Panther Pause
24 years of Pride at Colleyville Heritage High School
10.23.20
Dear Panther Family,
I hope the end of another week finds you all safe and well. This week we welcomed some new in-person learners. It was so awesome to see how our Panther staff and students stepped up to help those returning to campus with navigating the building and getting everyone to where they needed to be.
Undoubtedly, we have all experienced some eye-opening moments throughout the first nine weeks of school. This has been a unique year to say the least. I’m asked often, “how’s school going?”, as the pandemic has made the general public more acutely aware of issues facing our schools. Each time I am forced to take a pause as I see the expression on the individual’s face (usually one that signals they’re expecting a disastrous response). But each and every time the response is the same - Things are going incredibly well and I am SO IMPRESSED with our students, staff, and families.
I know this has not been easy. We’re navigating these murky waters during a time riddled with stress and anxiety. But I continue to be encouraged and inspired by what I see from our students and staff on a daily basis. I know we still have a long way to go. While the times may be challenging, we’re committed to meeting these unique challenges with and for you. With each passing day we get better and I am so hopeful for the future. Without question, Panther Pride can’t be stopped!
With Pride,
Dr. James Whitfield
CHHS Principal
#CHPantherPride
Senior Spotlight: Brooklyn Storm
Brooklyn is a member of Redefining Beautiful, STUCO, NHS, Leadership, Spirit Sisters and is one of the captains of Lady Panther Basketball. After graduation, Brooklyn plans to study business marketing and entrepreneurship in college. She loves spending time with her team and her friends. Brooklyn loves to travel and enjoys the beach and the mountains. She is a Dallas Stars hockey fan and a regular volunteer at her church.
Brooklyn plans on attending Project Graduation because it is part of the Panther Pride tradition. She thinks it is a great way to celebrate the final year of high school by celebrating with everyone’s class of 2021 friends. We hope all of our seniors will join Brooklyn at Project
Graduation 2021!
Pink Out Wall
CHHS Volleyball
Panther volleyball plays tonight at Grapevine! Varsity at 5, JV at 6:30 and Freshmen at 8. Come support us and be loud!
Varsity takes it on the road on Saturday to play Richland at 11.
Freshmen red plays a dual match on Saturday morning at CHHS vs. Denton Ryan and Northwest.
On Tuesday panther volleyball plays Lake Dallas at home. Varsity at 5, JV at 6:30 and Freshmen at 8!
All tickets must be purchased in advance. Come support Panther Volleyball. PFND!
Red Ribbon Week: October 26th-30th
THE 2020 RED RIBBON CAMPAIGN THEME: BE HAPPY. BE BRAVE. BE DRUG FREE.
Dress code applies to all dress-up days. We encourage remote and in-person students to participate and share their Red Ribbon Dress Up Day Pics @CHPantherPride
Panther Tennis
GCISD Virtual College Visits:
This year we will be promoting Virtual College Visits in the evenings instead of during lunches. Visits will be open to students at BOTH high schools, so please check both calendars to see who is “visiting”. The calendars can be found on the Go Center website as pictured below. Each university will provide their own link for accessing the visit which can be found on the calendar.
Freshman Hope Squad
Freshman parents- Please have your freshman log in to their Class of 2024 Canvas account and complete their Hope Squad nomination.
Reata is coming to CHHS October 26th!
To reserve your delicious dinner, call 817-502-8851. Leave a message with the following information:
* Your First and Last Name
* A phone number where you can be reached
Reata will then call you for payment information.
Next, simply add **DON'T COOK** to your calendar and pick up your food from the parking lot behind CHHS on Monday, October 26 from 5:00 to 6:00pm. While you stay in your car, Reata will put your meal in the back seat - super easy!
There are only 90 spots, so call and get on the list for your meal today!
CHHS PTSA Reflections
ALL SUBMISSIONS DUE THIS WEDNESDAY!
Reflections is a program that provides an opportunity for recognition and access to arts in which students can express themselves, gain confidence, and find success within arts and life. Each year over 300,000 students create an original piece of art in response to the theme expressing their thoughts, feelings, and ideas.
This year's theme is: I matter because....
Submission Deadline: October 28, 2020
Submissions will be DIGITAL
Requirements: must include sumnission form and membership registration to PTSA
Detailed links and information can be found here:
Support CHHS Project Graduation
Sophomore PSAT Testing Day -- What to Expect
Good afternoon! On Thursday, October 29, 2020, we will be administering the PSAT/NMSQT for CHHS sophomores. If you have any questions about what to expect on exam day, please contact Scott Saettel, PSAT Coordinator. This email is intended to let you know what to expect on testing day.
