High Desert School Hawk Happenings

Good morning High Desert Hawks and Families,

Welcome back to another exciting school year at High Desert School, where we are "Anchored in Achievement!" As we set sail into this new academic year, we encourage you to support your scholar by establishing consistent routines, encouraging good study habits, and staying engaged with their learning. Reconnecting with teachers and classmates can be smooth sailing if we work together. Let's make this year a voyage of success and growth for all our students!

Tomorrow is the first day of school. Students may arrive between 7:30am and 7:55am. Classes begin at 8:00am.

August 14, 2024 - First Day of School 8:00 am to 1:10 pm - EARLY RELEASE DAY

• Student Schedules
  • If students have not picked up their schedule, it will be available in the school office tomorrow morning.
  • All students will receive a new copy of their schedule in their AVID Advisory/First Period as well to ensure that all students know where to go tomorrow.
• Transportation
• For Questions regarding transportation, please contact Alisee Simon at the district office (661) 269-5802 or email asimon@aadusd.k12.ca.us
• Lunch
• AADUSD will be serving food to ALL students during break and lunch. Students may still choose to bring their own food, but food will also be provided to all students.
• Visitors on Campus
  • All parents and visitors to the campus must sign in using their ID through the Raptor system in the front office in order to enter the campus.
  • Parent Volunteers will need to be fingerprinted through the District Office to volunteer on campus.

• Dress Code
• Our High Desert School Dress Code will be enforced. Please remind your students to double-check their attire to ensure that they are dressed appropriately. A copy of the dress code is provide in our newsletter this week.
• Cell Phones
• We are a Cell Phone Free Campus. Please remind students to leave their phones off and in their backpacks while on campus. Away for the Day supports students focus on academic achievement and social-emotional development.

August 15 and 16, 2024- Regular Block Schedule Days

• August 15 - Period 0, 1, 2, 3 with Dismissal at 2:20pm
• August 16 - Period 0, 4, 5, 6 with Dismissal at 2:20pm
• Students will be utilizing their planners every day. Please ensure that their planner and school supplies are in their backpack daily.

August 14 1:30-3:30pm and August 15 and 16 2:30pm to 4:00pm

• Volleyball Tryouts in the MPR
• Wishing good luck to all of the student-athletes who are trying out! More details about the season will be shared once the team members are determined.
• Attire for tryouts: Athletic shoes, knee pads, and shorts. Players should bring a water bottle. All students need to complete the Athletic Clearance online as well as submit proof of a physical and insurance prior to the first day of practice.

• For drop-off, please see the attached diagram. Students will be dropped off at the gate in front of the main office and will continue to the gate in front of the MPR to enter the quad. Students will remain in the Quad in the mornings. The bell will ring at 7:55 am for students to line up for their first class. Parents will proceed down Crown Valley Rd. They will pull into the bus loop and follow it around to exit. For the safety of all of our students, please do not make a U-turn.
• For pick-up, parents will follow the same procedure. Students will wait on the sidewalk area for their ride and parents will follow through the bus loop to exit after picking up their student.

Monday, August 12

• HDS Office open for Make-up Registration from 8am-3pm

Tuesday, August 13

• Welcome Back Staff Breakfast

Wednesday, August 14

• First Day of School - Classes Begin at 8am
• Early Release Dismissal at 1:10pm
• Varsity Volleyball Tryouts 1:30-3:30pm @ HDS MPR

Thursday, August 15

• Varsity Volleyball Tryouts 2:30-4:00pm @ HDS MPR
  
• JV Boys Soccer Tryouts 3:00-5:00pm @ ML Upper Field

• Show your Hawks Pride and Wear Green, Black, and White on Friday!
• Anchors Away Hawks Assembly 1:30pm
• Varsity Volleyball Tryouts 2:30-4:00pm @ HDS MPR

Have a great week and Go Hawks!

This year, we are introducing several new programs to enhance our scholars academic achievement. We are proud to announce the implementation of:

• Learning Without Tears - Handwriting curriculum, which is now required by the state of California in all grades up through 6th.
• i-Ready Math Classroom Curriculum - A newly adopted math curriculum for all grade levels.
• Continue use of i-Ready Reading and Math - Provides support and practice at each scholars individual level.
• Expansion of the Athletics Program - All competitive sports will have JV Teams this year.

Ahoy, parents! Picture Day is sailing into port on August 27th. All students will have their individual fall photos taken, and we'll also capture class photos for our 5th and 6th graders. Make sure your young sailors are ready to smile and say "Go Hawks!" as we anchor these memories!

• 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.

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

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)

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

• Meeting Date: August 20, 2024
• Meeting Time: In-person at 6:00 pm or 6:45 pm for a virtual option
• Meeting Location: Email me for the in-person meeting location at 6:00 pm, or join us at 6:45 pm via Zoom using the following link: https://aadusd-k12-ca-us.zoom.us/j/84240317362?pwd=j7Tr3hWkGtsbkglRnitJQXkLKKhzGE.

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.

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

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.

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.

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