When asked what she likes best about being principal of Catalina, Dr. Gonzalez says “the diversity of the students and the dedication of the staff”.
An upgrade in the rating of CHS to a “C” school is the recent highlight in Dr. Gonzales Tenure, as well as increased enrollment and better teacher retention. For more about Principal Gonzalez, please see the Fall 2022 newsletter.
The Catalina High School Foundation wanted to create an award for Trojans who do great things for our school but might have otherwise gone unrecognized for their efforts. So four years ago, the CHS Foundation created its Centurion Award, which goes to an outstanding student and CHS faculty member exemplifying school spirit, service, leadership, participation & the encouragement of others.
2022 student recipient is senior Morgan Mason!
And Culinary Arts, CTE Dept. Chair Micahel Gradowski is our 2022 faculty Centurion winner.
Congratulations to the 2022 Centurion Award Winners!
The Catalina High School Foundation wanted to create an award for Trojans who do great things for our school but might have otherwise gone unrecognized for their efforts. So four years ago, the CHS Foundation created its Centurion Award, which goes to an outstanding student and CHS faculty member exemplifying school spirit, service, leadership, participation & the encouragement of others.
2021 student recipient is senior Liliana Moran!
And Athletic Director Timothy Bridges is our 2021 faculty Centurion winner.
Congratulations to the 2021 Centurion Award Winners!
Op-ed by Renée Horton in the Arizona Daily Star
This piece shines a spotlight on some of the challenges and strengths of Catalina High School and its diverse student body—it’s a must read. “I understand (CHS alum Emily) Morrison’s enthusiasm. CHS is a special place filled with students who have a million strikes against them who nonetheless hope the promise of education leading to a better life still holds true.”
Need a Cinderella story for your next sports movie? Try this on—against all odds, a small group of high school kids from near and far must rely on each other’s grit and love of their sport to make the state playoffs.
The Trojan boys varsity squad, playing much of its season with barely enough players to field a team, have accomplished just that! As it closed out its regular season, the team only had one loss. On Feb. 11, the boys had to play short-handed a player but still managed to beat Sabino 1-0 to win their region, qualifying them to compete in the state tourney.
Usually, Catalina has dozens of Trojans trying to make its varsity or JV teams. Last year they had enough to field a freshman squad, too. But the pandemic put the brakes on many teams, and boys soccer might be the only CHS team able to complete its season.
From workouts on an otherwise empty campus to playing without subs (just 11 and occasionally down to 9 or 10 players) for much of their remarkable season—these tough-as-nails players pulled together, believed and won their region with “All we got, all we need” as their motto.
Head Coach Gabriel Rocha says he has never had a closer team.
“They’re brothers on and off the field,” Rocha emphasizes. “They relish every opportunity to go out there and play the game that they love, to represent our school, represent our communities and our coaches. It’s so great!” The team now has 18 players as it heads into state—GO, TROJANS!
The coronavirus forcing online learning, and a delay in re-opening the campus has amplified some of the challenges that Catalina High School faces. Still, new Principal Geoff Parks remains upbeat.
Parks wanted to be part of a school that’s high in diversity and picked up on some of Catalina’s other strong points right away. “I’m just really excited about being a Trojan,” he says. “I’ve already met a lot of great people, and I can tell that it’s a good fit for me.”
While below average results on mandated state testing loom large, Parks notes that the growth data for the school is encouraging. “We have talented people here who can really make a difference, who have already made huge strides in the past three years that I’ve noticed just looking at the data,” he explains.
Parks has a strong background in education and grew up attending small rural schools in Washington State. He’s taught a variety of sciences at Willapa Valley High in Washington and here at Vail’s Cienega High. Parks has also been a middle school teacher and coach, a student achievement adviser, an assistant principal, a principal; and most recently the superintendent of the Napavine School District before returning to Tucson.
As a superintendent, he says he missed interacting with students and was hopeful when he learned that the Catalina post was available after being vacated by Antasio Holley, who recently moved to the East Coast.
“Granted, it’s going to be kind of funky this (school) year, with the whole pandemic, but the climate and the culture at Catalina is good. It’s caring—people really care about the kids. They have a lot of great systems in place already at Catalina that I’ve been looking at, and a lot of resources that will help,” Parks notes. “And I think that’s why you’re seeing the graduation numbers increase. I think they’re on the right path. Just keep persevering!”
Parks is concerned that starting off with students not on campus could affect enrollment, be an additional struggle for families who lack internet access or a suitable computer or tablet, and could keep students from accessing on-campus resources.
He looks forward to helping the school become more successful academically, and in its extracurricular activities. He also hopes to reduce Catalina’s high teacher turnover. “Just start building that success a little bit at a time—once you get on the escalator of success, you’re going to get rid of those failing or D labels.”
We also announced the 2020 Centurion Awards. The faculty awardee for 2020 is Jennifer Miranda, a terrific college and career counselor who is an expert at college applications and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); and is a wizard at helping students find the grants and scholarships that make a college career possible.
The student Centurion awardee is Timber Bedorehfar. He is a youth on his own and someone who always encourages other students to meet their goals and overcome obstacles. He is on the football team and completed his lifeguard certification at Catalina, so can lifeguard at city pools in Tucson during the summers.
In spite of obstacles no teenager should endure, Andreana Merino blossomed
into an admirable and helpful young woman. She was elected by her peers to Student Council and served as Secretary of the Superintendents’ Student Advisory Council for TUSD. During the school years Andreana held down a job, yet thrived academically.She was a such a positive force for others, and we congratulate her as the 2019 Student Centurion Award Winner! Lori Encinas, Office Manager, is the Faculty/Staff Centurion Award Winner. She is the heart and soul of the school, always there to help students, teachers, and visitors. Congratulations, ladies!
The 2017 Centurion Award Winners
The winners of the Foundation’s 2017 Centurion Awards were Yesenia Larios and Jack Draper. Given to honor a student and teacher each year for their demonstrated enthusiasm for and commitment to the school.
In the case of Yesenia, the student winner, her spirit and engagement with all activities at the school were apparent and recognized by all.
For the teacher, Jack Draper, he has for years gone overboard to encourage his students and to provide training not only in the construction trades, but on how to live an generous and ethical life.
Each year the two winners are featured in the school yearbook, on the CHS Foundation page.
