Usamah Rodgers - ChamberMaster

AUGUST 2012SCHOLARSHIPS,SCHOLARSHIPS,SCHOLARSHIPS!We’ll Show You The Money –You Have To Go Get It!GET INVOLVED!Find The Committee That Is Right For You.UPCOMING 1 STSEMESTEREVENTSMark Your Calendars For TheseVery Important Dates!NEW CHISDDRESS CODERULESWhat’s In & What’s Out!CLASS OF 2012A Look Back At Collegiate’s InauguralGraduating ClassUsamah RodgersBEST OF LUCK! WE WILL MISS YOU!Cedar Hill Collegiate High School Newsletter

SCHOLARSHIP MONEY IS OUT THERE – AND WE CAN HELP YOU FIND IT!The Cedar Hill Collegiate HS Scholarship Quest Team is dedicated to educating parents andstudents about the millions of dollars available for today’s college-bound grads. The ScholarshipQuest Team can help provide information regarding scholarship monies, SAT/ ACT Prep Classes,internships, improving essay writing skills and so much more!The Scholarship Team not only helps find scholarships, we also work diligently to raise funds forCollegiate’s own “Deserving Student Scholarship”, a scholarship funded by Collegiate parents,family, friends & various Cedar Hill business owners. Our goal this year is to raise enough moniesto present ten $500 scholarships to deserving 2013 grads and with your help – WE CAN DO IT!For more information about the Scholarship Quest Team or to be a part of this very importantcommittee, contact Maria Burke at (214) 434-6235,

I N T H I S I S S U EU S A M A H R O D G E R SSaying Goodbye To Our BelovedFirst PrincipalM A R K YO U RC A L E N DA R SImportant First Semester Events To RememberT H E C L A S S O F 2 0 1 2Photographic Look Back At the InauguralGraduating ClassC H I S DD R E S SC O D EC H A N G E SWhat To Wear-What Not To Wear!G E T I N VO LV E D !Find The Perfect Committee, Sign Up &Make A Difference!F U N D R A I S I N GNo Fundraiser Fundraiser –What Your $50 DoesFor Collegiate

Cedar Hill Collegiate Parent Teacher Student AssociationBeing a PTSA member arms you with the opportunity to be informed,involved and educated in your child’s school and activities.From the Texas PTA president, please consider these possibilities:•Be more engaged in your child's education.•Speak up when your viewpoint is not represented.•Build a relationship with your child's teachers and staff.•Know where and with whom your child spends his time.•Know your child's likes and dislikes, and introduce your child to newopportunities and experiences.•Create a network of parents, especially of the parents of your child'sfriends, to monitor all of our children.All of these items listed are vital to your child's welfare, and being amember of PTA can facilitate every one of them. So, go ahead, and add onemore item to the list:•Encourage all of your friends and acquaintances to join PTA.Why? Because, every child benefits when the entire community is offeringits support by collaborating in the oldest and largest child advocacyassociation in the state. Together, we will reach our vision that everychild's potential is a reality!Dues increased by .50; however, PTSA continues to be a good value at$7.50 per person.This year’s PTSA officers are already busy at work making sure that thisschool year will be even better than the one before! The 2012-2013 PTSAcommittee is comprised of the following parents:Reginald Wilson – PresidentGwen Adams – 1 st Vice PresidentMichelle Raglon – 2 nd Vice PresidentCalice White – TreasurerNikki Fields – SecretaryPlease join us in welcoming and supporting this awesome group of parentsthat have stepped up and answered the call to serve our school students!

Recently, the Cedar Hill Independent School District Board of Trustees voted to relax the dress code toallow jeans and CHISD spirit T-shirts. Additionally, according to the new dress code, properly fittingshirts (not longer than to the fingertips) do not have to be tucked in.The relaxed dress code goes into effect for the 2012-2013 school year. The Board's decision follows arecommendation by the District Advisory Committee (DAC) which reviewed the dress code issueduring the past school year. The DAC is made up of principals, administrators, parents and Cedar Hillcommunity members. The 2010 strategic plan called for a review of the standardized dress code andthe committee completed that review this spring.The DAC conducted a survey of district parents, teachers and students to get their input. "Of the 3,000surveysthat were returned, more than half of the respondents wanted to allow students to wear jeans inaddition to black and khaki pants," said Director of Student Assessment Ronnie Moss. "Therespondents also wanted to expand the choice of shirts, which is why the committee decided to addspirit shirts.“The new dress code statesthat students in grades 5-12must wear a belt throughthe belt loops on their slacksor jeans. The code adds thatjeans must fit at the waistand inseam and have finishedhems. No saggy or baggypants are allowed.Writing and advertisement(other than a product logo)are not allowed.11th and 12th grade Collegiatestudents at CVC will be able tofollow the CHISD new dress codeas is. The only modification willbe at the Collegiate campuswhere 9th and 10th gradestudents will be able to wear jeansthat are blue or black denim onlywith a white polo style shirt or aCollegiate spirit shirt. Blackkhakis are always an option.

