Knightly News

Knights,

Knights Serving the Community: Blood Drive on October 9
This Wednesday, October 9, Clear Falls and our Health Science program will host our annual Blood Drive. This is a wonderful opportunity for our students and community members to give back. If you’re 17 years or older and weigh at least 110 lbs, we encourage you to sign up to donate. Every donation saves lives, and together we can make a powerful impact. Let’s show our community the generosity of our Knights! Remember to bring a government-issued ID to the gym door.

End of the Nine-Weeks Grading Period
Thursday, October 10, marks the end of the first nine-weeks grading period. It’s been an exciting start to the year, and I’m proud of the progress we’re seeing across the board. As we close out this grading cycle, I encourage all students to stay focused, complete any outstanding assignments, and finish strong. Your hard work and commitment are what make Clear Falls a school of excellence. The seven-day grace period will end at the end of the day on October 17. This is when students can regain or lose eligibility for extracurricular activities based on their grades, so make these final days count!

Attendance Matters: Let’s Keep the Streak Alive
We’ve seen a great trend of attendance improvement, and Clear Falls is currently leading with the most improved attendance rate among comprehensive high schools in CCISD! However, it’s important that we stay focused every day and every week. Attendance is key—students can’t learn if they’re not in class, and they can’t be part of the Knight community if they’re not here. Let’s keep this fantastic trend going and continue to set a positive example for our feeder pattern and district!

As a reminder, students will have a four-day weekend from October 11-14. We hope you enjoy this well-deserved break, and we look forward to seeing everyone back, ready to finish strong!

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to making Clear Falls a great place to learn and grow. Together, we make it a great day to be a KNIGHT!

Klayre Poa

Principal

KNIGHTLY EXPECTATIONS: Your Guide to Success

Don’t forget to check out KNIGHTLY EXPECTATIONS—your go-to resource for many of our campus expectations, policies and procedures. Located at the bottom of The Knightly News every week, this section is designed to help our Knights stay informed and successful throughout the school year. Make it a habit to review it regularly to stay on top of what’s expected on campus!

We are thrilled to announce that our very own Head Football Coach and Boys Athletic Coordinator, Zach Head, has been named Coach of the Week by the Houston Texans! Out of hundreds of coaches in our region, Coach Head stands out as an exemplary leader—not only for his football team but for all athletic programs he leads alongside Girls' Athletic Coordinator Shannon Osborne here at Clear Falls.

Members of the Houston Texans organization presented Coach Head with a plaque and a $2,500 check to support our athletics department. This recognition speaks volumes about his dedication, passion, and relentless pursuit of excellence for our students.

We are incredibly fortunate to have coaches and teachers like Coach Head who work tirelessly to ensure our students succeed both on the field and in the classroom. Thank you, Coach Head, for everything you do, and congratulations on this well-deserved honor!

PSAT/NMSQT® - ALL Sophomores and ALL Juniors: Wednesday, October 16

• The preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a College Board exam and is also used by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation to identify top academic students for scholarships.
• CCISD administers this test to ALL sophomores and juniors at no cost. No pre-registration is necessary.

SAT®: Seniors: Wednesday, October 16

• Seniors MUST have registered in advance. Registration ended September 6, 2024. You must add and pay the SAT fee of $41.00 through your student's Skyward account. The payment is due by October 10, 2024.
• Seniors taking the SAT must be on campus and in their testing room by 7:20am. Late arrivers will not be admitted into testing and as stated on the sign-up form and all communication shared, there are no refunds or make up dates.

*******************************NEW & PERSONAL DEVICES**********************************

The PSAT/NMSQT and the SAT School Day are digital exams. The testing platform CollegeBoard uses is Blue Book. Students will have time to download Blue Book in their homeroom class, October 10, 2024. If your student is not able to complete the download process in school, please see College Board Bluebook Installation Handout and encourage your students to complete the Digital SAT School Day/PSAT/NMSQT Test Preparation – prior to the test day, October 16, 2024.

Chromebooks are not allowed.

