Railcat News

Good afternoon Railcats,

I hope you all had a restful Thanksgiving break and are refreshed. This can certainly be a hectic time of the school year. Students are preparing for semester exam review sessions, holiday concerts, ACC Final Exams, and certification tests. Hopefully the semester exam information below will be helpful as you create a plan and finish this semester strong.

Sincerely,

Kai Bouchard

Given that Semester Exams are right around the corner, we encourage all students to review the Semester Exam Schedule, the Semester Exam Exemption Policy, and the Exam Exemption Portal Instructions. Each of the documents can be found on our Campus Website, but we have also attached the documents to this newsletter.

EXAM SCHEDULE- This schedule will be particularly informative for any student who travels to Dawson High School or Pearland High School. DHS and PHS will alter their bell schedules in the final week of the semester to account for their final exams. The attached exam schedule contains the exam information for each campus. Shuttle services have also been adjusted for Semester exams, so if you are a travel student please spend some time reviewing this document.

SEMESTER EXAM EXEMPTIONS- Those students who meet the Semester Exam Criteria may apply to be exempt from one or more semester exams (see Semester Examination Exemption Policy attached). Students must apply exemptions via the Exemption Portal. The Exemption Portal Opens Thursday, 12/12 at 7:00am and closes at 3:00pm on Monday, 12/16 (see Exam Exemption Portal Instructions). Semester Exam Exemptions will not be granted after the Portal closes, so please be sure to meet this deadline.

There are a number of clubs and student organizations that will be hosting events during the next few weeks.

• 12/6- The annual HOSA Spaghetti Dinner. Join us for a delicious spaghetti dinner and silent auction. All proceeds will go to HOSA member scholarships and to raise funds for international competitions. See the attached flyer for additional information.
• 12/13- Holiday Movie Night. The class of 2026 is hosting a holiday party and showing Home Alone. See the attached Flyer for additional information.
• 12/13- Soi De Mode (Fashion Club) will be hosting their Winter Fashion Show. See the attached Flyer for additional Information.

1. Dodge Ball Postponed – Dodge Ball scheduled for this Friday; December 6th will be postponed to the spring. So please stay tuned for more details.

2. Scholarship Interest Committee – THS PTA is putting together an interest committee to gauge interest and feasibility of creating a scholarship for the students of THS. We need volunteers. Please email us at President@TurnerPTA.org if you are interested in helping out and serving on this committee.

3. Membership Update – We appreciate all our members! This year our Membership Chair has been working hard and we are only 11 members away from the Golden Apple Texas PTA Membership Award. This is where 100% of the faculty are PTA Members! We have to reach this goal by December 19th. So if you are interested in sponsoring a faculty member, please visit https://sponsor-a-teacher-s-membership.cheddarup.com

4. Faculty Christmas Soup Luncheon: THS PTA will be hosting a soup bar for the faculty and staff on December 18, 2024. If you are available to volunteer, please let us know by emailing us at info@TurnerPTA.org If you would like to donate items to the soup bar visit https://tinyurl.com/THSsoup24 to sign up.

5. Bingo Planning is Underway: We have started to make plans our joint fundraiser with Project Graduation. Our next Bingo Planning meeting will be held via zoom on December 19, 2024 at 7 p.m.; If you would like to join us please email Bingo@TurnerPTA or the login information.

6. Message from our Healthy Life Styles Chair as we approach the Holiday Season:

Stay healthy and energized this holiday season with these quick tips:

• Plan Ahead: Schedule workouts and meals like events, and keep healthy snacks handy.
• Keep Moving: Sneak in quick workouts or make activities active—walk, skate, or play!
• Portion Smart: Enjoy treats, but go small. Fill up on veggies and protein first.
• Hydrate: Drink water to curb cravings and swap sugary drinks for sparkling water.
• Healthy Swaps: Lighten up recipes with simple swaps like Greek yogurt or baking.
• Set Real Goals: Focus on maintaining, not perfection. Missed a workout? No biggie.
• Beat Stress: Try yoga, deep breathing, or quick breaks to stay cool under pressure.
• Prioritize Sleep: Stick to a sleep routine to keep energy and cravings in check.
• Buddy Up: Share goals with a friend or family member for extra motivation.
• Eat Mindfully: Savor meals, eat slow, and stop when satisfied—not stuffed!

This year, the Regional Academic Decathlon Competition will be hosted in CCISD at Clear Lake High School on January 24th-25th, and we need your help!

Schools from across the Houston area and beyond, including Turner College and Career High School, will compete for a coveted spot at the State Academic Decathlon Tournament. Students spend months preparing for this competition and will be scored in the live portion of the contest on a prepared speech, an impromptu speech, and an interview. This is where we need you! We need over 100 adult volunteers to judge the competitors on their speeches and/or interviews on the evening of Friday, January 24that Clear Lake High School. No experience is necessary to participate. Judges will be trained on the afternoon of January 24th before the student presentations begin, and a rubric will be provided to aid with scoring. Volunteers will also be provided with access to a Hospitality Room and a complementary meal.

Not available on Jan 24th? No worries! We have another opportunity for volunteers to assist with scoring essays on January 18th at Pearland High School from 9 am - 1 pm. Calibration training will be provided at 9 am.

Are you ready to be amazed by some phenomenal young adults? If so, please complete the sign-up form by clicking the link below. Volunteers must be 18 years or older to serve as a judge. Volunteers will be contacted with specific information from the campus contest coordinator in January.

2025 Academic Decathlon Region 5 Volunteer Registration

For questions about volunteering or facility accommodations, please contact the Clear Lake HS Principal at eraska@ccisd.net.

Thank you for helping to serve our students, and we look forward to seeing you in January. Go Railcats!