COYOTE UPDATE
The Official Newsletter of Combs High School
DECEMBER 18
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GO COYOTES !!!!!
A MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL FARABEE
I wanted to send a note of gratitude to all the students and families for their strength, patience and support this first semester. It has been far from a normal start to a school year. What is also far from normal, even exceptional at times, are the efforts of our students and teachers to provide meaningful learning in these uncharted academic times. I am very proud of your work and resilience.
Again, thank you.
Happy Holidays!
STANDOUT COYOTES
Congratulations to our CHS Cheer Team
CHS HOLIDAY PARTY
PATRICIA FERGUSON
Gotta love those Holiday Parties!!!
Is there a better way to end the semester than with some lovely holiday music? Please join me in celebrating the band students' hard work this evening at 7pm.
FREE and STREAMING Combs Drama Production
Performed by the Combs High School Advanced Theatre class, Fox on the Fairway is a farce that takes place in a country club during a tournament between two rivaling country clubs. You follow the journey, hardships, and horseplay of the members of the Quail Valley Country Club as they bet their lives, money, and property on the outcome of a golf match. Love interests, scandals, and so much more befall these characters in this delightful comedy! Performed and recorded in the Blackbox Theater of the Combs Performing Arts Center. This is a FREE Virtual Production! Please Register at this website to receive viewing instructions. Viewing will be available from December 18 through 20, 2020
Orchestra/Guitar/Choir Winter Concert Link
The orchestra, guitar and choir students recorded their winter performances this week on Tuesday. The kids have worked very hard this semester and despite the craziness of 2020, I think that the performances came out well. Chamber Orchestra and Advanced Guitar did particularly well on their portions, but I am proud of all of them for their daily effort towards this performance. The final video has been edited together and will premiere on YouTube on December 18th, 2020 at 6 pm.
Here is the link to the video: https://youtu.be/oClnPDwBOU4
THE RUNDOWN RETURNS
IN-PERSON OR REMOTE LEARNING
As this first semester comes to an end, I wanted to thank all the students and parents for their efforts and support as we navigate this new learning environment.
For students and families that want to continue with their current learning selection or in-person or remote, no action is needed.
For families that would like to switch from remote to in-person or vice versa, please fill out the attached form.
If you select the Remote Learning option for your child, your student could return to In-Person Learning after Spring Break.
If you have more than one child that is changing their Learning Environment, please fill out the form for each child with changes.
SUPPORT CHS WITH TAX CREDIT
Q. What is a school tax credit?
Several years ago, the Arizona State Legislature passed a tax law (ARS 43-1089.01) that allows up to $400 tax credit for married couples filing jointly or $200 for individuals, who make a donation to a public school to support extracurricular activities. A TAX CREDIT IS A DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR REDUCTION OF YOUR TAX LIABILITY.
Q. Who can take advantage of this school tax credit?
The law is set up so that any taxpayer may contribute to a public school, regardless of whether the taxpayer has a child attending the school. Corporations, limited liability companies, and partnerships are not eligible for the tax credit. You must, however, be a taxpayer in the state of Arizona. The tax credit can be claimed on personal income tax returns only.
Q. How can you take advantage of this tax credit?
First, decide which school you wish to support: J.O. Combs Middle School, Kathryn Sue Simonton Elementary, Harmon Elementary, Ellsworth Elementary, Ranch Elementary, Combs Traditional Academy, or Combs High School. Then decide which extracurricular activities you wish to designate with your contribution. Extracurricular activities are any school sponsored activity that requires enrolled students to pay fees in order to participate; such as extended field trips, sports activities, band, drama, art, science labs, technology etc. The Site Council at each school will determine where non-designated contributions are to be appropriated.
Write a check up to $400 for married couples filing jointly or up to $200 for individual filing made payable to one of the above schools or to J.O. Combs Unified School District and designate an activity if desired. Or, you can pay online by clicking on the Pay Tax Credit Online button located on the left hand sidebar, and use your credit card to contribute. Be sure to send your completed Tax Credit Form to the school's office.
