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The Acorn
Message from Academy of the Canyons' Principal, Dr. Fine
Week of 10/22-10/27
I hope that you had a restful weekend. This Friday is a T/TH schedule. Here is the student bulletin for next week.
On Friday, our school experienced an emergency lockdown situation due to some police activity in the area. Thank you to all of our families for your swift response and understanding. Our students' safety is always our priority.
ROOTS says thank you to all of the families who donated to the Barba family gift. They received this last week along with our students' beautifully written notes, cards and art work. The Barba family has expressed their deep gratitude for the outpour of love and support from our AOC community.
Have a wonderful week! Please do not hesitate to reach out to me or our main office with any questions.
Sincerely,
Dr. Juliet Fine
Principal of AOC
(661) 362-3056
661-362-3056
COC and AOC Participate in “The Great Southern California Shake Out” Earthquake Drill on 10/24
For this drill, COC will activate the emergency notification system that sends text messages, emails, and phone calls to the contact information the College has on file for all employees and students. They will also test the system that sends messages to classroom and computer lab workstations.
If students do not receive a text, email, and call from our emergency notification system it is possible that your information in My Canyons is out of date or you accidently opted out of the system.
Please check the information in My Canyons. If the information is correct then here are the steps to opt back in:
- Create a new Text message
- Enter 23177 as the “Phone/Text Number”
- For the message text, enter SUBSCRIBE 2597800
- Hit send
Two messages will be sent during the drills:
- On October 24, we will send out the first emergency notification announcing the start of the drill. When you receive the message to start the drill, please practice Drop, Cover, and Hold.
We ask that you have a discussion with your class or officemates about the practical elements of how to respond in an earthquake. Some areas may have a pre-designated safe place and, if possible, people should go there for the duration of the shaking. Everyone should avoid taking cover near windows, large mirrors, hanging objects or heavy appliances. Keep in mind that situations will be different, so everyone will need to use common sense to deal with whatever circumstances result from any quake. Reviewing the Earthquake video at canyons.edu/prepare is a great way to prepare for the conversation. You may even want to preview the video before October 24 to help prepare for the drill.
- A final notification will be sent to announce the conclusion of the drill.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS), the National Science Foundation, and other sponsors are asking that we all consider the impact of a sizable earthquake striking in our area. The Great Shakeout Drill has been designed to help us prepare and to save lives. For information that will help you plan your personal response to an earthquake, go to www.shakeout.org.
Here is some additional information to help faculty guide a class discussion about how to respond to an earthquake:
- Students and faculty should not assume that immediate evacuation is the best thing to do. If hazardous chemicals, gas or electrical issues are immediately a problem, go to a safer location -- being mindful that stairways may not be intact and that other hazards of which you are not aware may await you around any corner. Once you have determined a safe route, you would evacuate the building to the designated building evacuation site (posted throughout our buildings) and do what you can to assist Site Supervisors in accounting for everyone.
- If in an actual event you were to evacuate from your building, please report to the designated evacuation sites and wait for further information. Students and faculty should not immediately leave campus until the infrastructure damage (roads, bridges, overpasses, traffic lights, water main, oil and gas pipe integrity, and other local issues that may affect travel) has been ascertained from external authorities. It could be that the safest place for you may be right here on campus. AOC students in a College of the Canyons classroom will be given directions on where to report from the Site Supervisors at the evacuation sites.
- For people who are not in buildings, but are outdoors on campus, they should move away from buildings, utility and light poles, and other structures. Avoid downed power and utility lines.
- For people who are in their cars during an earthquake, stop if it is safe but stay inside your car. Stay away from bridges, overpasses and tunnels. Move your car as far out of the normal traffic pattern as possible. Avoid stopping under trees, light posts, power lines or large signs.
- As we advise in all campus emergencies, tell students they should avoid elevators since the power may go off and strand them.
- Students should be advised to assist in protecting and subsequently evacuating any people with physical disabilities from buildings once it is safe to do so. Again, avoiding elevators means that some people will need to be moved in wheelchairs down stairways or find the most available ramps.
- This is also a good time for you and your students to look around the spaces you are in and identify earthquake hazards that we can fix right away. Please report any potential hazards to Facilities utilizing their online work order system https://tamis.canyons.edu/COCFW/Default.aspx
Thank you for helping to make College of the Canyons a safe place to work.
In Memory of Our Beloved Louie Barba
This Sunday, October 22nd, we gathered to remember and honor Louie Barba's life in his memorial service. In attendance were many members of the AOC community, including students, staff, and parents. Our students took the opportunity to speak about Louie, describing him as a person who embodied kindness, love, humor, and intelligence. Their heartfelt words painted a beautiful picture of the memories they shared with him, with his kindness shining brightest among them.