What to bring
Students do not need to bring anything with them to campus except a calculator for the math section that allows a calculator and number 2 pencils (not mechanical). We will have some extra calculators on campus if your student needs one. Please review CollegeBoard’s PSAT/NMSQT Test Day Checklist (including a list of approved calculators) for a list of what to bring and what NOT to bring to campus on testing day. Please be mindful of the prohibited devices list.
Additional: What NOT to bring
We do NOT recommend students bring their backpacks or cell phones to campus on testing day; however, we understand that many students need their cell phones for communicating with their families after testing concludes. If your student needs to bring his or her cell phone, please understand that we will collect them during testing and will immediately return them once testing ends. If your student is a driver, he or she may secure personal items in their cars.
Lunches
Lunches will be provided by our cafeteria for takeout only, to be picked up after the exam before students exit the building. Lunch will only be prepared for those students who request them. If you’d like to order a lunch, please fill out this form. This needs to be completed by Monday, October 26.
Arrival
Students should arrive no later than 8:15, or at the earliest time available to bussed students.
Finding the testing room
The list of testing rooms for students will be hung on the library windows; students should look for their names on those lists. Please arrive by 8:15 so that you can find your testing room in plenty of time for the start of the exam.
Those allowed on campus
On the testing day, the only students allowed on campus will be those who are testing. All other students will stay home and work asynchronously through their scheduled classes, which will count the student “present” for attendance purposes. Being present for the exam will count the student “present” for attendance purposes.
COVID Precautions
All testing rooms will be sanitized prior to testing.
All students are required to wear masks while on campus.
All students will be seated a minimum of six feet apart during testing.
All students will be asked to sanitize their hands upon entering testing rooms.
Departure
Once all students complete the exam, they will be released to go home. Students are not permitted to stay on campus at the conclusion of the exam (all lunches will be “to go”).
Busses will run for students who use transportation services.
We anticipate testing to end by 1:30pm.
PSAT for sophomores
Lunch Option: We will also be offering a grab-and-go lunch option for students who are interested. If you would like to have a to-go lunch prepared for you on the day of testing, please complete this form so that we can prepare an appropriate amount of meals. Please complete this form by 4:00pm on Monday, October 26, 2020.
If you have any questions regarding the grab-and-go lunch on October 29, please contact Kelli Mann, campus testing coordinator, for more information.
Join CHHS DECA
Parent Feedback Needed- Arena Scheduling
GCISD seeks periodic feedback on programs and services. Please provide your feedback regarding online Arena scheduling by completing this survey by Friday, October 30th. Your students may fill out the survey via their Canvas Class of 20XX course. Thank you!
Let's Get Out The Vote!
Over the last couple of weeks, Tarrant County residents have stepped up to make a plan to vote. We can all make our voices heard in support of public education.
Early voting is open now and concludes on Friday, October 30th. Visit the Tarrant County Elections voter lookup web page right now to view your sample ballot, review all early voting sites and wait times, and go exercise your rights. Click here for site instructions, and here for early voting poll site operating hours.
Don't vote alone! Be sure to have friends or loved ones make a plan to have their voices heard. Know of anyone with transportation needs? Click here for information on free rides to the polls during early voting and Election Day, courtesy of Trinity Metro and other transit providers.
Thank you for your commitment to our public schools, the families they serve, and the educators that give them life. Let's Get Out The Vote!
Poinsettias for sale!
PSAT/NMSQT
Students not testing will participate in remote independent learning during the time of the test. Testers will be released from campus at the conclusion of testing and buses will run at that time to provide transportation home. Grab-and-Go lunches will also be available for students on the day of testing.
For all students, the PSAT/NMSQT is also considered valuable practice for the SAT. Personalized feedback will be provided and students can also link their results to KHAN Academy for additional feedback. You will receive instructions from your campus on how to access this information after the test date.
For more information about the PSAT/NMSQT, visit psat.org, or contact our campus PSAT coordinator, Scott Saettel.
Panther Football Car Raffle
CHHS Senior Class of 2021 Project Graduation
Support this year's CHHS Senior Class of 2021 Project Graduation!!! Project Graduation, is a one night celebration after graduation organized by high school parents of all grades that celebrates the graduating class of seniors by sending them off with a night of fun and prizes. In order to make this year a success we need your help! We have spirit wear options for Seniors, Moms and all CHHS supporters! Prices range from $20 (including tax) for t-shirts, $16 for Yard signs, and $5 for a Panther license plate holder for those new Panther drivers. Order your spirit wear today and support our Senior Class of 2021.
