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The Weekly Hoot

Cato Students' Edition
Week of March 30th, 2026
Week of March 23rd, 2026
🎉 Something to Celebrate
Thank you to all students who came out to support the first Cato and Special Olympics event last Thursday! It was an amazing time for all involved with great food! We hope to partner with CPCC for more fun events like this in the future!
📅 Upcoming Events — Next Two Weeks
Wednesday, March 25th
ACT WorkKeys Testing
Only a handful of students with Mrs. Bell.
Friday, March 27th
Senior Cap & Gown Picture Day
Caps & Gowns available for pickup — see office staff. Picture Day scheduled alphabetically.
Wednesday, April 1st
What's Your E CMS Trip
For students who signed up — 9 AM to 1 PM.
✅ To Do Items
→Seniors & 13th Grade: Please RSVP to the upcoming Senior Brunch event by Thursday, March 26 @ 2 PM — no exceptions.
→Seniors: Graduation Cap & Gown Final Order opportunity — see office staff.
→11th–13th Grade: Vote for your Prom Royal Court 2026.
→Prom Tickets on Sale — Saturday, May 2, 2026 @ 7–11 PM · The Lost Atlantis · Oasis Shriners Temple, Charlotte · Through March 31: $85 · April 1–16: $100 · Final date: April 17.
🏫 Updates from Our Friends at CPCC
If you are failing or know you are going to fail a CPCC course, please be proactive and reach out for help adjusting your future courseload so we can prioritize retaking it. If your GPA is below a 2.0, you will be put on academic probation — or if already on probation, you will not be able to continue with Cato High School or CPCC Classes. I can help adjust your schedules if you need to retake a class ASAP. These proactive steps are your responsibility as college students.

Transfer Tuesdays at Cato Campus

Near the front desk in the Cato I building's lobby.

DateUniversity
Tuesday, 3/31UNC-Charlotte
Tuesday, 4/28UNC-Wilmington
Week of March 15th, 2026
🎉 Something to Celebrate
We only have 10 weeks left of school! Whether you can't wait for summer or you need some additional time to complete school work, the end is in sight!
📅 Upcoming Events — Next Two Weeks
Tuesday, March 17th
ACT Testing Day @ 8am (11th graders)
Modified Schedule: 1st 11–12, Extended Lunch 12–1:30, 2nd 1:30–2:30, 3rd 2:35–3:35. Non-ACT students meet in Cato 2 Auditorium.
Thursday, March 19th
Special Olympics Basketball Event — Extended Lunch
Modified Schedule: 1st 11–12, Extended Lunch 12–1:30, 2nd 1:30–2:30, 3rd 2:35–3:35.
Wednesday, March 25th
ACT WorkKeys Testing
Only a handful of students with Mrs. Bell.
Friday, March 27th
Senior Cap & Gown Picture Day
Caps & Gowns coming in soon. See office staff if you haven't ordered yours (required for graduation).
✅ To Do Items
→Prom Tickets on Sale — Saturday, May 2, 2026 @ 7–11 PM · The Lost Atlantis · Through March 31: $85 · April 1–16: $100 · Final date: April 17.
🏫 Updates from Our Friends at CPCC
If you are failing or know you are going to fail a CPCC course, please be proactive and reach out for help adjusting your future courseload. If your GPA is below 2.0, you will be put on academic probation. I can help adjust your schedules if you need to retake a class ASAP. These proactive steps are your responsibility as college students.

Transfer Tuesdays at Cato Campus

Near the front desk in the Cato I building's lobby.

DateUniversity
Tuesday, 3/17Winston-Salem State University
Tuesday, 3/24Queens/Elon University
Tuesday, 3/31UNC-Charlotte
Tuesday, 4/28UNC-Wilmington
Week of February 23rd, 2026
🎉 Something to Celebrate
Teachers helped select outstanding Cato students to represent our school at the CMS Sources of Strength training! Thank you to Oscar, Lucas, Violet, Asmaa, Laila, Zakiya, Niylah, Ameera, Wayne, Harmony, Divyansh and Win for leading the way. Our school is only as great as you help make it!
💡 Something to Think About
At 16, Boyan Slat went scuba diving and saw more plastic bags than fish. Instead of moving on, he turned his frustration into a high school science project. Experts called cleaning ocean plastic impossible. Boyan flipped the problem — let the ocean currents bring the plastic to us. By 18, he delivered a viral TEDx talk, crowdfunded $2 million, and launched The Ocean Cleanup. Today, his organization removes millions of pounds of trash from our oceans.

