![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/_fr/vintage37.36187a72.jpg)
Calabasas High School
Weekly Update - Friday, May 17, 2024
Principal's Message
Happy Friday, Coyotes!!
I want to start out by congratulating our Girls Track team for winning the 2024 CIF Southern Section Division 2 Championship! This is an incredible accomplishment with so many talented schools and athletes in our division. Several of our girls are competing tomorrow at the CIF Southern Section Masters Meet with a chance to advance to the California State Championships. Good luck!!
Next, I would like to congratulate all of the students who completed AP exams over the last 2 weeks. As a school, we administered over 1500 AP exams in a two-week period! That is an incredible number of exams!! Thank you to all of our teachers for preparing our students for these exams and thank you to all of our proctors and Mrs. Lapiner and Ms. Diana for coordinating everything!!
Starting Monday, 11th grade students will be participating in State Testing (CAASPP). These important exams help our school see how we are performing in preparing our students for academic success. We really need all of our juniors to be present on each of their assigned test days and to put forth their best effort. I am confident that the best effort of each of our students will show that Calabasas High School students are some of the best prepared students that you can find. Please carefully read the message below from Ms. Diana about these state tests. There is also a picture, below her message, to remind students of the incentives that students can receive, via an opportunity drawing, for being present for testing and giving a great effort. As students will be required to take 4 exams each, they can earn 4 tickets into the opportunity drawing simply by being in class for their state exams and trying their best.
Finally, for our Seniors... With Senior Commitment Day today and Prom tomorrow evening, we have officially started the countdown to Graduation. Congratulations to all of our Seniors for everything you have accomplished to this point in your academic journey. We are excited to celebrate you over the next 4 weeks. Please remember to be responsible and make all the best choices so that you do not jeopardize your opportunity to participate in all of the fun! We are so proud of you and we hope to make your last weeks at CHS the best time EVER!
Have a great weekend everybody!!
Sincerely,
Bennett Wutkee, Principal
State Testing for 11th Grade Only (CAASPP Testing)
Dear Students and Parents/Guardians:
Each spring, students in California participate in the statewide testing program, the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). The assessments in the CAASPP provide information to teachers, parents/guardians, and students about students’ progress and readiness for college and career. In grade 11, students take all the following CAASPP assessments:
Smarter Balanced English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA)
Smarter Balanced Mathematics
Your student’s CAASPP assessments are scheduled to take place according to the following schedule:
- Monday, 5/20: CAST Exam (State Science Exam) for select 11th & 12th grade
- Tuesday, 5/21 & Wednesday, 5/22: Math Computer Adaptive Test
- Thursday, 5/23 & Friday, 5/24: Math Performance Task
- Tuesday, 5/28 & Wednesday, 5/29: English Computer Adaptive Test
- Thursday, 5/30 & Friday, 5/31: English Performance Task
Students will be using a school issued device for all testing sessions and will be testing with an ELA or Math teacher each of the testing weeks. Please note that attendance is important on all of the days listed above. The ELA testing sessions require students to have headphones or earbuds (wired only) to complete the various components. Although we have extra headphones available for those students who don’t already have them, we are asking that your student bring in their own wired headphones for testing. Please remember to bring in wired headphones, if you have them, on Tuesday, May 28th. Key features of the CAASPP assessments include: Measures critical thinking with questions that ask students to demonstrate their research, writing, and problem solving skills Measures how well your child has mastered the skills and content in mathematics and English Language Arts at their grade level, which aligns with instruction that takes place in the classroom. Students also have the opportunity to submit their scores to the California State University System’s Early Assessment Program (EAP), which provides students with an early signal of college academic preparation and an opportunity to avoid taking the placement tests at the CSU and participating community colleges. Some tips to get your child(ren) ready for the CAASPP are: Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep and a nutritious breakfast on the days of testing. To learn about the types of questions on the computer-based test, we encourage you to view the practice test online at the California Department of Education (CDE) Smarter Balanced Practice Test. Click HERE. Encourage them to try their best, and showcase all that they’ve learned. Students, as a reminder, there are incentives for participating in the assessments and doing your best: All students receive 1 "ticket" for each time they attend their scheduled test and give 100% effort. Each student can get up to 4 total tickets. The tickets will be used to draw for the following parking incentives: FREE senior parking spot HALF PRICE senior parking spot HAND PICK your senior parking spot Park in an ADMIN spot for one week The tickets will be used to draw for the following free items: Yearbook ASB Sticker Prom Ticket Please note that there is a limited number of items listed above in our opportunity drawing. When testing has been completed and scored, individual student score reports will be accessible to parents through the Aeries Parent Portal, and will include an overall score, a description of the student’s achievement levels, and other information. The district will email you when these score reports are available. If you have any questions regarding your child’s participation, please contact me or Kristen Lapiner (klapiner@lvusd.org), Testing Coordinator. Good Luck Coyotes! Carina Diana, Assistant Principal
Congratulations to Girls Track - 2024 CIF Division 2 Champions!
