Dear Students and Families,

We are thrilled to welcome you to a brand-new school year at Hot Springs High School! My name is Stephanie Hanway, and I am honored to serve as your new Principal. This year brings exciting changes as we introduce a refreshed leadership team dedicated to student success. Please join me in welcoming Mrs. Jessica Covington as our new Assistant Principal and Ms. Marlene Castillo as our new Guidance Counselor. Together, we are committed to putting students first and building a supportive, inclusive, and academically focused environment. We look forward to meeting all of our students, families, and support networks as we work together to make this an exceptional year. To keep you informed and connected, we will be sending out a monthly newsletter with important updates, events, and announcements for our Tiger community.

Here’s to a great year ahead—Go Tigers!

Warm regards,
Stephanie Hanway
Principal, Hot Springs High School

This Friday, July 25, 2025, we are excited to welcome our newest Tigers to Hot Springs High School! A special Jump Start Day has been planned exclusively for our incoming 9th-grade students to help them transition smoothly into high school life.

Please see the attached schedule for the day’s events and activities. This is a valuable opportunity for students to become familiar with their classes, meet staff, and begin building connections with peers.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the high school office at 575-894-8350.

We look forward to a great day with our future graduates!

Starting this school year, Truth or Consequences Municipal Schools has officially moved to a 4-day school week. This change is designed to support student achievement, improve attendance, and allow for more focused instructional time.

For your convenience, we are attaching the 2025–2026 Academic Calendar outlining all instructional days, holidays, and breaks. Please review it carefully and keep it handy for planning purposes.

We appreciate your support as we transition into this new schedule. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the high school office.

Updated School Day Hours

Please note the updated start and end times for the 2025–2026 school year:

• Start Time: 7:45 AM

• End Time: 3:30 PM

We ask that students arrive on time and are prepared to begin their day promptly at 7:45 AM. These hours will be in effect throughout our new 4-day school week schedule.

Thank you for helping us ensure a smooth and successful start to each school day!

As we begin the new school year with an updated calendar and bell schedule, we also want to share some important changes to key expectations and district policies.

At Hot Springs High School, our mission extends beyond academic instruction—we are committed to preparing students for success in the professional world and adult life. To support this goal, we’ve made updates to both our Cell Phone/Personal Communication Device Policy and the District Dress Code Policy.

We encourage all parents and guardians to review these changes carefully and discuss them with your student to ensure a successful start to the year. Your support in reinforcing these expectations at home is vital to creating a focused and respectful learning environment for all.

SCHOOL-WIDE EXPECTIONS

DRESS CODE EXPECTATIONS

The District encourages students to take pride in their attire as it relates to the school setting. Students should dress in a manner that, in addition to the following guidelines, takes into consideration the educational environment, safety, health, professionalism, and welfare of self and others.

● Only tailored shorts and skirts that are hemmed may be worn in grades kindergarten (K) through twelve (12).

● Bare midriffs, halter tops, and spaghetti straps are not acceptable.

● Bare feet are never acceptable. In the interests of student safety, shoes must be worn at all times. Closed shoes are to be worn for any type of physical activity, such as physical education, etc.

● Jewelry shall not be worn if it presents a safety hazard to self and/or others.

● Profane or defamatory writing on clothing or jewelry is not acceptable.

● No bandannas of any color, size, or shape may be carried or displayed in any classroom or at any school activity. This also includes simulations of anything representing "colors."

● No hats may be worn in a classroom, except for properly approved occupational safety headgear required for special classes.

● Gang-related personalization is not permitted on hats, on items of clothing, or on one's person.

● Obscene language or symbols, or symbols of drugs, sex, or alcohol on clothing are expressly prohibited.

Exceptions for special activities or health considerations may be pre approved by the administrator.

Students who volunteer for extracurricular activities, such as athletics, band, chorus, etc., are subject to the standards of dress as defined by the sponsors of such activities.

CELL PHONE, SMART WATCHES, TABLETS, PERSONAL ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICES (PECDs) AND/OR ELECTRONICS USE

● Personal Electronic Communication Devices are prohibited in classrooms UNLESS used for a specific lesson/activity and monitored by the teacher.

● PECDs should be turned off at the first bell and placed into backpacks for the remainder of the day

● PECDs are allowed before school and after school. They are NOT to be used during the school day

● PECDs can be used to take pictures of assignments, texts, agendas, resources to support learning needs with teacher permission

● PECDs can be confiscated for violations and if suspected in cyberbullying, can be searched.

● While you are on campus your cell or PECD is your responsibility, we are not responsible for the damage, theft, or loss of the device.

● If an emergency arises, students may come to the front office to make a phone call while in the front office.

● If parents/guardians need to reach a student during the school day, please call the front office and we can take a message and get you in contact with your student.

Penalties for Violations

● 1. First Offense: The Personal Electronic Device will be confiscated by the teacher. The Personal Electronic Device will be returned to students after school. The teacher will notify the parents.

● 2. Second Offense: The Personal Electronic Device will be confiscated. The Personal Electronic Device will be returned to the student after school. The administrator will contact the guardian.

● 3. Third Offense: The Personal Electronic Device will be confiscated and not returned until the end of the day and the student will be placed in ISS. Parents or guardians must pick up devices at the end of the day.

● 4. Subsequent Offenses: The Personal Electronic Device will be confiscated, and the student will be assigned ISS and is no longer allowed to bring devices to school.

Hot Springs High School follows the District Discipline Matrix, which outlines clear and consistent guidelines for addressing student behavior. All staff will adhere to this matrix to ensure fairness and accountability across our campus.

We strongly encourage parents and guardians to review the matrix and discuss it with their students. Understanding these expectations helps reinforce a safe and respectful school environment.

Please also note that students involved in athletics and extracurricular activities are held to an additional standard. Behavioral violations may carry extra consequences beyond those outlined in the district matrix, in accordance with team and activity codes of conduct.

Your support in reinforcing these expectations at home is greatly appreciated.

All of the information shared above—and much more—can be found in our Student and Family Handbook. This comprehensive guide includes essential policies, expectations, procedures, and resources to support a successful school year.

We strongly encourage all families to review the handbook together and discuss the key information with your student. The more prepared our students are as they begin the year, the more confident and successful they will be.

Let’s work together to ensure a strong start to the 2025–2026 school year!

https://www.torcschools.net/page/school-and-district-handbooks

We encourage all families to visit our Hot Springs High School website, where you’ll find important information including policies, calendars, announcements, and resources to support your student’s success.

This, and so much more, is available at your fingertips. Please take a few moments to explore the site and discuss key details with your student to help them start the year informed and prepared.