Carthage High School

❤️ Celebrating a Career of Service, Strength & Heart: Mrs. Rhonda Gradberg

Today, on her final day with Carthage High School, we are honored to commemorate the retirement of Mrs. Rhonda Gradberg and celebrate an incredible 30-year career in education, including 13 years serving the students and families of Carthage ISD.

Mrs. Gradberg spent four years at Baker-Koonce before making Carthage High School home for the next nine years, serving one year as an English I & III teacher and eight years as a CHS counselor.

Mrs. Gradberg’s career is about so much more than titles, years, or job descriptions. For her students and coworkers, she has been a source of comfort, strength, trust, and unwavering positivity. She has always had a remarkable ability to find the light at the end of the tunnel, to find the right words when someone needed to hear them most, and to bring a sense of calm when everything around her seemed chaotic.

Whether it was a mountain of paperwork, an office in distress, a coworker having a difficult day, or a student simply needing a safe place and a trusted adult, Mrs. Gradberg was there. Every day. Every time.

She listened. She encouraged. She advocated. She reassured. And most importantly, she cared.

Her students knew they had someone in their corner. Her coworkers knew they had someone they could trust. And our campus was better because of the compassion, wisdom, patience, and steady presence she brought with her each day.

For 30 years, Mrs. Gradberg poured herself into others. She worked tirelessly for her students, believed in them through difficult moments, celebrated their successes, and helped countless young people navigate some of the most important years of their lives. The true impact of that kind of work cannot be measured in numbers. It lives on in the people whose lives were made a little better, a little calmer, and a little brighter because she was there.

Mrs. Gradberg, thank you for every conversation, every encouraging word, every problem you helped solve, every student you fought for, every coworker you lifted up, and every moment you reminded someone that things were going to be okay.

As you close this chapter today, Carthage High School will miss your presence more than words can adequately express. We are incredibly grateful for the legacy you leave behind and excited for the chapter ahead.

And we have a feeling those grandbabies are about to receive a whole lot more attention, love, and spoiling. ❤️

Congratulations on an incredible career and a retirement that is so well deserved, Mrs. Gradberg. Thank you for being a light for so many.

🐾 Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog.

🏈 SUBVARSITY FOOTBALL INFO | THURSDAY vs. PINE TREE The Sub-varsity Dawgs are back in action Thursday with both home and road matchups! 7th & 8th Grade 📍 Bulldog Stadium ⏰ 4:30 PM scrimmage 🎟️ FREE ADMISSION 9th Grade & JV 📍 At Pine Tree ⏰ 9th Grade — 5:00 PM ⏰ JV — Following ⚠️ Pine Tree fan information: All Carthage fans must park, enter, and sit on the HOME side of the stadium. 🎟️ Tickets for the 9th/JV games are ONLINE ONLY: https://fan.hudl.com/usa/tx/longview/organization/8893/pine-tree-high-school/tickets Come out and support the future of Bulldog Football! 🔴⚪️🏈 #ForTheC #DawgNation

🏟️ Bulldog Stadium Reminders 🏈 A reminder for all home football games, both subvarsity and varsity: • No backpacks are allowed inside Bulldog Stadium. • Students in 6th grade or below must be accompanied by an adult. Please help us keep game nights safe and enjoyable for everyone. We appreciate your cooperation.

🩸 ONE WEEK FROM TODAY — CHS BLOOD DRIVE! 🩸 One week from today, CHS will host our Blood Drive in the Performing Arts Center (PAC)! Students, staff, parents, and members of the community are encouraged to donate and help save lives. 📅 Wednesday, August 26 ⏰ 8:30 AM–4:00 PM 📍 CHS Performing Arts Center (PAC) 🔴 Anyone in the community can donate with a valid photo ID. All donors will complete pre-screening questions at the blood drive. 🔴 Students who are 16 must bring a permission form signed by a parent/guardian. Forms are available in the CHS Front Office or Counseling Center. 🎓 SENIORS: Remember, 2 donations are required to earn your blood cord for graduation. An adult may donate on behalf of a senior student and have that donation count toward the requirement. ❤️ Mark your calendar, roll up your sleeve, and help us make a difference! #CarthageHighSchool #CHSBloodDrive #DawgNation

