Chaparral High School Nov/Dec 2014 Newsletter

VOLUME XIV, NO. 1
November/December 2014
A busy school year beginning for the Chaparral High School Performing Arts Department!
The Choir performed at several events including the UNLV Madrigal Festival in October and the Sam’s
Town Tree Lighting Ceremony. In December they will perform at the Smith Center for the Holiday
Extravaganza. In addition, the choir program hosted the First Annual Talent Show which was a
fundraiser to buy new uniforms. Mr. Isbell is extremely proud of the progress that has been made
and is looking forward to the Winter Concert on December 9 at 6pm in the theater.
Veterans on Veterans Day. The band also received the Hughes and Jones Music Fund $5000 grant from
the Nevada Community Foundation used to purchase a new oboe and 15 new clarinet mouthpieces
and tuning barrels.
The program has turned its attention to the concert season as they prepare for their Winter Concerts
on December 16 and 17.
At the 2014 CHS Open House, the Orchestra performed for parents. They are also involved in
preparations for upcoming festivals and the CCSD Solo and Ensemble Festival. The Orchestra Winter
Concert will be held in the Zuiker Theatre at 6:00PM on Thursday, December 18. The Chaparral
Orchestra was chosen by the American String Teachers Association as this year’s recipient of the CODA
BOW award. One school was picked from all the schools in America to receive nine professional
bows valued at over $6,000. Students in the two Chaparral String Quartets will be the first to use
the new bows.
“Grease” has been the highlight of the fall season
in the Theater as the collaboration between the
departments is always a successful experience for
everyone involved. Auditions were held in September
and the cast has been in rehearsals after school and
on the weekends to prepare for the classic high school
musical. The Theater Tech classes have worked
on the design and building of the sets for the past
two months.
Marching Band had a fantastic season filled
with football games, parades and Marching Band
Competitions. The band placed in the finals of the
Las Vegas Invitational this year as well as receiving
superior ratings at LVI, Sounds Across the Valley, and
The Utah Music Educators Association Championships.
Dr. Jeff Geihs
Assistant Chief Student Achievement Officer
In addition they traveled to Peoria, Arizona and St. George, Utah to perform the 2014 show “Through
the Ages”. Once again the band was invited to perform at the SEMA car show. This year they had
the honor of being invited to be filmed for a segment of Car Crazy (a cable network television show)
which will air in March 2015. They performed at the Santa’s Arrival Parade at The Town Square
Shopping Area and the Nevada Day 150th Anniversary Parade in downtown Las Vegas. The group
also performed before the Thanksgiving holiday for the NCAA Basketball Tournament at the MGM
Grand Gardens which was aired on ESPN. The band consists of 130 hardworking students. The jazz
band performed for The Progressive Insurance Company as they donated cars to Disabled American
Dr. Jeff Geihs began his career in public education in 1995
as an English teacher at Valley High School. After four years
of teaching and serving as the English Department Chair, he
completed CCSD’s Executive Leadership program and was
appointed to his first administrative position as the Dean of
Students at O’Callaghan Middle School. He would go on to
serve as Dean of Students at Chaparral, and Assistant Principal
at Cheyenne. In 2005, Dr. Geihs was appointed to his first
Principalship at Cheyenne High School. Under his leadership,
Cheyenne made tremendous gains in student achievement,
earning Dr. Geihs the 2009 Nevada High School Principal
of the Year award. In 2009, Dr. Geihs was appointed the
Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of The Public
Education Foundation. In 2010, he was named Principal at
Liberty High School where he initiated a Mandarin Chinese
program, a Freshman Academy, and a partnership program
with the College of Southern Nevada. In 2012, Dr. Geihs was
named the Assistant Chief Student Achievement Officer of the
Turnaround Zone. Serving approximately 22,000 students, Dr.
Geihs works hard to ensure that the schools he supervises have
the tools they need to increase student achievement. To date, all fourteen Turnaround Schools have
made dramatic gains in mathematics proficiency, reading proficiency, graduation rates, and credit
sufficiency. In his free time he enjoys spending time with his wife, Mindy, his children, Madison and
David, and playing an occasional round of golf.
