The Titan Weekly

Greetings,

We’ve had another awesomely busy week here at Tuscarora High School. Testing season has begun! This week students were assessed to help them meet College and Career Readiness standards. Next week, we begin ELA MCAP testing for our students enrolled in English 10. It is important that students put forth their best effort as they complete these assessments as they are graduation requirements, help students meet College and Career Readiness standards, and are one measure (among many others) that help us make decisions about course placements and pathways. Our students have been working diligently all year and this is an opportunity for them to showcase that learning.

In addition to testing, it’s adjudication season. Our choir performed yesterday and earned straight superiors, the highest rating. Winter athletic competitions also began this week with strong performances by our athletes. Please take the time this winter to support our Titans in the activities that they love.

Many students are continuing to arrive late to school. I know it is difficult to get up and out of the house, especially when it is dark and cold. Please remember that school begins promptly at 7:30. If you try to arrive between 7:20 – 7:30, there is a rush of traffic at that time. Leaving five minutes earlier will help you avoid traffic and allow students to get to their classes on time. Thank you for your assistance!

Wishing you a warm weekend!

Sincerely,

Lisa Smith

Congratulations to Elise Auldridge (Bass Clarnet) and Hunter Page (Trumpet). They both made the 2024 Maryland All State Senior Band.

Congratulations to the Chess Club. They placed third out of nine in the second ever semi-annual FCPS Chess Tournament.

Congratulations to Dylan Castro for being selected as the "Student of the Month" at th eFrederick County Public School's Career and Technology Center. Dylan was nomianted ro receive the award by her AOHP instructor, Jason Kidd and selected on her merit out of a field of other nominees by the Student Achievement Committee.

GREAT GIFTS just in time for the Holidays! Don't miss, order by 12/13/23!

Personalized Titans water bottles and travel mugs for all sports AND activities at like Football, Soccer, Marching Band, Cheer etc... There are lots of cool personalization options to choose from!

Staff/Coaches and Leaders will receive a discount!

Click on the link (or scan the QR Code) for all the details and order your special holiday gifts for your family and friends today and show your THS pride!

Link and QR code to order form: THS TITANS ORDER FORM or go to https://form.jotform.com/233333986735163

Staff and Leaders – Here is your link with discounted pricing THS STAFF ORDER FORM or go to https://form.jotform.com/233344684526158

Orders are due by December 13th for delivery/shipment by December 18, 2023.

Reach out with any questions to Melanie direct at melanie@personalization.com

Happy Shopping!!! Thank you for supporting all THS Athletics!

Tuscarora High School Track & Field will receive 20% of fundraiser sales during this fundraiser. Participate on Dec 14, 2023 by ordering online using the code MODGIVES20 or by visiting the Westview MOD location and showing this fundraiser flyer or mentioning the fundraiser at checkout. We appreciate your continued support!

When: Thursday, December 14th

Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Where: Tuscarora High School Cafeteria

Cost: $5 per Child

Sponsored by the Junior and Senior Classes

THS Juniors and Seniors wanting to volunteer should use this link to sign-up.

Now through ​December 12th

step 1: Go to https://bit.ly/TXRH23THSspiritgc

step 2: Choose your Gift Cards

step 3: Credit your sale to the seller you are supporting
step 4: Put in your email address, Contact information, and payment
step 5: Complete your order

10% of every Gift Card purchase will be donated to the Tuscarora High School Titan Spirit Club!

You will receive your Texas Roadhouse E-Gift Cards in the email you provide 3-5 days after the closing date of the fundraiser.

Thank you for your support!

Online Gift Card Fundraiser Link

With the holidays right around the corner please consider donating to our annual Wreaths Across America drive. For the past several years Rho Kappa (Social Studies Honor Society) has been raising money to purchase wreaths to put on Veteran's graves at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Mt. Olivet is not only the final resting place of Francis Scott Key, but is also where over 4,000 veterans are interred. Rho Kappa's goal is to sponsor 100 wreaths. Last year over 2,000 wreaths were sponsored but that means there is still work to do to remember them all.

