Dear Bronco community,

This month kicks off the flurry of activities, events, projects, and achievements that we celebrate collectively as the second semester. This semester will go quickly, and is jam-packed with notable efforts from all parts of the school.

Today we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We honor Dr. King's principles by fostering an inclusive environment where we strive for every student to feel valued and empowered to succeed. We must take every opportunity to encourage acts of kindness, engage in meaningful conversations about equity, and advocate for fairness in our community.

On this National Day of Service, our Broncos, led by teacher Meg Honey, are preparing boxes of donated items and funds collected to send to the Altadena Girls Project, a project started by a 14 year old girl in the Los Angeles neighborhood, which has been ravaged by horrific fires. Ms Honey and her students have collected more than 15 moving boxes full of new items and $3000, and worked to pack and ship those items down with the help of an anonymous donor to cover shipping costs. (Read more in the Friday Newsletter Here). We are so proud of our students and Ms Honey for their efforts in this, and for the continued efforts and focus as a community on service, giving, and efforts towards positive change.

Similarly, to that end, our seniors have embarked on their Senior Projects, focusing their time, efforts and research into areas they have selected, working to answer questions in the broader purpose and goal of making the world around us better: whether by fostering inclusivity, promoting sustainability, improving efficiency, or advancing equity, this capstone experience empowers students to apply their knowledge and creativity toward building a better, more just, and forward-thinking future.

This semester our sophomores will also engage in the "If I Could Change the World" project, with phase two seeing the collaboration of student groups focusing their efforts together on a project to positively impact the world around them, culminating in an all-day presentation at Northgate Park, Tuesday May 20th.

These and other schoolwide projects support our broader goals as a school community. Through research, reflection, and hands-on engagement, students explore ways to create meaningful, positive change in the world around them. Whether addressing local needs or global challenges, these projects inspire our students to become thoughtful, compassionate leaders who embody our school’s mission of making a difference in their communities and beyond, and this is just one of the hundreds of things which make me proud to be a part of this community. Please consider supporting these projects by serving on a listening panel, joining our PFC and their efforts to support the school, or by being part of the visiting committee on the 10th grade park day.

Here are just a few more things happening with our Broncos to make us proud:

• Sophomore Levi Farrar just performed this weekend with the California All State High School Jazz Band, serving as lead trumpet. Check out a clip here.
• Wrestling has started strong in both boys and girls divisions, with the boys varsity team off to a 3-0 start, led by captains Tyler Jewell and Pratham Sharma, with consistent and standout performances. The girls team holds a 1-0 record, having competed in the inaugural DAL dual meet of the season, and have multiple top 3 finishes in tournaments this season. Standouts for this strong girls team includes Symone Jewell, who who is ranked nationally, Lexi Rotenberry, Keira Sale, Hailey Liu, and Danikka Reynoso.
• Girls basketball is starting strong, with a 14-5 record moving into standard league play, and a player of the week candidate for the East Bay Times athletic picks with sophomore Maddison Sardelich.
• Boys basketball is battling after some key injuries, currently holding a 12-6 record while facing a tough league schedule ahead. Highlights include Grayson Boustead's return from injury and a 9 point game and five rebounds against College Park, and Santi Borvice's 6 point game at the same. The Broncos face a tough Campolindo team on Wednesday.
• Girls and boys soccer jump into league play this week, with the boys running at 5-3-1, facing CVCHS tomorrow, and the girls at 5-1-2, tying their match against a tough Acalanes squad last week.
• Our ASB Leadership classes have planned the first Frosh/Soph Winter Formal, coming February 8th 6:00-9:30pm. This event will be held at Boundary Oaks Club House. Tickets are on sale now at the webstore, and will go up each week.

There are a lot of opportunities for our families to get involved. This week, on January 23rd (Thursday) will be our course information night. At 6pm, grades 9-11 can attend the AP/concurrent enrollment information night in the library. Simultaneously, we are running our 8th grade course information night in the gym (at 6pm). Then, at 7:15 is our course information night for grades 9-11, in the Little Theatre. These are great opportunities to hear about course offerings and get your questions answered while planning for the next school year. All course request cards are due on January 30th to English classrooms, and courses should be entered online on Homelink.