Class of 2021 Seniors
Are you applying for the CHHS PTSA scholarship?
To qualify for scholarship consideration, you must be a CHHS PTSA member by 10-31-2020.
If unsure of membership status, email the CHHS PTSA Membership Chair at vpmembership@chhsptsa.org
For details about the scholarship process, please see the PROGRAMS tab on CHHSPTSA.org
Senior Picture Days
Seniors will be taking their picture at CHHS in the Gym 2 on November 2, 3, and 4th. All seniors (whether learning in-person or remote) will need to register here for a time. Please note that Staff Development will be on that Monday and Tuesday. Each senior can choose to have their picture taken wearing the traditional tux or drape or in their Sunday Best clothes. Please know that that tux and drape are not washed between each wear, so due to Covid, each student can choose to wear it or not. The yearbook sitting fee is free for you to get your picture taken.
Legacy Studios will provide:
- Social Distancing of 6ft or more
- No-Contact photography process
- Masks worn by photographers and staff
***ALL ORDERS ARE DONE ONLINE!
2019-2020 CHHS Yearbook Drive Through Pickup
All remote learners can do a drive-by yearbook pickup on Thursday, November 5th from 4:30-5pm in the back of the school or come by Yearbook Lab in F115 any day before school starts in the mornings if they choose to come back to in-person learning after October 19.
All in-person learners can come to the Yearbook Lab in F115 any day before school starts in the mornings.
**There will be no more yearbooks delivered to in-person learners and no alternative pickup dates for remote learners.
AP Testing Payment Information
To ensure that your student will have an AP exam ordered for testing in May, please make sure you have completed the following step:
Your student must complete his/her registration on Total Registration, our testing payment portal. Even though your student may have joined his/her AP course in AP Classroom, he/she must register to pay for the exams in Total Registration. Please remit payments in Total Registration by November 6, 2020. Payments will be processed as credit through the TR website. For questions or concerns about additional payment options please contact your campus AP coordinator, Kelli Mann (kelli.mann@gcisd.net).
To complete registration, students must answer all of the required questions. Registration is not complete until students have printed the PDF of the confirmation page that is provided at the end.
We know that parents may desire to register their students for exams. We strongly recommend that parents and students are both present while registering to ensure that the correct exams are ordered.
Find out more about AP Classroom, AP Examinations, and CollegeBoard IDs at https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/join-your-class-online.
There is money available for financial aid and/or scholarships. If you would like information on applying for financial assistance, would like information on arranging a payment plan, or have further questions, please email the campus AP Coordinator, Kelli Mann.
Men’s Basketball team season opener
SUPPORT CHHS CHEER
The deadline to order is November 9th!
Attention Senior Parents!
2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024 Senior Students & Parents ~ WE NEED YOU! We want to keep CHHS Project Graduation going for years to come and we need your help to start planning for our 2021 Seniors! Our goal is to have parents and students from ALL grade levels! Signing up below is NOT a commitment. You will be contacted with more information regarding the position and to confirm your interest. Most positions are a minimum time commitment. More than one person can help with each position so get a friend or two and sign up together. Students can also volunteer to help with any positions and earn service hours! We will be meeting soon so sign up today and join the CHHS Project Grad team at bit.ly/PGTeam2021
CHHS Baseball Golf Classic
CHHS Senior Ad
https://www.jostens.com/apps/jcom/router.mvc?affiliateId=1026349
CHHS Yearbook
Click here to purchase your 2020-2021 CHHS Yearbook at the lowest price all year at $75! Hurry now before the price goes up next on November 13!
Upcoming Training Opportunity for Parents
7th Annual Bring the Conversation to Light Event on Nov. 18th at 12:00 PM - Sponsored by the Jordan Elizabeth Harris Foundation in partnership with Hope Squad. Click HERE for more information and to register.
Pictures from the summer
The CHHS yearbook will look a little different than in years past, and we need your help! This year's theme is Together, We Can! and it will literally be a team effort. Please submit any pictures you have of what you did over the summer to our yearbook staff member, Xavia Washington, at was2871@gcisdstudent.net. They could be from games, practices, school, pumpkin patch, etc...
Your email must include a clear picture (in a jpeg format; not a screenshot or a png) and the names of the students in the picture. You can most definitely submit more than one picture. Deadline for fall entries is December 2nd.
