Falcon Newsflash

We are quickly coming up on the first of the big events for the 24-25 school year, and we can't wait to see you all there. We kick it all off on August 5th with our New to Lake Meeting at 5 pm. If your Falcon is going to be new to CLHS this year, please join us for a brief but informational orientation on all things LAKE. We follow that up with the biggest pre-season event - Schedule Preview. Take care of (literally) EVERYTHING before school starts so that your Falcon has no delays or hurdles in getting a successful start to the new school year. Remember that we need a new Proof of Residency every year, so please make sure you have that documentation uploaded in Skyward or have a hard copy in your hand when you come. Students will not receive their schedules until their POR is validated.

CCISD plans to open the Back-to-School Verification of Enrollment forms in your parent Skyward account no later than this Thursday, August 1st. Please log in and complete the forms before coming to Schedule Preview. You can upload all of the required documents, apply for all of the necessary support programs, and pay any fees online from your Skyward account. The more you have done before coming to Schedule Preview, the faster you get to move through the lines. If you have any questions or have any issues with the online forms, please reach out to us at the school for help. We have people standing by to assist.

In addition to reminders about the information shared last week, there are quite a few additions to this week's Newsflash. Please take time to review all of the information with your Falcons and let us know if there is anything that we can do to help you get ready for the best school year yet!

Let's make it a GREAT year at the LAKE!

- Elizabeth Raska

8/1 - Back to School Forms Open in Skyward

8/1 - PTSA membership opens for 24-25 school year (see below)

8/1 - Summer School Graduation @ LAKE

8/5 - New To LAKE Meeting

8/5 - Dual Enrollment Orientation Meeting

8/8 - Schedule Preview

8/13 - Transition Day (9th grade & New to Lake Students) & Freshmen Class Meeting

8/14 - 10-12th grade First Day of School

8/14 - Sophomore Class Meeting, 3rd period

8/15 - Junior Class Meeting, 3rd period

8/16 - Senior Class Meeting, 3rd period

8/19 - Dual Credit (San Jac) 1st day of classes

8/31 - Principal's Advisory Committee Application Deadline

Our Clear Lake Parent Teacher Student Association is the hardest working and most dedicated PTSA in the state! Through our partnership with the PTSA, our Falcons receive college scholarships, school supplies, achievement rewards, and more. Our amazing PTSA is also instrumental in advocating at the state level for the rights of our public-school students and the state of public education both in Texas and at the national level. Communities need great schools, and schools need great advocates. In short, CLHS, our Falcons, and our entire community are indebted to the hard work of this amazing organization.

CLHS boasted 200+ full time employee members last year earning CLHS the prestigious Golden Apple Award. LAKE is the only high school in CCISD to earn this status in over 10 years. We intend to repeat this accomplishment again this year. Additionally, our goal is to break campus and district records for high school student and parent enrollment. PTSA cannot function without parent and student membership. Membership dues are $12 per member per year. All membership funds are returned to the campus and classrooms for the benefit of our students and teachers.

Registration for the 24-25 school year opens August 1st. Please use the QR code above or the blue button link below to join PTSA for the new school year. Please wait until August 1st to join.

PTSA representatives will be available at Schedule Preview and Open House to help you join, sign up for volunteer opportunities, and answer any questions you may have.

On Monday, August 5th, we will hold an informational evening for all new Falcons. If your student is an entering Freshmen or new to CLHS this year, your family is invited to attend our New Falcon Student & Parent Orientation at 5pm in the CLHS Performing Arts Center. We will share all of the important information you and your student need to start the new year successfully.

We ask that you park behind the building and enter Krueger walkway through the Performing and Fine Arts entrance.

SEE YOU THERE!

If your Falcon is enrolled in the OnRamps College Algebra Dual Enrollment class, please join us on Monday, August 5th at 6 pm in the CLHS PAC for an orientation meeting that is required by the University of Texas. All enrolled students received an invitation from the Dean of Instruction on Friday. Please have your Falcon check their school email for more information.

The unique aspect of OnRamps is in its concurrent enrollment approach, where students can receive both high school and college credits. OnRamps brings the college experience directly into high school classrooms. Crafted by the faculty at The University of Texas at Austin, OnRamps courses mirror the demanding nature of college-level learning, adhering to postsecondary standards of quality, depth, and complexity.

