Red Ribbon Week!

This week we will be recognizing Red Ribbon Week in all of Corsicana ISD.  Red Ribbon Week is the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the country.  We must all work together to keep our schools in Corsicana drug free!  Please see the home page of the Corsicana ISD website for Red Ribbon Week information.  CISD Home page

This week will be the last week of the 9 week grading period.  Students, please make sure you are checking with your teachers to ensure that everything is in order.  We need all of you to be successful in all of your classes!

TAKS Re-Testing
We will have TAKS re-testing all week. 
*ELA-Monday
*Math-Tuesday
*Science-Wednesday
*Social Studies-Thursday

Homecoming week at CHS was great last week!  It was great to see all of our students having fun while learning!

If you missed the Homecoming pep rally, you missed a treat.  It was the most amazing pep rally I have been at during my time at CHS.  So much great spirit from all of our students!  It was awesome to see our students cheering so loudly for a special group of students that danced with our CHS Calicos.  A big shout out to our Homecoming King, Samson Gregg, and our Homecoming Queen Veronica Reyes.

 Homecoming King Samson Gregg

Homecoming Queen Veronica Reyes

Please come out this Thursday night at 7:30 pm and check out "Antigone."  It is a dessert theatre so bring money for treats.  Admission is $5.00.

A huge congratulations to our Tiger tennis team!  They are the 2013 Area champs!!!  They won the area championship game against Ennis!  The Tigers will now go on to the regional tournament.  The regional tournament will be Oct. 25th and 26th in Grapevine.  We will update you on start times.

Go Tigers!

Home of Champions!!!

Homecoming 2K13

It's that time again! Homecoming at Corsicana High School!  It is my hope that everyone will enjoy all of the activities that are planned this week.  I can still remember Homecoming week back when I was in high school.  The dress up days were probably the funniest and most exciting.

I will allow Celeste Biltz to tell you about the Homecoming activities.  Please read her commentary here: Homecoming 2K13

Corsicana ISD will also be recognizing the 50th anniversary of the CHS State Champion team as well as the 45th anniversary of the 1968 Jackson High School State Champion team, after the crowning of the 2013 Homecoming Queen during the Homecoming game. It will be great to have these former Tigers and Bears at our beautiful athletic complex. Welcome Home!

Students please remember that you have 2 more weeks before we finish out the first 9 weeks.  It is very important that you have mastered all concepts that have been taught thus far.  If you haven't please talk with your teachers about learning those concepts moving forward.

 Students and parents do not forget that we have two early release days at the end of this month.  Those days are Tuesday, October 29th and Wednesday, October 30th.  All students will be released at 11:00 am.  Students may choose to stay for lunch which will be from 11:00-11:30.  Buses will run at 11:30 am.  The early release bell schedule will be posted around school and in classrooms this week.

Early Release Schedule Oct. 29th
Early Release Schedule Oct. 30th

PSAT
We will administer the PSAT Wednesday, October 16th to Sophomores and Juniors.  The testing room assignments will be posted around campus this week.  Good luck!

A big shout out to the Corsicana High School tennis team.  They are this year's 16-AAAA District Champions!  They dominated every opponent they played against in district.  They will begin area play this Friday in Ennis!

Good luck to our band this Saturday!  They will be going to the UIL Region 8 marching competition in Waco.  The competition will be at Midway High School.  The Tiger marching band will march around 3:00 pm.  Go Band!

Let's all have fun this week for Homecoming!  We will work hard in the classroom, and play hard when it's time to have fun!  Set your Homecoming out!

Students receiving their Calico Letterman's Jackets

Go Tigers!

Home of Champions!

Go Band!

The first 6 weeks of school is in the books, and I am thankful to everyone for a great start!  I am grateful to our parents who are always so supportive to the faculty and staff of Corsicana High School.  Parents, if you have questions or concerns please do not hesitate to give us a call at 903-874-8211.  We are here for you!