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Key Notes:

Remind students to come prepared and on time. Students need to bring their charged electronic device and charger. A calculator is embedded in the test; however, students may also bring a College Board approved calculator if they wish.

Testing locations are on student schedules in Skyward.

Please avoid scheduling early appointments on the day of the PSAT/NMSQT & SAT School Day exam, October 16, 2024. Any interruptions or irregularities during testing, such as a student leaving early, will result in score cancellations for the student and could invalidate the entire testing session. It’s crucial for all students to remain in the testing room for the full duration of the exam.

Both the PSAT/NMSQT and the SAT School Day are timed. College Board prevents students from submitting their test until the timer on their device runs out.

Testing should be completed by Knight Quest, provided there are no issues with the testing platform.

PLEASE NOTE: All students not testing on Wednesday, October 16th will follow their regular schedule. All absences will count against Final Exam Exemptions.

Clear Falls, in partnership with our Health Science program, will host the annual Blood Drive on Wednesday, October 9, and community members are welcome to participate! We invite everyone to join us in making a life-saving difference. Use the button below to schedule your appointment!

Donor Requirements:

• Must be at least 17 years old
• Weigh a minimum of 110 pounds
• Bring a government-issued ID to the gym door

For questions, please contact Chasity Fisher at cfisher@ccisd.net.

Let’s come together as a community and show our support!

We want to inform you about an important change to the CCISD Medication Policy:

• All medications, both prescription and non-prescription, must have a signed request from both the prescribing physician and the parent/guardian for the school to administer or store them.
• We are no longer able to give medications with just a parent signature.
• Parents can still come to school to give medication to their children if needed.

Please see the attached document for full details on the updated policy and procedures.

For all things yearbook, including purchasing information, please visit our website. Be sure to check out important details and deadlines to secure your copy!

Underclassmen Portrait Make-Ups – Updated
Make-up portraits for underclassmen will take place on Tuesday, October 15th during the school day. Don’t miss your chance to be included in this year’s memories!

AP EXAM SALES

2025 AP Exam sales will begin on Tuesday, October 15 – mark your calendar & prepare now!

Cost = $99 per exam ($147 for Capstone Seminar or Research).

***** The cost per exam is significantly reduced ($21 per exam {$69 Capstone}) if your student qualifies for Meal Benefits with CCISD (free/reduced lunch). To be eligible for the AP Exam fee reduction, families must complete/update the meal benefits application & meet the requirements before registering for AP exams. If you feel you would qualify for this reduction, please make sure to submit the application ASAP so the Child Nutrition Department has time to process the application before AP Exam registration begins. Click HERE to begin your application!

For a DETAILED look at the registration process and exam schedule, please click HERE.

Deadline to register & pay … 3:00 pm, Thursday, October 31.

***** A $40 late fee will be applied to each exam ordered after the deadline.

STUDENT SCHEDULES

LEVEL CHANGE REQUEST: For our students who are in Honors or AP level courses who feel like they may be misplaced, the next opportunity for students to request a course level change opens this week!

• 9-week window: October 10 - 18 @ 3:00 pm

The required request form will be available in all Houses and the College Center on Thursday, October 10. The deadline to submit the request for a change is 3:00, Friday, October 18.

**Please refer to page 32 in the Educational Planning Guide for information pertaining to the factors that will be considered when evaluating a level change request, along with a list of courses where no level change is available.

If you have questions about this, please reach out to your student’s counselor.

CLASS OF 2025 SENIORS!

It’s that time of year where our college-bound seniors are deciding on where they want to attend college, navigating the applications that go along with that, and all the intricate pieces of the application process. We held our first Senior LIVE! during Homeroom last month to provide them with some valuable information on moving through the process, how Naviance can help, etc. It was packed full of relevant information for your student!

Individual Senior conferences were conducted last month. Each counselor spent the majority of September calling their Class of 2025 students in to visit with them individually. They covered some of the information mentioned above, along with academic necessities – confirming graduation plan, that student is on track to graduate, etc.

