Falcon Flash
8/28/2026
A Message From the Principal
Dear Falcon Families,
We're three weeks into the school year, and before anything else, I want to say thank you. Our first few weeks didn't go the way any of us expected, and your patience while we worked through it meant a lot to our staff and to me.
Now that we're past that rocky start, I've gotten to see firsthand how much heart this school has. I joined our seniors for Senior Sunrise, the tradition that kicks off all the fun and friendship of their final year, and then watched our first home football game, where the crowd's spirit and support were some of the best I've seen. Clubs are launching, fall sports are underway, and campus is starting to feel like itself again.
This is the point in the year where I want to encourage every student and family to get involved. If your student hasn't found a club yet, there's still time! A club is often what turns a school from a place a student attends into a place a student belongs. The same goes for events: Homecoming week is coming up September 14–19, and I'd love to see a strong Falcon turnout.
Getting involved matters, and so does simply being here. Research consistently shows that missing just two days a month, about 18 days over a school year, adds up to nearly a month of lost instruction, and the effects compound quickly once a student falls behind. Daily attendance and arriving on time are two of the simplest things we can do together to set your student up for a strong year. If your family is running into any challenges that make getting to school on time difficult, please reach out to us. We would much rather work through it with you early than after a pattern sets in.
I also want to name something I care about: kindness. It's easy to overlook, but I notice it on this campus, and I want our students to keep building a school where it's the norm, not the exception. If your student mentions a friend who looked out for them, or a moment where a classmate was kind, I would love to hear about it.
Finally, I'm looking forward to meeting more of you this year. My door is open. If you're ever on campus, please stop in and say hello.
Warmly,
Heather Isom
Heather Isom
Principal, Cactus Shadows High School
Attendance
Tired of waiting for the attendance line to ramble off that long winded message? Now you can skip the wait! Simply report your student’s absence by emailing the attendance office through your ParentSquare account.
2026-2027 Attendance Policies:
Effective August 3, 2026 | In alignment with the CCUSD93 Student Handbook
Excused Absences
An absence will be excused only if one of the following occurs:
- Parent/guardian signs student in at the Attendance Office
- Medical documentation is provided within 24 hours of the absence
- Parent/guardian calls within 24 hours of the absence
Tardies
- More than 10 minutes late to periods 2–6 = Marked Absent
- Phone calls or notes will NOT be accepted to excuse tardies
- Tardies can only be excused with parent sign-in or medical documentation
- First Hour Tardy (unexcused) = Same-day Lunch Detention
Progressive Discipline – All Periods Combined
- 5 Tardies – Warning
- 8 Tardies – Lunch Detention
- 10 Tardies – After-School Detention
- 15 Tardies – Saturday Detention
- 16+ Tardies – Assistant Principal’s discretion
Absences (Per Class Period)
- 5 – Warning / Parent Contact
- 8 – Attendance Contract (signed/returned)
- 10 – No credit for the class
- 12+ – Assistant Principal’s discretion
Note: Excessive absences/tardies may affect parking privileges.
Sign-Out Procedures
- No sign-outs within 30 minutes of dismissal (K–12)
- All students must check out through the Attendance Office using Kid Account
- Only emergency contacts in PowerSchool with valid photo ID may sign out students
- Student drivers: Parent call required 2 hours in advance for early release
Chromebooks:
If your student was unable to pick up their Chromebook this week, they are available for pick up in the Bookstore before school and during lunch.
Health Office Notice
Information on state required hearing and vision screenings:
Hearing and Vision screenings are generally initiated at the beginning of the school year but continue as needed throughout the year in conjunction with the Arizona State Law and Department of Health Guidelines for multiple grades. Screenings performed in the health office are not equivalent to a comprehensive hearing/ear or vision/eye exam. If you have any questions please contact your school’s health office. If you wish to opt your student out, please contact the Health Office at 480-575-2402.
Immunization records:
Every student must have complete immunization records to be admitted. The Health Office will reach out to the parents of students who are currently non-compliant. Please at your earliest convenience, submit the necessary records or waiver. As of September 15 any student who is non compliant will not be allowed to attend school without the necessary documents. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.
Thank you.
Counseling Department/Educational Services:
Need a Schedule Change?
Schedule changes will be made for the following reasons and are subject for approval:
1. Graduation requirement adjustment
2. Course was completed over the summer
3. Prerequisite for the course was not met
If your student meets one of these criteria, please have them email their counselor.
HoCo Spirit!
CSHS Website
Attached is a link for the CSHS website, where you can easily find answers to frequently asked questions, stay up to date on upcoming events, and access information about sports and testing.
For a full schedule of all upcoming sporting events click the link below.
CSHS Sports Calendar
Voluntary Student Accident & Sickness Insurance
Information for Voluntary Student Accident and Sickness Insurance plans for purchase including plans for athletics can be found below.
AZ Lion's Vision and Hearing Foundation-information. If your family needs eye care or vision services, and does not have health insurance, please contact our Health Office
Useful Links
8/14/2026
A Message From the Principal
Dear Cactus Shadows Families,
As we begin a new school year, I want to share what I hope will define our work together at Cactus Shadows.
For me, everything begins with our students. Young people need adults who genuinely see them, care about them, and believe in who they are capable of becoming. High school should challenge students academically and personally, but it should also be a place where they feel known, valued, and connected. Our students will make mistakes, test boundaries, and sometimes need help finding their way. Our responsibility is to hold high expectations while remembering that they are still growing.
