Important Dates:
August 9-11: Materials Pick Up August 15: First Day of School August 18: Required Parent/Guardian Athletics Meeting/Dinner 5:00 p.m. Call Miss Mari and Miss Celeste for help!
Dear AVU JR./SR. High Staff, I am so delighted to be working daily with you all. I am equally happy and excited to have my “wing persons” Stefani Ewing and Vero Barragan to support me in the new dual role, along with the expertise of Mari and Celeste! With all of the bond construction and financing there is too much for me to do on the plate. Therefore, we have divided the duties to provide maximum coverage for the students, staff and site. I know that it can be confusing, as we embark on our new year, so I wanted to give you an at-a-glance look about who to go to for what. Discipline: Vero has been designated as our Behavior Liaison. This is wonderful because she has relationships throughout the community and also the bilingual skills. She will be handling the orange sheets in the low-level discipline matters along with Soledad for walkarounds, and work with me for the higher-level discipline. Stefani will still be hosting the detentions that will come as a result of the discipline enforcement. We are going to be exceptionally strict on dress code. What I saw last year will not continue. That starts at the front line with the teachers and other staff, so if you see a student that is inappropriate, I want you to forward them to Vero immediately. Stefani’s Role Stefani has been, for all intents and purposes, acting in her TOSA role with many of the functions of an assistant principal. This will continue, and she will be hosting the detentions, independent study, scheduling coverages for missed periods along with the office, and participating as an admin at the special ed meetings. She is an awesome test coordinator, and while that will change and how that looks in the coming year, she will continue in that function as well. Scheduling work with Chris and I, will also be part of the role. She will handle other duties as assigned and step in with me to cover the site when I have to do my superintendent duties related to the county or to support the elementary. This is a fluid position and I'm delighted to welcome her on board formally. One of my greatest Joys is to grow people. I am excited that Stefani has this opportunity. My Role: I am your instructional leader, and I am responsible for the overall achievement and performance at this site. I have very, very high expectations that include dress code for students and appropriate decorum in staff address, and so much more. Our students deserve the best. I do ask that all staff are dressed professionally as appropriate to the job. You all work so hard and I can't wait to see where we go in the coming year. I'm also integrally involved in the WASC process with Julie Honegger. We have been holding meetings over the summer. Thank the stars for Julie on this written report. WASC is an important and necessary process and we need to give it our best effort. I don't want to have to have to revisit a one year report. My goal is to put good time and effort into the first part of every collaboration meeting in the Fall, so that we have a collaborative and fully defensible report that tells the truth and looks forward to tomorrow, so that we can get a six-year designation with a mid-cycle update. My job is to implement. I am a good implementer. I know you've had a lot of trauma in the past with a bunch of crazy s*** from Superintendents. My door is always open. My cell phone is always on. Don't let a small problem grow into a big problem. Let's work together to solve it. However, today, I ask you to just let me do my job. We don’t need to discuss everything to death. I respect your time. I want our staff meetings to be quick and purposeful. Sometimes, you just have to trust me and I'm going to go for it. I'm a results-oriented person. I hope what you see around you in just one year gives you comfort that I have your best interest and the students’ best interests at heart. Some parts of what we are doing now aren't working… We can make mighty changes. I just need you to let me do my job. I am always open to input, but sometimes I have to make a hard decision. I do have incredibly high standards for image and performance. I urge you as a first step to critically look at your room and think about what image and expectation you are delivering to students. Some of you are going to ask who the hell is Jim Frost and Bill Toledo? Well, one of the things I've heard on the downlow is that people think that I don't have experience in high school. Well, I might not know high school but I know great instruction. I have seen amazing things in this District. I've seen things that need to change in this District. I also know we have an important WASC visit post-Covid, and I want to create a safe place where I can bring in some outside eyes that are very well-versed in high school that can just simply visit classrooms and give you direct feedback that I never see. You can do what you like with that feedback. Jim and Bill will be talking to me about broad themes. This is incredibly valuable as we go for a metamorphosis. They have both served at large and small high schools as principals and Jim brings extensive superintendency experience in multiple districts to the table as well. They are dynamic. As a first start in your lessons, please set the goal with the students for the day. Tell them:
