October 12, 2018
From the Desk of the Principal
Happy Fall Friday, Titan Families! It FINALLY feels like autumn, and the students have a little more pep in their step today. I want to begin by thanking all of our students and staff for a fantastic Homecoming week last week. The game and the dance both went off since our last newsletter, and they were both spirited, fun and well attended. The dance is one of my favorite nights of the year - our students look elegant and genuinely enjoy being together. Big thanks need to go out to the students of the SGA, Ms. Dills, Mr. Hanson, Ms. Biddle, Ms. Welker, and the many staff who participated in the Pep Rally, attended the Fanfest, the football game and chaperoned the dance. It is a “cast of thousands” that makes Spirit Week and Homecoming the success that it is. I also need to commend our parents and students who have been cooperative and safe in the morning drop off. Everyone has a good sense of the routine, and I would simply remind drivers to leave plenty of time for drop off, especially on foul weather days. As you are probably aware, we have a tardy sign-in table in the morning after 7:30. If you drop off your child after that time, please make sure they have an excusal note. Students with three unexcused morning tardies in one semester receive lunch detention THAT DAY for every time after three they arrive late. On-time attendance is one of the single most important factors in student success. As part of our school improvement goals around positive culture and climate, we have instituted a “Student of the Week” and “Staff Member of the Month” program at Tuscarora. Staff and students both felt it was important to publically recognize hard work, doing your best, above and beyond effort and many more positive qualities. The “Students of the Week” are nominated by staff, and one student from this group is chosen at random to be highlighted on our announcements, in a display case near the main entrance and in our newsletter. Generally 15-20 students are nominated each week, and the variety of students from week to week is impressive. The “Staff Member of the Month” is the brainchild of the Student Culture Club. Staff members are nominated by students for their extra effort, extraordinary teaching, helping students achieve their goal or generally mentoring and assisting. I am pleased to report that over 75 staff members were nominated by over 150 students in September alone, and 14 of those nominated are new to THS. It is gratifying to know what THS’ Parent and Student Perceptual Surveys have shown in recent years: the THS staff is strongly committed to students and their success. Check out the section below to see both the latest student and staff winners. Sincerely, Christopher Berry Principal
Learn More
Looking Ahead--The Weekly Calendar
Saturday, October 13
Boys Soccer at Oakdale High: JV 6:00 PM, Varsity 7:30 PM Band at Musselman High Competition, 2:00 PM – 10:45 PM
Monday, October 15
Eligibility Date Unified Tennis Districts at Baker Park Tennis Courts, 1:00 PM
Tuesday, October 16
Learning for Life Class to Summer’s Farm Pumpkin Patch, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM Boys Soccer Home vs. Middletown High: JV 5:30 PM, Varsity 7:00 PM Volleyball Home vs. St. James High: JV 6:00 PM, Varsity 7:00 PM Girls Varsity Soccer at Middletown High, 6:30 PM PTSA Meeting, Media Center, 6:30 PM
Wednesday, October 17
Field Hockey vs. Winters Mill High at Middletown High Field, 4:00 PM JV Football home vs. Urbana High, 6:00 PM
Thursday, October 18
Red Cross Blood Drive, Aux Gym, 6:30 AM – 2:00 PM 10th Grade AP World History Students to Walters Art Gallery, 8:45 AM – 2:00 PM V Field Hockey at Urbana High: 3:00 PM vs. Oakdale High, 4:30 PM vs. Middletown High Boys Soccer at South Carroll High: JV 5:00 PM, Varsity 6:30 PM Volleyball Home vs. Brunswick High: JV 6:00PM, Varsity 7:00 PM FBLA Movie Night, Auditorium, 6:00 PM
Friday, October 19
Theater Students to Frederick Community College, 7:45 AM – 2:00 PM Cross Country at CMC Championships at Boonsboro High, 1:00 PM Varsity Football at Urbana High, 7:00 PM
Saturday, October 20
Saturday School, 8:00 AM Girls Varsity Soccer home vs. St. James High, 10:00 AM
See the FCPS calendar. *Dates and times are subject to change.
Keeping You Informed--School News
Performing Arts Boosters The THS Performing Arts Boosters will be holding a Bingo Fundraiser this Sunday, October 14th at the Frederick Elks Lodge #684, to benefit the THS Choirs. Tickets are $25.00 in advance, and $35.00 at the door. Tickets include a 6 card pack with 20 games. We will have Raffles, Tip Jars, 50/50, etc. Join us for a day of fun, play some bingo and see the Titan Tempo Show Choir perform some of their songs from this year's program. Doors open at 12:00 pm, games begin at 2:00 pm. For tickets go to www.thspab.org
Picture ReTake Attention underclassmen and parents of underclassmen:
Next Wednesday, October 17th, is picture retake day. If a student missed the original day, or if a student is unhappy with the pictures they purchased, please see Mr. Hartman in room A-202 for a picture pass and order form starting Friday, October 12th. Students who purchased picture packages must present the pictures to the photographer at the time of the sitting.
