CHS Parent Update
9/3/18
And here we go . . .
I always enjoy a three day weekend. I look forward to them whenever they come along. It is always an opportunity for extended rest and play. As a family we hosted the last sleepover of the summer for our kids and their friends, finished the fence in the back yard (long yellow jacket saga), went hiking, to the gym, fishing, college football, shopping, big family dinner, and watched movies and played family games. In retrospect its amazing how much you can pack into three days.
While I will miss the lazy days of summer, I am excited about the upcoming school year and working to engage students in learning. Thank you for the opportunity to lead this school and make it the best that we can. I am honored to have the chance to work with this community and each family. Let's make this a great year.
In The Know
Lancer Parent Association - We are excited to organize and support a functioning Parent Association at CHS. This group is intended to be a support group which will self organize, collaborate with the Principal (me), work toward self created and common goals for supporting students and teachers at Churchill High School. The work would included, but not be limited to, fundraising for various efforts, identifying volunteer efforts, connecting with the school vision, recruiting and advocating for community support, and focusing on opportunities to engage students and their families with the Churchill High School community. If you have an interest in being involved with building greater community between the school house and the families it serves we would love to have you join us this year as we work to meet that end goal. Our first meeting will be on September 24th from 6-7pm. Tell your friends.
Parent Communication - In an effort to better communicate with families regarding their students academic progress all teachers at Churchill High School will be making sure that grades are updated in Synergy every two weeks. This commitment is a shift from previous practice. The practice brings alignment into the way we provide frequent communication with student progress. It also allows us to plan appropriate interventions for students who are struggling or need additional time and support.
Senior Graduation Party - (Different from Lancer Parent Association) Senior parents, now is the time to start organizing and fundraising for the graduation party. Churchill High School and the 4J school district do not provide financial or clerical support for this event. All planning and fundraising is done through parent organization. If you want your child to have an exciting and safe event to celebrate graduation with their classmates, please talk to your fellow parents and start organizing. If you need help getting in touch with last year's parent organizers, please contact Jill Reents at reents_ji@4j.lane.edu. Jill can also help you spread the word about fundraisers and meeting schedules.
Leadership Class (Questions or Concerns) - There are some rumors floating about that we will not have a Leadership Class or teacher and that dances and assemblies have been canceled. This is not true. Not even close. We do have a Leadership teacher and we are actively planning our beginning of the year assemblies. We will not be holding Leadership during the first week of school (September 4 - 7). We will be holding class starting the next week.
No Dogs (Pets) Allowed at School - From time to time students choose to bring their family pets to school. Dogs are not allowed at school unless they have the appropriate paperwork to be registered as a service dog. No dog or pet is allowed on campus or in our classrooms without this paperwork and prior approval from school administration.
The 4J Parent Leaders Network - is a volunteer network connecting parent organization leaders for mutual support. They meet at the District Office at 200 North Monroe Street; space and refreshments are provided by Eugene School District 4J. This year’s meetings will be convened by Heather Sielicki (Camas Ridge Parent) and Rita Gillihan (Yujin Gakuen Parent) on 10/3, 12/3, 2/4, and 4/15 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm. You are invited to participate with the parent leaders at your school.
2018-2019 Meeting Schedule
- October 3rd: Back to school; policies and procedures that apply to parent groups, working with the Eugene Education Foundation, and communication best practices.
- December 3rd: Understanding K-12 Funding in Oregon 101; working with the School Board, programs and ideas for raising additional funds for your school community.
- February 4th: Community involvement; best practices to support the involvement of parents and families in the education of their children, how to get your neighborhood connected with your school.
- April 15: Advocacy; enhance your ability to impact educational opportunities and social change, mobilize volunteers and recruit future parent leaders.
For more information, please visit https://parentleadersnetwork.org. To add your parent leaders to the email list for meeting reminders and announcement, please email their contact information to parentleadersnetwork@gmail.com. Thank you for your support.
Football Games - Just a friendly reminder as we get the school year started. We do not allow backpacks or open containers (Dutch Bros., etc.) into football games. This is a safety precaution for all and a standard rule applied at district sporting events. I want to make sure you are aware of this rule as we head into the football season. Pets are not allowed either. Thank you.
News from the College and Career Center
College Visits in September
13th - University of San Francisco, 12:25pm in F39
26th - Whitworth University, 1:00pm, F39
27th - Northwest Christian University, 9:45am, in F39
27th - Whitman College, 1:15pm in F39
30th - University of Redlands, 8:30am in F39
Upcoming Events
September 25th - Financial Aid and Scholarship Information Night, 6:30pm in the auditorium
The College and Career Center needs you!
Our primary function is to work with students to explore their career interests; research college, career, scholarship and financial aid opportunities; assist them with college, employment and scholarship applications and resumes. We have a lot of fun and the work is very rewarding. A big bonus is that you will have your finger on the pulse of everything you and your student need to know to navigate the the sometimes confusing path toward life after high school. For more information, contact Sheree Houck, houck_s@4j.lane.edu.For information and updates, visit our website blogs.4j.lane.edu/houck_s
Follow us on social media:
Facebook.: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100013654423383
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CHS_CandC
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/churchillcollegecareer/
September is a busy month in the College & Career! Take a look:
13th- Navigating High School Information Night for all Churchill Families - 6:30pm in the Auditorium. Let us help you plan for what's ahead. We will discuss graduation requirements, good practices for each grade level, where to go for help and much more. Counselors for each grade level and College & Career Center and School-to-Career staff will be on hand to answer your questions.