Chaparral High School’s Administrative Team
Principal
Lolo James
Assistant Principal
Xavier Antheaume
Assistant Principal
Butch Heiss
Assistant Principal
Cristina Oronoz
Dean of Students
Jennifer Ludtke
3850 Annie Oakley Drive  Las Vegas, Nevada 89121  Phone: 702-799-7580  FAX: 702-799-0776
Gallery Walk:
Examining Traditions
& Beliefs about Death
Student
HIGHlights
The World Language department
collaborated in order to create a
“Gallery Walk” of student researched
information and activities about
various cultural perspectives regarding
the end of life. Some of the topics
included: Aztec/Mayan Traditions,
The Catacombs in Paris, Obon
Festival, Butsudan & Ancestor Worship,
Myths & Legends, Suicide Awareness
and Prevention, the ideas surrounding
an afterlife, etc. Students participated
in hands on activities in including:
designing a calavera, reconstructing
a catacomb, or posting to the In
Memorium wall. 3-PEAT
Linda Sue Luchsinger qualified for
Cross Country State for the 3rd year
in a row this season. Cross Country
is one of the most grueling sports on
campus. Running in triple digits all
summer to prepare for the season,
tallying hundreds of miles throughout
the 4 months of training is not very
attractive to most athletes. Linda Sue
not only was running but is in Cheer,
Competitive Cheer and carries a 4.0
plus g.p.a. Chaparral High School is
very proud of her!
Poster Contest Winner
Congratulations to Luis Villanueva, Chaparral High School student, for wining 3rd
runner up in the 4th Annual American Chemistry Association, Southern Nevada
Local Section Poster Contest. He was invited to a presentation of awards and
recognition ceremony at Nevada State College On Saturday, November 22, 2014.
AdvancED Accreditation
Chaparral High School is currently going through the AdvancED Accreditation process. Accreditation is a voluntary method
of quality assurance developed more than 100 years ago by American universities and secondary schools, and designed
primarily to distinguish schools adhering to a set of educational Standards. Today the accreditation process is used at all
levels of education, and is recognized for its ability to effectively drive student performance and continuous improvement
in education.
Institutions seeking to gain or retain accreditation by AdvancED must meet AdvancED Standards. These Standards focus on
systems within a school and systematic methods of attaining high student performance and organizational effectiveness. The
Standards address preparing students with skills they will need for the future and include high expectations for professional
practice. The Standards require demonstrated growth in student learning and achievement; a commitment to developing
learning, thinking and life skills for all students; and formal structures whereby each student is well known. The power of
the Standards lies in the connections and linkages between and among the Standards.
Institutions also must participate in an External Review, completed by a team of highly qualified external peer evaluators
who examine the institution’s adherence and commitment to AdvancED Standards. This review is the hallmark of the
accreditation process and energizes and equips the leadership and stakeholders of an institution or school system to
maintain areas of high performance and tackle those areas that may be thwarting desired performance levels. The External
Review is a rigorous process that includes review of artifacts, interviews with stakeholders and observations of instruction,
learning and operations.
The accreditation process is based on a five-year term accreditation. It is an ongoing process of meeting Standards, engaging
in continuous improvement and demonstrating quality assurance.
In an effort to improve system practices, Chaparral High School is conducting a Parent Survey and a Student Survey. We
value your opinion and ask that you take the time to complete this survey.
The Top 11 Schools in Nevada
In order to complete the survey, please go to:
http://www.chaparrallasvegas.com
Chaparral High School was named one of the top 11 schools in Nevada during
the 2013-2014 school year and earned the title of Gold-Level Project UNIFY
School. It means that Chaparral worked with Special Olympics Northern Nevada
on at least three whole-school involvement activities. The students could serve as
volunteer, fans in the stands, peer partners or coaches at a Schools Partnership
Program event. Student leaders could plan a Spread the Word to End the Word
campaign, they could take the annual Polar Plunge through the Cool School
Challenge…the possibilities were endless. No matter the means, what mattered
was making schools more respectful and inclusive places, hence the name
whole-school involvement. It was about getting everyone engaged so they felt
welcomed on campus.
Our 9th grade counselor,
Juliet Mandado, showed
students how to access the
Nevada Career Information
System (NVCIS) website to
look for different career
opportunities available to
them. All 9th grade students
participated through their
science classes.
9th Grade Students
Access the Nevada Career
Information System
C H A PA R R A L
H I G H
S C H O O L
PA R E N T
N E W S L E T T E R
Congratulations to Our
Boys Soccer Team
CHS
SPORTS
Our boys soccer team took 2nd Place
in the 2014 NIAA Division I-A State
Championship!
Women’s Soccer
Captain
Fatima Fernandez is a senior captain
midfielder for Chaparral High School
women’s soccer team this season. She
is an exemplary athlete and student.
On the field, Fatima stands out by
leading her team in many statistical
categories including shots on goal and assists. Also, Fatima earned her four
year varsity letter with the women’s soccer team. In the classroom, Fatima leads
by example. She maintains a 3.8 g.p.a. with honors and Advanced Placement
courses. Whether it be accepting a college soccer scholarship or joining a branch
of the armed forces, Fatima is a Cowboy who is going to continue to do great
things here at Chaparral High School and long after she graduates.
IMPORTANT SCHOOL
INFORMATION
* To view Chaparral High Schools Accountability
Reports and important letters from Clark County
School District and Administration please visit our
website: http://www.chaparrallasvegas.com
* Results of the October testing of the Nevada High
School Proficiency Exams for 11th grade and 12th
grade students who took the test have arrived.
