Hilltop Herald - Parent Edition
Be Respectful ~ Be Responsible ~ Be Resilient
Volume 1 ~ Issue 20 ~ January 17, 2023
Wonderful Falcon Families,
"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically, Intelligence plus character – that is the true goal of education." ~ Martin Luther King
Happy Martin Luther King's Day!
One of the things I love about this weekend is that I always get to celebrate my birthday with the late esteemed Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. As I was preparing for Semester 2 to begin, I came across this quote from Dr. King, "The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically, Intelligence plus character – that is the true goal of education." This is the work we do at HTM - the balance between the HEAD and the HEART. And we do this in community where we (students, teachers, parents and families) work together to produce a future generation that is hopefully better than our generation. Our actions in the present will always shape our future.
Dr. King also said, "Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality." On Friday, we were placed in a situation where the school had to go on a lockdown because two people at the park decided to act without thinking how it would be our community. Another example is when you decided to say something as a joke that we cannot take as a joke. Whether a good or bad action is done on or off campus, the whole community is affected. If the action happens out in the community, it will eventually come on campus. These negative acitons are learned behaviors; hence, they can be unlearned.
It is even more important than ever before that we work together and teach our students to know what PRIDE AND RESPECT IN OUR COMMUNITY look like. A negative act done to any of us is done on the entire Hilltop community. This week, please take time to discuss with your child(ren) how actions, good or bad, affect all of us, and only through our collective efforts can we ensure that we act in a manner that enhance our community and everything in it. Our collective work and conversations about PRIDE IN OUR COMMUNITY and what that looks like in action is something that Dr. King would be proud of.
Balancing Classes
Falcons, per the teachers' contract, we are required to balance classes by the 10th day, which is January 23, 2023. While the counselors are working hard to minimize the change, know that if one or some of your classes changes, it is because it was necessary. Thank you for understaninding.
Eighth Grade Promotion Information
Eighth Graders, your promotion ceremony will be held at Hilltop High School on May 31, 2023 at 5:30pm. Due to the COVID pandemic, many of you did not have a chance to make up your failed classes, so you have been given an opportunity to participate despite that you have not made up your Fs. In order to participate, you will need to pass ALL your classes THIS SEMESTER - NO Fs. Pass all 6 or 7 classes, participate in promotion. Fail one, you will not be able to participate in promotion. Please read this letter from the Office of Curriculum and Instruction [Click HERE for English] Click HERE for Spanish].
Future Falcon Parent Nights
Falcon parents, if you have 6th grade children who will be coming to HTM in 2023-2024, please attend one of the informational meetings that we have planned for January 25 and 26, 2023. Please read the flyer below.
Next ASB Spirit Week
Falcons, to give you enough time to prepare, the next Spirit Week is January 23-27, 2023. Here are the Spirit Days. We will end with a pep rally for Winter Sports.
- Monday - Country vs. Country Club
- Tuesday - Blackout Day (Wear all black)
- Wednesday - Adam Sandler Day
- Thursday -Twinkle Toes (Dress like a little kid)
- Friday - Falcon Pride
Finally, the rest of the newsletter contains reminders of our cell phone policy, dress code policy and bullying/harrassment policy. Please read it again especially with your parents so that there are no surprises.
Falcons, let's have an amazing week.
Sincerely,
Mrs. Finley
Falcons,
As we start Semester 2, this is a reminding that all students are required to follow our cell phone policy at HTM.
- Upon entry, all cell phones must be turned off and placed in the backpack.
- If your a staff member directs you to put it away, please listen and put it in your backpack.
- Cell phones are not allowed in the bathroom. If you are caught with it in the bathroom, your phone will be taken immediately and must be picked up by the parents. NO EXCEPTIONS.
- If a staff member takes a cell phone away, they will give it back to you at the end of each period UNLESS it warrants being taken to the main office.
Click HERE to read the HTM Dress Code Policy. IF you have any questions, please come and see me.
Easter Finley, Principal
Email: easter.finley@sweetwaterschools.org
Website: htm.sweetwaterschools.org
Location: 44 East J Street, Chula Vista, CA, USA
Phone: 619.498.2700
Twitter: @erfinleysd