As a Cato student, you are already tackling advanced coursework. Boyan's story proves that what you're doing right now isn't just practice — it's the exact toolkit needed to solve real-world problems.
📅 Upcoming Events — Next Two Weeks
Saturday, February 28th
Optional Virtual ACT Boot Camp (9am–1pm)
$30 fee · Live instruction · Practice tests · Register: forms.gle/UJccGsHtfUuHEoy57
Tuesday, March 17th
ACT Testing Day for 11th Graders
Official date confirmed — the Tuesday after spring break.
✅ To Do Items
→Prom Tickets on Sale — Saturday, May 2, 2026 @ 7–11 PM · The Lost Atlantis · Through March 31: $85 · April 1–16: $100 · Final date: April 17.
→12th & 13th Grade: Apply for graduation in MyCollege → click 'graduation overview'. Takes 1–2 minutes. See Mrs. O'Herron for more info.
🏫 Updates from Our Friends at CPCC
If you are failing or know you are going to fail a CPCC course, please be proactive and reach out for help adjusting your future courseload. If your GPA is below 2.0, you will be put on academic probation. I can help adjust your schedules. These proactive steps are your responsibility as college students.

Transfer Tuesdays at Cato Campus

Near the front desk in the Cato I building's lobby.

DateUniversity
Tuesday, 2/24East Carolina University
Tuesday, 3/3Western Governors University
Tuesday, 3/17Winston-Salem State University
Tuesday, 3/24Queens/Elon University
Tuesday, 3/31UNC-Charlotte
Tuesday, 4/28UNC-Wilmington
Week of February 13th, 2026
🎉 Something to Celebrate
Congratulations to our mid-year graduates! We're proud of you Oriana, Aliyah and Chloe! We can't wait to see what's next for you!
💡 Something to Think About
Do you know William Kamkwamba from Malawi? A devastating famine forced him to drop out of school. Instead of accepting defeat, he went to a local library and studied diagrams in books he couldn't fully read. He decided to build a windmill for his village — using blue gum trees, bicycle parts, and scrap metal. Neighbors called him "crazy." When the blades spun and a lightbulb lit up, mockery turned to awe. William eventually graduated from Dartmouth College and became an internationally recognized inventor.
📅 Upcoming Events — Next Two Weeks
Monday, February 16th
No CMS High School Classes
CPCC will still have college classes.
Tuesday, February 17th
Field Trip to Levine Campus — College Fair
Bus loading 9:15am · Arrive Levine 10am · Lunch 12–12:30pm · Return 12:30pm. Must have registered and turned in permission slip.
✅ To Do Items
→Tardy Policy Reminder: 1st–3rd tardy: Teacher warning. 4th: Parent call. 5th–6th: Office referral + detention. 7th+: Possible ISS. Consequence beyond 5th: 30 min community service on Fridays at 9:30am.
→Prom Tickets on Sale — Saturday, May 2, 2026 @ 7–11 PM · The Lost Atlantis · Through Jan 30: $75 · Feb 1–March 31: $85 · April 1–16: $100 · Final date: April 17.
🏫 Updates from Our Friends at CPCC
12th and 13th graders who anticipate completing an Associate's degree this year need to apply for graduation in MyCollege by clicking 'graduation overview.' Takes only 1–2 minutes. See Mrs. O'Herron for more info.

Transfer Tuesdays at Cato Campus

Near the front desk in the Cato I building's lobby.

DateUniversity
Tuesday, 2/10UNC-Wilmington
Tuesday, 2/24East Carolina University
Tuesday, 3/3Western Governors University
Tuesday, 3/17Winston-Salem State University
Tuesday, 3/24Queens/Elon University
Tuesday, 3/31UNC-Charlotte
Tuesday, 4/28UNC-Wilmington
Week of February 9th, 2026
📅 Upcoming Events — Next Two Weeks
Friday, February 13th
Fun Friday — National Honors Society
NHS-sponsored event.
Monday, February 16th
No CMS High School Classes
CPCC will still have college classes.
✅ To Do Items
→Prom Tickets on Sale — Saturday, May 2, 2026 @ 7–11 PM · The Lost Atlantis · Through Jan 30: $75 · Feb 1–March 31: $85 · April 1–16: $100 · Final date: April 17.
🏫 Updates from Our Friends at CPCC
Field Trip on Tuesday, February 17th! CPCC's annual Spring Transfer Fair at Levine Campus from 9:15am–1pm. 25–30 colleges and universities represented. To attend: (1) Reserve seat on the bus, (2) Pick up parent permission slip from Mrs. Lubbers or Mrs. Jones, (3) Turn in slip by Friday, February 13th at 11am to Mrs. Bell.

Transfer Tuesdays at Cato Campus

Near the front desk in the Cato I building's lobby.

