On Tuesday, September 2nd, 2025, Heritage started to integrate a new system into students’ daily routines. Teachers showed a presentation of the system, introducing it to kids and showing them how to access it. The Five-Star Pass System is a system that allows students to be notified of their WIN time without having to ask a teacher or be notified in person. The Five Star Students software isn’t new to Catoosa County high schools, in fact, every other neighboring school uses the software needed for the pass system, yet in different ways.
The system overall benefits the school, as it not only frees up time for staff who, in the past, had to deliver the WIN passes and disrupt classes. It coaxes students to gain a bit of individuality and responsibility, which helps to prepare them for their adult lives after high school, and gives the students, especially those who may struggle with communication, a chance to schedule WIN time for themselves and get the help they need during lunch. Many students have already commented on the usefulness of this system, and how much they enjoy it.
Some of the challenges our staff had to face while setting the software up were getting the software functional and bug-free. To combat this, staff used tutorial videos and direct contact with one of the members from the Five Star Student software team to better understand the software and use it fluidly. Mrs. Brittany McKaig, one of the staff who helped bring this together, said, “There are a lot of things you can do with it, but we’re taking it slow and kind of learning it. Eventually, we might use it for different things, like athletes being released at a certain time.”
In summary, the Five Star Pass System has been useful to all Heritage kids alike, whether that be a freshman or a senior. It helps for teachers and staff to have more time in class and to themselves respectively, which ensures everything gets done.
