Cat Tracks

Dear Families,

October has been a busy and exciting month at CLHS! Between Homecoming, fall activities, and the end of the first term approaching, our students and staff have shown incredible energy and school spirit. As we near the close of the quarter, please take a moment to check in with your student about grades and missing work. Encouragement and accountability at home make a big difference as students finish strong.

We’re also looking forward to celebrating the season with upcoming events like the Veterans Day program and winter activities kicking off soon. Thank you for your continued support and partnership—it truly helps make CLHS a great place to learn and grow.

Enjoy the beautiful fall colors and the rest of October!

Warm regards,
Tammy Yackley
Principal, CLHS

School Pictures are Ready! Families can order their student's school pictures online through Josten's.

• View and order at https://shop.jostenspix.com/login

  • CHISAGO LAKES HIGH SCHOOL
  • Event Code: FE87325
  • Also Needed: Synergy Student ID

Josten's Customer Care for Families/Parents

Our Customer Care team can help answer any questions families may have after Picture Day. They are available Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm Central. They can be reached by phone (1-877-515-1447, Option 1).

The CLHS Student Council cordially invites community veterans to attend our Veterans Day Assembly. On Tuesday, November 11th, beginning at 9:10 AM in the Main Gym. The assembly will include both a presentation and performances by our student body to celebrate and recognize our Vetrans. Following the Assembly will be a luncheon in the Cafeteria. Contact Rikki Dilly, Student Council Advisor with any questions.

RDilly@isd2144.org

651-213-2563

Parents/Guardians calling their student in for an absence, or requesting an early release for their student, can do so in three ways:

1. Online using Parent Vue
2. Send an email or call Attendance HSAttendance@isd2144.org 651-213-2513
   Leave a message on the attendance, with your student's name and reason for absence. If leaving early or arriving late, please note that time. Messages are checked continuously throughout the day
3. Send a note with your students to be given to Attendance
   

LEAVING EARLY: Use one of the above methods for requesting the absence, then the following process is done:

• Your student will receive a green release pass from attendance to leave class and the building.
• Passes are delivered to students in class during the day or can be picked up at the attendance window.
• Parents do not need to enter the building to pick up their student. Students will use the green pass for approval to leave and scan out using their ID/phone to leave the building.
• Students should be picked up during the day from the front door (Door#1)
• If your student drives, they may leave from door 17 with a pass from attendance

ARRIVING LATE: Students who are arriving late will need to scan in with their ID Card or Phone at either Door 17 or Door 1. Once they arrive, they will need to check into the attendance window and receive an admit pass to class. Students arriving late will need to be excused for the times they have been absent using one of the 3 above-mentioned processes. Students will be unexcused until an excused reason is given.

*Students/Families have 3 days from the date of absence to be called in for an excused absence, such as an Appointment or illness. After the 3-day mark, changes cannot be made to an absence per Chisago County Rules.**

Any questions regarding Attendance, please reach out to Heather Turner
HTurner@isd2144.org
651-213-2513

Meet your Guidance Office Staff!

School Counselors:

Amy Malloy (A-G): 651-213-2511 amalloy@isd2144.org

Carter Vogt (H-N): 651-213-2509 cvogt@isd2144.org

Alyssa Chowdhury: (O-Z) 651-213-2508 achowdhury@isd2144.org
Lisa Lund: 651-213-2510 llund@isd2144.org; Registrar (Transcripts)

College Applications

Many Minnesota colleges and universities waive the college application fees during the month of October or throughout the year. Click on the link to see the full list of colleges that waive their fees - Free Application Opportunities at Minnesota Colleges and Universities (2025-2026)

Counselors are available to assist seniors in completing their applications to college; this includes community college, technical college and 4 year public and private colleges. Students are welcome to stop in to the Guidance Office during an open hour, during lunch or during a class if given permission from their teacher in order to get help on their college applications.

Transcripts

Current and former students and parents can order transcripts through Parchment and have them sent electronically to colleges, universities, NCAA, and other institutions. Parchment is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. There is a small fee of $4.65 per transcript request. If you have questions, please contact your student’s counselor or Lisa Lund at 213-2510.

FAFSA

The 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be available to the public on October 1st, 2025. An email was sent to students in the class of 2026 and their parents/guardians with the link to the FAFSA website and Financial Aid Resources.

If you have further questions regarding filling out your FAFSA, please contact the Financial Aid Office of your student’s prospective colleges.