It is with very heavy hearts that we announcethe departure of our very beloved Mrs. UsamahRodgers from the Collegiate HS family. Ms.Rodgers has 17 years of educational experienceand has been with the Cedar Hill CollegiateHigh School since it’s inception 4 years ago. Shereceived her bachelor’s in education from Southwest Missouri State University (nowMissouri State University) and her master’s in education from The University ofTexas at Austin. She has worked as an elementary school teacher, as well as incampus administration on the elementary, middle and high school levels and is avalued blessing to the educational system.Mrs. Rodgers’ charming Southern drawl,genuine, ready smile and sincere concernfor the students at Collegiate made her awell respected leader to her staff, thestudents and the parents and the powersthat be will be hard-pressed to findsomeone to fill her very impressiveshoes.We wish you the very bestof luck Mrs. Rodgers inyour future endeavors andwe hope that your newschool, staff and parentswill love you just asmuch as we always will.Thank you so much for yourhard work andcommitment to students everywhere!Collegiate Will Never Be The SameWithout You!

Collegiate Will Never Be The SameWithout You! (Continued)In her final message to the students, staff andparents of Collegiate, Mrs. Rodgers writes:To The Students, Parents & Faculty of Cedar Hill Collegiate High School,It is with mixed emotions that I write to tell you of the next step in my professional journey. I havebeen offered and have accepted the position of Executive Director in Dallas ISD. In this role, I willlead twelve campuses in the South Oak Cliff Cluster.I am both humbled and honored to have been the principal of Cedar Hill Collegiate High School forthe past four years. I’m so proud of the work we’ve done together to ensure that every student isprepared to graduate ready for college. It has been an honor to be a leader of a campus committed toincreasing student achievement. I am also glad I had the opportunity to partner with parents toprovide extracurricular activities for our students. I look forward to seeing the continued success ofour work and the impact it will have. I also look forward to serving on the Site Based DecisionMaking Committee and being a member of the Collegiate Alumni Association.I’ve learned so much in my tenure and I amcontinually inspired by the committed faculty,staff, students and parents whom I’ve had theprivilege of working with atCedar Hill Collegiate High School.Usamah RodgersPride, Purpose and Perseverance (forever)

Dates Events Time8/6/2012 Freshman Parent Transition Meeting 6:00 P.M.8/14/2012 Freshman Parent Meeting 6:30 P.M.8/15/2012 Sophomores/Juniors Parent Meeting 6:30 P.M.8/16/2012 Senior Parent Meeting 6:30 P.M.8/18/2012 Makeup Date for Textbooks/Schedule Pickup 8:00 A.M.8/31/2012 Back To School Dance 7:00 P.M.9/6/2012 Meet the Teacher Night 7:00 P.M.9/14/2012 Lifetouch Picture Day 8:00 A.M.9/20/2012 PTSA Meeting 7:30 P.M.9/21/2012 Senior Picture Day 1:00 P.M9/4/2012 Community Forum 6:00 P.M.10/13/2012 Fall Coronation Dance 7:00 P.M.10/18/2012 PTSA Meeting 7:30 P.M.10/19/2012 CVC Picture Day 10:00 A.M.10/26/2012 Collegiate Picture Re-Take Day 8:00 A.M.11/1/2012 Community Forum 6:00 P.M.11/9/2012 Poetry & Jazz Night 7:00 P.M.11/15/2012 PTSA Meeting 7:30 P.M.11/17/2012 Fall Parent Academy 9:00 A.M.12/6/2012 Community Forum 6:00 P.M.12/20/2012 PTSA Meeting 7:30 P.M.* Some activities and eventsare subject to change. Emailnotifications will go out ifany changes to this scheduleoccur.

