The Cavalier Contact

Greetings CAV Nation!

Thank you to the students, staff, and parents who braved the rainy weather for secondary experience night. More information about the secondary experience night can be found in this issue of the CAV Contact.

Remember, the second quarter ends on Friday, December 19, so any outstanding assignments must be turned in by that date. Over the next few weeks, please make it a priority to:

• Check your grades in PowerSchool

• Talk with your teachers about any missing work or opportunities to improve

• Use your class time wisely and be present every day

These next few weeks are short but important. Let’s lock in, support one another, and do everything we can to put ourselves in a great position heading into winter break and the second semester.

My goal for every Cavalier is to walk across the graduation stage to take advantage of every opportunity that presents itself, whether that be Enrolled, Enlisted, or Employed. I appreciate your commitment to helping every CAV CHOOSE GREATNESS by developing CONFIDENCE in their abilities, being ACCOUNTABLE for their learning and success, and building a VISION for what they want to achieve before and after graduation.

Do not hesitate to email me at tconnolly@ccps.us or call me at (804) 633-9886 if you have questions or concerns.

Regards,

Thomas W. Connolly, Ed. D.

Principal

Caroline High School

School Counselors are gearing up to register students in grades 5-11 for the 2026-2027 school year.

After this evening event, school counselors will be conducting classroom lessons during the month of December. These lessons will highlight appropriate course options for the next school year, cover student interests and career goals and for secondary, highlight graduation requirements.

We will offer parents the opportunity to use the PowerSchool Parent Portal from December 10 - January 6 to pre-select courses for their child for the 26-27 year. School counselors will meet with each student, grades 5-11, to verify course requests and align them with their personal and career interests. These individual registration meetings will take place in January and February. More information on the Parent Portal will be forthcoming.

For any questions involving the registration process, please contact your student’s school counselor

The Cavalier Experience Night was a HUGE Success

A shout out to our teachers and students who came to be part of our event.

• Several core and elective teachers and specialists helped to guide student choices on their academic pathways.
• Our Mass Media classes conducted "reporter on the street" interviews and hosted a live podcast during the event.
• The school counseling team hosted several session for parents, athletic coaches came to promote out teams' successes, and the CHS Cheerleaders served as our tour guides for the evening.

Attention: 9th grade students in Geometry (or Alg. II) are eligible to apply for Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School. There will be a site visit on Tuesday, December 9th. Permission slips were due Friday, but due to the snow day please have all applications placed in Mrs. Kiger’s box in the main office first thing in the morning on Monday 12/8. Also, there will be an open house for families on Thursday, December 11th at the Bowling Green campus for CBGS. The CBGS application can be found online at https://cbgs.k12.va.us/ by clicking on Admissions, and then Application. See details for the open house below.

Current CBGS student families are also invited to attend.

CHS values your child’s attendance at school. We need your help! Please monitor your child’s attendance and help them obtain a high quality education with their peers in school. At this time last year, CHS's absenteeism rate was 22%. This year, our current chronic absentee rate is nearly 24%.. As we aim to meet the state accreditation standards we want to decrease this number to 15%!! Thank you for your partnership in your child’s education. Chronic absenteeism is defined as missing 10% or more of the academic year for any reason, including excused absences, unexcused absences, and suspensions. Based on a 175-day school year, that means approximately 17 days per year or 2 to 3 days per month. Missed instruction, regardless of the reason, can have significant academic consequences, and this applies to all students, including those with excused absences.

Pictured below are Colton Nutter and Madison Mynhier, two of our winners of the 1st quarter attendance competition. These students were awarded with brand new shoes for being at school every day!

Afterschool Tutoring Details

Location: Caroline High School Room R210

Time: 3:00 - 5:30 p.m.

Dates: Every Tuesday

Transportation: Activity Bus or Parent/guardian Pick Up

You will need: Chromebook, charger, notebook paper, and writing utensils

Please note that tutoring is a privilege. All Caroline High School expectations and the CHS Code of Conduct apply. Failure to follow these expectations may result in removal from the tutoring program. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Mrs. Johnson @ nnelson@ccps.us.

