To Our Cienega Community,
I am writing this with excitement and mixed emotions.
I vividly remember the first time I drove out to the property site where Cienega was to be built. The memory of the groundbreaking, the walls going up, the big tent in the courtyard because the two finished buildings on campus were the administration (100) and 300 house for the start of the school year.
That first year included day by day construction, 9/11, the birth of my daughter on 9/12 (just 6 weeks after opening the school), the band practicing in the lobby of the administration building, room 317 as the football locker room, staff using cell phones as our only way to communicate with parents, pizza and Pepsi for lunch - the only food option for two months, our ribbon cutting, the dedication of the Boyd B. Baker Gymnasium, host to the first Vail Pride Day (held on this campus before moving to the fairgrounds).
Wonderful beginnings, an incredible journey through the last 13 years. I am in awe of the staff, parents, community, and most importantly the students who have grown up at Cienega and ventured off to become successful adults in our society.
This experience has been one of the best experiences of my life. You have all taught me many life lessons and given me memories that have made me "A lifelong Cienega Bobcat".
Starting on Monday, March 24, Ms. Julia Kaiser will be "acting principal". She will have an office in the administration building to meet with students, staff, parents, and community members. Ms. Kaiser and her administrative team will finish this school year and continue with the planning for the upcoming school year.
I will be in a supporting role to the administrative team, but she will be the "principal". She is dedicated to supporting students, staff, parents, and the community she serves. If you need to contact Ms. Kaiser, she will continue to have the contact information of kaiserj@vail.k12.az.usShe can also be reached by calling her secretary, Kim at 879- 2855.
Thank you for being the best community to serve as principal of your first comprehensive high school in Vail School District.
With respect, memories, and many thanks,
Dr. Tricia Peņa Principal A lifelong Cienega Bobcat |
TEACHER JOB FAIR
|  Click here to download flier and print
|
SPEND SPRING BREAK IN COSTA RICA!
| |
HEY BOBCAT!!! You a wild thing? Wanna ride zip lines 60 feet up, go whitewater rafting and kayaking, visit hot springs and ride horses? HEY!!! Have you always wanted to see the REAL rainforest? Do you love animals and plants? Want to see tree frogs and monkeys and crazy plants and flowers you never dreamed exist? Wanna go to waterfalls and a place called "cloud forest"?
HEY!! Love Spanish? Wanna speak it in real life? Wanna eat fresh mangoes, watch folklorico dancers? COME TO COSTA RICA with Mrs. Conrad and Dr. Rathman next Spring. Insanely cheap & your money goes far. Use Vail Vouchers toward the trip. Only $95.00 to sign up and secure your spot on this amazing tour.
Let's GO!!!! Stop in and talk to Mrs. Conrad in room 524 or Dr. Rathman in room 512 for more information, or email at: conradk@vail.k12.az.us or rathmanr@vail.k12.az.us
|
VARSITY WRESTLING PLACES 2ND!
|
The 2013-2104 Cienega Wrestling Team capped off a very good season by placing second in the Arizona Division II State Wrestling Tournament February 21 and 22 , 2014 at the Tim's Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, Arizona. The wrestling team also took second place at the Division II Section II wrestling tournament. The following wrestlers competed for the varsity team at the sectional tournament: Jason Ayala, Hayden Gutknecht, Johhny Ray Tellez, Jace Manriquez, Dillion Howell, R. J. Brown, Ryan Jarkowski, Joe Waller, Fred Gilliland, Andrew Vera, Will Walker, and Adrian Hinojos. The following wrestlers qualified and scored points for the team at state: Ayala 5th Place, Tellez 3rd Place, Manriquez 6th Place, Brown 2nd Place, Jarkowski top eight, Waller 5th Place, and Walker top eight. The varsity team finished with a 28-8 dual meet record.
|
THANKS FOR A GREAT SEASON!
|
Congratulations to Cienega basketball, whose girls and boys teams looked to the stars, played fantastically, and made history. At this year's state playoffs, both teams reached the Final 4. Cienega's girls played in the state title game.
Both basketball programs exemplified excellence, perseverance, and teamwork. Thank you for representing Cienega High School and the Vail School District proudly in the state tournament.
We are so proud of the tremendous success that you achieved this year in capturing Sectional Titles and giving everything you had throughout the state tournament.
To the coaches for both teams: For the boys, Head Coach Matt Johnson and his coaching staff; for the girls, Head Coach Paul Reed and his coaching staff...And to each and every player on both teams...we congratulate you on your achievements.
