SPANISH SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL
Week of November 1-5
From the Desk of Principal Sean Hall
Wow, we are already coming to the end of October and Nevada Day. We have a lot going on here at SSHS. The fall sports are coming to an end very quickly. I hope you all have been able to get out and watch our students compete on the football field, soccer field, volleyball court, running through the desert, on the golf course, or in the gym performing in a drill meet. Our students are incredibly talented and really do work hard to represent SSHS well. Below, I have been able to highlight some of our achievements that our students have done in the last week and a half.
Attached is a video students made in Mr. Villegas’ VIDEO 2 class. It’s an interview with Ms. Cabrera from the Career Center about the Promise Scholarship. It is great to see the talents of our students while providing information about The Promise Scholarship. Please make sure to check it out. https://youtu.be/yf6gt8plBKk
This past weekend, The SSHS Army JROTC Cougars Battalion does it again, taking 1st place overall honors at the Lancer JROTC Drill Competition this past Saturday! That makes the SSHS Army JROTC Cougars Battalion two for two in the WCSD JROTC Drill Team season, as they also won 1st place overall at the JROTC Panther Challenge Drill Competition.
The varsity football team was able to handily defeat Douglas last Friday night, which led to us playing a regional playoff game against Reed October 28th at 6:15. If you haven’t had a chance to watch any of our students compete, I hope you can before the season is over.
Have a safe three day weekend.
Sincerely,
Sean Hall
Monday
A Day
1, 2, 7, 3
Tuesday
B Day
4, 5, 7, 6
Wednesday
A Day
1, 2, 3
Bell Schedule
Please click this link for a copy of this year's Bell Schedule.
Spanish Springs High School Mask Mandate
At the current time and/or until further guidance is given from the Washoe County School District, masks will be required indoors for both students and adults/staff. Masks may be removed when outdoors or performing strenuous exercises.
Career Center
The Promise Scholarship Application is due October 31st. This scholarship assists to pay full tuition for students wanting to attend a community college in Nevada. Link: https://www.tmcc.edu/nevada-promise-scholarship
Ready to Join the Pack? The UNR application is open. Apply today! Link: https://www.unr.edu/apply
Clubs
JROTC
The SSHS Army JROTC Cougars Battalion does it again, taking 1st place overall honors at the Lancer JROTC Drill Competition this past Saturday!
That makes the SSHS Army JROTC Cougars Battalion two for two in the WCSD JROTC Drill Team season, as they also won 1st place Overall at the JROTC Panther Challenge Drill Competition in September!!
Athletics
NIAA and WCSD Athletic Guidance
Important Updates
Athletic COVID testing will occur weekly for all student athletes regardless of vaccination status on all levels of the football team (a close contact, high-risk sport) and other teams that are traveling outside WCSD during that week. All students must have a negative test to participate in that week’s events. Positive results may lead to exclusions from athletic participation as well as exclusions from school.
STUDENT CONSENT FORM FOR COVID-19 TESTING
Masks are required to be worn by all spectators, regardless of vaccination status, at all indoor school events per governor directive. Everyone planning on attending indoor events at the school should self-monitor for COVID symptoms before attending, socially distance where possible, and wearing masks at all times while in any area inside the school. We need to adhere to these requirements to keep our students playing and to keep athletics and activities running at our school.
Winter Athletic Registration
2021-2022 WINTER SPORT REGISTRATION IS OPEN
The Athletic Department welcomes you and your family to the 2021-22 sports school year.
Parents can complete the sports registration by going to RegisterMyAthlete.com.
Upload:
- Sports Physical (if applicable) & NIAA Health Questionnaire (1st/3rd year)
- or NIAA Pre-Participation History (2nd/4th year)
All forms can be found online or in SSHS Office - Contact the Coach for times and dates for conditioning, practices, and try-outs.
IF NO REGISTRATION AND SPORTS CLEARANCE, THERE IS NO PRACTICING OR TRYOUTS.
Winter Coaches
Cheer
Lisa Shults (775-223-3604)
Basketball (Boys)
Kyle Penney (775-240-4991)
Basketball (Girls)
Arturo Cardenas (775-741-7031)
Ski
JD Wile (413-348-6112)
Wrestling
Joe Imelli (775-473-8311)
Senior Portraits
Senior Portraits are being taken at the Prestige Portraits/Lifetouch studio at 80 East Patriot Blvd., Reno.
Click the large purple button below to schedule an appointment or use the QR code to schedule an appointment.
Photo must be in a tux or drape with Moonlight Blue background for yearbook.
Portrait Deadline: You need to sit for your portrait by January 15, 2022.