For students who are participating in this college credit-bearing course, parent involvement is important to student success. Students may need parental support in establishing plans to meet deadlines and creating action plans to handle the additional workload that accompanies a college course.

It is important that both parents and students attend this meeting.

The annual Back-To-School Schedule Preview/Registration Verification will be held on Thursday, August 8th from 4-8 pm.

You may come at any time during the event. Required stations are:

1. Verification of Back-To-School form completion (parents have to do this)
2. Proof of Residency (see below)
3. Pay any outstanding fees or fines (including those from Intermediate School)
4. Pick up mandatory student identification card (all students will be required to wear IDs)
5. Register and pay for student parking (will be required for 1st day of school for all student drivers)

Other stations that will be available include:

• PTSA membership
• Free & Reduced Lunch Program
• Spirit Merchandise
• Safety Crew Sign-Up
• Student Clubs

Students will be able to view and pick up a draft of their class schedule once they have cleared all of the mandatory stations.

Parents, you must complete the online Back-To-School forms in YOUR Skyward account before your student can complete any station at schedule preview. The forms are scheduled to open on Thursday, August 1st for all currently enrolled CCISD students.

Students must bring a valid Proof of Residency (light bill, gas bill, water bill, lease, or mortgage ONLY). Valid PORs must meet ALL of the following criteria to be accepted:

1. account holder must match the parent/legal guardian listed on student's Skyward account
2. service address must match address listed on student's Skyward account
3. bill is current within the last 90 days (delinquency or cut-off notices are not accepted)
4. lease must show student's name as a resident at the address

Cable bills, phone bills, bank statements, personal letters/statements of residency are not valid PORs, and will not be accepted. If your student is on a Residency Affidavit, please remember that these forms must be renewed with the CCISD Safe and Secure Office every year before enrollment verification can be completed. Appointments for Residency Affidavits open on August 1st at the CCISD Educational Support Center. Please contact 281-284-0000 for more information or to request an appointment.

Schedule Preview will be held in the EAST end of campus. All students & parents must park in the White Lot by the bus ramp and enter the building through the doors under the bus ramp awning. Please use the drive off Bay Area Boulevard on the east side of the campus next to the bayou. We will have plenty of signage and assistants to help you find your way.

We encourage all Falcons to take advantage of completing everything at schedule preview. Students who do not complete these processes prior to the first day of school may have to complete specific steps before being allowed to attend classes on the first day of school.

It is time to share the sign-up for parking permits! Out of an abundance of caution, we will require our student drivers to have a parking permit on the first day of school. There is not a single minute that we cannot know who is on campus; therefore, there will not be a grace period window extended, and parking enforcement will begin on day one. Anyone who fails to obtain a parking permit or violates the parking rules will receive a $35 fine added to their Skyward account.

Here are the steps on how to successfully obtain a permit.

1. Fill out this online parking permit request form.
2. Come to Schedule Preview at CLHS on Aug 8th and visit the parking permit table.
3. Bring proof of the following:
1. Copy of Driver's License (we will keep on file)
2. Copy of the Vehicle's Insurance (the student must be listed as a driver on the policy and the copy will be kept on file).
3. Bring $35 in the form of cash or check (made out to Clear Lake High School) to cover the permit fee. 20 VIP spots are available for an additional $100 that will be donated to the Class of 2025. VIP spots will be first come, first serve.

Valid insurance seems to be the biggest hiccup for most families. Please make sure the student is listed as a driver on the policy. We will NOT issue permits to uninsured drivers.

For those unable to make Schedule Preview, you will have an opportunity to obtain a parking permit from Friday, August 9th through Tuesday, August 13th in the front office from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Once the school year begins, parking permits can be purchased in Office 1060 before or after school and/or during lunch.

Again, out of an abundance of caution, we will require our student drivers to have a parking permit on the first day of school. There is not a single minute that we cannot know who is on campus; therefore, there will not be a grace period window extended, and parking enforcement will begin on day one.

If you have any questions/concerns or need assistance, please feel free to reach out to Elizabeth Olin at eolin@ccisd.net or 281-284-1900. We look forward to seeing everyone soon!

