SPANISH SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL

Hello Spanish Springs High School Families,

I am super excited to let you know that our Jobs for Nevada Graduates (J4NG) brought home a first place award for their entrepreneurial program pitch and 1st place in the art category at last weeks competition in Las Vegas. I love their ingenuity and professionalism.

Tonight our Lacrosse program is celebrating their senior night after an exciting season.

Please tune in tonight to Nevada Sports Net on Fox Channel 11 to see a show highlighting one of our athletes. He is a tremendous athlete and we are very proud of him.

Tomorrow our girls softball team will be playing their last series at Reed High School. Come on out and support them as they take on the Raiders.

Our JROTC Drill Team is traveling to Daytona Florida to compete in nationals. Good luck team!

I am so proud of all of our athletes. Next week our swim and diving team, track and field, softball, baseball, and golf teams will be competing in regionals. I am looking forward to traveling to Las Vegas and Pahrump to see our athletes compete at the state level after that.

We had an amazing prom. Our kids looked smashing. They were well behaved and represented our school with class. We had a great time!

I have some posted some information about the beginning of AP testing next week below so please check that out.

Finally, next week we will be celebrating our teachers with daily activities as a way of showing our deep appreciation for their hard work.

Let's have another a great week Cougars.

Sincerely,

Sean Hall

Principal

Our weekly newsletters can be found at the Library Website under newsletters.

SSHS Library Website

A PDF of all our our Bell Schedules can by found on the following link:

2023-2024 Bell Schedules

Counselors are visiting classes to help our students select their courses for next year. Please make sure you go on Infinite Campus to register your student for next school year!

Graduation is quickly approaching. Please stop by the main office at lunch or after school and speak with Megan Svare, our bookkeeper, to make sure all fines and fees have been paid. If you have fines for books or laptops, please go see Mrs. Hefner in the library with the books, fine, or replacements. Cash and checks are always accepted for any fines or fees. Thank you!

Yearbooks are available for purchase through the webstore, in cash or by check. If paying by check or cash, please go to the main office and speak with Megan Svare, our bookkeeper. Checks can be made out to SSHS.

If using the webstore, go to our SSHS website and scroll to the bottom of the main page and click on the webstore button.

https://www.washoeschools.net/spanishspringshs

Please refer to our spring finals schedule for your planning. Finals may not be given early.

https://www.washoeschools.net/sshscareers

Check out this information for the Spring Fling this year.

Spring Fling 2024

Check out this opportunity!

WCSDPD Jr Cadets Course

Let's celebrate our amazing teachers this week. Let them know you appreciate them!

Good luck to our JROTC students who are traveling to Daytona Beach, FL to compete in the U.S. Army JROTC Drill Team Championships and the JROTC Fitness Championships.

Our students did an AMAZING job down in Las Vegas at the 2024 J4NG annual Career Development Conference!

We sent down students to compete in 6 in person competitions and submitted 3 virtual competition pieces in the following categories:

• Employability -

• Entrepreneurship -

• Public Speaking -

• J4NG Recruiting Commerical -

• 2D Art Piece -

We're SUPER excited to Brag that out of the ENTIRE state of Nevada J4NG programs (over 60+ programs) our brought home 1st in the Art category!

Plus two students brought home 1st in the Entrepreneur category with their Spirit Locker pitch! ​Be on the lookout next year for their idea to be put into motion with the rollout of the Cougar Closet!

It's SO great to see our kids put their knowledge and skills into motion and succeed! And it's always great to put SSHS on the map again with more wins!

SSHS Baseball will finish the season as the 7th seed and play the first round of the NIAA Region Tournament at Manogue on Tuesday 5/07 at 4:00 PM.
NIAA Tickets will be available at https://www.niaa.com/tickets/index

Come support our students!

The library is open for full access once again. Please pop by the library before school, at lunch or after school to get your papers typed, study, read a good book, hang out with your friends, or do some research. We look forward to seeing you!

Check out this opportunity!

Beginning Tuesday, SSHS will be conducting Advanced Placement Testing. Testing will be from Tuesday, May 7th through Thursday, May 16th. Students who are AP testing will be receiving flyers with information as to where their test will be located (likely small gym). AM testing requires students to report by 7:30am (testing 8am-12pm) and PM testing requires students to report by 11:30am (testing 12pm-4pm). Once testing has begun, attendance will be marked in IC.

The African American Student Union meets Wednesdays during lunch period 11:48 to 12:18 in the College and Career Center. The African American Student Union Club is open to all Spanish Springs Students. All current and new students are welcomed to come join in this special club.

Come join the amnesty club. We’re a club focusing on improving both our community and the world we live in through community service and other services like that. We meet every Wednesday at lunch in room 217

Do you love art and want to be a part of making our school a more creative place. Please join us in room 147 Wednesdays.

