High Desert School Hawk Happenings

Good evening High Desert Hawks and Families,

This school year at High Desert School, we are "Anchored in Achievement!" Set sail on a smooth school year by anchoring strong routines early—review your planner each night and keep your supplies shipshape. Steer clear of rough waters by asking for help when you need it; teamwork keeps the crew afloat!

Staring a New Semester - Student Success Reminders:

As we start our second semester, let’s kick it off Anchored in Achievement by supporting our students in beginning strong! Here are some tips:

• Check Aeries: Please review your student’s grades from Semester 1 and set goals for Semester 2. For 7/8th, electives have been entered based on student selection and course availability. New Schedules will be distributed in AVID Class on Tuesday, Jan. 14th.
• Attend Daily: Daily on-time attendance is critical to avoid missing assignments that can’t be made up.
• Encourage Positive Behavior: Encourage your student to focus on good choices and staying on task.

Important Dates:

• NO SCHOOL: January 13th
• Semester 2 Begins: January 14th
• Booster Club Meeting: January 15th @ 8:45am
• NO SCHOOL: January 20th
• Semester 1 Awards: January 23rd (5th @ 8:15am, 6th @ 9:00am)
• Semester 1 Awards: January 24th (7th @ 8:15am, 8th @ 9:00am)

Thank you for partnering with us to support your student’s success!

Season of Giving:

High Desert is supporting families in need during this holiday season. Here are some opportunities to donate and support:

• Class of 2026 - Gently used shoe donation. Donate by January 26th.

Athletics

• Congratulations to Varsity Flag Football for their 3rd Place finish in Silver League. Thank you to our coaches: Pat Tucker, Matt Prosser, and Leo Rivas for a great season!
• Reminder to all parents: Please be mindful of practice end times and pick up your athletes promptly.
• Reminder to all athletes: Please remember that you are a member of the team on and off the field. Keep up your grades and good behavior to remain eligible all season!
• Sports Currently in Season
• JV Boys Basketball
  
• JV Girls Soccer
• Spirit Squad
• 100-Mile Club
• Varsity Girls Soccer Tryouts 1/14/25 and 1/16/25 from 2:30-4:30pm
• Varsity Boys Soccer Tryouts 1/15/25 from 1:30-3:30pm and 1/17/25 from 2:30-4:30pm

Monday, January 13

• NO SCHOOL

Tuesday, January 14

• Semester 2 Begins
• 7/8th Handbells 2:30-3:15pm
• JV Boys Basketball Practice 2:30-3:30pm @ HDS MPR
  
• Varsity Girls Soccer Tryouts 2:30-4:30pm @ HDS Lower Field

Wednesday, January 15

• HDS Booster Club Meeting 8:45am
• Early Release Dismissal at 1:10pm
• 100-Mile Club 1:15-2:00pm
• JV Girls Soccer Practice 1:30-3:30pm @ HDS Lower Field
• Varsity Boys Soccer Tryouts 1:30-3:30pm @ HDS Lower Field

Thursday, January 16

• JV Boys Basketball Game 3:45pm @ Legacy Christian Academy
• Varsity Girls Soccer Tryouts 2:30-4:30pm @ HDS Lower Field

• Show your Hawks Pride and Wear Green, Black, and White on Friday!
• ASB Meeting 1:30pm
• Varsity Boys Soccer Tryouts 2:30-4:30pm @ HDS Lower Field
• JV Boys Basketball Game 3:30pm @ HDS MPR

Have a great week and Go Hawks!

Thursday, January 16, 2025 at 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

The California Behavioral Health Planning Council (CBHPC) will be hosting a hybrid event for youth, parents, and caregivers.

The goal of the event is to increase behavioral health support for children and youth by raising awareness of youth mental health issues. The objectives of the event are to educate community members on the youth behavioral health experience and provide information to help caregivers best support behavioral health care for youth. The event will consist of a short screening of the film, Hiding in Plain Sight, followed by a panel of youth, provider, and education representatives. There will be a question-and-answer session for the audience to ask questions to the panelists as well as resource tables to equip youth, parents, and caregivers with tools regarding mental health and substance use challenges.

Zoom Meeting Link

Meeting ID: 894 4596 6119

Passcode: CYW2025

Zoom Registration is required for all attendees.

The Booster Club plays a critical role in making extracurricular activities happen for our students. If every family donates $20 per student, Booster Club will be able to fund the many events and activities the Booster Club supports. In addition to financial donations, we need parent support through donations of snack bar items and help running the snack bar during home games. These fundraising efforts directly benefit our athletics programs, and this year, funds are being raised to light up our fields for evening events. Flyers are going home today with students for ways to support.

Snack Bar Donation Ideas:

• Regular Size Candy Bars or Packs
• Snack Bags of Chips
• Popcorn Bags
• Sports Drinks
• Water

Hello Parents, I want to personally thank all the families who have already participated in our SchoolStore fundraiser! We are on our way to reaching our goal, but we need everyone's help to make sure our teachers get the essential tools they need to help our students succeed. If your family has not participated, there's still time! This safe and easy fundraiser is 100% online so there is no face-to-face selling, collecting money, or delivering products. Your child will receive a prize just for participating, and more prizes will be awarded when goals are reached. Please help now. It really will make a difference. Go to https://www.schoolstore.net/sid.t?0000050255 to show our valued teachers your support.

Thanks, High Desert School Booster Club

P.S. Family participation is the key to our success, and we are counting on you!

