The Weekly Update #34

VISION

All Living the Pursuit of Excellence for Lifetime Achievement

MISSION

The Mission of CGUHSD is to inspire excellence by providing globally competitive educational and career opportunities for all students

As a school community we would like to express our sorrow and support to Vista Grande High School and their loss of a staff member last week. We stand with you Spartans!

Greetings Cougar Nation,

Greetings, I hope that this email finds you well. As the weather warms, be sure to put on that sunscreen and drink lots of water! "Then 90 Days of May" as I like to call it is fast approaching. We will have a lot of year end activities and events, all leading up to our big day on May 21....Graduation.

As the end of the year approaches, please be reminded that we are still in school until the last day, our expectations for behaviors and academics will continue to be set at a very high level.

Seniors and Senior Parents, we will be sending out information on graduation this coming week. This information will include the following: parking map, directions for students, expectations of our guests and visitors, and other important information.

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week, please take a moment and say thank you to our teachers; teachers do a phenomenal job and deserve positive recognition.

This week we have a lot coming up, our week culminates with our Honors and Awards ceremony for seniors on Friday night at 6pm. Additionally on Friday we stand in solidarity to bring attention to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples; we wear Red to show our support on Fridays in May.

A GIANT SHOUTOUT TO OUR WOMEN'S TRACK TEAM 4X8 RELAY ON PLACING 3RD IN THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS THIS PAST WEEKEND!

Many students and parents received an email earlier this week regarding absences and the Potential Loss of Credit (PNC) designation in the gradebook. Please follow the directions in the student email to access the link to appeal your absences. Please also be reminded of the criteria (same as first semester) for exemption from final exams: 7 or fewer absences, at least a B in the class and 90% or more of the work accounted for.

Some reminders:

All Casa Grande Union students who drive to school must have their parking permit displayed .

Parking violations will be cited, and fines will be assessed at the rate of $5.00/day and per violation.

Please be responsible and get your $25.00 parking permit. YOU MUST PARK IN ASSIGNED SPACES.

If someone is parked in your spot, please let the office know and we will address it.

Our administrative team met with all students to review our behavioral expectations at the beginning of the year, please click here to see the topics we reviewed. Students, your teachers went over this last week in Cougar Hour. It is your responsibility to be familiar with our expectations.

As this semester continues to move forward, there are a number of important items that I want to share. Please remember that Mrs. Clement, Mr. Raymond, Mrs. Telles, Mr. Robbins, and Dr. Gardner and I remain available to assist you in any way that we can.

Protect the Den!

Dr. Chris Lineberry

Principal

Casa Grande Union High School

Nationally, there has been a significant spike in cyberbullying and classroom disruptions from cell phones in the classroom. We know that teen mental health continues to decline across the country from excessive screen time and social media. You can read some of the latest research on this important topic here. Our policy is OFF AND AWAY (Cell phones and Earbuds) during classtime.If there are extenuating circumstances, ex. diabetes and need to monitor, a caregiver with severe illness, etc please send Mr. Raymond an email and he and our staff will work with you to come to a solution.

Between classes and at lunch, there is no problem with students having their phones out or listening to music with their earpods, etc.

CGUHS Student Responsibilities 2023 - 24

This school year we will be discussing academic responsibilities at length with all of our students. It is important that students not only familiarize themselves with these responsibilities, but that they practice these responsibilities on a daily basis. We reviewed these expectations with students this week. If students follow the guidelines below, they will experience tremendous success at Casa Grande Union High School.

• Acquire Knowledge of Content - Students understand the content they are learning in class.
• Come Prepared for Class - Students bring the needed materials for class.
• Take Notes - Students accurately and completely take notes.
• Ask Questions - Students ask questions when a lack of understanding occurs.
• Complete Homework - Students complete assignments on time.
• Attend Tutoring/Seek Help - Students attend tutoring or seek help when they need it.
• Attend Regularly - Students attend class regularly and arrive on time.
• Take Assessment Seriously – Students bring their best effort possible on assessments.
• Appropriate Work Ethic/Attitude/Behavior - Students display appropriate work ethic, attitude, and behavior.
• Put cell phones and ear buds off and away while in the classroom
• Be Kind

Students must pay any and all fines / fees in order to participate in the graduation ceremony. Any student fines or fees can be paid online. Students can purchase parking passes, pay class fees, technology fines, etc. All of this should be done online. You can access the payment center by doing the following:

You will need a PowerSchool Parent Portal account to access TouchBase.