24th - Rotary Youth Exchange Information Meeting - 7:00pm in the Library. Rotary Youth Exchange is a program that sends high school students for a year of study abroad to learn a new culture and create international understanding. They attend high school and stay with Host Families (usually 3 during the school year). The goal is to help them learn a new culture and language, and to create “young ambassadors” who will contribute to international understanding during the rest of their lives.
25th - Financial Aid and Scholarship Information Night - 6:30pm in the Auditorium. You will have the opportunity to hear from experts in the fields of federal and state financial aid, completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and finding and applying for scholarships.
****College, university and military visits are scheduled frequently. For the most up-to-date schedule see student's Naviance account or the College & Career Center website http://blogs.4j.lane.edu/houck_s/.
The College and Career Center needs you!
Our primary function is to work with students to explore their career interests; research college, career, scholarship and financial aid opportunities; assist them with college, employment and scholarship applications and resumes and help them complete the Personalized Learning graduation requirement. We have a lot of fun and the work is very rewarding. A big bonus is that you will have your finger on the pulse of everything you and your student need to know to navigate the the sometimes confusing path toward life after high school. For more information, contact Sheree Houck, houck_s@4j.lane.edu.
Get to know Naviance
Naviance is a computer based learning tool used for career, college and scholarship research; requesting transcripts for college and scholarship applications and letters of recommendation from teachers and tracking submission of college application documents. From their Naviance account students can access a calendar of college and career related events such as on site visits, workshops, help sessions; off campus college and career fairs, campus tour opportunities, frequently used documents, scholarship databases, scholarship applications and much more.
Students also use Naviance to complete assignments as part of their Personalized Learning graduation requirement.
Parents may also have a Naviance account to access information and track their student’s progress toward completion of the Personalized Learning Graduation requirements. To request a registration code and instructions for setting up a parent account, email churchill_career@4j.lane.edu with “Naviance” in the subject line. Please give your student(s) name and for which parent(s) you are requesting code(s). Registration codes will be sent out beginning September 24th and once per week thereafter.
Follow the College & Career Center on social media
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100013654423383
Looking Forward
Bell Schedules: chs.4j.lane.edu/bell-schedules
Remember, Wednesdays are not late-start days this year. Instead, Fridays will be early-release at 2:30. 1st period will begin at 8:30 every day.
Monday–Thursday
1st Period 8:30 AM – 9:42 AM
2nd Period 9:47 AM – 10:59 AM
3rd Period 11:06 AM – 12:21 PM
Lunch 12:26 PM – 12:56 PM
4th Period 1:01 PM – 2:13 PM
5th Period 2:18 PM – 3:30 PM
Friday (early release)
1st Period 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
2nd Period 9:35 AM – 10:35 AM
3rd Period 10:42 AM – 11:45 AM
Lunch 11:50 AM – 12:20 PM
4th Period 12:25 PM – 1:25 PM
5th Period 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Monday, 9/3 — SCHOOL CLOSED FOR LABOR DAY
Tuesday, 9/4
TEACHER PLANNING DAY
8:30 am–12:30 pm — 9th-Grade Orientation
Wednesday, 9/5
CLASSES BEGIN (ALL GRADES)
7:00 pm — School Board Mtg. at 200 N. Monroe
Thursday, 9/6
Friday, 9/7
LAST DAY TO PUT A LOCK ON THE LOCKER YOU REQUESTED AT REGISTRATION
Next Week...
9/10 — Fall Play Auditions (see Mr. Patton for details)
9/11, 6:00 pm or 9/12, 10:00 am — Volunteer Orientation
9/13, 6:30 pm — Navigating High school
9/13, 6:30 pm — Senior Welcome Night
9/14 — Advisory Schedule
Kudos
Huge thank you and shout out to Debbie Levy for helping to coordinate our staff high school photo game. Your flexibility with collecting photos (sometimes late at night) and organizing the Google Form and printouts was very helpful I genuinely appreciate your help and participation.
Thank you to Jill Reents and Robin Francisco for coordinating and organizing our lunch on Wednesday. I was really nice to have a hot lunch that was not only delicious food available, but to have the time to plan and not worry about coordinating that effort. Your support is very appreciated. I can't thank you two enough for what you do for our school and myself.
Special props to Casandra Kamens for opening her house to staff last week and hosting a staff get together. The company and the food were both excellent. It was a good time to sit back and enjoy each others company. Thank you Casandra for the hospitality.
Thank you Robin Francisco for your successful work with a parent on Wednesday. The parent in question demanded that she speak to an administrator and the SPED team, ASAP. Robin quickly diffused the situation and had our back. What a great gatekeeper and SPED ally to have in the front office.
Kudos to Renee Neill and all of her help with Lancer Leaders. In addition, Casey, Gene, Matt, and Alex P., for giving up some of their time to help as well. This is a significant effort and meaningful strategy for helping new students feel connected to their school climate and culture. I am so excited for the Freshmen only day and the work of our Lancer Leaders.
Churchill High School
Website: https://chs.4j.lane.edu/
Location: 1850 Bailey Hill Road, Eugene, OR, USA
Phone: 541-790-5100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChurchillHighSchool
Twitter: @CHSlancers