Character Strong
"At Character Strong, we are always looking to provide practical tools for weaving social-emotional skills and character development into the daily fabric of campuses and classrooms. A key component of all of our curricula is the Character Dare: actionable ways to bring the sometimes abstract concepts, values, and traits of character to life. We believe that character is a set of skills and all skills require practice!" The upcoming week's Family Character Dare is below:
Counseling Newsletter
Click here for the October edition of the 3Cs CHHS Counselor Connection.
ongoing important information:
Senior Spotlight
We are looking for seniors to help promote Project Graduation. Being involved will also promote your club, sport or organization. If you are selected, we will coordinate dates that you will be our Senior Spotlight student. Only a certain number of applicants will be accepted, so apply early! A local photographer will take your photo, if you do not already have one, and we will link the spotlight to your personal social media accounts. For more information and to apply, click on this link.
Prep at CHHS
STUDENTS ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF PTSA - Students join today
Times are tough. Looking for a great way to support your teachers and school? Join the PTSA. Just 3 years of membership and a few simple requirements and you can have a PTSA CHampion cord for graduation. Due to a decrease in volunteer opportunities, we are waiving the PTSA volunteer hours requirement. Now you only need 3 points over your entire CHHS career to qualify. Just attend one PTSA general meeting for 1 point! Deadline for this year is October 31st. Join here and start supporting all the great things PTSA does for our teachers and school. Don’t forget PTSA membership also qualifies you for all of the local PTSA scholarships!
CHHS PTSA Link - chhsptsa.org
Go Center
College Applications:
Seniors! College applications are open and the Go Center is available for appointments to assist you with your college process or answer any questions you might have. Due to the changes we are experiencing, you can set up a virtual or phone appointment until we are back in person. Click here to sign-up for an appointment! Please check your school email for follow- up communication.
Virtual College Visits:
Curious to how you can visit schools virtually and take advantage of their online opportunities? Check out this great resource that links you to each college's virtual experience page! **New Link from previous Panther Pause updates***
You can also visit DARN’s YouTube Channel to catch up on the virtual college fair that they hosted.
There are still opportunities to participate in NACAC’s virtual college fair and the GCISD College Fair (happening October 21, representatives will be “live” for questions).
Scholarships:
Although many local scholarships are not open yet, we encourage you to begin checking the GCISD Scholarship website as this will be actively updated with new deadlines as soon as we receive them. If you have not obtained letters of recommendation, please request them now as most scholarships generally require a minimum of two letters.
Seniors also need to research scholarships that come directly from the colleges/universities to which they are applying. Please reach out to the Go Center if you have any questions about scholarships!
TCC College Access Program:
If you have a possible interest in attending TCC after high school in the Fall of ’21, please know that TCC College Access facilitates the entire TCC registration process and is done during the school day. In order to participate and be included in this process you must complete this interest form questionnaire: http://tinyurl.com/tcc21. You can email Emily.miller@gcisd.net with questions or if you are interested in the program.
We encourage you to come see us (reach out virtually to us) at the Go Center for any questions you may have regarding your post high school plans.
USDA
In-Person Learners
The USDA has issued a nationwide waiver, allowing Grapevine-Colleyville ISD to offer meals FREE at no charge through December 2020 at all elementary, middle school campuses, and Collegiate Academy.
On September 22, 2020, GCISD began providing free meals to students as part of the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) program. Sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), this program will allow any student in elementary or middle school to receive a free breakfast and lunch meal in the school cafeteria.
Remote learners have the opportunity to pick up meals curbside every Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at three locations: Cross Timbers Middle, Grapevine Middle, and Grapevine Elementary. All meals are free of charge until December 2020. For more information please visit www.gcisd.net or email child.nutrition@gcisd.net
Colleyville Virtual Cafe: Tutoring for Remote Learners
Colleyville Virtual Cafe: Tutoring for Remote Learners
Come-and-go Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Compass Center, 4201 Pool Rd, Grapevine, TX
MASKS REQUIRED
Virtual Cafe is a partnership of Compass Christian Church and Bear Valley Community Church. It will be staffed by a team of young adult volunteers from Bear Valley and hosted in the student ministry building of Compass. We will provide tutoring and internet access for students enrolled in remote instruction at Colleyville Heritage High School and Heritage Middle School. We will provide snacks each day, but not breakfast or lunch.
Registration will be capped at 15 students per day. Registrants beyond this capacity will be placed on a waitlist and informed when we have the capacity to serve more students.
Questions? Contact Kyle Bauman at kyle@bearvalleychurch.com
Skyward Attendance
Please be aware that as we move through this unique school year with in-person and remote learners, the way in which our teachers take attendance in Skyward has become much more complex. Therefore, to make better use of instructional time, teachers now have the flexibility to formally enter attendance into Skyward up to a full day after the attendance period.
