Hooch Happenings

Todd's Tidbits

Hooch Families,

We are moving right along here at the Hooch! I am hopeful that the busyness has slowed for our families and if you have not yet done so, I encourage you to join our PTSA. Our PTSA has been state/nationally recognized and they support sooo much that goes on at Chattahoochee.

On a sour note, we have students participating in the TikTok trend "Devious Lick". A devious lick is basically something (of small value) that has been stolen sneakily and are usually random items.

So yes, we have had several soap dispensers yanked off walls and taken but in addition to this, there is vandalism taking place. We are attempting to combat these episodes, but it takes even more human, time, and fiscal resources. I am sure this includes a very small percentage of our student body but I wanted to make you aware to be on the look out around the community as well.

We present students with the Hooch Way of Respect, Pride, and Integrity, so let's show it everyday students!

FROM THE DISTRICT-SENIOR STUDENTS

We have halted loading official senior transcripts for distribution via Naviance. This brief pause will allow us time to develop a solution to allow students to pick if they want, an unweighted or weighted transcript sent along with their common application. Students Support Services and IT are working together on a solution.

More information will be forthcoming, but we are going to need to pause a few processes at the school level. You will receive further information as soon as possible.

Know this:

The transcripts are correct.
Some colleges require weighted and some require unweighted
We are doing this ASAP to benefit our students and provide them with choice.

All the best,

Dr. Mike Todd

Principal

Late Start for Students - September 20th

The district has established late start days on six (6) Mondays with the first being this coming Monday on the 20th (please check district calendar). These days are designed for additional planning, staff meetings, and departmental professional development opportunities.

On the late start Mondays, our first bell will be at 9:13 a.m. with Period 1 beginning at 9:20 a.m.. Students riding the bus will be picked up on the REGULAR schedule and arrive to school at the normal time.

Any student arriving before the late start time will be ushered to the cafeteria and/or gym based on capacity. There will be an opportunity for specific help sessions beginning at 8:20 a.m. in certain core subject areas (TBA-Wednesday); however, once help sessions are underway, all late students will report to the aforementioned areas to be supervised.

Virtual Curriculum Night

Due to the rising number of cases and our ongoing struggle with parking/athletic and band activities, Chattahoochee staff has assembled a virtual curriculum night.

While our virtual curriculum night will be launched tomorrow evening on September 14th (email blast with information coming tomorrow), the link will be accessible for you to drop in to your student's teachers classroom anytime you have a moment.

Our teachers and administrative staff have put some great time and energy into the videos/presentations, so ENJOY!

PSAT Information and Early Release Day

Wednesday, October 13th will be a school day PSAT test day for all 9th – 11th graders at Chattahoochee High School. All 9th – 11th grade students are registered to test, so no further registration actions are needed. It is not a mandatory test, but it is a highly encouraged opportunity for interested students as the cost for testing is being covered by county and state funds.

This PSAT is offered as a face-to-face exam only. Students should arrive to campus as a normal start day but will be released early with buses expected to leave campus at approximately 12:50pm.

There will be a free 2-hour video prep course offered by our Business Partner, Cambridge Ed, to interested students. Please look for the interest link in your email accounts next week.

More intensive test prep resources are also offered through the below business partners. Please visit their websites for more information.

Best in Class Education website

Cornerstone Academic website

C2 Education website

Student Success Skills Inventory

The Student Success Skills Inventory will be used to measure student growth across success skill standards as a result of ReThink Ed lessons. Students will complete the 15-20 item inventory between September 13, 2021 – September 24, 2021 and will take about 15 minutes to complete. The inventory will be pushed out to students in grades 3-12 using the Illuminate platform. Students in K-2 will not be participating in the inventory as it is not considered developmentally appropriate. Parents can choose to opt their student out of the inventory. To opt out, parents must submit a written request to opt out to the school principal.

Counseling Corner

Senior Check-ins are still happening in counseling! Please encourage your Senior to make an appointment with his/her counselor to share post-secondary plans for after high school. The counselors would really like an opportunity to help guide your student through the process and to better understand the plans the they are making. Appointments are still available in the counseling office. Please have your student stop by today!

We will be hosting Financial Aid Information Night on Thursday, September 30th at 5:30 pm for a LIVE virtual event. A representative from the Georgia Student Finance Commission will be on hand to explain the FAFSA, HOPE, HOPE Grant, and Zell Miller Scholarship. If you are unable to attend this event, the PowerPoint will be available on our website www.chattcougar.com on Friday, October 1st.

September is Suicide Awareness Month. The counseling team has created a bulletin board outside of the counseling office to help raise awareness for our students. We will also be making daily announcements during the week of September 20th and passing out yellow ribbons during lunch to remind students of their resources and the steps to seeking help. On September 22nd, the counseling team will present the district mandated Signs of Suicide lesson to all 9th grade students (an explanation of the program is forthcoming and an opt out letter will be sent for those parents who prefer their student now participate). Feel free to contact your student's counselor with any questions about this month's events.

Dual Enrollment Information for Spring Semester

Any current 11th or 12th grader interested in Dual Enrollment classes for this spring semester needs to email Mrs. Chilson (chilsone@fultonschools.org) no later than September 30, 2021. This is only for students who are not currently enrolled in the dual enrollment program. There are several steps and processes that must be followed in order to enroll in college coursework. The county deadline to be accepted to the university and complete the high school paperwork is November 1, 2021. Mrs. Chilson will have a meeting in early October to give out the information to newly interested students.

This is not concerning Dual Enrollment interest for the next school year (2022-2023). We will have a meeting in late January regarding next year’s program.

Student Password Change Notification

What is the notification about?

To reduce unauthorized access to student accounts, all students are advised to change their passwords. The password requirements are listed below.

At least 8 characters long and contain 3 of the following:

•At least 1 uppercase letter (A, B, C)

•At least 1 lowercase letter (a, b, c)

•At least 1 number (1, 2, 3)

•At least 1 special character (#, %, etc.)

•Cannot be the same as a previously used password

•Cannot contain the username

•Passwords are not to be shared

What is the effect?

Starting (9/13/2021) students (grades 4-12) must change their FCS account passwords if they have not done so already. Young scholars (grades K-3) may also change their passwords; school staff or parents can assist early learners with changing their password. Students must update their password from the default using the FCS IT Support app. This icon is available on the desktop of each student’s Windows device. Students can change their password at any time using the FCS IT Support app.

What action must Students take?

•Launch the FCS IT Support app, located on your Windows Desktop

•Click “Change My Password”

•Enter their current password and then a new password

oNote: The student can type in their current password and then click “Suggest Password” for a newpassword suggestion.

•Click “Submit.”

*Detailed instructions for using the FCS IT Support app are available using this link Password Reset App Instructions

How can I get more information?

Remote students who require assistance should contact the Technology Service Desk. Face-to-face students may solicit help from their school’s METI or the school device team.