Letter from the Principal - January 2019

January 8, 2019

Dear Parents and Guardians:

I often imagine January as a quiet time to hibernate and recover from the holidays. This theory is quickly dispelled when I look at our school calendar for January and early February. In addition to the mid-trimester projects and tests, there are senior retreats, Black History Month Celebration, Jumpstart Your Future/Alumni Career Day, practices, athletic events, competitions for activities, the Lillian Theater 25th Anniversary Celebration, the SEC Music Festival, JROTC events, and more.

Two events deserve a special mention and emphasis this month, the Placement Exam and Parent-Teacher Conferences.

The Placement Exam and the application deadline are Saturday, January 19. Please encourage families with 8th-grade students to attend the Placement Exam and submit their applications. Those students who test at CDH and earn a cumulative national score at the 90th percentile or higher receive a scholarship of $2,500. We also offer a financial assistance workshop for parents/guardians on the morning of the exam. As current parents, you certainly yield a great deal of influence on other parents faced with the decision of choosing a high school. Please spread the word!

Parent-Teacher Conferences are Thursday, January 24, 1-5 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. I strongly encourage you to attend these mid-year conferences. While grades are posted online, there is no substitute for a conversation with your student’s teachers and counselors. We know from experience that second trimester can be difficult for students. We see more attendance issues and poor grades during these winter months. It’s important that we work together to identify concerns and support students. It’s equally important to hear about and celebrate their accomplishments.

During this busy month, it is my wish that you find the time to relax and enjoy all that winter in Minnesota has to offer.

God’s peace to all of you.

Mona Passman