IMPORTANT NOTICES
Food Deliveries
Food deliveries are NOT permitted during school hours. All food deliveries will be turned away or confiscated if they arrive on campus. All students are able to receive a free meal each day provided by LVUSD that can be picked up in our cafeteria.
COVID-19 Test Kits Available in the Health Office
We want to remind our CHS families that our health office has a supply of COVID home tests available. We recommend you plan ahead to have COVID-19 tests on hand, and test immediately if you feel sick. Please have your student stop in the health office to pick up free tests.
Motorized Bikes
With the increasing popularity of motorized bikes, we have received guidance from the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department regarding licensing and age requirements for students that wish to ride these to school. For motorized bikes with no pedals, the operator needs to be at least 15 1/2 years-old and have a Class C license. Students that are underaged and/or not licensed to ride these motorized bikes to school may be cited by law enforcement.
Parking on City Streets
As more students get their driver's licenses and start driving to school, parking on the streets adjacent to CHS is becoming more crowded. We have received reports of students blocking driveways to residences and businesses, parking on sidewalks, and even parking on the lawn/yard of our neighbors. None of this acceptable and students need to stop these practices. We have been informed that law enforcement will be monitoring parking on the city streets more closely and cars will be cited that are inappropriately parked.
Morning Parking Protocol
Parents/Guardians:
Please do not park in the lower Senior lot in the mornings as these are spots that are purchased and assigned individually to students. Parents are not permitted to park and wait in their cars on campus during morning drop off. Please be mindful as this will help with morning traffic congestion and will allow for students to park and get to class in a timely manner.
Afternoon Pick-up Reminder
Please do not block the exit lane at the Mulholland Light during pick-up or drop off. It is important that we have one lane of traffic entering campus and one lane of traffic leaving campus.
How to Register For New Webstore Account
An email was sent last week that our new Webstore has launched. If you have not already done so, please take a few minutes to register for a new account in order to make purchases for your student(s). Any previous purchases made for your student are intact within our records but are not viewable to you within the new platform. If your student is eligible for ASB discounts this will be reflected for any purchases that have ASB pricing available.
https://www.calabasashigh.net/quick-links/student-store
Follow the Step-By-Step Guide Below
Graduation 2024 Website
This LINK was sent earlier this week to all Class of 2024 families. Please review this site for all things graduation. The countdown is on!
UPCOMING EVENTS
ASB Announcements
PROM 2024 is Tomorrow, May 18th!!!
CHS Dance Policy-Please Review If Attending
DANCE: Once guests or students leave the dance they may not be allowed to re-enter.
GUESTS: If you are bringing a guest who does not attend CHS, the guest must complete the guest pass application form. Guests must be at least in the 9th grade and no older than 20 years. CHS students will be held responsible for the behavior of their non-CHS guests. CALABASAS HIGH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION RESERVES THE RIGHT TO DENY ANY GUEST APPLICATION.
To enter the dance, CHS students MUST present a CHS ID card. All guests MUST have their physical Photo ID, not a picture on their phone. If you do not have your ID, you may not be permitted into the dance. No Exceptions! Guests may bring a school or government issued photo ID.
Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable. Make sure that you buy your own ticket since the purchase information will be stored on the barcode of your student ID. No refunds will be given if a student is directed to leave before the end of the dance.
Security Policy To help ensure the safety of all attendees, CHS will provide a licensed and bonded security company to do light pat-downs and small purse/bag checks.
CHS Administration reserves the right to search students and their possessions prior to entering the venue. Limousines and other vehicles are subject to being searched.
Students and/or guests found in possession or under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance may not be admitted and are subject to severe disciplinary action, including a call to the parents for pick-up, suspension from school, and arrest by law enforcement officers. Possession includes any vehicles that are brought to the school’s event location. Furthermore, Seniors may lose senior privileges, including access to off campus passes and/or participating in the commencement ceremony. A breathalyzer will be on site.
No see-through clothing, lingerie/lingerie-style clothing, shorts, revealing attire, or flip flops are allowed. You will not be admitted into the dance nor your tickets refunded if you fail to follow the dress code. Dress code enforcement is at the discretion of the CHS administration.
Large purses, bags or backpacks are not allowed into the dance. Small clutches/purses (approximately 4.5" x 6.5") are subject to search but can be brought in.
