Weekly Wildcat Words

This week El Camino High School welcomed U.S. Veterans to our campus this past Friday for the 30th consecutive year. Veterans from World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and Wars in the Middle East were all welcomed. Our guest speaker was Bill Birnie, the CEO and President of Frontwave Credit Union and Arena. On behalf of the Wildcat Family, we extend our most respectful gratitude to all Veterans. Thank you for your service.

Our Wildcat Recognition Award Program recognizes students who are demonstrating positive behavior, academic achievement and/or improvement, and is tied to our Core Values of Perseverance, Empathy, Respect, Responsibility, and Collaboration. Teachers and staff nominate any student for this recognition. Certificates are given out weekly to students who are nominated and their names are entered into a drawing for a gift certificate.

CONGRATULATIONS to the following students who were nominated this week: Londyn B, Jordan C, Sophia C, Cayden C, Conrad D, Jaselene M, Lauren M, Akilah P, Myint P, Jeremiah P, Ruby P, Sophie R, Erik R, Javier R, Felopater R, Alberto S, and Savannah Z.

National Child Safety and Protection Month, observed in November, highlights the importance of safeguarding children from various risks they may encounter in daily life. This awareness month encourages parents, educators, and communities to take proactive measures to protect children from harm, both at home and in public spaces. By promoting safety education and preventive actions, National Child Safety and Protection Month aims to create safer environments and empower children with the knowledge to protect themselves.

Recognizing child safety and protection month

OUSD is making an important change in our student progress report/report card distribution process. Beginning this reporting period, progress reports/report cards will no longer be printed and mailed home. Instead, parents and guardians will access their child's progress reports/report cards electronically through the Aeries Parent Portal.

This shift to digital grade access offers several benefits, including:

• Environmental sustainability: Reduces paper consumption and waste.

• Faster access: Parents can view grades immediately upon release.

• Improved communication: Provides a centralized platform for parents to access student information.

• Cost savings: Eliminates printing and mailing expenses.

To support this transition, we have taken the following steps:

• Parent Resources: The IT department has created a series of instructional videos to guide parents on navigating the Aeries Parent Portal and accessing report cards.

• These videos are available at https://bit.ly/ousdparentportal

• These resources can also be found on the ITS webpage at www.oside.us/departments/information-technology-services-its/aeries-parent-portal.

After successfully piloting a school safety and audio system at two of our schools during the 23-24 school year, at the June 2024 Board of Education meeting, the Board approved installing this system at all OUSD schools. This enhancement serves as an update to our current bell and intercom system. Each classroom teacher will have a device on a lanyard that amplifies sound throughout the classroom during every lesson. Every student, no matter where they sit, will be able to clearly hear the teacher and information being taught. Along with audio and video capabilities, the new device incorporates a safety notification button to alert administration and front offices of any emergency situation. In the event of a classroom emergency, the teacher can activate the camera for office staff to view the situation. The device identifies the exact location to initiate school safety protocols. Further, and only in the event of a lockdown or active shooter emergency, Oceanside Police Department can utilize these same cameras to access views into classrooms and throughout the school.

Now that 6-week grades are out, we are asking all parents and guardians to review those grades with your students. If you student earned a D or an F grade in any academic course, we encourage you to have them access Tutor.com which is a FREE resource for all OUSD students.

Students also have access to use drop-off writing review, self-paced test prep from The Princeton Review®, as well as other learning resources. To access Tutor.com, students just need to click on the Tutor.com tile on their student dashboard on their district device. No username or password required. Students can access Tutor.com 24hrs a day every day of the year (including summer break), except Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

• Short slide deck on how to access Tutor.com
• Top 10 Facts for Parents - ENGLISH Flyer; Top 10 Facts for Parents - SPANISH Flyer
• How it Works - ENGLISH Flyer; How it Works - SPANISH Flyer

Seniors, spots are filling up fast for senior portraits with PSS Imaging. Please schedule your senior portrait session soon to have your senior portrait in the yearbook. Information and the link to schedule is in your daily bulletin and it is also on the school website. If you do not schedule a portrait, then your school ID picture is the one that will be featured in the yearbook. If you have any questions, please contact the yearbook advisor ~ elizabeth.perkoski@oside.us. The deadline for getting your senior photo taken has been extended to Friday, December 20.

If you are looking for information regarding our El Camino policies and procedures, please be sure to take some time to check out our updated 2024-25 ECHS Student/Parent/Guardian Handbook.

• Cell Phone Policy: The purpose of our school wide Cell Phone Policy is to ensure all students will not be distracted by cell phone use. To ensure that our scholars can focus on their academics, we will support them by having students place their cell phones in the cell phone pocket holder as they enter the classroom for each teacher. For more information, check out our ECHS Cell Phone Policy as well as our district policy of Off and away during the day - OUSD.
  

• Tardy Policy: As a Responsible student, being on time to each class allows time to organize materials to focus on the lesson and/or activities for that class. Alternatively, students who are late to class, disrupt instruction, distract their classmates and may have a lower grade point average (GPA) due to missed instruction. Link to ECHS Tardy Policy

• Community Resource Guide: OUSD is pleased to partner with several community organizations to provide our families with resources for food, clothing, shelter, health and mental wellness, and many other services. For more information, check out the links below to the Community Resource Guide or contact our School Community Advisor.
  

Community Resource Guide English

Community Resource Guide Spanish

• Care Solace: We believe that mental health and personal well-being is a vital part to your student’s success at school. With this in mind, we have partnered with Care Solace to provide an extra layer of support to our entire community. OUSD students and their families can use Care Solace to quickly find verified mental health, behavioral health, and substance use treatment options matched to their needs, regardless of circumstances. Care Solace’s team is available 24/7/365 and can support you in any language. To use Care Solace to help you find a provider:
• Call 888-515-0595 available 24/7/365
• Visit www.caresolace.com/ousd and either search on your own OR click “Book Appointment” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.

El Camino High School is a proud recipient of the 2024 CA Distinguished Schools award! The CA Distinguished Schools Program honors some of California's most exemplary and inspiring public schools. EC is one of 293 California middle and high schools receiving this recognition this year. Schools selected for the Distinguished School Award demonstrate significant gains in narrowing the achievement gap.

ECHS Mission

The mission of El Camino High School is to foster an inclusive, challenging environment that creates a clear educational path for all students. Our focus is to create well-rounded, contributing citizens who can value others, think critically, act responsibly, create and collaborate with others, and effectively share their ideas while respecting the ideas of others.

ECHS Vision

Students and staff work together to develop a community where diversity, acceptance, and tradition are respected and our students will graduate as lifelong learners prepared for continuing education or career and for active citizenship in a global and technological-based society.

ECHS Core Values

PERRC Up, Wildcats!

Perseverance

Empathy

Respect

Responsibility

Collaboration

Website: https://www.oside.us/Page/9
Location: 400 Rancho Del Oro Drive, Oceanside, CA, USA
Phone: (760) 901-8000