CCHS Welcome Back Update 26-27

We’re thrilled to welcome all of our students and families to the 2026–2027 school year at Central Cambria High School! A special shoutout to the Class of 2030 — we’re excited to have you join our High School Red Devil family! Here’s to a fantastic year of learning, growth, and memorable moments both in and out of the classroom.

Please feel free to reach out at any time via email lasashon@cencam.org or phone (814-472-8860) with questions that may arise.

#WeAreCC 🔴⚫🔴⚫

• GPS Tracking App - Firstview is a helpful app for parents that will make your mornings and afternoons a little easier. With our bus tracking app, you can use GPS to keep an eye on your child's school bus in real-time. No more wondering where the bus is or when it will arrive! Please allow 2 weeks for the enrollments to be finalized.

• Pickup and drop-off times - Times for bus stops will be available on the district website.

• Bus Changes - Just a reminder that students must ride their assigned buses and get on and off at their assigned bus stops. Students will not be permitted to ride unassigned buses for any reason other than an emergency, except as approved by the principal or director of transportation. Day-to-day changes in a student’s bus assignment are reserved for emergency situations.
  

• Drivers - High School students must have a parking pass to drive their automobile to school. Officer Stohon will be meeting with students during the first few days of school to provide parking pass information to interested students.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Information regarding bus numbers and approximate pick-up times will be shared by First Student and posted on the website prior to the start of school.

When there are changes to bussing we will attempt to be as proactive as possible by sending Skylert calls. Any concerns regarding transportation can be directed to First Student (814) 472-8290.

Q: WHERE DOES MY STUDENT GO ON THE 1ST DAY OF SCHOOL?

A. High School students should report to the cafeteria or the auditorium in the morning. Students may eat breakfast upon arrival, and then proceed to homeroom at 7:35 a.m. Homeroom teachers will share additional information regarding first day procedures.

Parents/Guardians — please take a moment to review your Back to School forms in PowerSchool to ensure all are completed for each of your children.

All forms for the 2026–2027 school year must be completed before the first day of school, August 27, 2026. Students participating in fall sports must have their forms submitted before the regular season begins in order to participate in practices and games. Please also make sure any updated legal paperwork is uploaded.

Once your PowerSchool account is set up, you’ll see a “FORMS” menu on the left-hand side. Please complete all items listed under “Back to School Forms” for each of your students. Forms may automatically guide you from one to the next, but be sure to check for 2–3 stand-alone forms that must be completed separately due to building-specific needs.

Be sure to click “Save for Later” or “Submit” at the bottom of each form.

A Few Additional Notes:

• All forms are required for every Central Cambria student — whether attending in person or through CC Cyber.

• Completing these forms ensures we can provide a safe, organized start for all students.

If you have any questions after receiving your login information, please contact our PowerSchool coordinator, Mr. Kochinsky, or a member of our PowerSchool team listed below.

Central Cambria School District PowerSchool Team

• Mr. Brandon Kochinsky ~ bkochinsky@cencam.org

• Miss Lisa Asashon ~ lasashon@cencam.org

• Mr. Joseph Strittmatter ~ jostrittmatter@cencam.org

Be sure to review the CCHS Student Handbook & Co-Curricular Handbook while completing these Back to School Forms (links are provided in the buttons below).

We encourage all parents/guardians to complete these forms through My PowerHub (MPH).

If you are using the PowerSchool mobile app, you are automatically accessing My PowerHub.

If you are using a computer, log into your PowerSchool Parent Portal and click "My PowerHub" located about halfway down the menu on the left-hand side to access and complete your Back-to-School forms.

In addition to completing the required forms, My PowerHub will serve as an important communication tool throughout the school year. We will regularly post school updates, announcements, reminders, and upcoming events, so we encourage you to check My PowerHub frequently to stay informed.

Meet the Teacher Night is one of the best opportunities to begin the school year as partners in your child’s success.