Take action, build international understanding, and make new friends around the world.

Interact clubs bring together students to develop leadership skills while discovering the power of Service Above Self.

Where we meet: SSHS Library

When: Lunchtime, 1st and 3rd Mondays of every month!

Key Club meets in room 111 every TUESDAY during lunch. Join us to participate in diverse community activities.

Come help us show diversity by joining Latinos Unidos! This club is a safe space for everyone. Join us on Thursdays during lunch in the College and Career Center

Do you enjoy art? Come join our new chapter of the National Art Honors Society. Meet in 147 Wednesday 8/30 at lunch to find out more information! Cordero and Stanford would love to see you there!

Hey cougars! Do you want to be more involved within our school and community? Do you want to make your college resume look its best? Come and join the National Honors Society! We meet every other Thursday at lunch in rooms 219/220! This club is for sophomores and above with at least a 3.25 GPA! We hope to see you on august

31st!

Grad Nite Universal Studios, June 7th $375 ($39 deposit saves your spot, $42 a month payment plan if needed) space is limited, sign up early to guarantee a spot on the buses. Please contact Faith at (775)842-9090 with any questions.

Interested in earning money for your club or team? The Booster can help with that!

How would you like to be part of our amazing Booster team? Register here: https://spanishspringshsboosterclub.boosterhub.com/register/4029

For information, email: spanishspringsboosterclub@gmail.com

https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/reporters/sp-springs-harrison-hashimoto-out-for-state-title-after-record-setting-regular-season#

Student Backpacks are NOT allowed at Athletic Events. Any student with a backpack will NOT be allowed entry to a game.

Skateboards and Scooters are NOT allowed at Athletic Events. Any Student with a skateboard or scooter will NOT be allowed entry to the game.

SSHS Parents and Students:

SSHS is only accepting online Hometown Tickets for all Athletic Events this school year and all Fall Sports ticket are currently available for purchase.

We will NOT have a cashbox available at the events.

Adult Tickets = $10.00 (Seniors 62 years and over receive free entry)

Student Tickets = $5.00 (Students 8 years and under receive free entry)

Military Personal Tickets = $5.00 (with valid ID)

SSHS Students who have purchased their Activity Fee and have Activities Fee (AF) paid on their Student ID will get free entry to all regular season home events. Activity Fee for the school year is $25.00, and all student-athletes are required to pay this fee.

Middle school students need to have a parent with them to enter the event.

All WCSD Employees and a Guest get into all regular season games (home and away) with a current school ID.

We are pleased to provide you with another great way to stay connected with our student athletes. Download the NIAA App (NIAA Live) for scores, schedules, brackets, buying tickets and more... Use the QR Code or link below to download the App. We are excited for the upcoming Spring Championships, best of luck to your Student-Athletes. https://www.fanthreesixty.com/niaa-live

Register My Athlete is now open for the 2023-2024 school year. If you plan on playing a sport this school year, please complete the RMA. If you have any questions, please see the Athletic Secretary, Mrs. Deen, in the main office.

Students taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses are required to pay the $97 fee for the assessment and sign up for the test via collegeboard.com. This fee can be paid to the bookkeeper or online via the webstore.

SSHS Food Pantry

Hello, this is an important message from the Washoe County School District:

The State of Nevada requires the meningitis vaccine (MCV4) and the Tdap vaccine for all Nevada 7th graders and new students in grades 7-12 enrolling in the Washoe County School District.

As of the 2023-2024 school year, a student 16 years of age or who is enrolling in the 12th grade in Nevada schools must receive the meningitis – or MCV4—vaccine.

Each Wednesday from 1:30p – 4:00p and the first

Saturday of each Month from 10:30a – 2:00p

Clothes, shoes, school supplies, toiletries and much more

Free with high school ID

· Project 150 Reno Boutique - 1340 Foster Dr. - Reno, NV 89509

· Follow us at Project150 Reno on Facebook

· Call (775)203-4755 or email info@project150reno.org

· Project 150 Reno non-profit provides basic needs for homeless, disadvantaged, and displaced high school students.

Project 150 Reno

The Washoe County School District or the Board of Trustees neither endorses nor sponsors the organization or activity represented in this document. The distribution of this material is provided as a community service.

· DMV Certifications of Attendance are processed at the district level by the Student Records Department.

· Visit the WCSD web page: www.washoeschools.net and select:

STUDENT AND PARENTS

>STUDENT RECORDS

> CLICK ON BACKPACK CURRENT STUDENT.

FILL OUT INFORMATION, AND AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE CHECK THE DMV BOX.

· Please allow one week of processing time.

· Please note: Students who miss 10% or more of the total number of class periods for any reason during a semester (high school) for each course will be chronically absent and do not meet the DMV Certification of Attendance requirements. Chronic absenteeism rules are set by State and Federal guidelines.