Does your student need help with college applications? Have questions about … how to get started, how to send transcripts, how to request letters of recommendations, etc??? WE CAN HELP! Grab your lunch & join us as we begin our All Things College Applications series of LUNCH & LEARN!

Every Tuesday & Thursday during Knight Quest, a counselor will be available in the College Center Lab to assist students in all things associated with their college application process. Have your student stop by & check it out … whether it’s a quick question or we need to dive deep into the application itself, we’re here to help.

Click HERE to access the information flyer on this opportunity!

COUNSELING DEPT SAVE THE DATES

CCISD College & Career Fair

Wednesday, October 16 @ Clear Falls High School

6:00 – 8:00 pm

Sophomore Individual Academic Conferences

Mid-October through early November

Freshmen Individual Academic Conferences

Late-November through December

Mini-College Fair

Monday, December 9 @ Clear Falls High School

Knight Quest

10-20 different Texas colleges members of the Houston Area Rep Network will be on hand to visit with our students!

Senior MidYear Reports/GPA/Class Rank Availability

by February 1, 2025

Junior Individual Academic Conferences

Early February – in conjunction with Course Selection

Senior MidYear Reports/GPA/Class Rank Availability

by February 1, 2025

Course Fair Expo / Knight U

Tuesday, February 11 @ Clear Falls High School

6:00 – 8:00 pm

Monday - 10/07/24 - Regular Bell Schedule

Tuesday - 10/08/24 - Regular Bell Schedule

Knightsong Choir Fall Spectacular - 7:00 pm in the PAC

Volleyball vs. Deer Park @ Deer Park (V) 6:00 (JV) 5:00 pm

Wednesday - 10/09/24 - Regular Bell Schedule

UIL Marching Contest @ Alvin Freedom Stadium

Orchestra Fall Concert 7:00 PM in the PAC

Thursday -10/10/24 - Homeroom Bell Schedule

Boys and Girls XC - District Meet @ Deer Park

Friday - 10/11/24 - Student Holiday

Student Holiday October 10-14

Volleyball vs. Brazoswood @ CFHS (V) 6:00 (JV) 4:45

Saturday - 10/12/24

Channelview Marching Contest (Prelims and Finals)

Our Clear Falls Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) is truly one of the most dedicated and hardworking organizations around! Thanks to our partnership with the PTSA, our Knights benefit from college scholarships, school supplies, achievement rewards, and much more. Our amazing PTSA also advocates tirelessly at the state level for the rights of our public-school students and the overall quality of public education in Texas and across the nation. Great schools thrive on strong advocacy, and our PTSA embodies this spirit. Clear Falls High School, our Knights, and our entire community are deeply grateful for their relentless efforts.

This year, we are aiming high to increase our PTSA membership among students, parents, and staff. Every membership counts and helps us continue providing valuable resources and support to our school. Membership dues are $12 per person per year, and all funds directly benefit our campus and classrooms.

Registration for the 24-25 school year opens on August 1st. Please use the button link below to join the PTSA for the new school year. We kindly ask that you wait until August 1st to join.

PTSA representatives will be available at Open House to assist you with membership, volunteer opportunities, and any questions you may have.

Join us in supporting our Knights and making this school year the best one yet!

This academic year, Clear Falls High School is placing a renewed emphasis on student attendance. Our district has identified Belonging, Achievement, and Attendance as the three pillars for success. Consistent attendance is crucial as it ties directly to all these areas—it supports academic success, fosters connections, and enhances participation in school activities.

Why Attendance Matters:

• Academic and Social Engagement: Students need to be present to benefit from and contribute to our learning environment. Attendance allows students to build relationships, join clubs, and forge lasting friendships.
• District Alignment: We are standardizing attendance policies across all campuses to align with district and state regulations. Both excused and unexcused absences will now impact credit earning and exam exemptions.
• Competitive Spirit: Historically, our attendance rates have been lower than other high schools in the district. This year, we aim to lead by example and not let any school outshine us in maintaining high attendance.

