Cat Tracks

Dear Families,

As we settle into the school year, I want to take a moment to express how excited I am to be part of the Chisago Lakes High School community. My first month with students in the building has been incredibly rewarding, and I continue to be impressed by the people who make CLHS such a special place.

One of the things that has stood out to me is the dedication, experience, and quality of our staff. Every day, I see educators who are deeply committed to their students, passionate about their work, and willing to go above and beyond to help students succeed. Equally impressive is our student body. Whether in the classroom, hallways, activities, or athletic events, I have seen students demonstrate respect, kindness, talent, and a genuine willingness to learn and grow. It is clear that CLHS has a strong foundation, built through the hard work and commitment of our staff, students, and families. I am grateful for the warm welcome I have received and look forward to building on the many great things already happening here.

As we look ahead, I want to encourage all families to attend our upcoming Parent Teacher Conferences on Thursday, October 8, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. Conferences provide a valuable opportunity to connect with your student's teachers, celebrate successes, discuss progress, and identify ways we can work together to support continued growth. These conversations also help strengthen the relationships between home and school, ensuring that we share a common understanding of each student's needs, strengths, and goals. Even when things are going well, taking the time to connect can make a meaningful difference in a student's educational experience.

I would also welcome the opportunity to meet you during conferences. As I continue getting to know our students, staff, and families, I value hearing your perspectives, learning about your experiences, and understanding what makes Chisago Lakes High School a special place for you. Strong schools are built through strong relationships, and I look forward to developing those connections with you.

Thank you for the trust you place in us and for the many ways you support our students and school. I am excited about the year ahead and all that we will accomplish together.

Go Wildcats!

Brent Stavig
High School Principal

Chisago Lakes High school Building hours are from 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM. The Front Office is open from 7:15 AM - 3:15 PM. ** Door entry will be adjusted for sporting events/activities as scheduled.

The high school doors are NOT open until 7:00 am. Students cannot be dropped off at the WCC Door 7 in the morning. Students not riding the bus or driving (Drop Off's) should be dropped off at door 33 (PAC)

• Door Number #1 (Front Entrance) - The outside doors will open at 7:00 AM. The inside, vestibule doors, will unlock at 7:15 AM
• Door #17 (Student Entry Doors) -
• Door #33 (PAC Entrance) - The PAC exterior doors will be open from 7:00 AM - 7:50 AM and again at 2:30 PM
• Door entry will be adjusted for sporting events/activities as scheduled.
• Door #7 (WCC) is NOT a drop or entry for students

Plan ahead and adjust your morning route so you can make it to class on time. Thank you for your cooperation!

Term 1 Parent/Teacher Conferences will be held on Thursday, October 8, 2026, from 3:00–7:00 pm.

• 3:00–5:00 pm – Virtual conferences

• 5:00–7:00 pm – In-person conferences at CLHS

Conferences are scheduled in 10-minute time slots. Please register in advance through MyConferenceTime.

How to Register

1. Go to CLHS Conference Schedule on MyConferenceTime.

2. Select the teacher you wish to meet with.

3. Choose an available time slot and click Sign Up.

• Please note the following:

• There are some teachers who have make-up schedules for conferences listed. Any make-up conferences will be virtual.

4. Complete the form, including your email address.

5. Click Sign Up For Your Conference at the bottom of the form.

6. Add your conference to your Outlook or Google calendar.

7. Print a copy of your schedule for easy reference.

Tip: Please allow at least 5 minutes between conferences to move between teachers or locations.

If you believe you will need more than 10 minutes with a teacher, please reach out to them directly by phone or email, or contact your student’s School Counselor to arrange a longer meeting.

We encourage you to take part in this valuable opportunity to connect with your student’s Term 1 teachers and support their success.

Families can order their student's school pictures online through Josten's.

• Click HERE to view and order your student's school pictures

  • CHISAGO LAKES HIGH SCHOOL
  • Event Code: FE412526
  • Also Needed: Synergy 6 digit Student ID

Josten's Customer Care for Families/Parents

Our Customer Care team can help answer any questions families may have after Picture Day. They are available Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm Central. They can be reached by phone (1-877-515-1447, Option 1).