If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Hartman at Richard.hartman@fcps.org or 240-236-6466 Football Game Football Fans! Parking for Titan Football fans on Friday, October 12th (@Walkersville) will be at the fire hall next to WHS, 79 West Frederick Street. There will be staff in the lot to direct you. Visiting Titan fans will enter and pay on the visitor side. Let’s go cheer on our Titans to victory!
Attendance
Good attendance leads to success and boosts graduation. Our school goal is 96%.
10/5
10/8
10/9
10/10
10/11
91.88%
93.21%
94.23%
94.68%
93.92%
Commendations, Congratulations, & Kudos
Student of the Week. Loren Suomela Loren is nominated by Ms. Sparks for always being engaged in class and a student leader.
A Big Thank You! The PTSA would like to send a heartfelt thank you to all of the volunteers who helped with this year's Enchanted Forest Homecoming Dance. From ticket sales, to food donations, to help the night of the dance, it could not have been done without your help!! Thank you!! THS PTSA Way to Go! Dy'Andrae Williams will be representing THS this year in the Maryland Page competition. He will go head to head with other FCPS high school students to have the opportunity to represent FCPS in Annapolis this spring. He has to give a three minute presentation on what he considers to be the most pressing issue facing teenagers today, and answer questions on his topic for five minutes. This is a very competitive program and Dy'Andrae will have to bring his A game. The top five students in the competition will represent FCPS as pages in Annapolis. Congratulations to our Staff Members
Congratulations to the winners for Staff Member of the Month for September MRS.NICKLES and MR.KAROS. As the first winners of the SMOM award, their students and other staff had great things to say about them. Nominating comments about Ms. Nickles included:
Students and staff had equally great things to say about Mr. Karos, including:
Congratulations to both of our winners. We look forward to recognizing more of our staff members as the school year progresses!
Internships, Scholarships, & Jobs
Each year one Tuscarora High School sophomore is selected to join other sophomores from high schools across the state as a HOBY Ambassador at the Hugh O’Brian Youth (HOBY) State Leadership Seminar at Mount St. Mary’s University from May 23-26, 2019.
Sophomores interested in this opportunity should stop by the Counseling Office for an application packet and visit www.hobymd.org for more information. The selection process for the THS HOBY Ambassador will include a personal resume, a current transcript, an essay, and a potential interview.
Applications will be available starting on Monday, October 8th and must be turned in by the end of the school day on Monday, October 29th. No applications will be accepted after the 29th!
PLEASE ENCOURAGE YOUR 10TH GRADE STUDENT LEADERS TO PICK UP AN APPLICATION FROM THE COUNSELING OFFICE OR SEND ME NAMES AND I CAN CALL THEM DOWN TO PICK ONE UP!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
From the School Counseling Office
Serving students with last names: A-C Danielle Moore D-Hd Jessica McDonald He-Mi Carla Goto Mj-Sc Kay Wilson Sd-Z Elizabeth Forbes
Senior Class of 2019- News & Activites
TITAN SENIOR NEWS – CLASS OF 2019
Listed below are important dates and information for seniors. Visit the THS Senior Page for up-to-date Senior Information - https://sites.google.com/fcps.org/thsseniors2019/home Twitter Account: @tuscarorahs2019
Date
October 22nd
Claire’s Gourmet Fundraiser Orders are due to Mrs. Palmer in the media center or Mr. Miles in A143 by Monday, October 22nd. Prizes
ASAP
Nov. 6, 2018
Dec. 5, 2018
PTSA and Booster Organizations
THS SAFE AND SANE "RESTAURANT RAFFLE" FUNDRAISER Please consider donating a $25 Restaurant Gift Card to the 2019 "Restaurant Raffle" Fundraiser by visiting the sign up at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054DAAAE2EA0F49-restaurant and then dropping off your donation at the Front Office. Thank you for supporting Tuscarora's Safe and Sane program, the program that provides the Graduation Party of the year, every year. Questions? - Email THS2019SafeandSane@gmail.com
Not a member yet? Find out how to Join the PTSA
See names of PTSA Board and Committee Chairs and more
Media Center Updates
Monday – Friday: 7:20 am – 2:40 pm Media Center Website: https://education.fcps.org/ths/mediacenter Media Center Twitter: @mediacenterTHS Teen Read Week To celebrate Teen Read Week, any student who checked out a book this week got a chance for a gift card drawing. Students who use the link below to write a book review will receive 5 chances. Book reviews are due by 10:55 am on Friday, October 19th. Select Here for More Info Frederick County Public Library There is now a direct link to the Frederick County Public Library on our media center website. Students can now access FCPL databases. If a login is needed students will login using 119829 plus their FCPS student ID number. If a password is needed it will be "student." Let me know if you have any questions.
Media Center Website: https://education.fcps.org/ths/mediacenter FCPL Website: https://www.fcpl.org/learn/lyndacom
Media Specialist: Carrie Palmer
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Student Health & Wellness
. Health Room Technician: Bruce Thompson School Nurse: Rebecca Montes, RN Health Room: 240-236-6400, option 4
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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 Jody Ratti Lisa Smith Tanisha Smith Helpful Links: School Cash Online Menus & Meals Grades Online www.fcps.org
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