Marshals, offering a behind-the-scenes look at their important role in the justice system.

The excitement continued as students engaged in a hybrid oral argument and jury deliberation exercise. Selected students stepped into the role of legal advocates, arguing a case before their peers with a Magistrate Judge presiding. This hands-on simulation deepened their understanding of courtroom procedures and the importance of civic engagement.

Adding to the day’s inspiration, the students had the rare opportunity to meet and speak with practicing lawyers, gaining valuable insights into the legal profession. The visit left a lasting impression, sparking curiosity and ambition among our future leaders.

A special thank you goes to U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Aguilera, a proud Cholla High School alumna, for her dedication to educating the next generation and making this remarkable experience possible.

Seniors: now is the time to look for TUSD books you may have at home. Returning the books now will be one less thing you need to worry about in May. Remember, you will be required to pay the fines or return the books before you can be cleared to graduate.

Dear Cholla High School Family,

As we reflect on the tremendous impact the Charger Clothing Bank and Food Pantry have had on our students, we are filled with gratitude and hope. In 2024, we were able to serve, a total of 525 visits throughout the year. In the spring we had a total of 96 visits and the fall we had 429- that is an incredible 346% increase from Spring to Fall.

Our busiest month was October, with 129 visits, and our busiest week came right before winter break, when 50 students sought support on December 16th and 18th. These numbers are not just statistics—they represent students who found comfort, dignity, and support in moments when they needed it most.

We are deeply grateful to the Tucson Subaru team for their generous donation in October, which played a vital role in helping us meet the growing needs of our Cholla community. Thanks to this support, we’ve been able to provide more students with essential resources, ensuring they are ready to learn, thrive, and succeed.

Thank you for your continued support of the Clothing Bank and Food Pantry. Every visit, every meal, and every item of clothing makes a difference in the lives of our students. Together, we are building a stronger, more compassionate community where all students can feel empowered and valued.

With heartfelt appreciation,

Ms. Fragozo and Ms. Rios