CHS Picture Day is next Wednesday, Sept. 6th

Get your pretty on!

Picture Day for high school students is Wednesday, September 6th.  Students can stop at the office to pick up an informational packet or parents can log on to www.mylifetouch.com  with the Picture Day ID number listed above to order online.

No School Monday, Sept. 4th

Just a reminder that this Friday is a 1:30 dismissal for all of Chadron Public Schools.

There will be NO SCHOOL on Monday, Sept. 4th to observe Labor Day!

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!!!

CHS Graduates Have One Of The Highest ACT Averages In 15 Years!

The ACT scores of our 2017 graduates were recently released. I probably should not say that I was surprised ... but I was when I saw one of our highest ACT Composite averages in many years!

THESE ARE NOT THE STATE TESTING RESULTS SOON TO BE RELEASED FOR JUNIORS.

When looking at this data, an important piece to interpret is the number (or percent) of graduates who have taken an ACT. Nebraska ranks very high with typically around 80% (last year an amazing 88%) of graduates that have taken an ACT compared to Eastern states that might have as few as 10-30%.  As you can imagine, if a school (or state) has, say 50% of graduates take the ACT, chances are that they are high performing students. Whereas a state like Colorado, that is one of several states where 100% of graduates take the ACT, will typically have a lower overall average.

With that said, Chadron High School consistently has 90-95% of graduating seniors that have voluntarily taken the ACT.  This past year was no different. Here's a summary of our data with comparisons to trends from past years that I've managed to find.

2017 National Average:    20.8

2017 Nebraska Average:   21.4

2017 Chadron Average:  22.6

Chadron High School Historical Trend of ACT Composite Averages

• 2017  22.6
• 2016  20.8
• 2015  20.4
• 2014  20.8
• 2013   22.7
• 2012   21.4
• 2011   21.9
• 2010   22.8
• 2009   20.6
• 2008   21.3
• 2007   20.6
• 2006   21.9
• 2005   20.2
• 2004   21.5
• 2003   21.0
• 2002   22.3

Last year, ACT updated the 'college readiness benchmark scores', making minor changes to the English and Science benchmarks. Benchmark scores are set through collaborative research with postsecondary institutions nationwide to show student readiness for college-level coursework.

Percent Of Students Meeting All Four Benchmarks (English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science):

• CHS   35%
• State   28%

As you can imagine, we are very proud of the academic achievements we have been maintaining. We strive each year to improve our system approach to student learning beginning in elementary grades all the way through our high school classrooms.

A special thanks to all of our teachers and students for their efforts!!!

For parents or students specifically interested in ACT preparation, I'd encourage you to visit with our guidance office for materials and to utilize some of the many online test prep materials including the ACT Online Prep.

CHS Featured In New NeLovesPS Film

Chadron High School is one of the featured schools in the new Nebraska Loves Public Schools film to be released this September. The film highlights the unique story of families from the Marshall Islands that have moved to Chadron and enrolled their children in Chadron Public Schools.

Click here to register for the film's premier on September 27th in the Student Center Ballroom on the CSC campus.

DESCRIPTION

Join Nebraska Loves Public Schools, News Channel Nebraska and Chadron Public Schools for a live screening of the new immigrant and refugee documentary, Seeds of Hope, 12 p.m. September 27. The film features students and teachers from Chadron Public Schools and immediately following the film there will be a community conversation led by the school and film participants.

Watch the film trailer: seedsofhopefilm.org

11:30 AM - Doors Open

12:00 PM - Film Screening + Community Conversation

• FILM SYNOPSIS •

Created by Nebraska Loves Public Schools, Seeds of Hope explores how schools welcome and educate immigrant and refugee families as they start their lives over in America. Follow Nebraska’s newcomer students: the inconceivable trauma and tribulations of their past, the perseverance to succeed in the present, and their hopes for a brighter future through quality education.

In select theaters September 13, at iloveps.org September 15.

Special thanks to Chadron Public Schools for its support of this program. 

• ABOUT THE LIVE FORUM •

This film and its accompanying panel discussion are part of a special event series between News Channel Nebraska and Nebraska Loves Public Schools. The event is free and open to the public. The event will also bring together community partners to connect parents, teachers, and community members with the efforts to increase empathy and awareness for our families in our school communities. The goal of this event series encourages others to continue support for public schools.