Each wreath sponsored helps lay a wreath at Mt. Olivet on Dec. 16, 2023 and it's easy to do. Just go to the website and sponsor a wreath online. Thank so much for your support.

What does it mean to sponsor a wreath? It means you’ll honor an American hero at one of more than 2,800 locations nationwide this year on Wreaths Across America Day. It’s a day that’s been set aside to lay wreaths at the places where we remember, honor and teach about our veterans: cemeteries, monuments, parks… Anywhere we can pay tribute to their sacrifices.

We can’t do that without your support, though. Your sponsorship will ensure that a wreath is hand-crafted of all-American balsam and hand-tied with a red velvet bow here in Columbia Falls, Maine. It will then be sent to one of our participating locations, where a volunteer will place it on the marker of a fallen hero. That volunteer will then “say their name” to ensure that the legacy of duty, service and sacrifice of that veteran is never forgotten.

So, what does it mean to sponsor a wreath? It means you have the opportunity to join a grateful nation in saying “thank you” to our veterans.

*Please Note: Specific locations designated as "ceremonial-only" accept a limited number of sponsorships. Any additional sponsorships received beyond those used for the ceremony will be distributed to other locations.

The Tuscarora Boys Soccer Team is pleased to announce that they were able to contribute $2,524 to the Patty Hurwitz fund through our annual Goals for Gals fundraiser. In just 4 seasons, they have now eclipsed the $10,000 mark! The seniors met downtown today to present the money to Patty. To learn more about the Hurwitz Fund and this unbelievable local cause, please visit https://pinkribbonfrederick.org/.

Tuscarora H.S. will be hosting the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Career Exploration test on February 6th, 2024 from 8:00 -11:30 AM. The ASVAB measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success in the military. This test is OPTIONAL and will only be administered to students who sign up to participate. Information on how to sign up for students has been provided through Schoology and registration will close on January 23rd by 2:15 PM.

This test does not automatically enlist your student into any military branch but will provide possible military career pathways for their future for them to think about and discuss with their families. Students in 11th and 12th grade are the only eligible students to take the ASVAB.

A parents/guardians information session will be held VIRTUALLY on December 13th from 6:00 7:00 PM. This information session will allow me to briefly explain the ASVAB, what your students should expect on the day of the test, how they can prepare and answer any questions that you may have about this test.

If you are interested in attending this information session, please email Ashley Sellman, THS Career Coach at ashley.sellman@fcps.org and enter the subject as ASVAB PARENT/GUARDIAN and I will send you the Google Meet link on the morning of December 13th to the provided email address.

Please reach out via email with any questions.

Thank you – Ms. Sellman (Career Coach at THS)

The application window for 2024-2025 is now open!

Applications must be submitted no later than Thursday, January 25, 2024.

Biomedical Science: Current 9th & 10th grade students are eligible to apply. Check us out on twitter @THS_Biomed.

See Ms. Crowell (patricia.crowell@fcps.org) in B127 with any questions.

Biomed Google Site

Biomed Open House sign-up (2nd block flex on 12/6/23)

Biomed Shadowing - sign up to visit a biomed class

Biomed Application

Teacher Recommendation Form

Please view this link for information from the senior meeting on Wednesday, November 1, 2023.

• Sunday, December 31st: Last Day to Order a Cap & Gown without Shipping Fees
• Wednesday, May 22nd: Graduation at 1:30 PM at the PNC Complex at the Knott Arena on the Campus of Mount St. Mary's University

View the senior website for all the details.

Thank you to all of the families who were able to attend our 10th grade parent information night! If you were not able to attend, the presentation can be found here.

10th grade student conferences with their Counselors will begin upon our return from Winter Break. Links to schedule these meetings will be made available on December 18th. These conferences are for students ONLY.

12th Grade Families!

The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) will officially open in December 2023.

