Wednesday Weekly
May 12th, 2021
Principal's Note
Good afternoon HHS Families,
We've been receiving many phone calls about graduation tickets for the upcoming Class of 2021 Commencement Ceremony on June 1st. We have not received the tickets at the school yet. As you're aware, the debate around face masks and event capacity limits has once again been a topic of conversation for district leadership and the Board of Education, who meet tonight for their May Regular Session meeting.
My assumption is that we will receive tickets sometime next week contingent upon the decisions made at tonight's meeting. We will send word out to the families of all Seniors when we have more information about tickets. As of now we still plan to distribute 6 tickets to each Senior which they can distribute to their loved ones as they wish.
On another note, the deadline is this Friday to request a transfer to the Knox County Virtual High School for next school year. See further information below.
Best regards,
Mr. Long
Noteworthy Students
Student Citizens of the Week
Erzhan Cochran helped numerous teachers at both Halls and Powell High School get vaccination appointments. Additionally, Erzhan recently passed his statewide dual credit exam; in 2019, only 11 students passed this test. HHS will miss Erzhan's kindness, dedication, and spirit.
Athlete Spotlight
Athlete Spotlight
New Announcements
Virtual School Application for 2021-22
Families who wish to transfer to one of the KCS virtual schools in 2021-22 (pending Board and State approval) can submit a transfer application beginning Monday, May 3, and that the deadline to apply is 4 p.m. on May 14. The online application and paper forms can be found at this link.
Paper forms in multiple languages will also be available at the school. An FAQ document in English and Spanish – with details about prerequisites for our virtual schools, waiting lists, and the priorities for approval – is available at knoxschools.org/connect.
12th Grade Final Exams
Below you'll see the final exam schedule for Seniors. In KCS, Senior Privilege exempts any senior with an 80 or higher average in a class to be exempted from the final exam in the Spring Semester.
Seniors must turn in their Chromebook AND charger on the day of the last final exam before leaving school. We will communicate a plan for virtual seniors to return their Chromebooks next week.
- 1st block exams
Monday, May 17th
- 2nd and 3rd block exams
- Half day for seniors
Tuesday, May 18th
- 4th & 5th block exams
- School day schedule will be 1st, 4th, 5th, 2nd, 3rd
- Half day for seniors
12th Grade Chromebook Returns
In-Person Seniors,
We will begin collecting Chromebooks this Friday, May 14th, and continue on Monday and Tuesday, May 17th and 18th. We will collect BOTH CHROMEBOOKS AND CHARGERS during those times. You will turn in your Chromebook and charger before your leave campus on the last day you will attend. If you qualify as exempt from final exams next week (80+ average), then you should turn in your device and charger during 5th block on Friday.
If you will attend on Monday, but not Tuesday, you must turn in your Chromebook and charger in the library at 12:00 on Monday. If you will attend through Tuesday, you must turn in your Chromebook and charger in the library at 12:00 on Tuesday.
Any student who does NOT have a charger will be billed $16.50. That debt MUST BE CLEARED before graduation or you will not be allowed to walk across the stage and your diploma will be held. Any un-returned Chromebooks will be billed through a collections agency. (You will NOT be charged for a broken charger as long as it is returned). If you expect to participate in the extended year for credit recovery and/or summer school to get the remaining credits you need to graduate, YOU SHOULD STILL TURN IN YOUR DEVICE. We will assign you another device when you come on campus to begin an extended year or summer school.
Virtual Seniors,
You should bring your Chromebook and your charger TO THE LIBRARY on Tuesday AFTERNOON between 12:05 and 1:35. Please use the cafeteria side entrance to the library. If you have outstanding library books or textbooks, these items should also be returned at this time.
HOLD LIST
Any student who does NOT have a charger will be billed $16.50. Additionally, any seniors who are on the hold list have been contacted, they must clear those debts with the main office before next Tuesday. If debts are not cleared before graduation, the student will not be allowed to walk across the stage and the diploma will be held. Any un-returned Chromebooks will be billed through a collections agency. (You will NOT be charged for a broken charger as long as it is returned).
9th-11th Grade Final Exams & Chromebook Returns
Thursday, May 20th
- 1st block exams
Friday, May 21st
- 2nd & 3rd block exams
- Half day for students who submit a leave early form. Buses run on full-day schedule. School lunch is provided.
Monday, May 24th
- 4th & 5th block exams
- Half day for students who submit a leave early form. Buses run on full-day schedule. School lunch is provided.