While AOC boasts many exceptional students, Louie's remarkable quality was how he touched the lives of his classmates. Those who had the privilege of knowing him closely eloquently expressed how he consistently brought smiles to their faces with his small, thoughtful gestures, creating a ripple effect of positivity. He was truly loved by his friends and the entire AOC community.
Louie was the kind of person who could light up a room; in fact, he was a beacon of light himself. His warmth, kindness, playful sense of humor, and genuine care for others will always be etched in our memories. He will forever remain in our hearts, never to be forgotten.
In the past two weeks, the loss of Louie brought our community closer together. It became evident that he inspired numerous acts of compassion, empathy, and kindness within our school and community. As we navigate the grieving process together, we also find strength in one another for healing. The upcoming year may prove to be challenging for our students, as waves of grief may overcome them.
Our thoughts and prayers remain with the Barba family during this time. Louis Barba will always be remembered and remain in our hearts forever.
Please rest assured that our school is here to support every student. If you notice any signs of mental health support needed for your students, we encourage you to utilize the resources offered by the Hart District. We have Ms. Alex, our dedicated social worker and therapist, our Wellness Room, as well as access to Hazel Health's free virtual therapy services. Your students' well-being and mental health are a priority, and we are here to offer support during these difficult times.
One of our students shared this poem in memory of Louis Barba.
Are You Interested in Supporting AOC? Library Cart for Students
The Senior Team would like to provide reading materials for students. They are looking for any donations to their mobile library cart to help support the Senior Class. If you are interested in donating to the library, you can directly purchase a book and drop it off at AOC for the teachers to add to the library or you can donate directly to AOC's Lending Library. Please make your donation amount directly to the ROOTS PTA.
Nonfiction:
The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up
Poetry:
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies
Love Poems by Pablo Neruda
Fiction:
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
The Means that Make Us Strangers
Misc:
Thank you for your support!
The Senior Teacher Team (Ms. Jess, Mr. Frame and Ms. Scribner)
College of the Canyons Food Drive Collection Week of 10/23
CalFresh Outreach Week 10/23-10/27
The Basic Needs Center is excited to announce a wonderful opportunity for our campus community to come together and make a positive impact on the lives of our students. We would like to invite each of you to participate in our upcoming CalFresh Food Drive.
The Food Drive will take place the week of October 23rd. Food bins will be placed around the Valencia Campus and Canyon Country Campus as drop-off locations.
The CalFresh Food Drive is a collaborative effort, aimed at addressing food insecurity and supporting our students.
Please see the attached flyer for specifics. We thank you for your support and for making this initiative a success.
Thank you
Sarah Cox
You are Invited to Coffee with the Principal on 11/3 at 9:10am
Parents and guardians are invited to the next Coffee with the Principal on 11/3 at 9:10am.
Yearbook Update on Senior Tributes-SOLD OUT
AOC Yearbook unfortunately has to announce that all Senior Tributes pages have been filled. This means we are no longer accepting submissions. We thank those who have submitted or considered contributing. Your cooperation is beyond appreciated.
- AOC Yearbook Staff
ASB Club Food Day
ASB Halloween Activities
Hey AOC students and parents. As we have reached midway through the month of October, there are many events coming up that ASB has planned.
We will be hosting a couple of Halloween activities on Friday, October 27, including a costume contest and a pumpkin contest! We encourage you all to come in your best costumes (please ensure they are within school regulations; no masks; no weapons; etc.) as well as to bring your own pre-carved pumpkins to be entered into a contest. Although we will not be hosting an event on Tuesday, October 31, students are still completely welcome to attend school in a school-appropriate costume.
Thank you and happy Halloween festivities!
Halloween Lunch Time Activity Hosted by ASB
Students are invited to wear their school appropriate Halloween costume. Here are a list of rules for Halloween costumes:
- Costumes should not discriminate or demean any group regardless of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or special needs.
- No gang related attire or accessories are allowed.
- Costumes should be positive and avoid anything that reflects violence or violent acts. Costume selection should be tasteful and in keeping with a positive school climate.
- Costumes should not provide a distraction to the school program. i.e., no revealing costumes such as bathing suits and sleepwear.
- Weapons and facsimile weapons of any type are not allowed.
- Costumes must not impair a student’s vision or movement.
- Masks or hoods that cover your face are not permitted (only during Halloween costume contest).
- Costumes that would completely hide a student’s identity, i.e., a gorilla suit, are not permitted.
- Limited face make-up is permitted. Students may not bring costume make-up to school.
- Costumes depicting drugs, alcohol, or tobacco are not allowed.
- Your child should see Dr. Fine prior to Halloween with specific questions or concerns.
Academy of the Canyons
Email: jfine@hartdistrict.org
Website: https://www.academyofthecanyons.com/
Location: Academy of the Canyons, Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA, USA
Phone: 661-362-3056
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Academy-of-the-Canyons-Middle-College-High-School-330158873741614
Twitter: @Academy_Canyons