Central Academy of Technology and Arts 1
Central Academy of Technology and Arts
Cougar Chronicle Volume 4; Issue 5
September 15, 2016
Dear CATA Family,
We have had an exciting and memorable week! Our students
planned a luncheon to remember the September 11th tragedy for
Monroe’s first responders. The NHS and Beta Club inducted new mem-
bers, men’s soccer beat Union Academy, women’s tennis
defeated Monroe and West Stanley, and Volleyball defeated Monroe.
We had an open house, AP parent night, a student life fair, and senior
Ad night for yearbook.
Fall Athletic Pictures will be on Wednesday, Septem-
ber 21st after school. Picture forms went home on
9/15. Athletes MUST have their forms and money on Pic-
ture day or they cannot purchase pictures.
Senior Shirts and Signs can be purchased at the school.
Senior make up graduation photos are 9/22 and 9/23.
See this edition for details on make-ups and retakes.
CATA is looking for a NEW PTSO president, please email
[email protected] if you are interested in this important position. We are
having a CATA PTSO membership drive contest. Please see the chronicle for details.
We welcome and encourage everyone to join the PTSO! It is a vital school organization.
Bus Rider Students and Parents: Late morning bus notifications will be made on our
schools Twitter account. Please follow us @cata_monroe or go to the CATA website,
scroll down and click on the Twitter Bird.
Please check out the Union County Public Schools Bond Information in this edition.
The CATA Math Lab in room 515 will be open for students from 3:30 to 4:30 every Monday
and Wednesday for students who need help in their Math Classes. Please see the flyer in
this edition. The Math Lab will not be open Monday, September 19th and October 10th.
Underclassman photo retakes will be on Tuesday, October 18th. We are in need of volunteers for our Cougar Concessions throughout the year. Please
contact assistant principal, Mr. Wall for details and check out the chronicle.
You can now buy Cougar Spirit Wear online, see the chronicle or our website.
Don’t miss out on memories—order your yearbook today. Yearbooks are on sale for $75.
See the ad in this edition.
Student Technology Fee—Parents— this is a final reminder to pay the $25 technology us-
er fee (which carries INSURANCE again this year!!) for your student —you can pay now
ONLINE by going to our main CATA website.
Go Cougars!
Dr. Fisenne
Remember to go and VOTE
on Tuesday,
November 8.
Registration Drive for
students & parents at CATA
in the coming weeks.
Central Academy of Technology and Arts 2
Cougar Pride - Way to go!!! NHS Inductions from Tuesday, September 13
New Members
Nancy Ayala
Alexis Bandhy
Garrison Batchelor
Carrie Baumgardner
Haley Beard
Stewart Bovi
Christina Bryan
Mattias Bunn
Jacob Butler
Zoe Butler
William Cramer
Paul D'Amico
Mark DeChant
Allison Dortilus
Roberto Fleming
Megan Gioffre
Ceyda Guley
Benjamin Gundersen
Beta Club Inductions
from Thursday, September 8
New Members
Adrian Calderon
Colleen Carrazzone
Travis Connell
Duyen Dao
McKenna Griffin
Cristina Harry
Alex Healy
Andrew Healy
Elizabeth Hinson
Jonathan Lorray
Laurenne Losier
Anna McIntyre
Sophie Myers
Jay Parrish
Gracie Plyler
Kaitlyn Speiser
Andrew Healy
Victoria Hollifield
Magdalene Horne
Makayla Hrenyo
Kyndal Ivey
Christopher Jeffcoat
Daniel Juarez
Amy Kidder
Priyanka Lala
Kelsey Lawing
Shannon Lawler
Jonathan Lorray
Noah Makley
Trace Martin
Liam McNally
Jamie Nikonowicz
Dumebi Okocha
Miranda Olson
Sarah Pirozzi
Keylee Ray
Joseph Ridge
Colin Stewart
Taylor Thomas
William Townsend
Dylan Vinicombe
Karrington Wallace
Madeline Wilson
In the past couple of weeks Central
Academy has inducted new members to
the National Honor Society and the Beta
Club! Congratulations to all new members
who have achieved this honor.