I also recognize the extraordinary trust families place in us every day. You send us the people you love most, and we take that responsibility seriously. We will not always agree, and there will undoubtedly be moments when we could have communicated better or handled something differently. My commitment is not to promise perfection. It is to promise that we will listen, be honest, remain focused on students, and work to earn your trust.
I want our families to see Cactus Shadows not as an institution they occasionally have to fight against, but as a partner they can fight with; for their children, for great opportunities, and for a strong school community. We need your perspective, your advocacy, your ideas, and your involvement.
Academically, I want every student at Cactus Shadows to have opportunities to discover just how capable they are. Great education is not simply about earning a grade or succeeding on a test. It is about learning to think critically, solve problems, communicate, persevere through difficulty, reflect, and become increasingly independent. Every student deserves work worthy of their potential and teachers who believe they can meet that challenge.
Ultimately, I want Cactus Shadows to be a school where students know they matter, families know they are partners, teachers know they are supported, and our community is proud of what happens here.
We will build that school together—not through a single program, event, or initiative, but through thousands of small interactions throughout this year.
Thank you for trusting us with your children and for being part of this community. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve Cactus Shadows, and I look forward to the year ahead.
With Falcon Pride,
Heather Isom
Principal
Heather Isom
Principal, Cactus Shadows High School
CSHS 2026-2027 Administration
Pictured from left to right: Dr. Shelly Jensen; Assistant Principal, Rob Gilmore; District Athletic Director, Heather Isom; Principal, Antonio Turner; Dean of Students.
Attendance
Tired of waiting for the attendance line to ramble off that long winded message? Now you can skip the wait! Simply report your student’s absence by emailing the attendance office through your ParentSquare account.
2026-2027 Attendance Policies:
Effective August 3, 2026 | In alignment with the CCUSD93 Student Handbook
Excused Absences
An absence will be excused only if one of the following occurs:
- Parent/guardian signs student in at the Attendance Office
- Medical documentation is provided within 24 hours of the absence
- Parent/guardian calls within 24 hours of the absence
Tardies
- More than 10 minutes late to periods 2–6 = Marked Absent
- Phone calls or notes will NOT be accepted to excuse tardies
- Tardies can only be excused with parent sign-in or medical documentation
- First Hour Tardy (unexcused) = Same-day Lunch Detention
Progressive Discipline – All Periods Combined
- 5 Tardies – Warning
- 8 Tardies – Lunch Detention
- 10 Tardies – After-School Detention
- 15 Tardies – Saturday Detention
- 16+ Tardies – Assistant Principal’s discretion
Absences (Per Class Period)
- 5 – Warning / Parent Contact
- 8 – Attendance Contract (signed/returned)
- 10 – No credit for the class
- 12+ – Assistant Principal’s discretion
Note: Excessive absences/tardies may affect parking privileges.
Sign-Out Procedures
- No sign-outs within 30 minutes of dismissal (K–12)
- All students must check out through the Attendance Office using Kid Account
- Only emergency contacts in PowerSchool with valid photo ID may sign out students
- Student drivers: Parent call required 2 hours in advance for early release
Senior Corner:
- August 27th: Senior Sunrise, Cactus Shadows Football Field, 5:45am
Please contact Ms. Nagy for more information.
Chromebooks:
If your student was unable to pick up their Chromebook this week, they are available for pick up in the Bookstore before school and during lunch.
Health Office Notice
Information on state required hearing and vision screenings:
Hearing and Vision screenings are generally initiated at the beginning of the school year but continue as needed throughout the year in conjunction with the Arizona State Law and Department of Health Guidelines for multiple grades. Screenings performed in the health office are not equivalent to a comprehensive hearing/ear or vision/eye exam. If you have any questions please contact your school’s health office. If you wish to opt your student out, please contact the Health Office at 480-575-2402.
Immunization records:
Every student must have complete immunization records to be admitted. The Health Office will reach out to the parents of students who are currently non-compliant. Please at your earliest convenience, submit the necessary records or waiver. As of September 15 any student who is non compliant will not be allowed to attend school without the necessary documents. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.
Thank you.
Counseling Department/Educational Services:
Need a Schedule Change?
Schedule changes will be made for the following reasons and are subject for approval:
1. Graduation requirement adjustment
2. Course was completed over the summer
3. Prerequisite for the course was not met
If your student meets one of these criteria, please have them email their counselor.
Falcons Athletics
Fall Athletics – Aktivate (Register My Athlete) Registration Required
Attention students and parents:
Please make sure you are completing the Aktivate (Register My Athlete) registration for all Fall Athletics. Students-Athletes cannot participate in tryouts, practices, or competitions until registration is complete.
Register or log in at: www.registermyathlete.com
If you need assistance, please contact the Athletics Department: Sara Thompson – (480) 575-2458
Don’t delay—get registered today!
Falcon game schedules can be found on our sports webpages as well as our school's calendar.
Spring Sports Are Underway! Come fill the bleachers and support your Falcons all season long.
CSHS Website
Attached is a link for the CSHS website, where you can easily find answers to frequently asked questions, stay up to date on upcoming events, and access information about sports and testing.
For a full schedule of all upcoming sporting events click the link below.
CSHS Sports Calendar
Voluntary Student Accident & Sickness Insurance
Information for Voluntary Student Accident and Sickness Insurance plans for purchase including plans for athletics can be found below.
AZ Lion's Vision and Hearing Foundation-information. If your family needs eye care or vision services, and does not have health insurance, please contact our Health Office