Message From The Editor…Hello! Hello! Hello! To all of the students, parents and staff of Cedar Hill Collegiate High School! I am Maria Burke, editor ofthe CHCHS Newsletter and I would like to take this opportunity to welcome back all returning students and extend a heartyCollegiate “Welcome” to all new students, parents and staff. I look forward to meeting and working with as many of you aspossible during this upcoming school year.As we embark on a new school year, I would like to take a moment to encourage ALL parents to GET INVOLVED!!! Beinga part of the Collegiate family requires a lot of work and it calls for dedication and commitment from everyone. Your childrenneed you! We need you! And believe me , there is more than enough work to go around. PTSA, Booster Club, HospitalityCommittee, Communications Committee, Newsletter Committee , Volunteer Coordinators, Administrative Assistance –the list goes on and on!According to numerous researchers, not only is parental involvement encouraged – it is essential to the success and well-beingof our students. A research study conducted by the Michigan Department of Education shares the following:‣86% of the general public believes that support from parents is the most important way to improve the schools. 4‣Lack of parental involvement is the biggest problem facing public schools. 5‣ Decades of research show that when parents are involved students have 6 :•Higher grades, test scores, and graduation rates•Better school attendance•Increased motivation, better self-esteem•Lower rates of suspension•Decreased use of drugs and alcohol•Fewer instances of violent behavior‣Family participation in education was twice as predictive of students’ academic success as family socioeconomic status.Some of the more intensive programs had effects that were 10 times greater than other factors. 7‣The more intensely parents are involved, the more beneficial the achievement effects. 8‣The more parents participate in schooling, in a sustained way, at every level -- in advocacy, decision-making and oversightroles, as fund-raisers and boosters, as volunteers and para-professionals, and as home teachers -- the better for studentachievement. 9So come on parents! Aren’t your children worth the extra time and effort? YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE. As a matterof fact – you make all of the difference in the world! Let’s have an awesome year together! Hope to see ya soon!Sources: 4 Rose, Gallup, & Elam, 1997 ; 5 Rose, Gallup, & Elam, 1997 ; 6 Parent Teacher Association7 Walberg (1984) in his review of 29 studies of school–parent programs. ; 8 Cotton, K., Wikelund, K., Northwest RegionalEducational Laboratory, School Improvement Research Series. In Parent Involvement in Education.9 Williams, D.L. & Chavkin, N.F. (1989). Essential elements of strong parent involvement programs. Educational Leadership,47, 18-20

A Message From Interim Principal, Jackie Fagan"Welcome back! I am extremely honored that the school district has named me Interim principal of Cedar Hill CollegiateHigh School and wish Ms. Rodgers all the best in her new position. I am aware of the anticipation and eagerness thataccompanies new leadership in any organization. I know that change can provoke both excitement and anxiety. I vow tocontinue to pursue excellence; to maintain the essences and excellence by which this school was built; and to serve andsupport each of you to reach our goals in the 2012-2013 school year. We truly have an incredible year ahead of us!“-Jackie FaganInterim PrincipalAbout Ms. Fagan…Ms. Fagan begin her 17 th year in education proudly serving the Collegiate High School community in the role of theinstructional leader. Born and raised right here in the DFW metroplex, she comes from a long lineage of seasonededucators. This family influence has shaped her personal standard of caring for each of her students in the same mannerin which she has faith that another educator is caring for her son, Camden.She graduated from Arlington’s Sam Houston High School. She received her B.A. degree from University of Texas inArlington in Exercise Sports Studies with a minor in English and Education and her Masters in EducationAdministration from Texas Christian University. Ms. Fagan’s professional experience includes Teacher, Coach, andTeacher Coordinator in Grand Prairie ISD and it has continued as an Assistant Principal, District Coordinator, andDean of Instruction in Cedar Hill ISD.From preparing students in the classroom for the real world to bridging community college students to a four-yearuniversity, Ms. Fagan’s career in education has afforded her many rewarding experiences. Still, she continues to inspirethe innovative minds of the young adults of whom she feels so fortunate to be surrounded by – she hopes as much as theyinspire her!

HELP SPREADTHE NEWS!!!Join The Collegiate Magazine NewsletterTeamDo you like to go to fun events? Do you like to run homeand hop on Facebook after said events and telleverybody all about the AWESOME things going on atCollegiate? Are you a snap-happy camera fiend thatjust cannot get enough of taking pics? Well if youanswered “yes” to any of these crazy questions – thenhave I got the committee for you!The Collegiate Newsletter Committee wants you to be apart of the exciting world of picture taking and eventcovering and story telling like only Collegiate can do it.The Collegiate Magazine is a bi-monthly publication thatprovides students and parents all kinds of goodinformation. Information on upcoming events, meetings,testing dates, scholarships, study skills, volunteeropportunities and so much more!Both students and parents are encouraged to be apart of this very important committee and it is anexcellent opportunity to rack up some serious volunteerhours.For more information, contact me, Maria Burke at214-434-6235 or email me at ma2279@netscape.net.Thanks and I look forward to working with YOU!