Coming soon is our Annual Athletic Boosters Crab Feed (Feb 28) and Instrumental Music Boosters Spaghetti Dinner (Feb 21st). These two events help to fund our programs for the entire year!

More opportunities, important dates, and coming events below. Read on!

Yours in partnership,

Kelly Cooper

Principal

Bronco community:

It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that Frau Nancy's daughter and her family have lost their home in the tragic Los Angeles fires. This devastating event has left them facing immense challenges as they work to rebuild their lives.

In this difficult time, our community has the opportunity to come together to support them. A GoFundMe page has been created to assist with their immediate needs and help them begin the recovery process. If you are able, I encourage you to contribute or share the link to spread the word. Every gesture of support, no matter how small, makes a difference.

Here is the link to the GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-andrew-and-abbi-rebuild-their-home

Thank you for your kindness, generosity, and compassion during this difficult time. Please keep Frau Nancy's family in your thoughts.

Northgate community: My U.S. History students are embarking on their study of Northgate's 50 year history, and I am hoping that you can help us! Can you please check your closets, file drawers, shelves, and storage areas for any and all Northgate relics? Or, if you are an alum and have Bronco clothing, prom favors, graduation programs, or anything that we can borrow and carefully examine (and return!), I'd love to grab them from you.

Thank you so much for your help. My students will be sharing their findings at Open House on April 22nd!
Meg (Class of 1997)

Contact Ms Honey at honeym@mdusd.org.

Did you catch the latest issue of Diablo Magazine? Our cafeteria manager, Shelley Carmichael, and our Girls Flag Football coach, Lauren Lahey, were both featured in the article on Teen Wellness. Check it out here! Congratulations to our Bronco staff!

We received a call from the CCC Sheriff's office, noting that they are getting complaints of students parked across from the drop off area, in front of the fire lane. There is a posted sign here, but students are missing it and blocking the entrance. If the sheriff responds to a call/complaint of parking in this area, they will tow the vehicle at the owner's expense.

Other Notes were previously published but bears repeating:

We have seen increases in several dangerous or illegal decision making when it comes to motor vehicles, so wanted to send yet another reminder. There were two accidents in the last couple of weeks as a result of these, right outside our parking lot. Please read, and be great community members on the road!

Street Driving

• We have had an uptick in neighborhood complaints, with excessive speeds being taken on Castle Rock, and from Walnut up the residential area on Stonehaven and Bowling Green, with drivers trying to take shortcuts past traffic. WCPD will be increasing their presence when available in these areas. As a reminder, right turns onto Castle Rock from Bowling Green are illegal. (yet seen every day)
• ALL drivers need to refrain from mid-lane u-turns on Castle Rock. This resulted in an accident just last week. Drivers are pulling over in the middle of the street to pick up or drop off, and then swinging around to the opposite lane, into oncoming traffic, which is dangerous and illegal. Drivers should pull to the center lane carefully (as these host drivers in both directions on this stretch) and turn around, or use drop off to pick up and turn around. There are many other safe and legal strategies, including having your student walk further down the street to meet you.
• Pedestrians have reported nearly being hit in the crosswalks, (and one was, last month) at all three checkpoints- right after the traffic circle, up further near Bowling Green, and right in front of the school. All drivers should slow down before entering these areas, and look in both directions for pedestrians, who should be given the right of way.

Drop off

I came back this morning to drop off after a couple of weeks not being out there, and some re-teaching needs to occur.

• All drivers should pull all the way forward, at all times. This helps keep traffic moving.
• Drop offs should be quick- have your student ready, and the cars will keep flowing. Extended conversations or shuffling needed? Please pull all the way around, park on the street, and finish what needs to be handled, so this area can keep moving.
• Drivers- stop passing and cutting off the cars in front of you. In 96% of the cases of being behind someone in line, if the driver simply waits 15-20 more seconds, the whole line goes out the same way and order it came in, and traffic flows more simply.
• Do not drop off in the middle of the through lane. Pull to the right up against the curb for all drop offs.
• No drop offs should occur in the back of the school by the pool.
• Wave hi to the staff :) , tell your student goodbye (and I love you, you're the absolute greatest, go crush the day), and have a great day as well.

