Cienega High School
Cat Chat Newsletter
January 2014    

 

 

Dear Cienega families,

 

As many of you may have heard, I will be retiring from the Vail School District at the end of June 2014. I am completing 28 years in education with 14 of these years as the principal of Cienega High School. After 10 years of teaching at the elementary level, I transitioned into administration as principal of Desert Willow Elementary in Rita Ranch.  

 

In 2000, I was selected as the principal for Vail's first comprehensive high school, Cienega. The Governing Board supported the hiring recommendations of an exceptional high school cadre of teachers and support staff.

 

The first teacher I interviewed and hired was Mr. Nemer Hassey.  His charge was to develop the math department and a high school athletic department. He was up for this challenge and his career in Vail reflects his accomplishments as an instructional leader, creating an award winning football program, and developing the foundation for high school athletics in the Vail School District. He and other key staff taught this elementary teacher and principal the ins and outs of high school education and programs.

 

Mr. Hassey became one of three Assistant Principals and was announced this month as the Arizona High School Assistant Principal of the Year. He is most deserving of this prestigious award.  Mr. Hassey's appointment as Cienega's next principal was approved at the last Governing Board meeting. Fall 2014 will be Mr. Hassey's last football season as he transitions into his new position.  Assistant Principal, Ms. Julia Kaiser, will be the interim principal starting the school year until Mr. Hassey's first "official" day, December 1, 2014.  Your Cienega administrative team has served the school well, dedicated to our students, staff, and parents.

 

As I move through this necessary ending and into my new beginnings, please know that I am honored and humbled to haved served our community. I will continue to watch and listen to the stories and successes of our current, future, and bobcat alumni as our paths cross in our community.

 

A Lifelong Cienega Bobcat  

Tricia Pe�a, Principal

IN THIS ISSUE
Hassey Named AP of the Year
NJROTC Cadet Enlists
Seven is Seven
Seven is Seven
Seven is Seven
Band Fundraiser
CatsCARE
Coffee Cat
Coffee Cat
Senior Information
Tutoring Schedule
Tutoring Schedule
Color Guard Takes First!
Volunteer Coordinator
PHAT CAT Winners
Math Tutoring Schedule

HASSEY NAMED AS AZ HIGH SCHOOL ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR!

 

 


Mr. Nemer Hassey has been selected as the Arizona High School Assistant Principal of the Year by the Arizona School Administrators. I am very proud of his passion, dedication and accomplishments. He is a humble role model for many students and adults. Nemer and his wife will be honored in Washington DC this spring with the other 49 state winners.

 

Well earned and deserving Nemer! Tricia Pe�a.  

 

AZStar article 


NJROTC CADET ENLISTS!

 

 

   

 

LCDR George R Murga administered the Oath of Enlistment to Cadet Tatianna French on January 28, 2014 in the NJROTC classroom. She enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was surrounded by U.S. Air Force personnel, family, friends and student peers. Congrats Tatianna!


SEVEN IS SEVEN

 

 

Bobcat parents: Just a reminder about our Absence policy - 7 is 7 - A student may only accumulate 6 absences in any one class to receive credit for that class. Please check your student's attendance on PowerSchool to keep up on their absences.

 


SCHOLARSHIP TO NJROTC CADET

 

 

NJROTC Cadet Taylor Burleson was awarded a 4 year Navy ROTC scholarship this month.  The scholarship is highly competitive.  Cadet Burleson may attend any college or university of her choice as long as it hosts a Navy ROTC unit. The scholarship is worth between $80,000 to $180,000, depending on the college or university.  The scholarship pays her full tuition, pays all fees, pays for books, provides uniforms, sends her to summer military training, and provides subsistence allowance each academic month.

When she graduates she will receive a U.S. Navy Officer's Commission with the rank of Ensign.  After Commissioning she will be sent to additional schools to be trained in her choice career field (aviation, engineering, surface warfare, submarine warfare, special warfare, medical, etc.).

This is the second 4 year Navy ROTC scholarship awarded to a Vail NJROTC Cadet.  The first one was awarded to NJROTC Cadet Cynthia Morton in December 2013.

  

  


NHS FUNDRAISER

 

 

Show your school spirit in a whole new way!! NHS has now begun its pre-sale for our new Cienega High School 32 oz. Nalgene style water bottles and lanyards! Lanyards are $5 and water bottles are $10. Order yours now before they arrive and run out! Water bottles will come in the grey you see below or orange and are BPA free. Take a look at the pictures below and see Mr. Stull in room 425 or Mr. Gala in 417 to order yours today!  


 

 


BAND NEEDS YOUR HELP!

 

 

Hello Cienega Families,

 

We have several fundraisers planned over the next couple of months to help raise some much needed money for the new band uniforms.  

 

One of our fundraisers is with La Bella Baskets, I encourage you to go online and look at all they have to offer.  This is just in time for Valentine's Day and will continue to run until February 12th.  If you would like to donate a basket to the our Vail Pride Day Silent Auction, please consider using our fundraiser, this will allow the Band Booster to earn 15% of the sales.  

