Hello Students, Parents and Guardians,

The month of March is upon us and will be gone before you know it. Please enjoy your time away from campus during Spring Break. When we return, we will be entering testing season! Students, this is your opportunity to SHOW WHAT YOU KNOW. Results from your assessments will count toward the school letter grade, so be sure to do your very best.

Seniors, this is your final quarter of high school, so make it a memorable experience! Your main priority is to walk across the stage in May along with your friends. If you need support, please speak to your counselor or a trusted adult on campus. Underclassmen, remember that every credit counts. Be on the lookout for summer school information.

Please speak to your child about getting from class to class on time and completing all assignments on a daily basis. We have seen an increase in attendance this year compared to last year, so thank you for making education a priority. If your child observes anything suspicious, please report it to the office. “If you see something, say something!”

Go Chargers!

Parents we have lots of testing this quarter and we need to ensure that all students are prepared. Please help us by starting with a good night’s sleep and a healthy breakfast. Here are a few of the tests that are coming up:

· Arizona Science Test—March 19th

· ACT Aspire (9th grade) - April 3rd

· ACT (11th grade) - April 3rd

If you have any questions, please email your students teachers directly

Greetings Charger Families,

As we head into Spring Break and approach the 4th Quarter, our students will begin the process of completing required state testing & training needed for graduation. Below you will find more information on specific testing dates by grade. We ask for your support preparing your students for the test(s). These are mandatory, however if you know your student will not be in school on test day, please make arrangements with us to make them up. The ACT can provide your students with a better chance of getting into the college of their choice & earn scholarship money. April 3rd will be a long day of testing. We advise students to get a good night sleep, eat a well-rounded breakfast, bring a water bottle & some snacks to get through the day. Cell phones, smart watches or any music players are not permitted and will be placed in student back packs during testing.

Grade 12

Civics Test: ongoing through counseling department.

CPR Training: ongoing through counseling department.

Grade 11

AZScience Test: March 19th

ACT: April 3rd (Ex Ed students will test March 27th & 28th)

Makeups: April 4th, 8th – 11th & 14th – 18th

Grade 9

ACT Aspire: April 3rd

ACT Aspire Writing: April 16th & 17th

Make-ups: April 4th – 25th

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve your students. If you have any questions or concerns regarding testing, please email Stephen Sagi

• No School Friday March 7th

• March 7th
• 8PM-11:30PM
• JW Marriott Star Pass

• No School March 10-14

• No School March 26th

The Cholla Army JROTC will host its annual Military Formal on April 5, 2025, at 5:30PM- 11PM in the Ramada Inn ballroom. This special event honors our graduating seniors and provides an evening of tradition and celebration.

📅 Date: April 30th
⏰ Time: 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM
📍 Location: Chargers Football Field

🎉 Food | Music | Performances | Games 🎉

Families, please ensure you upload all required documents to complete the registration process. Early registration helps us prepare for a smooth school year, so don’t wait!

📌 Reporting Absences
Parents, please remember to submit daily absences through your ParentVUE account or call the front office. Timely reporting helps us maintain accurate attendance records and support student success.

🎓 Student ID Reminder
Students must carry their school picture ID with them at all times while on campus. IDs help ensure safety and efficiency in school operations.

⏰ Late Arrivals
Students arriving late must have a note from a parent/guardian and report to the front office before heading to class. Being on time is key to staying on track with learning!

Thank you for your cooperation in keeping our school community organized and running smoothly!

On February 18, 2025, Cholla High School’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) team proudly participated in Valencia Middle School’s Recruitment Fair, highlighting the diverse and dynamic opportunities available to future Chargers.

Representing Cholla’s CTE programs were Mrs. Lucy Swift (Business Operations), Major Spiece (JROTC), Mrs. Adelina Aranda (Welding Technologies), and Mr. Bernardo Jimenez (Computer Science). Each instructor engaged with students, sharing insights about their programs and the hands-on learning experiences that prepare students for success in both college and careers.

Cholla High School remains committed to empowering students with valuable skills and real-world knowledge through its CTE pathways. We look forward to welcoming the next generation of learners eager to explore their futures!

