• September 2: Labor Day (Non School Day)

• September 4: Picture Day!

• September 11: Patriot Day

• September 15-October 15: National Hispanic Heritage Month

• September 16-20: Start With Hello Week

• September 30: Non Student Day

Rabbit, rabbit.

When I woke up this morning and I found myself singing "Wake Me Up When September Ends" by Green Day.

For me, the song is more than just a nostalgic arena rock anthem; it resonates with feelings of loss, reflection, and the fleeting passage of time. It symbolizes transitions—moving from summer into fall, the shift from carefree days to the routines of school and work, or even the subtle sense of melancholy that can accompany seasonal change (though here in San Diego, we don’t really have seasons). Whether you listen to it with memories of past Septembers or simply as a moment to pause and reflect, the song beautifully captures the bittersweet essence of time’s transience.

We are getting set to start our third week of the school year and things are humming along nicely; schedules are set, afternoon and evening activities are happening, and the beat goes on (and the beat goes on, on, on, on, on...). And as the existential philosopher Ferris Bueller once said: ”Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

So, despite Billie Joe’s woeful plea, I’m asking you to keep me awake until September ends. I don’t want to miss a single moment of it.

The first full week of hybrid learning at Connect Academy was a resounding success! We were overjoyed to have our students back in our classrooms both online and in-person, engaging in face-to-face and virtual interactions with their peers and teachers. The positive energy and enthusiasm were palpable throughout our learner spaces.

We are excited to announce that we will be piloting two new ELA programs for the district at Connect Academy. These programs have been carefully selected to provide our students with a comprehensive and engaging language arts curriculum. Each pilot program will run for five weeks, during which we will closely monitor the impact and effectiveness of the programs. Students will be able to pick up textbooks for our first pilot program on Tuesday/Wednesday (if coming in-person) or they can be picked up anytime in the Welcome Center (front office) during regular school hours (9:00 - 3:00).

Mark your calendars! Important dates are coming up!

Tuesday, September 3, we have a science lab scheduled for our students.

This hands-on experience will allow them to explore scientific concepts in a practical and interactive manner. We encourage all students to join us on campus if possible so they can actively participate and make the most of this opportunity to deepen their understanding of the world around them. Options to join us virtually will be available for students who are unable to join us in person.

Wednesday, September 4, is picture day!

If your students are joining us for the entire day, we will begin at our regular time and take photos beginning at 9:30 am. All students are welcome to come to campus to have their school picture taken. The photographers will only be available between 9:30 and 11:00 am. Please arrange to come during this window as we do not have a make-up date set at this time. We look forward to seeing everyone dressed in their picture day finest!

Wednesday, September 4, PE Log #1 is due!

PE at Connect Academy is fully independent. Students are required to complete 400 minutes of sustained elevated heart-rate physical activity every 10 school days. All PE logs must be signed by student and parent/guardian to be accepted for credit. A typed signature is allowed.

PE grades are based on the percentage of the 400 minutes completed. All information, including a tutorial video on how to submit the log, is available in Canvas.

We look forward to the upcoming weeks, filled with more exciting activities and opportunities for growth.

Warm regards,

Mr. Gizzo and Mrs. Matos

Hi, my Name is Matt Hartnett and I am excited to join the Connect Academy team as the Health Services Technician! A little about me, I grew up here in San Diego and spent 15 years working as an EMT for the City of San Diego's Emergency Medical system. I also spent time as a Medical Supervisor at SeaWorld San Diego taking care of overnight campers and park guests.

In my spare time I like to go hiking and to the beach with my family; my wife Maggie, and son Liam. I also enjoy coaching my son's soccer team in 4S, I might even be familiar to some of you from the soccer field!

I look forward to meeting all the students and learning more about the Connect Academy community.

This is a reminder that if your student rides a bike to and from our school, they (and one parent/guardian) will be required to attend a PUSD ebike safety class this Fall. The first of these classes is coming up in September. If you cannot attend one of these classes, additional classes will be scheduled in October (dates TBD). To provide students ample time to comply, this new requirement will be enforced starting January 6, 2025.

You can attend any one of these one-hour classes that work with your and your child’s schedule, regardless of where you are located. Advance Registration is not required. Again, one parent or guardian must attend with their child. At the class, you will be asked to register the make and model of the ebike, VIN#, and student ID, so please come prepared with that information.

• Saturday, Sept. 7 - 10 am at Bernardo Heights Middle School Multi Purpose Room Address: 12990 Paseo Lucido, San Diego, 92128
• Saturday, Sept. 7 - 11am at Bernardo Heights Middle School Multi Purpose Room Address: 12990 Paseo Lucido, San Diego, 92128
• Wednesday, Sept. 11 - 6pm at Poway High School Room K-1 Address: 15500 Espola Road, Poway, 92064
• Tuesday, Sept. 17 - 6pm at Del Norte High School Performing Arts Center Address: 16601 Nighthawk Lane, San Diego, 92127

We appreciate your partnership in taking this important step toward keeping our students safe.

Help your child be an Attendance H.E.R.O.: Here. Everyday. Ready. On-time. Parent partnership is crucial to ensuring our students are receiving the full advantage of consistent school attendance. Students who attend school regularly are significantly more likely to achieve proficient academic levels in reading and math, do better on tests, as well as likelier to graduate and be successful in future endeavors. Help us accomplish this by:

• Establishing consistent bedtimes and wake up times

• Planning ahead to avoid scheduling appointments and vacations during school

• Communicating with teachers regarding illnesses or religious/cultural holidays

• Staying engaged and regularly checking in with your children about their experiences

• Emphasizing the importance of attendance with your children

• Reaching out to us for help to address any barriers to attendance

Thank you for your support and partnership! For more attendance tips and resources go to bit.ly/attendancehero

Connect Academy wants to be good stewards of our ideals and good neighbors to our community. With this in mind, if your student wants to attend a home football game for a Poway Unified School District school, please plan to accompany them to the game or they will be denied entry. Our local high school administrative teams are tasked with monitoring their own students and ensuring that they create a safe atmosphere for their fans. 100 to 200 unaccompanied middle school students from across the district make this task nearly unmanageable. We, and they, appreciate your support with this request.

