Warrior Wire

Greetings, Warrior Families!

I hope everyone has had a wonderful week. I do know there was some technical difficulty regarding the sending of last week’s newsletter and some of you may not have received it. That should be resolved, and any information from last week has been included this week as well.

We have had the opportunity to meet with all of our students this week and last during our class meetings and acknowledge the incredible work they have been putting in, as well as the accomplishments and accolades because of that work. Whether it is Academics, Fine Arts, Career and Technical Education Organizations, and Athletics....I AM SO PROUD of everything being accomplished! During these class meetings we will also take time for reminders regarding behavior and expectations at school, as well as reminders about the ongoing course selection processes.

As a part of the aforementioned accomplishments I would like to congratulate Giada Liccardi for making the Texas Music Educators Association All-State band! Through audition processes, Giada has placed herself in the top 3% of high school musicians in the State of Texas! We look forward to sending her off to the State Convention in February. Congratulations to Giada and Band Directors Mr. Berry, Mrs. Conner, and Mr. Lowe on this incredible accomplishment!

As we begin this new semester I would like to draw you attention to the Final Exam Exemption policies below. As we have discussed with students, the ability to Exempt Final Exams is a privilege and an opportunity, but it is up to them to make sure they meet the criteria to do so.

Lastly, as a reminder, we have Monday off from school as we honor the life of Martin Luther King Jr.

Stay warm and I look forward to seeing everyone at one of our upcoming events and I hope you have a wonderful upcoming week!

With Warrior Pride,

Jaime Alvarez-Calderon

Principal

Below is the CISD exam exemption policy for final exam exemptions for students enrolled in high school credit courses, including while in middle school.

Second semester final exam exemptions are available in all high school credit courses for students that:

• have a minimum of an 85 second semester average in the high school credit course applicable for exemption
• have no more than 3 absences total for the second semester in the high school credit course applicable for exemption
• including excused absences such as illness, doctor visits, non-school related absences but
• excluding college visits per the Higher Education Visits found in the Student-Parent Handbook or school sponsored activities
• any appeals must be referred to the campus principal (This process will beoutlined for students in May)
• have no more than 3 tardies in the course for which he/she is seeking a final exam exemption
• have no referrals that result in OSS, CDC, or JJAEP
• have cleared all outstanding fines or fees prior to the semester exam

NOTE: DUAL CREDIT AND DUAL ENROLLMENT COURSES MAY BE REQUIRED TO TAKE FINALS AS ASSIGNED BY THE INSTRUCTOR.

ALSO NOTE: IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT, HAVE NO MORE THAN 10 TEMPORARY STUDENT ID'S ISSUED.

Message from our Principal

Final Exam Exemptions for High School Courses

Piper Band's First All-State Student

Warrior JROTC Company Change of Command Ceremony

Student Warriors of the Week

January Upcoming Events

February Upcoming Events

Academic Career Advisor Information

Junior / Senior Prom Fundraising Information

Graduation Cap & Gown Ordering Information

Senior Class Information

Note from Attendance Office

Counselors Corner

Personalized Yearbook Sale

Yearbook Ad Information

Any Vape Device = DAEP

A Look Ahead

Congratulations to Pieper Band's first All-State student, Giada Liccardi!!

Giada is only a sophomore, and successfully ranked third for 5A in the entire state. She not only had to win the audition this weekend in Austin, but had to audition a second time via recording with the 7 other top players in the state in order to shoot for 1 of the 3 spots. This is the single highest achievement for a musician in the state of Texas, and Giada is now a part of the top 3% of all musicians with this accomplishment. She will perform at the TMEA Convention with the 5A band the second weekend in February at the Lila Cockrell theatre in downtown San Antonio.

The Warrior Company conducted a Change of Command on Wednesday morning. Cadet Lieutenant Commander Cindy Nguyen relinquished command to Cadet Lieutenant Junior Grade Alina Anderson. This marks the first time the company has conducted an official Change of Command ceremony.

Cadet Nguyen has led the company for the last year; upon her graduation this year she plans on pursuing a military career with a ROTC scholarship.

During the formation several cadets were also highlighted with ribbons and medals for previous competitions. Cadets Destiny Pena, Brandon Todd, Reagan Turman, and Alina Anderson received medals for placing 1st in various events surrounding drill competitions. Cadets Megan and Andrew Phillips received ribbons for orienteering along with cadets Swain, Rios, Nguyen, Viera, Turman and Anderson.