Here are a few reasons we hope you will join us:

• Build a connection early with your student’s teachers, counselors and support staff.
• Learn course expectations and what students will be working on this year.
• Discover the best ways to communicate with teachers throughout the school year.
• Gain insight into classroom routines and strategies that help students succeed.
• Meet the counselors, administrators, and support staff who are part of your students’s school team.
• Get answers to questions before the school year is fully underway.
• Show your student that school matters and that home and school are working together.
• Start the year with confidence and a shared plan for student success.

See you on September 2nd!!! 🔴⚫🔴⚫

All CCHS students have the opportunity to use a Google Chromebook to assist with their schoolwork during the school day and while at home. Prior to receiving their Chromebook, all students will be required to turn in the CCSD Chromebook Loan Agreement Signature Page signed by a parent / guardian. The insurance is not mandatory; however, the returned signature page either choosing the protection plan or declining the insurance is required for your child to receive a Chromebook. Device insurance is $30 for the year per student. For families with more than one student using a CCSD device, there is a family plan available.

Parents are encouraged to review the full CCSD Chromebook Loan Agreement before signing the signature page.

Within this year's Back to School forms, there is a link to a Google Form that can be completed for Chromebook Insurance purposes. Completing this Google Form prior to the 1st day of school will aid in earlier distribution of Chromebook. If you complete this form through the Back to School forms, your payment can be sent to school with your student on the 1st day. A hard copy of this agreement will be given to each student during homeroom on the 1st day of school to take home if the Google Form was not completed within the Back to School forms.

You can also get a head start on reviewing this information and sending the signature page and payment in by printing the agreement linked above and sending it in on the 1st day of school. Payments can be made in cash or check made payable to Central Cambria School District.

If you have any questions regarding student device insurance, please contact Mr. Strittmatter at jostrittmatter@cencam.org.

Students will be provided with their PowerSchool login information on the 1st day of school which will enable them to access their schedules. At this time, parents/guardians are able to view their students' schedules through PowerSchool as well.

Please contact your student's guidance counselor if there are questions regarding their schedule.

Students with Last Names beginning with A - K: contact Mr. Westrick (swestrick@cencam.org)

Students with Last Names beginning with L - Z: contact Mrs. Gironda (sgironda@cencam.org)

Admiral Peary Students (both AM & PM): contact Mr. Wilson (rwilson@cencam.org)

Proficiency and Schedule Changes

If your student did not achieve a proficient score or above on the Keystone exams this past spring, you should have received a letter in your inbox detailing the schedule change to include a focused course for any Keystone Exam in which proficiency was not attained this spring.

Focused Course Information

This new course was outlined in the course catalog prior to scheduling. It was also mentioned in the Keystone testing newsletter shared with parents and guardians before testing this year and discussed during individual student-guidance counselor meetings prior to scheduling for the upcoming school year.

Schedule Adjustments

Guidance counselors have been working to adjust schedules for any student who did not achieve a proficient or advanced level on this round of Keystone exams.

We appreciate your cooperation and support as we work to ensure all students receive the necessary resources and opportunities for academic success.

Please see the guidance counselor assignments listed above if you have any questions regarding the Focused Keystone course schedule changes.

All high school and middle school students will be required to store their backpacks or bookbags — including clear or mesh ones — in their lockers during the school day.

This change is designed to strengthen our safety measures and maintain an organized learning environment. Over the past few years, we’ve increased morning safety screenings to protect our students and staff. Unfortunately, allowing backpacks throughout the day, even clear or mesh ones, has worked against those efforts. Requiring them to be stored in lockers supports our goal of keeping our school safe and secure. Athletic bags may still be stored in the designated bag room by the cafeteria.

Storing backpacks also helps reduce clutter and ensures classrooms remain accessible for all students, including those with disabilities.

As you prepare for back-to-school shopping, please keep this policy in mind. If you’ve already purchased a clear or mesh backpack, your student can still use it — it will just need to be kept in their locker during the day.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in keeping our Red Devil community safe.

