Hawk Headlines: May, 2024
Helping our Hawks SOAR to new heights!
"The greatest gift you can give your family and the world is a healthy you." -Joyce Meyer
Here are two important goals we are working on this month:
-To routinely practice health self-care strategies
-To identify when mental health support might be needed and to know how to access it.
Dates You Need to Know
*All things up to the end of the School Year. The End is Near!
4/29 = Unused Snow Day Make-up = No School!
4/30-5/01 = 6th-8th CAASPP Testing (ELA)
5/01 = 8th Grade Graduation "Warning Day"
5/02-5/03 = 7th-8th CAASPP Testing (Math)
5/06 = Unused Snow Day Make-up = No School!
5/07 = 8th Grade "Celebration of Learning" (*graduation requirement)
5/07 = 6th Grade CAASPP Testing (Math)
5/07 = AMS Parents Club Meeting
5/07 = "Screenagers" Movie Presentation at BHHS, 5:30pm
5/08 = 6th Grade Math Mini-Bowl
5/08 = VUSD Board Meeting @ HFE
5/09 = 8th Grade Celebration of Learning Luncheon
5/09 = 6th Grade CAASPP Testing (Math)
5/10 = Motherlode Track League Finals @ AMS
5/15 = Last Day for 8th Grade, T3 Missing Assignments!
5/15 = Minimum Day Dismissal @ 1:00pm
5/16-5/17 = Frog Jump Holiday = No School!
5/20 = Unused Snow Day Make-up = No School!
5/21 = 6th Grade Mask Display Night!
5/23 = AMS SSC Meeting #4
5/24 = 8th Grade Cut-Off Day! (*graduation eligibility finalized)
5/24 = 8th Grade Bonfire/Movie Night (*grad eligibility required)
5/27 = Memorial Day Holiday = No School!
5/28 = Top Hawk Field Trip
5/30 = 8th Grade Six Flags Field Trip (*grad eligibility required)
5/31 = 7th Grade Medieval Faire
6/03 = Unused Snow Day Make-up = No School!
6/04 = 8th Grade Awards Night!
6/05 = VUSD Board Meeting @ District Office Conference Room
6/06 = 5th Grade Promotion Ceremony, 9:30am
6/06 = 8th Grade Graduation Ceremony, 6:30pm/8th Grade Grad Dance! (*grad eligibility required)
6/06 = Minimum Day Dismissal @ 1:00pm
6/07 = 6th/7th T3 Honor Roll Assembly, 9:00am
6/07 = 2024-2025 Student Council Speeches/Elections, 9:30am
6/07 = Last Day of School; Minimum Day Dismissal @ 1:00pm
8th Grade Graduation is Coming
The end of the middle school journey is near for another amazing 8th grade class. We are working diligently to assure as many students are graduation eligible as possible. This isn't just about walking across the stage; this eligibility is for all End-of-the-Year 8th grade activities. Please see the calendar above for event dates. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your 8th grade student's status in regard to academics, behavior, or attendance, please call the school office ASAP at (209) 795-8520. We hope to see all of you on June 6!
Athletics Calendar
*Track Season is Nearly Complete! 😎
Only one track meet to go... The Motherlode League Finals! Good luck to our track stars and coaches!!
Track Meet #4: Motherlode League Finals @ Avery Middle School
Date/Time: Friday, 5/10 @ 9:00am-4:00pm
State Testing Readiness
State CAASPP testing is here! CAASPP stands for CAlifornia Assessment of Student Performance and Progress. Our Hawks are once again poised to show off their mastery of the CA Academic Standards for grades 6-8. Our school testing window opened on 4/26 with the goal of full completion on 5/15 (No School on 5/16 - 5/17 due to Frog Jump). The schedule is as follows:
8th Grade:
April 26 - CA Science Test (CAST); Completed
April 30 - ELA Computer Adaptive Test (CAT)
May 1 - ELA Performance Task (PT)
May 2 - Math CAT
May 3 - Math PT
7th Grade:
April 30 - ELA CAT
May 1 - ELA PT
May 2 - Math CAT
May 3 - Math PT
*CA Physical Fitness Test TBD; Facilitated by Mrs. Williams during PE classes
6th Grade:
April 30 - ELA CAT
May 1 - ELA PT
May 7 - Math CAT
May 9 - Math PT
*May 7-May 15 = Make-up testing sessions as needed; Facilitated by Mr. Nicotero/Ms. Snow
**Please note: There will be no testing on April 29 and May 6 (days off) and May 10 (Track Meet - League Finals)
Students will complete only one test per day in an effort to reduce concern over testing stamina. Students will complete testing on their personal Chromebooks in their 1st period homerooms; research suggests the familiar classroom is the BEST possible testing environment. We have substantial testing blocks planned to allow for the completion of daily tests before lunch. Students will more than likely finish daily testing in 1-2 hours… easily.
How can you help? First, and most importantly, please be sure your student attends school every day during these crucial testing sessions. Our goal every year is to reach a 100% completion rate! Believe me, completing tests on make-up days is no fun. In fact, as an added incentive to be here on testing days, I will be offering students with perfect attendance on ALL of their specific test days an opportunity to win a $50 Amazon gift card, one card/drawing per grade level!! Also, please be sure your student is well-rested, well-fed, and wearing comfortable clothing on test days. Our staff will provide guidance, support (as much as is allowed), and snacks in the homeroom classes during testing sessions. Please assure your student he/she will do well!
I am hopeful and optimistic about what our CAASPP results will show for the 23-24 school year. If you have specific questions or concerns, please contact the school office at (209) 795-8520.
Thanks for the continued support of our HAWKS and helping them SOAR during these very important days.
May 7th - Screenagers: Growing up in the Digital Age
At Vallecito Union School District, positive student mental health is a top priority!
We are very excited to announce we recently secured a license to show the documentary film, Screenagers: Growing up in a Digital Age. We invite our community, our families and our staff to attend this FREE event on Tuesday, May 7th at the Bret Harte Performing Arts Theater located on the high school campus starting at 5:30pm. Immediately after the screening, a panel of counselors, mental health and behavior specialists will engage the audience in a panel discussion. This film is intended for any parent who struggles with their own children about screen time. For anyone confused with what limits are best, especially around mobile phones, social media, gaming and how to monitor online homework, this documentary will affirm that you are not alone and share scientific research about the changes to the brain in children as a result of screen time.
Mark your calendar and join us for this FREE event. Highway 4 corridor community members, parents and their children are encouraged to attend.
Transportation Update!
We continue to experience a bus driver shortage in our district. While our Manager of Transportation, Jason Lewis, is working diligently to cover our basic home-to-school routes and local field trips, we regret to inform you that we are unable to provide transportation for longer distance field trips at this time.
We understand the inconvenience and disappointment this may cause, and we want to assure you that we are actively seeking to hire additional bus drivers to address this issue. To attract qualified candidates, we have recently introduced a $3000 signing bonus for new hires who are eligible to drive a school bus.
We kindly ask for your assistance in spreading the word about this opportunity to potential applicants. Your support in helping us fill this important position is greatly appreciated.
Daily Attendance Goal = 95%
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2023-2024 VUSD Calendar
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