 

Website:  www.burkesgifts.labellabaskets.com  

 

Fundraiser Code:  CienegaBB

 

Please see the attached document for additional information and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.  

 

CLICK HERE  

 

Also, on January 30th from 5:00pm-8:00pm join us for a Buregger's Fundraiser!  See info below!


A MESSAGE FROM CatsCARE

 

 

 

Cienega Students Are C2B!

 

As our kids grow up and get behind the wheel of a car ... or even in the passenger seat with a teenage driver it can be a stressful time for us as parents. C2B (Commitment to Buckle) is a student led organization sponsored by Mr. Eric Boxley with the mission to provide seatbelt and vehicle safety awareness to all of Cienega's student body. Consistent safe driving tips are delivered to students via daily announcements. A poster campaign has been launched advising students to buckle up as well as the dangers of texting while driving. These student leaders have given surveys and collected data that indicates our students are much more likely to buckle up while driving then if they are in the passenger seat or the back seat; passenger safety is a key part of the group's mission. The C2B club is currently in the middle of several exciting projects that promote safe driving. They will be adding a safe driving clause to the contract students must sign to be eligible for a parking permit as well as affixing safe driving reminders to the parking permits for the 2014-2015 school year. The most exciting project that C2B has coming up is on April 11th, the club in coordination with UAMC and Rincon Fire Department will bring a mock crash demonstration to every student at Cienega. This will be a very powerful and emotional presentation as students get to witness first-hand the potential of tragedy that goes along with making unsafe choices while driving. We are so excited to have C2B on campus helping to make our school and Vail community safe for our families.

 

 

 


COFFEE CAT... A REALITY

 

 

The Coffee Cat has been a dream of Dr. Tricia Pe�a and Student Success Coordinator, Sheri Mitzel since their first C2G Conference in 2011... After many long hours of preparing, planning, building, and training, the Coffee Cat opened it's doors on January 7th.  The Coffee Cat is run by Renaissance Club members.  It is located in the library lobby and is open before and after school.  They offer a wide variety of hot and cold beverages at very reasonable prices.  ($2 for hot and $3 for cold.)  This spring they will offer smoothies, protein shakes, and "catuccinos".  Stop by sometime for a little cup of heaven!


BOBCAT TV ALIVE AND WELL

 

 

Bobcat TV broadcast Cienega's game against Mt. View in the MLK Classic basketball tournament at McKale Center. This is an example of our digital media Career & Technical Education program "learning by doing." Students worked in various roles (play-by-play, color commentator, on-court reporter, technical director, producer, and camera operators).

Ron Burton, a community leader, youth mentor, and Campus Response Team member was honored at halftime (and interviewed at approximately the 48:00 mark by Marina Sucku, one of our student reporters on this broadcast).

Interviews with Coach Matt Johnson, Terrance Johnson, Shane Burton, and TUSD athletic director Herman House are all included in this broadcast as well.  

 

Below is a photograph of Marina interviewing Shane and Terrance.  

 

Below that is a photo of Art Mata, who interviewed MLK Classic organizer Herman House.
 

http://www.ustream.tv/search?q=mlk+classic+cienega

If you see any of the following students who have been working hard on broadcasts all year, please feel free to congratulate them or offer them encouragement for their diligent efforts: Cody Losey, Robert Takafumi Barron, Garrett Morrison, Alec White, Marina Sucku, Holly McChesney, and Art Mata.

 

INFORMATION FOR SENIORS

 

 

 

Testing Information:

Click here for test dates. 

 

 

Graduation Reminders:

  • Cap and Gown and Announcements: Contact Jostens: 520-344-8777, [email protected]
  • Ceremony is Thursday May 23th           
  • Graduation Rehearsal is Wednesday May 22nd
  • Honors Night is Wednesday May 14th
  • Baccalaureate is Sunday, May 18th at VTOTA  
  • Please pay all of your fines... ie Bookstore, Library and Sodexo.  Unpaid fines will result in no Diploma. 

 

Scholarships:

 

Scholarship opportunities are listed and updated on the Cienega Website on the "Counselor Page."  Click here to see the page. 

 

   

 

The Wall of the Future is growing rapidly. Any senior who brings in their acceptance letter to a college or trade school, or a letter of enlistment is publicized on our Wall and is entered in the drawing to win an iPad at Honors Night in May. Cienega Seniors are C2G!

 

 

CHS TUTORING SCHEDULE
FOR 2013-2014

 

 

CHS TUTORING

 

CHS CHEER TRYOUTS AND
CHEER CLINIC

 

 



 

COLOR GUARD TAKES 1ST!

 

 

 

The Cienega Copper Thunder Color Guard took 1st place in the Fiesta Bowl Color Guard competition for the second year in the row. The team is coached by Tracey Rowley and Nicole Coggshall. Way to go girls! December 14th, it was in Phoenix

 

 

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR CORNER

 

Welcome back! I hope everyone was able to relax and enjoy the holidays.

 

Cienega will be hosting several upcoming events in which we will need your help.

