Welcome to the 2022-2023 school year at Cahuilla Desert Academy! The first week of school students and staff alike are excited and nervous about who will be in their classes. Everyone wants to make a great first impression on the first day! Just remember to be yourself and be your own advocate. This means asking questions, asking for help, and being true to yourself. The students and staff at CDA come from multiple communities and different backgrounds. We work together as a team, as a family.

I look forward to a wonderful year in which the students at CDA will be Respectful, Independent, Scholars that Excel (RISE)! The staff at CDA pride themselves on holding high expectations and strive to provide rigorous academic instruction.

Red-tailed hawks RISE!

Dr. Santa Maria

Principal

Cahuilla Desert Academy

ASES is currently accepting applications. We offer Dance, Cheer, Art, Gaming, Drumline, Sports, Leadership, DJ, and SPARKS every day after school. ASES also hosts field trips throughout the school year to sporting events such as hockey, baseball, and soccer games, etc. Join in the fun!

Yes! Students and staff need to wear their IDs daily for campus safety. Student safety is a priority, so all students, staff, and visitors must have their IDs clearly visible. You will also use your ID for the bus, breakfast, lunch, and to earn PBIS Reward points.

Cahuilla Desert Academy is a school that strongly believes in developing student pride. Students and staff wear Burgundy and Navy to support our school activities. Dress should be appropriate for normal school day activities; it should reflect pride, respect, and decency. Health and safety are guides to acceptable school attire. Students will adhere to the dress code detailed below. Shoes must be worn at all times. Sandals must be closed-toe and must have a heel strap. “Slip-On” sports sandals, flip-flops, and slippers of any type are NOT allowed.

1. Clothing that causes a major school or classroom distraction is prohibited.

2. Clothing, headwear, backpacks and jewelry shall be free of tagging, pictures, or any other insignias, symbols, or emblems which are crude, vulgar, and profane or suggest any act which is immoral, illegal, or hazardous to one’s health.

3. Any article that advocates racial, ethnic, or religious prejudice or the use of drugs, tobacco or alcohol is prohibited. Examples: Iron Cross, Brown Pride.

4. Articles of clothing, must be free of the following:

*Note: Other logos/symbols and colors may be excluded based on problems created by them on or off campus during the school year.

• No bandanas (used as headbands, wristbands or ankle bands), hairnets, or nylon stocking are allowed.
• No gang-related hats and/or other related type headwear may be worn. Exceptions are hats with CDA logos.
• Any garments, headgear, or accessory displaying emblems of outside clubs or gang affiliations are not acceptable and will be confiscated.
• Any article of clothing, headwear, or jewelry that can be construed to have a “double meaning” is prohibited.
• Clothing MUST COVER ALL UNDERGARMENTS, on both males (muscle shirts, underwear) and females (bra, underwear).
• No undershirts, spaghetti strap tops, backless blouses, halter/tube tops, and sports bras/exercise tops are allowed on campus.
• T-shirts, blouses, and all tops must not expose any amount of cleavage or stomach.See-through, or fishnet fabrics must have a garment other than underclothing underneath. Excessively revealing clothes are not allowed (Cutouts, low cut tops).
• Shorts must be of sufficient length to reach mid-thigh.
• Excessively baggy pants are not acceptable. Pants must be worn over the hips for both males and females.

Except in the case of shoes, students found to be in violation of the dress code will be allowed to call home for a change of clothes. In order to minimize the amount of instructional time lost, students will be offered clean loaner clothing to change into. Students will be expected to return loaners at the end of the day.

Dress Code Consequences

1-3: Verbal Warning and possible change of clothing

4: Contact parents and log concern, along with possible change of clothing

5: Parent conference

Cell phones/electronic devices will be off and in one’s backpack during the school day. Students must use wired headphones as needed in class.

In middle school, you have free time before school and during lunch each day. During this time, you can eat, play basketball, play volleyball, be in a club, or hang out with your friends. We do not have recess breaks during the day.

It depends. Your classes are determined by your elective selection and courses you need to be successful at CDA. Sometimes changes need to be made to a student's schedule if they have duplicate classes (two P.E. classes or two Band classes) or they were misplaced in a class. If this happens to you, please contact your counselor using the counseling Google Classroom. The join code is 5revj3h.

Each year we think of more fun and exciting things to do! For the 2022-2023 school year, students can join clubs before school or during lunch. In the past we have had Robotics, Hawk Debaters, Gaming, Art, and SAGA. Do you have a club idea? Find a teacher and we can make your club happen! If you don't feel like joining a club we also have lunch time activities 1-2 times a month. These activities are brought to you by ASB, Renaissance, and Friday Night Live.

We have 3 PBIS Rewards Days planned this year when clubs sell food and have fun games. Sometimes we will even have a DJ! We have one big PBIS Reward planned each month, and the only way to get in is by having positive behavior and good attendance. At CDA, we also have spirit weeks so students and staff can dress up and show their pride.