EDHS Community Update
Week of September 30
Miners in the Spotlight
Academic Award Night - This past Tuesday night, we recognized 381 students who earned a GPA of 3.67 or higher for the Spring semester of 2024. These outstanding students received an academic letter, a lantern patch, or a 4.0 patch to commemorate their academic achievements. Congratulations to all of our honorees for their hard work and dedication to academic excellence!
Click HERE to view the names of our outstanding students.
Automotive Internships - The Automotive Internship Program kicked off on Wednesday, September 24th, with seven enthusiastic students participating this year. Our students are eager to embark on this journey, and we’re excited to see the new skills they will acquire from our industry partners.
Charity Club - Our new Animal Charity Club at EDHS kicked off their first activity this weekend by walking dogs at the Valley Oak SPCA. It is great to see our Miners providing service to animals.
Media Arts Academy - Our Media Arts Academy hosted a Mini-Showcase this past Saturday night, attracting over 100 attendees to our campus. During the event, the academy proudly launched its new website. Way to go, Media Arts!
Next Two Weeks at a Glance
Sports this Week
Announcements and Reminders
ALICE Student Lesson (9/30) - On Monday, we will have a special bell schedule to present our ALICE safety lessons to students. Click HERE for the special ALICE lesson bell schedule. All students will stay in their 3rd-period class for the lesson. PE teachers will be in the classrooms of teachers with prep periods. Some teachers will be paired up, and administrators will support them with lessons as well.
Fall Drama Show (10/3-5) -The El Diamante theater program will have their fall show at 7:00 p.m. on October 3-5th. Come out watch our talented thespians present the Badger.
Visalia Band Review (10/7)-The Visalia Band Review will take place on Monday, October 7th, at Community Stadium. Come out and enjoy performances of halftime shows by all our Visalia bands
PTSA (10/8) - We will have a PTSA meeting on Tuesday, October 8th at 5:30 p.m.
Fall Concert (10/8) - Our El Diamante Choir will have a Fall Concert on Tuesday, October 8th at LJ Williams.
Haunted House (10/25-27 &31) -El Diamante Media Arts (EDMA) is thrilled to present our first-ever haunted house experience, where we will showcase our students' exceptional filmmaking talents, including set building, special effects makeup, and costume design, in an immersive live event.
Join us the weekend before Halloween, October 25-27, and on Halloween night, October 31, from 5:30 to 9:00 PM inside the Butler Building by the track and pool.
Student Data and Intervention
Please take a moment to review the student data from our first grading period. To support your student's success at EDHS, here are a few important reminders:
- Review PowerSchool and Schoology together with your student on a weekly basis.
- Communicate regularly with your student's teachers, especially if your student is facing academic challenges.
- Stay informed by visiting the EDHS website and reading the Community Update.
- Ensure your student's Chromebook is fully charged each day and that they bring both the Chromebook and charger to school.
- Make sure your student arrives at school on time, whether they're being dropped off, driving, or taking the bus.
- Emphasize the importance of engaging in learning in the classroom. We continue to experience issues with disrespectful behavior toward teachers, which detracts from the learning environment. Please remind your student of the importance of respectful behavior.
- Reinforce the importance of following our District and school policies with your student. These policies are in place to ensure the safety of all students.
- Cell phones and earbuds must be put on silent and stored in your student's backpack during instructional time.
Intervention Plan
Our intervention plan is structured in four tiers:
- Counselors will focus on students in each grade level with a GPA of 1.6-1.9.
- In-School Support will target freshman and sophomore students with a GPA of 1.0-1.5.
- Our On-Campus Intervention teacher will work closely with students whose GPA is below 1.0.
- Special Education students receive tutoring support in content areas during Homeroom.
Additionally, our SSIPs, BIT, and Campus Life teams will also provide support with academics.
In-School Support
In-School Support provides our students with tutoring, mentoring, skill development, goal-setting, and accountability. Students participating in the In-School Support intervention meet with our intervention teachers twice a week for three to four weeks. Additionally, our intervention teachers observe student progress by pushing into classes on Mondays.
- Mr. Sumida meets with students during Period 2.
- Mrs. Melgar meets with students during Periods 2 and 3.
- Mr. Romero meets with students during Periods 4, 5, and 6.
Teachers will receive an email at the beginning of each week if they have students who will be pulled out of classes for the intervention. We take care to ensure that students miss no more than 1 or 2 periods of a single class during the 3 to 4 week intervention.
Homeroom SPED Tutorial Support
Ms. Flores (Room 318): Provides academic support for students on IEPs, helping them complete assignments and take any necessary quizzes/tests for English, Science, and Elective classes.
Mr. Camy (Room 366): Provides academic support for students on IEPs, assisting with assignments and quizzes/tests for math.
Students will receive hall passes to attend Homeroom Tutorial. They should go directly to the Homeroom Tutorial at the start of Homeroom without stopping by their regular Homeroom class to avoid delays in receiving academic support. Jessica Cervantes or an attendance clerk will clear students' Homeroom attendance. If a student on an IEP would benefit from academic support, teachers can also reach out to their case manager, Ms. Flores, or Mr. Camy. Additionally, students on IEPs can attend Homeroom Tutorial independently to request academic support.
If a student is given a pass to attend Homeroom Tutorial but refuses to go, they will be marked absent from Homeroom for that day, even if they remain in their primary Homeroom class.
Access Center
- Alana Griffith (Room 307): Provides Access Center services and Transition support to students on IEPs. Students will receive passes to attend the Access Center during Homeroom.
Notes and a Thank You
Ms. Luhdorff has completed 37 student transition interviews so far to assist case managers. A big thank you to Ms. Luhdorff!
Mrs. Griffith currently has 7 weekly Access Center appointments running during homeroom. Freshman students have been checking in on their overall progress and working towards their IEP goals.
Thank you to our amazing support staff in our homeroom tutorial classrooms- Mrs. Weaver, Mrs. Avila, Mrs. Newcomb, Mr. Minnick, Mr. Ajluni, and Ms. Galindo! We appreciate you all.
Principal's Pride
It was a true pleasure to recognize and celebrate our students at Academic Award Night this past week at El Diamante. The achievements of these students, many of whom are also involved in extracurricular and co-curricular activities, reflect their hard work and dedication both inside and outside the classroom.
This past Saturday evening, I had the joy of chaperoning the Harvest Dance. It was wonderful to see so many of our students having fun and representing El Diamante with pride. Seeing their spirit and enthusiasm makes me incredibly proud to be part of this school community!
Vision - Every student empowered to achieve future success.
Purpose Statement - As educators, we aim to foster a safe, inclusive, and dynamic learning environment where students feel valued and empowered to grow academically, socially, and emotionally. We are committed to equipping each student with the skills, confidence, and critical thinking tools needed to excel in their future endeavors, embrace lifelong learning, and become compassionate, proactive members of society. Through meaningful connections, personalized support, and a dedication to excellence, we strive to inspire every student to reach their full potential and navigate their path to success with resilience and purpose.