Pay online using the link in the button located on the left hand sidebar, or mail, or deliver your contribution with Combs Tax Credit Form to the school of your choice or to the district office at the corner of Combs and Gantzel no later than April 15. By doing this, your school gets the extra funding it needs to pay for extracurricular activities of your choice!
Interested in becoming a part of the National Honor Society (NHS) at Combs High? We are now accepting new members for the second semester!
To become and remain a member of the NHS, you must:
Have and maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 since freshman year
Perform 10 hours of community service during the next semester
Tutor other students a total of 5 hours throughout the next semester
Be a student of good character
Enjoy leadership roles
Attend weekly chapter meetings
Complete the required application and essay by January 8th
If this sounds like something you would like to be a part of, consider making NHS a part of your high school experience. If you are selected, you will be contacted via school email by January 15th . Our induction ceremony will be at the end of January, if possible, but may be postponed or done virtually. Please contact Stacy Johnson sjohnson@jocombs.org for more information and an application.
CAMPUS CALENDAR
NOW-DEC 31 - COVID TESTING AVAILABLE IN 300 PARKING LOT JUST WEST OF COYOTE RD AT CHS
DEC 21 - JAN 4: WINTER BREAK, NO SCHOOL
JAN 5: STUDENTS RETURN, Students choose to be in person or virtual at this time.
COUNSELORS CORNER
Did you know??? Combs High School is the newest PBIS school in Arizona!! PBIS is an acronym for Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports and has been an excellent program for schools across the country.
At Combs High School we wanted to focus on Coyote Pride, Attitude, Commitment, and Kindness....P.A.C.K.! During this first semester, we have been teaching our students what it means to be part of the Coyote P.A.C.K., and we've really had a fun time with the videos the teachers made. And, as teachers and students have modeled those appropriate behaviors, they have had the chance to earn P.A.C.K. points which can be used like currency to purchase items or experiences from the P.A.C.K. store. Our store will be open during Quarter 3 during lunch one day a week, so keep saving those points!
To learn more about PBIS and our new P.A.C.K. values, please enjoy the introduction video:
Rollout presentation video.mp4
Upcoming Events:
- January 7: EVIT Presentation during Conference
- January 26: PSAT for students who have not taken it yet
- February 17: ASVAB Makeup test
- January/February: Registration for the 21.22 school year! We will be meeting with students to go over their transcripts and class choices. If you failed a class this semester, be prepared to discuss options in making that credit up.
CPAC Events-Save the Dates
Save the dates for great performances and business trainings at the Combs Performing Arts Center!
December 18, 2020-Combs High School Drama presents "Fox On The Fairway" FREE Streaming from the Combs Performing Arts Center! Performed by the Combs High School Advanced Theatre class, Fox on the Fairway is a farce that takes place in a country club during a tournament between two rivaling country clubs. Love interests, scandals, and so much more befall these characters in this delightful comedy!
December 18 at 6 pm-Combs High School Virtual Orchestra, Choir and Guitar Concert
Free! https://www.facebook.com/CombsPerformingArtsCenter/
December 18 at 6 pm-Combs High School Band, Jazz Band and Symphonic Band Concert https://www.facebook.com/CombsPerformingArtsCenter/
February 12, 2021-Piano Men Generations at 7 pm presented by TAD Entertainment celebrating the music of Elton John and Billy Joel. Tickets at www.cofare.io
Perceptual Sales Coaching Seminar- Body Language and How We Relate To It. presented by Stephen Chandler on January 14, 2021 at 11:30 am. Learn how body language influences sales and purchasing. Learn tools to improve your business. For more information contact Stephen Chandler 602 540 3997
January 22- at 8 pm Carvin Jones - World renowned blues guitarist Carvin Jones, rated in top 50 guitarists by Guitarist Magazine brings his Ultimate Guitar Experience to you! https://www.carvinjones.com/event-details/carvin-jones-combs-theatre
March 25-Small Business Symposium presented by Darling Companies, Designed From Scratch Concepts and Network Together. Tickets at www.localsmallbusinesssymposium.com
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REQUEST YOUR TRANSCRIPT WITH PARCHMENT
UPCOMING EVENTS
JAN 18 - NO SCHOOL, Martin Luther King Jr. DAY
MAR 1 - WINTER SPORTS BEGIN (Baseball, Softball, Tennis, Boys Volleyball, Sand Volleyball, Track)
CAC CONNECT CALENDAR
Due to Covid we are not able to do the CAC connect office live on your school campus so we are going virtual again for the fall semester.
