Shepherd High School Weekly Update

As a Capturing Kids Heart's school we start each class with a few minutes to share Good Things." (See the Launch at the end of this update.)

Welcome to the start of Trimester 3! As we look back on the intensity of final exams last Thursday and Friday, our "Good Thing" this week is the Power of the Clean Slate. In Capturing Kids’ Hearts, we believe that every day is an opportunity to "reset" our Relational Capacity. Whether Trimester 2 was a triumph or a struggle, tomorrow morning at 8:00 AM, every student starts with a 100%, a blank notebook, and a new opportunity to begin with their new teachers and classmates.

• For Students: Take a deep breath tonight. The stress of finals is behind you. Tomorrow, you walk into new classrooms with the chance to be the best version of yourself.

  • The Action: Identify one thing you learned about your study habits during finals week that you want to carry into this new trimester.

• For Families: Celebrate the finish line! Regardless of the grades that will soon post, your student navigated a high-pressure week.

  • The Action: Tonight, ask your student: "What is one thing you’re excited to 'start over' with in your new classes tomorrow?"

New trimester, new energy. We are ready for you!

As students prepare to build their class schedule preferences for the 2026-27 school year, please talk to your student about future plans and what classes will be best for the preparation of that future. Counselors will begin the scheduling process with students the week of January 20, so have those conversations now!

After a week of hard work coding their Sphero robots, students put their skills to the test in a fun twist on curling and shuffleboard! Using precise commands, angles, speed, and strategy, they programmed their robots to glide across the floor and score points—proving that coding isn’t just lines on a screen… it’s action you can see in motion.

Learning + competition + a little Olympic spirit = STEM at its best

Our newly formed BlueJay Esports teams started their season by winning 3 of 4 scrimmage matches.

If you need Parent Access to Schoology (our online learning platform) please reach out to the HS Office for your access code. With Parent Access you can see the day to day assignments, grades and progress in each of your student's classes. (When they say the don't have homework, you will already know the answer. 😉 )

*these dates/times are subject to change.

As you set your alarms tonight for the first day of Trimester 3, I want to leave you with a challenge regarding the "First Four." In CKH, we know that the first four minutes of a new encounter—a new class, a new teacher, or a new seating chart—set the tone for the rest of the term.

Tomorrow, you aren't just walking into a building; you are walking into a fresh set of possibilities. You have the power to decide the "vibe" of your new classrooms from the very first minute.

• Your Launch Challenge: When you walk into that 1st Period class tomorrow morning, be the one who initiates the "Handshake" (or the high-five, or the simple "Good morning").

• The Goal: Don't wait for the teacher to "capture" your heart—help capture the hearts of your peers. Be the person who makes a new classmate feel like they belong in that room.

Trimester 2 is in the books. Trimester 3 is an unwritten story, and you are the lead character. Let’s make the opening chapter a masterpiece.

See you at the front doors tomorrow. Let's finish the year strong!