Weekly Newsletter 9/2

I hope everyone is having a great start to the 2024-2025 school year. I wanted to formally introduce myself to you and let you know what an incredible program you have built at Cabarrus Health Science Institute! My name is Ashley Short and this is my 9th year in school administration. I am a Cabarrus County native and graduate of Central Cabarrus High School. I am married and have settled in the Mount Pleasant area. I have been an assistant principal at C.C. Griffin Middle, Central Cabarrus High School, principal of Cabarrus Virtual Academy and most recently principal of the Performance Learning Center. My passion is watching the maturation of teens as they move from the awkward middle school years into significant college and career pathways to find their niche. What makes CHSI so great is that the students have found that place of belonging and have started on a successful future path!

I am currently also the principal of Cabarrus Virtual Academy. I will remain principal there and will start a transition soon. In the meantime, the district has given me administrative support at CVA so that I can focus my attention on CHSI.

I am still working on my transition with Mrs. Hyde and I would like to thank her and the CHSI staff for all of the help they have given me so far. We will continue to transition this week. In the meantime, if we can do anything to support you and your family let us know.

In partnership,

Ashley Short

Last Thursday, we had the pleasure of inducting several CHSI students into the National Honor Society. Here is a folder with pictures of the event.

Cabarrus County Schools’ Destination 2025 strategically outlines the district’s goals and objectives to attend to all the social, emotional, and wellness needs of all students. Over the next several weeks, we will be asking all students to reflect on their own mindsets and approaches to learning via an online survey they will be completing at school.

The Student Wellness Survey should take 15-20 minutes to complete. You may view all survey material posted on the CCS website. All students are encouraged to participate in the survey, as their responses along with teacher feedback, will provide important insights into their experiences and help our schools promote the well-being and success of all students. 

If you have any questions about the student wellness survey, please don’t hesitate to contact our school counselor, Ms. Robinson at (704)260-6860. 

We have encountered a number of issues this week with student personal laptops and compatibility issues. Parents, please know that CCS employees cannot assist students with personal computers or personal hotspot issues. Work will not be excused or taken late because a student is working on his or her personal laptop and encounters connectivity issues. Please make sure your child is bringing their CCS laptop to school everyday and using it to complete class work. Thank you for your help with this matter.

Atrium Health has implemented a new badge process, so we are no longer allowed to take headshots and send them in on behalf of students. With that being said, Ms. Louallen has provided the Service Center with the names and K12 email addresses of the 9th graders and they should have received an email to submit their badge photos via CloudCard. Make sure your 9th grade students check school emails to get the task completed asap.

I created an Office Hour Calendar for the Fall semester (see attached). I will share this with 10th grade via their CCS105 Canvas Course and all students via the Early College Student Resource Center. While I am teaching CCS105 in the first 7 weeks, I will only one day/time each week for all students (regardless of grade level) to meet with me. Beginning mid-October, I will have office hours three days a week for all students to meet with me. If students need to meet with me outside my designated office hours, they need to schedule a meeting with me using the link in my email signature. My CCS105 office hours Tuesday-Friday from 2-2:30pm will occur at the college (office 127), but I would like to host my Monday office hours in the DEN if possible. 

Schedule a meeting with me here! 

Mikahla Louallen, M.Ed.

Early College Liaison 

Retention and Student Success

 

82 years | LEADING EDUCATING CARING

O: 704-403-0530