High Desert School Hawk Happenings
Week of September 9, 2024
Good morning 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!
Beginning of the Year Reminders
- Dress Code
- Our High Desert School Dress Code will be enforced. Please remind your students to double-check their attire to ensure that they are dressed appropriately. A copy of the dress code is provide in our newsletter this week.
- Cell Phones
- We are a Cell Phone Free Campus. Please remind students to leave their phones off and in their backpacks while on campus. Away for the Day supports students focus on academic achievement and social-emotional development.
Athletics
- Games start this week for Volleyball!
- 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
- Varsity Girls and Boys Volleyball
- JV Girls Basketball
- JV Boys Soccer
- Cross Country
- Spirit Squad
- 100-Mile Club
Drop Off and Pick Up Plan
- For drop-off, please see the attached diagram. Students will be dropped off at the gate in front of the main office and will continue to the gate in front of the MPR to enter the quad. Students will remain in the Quad in the mornings. The bell will ring at 7:55 am for students to line up for their first class. Parents will proceed down Crown Valley Rd. They will pull into the bus loop and follow it around to exit. For the safety of all of our students, please do not make a U-turn.
- For pick-up, parents will follow the same procedure. Students will wait on the sidewalk area for their ride and parents will follow through the bus loop to exit after picking up their student.
Weekly Flight Plan
Week of September 9, 2024
Monday, September 9
- 100-Mile Club 2:20-3:00pm
- Varsity Girls Volleyball Practice (Green/White) 2:30-4:30pm @ HDS MPR
- Cross Country Practice 5:30-6:30pm @ HDS Outdoor Stage
Tuesday, September 10
- Varsity Boys Volleyball Practice 2:30-4:30pm @ HDS MPR
- JV Girls Basketball Practice 2:30-4:00pm @ HDS Outdoor Courts
- JV Boys Soccer Practice 2:45-4:45pm @ HDS Lower Field
- Cross Country Practice 5:30-6:30pm @ Outdoor Stage
Wednesday, September 11
- Early Release Dismissal at 1:10pm
- 100-Mile Club 1:15-2:00pm
- Varsity Volleyball Practice - Girls (Green Team) 1:30-3:30pm @ HDS MPR
Thursday, September 12
- Spirit Squad Practice 2:30-3:15pm
- Cross Country Practice 2:30-3:30pm @ HDS Outdoor Stage
- JV Girls Basketball Practice 2:30-4:00pm @ HDS MPR
- JV Boys Soccer Practice 2:45-4:45pm @ HDS Lower Field
- Volleyball Game @ Mojave - 3:00pm Girls White, 4:00pm Girls Green
- Show your Hawks Pride and Wear Green, Black, and White on Friday!
- 1st Qtr Progress Report Period Ends
- Cross Country Practice 2:30-3:30pm @ Outdoor Stage
Have a great week and Go Hawks!
Hawk Happenings
Science Labs are Collaborative
Science Labs are Colorful
Science Labs are Creative
CAASPP Testing Scores Now Available
Test results from CAASPP testing in Spring 2024 are now available to parents in the Aeries portal. Login to https://actonaguadulce.aeries.net/student/. Go to Test Scores, the State Test Reports to see the full report.
For questions about how to read the results or what they mean for students, go to https://ca.startingsmarter.org/
Hawk Highlights
Mr. Juan Hernandez - Maintenance
"Thank you to Juan Hernandez for all of his amazing work in getting our campus ready for the school year. The To-Do List was long this year and has continued into the school year. He takes on each task willingly and does such a great job! We are so grateful to have him as part of our team!"
~ HDS Staff and Students
HDS Academics
AVID Advisory and SEL - Weekly Focus
- 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.
School Counselor Presentations
Our School Counselor, Ms. Zuly Quezada, and our School Therapist, Miss Alondra Conde, have been doing classroom presentations for our all of our classes. They are sharing information about their program and ways that they can support students. In addition, they are meeting with students individually to get to know them and offer support/guidance as needed.
Step Up Tutoring - FREE for Grades 5-6
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
HDS Athletics and Activities
2024-2025 Athletics Physicals
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)
Florida Science Trip - Spring Break 2025
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 Parent/Guardian Involvement for Student Success
Attendance Matters
HDS Spirit Wear
HDS Yearbook 2025
Yearbooks are selling quickly. They are a great way to preserve the memories that students make during their middle school years. Purchase your yearbook today online or in the HDS Office.
HDS Counseling Corner
Teen Mental Health Toolkit - For Parents and Guardians
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.
HDS Community Opportunities
Sierra Youth Sports Fall Ball
Desert Winds Soccer League
VHS and Sierra Youth Baseball Clinic
VHS Fall Festival - Oct. 26
Join us for the annual VHS Fall Festival on Oct. 26th from 11am - 2pm at Vasquez High School. Game Booths from HDS include: Booster Club, ASB, 5th grade Outdoor Science School, and more.
VAPA Committee
Our Visual and Performing Arts Committee is looking for student representatives. If you are interested, email Kate O'Mara, VAPA TOSA.
Agua Dulce Fair and Parade - Sept. 21st
Cheer on our students as they take on the parade route at the Agua Dulce Country Fair and Parade on Sept. 21st at 4pm.
Hawk Scholar/Parent Resources
HDS 24-25 School Calendar
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.
Hawk Handbook
Our scholar handbook contains vital information regarding school policies and procedures, please review with your scholar.
HDS Dress Code
Scholar attire is important to keep the focus on learning. Please review and support your scholar in adhering to the school dress code.
HDS Bell Schedule
On-time Behavior is crucial to effective instruction in classrooms. Please support your student in arriving to school on time.
M/T/Th/F - 8:00am to 2:20pm
W - 8:00am - 1:10pm
Daily Attendance = Academic Success
On-Time Behavior
Cell Phones - Away for the Day
PBIS Rewards Family App Access
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.
High Desert School
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