• Link to the FAFSA Website

• Financial Aid Resources

Spring Testing

Chisago Lakes High School will be offering the opportunity for Juniors to take the ACT this Spring at no charge. The date of testing this year will be Wednesday, April 8th. In December, students will be given the opportunity to complete a survey in which they will let us know if they are interested in taking the ACT at CLHS.

We no longer offer the Accuplacer or ASVAB during the school day. Students interested in going into the military can take the ASVAB through a recruiter. Students interested in attending a 2 year college that requires the Accuplacer can take the test at the college.

College Rep Visits

College visits are back! This is a great opportunity for your students to learn about the different regional college campuses and program offerings. College visits will be held in the Media Center during PAWZ on scheduled days. Students and families can review the list of upcoming college visits on the high school website under the Guidance office/CLHS College Visits. Students interested in enlisting in one of the military branches will have an opportunity to meet with recruitment representatives during their lunch hour. Monthly military representatives from each of the service branches visit our high school to answer questions and share information about enlisting.

PreACT Testing

All 10th grade students are invited to take the PreACT test at CLHS on Wednesday, December 10th at 7:50 am. This is a practice test for the ACT that many students decide to take in the spring of their junior year. The cost of the test is $22 and is limited to the first 70 students that sign up. More information will be sent out via email at the end of October.

Time to get to know our Special Services team! They are housed in the offices by the band and choir room, stop and say hello to: Shira Ben-Haim, Andrea Ryan, Delaney Budge, Chelsie Rosa, Kari Svoboda, Josh DeKam, Jess Rydning, Kelly Jo Campbell, and Nina McDowell!

The Chisago Lakes High School Math Department is off to a strong start this fall, with students diving into a wide range of courses from Intermediate Algebra to Calculus and Statistics. Teachers are incorporating more real-world applications and hands-on activities to help students connect mathematical concepts to everyday life. This year, the department is also emphasizing problem-solving strategies and collaborative learning to build both confidence and competence in math. We’re proud of our students’ engagement and growth, and we encourage families to stay involved by checking Schoology for updates and supporting math practice at home. Thanks to all for a great start to the year.

Emma Jacobson, 1st year science teacher at CLHS

Ms. Jacobson joined our science department this year, bringing her passion for biology and learning to CLHS! She has loved science since middle school, where her 7th-grade biology teacher inspired her curiosity about ecosystems and how living things work. Outside of school, she enjoys playing tennis with her sisters, watching Criminal Minds or science documentaries, and playing Stardew Valley. A fun fact about her is that she and her husband own a small business called RE Supreme Steam. This year, she’s most excited to share her love of biology with students and help them discover the joy of learning!

Students embarked on ninety-minute guided adventure through U.S. Bank Stadium with behind-the-scenes access to the home of the Minnesota Vikings. Included was a look at the inner workings of the Stadium including premium clubs and suites, the Thomson Reuters Press Level, stadium art collection, team locker room, stadium floor and so much more. In addition to a tour, students learned about the sports marketing industry as it relates to the Minnesota Vikings! Students even got to play catch and kick some field goals on the field!

During the short MEA school week, our DAPE program (Developmental Adopted Physical Education) took a trip across the river to Osceola Lanes for a fun-filled afternoon of bowling! Thank you Osceola Lanes for a great day for our students!

This past month, students from our Career and Technical (CTE) classes participated in a manufacturing field trip that included visits to local manufacturing companies, followed by presentations from industry leaders about the growing opportunities in careers in manufacturing. This was a great experience for students to learn about job opportunities and make industry connections.

In October, we hosted our annual Career and Technical Expo at our Wildcat Community Center. During the expo, students from all grades had the opportunity to meet and speak with over 50 exhibitors. Exhibitors included military representatives, local businesses, union apprenticeship programs, and a variety of 2-year and 4-year colleges and training centers. The CTE Expo gave students a chance to talk with community experts and industry professionals who provided students with valuable resources needed to explore the many different career opportunities. It was an outstanding day for our students!

With a visit from the University of Minnesota Duluth Choir on their fall tour, our select choir students were given the opportunity to join them in performing and watch them perform at the collegiate level. This was great exposure for our choir program to see where their interests can take them at a post-secondary level.

Girls Tennis: Congratulations to Anna Hageman, Claire Beaver & Claire Mickelson for qualifying for the MSHSL State Tennis Tournament! Anna and Claire B will be competing in doubles and Claire M is competing in singles! This is the first time in the storied history of the girls tennis program that we have players qualifying in both disciplines!