10th and 11th grade gifted students are eligible to apply for Summer Residential Governor’s School programs. To find out more information you can visit the VDOE website for SRGS.

World Language Academies are also residential programs that occur in the summer and are available to any 10th or 11th grade students meeting the language studies criteria. Information for these programs can be also be found on the VDOE website for WLA.

If you have any questions or are interested, please contact Mrs. Kiger at hkiger@ccps.us.

If you need a little help with the holidays for your child or children, our CARE Team is here for you.

Please reach out to a representative member of the team below for assistance:

• Family Engagement Coordinator: Mrs. Baker-Latney (sbakerlatney@ccps.us )

• School Social Worker: Mrs. Sharon Stodulski (sstodulski@ccps.us )

• School Counselor: Mrs. Thweatt (lthweatt@ccps.us )

If students would like to see their images they can go to mylifetouch.com and follow the prompts to use their Student ID to access their images. They will be ready to be viewed in approximately 4 -6 weeks.

Parents & Guardians, if you are dropping your child off at school then you must enter the student parking lot from the first entrance on route 207 East. Posted safety cones will guide drivers through the parking lot towards the main office entrance, where students will be dropped off. Please see the image above this message. The red line shows the parents path to dropping off students. The Blue line shows students drivers where to park as they enter the parking lot. Any students needing breakfast must walk directly to the cafeteria after arrival.

• Students may not be dropped off at school prior to 7:10 am.

• Parents may not enter the Staff Parking Lot off of Devil’s Three Jump Road to drop off their child

• Parents may not drive through the bus parking lot in the back of the school.

Drop-Off Area Guidelines:

• Do not use the visitor or faculty parking spaces at the front of the building when dropping off students.
• These spaces are reserved for staff and visitors and must remain clear to ensure buses can unload safely and staff can arrive to work on time.

Caroline County Public Schools provides transportation to and from each school for each student should they choose to ride the school bus. Additionally, the Transportation Department has a dedicated team of drivers to provide transportation home from school activities such a sports practices. Click HERE for the bus routes for the 2025-2026 school year.

1. Building Access Times:

   • The school doors will open at 7:10 a.m. for regular school days.
   • On 2-hour delay days, doors will open at 9:10 a.m..
   • Students will not be able to access the building before these times. Please plan your drop-off schedules accordingly.

2. Drop-Off Area Guidelines:

   • Do not use the visitor or faculty parking spaces at the front of the building when dropping off students.
   • These spaces are reserved for staff and visitors and must remain clear to ensure buses can unload safely and staff can arrive to work on time.

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and the Virginia Department of Education are excited to introduce Cardi, a new chatbot designed to assist students and families with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). With FAFSA completions in Virginia currently down by 10% compared to last year, Cardi is designed to increase submissions and ensure students receive the financial aid they need.

Key features of Cardi include:

• 24/7 access for instant FAFSA assistance
• User-friendly and easy to understand language
• Features both FAFSA and Virginia-specific financial aid information.

To see Cardi in action and to share it with your students, please visit FAFSA and FSA ID texts.

This fentanyl awareness sheet is being provided to all 9-12 grade students and their families in the state of Virginia.

We expect all CAVs to CHOOSE GREATNESS, and we will reward those students who consistently meet our high expectations. CHS offers opportunities for all students to engage in learning and various activities. In order for students to participate in pep rallies, field trips, dances, and other events sponsored by CHS, each student must:

1. Have a passing grade in all classes (evidence of academic improvement will be used on a case-by-case basis for students who are failing a class)

2. Have no more than three unexcused tardies from the time the event is announced to the day before the event.

3. Have no more than 3 unexcused absences from the time the event is announced to the day before the event.

4. Remain in good behavioral standing (no more than one per nine weeks).

1. Fighting, vaping, drugs/alcohol, and other major offenses can disqualify you from participation for the year.

Cell Phones and other Electronic Devices - At the school board meeting on 7/8/2024, the CCPS school board voted on a new cell phone policy. Students will not be allowed to use or have cell phones and other electronic devices out during the entire school day.

