Welcome Back Letter

Greetings Falcon Students and Families!

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year. We hope you have enjoyed a restful summer and are as excited as we are to embark on a new and enriching academic journey. It is my privilege to continue as the leader of Central High School for this upcoming school year. I look forward to working with all of our families to help our students have a successful high school experience as we continue to open doors to the future, one diploma at a time. Our goal is to prepare all scholars for future employment, enlistment, and/or enrollment post-graduation.

We have worked diligently this summer to prepare for the new school year. As you prepare to return for the first day of school, we need all students and parents/guardians to review the following information so we all have a successful school year.

What’s New for SY 2024-2025 School Start Time

Students and staff at Central will have new operating hours this year. Our students' school day will begin at 7:30 am and end at 2:10 pm. This means you should be in class, seated and ready to begin your day at 7:30 am. The building will continue to open as early as 7:00am for students to arrive. Students who walk or get a ride to school should arrive 10- 15 minutes earlier to allow time to grab breakfast, go to their locker and be in the classroom by 7:30 am. In order to prepare for this time change, it is highly recommended that students practice getting up a few minutes earlier before school starts in August.

Synergy

Beginning with the 2024-25 school year, Synergy will replace SchoolMAX as the student information system for Prince George's County Public Schools. Families and students will now use StudentVUE and ParentVUE, in place of Student and Family Portals, to access important information about their students.

StudentVUE is the portal that allows students to view their schedules, attendance, grades and report cards. Students will be given rights to StudentVUE automatically. Additional information is forthcoming

ParentVUE is the portal that allows parents and guardians to view information about their student, including classroom assignments and scores, attendance, transcripts, graduation status and more. In ParentVUE, families can also update their phone numbers and emergency contact information and access the Online Registration (OLR) Application. To obtain additional information regarding how to register for ParentVUE, please visit

https://www.pgcps.org/offices/information-technology/technology-training-and-instructional-techn ology/parentvue-support-for-parents-and-guardians

For Our Students:

 Preparation: Please make sure to come to school prepared with all the necessary supplies, a positive attitude and willingness to learn will set you up for a great year. Below you will find information to help you prepare for each day.

Student Uniform Policy

CHS has been a uniform school since 2006. As a uniform school all students are required to be in a complete and proper uniform every day. The official school uniform is:

• Polo style shirt (long sleeve or short sleeve) in grey for all first time 9th graders only and navy blue, light blue or white for 10-12 grade students
• Khaki pants/bottoms- your pants should fit at your natural waist -not hanging or sagging in a manner in which your undergarments are visible.
• If you are cold - you may wear a long sleeve shirt under your polo You may also wear a hoodless sweater, sweatshirt or a lightweight jacket in light blue, navy blue or black. No hoods are allowed inside of the building as a part of your uniform. Heavy coats and jackets must be stored in your locker during the school day.

Full uniform details are available on our Central High School home page.

Clear Backpacks

Students are expected to use clear book bags to carry their learning materials, reducing the risk of concealing prohibited items. These bags are easily available online and in local stores.

Additionally, there will be a maximum size limit for bags allowed during the school day to enhance security and safety.

Chromebooks

Ninth grade students transitioning to high school will need to acquire a new chromebook this school year. Ninth graders and students new to PGCPS will receive Chromebooks during the first week of school. All PGCPS students should have a chromebook in their possession every day. These were loaned to you by PGCPS until you graduate or leave our school system. It is expected that you will return your assigned chromebook in good condition. If your chromebook is lost or damaged, please let us know so we can make arrangements for repair or replacement. The costs can be provided at the time of your inquiry. All Central Scholars should have a fully charged chromebook (and the charger) at school every day.

School Meals

Breakfast and lunch are served for all students every day. If you previously participated in the free meals program, you must apply again for the new school year. You can apply for free and reduced meals online at MySchoolApps.com.

Students who pay for school lunch can apply money to their account at MySchoolBucks. By using MySchoolBucks you eliminate the need for students to carry money and you can also pay for other school related expenses. You can even set up your account to notify you when your scholar's balance is low.

Lunch costs for the 2024-2025 school year are:

Student Schedules

Student schedules will be available in Synergy by August 21st. If you have a question about your schedule you will be able to ask once school begins on August 28th. Scheduling questions will be addressed by the grade level Professional School Counselor.

Bus Schedules

Student bus schedules for the 2024-2025 school year can be found by using the Stopfinder app. This app is available for Android and iPhone users. You can also see bus schedules on the PGCPS transportation webpage. To secure bus transportation for the start of the school year, make sure you are registered by August 9th. Registrations after August 9th will have transportation in place on August 31st.

Activities

Get involved! We have a variety of athletic teams, extracurricular activities and clubs. Participating in these activities is a great way to meet new friends and explore your interests.

Important Dates

Friday, August 23rd: 9th Grade and new students Orientation (3 hour early dismissal).

Monday, August 26, 2024: First Day of School for all students.

Monday, September 2, 2024: Schools closed for Labor Day.

Wednesday, September 11 and Thursday, September 12, 2024: Schoolwide Picture Day.

September 17, 2024: Back to School Night.

Friday, June 18, 2025: Last Day of School for students

The 2024-2025 school year is included with this email and available on the PGCPS and Central High School websites.

Home School Communication

Parents/guardians, have you updated your contact information in Synergy? Teachers and administrators rely on the information available in Synergy to contact you about academic,

attendance and behavioral matters. It is important that we have up to date information in order to communicate positive updates, medical emergencies and/or any concerns. Most school communication will come through messenger - as a phone call, text message or email.

We look forward to a positive and productive school year. We hope every scholar who graces the doors of Central High School in August, exit in June, closer to graduation - with more credits earned, more lessons learned and a better, more productive person all around.

On behalf of the administration, teachers and staff, we welcome you to the new school year and look forward to partnering with our scholars and our Falcon families. If we can be of service please contact us at 301-499-7080.

Sincerely,

Sheree Savoy, Principal