SEPTEMBER
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30 -Food Drive ends, Volleyball vs. Gladewater, 1st Six Weeks ends
OCTOBER TBA - Senior Play Auditions 3 - 2nd Six Weeks begins 4- Volleyball @ Henderson 6- JV Football vs. Pittsburg 7- V Football & Volleyball @ Pittsburg, Cross Country @ Hallsville 10 - Staff Development/ School Holiday, FCA Meeting @ 7 p.m. 11- Volleyball vs. Spring Hill 12 - “Pink Out” Day, Key Club: 7:30 am meeting FCA “Fields of Faith” 13 - Report Cards, JV Football vs. Gilmer 14- V Football & Volleyball @ Gilmer 15- Cross Country@ Lufkin 18- Volleyball @ Gladewater 20- JV Football @ Henderson 21- V Football & Volleyball vs. Henderson 24- Cross Country@ Home 25- Volleyball vs. Pittsburg 26 - Key Club: 7:30 am 27- JV Football vs. Gladewater 28- V Football @ Gladewater 29 - Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF 31 - Halloween NOVEMBER 2 - Fall Retake Day 3- JV Football at Spring Hill 4- V.Football vs. Spring Hill 5- UIL Academics @ Dangerfield 9 - Senior Retake Day, Key Club: 7:30 a.m. 11 - UIL Academics @ Whitehouse
By CK Williams This year, students and faculty have welcomed a new leader in the form of Principal Otis Amy. Amy, who is a 1985 graduate of Carthage High School, was hired over the summer break to replace retired principal Tim Ratcliff. As a student at CHS in the 1980s, Amy was involved in football, basketball and track. He was also a member of the Pine Burr yearbook staff and served on the Student Council. “Mr. Amy was very friendly,” Paula Carter, counselor and former English 4 teacher, said. “He was involved in many activities and organizations athletics plus academics. He was always a people person, always with a ready smile.” After high school, Amy
attended the University of Texas in Austin, where he majored in Education. Amy was in the United States Army for three years and then coached at various Texas high schools before eventually becoming principal at Henderson High School in Henderson, Texas. Amy served as principal in Henderson for four years before coming back to Carthage. “My goals as principal this year are for the school to maintain its academic standards,” Amy said. “When we learn the EOC requirements, Principal Otis Amy began work as we hope to exceed its minimum principal during the summer. Amy is requirements.” a 1985 graduate of CHS. Amy has high expectations for both the students and teachers of CHS, now that he is (continued on page 2) principal. Photo by Carlie Smith
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Amy returns to Carthage as new principal
New state testing standards create change in curriculum By Brianna Morgan Freshmen will not take the TAKS test this year, but they are preparing for the STAAR (State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) end of course tests that begin March 26. Little information is known about the test, but there is a four hour time limit and freshmen are tested in social studies and science. “STAAR is not necessarily more difficult than TAKS, but it requires a higher level of thinking like an ACT test,” Testing Coordinator Tammy Alexander said. “The teachers and I are overwhelmed with
the unknown format of the test and we will be unable to see a test for three years.” For the English EOC (end of course) test, students are required to write three essays and multiple choice questions within the time limit. One of the essays is a field question to determine how well students will do on questions of similar difficulty. “I do not believe that one test can actually evaluate a person’s knowledge,” English teacher Belinda Ratcliff said. “This new test has created fear of the unknown and frustration.
It is very hard to tell a senior that he or she cannot graduate by only passing a test.” Students are required to test in each of their core classes, and the scores count for 15% of their final grade in the course. “Our teachers seem like they know what they are teaching,” Freshman Joe Roblow said. “I feel like I should listen and study more because my grades somewhat depend on the tests.” (continued on page 2)
WHAT’S INSIDE . . . . .
Football update Page 6
New [Cyber] Bullying Policy Page 3
Academic Info & Updates - Page 2