Information for how to get the attendance for DMV is permanently found at:

Parents and Guardians Page

The complete WCSD policy can be found here: WCSD DMV Attendance Policy

Please make sure you have paid your student's class fees. Class fees are used for labs, classroom supplies, and uniforms. Please email Megan Svare our bookkeeper if you are unsure if you have paid yet: msvare@washoeschools.net

Webstore is currently being updated, check back periodically or send cash or check with your student to pay in person.

The large student window to the main office is now open to students! Please go to that window first with any attendance or book keeping needs. Thank you!

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Spanish Springs HS follows all WCSD Attendance Policies and Procedures.

For information on the WCSD Attendance Policy as required by NRS, click here.

Reporting a Reason for an Absence

Parent/guardian must email, call or request an absence via the portal/app to report your student(s) absence. To verify the absence it must be done so no later than three (3) days after your student is absent. The Attendance Office is unable to record reasons for absences older than three days without a doctor’s note.

Emailing in a Reason for an Absence (preferred method)

Absences may be reported by email. Please email sshsattendance@washoeschools.net or use this link: SSHS Attendance and include:

· Your student's name

· Date of birth

· The date

· Length of the absence

· The reason for the absence

Changes will be made in Infinite Campus when the email is processed.

Calling in an Absence

To verify an absence, contact the Attendance Office call 775-425-7733 x 1. Voicemail is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please leave a message with the following:

· Your student's name

· Date of birth

· The date

· Length of the absence

· The reason for the absence

· Your contact information

Changes will be made in Infinite Campus when the absence is processed.

Requesting an Absence via the Parent Portal/App.

A new functionality was added to the Infinite Campus parent portal and app. It enables parents/guardians to request an absence via the portal/app. The portal/app accepts requests for absences for the current date or future dates only.

For step-by-step instructions, visit: Intervention / The Absence Request Form and App (washoeschools.net)

Changes will be made in Infinite Campus when the request is processed.

Picking Up a Student or Street Passes

When you need to pick up your student early from school, please be aware of the following procedures:

-You may call in advance to have your student waiting for you when you arrive. Please call the Attendance Office at 775-425-7733 x 1 with the exact time and reason your student needs to be dismissed.

-You may come into the Attendance Office to pick up your student. You will be required to show your ID on arrival. Please allow enough time for us to send for your student as it is difficult to send for a student during passing time or during lunch.

-ONLY LEGAL GUARDIANS may pick up a student. Anyone other than a guardian will need to have the guardian contact the attendance office in advance to give permission for the student to be released. If the person picking up the student will do so on a regular basis and is not the legal guardian, there is a form that can be completed giving permission for the student to be released with another adult. This form is valid only for the current school year and will need to be signed and turned in by the legal guardian.

Chronic Absenteeism

Students who miss 10% or more of the total number of class periods for any reason during a semester (high school) for each course will be chronically absent. Chronic absenteeism rules are set by State and Federal guidelines.

Students will not be retained or fail a course (high school) based on attendance. However, students who miss 10% or more of class periods for any course that meets in a semester will be chronically absent in that course(s).

If the student must miss an entire class period for any reason, it is the parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to see that a written/verbal verification is provided to the school prior to, during, or within three days of an absence. Failure to do so within three days of the student's return to school will result in the absence being coded as Unverified (UNV).

Intervention Guide for Families

COVID Exclusions

The Health Department Excluded (HDED) code is used for COVID exclusions when there is a positive COVID case. Current exclusion period is 5 days and can be extended up to 10 days in the event that a student still has symptoms. COVID excluded students will be placed on Temporary Distance Learning and will complete missing classwork per the make-up work policy. The HDED codes do not count towards chronic absenteeism.

Make-Up Work Policy for an Absence

Make-up work must be provided for any absence by the teacher, but it is the student’s responsibility to request the make-up work in advance or on the first day s/he returns to class. Because it is impossible to make-up some in-class assignments, coursework of a similar nature may be given. It is the student’s responsibility to turn in all make-up class work at the designated deadline. Failure to complete the make-up work within the designated deadline will result in no credit being received for the make-up work.

Students will have the number of days absent plus one to complete missed make-up work or concepts missed beginning on the day the teacher provides the missed assignments to the student. Teachers must provide missed make-up work or concepts missed within two days of the student’s return to class.

DMV Certification of Attendance

Spanish Springs High School assists with the student DMV Certification of Attendance required by the DMV using the following options:

OPTION 1 – Electronic

DMV Certifications of Attendance can be requested from the WCSD Student Records Department.

