High Desert School Hawk Happenings
Week of December 9, 2024
Booster Club Membership and Donations
The Booster Club plays a critical role in making extracurricular activities happen for our students. If every family donates $20 per student, Booster Club will be able to fund the many events and activities the Booster Club supports. In addition to financial donations, we need parent support through donations of snack bar items and help running the snack bar during home games. These fundraising efforts directly benefit our athletics programs, and this year, funds are being raised to light up our fields for evening events. Flyers are going home today with students for ways to support.
Snack Bar Donation Ideas:
- Regular Size Candy Bars or Packs
- Snack Bags of Chips
- Popcorn Bags
- Sports Drinks
- Water
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!
Mrs. Jen Olson
"Mrs. Jen Olson joined our team this year and is making a positive impact on all of the students and staff. She is a positive role model for the students and always has their best interest in mind. With high expectations, she guides students toward their best choices with respect and rapport. Thank you for all of your amazing efforts to make each day better at High Desert."
~ HDS Staff
David McBride
"David has independently decided to embrace positive classroom citizenship. He enters the classroom focused and attentive, ready to tackle each day's assignments. I hope you too are proud of yourself for helping to create a classroom environment where staying focused and on-task are the "norm" and striving to be the best student you can be feels good inside."
~ Mr. Rowland
Bradyn Minton
"Bradyn did not want to let his team down. Being the team player that he is, he still came to school delaying vacation plans so he could participate in the class Turkey Bowl for Flag Football. He is a great athlete, who shows up with a smile on his face everyday. He has a great attitude and is always ready to tackle any obstacles."
~ Mrs. Botton
Kenzie Minton
"Kenzie did not want to let her team down. Being the team player that she is, she still came to school delaying vacation plans so she could participate in the class Turkey Bowl for Flag Football. She is a great athlete, who shows up with a smile on her face everyday. She has a great attitude and is always ready to tackle any obstacles."
~ Mrs. Botton
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. This week, the focus is on doing our best and having GRIT.
- SEL - Each week, on Wednesday, our students will be working on soft skills to support their social and emotional development during middle school.
HDS Survivor
Thank you to HDS Booster Club - Shandra, Christine, Corrin, and Candice for your dedication down to the last detail.
Floating Island of Vasquez Rocks
Complete with a Hawk soaring overhead, the floating island of Vasquez Rocks was the perfect centerpiece.
i-Ready Classroom Math - Family Center
i-Ready Classroom Mathematics is a robust mathematics program designed to help your student become a strong, independent mathematical thinker. Through the Try-Discuss, Connect framework, students deepen their conceptual understanding and collaboratively solve problems. Check out the family center for more information on how to support your child with mathematics from home.
Autry Museum - Visions of the Future Art Exhibition
The Autry Museum invites all student to submit a two-dimensional piece of artwork representing the theme: Visions of the Future.
Student application must be submitted online.
Entries due to the HDS Office by February 7, 2025
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.
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.
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