Letter from the Principal
Mona Passman, Principal
January 11, 2017
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. In addition to the mid-trimester projects and tests, there are senior retreats, Jumpstart Your Future Day, practices, athletic events, competitions for activities, the theater/choir trip to New York, 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 21. Please encourage families with 8th grade students to attend the Placement Exam and submit their applications. Those students who earn a cumulative national score at the 90th percentile or higher receive a scholarship of $2,500. We also offer a financial aid workshop the morning of the exam.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 26 from 1:00-5:00 p.m. and 6:00-8:00 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.
I also invite you to meet our newest counseling staff member, Gayle Knopik, a licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor from 5:00-6:00 p.m. the evening of conferences. She will be joined by psychologists Jules Nolan and Steve Kahn of Phoenix School Counseling. They will discuss strategies for keeping our students safe during their teenage years when they are often surrounded by temptations to drink or experiment with marijuana and may be at risk to make poor decisions. If you cannot attend, but want to reach out to Gayle, her email is gknopik@c-dh.org. She is at school on Tuesday afternoons and Thursday mornings.
It is my wish that during this busy and cold month, 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