We will have zoom check-in and chat sessions for students and parents on Wednesday’s starting promptly at 5pm for them to ask questions they have regarding CAC & details of how to become a CAC student.
Jump into Spring at Central Arizona College – Special Virtual Q and A Sessions Scheduled
Jump into Spring at Central Arizona College by attending one of the upcoming online informational sessions. Prospective and current CAC students can meet with representatives from the college’s Enrollment Services team to get questions answered on how to enroll for the Spring 2021 semester and beyond.
Admissions and registration, advising, financial aid, student accounts, and recruitment staff will be available via Zoom to have a live dialogue with students and help them navigate the admissions and enrollment process during the following Jump into Spring Enrollment Q&A Session:
· Monday, 1/11/2020 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
To register for this session please visit: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=-NY-VARRI0aSTap2AF50qRvDlWf1JtlJo20fgdjnzsRUOUlXWVQ3S1A0TFRVVzc3NlZaTU5FVlRJRS4u. The Zoom link will be sent to those who register.
To find out more, watch a video about Jump into Spring at https://spark.adobe.com/video/1nTtT1EOONtWU.
INTERNET DISCOUNT OPPORTUNITY
Cox Communications is offering discounts on internet service for qualifying families, which is part of the CARES Act.
This program is called Connect2Compete. The parent has to complete an application and provide Cox with documentation that consists not only of school letterhead confirming student enrollment but also any other subsidy programs from which the family receives benefits. There are a plethora of FAQs on the website as well.
https://www.cox.com/residential/internet/connect2compete.html
ATHLETICS WILL RESUME JAN 19th
Notice of Non-Discrimination
J.O. Combs Unified School District #44 does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, age or sexual orientation in admission and access to its programs, services, activities, or in any aspect of their operations and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. J.O. Combs Unified School District #44 also does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices. The following employees have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: Compliance Officer for Title IX , Athletic Director, 2505 E. Germann Road, San Tan Valley, AZ 85140 or 480-882-3540 and Compliance Officer for Section 504/ADA, Director of Student Services, 43371 N. Kenworthy Rd, San Tan Valley, AZ 85140 or 480-987-5300.
El Districto Escolar Unificado de J.O. Combs #44 no discrimina en base a su raza, color, religión, origen nacional, sexo, discapacidad, edad, o la orientación sexual para la admisión y su acceso a sus programas, servicios, actividades, o en cualquier aspecto de sus operaciones y proporciona un acceso igualitario a los Boys Scouts y otro grupos de jóvenes designados. El Districto Escolar Unificado de J.O. Combs tampoco discrimina en sus prácticas de empleo y contratación. Los siguientes empleados han sido designados para manejar las preguntas en cuanto a las pólizas de no discriminación: Funcionario de Cumplimiento de Título IX, Director Atlético 2505 E. Germann Road, San Tan Valley, AZ 85140 or 480-882-3540 and Funcionario de Cumplimiento para la Sección 504/ADA, Director de Servicios Estudiantiles, 43371 N. Kenworthy Rd, San Tan Valley, AZ 85140 or 480-987-5300.