Trojan Scoop

Dear Catalina Parents and Community,

March is upon us, and with it comes a busy and crucial time for our students. I want to take a moment to outline some important information and upcoming events.

Arizona State Testing:

This month, many of our students will be participating in Arizona State Assessments. Please encourage your child to get plenty of rest, eat a healthy breakfast, and come prepared to do their best. These assessments are important for measuring student progress and school accountability. We will be sending out specific testing schedules and information shortly.

Maintaining Academic Focus and Positive Behavior:

As we move into the final stretch of the school year, it's vital that students maintain their focus on academics and positive behavior. Good grades and conduct are essential for successful completion of the year and for future opportunities. Please continue to reinforce the importance of attending classes, completing assignments, and adhering to school rules.

Looking Ahead: End-of-Year Celebrations!

We're excited to announce that we are planning some wonderful end-of-year celebrations to recognize our students' hard work and achievements. Please stay tuned for detailed information regarding the following events:

• Honors Assembly: We will be celebrating our students' academic excellence and achievements.
• Graduation: We are eagerly anticipating celebrating the accomplishments of our graduating seniors. More information about the ceremony will be shared soon.

We understand that this time of year can be demanding, but we are confident that our students will rise to the occasion. As always, we are here to support you and your child. Please don't hesitate to reach out to our office or your child's teachers with any questions or concerns.

Thank you for your continued partnership in your child's education.

Sincerely,

Dr. Norma Gonzalez Principal, Catalina High School

Our tax dollars at work this summer with a domestic water line replacement project at Catalina High School. Due to the summer project Catalina High School will be closed. The school must be closed during the replacement of pipes because all water to the buildings must be shut off. Due to the water shut off we will not have air conditioning or functioning restrooms, so this requires total building closure.

Summer School this year will be relocated to Rincon/UHS campus and our office staff relocated to Blenman Elementary School. Any registration or attendance issues in person will be taken care of at Blenman Elementary School. More information to come regarding summer school at Rincon/UHS.

February

Library Highlights:

We celebrated Black HERstory month, highlighting the amazing Black women of our past and present.

Students got to take part in the Library Lovers Bingo Contest! They had a great time accomplishing all the different activities on the Bingo card and we had many more books checked out! Congratulations to the winners!

1. Hannah Neimeyer

2. Mohamed Saeed

3. Andy Corona

Collaborations:

Ms. Fierro’s classes got introduced to using research databases for their Youth Participatory Action Research(YPAR) project.

Ms. Bryant and Ms. Guedes Pereira’s students learned how to use a few screencasting tools for presenting their February research project.

Coming up in March

Tucson Festival of Books is happening at the U of A campus March 15th and 16th. Consider bringing your family and friends; there’s something for everyone! Soman Chainani, author of the School for Good and Evil (available on Netflix!) will be speaking to over 200 of our students on March 17th. The Catalina Foundation generously donated money to buy 45 books to raffle off to students!

In March we celebrate Her Infinite Variety: A look at all the books about varied women who make our world a better place.

Need Research help? Don’t forget to check out our library website for research and book resources!

Ongoing

❖ Chess club meets every Thursday during lunch in the library with Mr. Levy

❖ Trojan PageTurner book club meets every Wednesday during lunch. ❖ As always, you can contact me at karin.bernal@tusd1.org if you have any questions or concerns. My office hours are: Monday - Friday 7:40AM to 3:30PM. 520-282-8424

Get ready for a night of elegance and celebration! Prom 2025 is quickly approaching, and we're excited to announce that it will be held at the beautiful Savoy Opera House.

Here are the key details:

• Location: Savoy Opera House
• Time: 7:00 PM - 11:00 PM
• Tickets: Tickets will go on sale after Spring Break.
• Ticket Prices: Please note that ticket prices are still being finalized based on current fundraising efforts. We will announce the final prices as soon as possible.

We know this is a highly anticipated event, and we're working hard to make it a memorable night for everyone. However, please remember that while Prom is a fun and exciting occasion, all school rules and expectations will still apply.

Stay tuned for more updates, including ticket sale dates and final pricing. We can't wait to celebrate with you!

We are approaching a critical time for state-mandated testing. Your participation and performance on these assessments are vital for both your academic progress and the school's accountability.

Punctuality and Serious Effort are Essential:

It is absolutely crucial that all students arrive on time and prepared to give their best effort during testing. These tests are designed to measure your knowledge and skills, and your results can impact your future academic opportunities. The scores from these assessments also impact our school letter grade and help us in identifying academic needs of our student population. Let's do our best, show what we know and work together to maintain our B letter grade.

Testing Schedule:

Here's the schedule for upcoming state assessments:

• 9th Grade - ACT Aspire: Monday, March 31st.
  • This test provides valuable insights into your readiness for college and career.
• 11th Grade - AZ Science: Thursday, March 27th.
  • This assessment evaluates your understanding of science concepts and skills.
• 11th Grade - ACT: Monday, April 8th.
  • This is a very important test for college admissions.