Cougar Cash
Students, COUGAR CASH is back! Starting in the next few days, you will be able to earn Cougar Cash when staff members notice you demonstrating a PAW-sitive CAT-itude in the following ways:
*Being respectful to staff and peers
*Following directions
*Using self-control and managing emotions
*Participating enthusiastically by putting in effort, staying focused, being on-task, and using active listening
*Asking for help when you need it
Cougar Cash can be used at the Cougar Den Store, which will be reopening on November 9--no money, just Cougar Cash accepted. Get out there and be PAW-esome!
After School Tutoring
Core area teachers will be available to assist students during this time. Students attending tutoring should come prepared with their homework/assignments that they need to complete. Currently transportation will not be offered with tutoring, however we are hopeful that we will be able to get transportation set up in the near future.
Accreditation
SSHS Accreditation Review Visit Scheduled January 12 and 13, 2022
Spanish Springs High School is going through a Re-Accreditation Review this 2021-2022 school year, which is a required process every 5 years to review our teaching practices. The Accreditation Review process helps the school staff focus on continuous school improvement and the quality of learning and teaching.
Cognia, a non-profit organization, will conduct our accreditation review. A Review Team of 3-4 educators will oversee our virtual review via Zoom, January 12 and 13, 2022. Teachers and staff are busy collecting and analyzing school data to provide evidence that we are meeting the Cognia Accreditation Standards. Parents and students will also play an important role in the process; a small number of parents and students will be invited to serve on the interview teams to share their feedback and experience they have had as a member of the SSHS community with the Review Team.
For questions, please email Ms. Silvia Marin simarin@washoeschools.net
Spanish Springs High School Mission Statement
Testing
Attention Seniors: Civics Exam
The Civics Exam is coming soon. Participation in the Civics Exam is a graduation requirement in the state of Nevada. All seniors enrolled in Government this semester will be taking the exam in that class starting as early as November 15th. If you are a senior who is not in a government class this year, please contact your counselor to make testing arrangements.
Attendance
Attendance Policy
Spanish Springs HS follows all WCSD Attendance Policies and Procedures.
In Summary:
If your student(s) is sick, please keep your student(s) home from school.
Parent/guardian must call or email the school each day their student(s) is
absent to verify the student’s absence on that day to ensure the child's
safety. Please call the SSHS Office at 425-7733 to verify student absences.
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 (AUK).
The Health Department Excluded Distance Learning OR Contact Tracing (HDED or HDCT) code is used when a school has been notified by Washoe County Health Department or Washoe County School District that a student is excluded from school but is able to work on Temporary Distance Learning for the length of the exclusion.
Students are to attend Temporary Distance Learning daily and complete work assigned. Students will check-in daily on MS Teams through the Daily Agenda. If a student is unable to work due to health reasons or the student chooses not to work or communicate with the teacher daily, the student will be marked HDE. The HDED and HDCT codes do not count toward chronic absenteeism. HDE does count toward chronic absenteeism.
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.
Make-Up Work
Make-up work must be provided for any absence, 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 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
· 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
ACTs
ACT TEST PREP-FALL SEMESTER
ACT Bootcamps provided by Tutors Across America
Discounted cost for ALL Northern Nevada Students $149.
Available to all grades 9th – 12th.
Average 3-7 point improvement on the ACT.
Tutors Across America’s Upcoming Fall Semester ACT Bootcamps available to Northern Nevada Students:
Available Online Bootcamps
Available in Person Bootcamps
October 15-17 @ Damonte Ranch HS
November 19-21
Class Schedule: 3-Days (20 Hours)
Friday: 4:00pm to 8:30pm
Saturday: 9:00am to 6:00pm (Lunch break 1pm – 2pm)
Sunday: 9:00am to 6:00pm (Lunch break 1pm – 2pm)
To Enroll in the Bootcamp Weekend:
Choose the camp you wish to attend.
Enroll as directed.
When completing payment, input coupon code: testsuccess
Spanish Springs HS Juniors: ACT Testing for Nevada Juniors is scheduled for Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at Spanish Springs High School. Participating in the ACT is a graduation requirement. Additional Bootcamps will be offered by Tutors Across America for juniors closer to March 1, 2022, at SSHS.
AP Testing
Please see below for important information for Advanced Placement (AP) students:
Students must have an AP account with College Board in order to register for the test as well as to access AP classroom for classroom curriculum. Teachers have given students the JOIN codes and instructions on how to complete this task. If your student has any questions, please direct them to their teacher.
AP tests are $94. $40 deposit to order test is due by November 15th. They can pay this to Megan Svare (bookkeeper) at lunch/afterschool or via the webstore.
AP testing is REQUIRED for all students in an AP class, there is NO OPT OUT this year.
November 15th is the final day for students to sign up for the AP classroom without a late fee. After November 15th there is a $40 late fee in addition to the testing fee.
All tests will be paper-and-pencil at school in May 2022.
Click here to view the: AP Testing Schedule
Tech Support
The hours are:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 7am-2:30pm and Tuesday, Thursday 11:30am-7:00pm.