March 9, 2018
News from Principal Christopher Berry
From Mr. Berry’s Desk:
We had a very good week with the administration of the SAT on Wednesday. 94% of our Juniors were present on that day and ready to go when the testing began. This was actually a little higher than our typical attendance on an average day. In speaking with Juniors, it was nice to see that some of them understood that taking the SAT, especially more than once, was more than just about being admitted to a four-year college or university. Students that attain a 480 on the English portion and a 530 on the Math portion of the SAT are exempt from taking zero credit remedial courses at FCC. In addition, these same scores will qualify Tuscarora students for the FCC Dual Enrollment Program, bypassing the Accuplacer test. Finally, there is always value to practice. If this wasn’t a student’s best score, they had one free opportunity that they didn’t have before. We are fortunate that FCPS saw the value of having all of its juniors take the SAT this year. It will help open doors of opportunity that might have been closed, or help open them sooner than they might been otherwise.
Coming back to our focus on safety and security, students who are looking to leave early for the day should bring a note to the office in advance. A dismissal slip will be given to the student that they will present to their classroom teacher. A parent who is picking a student up for dismissal needs to come into the main office personally with a photo identification. We will not call a student out of class based on a phone call. Parents must personally pick up their students and provide a written excusal in order for the school to release the student. Thank you for helping us account for all of our students, every day.
Thank you, and have a great weekend! Christopher Berry Principal
Looking Ahead--The Weekly Calendar
Saturday, March 10
SAT-1 Only (Not at THS) Robotics Team to Hayfield Secondary School, 6:30 AM – 6:00 PM Boys Varsity Lacrosse at Manchester Valley High, 9:00 AM Girls JV/Varsity Lacrosse Scrimmages at Oakdale High, 10:00 AM Varsity Softball Scrimmage at Manchester Valley High, 10:00 AM Varsity Baseball Scrimmage at Poolesville High, 10:00 AM Indoor Guard at TJ High, 1:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Sunday, March 11
Daylight Saving Time Begins Robotics Team to Hayfield Secondary School, 6:30 AM – 6:00 PM
Monday, March 12
Eligibility Date – Interims Distributed Picture Day for Spring Athletic Teams Indoor Guard at Linganore High, 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM Varsity Baseball Scrimmage Home vs. St. John’s Catholic Prep, 4:00 PM Athletic Boosters Club Meeting, Media Center, 7:00 PM
Tuesday, March 13
Boys Lacrosse Scrimmages Home vs. Northwest High: JV 5:30, Varsity 7:00 PM
Wednesday, March 14
Athletic Spring Fees Due Girls Varsity Lacrosse Scrimmage vs. St. John’s Catholic Prep at Ballenger Creek Park, 4:00 PM Boys JV Lacrosse Scrimmage Home vs. Winston Churchill High, 6:00 PM Board of Education Meeting, Central Office, 6:00 PM
Saturday, March 17
Robotics Team at Oxon Hill High School, 6:30 AM – 6:00 PM Girls Lacrosse Scrimmages Home vs. Watkins Mill High: JV 10:30 AM, Varsity 12:00 PM
See the FCPS calendar. *Dates and times are subject to change.
Keeping You Informed--School News
Great news! The official Interim Progess Reports are now easily viewed through the Home Access Center (HAC). We would like to invite you to utilize this resource.
Interim Progress Reports (IPR) will be available in the Home Access Center (HAC) beginning on 3/12/18. Parents should use their normal login to access these grades. In addition, students will receive a printed copy in their Flex class on 3/12/18. For convenience, we have provided steps and screen shots for accessing the IPR's below!
Accessing IPR Grades thru Home Access Center (HAC) Parents and students may access official IPR information thru Home Access Center or HAC.
Step One – Log into Home Access Center (HAC)
Step Two – Select Grades from the File Menu
Step Three - Click on the IPR Tab. The Current Marking Period view will be the default. Parents may click on the drop down menu to select a previous marking period as well.
AP EXAMS Parents & Students
Please keep in mind the deadline to register for the AP Exam is Wednesday, March 14, 2018. The deadline to pay is March 16, 2018. Please remember that registration and payment take place in two separate sites. You can register for your exam at https://www.totalregistration.net/.
The payment can be made online at https://frederickcounty.schoolcashonline.com/ . Students can also bring their payment to Mrs. Janssen in the THS front office in the form of cash or check for processing. Best of luck to all those taking the exam!
Attendance
Daily attendance is one of the single most important factors in a high school student’s success. 96% or better attendance each day is the goal for Tuscarora High School. Please help students meet the goal every day! Talk with your student about the importance of attending school as well as the importance of being engaged in every class. Here is our attendance data for this week:
Friday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
03/02/2018
03/05/2018
03/06/2018
03/07/2018
03/08/2018
No School
93.02%
93.29%
93.09%
93.89%
See FCPS absence procedures.