High Desert is excited to welcome Ivy Calvin to the Hawks' Nest! He will be supporting Mrs. Botton as the PE Aide. Ivy was a student at High Desert and graduated from Vasquez High School. He coaches Track and Field at VHS and was Asst. Coach for Cross Country this year. He was a scholar athlete in multiple sports at VHS and is looking forward to helping our students excel in PE! He loves sports, games, and the outdoors. Welcome Mr. Ivy!

HDS Hawks welcome Mrs. Laura Quint to our Instructional Aide team. Mrs. Laura brings a wealth of experience with her. She is a mom, a competitor, a coach, and a retired detective. This year, she joined our team of coaches as the head coach of the Cross Country team and took the team for the first time to race at Mt. Sac. She spends her spare time with family, racing 5K and 10K distances, competing with her horses, and training her dogs. Welcome Mrs. Laura to the Hawks' Nest!

As we look to finish out the school year, we want to officially welcome back Mrs. Graff. She started the year as the long-term sub for 7/8th History and will finish the year with our students in the same position. Mrs. Graff is super excited to continue her work with the students and looks forward to a smooth second semester.

Mrs. Blalock supported 6th grade to close out last school year and has returned to the Hawks' Nest to support 7/8th Grade as the Multiple-Subject long-term sub for second semester. Mrs. Blalock is loving her work with the students and our team of educators. She is looking forward to working with the students in 7th Math/Science, 8th History/Math, and Computer Science for second semester.

"Thank you to the father and son team who keep our students safe on their route to school! Crossing Guards Mark Anthony (Crown Valley and Sierra Hwy) and Brian Anthony (Crown Valley and Antelope Woods Rd) are such a great team and always greet our students with a warm welcome. We are so thankful for their positive attitude and reliability to be there every day for our students. Thank you to our HDS Booster Club for the amazing gift and special delivery for the holidays."

~ HDS Hawks and Staff

"Phoenix demonstrates responsibility and dedication in the class. He is always on task, turns in assignments on time, and sets a great example for his peers."

~ Mrs. Banola

"Valerie is always putting in her best effort at all times. She approaches every task with a positive attitude and determination. It's a joy to see her take such pride in her work."

~ Mrs. Banola

"We want to wish congratulations to Mrs. Reveles for finishing her credentialing work! She works hard every day as a leader for the 5th grade team, including organizing Outdoor Science School. We are so grateful for her creativity and hard work."

~ HDS Staff

• 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. This week, the focus is on doing our best and having GRIT.
• SEL - Each week, on Wednesday, our students will be working on soft skills to support their social and emotional development during middle school.

i-Ready Classroom Mathematics is a robust mathematics program designed to help your student become a strong, independent mathematical thinker. Through the Try-Discuss, Connect framework, students deepen their conceptual understanding and collaboratively solve problems. Check out the family center for more information on how to support your child with mathematics from home.

Check out i-Ready Classroom Mathematics Family Center

5th Grade will be returning to Outdoor Science School this year at Thousand Pines. Payment #2 is due by November 1st to secure students' spot on the trip. Make the first payment today! Your student won't want to miss this great educational opportunity.

The Autry Museum invites all student to submit a two-dimensional piece of artwork representing the theme: Visions of the Future.

Student application must be submitted online.

Entries due to the HDS Office by February 7, 2025

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

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

CalHope Mental Health Resources

Digital mental health support for youth, young adults, and families provides free, safe, and confidential mental health support for young people and families across the state with two easy-to-use mobile apps: Brightlife Kids and soluna.

BrightLife - Mental health coaching and resources for parents with kids ages 0-12

Soluna — your space to de-stress, bounce back, and reset. Completely free and confidential for California teens and young adults. Always.

Soluna | California's Mental Health App for 13 - 25-year-olds

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.

Devastating wildfires have impacted our Los Angeles County community. Our hearts go out to all those affected, including students, families, educators, and school staff. In times of crisis, the power of education to provide support and resilience is more important than ever.

We wish to share the following resources available to those in need:
Emergency Shelters:

• Westwood Recreation Center (1350 S Sepulveda, Los Angeles 90025)
• El Camino Real Charter High School (5440 Valley Circle Blvd, Woodland Hills 91367)
• Ritchie Valens Recreation Center (10736 Laurel Canyon Blvd, Pacoima 91331)
• Pasadena Convention Center (300 E Green, Pasadena 91101)
• Airbnb is supporting Los Angeles County residents who have been displaced from their homes or forced to evacuate by the wildfires, by working with 211LA to offer emergency housing. If you or your loved ones are in need, dial 2-1-1 directly.

Mental Health Support:

• Free 24/7 counseling services are available through our EAP partner. Access confidential support at 800.834.3773 or www.claremonteap.com/employees-and-families/
• Spanish-speaking counselors: 1-888-628-9454
• Options for Deaf and Hard of Hearing: Call 1-800-985-5990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746.

Local Emergency Updates:

• Follow @ReadyLA on X (formerly Twitter) or visit ready.lacounty.gov for real-time evacuation notices and fire updates.

Additional Services and Information:

• Uber and Lyft announced they are offering free rides up to for evacuees to designated shelters through January 15, 2025.
• To redeem the free ride, evacuees must use the promo code "WILDFIRE25" in their Uber app and "CAFIRERELIEF25" for Lyft.
• AirNow: Check Local Air Quality
• Information Regarding School Closures
• California Statewide Wildfire Recovery Resources
• CTA Disaster Relief Fund

We understand that this is a difficult time for many. Please remember to prioritize your own well-being and reach out to available support resources.

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