Hooch Happenings
October 3, 2022
Todd's Tidbits
Hooch Community,
What a busy and tiring week we had with all the homecoming activities. So busy, that we are late getting our Hooch Happenings newsletter out.
I wanted to let you know about a couple of developments on school safety/security. The district has purchased and installed door alarms on 14 of our exterior doors. These alarms will be armed after the first bell and disarmed close to the end of school. Inside the building, these exits are clearly marked with signage. The alarms are "local" and will sound at the specific location where the entry has been breached.
In addition to these measures, the district has allotted some additional funds for the School Governance Council (SGC) to vote on using for more safety/security needs. I intend to recommend using the funds for a few additional security cameras, possibly back-up radios, and a roll down security door for our entrance into the main hall from the atrium.
All the best,
Dr. Mike Todd
Principal
Showing up Matters for R.E.A.L.
Research shows students who are engaged in school, community and home are more likely to experience on time graduation from high school. This year’s theme Showing up matters for R.E.A.L. reminds us that showing up daily to school is an opportunity to:
- Build Routines: Daily attendance routines, created at home or in school, can reduce stress for students and families and create a sense of safety and security, especially after chaotic transitions.
- Increase Engagement: Being in school helps students to get to know peers, teachers, and school staff, and to create trusting relationships that motivate students to participate in learning.
- Provide Access to Resources: Schools help students and families gain access to basic resources such as meals, physical and mental health services, and fun enrichment activities including sports, clubs, music, afterschool, and summer programs.
- Support Learning: Learning is most meaningful when it is active, social, and allows students to apply concepts to real life situations. Showing up to school regularly helps students engage in learning that builds proficiency in reading and math that will help them to graduate from high school.
All stakeholders have a role to play to ensure our students are enriched and prepared for life’s journey. Help us take a stand that showing up to school everyday matters for R.E.A.L.
SAT/ACT Test Prep
Chattahoochee helps connect our families with various SAT/ACT test prep resources including:
- FREE Mock SAT & ACT exams through Applerouth - once every month September through April (taken virtually from home on Saturdays or Sundays)
- FREE "Zero Period" Prep Course taught by Chattahoochee teachers in-person from 7:30am to 8:10am M-Th
- Compiled list of FREE online test prep resources
- Info on taking the PSAT (all 9th,10th,&11th graders) administered on Tue October 25, 2022
- Info on taking an actual score-bearing ACT at Chattahoochee (available to interested juniors/11th grade students only) administered on Tue March 7, 2023
- And more!
Please see our Test Prep flyer located here for more detailed information & links to register: https://www.fultonschools.org/Page/25262
Questions? Email Mr. Abelkop at abelkop@fultonschools.org
Counseling Corner
College Application Help Day
Seniors - need help with your college applications? Have questions about Common App, Naviance, recommendation letters, etc.? Stop by the Media Center on Tuesday, October 4th during your lunch period to see the Counselors!
Junior Information Meeting
Save the date! The Counseling Department is hosting a Class of 2024 Junior Information Meeting on Thursday, October 13th at 5:30 pm virtually. We will be discussing college/career search and exploration tools available in the Naviance portal, SAT/ACT info, Hope/Zell Miller info, timeline/important dates through the rest of your Junior year and into Senior year, and more. It is mandatory that all parents/guardians and students either watch the presentation or review the recording before scheduling their Junior Advisement meeting with their counselor. Directions on how to log into the virtual meeting will be emailed directly to parents/guardians of Juniors closer to the date of the meeting, so please keep an eye on your email inboxes!
Seniors applying to college:
The October 15th and November 1st deadlines for college applications are quickly approaching! If your student is applying to a college that requires a counselor recommendation form or letter, they must have completed the following at least 10 school days (not including weekends or school holidays) prior to the college deadline:
- In Naviance, submit a transcript request and add the college to their Colleges I’m Applying To list.
- If applicable, match their Common App account with Naviance and complete the FERPA waiver (click on any college in Common App, then click the Recommenders and FERPA tab). Their colleges will then populate in Colleges I’m Applying To in Naviance.