Please contact Chaparral High School’s Counseling
Department at 799-7580 ext. 4090 for more
information.
* Winter Break begins Friday, December 19, 2014 (end
of day) and classes will resume Monday, January
5, 2014.
Student of the Month
September
Congratulations to the following students, who were recognized as Students of the
Month for the month of September, 2014. Principal Lolo James and teachers celebrated
the students’ success with a special luncheon.
(L-R) Kiara Dickson, Chris Vasquez, Barbara Kariuki, Principal Lolo James, George
Hernandez, Fatima Fernandez, Chiayene Magbanua, Liah Ramos
UNLV Teacher Recognition:
Congratulations Ms. McDermott
The University of Nevada Las Vegas, UNLV, recently asked their new freshmen to
tell them about a teacher who made a difference in their lives, whose influence
encouraged them to further their education and pursue a college degree. A
former Chaparral High School student, Amanda Perez Rodriguez, nominated Ms.
McDermott as the teacher whose influence had a profound impact on her life as
a student. Ms. McDermott was recognized at a dinner held at the Blasco Event
Wing of the UNLV Foundations Building on October 22, 2014.
Counselor’s Corner
At Chaparral High School we have five counselors to help students choose a challenging course of study, advance towards
college, and be successful academically. Our goal is to graduate every student and guide them on their chosen career
path. During the year we will meet with each student for credit checks, select classes for the next school year, as well as
various presentations and guidance lessons. January 20th is the first day of the 2nd semester and we will be meeting with
the seniors (12th grade) shortly thereafter for a final credit check. We will be having Free Application for Federal Student
Aid (FAFSA) workshops for the seniors and the freshman (9th grade) will be starting their Academic Plans.
Amanda Perez Rodrirguez’s nomination:
Please feel free to call us at 702-799-7580 for more information.
“Ms. McDermott has always been there for me. She is one of my biggest
influences. She always believes in me and encourages me to do the best I
can. She is a dedicated teacher who cares about her students and was still
working during her pregnancy. She is a sweet, nice, understanding, and
amazing person. Anyone who gets to be her student is lucky.”
C H A PA R R A L
H I G H
Rebecca Parry Rowena Manibusan Juliet Mandado Abby Jones Melinda Taylor S C H O O L
ext. 4305
ext. 4304
ext. 4306
ext. 4301
ext. 4302
PA R E N T
Last Name M-Rh
Last Name A-E Last Name A-Z Last Name F-L Last Name Ri-Z 10th-12th grade
10th-12th grade
9th grade
10th-12th grade
10th-12th grade
N E W S L E T T E R
DIStRItO ESCOLAR DEL COnDADO DE CLARk
ComuniCaCión efeCTiVa enTre el padre y la esCuela
Asóciese con Su Escuela
El nivel de colaboración entre las familias y los educadores es un indicador importante del logro académico del estudiante. Los padres y los miembros de la
familia que establecen relaciones sólidas y positivas con el personal escolar tienen más oportunidades de aprender sobre el sistema educativo y convertirse en
mejores defensores de la educación.
Las asociaciones exitosas entre la escuela y la familia se crean con el respeto mutuo, la confianza, igualdad y una visión conjunta hacia el logro del
estudiante. Hay muchas maneras por las que usted se puede hacer un socio activo con la escuela de su hijo:
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Comience la relación bien – permita que el personal escolar sepa que usted trabajará conjuntamente con ellos.
Utilice Campus Portal con regularidad para las calificaciones, asistencia y la actualización de asignaciones.
Con regularidad pregunte a su hijo o hija como cree que van las cosas en la escuela. Si las cosas no van bien, pídale su opinión para mejorarlas.
Busque oportunidades para ayudar a que su hijo exprese sus pensamientos y sentimientos a los maestros y a los demás.
Asegúrese de que la escuela tiene información actual sobre usted, su familia, personas de contacto para casos de emergencia y la información médica
relevante de su hijo.
Asista a reuniones, conferencias del padre maestro y eventos escolares.
Comuníquese con los maestros con regularidad, no solo cuando haya algún problema.
Infórmese lo más que pueda sobre la educación pública. Aprenda cómo funciona el sistema escolar e infórmese sobre los temas educativos actuales.
Permita que la escuela sepa que usted dará seguimiento de temas importante que conciernen a su hijo.
Manténgase al tanto sobre cómo está trabajando su hijo en el salón de clase. Haga un seguimiento de los problemas que se le informaron.
Responda con prontitud todas las comunicaciones que llegan de la escuela.
Miembros del consejo escolar del CCSD (702) 799-1072
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Comuniquese con el Director de las escuela para tratar su inquietud.