Parking

• Ticketing will occur in the parking lot by the city of Walnut Creek for all students without a parking pass. Only those with parking passes are allowed to park in the main lot.
• Reserved spaces in the back of the lot are clearly marked for Careers in Teaching students, and students without the appropriate pass will receive a ticket, REGARDLESS if they have a regular parking pass.
• Tickets cannot be waived or appealed through the school. These are issued through the city. Compliance should begin now!

Let's keep our streets and school safe by following the rules of the road!

This event is for Northgate students only. Guests are not allowed.

It is that time already! Students should be selecting their courses in the next 10 days for the 2025-26 school year. All course selections will need to be put on Homelink, and paper forms submitted to students' English classes.

New next year:

AP Seminar- may be taken in place of English II for Sophomores, or as an elective in 11th or 12th grade which would be considered a 5th year English course. In its two year pilot, this course will NOT count against the 6 course AP limit.

Drama III Honors- student who audition for and are participating in Production Workshop (Drama III) will receive honors credit, including the master builders from Advanced Stagecraft.

Take a look through the course guide, and get ready to plan! All course guides and forms can be found on the website.

January 21-23- Studio One on site- Senior Portraits

Tuesday January 21- Senior Meeting- SS; Boys Soccer and Girls Wrestling @ CVCHS

Wednesday January 22- Boys Basketball v Campolindo; Wrestling @ College Park; Girls Basketball @ Campolindo

Thursday January 23- AP and Course Information Night; Boys Soccer v Acalanes; Girls Soccer @ Alhambra

Friday January 24- Boys Basketball @ Miramonte; Girls Basketball v Miramonte; Improv Show

Saturday January 25- Folsom Jazz Festival; Frosh Girls Soccer @ Berkeley; Girls Soccer @ Liberty; Boys Soccer @ Concord HS; Comp Cheer @ Las Vegas

Monday January 27- DVC Spring Term begins

Tuesday January 28- Boys basketball v Alhambra; Boys Soccer @ Campolindo; Girls Soccer v CVCHS; Girls Basketball @ Alhambra

Wednesday January 29- Wrestling v CVCHS

Thursday January 30- Course Cards Due; Frosh Boys Basketball v Hercules; Boys Basketball v Ygnacio Valley; Girls Basketball @ Ygnacio Valley; Girls Soccer @ Benicia; Boys Soccer vs Mt Diablo HS

Follow our events on our school calendar HERE.

The College and Career Advisors will be hosting their 6th Annual HBCU Caravan College and University Recruitment fair at Mt. Diablo High School on Thursday February 6th, during the school day. Northgate will have a bus to take interested juniors and seniors to the event and all students are welcome. We will spend an hour at the fair.

Please see the Flyer with important information and QR code to register.
See Mrs. Santos to pick up a permission slip to attend

Brainfuse HelpNow

Getting Started Video

Live real-time homework assistance is available every day from 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Tutoring is available in English and Spanish.

Get help with subjects such as math, science, social studies, and standardized test prep. This service includes writing assistance, support for adult learners, and live chess tutoring.

https://ccclib.org/teen-subject/homework-help/

The PFC Ed Fund is used to fund the Wellness Center, our site technician, and other classroom goals!

This week, we will be meeting with our senior class to give important reminders as they head into their final semester of high school. Our senior attendance right now is alarming, with 20% of our seniors chronically absent (below 90%) last semester.

This second semester, seniors will not be allowed to attend senior ball if they are chronically absent, barring illness or other excused reasons for missing school. We will be monitoring senior progress closely, with the goal that all of our Broncos earn their diploma and graduate with their peers in June.

(on that note- we do not yet have a graduation date, but plan as far as the final day of school, June 3rd, which is a possibility.)

Finish strong, Class of 2025- finish the last semester of high school with pride in yourselves and all that you've accomplished.

The FAFSA (Free Application for federal student aid) and CADAA (California Dream Act Application) are now open for you to submit.
The FAFSA is to be submitted by students with a US Soc. Sec. # and the CADAA is to be submitted by AB540 students.

The deadline to submit your FAFSA or CADAA is March 3. The earlier the submission, the better.