Another area I am extremely excited about is our curriculum pilots. We are piloting curriculum in math, science, and ag science. Having a curriculum-based framework is incredibly important to achieve. I value teacher Innovation, but I also value a framework for students to learn in a sequential manner. I thank the teachers in these domains for participating in the process! I also want to thank Amy Burger for taking on the computer learning lab. This is not the best solution for upper division math, but it is the best solution that we have, and Amy is tremendous for taking it on. The license also has a variety of other computerized courses without teacher support that you can assign as a teacher within your classroom domain. I urge you to look at this as it unrolls. It is a valuable assignment library resource to supplement in class instruction. Teresa Malfavon will be the sped teacher in Georgette’s place with Jill Rathe’s document and IEP support. Kira Brennan will be providing some workability support for the students as well. We are grateful! Ernie, Eric, David and welcome our new sped aide Maryanne Grezenda will provide additional support! JUNIOR HIGH CHROMEBOOKS AND CELL PHONES We have some new policies for the Junior/Senior High that we will be rolling out. First of all, there will be no cell phones during the school day at the Junior High at all including break. The students will put their phones in a locked Yonder pouch at the start of the day, and will keep it with them to be unlocked at the end of the day when they return their Chromebook to the library. This system is used in many school districts. The beauty is the student keeps the phone but it is inactive. Parents can reach the students through the office. In an emergency situation the device to unlock will be available in several classrooms, in case it is needed. For the Junior High, Chromebooks will be checked out and in on a daily basis in the library. Chromebooks will not be permitted to go home in the Junior High. Amy and Marcela will be in the library every morning and Junior High students will be required to come in and check out their Chromebook. Teachers that have JR High classes in the last period of the day will use the final 5 minutes of class to take students to the library to turn in their Chromebooks, unlock their phone pouches, and return to the classroom. This is going to be a difficult learning expectation for students, and we need all Junior High Staff to accompany their classes initially so students understand the procedures. We have been spending an inordinate amount of money on damaged Chromebooks. This will also give a visual inspection for select units on a daily basis. This is new. This will be different. We can do it. More logistics will follow on how it looks. It is also important to know that if a student is late to school, they will check in at the office and a Chromebook will be brought to them. If a student has a non-functioning Chromebook during the day, they are to go to the library and Marcela will help them fill out a form that requests troubleshooting or repair. They will leave the damaged Chromebook at the library and Marcela will check them out with a daily loaner that is for the day only. Wynne will visit with the student when he is on site and resolve their issues on their existing Chromebook and make the swap. Wynne has ordered 300 beautiful new larger Chromebooks, but these are a privilege. If there has been any damage to the new one, the student will be given a prior generation Chromebook for the rest of the year. The intentional abuse of technology must not continue, we simply can’t afford it. ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS MUST CARRY THEIR CHROMEBOOKS IN THE COMPUTER BAG. JUNIOR HIGH STUDENTS WILL CARRY THEIR LAPTOP (NOT PUTTING IT IN THEIR BOOK BAG), AND LOCK THEIR CHROMEBOOKS IN THEIR LOCKER DURING BREAK AND LUNCH. PLEASE ENFORCE THIS RULE WITH ALL GRADES. High School Cell Phone Restrictions: All teachers please enforce CONSISTENTLY the use of no phones within the classroom setting UNLESS it is an instructional activity. Use the Chromebook, not the phone whenever possible. The lack of consistency makes kids fuzzy with gray and that is not good for navigation and implementation of expectations. Wynne will meet with all students on the first day (Stefani will develop the schedule) to review Chromebook rules and check them out. There will also be behavior expectation stations on the first day of school. More info to follow from the PBIS Team. BEHAVIOR CONTRACTS We have a few students with some significant behaviors that will be coming back and placed on a contract. I will be meeting with those families and students prior to school start. Those students will have daily check-ins. They will also have a restricted backpack used with a loaner backpack that is kept at the office and checked daily. We are doing everything possible to ensure that there are no illegal activities occurring on