L. Frank Baum’s classic novel comes to life in The Wizard of Oz. Young Dorothy Gale is swept away by a tornado from her Kansas farm to the magical land of Oz. There, she encounters a host of whimsical characters: good witches, bad witches, animals that talk, scarecrows that walk, and things magical to behold. To find her way home, she must journey along the Yellow Brick Road to see the mysterious and all-powerful Wizard in Emerald City. Along the way, she makes new friends, but must also brave many dangers, including the Wicked Witch of the West, who will stop at nothing to get her hands on Dorothy’s magical ruby slippers. To make it home safely, Dorothy must learn an important lesson: there’s no place like home.

Mark your calendars, gather your friends, and come experience this classic tale. This delightful production is brought to life by our talented students, who are sure to impress you with their energy and charm.

The Wizard of Oz Performance Dates

Friday, November 14 @ 7pm

Sat, Nov 15 @ 2 pm (Munchkin Party before show)

Fri, Nov 21 @ 7pm

Sat, Nov 22 @ 7pm

Sun, Nov 23 @ 2pm

Tickets and reserved seats can be purchased through GO FAN

MCA Scores are available in ParentVUE for students who were enrolled at Chisago Lakes last spring in grades 3-8, and grades 10-11, and participated in the MCA test.

Please check the Documents Tab on the web or mobile app for each of your student(s). Individual MCA scores are no longer mailed out to families.

BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Chisago Lakes High School continues to participate in the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program. Chromebooks or basic laptops are the preferred devices and Chrome is our preferred browser as many of our programs are integrated with the Chrome Google platform. Personal devices should be charged each evening to ensure they are ready for the school day. Students are encouraged to carry a charger with them during the school day to ensure their devices can be charged if needed.

Chromebook Lease Program:

Families may qualify to lease a device by completing the Long Term Device Check Out Form below. If you would like to rent a device from the school for this school year, please fill out the form and select that you would like to pay the $50. Your student will receive a device as soon as we have the form completed and a check written out to Chisago Lakes High School for $50 and turned in to the Media Center.
Connect with Avery Bird with any questions regarding the device lease program
ABird@isd2144.ord
651-213-2591

Long Term Device Check Out Form

Class Fees: Certain elective courses that your student chooses to register for may include a fee to help offset the cost of materials associated with those selected courses. Those classes and their respective fees can be seen in the school supply list. A link to make a payment for a class with a fee is included on the school supply list.

Students have the option to drive themselves to school and park in the student parking lot. Parking highlights are listed below, Click the button below to access complete parking details and to purchase.

• Parking permits may be purchased ONLINE using CLePay - cost of the permit is $125.00
• Families with multiple drivers: first student is $125.00, additional student(s) are $65.00
• Students may ONLY park in designated student parking (see parking agreement online for details)

Wildcat fall activities are wrapping up! We are proud of our students’ dedication to their academics, their team and their purpose. Thank you to our Wildcat families and our community for supporting students in their endeavors.

Winter activity VIRTUAL registration night was October 15th for Dance and is October 20th for all other winter activities. Additional information has been emailed to all students and families. Please complete registration online, pay the required fee and make sure your student has an up to date sports physical on file (good for 3 years). Tickets for the Fall Musical-The Wizard of Oz are available here. Purchase your tickets and pick your seats!

• **CLHS students (Grades 9-12) may attend home games at no cost by presenting a current school year ID**
• Student Passes: $40, available for purchase for students in grades K-8.
• Adult Passes: Adult 10 punch passes are $50.
• There will not be a cash option for events. All tickets and passes may be purchased by clicking on this link, scanning a QR code (located around the school and at events), or by downloading the GOFAN app. Many of the schools we participate with and/or compete against are using this same platform or something similar. The GOFAN App allows you to purchase and store tickets on your smartphone or other mobile device. Simply search for events by school name. You can also pick your favorite schools to quickly find upcoming events, purchase tickets, and present your digital tickets on your way into the event!
• GoFan Digital Resources
• Event Ticket Prices: $5 students, $7 adults, senior citizens (age 60 & over) and children under 5 are FREE

• Student Passes: $40, available for purchase for students in grades K-8.

Visit our activities webpage for Wildcat Apparel through our sideline store and see the schedule of events.

Is your son or daughter willing to be challenged? Are they wanting to build courage, and learn how hard work and discipline build character? Would they benefit from being put in circumstances that require them to keep going and not give up, developing the type of skills that will serve them well when they enter adulthood? Would it be good for them to get in the type of shape, physically, that surpasses all other sports and exercise programs? If so, then they belong in the wrestling program.

