Amazing Raider Families,
"Gratitude and attitude are not challenges; they are choices." ~Robert Braathe~
When I returned to the United States after an extended time in the Philippines, I was never more thankful for a toilet that could flush easily. Or, being able to take a shower with running water. Or, not worrying if there is a brown out or black out in electrity on any given day. These are things that we enjoy so easily in this country because the infrastructure was created to handle millions of people using these electricity, toilets and showers at the same time. I don't express my gratitude for these things until it is taken out of my life for a long period of time. That should not be the case. We should always be conscientious about showing our gratitude for everything in our lives. Brene Brown, researcher on Joy and Gratitude, assumed in her research, that joyful people were grateful. What she discovered was the opposite. Instead, she found that people who practiced gratitude tangibly, were joyful people, not the other way around. She stated that "practicing gratitude invites joy into our lives." As we approach Thanksgiving and the holiday season, I encourage you to practice gratitude. Below are ways in which you can practice gratitude.
Tangible Ways to Show Gratitude
- Tell one person daily that you are grateful for them.
- Keep a physical gratitude journal and write down one thing/person/event/anything for which you are grateful each day.
- Complete a gratitude google form that you can have on your cell phone that you can access and input a grateful thought each day. Click HERE to make a copy of a Gratitude Google Form that you can use
- Create a gratitude jar and put on a desk in your bedroom or office desk or in the kitchen for your entire family. Write a gratitude note and place in the jar. At the end of the month, your can look back and see all the blessing you received or experienced in the time period.
- Use one of your own ideas. I know you have many.
Gratitude Notes to Teachers/Staff
As we near Thanksgiving, it is time to put our gratitude for one another in action. I have done this activity in all three schools of which I have had the privilege to lead. Take time to write a note of gratitude to a teacher and/or staff this holiday season. Click HERE below to nominate someone you are grateful for. If you are are nominating more than one teacher, you will need to complete this form by the number of staff members you want to give a note to. My goal is that we have each note printed on a nice paper to give as holiday gifts to them. Raiders, let's make our staff feel loved.
Debrief Friday's Lockdown
Raiders, last Friday, I had to call a lockdown because there was a loud explosion toward the end of lunch. Together, with the strong smell of gunpowder, I had no choice but to call for a lockdown and have SDPD sweep the campus and ensure the campus was safe. Students, bringing explosives on campus is an expellable offense and you can be arrested for it, regardless of the size. After my debrief with the staff, it was brought to my attention that while many of you took the situation and lockdown seriously, there were many of you that did not. In fact, you were overheard saying this, "It was just a firecracker. What is the big deal." Here is the big deal. What if the person who threw it lost their fingers or their hands? What if the loud explosion caused a traumatic reaction from someone who, in the past, experienced violence, such as someone who fought in a war? Those are just two big deal scenarios; there are more. The fact is that those students who did this serious offense do not have gratitude that you have been provided a space for free and public education. Those students have no respect for others. The Friday incident is an open investigation. Any student associated with Friday's incident will be subject to serious consequence including expulsion. I spoke about this incident to the superintendent and he affirmed that anyone who participates in unsafe behavior, such as the Friday incident, will be expelled.
ASB Spirit Week "Thankful Together" is the week of November 18, 2024
Students, let's go into Thanksgiving weekend by participating in the next spirit week called Thankful Together. Here is the list of spirit gear for each day:
- Monday: Flannels or sweaters
- Tuesday: Red or pink
- Wednesday: College sweatshirt
- Thursday: Freshmen: Orange; Sophomores: Green; Juniors: Red; Seniors: Brown; Staff; Yellow
- Friday: School spirit gear
Congratulations to Carlos Martinez for Qualifying for the Cross Country State Championships
We congratulation our Boys Cross Country Team for earning a solid 5th place in the CIF San Diego Section Championship. Carlos Martinez has qualified for the State Championship, We wish him well in his upcoming meet. Congratulations!
SOH Community Fair on Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Parents, SOH is applying to become a community school and WE NEED YOUR INPUT! We invite you to attend a community fair to learn more about it.The fair will start at 6:00pm - 8:00pm in the quad area. There will be many local organizations as well as SOH clubs to demonstrate what it means to be a community school. I will give a short presentation, and then we will ask you to co,mplete a survey to determine the needs of our school. When you complete the survey, you will receive a turkey for Thanksgiving while supplies last. We hope to give away at least 100 turkeys, if not more! Get your voices heard by coming to our fair. Please read the flyer below to get more details. Also, you can get more information by click on the links below.
PS: If you have already completed the survey, come to the fair and claim your turkey.
Operation Samahan will have their mobile clinic at the community fair to check blood pressure, blood sugar levels and on-site insurance assistance.
- Please watch this video on what community schools are all about.
- Watch this video on a local community school, Hoover High School.
- Take the family survey in English, Spanish or Tagalog.
- Take the student survey HERE.
2nd College App Fest is November 22, 2024
Seniors, this is the final day for you get support from counselors. You have to register in order to get the support. Scroll down in the newsletter to scan the QR code to register. November 2 is application deadline!
Friday is a Minimum Day
Parents, a reminder that Friday is a minimum day. will be dismissed at 1:45pm.
Morning Tutoring Continues
Students, if you need a space to catch up on work, please take advantage of our morning tutoring services. So far, no one has taken advantage of the Math and Social Science tutoring. Don't wait to the last minute to ensure that you have good grades.
NEW!! Lunchtime Tutoring is now Available
Raiders, if you need space to make up work, finish homework or complete missing assignments, please take advantage of our Lunchtime Tutoring in the library. You can get tutoring in Math, English, Science and Social Science. Don't wait to the last minute to make up your grades.
Library November Newsletter
Parents and Students, please read the Library Section below with its newsletter. See what our amazing libary team has to offer you!
Counseling Newsletter for Quarter 2
Students, please read the counseling newsletter below. There are important dates and information for our students. Click HERE to read it and access the links.
No School on Thanksgiving Week: November 25 - 29, 2024
Raider families, there is no school the week of Thanksgiving. School will be closed.
Let's have a wonderful week!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Finley
