New Experiences are Hatching at High Desert
We are egg-static to share a unique and fun learning opportunity coming to Miss Ayers' classroom! Mrs. Heather, our amazing school secretary, entered a giveaway with a local farm, and we’ve been selected for a chicken egg incubation experience. Over the next few weeks, students will be integrating this exciting egg journey into their 6th grade rotations. Students will learn about the egg-laying process,
fertilization, and incubation, and they will even get the chance to witness chicks hatching! After they hatch, the chicks will stay in our classroom for about two weeks, giving students the chance to observe and interact with them as part of our lessons.
This hands-on experience will help us explore science in a real and engaging way. We can't wait to share this adventure with your students! Thank you to Rent-the-Chicken and Mrs. Heather for this great opportunity!
CAASPP Testing Scores Now Available
Test results from CAASPP testing in Spring 2024 are now available to parents in the Aeries portal. Login to https://actonaguadulce.aeries.net/student/. Go to Test Scores, the State Test Reports to see the full report.
For questions about how to read the results or what they mean for students, go to https://ca.startingsmarter.org/
Booster Club SchoolStore Fundraising
Hello Parents, I want to personally thank all the families who have already participated in our SchoolStore fundraiser! We are on our way to reaching our goal, but we need everyone's help to make sure our teachers get the essential tools they need to help our students succeed. If your family has not participated, there's still time! This safe and easy fundraiser is 100% online so there is no face-to-face selling, collecting money, or delivering products. Your child will receive a prize just for participating, and more prizes will be awarded when goals are reached. Please help now. It really will make a difference. Go to https://www.schoolstore.net/sid.t?0000050255 to show our valued teachers your support.
Thanks, High Desert School Booster Club
P.S. Family participation is the key to our success, and we are counting on you!
Choices Assembly - September 19
On September 19th, High Desert invites speaker, Ron L. James to speak to our Hawks about the choices they make in their lives. His goal is to help students make their next choice the best choice. Topics that he will speak about include: bullying, discrimination, making better choices, kindness, gratitude, and making positive changes in their lives.
Jackgabriel Blanco Aballe
"This student deserves a Hawk Highlight because he made the right and honorable choice during PE class. Before starting an activity in PE, he felt like giving up. Instead, he took a quick breather, gathered his thoughts, and made the right choice to participate. He joined his group and decided to do his best. I was super proud of him for doing the right thing."
~ Ms. Rebeca
AVID Advisory and SEL - Weekly Focus
- AVID - This year in AVID, we will be focusing on organization, goal setting, and academic achievement with the support of WICOR strategies implemented in all classrooms.
- SEL - Each week, on Wednesday, our students will be working on soft skills to support their social and emotional development during middle school.
LA County Library Bookmark Contest
Acton Agua Dulce Library would like to invite you to participate in LA County Library’s 45th Annual Bookmark Contest, an annual program that encourages a love of books and reading while also promoting creativity, artistic expression, and community engagement. Students will have the chance to see their bookmark designs featured at their local library and throughout Los Angeles County. Participants compete in the following age categories:
- Grade 3 – Grade 5
- Grade 6 – Grade 8
Completed entry forms can be dropped off at individual library locations, sent in by mail, or submitted digitally via a link on the Library’s website. The deadline for entry is October 5, 2024.
The winning bookmarks from each library will be shared with the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, who will select winners that reside in their District from each category. Winners selected by the Board of Supervisors will be recognized by the Board in the spring of 2025.
Assemblyman Lackey "California Dreamin" Art Competition 2024
Assemblyman Lackey is pleased to announce the 34th Assembly District Student Art Show for 2024. This is open to students in grades K-12 and Special Education who reside in the Assemblyman’s District.
Attached, please find, the application and rules for the contest; the deadline for student submissions is October 4, 2024.
This year’s theme is “California Dreamin” and the Assemblyman is looking forward to seeing the Golden State through the eyes of the students.
Step Up Tutoring - FREE for Grades 5-6
Step Up delivers 1-on-1 math tutoring, conducted online with a consistent tutor
Students receive tailored math support using a curriculum that is tailored to address their needs
Tutors focus on relationship-building and provide mentorship in a fun learning environment
Students receive tutoring at least twice weekly via one of three program models: at-home, during an after-school program, or during the school day
2024-2025 Athletics Physicals
All students must have a new athletic physical and online clearance each school year. To complete the online clearance go to: https://www.homecampus.com/login
- For School - Select Vasquez
- For Sport - Select the sport the applies with MS in the title (ex: MS Volleyball)
You will need to submit the following documents as part of the clearance process:
- Current health insurance card
- Physical (Medical History / Physical / Clearance)
Attendance Matters
HDS Yearbook 2025
Yearbooks are selling quickly. They are a great way to preserve the memories that students make during their middle school years. Purchase your yearbook today online or in the HDS Office.
School Counselor Presentations
Our School Counselor, Ms. Zuly Quezada, and our School Therapist, Miss Alondra Conde, have been doing classroom presentations for our all of our classes. They are sharing information about their program and ways that they can support students. In addition, they are meeting with students individually to get to know them and offer support/guidance as needed.
Teen Mental Health Toolkit - For Parents and Guardians
About half of teens in the U.S. had a mental health concern at some point in their life. Recognizing teen mental health issues and connecting to early intervention and treatment can be lifesaving. Check out this free guide to the most common teen mental health challenges and find local mental health resources.
VHS Fall Festival - Oct. 26
Join us for the annual VHS Fall Festival on Oct. 26th from 11am - 2pm at Vasquez High School. Game Booths from HDS include: Booster Club, ASB, 5th grade Outdoor Science School, and more.
VAPA Committee
Our Visual and Performing Arts Committee is looking for student representatives. If you are interested, email Kate O'Mara, VAPA TOSA.
HDS 24-25 School Calendar
Stay up to date on all of the Hawk Happenings throughout the school year. Check out our Yearlong Calendar for the 2024-2025 School Year.
Hawk Handbook
Our scholar handbook contains vital information regarding school policies and procedures, please review with your scholar.
HDS Dress Code
Scholar attire is important to keep the focus on learning. Please review and support your scholar in adhering to the school dress code.
Daily Attendance = Academic Success
On-Time Behavior
Cell Phones - Away for the Day
PBIS Rewards Family App Access
Our School is using PBIS Rewards to help us with our PBIS program! PBIS Rewards is a technology-based PBIS Management System that helps us with our behavior incentive program. You can learn about PBIS Rewards at their website (www.pbisrewards.com).
Our students can earn rewards throughout the day by meeting our behavior expectations. These rewards are in the form of electronic points. They can redeem these points for privileges, tangible items, access to events, and other similar things. Our expectation is that we will see overall behavior improve throughout the school and that the number of referrals we have will decrease.
PBIS Rewards has a Family App that will give you some insight into how your child is doing with respect to our PBIS program. The Family App will run on most smart devices, including smartphones and tablets. You can find it in the iPhone/iPad App Store, Google Play, and the Amazon App Store. Just search for "PBIS Rewards Family."
An email has been sent to families to get you set up on the PBIS Rewards Family App. Please access this email from PBIS Rewards if you wish to access your child's progress. If you did not receive an email, please contact Mrs. Van Ornum so she can help get you set up.
High Desert School
Email: mvanornum@aadusd.k12.ca.us
Website: http://aadusd.k12.ca.is/domain/9/
Location: 3620 Antelope Woods Road, Acton, CA, USA
Phone: (661) 269-0310
Facebook: facebook.com/hdsboosterclub/
Twitter: @Highdesert_aad