Dear Parents and Students:
 As I sit here writing this letter, thunderstorms are active in the Valley. As someone who enjoys a good downpour now and then, I don’t bemoan the fact that it’s raining but I do recognize that the timing is pretty bad. The regional track meet in Parkersburg, the regional softball game at Scrabble Creek, the sectional baseball game in East Bank, and some matches at the state tennis tournament here in Charleston are all scheduled for this evening. In fact, the middle school golf team slogged it out earlier today, stepping their way through rain puddles, not allowing the weather to put a damper on their day, winning first place in the Kanawha County Schools Golf Tournament. 
 While we suffer weather-related disappointments from time to time, the silver lining is that so many of our students are involved in the extracurricular life of the school. In fact, 84% of our seventh and eighth graders participated in CCHS interscholastic sports this year. At the high school level, 83% of the students participated in extracurricular activities, including sports, drama, Quiz Bowl, pep band, language clubs, and the like. And probably close to 100% of our student body cheered on our teams or attended a variety of other school-sponsored events.
A busy crew taking advantage of a well-rounded program!

And it’s not just our students and staff who are involved. Attend an athletic event, stop by the parent reception at the prom, participate in a parent seminar, peek into the Commons during lunch time, attend an exploratory class’s skit, enjoy the Showcase of Talent, or appear at any number of other venues, and you will find parents and others being integrally involved in the life of the school. Prom provides an exceptionally dramatic example of the integration of efforts from staff, students, parents, former parents, relatives, and others in the community. This year, the culmination of months of effort, spearheaded by Mrs. Scharf and the energetic junior class, was truly magical. So many hands working together created something astonishingly beautiful. The decorations, the food, the music, the ambience were first-class. Students, gussied up for their big night, entered into another dimension, truly a midsummer night’s dream.

Our school continues to prosper and evolve. With the wonderful student body, the talented and dedicated staff, the supportive parents, and encouragement from the alumni and community at large, there’s just no imagining the great things ahead!

Debra K. Sullivan, Principal

CCHS VOTE OF CONFIDENCE SCHOLARSHIP – Charleston Catholic High School proudly stands behind its product. As was announced at the Parent Night earlier this school year, we will offer $500 college scholarships to all of this year’s seniors who have experienced the complete Catholic school program for all of their middle and high school years. Specifically, students are eligible if they are in good academic and financial standing at CCHS and have been enrolled for complete school years in 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grades in Charleston Catholic, St. Agnes, or St. Anthony’s, and have been enrolled in CCHS since the beginning of 9^th grade. Scholarships will be paid directly to each student’s college and may only be used for tuition, school fees, and other appropriate items included on the invoice. In order to take advantage of this scholarship, students will need to present a copy of their college or university invoice, along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. The copy of the invoice (no originals, please!) along with a check from CCHS will be mailed to the senior’s family. We hope to be able to continue this scholarship in the future, depending on the successful generation of funds to support it.

DID YOU KNOW – that of the 59 sophomores who took both the EXPLORE as CCHS 8^th graders and the PLAN in 10^th grade, their mean math scores in the sophomore year was 21.2, compared to 17.8 for students nationally who took both tests? Bravo!

PROGRESS REPORTS – are enclosed in this mailing. Please help your children set reasonable goals for the remainder of the school year. The race isn’t over until it’s over! If students let up in their efforts, the good grades at progress report time may not necessarily equate to good grades at the quarter or semester. And there is still time to strengthen so-so or poor grades! Also, keep in mind that second semester grades directly impact a student’s athletic eligibility for fall and winter sports, i.e., a 2.0 is required. And a reminder to seniors (and all other students as they look to the future): the New York Times and other newspapers and magazines have cited the increasingly prevalent practice of 1) rescinding college admissions offers due to second semester senioritis, and 2) of looking closely at social websites such as MySpace and FaceBook. As our students have been told, once they put something on the internet, “it’s public.” Some students have “gotten the message” and are using these websites as marketing tools, putting up information about themselves that present positive impressions (e.g., their sports photos and stats). Something to think about!

FAFSA FORECASTER –Instead of waiting until senior year to see what college will cost, the Department of Education has introduced an online tool that estimates eligibility for Pell grants and the amount of the Expected Family Contribution (how much a family is deemed able to pay). The Fafsa4caster can be filled in any time at http://federalstudentaid.ed.gov/fafsa4caster.html. Worth checking out!