Eight exceptional Cholla High School students recently took time to inspire young minds at Lynn Urquides Elementary as part of Love of Reading Month. With enthusiasm and heart, they read engaging stories to elementary students, fostering a love for books and learning. Their dedication not only encouraged literacy but also strengthened the bond between schools, proving that a shared story can spark imagination and connection.

Cholla is proud of these students for their leadership and commitment to making a difference—one page at a time!

Creativity and collaboration were in full swing when the Cholla Graphic Design Council teamed up with Soleng Tom Elementary’s after-school S.T.E.A.M. program for third through fifth graders. The goal? To create a custom T-shirt that captured the club’s innovative spirit.

The talented students of Cholla’s Graphic Design Club rose to the challenge, producing several unique designs for the young S.T.E.A.M. members to consider. Excitement buzzed as the elementary students passionately debated their favorites, ultimately combining elements from multiple designs to craft the perfect look.

With the final vision set, the Cholla Graphic Design Council brought it to life by printing the shirts, giving the S.T.E.A.M. students a wearable symbol of their enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering, arts, and math. Now, these young learners proudly sport their custom shirts, receiving compliments that make the whole experience even more rewarding.

A huge shoutout to the Cholla High Design Council for their professionalism, creativity, and high-quality work. Their dedication proves that design is more than just an art—it’s a way to bring communities together and inspire the next generation!

Fifty of our students had the incredible opportunity to attend African American Youth Heritage Day at Pima Community College, where they engaged in a variety of enriching workshops. From Education, Engineering, and Entrepreneurship to Arts & Entertainment, Athletics, Medicine, Military, Law, and Cosmetology, students explored career pathways guided by industry professionals.

The event also featured keynote speakers, live performances, and delicious food, creating an inspiring and memorable experience for our Chargers. This was more than just a field trip—it was a chance to learn, connect, and envision future success in diverse fields.

We are proud of our students for taking advantage of this unique learning opportunity and look forward to seeing them apply their newfound knowledge and inspiration in their own journeys!

Somewhere someone is probably saying:

‘As long as there are children, we will always need teachers and childcare providers.’

With that in mind, even though Cholla’s on-campus Early Childhood Education program was sunset (coinciding with the retirement of Ms. Gloria ‘Glo’ Nelson), the program lives on in a new accelerated format off-campus at the Brichta Infant & Early Learning Center. In its accelerated format, students attend 2-hour block classes each school day, which enables them to complete the traditional 2-year CTE program in just one year! Students meet Arizona’s Career and Technical Education technical standards by learning about early development and preparing for child-related careers (future teachers, paraprofessionals, childcare providers, medical professionals, social workers, etc), in a classroom environment led by Ms. ‘Glo’ (who resumed teaching after retirement). Then after classroom lessons, students regularly engage in authentic hands-on interaction with young children, under the supervision of Brichta’s director, Ms.Maricela Valenzuela, and her staff.

So, Cholla students who have a passion for working with young children should enroll in TUSD’s accelerated ECE program! They will have opportunities to earn Arizona’s CTE proficiency certification, as well as industry-focused Paraprofessional certification.

Comments from Cholla students in TUSD’s accelerated ECE program at Brichta I&ELC:

“ECE program is very fun if you love kids while learning about what it means to be an educator. You also get hands-on experiences with both your peers and the kids/babies who attend Brichta I&ELC.” -Irene

“Early Childhood is a fun and easy way to explore different careers!”

-Alexander

“Early Childhood is an amazing opportunity to learn hands-on every day and actually experience the things you learn about. Being around children who are so unique in their own ways is eye-opening as to how (early) development really works!” -Anecia

“Early Childhood is a program that helps students engage and learn about young children. All of the (Brichta) staff is nice and welcoming!” -Heidi

“We work in classrooms (where children range) from infants to 5-years-old, and where teachers see what we would do if a kid gets upset, or how we react with a kid. We help the kids learn to draw, paint, trace letters, etc. We keep the classrooms clean and safe for everyone who enters.” -Marta

“In Early Childhood, we learn how to care for young children.” **This comment was accompanied by a hand-drawing of the writer engaging with children

-Vixen

"This year's regional High School Mock Trial competition was held on Saturday, March 1, 2025 in downtown Tucson, at the Arizona Superior Court of Pima County, and Cholla High School's Mock Trial team was among the 21 teams who came together for the competition. Sponsored by the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education and the State Bar of Arizona's Young Lawyers Division, the Mock Trial program aims to teach students about the law and our legal system by participating in a simulated trial.