•••

Nebraska Loves Public Schools is made possible by The Sherwood Foundation. ©Nebraska Loves Public Schools, Inc. 2017

Join the conversation about public schools in Nebraska. Use #ILovePublicSchools when sharing on Twitter and Facebook.

Aug. 21st Eclipse Viewing Information

On Monday, August 21, 2017 Chadron Public Schools will host a Solar Eclipse Viewing and Sack Lunch for our students.  A signed permission slip is REQUIRED for participation in this viewing so please look for the permission slip in the packet of information sent home on the first day of school. We look forward to sharing this experience with our students!

Students will have the option of remaining inside the building to view the eclipse via NASA's live video feed.

Chadron, NE

Start of Partial Eclipse: 10:27am

Maximum Eclipse: 11:49am

End of Partial Eclipse: 1:15pm

2017

New Student & Parent Informational Slideshow

We will not be hosting a separate new student orientation program this year, instead we'll offer two evening opportunities for iPad training on August 7th & 8th at 6:00pm as well as the yearly Fall Sports Meeting on August 10th at 6:30pm all hosted in the High School Auditorium. 

The slideshow below contains information for new students and parents to our high school. The slides are set to transition every 10 seconds or use the controls at the bottom.

Fall Sports Practices Start Monday, August 7th

Monday, August 7th is the official start date for all fall sports. 

Here is the practice schedule: Cross Country - 6:30am on HS Track Ladies Golf - 7:00am @ Ridgeview Golf Course Football - 8:00am on practice football field Volleyball - 9:00am team meeting @ CMS room 126 Softball - 9:00am conditioning @ MS Gym Practice 4:00pm @ Hampton Field

Required Training for Student iPad Deployment

Student & Parent required iPad training:

Monday, August 7th 

and Tuesday, August 8th 

@ 6:00pm in the High School Auditorium

Our routine and format of having every student attend one required digital citizenship training with a parent/guardian has not changed. However, in an effort to enhance the training, we have brought in a guest speaker to present the dangers and current court cases involving the misuse of technology and social media.

Karen Haase will speak at our August 7th & 8th presentations to students and parents. Karen Hasse is a partner in the Lincoln law firm of KSB School Law, where she focuses her practice exclusively on representing public school districts and related and related entities. She holds degrees from Hastings College, Kansas State University and the University of Nebraska College of Law. Prior to attending law school, Karen taught at both the high school and post-secondary level.

Any students wishing to receive a school iPad are required to attend one training session then iPads will be handed out the first three days of school. Students and parents unable to attend on August 7th or 8th will need to schedule a training with our Tech Department after the start of the school year.

Important Start-of-the-Year School Dates

Here we go, another school year is about to begin!  :)

I hope everyone haa a great summer break. I've listed the important dates below for students and parents.  A parent or guardian must attend with the student to: iPad Orientation and the Fall Sports Meeting.

This year, we're conducting the required iPad orientation on two dates with the plans to bring in an exceptional speaker to address digital citizenship and online safety. iPads will then be handed out to students during the first three days of school for students who have attended the iPad orientation. Any student that has not attended an orientation with a parent/guardian will need to schedule an orientation with our Tech Office after the start of school.

We look forward to seeing you!

iPad Orientations (attend any one with a parent/guardian):

Monday, August 7 - iPad Orientation 6:00 pm

Tuesday, August 8 - iPad Orientation 6:00 pm

(All parents/guardians and students MUST attend one of these iPad Orientation meetings.  iPads will not be handed out at the orientation, instead, iPad deployment will be the first three days of school to those students who attended an orientation meeting with a parent.  iPads will not be handed out if orientation was not attended)

Fall Sports and New/Freshman Student Orientation:

Thursday, August 10 - 6:30 pm - High School Fall Sports Meeting - H.S. Auditorium

Fall Sports Seasons:

Monday, August 7 - Football, Volleyball, Cross Country, Softball and Girls Golf practice starts

Start of School:

Wednesday, August 16 - 1st Day of school - 1:30 dismissal

Thursday, August 17 - 1:30 dismissal

Friday, August 18 - 1:30 dismissal

HS Open House:

Tuesday, August 22- Open house, 6-7 p.m. Opportunity to walk through the school and visit with staff.