INTERNATIONAL TASTING – What a happy, well attended, tremendous gustatory experience! Many, many thanks to Sandy Campbell, Julie Robinson, and Liz Weisberg and the volunteers who planned, prepared, and fed our community, sharing the foods of their heritage. $3,457 was raised through this event to pay down the debt at the CCHS athletic facility. Many thanks to all who participated!

CONCERT TO BENEFIT QUIZ BOWL – - Jake Krack, a nationally renowned fiddler, will be giving a concert to benefit the Quiz Bowl team in their efforts to raise money to attend the National Quiz Bowl Tournament.  The concert will be Monday, May 19th at 3:15 pm and will last about an hour.  Jake just released a new CD and will have copies available for sale at the concert.  Cost is $2. Come out and enjoy some toe-tapping music and even get last-minute fine arts credit!

 

NEW AND USED TEXTBOOKS FOR 2008-09 – We’re busily preparing for our June used textbook sale and new textbook ordering event! As in previous years, textbooks that families want to sell will be collected from students as they finish using them for exams. They will quickly be sorted by staff and PVA volunteers. On June 10-11 (Tuesday-Wednesday), used textbooks for required courses and ones that students know they will definitely be scheduled into (e.g., 2^nd year of a language) will be available for purchase. At that time, parents may also order and prepay new textbooks for these subjects only. CCHS will place the order for these books and they will be available for pick-up during August registration days. During registration days, used textbooks for all other courses plus leftover textbooks from the June used textbook sale will be available for purchase. Again, during registration, parents will have the opportunity to order and prepay for any new textbooks needed. CCHS will place another order at that time. We hope this new process will help our families get the correct textbooks as well as save some money! Because of the enormous amount of time involved in processing and organizing the used-textbook event, students must turn in books for resale by Friday, June 6 (earlier would be better!). Students should NOT leave books in their lockers and assume that they will be processed. Students will receive textbook consignment sheets during the last week of classes. Senior books will be collected through their exam classes during senior exam days (Thursday, May 22 and Friday, May 23). Books for students in all other grades will be collected in their exam classrooms on June 4, 5, and 6. Journalism textbooks will be new next year and should NOT be turned in for resale. Students are reminded that used workbooks cannot be sold. Many thanks to Judy Whipkey, LuAnn Summers, and Diane Beckerle for agreeing to work with CCHS staff to make this new system work.

TUITION FOR 2008-09 -- payment in full is due June 16 (late charge assessed at $1.00 per day after June 16). Please note the credit card option is no longer available.

GREEN & WHITE REUNION WEEKEND (June 13-14) -- Plans are in the works to gather CCHS alumni from the classes of 1927 through 2008 for a weekend of memories and fun! Check out the CCHS website for information about this summer’s event.

STUDENT SAFETY – Please continue to encourage your children to walk together in groups when they are out and about. Young people feel invincible and aren’t always tuned in to their surroundings.

NOTES ON FINAL EXAMS – Remember, students who miss semester exams for reasons other than illness (who will be given the opportunity to make up the exams) will receive an F for those examinations. Just a reminder regarding the seniors- only exam exemption policy: Seniors may be exempt from second semester exams if: 1) the course is a two-semester course; 2) the teacher chooses to allow exam exemptions; 3) third and fourth quarter grades average to at least 93%; 4) fine arts requirements are completed by end of third quarter and community service requirements by May 9.

Students enrolled in AP courses must take the AP exam. School finals will not be given to seniors in AP courses but will be administered to non-seniors. Students who elect to take AP tests in non-AP classes will follow the exam exemption policy. Namely, students in these non-AP classes who choose to take AP exams will also take teacher-developed final exams unless they meet the exemption standards (seniors only). Students must report to exams on time and no one will be permitted to leave the classroom until the testing period is over. Students may wear APPROPRIATE CASUAL WEAR, as per the CCHS handbook. No shorts or other “revealing” clothing! If students are not properly dressed, they will not be permitted to take their exams until properly attired. When in doubt, wear something else!