- Upload their completed Senior Profile in their Counselor’s Class of 2022 Teams.
Students who are applying to colleges that do not require a counselor recommendation only need to do (1) and (2). Videos and guides for various parts of Naviance can be found at https://www.fultonschools.org/Page/19744.
Please ask your students to double-check that their selected college deadlines and application/decision types (ex. Early Decision, Regular Decision) are listed correctly in Naviance, and if not, to update them! We need both of these to be absolutely correct to ensure your students’ documents are received by their colleges in time.
Media Center News
- Parents and students, please watch the required Internet Safety & Device Care at https://youtu.be/JOalWfGeIN4
- If you have not yet signed off on your student’s Device User Agreement (DUA) in Infinite Campus, please use the attached guide to complete this task. If you have trouble accessing this form in IC, please contact 470-254-4357. The DUA must be signed no later than 10/12 (Wednesday); otherwise, your student(s) will not be able to continue to use his/her county-issued laptop.
Summer 2023 to London and Paris
View all the details and enroll here: www.eftours.com/2481014dz
Summer 2024 to London and Rome
Homecoming Week Festivities
Athletics
Hooch Athletics Update through week 8!
Volleyball – 26-5 overall, 4-2 in region play. Currently ranked #11 overall in Georgia and #1 in class 5A.
Football – 0-6 overall, 0-2 in region play. Next home game October 14th vs. Northview HS.
Softball – 16-9 overall, 8-3 in region play. Next home game Wednesday, October 5th vs. Mount Pisgah at 5:30pm.
Cross Country – Congratulations to the girls and boys cross-country teams that competed in the Wingfoot Classic over the weekend. Freshman Jordyn Young led the girls team, whose performance put them in third place in the girls Region rankings. On the boys side, Diego Santiago broke the school record in the 5k, set by a former Hooch State Champion. Diego’s blistering time of 15:29 ranks him number one in our state classification, while the boys team retains its first place ranking in the Region.
Competition Cheer – Received a 2nd place finish at the North Forsyth Competition and their next performance is this Saturday at Buford HS. Time Is TBD.
Flag Football – The first competition is scheduled for Thursday, October 6th at Hooch. Come out and support! Games start at 5:00pm with our team taking the field at 5:00pm and 8:00pm.
Esports – Season kicked off this week with the team playing in their first competitions. Please contact Coach Radford (radfordb1@fultonschools.org) for more information about the Esports team that’s new to Hooch Athletics.
Come out and support the teams with these annual pass offers for students!
Adult/family packages on GoFan.co as well!!!
- Hooch Student All Athletics Pass – (student ID required) this pass gets your student access to every home athletic event for the 2022-2023 season for all sports. Pass excludes GHSA playoffs and away games. https://gofan.co/app/events/638779?schoolId=GA4901
To Register:
- Go to - GoFan.co
- Type in Chattahoochee High School under the search bar
- Pay your fees*
Club Day
Student Leadership Johns Creek
Our SLJC student ambassadors, Aria Smith and Nicholas Stone, accepted the first place trophy for the Secretary of State ambassador competition.
Titration Lab in AP Chemistry
Administrators and Department Chairs
Jonathan Adel - ELA and Fine Arts
David White; ELA; Whitedp@fultonschools.org
Lori Buonamici; Fine Arts; BuonamiciL@fultonschools.org
Garrett Abelkop - Math, PE, World Language, and TAG
Beth Smith; Math; Smithec@fultonschools.org
J.J. Hicks; PE; Hicksj@fultonschools.org
Nadia Ali; World Language; Aliahmady@fultonschools.org
Amanda Wile; TAG; Wile@fultonschools.org
Gwen Harris - Science and CTAE
Matt Mihordea; Science; Mihordea@fultonschools.org
Kylie Dayton; CTAE; Daytonk@fultonschools.org
Ingrid Parham - Social Studies and Exceptional Children
Tim Reeder; Social Studies; Reedert@fultonschools.org
Jeanne Dongieux; Exceptional Children; Dongieux@fultonschools.org