Congratulations to Kevin
Vandermolen for being named
a Semifinalist in the 2017 Nation-
al Merit Scholarship Competi-
tion.
Central Academy of Technology and Arts 3
Around CATA Friday, September 16- NCTAE Statewide Theatre Conference
Saturday, September 17-NCTAE Statewide Theatre Conference
Monday, September 19– Student Council Officers Mtg. 3:40 (Media Center); Robotics Club, 3:30
(Rm. 118)
Tuesday, September 20– Progress Reports; NC School of Science and Math Presentation, 11:00 AM
(Media Conference); Hands Helping Others, 3:30 PM (Media Center)
Wednesday, September, 21– Fall Sports Team Pictures (After School); Student Life Organization Mtg.
8:20 PM (Rm. 401); FCA Leadership, 8:00 AM (Mr. Lindley);
Thursday, September 22– Senior Picture Make up Day (Media Center); Robotics Club, 3:30 PM (Rm.
118);
Friday, September 23- Senior Picture Make up Day and Retakes( Media Center)
Sunday, September 25– Shooting Sports Practice, 2 PM (Take Aim Sports); Ice Skating Party,
Kate’s Skate, 2-4 PM
Upcoming Events 9/15 to 10/15—Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month
9/16 to 9/17—NCTAE Statewide Theatre Conference
9/20—Progress Reports
9/21—Student Life Organization Meeting, 8:15 AM, (Rm. 401)
9/21— Fall Sports Team Pictures, After School
9/22 to 9/23—Senior Cap and Gown Pictures (For Absentee and Makeup (Media Center))
9/26 to 9/29—Theatre Rehearsals, 4-9 PM, (Auditorium)
9/28—Site Based Team Meeting, 3:45 (Media Conference Room)
9/29 to 10/1—Theatre Performance, 7 PM (Auditorium)
10/2—Theatre Performance, 2 PM (Auditorium)
10/3—Early Release Schedule Day, 8:50 until 12:30
10/3—PTSO Executive Board Mtg., 6:30 PM
10/5—Student Life Organization Meeting, 8:15 (Rm. 401)
10/8—NCASC Western District Student Council Conference (Union Academy)
10/9—Union County College Fair, 2-4 PM (Union County Agricultural Center)
10/10—End of Grading Period
10/10 to 10/15—Homecoming Week
10/11—Chili’s Night Fundraiser for Band, Monroe Location
10/12—NO SCHOOL, Teacher Workday
10/13—CATA Band Boosters, 6:30 PM Band Rm.)
10/15—Homecoming Dance, 8-11 PM (Gym)
10/18—Underclassman photo retakes
10/17—CFNC Financial Aid Night, 6:30 PM (Auditorium)
10/17 to 10/28—Benchmark I Window
10/18—Underclassmen Absentee Photos and Retakes
10/19—Report Cards
10/19—PSAT Administration
10/25—Winter Sports Parent/Team Night, 7 PM (Auditorium)
10/26—Site Based Team Meeting, 3:45 (Media Center Conference Rm.)
10/27—New Supt. Listening and Learning Tour, Monroe High (5-6 Community) (6-7 Staff)
10/31—Annual Trunk or Treat, 4:15 PM (Staff Parking Lot)
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CATA Cougars Athletic Fundraiser
Please support our student-athletes by donating to our very important Fall Athletic Fundrais-
er. While the school receives money from the system to cover part of our travel, officials, and
security expenses; many expenses must be covered by fundraising, concession sales, and gate
receipts.
This year we are raising money for the general athletic program, program upgrades/repairs
(ex. new mower, sprinkler repairs), uniform rotation funds. Each team has a fundraising ac-
count set up to raise money for the general program as
well as a team need or wish. Please consider donating.
Your donations are tax deductible.
Click here to go to
athletics page to donate
Student Life Notes
Attention those who are applying to be a freshmen student council officer. The link for
the application that was on the handout is not working. Please stop by Ms. Foreman's
room for a new handout with the correct application link. Thank you!