We thank you for providing us with thrilling memories. Your stellar play is an inspiration.
We will miss each and every senior: For the girls, Gabby Banales, Denesia Smith, and Dakota Montgomery... For the boys, Shane Burton, Ben Thompson, David Rauer, Jeffery Somers, Shawn Vassell, and Adrian Valenzuela.
You have made lasting impressions at this school. You will be missed.
To us...you are champions.
Jason Bradley Miller
|
BAND NEEDS YOUR HELP!
| |
Since the start of the Copper Thunder Band Program at Cienega High School these student musicians have continuously impacted the greater Vail area through their passion for sharing music with others and supporting the student body. At the beginning of the 2010/11 school year, when the current music director took over, only 36 students were enrolled in the Copper Thunder Marching Band. This year the band marched over 100 students from all Vail High Schools, and are expecting 150 next season. Since then all of the bands have received numerous awards; including the marching, symphonic and jazz bands all receiving the highest scores possible at regional competitions. The marching band went into State Championships as the 7th best Division II band in the entire state!
Members of the Copper Thunder Band Program are also successful on an individual level, as 28 of them participated in the Southeast Arizona Regional Honor Band and Orchestra. This is a huge accomplishment by the students and something that the entire community should be proud of. With all of the growth in numbers and accolades that the students continue to gain there is a significant lack of funds that would provide band uniforms to replace the 13-year-old uniforms and add additional uniforms for the 40 students who will not have one to use. There is a huge shortage of instruments for the students to us as well.
The band is currently raising funds to meet an urgent deadline to assure that all of these materials are available for the upcoming school year. You can help contribute through the use of tax credits and donations; they are also doing a Rummage Sale in April, the Band Aid 5k run/walk on May 17th
and our annual Golf tournament in August at Del Lago.
 Click here for more info on the 5k. |
KEY CLUB WRAPS UP ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL YEAR!
| |
Cienega's Key Club is closing the books on the 2013-2014 school year this month as we swear in our new officers this month and get ready an amazing 2014-2015 year! We will be hosting our annual awards banquet the week we come back after break and then attending the district convention with Key Clubs from around the southwest at the end of the month.
The club will be celebrating a fruitful year of service and leadership. The students have raised thousands of dollars to eliminate maternal neonatal tetanus around the world, decorated four group homes for the holidays and provided gift cards for each resident to make the season bright, moved tons of gravel and dirt to help children with chronic illnesses who have retreats at Treehouse Farm in Elgin, fed the families of hospitalized children at Ronald McDonald House, helped put on two events with Tagg Runs for charities, and countless other hours for many different organizations that serve children.
These students have amazing opportunities to learn to serve others while developing leadership skills for their futures. None of this would be possible without the support of the Kiwanis. Our Kiwanis advisor has been an amazing resource and role model to all of us in Key Club. Dr. Ken Sutten has been with the club since it started and continues to help us on so many levels, we couldn't do what we do without him.
If you are interested in knowing more about helping the Key Club or about Kiwanis, there is a meeting on the last Thursday night of each month (during the school year) in the library at Cienega at 7:00 PM, we would be happy to see you there.
|
GO TO GREECE SPRING BREAK 2015
| |
Dreaming of going to Greece?
Well now you can, and inexpensively!
$2805 - you can also save $100 if you register early!
That's only $226 a month
March 09, 2015-March 17, 2015
Here is the link for this fabulous trip!
http://www.eftours.com/tour-website/1513920JJ
There will be a ...
Mandatory parent meeting on Wednesday,
March 26, 2014 at 6:30pm in room 302
This trip is includes airfare, entrance to all exhibits, hotel and two meals every day!
Some of the sites we will be visiting are:
Athens - including the temple of Athena
Olympia - Where the Olympics were born!
Dephi - the temple of Apollo
Epidarurus
Mycenae and much, much more!
|
NEWS FROM THE TRACK & FIELD TEAM
| |
The Track and Field team celebrated the setting of new school records. The record breaking athletes slipped in their name plates into the Track and Field School Record plaque located in the foyer of the gym. Setting new records were Kenniss Pannell in the Triple Jump, Alana Wade for Shot put and Christian Poe for tying the high jump record.
