Hello Charter families!

Here's hoping your Spring Break was safe, restful, and rejuvenating! We look forward to seeing our Quails back on campus tomorrow!

State Testing (CAASPP) season is almost upon us, so parents of 3rd - 8th and 11th graders, please click here to access your annual Parent/Guardian testing notification letter, containing helpful information for you. As you probably remember, even though we are still achieving relatively high scores, particularly in English, we still declined quite significantly between 2023 and 2024 across all three subject areas and particularly in Math. (Click these links for a look at the year-to-year comparison for English and Math - note you can click "View Detailed Data" to drill down to specific subgroup information). Science achievement has just this past year started being reported again.

We all know standardized tests are limited in their ability to reflect the whole picture of a student's learning and growth, but with that perspective in mind, we still want to - and need to - show growth in our academics. So the teachers and I will be supporting students in taking the testing seriously, and we would appreciate your doing the same from home. Thank you for being our partners in this. Please let me know if you have any questions!

Our Charter testing schedule is as follows - homeschool parents please note your students are testing on "non enrichment days" as well:

QHHS (3rd - 5th grade):

3rd grade testing orientation: Wed, April 30 from 10am - 11:30am

ELA - Mon, May 5 and Tues, May 6 at 9:15am

Math - Wed, May 7 and Thurs, May 8 at 9:15am

Science (5th grade only) - Fri, May 9 at 9:15am

Nature Academy (6th - 8th grade):

ELA - 6th grade - Wed, May 7 and Thurs, May 8 - first period

7th grade - Wed, May 7 and Fri, May 9 - first period

8th grade - Wed, May 7 and Fri, May 9 - second period

Math - 6th grade - Wed, May 14 and Fri, May 16 - third period

7th grade -Wed, May 14 and Fri, May 16 - second period

8th grade - Wed, May 14 and Fri, May 16 - first period

Science (8th grade only) - Tues, May 13 - first period

QHIA (6th - 8th grade):

ELA - Mon, May 5 and Tues, May 6 at 9:15am

Math - Wed, May 7 and Thurs, May 8 at 9:15am

Science (8th grade only) - Tues, May 6 at 12:30pm

Coast Redwood Middle (6th - 8th grade):

ELA - Mon, May 5 and Tues, May 6 at 9:30am

Math - Wed, May 7 and Thurs, May 8 at 9:30am

Science (8th grade only) - Fri, May 9 at 9:30am

Coast Redwood High (11th grade):

ELA - Mon, Apr 21 and Wed, Apr 23 at 8:30am

Math - Tues, Apr 22 and Thurs, Apr 24 at 8:30am

Science - Fri, Apr 25 at 8:30am

Annual Charter Parent Survey

We had a record breaking 82% of families responding to the Annual Charter Parent Survey! Thank you all for your participation and for your thoughtful and helpful feedback, which, even when it was "critical" was kindly meant and always for the good of our school. Students and staff also had a chance to give input, and I am now in the process of incorporating the results into my planning for the 2025-26 LCAP, as well as for overall school and program improvements. We couldn't do any of it without our wonderful Charter families, staff and students!

Parent Math Training

Our 2nd-to-last Math training with Mariana Allred of Silicon Valley Math Initiative is happening on Thursday, April 17 and you can sign up here if you're the parent of a TK - 9th grader wanting some excellent advice for how to help your student build confidence in their number sense and mathematical thinking!

9:15 - 10:15 (6th - 9th grade)
10:30 - 11:20 (2nd - 5th grade)
11:30 - 12:20 (TK - 1st grade)

Please read further for some important Charter updates and announcements. Remember to click here to add our Website Calendar to your google calendars to see all Charter events! Your child's teacher will have shared their specific program calendar as well.

Have a wonderful week!

Kerry

kleroux@slvusd.org

T. 831-335-0932

Hey there Charter students in 5th through 8th grade, are you interested in participating in the county math contest this year? The competition will be on Saturday May 3rd from 8:45-11am at Aptos High School. You will compete in teams of 3-5 students as well as an individual against other students in the county in your grade level.

If it works for you to participate, Ms Machnee is offering a few after school team practice sessions on Wednesday 4/23 and 4/30 from 2:30-3:30pm. I understand these practice times may conflict with other after school activities and while attending is encouraged, it is totally optional.