Personal Communication Device Policy

1. Per CCPS School Board Policy, personal communication devices:

1. May not be turned on, in use, or in a location that allows the student to hear or see the activated device during instructional time.

2. Must be stored in a backpack, bag, or purse; teacher designated area within the instructional setting; lockers; or in a vehicle.

3. Smartwatches must be placed on silent mode throughout the instructional day.

2. Instructional Setting:

1. The instructional setting includes, but is not limited to: classrooms; hallways; media center; auditorium; cafeteria, gymnasium; inside and outside physical education areas; locker rooms; restrooms; school administrative offices; and nurse’s clinic.

3. Enforcement Procedure

1. If a student violates this policy, then the cell phone or device will be confiscated by school administration and the parent must pick up the cell phone or device from the front office.

4. Emergency Communication

1. If parents need to communicate with a student they can do so by contacting the CHS main office, or before and after school. In the case of an emergency parents should contact the front office.

Dress Code (from CCPS Policy) - We expect students to maintain an appearance that is not distracting to teachers or students or in any way disrupts the instructional program of the school. Clothing that may be hazardous to the health and safety of other students and teachers and staff must not be worn at school. Maintaining appropriate appearance during school hours and at official school functions is the responsibility of the parents and the students. Pants must be worn appropriately (waistband at the waist) and pants worn below the waist are not permitted. No sagging. Clothing and tattoos that distract others from the learning process are prohibited. This includes clothing and tattoos that display or advertise alcoholic beverages or items prohibited on school property, sexually explicit references, or which convey derogatory messages regarding race, sex, color, national origin, religion, disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation. Inappropriate clothing for school or clothing that is of a safety concern or disruptive to the educational environment includes, but is not limited to:

• Halter tops, tube tops, tanks tops, see-through tops, tops with spaghetti straps, altered t-shirts (sleeves removed), and muscle shirts. Tops must not expose cleavage or the midriff. Sleeveless tops must be 3 inches or more across the shoulder.
• Bicycle/spandex shorts.
• Leggings/Jeggings must be accompanied by a top that covers the front and backside.
• Shorts/skirts/dresses/“skorts” must be at least mid-thigh in length.
• Skirts or dresses with slits must be at least mid-thigh in length.
• Exposed male and female undergarments (top and bottom).
• Holes in pants: Pants with holes/openings may be worn, but they cannot be higher than mid-thigh.
• Pajama pants.
• Flip flops, Heelys (shoes with wheels), bedroom slippers, untied shoes, slides, heels above 2 inches. Flip flops may be worn by secondary school students, but appropriate shoes must be worn when required for participation/enrollment in certain classes/physical activity.
• Hoods or other head wear that cover the face and/or eyes and thus prevents the identification of a student. However, acceptable head cover (except for religious/medical purposes) must be removed due to safety concerns in certain classes such as science labs and CTE.
• Sunglasses, chokers, or chains worn on clothing.
• Nonprescription and/or color contact lenses.
• Rolling backpacks are not permitted in any of the schools, unless there is a legitimate medical need or another legitimate purpose, with prior approval of the principal.

https://www.ccps.us/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Code-of-Student-Conduct-2025-26.pdf

Caroline High School seniors and their families should be aware of important upcoming dates and activities for the Class of 2026. Cap and gown deliveries are scheduled during lunches on March 24 and 25, 2026, leading up to graduation on May 19, 2026. Seniors and parents are encouraged to mark their calendars to ensure they are prepared for each milestone on the path to graduation.

Graduation Information, Class of 2026

• This is a reminder that the deadline to order your cap and gown for graduation is Friday, December 5. Please use the link below to view the catalog and place your order:

  Submitting your order by the deadline helps ensure everything arrives on time for graduation.

  
  

• 
  

  Herff Jones – Caroline High School Cap & Gown Catalog

  
  

• The website for cap and gown purchases has been set up, but the gown pictured is just the generic robe, not the specific ones required for Caroline. This link should take you to the Caroline section: Herff-Jones
  

• Deadline for Early Bird Pricing was December 5, 2025

• The graduation ceremony is Tuesday, May 19th, 2026 at the Henrico Sports and Events Complex in Glen Allen. It is a ticketed event, and specific information about allotted numbers as well as the opportunity and cost of additional tickets will be released soon.