Some of the changes include:

· Expanded eligibility for Federal Student Aid

· A more streamlined application process

Before families can complete the FAFSA form, a FAFSA ID must be created for both the student applying and at least one (1) parent.

THS will be holding a FAFSA information presentation and a workshop to create the FAFSA ID on Thursday, December 14, 2023

· Information presentation will begin at 6:00 PM in the THS Auditorium –

o Open to all / no need to sign up

· FAFSA ID workshop will be held from 7:00 – 8:30 PM (3 different time slots)

o Use the link below to sign up for your time to get help with FAFSA ID creation:

https://www.frederickcountygives.org/fafsa-fsa-id-workshop-registration/.

SAVE THE DATE!

FAFSA FINISH EVENT

Now that you have your FAFSA ID, do you need help completing your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Maryland State Financial Aid Application (MSFAA)? Join us for a FREE FAFSA Finish Workshop!

FAFSA FINISH EVENT will be held on Thursday, January 11, 2024

6:00 – 8:00 PM

Sign up for a time slot for help with completing the FAFSA form here.

Attention 9th and 10th Grade Students

Frederick County Public Schools (FCPS) and Frederick Community College (FCC) invite you to attend one of our Early College Information Nights to learn about the FCPS-FCC Early College program:

Tuesday, December 5, 2023 (in-person, at FCC)

Thursday, January 25, 2024 (virtual)

Wednesday, February 21, 2024 (in-person, at FCC)

Tuesday, March 12, 2024 (virtual)

All times 7:00 - 8:00 PM

The Early College program allows high school students to earn an associate’s degree and high school diploma simultaneously by attending FCC full-time during your junior and senior years. The program was created to increase participation and completion for students from populations historically underrepresented in higher education and is open to all FCPS high school students.

FCPS students apply to Early College during their sophomore year of high school.

Interested students MUST attend one information night prior to applying.

At the Information Nights, members of the Dual Enrollment Team will go through the details of the Early College program and acceptance process, and they will answer questions from interested students and families.

Register to attend one of these sessions at tiny.cc/earlycollegenight.

A confirmation email will be sent with further information regarding the location and/or meeting link.

Contact the DE Office at DualEnrollment@frederick.edu, or visit www.frederick.edu/de for more information!

Shadowing for the Career & Technology Center is now open!

The Career and Technology Center (CTC) is part of the Frederick County Public Schools system. With more than 24 programs to choose from, students have the opportunity to gain college and career experience in a variety of areas. They can earn college credits as well as valuable industry certifications and licenses through a CTC program. The programs are taught in half-day blocks, and students attend their high school for the other half of the school day. Shadowing a CTC program is the first step in the application process and is open to students in grades 9-11. Students may shadow and apply to up to two programs.

Interested students can request a shadow from the CTC website https://edu.fcps.org/ctc/

Shadowing is open November 2, 2023 - February 29, 2024.

Last day to request a shadow is February 20, 2024

Application deadline: March 8, 2024

For additional information about the Career & Technology Center visit https://edu.fcps.org/ctc/.

· Students MUST complete a shadow experience prior to completing an application

· Program information: https://edu.fcps.org/ctc/programs-courses

Ms. Moore (A – Ce)

Mr. Gill (Ch – Ha)

Ms. Goto (He – Mc)

Ms. Cooper (Me – R)

Mr. Harrison (S – Z)

Ms. Ingram (EL)

Ms. Honaker (Behavior Support)

Ms. Gomez (Community Liaison)

Mr. Jackson (Registrar)

All FCPS athletic events are using the GoFan platform to purchase online tickets. Please see the link for more information.

Lisa Smith - Principal

Kristin Coulehan- Asst Principal

Kevin Hall - Asst Principal

Jason Lininger - Asst Principal

Roger Rich - Asst Principal

Tanisha Smith - Asst Principal

John Milliman - Special Programs

Chris O'Connor - Athletics & Facilities

5312 Ballenger Creek Pike
Frederick, MD 21703

240-236-6400 - Phone

240-236-6401 - Facsimile

Website