If you would like to participate, please sign up using the linked google form by Monday 4/21.

County Math Contest Sign Up

We are thrilled to welcome Jeff Dagan to our Charter staff starting in 25-26. He will be teaching English Language Arts at Coast Redwood High School.

In his own words:

I was raised on the island of Maui, where I spent a lot of my free time in the ocean either surfing or canoe paddling. After graduating from high school I attended Pepperdine University in Malibu CA. I was able to spend my entire sophomore year studying abroad in London and Florence, which was an incredible experience! I earned a BA in English in 1996. After that I returned to Maui and later completed a MA in Education from the University of Phoenix. From 2004-08 I worked as the 9-12th grade English teacher at Kihei Charter High School on Maui. In 2008, my wife and I, along with our two kids, moved from Maui to our current home in Ben Lomond. We are so grateful that our daughter and son both went from K-12 in this beautiful SLV mountain community! For the last 17 years (2008-present) I have been an English teacher at DCP El Primero High School in San Jose. I am committed to creating a positive and rigorous learning environment for all of our students. In my free time I enjoy surfing, snowboarding, golfing, spending time in nature, and taking our two dogs to the beach. SLV is such a strong community, and I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the Coast Redwood High School team in the San Lorenzo Valley starting this Fall!

Welcome, Jeff!

Hello Charter students!

My name is Zasha Sterling, and I am an 8th grader at QHIA, working on an art project called Scrapbook. I’m hoping you can help me with it!

Every week for five weeks, starting Monday, April 21, I will email anyone who signs up for this project an Artist’s Prompt. There will be 5 prompts in total, and you will have a week to complete each prompt by sending me a piece of art work. Prompts will only be released the week of, and not in advance, so you won’t know what’s coming until you receive the email prompt.

You can use any medium: clay, woodcarving, spoken word art, crafting, digital art, painting, drawing, you name it!

After you’re done, you will send me your creation in the form of either a picture you’ve taken, a PNG file, or a digital link to your art. My email address is 29zsterling@slvusd.org. l will put each piece into a slideshow that will be shared with all of SLV Charter.

This is not a competition; it’s a collaboration. No-one will be judged or ridiculed (made fun of) for what they draw or make. This project is for anyone who likes to draw or do art, no matter your age or experience.

At the end of the 5 weeks, before we go on summer break, we will have a giant digital scrapbook containing everyone’s art!

My goal is to create a safe space for artists of all ages and skill levels to share their work, and I highly encourage anyone who likes to draw to sign up.

Starting tomorrow, Tuesday, April 15, there will be a sign up sheet in the Library at lunch. You will need to give your full name, your age, teacher’s name, and your school email address. Please note that your name will be put next to your art in the Slideshow UNLESS you indicate on the sign up form that you wish to remain anonymous.

The prompts will be emailed to you on each successive Sunday night.

Note: You are not required to do all five prompts! You can sign up any time before Thursday of that week, to get the Sunday email.

You will find all these events and more on the google calendar shared by your Program teacher and on the Website calendar.

April is Arab American Heritage Month! Click Here to access resources for Homeschool parents from our fabulous Librarian!

Tues, Apr 15 - 11:30am Lego in the Library

- Gaga ball pit reserved at lunch for Elementary

Wed, Apr 16- GSA meets weekly in room 19 at lunch

- SLV Charter Board presentation

Thurs, Apr 17 - Student Council meets at 8am in the Library

- SVMI Parent Math Training in room 12 - Sign up here!

- Chess Club meets at 12:15 under the shade structure

- SLVHS Open House - 5:30pm

Fri, Apr 18 - Fashion Teens Event at the Rio Theater - 6:30pm

Mon, Apr 21 - Coast Redwood High CAASPP testing week begins

- Due date for Grade 5 - 8 students to sign up for County Math Contest

Tues, Apr 22 - Earth Day

- 11:30am Lego in the Library

- Gaga ball pit reserved at lunch for Elementary

- SLVMS Open House - 5:30pm

Wed, Apr 23 - GSA meets weekly in room 19 at lunch

Thurs, Apr 24 - Colors of the Earth Dress Up Day!