🐾🏈 CALLING ALL DAWGS — DO YA HEAR ’EM A-GROWLIN’?! The Battle of Highway 79 is almost here! Carthage opens the 2026 football season at Henderson on Friday, August 28, and we need DAWG NATION to help us paint our side of the stands RED! 🔴⚪️ 👕 RIVALRY SHIRTS ARE ON SALE! Toddler – Adult XL: $20 2XL & up: $22 You have two ways to order: 📱 ORDER ONLINE: Fill out the order form: https://forms.gle/Awd7fmrZ2xupkgSa7 💵 PAY VIA VENMO: @Kimberly-McGuire26 🛍️ OR SHOP IN PERSON: Kimberly’s Kreations Boutique 101 N. Saint Mary St. Carthage, TX 75633 📞 903-693-0108 Proceeds from Carthage shirt sales benefit Carthage High School! Henderson is trying to outsell us and outnumber us in the stands. We can’t let that happen. Grab your shirt, wear your RED, and let’s show them which side of Highway 79 brings the most pride! 🔴 CARTHAGE vs. HENDERSON 🔵 📅 Friday, August 28, 2026 📍 Henderson BATTLE OF HIGHWAY 79: RETURN OF THE RIVALRY 🐾 DO YA HEAR ’EM A-GROWLIN’?! #ForTheC #DawgNation

FRESHMEN FOOTBALL ANNOUNCEMENT There will be NO Freshmen Football practice after school this week.

🩸 CHS BLOOD DRIVE 🩸 Carthage High School will host a Blood Drive on Wednesday, August 26 from 8:30 AM–4:00 PM in the CHS Performing Arts Center (PAC). ❤️ Give blood. Help save lives. 📅 Wednesday, August 26 ⏰ 8:30 AM–4:00 PM 📍 CHS Performing Arts Center

🚨 ATTENTION CARTHAGE ISD FANS: CASHLESS TICKET SALES 🚨 Beginning with our home volleyball match vs. Jacksonville on Tuesday, August 18, Carthage ISD will move to CASHLESS ticket sales at the gate for athletic events. 🎟️ PURCHASE TICKETS IN ADVANCE We strongly encourage fans to purchase tickets before arriving: ➡️ www.carthageisd.org/tickets You can also visit the Carthage ISD website and click the yellow “Sport Event Tickets” button. 💳 PURCHASING AT THE GATE Tickets will still be available at the gate, but cash will not be accepted. Gate workers will have tablets and credit card readers available to assist fans with purchasing tickets. 🏐 FIRST EVENT USING THE NEW SYSTEM Lady Dawgs vs. Jacksonville 📅 Tuesday, August 18 🏐 JV White — 4:30 PM 🏐 JV Red — 5:45 PM 🏐 Varsity — 6:45 PM Purchasing your tickets online in advance will help you skip the purchase line and get into the gym faster! Please help us spread the word as we transition to our new ticketing system through HomeTown Ticketing. CASHLESS AT THE GATE • BUY ONLINE • GET IN FASTER #DawgNation #ForTheC

🏫 CHS OPEN HOUSE — THURSDAY NIGHT! Carthage High School invites all parents and guardians to join us for CHS Open House! 📅 Thursday, August 20 ⏰ 6:30 PM 📍 Carthage High School Come visit campus, meet your student’s teachers, and learn more about their classes and the year ahead. We look forward to welcoming our CHS families Thursday night! 🔴⚪ #BetterAsABulldog

📣 CHS TITLE I PARENT MEETING Carthage High School invites parents and guardians to attend our Title I Parent Meeting this week. 📅 Thursday, August 20 ⏰ 5:30 PM 📍 CHS Commons Can’t make it Thursday evening? We will offer a second opportunity: 📅 Friday, August 21 ⏰ 12:00 PM 📍 Carthage High School Please check in at the CHS office upon arrival, and our staff will direct you to the meeting location. We encourage our CHS parents and guardians to attend one of these two meeting times. We look forward to seeing you!

🎉 VENDORS WANTED — JUST $50! 🎉 Carthage High School and the Carthage Courtesy Club are looking for local businesses, makers, and organizations to join us for the 3rd Annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration! 📅 Friday, September 11, 2026 ⏰ 4:00–7:00 PM 📍 CHS Commons & Back Bus Ramp 🛍️ Vendor Fee: Just $50! Come set up a booth, showcase your business or organization, and be part of an evening of food, culture, entertainment, games, and community fun! ➡️ Register your booth: https://form.jotform.com/262168873547167 ❤️ All proceeds benefit scholarships for the Carthage High School Class of 2027! Questions? 📞 Julissa DeJulian — 903-471-6944 📞 Yanet Martinez — 903-747-8608 📞 Isha Brown — 682-465-6181 Reserve your spot and join us for a great night celebrating Hispanic heritage and supporting our CHS seniors!

