Dear Bonita Vista Middle School Community,
Good morning! As we enter our last week before Fall Break, we would like to share some highlights from our week at BVM and provide updates for the upcoming week.
Recap of Last Week:
This past week, our teachers engaged in important discussions with students about responsible social media use and the implications of making hoax threats given our recent events. Additionally, we ensured that our students were informed about the support services available for their social, emotional, and mental health needs out of our counseling department. We would like to commend our students' collective response to these recent incidents. Our students have shown us maturity, resilience, and growth through these incidents. This is a direct reflection of their parents and guardians that have reinforced the appropriate ways of responding to hoax threats, appropriate and responsible uses of social media and information sharing. For that BVM community --we thank you!!!
Moreover, this past Thursday, we were grateful to have hosted district leaders and principals from other sites within our district for a learning walk. Despite the challenges earlier in the week, our guests were impressed by our students' high attendance, normal behavior, and active engagement in classes they visited. In all classrooms this year, our primary focus is that students can articulate or share the intended learning of the day. When we walk into classrooms we always ask students the following two questions: 1. What are you working on? 2. What are you learning? --Our goal is that students can make the connection between their learning tasks and their learning target. Ask these questions at home too!
Also this past Friday, we held our Fall Spirit Assembly and introduced our students to the Fall Sports programs and featured a performance by our BVM Band and BVM Cheer. We encourage everyone to check out photos and videos of the assembly on our Instagram account: bvm_principal and published below in this newsletter.
The School Week Before Fall Break:
Looking ahead and as we close out this week before Fall Break (September 23 - October 7--Students return on Tuesday, October 8th), we remain committed to supporting the social, emotional, and mental health needs of our students. Our counselors will continue to be available, and we have provided their contact information below based on student alphas for easy access. Historically, the week before Fall Break, we notice that students' anxiety and stress levels rise. This is one of the weeks where and when misbehaviors peak (The other peak period is January-February--I will discuss this more at upcoming Coffee with the Principal Meetings). My ask is that we both remind students about appropriate behavior and that we have additional social and emotional check-in conversations with our students at home to make sure that everything is okay. Please know that although I will be taking some time off during the 1st week of Fall Break, I will be available and on campus during the 2nd week of Fall Break September 30th - October 4th should you want to set up an appointment with me. You can schedule these meetings with Sharon.bishop@sweetwaterschools.org.
Name
Student Alpha
Contact
Woodie Taeatafa
A – Gomez
Woodie.Taeatafa@sweetwaterschools.org
Monica Echegaray
Gon – Mc
Monica.Echegaray@sweetwaterschools.org
Veronica Sandoval
Me – Z
Veronica.Sandoval@sweetwaterschools.org
Lockdown Safety Drill on Wednesday, September 18th:
We will also be conducting a Lock Down Safety Drill this week (Wednesday, September 18th) where we will again take the opportunity to emphasize the importance of responsible social media use and the seriousness of making hoax threats. Please note that this is only a drill, and we will remind everyone of our safety drill via text (before and after our drill).
Thank you for your ongoing support, and we look forward to a positive, supportive, and productive week.
Sincerely,
Dr. Salazar