FINAL EXAMS FOR SENIORS:

Thursday, May 22: 8-9:30 - period 2; 9:40-11:10 - period 4; noon-1:30 - period 6; 1:40 – 3:10: -period 3

Friday, May 23:- 8-9:30 - period 7; noon-1:3:- period 8; 1:40-3:10 - period 1

FINAL EXAMS FOR GRADES 6 – 11: All classes will have exams and exams must be taken at the scheduled times. Students should prepare for exams by reviewing past tests and quizzes, using study guides that some teachers have prepared, rereading notes and homework/class assignments, reworking math problems, and so on. Second semester report cards will be mailed by Monday, June 16.

–

6^th, 7th and 8^th graders’ exams:

Tuesday, June 3 – regular classes 8 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.; period 7 exam will start at 1:30 and end at 2:45

Wednesday, June 4 – 6^th gr. exams 1, 2 ,5; 7^th & 8^th exams 1, 3, 5 (dismissal at 1 p.m.)

Thursday, June 5 – 6^th gr. exams 6 and 8; 7^th and 8^th exams 2 and 8 (dismissal at 11:15 a.m.)

9^th, 10^th, and 11^th graders’ exams:

Wednesday, June 4 – exams 1, 3, 6 (dismissal at 1 p.m.)

Thursday, June 5 – exams 2 and 8 (dismissal at 11:15 a.m.)

Friday, June 6 – exams 4 and 7 (dismissal at 11:15 a.m.)

SENIOR RETREAT -- The senior retreat is scheduled at Pope John XXIII Pastoral Center on Wednesday, May 21. Seniors are to arrive there by 8:30 a.m. and will be dismissed at 2:30 p.m.

SENIOR PRACTICES – Friday, May 23 – 9:30-11:10 a.m. MANDATORY baccalaureate rehearsal for all seniors at Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral

Tuesday, May 27 – 1 p.m. MANDATORY graduation rehearsal for all seniors at CCHS Athletic Facility

SUMMER OFFICE HOURS -- The school office will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. through June 20. The office will reopen MONDAY, August 4 at 9 a.m.

COMMUNITY SERVICE AND FINE ARTS/HUMANITIES REQUIREMENTS -- Remember, community service and fine arts activity forms must be submitted during the quarter in which the service was performed in order to receive credit. Students who fail to meet their requirements during the school year must complete double the number of hours/events in order to be readmitted to CCHS. Underclassmen must fulfill all fine arts and service requirements by May 30. After that date, the hours incomplete will be doubled.

VIRTUS Training – Several training sessions have been planned by the diocese: May 14 at 6 p.m. at Sacred Heart; May 17 at 9 a.m. at Christ the King; August 25 at 6 p.m. at CCHS. As has been mentioned in previous newsletters, all coaches and volunteers must complete this diocesan safe schools program before they can be involved in activities with CCHS students. Log onto www.virtusonline.org or www.charlestoncatholic-crw.org (see DWC Safe Environment/Volunteer Information link) to register. Please call Ms. FitzGerald for questions.

ATHLETIC UNIFORMS -- All spring uniform pieces must be returned to coaches -- complete, in good repair, and clean -- within 3 days after the completion of the sports season. Final reports, diplomas, and transcripts cannot be released until all items have been returned.

MRS. THOMAS’ TIDBITS – Be sure to check out “College Counseling” section on the CCHS website for updates and additional information.

1) SAT and ACT testing and registration dates (CCHS code: 490-205)

SAT I and II (can register on-line -- www.collegeboard.org):

TEST DATE DEADLINE LATE REGISTRATION

June 7 May 6 May 15

ACT: (can register on line -- www.act.org)

TEST DATE DEADLINE LATE REGISTRATION

June 14 May 9 May 10 – 23

2) The members of the class of 2008 have applied to 141 separate colleges. A busy crew!

3) Mrs. Thomas has information on summer school dates.

4) If you’re interested in summer opportunities for your child, please check the CCHS website.

5) Students needing to make up class time for excessive class periods missed will be notified by Ms. FitzGerald by May 23 (seniors will be notified earlier). Hours to be made up will be scheduled on exam days after dismissal time. Remember, only school-related activities (e.g., academic competitions, college visits, and early dismissal for school athletic events) are excused. Attendance at dance workshops/performances, family trips, non-school-related athletic events, etc. are NOT excused for attendance purposes and must be made up in order to receive Carnegie credits for classes.

6) We hope to receive Stanford Test results in time to enclose them with the final report cards.