Calabasas High School is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
The following items are NOT allowed and may be confiscated: drugs, alcohol, alcohol flasks, tobacco products, weapons, canes, chains of any kind, bandanas, non-prescription medication, gum, mints, lighters, matches, markers, water bottles, outside food, and liquid items such as mouth wash, perfume, body spray, hand sanitizers, travel size products, glue, liquid eyeliner. These items may not be returned. Remember, drugs, alcohol, and other illegal substances are not allowed on limousines and other vehicles. Vehicles may be searched.
***You must fully attend school the day prior to the dance in order to be admitted to the dance.***
Reminders for Those Attending Prom:
Senior Activities Package on Sale in Student Store or on WebStore Until 5/24
If you have not turned in your Senior Activities Participation form, please bring your completed copy to the Attendance Office or send via email to bdaniels@lvusd.org
OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS
Counseling Corner
2023-24 Student ID Cards
As a reminder, ALL students are required to show their current (2023-24) ID at the gate when entering school each morning. This is important for safety to ensure only currently enrolled students are on campus. Students will not be permitted to show their Aeries or a picture of their ID on their phone when entering. It is the student's responsibility to bring their ID each day and have it out and ready as they enter so it can be quickly checked by school personnel. Students with an off campus lunch pass will be asked to show their ID to exit as well.
11th and 12th grade students with an off campus pass for lunch will now using their card to tap to exit. The process is new and we appreciate everyone's patience while leaving campus. We will no longer be distributing stickers for those who have earned their lunch pass it will be set up digitally in our system.
If a student has lost their ID, a replacement can be purchased at the Student Store for $10. You can visit the Student Store during nutrition or lunch.
Food Deliveries
Media Center/Release Period Updates
If a student has a 5th period release period due to a sport, they are required to go to the gym on Mondays during 5th period but can go to the Media Center during 5th period Tuesdays-Fridays.
Release period stickers are being distributed in the Counseling Office if you have not yet picked up your sticker.
Cafeteria Updates
Our cafeteria meal payments portal has been upgraded to Linq Connect. All previous account balances will be transferred to the new app.
All resources can be accessed via this link: CLICK HERE
Off Campus Pass Policies and Procedures (Juniors and Seniors)
In order to meet eligibility requirements for an off-campus pass, juniors and seniors must meet academic, discipline, and attendance requirements.
These requirements include:
- Academic: No Ds or Fs
- Behavior: No significant discipline incidents.
- Attendance: Students with a COMBINATION of 6 or more tardies or periods absent in any classes within a 5-week period will be ineligible.
*Eligibility for OCP is processed every 5 weeks*
Parking Lot and Drop Off/Pick Up Procedures
Pick up and Drop off: Please proceed onto campus at the main gate on Mulholland at the traffic light. For pick up and drop off, you will proceed down the ONE-WAY ramp and then exit at the Valmar Gate. There is NO ENTRY at the Valmar Gate for pick up or drop off.
Visitor Parking: There are NO visitor spots in the staff lot or in the PAEC lot. Any car in the staff lot or PAEC lot without a pass will be towed. There are visitor spots parallel to the curb along the left side of the one-way ramp next to the PAEC.
SENIOR PARKING LOT: All spots in the senior lot are assigned. Any car parked in a spot without a tag, the car will be towed without additional warning.
Please drive safely in the parking lot (5 mph).
Attendance Office Updates (Clearing Absences/Early Leave Requests)
Reminder from the Health Office:
(From https://www.lvusdmeasures.org/) In 2022, the voters in the Las Virgenes Unified School District approved a $340M bond to:
Provide modern labs, career training facilities, and equipment so students are prepared for college and in-demand careers in fields such as health sciences, engineering, technology, and skilled trades
Provide classrooms, facilities, and technology to support high-quality instruction in math, science, engineering, and technology
Repair or replace deteriorating roofs, plumbing, sewer lines, gas lines, and electrical systems where needed
Install, repair, or replace air conditioning systems in classrooms to improve air quality and keep classrooms from reaching temperatures above 85 degrees
Remove hazardous materials such as asbestos and lead pipes from older school sites
Keep computer systems and instructional technology up to date
Upgrade older schools to meet current health codes, building safety codes, earthquake safety standards, and improve access for students with disabilities
The community will not be paying on the Measure S bond until August of 2026. That said, projects are being initiated now to optimize cost and timing through prefunding the interest. This website (click here) will provide site-by-site updates about the Measure S projects, oversight, and audits in the years to come.
UPDATE, July-August 2023: Moody's Investors Services issued Las Virgenes a Aa1 credit rating. This is the highest possible rating for a district not in Basic Aid status. Moody's cited our strong fiscal position underpinned by conservative fiscal management along with uncommonly positive financial flexibility in creating unique revenue streams as reasons for the high rating. On August 24th, the first $85M in Series A Measure S proceeds will be received by LVUSD.