What to Expect:

• Please arrive at school on time on your testing day.
• Bring your school-issued device fully charged, and any required materials.
• Get a good night's sleep and eat a healthy breakfast before testing.
• Follow all testing instructions carefully.
• Remember that electronic devices, other than school issued devices used for testing, are not permitted during testing.

We understand that testing can be stressful but remember that you have been preparing for this. Your teachers and support staff are here to help you succeed.

Please make sure to mark these dates on your calendars and plan accordingly. Your commitment to these assessments is greatly appreciated.

Our Men's Varsity Soccer team made it to the State Playoffs this year. Congratulations, on a great season. Go Trojans!!!

As we approach the Advanced Placement (AP) exam season, we want to reiterate the importance of these assessments and provide specific information for students enrolled in AP classes.

Key Information & 2025 Dates:

• Exam Dates: The official AP exam schedule, set by the College Board, spans from May 5th through May 16th, 2025. Please note the following dates for your specific exams:
  • AP Government and Politics: Monday, May 5th, 2025
  • AP Biology: Monday, May 12th, 2025
  • AP Earth Science: Wednesday, May 14th, 2025
  • AP English Language and Composition: Wednesday, May 7th, 2025
  • AP World History: Modern: Thursday, May 8th, 2025
  • AP Seminar: Tuesday, May 6th, 2025
• Location: All AP exams will be administered at Catalina High School. Specific room assignments will be provided closer to the exam dates.
• Preparation: Now is the time to intensify your study efforts. Utilize your textbooks, review notes, and take advantage of any practice materials provided by your AP teachers. Consider forming study groups and attending any review sessions offered by the school.
• What to Bring:
  • Bring your school-issued student ID.
  • Bring several sharpened No. 2 pencils with erasers.
  • Bring pens with black or dark blue ink for completing free-response sections.
  • If applicable, bring an approved calculator (check the College Board website for specific calculator policies).
• What NOT to Bring:
  • Electronic devices (cell phones, smartwatches, etc.) are strictly prohibited in the testing room.
  • Food and drinks are not permitted during the exam.
  • Books, notes, or other unauthorized materials are not allowed.
• Arrival Time: Please arrive at the designated testing location at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled exam start time. This will allow ample time for check-in and seating.

Importance of AP Exams:

These exams represent the culmination of your hard work and dedication throughout the year. Your performance can significantly impact your college applications and potentially earn you college credit, saving you time and money.

We encourage all students enrolled in AP Government and Politics, AP Biology, AP Earth Science, AP English Language and Composition, AP World History: Modern, and AP Seminar to take these exams seriously and approach them with confidence. Your teachers and the entire Catalina High School staff are here to support you in your preparation.

Please reach out to your AP teachers or the counseling office if you have any questions or require additional information.

If your student needs help with the FAFSA, they are welcome to pop on into the College and Career center during their IMPACT period to get the help they need.

The Tucson Unified School District and El Rio Health are excited to offer the Teen Telehealth program for your Student, on campus, at Catalina High School. The Teen Telehealth program is offered through a private and secure computer kiosk operated by El Rio Health and the Catalina Success Center to provide students with real-time, face-to-face medical services via video appointments. This Teen Telehealth program will make healthcare for students more convenient and accessible. Easy access to healthcare helps students stay or become healthy and focus on learning by not needing to leave campus for appointments.

Parental consent forms are available in Student Services, the Health Office, and the Success Center with Mrs. Schull. Please contact Mrs. Schull with questions at 520-232-8438 or by email

Students can receive medical consultation for

• Health screenings

• Consult for colds, cough, runny nose, pink eye, allergies, urinary tract infection, asthma, acne, etc.

• Sexual and reproductive health services (like counseling on birth control methods and testing or treatment for sexually transmitted infections) • Consult for laboratory/diagnostic testing

• Prescriptions for medications

• Referrals to an El Rio Health specialist for further care or treatment (e.g., diabetes or mental health services).

*** Reproductive health services are provided for free or low cost. Some other preventative care services may be billed to insurance. IF your student is uninsured, please contact El Rio Health at 520-670-3909. We can help you get insurance.

Hola From the Success Center!

This is a reminder that students can visit the Success Center during lunch, passing period, or after school if they need School Supplies, Personal Hygiene items, or food to bring home from the Food Pantry. If you are in need of something specific or would like to connect about your Student, feel free to email me at amy.schull@tusd1.org

Yearbooks are on sale in the Finance office, Get yours today. The price will increase in January.

School Picture Day is November 7, 2024. There will be only 1 makeup day this year, if your student misses both days, they will not be pictured on their class page in Synergy.

Senior parents: If you would like to include a shoutout or recognition page in the yearbook for your graduating senior, please reach out to Melissa Kornmuller for more Information.