The Pulse Post Mar 30th-Apr 3rd

Hello Pulse Families,

I hope you and your loved ones are doing well! As we approach Spring Break, we are entering an important stretch of the school year. Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we work together to help our students finish strong.

💡 Highlights:

• 🧺 Senior Outside Lunch Pilot: We are excited to share that, beginning after Spring Break, eligible seniors will have the opportunity to participate in outside lunch at the picnic tables in the intramural field. Students must be passing all classes to participate. This is a great incentive as we head into the final stretch of the school year!
  

✅ Reminders:

• 🚨 Safety: Please remind your child that all students and visitors must enter the building through the front entrance to be screened by our weapons detection system. Students who open side doors for others will receive consequences.
  
• 🚗 Student Drop Off and Pick Up: We are noticing an increase in unsafe behaviors during car rider drop-off and pick-up. We understand that families are busy, and we appreciate your help in ensuring these processes remain safe and efficient for everyone.
• To ensure students are in class by 7:00 AM, please arrive a few minutes early. Carpool moves fastest between 6:20–6:45 AM.
• Do not stop on Club Drive or Steve Reynolds Blvd. to drop off or pick up students.
• Do not stop in the car rider lane outside of designated procedures. Drop-off/Pick-Up is on the sidewalk.
• Follow Carpool Drop-Off and Pick-Up Guidelines (Click HERE to review).
• 🎓 Senior Parents: With the final weeks before exams approaching, please continue monitoring your student’s grades to ensure they are in good standing for graduation on May 20, 2026. Consistent monitoring through ParentVUE supports timely intervention when needed.
• 📄 High School Final Exam Pilot: Continue encouraging students to attend school daily to qualify for this opportunity! Students in grades 9–11 who meet the criteria may be eligible to exempt final exams.
• Eligibility Criteria:
• Course Grades: 90 or higher weighted average
• Academic Integrity: No cheating or plagiarism infractions
• Attendance: 7 days excused and unexcused per period, per semester, excluding ACT
• 👕 Dress Code Reminder: As the weather gets warmer, please review the school dress code expectations with your student to ensure all attire remains appropriate for the school environment.
  

Thank you for your continued partnership and support of our students and school community.

Yours in service,

Dr. Hernandez

Principal

On Tuesday, McClure Health Science High School was excited to host representatives from Gwinnett Technical College, who engaged students in learning about a wide range of high-demand healthcare programs. Students explored opportunities in fields such as Respiratory Therapy, Dental Assisting Technology, Cardiovascular Technology, Veterinary Technology, and many more.

This experience helped students make meaningful connections between their current pathway learning and future college and career options in the health sciences. Thank you to everyone who supported this impactful opportunity for our students.

We are incredibly proud to celebrate Kyra Barnum for earning multiple prestigious National All-American honors through the National Wrestling Coaches Association! 👏

Kyra has been recognized as a High School Scholar All-American and a Character & Leadership All-American —a testament to her outstanding academic excellence, determination, and leadership both on and off the mat.

These honors highlight her resilience, mental toughness, and commitment to excellence, truly representing the best of The Pulse.

Join us in congratulating Kyra on this incredible achievement! 💙🔥

We are excited to celebrate Jaqueline Gomez Negrete for being selected as a Governor’s Honors Program (GHP) Finalist in World Languages (Spanish)! 🎉

This is an outstanding accomplishment, as GHP is one of the most prestigious academic programs in the state of Georgia. Jaqueline will represent The Pulse this summer at Georgia Southern University, where she will engage in advanced learning alongside some of the top students in the state.

Her dedication to excellence in language learning and academics truly sets her apart. Join us in congratulating Jaqueline on this incredible achievement! 👏💙

Congratulations to Thanh Do and Naomi Cruz for having their artwork selected to represent McClure at the 27th Annual GAEA High School Art Exhibition at the High Museum of Art! Their work will be on display from March 31–April 26 in the Greene Family Education Center. We are incredibly proud of their talent and for representing the Pulse at such a prestigious level.

Staff are encouraged to visit—be sure to let the ticketing counter know you are there to view our students’ artwork for free admission!

Congratulations to Isabella Zavala for having her piece, “Can You Hear the Music,” accepted into the highly competitive Atlanta High School Art Exhibition at the Dogwood Arts Festival in Piedmont Park! This is an incredible accomplishment, and we are so proud of her for representing the Pulse through her artistic talent and creativity.

Congratulations to Valedictorian Yasmin Munoz and Salutatorian Atri Roy, who were recognized this week at the Annual Gwinnett County Public Schools Valedictorian and Salutatorian Breakfast Celebration! We are very proud of them!

