CHS Weekly Update #11
January 15, 2024
MAKE THE MOST OF HIGH SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES
OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE AT CHS
Welcome back to school after a great holiday weekend in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. I hope your weekend was amazing!! I am excited to share with you some of the incredible opportunities that are available for our CHS WARRIORS.
This week, on January 18th, our sophomores have the opportunity to explore the different programs that CMU Tech has to offer. It will allow them to find a program of interest, so they can join the Tech Scholar Program next year. All sophomores are included in this opportunity, and there will be two tours. Last names that begin with A-K will leave from CHS at 8:05 AM on the 18th and will return in time for lunch. The second set of buses will take students with the last names starting with L-Z will leave CHS at 12:45 and return before the end of the school day. Students will receive all of the necessary information regarding interest forms, applying, and the registration process during the tour. Please reach out to Kline Donley at kdonley@d51schools.org or Lauren Ramirez at lauren@d51schools.org if you have questions.
STEM at Central High School is expanding and flourishing! Our STEM coordinators are busy recruiting incoming 8th graders, helping seniors with STEM capstones, advising students on scholarships and college admissions, helping students log hours toward a STEM letter, and working to help our STEM students create plans and pathways that are relevant and personalized. The STEM programs at CHS are as follows: CHS STEM College Bound students plan to attend a four year institution and to major in a STEM field; CHS STEM Career/PTECH students plan to enter the workforce with certificates OR to attend a two year trade school or junior college to earn an associate's degree; STEM for ALL is in process and is the plan for all students to have exposure to STEM teaching strategies during their time at CHS. Many of our teachers either have completed or are in process of earning their STEM certification from the National Institute of STEM Education.
Earning college credits at Central High School has never been more accessible to all students!!! All juniors at CHS have the opportunity to take the AP Language exam in their Composition 11 class. Students who earn a 2 will meet their graduation proficiency requirement in English, but students who earn a 3 or better will receive college credit through the College Board. CHS offers AP coursework in science, social studies, ELA, math, computer science, and world language. CHS also the following CMU concurrent coursework: English 111/112, Math 113, History 135/136, and Chemistry 121/131. These courses provide guaranteed transfer credit in the state of Colorado and in some other states as well. Our PTECH program helps students begin their pathways for Associate's Degrees in welding, machining, mechatronics, construction, fire science, pharmaceutical technology, mechanical engineering technology, or early childhood development. Not only can CHS students begin this work without paying tuition while at CHS, but students in the PTECH Program receive up to 2 years of free tuition while pursuing one of these PTECH pathways. There are also many other associate's degrees available at CMU Tech for all CHS students.
The CHS Career/Job Fair on February 22nd is a chance for students to learn about local careers and job opportunities, and some students even leave this day with a job or an interview scheduled. This career exploration is an engaging opportunity for our students to interact with professionals from a variety of industries, and hopefully one of these conversations will spark interest. This exposure could also lead to job shadowing or possible internships through our Work Based Learning class.
These are just some of the programs we are super excited to offer! Please start with your students' counselor if you would like to learn more or help your student get involved. Just as being involved in extracurricular activities can be motivating for students, when a student makes a plan that is relevant and engaging, classwork becomes more urgent and relevant because it is necessary to complete in order to get to the next step. Passing classes, earning credits, and achieving proficiency on state exams are all part of the journey towards post-secondary plans, and we want to be there to help support all students and families along the way.
Just a reminder that the official School of Choice window opens January 12th, and the updated School of Choice application will be accessible to the public on the district website. The application window will remain open until January 26th at 4:00 PM. Parents will be notified by January 31st. If your student attends Central High School as part of the STEM program or if your student is at CHS on a transfer request, please complete the School of Choice application so that we can include your student in our population counts for future staffing in our building.
Thank you for sharing your most prized possessions with us every day. We are here to support and prepare your students with kindness along with high expectations. Please reach out to counselors, teachers, or administration whenever we can help support. Have an incredible week, and stay warm!!