I am proud to announce the students who have been nominated for this year's Homecoming Court.  They are: Makenzie Lee, Cecelia Lopez, Veronica Reyes Mckenzie Mrazek, Kayla Wilkie, Caraline Means, Calae "Ai" Wilson, Emma Allen, Vicky Munoz, Sarah Dockery, Devontay Bell, Denim Sinclair, Donovan Fields, Samson Gregg, Michael Roman, Donovan Hailey, Austin Aldama, Francisco Escamilla, Christian Minniear, and Jason Dilbeck. Congratulations to all of the nominees!

For more info about Homecoming, please click here: Homecoming Info

Shout out to the Tiger band for doing an amazing job at the Waco Marching Festival.  The band received grand champion in the 4A division of the marching competition.  They also received outstanding marching, outstanding auxiliary (color guard), and outstanding percussion.  Go Band!  If you haven't had the opportunity to see the band perform, you are truly missing a treat.  The look and sound great! 

Another shout out goes to the volleyball teams who swept Jacksonville this past Friday.  Way to dominate ladies!!!  They will have a home game this Tuesday beginning at 5:30 pm.  See you there! 

Please take time to check out the Tiger tennis team this Tuesday beginning at 4:00 pm.  This is their last home game!  

I encourage all of our students to get involved in something at CHS.  We have many exciting organizations, clubs, fine and performing arts, and athletic teams to give involved in.  School is so much more fulfilling when you are involved!  

This Wednesday will be a college day!  Wear your favorite college/university shirt or hoodie.  

Homecoming Court

Senior Class of Corsicana High School

Go Tigers!

Home of Champions!  

HB5

I am sure many of you have heard about a piece of legislation that was voted on in the last legislative session called HB5. This legislation will drastically change the way our plans function for graduation for our students. Many people know about the testing changes that took place under HB5 which reduced the number of tests for graduation to 5. Those tests are Algebra I, Biology, US History, and ELA I and II (Reading and Writing). I think we would all agree that this is a welcome change for all students.

One of the big changes that took place that has not been talked about as much is the change in graduation plans for all Texas students.  Currently students are under the 4X4 plan that calls for four years of Math, English, Science, and Social Studies.  You may have also heard of the minimum, recommended, and distinguished plans of study.  Most students currently graduate under the recommended plan of study.  Currently the commissioner of education is working to adopt a transition plan to implement HB5 and replace the current graduation plans and move to the new foundation plan. The new plans will begin in the 2014-2015 school year.  I will attach a short presentation from the Texas Education Agency that will provide some insight on the courses that our students must have to graduate.  

So what else is new... Another big change within the graduation plans are the endorsements that may lead to a particular career field.  Students must select an endorsement in the following areas: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), Business and Industry, Public Services, Arts and Humanities, and Multidisciplinary Studies.  The attached link will provide you with possible careers that fall under each area.

Students may still earn a distinguished level of achievement under this new foundation plan. The attached link will provide you the information on how to reach the distinguished level of achievement.

The state board of education has not made their final ruling on everything and we are patiently waiting.  However, we have already begun the process of breaking everything down and making it simpler for all of our stakeholders.  I will continue to update you on our progress as we move forward.

The Texas Education Agency HB5 info site: HB5 Information

HB5 Summary: HB5 Summary

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Thanks to all who came out to the Pink Out game Friday night! It was great to see so many members of the Corsicana community out for this great event.  It is always great to be a Tiger!

Students and parents please do not forget that this is the 6th week of school and a crucial grading cycle will end this Friday.  All students who participate in extracurricular activities will have their grades captured this Friday and it will be used for eligibility.  Students, please check with your teachers to ensure that you are mastering your concepts, and that all assignments have been turned in.  We need 100% of you successful in class!

Pink Out!

CHS Students of the Month: Austin Aldama and MaKenzie Lee

Go Tigers!

Home of Champions!

Pink Out!

Last week was a great week at Corsicana High School!  One of the events that made it great was our College Fair.  We did the fair differently than we had done it in the past.  This year we had it during the school day.  We weren't sure how this would go, but we believe that it made a much larger impact on our students.  Every student at CHS had the opportunity to participate in the fair this year.  We are a learning community of over 1,600 students and it is awesome that we were able to give all of them exposure to colleges and universities.