In the words of our district spokesperson: "It was a true honor to gather together to recognize the extraordinary accomplishments of the Class of 2026's top scholars. Their dedication, perseverance, and commitment to excellence have distinguished you among an exceptional group of peers. We are incredibly proud of you and excited to see the impact you will make in the years ahead. To our families, teachers and staff—thank you for the guidance, encouragement, and support you provide each day. Celebrations like this reflect not only individual achievement, but the collective investment of parents, teachers, principals, and our entire Team GCPS community."

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We’re excited to launch our Senior Pulse Picnic, a special opportunity for seniors to enjoy lunch at the picnic tables on the intramural field beginning after Spring Break!

This experience is reserved for seniors who are passing all classes, offering a well-earned chance to relax, recharge, and enjoy time with peers in an outdoor setting.

Dates: April 15, 16, 22, 23, 28, 30 and May 6, 7

We’re looking forward to celebrating our seniors with this opportunity as they finish the year strong—keep the Pulse going!

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Gemini now offers free, full-length SAT practice tests in partnership with The Princeton Review, providing students with instant feedback and customized study plans. Students can explore this feature on the AI page of the Student 1:1 Support site, which is bookmarked directly on their Chromebooks.

ParentSquare is our primary communication tool for school and district updates. Families can customize how and when they receive messages (email, text, or app notifications) to stay informed in the way that works best for them.

🔗 Learn how to customize your ParentSquare notifications here:
https://www.gcpsk12.org/students/handbook-information-for-students-and-families/parentsquare/customizing-your-parentsquare-experience

Please click on the link to view the January edition of our Senior Newsletter:

Senior Newsletter - January Edition

Ms. Anderson

candice.anderson@gcpsk12.org

Senior Counselor

For everyone’s safety, we encourage families to arrive earlier during carpool. Earlier arrival helps reduce congestion and keeps our students safe.

If your student arrives late to school, they will need to scan their Student ID barcode in order to receive a tardy pass. Students can access their barcode easily in StudentVUE:

1. Log into StudentVUE.
2. Click the ID icon in the bottom left corner.
3. Swipe up to display the Student ID barcode.

Please encourage your student to practice accessing their barcode ahead of time so check-in can be quick and smooth!

Link HERE

Families, please remember that students must be picked up within 15–30 minutes after an event concludes. Late pickups may result in students losing the privilege to participate in future after-school activities.

To keep dismissal safe and efficient during after-school events (such as Pink Out, Hispanic Heritage Festival, International Night, Black History Month Cookout, etc.) , please review our pick-up plan and traffic flow map before you arrive.

To help ensure smooth dismissal, please review our After-School Pick-Up Map and Plan below:
📍 View Pick-Up Plan / Map

Thank you for helping us keep all students safe and ensure that events run smoothly and on time!

Dear Parent/Guardian:

Children need healthy meals to learn. Gwinnett County Public Schools offers healthy meals every school day. Breakfast costs $1.75; lunch costs $2.50 for elementary and $2.75 at middle and high schools. Your children may qualify for free meals or for reduced-price meals. The reduced price is $.30 for breakfast and $.40 for lunch. The following information includes an application for free or reduced-price meal benefits and a set of detailed instructions. Below are some common questions and answers to help you with the application process.

• All children in households receiving benefits from Georgia SNAP or TANF are eligible for free
• Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free
• Children participating in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free
• Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free
• Children may receive free or reduced-price meals if your household’s income is within the limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Chart. Your children may qualify for free or reduced-price meals if your household income falls at or below the limits on this chart.

1. Free or reduced meal prices for a healthy, nutritious student meal.

2. Additional funding for technology and internet access.

3. Discounts on fees associated with the college application process.

4. Discounted fees for SAT, ACT, and AP exams along with other scholarship opportunities.

5. Increased funding to support education.

Everyday, Chick-fil-A sells lunch during all lunch periods, Monday–Friday.

Menu items include:

• Chick-n-Strip™ Slider – $3.50

• Grilled Chicken Cool Wrap® (Half) – $4.50

Payments accepted: Cash or Card.

💌 Pulse Posts – Sent every Friday via ParentSquare with updates, reminders & celebrations

📱 Follow Us on Instagram:

• @mcclurehealthsciencehigh
• School-wide News & Events

📆 Check the School Calendar:

• 🔗Linked Here

Stay informed about important dates, breaks, and events

🗣️ Talk to Your Student:
Ask about what they're learning and how they're adjusting

📖 Family Engagement Tips

Check out these tips on how to engage with your student at home: 2025 eTips

MHSHS Website | Student & Family Handbook | GCPS Portal | GCPS 25-26 School Calendar |

GCPS News |

McClure Health Science High School

3921 Club Drive, Duluth, GA

770-806-7900

MHSHS Website

The Back-to-School Guide is a digital resource with district information about the new school year. Previously called the “Virtual Back-to-School Backpack,” the Back-To-School Guide will be available after July 11, 2025, by clicking HERE