Spring Testing!

Yep!  It's that time of the year again!  Time for state standardized testing.  We will kick it off this coming Monday with the Exit Level ELA TAKS test for Juniors.  There is a lot that goes into giving a test at a mid/large comprehensive high school.  We have about 400 students who will be taking the test that morning, but we have to find a place for the other 1,200 students to go while testing is taking place.  It seems easy, but it is a huge task.  Our job is to ensure that we provide the best testing environment for these students so they can do well.  I know all of them will work hard and give their all because this test determines if they will graduate from Corsicana High School!  They are champions so they will do great!

I believe in accountability, but I do not believe in giving our students tests just for the sake of giving tests.  It is our job to prepare them, and it is their job to work hard and do well; but we can't over do it.  Our current sophomores and freshman will have to take 15 standardized tests that all count toward graduation.  This is too much!  There has been a lot of talk around the state about reducing the number...I hope this happens!  Our focus must be about our children and not about political rhetoric or gain!  Yes!  We must have high standards! But at what cost???

Let's work to transform our schools. You do that by reducing standardized tests and spend that time teaching students.  In Texas we have to reduce some of the number of standards that we expect the students to know in each content area.  We do not have to teach everything.  Let's teach a few things very well.  We have to also connect more courses to career and technology so that its relevant to our students.  We can make this happen together!

These are just a few of my thoughts...

Good luck on the TAKS test CHS Juniors!!!  You will destroy it!

CHS activity update:

*The JV tennis team played great in the Ennis March Madness tournament today.
*The Calicos will be in competition in San Antonio for the weekend.
*Baseball team in Leander in a tournament-They have already picked up wins over Leander Rouse 4-2, and the Hutto Hippos 8-7.  The tournament will continue through Saturday in Leander.
*Softball picked up two big wins against Crawford 8-5, and Huntsville 7-6.  The tournament will continue right here at Corsicana High School.
*The track team is competing as a type.
*Both girls and boys soccer teams will compete tomorrow at home against district rival Waxahachie!
*One Act Play has gone to two clinics and have gotten lots of great feedback!

Congratulations to the CHS State Band qualifiers: Kevin Beldin, David Quinones, Alex Cuellar, Joe Vasquez, Michelle Chennault, Lexi Nelson, Heather Strauser, Brandon Landrum, Hannah Murphy, and Danny Phillips.

Go Tigers! Home of Champions!

Please support as many of these activities as possible!

Always check my twitter for up to the minute updates @ONeilCHSprincip

Get Involved!

There are so many activities for students and staff members to get involved in at Corsicana High School.  I am often amazed at the wide variety of things you can do.  It doesn't matter if you are an athlete, an artist, a dancer, a musician, a chef, or into agriculture. And the list goes on and on!  I still remember having my best times in high school when I did the things I loved to do.  What was even greater was the fact that I built lasting relationships with people that I enjoyed these activities with.

The talent show this past Friday was amazing!  There are so many talented students at Corsicana High School.  The two winning acts were great!  Peyton Simpson with her dance, and the singing group of O'Davius Smith, Erneshia Ballard, and Braylon Bonner blew the crowd away!

The PAC 10 groups had a great dodge ball tournament on Saturday!  It was great to see the students having fun in a relaxed environment!  They also helped out with the SUBE bilingual conference that took place at CHS.  It was truly a #proudprincipal moment.

A big shout out to the following groups: soccer team who had a huge win over Red Oak!  Softball for winning the tournament in Burkburnett, Baseball for outstanding play against Denton Ryan, and Tennis who played great in the Mertz Invitational!   Ag Mechanics for 1st in class at the San Antonio State Agriculture Mechanics.  A separate shout out for Dave Clemons who won an $8,000 scholarship for his prized steer!  Wow!  #HomeofChampions!!!

There have also been some teachers who have commented that they would like to have more things for teachers to get involved in at CHS for recreation and/or wellness.  I think this is a great idea!  Come by and let's talk!

Go Tigers!

Home of Champions!

Students Cristobal Arvizu, Luke Mackey, and Dave Clemons at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo

Corsicana High School Cypher!  Check this out!

Great to Have Fun and Learn!

Sometimes it is okay to stop and have fun!  I decided to take 6 minutes and do a "Harlem Shake" video with our great staff.  It didn't take much time, and it was fun to mix it up for a change.  I also wanted our students to see that we know how to have fun.  I happen to know that there are tons of CHS "Harlem Shake" videos out there simply because the students love to express themselves in a spontaneous way.  It's okay to stop and take a few minutes to just have fun!

I am excited about many of our staff members utilizing Twitter, Remind 101, and Today's Meet, for different purposes.  I was shocked when several teachers emailed me about how they had used "Today's Meet" in their classroom, and how positively the students responded to it.  These are just ways to interact with your students and to enhance your classroom instruction.

I am fired up about the talent show tomorrow!  I know the students have been working hard, and this is another way to express who they are.  It's always fun to see them get involved in all of the activities available to them.  This is what continues to make Corsicana High School such a great place!

Shout out to the softball team at Burkburnett, baseball team at Denton, soccer at Red Oak, track and field at Red Oak, and powerlifting at Fairfield.

Go Tigers!
Home of Champions!

Great Discussions!

Yes!  There have been discussions with teachers and students about our schedule for next year.  It has not been finalized, but I think it is good to have healthy discussions about things that will impact student learning.  We are currently on a modified A/B schedule and are possibly looking into other types of schedules for the 2013-2014 school year.

I do believe a great schedule has common planning periods built in for subject area teams.  For instance, if you teach English I or Algebra II you should be off at the same time as teachers that teach that content area. This allows time for these teachers to talk about student learning.  I also believe a great schedule has time built into it for flexibility.  Maybe it is time for UIL practice, or intervention, or SAT prep, whatever the case may be it will help students grow instructionally.

Above all, I am confident in the great teachers at Corsicana High School.  They are working extremely hard to ensure that our students are getting the best education possible!

Go Tigers!

Home of Champions!

New Associate Principal

Jason Crow will begin his service as the new associate principal at Corsicana High School on Tuesday, February 19th.  I am very excited about the wealth of experience that we will bring to our leadership team.  Mr. Crow comes to us from Kennard Junior/Senior High where we most recently served as principal for the past three years.  When Mr. Crow went to Kennard it was rated as Academically Unnaceptable and he quickly worked to turn the school around.  It is currently rated as Recognized.  Prior to that Mr. Crow served as the assistant athletic director and head girls basketball coach in Jacksonville ISD.  If you have time stop by and let Mr. Crow know that you are glad to have him here.

Go Tigers!

Home of Champions!

Always Learning!

Wow!  It seems that when you learning something new, there is something else that comes along that is even more exciting.  As an educator I welcome learning new things, if I am going to grow and it will help our school community grow.  The generation of students that we work with today love "new" things.  If there's a new an interesting app, they want to experience it.  Our generation has to embrace that!  It's hard sometimes, but we must understand what they understand.  Each week I try and research "new" things that are on the scene that students find interesting.

Students I encourage you to keep learning and growing as well.  If you know about something that you feel could enhance your learning experience let your teacher know about it.  Believe it or not, they want the class to be fun and engaging just like you do!

This week we will learn about: Twitter, Today's Meet, and Remind 101

Regardless of what you do within this great learning community we call Corsicana High School, get involved and have fun!

One last thing:  I thought dress for success day was awesome!  We need more days like this!

Go Tigers!

Home of Champions!

Mr. O.