Effective July 1, 2019, in an effort to provide better and more secure service to our students ALL student records requests can be made online using the automated student record / information request system. Please go to this link on the Washoe County School District website to fill out the form: Application for DMV Certification Form or go to https://washoeschoolsnv.scriborder.com/

OPTION 2 – Hard Copy

If requesting a hard copy from the SSHS Attendance Office, the Student Information section must be completely filled out. SSHS does require 24 hours to complete and review the students’ attendance, it will then be available for pick up in the front office.

Hard Copy link: DMV Certification of Attendance Form

Please note: Students who miss 10% or more of the total number of class periods for any reason during a semester (high school) for each course will be chronically absent and do not meet the DMV Certification of Attendance requirements; the previous completed semester’s percentage is used to determine eligibility. Chronic absenteeism rules are set by State and Federal guidelines.

This guide, available in English and Spanish, helps parents, guardians, and families understand the various components of the attendance policy. Click on button below.

Bullying is unacceptable and comments or conduct that disparages or demonstrates hostility or aversion should not be tolerated. By being accepting, kind and inclusive, you can help make the world a better place. Together we can create a world without bullying!

TIPS FOR PARENTS

THE WORLD IS RAPIDLY CHANGING – EMBRACE THE CHANGE!

Digital technology and the internet now play a huge part in all of our lives – especially our children’s. For the most part, school, work and social lives are now all successfully integrated with the internet, offering opportunities that we could have only dreamed of a few years ago – with our children at the forefront of this exciting age of change. Try and embrace the change by seeing it as an adventure rather than a challenge!

LEARN WITH YOUR CHILD

If we are to help our children reach their full personal and academic potential in this new technological era, then we must learn with them on how to use the internet responsibly and safely. Your children might even be able to teach you a thing or two!

STAY A STEP AHEAD OF YOUR CHILDREN

This can be a challenge for many parents who are unfamiliar with the technical devices, websites and social media platforms that their children visit. This parents guide will help you to understand the dangers posed to children online and how to deal with them together as a family.

COMMUNICATION IS KEY

It is vital that your child or children can come to you with their online problems, and communicate freely without the fear of losing internet privileges, such as the closing of their social media accounts or confiscating devices such as mobile phones or laptops. If you can build a relationship with your child/children, where they feel comfortable sharing their online problems with you, it is much more likely that you will be able to help them with any online problems that do occur in the future – before they escalate to the point where your child/children cannot see a way out of the situation.

TOp Tips for Kids

GOLDEN RULES FOR CYBERBULLYING

DON’T RETALIATE

Do not respond to abusive messages or threats. It could make things worse and you might be accused of cyberbullying. Internet trolls want a reaction from you – why give them what they want?

TELL SOMEONE YOU TRUST

Don’t try and deal with this alone – talk to somebody you trust such as your parents, a friend, a family member or a teacher about it. New perspectives can help you to find new solutions.

SAVE EVIDENCE

Record and store any abusive posts, emails or messages. Some types of cyberbullying, harassment and online abuse constitute a criminal offense, and you might need to demonstrate ‘ongoing harassment’ for legal action to be successful at a later date. For help with how to store evidence, visit our technical advice section.

BLOCK AND REPORT

You can stop someone from sending you abusive messages and posting nasty comments on most major platforms by blocking and reporting them to the site administrator. Visit our social media guide to learn more about the reporting procedure for each individual social media platform.

ASK YOUR SCHOOL

Schools and colleges should have an anti-bullying policy which covers cyberbullying and online abuse. Ask what support your school can offer.

NEVER SHARE PASSWORDS

Never share your passwords with anybody, even your friends! If you do, you could lose control of your own accounts, and have trouble regaining control of them. People can then share your personal information publicly. Treat your passwords like your toothbrush – change them frequently and don’t share them with anybody!

NEVER ARRANGE TO MEET IN REAL LIFE

If anyone you don’t know tries to arrange to meet you, tell your parents or somebody you trust immediately. Never meet anybody you don’t know and don’t share personal information with them such as real names, addresses, emails or phone numbers.

THINK BEFORE YOU CLICK

Most online problems start with a misunderstanding, so think about what you really want to say before you start to write. Everybody that uses the internet should have a basic understanding of “netiquette”.

DON’T GET CAUGHT UP AND DON’T BE A BYSTANDER!

Avoid becoming involved in cyberbullying campaigns. Don’t pass on or promote an abusive or rude comment, message or picture just because “everyone else is doing it.” Stop and think about how that person feels.

REPORT CYBERBULLYING

If you see someone is being cyberbullied don’t just stand by and let them suffer. Report it to the platform you are using, your parents or a teacher at your school.

If you need help or support:

THE CYBERSMILE FOUNDATION – cybersmile.org

https://www.stopbullying.gov/resources/facts

https://www.stopbullying.gov/resources/what-you-can-do

https://www.dosomething.org/us/causes/bullying

https://www.greatschools.org/gk/articles/what-parents-can-do-about-childhood-bullying/