If you don’t have a PowerSchool Parent Portal account, please call your
student's school office to get an account set up.

Please sign into to PowerSchool to access TouchBase. The steps below
can only be done using an internet browser such as Google Chrome, Internet
Explorer, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari, Android browser, etc. (computer, tablet, smartphone) and CANNOT be done using the Powerschool Mobile App.

1. Sign in to PowerSchool.
2. Once signed in, click the icon in the left panel labeled Purchases and Payments (see image on left).
   
   You will immediately be taken to TouchBase without having to sign in.

Behavior

Student behavior, especially in regard to aggression and fighting has escalated significantly in the last few weeks prior to break. Since Sept 11 we have had 16 students suspended for fighting. We have to be better than this. Parents, students, families.....I am asking for your help in eliminating this behavior from our campus. We have to be better than this, and as a school we are going to focus on empowering our students to make decisions and have options in order to resolve conflict peacefully. We are all Casa Grande Cougars, we all bleed the same. We hurt the same, we care the same, and we all to a certain degree want the same. There is no room on our campus for discrimination. Period. There is no room for violence. Period. We will always take the proper steps to ensure that our students, teachers, and staff are fully supported. If you would like, you can take a listen to my latest podcast (all students will be doing so this week in Cougar Hour) to learn about The Code of the West and how we as a school are going to embrace the Code, not only in our words, but in our actions as well. I will be asking our students to take a pledge against engaging in fighting and ask for all of your support in this endeavor.

Credit Recovery is progressing beautifully! Students are working extremely hard and staff is doing a phenomenal job of guiding and assisting!

Information

Please click here to read more about our Credit Recovery Challenge and how we intend to overcome it.

Vaping - Repeat from Last Week, However, VERY IMPORTANT

Here is some information on the continuing issue of vaping on campus and how to have those conversations with students regarding vaping.

Behavior:

I would like to remind students that when you are attending any school sponsored event, whether you are participating or watching, you are responsible for following our behavior guidelines and code of conduct. I would also like to remind our athletes, coaches, advisors, club members, parents, etc that when we attend an event, we are representing the community of Casa Grande, our families, and our school. School rules still apply and conducting ourselves with respect, kindness, honesty, and integrity (whether competing or just attending) are all integral components of our expectations for our campus.

100% of our seniors who are on track to graduate have passed the required civics test as well as CPR! Fantastic job Seniors and special thanks to Coach Keiser, Diana Angelastro, and Donna Telles for working so hard to ensure everyone had the opportunities needed to pass and graduate. Our counselors will be working closely with Mrs. Clement and our students / families to ensure that students are on track to graduate. Seniors must complete 22 credits in order to graduate. Additionally, every senior must take and pass the AZ Civics test, and must complete ECAP (Education and Career Action Plan). This year we will be using the AZ Pipeline program to guide our students through this process. Additional information can be found here. We will be rolling out our ECAP program as well as ensuring that students have opportunities to take and pass the Civics test in the coming weeks.

The Pinal Promise is a fantastic opportunity for our students to attain scholarship money and attend CAC. This scholarship is exclusively for students who live in Pinal County. For more information, click here. Additionally, Dr. Flemister and Mrs. DeCarlo will be sharing information with all seniors and senior parents throughout the year regarding scholarship opportunities.

Ongoing Activities

• Senior Shirt Sale in the Office
• Monday – Thursday: Cougar Cub Graduation Practice in the Olas Ki 11:05-11:45
• Spirit Week for Seniors Only

May 6 – Senior Customs Day (Wear Senior Pants)

• 8:00 – 3:00 – Band visits to all Casa Grande Middle Schools Middle School
• 8:00 – 3:15 – Choir Practices in the Auditorium all day
• 11:00 – UofA Next Steps/Scholarship Universe @ Library Reference Room
• 11:05 – 11:45 – Senior Grams on Sale outside Cafeteria
• 3:15 – 4:15 – Cinco de Mayo Fiesta sponsored by Cultures & Languages Club outside cafeteria
• 6:30 – Choir Concert @ Auditorium

May 7 – HAPPY TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY!