The 2024-25 Principal's Advisory Committee is looking for Falcons in all grade levels who are interested in participating in open exchange with campus administration and instructional committees to help guide the growth and success of the LAKE. Applications will be accepted through August 31st and can be accessed via the QR code below. Seats will be limited to 5-6 students per grade and the committee will be selected to reflect the best representation of the student body including academic, socioeconomic, extracurricular, cultural, and special programming considerations. All Falcons are encouraged to apply regardless of academic or disciplinary histories. However, once selected, committee members must commit to serving as positive role models for their peers by maintaining appropriate academic, attendance, and disciplinary performance.

New Falcons, get ready! The Class of 2028 and all students new to CLHS will get to spend their first day of school together before our veteran Falcons join us the following day.

We have planned a day full of events that will help make your transition into high school a smooth one. The day starts promptly at 7:20 am. There will be plenty of friendly faces to show you the way. You will get a sampling of your class schedule so that you can meet your teachers, get to visit with student clubs and other organizations, have the opportunity to apply for class officer elections, and learn all things LAKE in the Freshmen Class Meeting.

The cafeteria will be open to purchase a lunch, or you may bring your own. Buses will run at regular times. Bus route information will be published by the district closer to the start of school.

We look forward to seeing all incoming freshmen and getting to spend a day with you before the rest of the student body arrives.

If you are a NEW Falcon entering in the 10th, 11th, or 12th grade, you are also invited to attend an abbreviated transition day which will include a short informational session in the PAC and a tour of the building. You will be dismissed following the tour no later than 10 am.

For all returning students, your first day of class is Wednesday, August 14th.

Attendance on the 1st day of school is MANDATORY for ALL students.

State law requires all first-day-of-school absentees to be withdrawn. So, any student who is absent on Wednesday, August 14th will be automatically withdrawn from Clear Lake High School. You will be considered a "No Show" and will be withdrawn from your classes - which means your schedule will be deleted. Your seat in your requested courses will NOT be saved for you.

Any absentee who returns to school after the 14th will be required to complete the re-enrollment process and re-register for classes. There will be no guarantee that you will be scheduled in the courses you requested in the Spring.

If your Falcon is enrolled in any of the Career & Technology Education courses that are taught at other CCISD campuses, they must have there transportation arrangements in place for the first day of school. All traveling students must report to their off-campus CTE classes starting on day one.

Falcons enrolled in either dual credit and/or release time are expected to be off campus during the scheduled class time.

Dual credit courses are taught online through San Jacinto College. These are not CLHS courses and are not assigned to a CLHS teacher or a classroom. Therefore, all dual credit students are expected to work off-campus during their scheduled class periods and will not be allowed to remain on campus.

All seniors who have enrolled in a release time class period must commit to the district Release Time policy. A component of that policy is that release time students must be off campus during their scheduled class period. This means that Release Time Falcons must have dependable transportation to arrive late/leave early. Falcons who require bus transportation cannot have a release time period in their schedule.

Any student who is unable or unwilling to abide by these expectations will have their schedule administratively changed and will be placed into an on-campus instructional class period at the Principal's discretion.

The CLHS 24-25 Bell Schedules are shown below. For the majority of the year, CLHS will operate on the Falcon Lunch Schedule. Any alternate bell schedule days will be communicated in advance through the Falcon Newsflash. Bell Schedules are always available on our campus website.

Due to the growing size of the student body, Falcon Lunch will look a little different. Our Falcons will still have their extended lunch period, but it will be offered in two separate sessions and students will no longer have to split their lunch period with tutorials. Tutorials will now be served through FLEX (Falcon Learning EXperience) classes for those students who need them. Students will learn more about FLEX classes and the privileges that come with them during the first week of school.

As a reminder for all of our students, Falcon lunch is a privilege. Falcons are expected to demonstrate Core Values at all times by assisting in maintaining a safe and clean campus environment. Falcon Lunch expectations will be covered in each Class Meeting and will be enforced immediately.

School Safety is always our first priority at CLHS. We continue to hear of too many instances of unauthorized persons entering school facilities across the nation creating safety threats. Each of these instances reminds us of the importance of being able to properly identify all persons on campus.

