CHS Newsletter

Bobcat Nation,

As we wrap up our second week of STAAR testing, I want to take a moment to recognize the hard work and perseverance our students and staff have shown. Testing season can be demanding, and I am proud of the focus, determination, and support I’ve seen across our campus.

Looking ahead, we are quickly approaching AP testing in May. Our students enrolled in AP courses have been preparing all year, and we are confident they will rise to the challenge. We encourage them to stay focused, get plenty of rest, and finish strong.

Additionally, May 1st marks National Decision Day for our seniors. We are celebrating a significant milestone as they finalize their plans for life after high school. We are excited to celebrate their next steps and all they have accomplished. Seniors can find more information about Decision Day activities in the section below.

As always, thank you for your continued support of our students and school community during this busy and exciting time of year.

For kids,

John

For entry into CISD events, we are using the HomeTown app to make it easy to purchase tickets. You can scan the QR code below to download the app.

Seniors, please fill out the Google Form below with your school email and include your #decisionday photo to be featured in the presentation. All seniors that attend will be treated to Granny's Bakery and be put into the drawing for 15 amazing prizes.

In honor of supporting those with mental health issues, we’re hosting a class-
competition food drive. April is a special time to give back: each class is invited to donate breakfast, lunch, and snack pantry items. Every item donated helps carry kindness forward and support those that need a little kindness every day.

Each grade has a designated box in the counseling suite. Please bring your donations before May 8th.

Monday, May 4, 2026

6:00pm

Room 208

The CHS Swim/Dive team has some exciting news!

Beginning in the fall of 2026, our swim team will practice daily during 1st period athletics! This allows the participants to earn a grade and the credit for an Athletics class and to compete in UIL competitions.

A student must be enrolled in 1st period athletics to participate (some exceptions apply for dual-sport athletes and USA Swimmers). Students need to contact their counselor if they did not select Athletics during the selection process.

Transportation will be provided from CHS to and from the APEX Center in McKinney to allow students to swim each morning.

This is a competitive swim program at the 5A level. A student must be able to swim a minimum of 100 meters of each stroke, and perform starts and turns.

Divers: We will not have access to diving boards during practice. If you are interested in competing as a diver, please contact carriekeaveney@celinaisd.com or ellynhewett@celinaisd.com.

If you would like more information on the program, please attend the informational session being held Monday, May 4 at 6pm in Room 208 of the high school, or reach out to a coach.

CTV Show Episode 10

Putting on the Spring Show

Friday Market Night

Sports: Track

Calling all rising seniors! Want a FREE Elite Senior Photo Session with ALL your digital images included? CADY is seeking Ambassadors from the Class of 2027 to represent its brand nationwide. Use the link below to learn more and apply today! cady.com/ambassador #CADYSenior #classof2027

Join us for the 2025-2026 Lunch n Learn Series! Brittany Cortez is a College and Career Counselor from Collin College and will cover a variety of college related topics throughout the year. The sessions will start at 12pm via Zoom. No sign up is required, just grab your lunch and click on the Zoom link in the flyer. Each of these topics will also be offered to all students to attend throughout the school year.

Helping Hands of Celina

Community Action Team (CATS)

Our CATS is our parent organization that helps to support all 1500 students and 135 staff throughout the year with bake sales, selling the official Homecoming t-shirt, and providing goodies/luncheons for our staff. Please join to add a layer of support for our kids and our staff. You can join through your School Cafe account and look for CATS (HS PTO) Membership '25-'26.

If you do not have a School Cafe account, you can click here to set up one and this will allow you to join CATS, purchase the official Homecoming t-shirt designed and sold by our CATS, set up a lunch account, and order other items like paying for parking spots and dues for various classes.

School Lunch

Free and reduced lunch applications can be found in the following link: https://www.schoolcafe.com/CELINAISD The grace period will end September 26, 2025, so please take time to complete your application.