Student Council will hold its first meeting of the year on Wednesday, September 28th af-
ter school in the media center. This is open to anyone who would like to be a part of
Student Council. Please see Ms. Foreman if you have any questions. Membership Drive,
9/28 to 10/28
Student Life Meetings for advisers and organization presidents are on the first Wednes-
day of each month, except for the first one on Wednesday, September 21. Meetings
are in room 401
Fellowship of Christian Athletes will host our Thursday meeting with emphasis on Leuke-
mia. Everybody come join us from 8 until 8:40 in the gym to hear this very personal
presentation. That is Thursday, 9/22 in the morning and wear something orange to show
support of Leukemia victims!
Our annual Bank for Band donation fundraiser is the CATA Band's initial and largest
fundraiser that assists in raising the needed funds to provide all of the equipment and
music the students need. This is in lieu of asking friends and family to purchase items
multiple times throughout the year. Help us out in a BIG way, or in any way possible!
Please see a CATA Band student and donate whatever you can. Please click on the
Bank for Band tab on the band website or the link below:
http://cataband.3dcartstores.com/Donations_c_14.html
HANDS HELPING OTHERS will be holding an informational meeting on Tuesday, Septem-
ber 20 at 3:30 in the Media Center.
The Performing Arts Boosters are hosting an Ice Skate Night at Kate’s Skate from 2-4 PM
on Sunday, September 25th.
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Help our PTSO raise funds to support instruction and academies throughout CATA! Take a
LOOK at the PTSO Membership Contest below...
There are simple ways to do this—for example, raise money as you shop at Harris Teeter.
Simply link your HT card to CATA. If you have done this in the past—thank you! But you do
need to re-link after August 1st each year. CATA school # is 3612.
Last year we had 98 links and raised over $700. With over 800 students at our school, we
know we can beat that this year! Link your HT card today.
How to Get Involved as Parents:
PTSO – please send an email to [email protected] or call the main office
and leave a message for the PTSO. Our PTSO President is Kathie McKain, but we are
looking for a new president for the start of this year. Please consider and get in-
volved. Please see the PTSO Membership form on the next page.
Band Booster Club - Contact Band Booster president Aime Gunderson to volunteer at
Cougar Athletics – contact Jay Niessner at mailto:[email protected]
Performing Arts Committee – contact the PTSO (see above) for information about how to
help out.
PTSO MEETING DATES Meeting dates for this year: (all will be in the media center)
November 15th at 6:30 pm, Pre-engineering and the IT academies will show some student
work
February 6th at 6:30 pm
April 3rd at 6:30 pm
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CATA Guidance Department A high school guidance department can
help your student with a LOT during high
school—counseling during a problem/or
stress, college planning, career/college
questions, interview skills, problem solving
with classes/teachers, friendship/social is-
sues. Counselors also help with scheduling
and what courses to take. Counselors are
available to answer parent questions as well.
Please see the list of counselors by acade-
my:
Ashley Lawson: Medical Science, Transportation
& Guidance Department Chairperson
Kendall Cameron: Pre-Engineering and Perform-
ing Arts (theatre & dance)
Melody Carr: Information Systems
(CyberSecurity, Computer Engineering, Software
Seniors….Graduation—Saturday, June 10, 2016 7:30 PM at Winthrop
Coliseum
Senior Pictures: Seniors, did you miss getting your senior pictures done this
summer? The absentee dates are September 22nd and 23rd in the media
center. You were mailed a post card with your appointment time. See the
list of appointment times on the door of guidance or see Ms. Christensen if you have ques-
tions. In addition, you have been emailed this information through your school email.
Seniors, if you want to retake your senior photos, you must contact Metro Portraits at 704-
376-9889 and you will have to pay a $30 sitting fee at the time of your appointment on Sep-
tember 23rd.
Senior t-shirts: and signs: If you still need to order one, the form is in this newsletter—turn in-
to the front office this week.
Parents of seniors – we are selling Senior Ads for the yearbook and the sale price for the
ads ends on September 23rd. We will have another senior ad design night on Thursday,
September 22nd from 5-7 pm. You can either bring in your photos that night or send them in
later but you must purchase an ad by the 23rd to lock in the lower prices. The prices are 1/8
page - $55, ¼ page - $90, ½ page - $75 and a full page is $275.