DateUniversity
Tuesday, 2/10UNC-Wilmington
Tuesday, 2/24East Carolina University
Tuesday, 3/3Western Governors University
Tuesday, 3/17Winston-Salem State University
Tuesday, 3/24Queens/Elon University
Tuesday, 3/31UNC-Charlotte
Tuesday, 4/28UNC-Wilmington
Week of December 12th, 2025
📅 Upcoming Events — Next Two Weeks
Week of December 15th
Fall End-of-Course Testing
Students may leave only after the ENTIRE exam session ends for everyone.
December 15th–19th
CPCC Early Closures
Cafe closed. Bookstore closed Dec 16–19. Library: modified hours Dec 15–16 (9am–1pm), closed Dec 17–Jan 4, modified Jan 5–9.
✅ To Do Items
→Check the 2025–2026 School Calendar to know when winter break starts and ends.
→Happy Holidays from Mr. Lee and the Cato team!
🏫 Updates from Our Friends at CPCC
A huge thank you to Joshua Andrews, Yuanel Nazario Lastra, and Adam Dowling for going above and beyond in support of Student Life — moving tables, setting up events, and jumping in wherever needed. Your leadership does not go unnoticed. Wishing you a restful holiday season! — Donell Stines-Jones, Student Life Coordinator
Week of November 14th, 2025
💬 Message from Mr. Lee
Have you ever heard of the Tetris Effect? Playing Tetris repetitively conditions the brain to see Tetris in real life. The thoughts and things we repetitively engage with train our brains to see more of the same in the world. My challenge: choose to be positive and thankful. The energy and thoughts you put in are the energy and thoughts you get out.

Homework: Think of 3 people you appreciate. Tell them you appreciate them — and why. — Mr. Lee
📅 Upcoming Events — Next Two Weeks
Tuesday, November 18th
Open House
8:30am–3:45pm — invite anyone in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade!
Wednesday, November 19th
Final Open House
12:30–1:30pm.
Friday, November 21st
NHS Pie in the Face during Lunch
Vote all week with dollar bills for who gets pied.
Wednesday, November 26th
No High School Classes
CPCC will have college classes. Campus closes early by 4pm.
Nov 27th–28th
Thanksgiving Break
No high school or CPCC classes.
✅ To Do Items
→Seniors & 13th Grade: Order graduation gowns and packages through the graduation site by November 25th.
→All week (Nov 17–21): Vote with dollar bills to choose who gets Pied-in-the-Face on Friday during lunch!
→Graduation Update: Date changed to Thursday, May 28th @ 1:00pm at Ovens Auditorium. Mandatory Rehearsal: Friday, May 22nd at 8am.
🏫 Updates from Our Friends at CPCC
ACT Prep Sessions are now virtual & asynchronous — more students can participate while still joining Friday club events. All past presentations available using your CMS email.
Week of October 24th, 2025
💬 Message from Mr. Lee
I was listening to an interview with NBA coach Michael Malone — who coached LeBron James, Steph Curry, and Nikola Jokic — and something he said stood out: 'Great players want to be coached.' They want to grow, be held accountable, and be empowered.

You are all here at Cato because you chose the hard path. My challenge: embrace being coachable. Seek out feedback, hold yourself accountable, and always strive to be better. Being an amazing professional tomorrow starts with being an amazing student today. — Mr. Lee
📅 Upcoming Events — Next Two Weeks
Monday, October 26th @ 6pm
Open House — Potential New Students
Let anyone in 10th, 11th or 12th grade know!
Tuesday, October 27th @ 10am
Open House — Potential New Students
Thursday, October 30th
Fall Harvest Fun Day 🍂
11:30am–2:30pm at Annabelle Amphitheater. Boxed lunches, face art, pumpkin carving, scavenger hunt, limbo, and more! Modified schedule: 1st 11–12:10, Extended Lunch 12:10–1:05, 2nd 1:05–2:15, 3rd 2:20–3:45.
Friday, October 31st
Pumpkin Carving in the Main Hallway
Costumes encouraged but not required.
✅ To Do Items
→Required: Meet with Mrs. Megan O'Herron to register for upcoming classes (December, Spring, and Summer sessions). Schedule at Calendly — Megan O'Herron.
→Vote for the Student Representative on the CMS School Board by November 4th. Learn about candidates at cmsk12.org/board/boardsa-vote.
→Prom theme announced: The Lost Atlantis! Save the date: Saturday, May 2, 2026 at Oasis Shriners Temple, Charlotte.
🏫 Updates from Our Friends at CPCC
Prom theme is in — it's The Lost Atlantis! 🌊 Ticket details coming soon.