If you would like to get started with the FAFSA before we return from winter break, please refer to these Easy Steps to launch your FAFSA.
Please be sure to have your student launch their FAFSA or CADAA from their Californiacolleges.edu accounts.

Dear Northgate Senior Families,

While the deadline has passed for cap and gown orders, you can still hold your sizes for borrowing.

NORTHGATE’S GRADUATION AND CAP & GOWN ORDERING LINK CLICK HERE

*USE promo code: SENIORSHIP25 with these graduation packages (Silver, Gold, or Mascot) and receive FREE SHIPPING/HANDLING & A FREE GIFT HOME!

*Additional options at checkout include interest-free, installment plans over a 3 or 4 month period.

Here’s a quick video with some helpful information on the graduation ordering process: HOW TO VIDEO

DESIGN/ORDER YOUR CUSTOM LETTER JACKET. NORTHGATE LETTER JACKET BUILDER CLICK HERE

DESIGN & ORDER YOUR CUSTOM CLASS RING: NORTHGATE CLASS RING DESIGNER CLICK HERE

USE RING PROMO CODE: GWPMETALPLUS & RECEIVE THIS FREE CLASS OF 2025 HOODIE + $40, $50, OR $75* OFF OF YOUR RING!

(*Discount will be determined by your metal choice)

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or prefer to borrow a loaner cap & gown from the school.

Congratulations Class of 2025!

Martin Oliveira/Jostens

Phone: (925) 838-1835/Email: martin.oliveira@jostens.com

Studio One will be on campus Jan 21-23 next week or you can make an appointment to go to their Studio.

Please arrange to have this taken so your student can be in the yearbook.

SENIOR PORTRAIT INFO HERE (and below)

To schedule an appointment with Studio One call 925-361-0430

Please let us know if you have any questions,

Tucker Farrar - Vice Principal

Jen Collier - Yearbook Advisor

DEADLINE FOR SENIOR PORTRAITS

Northgate High School turns 50 this year, and to celebrate, we want to commemorate our families and community with a custom brick pathway, 'Legacy Lane' in our stadium.

The sale of these bricks will fund our new planned stadium bathrooms, concession building, and video scoreboard.

Limited bricks are available- get yours today!

Parents of Seniors-the committee landed on - SUNSET BOAT CRUISE for Grad Night . It's going to be a fun night on the bay with everyone together one last time. We are opening up early bird tickets now - date TBD but trying for the night after graduation. QR code below or link here > https://bit.ly/GradNight25 #classof25

As a reminder, we do not get our graduation dates until late January/Early February due to scheduling complications with the Concord Pavilion. We are fortunate to be able to host our graduation ceremony is this wonderful venue, and the downside is we are given our dates a bit late in the school year. We will make many announcements as soon as we know.

If your student is going to be absent all day, please call the all day attendance line at (925) 939-6911 or email nhsattendance@mdusd.org.

If your student needs to leave school for any reason, please call the partial absence attendance line, with at least one hour notice- (925) 938-0900 x 3505 or email nhsattendance@mdusd.org.

Absences must be cleared within 3 days, or they become truant.

For more details and instructions around attendance- click here.

Dates to avoid absences:

All Students- Final Examinations- December 17-20

For Seniors- Senior Projects May 21-22

All Students- Final Examinations- May 29-30, June 2-3

We are unable to offer early finals for those students who will not be there for any reason- missed finals will result in an incomplete grade until they are taken (within 6 weeks after finals week)

If students experience COVID symptoms, they should test as soon as possible. Take-home tests are available in the main office. Students should not attend school while they have symptoms.

If a COVID test is positive, students must quarantine for a minimum of five days from the first day of symptoms or positive test.

After five days, students may return as long as they have been symptom free for 24 hours.

Students who are still showing a positive test, but are symptom free after five days, may return to school, but should wear a tight fitting mask to school to protect others from exposure.

Please contact the school if your student is ill by emailing nhsattendance@mdusd.org or calling extension 3505.

Email: cooperk@mdusd.org
Website: northgatehighschool.org
Location: 425 Castle Rock Rd, Walnut Creek, CA, USA
Phone: 925 938-0900
Instagram: @northgatehs