Shepherd High School Weekly Update

As a Capturing Kids Heart's school we start each class with a few minutes to share Good Things." (See the Launch at the end of this update.)

We are officially in the final stretch of the trimester! Our "Good Thing" this week is a celebration of Persistence. Think back to the first day of this trimester. There were new schedules, new faces, and new challenges. You’ve navigated all of them to get to this point. Before we dive into the data and the decimals of exam prep, let’s acknowledge the growth that doesn't show up on an exam.

• For Students: What is one thing you’ve mastered this trimester that you struggled with three months ago? Maybe it’s a math formula, but maybe it’s just managing your time better or advocating for yourself.

  • The Action: Share that "win" with your family tonight. Celebrate the fact that you are more capable now than you were when we started.

• For Families: Exams can be stressful, but they are also a chance for our students to show what they’ve learned.

  • The Action: Tonight, remind your student that while the grade matters, their effort and character matter more. Affirm the hard work you’ve seen them put in over the last twelve weeks.

As students prepare to build their class schedule preferences for the 2026-27 school year, please talk to your student about future plans and what classes will be best for the preparation of that future. Counselors will begin the scheduling process with students the week of January 20, so have those conversations now!

After a week of hard work coding their Sphero robots, students put their skills to the test in a fun twist on curling and shuffleboard! Using precise commands, angles, speed, and strategy, they programmed their robots to glide across the floor and score points—proving that coding isn’t just lines on a screen… it’s action you can see in motion.

Learning + competition + a little Olympic spirit = STEM at its best

Our newly formed BlueJay Esports teams started their season by winning 3 of 4 scrimmage matches.

If you need Parent Access to Schoology (our online learning platform) please reach out to the HS Office for your access code. With Parent Access you can see the day to day assignments, grades and progress in each of your student's classes. (When they say the don't have homework, you will already know the answer. 😉 )

The Ed Tanzini Scholarship is now live to the public! The application is available at www.gmcami.org or through the form below. The deadline is March 5th.

https://forms.gle/7p6FJXL6EA3FGyLe6

*these dates/times are subject to change.

As you head into this final week of the trimester, I want to leave you with a thought about our Social Contract. We’ve spent months agreeing to respect one another and give our best effort. This week—especially on Thursday and Friday—is when that contract truly comes to life.

Exams are not just about what you know; they are about how you handle pressure. They are a test of your discipline and your resilience.

Your Launch for Exam Week:

• Own the Preparation: Don’t wait for "luck" to show up on Thursday morning. Excellence is not an accident; it is a habit. Use Monday through Wednesday to honor the commitment you made to your own success.

• Support the Community: When stress is high, kindness should be higher. Look out for your peers. A simple "You've got this" in the hallway can change the trajectory of someone's entire exam day.

• Finish with Integrity: When you walk out of your last exam on Friday, I want you to be able to look at yourself in the mirror and know that you left it all on the field.

You’ve done the work. You’ve built the capacity. Now, it’s time to finish what you started.

Study hard, sleep well, and lead with heart. We’ll see you tomorrow!