For the safety of all guests attending Del Norte home football games/athletic events, bikes (e-bikes and regular) are not allowed within the gates. Bikes may not be ridden on any campus sidewalk areas and must be walked by the owner as soon as they leave the parking lot/driveway.

Other reminders for football game attendance:

• All children of middle-school age and below must be accompanied by an adult
• No Re-entry
• No open containers
• No backpacks
• No scooters or skateboards

Mr. Bibby's Tip of the Week: Setting Goals for Success

Setting goals is like creating a roadmap for your success. Whether it's acing a test, improving in a subject, or mastering a new skill, having clear, achievable goals helps you stay focused and motivated. Start by setting SMART goals—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. For example, instead of saying, "I want to get better at math," you might say, "I will complete all my math homework and review class notes for 20 minutes each day to improve my grade by one letter by the end of the semester." This way, you know exactly what you need to do and can track your progress along the way.

Remember, it's important to break down larger goals into smaller, manageable steps. This not only makes your goals feel less overwhelming but also allows you to celebrate small victories as you move forward. If you find yourself struggling, don’t hesitate to ask for help—whether from a teacher, counselor, or a friend. Setting goals is a powerful tool, but staying flexible and being kind to yourself as you work toward them is just as important. Keep your goals in sight, take it one step at a time, and you'll be amazed at what you can achieve!

National Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated from September 15 to October 15, is a time to honor and recognize the rich cultural contributions and diverse heritage of Hispanic and Latino communities. At Connect Academy, we embrace this opportunity to celebrate the achievements, traditions, and history of Hispanic and Latino individuals, both past and present. It is a time to reflect on the valuable impact that Hispanic cultures have made in shaping our society and to foster an environment of inclusivity and respect.

In our school community, National Hispanic Heritage Month is an important occasion to highlight the diverse backgrounds of our students and staff. By integrating culturally relevant activities, lessons, and discussions into our curriculum, we aim to deepen our students' understanding and appreciation of Hispanic cultures. This celebration not only enriches our educational experience but also strengthens our commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all.

As a No Place for Hate school, Connect Academy''s staff and students abhor racism, hate speech, hate crimes, antisemitism, bullying, and violence in the service of hatred on the basis of any protected characteristic. We will always act quickly and justly to ensure our students and staff feel safe and protected. We will not tolerate hateful acts or language. We will not have it here. We must work together to ensure that all humans on campus feel safe and are confident to be their authentic selves. We welcome everyone to our campus. CONA is committed to uniting our students, staff, and community.

Eradicating hate speech from our school extends beyond the classroom. If you haven’t already, please start the conversation at home. Please talk with your children about the impact hate speech can have on others. Anti-Black, Anti-Disability, Anti-Immigrant, Anti-Latino/a, Anti-LGBTQ+, Anti-Muslim, Anti-Semitic, and all forms of hate are not tolerated as they cause significant harm. These conversations can make a difference in the lives of others.

With that in mind, here are a few tools to review with your students when confronted with hate speech and microaggressions.

• Encourage students to interrupt it. Every time. In the moment. Without exception. Directly express their values and disapproval of what is being said. For example, “I find that offensive and I don't agree with it, please don't make those comments.”

• Suggest that they question when confronted with racist statements– asking simple, exploratory questions in response to bigoted remarks can be a powerful tool: “Why do you say that?” “What do you mean?” “Tell me more.”

• Remind students that they can educate- to explain to others why the term or phrase is offensive.

• They can also echo. As the echoing voice, they can reiterate the anti-bias message or they can thank the first person for speaking up. For example, “‘Thank you. I have a lot of respect for you speaking up like that, and I totally agree with you.’”

• Reminded them that if they see something, hear something, sense something, they should say something. They should find a trusted adult and share with them what has taken place.

Derogatory language erodes safety and belonging to our school community. It decimates our school culture. Education is crucial in curbing hate and remains the best way to confront moral conflict. Please talk to your child about the impact hate speech has on others. If you haven’t already, please start the conversation. These necessary conversations will make a difference in the lives of our children. Join us to elevate humanity.

Here are some resources for families:

ADL: Challenging Biased Language

PUSD Racial, Equity, and Inclusion Plan

SPLC: Facilitating Critical Conversations with Students

Please join us in standing together against hate.

Connect Academy FAQ Link

Recording of Back-to-School Zoom Meeting

PUSD Substitutes Needed: With flu, cold, and COVID season upon us, we are once again in need of qualified substitutes to support PUSD and our campus in the event of an LED absence.

If you or someone you know are interested in applying to become a substitute teacher with Poway Unified School District, please click here.

Food and Nutrition Updates and Reminders: School breakfast and school lunch are FREE for all enrolled students, every school day. Meals must still be entered into the cafeteria computer by individual student account.

• Even though meals are free, families are still highly encouraged to complete the application for free and reduced-price meal eligibility. School site funding depends in part on the number of students eligible for free/reduced-price meals. Families that qualify for free/reduced-price meals may qualify for other benefits, as well. The meal application is available online at MySchoolApps.com.

• Printer-friendly PDF menus are available on the PUSD Food and Nutrition webpage. At the top of the page, click or hover over School Menus + and then Printable PDF Menus.

• Interactive, web-based menus containing nutrient and allergen details are available at MySchoolMenus.com, as well as via links from the F&N webpage.