Students who did not have their photo taken at Open House in August, or those wanting to have a retake photo taken, will have that opportunity on Thursday, October 8th. Photographers from Jostens will be available in the high school Dance Studio beginning at 7:00 AM through PAWZ at 9:45 AM. Students can have their photo taken before school starts from 7:00 AM - 7:50 AM or they will be dismissed by grade over the PA system to have their photo taken.

Parents/Guardians calling in their student for an absence (full day or part day for an appointment) or requesting an early release for their student, can do so in one of the following ways:

1. Online using ParentVue
2. Send an email to HSAttendance@isd2144.org
3. Call the Attendance Line:651-213-2513
   Leave a message on the attendance line with your student's name and reason for absence. If leaving early or arriving late, please note the time. Messages are checked continuously throughout the day
4. Send a note with your student to be given to Attendance
   
   

Any questions regarding Attendance, please reach out to Heather Turner
hsattendance@isd2144.org
651-213-2513

With cold and flu season here, we want to remind everyone of the proper procedure if you are feeling sick at school.

If you are feeling sick during the school day:

• Go to the Health Office. Do not call or text your parent/guardian from class asking them to call the Attendance Office and have you sent home.

• The Health Office will assess you and determine the next steps.

• If you need to go home, you will be checked out through the Health Office.

• If your parent/guardian has already contacted the Attendance Office requesting that you leave because you are sick, you will be given a pass to go directly to the Health Office.

Going through the Health Office helps make sure you are properly assessed and allows us to keep track of illnesses in our school.

From the Student Handbook:

Students who become ill during the school day must report to the school health office for care and prior to leaving in order for the absence to be excused.

The student will be excused for the following school day for a fever above 100°, and for vomiting or diarrhea until symptoms have resolved. Please contact the school nurse for assistance with specific disease exclusion guidelines.

Once your student has been reported to the attendance office as leaving early (using one of the above methods) the following process will occur:

• Your student will receive a green release pass from attendance to leave class and the building. Depending on when the message was received and the time your student needs to be released, your student will receive their release pass by being paged to the Attendance Office during passing time, or a pass will be delivered to them in class.
• Parents do not need to enter the building to pick up their student. Students will use the green pass for approval to leave and scan out using their ID/phone to leave the building.
• Students should be picked up during the day from the front door (Door#1)
• If your student drives, they may leave from door 17 with a pass from attendance.

If your student is arriving late to school unexcused they will enter the building and go to class following these steps:

• Students arriving at school late (After 7:50 AM) will be required to scan in with their ID Card or Phone at either Door 17 or Door 1.
• If your student arrives between 7:50 AM - 8:15 AM they will receive a "Tardy" slip when they scan into the building. Students can take that pass directly to class to enter.
• If your student arrives after 8:15 AM, they will proceed to the Attendance Office to receive an orange admit slip for class.
  
  

If your student is arriving late to school excused, they will enter the building and go to class following these steps:

• Students arriving at school late (After 7:50 AM) will be required to scan in with their ID Card or Phone at either Door 17 or Door 1.
• Students with an excused absence/tardy will then proceed directly to the Attendance window to ensure the absence is correctly recorded and receive an admit pass to class.
  
  

*Students/Families have 3 days from the date of absence to be called in for an excused absence, such as an Appointment or illness. After the 3-day mark, changes cannot be made to an absence per Chisago County Rules.** See complete Chisago County Attendance policies/prtocols below

Chisago Lakes High School has three School Counselors. They meet the needs of their students by last name alpha throughout grades 9-12. Your student will have the same school counselor throughout their high school career. If you have any questions or concerns about your student, please reach out to their school counselor.

In addition to our 3 School Counselors, our Registrar; Lisa Lund assists with managing academic records, oversees enrollment and withdrawls, assits in course scheduling and student data. She also oversees transcripts. Current and former students and parents can order transcripts through Parchment and have them sent electronically to colleges, universities, NCAA, and other institutions. Parchment is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year. There is a $5.00 fee per transcript request.