the site. DRUG EDUCATION A highly recommended trainer from MCOE will be joining us as a contractor. His name is Mark Fierro and he's done a great deal of work throughout the county. This will be disruptive and I apologize. It is important. He will be meeting with every single student group three times in the first few weeks of school. I recognize this disrupts your instruction. But stoned students can't learn, so it's a money and time investment I'm willing to make. Stefani and Chris have developed the schedule. Your flexibility with implementing the schedule as written is appreciated, as it was difficult to coordinate. Thank you Chris! CLASS CHANGES Please remember that no class changes will be permitted the first week of school. We need to develop a culture that students are taking required classes and not making changes to be with friends. Chris has developed a new form and we will be implementing that in the fall semester. It does require all teachers to sign off on the change. A copy will be placed in your box. Please mark your calendar for the PD day. This is required on August 11th for certificated staff and classified are encouraged to attend. Here is the schedule. ANDERSON VALLEY UNIFIED Professional Development Day–AVHS Gym Thursday, August 11 CERTIFICATED STAFF REQUIRED TO ATTEND CLASSIFIED STAFF HIGHLY ENCOURAGED AND PAID ON TIME SHEET! HIGH SCHOOL: 7:45-8:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast 8:10-8:20 a.m. Welcome and Service Pins and Elizabeth Wyant Panther Pals 8:30-10:15 a.m. Jennifer Johnson Part 1 10:15-10:30 a.m. Break 10:30-11:45 a.m. Jennifer Johnson Part 2 11:45 - 12:00 p.m. District Office Staff Paperwork Updates 12:00-1:00 p.m. District Provided Lunch 1:15-2:15 p.m. Certificated Staff Meetings on Site 2:15-End of Day Opportunity for Computerized Required Training Completion ELEMENTARY SCHOOL: Same schedule as above except 1:15 will be Certificated Staff Meetings on Site. Make up time for Keenan training will be scheduled at an alternate time. CERTIFICATED KEENAN TRAININGS: Sara is going to send out the links for the Keenan mandatory training. I am going to give you opportunities for free time at CPT to complete these training sessions rather than doing them as a group. If you would prefer to complete them on your own time at home and then not attend the CPT after the WASC portion of the meeting, that is fine too. I want you to have flexibility on how you use your time, but we do need to get the mandated training completed. Classified Staff training will be completed the Friday before school as a group. SYLLABUS Please make sure you turn in your CONTENT SYLLABUS (not just your behavior expectation) to me. I am looking forward to working with you! Thank you for all you do as you prepare to welcome students back to school! My door is always open! Take care, Louise
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Fechas Importantes:
9-11 de agosto: Recogida de materiales 15 de agosto: primer día de clases 18 de agosto: padre/tutor obligatorio Reunión/Cena de Atletismo 17:00 h. |
Junior/Senior High Parent and Student Materials Pick Up
Dear Anderson Valley Junior/Senior High School Community,
Please mark your calendar for the required pick-up days for materials and to sign release forms. This is an important step for a smooth return to school!
Grades 7 and 8: August 9 from 11-3 in front of the school
Grades 9 and 10: August 10 from 11-3 in front of the school
Grades 11 and 12: August 11 from 11-3 in front of the school
We have new tech and cell phone policies in the Junior High and release forms for technology that must be signed by the parent.
Looking forward to seeing you soon! First day of school is August 15 FULL DAY.
Louise Simson
Superintendent
Recogida de Materiales para Padres y Estudiantes de Junior/Senior High
Estimada comunidad de Anderson Valley Junior/Senior High School,
Marque su calendario para los días requeridos para recoger los materiales y para firmar los formularios de autorización. ¡Este es un paso importante para un regreso a la escuela sin problemas!
Grados 7 y 8: 9 de agosto de 11 a 3 frente a la escuela
Grados 9 y 10: 10 de agosto de 11 a 3 frente a la escuela
Grados 11 y 12: 11 de agosto desde 11-3 frente a la escuela
Tenemos nuevas políticas de tecnología y teléfonos celulares en Junior High y formularios de autorización para tecnología que deben ser firmados por los padres.
¡Espero verte pronto! El primer día de clases es el 15 de agosto DÍA COMPLETO.
Louise Simson
Superintendente
June 7, 2022
Dear Anderson Valley Jr./Sr. High Parent/Guardian,
As this school year winds down, I want to share with you the changes that are ahead for the 2022/23 school year, as we work hard to develop deeper collaboration with our families. I will be the Principal at the school, in addition to my Superintendency duties. Stefani Ewing is Assistant Principal, and Veronica Barragan is the Behavior Liaison. As we leave Covid restrictions behind us, it is IMPERATIVE that we start working together with families/guardians/students/staff/administration, as a team to move our achievement and citizenship forward.
FIRST STUDENT DAY: MONDAY, AUGUST 15–REGULAR FULL DAY
REQUIRED PARENT/GUARDIAN DINNER AUGUST 18 AT 5:00 P.M.