Cholla's team is headed by Ms. Bonnie Worthman and assisted by Ms. Gina Florio, and our 6-member, all-girl team includes Senior - Nicole Gonzalez, Juniors - Alaycia Clark & Debora Hamuli, and Sophomores - Nevaeh Nelson, Melissa Perez & Kerene Masiyi.

We met up before sunrise on that Saturday to make our way downtown. The girls showed up professionally dressed, well rested, and ready to compete. Due to unforeseen circumstances, 3 of our team members did not make it to court that day, compelling us to withdraw early in the competition.

Although we were disappointed, our amazing legal coach, hailing from the Pima County Attorney's office, Ms. Yvette Patterson, was there to cheer us on and to help us pivot when plans needed to change. Our gracious host, Ben, accommodated our needs and remained flexible despite our team's unready status that morning. After some careful thought, we collectively decided to stay to observe a few rounds to help us better prepare for next year's tournament, and, boy, were we glad we did. Cholla's Mock Trial team may not have been able to compete this year, but our time on competition day was definitely not wasted. We are so proud of our girls!!

We will be assembling Mock Trial team(s) at the start of next school year and hope to recruit serious students who are interested in an opportunity to compete in this intellectual challenge and competition. Ms. Patterson is on board to be our continuing legal coach, along with Ms. Bonnie and Ms. Florio, although we do stand to lose Miss Gonzalez after she graduates this year.

Mock Trial is a fantastic extracurricular activity that makes a solid impression on college admission applications and on a job resume, as preparation and participation in the event helps students highlight their dedication to developing critical thinking skill and demonstrates a variety of "soft skills," as well, including: team work, dependability, sustained focus, intelligence, adaptability, and leadership, as well as highlighting a student's language, reading, writing, and public speaking prowess. If this piques your interest, keep your eyes and ears peeled for next year's Mock Trial team recruitment!

You can learn more about Mock Trial from the lawforkids.org website and/or by reaching out to Ms. Bonnie or Ms. Florio."

On February 22, the Cholla JROTC put their strength, endurance, and teamwork to the test at the Tombstone High School Raiders Competition. The event featured a series of grueling challenges, including the Stagecoach Pull, Obstacle Course, Tire Flip, Pushups/Situps, Knot Tying, and a demanding 3-mile team run.

Through determination and teamwork, our cadets proudly represented Cholla JROTC, demonstrating skill, resilience, and camaraderie. Their hard work and dedication were on full display, proving that they are a force to be reckoned with. Great job, Chargers!

Last month, Cholla High School’s Breakaway and GSA Clubs hosted two impactful lunch events to promote awareness and encourage kindness on campus.

During the Love is Respect Valentine’s lunch event, students raised awareness for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Week, sparking important conversations about healthy relationships.

For Random Acts of Kindness Day, students took part in spreading positivity by writing kindness letters and contributing to our Be Kind display with uplifting messages. These events created a welcoming atmosphere, reminding everyone that small acts of kindness and awareness can make a big difference!

Love food? Love fun? Come join Cholla’s Cooking Class every Monday after school from 3:30 to 5:30 PM in G7!

Why We Love It:

✅ We learn to cook delicious food
✅ We get to eat what we make! 😋
✅ We meet new friends
✅ We explore different foods and cultures

What We Do:

🔪 Kitchen safety – because safe chefs are great chefs!
📖 Follow recipes – mastering the art of step-by-step cooking
🎲 Side quests – because cooking should be fun!
🥄 Measurements & improvisation – learning the rules & when to break them

Come cook, create, and have fun with us! No experience needed—just bring your appetite!

See you in the kitchen! 🍕🥗