Lisa Lund 651-213-2510 llund@isd2144.org

Alex Smith from Therapeutic Services Agency (TSA) will be returning this year. Alex is a therapist from TSA that will be located in the high school during the school day. She will be offering mental health services. Parents interested in having their student see a therapist during the school day can contact their students’ school counselor or call TSA at 320-629-7600.

Post-Secondary Planning for all Students

The counselors will be presenting a college/career information program called MCIS to students in grade level classes throughout the year.

• 9th grade - Freshman Seminar – Students will complete a career interest inventory, begin a resume, research careers and colleges, create a 4 year education plan and start to calculate the cost of education.
• 10th grade – English 10/AP Language – Students will update their 4 year education plan, complete a career interest profile, research careers and colleges, update their resume and examine the costs of higher education.
• 11th grade - Academic Writing/English 11/College Composition – Students will update their 4 year education plan, re-take career interest inventory and/or interest profile, research careers, complete a college search, calculate the cost of higher education and work on scholarship/college essay writing
• 12th grade – Individual Senior Meetings with counselors.
• Senior Meetings Counselors started meeting with seniors the week of September 8th to accomplish their “senior check in meetings” where we review graduation and career/post-secondary plans. We have wrapped up our scheduled meetings but are always available to connect with students or parents on any further questions.

Direct Admissions for Seniors

To support our students' postsecondary journeys, Chisago Lakes High School has joined the Direct Admissions Minnesota program for the 2026-27 school year. Direct Admissions offers seniors a look at the many college options they have after high school by proactively notifying them of which Minnesota colleges and universities they are accepted to - before they even apply! Check out this video to learn more: https://youtu.be/3sNb7vIxzAI?si=IjprsXnRk2l5u-ai
College Applications

Many Minnesota colleges and universities waive the college application fees during the month of October or throughout the year. Click on the link to see the full list of colleges that waive their fees - Free Application Opportunities at Minnesota Colleges and Universities (2026-2027)

Counselors are available to assist seniors in completing their applications to college; this includes community college, technical college and 4 year public and private colleges. Students are welcome to stop in to the Guidance Office during an open hour, during lunch or during a class if given permission from their teacher in order to get help on their college applications.
FAFSA

The 2027-2028 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will be available to the public on October 1st, 2026. An email was sent to students in the class of 2027 and their parents/guardians with the link to the FAFSA website and Financial Aid Resources.

If you have further questions regarding filling out your FAFSA, please contact the Financial Aid Office of your student’s prospective colleges.

• Link to the FAFSA Website

• Financial Aid Resources

Our On the Job Training (OJT) & PAES Lab (Practical Assessment Exploration System) programs are both work-based programs that offer students with services to obtain both job and life skills. These programs are coordinated by Job Coaches Julie Anderson and Emily Carlson, who work alongside students to help them discover their strengths, develop independence, and take steps toward meaningful employment. These programs provide an important bridge between school and the working world. Students are learning that their skills and contributions matter—and that they have many possibilities for their futures.

We have some familiar faces working throughout our schools, completing various jobs such as washing tables after lunch, filing paperwork in the attendance office, running the snack cart, sorting mail, and delivering packages to staff. These students are gaining something much more valuable than just work experience: they are building the skills needed for life after high school. As students progress through the program, they may have the opportunity to work in one of our other school buildings in the kitchen or with the custodial department. These students are learning workplace skills while earning school credit as well as a paycheck, all within the school day as a part of their schedule.

Our PAES Lab brings the workplace into the classroom. In this simulated work environment, students become employees and teachers become supervisors. Students complete hands-on tasks while learning how to problem-solve, demonstrate appropriate workplace behaviors, develop soft skills, and understand what types of jobs and training may be a good fit for them.

The Special Services Department is off to a strong start this year, powered by an exceptional team of new staff and the implementation of updated curriculum. Our dedicated educators have already completed targeted professional learning to adapt daily routines and integrate the latest research-backed practices into every classroom. Together, we are committed to building a consistent, highly supportive learning environment where every student can thrive. Meet our Special Services team! We have a few new faces along with our experienced staff members.

Working alongside our Special Services teachers is a dedicated staff of paraeducators who may work one-on-one with students or assist students within the classroom as needed. These people become an integral part of your students' learning process and everyday success. Please welcome a few new faces to the paraeducator staff!

