COUGAR NEWS 2024-2025

We are excited to have all of our Cougars coming back on Wednesday!!

We hope you all had a fun and refreshing break!

Students should look up their schedules in Home Access Center (HAC) so they know where to report to first period on Wednesday. Many students may have had schedule changes for the spring semester. Students will get their official schedule in their first period class and will show it to their teachers all day.

If you have difficulty accessing your schedule in HAC, counselors will be available to look schedules up in the cafeteria when students arrive before first period starts..

If there are any errors with schedules, counselors will be available at lunch to answer questions.

Dress Code Reminders for Wednesday

• Please do not wear hats or hoodies or bonnets in the building.

• Please do not bring blankets to school.

• Only natural hair colors are allowed.

• Young men need to be clean shaven at all times.

• All students must wear clothing that adequately covers the body. Shorts and/or skirts must reach the mid-thigh. Spaghetti straps, strapless, backless, see-through and low-cut tops are not allowed. Tops must cover the midriff.

• There are many other dress code expectations that can be viewed in the Student/Parent Handbook online if you have questions.

• Students will be required to wear their Student ID EVERY day while in the building at THS.

Cougar Block Procedures:

We want Cougar Block to be a successful opportunity for students to get extra help with tutoring and opportunities for activities to meet. We are tightening up the procedures for Cougar Block….

• All students report to their assigned Cougar Block class for attendance and announcements.

• Students who have the OFFICIAL COUGAR BLOCK pass from the teacher who is requesting to receive them during Cougar Block may go to that room after the announcements are finished.

Finally, If you missed a Fall Final Exam, we will have opportunities for you to make them up on Monday, January 6 and Saturday, January 11. (See details in the newsletter below about make up exams.) from 7:30-12:30.

It is going to be a GREAT SPRING SEMESTER at The Pride of Texas, Tomball High School!

Tuesday 1/7 Boys Basketball @ Klein Collins

Tuesday 1/7 Girls Basketball vs Klein Collins

Friday 1/10 Girls Soccer vs Klein Cain

Friday 1/10 THS Dive Meet - Frozen Invitational

Saturday 1/11 THS Swim Meet - Frozen Invitational

The final level change window opens December 16th. While it is too late to make elective schedule changes for your courses for 2024-2025, you can make level changes at this time (ie. moving from AP/DC/TAP to on level). Students have until 3 PM on January 10th to request a level change. All level changes must have parent approval in email form.

Please be aware that requesting a level change could result in several classes, teachers, and/or lunch changing as well.

To request a LEVEL CHANGE, please fill out this form, or students can scan the QR code at Counselors’ Corner during their lunch.

Course Selection

Course selection for the 2025-2026 school year is quickly approaching. Please visit 2025-2026 Course Selection Site for valuable information concerning course selection and upcoming parent meetings. Course selection will take place on January 30th during students’ Cougar Block. The deadline to make course selection changes will be February 9th.

Distance Learning and Correspondence Course Information:

• Students may take up to 2.0 credits through correspondence.
• Credits will only be accepted through Texas Tech University, the University of Texas, and the Texas Virtual Network.
• Courses to consider:

1. Health

1. Speech

1. PE

• Students must obtain counselor approval before enrolling in a correspondence course.
• Course must be completed by December 1st of a student’s senior year of high school.
• To request approval, complete the TISD Request to Enroll in a Distance Learning or Correspondence Course form.

Reach out to your student’s counselor if you have any questions.

• Scheduled Makeup Exam Dates and Times:
• January 6th, 8:00 AM - 12:30 PM in the LGI
• January 11th, 7:30 AM - 12:30 PM in the cafeteria
• Front doors will be unlocked from 7:30-8:00 on January 11th.

Any students who miss an exam must make them up with their teacher or during the scheduled exam make up times. Students should communicate with their teacher for makeup exam expectations.