Las inquietudes que no se resuelvan a nivel escolar, pueden dirigirse a la Oficina del Intermediario * Educativo de CCSD (Educacional Ombudsman Office).
Si hubiera una falta de comunicación:
1.
2.
Los padres siempre tienen la opción de presentar un Formulario de Preocupación Pública (Public Concern Form) el cual se puede obtener en CCSD. Net
Community/GovernmentRelations(702)799-1080
CCSDtrustees(702)799-1072
GAC 2366.14
Starttherelationshipright—letschoolstaffknowyouwillworkcooperativelywiththem.
UtilizeCampusPortalregularlyforgrades,attendance,andassignmentupdates.
Askyourchildregularlyhowheorshethinksthingsaregoingatschool.Ifthingsarenotgoingwell,askhis/heropinionforimprovement.
Lookforchancestohelpyourchildcommunicatehis/herthoughtsandfeelingstoteachersandothers.
Makesuretheschoolhascurrentinformationaboutyou,yourfamily,emergencycontacts,andrelevantmedicalinformationforyourchild.
Attendmeetings,parentteacherconferencesandschoolevents.
Checkinwithteachersregularly,notjustwhenthere’saproblem.
Knowasmuchasyoucanaboutpubliceducation.Learnhowtheschoolsystemworksandstayinformedaboutcurrenteducationissues.
Lettheschoolknowyouwillfollowuponimportantissuesconcerningyourchild.
Keeptrackofhowyourchildisdoingintheclassroom.Followuponreportedproblems.
Respondpromptlytoallcommunicationsfromschool.
EFFECTIVE PARENT-SCHOOL COMMUNICATION
Partner with Your School
The level of collaboration between families and educators is an important predictor of student academic achievement. Parents and family members who establish strong, positive relationships with school staff have more opportunities to learn about the education system
and become better education advocates.
Successful school-family partnerships are built on mutual respect, trust, equality, and a joint vision for student achievement. There are a
number of ways you can be an active partner with your child’s school:
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If there is a breakdown in communication:
1. ContactthePrincipaloftheschooltoaddressyourconcern.
2. ConcernsthatarenotresolvedattheschoollevelmaybeaddressedbytheCCSDEducationalOmbudsman*Office.
Parents always have the option to submit a CCSD Public Concern Form, which can be obtained at CCSD.net
*An Ombudsman serves as a mediator for parents and the public to communicate education-related concerns.
EDUCATIONAL OMBUDSMAN OFFICE (702) 799-1016
CCSDPolice(702)799-5411
Community Members who have questions or concerns regarding CCSD policy or procedures should contact the Ombudsman Office directly.
Rev. 6/2014
Relaciones gubernamentales/comunidad (702) 799-1080
OFICINA DEL INTERMEDIARO EDUCATIVO (702) 799-1016
*Un Intermediario (Ombudsman) se ofrece como mediador para que los padres y el público comuniquen inquietudes relacionas con la educación.
Policía del CCSD (702) 799-5411
GAC 2366.15
CLARKCOUntySChOOLDIStRICt
I will forever be grateful for the warm welcome they gave me at the different campuses and
everything that they taught me starting from the basics to the small important details. This is
an experience that my fellow students and I will keep with us and it will always be something
for us to look back on. Not only did this trip open my eyes more about going to college, but it
motivated me even more to start my college life as well as more drive and ambition to succeed.
One day when I look back on this, not only will I remember the physical characteristics of these
colleges, but I will remember the emotional feelings it gave me. This was just one more step
closer to my road to college, and I will forever cherish it. Thank you to my great Fulfillment Fund
family for helping me build upon my dream!
Christina Martinez
Junior, Chaparral High School
This past weekend I was given the greatest opportunity to help me improve my understanding
of college. I am thankful and blessed to have participated in a four day Fulfillment Fund college
overnight trip to Los Angeles, California. The Fulfillment Fund has definitely helped open bigger
doors to my future in ways that I can’t even express. During this trip, I was able to visit five beautiful
colleges in Los Angeles such as University of Southern California, California State University
Northridge (CSUN), University of California Los Angeles, University of Redlands, and University
of Riverside. When I first heard about this trip I just knew I had to go because not only was I
visiting some of the best colleges, but I was visiting the one that I one day hope to attend. My
goal is to attend CSUN and as I walked up the steps all I could think about was how lucky I am
to be given this chance that not many other students are given. I grasped onto it with my arms
and eyes wide open ready to learn about success and all of the benefits of attending college.
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W i t h
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Los miembros de la comunidad que tengan preguntas o inquietudes sobre algo relacionado con la política o procedimientos de CCSD
deberán comunicarse con la oficina del Intermediario (Ombudsman Office).
GAC 3692.1
Rev. 6/2014
Fulfillment Fund College Visits
While visiting and touring the campuses, I took a piece of each of them home with me and