- Student Council meets at 8am in the Library

- Principal's Coffee and Parent Advisory Council meeting - 9:30am MPR

- Chess Club meets at 12:15 under the shade structure

- SLVE Open House - 5:30pm

- All-Charter Talent Show - 7pm in the PAC

Fri, Apr 25 - Senior Prom 7:30pm

For planning further ahead:

Mon, April 21 - CAASPP testing begins for 11th grade CRHS (Math, Science, ELA); Map testing for 9 and 10 (ELA, Math; 9th grade Science)

Mon April 28 - Fri, May 2 - Staff Appreciation Week

Tues, April 29 - SLV Charter Open House - All Programs - 5:30pm in the MPR

Thurs, May 1 - BCE Open House - 5:30pm

Mon, May 5 - CAASPP testing for all other programs begins - click here for schedule

Fri, May 9 - Month 11 paperwork due for homeschools

- All Charter Movie Night (donations benefiting all programs) - details TBA

Wed, May 21 - District Music Festival at Roaring Camp.- 4pm

Thurs, May 22 - Last Enrichment day for homeschool programs

• Heartwood Homeschool Year End Celebration - 9am
• Quail Hollow Homeschool 5th Grade Celebration - 10am

Tues - Fri, May 27 - 30 - Nature Academy excursion

Thurs, May 29 - QHIA 8th Grade Advancement - 9:30am

Tues, June 3 - CRMS 8th Grade Advancement - 10:30am

- Month 12 paperwork due for homeschools

Wed, June 4 - Nature Academy 8th Grade Advancement - 12:30pm

- Volunteer Tea - 1:30pm

Thurs, June 5 - CRHS Graduation - 10am

- Last day of school!

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Nature Academy parents, don't forget to check the Nature Academy Google Calendar to be sure which bell schedule we're on each day! (You can also click here if you are not a Google Calendar subscriber)

• A1 Mondays are 1:19pm dismissal at Nature Academy
• A2 Mondays are 2:05pm dismissal at Nature Academy
• A3 Mondays are 3:00pm dismissal at the tricampus
• O days are Tues/Thurs, dismissal 2:05pm;
• E days are Wed/Fri, dismissal 2:20pm (Wed) and 2:05 (Fri);
• Minimum Days dismiss at 12:05;
• Excursion Days (dates not all finalized) - times are individual to the excursion, but typically 3pm dismissal

From Superintendent Chris Schiermeyer: "Providing a safe place for students to learn and grow is one of the most important responsibilities of our school system. All San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District schools have a School Safety Plan in place. Drill procedures for emergencies and disasters are regularly practiced at each school.

Starting the 2024-2025 school year, we have changed our countywide codes for emergency drills in collaboration with law enforcement and the fire departments. Our new codes are as follows: Evacuation, Reverse Evacuation, Hall Check, and Lockdown. Please see the Standard Command Emergency Response Poster for more details on these types of drills that will be practiced at our school sites as required by law.

Along with school staff, your family plays a critical role in preventing and responding to school emergencies. The information posted on the Emergency Information website page is intended to provide parents/guardians with the steps you can take “before”, “during”, and “after” an emergency. Please note the emergency information has been revised to be in alignment with the newly adopted codes. Please take a moment to review this information."

SLV Charter will be starting our monthly/quarterly evacuation drills (elementary/secondary) shortly. Please be sure to sign in to get a visitor sticker if you're coming on campus so that if you're on site for a drill we can account for you. Please contact me if you have any questions!

3rd through 9th grade parents, please continue to encourage daily keyboarding practice with Touch Type Read Spell, the "award winning multi-sensory course that teaches typing, reading and spelling" aimed at students from elementary to high school. We are now requiring all students to spend a minimum of 1 hour a week or longer. This program license lasts until May of 2025, and after completion of all 24 levels* (approx. one year), your child should show a substantial improvement in keyboarding fluency. 24 levels over one year equates to 15 modules per week. If you did not receive your welcome email with login details, please contact your child's teacher or email me!

"Based on the average completion time, a student using TTRS for one hour per week should complete approximately 744 modules in a year. The main TTRS Course consists of 24 levels, with 31 modules in each level, totaling 744 modules. On average, students complete the entire course in about 12 months when dedicating one hour per week to the program.

It's important to note that individual progress may vary, and some learners might complete the course faster if they spend more than an hour per week on TTRS."