Not Pictured:

Kacee Meyer

Maggie Jaszczak

Quiz! What's better than corndogs or pickles on a stick?

Answer: winning a ribbon at the Minnesota State Fair!!

The following CLHS Wildcat woodworkers competed against “opps” from all over the state and were victorious!! If you see them around town, tip a hat or deliver a well-deserved “high five”.

Mrs. McNally's Spanish 2 class has been learning about human towers (castells) in Tarragona, Spain. Recently they did an activity where they built towers using rubber bands, string, and plastic cups to go along with the unit (although the students really wanted to try the real thing).

The Cat in the Hat tells the story of Horton, an elephant who discovers a speck of dust that contains the Whos, including Jojo, a Who child sent off to military school for thinking too many "thinks." Horton faces a double challenge: not only must he protect the Whos from a world of naysayers and dangers, but he must guard an abandoned egg, left in his care by the irresponsible Mayzie La Bird. Although Horton faces ridicule, danger, kidnapping and a trial, the intrepid Gertrude McFuzz never loses faith in him. Ultimately, the powers of friendship, loyalty, family and community are challenged and emerge triumphant.

Tickets will be available for sale beginning October 1st through our new ticket system, Bound.

Elective Course Fees: Certain elective courses that your student chooses to register for may include a fee to help offset the cost of materials associated with those selected courses.

How To Pay:

The district is in the process of implementing a system that utilizes our current student information system, Synergy, for class fees. It is targeted to launch prior to the end of term 1. Thank you for your patience with this new process and delayed timeline. Families will receive an email from the high school with directions on how to pay fees. Please direct any questions about class fees to Jen Hegstad in the front office. Thank You!

Jen Hegstad

jhegstad@isd2144.org

651-213-2504

BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) Chisago Lakes High School continues to participate in the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program. Chromebooks or basic laptops are the preferred devices and Chrome is our preferred browser as many of our programs are integrated with the Chrome Google platform. Personal devices should be charged each evening to ensure they are ready for the school day. Students are encouraged to carry a charger with them during the school day to ensure their devices can be charged if needed.

Chromebook Lease Program:

As a part of our Bring-Your-Own-Device program, students in grades 6-12 are required to have their own device at school each day. Families have the option to lease a school-owned technology device from Chisago Lakes School District for learning. If you would like to lease a device from the school for this school year, please fill out the Google form (Below) and select that you would like to pay the $50. Your student will receive a device as soon as we have the form completed and the lease payment received.

Families experiencing financial hardship may receive financial assistance to lessen the burden of the cost of a device and provide their student an educational device to use for the current school year. Contact Avery Bird in the Media Center for information about this program

Avery Bird

ABird@isd2144.ord
651-213-2591

COST OF PARKING:

• Parking permits are sold for $125 at the beginning of the school year, and remain at that cost through the 1st semester.
• Each individual driver must purchase a parking permit to park a vehicle in the student parking lot.

DISPLAYING YOUR PERMIT

• Permits must be displayed on the rearview mirror. Students who park without a permit will be given a written warning on their vehicle. Students are given 3 warnings for not having a parking permit. After the 3rd warning, vehicles may be towed at the owner's expense and/or parking privileges will be revoked.

PURCHASING YOUR PARKING PERMIT

• Parking permits are available for purchase using our new system, BOUND. Use the link below to go directly to the parking permit purchase page.

• Click here for our HoCo Edition of the Cat Tracks that was sent out to families last week!
• Visit our activities webpage for Wildcat Apparel through our sideline store and see the schedule of events.

Graduation for the Class of 2027 will be SUNDAY, JUNE 6th at 1:00 PM

• Senior Portrait Deadline: Friday, December 4th
• Class 2027 Panoramic Photo - Families who would like to order the class photo will need to click the link provided here to register their email for ordering information. Senior Pan Parent Sign-Up Link: CLHS Senior PAN Email Registration

Be sure to visit the Graduation Webpage often to view FAQ's about graduation and important deadlines for your senior

• The Yearbook Team would love your help capturing your year! Students and parents can upload pictures of school or classroom activities, sporting events, any field trips, or extracurricular events! Click HERE to upload your photos for the yearbook!