11 members of the Track and Field team traveled to Independence High School in Glendale on March 1st to participate in the Ironwood Track Clinic. The athletes were able to train with Jarred Rome, 2 time Olympian in the discus and shot put and Jamie Nieto 2 time Olympic high jumper. Coaches Tracey Rowley and Christina Pena accompanied the athletes to the clinic. In the picture is Jacob Meeker-Hackett and Jeremy Meeker-Hackett with Jarred Rome.
|
PROPOSED MODIFIED BLOCK SCHDULE QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
| |
Q.What is a modified block schedule?
A. If Cienega adopts a modified block schedule next year, we will have periods 1-6 on Monday, Thursday, and Friday. Tuesday would be a 1, 3, 5 block and Wednesday would be a 2, 4, 6 block. On block days there would be a 45 minute Advisor Base after 1st and 2nd period. Zero hour would not change.
Q.Why are we looking at a schedule change for next year?
A.Cienega Administration, along with District and state visitors (AdvancED School Accreditation Organization) have noticed that our Advisor Base is often times not as instructional as it is supposed to be. We could either drastically change Advisor Base or we could consider a new schedule with less "unstructured time." With the modified block, the Advisor Base two times a week can be used for both instructional and non-instructional activities.
Q. What happens if we keep Advisor Base four days a week? A. To simplify a complicated issue, Advisor Base is only possible if it is an academic class. The
220 minutes each week must be instructional for us to receive funding from the state and for students to receive credits for the class. If the proposed schedule change does not pass, Advisor Base will have to be reorganized to improve its instructional value. All students will be enrolled in an academic Advisor Base. It cannot be used for study hall, completing homework, extra practice time, assemblies, free time, etc.
Q. What are the academic benefits of the proposed modified block schedule?
A. Two HUGE advantages come from the proposed modified block schedule. The first is
contact time. Currently students see their teachers three times per week. With the proposed schedule, they would see each teacher four times per week. This may help with retaining the information learned in class. The second benefit is the increase in instructional time. With the proposed schedule every student at Cienega will get 36 extra hours of instructional every semester.
Q. How do the students and teachers feel about the proposed switch?
A. Change is always a little scary, so there have been many questions and concern about the
proposed new schedule. We spoke with a few students who wrote to us about their concerns. After explaining the proposed new schedule and the reasons for it, they understood and were on-board. We will be speaking with a large group or students this morning and answering any questions they may have. Our teachers voted 70% to 30% in favor of the proposed modified block schedule. The next step is to present the proposed schedule to our Site Council. Their vote will determine if it will happen next year. We will keep you posted!
If you have any questions, please contact administration.
|
|
SOLAR GO-KART CLUB AT FULL SPEED
| |
The Bobcat Solar Go-Kart Club fundraising efforts are at full speed with the launch of their on-line campaign to financing the building of two high-tech Solar Go-Karts. The "Robocats" need your financial help to compete with 14 other Arizona high schools committed to the 2014 UofA Racing the Sun Challenge. Stay tuned here at Cat Chat, and FundingGarage.com for updates on the building of the karts, the location of the race in April, and the fundraising progress. Thanks in advance for your support! Check out our "Robocat" below.
|
|
CHS TUTORING SCHEDULE
FOR 2013-2014
| |
|
|
VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR CORNER
| |
It is hard to believe that the third quarter of this school year will be ending on Friday. Spring Break will follow and then before we know it, graduation will be upon us.
Prior to that however, are several important events leading up to that grand day. The Senior Exit Project (SEP) is one of those events. Please consider volunteering to judge our Senior Exit Projects. You will not be disappointed. The SEP is the culmination of a year's worth of hard work and preparation from our seniors. We will be sending out all of the information needed once we come back from break.
As always, a BIG thank you to all of our fabulous volunteers.
Happy Spring Break!
Sincerely,
Patty McKnight
Volunteer Coordinator
Cienega High School
mcknightp@vail.k12.az.us
879-2811
|
PHAT CAT WINNER
|
Congratulations to Panella Linden for winning the Phat Cat Drawing today, Friday, March 7, 2014. Panella won a Canon Powershot Digital Camera!
Congrats Panella!
|
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
| |
3/10 - 3/21 Spring Break4/10 - SEP Junior Parent Meeting4/26 - Cheer Clinic
4/26 Prom
|
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 Peņa, 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 taggarte@vail.k12.az.us
Silhouette Photography - 886-1710 (Senior pictures for yearbook)
District Office - 879-2000
Transportation - 879-2475Get your YEARBOOK today!
Follow Us on FACEBOOK Follow CHS on Twitter |
CHS Online Store
Spirit Wear & More!
| 
|
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 looking for a job?
The Vail School District 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.
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. |
|
|
