SPANISH SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL
Week of September 18 - September 22
From the desk of Sean Hall, Principal
Hello Spanish Springs High School Families,
A couple weeks ago, our Seniors celebrated their Senior Sunrise. I really enjoyed seeing how tired they were as the sun came up on their senior year. We look forward to seeing what their special year has in store.
I would like to give a shout out to our English Department for having the most representation at our first tailgate of the year at last week's football game. It was fun grilling up burgers and dogs before the game.
I would like to compliment our student body for keeping our campus clean, especially during lunch. I am extremely grateful that we have such polite and respectful students here at SSHS.
I would like to take a moment to appreciate our campus police officer. Officer Markesen is doing a great job building relationships with our students and we are happy to have him on campus.
Finally, parents I need your help with our teenage drivers. If you have a child who is driving, please ask them to make sure to get a parking pass from the SRO. Student parking is available for students in the west parking lot, behind the school. The front faculty parking lots and surrounding neighborhood are not appropriate places for students to park. Secondly, we are requesting that students observe the speed limits through the surrounding areas. Our community is full of families and we need to do our part to drive responsibly through the area to and from school.
Fall Break is fast approaching and with that, so is our spirit week. Please keep an eye out for the ways to participate in the fun filled week. Have a nice week families.
Sincerely,
Sean Hall
Principal
Monday
A DAY
1, 2, 7, 3
Tuesday
B Day
4, 5, 7, 6
Wednesday
A DAY
1, 2, Cougar Pride, 3
Bell Schedules
A special note from the counselors
September is suicide prevention month.
Understanding the issues concerning suicide and mental health is an important way to take part in suicide prevention, help others in crisis, and change the conversation around suicide.
Suicidal thoughts, much like mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or background. In fact, suicide is often the result of an untreated mental health condition. Suicidal thoughts, although common, should not be considered normal and often indicate more serious issues.
According to the CDC, each year more than 41,000 individuals die by suicide, leaving behind friends and family members to navigate the tragedy of their loss. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death among adults in the U.S. and the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-24 and these rates are increasing.
If you are concerned about yourself or someone else, please reach out. Don’t stay silent.
Here are some resources for more information:
· Call or text 988 immediately. If you feel uncomfortable talking in-person use 988lifeline.org to chat the suicide and crisis lifeline.
· You can text NAMI to 741-741 to be connected to a free, trained crisis counselor on the Crisis Text Line.
· Contact safevoicenv.org to make a report
· Contact your school counselor or the school social worker by calling 775.321.3949
The TMCC Nevada Promise Scholarship is a unique scholarship established by the Nevada Legislature for Nevada high school graduates to attend community college.
If you are part of the graduating class of 2024, make sure to apply by the October 31st deadline. On October 11th, help will be available at school during the Cougar Pride class for all seniors regardless of whether you are in a Cougar Pride class or not. Location is TBD.
Senior Parent Night
Please join us for 12th Grade Parent Night on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 from 6:00pm – 7:30pm in the Spanish Springs High School Theater.
Topics will include: Graduation requirements, diploma types, college admissions, scholarship opportunities, completing the FAFSA, etc. Representatives from UNR & TMCC will be joining us for this event.
We hope to see you there!
Senior Ads for the yearbook!
The yearbook class is offering the opportunity for you to design your own senior ads for the 2024 yearbook. Just go to yearbookforever.com to purchase and design a tribute to your graduating senior. Click the link below for the flyer which should have all the information you need; however, if you have any questions, please email the yearbook adviser, Terri Gil, at tgil@washoeschools.net
Make sure to preorder your yearbook by December 15th in order to guarantee your student receives one. Purchase yearbooks at the webstore, www.washoeschools.net/sshs. If you have any trouble logging in or ordering, please contact our bookkeeper, Megan Svare, at msvare@washoeschools.net
All sales are final.
dEADLINE aPPROACHING!
After School Tutoring is back!
After school tutoring is available every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:45 to 4:00. Transportation is available.
The bus stops are below.
- Alice Taylor
- Spanish Springs Elementary
- Sky Ranch MS/Bohatch ES
- Vangorder
- Wingfield Hills Rd and Lawry Dr.
- Wingfield Hills Rd and Darby Rose Lane
- Sparks Blvd. and Henry Orr Parkway
Testing
AP FEES
PSAT
We are excited to announce we will administer the digital PSAT at Spanish Springs High School during the month of October 2023. This year, the PSAT will be administered online only using school laptops. As this is a voluntary test, there are a limited number of testing spots available, so we encourage families to sign up and pay as soon as possible. Parents will use the QR Code on the flyer to sign students up. Students should look for flyers in the hallways to scan the QR Code.