College Recommendations: Be sure to provide staff with a minimum of
3—4 weeks time to complete a recommendation for you. Remember that it is your respon-
sibility to meet deadlines, teachers cannot put aside their teaching or family responsibilities
because you neglected to ask them in advance.
Guidance News
Union County College Fair When: Sunday, October 9
Where: Union County Agricultural Center
Time: 2-4 PM
Central Academy of Technology and Arts 7
Scholarship Spotlight and Governors School Opportunity…..
Quest Bridge National College Match:
Quest Bridge offers full four-year scholarships to 39 top colleges (including Duke, Davidson,
Northwestern, Vanderbilt, MIT, the University of Virginia, and Dartmouth, just to name a
few). Quest Bridge is looking for seniors that excel academically (typically earning A's) in
the most challenging courses available; come from households earning less than $65,000
annually (for a typical family of four) with limited assets; and may qualify for the free/
reduced lunch program. For more information, and to apply, please visit: https://www.questbridge.org/. Deadline: September 27, 2016.
Union County Christmas Parade Princess/Alex Kahle Scholarship:
Senior girls who reflect academic excellence, leadership skills, and commitment to commu-
nity service that also have good interviewing skills are encouraged to apply to represent
CATA in the Christmas Parade. The Parade Princess will be crowned and awarded the Alex
Kahle Memorial Scholarship on Thursday, November 3rd, 2016. In order to apply, you must
pick up an interest form in the Guidance Office and submit it, along with your resume, to
Mrs. Cameron. Deadline: September 29, 2016.
College Presentations: Juniors or Seniors
The following colleges plan to visit at the dates and times listed. If you are interested in at-
tending one of these information sessions, please sign up in the Guidance Office.
Virginia Tech University - September 16, 2016 @ 2:15 p.m.
Furman University - September 22, 2016 @ 2:30 p.m.
Campbell University - September 23, 2016 @ 2:15 p.m.** Onsite Admissions Available
Virginia Commonwealth University - September 28, 2016 @ 11:00 a.m.
Duke University - October 5, 2016 @ 11:00 a.m.
Wofford College - October 14, 2016 @ 2:15 p.m.
Elon University - October 17, 2016 @ 10:30 a.m.
High Point University - October 17, 2016 @ 2:30 p.m.
Queens University - October 21, 2016 @ 10:30 a.m.
Appalachian State University - October 24, 2016 @ 2:15 p.m.
UNC Charlotte - October 26, 2016 @ 11:00 a.m. Please REVIEW the Scholarship Newsletter emailed to all seniors on the
Guidance and Counseling page on the CATA Website.
PSAT, SAT, and Pre-ACT The PSAT - Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test - is scheduled for Wednesday, October 19th for all
11th grade students. The PSAT is very important because your score may qualify you for National
Merit Scholarship, your score will help to predict how well you will do on the SAT, and hopefully you
will build confidence towards taking the SAT. Any 9th or 10th grader that is interested in taking the
SAT is eligible; the cost is $17. Please pay this fee to Mrs. Tammy Tweed by Friday, September 30th.
For more information on the PSAT please click the link here.
The Pre-ACT will be given to all 10th grade students on Friday, October 7th. The Pre-ACT is a prac-
tice ACT that will allow the 10th grade students the experience of what the actual ACT will be
when they take it in Spring of their Junior year.
Central Academy of Technology and Arts 8
College and Career Corner—Class Information
Sophomores - The NC School of Science and Math (NCSSM) aims inspire talented
young North Carolinians to pursue studies in science, technology, engineering,
and math. If you would like to learn more, please attend a presentation by an
NCSSM representative on September 20, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. Sign up in Guidance
today! For more information, please visit: http://www.ncssm.edu/.
Service Academy Day - September 24, 2016:
The office of Thom Tillis will be hosting a Service Academy Day at Wake Forest
University. Students will have an opportunity to meet with representatives from
each service academy, ask questions about the nomination process, and meet
with staff. This event will be from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Farrell Hall (1834 Wake
Forest Rd., Winston-Salem, NC 27109). For more information, please call (704)509-
9087.