For more details, including answers to common questions, please review the FAQ document linked below. This resource, originally created by Mr. Strittmatter, CCMS Principal, also applies to high school students.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r6fC2rJMkTkDaS43TTY8p-5YeVehSW4Gk4zFNHs6puw/edit?usp=sharing

To help create a safe, focused, and healthy learning environment, Central Cambria High School will continue implementing the cell phone policy that was established during the 2025-2026 school year. This policy aligns with the recently enacted Pennsylvania legislation encouraging school districts to limit student cell phone use during the instructional day to reduce distractions, improve student engagement, and support student mental health.

While the state has now established this expectation, our students and staff have already experienced the positive impact of limiting cell phone use during the school day. We appreciate the continued support of our families as we maintain these expectations.

When Phones May Be Used

• Breakfast and Lunch: Phones may be used only during scheduled breakfast and lunch periods and only while students are in the cafeteria.

When Phones May NOT Be Used

• During class periods (including instructional time, independent work, and group activities).
• In hallways during the school day.

Classroom Procedures

Upon entering each classroom, students must place their phones in the designated classroom storage area. Phones will be returned at the end of the class period.

Consequences

Use of a cell phone during unapproved times will result in disciplinary action in accordance with the Central Cambria High School Student Handbook.

We have seen firsthand that limiting cell phone use during the school day leads to fewer distractions, greater student engagement, improved academic focus, and more meaningful interactions between students and teachers. By continuing to allow phone use only during breakfast and lunch in the cafeteria, we are helping students remain present in the classroom while supporting their overall well-being.

This policy will continue to be reviewed periodically and adjusted as needed based on student outcomes, feedback, and future guidance from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Thank you for your continued partnership in helping our Red Devils learn, grow, and succeed both in and out of the classroom.

In addition to the attendance updates included in the Back to School forms over the past few years, we have noticed an increase in traffic in our nurses' office. While the nurses' office is crucial for students who are ill or need medications during the school day, it is also an area where confidential information is communicated between the nursing staff and families.

To reduce traffic and maintain a confidential environment, we will be implementing the following new procedures for utilizing the nurses' office. These procedures will be monitored by the nursing staff based on individual student situations.

Updated Procedures:

• Illness Reporting:

  • Students who become ill in school must report to the school nurse, who will assess the student.
  • If the nurse is not available, students will report to the office.

• Authorization for Leaving:

  • Students may not leave the building because of illness without authorization from the nurse or the office.

• Send Home Policy:

  • Students are only permitted three "send homes" from the nurse's office. The fourth instance will require a doctor's excuse.

• Cell Phone Use:

  • Any student who uses their cell phone to call or text home without permission from the school nurse will be marked unexcused.
  • The school nurse will call home if needed. This policy addresses previous cell phone violations where students texted home after being assessed and sent back to class.

• Special Circumstances:

• Special circumstances may arise, and final decisions on all disciplinary actions and student send homes are at the discretion of an administrator and/or the nurse.

We ask for your cooperation in adhering to these new procedures to help us maintain an efficient and confidential environment in the nurses' office. Your support is crucial in ensuring that our students receive the best care and attention during the school day.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the school administration or the nursing staff.

Parents may choose to apply for student accident insurance. If you are interested, please click the box below for the application.

With the transition to PowerSchool last year, we have a new way for parents/guardians to submit excuses for their student’s absence.

Here’s how to submit a parent excuse:

1. Log in to your PowerSchool Parent Portal.

2. Go to Student Forms.

3. Select the General Forms category.

4. Click on the Student Absence Form.

5. Fill out the required information.

6. Click Submit at the bottom of the form.

Once submitted, the form will be sent directly to your student’s building secretary — no need to email or send a paper note.

Important:

• This form is for parent/guardian excuses only.

• Educational trip requests should still be submitted using the JotForm available on the school website.