Parents of students in TK - 9th grade! Have you struggled when helping your child with Math? We are once again offering a once-monthly Thursday morning Math training for parents, presented by an awesome instructor from the Silicon Valley Math Initiative (SVMI). Please sign up here for one or all of the sessions on offer - they will build on one another over the course of the year. (Note there is a new tab for 2nd semester at the bottom of the spreadsheet.)

6th - 9th parents come from 9:15 - 10:15am

2nd - 5th parents come from 10:30 - 11:20am

TK - 1st parents come from 11:30 - 12:20pm

Remaining Dates: Apr 17, May 8

Parents can now sign out loaner Chromebooks through the library for their students to use at home, starting tomorrow, Tues 8/20 and every Tues-Thurs according to the times below:

Charter Library

Tues, Wed, Thurs

8:30-9:30am or 2:15-3pm

Students can’t sign out a Chromebook without a parent; it requires a parent's signature. If there’s a problem, parents can email Mabel at CHlibrary@slvusd.org to make arrangements.

Students should not be bringing a personal laptop to school unless it’s part of an IEP. All teachers have class sets of chromebooks for students to use if it's required as part of the lesson.

If your child is in 6 - 12th grade, your teacher most likely uses Schoology to record assignment and test scores.

How a parent logs into Schoology:

1. Get your parent access code from your teacher or administrator.
2. When you have your parent access code, go to app.schoology.com/register.php.
3. Click the “Parent” button below the “Instructor” and “Student” buttons” in the “Sign Up for Schoology” section.
4. Enter the access code you received, and click Continue.
5. Enter your name and email (not the student’s) and choose a password.

Refer to the Parent Schoology Handbook to learn more.

Attendance matters!

Our attendance rate improved last year - thank you for your ongoing partnership in supporting good attendance! Students need to participate consistently, whether it be in a homeschool program, where work completion counts as attendance, or in our classroom-based 5 day a week Nature Academy.

Students who are absent 10% or more in a school year are typically "less proficient in reading, writing and math than their peers with good attendance" (Source: CA Dept of Ed.)

Volunteer application hours - PLEASE NOTE: The Charter Office and SLVUSD Human Resources Office hours will process volunteer registrations at the following times:

Tuesdays from 7:00-11:00 am

Thursdays from 12:30-3:30 pm.

The Human Resources Office is located at 325 Marion Avenue, Ben Lomond, CA 95005.

All Charter parents are encouraged to register with the District as a volunteer and a field trip driver. (All parents are asked to drive on excursions...)

Please click here to access the required volunteer paperwork. Hard copy paperwork is also available at the Charter Office.

To use your personal vehicle to transport your own or other students, we will need updated driver information on file as well - please click here for the form.

Ø New Volunteer: You will be required to fill out the volunteer paperwork and obtain a signature from the principal. Once complete, please bring your signed paperwork to the Human Resources Office. You will be required to provide a current TB result. Also, all new volunteers will be required to be fingerprinted.

Ø Returning Volunteer: You will be required to provide current TB results (within the last 4 years). If you don't know whether your TB is current, check with the Charter office. If you are turning in updated TB info, you can bring it to the Charter office or directly to the Human Resources Office.

• All SLVUSD students are eligible to receive a free breakfast and lunch through the cafeteria. Breakfast can be picked up any time from 8:15am - 8:45am, no order needed.
• Lunch no longer needs to be ordered online. Our lunch lady will bring enough hot lunches for everyone who wants one, but should these run out we will have healthy cold alternatives available (salads, sandwiches, etc.)
• Meals are be served from our Multi-use Room in the central area of the campus
• Lunch times vary per program, but generally happen in the 11:50 - 12:30 window
• Elementary students will have lunch cards (kept in the MPR).
• Secondary students will need to key in their student ID on a keypad

Although a meal application is not necessary for your child to receive free meals during the 2024-2025 school year, households are asked to complete a meal application to ensure that your school receives accurate funding. As well, your child’s eligibility for free or reduced lunch could qualify you for additional outside services or benefits including Free/Reduced Bus passes, student fee waivers, P-EBT, discounted utilities, and more.

• Link to SLV Student Nutrition Services website

If your child takes the bus to or from school, please remember you will need to purchase a bus pass.