Commendations, Congratulations, & Kudos
Congrats to Caleb Spencer from THS on his 2018 Bettie Award wining piece “self-portrait”!
Congratulations to the students in Ms. Geerling's Earth Space Science Research class, who recently traveled to NASA Goddard to present class projects. The ESSR students spent almost the entirety of their second term working on self-selected projects that analyzed the connection between at least two different spheres of earth science. The project topics ranged from studies on crabs to bees to the ozone layer and what various aspects of earth science affect them. Since there where only so many spots allotted at Goddard for people to present the students form Mrs. Geerlings ESSR class had to compete to see which five projects would come with them to NASA. After the projects where completed they were taken to the local earth space and science lab to be judged. Hannah Mueller, Kacie Velasquez, Liam Silvera, Sai Pingali, and Kyle Shreve where selected to go.
While at Goddard, the five ESSR students presented to the various scientist and researchers who had time to come down and meet with them. During this time the rest of the class got to observe the NASA public interactions section of the building and learned how to observe clouds and other elements of the earth to provide as data for NASA Researchers.
12th Grade Order your senior shirt by Friday, March 16th. The cost is $20. Order your shirt online here!
Counseling Office Updates
2018 Aviation Education Expo Leesburg Executive Airport - Friday, October 26th, 2018. Each school invited may select 20 students to attend this day - full of opportunity, inspiration, and access to one of the most exciting industries in America.
Please see Mrs. Goto in guidance if you would like to attend.
Rotary Scholarship The Rotary Club of Carroll Creek is offering a $3,000, added to the $5,000 at the District level, gives a Frederick County student the opportunity to walk away with $8,000. Please see Naviance or guidance for the application. Deadline is March 10, 2018.
Serving students with last names: A-C Danielle Moore D-I Jessica Mills J-N Carla Goto O-Sv Kay Wilson Sw-Z Elizabeth Forbes
Learn More
Activity News and More
Senior Class News
TITAN SENIOR NEWS
Listed below are important dates and information for seniors. Visit the THS Senior Page for up-to-date Senior Information http://tuscaroraseniors.wixsite.com/ths-seniors-2018
Deadline
March 16, 2018
Order your SENIOR SHIRT NOW! Click below to see the designs and order your shirt! Each shirt costs $20. Order online then drop off payment to Mrs. Palmer in A120. http://tuscaroraseniors.wixsite.com/ths-seniors-2018/senior-shirts-1
April 4, 2018
NEW DATE CLASS OF 2018 Parent Night 7:00 p.m. THS Auditorium
April 16-20, 2018
Junior/Senior Prom – Old Hollywood Prom Tickets on sale during all lunch shifts. $50 - Seniors $60 - Juniors and Guests (this includes all other THS students) Dance contracts are available outside A120 or on the Senior Webpage.
April 23-25, 2018
Prom Tickets on sale during all lunch shifts. Prices will be increased to $75 for everyone.
April 28, 2018
Prom – Theme: Old Hollywood Null Building located at the Frederick Fairgrounds. 7:30 – 10:30 p.m. Tickets must be purchased in advanced
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PTSA and Booster Organizations
Parents & Guardians: The THS PTSA is pleased to announce that Kevin Graditor, LCSW-C, will join us to talk about teen mental health on Tuesday, March 27th, at 7pm. Mr. Graditor has extensive experience working with FCPS faculty on mental health issues. We’ve asked him to share his insights and expertise about teen mental health issues such as Generalized Anxiety, Depression and how to promote good mental health. We will be meeting in the Tuscarora High School Auditorium.
Not a member yet? Find out how to Join the PTSA
See names of PTSA Board and Committee Chairs and more
Media Center Updates
Frederick County Public Library If you don’t have a FCPL card, you should get one! There are many things you can get with your library card, not just books. Go to https://www.fcpl.org/ and by entering your library card number you have access to music downloads, e-books, magazines, movies, and more.
Need Help with Research?
Students have 24/7 access to the databases available at THS by going to the media center webpage at https://education.fcps.org/ths/mediacenter. Students can also chat live with someone through the public library at any time by going to www.askusnow.info.
Media Specialist: Carrie Palmer
Visit Our Online Resources
PRINCIPAL Christopher Berry TUSCARORA HIGH 5312 Ballenger Creek Pike Frederick, MD 21703 240-236-6400 Phone 240-236-6401 Fax
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ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS Helen Golibart Lisa Smith Mark Smith Cynthia Zimmerman Helpful Links: School Cash Online Menus & Meals Grades Online www.fcps.org
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