Tatum High School
THS Families,
I would like to officially welcome all of you to the 2011-2012 school year. I am especially excited to be a principal in a community with such wonderful support of our schools. We are looking forward to a year of learning and relationship building. As always, our standards and expectations remain high and learning is our number one goal providing our students with a quality educational experience that is top notch.
This summer, many new faces were added to the THS family. Please join me in welcoming our new Assistant Principal, Mr. Allen Koch, who brings with him 19 years experience as a History/Economics teacher and coach, along with 8 new staff members....... Brandi Price – Secretary, Bryan Price – History/Coach, Chaknequa McBride – Algebra, Taylor Garrett – Geometry, Tyler Terry – History/Coach, Jennifer Pritchett – Choir/Drama, Kristine Fortune – Spanish and Trey Miller – Technology Education, Please give them a warm THS family welcome when you see them.
We expect big things out of these new hires.
Over the past few weeks, our teachers have been involved in intense training using DSRP strategies. The staff worked collaboratively to make Distinctions, organize Systems, discover Relationships, and find different Perspectives with each of their STAAR Readiness Standards. I, along with Mr. Koch and the THS staff, look forward to implementing these strategies in the upcoming year to ensure that student success is our top priority.
This year, we will be operating on an accelerated block schedule. Students will have 5 classes this semester and a new set of 5 classes in the spring. This year's freshmen will be taking on the STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) end of course exams in four subjects: Algebra I, American History, Biology, and ELA which promises to be much more rigorous than in previous years. The sophomores and juniors will still be taking TAKS (Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills). Please encourage your child to buckle down and take advantage of the opportunities they will be afforded as we journey through this new year.
We will still be incorporating the 1:1 initiative and students will be receiving their laptops within the next few days. We are continuing to provide the skills necessary for success in the 21st century: Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, and Problem Solving.
Cross-country, volleyball, and football are on track to begin our race for the Lone Star Cup which is an honor representing the best 2A school in the state with regard to academics and extra-curricular programs. We finished a close second place last year and have plans to take 1st place in 2011-2012.
I would like to thank you in advance for your commitment to our students. With the help of our community, I see nothing that can keep us from reaching and exceeding our goals to become an Exemplary district and prepare our students for the challenges they face in the 21st century.
Sincerely,
Bob Garcia, Principal
Tatum High School
Dear THS families,
The campus report card is included with your student grade reports this month. I hope that you take a moment to view the TEA document as we have many areas of excellence on the report. In a school wide assembly this week the areas of academic growth from the previous year were celebrated and then we addressed the challenges our students are facing for this year’s TAKS testing.
Students have juggled an A/B schedule, are being held responsible for laptops, and need an increased number of math and science credits to graduate (4X4). The fall semester created anxiety but I think that responding to change is real-world relevance at its best. Please encourage your student to buckle down this next semester. Keep in mind that with the A/B schedule we are at the mid-term point of the academic year and spring semester grades will be averaged with fall semester grades to determine the final grade imported onto high school transcripts.
Shannon Pickard will be at Tatum High School on February 8th to talk to students about “Success in Life”. He is one of the nation’s most requested young speakers for student assemblies and we are looking forward to his visit on our campus. He will focus his topic on the skills necessary for success in the 21st century that we live in: Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, and Problem Solving.
Our focus for the spring semester is to live each day with the intention to be a better day than the one before. We are especially proud of:
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Exemplary Academic Rating
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Exemplary Facilities
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Exemplary TEF Scholarships
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Exemplary College Opportunities
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Exemplary Career and Technology Certifications
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Exemplary Extracurricular
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None of us will be satisfied with anything less than “Exemplary”, so keep encouraging from home and we will continue to hold students to a high standard on campus.
Allen Koch has been named the Assistant Principal for Tatum High School for the 2011-2012 school year to work with Principal Bob Garcia. I will retire in June feeling confident that the campus is ready to soar to new heights.
Sincerely,
Debbie Maxey
THS Latest News
THS Announcements
What: Tatum High School Blood Drive When: December 9th 8:30 -3:00 Where: The Community Room Students should sign up in the office All who give blood will be entered into a drawing for gift certificates....
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