7) Senior final transcripts will be mailed to the colleges indicated by the students by June 23. Mrs. Thomas has mailed a letter with a form to the parents and the form was to have been completed and returned to Mrs. Thomas (past due now!!!!), along with an addressed, stamped envelope to the college which will receive the final transcript.

8) Senior pictures need to be turned in for the college display in the second floor hallway showing where all the seniors will be attending college next year. We leave this up through 2009 to inform and inspire our other students!

IMMUNIZATION NEWS – In an effort to keep all of our students healthy, we ask you to check with your doctor to see if your child’s immunizations are up to date. If you have any updates to your records, please provide a copy to the office.

Required immunizations: 4 or more doses of DTaP, the last one after the 4^th birthday

3 or more doses of IPV (Polio), the last one after the 4^th birthday

2 doses of MMR, the second one after the first birthday

Recommended immunizations: 3 doses of HepB (Hepatitis)

2 doses of Varicella (Chicken Pox)

1 dose Tdap (Tetanus Booster)

3 doses of HPV (Cervical Cancer)

1 dose of MCV4 (meningitis)

Annual flu shot

NOTES FROM THE PARENT VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATION (PVA) –

1) The CCHS website includes PVA sign-up forms for all activities.

2) Order forms for fleece jackets with CCHS logo, white uniform polo shirts, and green athletic/academic competition polo shirts are available on the CCHS website. For questions, please contact Kathleen Bors (343-7963) for fleece jackets, Joanne Bronikowski (344-8850) for green polos, and Lisa Dobbins (346-4995) for white polos.

3) INNISBROOK ORDERS – Don’t forget- orders can be placed year round! Go to www.innisbrook.com and click on “Buy Innisbrook Products” and enter CCHS school number 121949. Call Lisa Dundervill at 344-2566 for more info.

4) Cafeteria Volunteers: If you are interested in helping in the cafeteria for the interim schedule (August and September, 2008) please send your name, email address, complete mailing address (street, city, and zip code) and phone number to Scarlett Hutcheson at addpey@aol.com. The regular cafeteria volunteer schedule for October 2008 through June 2009 will be completed for the school year after volunteers submit their CCHS Cafeteria Volunteer Form following 2008-2009 school registration.

5) CCHS Cookbook – Wonderful recipes have been sent in and are being prepared for inclusion in the cookbook. To order, contact Caryn Gresham at caryn.gresham@verizon.net. Cookbooks will be distributed soon!

THANKS –

- to Pam Farris and Maureen Runyon for spearheading our very successful “Focus WV Day” and to all who helped pull off this exciting event for our students, including Dena Wilcox, Caryn Gresham, Judy Hamilton, Fran Rollins, Debbie Bogan , Cathy Varley, and the PVA hospitality committee. The students and presenters were enthusiastic in their support for the day. Many thanks to our guests: First Lady Gayle Manchin, photographer David Fattaleh, Trudy Oliver (Secretary of State’s Office), Candy Joseph (Kanawha County Clerk’s office), fiddler Jake Krack, WV author Sarah Sullivan, whitewater rafting reps Cindy Dragan and Teddy Queen, Blue Smoke Salsa founder Robin Hildebrand, artist par excellence Barrie Kaufman. It was a great event from start to finish!
- to Deacon Dennis Nesser, canon lawyer, who spoke with the sophomores about the Catholic view of marriage.
- to Stephen Thaxton, DC, Fr. Jim O'Connor, and Catherine Romeo, UC Campus Minister, for their wonderful presentations at the 10th grade retreat.

-to teachers Dara Krack and Marie Zboinski for organizing this year’s classy Showcase of Talent and to Josh Fix for directing pep band throughout the year.

-to Lisa Cassis, Missy Deer, and Debbie Bogan for organizing this year’s middle school athletic banquet. It was a great evening, energized by the overwhelming response to this event! Many thanks, too, to parent Gary Lane at the Pope John XXIII Center for all the special effort he has shown to accommodate CCHS events throughout the year.

CONGRATULATIONS –

- to Marie Cavalier who earned one of high school swimming’s highest honors – Academic All-American – the first athlete in CCHS history to receive this outstanding honor recognizing achievement in both swimming and academics.

- to all the math students who participated throughout the year in the WV Math League. CCHS took second place out of 10 schools. Special congratulations go to Andrew Phillips for winning 8^th place out of the entire state’s participants (25 schools).