Tracy Arledge
UPCOMING EVENTS
WEEK AT A GLANCE-Jan. 15th-Jan. 19th
- BOYS/GIRLS BBALL-4/5:30/7:00 PM at CHS
- Seniors/Parents: Begin the FAFSA/Financial Aid process at 5 PM in the library
- Math Tutoring, 5:30 in Room 323
- CMEA for Madrigals Choir at 7 PM at Robinson Theater
2. Wednesday, January 17th:
- STEM SHADOW DAY-Incoming 8th Graders
- BOYS WRESTLING: 6 PM at CHS
3. Thursday, January 18th:
- Sophomore Tours at CMU Tech during the day
- Bowling at 4 PM at Orchard Mesa Lanes
- C Team Boys/Girls BBALL: 4/5:30 PM
4. Friday, January 19th
- KPP Exit Presentations in Front of the School Board-8-10 AM
- BOYS/GIRLS BBALL-4/5:30/7:00 PM at CHS
UPCOMING FOR 3RD QUARTER
SCHOOL OF CHOICE WINDOW: January 12-26th
KPP BOARD PRESENTATIONS: January 19th
CMEA MUSIC FESTIVAL: January 25th
PARENT-TEACHER CONFERENCES: February 7th, 3:30-7:30 PM
PARENT ACCOUNTABILITY: February 7th 7:00 PM in the Library
STEM PARENT INTEREST MEETING-8TH GRADERS:February 7th, 6 PM
ALL STATE CHOIR: February 8th, 9th, 10th
STEM INTERVIEWS: February 9th, 4 PM
NO SCHOOL DAY: February 19th, President's Day
NAPES MATH TESTING: February 21-Seniors Only
CAREER & JOB FAIR/MOCK PSAT & SAT/SENIOR TOURS: February 22
WINTER FORMAL/KIC WEEK ASSEMBLY: February 23rd
WINTER FORMAL: February 24th @ 7:30 PM
KINDNESS IS CONTAGIOUS SPIRIT WEEK: February 26th- March 1
REGIONALS & STATE GIRLS AND BOYS WRESTLING: TBA
PLAYOFFS & STATE GIRLS AND BOYS BASKETBALL: TBA
SAY SOMETHING ASSEMBLY: March 1
SPRING MUSICAL-Mean Girls: March 7, 8, 9
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME: March 10
LAST DAY OF QUARTER 3: March 13
TEACHER INSERVICE AND WORK DAY: March 14, March 15
SPRING BREAK: March 14-24
ATTENDANCE
In case of inclement weather, the district may call a snow day, or they may provide a LATE START schedule so that students have more time to get to school safely. Please check the D51 website on snowy mornings for the latest updates.
WEAR YOUR BADGES! Tardy kiosks will run smoother if your badges are visible and ready to scan, not to mention that we need to know who is on our campus at all times.
COUNSELING
COUNSELING: Seniors! Now is the time to complete the FAFSA process for financial aid. Come tonight to the FSA ID Workshop with Kline at 5 PM.
Check with the counseling office for any upcoming visits from college representatives, help with the FAFSA, career pathway questions, college visits, scholarships, or even test prep courses. They are here for you!!!!
Counselors will be working to help students identify and explore career pathways as part of our ICAP lessons. Counselors should be visiting advisories to meet with students.
ADMINISTRATION
ADMINISTRATION: Attendance policy is in effect. Letters will be sent home after 4 UNX absences, and attendance meetings will be held if you reach 8 UNX absences. Please be in class.
Tardy policy begins Tuesday, January 16th. Make sure to get a tardy pass from the kiosk if you are tardy. After 4 UNX tardies, you will be assigned lunch detention, and possibly a school service opportunity.
While we encourage all of you to take the PSAT/SAT tests, there are TEST OPT-OUT FORMS available. If you plan on "opting out" your student from testing in April, please take the time to fill out the form and get it to CHS office ASAP. Contact the front office for more information.