All 9th and 11th graders must pay the $18 fee prior to testing. Registration deadline is Wednesday, September 13, 2023. To prepare for the PSAT, all students will need to create a CollegeBoard account and use the links below. You will need to download Bluebook on a personal device to take practice tests.
https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt/preparing
https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt/taking-the-test
Please refer to the attached PSAT Flyer for more registration and payment information. Thank you.
School Pictures
If you student missed senior pictures in August, they can sign up for appointments now by using this link:
https://calendly.com/bellphotopictureday/spanish-springs-high-school-senior-picture-day
The photo sessions should take approximately ten minutes and will be held in the Commons (cafeteria) on 9/12. They will receive their student IDs at this time. If your student misses this day, there will be one more opportunity for a senior photo on December 5th.
Thank you very much.
Yearbooks
Please remember with yearbooks, all sales are final.
Career Center Website
Welcome everyone to the new and improved SSHS College and Career Center Website. Please keep in mind that the site is still a work in progress and changes will be added daily. Please take a moment to view the drop-down boxes. The site is for everyone to view. Under the section of TMCC, Shane Johnson is our new Coordinator, but the picture of Juan Gomez is still there (there is glitch in removing his picture). I promise to update as soon as Shane’s photo is available. Elizabeth Nubel Davis is still our UNR representative (she has a new title). Meetings, dates, scholarship search engines are coming. If you have questions, please feel free to contact Ms. Francine E. McRae in the College and Career Center at francine.mcrae@washoeschools.net .
The link to website is below.
School Spirit
Homecoming Dance! Night in Paris
Get ready for our fall homecoming dance!! On Saturday September 23rd from 7-10 pm in the courtyard we will be hosting our Night in Paris dance. We’ll be selling tickets for 15 dollars starting the 18th during lunch in the main hallway. Tickets will be sold at the door on the night of the dance as well. Dress is semi formal.
Varsity Volleyball
JV Soccer
SCORE!!! The JV Girls Soccer Team beat Douglas 5-0 to improve their overall record to 9-1.
Coach Rahul Joshi
Spanish Springs Cougar Band
Galena Competition 9/30
Reed Competition 10/14
Del Oro Competition (CA) 10/21
Spanish Springs Competition 10/27
Damonte Ranch Competition 11/4
UNR Regional Competition 11/11
Sparks Hometown Christmas Parade 12/2
Band Winter Concert 12/5
Looking for a few good musicians
16th Annual Crab Feed
Come help support the Spanish Springs High School Boys Basketball program as they “earn” their own money for the Basketball program!
Call for tickets or more information (775) 240-4991
Please click the button below for the full details!
Upcoming Raider Competitions!
JROTC Raider Meet at Reno HS - Sep 16
JROTC Raider Meet at Galena HS - Sep 23
JROTC Raider Meet at NVHS - Oct 14
JROTC Raider Championships at SSHS - Oct 21st
Leadership
Art
Do you love art and want to be a part of making our school a more creative place. Please join us in room 147 Wednesday September 13th during lunch. This is an important meeting please be there.
Clubs
African American Student Union
The African American Student Union meets Wednesdays during lunch period 11:48 to 12:18 in the College and Career Center. The African American Student Union Club is open to all Spanish Springs Students. All current and new students are welcomed to come join in this special club.
Amnesty Club
Come join the amnesty club. We’re a club focusing on improving both our community and the world we live in through community service and other services like that. We meet every Wednesday at lunch in room 217
Interact Club Meeting 9.18.23!
Take action, build international understanding, and make new friends around the world.
Interact clubs bring together students to develop leadership skills while discovering the power of Service Above Self.
Where we meet: SSHS Library
When: Lunchtime, 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month!
What are the benefits?
Connect with leaders in your community and around the world to:
- Take action to make a difference in your school and community
- Discover new cultures and promote international understanding
- Become a leader in your school and community
- Have fun and make new friends from around the world
Key Club
Key Club meets in room 111 every TUESDAY during lunch. Join us to participate in diverse community activities.
Latinos Unidos
Come help us show diversity by joining Latinos Unidos! This club is a safe space for everyone. Join us on Thursdays during lunch in the College and Career Center
National Art Honors Society
Do you enjoy art? Come join our new chapter of the National Art Honors Society. Meet in 147 Wednesday 8/30 at lunch to find out more information! Cordero and Stanford would love to see you there!