With that said, it is important for parents to know that if you access Skyward to view your student’s attendance, it is possible the system may show them as being absent for the current day, even if they were present in class or online. Additionally, it is possible that remote learning students may still display as absent up until the following day.
As always, we appreciate your patience and understanding.
A friendly reminder to parents
Grapevine-Colleyville ISD to offer meals FREE
USDA has issued a nationwide waiver, allowing Grapevine-Colleyville ISD to offer meals FREE at no charge through December 2020 at all elementary and middle school campuses and meal bundles at curbside locations.
Beginning on September 22, 2020 Grapevine-Colleyville ISD will begin providing free meals to students as part of the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) program. Sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), this program will allow any student in elementary or middle school to receive a free breakfast and lunch meal in the school cafeteria, with the option to purchase a-la-carte items. Additionally, the District will offer meal bundles at no cost available for curbside pick-up that will contain meals for the entire week, including the weekend.
Curbside meals may be picked up on Wednesdays at Grapevine Elementary, Cross Timbers Middle or Grapevine Middle from 4-6 p.m. The meal bundles will include seven breakfast, seven lunches and a choice of chocolate or white ½ pint milk (14 milks will be provided). Heating instructions will be included so that families can prepare the meals at their convenience.
GCISD’s high schools do not participate in the federally funded program and therefore meals will be charged as normal in those cafeterias; however, high school students are able to pick up a meal bundle from one of the curbside locations.
For more information on how the federal program operates please visit www.squaremeals.org or www.fns.usda.gov.
Parents are encouraged to continue filling out the free and reduced application online at www.schoollunchapp.com. The benefits from being approved for free or reduced-price meals, may include discounts for transportation, standardized tests, college application fees and technology fees to name a few. If you have any questions, please email child.nutrition@gcisd.net or call 817-251-5617.
Grade level canvas
Please click the link below to join your class Canvas course for announcements and updates from counselors and administrators today:
checking your child out of school
Parents,
If you need to check your child out of school, there are several ways to facilitate this:
- send in a note in the morning with your child
- send an email to your child's attendance clerk
last name L - Z lesli.ware@gcisd.net 817.305.4717
- call ahead and allow at least 30 minutes lead time
**Your student may then meet you in the circle drive and parents will not come inside.
We very much appreciate your understanding as we are not allowing visitors in the building to limit exposures.
Support CHHS Baseball
Daily Health Screen Reminder
As we prepare to welcome students on campus beginning Tuesday, September 8, I wanted to remind all parents of the need to pre-screen your student for signs and symptoms associated with COVID-19 before bringing your student to school. The signs and symptoms are to screen for are:
Feeling feverish or a measured temperature greater than or equal to 100.0 degrees Fahrenheit
Loss of taste or smell
Cough
Difficulty breathing
Shortness of breath
Fatigue
Headache
Chills
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Shaking or exaggerated shivering
Significant muscle pain or ache
Diarrhea
Nausea or vomiting
If your child demonstrates any of the above signs or symptoms, they must stay home, and you need to report to the campus nurse the signs or symptoms your child is exhibiting. In the event that your child has a fever, they must be kept home from school until they are fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication. Please do not give fever reducing medication and send your child to school. Additionally, please do not send your child to school if they have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or are test-confirmed with COVID-19.
Nurse Update
Need to see your counselor?
If you have a question, please email your counselor. Have more than just a quick question? Sign up for an appointment with your counselor. Emergency or crisis? If you're an in-person learner you may come to the counseling office with a pass from your teacher or during passing periods. Please note that COVID-19 safety measures will be in place in the counseling office and must be observed.
Need help with Canvas?
suicide prevention curriculum
As many of you know, every fall the counseling teams at each secondary school present an evidence-based suicide prevention curriculum called S.O.S. to all students, grades 6-12.
Due to our unusual circumstances this year, we have decided to postpone the S.O.S. presentations, preferring to wait until we can share this critical information in-person.
We do want to share with you how our counselors are continuing to support our students during this time. Counselors are available for students and parents via Webex and phone. Each campus has a form available on their website to request to meet with a counselor. Additionally, counselors are reaching out to students to check in on them and will continue to do so throughout the year. Counselors are prepared to support students both remotely and in person. For students who are returning to school in person, counselors are accessible by going directly to the counseling office, or by requesting an appointment. For students who will continue with remote learning, counselors are accessible by phone or Webex.
In addition to the support provided by our counselors, the counseling page on the GCISD webpage has resources that are available for parents on a variety of topics.
Education Rights & Responsibilities During COVID-19
Panther Pause
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Colleyville-Heritage-High-School/520058474676460?fref=ts
Twitter: @CHPantherPride