This Friday we will have a "Pink Out" event at the home football and volleyball games.  CISD is encouraging fans, students, parents and guests to participate in a PINK OUT at the Sept. 27 PINK OUT game vs. Sulphur Springs at Tiger Stadium and Tiger Gymnasium. The PINK OUT games are a community awareness effort to encourage all ages to take advantage of medical screenings and prevention strategies regarding all forms of cancer. Many CISD students, staff and community members are affected by cancer in some way. It is up to all of us to stand up to cancer so that we can live our best life, and give others the support they need to battle this disease. On Sept. 27, students will be allowed to wear a Pink shirt/t-shirt to school in support of the PINK OUT. (Offensive shirts will not be allowed.)  We want the entire home side to be full of fans in pink! 

Following the faculty/staff meeting this Wednesday we will have an optional learning opportunity for staff, students, other CISD staff, and community members.  We will learn about blogging.  So, if you want to learn about blogging stop by the CHS band hall at about 4:10 pm.  The first part of the meeting will be for CHS faculty/staff only.  Let's all learn together!

Parents and students please remember that all students must be in class by 7:40 am daily.  Every second in the class room is important! 

Please continue to support all of our students at the many events that they are involved in at CHS.  We love to see you there!

Theatre students warming up for their fall production.

Go Tigers!

Home of Champions! 

Let's Go to College!

This week we will have our big college fair at Corsicana High School.  All students will have an opportunity to go through the area where they colleges will be located.  The fair will be this Wednesday from 1:00-3:00 pm.  Students and staff are encouraged to wear college shirts this Wednesday.  I will be representing with one of my Prairie View shirts!  Go Panthers!  

Please do not forget about our Open House that will take place Monday, September 16, 2013 from 6:00-7:00 pm.  Please come out and meet your child's teacher.  This will be a come and go event.   Prior to Open House there will be a freshman iPad parent meeting for any parent/guardian that has not attended one of the previous sessions.  The session will begin at 5:15 pm.  

Extracurricular updates:

Shout out to the volleyball team for picking up another win this past Friday over the Mexia Blackcats.  They have had a great start!  Keep it up!

The football team picked up their first win Friday night against the Forney Jackrabbits.  The team was down 17-0, but never quit fighting.  They scored 36 unanswered points and won the game 36-17!  It was a great game!

The calicos, band, and cheerleaders continue to look great on Friday nights.  They represent Corsicana High School so well!  

Having fun at the game with the Calicos!

Go Tigers!

Home of Champions! 

Rolling Right Along!

We have completed our first two weeks of school and I must say that I have enjoyed every bit of it!  It has been great to see all of our students back in the building learning, and enjoying the activities that they participate in.  Our students have transitioned to our new bell schedule flawlessly.  I am always encouraged by their ability to adapt to change.  This is a great attribute for them to have as they move beyond high school.

Academic updates:
We have included in our schedule an advisory period that meets each day for 30 minutes.  We have several different types of advisory classes that your child may be a member of.  Our main focus for advisory is: intensive academic intervention, college readiness, and UIL academics.  I am excited about the intense focus that will take place in these three areas.

Extracurricular updates:
It has been great to see all of our extracurricular programs back in full swing.  As a principal it always brings me great joy to see our students involved in the things that they enjoy.  It makes it even better because they are representing Corsicana High School.

I had the opportunity yesterday to attend one of our tennis matches.  If you haven't had the opportunity to check out Tiger tennis, then you are missing a treat.  They are amazing!  They were straight dominating Waxahachie.  It was crazy!!!

Our volleyball team has also been doing a great job.  They will have another home game this Tuesday at Tiger gym.  See you there!

A big shout out goes to our cheer programs, Calicos, and our band.  They are all excellent, and represent CHS in a great way!

The next two football games will be away.  We will face Forney this Friday.  I would love to see you in Forney supporting the Tigers!

Date Change
Please do not forget that the CHS open house has moved to Monday, September 16, 2013 from 6:00-7:00 pm.
Come out and meet your child's teacher!!!

We are Corsicana!
Home of Champions!

With members of our tennis team! Go Tigers!