Each week, two students from each grade level will be recognized as our Warriors of the Week! Students are nominated by teachers and staff in recognition for their contribution to the school, their peers, and through their exemplification of Service, Leadership, and Community values. Congratulations to the following students: Left to Right: Nancy Brummett, Meghan Spence, Omer Akcakoca, Kael Paul, Eric Salinas Martinez

Not Pictured: James Swain, Micah McLean, Morgan Wilch

Principal: Mr. Alvarez-Calderon

"Junior and Senior parents!

Prom season is upon us and our Prom fundraiser is open now until February 29th. We want to give the students the best prom experience we possibly can, and we need your help. The fundraiser is a vote for a theme where every $1 equals 1 vote to the theme of your choosing; and the sky's the limit on whichever theme you are donating to! Every dollar raised goes straight back into prom and paying our vendors.

Prom is May 4th, 2024 and ticket sales details will be announced soon."

Parents,

No one needs a measuring tape or to stress – Gradtogo makes it easy to order! All you need is the height and weight for your student(s) gown.

YOUR cap/gown/tassel/stole UNIT is all 4 pcs for the $64.00.

Here are the steps for easy online ordering.

• STEPS FOR ORDERING SR. GRAD ITEMS ONLINE at OUR website www.Gradtogo.com
• READ the pop up with info then close out of that and
• click on HJ Products & Payments Tab,
• under girls in cap & gowns image, use Purchase Now button,
• Type in YOUR SCHOOL (confirm city), Year: 2024,
• Next, Shop Grad Products.
• Choose from 3-4 Tabs at top for shopping for packages or individual products.
• The Grad Gear & Apparel tab shows the Cap and Gown unit details at bottom.

(if ordering from phone you will need scroll to the end/right)

If you have any QUESTIONS please email – Office@Gradtogo.com

NOTE:

You do NOT need to put a size for the cap. It comes as a “Sure-Fit – XL” with elastic in the back and fits MOST students. However, when graduation cap & gowns are delivered, students can try on their cap and the representative can exchange it for a 2XL size if needed at that time.

If your student begins to feel stressed and/or behind in school, explore with them how they got to this point. It is important to help them find ways to create daily habits that will help them stay on track. Feeling behind and stressed leads to not wanting to attend school. Often to take the day to catch up on projects and/or study. Although it sounds like a solution, it exasperates the problem as they then miss another day of valuable instruction, thus getting further behind.

· Encourage them to set aside time each evening for schoolwork and studying. Just a little each night helps keep them stay on track for success. If they are having trouble achieving this, help them identify obstacles and ways they can work around them to achieve their goal.

· If your student works and this is interfering with school success and /or attendance, speak to them about how to navigate the issue with their manager at work to secure a schedule that helps them achieve success in both areas.

Finding a school/work/life balance is a valuable life lesson you can help them with!

Attend Today! Achieve Today, Tomorrow, and Beyond!

The counselors held Tranquil Tuesday this past week and students who attended made Zentangles, a creative patterned drawing. Our next event will be Tuesday, February 6th, and in this session, students will be making origami. Students can sign up for this session and other upcoming Tranquil Tuesday dates in the Counseling Suite.

The counseling department is working to form counseling groups for the spring semester. Please see the list of topics that will be offered for group and if you are interested in your student participating, please contact one of the counselors or student support specialists.

Healthy Relationships

Anger

Motivation

Self Esteem

Grief

Anxiety

Stess Management

Coping Skills

Last chance to get your 2024 personalized PHS yearbook is January 26th. See QR Codes below, visit your google class cohort, or see Mrs. Speck in room C224 to order your yearbook before the deadline. You can also use the link here.

Yearbook Recognition Ads are the perfect way to commemorate achievements and celebrate milestones. In addition, revenues from Recognition Ads help our school create a better yearbook. To purchase your ad online, follow the instructions listed on the attached page. Jostens is responsible for our school's yearbook ad sales. Please not not contact or send materials to the school. Please also consider our school's ad content guidelines while creating your ad online.

All orders must be placed by February 1, 2024.

January Calendar

Friday, January 12:

Boston Crusaders @ Pieper High School

TMEA Band Region 12 Clinic and Concert @ Smithson Valley High School

Winter Guard Practice @ Pieper High School Cafeteria

9th Grade Boys A & B Team Basketball v. Smithson Valley HS @ Pieper HS (Middle School Night)

JV / Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Smithson Valley HS @ Pieper High School (Middle School Night)

9th / JV / Varsity Girls District Basketball vs. Smithson Valley High School @ Smithson Valley HS

Varsity Boys Soccer Governor’s Elite Cup

JV / Varsity Girls Soccer Team Builder

Varsity Boys & Girls Wrestling @ Westside Houston

Saturday, January 13:

Boston Crusaders @ Pieper High School

Varsity Boys Soccer Governor’s Elite Cup

Varsity Boys & Girls Wrestling @ Westside Houston

Sunday, January 14:

Boston Crusaders @ Pieper High School

Monday, January 15:

Martin Luther King Jr.: Student / Staff Holiday

Tuesday, January 16:

Ransomed Life – Parent Awareness Night @ Pieper High School Auditorium

Winter Guard Practice @ Pieper High School Cafeteria

9th Grade A Team / JV / Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Seguin High School @ Pieper High School

JV / Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Seguin High School @ Pieper High School

9th / JV / Varsity Girls Basketball vs. Seguin High School @ Seguin High School

JV / Varsity Boys Soccer vs. East Central High School @ Pieper High School

Wednesday, January 17:

Thursday, January 18:

Varsity Girls Soccer Governor’s Cup @ Georgetown Texas

Winter Guard Practice @ Pieper High School Cafeteria

Friday, January 19:

Band TMEA Region 12 Jazz Clinic / Concert @ New Braunfels High School

Theatre Pieper Ranch Middle School UIL One Act Play Public Performance @ PHS Auditorium

9th Grade Boys A & B Teams Basketball vs. Wagner High School @ Wagner High School

JV / Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Wagner High School @ Wagner High School

9th / JV / Varsity Girls Basketball vs. Wagner High School @ Pieper High School

JV / Varsity Boys Soccer vs. Fox Tech High School @ Pieper High School

Varsity Girls Soccer Governor’s Cup @ Georgetown Texas

Varsity Boys & Girls Wrestling @ Canyon High School

Winter Guard Practice @ Pieper High School Cafeteria

Saturday, January 20:

Band TMEA Region 12 Jazz Clinic / Concert @ New Braunfels High School

Varsity Girls Soccer Governor’s Cup @ Georgetown Texas

Varsity Boys & Girls Wrestling @ Canyon High School

Monday, January 22:

HCHS #7 Golf: New Braunfels Invitational Boys Varsity @ Landa Park Golf Course at Comal Springs

Winter Guard practice @ Pieper High School Cafeteria

Tuesday, January 23:

Forever 15 Fentanyl Presentations @ Pieper High School Auditorium

Support Services Art Show

9th Grade Boys A & B Teams Basketball vs. Veterans Memorial High School @ Pieper High School

JV / Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Veterans Memorial High School @ Pieper High School

9th / JV / Varsity Girls Basketball vs. Veteran’s Memorial High School @ Veteran’s Memorial HS

JV / Varsity Boys Soccer vs. Seguin High School @ Pieper High School (Middle School Night)

JV / Varsity Girls Soccer vs. Seguin High School @ Seguin High School

Winter Guard Practice @ Pieper High School Cafeteria

Swim District Dinner @ Pieper High School Learning Stairs and Café Area

Wednesday, January 24:

Comal Academy Fall Graduation

Fentanyl Presentation to Parents & Students @ Pieper High School Auditorium

Senior Ovation Celebration @ Pieper High School Cafeteria

Wrestling Dual @ Pieper High School Gym

Thursday, January 25:

Choir Social Event

Comal ISD Board Meeting @ Support Services

JV Tennis vs. San Marcos High School @ San Marcos High School

Winter Guard Practice @ Pieper High School Cafeteria

Friday, January 26:

SPED STAR Dance

9th Grade Boys A & B Teams Basketball vs. Canyon High School @ Canyon High School

JV / Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Canyon High School @ Canyon High School

9th / JV / Varsity Girls Basketball vs. Canyon High School @ Pieper High School

JV / Varsity Boys Soccer vs. Wagner High School @ Wagner High School

JV / Varsity Girls Soccer vs. Wagner High School @ Pieper High School

Varsity Tennis vs. San Marcos High School @ San Marcos High School

Saturday, January 27:

Band Of Warrior Winter Guard Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser @ Pieper High School Cafeteria

Orchestra UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest @ Churchill High School

JV Boys & Girls District Wrestling @ Canyon High School

Monday, January 29:

HCHS #8: JV Boys Golf Invitational @ Landa Park Golf Course @ Comal Springs

Winter Guard Practice @ Pieper High School Cafeteria

Tuesday, January 30:

9th Grade Boys A Team Basketball vs. Champion High School @ Pieper High School

JV / Varsity Boys Basketball vs. Champion High School @ Pieper High School

9th / JV / Varsity Girls Basketball vs. Champion High School @ Champion High School

JV / Varsity Boys Soccer vs. Veterans Memorial High School @ Pieper High School

JV / Varsity Girls Soccer vs. Veterans Memorial High School @ Veterans Memorial High School

Winter Guard Practice @ Pieper High School Cafeteria

Wednesday, January 31:

Comal ISD Spring Dance Showcase @ Pieper High School Auditorium