National Honors Society
Hey cougars! Do you want to be more involved within our school and community? Do you want to make your college resume look its best? Come and join the National Honors Society! We meet every other Thursday at lunch in rooms 219/220! This club is for sophomores and above with at least a 3.25 GPA! We hope to see you on august
31st!
Boosters
SSHS Boosters are the best!
How would you like to be part of our amazing Booster team? Check out the flyer to learn more!
Athletics
congratulations!!!
SSHS Softball
Pre-season workouts will be October 2nd-20th weather permitting on the varsity field.
Player/Parent meeting on December 5th at 6pm in room 170 at SSHS.
Open Field workouts will begin January 8
Tryouts will be held Feb 17 & Feb 19
Student Game Attendance
Student Backpacks are NOT allowed at Athletic Events. Any student with a backpack will NOT be allowed entry to a game.
Skateboards and Scooters are NOT allowed at Athletic Events. Any Student with a skateboard or scooter will NOT be allowed entry to the game.
SSHS Hometown Ticketing
SSHS Parents and Students:
SSHS is only accepting online Hometown Tickets for all Athletic Events this school year and all Fall Sports ticket are currently available for purchase.
We will NOT have a cashbox available at the events.
Adult Tickets = $10.00 (Seniors 62 years and over receive free entry)
Student Tickets = $5.00 (Students 8 years and under receive free entry)
Military Personal Tickets = $5.00 (with valid ID)
SSHS Students who have purchased their Activity Fee and have Activities Fee (AF) paid on their Student ID will get free entry to all regular season home events. Activity Fee for the school year is $25.00, and all student-athletes are required to pay this fee.
Middle school students need to have a parent with them to enter the event.
All WCSD Employees and a Guest get into all regular season games (home and away) with a current school ID.
NIAA App
Register My Athlete
Athletic Contacts
Cougar Well Being
Students and Staff with the increasing temperatures it is important to stay well hydrated. Drinking enough water every day is important for your health. Drinking water can prevent dehydration, a condition that can cause unclear thinking, result in mood change and cause your body to overheat.
Eating a healthy breakfast before starting the school day is linked to improved concentration, better test scores and increased energy.
SSHS Food Pantry
COVID 19 Updates
Masks
Immunizations
Hello, this is an important message from the Washoe County School District:
The State of Nevada requires the meningitis vaccine (MCV4) and the Tdap vaccine for all Nevada 7th graders and new students in grades 7-12 enrolling in the Washoe County School District.
As of the 2023-2024 school year, a student 16 years of age or who is enrolling in the 12th grade in Nevada schools must receive the meningitis – or MCV4—vaccine.
Project 150 Teen Shopping Boutique
Each Wednesday from 1:30p – 4:00p and the first
Saturday of each Month from 10:30a – 2:00p
Clothes, shoes, school supplies, toiletries and much more
Free with high school ID
· Project 150 Reno Boutique - 1340 Foster Dr. - Reno, NV 89509
· Follow us at Project150 Reno on Facebook
· Call (775)203-4755 or email info@project150reno.org
· Project 150 Reno non-profit provides basic needs for homeless, disadvantaged, and displaced high school students.
The Washoe County School District or the Board of Trustees neither endorses nor sponsors the organization or activity represented in this document. The distribution of this material is provided as a community service.
Driver's Education Class
DMV Certification of Attendance
· DMV Certifications of Attendance are processed at the district level by the Student Records Department.
· Visit the WCSD web page: www.washoeschools.net and select:
STUDENT AND PARENTS
>STUDENT RECORDS
> CLICK ON BACKPACK CURRENT STUDENT.
FILL OUT INFORMATION, AND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE CHECK THE DMV BOX.
· Please allow one week of processing time.
· Please note: Students who miss 10% or more of the total number of class periods for any reason during a semester (high school) for each course will be chronically absent and do not meet the DMV Certification of Attendance requirements. Chronic absenteeism rules are set by State and Federal guidelines.
Information for how to get the attendance for DMV is permanently found at:
The complete WCSD policy can be found here: WCSD DMV Attendance Policy
Attendance
Attendance Policy
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Spanish Springs HS follows all WCSD Attendance Policies and Procedures.
For information on the WCSD Attendance Policy as required by NRS, click here.
Reporting a Reason for an Absence
Parent/guardian must email, call or request an absence via the portal/app to report your student(s) absence. To verify the absence it must be done so no later than three (3) days after your student is absent. The Attendance Office is unable to record reasons for absences older than three days without a doctor’s note.
