EAGLES NEST
April 12, 2019
Centennial Community,
Well, it was quite a week. It started with a packed parking lot on Monday morning, and is finishing out with a packed cafeteria for WorldFest on Thursday leading into the last day before the spring holiday. At least we can say we finished strong! The Wingspan has done a solid reporting job on the parking situation here at Centennial, but there are a few details I would like to give a little more attention to.
Since Monday afternoon, I’ve received a handful of parent and student questions that I’d like to address here so we can have a common understanding of what the issues are and how we are going to move forward. The most often asked question was ‘Why now’? The simple answer is there was not an issue with adequate parking spaces earlier in the year. There may have been people who were taking a chance and breaking the rules, but their violations didn't cause an issue for others. As the year has progressed, and juniors started earning driver's licenses, we've seen an increase in cars on the lot. On Monday and again on Wednesday, Officer Carneal had to help students and staff who had permits find places to park as the lot was filled to the brim. So, the problem finally became too great to go unchecked.
Another set of concerns has to do with whether or not the school adequately communicated the countywide requirements. As the parent of three HCPSS graduates, I personally understood very clearly that I had to go to a safe driver presentation every year a Dillon child wanted to drive to school. Nevertheless, we spent some time reviewing our communication and that of the school system, and feel we did a good job. But, there is some room for us to be more emphatic and to emphasize the annual obligation.
In speaking with students and parents here at Centennial, I believe part of this issue has to do with the culture of the school community and an unspoken understanding about how things work around here. One student explained to our office staff, “Nobody ever had to do it before, so we have just been following suit.” Whatever the reason for the lack of common understanding, what is abundantly clear is we need to do a better job of explaining the expectations and making them accessible to guardians and students alike. Further, we have to inspect what we expect. After all, this has also taught us that when things are left unchecked, they tend to lose importance.
Moving forward, I want to share where we will go from here to improve this situation. First, the entire parking lot is scheduled to be repainted this summer. As part of that process, we have been conducting assessments of traffic flow and current directional signs. We have made several requests for changes and additions to signage. Next year, you can expect to see signs that restrict parking to permitted vehicles only. Second, this week, I discovered parking rules and regulations are clearly included in the student handbook issued by the school system, but were not included in the school-based handbook. That will be remedied next year. In addition, students will be working to create an electronic student handbook in the Canvas Student community and it will be included there, as well.
Next year, parking permits will be issued to seniors, intern/mentor students, and students with special circumstances who have submitted an appeal to me. If space permits, juniors will be issued permits based on an established wait list and/or lottery. As we have strongly suggested in the past, if there is any chance a student will receive a license during the school year, families should take note of the Safe Driver presentations published annually on the school system website and plan to attend one proactively. Presentations are scheduled throughout the year at each of the 12 high schools and students may attend any one of them. Once again, this is an annual school system requirement. Students and a guardian must attend the presentation each year in order to be eligible for a parking permit.
At this point, we have issued a parking permit for each and every space available to us on our lot. We will begin monitoring vehicles that enter the lot on the first day after the break. Students who do not have permits need to make other arrangements. We will relax our vigilance after May 23rd, the last day for Seniors.
Earlier this year I confided in a student that I have come to realize the thing I dislike about high school is the fact that the students drive. I didn’t say that because of the parking lot situation, I said it because I worry about their safety. I had this realization the first time I received a phone call informing the school that several of our students were involved in a car accident on the way to school. Driving with Officer Carneal to that accident was not an experience I want to repeat. On that occasion, we had some property damage, frayed nerves, and some spilled milk (literally). We were lucky. Every day on my drive to work I am determined to keep your children safe so they can learn and move on to do amazing things with their lives. Attending the Safe Driver Program with your child is a small ask when you consider what’s at stake.
All my best to each of you as you spend time with your families during the coming week.
Warm regards,
Cindy Dillon
CHS GRADUATION - Wednesday, May 29 at 11:00 am
UPCOMING EVENTS
See what’s happening at CHS! (and add our Google Calendar to your phone!)
CELEBRATE CENTENNIAL:
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Congratulations to Alexander Burke (10th grade) for achieving Eagle Scout rank in Boy Scouts of America last month!
EAGLE NEWS
Calling all CHS parents!
CHS Late Night, Centennial’s after prom party, is just around the corner and we can’t put on this event without your help. WITHOUT VOLUNTEERS this event will be scaled back or cancelled. Last year over 600 students were in attendance and it definitely takes a village to make this happen, so please take a look at the sign-ups below and help where you are able. We know it is a late night, but it is worth it to keep our students safe.