 

On Wednesday, January 29, 2014, we will have our College and Career Fair. This fair consists of several businesses that come and talk to our students about their respective fields. Each business has a table display where our students can go to for information and neat, free stuff. We have many returning businesses such as the various military branches, Raytheon, the University of Arizona and Pima Medical Institute to name a few.  

 

On Tuesday, February 4, 2014, we will need volunteers to judge our students' Science Fair projects. This is a wonderful opportunity to see some of our brightest, scientific minds display their talents. If you would like to donate your time to this worthy cause, please be sure to get in touch with me.

 

Thank you for your continued support of our programs and our school. Your efforts are what Cienega High School is all about: Connections; High standards; Success.

 

Sincerely,

Patty McKnight 

Volunteer Coordinator

Cienega High School

[email protected] 

879-2811

 

PHAT CAT WINNERS
Congratulations to Tyler Boswell. Tyler was selected as the Phat Cat Drawing winner on December 19th. Tyler won a
Fender Squire Electric Guitar and Amplifier.  Congrats Tyler!


Congratulations to Damen Andersen. He was the winner of the Phat Cat Drawing on Friday, January 10, 2014. He won the $100 gift card from Best Buy.

 

 

 

Congratulations to Larissa Aguilar for winning the Phat Cat Drawing today, Monday, January 27, 2014. ! Larissa won a Ladies Fossil Watch. Congrats!

 

 

 

MATH TUTORING SCHEDULE
Click here for a schedule.

 


________________________________________________

Thank you parents for your support of Cienega. We truly appreciate your involvement! 

Sincerely,

Cienega High School

DATES TO REMEMBER 





1/29 - Half Day

2/14 - Half Day

2/15 - Vail Pride Day

2/20-2/21 - Rodeo Break

2/24 - 2/25 - AIMS Testing Late In Days  
3/7 - Final day to order Cap & Gown

3/ 10 - 3/ 21 Spring Break

4/10 - SEP Junior Parent Meeting

4/26 - Cheer Clinic

4/26 Prom





 

 

 

 

 


Connections
High Standards
Success

 


QUICK LINKS


CHS
INFORMATION

Cienega High School

Vision Statement

 

Cienega High School creates an educational environment utilizing partnerships among community, parents, and staff to assist students in maximizing their academic potential and promoting life-long learning.

 

Front Office   - 879-2800     Attendance   -  879-2803   
Bookstore     -  879-2824 
Registrar       - 879-2812

Health Office - 879-2810
Volunteer Coordinator
Patty McKnight - 879-2811                  


Front Office/200 House   
Principal
Tricia Pe�a, Ed.D
Secretary - Cathy Ochoa 879-2816 
Senior Counselor
John Tritz - 879-1843 
                        

300/700 House
Assistant Principal
Julia Kaister

Secretary - Kim Thielke 879-2855
Freshmen Counselor
Eric Boxley - 879-2854

  

400/600 House/Athletics      
Assistant Principal
Nemer Hassey
Athletic Director - Whitney Holland - 879-1813            

Secretary - Chris Rich  879-2892
Counselor A - L
Dainah Graham - 879-2819
 

500 House/Special Education/Security          
Assistant Principal
Kelly Hadden
Secretary - Teri Tatham 879-2874

Counselor M - Z
Colette Clendaniel-879-2817

Special Education Secretary Kim Lomax 879-1804

 

Communications Coordinator

Elizabeth Taggart - 879-2878 [email protected] 

 

CHS website: chs.vail.k12.az.us               

Moodle:

Silhouette Photography - 886-1710  (Senior pictures for yearbook)
      
Sodexho - 879-2090 or mymealtime.com   

District Office - 879-2000

Transportation - 879-2475


Get your YEARBOOK today!

CAT FRAT
www.catfrat.com


Follow Us on FACEBOOK 

 

 

Follow CHS on Twitter 

 


CHS Online Store
Spirit Wear & More!

Cienega Stadium Chair

Cienega Stadium Seat

 

Only available at our on-line store.

 

 Click here for Online Ordering  

 

 

Hey Bobcats: Looking for a great holiday gift? Use discount code Holiday2013 for 10% off your purchase through our online store! 

 

 

 

Support Cienega while supporting your back. Convenient pockets hold concessions and necessities. Features include: 600 denier polyester. Adjustable straps on each side of seat for perfect fit and easy carrying. Large zippered pocket for additional storage. Dimensions: 17"w x 15.5"d (seat)

 

ALL SALES FROM OUR ONLINE STORE BENEFIT CHS BOBCATS 

 


Job Openings

Are you a parent or resident looking for a job?

 

Vail School District - Community Services is looking for dynamic, energetic and positive staff members. Please click on the link below for the job descriptions, qualifications, salary guide, and the application process.

 

Please contact Linda Jones at 520-879-2032 or [email protected] for further information.

 

Click for job openings here   

 

Cienega High School
Yearbooks

It's that time of year again to pre-order your yearbook.  Go to www.jostensyearbooks.com

 

Would you like an extra 4 pages in your yearbook that you design?  This year, you can buy an extra 4 pages to be put in only your yearbook.  Go to yearbookyourself.com  

for more information.