Emailing in a Reason for an Absence (preferred method)
Absences may be reported by email. Please email sshsattendance@washoeschools.net or use this link: SSHS Attendance and include:
· Your student's name
· Date of birth
· The date
· Length of the absence
· The reason for the absence
Changes will be made in Infinite Campus when the email is processed.
Calling in an Absence
To verify an absence, contact the Attendance Office call 775-425-7733 x 1. Voicemail is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please leave a message with the following:
· Your student's name
· Date of birth
· The date
· Length of the absence
· The reason for the absence
· Your contact information
Changes will be made in Infinite Campus when the absence is processed.
Requesting an Absence via the Parent Portal/App.
A new functionality was added to the Infinite Campus parent portal and app. It enables parents/guardians to request an absence via the portal/app. The portal/app accepts requests for absences for the current date or future dates only.
For step-by-step instructions, visit: Intervention / The Absence Request Form and App (washoeschools.net)
Changes will be made in Infinite Campus when the request is processed.
Picking Up a Student or Street Passes
When you need to pick up your student early from school, please be aware of the following procedures:
-You may call in advance to have your student waiting for you when you arrive. Please call the Attendance Office at 775-425-7733 x 1 with the exact time and reason your student needs to be dismissed.
-You may come into the Attendance Office to pick up your student. You will be required to show your ID on arrival. Please allow enough time for us to send for your student as it is difficult to send for a student during passing time or during lunch.
-ONLY LEGAL GUARDIANS may pick up a student. Anyone other than a guardian will need to have the guardian contact the attendance office in advance to give permission for the student to be released. If the person picking up the student will do so on a regular basis and is not the legal guardian, there is a form that can be completed giving permission for the student to be released with another adult. This form is valid only for the current school year and will need to be signed and turned in by the legal guardian.
Chronic Absenteeism
Students who miss 10% or more of the total number of class periods for any reason during a semester (high school) for each course will be chronically absent. Chronic absenteeism rules are set by State and Federal guidelines.
Students will not be retained or fail a course (high school) based on attendance. However, students who miss 10% or more of class periods for any course that meets in a semester will be chronically absent in that course(s).
If the student must miss an entire class period for any reason, it is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to see that a written/verbal verification is provided to the school prior to, during, or within three days of an absence. Failure to do so within three days of the student's return to school will result in the absence being coded as Unverified (UNV).
Intervention Guide for Families
COVID Exclusions
The Health Department Excluded (HDED) code is used for COVID exclusions when there is a positive COVID case. Current exclusion period is 5 days and can be extended up to 10 days in the event that a student still has symptoms. COVID excluded students will be placed on Temporary Distance Learning and will complete missing classwork per the make-up work policy. The HDED codes do not count towards chronic absenteeism.
Make-Up Work Policy for an Absence
Make-up work must be provided for any absence by the teacher, but it is the student’s responsibility to request the make-up work in advance or on the first day s/he returns to class. Because it is impossible to make-up some in-class assignments, coursework of a similar nature may be given. It is the student’s responsibility to turn in all make-up class work at the designated deadline. Failure to complete the make-up work within the designated deadline will result in no credit being received for the make-up work.
Students will have the number of days absent plus one to complete missed make-up work or concepts missed beginning on the day the teacher provides the missed assignments to the student. Teachers must provide missed make-up work or concepts missed within two days of the student’s return to class.
DMV Certification of Attendance
Spanish Springs High School assists with the student DMV Certification of Attendance required by the DMV using the following options:
OPTION 1 – Electronic
DMV Certifications of Attendance can be requested from the WCSD Student Records Department.
Effective July 1, 2019, in an effort to provide better and more secure service to our students ALL student records requests can be made online using the automated student record / information request system. Please go to this link on the Washoe County School District website to fill out the form: Application for DMV Certification Form or go to https://washoeschoolsnv.scriborder.com/
OPTION 2 – Hard Copy
If requesting a hard copy from the SSHS Attendance Office, the Student Information section must be completely filled out. SSHS does require 24 hours to complete and review the students’ attendance, it will then be available for pick up in the front office.
Hard Copy link: DMV Certification of Attendance Form
Please note: Students who miss 10% or more of the total number of class periods for any reason during a semester (high school) for each course will be chronically absent and do not meet the DMV Certification of Attendance requirements; the previous completed semester’s percentage is used to determine eligibility. Chronic absenteeism rules are set by State and Federal guidelines.
DMV QR Code
Guide to Attendance for Families
This guide, available in English and Spanish, helps parents, guardians, and families understand the various components of the attendance policy. Click on button below.