High Desert School Hawk Happenings

Good evening High Desert Hawks and Families,

Each week, we would like to share some tips for supporting middle schoolers from home:

• Upcoming Events and Fieldtrips: Reminder to students that attendance on fieldtrips is based on behavior, attendance, and academics on campus. Our first focus is for students to attend school each day, follow school rules, be a good citizen, and do their best academically. When students meet these expectations, we are able to enrich their education through fieldtrips and other events. Please remind students of these expectations as we close out the year.
• Drop Off and Pick Up: Reminder to all parents/guardians about the drop off and pick up procedure. Students should be dropped off by the gate closest to the office. Please do not drop students off and have them walk through the parking lot. For pick up, please pick students up in front of the school and then proceed through the loop to turn around. There is not supervision at AMPM and we do not recommend picking up your students down at the end of the street. We have had increasing concerns with students not using the cross walk to cross the street and parents making U-turns. Please help us keep all student safe by following our drop off and pick up procedures.
• Progress Reports and Summer School: Summer School Starts June 20th.

Celebrate the Class of 2024 with an 8th grade t-shirt with all of the 8th grade students' names. If you purchased a spirit pack, the shirt is included. Shirts will be delivered to students on Monday. Shirts are still available for purchase for $25 while supplies last. Don't miss out on this great memory!

Class of 2024 - 8th Grade T-Shirt Order Form

Monday, June 3

• Sem 2 Awards - 5th at 8:10am, 6th at 9:00am
• Volunteer Luncheon at District Office

Tuesday, June 4

• Sem 2 Awards - 7th at 8:10am, 8th at 9:00am
• 6th Grade Book Trip to ML 8:30am

Wednesday, June 5

• Minimum Day - Dismissal 12:05pm
• 8th Grade Promotion Practice 8:00am
• HDS Booster Club Meeting 8:45am
• VHS Senior Walk 10:10am

Thursday, June 6

• Minimum Day - Dismissal 12:05pm
• 8th Grade Promotion Practice 8:00am
• 8th Grade BBQ 9:30am
• 6th Grade DryTown 10:30am-3:00pm
• 8th Grade Promotion 6:00pm

Friday, June 7

• Minimum Day - Dismissal 12:05pm
• HDS Hawks Spirit Day
  
• 5/6/7th Field Day 8:30am
• 8th Grade Magic Mountain 9:30am-8:00pm
• Last Day of School

Have a great week and Go Hawks!

We will be celebrating the achievements of our High Desert Hawks in our Semester 2 Awards Assemblies. Awards include: Academics, STAR Reading/Math, Athletics, 100-Mile Club, Physical Education, and MOH. Be sure to Save the Date and join us in honoring our Hawks.

Our incredible 8th graders are enthusiastically preparing for the Class of 2024 Promotion! Be sure to save the date to join us for the great event celebrating the hard work of our Hawks. All seating is open and gates open at 5pm. The ceremony begins at 6pm.

We want to thank HDS Booster Club for the beautiful decorations and supporting our students through the year. To join the Promotion Committee, please contact Megan Laviolette or Corrin Bailey.

"Enrique is a fantastic student who is always aiming make everyone feel welcome. He goes out of his way to offer help to those around him."

~ Mr. Seth

"Tess is a wonderful student to have in class specifically her consistency. Her willingness to regularly participate in class discussions and share her viewpoints help to create a positive learning culture within our classroom. She is a peer leader and someone that can always be counted on to do what is right with integrity."

~ Mr. Rowland

"Yaila is always being proactive in keeping her grades up! She is a fantastic student that strives hard to succeed."

~ Mr. Seth

"The area that Mason especially shines in is digital design/art. Any design challenge presented to Mason is a quest of creativity for him. His "out of the box" thinking allows him to envision finished products that not sixth grade student would even be willing to tackle. It's exciting to witness his brain in action. I know doubt would predict that art and design will play an important role in career choice."

~ Mr. Rowland

• AVID - This week, we are working on Medal of Honor Core Values. Students showing these values during this semester will be honored at our awards assembly in June.
• SEL - This week we continue supporting students with learning about integrity, stereotypes, and how to avoid bias. We want to encourage students to get the facts, be an upstander, see people as individuals, and use empathy to connect with others.

Congratulations to the HDS ASB/Yearbook Class and Mrs. Goodstein on the successful completion of the 2024 HDS Yearbook. They followed the yellow brick road to success as they built a book to celebrate all of the great things happening on campus this year.

It's not too late to get in on the memories... Order your yearbook today at https://yearbookforever.com/ or using the order form available in the HDS office. Price increase to $40 cash only starting on May 15th.

Great job to all of the students and Mrs. Goodstein for making this year's book possible!

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

Families, please click this link to apply.

Hello Students and Parents,

HDS is taking a trip to the Florida Keys on the Splash into Science program!

This trip is all-inclusive, and we’ll be going over what we’ll get to see and do on our program, such as:

• Swim with dolphins
• Snorkel the coral reef
• Kayak the mangroves
• Behind the scenes visit at The Turtle Hospital Rescue, Rehab, Release Center
• Explore Everglades National Park

Registration is now open, and those who sign up by May 10th will receive a $70 Early Registration Discount. As a bonus, those who attend our meeting with learn how to receive an additional $100 credit applied to your account on top of the $70 Early Registration Discount! Don’t miss out!

I also wanted to share our trip website with you: High Desert School's Florida Splash into Science Trip | WorldStrides Please contact me if you have any questions about itinerary highlights, information regarding WorldStrides FLAG Financial Assistance, Extended Payment Options, and other important items you need to know about Educational Travel.

HDS Florida Trip Registration Link

HDS Florida Trip Registration Flyer - English / Spanish

Staying informed about online safety is crucial, especially when it comes to protecting our children. As the digital world continues to evolve, so do the potential risks our kids face online. We've gathered some simple but effective tips to help you navigate this landscape.

Here are some key points to consider:

1. Stay Informed: Regularly educate yourself about the latest online threats, trends, and safety measures. Awareness is the first step towards effective digital parenting.
2. Open Communication: Foster an open and honest dialogue with your child about their online experiences. Encourage them to share any concerns or encounters they may have had.
3. Set Boundaries: Establish clear guidelines for screen time, app usage, and online activities. Regularly review and update these boundaries based on your child's age and maturity.
4. Empower Yourself: Equip yourself with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the online world alongside your child.

To further support you on this journey, we encourage you to take Cyber Safety Cop's Digital Parenting 101. This comprehensive 16-lesson course covers everything you need to know to keep your child safe and thriving online, including:

• Protecting your child from online dangers such as cyberbullying, online predators, and inappropriate content.
• Setting healthy screen time limits and choosing age-appropriate apps and games.
• Initiating conversations with your child about online safety and monitoring their online activity.
• Assisting your child in developing healthy digital habits.
• Gaining knowledge to discuss online drug access and substance abuse risks with your child.

Remember, our mission is to help children not just survive online but thrive while staying safe and informed. Digital Parenting 101 is the essential first step to ensuring your child has a safe and positive experience online.

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.

The AV SELPA invites all parents of students participating in the Special Education Program to join the CAC for an informational meeting regarding IEPs.

Check out the great programs offered for Hawks and their families at Vasquez Rocks!

Early bird pricing is now available for early registration for summer camp. Kids Summer Day Camp is run by Sunny Days and is located at the AADUSD District Office building across from Acton Park. See flyer for more details.

Stay up to date on all of the Hawk Happenings throughout the school year. Check out our Yearlong Calendar for the 2023-2024 School Year.

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.

Principal, Mrs. Michelle Van Ornum

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