Our High School Wrestling program is for both boys and girls, grades 7-12 and requires no previous experience regardless of their grade. All are welcome and there are no tryouts; everyone wrestles. Furthermore, our program is a team focused; family involved activity that develops a comradery they will keep the rest of their lives.

And before you dismiss it for your daughter, please know that Girls HS Wrestling is the fastest growing sport in America with more than 75,000 girls participating from east coast to west coast. They no longer have to compete against boys.

Winter sports registration is open now. If you have any questions, please reach out Jay Junker at jjunker@isd2144.org

Class 2026 Senior Portrait Deadline: Friday, December 5th, 2025

Class 2026 Panoramic Photo - Now available for ordering! Families in the class of 2026 were sent an email from VanGoPhoto with ordering instructions. Place orders by Nov. 9th, 2025, for reduced pricing and free shipping to CLHS for distribution.
Senior Class Party Fundraiser - Poinsettia Sales: Poinsettia sales have started! Each year the senior class sells poinsettias as a fundraiser for the class party. Each family in the senior class has been sent information and an order form for this fundraiser. Additional forms can be picked up in the front office. All orders/money can be dropped off at the front office.

The yearbook teams have been selected, we’ve chosen our cover, and we are ready to start putting this year’s book together! We attended a conference earlier this month to help us get everything up and running. We have been searching through prior yearbooks and coming up with all sorts of amazing ideas! From spirit days and sports games to classroom activities and behind-the-scenes fun, we are telling the story of our school one photo at a time. We’d love your help capturing the year! Students and parents can upload any and all pictures of school or classroom activities, sporting events, any field trips or extracurricular events! UPLOAD HERE!

• Class 2026 Senior Portrait Deadline is Friday, December 5th
• Senior Grad Ads are on sale now – don’t wait to celebrate your graduate! MORE INFORMATION HERE!

Yearbooks are currently on sale NOW – don’t miss your chance to reserve a copy for your student! The current price of the yearbook is $85.00

For questions, contact Kelly Jo Campbell! kcampbell@isd2144.org

Student Meal program continued for the 2025-26 School Year

Each student is eligible for a single free breakfast and lunch each school day. Any additional items students would like will be at cost. Students must have a positive balance in their account or cash to purchase additional/ala-carte items.

Mega Meal Cost: $2.00

What does my student do when feeling ill while at school?

If your student does not feel well during the school day, whether it be during a class, at lunch or between classes, they should report to the Health office. Students SHOULD NOT message a family member to come pick them up without visiting the health office. Our Health Assistant will call home and arrange for your students to be picked up.

Halloween Health Tips from the Health Office

DON’T LET GERMS HAUNT YOU!

Wash your hands often - especially before eating candy or after touching shared items. You should wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds! If soap and water aren’t available, use hand sanitizer!

TREAT YOURSELF (SAFELY)

Check candy before eating - avoid unwrapped or suspicious treats. Don’t share treats, your friends may have allergies that you are unaware of. Don't take any treats from friends if you don't know what it is.

BE SEEN, NOT SPOOKED

For your safety, wear reflective tape or glow sticks to ensure you can be seen in the dark.

DON’T GHOST YOUR SLEEP

Late nights are fun, but your body needs rest to stay healthy and recover.

FLU SHOTS AREN’T SCARY

Getting vaccinated helps protect you and your friends from spreading germs!

NURSE’S MAGIC POTION!

Water + healthy snacks + sleep = a spell for staying healthy all season long!

Julie Kiser, RN

Click on the "Health Services" button to access forms that your student may require.

• Friday, October 31st - End of Term 1
• Monday, November 3rd - NO SCHOOL students (Staff Development Day)
• Tuesday, November 4th - First Day Term 2
• Monday, November 11th - Veteran's Day Program
• Friday, November 14th - Term 1 SOT Breakfast - invitation to families sent
• November 14 &15 THEN 21, 22 & 23 - Fall Musical "Wizard of Oz"
• Tuesday, November 25th - NHS Fall Blood Drive
• Wednesday - Friday, Nov 26-28 - No School, Thanksgiving Break
• Friday, December 5th - Class 2026 Senior Portrait submission Deadline
• Saturday, December 6th - Christmas in Chisago Concert
• Thursday, December 11th - Term 2 Conferences
• December 22nd - January 2nd - Winter Break
• Monday, December 5th - first day back after break

Website: https://www.isd2144.org/
Location: 29400 Olinda Trail, Lindstrom, MN, USA
Phone: 651-213-2500