New Resources and Incentives:

• Attendance Page: In the coming days, we'll launch a dedicated attendance section on our website with detailed policies and a simplified process for submitting excuse notes.
• Incentive Programs: We plan to continue and expand our incentive programs to encourage regular attendance among our students.

Attendance not only impacts our community spirit and learning outcomes but also affects the financial support our district receives for facilities, technology, and services essential for a world-class educational experience.

Let’s work together to ensure our Knights are present, learning, and thriving. Your cooperation is vital to making this year a success!

As we enter the second year of our Electronic Device Policy (EDP), we are proud to continue this initiative that has significantly enhanced our learning environment. Thanks to your cooperation, we have seen notable improvements in academic focus and performance.

Policy Overview:

• In-Class Protocol: Electronic devices must be placed in a designated location by the teacher and are not to be used during instructional time. This ensures that our students are fully engaged with their learning.
• Allowed Usage: Devices may be used before and after school, during Knight Quest, and in five-minute passing periods.
• Laptops: These may be used at the discretion of the teacher.

Standard Response for Policy Violations:

• 1st Offense: Verbal warning from the teacher.
• 2nd Offense: Another verbal warning, and the teacher contacts the parent/guardian.
• 3rd Offense: The device is confiscated and turned into administration. It can be picked up by the parent or returned to the student after dismissal at 2:45 pm.
• Further Offenses: Increased consequences including in-school suspension, a behavior contract, a $15 fee added to the student’s account, and parent-only pickup.

Parental Cooperation: We ask parents to limit communications with students to non-instructional times, preferably during Knight Quest (around 11 AM to noon). This helps us maintain the integrity of our learning environment.

Our commitment to minimizing distractions continues to support student success, as reflected by our leading scores in STAAR exams and in our district's College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) rates.

Thank you for your continued support in upholding these standards at Clear Falls High School. Together, we are fostering an atmosphere of academic excellence!

To enhance the security of our campus, we are updating our entry procedures. The safety of our students and staff is paramount, and these changes will help maintain a secure environment for all.

Entry Times and Guidelines:

• Before 6:30 AM: Entry is restricted to students involved in activities supervised by a coach or sponsored event. This remains unchanged.

• Between 6:45 and 7:20 AM: Students may enter through the gym doors, PAC doors, commons doors for bus riders, and the front door, as was the procedure last year.

• (New Procedure) After 7:20 AM: Starting this year, students arriving after 7:20 AM must enter exclusively through the front doors of the building. A valid student ID is required to enter, and campus staff will be stationed at the front doors to check IDs. Students without an ID will be directed to the library to obtain a replacement before proceeding to class.

We ask for your cooperation in ensuring that your student has their ID each day to facilitate a smooth and efficient entry process. These revised procedures are part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining a secure environment at Clear Falls High School, enabling us to focus on providing excellent educational and extracurricular experiences.

Thank you for your attention and support in these important security measures.

As we continue to create a conducive learning environment, it’s important that student attire supports both participation in learning activities and safety. We ask for your support in adhering to our dress code, which is detailed in the full CCISD dress code available here.

Key Dress Code Points:

• Shirts: Must have straps and cannot expose the midriff.
• Coverage: Shirts, shorts, skirts, and dresses must provide adequate coverage.
• Headwear: Hats, caps, beanies, hoods, and similar items are not permitted indoors.

The school administration reserves the right to determine if a student's grooming or clothing violates the dress code. Students not adhering to the dress code will be given an opportunity to correct the issue at school.

Parents/Guardians:

• Preparation: Dress code compliance starts at home. Please consider this when purchasing school attire.
• Communication: Discuss our campus dress code expectations with your student to ensure they understand and follow the guidelines.

Thank you for your cooperation and support in maintaining a respectful and appropriate learning environment at Clear Falls High School.

Email: ClearFalls@ccisd.net
Website: clearfalls.ccisd.net
Location: 4380 Village Way, League City, TX, USA
Phone: 281-284-1100