SAT Prep Course with Future Prep @ CATA:
CATA will once again be offering an SAT prep course through Future Prep right here at CATA! As
part of this prep course, students will take a full-length practice test. In preparation for the 11/5
SAT, this prep course will be held on Thursdays from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. beginning 9/29 and ending
11/3. The practice test will be held on Saturday, 10/15 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The cost for the
entire course is $179. Please visit http://www.futureprep.com/sat.php or call (704)307-8975 to sign
up. Please see Mrs. Cameron if you have any questions.
US Air Force JROTC—CATA and Monroe HS students join together each year in the Air Force JROTC
program. For more information click here or go to the
CATA website, to Academics, then to Course Curriculum to see the brochure.
If you are interested, please contact your counselor today!
JUNIORS—All juniors will be taking the ACT, a college entrance exam, in early March. In order to
best prepare all juniors will work on ACT preparation during Cougar Time two times per week.
The time has come to apply for North Carolina Governor's School for Summer 2017. North Carolina
Governor's School is a summer program that provides a unique and innovative residential educa-
tional experience for gifted and talented high school juniors from across the state each summer
since 1963. The nomination packet is located on the North Carolina Governor's School website
which is www.ncgovschool.org. If you have questions or are interested in this opportunity please
see Ms. Lawson in the Guidance Office. The deadline to submit your paperwork is Monday, Octo-ber 17th, 2016.
“Career of the Week – Aerospace Engineers” Would you like to design an aircraft, spacecraft,
satellite, and or missile? Would you enjoy testing prototypes of these designs to make sure they
function the way the design says they should? If you answered yes, then you might be interested
in becoming an Aerospace engineer. To become an Aerospace engineer, you must receive a
bachelor’s degree in one of three fields; aerospace engineering, a science field related to aero-
space systems, or another field of engineering. Industries that employ Aerospace engineers are
industries where employees design or build aircraft, missiles, systems for national defense, or space-
craft. Manufacturing, analysis and design, research and development, and the federal govern-
ment are the types of companies who primarily employ Aerospace engineers. If working on a pro-
ject that is related to national defense, security clearance might be needed.
Central Academy of Technology and Arts 9
CATA Spirit Wear available online and at home Football Games. Support the
Band and CATA and get your spirit on.
To see all available spirt wear for CATA click here
Support our athletics and our Band of Blue at
once by showing school spirit!!
Get Your Yearbooks!
This is the last week for the lowest price of the year - $75 (Price is good
through January 27)! Buy your 2017 yearbook today! Order online at
www.yearbookforever.com. and search for CATA or bring a check (made
out to Central Academy) or cash to Ms. Christensen. We will also be tak-
ing orders at Friday night’s home football game.
Procedures for absent students, Attendance Policy, and Recovery -Attendance at school is a priority. It is so important to be present in order to learn and to
gain opportunities for mastering coursework. This is also a very important life lesson for our
children to learn—in life we have expectations of going to work and working to the best
of our ability, and this good life habit starts with attendance at school.
- To ensure maximum student attendance we will be contacting students and parents
when students reach 3, 6, and 8 absences.
-According to UCPS attendance policy students should not miss more than 7 classes in
each class. The goal is to not miss ANY school, but if a student has a valid reason, such as
an illness or other excused absence, they can have up to 7 absences and still pass the
class.
-It is important that excuse notes be written and turned into the office within 3 days after
an absence. After the three days, then the absences are recorded as unexcused perma-
nently.
- At each absence threshold (3,6,8) CATA staff will make the determination if the student
needs to begin the recovery process to make up absences and notify parents and stu-
dents on how to make up time missed from school. Recovery should be done during the
semester and in the two week time span given or the student will not be allowed to re-
cover the absences at a later date.
-There are UCPS limits on how many classes can be recovered. Recovery will be held on
Tuesdays and Thursdays after school with Ms. Riley, or with the student's individual teach-
er. Students are expected to work on content during recovery time. This plan is in place
so that your student makes up content close to the date it was delivered in class.
Central Academy of Technology and Arts 10
Cougar Athletics
If you have questions about athletics or want to volunteer to help with athletics, please send an email to Athletic
Director, Coach Jay Niessner.