Week of December 23rd - January 7th

College & Career Counselor Corner

• Boys State & Girls State 2025 - Great leadership opportunity open to current juniors. THS will sponsor one boy and one girl for the events. Application details and deadlines in links provided.
• Local Tomball Scholarships for Seniors - Many of the local scholarships are now active!! More being moved to the active tab as we hear back from donors. Seniors need to check back frequently! These are great scholarship opportunities!
• 2025-2026 FAFSA (for current seniors) is NOW OPEN. Helpful FAFSA Instruction Sheet
• CURRENT DUAL CREDIT STUDENTS - Spring 2025 course fees are now posted in your MyLoneStar accounts! PAYMENT DEADLINE: JANUARY 4, 2025. Instructions on how to make a payment
• Young Women’s Leadership Challenge - Program for rising sophomores, juniors and seniors for 25-26. We will hold an information session February 6th during Cougar Block next semester, sign-up coming when we return in January!
• Virtual Senior Financial Aid Night Presentation Links & Other Helpful Resources
• Fall Financial Aid Night Presentation Link
• GenTX Week 2024 - Click HERE for all the resources shared the week of November 18th-22nd
• Fall College Knowledge Night Presentation Links
• 2025-2026 Dual Credit Process- Information on the dual credit process 25-26 will be released when we return in January. Be sure to listen for announcements, check email and grade level Schoology posts when we return. Deadlines apply!
• Save the Date! Course Selection Kickoff & Electives Fair - January 14, 2025 at Tomball High School. Details coming soon!

• Save the Date! Spring College Knowledge Night - February 6, 2025 from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Tomball Event Center. Details coming January 2025!

Opportunities for Students with the College & Career Counselor

• Lone Star College Rep Visits - Our Lone Star College rep will be on campus twice each month throughout the year to help answer any questions students have about their program, admissions, etc. LSC has many great opportunities for our students. Seniors planning to attend LSC after graduation definitely need to sign-up for a visit! Click here to sign-up
• College & Career Classroom Videos - Every other week, Mrs. Nichols will share videos for each grade level covering many college and career related topics throughout the year. Videos and presentation links will be shared in each grade level Schoology course for students to refer back to and parents to stay in the loop. Videos posted in grade level Schoology courses under 24-25 Classroom Videos & Slides section.
• Grade Level Schoology Courses - Each grade level will have their own Schoology course provided by Mrs. Nichols, College & Career Counselor. Here students will have information on events, event sign-up, C&C Classroom Video library, C&C Series information, rep visit sign-ups, and more. Parents do not need to do anything to join the course. Once the student joins, parents will have access through their own Schoology login. Information will be provided for parents who do not have accounts set up yet. Click here for parent Schoology instructions

STUDENT Access Codes (will not work for parents, see above)

1. Class of 2025 - 8K2K-QFMQ-HSJDS

1. Class of 2026 - WWJJ-4GN9-ZFZHP

1. Class of 2027 - XB4J-9799-4N6MW
2. Class of 2028 - 9F2Z-WD68-D2V3V

We need all Senior Parents for the Class of 2025 to get involved.

Make sure you follow SPO 2025 on

Facebook: THS SPO Class of 2025spo2025@gmail.com

Instagram: thsclassof2025spo

Website: https://www.thsspo2025.org/

You can also email us at THSSPO2025@GMAIL.COM

OUR NEXT MEETING is scheduled for Thursday, January 9th at Tomball High

Some SPO Senior Events already scheduled:

MR. DEBONAIR COMPETITION: Feb 13

POWDER PUFF FOOTBALL: TBD

PROJECT PROM: April 26

BACCALAUREATE: May 18

Information on Yearbook Senior Ads

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hRMRjuFoH2OS2kOJAIRXOXq6JcLTPjnE/view?usp=drive_link

WE NEED ALL SENIOR PARENTS TO JOIN SPO AND MAKE IT AN INCREDIBLE YEAR FOR THE CLASS OF 2025!

Membership Link at the website: https://www.thsspo2025.org/

Stay up to date on things happening on campus with the THS App. You can watch our twice-weekly news shows, check headlines from the school paper, send photos to the yearbook and check the sports calendar to see what time the game starts. Download today, it's free!

Important information

· Scan the QR code to sign up

· Request can take 24-48 hours to be filled

· Once filled you will receive an email confirmation

· You will need to request a VOE for both your permit and your license

· VOE’s are valid for 30 days

· Student/Guardian can pick the VOE anytime during school hours once filled

Mark Vierkant @THS_Mr_Vierkant

Lisa Streat @THS_Ms_Streat

Daniel Craft @THSAP_Craft

Sara Cooley @THS_cooley

Jennifer Foley @THS_jennlee

Carl Moise @C_Moise22

Carrie Sack @CSackTHS

The purpose of the Cougar News Weekly Newsletter is to inform the community of everything going on at Tomball High School.

Feel free to email MarkVierkant@tomballisd.net with any celebrations of our students or any valuable information for the THS Community!

I put together the newsletter, but depend on Parents, Students, Staff and the Community to get stories to me to share.

Please share anything newsworthy for consideration. Photos to go along with the story are appreciated.