Welcome Back Bearcats!
Good Afternoon Bearcats!
Even after 30 years in high school education I still get the greatest kick out of the two weeks that happen right before school re-starts. There is just this surge in enthusiasm for me as students and staff start trickling back to campus. Campus is just rather dull during the summer months. To be certain, there are plenty of things happening, but it is usually 'adult' things like construction and painting, cleaning and closing out the year. 'Student' things are what give campus its vibrancy.
Like so many times before, this past was just amazing as we saw the launch of several fall student programs as well as our student orientation days, as well as the welcoming of our new staff. I need to give a 'shout out' to our incredible student Link Crew Leaders as well as PRHS staff Mandy Caffrey and Illana Norris! What a week! And now we are just days away from the full return of all our amazing Bearcats. All teachers and staff will start the week with several days of annual training and community building, all in preparation for us greeting over 2000 students to the 2026-2027 Academic Year on Thursday morning, August 13th at 8:30am; senior year for the class of 2027 and Freshman year for the class of 2030!
A couple of reminders for this week, parents. Classes will begin on Thursday and Friday at 8:30am and dismissal will be at 3:30 both days. Thursday (and Friday) will both be Regular Day Bell Schedules, with all six classes meeting each day. A quick note about student schedules. Paper copies of schedules were released to students at Orientation this past week. However, there always seem to be a few last minute room changes for teachers and classes so all students should review their online schedule in Aeries Thursday morning to make sure they are heading to the correct campus location for their classes.
In the first couple of weeks of school there are also always a number of students seeking schedule changes. We know that can cause some anxiety but we will process those changes in a very specific order. Seniors who have gaps in core graduation requirements will be addressed first, followed by all students with schedule errors (like for students who passed a summer school class but still have that class on their schedule, just as an example). The final group we will try to address is students who have simply changed their minds about an elective course. We understand that happens and we will make sure to address those changes as soon as we are able, but the other two student groups are going to have priority to see counselors in the next two weeks. Thank you for your patience. Students who want to get on the list to visit their counselor for a schedule change should use the QR code posted on the doors to the Counseling Offices.
One last update for now is about the new location for our Attendance Office. It has been moved about twenty steps to the west (if one is standing at the main gates looking into campus the office is now on your left, just behind the flag pole and in the same building as the Theater). The entrance from the parking lot will be from the Theater side, and the entrance from inside the gates of campus is directly across from the Library. As always, there is nothing that substitutes for students being on-time, every day and ready to learn. But when students have appointments or they are late arriving during the school day, the Attendance Office is the gateway to campus.
I sincerely hope that everyone had an amazing summer break. I certainly did, but I am also absolutely fired up to be starting this year as Principal of Paso Robles High School; and I hope you are also just as eager to be back in this amazing community for another year of exceptional experiences and growth. I'm looking forward to seeing every one of our staff tomorrow and our students on Thursday morning.
Thank you, and Go Bearcats!
Most Sincerely,
Mike Susank,
Principal