Make sure to follow all of CATA’s athletic teams on Twitter: @CATA_Athletics
Last Week’s Results:
Football: Loss vs. Metrolina
Volleyball: Loss vs. Anson, Win vs. Monroe
Men’s Soccer: Loss vs. Cuthbertson, Win vs. Union Academy
Women’s Tennis: Win vs. Monroe, Win vs. West Stanly
Women’s Golf: Team shoots a 163 @ Mt. Pleasant Event
Cross Country: Men 4th, Women 2nd @ Forest Hills Meet
Upcoming Events:
September 16th:
HOME Football vs. Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy 7:30 pm
Walter Bickett Stadium
Gates Open @ 6:00 pm
September 17th:
AWAY Cross Country @ Hare & Hounds Invitational – McAlpine Park – Charlotte
September 19th:
AWAY Golf @ Red Bridge Country Club – 3:30 pm
HOME Soccer vs. Salisbury 5:00 & 6:30 pm
September 20th:
AWAY Tennis @ Forest Hills 4:00 pm
AWAY Volleyball @ Mt. Pleasant 4:30/6:00 pm
September 21st:
AWAY Soccer @ Mt. Pleasant 6:00 pm
September 22nd:
HOME Tennis vs. Parkwood 4:00 pm
AWAY Volleyball vs. Forest Hills 4:30/6:00 pm
AWAY JV Soccer @ Carmel Christian School 4:15 pm
AWAY Cross Country @ Wingate University 4:30 pm
September 23rd
HOME Football vs. Piedmont 7:30 pm
Fall Sports Head Coach Contact Information:
Athletic Director & Men’s Soccer – Jay Niessner – [email protected]
Football – Shane Griffin – [email protected]
Volleyball – Doug Mayhew – [email protected]
Cheerleading – Ashley Lawson – [email protected]
Women’s Golf – Mike Jacobus – [email protected]
Women’s Tennis – Nelson Rowell – [email protected]
Cross Country – Kim Inuwa – [email protected]
Fall Athletic Pictures will be on Wednesday, September 21st after school. Picture
forms went home on 9/15. Athletes MUST have their forms and money on Picture
day or they cannot purchase pictures.
HOME football Friday 9/16—
USA style!!
Central Academy of Technology and Arts 11
http://goo.gl/rhDjRG
Click anywhere
on the
Concessions Box
to the left to go
to Sign Up
Genius.
Thank you in
advance!!
The Math Lab will not be open
Monday,
September 19th and October 10th.
Central Academy of Technology and Arts 12
Link to the Bond Website for more Information
http://www.ucpsbond2016.com/
Central Academy of Technology and Arts 13
Dr. Houlihan Launches Listening and
Learning Tour Monroe, NC—Since his first day on the job, Dr. Andrew Houlihan has made engagement
a priority. To date, Superintendent Houlihan has visited more than 30 schools and met
with UCPS and county leaders. As part of his 90-day entry plan, Dr. Houlihan is launching a
Listening and Learning Tour. Beginning Sept. 21, the Superintendent will hold a series of
meetings throughout Union County to meet with employees and community members.
“I have truly enjoyed visiting our schools and getting to know school leaders and teach-
ers,” Houlihan said. “I want to learn more about UCPS and what we can do as a commu-
nity to better serve our schools, teachers and students.”
There will be two key questions presented at each meeting—What’s working well in UCPS
and what opportunities are there for growth to make our school system the best?
Feedback from the Listening and Learning Tour will inform the district’s Strategic Plan and
other initiatives.
The schedule of meetings is listed below. At each location, Dr. Houlihan will meet with
employees from 5 – 6 p.m. and community members from 6 – 7 p.m.
For updates about the meetings, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
@UCPS_MonroeNC. Community members may also submit feedback to superinten-
CATA is in the Monroe Cluster and will participate on October 27
Central Academy of Technology and Arts 14
Getting Excited to Read from the Summer Read
In Pictures and Words
Over the summer students read a book they chose last spring for CATA’s summer book
read. Every student had two sessions during our Cougar Time last week to participate in
engaging activities and discussions about their books.