• Practice is Monday, May 18th at the high school at 7:30 AM. You must attend practice in order to participate in the ceremony.

• Initial plans are for Seniors participating in the graduation ceremony to receive 4 free tickets. Those seniors participating in the ceremony may purchase up to 8 additional tickets after Spring Break @ $8 each. Tickets will be sold at the high school in April from Mrs. Douglas. All tickets and parking passes will be distributed at the May 18th practice at the high school.

• Please address graduation question to Mrs. Douglas: pdouglas@ccps.us

Counselors are currently meeting one-on-one with seniors to guide them through their post-graduation plans. During these sessions, each senior will receive a personalized roadmap outlining the steps they need to take to successfully graduate by May 2026. If you'd like a copy of this important document, don’t hesitate to contact your child's counselor for more details.

This is a reminder that all 12th-grade students are required by the state of Virginia to receive the Meningococcal vaccine (MenACWY) for school attendance. Failure to get this vaccination can cause your child to be unenrolled from school until the vaccination is acquired.

If you have not yet done so, please schedule an appointment with your healthcare provider where your student can receive this required vaccine. Once completed, please provide documentation to CHS. For more information about the MenACWY requirement, please visit the following website: www.vdh.virginia.gov/immunization/requirements.

If you have questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with Nurse Russell at mrussell@ccps.us or 804-633-9886; Erica Hunter at the Virginia Department of Health at erica.hunter@vdh.virginia.gov or 804-864-8057; or Joanna Pitts at the Virginia Department of Health at 804-864-7590 or joanna.pitts@vdh.virginia.gov.

8/11/2025 - Transition Day for 1st time 9th grade students

8/12/2025 - First day of School for all students

8/15/2025 - Senior Sunrise 6:15 am at CHS Stadium

8/29/2025 - Student Holiday

9/1/2025 - Student Holiday

9/12/2025 - Interim Ends, all late work due

10/3/2025 - Homecoming Block Party and Football Game 4-7

10/4/2025 - Homecoming Dance 7:00-9:30 at CHS Blanton Gym

10/9/2025 - End of Quarter, all later work due

10/10/2025 - Student Holiday

11/3/2025 - Student Holiday

11/4/2025 - Student Holiday

11/4/2025 - Parent Teacher Conferences at CHS 8:00-4:00

11/14/2025 - Interim Ends, all late work due

11/26-11/28/2025 - Thanksgiving Break

12/19/2025 - End of Quarter, all late work due

12/22/2025-1/5/2026 - Winter Break

1/6/2026 - Students Return from Winter Break

1/19/2026 - Student Holiday

2/5/2026 - End of Quarter, all later work due

2/12/2026 - Parent Teacher Conferences at CHS

2/14/2026 - Student Holiday

2/16/2026 - Student Holiday

3/6/2026 - End of Quarter, all late work due

3/9/2026 - Student Holiday

3/30-4/6/2026 - Spring Break

4/17/2026 - Interim Ends, all late work due

4/17/2026 - Prom

5/1/2026 - Senior Decision Day

5/4-5/7/2026 - Senior Exams

5/8/2026 - Senior Walk

5/8/2026 - Senior Sunset

5/18-5/21/2026 - Underclassmen Final Exams

5/19/2026 - Graduation 7:00 at Henrico Sports and Events Center

5/22/2026 - Last Day of School

• Caroline County Public Schools Website: http://www.ccps.us/
• CHS Student Dress Code: https://www.ccps.us/dress-code
• PowerSchool Portal: https://caroline.powerschool.com/public/
• Athletics & Activities Calendar: https://www.battlefielddistrictva.org

Email: tconnolly@ccps.us
Website: https://www.ccps.us/chs/
Location: Caroline High School, Rogers Clark Boulevard, Milford, VA, USA
Phone: (804)633-9886
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CAROLINE-HIGH-SCHOOL-130749860579/
Twitter: @CAVSofCHS