🚨 IMPORTANT CHS TRAFFIC & PICKUP UPDATE 🚨 Due to ongoing construction work, please be aware of the following changes at Carthage High School: * The Band Hall bus ramp is CLOSED. Buses will now load and pick up students at the Gym ramp. * Buses will be traveling in BOTH LANES of the road between Bulldog Stadium and the school. * NO PARKING is allowed along this road or anywhere along the bus drive behind the school near the Ag Department and Field House. Buses and construction crews must have full access to this area. * ALL CAR RIDERS must be picked up in FRONT of CHS near the large red CHS letters by the PAC. ⚠️ Please do not park or wait along the back bus drive. Keeping these areas clear is extremely important for the safety of our students, bus drivers, staff, and construction crews. Thank you for your patience and cooperation as construction continues at CHS.

Updated School Meal Prices Please see the updated breakfast and lunch prices for the 2026–2027 school year: Primary, Libby & Baker-Koonce Breakfast: $2.00 | Lunch: $2.25 Junior High Breakfast: $2.25 | Lunch: $2.50 High School Breakfast: $2.25 | Lunch: $2.75

🎒 BACK TO SCHOOL BASH 2026 What a wonderful evening of community, service, and support for our students and families! Thank you again to every organization, business, donor, volunteer, student, and sponsor who had a hand in collecting supplies, organizing the event, and helping distribute everything tonight. Your generosity and willingness to serve made the Back to School Bash possible. We are grateful to live in a community that continues to come together for its students. Thank you for helping our Bulldogs begin the new school year prepared and encouraged!

A huge THANK YOU to Tate Barber State Farm Insurance for treating our CHS family to drinks from Swirl and Swig today! 🥤❤️ And a special thank you to Swirl and Swig, run by proud Carthage alum Chesney Baker, for helping make it happen! It was the perfect refreshing treat on a hot afternoon. We appreciate both of these local businesses for thinking of our faculty and staff and showing some love to CHS!

🏫 NEW TO CHS? COME TAKE A LOOK AROUND! Incoming freshmen and students who are new to Carthage High School are invited to tour the campus on Tuesday, August 11, from 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Stop by anytime during the day to walk the halls, get familiar with the campus, find your classrooms, and feel a little more comfortable before the first day of school. We look forward to welcoming our newest Bulldogs to CHS! ❤️🐾

🏈 Congratulations to Cooper Walters on being selected as a 2026 East Texas Kickoff Luncheon Scholarship recipient! Cooper was recognized this past Tuesday in Tyler during the 20th Annual East Texas Kickoff Luncheon, where outstanding East Texas student-athletes were honored both on and off the field. This well-deserved scholarship is a reflection of Cooper’s hard work, leadership, and commitment to excellence. Congratulations, Cooper! We are proud of you and can’t wait to see what the future holds. #GoDawgs

Congratulations to Carthage Bulldog Baseball senior catcher Brooks Soape on being named Honorable Mention 4A All-State by the Texas Sports Writers Association! Brooks’ leadership behind the plate, toughness, and dedication helped make him one of the top catchers in Class 4A this season. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition, and thank you for representing Carthage with pride. #GoDawgs #AllState #StickballSavages

Carthage High School School Supply Recommendations The following school supply list is provided as a general recommendation for Carthage High School students. Individual teachers will communicate any course-specific supply needs once the school year begins. Recommended Supplies: * 3-Ring Binder * Notebook Paper * Spiral Notebook * 8 Pocket Folders * Pens & Pencils * Highlighters

🎨 Senior Parking Spot Painting is Almost Here! Calling the Class of 2027! It’s almost time to make your mark on campus. 🗓️ Saturday, August 8 or Sunday, August 9 🌦️ Painting will take place on either day, weather permitting. This is your opportunity to personalize your senior parking space and kick off your final year at Carthage High School in Bulldog style! Additional details, assigned painting times, and guidelines will be shared with participating seniors prior to the event. For more information, please contact Mr. Milam. We can’t wait to see your creativity on display!