Please join us for a parent/guardian welcome back barbeque on Thursday, August 18 at 5:00 p.m. Teachers will be available to greet you in their classrooms followed by a parent/guardian dinner in the gym. THIS MEETING IS MANDATORY IF YOUR STUDENT PARTICIPATES IN ATHLETICS AT ANY TIME IN THE YEAR. I am pleased to report that John Toohey is our new Athletic Director, and he will have important information to share about the sport seasons ahead. In addition, we have a presenter from Mendocino County Office of Education on drug devices and use and what substances students are currently engaging in and their effects. This is an informational presentation so you can learn as a parent/guardian the substances and prevention opportunities available. The new club opportunities will be discussed as well. Translation will be available.
JUNIOR HIGH NO CELL PHONE POLICY
The Junior High students will check their cell phones into a secure device storage unit at the beginning of each day and check it out at the end of the day. If parents/guardians need to send an emergency message to their student, please call the office at (707)895-3496, and we will ensure the message will be delivered to the student. This decision is not made lightly, and we are hopeful that this policy will increase positive social behaviors, engagement, and lessen distraction, students can focus and build social skills and friendships throughout the school day.
CHROMEBOOKS
Chromebooks at the Junior High Site will not be sent home. Chromebooks at the High School may go home but parents/guardians are responsible for any damage that occurs as outlined in the release documents. Students will be issued their devices on the first day of school following an orientation.
GRADE LEVEL CHECK IN DAYS
Parents are required to come the following days to pick up textbooks, review important paperwork, and sign documents prior to school start:
Grades 7/8: August 8th 11am-3pm
Grades 9/10: August 9th 11am-3pm
Grades 11/12: August 10th 11am-3pm
(If you have students in multiple grades, you may come to one appointment based on the oldest student’s grade level).
DRESS CODE
Please see the dress code drawing attached to this letter. Students are requested to keep their pants no lower than at hip level, no midriffs, no tank tops, and the end of short length and rips in jeans should be below the fingertip level. Cleavage is not to be displayed. Many of you remember the legendary Robert Pinoli. We are implementing the dress code as it was written by Mr. Pinoli, so please help us, help your students, by ensuring they are appropriately dressed for school. We are sharing this information now so it is available during back to school shopping.
MENTAL HEALTH AND DRUG EDUCATION
I’ll be straight up. We have a PROBLEM on this campus with vaping. We are bringing in additional counseling support for students, not to preach whether a choice is right or wrong, but to increase knowledge about alternatives to create relaxed minds, deal with anxiety, and not use substances. Please contact me if you have any questions.
INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
We also have work to do in the area of listening, empathy, and working together as a team. Our therapists will be working with students on how to problem-solve together.
CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES
Our kids need more to do. A focus will create additional after-school activities for students. A student survey was sent out to determine what activities are of interest to them. A schedule will be coming out in August for sign ups.
RALLY CREW
Monthly rallies will be reinstated with class games and spirit. Dances, movie nights, field trips, field days, and other activities throughout the year for all grades are also on the calendar.
The kids have had a hard two years with the restrictions of Covid. But now it is time to reset the bar of expectation and excellence and get the students performing at the high level we know they can achieve.
CRUCIAL TO THAT ACHIEVEMENT IS OUR PARENT/GUARDIAN PARTNERSHIP. We need our parents/guardians to participate and partner with our staff, so our kids can step up. We look forward to being BETTER TOGETHER.
Sincerely yours,
Louise Simson
Superintendent
7 de junio del 2022
Estimados padres y guardianes de la Preparatoria de Anderson Valley,
A medida que va terminando el año, quiero compartir con usted los cambios para el año escolar entrante 2022/23, mientras trabajamos juntos con nuestras familias. Yo seré la nueva Directora de la escuela al igual que seguiré siendo la Superintendente. Stefani Ewing será la Asistente de Dirección y Veronica Barragan será la persona encargada del comportamiento. Mientras dejamos las restricciones de COVID atrás, es importante que empecemos a trabajar como equipo con familias, padres, guardianes, estudiantes,personal, y administración para seguir avanzando con nuestros logros..
PRIMER DIA DE CLASES: LUNES, 15 DE AGOSTO–DIA REGULAR
ASISTENCIA REQUERIDA EN LA CENA DEL 18 DE AGOSTO A LAS 5 DE LA TARDE.