Volunteer Sign Up - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094dabae2ca20-chslate
Coffee House Donations - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4caaa72baa8-20191
Sweet Treats Donations - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4caaa72baa8-20192
Drink Donations - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4caaa72baa8-2019
Cash Donation - (we are $4,000 short)- http://www.chs-ptsa.org/after-prom
An Evening with the Early Bird Big Band - Monday, April 29, 2019 @ 7:30PM
Come hear the award-winning CHS Jazz Band perform an entire concert featuring your favorite jazz and pop hits! A professional sound company will be working the event to give you the best listening experience. Invite your friends and family! Tickets are $10. Visit www.centennialmusic.org for tickets and additional information.
Centennial High School Art and Photography on Exhibit
Centennial High School Art and Photography students will have their masterpieces exhibited in Spring Art Shows. Read more
Free Lunch During Spring Break: April 15 - April 18
Food & Nutrition Service will be serving FREE lunch from Monday April 15 to Thursday April 18, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the following locations:
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The Bain Center, 5470 Ruth Keeton Way, Columbia
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HCLS East Columbia Branch, 6600 Cradlerock Way, Columbia
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North Laurel Community Center, 9411 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel
Buy A Yearbook
Order your yearbook today. You do not want to miss out on securing this memory book. All orders must be placed by June 8th. http://tinyurl.com/CHSYearbook2019
Parents/Guardians of the Class of 2021
The Class of 2021 Board is seeking monetary donations in preparation for senior activities and prom. Your child received a letter, intended for you, detailing the needs of the class board in order to make his or her senior year the best ever! This same letter can be found on Canvas in the announcements section. If you have any questions or concerns please email Mr. Wheeler at thomas_wheeler@hcpss.org.
Clothing to Cash
Eagles! We need to do a whole lot of closet cleaning and rummaging through our basements over spring break and the next few weeks - CHS collected 1413 pounds of goods for Clothing to Cash last month, but that was not enough to place in the top 3! CHS earned $141.30; no bonus is awarded beyond 3rd place. We can do this! Let's return to Number One!!
Registration for 2019 AP Exams
The registration period for the 2019 AP Exams will begin on 3/4. Students will register for exams using Naviance. Registration is only open to student accounts. Registration is complete once a signed copy of the survey is submitted with payment. Read more
CAMP IMPROV: Comedy camp for kids and teen!
This camp is all about the joy of jumping in and finding the funny. Listening, saying “yes, and,” collaboration and flexibility are key. Read more.
PTSA/Boosters News
See what’s happening with CHS PTSA or CHS Boosters by clicking the names.
CHS Booster Board
CHS Booster Board is currently seeking nominations for our 2019/2020 board. We are seeking individuals who are interested in supporting the athletic teams and club at CHS. We meet once a month and work to make sure the financial needs of our teams and clubs are met. There are many positions available. Please contact our nominations committee chair- Jane Hockersmith at chsboostersnominations@gmail.com, if you are able to help the students of CHS by joining the Boosters Board.
REGISTER NOW for the PSAT/SAT/ACT Prep Course starting in April!
Starting April 8th so REGISTER SOON!
Register now for our upcoming PSAT, SAT, ACT prep course (6 evenings), ScoreMoreTestPrep, offered at Centennial High School by Dr. Martha Gagnon and Rebecca Mason. Read more
Please visit the Community News and Programs page on the HCPSS website for announcements of upcoming events and programs sponsored by non-profit organizations (http://www.hcpss.org/community-news-and-programs/).
ACTION ITEM!! HB 1409
The School Facilities Surcharge just made it out of the House and is over to the Senate. It needs to get through a Rules Committee hearing and vote before it will make it to the Senate for a floor vote. We need your help to make sure that this critical piece of legislation gets through before the final Session day of the year on Monday, April 8! Please call TODAY and ask your senator to support passage of this bill. For the record, the Howard County State Level Delegation already voted to support this bill. It really comes down to whether leadership considers this a legislative priority. To that end, the critical contact is Senator Guy Guzzone. If he wants this to happen, he has the authority to make it so. Without this legislation, developers in Howard County will continue to pay far less than they do in other counties and far less than is needed to sustain the growth in our school population that their building creates. We are running out of time as session ends in 4 days!!! If you are not sure who your representative is, you can go to www.mgaleg.maryland.gov, click on the “Legislators” tab, click on “Who Represents Me?” (near the top right of the page.) Please be respectful when you call and remember that most of these representatives have expressed support of this legislation, but they need to know that we are still paying attention and that this is very important to us.
Senator Guy Guzzone (District 13)
410-841-3572
301-858-3572
Senator Clarence Lam (District 12)
410-841-3653
301-858-3653
Senator Katie Fry Hester (District 9)
410-841-3671
301-858-3671