News Item:
Hawk Nest is now on the district112.org website. Look under the parent link to access all CHS information. The Hawk Nest will be posted on the first school day of each month. You may subscribe to receive the Hawk Nest by e-mail at this site: http://www.district112.org/chs/subscribe.html.
There will not be a printed CHS calendar this year. Please visit the school website at www.district112.org/chs , Click on Athletics, then School Calendar for up to date events.
Mark Your Calendar:
To get the dates and times of all extra curricular activity events please go to: http://www.lakeconference.org
Sept 2
1st day of school 8:10 - 3:00
Sept 3
Make up picture day
Sept 11
POWZA - Sophomore Retreat
Oct 1
Late Start - school starts at 10:00
Oct 3
Homecoming
Oct 16-17
MEA
Principal News:
Welcome to the new school year.
We are the Hawks. Our learners, families, community, and staff make Chaska High School a great place to learn.
It is with great excitement and a deep sense of honor and privilege that I start this year as Principal at Chaska High School. We have a rich tradition of excellence in academics, athletics, activities, and the arts. In the last year, for example, more Chaska High School students than ever took the ACT and our students still increased the average composite score from 22.4 to 22.8. Minnesota has the highest ACT composite average in the country and our students outperform the state average. Additionally, Chaska High School juniors last year achieved the highest passing rate in the conference on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment test... Outstanding.
This year promises to be very exciting and very busy. Construction for Chanhassen High School is on schedule, and we realize that opening of a second high school brings with it a lot of transition and change. Our commitment to each learner and family is that we will cross those transition bridges as they come. We will plan for the transitions and communicate about them clearly. In the mean time..... We are the Hawks. We will celebrate the history that is Chaska High School and demonstrate the excellence and the pride that is being a Hawk.
Have an outstanding year and feel free to contact the school if you have questions or comments.
Student Council News / Homecoming:
The theme at Chaska High School this year is “Make Waves”. The student council is encouraging staff and students to “Make Waves” in the most positive sense. All of us working together for a positive goal can make waves for positive change here at school and in the world. This year CHS will make waves using the organization Charity Water. This organization provides fresh drinking water to countries in Africa, India and Bangladesh. Just $20.00 can give one person fresh drinking water for 20 years! The water theme of “Make Waves” will be the umbrella for many activities planned by the student council throughout the school year. This is the 103rd year for Chaska High School and students will be challenged with 103 ways to “make waves”. The ultimate goal is to challenge CHS to make a positive difference in the world – local and global; and specifically to raise money and awareness of the need for clean drinking water around the world through the Charity Water organization. You can learn more about Charity Water by visiting the website at www.charitywater.org.
In line with the water theme for the year, the Homecoming theme for 2008 is “Ride the Tide With Hawk Pride”. The student council is busy planning activities for Homecoming week: September 29-October 4. The community is encouraged to be involved. Coronation of royalty is Monday, September 29 . The annual homecoming parade is Friday, October 3rd. The homecoming dance is Saturday, Oct. 4. Watch for details of times and locations for these fun events.
It is time for us to be bigger than ourselves. Let’s make waves and send a message.
NEW...Parent Portal and Student Portal This Fall:
If you have had access to the parent portal in the past you can stop by the main office and show you ID to receive your new Parent Portal Activation Key. New parents to the portal need to come to the main office and fill out the Parent Portal request form, you will then receive your activation key via email or to the mailing address provided in the request.
Sophomore Retreat / POWZA:
The Sophomore Retreat is on Thursday, September 11th this year, so mark your calendars. Make sure that your student remembers to bring a lunch that day!
Yearbook Info:
The deadline for senior portraits is 3 p.m., Monday, November 3, 2008. Please send paper or digital copies to the yearbook advisor, Brie Nelson, at CHS. Due to the late submission date, NO late photos will be accepted. Your photo must be received by Monday, November 3rd to be pictured in the yearbook. Portraits accepted for publication should be full color, preferably a head shot, no props. Photos not meeting yearbook specifications will not be published.