Here is the story of one group’s journey:
Allison Cyphers and Ms. Cochran worked with a group of around 40 stu-
dents who read “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.” The
students were given cards with emotions (anger, anxiety, etc.) written,
and had to make an appropriate face and find the rest of their
emotion group. The discussion which followed was about how difficult it
was for us to interpret each others’ facial expressions. Students watched
a fun video summary, talked about the beginning of the book which
started with Christopher, the main character, discovering the body of a
dead dog with a pitch fork through it. Students were posed the question,
“What did you think the book would be about?” They discovered that
the “mystery,” was simply a vehicle to lead us into Christopher’s
world. This group ended the first day with an emoticon challenge, which is to read a state-
ment with two different tones. “I lost my brother in the mall,” read two different ways might
indicate delight or fear depending on the tone. The emoticon was another symbol students
had to negotiate. Again how many symbols and nuances of gestures and language exist
that could keep a person with Asperger’s frustrated and unable to understand. The second
day, students made “tracks” on the floor (To represent the train Christopher took to find his
mother who he thought had been dead) toward Mrs. Cypher’s room where a dog lies
dead (made of masking tape). The student groups split into smaller groups and put togeth-
er small pictures and graphics which line the “tracks.” One was the alphabet and numbers
with the prime numbers highlighted and a key to figure out if the value of your name is a
prime number, which is a favorite pastime of Christopher. The teachers are hoping to find
a way to take a group of students and teachers to the Blumenthal in February to see the
Broadway production of the book. The students who went on their NY trip say that the pro-
duction is very true to the book.
READ!
Central Academy of Technology and Arts 15
Chromebook roll Out— 2016-2017
Please remember to pay your
technology FEE
The required technology user fee ($25) for your student. This fee includes an insurance
policy that covers accidental damage. It is important to pay your fee so that if there is
accidental damage to your child’s computer that it is covered. You can pay this fee
online.
Support the Wolfe School by brining in the follow-
ing items for Box tops for Education: Bring items
to the guidance suite
Click on the Arts Matter Picture below to see the Union
County Community Arts Council Fall Newsletter
Late Morning Bus Notifications
Late morning bus notifications will be posted on our school's Twitter Account
Click here if you do not have Twitter, follow @cata_monroe, or go to the
CATA website, scroll down and click on the Twitter bird symbol.
Central Academy of Technology and Arts 16
CATA Students Host 15th Anniversary September 11,
Luncheon for Monroe First Responders Students from Mr. Anderson’s class hosted a luncheon on September
9th for our local firefighters and police officers. It is hard to believe that
this year marks the 15th anniversary of the worst terrorist attack in our na-
tion’s history. It is very important to remember the 343 firefighters that lost
their lives on September 11th, 2001 and to thank our local responders for
their service today.
Our students were stationed out front of the school to welcome and
escort each of our guest to the media center. We were fortunate to
have 35 guest join us for a catered lunch and a brief opening perfor-
mance from our band and chorus. Guest included our local fire chief,
police chief, mayor, superintendent, and a school board member.
The students here at Central Academy of Technology & Arts were
dressed to impress and made our school “shine” with their exceptional
hospitality. Students served the guest drinks, lunch, and then dessert.
The CATA/Monroe AFJROTC conducted the Presentation of the Colors
as all recited the Pledge of Allegiance. The dessert was a huge cake with an American flag
and the words “Never Forget 9/11/2001.” Students also baked cookies and cake pops and
made gift bags for each guest to take home with them. The feeling of patriotism and re-
spect for local officials filled the media center on a day that everyone needs to remember.
School board member, Ms. Harrell, said “I am especially proud that I had the opportunity to
attend the event held at CATA to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the fateful 9-11
event that claimed so many lives. No better tribute could have been offered to our local
responders.” Sgt. Mark Greene, from the Monroe Police Department, commented “As I lis-
tened to your students speak and I listened to the young man who sang, I thought how
proud of all of them I was. They did not sit on the sideline, nor did they take a knee, they
stood up and did their part to honor the fallen.”
There is no doubt that our students learned a valuable lesson well beyond the standard cur-
riculum by being involved with this event. UCPS superintendent, Dr. Houlihan, attended the
event and was impressed with both the event and our students.
Central Academy of Technology and Arts 17