For our new families, you can create school cafe account using the link above, you can send money with your child, or you can have your child bring their lunch. In School Cafe, you can monitor your child's account and place restrictions on their meal accounts if you would like to do so (e.g., your child can only buy one ice cream).

For those who were in Celina ISD last year, any balance that you have in School Cafe rolls over from the previous school year. Please add funds to your account before the first day of school.

GPA Update beginning for Class of 2026

Please click this link for the GPA update for the Class of 2026.

GPA Update beginning for Class of 2029

Please click this link for the GPA update for the Class of 2029.

2025-2026 Attendance Goal = 98%

We achieved 95.1% attendance last year so 98% is a very bold and ambitious goal! Furthermore, the more students are here, the more connections and positive relationships that they have, and the more that they learn!

Attendance-Truancy Tribunal

Chapter 25 of the Texas Education Code details the attendance requirements for students in Texas. Students must be in attendance for 90% of their class in order to receive credit for the class (remember that our goal is 98%). In addition, there is language in this code that directs schools/school districts to take action when a student accumulates a certain number of unexcused absences (including tardies - 3 tardies = an unexcused absence) and this includes filing truancy charges on the parent. Celina ISD wants to partner with our parents in order to prevent truancy charges from being filed. Therefore, when a student accumulates 7 unexcused absences/tardies, we will send a summons to the parent and student to attend a Truancy Tribunal Hearing in order to develop a plan to improve the attendance of the student. The Truancy Tribunal process has proven to decrease unexcused absences, decrease failed classes, and decrease discipline incidents of students. We are proud to implement the Truancy Tribunal Hearings and we know that this will benefit our kids and our families. If you have questions about the Truancy Tribunal process, please reach out to me via email or phone call at the information in my signature

Student Code of Conduct

At CHS, we start with the knowledge that we have the best students and parents on the planet! As such, we hold the highest standards for our kids because we know that they will live up to these standards. Likewise, we hold ourselves the to the highest standards to support our kids and our parents. We want to make sure that you have all of the information needed regarding our dress code and the passage of the new "cell phone ban" HB 1481. The dress code and standards of conduct are contained in the link above. The dress code is addressed on pp. 58-59 so please take a moment to familiarize yourself with CISD standards of dress and decorum.

HB1481 Device Ban

The major change for this year is the passage of HB 1481 that prohibits personal communication devices. Celina High School will strictly enforce this law/policy between 8:45-4:10. Prior to 8:45, students should turn off and put any prohibited devices in their backpack. This will prevent any prohibited devices from being seen or heard and will allow students to form relationships with other students and teachers and focus on learning. If you need to contact your child, you can send a message to their school email account and if there is an emergency, you can contact our front desk and we will assist in getting the message to your child(ren).

Although HB 1481 does not go into effect until September 1, 2025, CISD has chosen to implement this law beginning Wednesday, August 13, 2025. Our staff will continue to only use their personal devices for professional use only during the work day and because we receive emergency notifications and we send emergency notifications through our personal devices.

Prohibited personal communication devices include, but are not limited to:

• Smartphones
  

• Laptops and tablets
  

• Smartwatches
  

• Earbuds and earphones
  

• Smart eyeglasses

• Portable gaming devices

Contact Information for Administrators and Counselors

Administrators

• Dr. John M. Burdett (Principal) - johnburdett@celinaisd.com
• Kristy Carr (Student last names A-Gan) - kristycarr@celinaisd.com
• Greg Sherwood-(Student last names Gar-N) - gregsherwood@celinaisd.com
• Dr. Adam Washburn (Student last names O-Z) - adamwashburn@celinaisd.com

Counselors

• Carrie Crane (Student last names A-Gan) carriecrane@celinaisd.com
• Denise Moore (Student last names Gar-N) denisemoore@celinaisd.com
• Karen Pelkey (Student last names O-Z) karenpelkey@celinaisd.com