• College Day Spirit Day – Seniors wear your future college’s colors
• 8:00 – 3:15 – Guitar Practices in the Auditorium all day
• 11:05 – 11:45 – Senior Grams on Sale outside Cafeteria
• 11:05 – 11:45 – JOM Motivational Speaker @ Library
• 11:30 – 12:30 – Valedictorian and Salutatorian Luncheon @ Culinary Arts Dining Room

• 3:30 – Faculty Meeting @ Library
• 5:30 – Spiritline Pre-Tryout Parent Meeting @ Library
• 6:00 – Band Banquet and Awards Night @ Cafeteria and Auditorium

May 8 – Kindergarten Day – Seniors Dress like your First Day in Kindergarten

• 8:10 – 9:10 – Holocaust Survivors Virtual Meeting for ALL 10th Graders @ Auditorium
• 9:10 – 3:15 Guitar in the auditorium for rehearsals
• 11:05 – 11:45 – Senior Grams on sale outside the cafeteria
• 1:45 – McCartney Ranch Senior Walk of Honor (Former students of McCartney Ranch Elementary School who are Seniors now, go to McCartney Ranch at 1:45 today dressed in cap and gown for your Walk of Honor around the McCartney Ranch campus! Please sign up with Mrs. DeCarlo)
• 1:45 – 4:15 – Staff Benefits Enrollment Period @ Library
• 2:00 – 9:00 – Student Council Banquet (Set up and dinner)
• 6:00 – Drumline Training and Auditions

May 9 – Senior Citizens Day – Seniors Dress like Senior Citizens

• 10:00 – 12:00 – HEXCEL presentation for all CTE Seniors in the auditorium
• 11:05-11:45 – Senior Grams on sale in front of the Cafeteria
• 6:30 PM – Guitar Concert @ Auditorium

May 10 – Career Day – Seniors Dress for the Career of Your Dreams

• 11:05 – 11:45 – Senior Grams on sale outside cafeteria
• 11:05 – Senior Assembly @ Auditorium
• 11:10 – Cougar Cub Preschool Graduation @ Olas Ki
• 6:00 – Senior Scholarship/Academic Awards Evening by invitation
• 11:05 – 11:45 – Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples’ Awareness

Looking Ahead

May 13 – FFA Banquet

• Elite Dance Company Auditions

May 14 – Boys’ Basketball Banquet

May 15 – HOSA Banquet

• Spiritline Tryouts

May 16 – AVID fieldtrip to CAC

• Link Crew Training
• Spiritline Tryouts

May 18 – Amerind Graduation PowWow

AP Testing Schedule – Testing in D204

May 6 – 8:00 AM – AP US Government and Politics

May 7 – 8:00 AM – AP Human Geography

12:00 – AP Statistics

May 8 – 8:00 AM – AP English Literature and Composition

May 9 – 12:00 – AP Psychology

May 10 – 8:00 AM – AP US History

• AP Art & Design Portfolio Submissions Due
• AP Drawing Portfolio Submissions Due

May 13 – 8:00 AM – AP Calculus AB

May 14 – 8:00 AM – AP English Language and Composition

May 15 – 8:00 AM – AP World History Modern

May 17 – 8:00 – AP Physics

Class of 2024 Special Events

May 10 - Senior Scholarship/Academic Awards Evening

May 13 and 14 - Senior Finals

May 14 - Disneyland Senior Trip

May 15 – Graduates pick up Clearance Cards in Discipline Office

May 16 – Senior Make-up Finals Day for students who went on Senior Trip

May 17 – Last day to return Clearance Cards to Office

May 20 & 21 - MANDATORY GRADUATION PRACTICE

May 21 - Senior Breakfast

May 21 - Graduation