Senior Party News:
The senior parents are having their first planning meeting on Monday October 6th @ 7:00 p.m. in the Blue Forum.
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
As we begin our 2008-2009 school year, please remember that ALL attendance issues are handled by the house offices. If your student is going to be absent, leave early or arrive late, you MUST call your student’s house office directly. The appropriate numbers are on the magnet which was sent to you last fall, or you can use the numbers below.
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Carver
House - Green House: 952-556-7144
Chanhassen House - Red House: 952-556-7174
East Union House - Purple House: 952-556-7184
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Counselors and CRC News:
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ACT Registration: Test: Registration Deadline:
Oct. 25 Sept. 19
Dec. 13 Nov. 7
Feb. 7 Jan. 6
April 4 Feb. 27
June 13 May 8
CHS will be a test site for all testing dates this year. CHS high school code: 240-423, test center code: 173160. Cost: ACT (no Writing), $31; ACT Plus Writing, $46.00. We encourage all juniors to take the Plus Writing once – required for admission to UM-Twin Cities and Duluth, UW-Madison as well as some other colleges. ACT testing for juniors is generally recommended in the second half of the year. Register at www.actstudent.org, paper application in CRC.
Practice: www.mncis.intocareers.org, user name: chaska password: hawks. District 112 Community Education offers a prep class before the October and April tests – register at www.ce4all.org.
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SAT Registration: Test: Registration Deadline:
(not given at CHS) Oct. 4 Sept. 9
Nov. 1 Sept. 26
Dec. 6 Nov. 5
Jan. 24 Dec. 26
March 14 Feb. 10 - SAT only, no Subject Tests
May 2 March 31
June 6 May 5
CHS high school code: 240-423. Cost: $45 Register at www.collegeboard.com.
· National College Fair: October 1 (9am-12:30pm; 4:30-8pm) and October 2 (9am-12:30), Minneapolis Convention Center. We encourage families to attend the evening session. CHS will host a Regional Minnesota/Midwest College Fair with about 100 colleges on March 17, 2009, 6-8pm.
· Performing and Visual Arts Fair: October 13, 7-9pm, UM-Twin Cities
· PSAT for Juniors: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 during the school day at CHS. More information will be coming.
· PLAN for Sophomores: mid October – more information will be coming.
Orchestra at CHS:
Orchestra has moved into the school day! If you play a string instrument or would like to learn how, please contact Ms. Nimchuk, the CHS Orchestra Director. If you're interested in an academic competition that involves learning about music history, theory and listening to, and identifying music contact Ms. Nimchuk to sign up for the Minnesota Music Listening Contest. Registration is due at the end of September. More information is available on Ms. Nimchuk's CHS webpage.
National Honor Society News:
Applications for the Chaska Chapter of the National Honor Society for current 'seniors' are due Friday September 26th. The application and selection criteria can be found on the NHS activity website. Please contact Megan Blazek (556-1571) or Krista Hammann (556-7373) for more information.
CHS Parent Involvement:
If you have not signed up to be on the CHS Volunteer list, please send your email address to Khambay Sivongsay @ Chaska High School or call 556-6215. I will add your name and email to the list of volunteers. You will then receive emails from Khambay Sivongsay, Parent Involvement Coordinator about any volunteer opportunities at CHS as well as timely parent information.
FFA News:
The Chaska FFA has been busy with Fair season. Michael Buckentine and Ellen Degler exhibited dairy cattle. The dairy cattle judging team placed 2nd at the county fair. Taylor Hamblin, Zach Utecht, Jay Kloos, Michael Buckentine, Nicole Kroells, and Katie Buckentine designed and set up a landscape design booth at the MN State Fair and received a blue ribbon. On the first day of the State Fair 26 members and friends volunteered and worked a 4 hour shift at the Little Farmhands Exhibit.