To make the most of instructional time and help students develop strong punctuality habits, CCHS is taking a more intentional approach to reducing chronic lateness.

For most students who arrive on time, nothing will change. However, for students who develop a pattern of being late, we will track cumulative unexcused tardies to school and to class.

• Every 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of unexcused tardiness will be recorded as a ½ day unexcused absence.

• These accumulated absences count toward a student’s overall attendance record and may result in attendance interventions such as SAIP meetings or the need for doctor’s excuses, in accordance with district policy.

Our office staff will monitor tardy time and notify families when a student is approaching important thresholds so there are no surprises.

This process is designed to help a small number of students improve their timeliness and get the most from their school day.

Early dismissal Fridays will start on August 28th.

All CCHS students with the exception of PM votech students will be dismissed at 12:55 pm on those Fridays. PM votech students still attend Admiral Peary for the same amount on time on Fridays as the rest of the week to insure that they collect all of the hours and skills that will enable them to be a completer in their program of study at votech.

If your student is a PM votech student, please complete the attached form about transportation on Fridays.

Looking for an easy and affordable way for your student to attend Central Cambria home athletic events?

Our Student Event Pass provides 10 admissions for just $25 and is easy to carry, easy to use, and easy to manage!

Pass Details

• $25 per pass
• Includes 10 admissions to Central Cambria home regular-season athletic events
• One punch = one admission
• Valid for the 2026–2027 school year only
• Non-transferable
• Not valid for PIAA playoff events or musical/theater productions

How to Purchase

Online: Purchase through the CC Online Storefront (https://ccstudenteventpass.itemorder.com/).

In Person starting on August 27th: Students or parents/guardians may place an order in the High School Main Office. Payment may be made only by cash or check payable to CC Athletics.

Please allow 4–7 days after placing your order for the pass to be delivered to your student.

What Happens When All 10 Punches Are Used?

Once all 10 punches have been used, we ask that students turn their completed pass in to the High School Main Office to be entered into a raffle. Students may then purchase an additional Student Event Pass to continue enjoying Central Cambria home athletic events.

Pack the Stands. Show Your Red Devil Pride! ❤️🖤

Come out, support our student-athletes, and help us create an incredible home-field advantage for our Red Devils! The more Red Devils in the stands, the louder our support!

GO RED DEVILS!

The Golden Pass is available to Central Cambria School District residents who are 65 years of age or older and provides complimentary admission to many of our home events throughout the school year.

Your Golden Pass Includes:

✅ Complimentary admission to home Junior High, Junior Varsity, and Varsity athletic events (excluding PIAA playoff games)

✅ Complimentary admission to school concerts and other eligible school-sponsored events

❌ Not valid for PIAA playoff games or musical theater productions.

Important Information

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the Central Cambria Golden Pass is being updated and will no longer expire or require annual renewal. Once issued, your pass will remain valid for future eligible events as long as you continue to meet the residency requirements.

This new Golden Pass is the only pass that will be accepted beginning with the Fall 2026 athletic season. Passes issued in previous years will no longer be valid. If you currently have an older Senior Citizen Pass, we encourage you to request your new Golden Pass as soon as possible.

Thank you for your continued support of Central Cambria students. We look forward to seeing you at our athletic events, concerts, and other school activities!

Help us spread the word so all eligible senior residents can enjoy cheering on the Red Devils and supporting our students!

#WeAreCC ❤️🖤

Disclaimer: The image displayed is an example of the Central Cambria Golden Pass. The pass issued this year is the new permanent version and will include the updated school-year information for initial distribution.

Looking for our next group to be part of the Mount Rushmore of Central Cambria history...

Last school year as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the opening of Central Cambria High School, the inaugural class was enshrined into our Hall of Honor which recognizes distinguished alumni and contributors. The Hall of Honor committee is seeking nominations for our next class. Please nominate worthy candidates using the form linked below, and share this with others. #WeAreCC