• Class 2027 Senior Portrait Deadline is Friday, December 4th
  
  

Reach out to the Yearbook Advisor, Kelly Jo Campbell, with any additional questions!

KCampbell@isd2144.org

651-213-2039

Minnesota Free Meals Program

Chisago Lakes School District continues to participate in the Minnesota Free Meals Program which provides reimbursement to schools so that students can have one breakfast and one lunch at no cost during the school day.

What is NOT included in the MN Free School Meals Program?

Single item purchases and non-reimbursable meals are not free. Some examples include:

• Extra carton of milk (One carton of milk is included in the free reimbursable meal. If a student brings a lunch from home or would like an additional milk, it must be purchased)
• Snack items
• Second entrée
• A second breakfast or a second lunch
• Meals that do not meet the minimum requirements
• Meals served to teachers, staff, and other adults

*A la carte options and prices vary for each grade level. All a la carte items sold meet the USDA's Smart Snack Guidelines.

Welcome Back, Wildcats!

Welcome back to another school year! The Health Office would like to wish all of our students and families a healthy, happy, and successful 2026–2027 school year. As we get settled into the new school year, we wanted to share a few important health reminders and introduce you to the team supporting student health at Chisago Lakes High School.

Julie Kiser, RN – Registered Nurse

I am looking forward to another school year working with our students and families!

My role includes supporting students with illnesses and injuries during the school day, managing medications and health care plans, assisting students with chronic health conditions, supporting 504 plans and health accommodations, and working with families and healthcare providers to help ensure students can safely and successfully participate in school.

Please don't hesitate to reach out if your student has a health condition, new diagnosis, medication, or other health-related need that we should be aware of. My goal is to make the Health Office a place where students feel comfortable coming for help when they need it.

We are also excited to welcome Kelly Bozovsky-Ruth, LPN, to the Chisago Lakes High School Health Office this year!

Kelly comes to us with 9 years of experience working in another school district and will be directly running the Health Office throughout the school day. Students who stop by the Health Office for illness, injury, medication, or other health needs will most often see Kelly. If your student becomes sick at school and needs to go home, Kelly will be the person who contacts you and helps coordinate their dismissal from school. We are very happy to have Kelly join our Chisago Lakes team and look forward to the experience and care she will bring to our students and families.

Please feel free to introduce yourself if you see us around the school or stop by the Health Office.

If your student needs to have medication available at school, new medication authorization paperwork is required each school year. This includes prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, inhalers, EpiPens, and other medications that may be needed during the school day.

Students who are approved to self-carry medication must also have the appropriate documentation on file. If your student's medication, dosage, health condition, or treatment plan has changed since last school year, please contact the Health Office so we can make sure we have the most current information and documentation.

If you have questions about medication forms or what is required for your student, please reach out to the Health Office—we are happy to help! Medication Authorization forms can be found on the school website, click the button below to access those forms.

Please make sure your student's immunizations are up to date for the 2026–2027 school year. If your student received any vaccinations over the summer or recently, please provide an updated immunization record to the school so we can update their health file. If additional immunization documentation is needed for your student, you will be contacted by the school.

Thank you for helping us keep our school community healthy and ensuring that student health records remain current!

Here's to a Healthy School Year!

We are looking forward to working with our students and families throughout the 2026–2027 school year. Please reach out to the Health Office anytime you have questions or concerns regarding your student's health at school.

Thank you,
Nurse Julie & Nurse Kelly

• September 28th - October 2nd HOMECOMING
• Friday, October 2nd - Homecoming Game Vs North St. Paul
• Monday, October 5th - NO SCHOOL for students (Staff Development Day)
• Thursday, October 8th - Picture Retakes 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM
• Thursday, October 8th - Parent/Teacher Conferences
• Thursday & Friday, October 15th-16th - NO SCHOOL MEA Break
• Thursday, November 5th - End of Term 1
• Friday, November 6th- NO SCHOOL for students (Staff Development Day)
• Monday, November 9th - First Day Term 2

Website: https://www.isd2144.org/
Location: 29400 Olinda Trail, Lindstrom, MN, USA
Phone: 651-213-2500