Por favor acompáñenos a una cena de bienvenida que tendremos el jueves 18 de agosto a las 5 de la tarde. Los maestros estarán disponibles para darles la bienvenida en sus salones y después de eso pasaremos a la cena en el gimnasio. ESTA REUNIÓN ES MANDATORIA SI SU HIJO/A PARTICIPARÁ EN LOS DEPORTES DURANTE EL AÑO ESCOLAR. Estoy muy emocionada de compartir con usted que nuestro nuevo director de deportes es John Toohey y él tendrá información importante que compartirles. También tendremos una presentador de la oficina de educación del condado de Mendocino que nos hablará sobre el efecto de las drogas y sobre lo que es popular hoy en día en la vida de nuestros jóvenes. Esta es una presentación completamente informacional para que usted pueda aprender sobre las diferentes substancias y la prevención. Las oportunidades de los nuevos clubes también estarán en discusión. Habrá traducción disponible.
PÓLIZA DE NO CELULARES EN LOS GRADOS 7 Y 8
Los estudiantes de los grados 7 y 8 registraran sus teléfonos celulares en una unidad de seguridad al principio de cada día y la podrán retirar al final del día. Si los padres/guardianes necesitan mandar un mensaje a su hijo/a por favor llame a la oficina al (707)895-3496, y nosotros nos aseguraremos de pasarle el mensaje al estudiante. Esperamos que esta nueva póliza aumente la interacción social entre nuestros estudiantes y así puedan enfocarse y crear más amistades a través del día.
COMPUTADORAS
Las computadoras en los grados 7 y 8 no podrán ser llevadas a casa. Las computadoras para estudiantes del 9-12 pueden llevarse a casa pero los padres/guardianes son responsables de cualquier daño así como lo menciona el contrato. Las computadoras serán entregadas a los estudiantes el primer día de clases
DÍAS DE ORIENTACIÓN DE ACUERDO AL GRADO
Los padres/guardianes son requeridos a venir a la escuela antes del comienzo de clases en las siguientes fechas para recoger libros, información importante, y firmas documentos:
Grados 7/8: 8 de agosto 11am-3pm
Grados 9/10: 9 de agosto 11am-3pm
Grados 11/12: 10 de agosto 11am-3pm
(Si usted tiene hijos/as en más de un grado, puede venir el día que le toque a su hijo/a mayor).
CÓDIGO DE VESTUARIO
Por favor vea el documento adjunto a esta carta. Los estudiantes deben mantener sus pantalones arriba de su cadera, no deben mostrar su estómago, no blusas de tirantes y los shorts, faldas o hoyos en sus pantalones deben quedar abajo de la punta de los dedos. No debe haber nada de escote . Muchos de ustedes recuerdan al Señor Robert Pinoli. Estamos implementando el código de vestuario que él escribió, así que por favor ayudenos a ayudar a sus estudiantes a vestirse apropiadamente para la escuela. Estamos compartiendo esta información ahorita para que le ayude cuando vaya de compras de regreso a clases.
EDUCACIÓN SOBRE LAS DROGAS Y SALUD MENTAL
Seré muy sincera con ustedes. Tenemos un gran PROBLEMA de fumar en este campus. Estaremos proporcionando consejería adicional para los estudiantes, no para decirles si una opción está bien o mal, si no para aumentar el conocimiento sobre las alternativas que existen, cómo lidiar con la ansiedad y el no usar substancias. Por favor contactame si tiene cualquier pregunta.
RELACIONES INTERPERSONALES
También tenemos que trabajar juntos en las áreas de escucharnos los unos a los otros, empatía, y cómo trabajar como equipo. Nuestros terapeutas trabajaran con estudiantes en cómo resolver un problema en equipo.
CLUBES Y ACTIVIDADES
Nuestros estudiantes necesitan más cosas para hacer, es por eso que haremos más actividades después de clases. Una encuesta fue enviada a todos nuestros estudiantes para determinar qué clase de actividades les interesa. Habrá un horario disponible en agosto.
ASAMBLEAS
Habrá asambleas cada mes donde tendremos juegos y mostraremos todo nuestro espíritu escolar. Hay bailes, noches de película, excursiones, y otras actividades ya en el calendario para el año entrante.
Los estudiantes han tenido dos años con restricciones de COVID pero ahora es tiempo de ayudar a nuestros estudiantes a cumplir con expectativas y tener la excelencia que sabemos que todos tienen.
LA UNIÓN CON NUESTROS PADRES Y GUARDIANES ES CRUCIAL QUE PARA ESE LOGRO. Necesitamos que nuestros padres y guardianes participen y se unan a nuestro personal para que nuestros estudiantes logren cosas grandes. Esperamos poder ser mejores trabajando juntos.
Atentamente,
Louise Simson
Superintendente