ALL Nature Academy students have to be registered to take bus transportation on A1 days to the tricampus. (No need to pay.) Registration form link.

Students at Coast Redwood High who need afternoon transportation to the tricampus for concurrent enrollment classes can take the TK bus that leaves the District Office at noon each day. They will not need to pay for a bus pass. However, they still need to register. Rides will be denied if students are not registered.)

Please click here to access the Transportation web page for any other information you need.

The Charter Office staff ask families to call in before 1:50pm if they have a message for their student about changing that day's bus transportation arrangement.

If you’re interested in following our Instagram account, showcasing news and events from SLVUSD Charter School, here is the info:

“I'm on Instagram as slvcharterschool. Install the app to follow my photos and videos, or click this link: https://instagram.com/slvcharterschool?igshid=MzMyNGUyNmU2YQ==

(Please know that we will be very careful not to post pictures of students on the "Do not Photograph" list.)

And if you haven't started following the District Instagram accoount, look for "slvusd" and click "Follow!"

Charter students are eligible to try out to play in all sports at SLVMS and SLVHS. Please keep an eye on the respective websites so your child is aware of the tryout schedule for each season's sports. We will also share that information as we receive it.

Athletes, remember that eligibility rules require you to carry at least a 2.0 GPA (C average) to remain eligible to complete in the middle school athletics practices and competitions.

Parents, please read this updated Spectator Code of Conduct from SLVMS Principal Shanna Urbancic.

Please click here for a link to the Panther Athletics website (SLVMS)

Click here for a list of the tryout dates for 24-25

Fall Sports (August - October)

Boys Soccer

Girls Basketball

Cross Country (No cuts)

Winter I Sports (October - December)

Girls Soccer

Boys Basketball

Winter II Sports (January-March)

Girls Volleyball

Wrestling (no cuts)

Flag Football

Spring Sports (March- May)

Girls Softball
Boys Volleyball
Golf

Track and Field (no cuts)

Please click here for a link to the Cougar Athletics website (SLVHS).

Did you know that our district maintains a "Community Opportunities" website? This is for parents / students to receive information about current local events and opportunities for adults and/or children.

Note: The San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District does not sponsor or endorse any of the organizations or events that are located here. They are non-school sponsored events and are not being promoted by the school district. All postings are provided as a courtesy to the parents/students.

Homework Help at the Public Library

Bring your assignments to one of the FREE drop-in Homework Help sessions at one of the following public libraries.

Tuesdays from 3:00p to 5:00p.

Downtown, 224 Church St., Santa Cruz

Felton, 6121 Gushee St.

Capitola, 2005 Wharf Rd.

La Selva Beach, 316 Estrella Ave.

Open to all students up to grade 12.

Call 831.427.7713 for more information.

And also from the Santa Cruz Public Libraries:

SCPL are particularly excited to offer a new resource from Brainfuse called CollegeNow, which offers support with college applications, essays and more. This is in addition to HelpNow live tutoring.

Please click here for a press release containing comprehensive information on the many resources SCPL offers to all students. SCPL looks forward to welcoming your students to any of their 10 branches, Annex and Bookmobile during this new school year!

Guide to Resources for Families in SLV

Here's a handy one-pager listing various organizations and resources for families in the San Lorenzo Valley.

Mental Health resources

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - with a link to their March newseltter

Brightlife Kids, an organization that provides free online support in behavioral coaching for parents, caregivers and students aged 0 - 12.

Please click here for a link to a flier from the Community Action Board of Santa Cruz, containing a number of useful resources for families. CAB's mission is to "partner with the community to eliminate poverty and create social change through advocacy and social service. "

Triple P/First Five of Santa Cruz County offer ongoing parenting classes for parents of students of all ages. Please click here to see their workshop offerings.

Triple P also offers 1:1 sessions for parents who are needing intensive 10 week session and add-on sessions for people who are divorcing or separating (Family Transitions), for couples wanting to work on their relationship (Enhanced) and for people wanting to work on their strong emotions, like anger (Pathways). If interested in 1:1 sessions, please contact First 5 of Santa Cruz: https://www.first5scc.org/contact

Email: kleroux@slvusd.org
Website: charter.slvusd.org
Phone: (831) 336-5167