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Principal's Newsletter

Love Kids; Drive Rigor

Principal'sNewsletterLove Kids; Drive Rigor
C A T Volunteer Committee and House System

In addition to the information on our new Community Action Team (CAT) and our House system, there is a good amount of information to share and I will share it multiple times prior to the first day of school. As always, please reach out to me, your child's counselor, or your child's assistant principal with any questions that you have.

  • We are excited to have Ms. Blaisure join our administrative team! Ms. Blaisure will partner with Ms. Pelkey in the counseling department to support students with last names beginning O-Z.
  • Our new school time is 8:30-4:10.
  • Due to the construction, bus drop off and pick up will be in front of the Gymnasium. Car riders can still drop off and pick up in front of the main entrance of the school.
  • Due to construction, travel behind the school between CHS and the Athletic Complex will be blocked.

  • Student Class Schedule, iPad pick up, Orientations, and Walk Your Schedule Night

    • We cannot wait to meet our new Bobcats!

    • Student class schedules will be available in Skyward on Monday, August 12th, beginning at noon.

    • New Student Orientation:

      • July 30th 10-11:30 am; 2-3:30pm. New students will receive their iPad.

      • August 6th 2-3:30 for New students who were unable to attend on July 30th. New students will receive their iPad.

      • August 12th: Student schedules will be available in Skyward starting at noon. From 4:00-6:30 pm, students can walk their schedule to find their classrooms: no iPad pick up.

        Bobcat Rally for freshmen from 2:30-3:30 pm-no iPad pick up.

  • Attendance, Truancy, and Tardies
    • Each year, the District gives families 5 excused absences that do not count toward truancy. HOWEVER, it is important to know that these absences do count toward the 90% attendance law and they also count toward exemptions. You can click on the Chapter 25 link below for all of the information on attendance and truancy.
    • Tardies count towards truancy, the 90% attendance law for credit, and exemptions. We have added 1 minute to our passing period for a total of 6 minutes. This is ample time for students to go from one class to another including a bathroom visit. We give a grace period at the beginning of the year of up to two weeks so students can get acclimated to their class schedule. After that grace period, there are disciplinary consequences that occur beginning with the 2nd tardy.

    • Last year, we implemented the Truancy Tribunal as a stop gap before we have to legally file truancy on a parent and/or student. The goal of the Truancy Tribunal is to assist parents/guardians in drastically improving student attendance and preventing truancy. Failure to improve attendance will result in truancy charges begin filed in Collin County Court. Parents can be cited for "Contributing to Non-attendance" and ordered to pay a fine of up to $500 for each of their child's unexcused absences.

  • Exemptions: only if in good standing with attendance and discipline

    • Exemptions: Only for Seniors and House Winner (House information is in the opening video)

      • A Senior or winning House member must be in good standing: no ISS, OSS, DAEP, or JJAEP for the year.

      • A Senior or winning House member with an "A" average for the year can have up to 8 absences (this excludes school-related and medical absences). The 5 parent notes that the District allows do count as absences toward exemptions and the 90% attendance law.

      • A Senior or winning House member with a "B" average for the year can have up to 5 absences (this excludes school-related and medical absences). The 5 parent notes that the District allows do count as absences toward exemptions and the 90% attendance law.

2024-2025 Attendance Goal = 96%

2023-2024 Attendance = 95.03%

Contact Information for Administrators and Counselors

Administrators

Counselors


Attendance-Truancy Tribunal

Chapter 25 of the Texas Education Code details the attendance requirements for students in Texas. Students must be in attendance for 90% of their class in order to receive credit for the class. In addition, there is language in this code that directs schools/school districts to take action when a student accumulates a certain number of unexcused absences (including tardies) and this includes filing truancy charges on the parent. Celina ISD wants to partner with our parents in order to prevent truancy charges from being filed. Therefore, when a student accumulates 7 unexcused absences/tardies, we will send a summons to the parent and student to attend a Truancy Tribunal Hearing in order to develop a plan to improve the attendance of the student. The Truancy Tribunal process has proven to decrease unexcused absences, decrease failed classes, and decrease discipline incidents of students. We are proud to implement the Truancy Tribunal Hearings and we know that this will benefit our kids and our families. If you have questions about the Truancy Tribunal process, please reach out to me via email or phone call at the information in my signature.

Thank you for taking time to read some of the ways in which we Love Kids and Drive Rigor.


For Kids,

John

John Burdett
John is using Smore to create beautiful newsletters