- In-Person students will return Chromebooks & chargers in their 5th block class before leaving school on this day. Any student who does NOT have a charger will be billed $16.50. Any un-returned Chromebooks will be billed through a collections agency. (You will NOT be charged for a broken charger as long as it is returned). If you expect to participate in the extended year for credit recovery and/or summer school to get the remaining credits you need to graduate, YOU SHOULD STILL TURN IN YOUR DEVICE. We will assign you another device when you come on campus to begin an extended year or summer school.
- Virtual students will return their Chromebooks, chargers, and all school supplies including library books in the school bus lane on this afternoon. 11th grade from 1-2PM. 10th grade from 2-3PM. 9th grade from 3-4PM.
Tuesday, May 25th
- Make-up exams
- Half day for all students. Attendance is not mandatory for students who have completed final exams.
Free ACT Prep Summer Course
Dear KCS Parent,
Rising KCS 11th and 12th graders have the opportunity to enroll in an online ACT Preparatory Course for the summer of 2021. During this course, students will engage in online instruction, complete ACT practice items, and conference with a certified teacher. One five-week session will be offered and it will run from June 14 to July 16, 2021. Below are descriptions of the four courses offered:
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● ACT General Course – This course provides an overview of the exam and how best to study and prepare. Students will learn about each of the four sections of the exam and strategies to employ in each section. Topics will also include general improvement and time management.
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● Math ACT Course – This course will review the breadth of high-school math content as it relates to the topics tested on the exam. Students will review the skills and knowledge gained in high-school math courses and explore the quantitative reasoning and application employed on the ACT.
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● English/Reading ACT Course - This course will examine both the English test and the Reading test. In the English portion of the course, students will review conventions of standard written English, production of writing, and knowledge of language. Using the perspective of a writer, students will engage with various texts. In the Reading portion of the course, students will review the types of prose used on the exam and learn strategies for reading texts closely, using evidence to draw conclusions, and synthesizing information.
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● Science Reasoning ACT Course – This course will focus on the interpretation, analysis, evaluation, reasoning, and problem-solving skills required in the natural sciences. Students will learn strategies for interpreting various types of data, analyzing scientific investigations, and evaluating models and experimental results.
Driver's Permit Information (SUMMER INFO)
If students plan to take a driver's permit test over the summer in the month of June, they must request their paperwork from the school before Wednesday, June 2nd. If they will take their permit test in the month of July, they must request their form before Wednesday, June 24th.
In Tennessee, students applying for a Driver's Permit must show proof of school attendance & academic progress with a letter from the school that is signed and dated by no more than 30 days prior to your Tennessee application.
Requests for proof of attendance/progress letters should be emailed to Donna.Walker@knoxschools.org. Paper request forms are available in the school counseling office. Signed forms will be available for pickup in the school office each Friday if the request is made by Wednesday afternoon the same week. Forms will not be distributed on Fridays that school is not in session.
For more information, visit https://www.tn.gov/safety/driver-services.html
Summer Office Hours for HHS
REPEAT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Scheduling
Summer Driver's Education 2021
Due to COVID-19 guidelines, registration and payment will be online only (no cash or check will be accepted). See links and additional information related to registration below.
The Summer Driver Education course is available to students of the Knox County Schools on a first-come-first-serve basis. Class size is limited to 40 students per location, or 80 students total. Registration will close on May 7th, or when all driving slots are filled. The Summer Driver Education course will be PASS/FAIL only.
COST: $200.00
LOCATION: Central High School or Hardin Valley Academy
DATES & TIMES:
Classroom: Three days of classroom instruction are required June 1st – June 3rd (Tu – Th),
8:00 am – 12:00 pm. Attendance is mandatory for ALL students!
Driving: Range and road driving will be scheduled over the course of the following 4 weeks. Students will be registered for one Driving Block (5 days) and one two-hour time slot for the remainder of the course. Students will only participate in one five-day block. Once the student completes the 5 days on the range/road, they have completed the course.
Driving Blocks (students will only participate in one of the four below):
- June 4, 7,8,9 and 10
- June 11, 14, 15, 16 and 17
- June 18, 21, 22, 23 and 24
- June 25, 28, 29, 31 and July 1
Time Slots (two hours each day during the assigned driving block)
- 8:00 am-10:00 am
- 10:00 am-12:00 pm
- 12:00 pm-2:00 pm
- 9:00 am-11:00 am (HVA only)
- 11:00 am-1:00 pm (HVA only)
Click on the link below to register:
https://knoxschools.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/13903/231/False/True
Ride and Decide Summer Internships
Check out this website regarding a program that we support called Ride and Decide. R&D pairs KCS students with trade industry contractors to allow them to experience a trade while working a paid position during their summer school break. The program is designed to encourage students to consider employment in our trades after graduating from high school as well as educating students and parents on the benefits of working in the trades. If your student is interested in this opportunity, please have them reach out to their school counselor or their CTE teacher.