Just like all staff members, every student is required to visibly wear a current, school-issued identification badge during the school day. All students will be issued a new ID badge and a lanyard, free of charge, to begin the year. IDs are required to be worn while on campus at all times. IDs will be needed for attendance and tardy stations, can be used to purchase food in the cafeteria, to access services in the library, to gain access into the building in the morning, and as your pass for early release and COOP courses. You also must have your ID to ride the bus. IDs will be checked daily. If a student loses or forgets their ID, they will be sent to an ID station and will be required to purchase another one for a $5.00 fee. Lanyards are an additional $1.00. Parents, please help us by checking to make sure your student leaves for school with their ID on every day. ID badge fees stack up quickly for students who frequently leave them at home. Responsibility is key. Falcons always demonstrate good Citizenship.

In terms of Dress Code, CLHS faculty and staff respect our students' rights to express themselves in the way they dress. However, our Falcons are also expected to respect their school community by dressing appropriately for both learning and safety. CCISD Dress Code requires all secondary students to wear ID badges at all times during the school day as item #1. Attire/accessories that obscure or hinder the ability of school personnel to easily identify a person will also be prohibited - this includes, but is not limited to, hoodies/unapproved head coverings in the building, face paint, and/or prosthetic cosplay appendages. Remember, your principal ultimately determines if your attire is school-appropriate.

Parents, most of us are required to wear identification badges and practice appropriate attire/grooming at our place of employment. So, we ask that you have a conversation with your student, and emphasize the importance of keeping up with those same expectations at school.

CCISD continues to implement and improve upon our anonymous system for reporting safety concerns. These concerns can include safety violations on campus, threats, harassment, bullying and self-harm. Because Clear Lake High School's safety is dependent upon every member of our community, if you see or hear of something that concerns you, we ask you to tell a trusted adult so they can report it or submit your concern using the Anonymous Alert system.

When submitting concerns, please make sure that you report all information (names, descriptions, location, time, etc.) to help with a quick response. We investigate every tip submitted.

For expeditious reporting, we ask that parents and students load the app on your phones (QR codes below). Reports can be made anonymously by using the blue button link below. QR codes for reporting are also posted year-round on the rotating announcement TVs in the hallways on campus.

Falcons always show our Core Values, and we expect our community and guests to do the same. At CLHS events, we demonstrate GAME DAY THE FALCON WAY. Signage is posted in all of our facilities as a gentle reminder of our Spectator Rules of Conduct. Any student, parent, guest, athlete, etc who chooses to disregard these campus expectations will be escorted off of the CLHS premises and will be in danger of losing the privilege of being able to return to future CLHS events on or off campus.

Remember to live our Core Values and show everyone why LIFE IS BETTER AT THE LAKE!

Come out on Tuesday and chow down at Chipotle to support our CLHS Band. Make sure to use the promo code when ordering online or bring a copy of the flyer below if you plan to dine in.

Our Falcons' Support Teams are assigned according to the students' last names. If at any time you need help or have questions related to your Falcon, please reach out to your student's alpha team below.

A-Da

• Assistant Principal: Zachary Johnson
• Office phone: 281-284-1932
• Counselor: Jana Morse
  
• Office Phone: 281-284-1940

Db-Hi

• Assistant Principal: Marc Gernander
• Office Phone: 281-284-1939
• Counselor: Celina Low-Scott
• Office Phone: 281-284-1943

Hj-Mi

• Assistant Principal: Brian Palazzi
  
• Office Phone: 281-284-1936
• Counselor: Amanda Embrey
• Office Phone: 281-284-1944

Mj-Sa

• Assistant Principal: Elizabeth OIin
• Office Phone: 281-284-1981
• Counselor: Andrea Telford
• Office Phone: 281-284-1941

Sb-Z

• Assistant Principal: Dr. Christina Cavaliere
  
• Office Phone: 281-284--1931

• Counselor: Jeffrey Derrickson
• Office Phone: 281-284-1942

Class Facebook Pages

Class of 2028 - Clear Lake HS Parents COMING SOON

Class of 2027 - Clear Lake HS Parents-Class of 2027

Class of 2026 - Clear Lake HS Parents-Class of 2026

Class of 2025 - Clear Lake HS Parents-Class of 2025

Location: 2929 Bay Area Boulevard, Houston, TX, USA

Phone: 281-284-1900
Website: https://clearlakehs.ccisd.net

Facebook: facebook.com/ClearLakeHSOfficial

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clearlake_hs/

Twitter: @Clear_LakeHS

YouTube: Clear Lake High School

PTSA Newsletter: Link Up With LAKE