- to teachers Alissa D’Brot and Julia Kroner who have been selected to participate in a humanities summer project involving one week at WV State and one week in London.

- to National Merit Finalists Maria Malas, Abby Miskowiec, Nora Sheridan, Betsy Sokolosky, and Ben Smith for their impressive achievement!

- to Showcase of Talent impresarios: MC’s Max Gottlieb and Josh Arnold, teacher Josh Fix, Patrick Hart, alumnus Juan D’Brot, Maria Malas, Anna Clarke, Eammon Maher, Catherine McGough, Avrah Urecki, Tony Majestro, Ben McCoy, Chava Urecki, Sarah Saldanha, Hannah George, Mark Cavender, Harrison Kesner, Aidan Kim, Nora Sheridan, Stephen Saldanha, Tess Lucas, Andrea Joseph, John A. Willis, and Todd Zachwieja. Tremendous!

- to the high school softball team for winning the sectional tournament for the first time since 2001, next heading on to compete in the regional tournament!!
- to the middle school golf team for winning the Kanawha County Middle School Golf tournament!
- to the high school baseball team for winning the sectional tournament – now on to the regional!

2007-08 SCHOOL CALENDAR

Monday, May 12 junior retreat (rain date May 15)

Wednesday, May 14 VIRTUS at Sacred Heart 6 p.m.

Friday, Saturday May 16-17 “As You Like It” 8 p.m in the Commons performed by drama club

Tuesday, May 20 fleece presale in Commons for new students (after school)

Wednesday, May 21 senior retreat

Monday, May 26 Memorial Day - no school

Tuesday, May 27 Baccalaureate 7 p.m., Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral

Wednesday, May 28 Graduation 7 p.m., CCHS Athletic Facility

June 3, 4, 5 exams for middle school students (early dismissal on June 4 and 5 only)

June 4, 5, 6 exams for high school students

Thursday, June 5 8^th grade moving up ceremony at 5:30; followed by pizza party for 8^th graders in the Commons and a parent reception in Sacred Heart Center; a dance for 7^th and 8^th graders will be held from 7 – 10 p.m. in the Commons

Tuesday-Wednesday, June 10-11 sale of used textbooks 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. in Commons

June 13-14 Green & White Reunion

CALENDAR FOR 2008-09 – Here is a TENTATIVE calendar

Wednesday, August 20 first day for students

Monday, September 1 Labor Day – no school

Monday, November 10 Veterans’ Day – no school

Wednesday, November 26 11:30 dismissal for Thanksgiving

Wednesday-Friday, December 17 – 19 exams

Monday, December 22 first day of Christmas vacation

Monday, January 5 classes resume

Monday, January 19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – no school

Monday, February 16 Presidents’ Day – no school

Friday, April 10 Good Friday – first day of Easter break

Monday, April 20 classes resume

Monday, May 25 Memorial Day – no school

Tuesday, May 26 baccalaureate (tentative)

Wednesday, May 27 graduation (tentative)

Wednesday-Friday, June 3-5 exams for grades 6 – 11

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2008 (college acceptances)

College names that are underlined and in bold are the schools that the seniors will be attending. All other colleges are the schools seniors were also accepted by.

Alabama A & M University

American University

Appalachian State University

Auburn University

Bard

Bethany College

Boston University

Bowdoin

Brandeis

Bridgewater College

Carleton

Carson-Newman

Case Western Reserve U.

Catholic University

Centre College

Clemson University

Coastal Carolina

Colby

Colgate

Colorado State University

College of Charleston

College of Wooster

Concord College

Denison University

Dickinson

Drexel

Duquesne University

Elon University

Embry-Riddle

Emerson

Emory & Henry

Emory University

Flagler

Fordham

George Washington University

Hampden-Sydney College

Hampton

Haverford

High Point University

Hollins

Indiana

University of Pennsylvania

James Madison U.

Johns Hopkins U.

Juniata

Kent State University

Lehigh University

Louisiana State U.

Loyola University-Chicago

Marshall University

Methodist College

Middlebury College

Miami Univ. of Ohio

New York University

North Carolina State

Northwestern University

Oberlin

Ohio State University

Ohio Wesleyan Univ.

Ohio University

Penn State University

Radford University

Rhodes College

Rio Grande

Roanoke College