High Desert School Hawk Happenings

Good evening 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!

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

• 9 Essential Soft Skills Every Teen Needs to Succeed in Today’s World: In today's world, it's clear that while traditional life skills like doing laundry and cooking are important, teens also need soft skills to thrive. Soft skills—such as communication, problem-solving, and adaptability—are crucial and increasingly recognized by educators and employers as essential for success. Emphasizing these skills helps teens navigate complex social and professional environments, ensuring they not only survive but also excel in their future endeavors. You can read more about essential soft skills for teens here.

Wednesday, July 31

• High Desert School Office Re-Opens 7:30 am to 3:00 pm daily

• Stop in with any questions, needs, or just to say hello and welcome back to our amazing office staff. We are here to support and make the registration process a smooth one.

• School Secretary - Heather Campbell

• Office Clerk - Monique Ortiz

Thursday, August 1

• HDS Office Reopens
• Registration Packet Pick-up 8am-3pm

Friday, August 2

• Registration Packet Pick-up 8am-3pm

Have a great week and Go Hawks!

August 1-2, 2024

• Registration Packet Pick-up

• All students/parents must pick-up their personalized registration packet in the main office on campus.

• These packets include key forms that must be completed and submitted during your scheduled registration time (see schedule below).

• Please note that some forms require parent signatures and must be completed prior to registration; students with incomplete paperwork will not be permitted to register.

• Once the packet is picked up, please complete the following at home, prior to registration day:

• Create an Aeries Account or Login to your existing Aeries parent account

• In Aeries, complete all updates of information and policy agreement documents

• Complete and sign paper documents included in the registration packet

• Review order forms and plan for payment options

• Booster Club (PE Clothes/Booster Membership) - accepts cash, check, and electronic payment

• ASB (Spirit Wear/ Spirit Pack/Yearbook/100 Mile Club/Outdoor Science School) - accepts cash or check only

• NOTE: For parents without an account, instructions are included in the packet pickup information to support account creation.

August 5 and 6, 2024 - 8:00 am to 1:00 pm each day

• Formal Registration for Full Time Students (Aug. 5 - 5/6th Grade, Aug. 6 - 7/8th Grade)

• Submit documents from your registration packet

• Receive course schedule for the fall semester
  

• Schedule changes will be limited to cases of scheduling errors or omissions.

• Receive Student Planner and Textbooks

• Purchase Yearbooks/Spirit Packs/Spirit Wear/Athletic Wear

• Learn ways for parents to Participate/Support High Desert Hawks (Booster Club, SSC, ELAC, ASMO, etc.)

• Complete meal application

• Support with login and completing Aeries online registration (if not done at home)

August 8-9, 2024 - 8:00am to 3:00pm

• Office Closed for Staff to attend Professional Development

August 12, 2024 - 8:00 am to 1:00 pm

• Make-Up Registration Day

• If you are not available to register during your scheduled time, you may attend make-up registration day. Please note that course options can be significantly limited for students who wait until make-up registration to request course changes; we highly advise that you attend your scheduled registration date and time.

August 13, 2024 - 8:00am to 12:00pm

• Office Closed for Staff to attend District Meeting

August 14, 2024 - 8:00 am

• First Day of School

• Classes begin Wednesday, August 14th, 2024. The first period bell rings at 7:55am to begin class at 8:00 am and school dismissal is at 1:10 pm for Early Release Wednesday.

If you have any questions about the registration process, please contact us at (661) 269-0310.

GO HAWKS!

For Current Students (Students who attended Meadowlark or High Desert last year) -

• Login to your existing Aeries account (or create one if you didn't last year)
• Complete the data confirmation for each of your students in the district.
• Note: Current students do not need to complete the full online enrollment.

For New Students (Students who attended a school outside the AADUSD district last year)

• Complete the Online Enrollment to enroll your new student.
• Pick up an enrollment packet in the HDS Office on August 1st or 2nd

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

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.

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