The newsletter for these following two weeks is rather late, so thank you for your patience!

We have a Santa Cruz County Junior Spelling Bee Champion! Kheiron Guin (7th grade, QHIA) will go through to the State competition in May! Congratulations also to Emerson Brunner (5th grade, QHHS), who took third place in the elementary division! We are so proud of both students!

Last time I shared the contact info and resources for families on the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), and this week I'm sharing info about Brightlife Kids, an organization that provides free online support in behavioral coaching for parents, caregivers and students aged 0 - 12.

In the next couple weeks your student will be taking the Healthy Kids Survey, a survey that goes out each year, usually to selected grade levels, to gather input on how students are feeling about school, and gauging whether they have access to the social emotional supports they need. Please encourage your student to participate, since we will be administering it to grade levels 3 - 12.

LCAP (Local Control and Accountability Plan) input is going to be requested from parents soon too! It's about that time to start looking ahead at planning for the upcoming school year and beyond. Please calendar the March Parent Advisory Council meeting on March 26 at 9:15am (MPR) when Superintendent Chris Schiermeyer will be coming in person to talk to our parents and gather input on school improvement issues that are important to you. I'll be presenting the mid-year LCAP review for 2023's plan at the February 7th Board meeting.

Our Charter STEAM Expo (Science Fair) 2024 is coming!

Friday, March 1 from 9am - 12pm

Use this link to sign up for the 2024 K-8 Charter STEAM Expo

https://forms.gle/yb3f71Mb2ZCRG71C8

This is a great time to consider participating in our Annual Charter STEAM Expo which will be held on the Quail Hollow Campus on Friday, March 1st. While optional, the STEAM Expo gives students an opportunity to develop inventions or conduct research, experiments, or long term projects and proudly share their efforts with others. It is a non-competitive event. The student must be willing to stand by their project and explain what it is about, to two or more adult volunteers who will interview them using a simple set of questions provided to them. Projects may be done individually or in teams of no more than three. Please read the attached packet for more information. The deadline to register is Friday, February 2nd. (Students will get more info from their teachers too!)

Please click this link for more detailed information.

If you have any questions about the STEAM Expo, please email kparmenter@slvusd.org

If you have an interested student in 6th - 8th or 9th - 12th grade who would like to participate in the upcoming Rotary Speech Contest (Thurs, Feb 29 - time TBA) please take a look at the info linked here (separate links for the respective contests) and contact aaronebrandt@gmail.com if your student would like to register.

Here's to a great week and weekend ahead!

Kerry

February is Black History Month!

Thurs, Feb 1

- Charter Play "The Jungle Book: Welcome to the Jungle" - 7pm (PAC)

Fri, Feb 2 -

- Nature Academy students attend the Charter Play - 10:30am at the PAC (bus)

- Charter Play "The Jungle Book: Welcome to the Jungle" - 7pm (PAC)

Sat, Feb 3 -

- Charter Play "The Jungle Book: Welcome to the Jungle" - 7pm (PAC)

Sun, Feb 4 -

- Charter Play "The Jungle Book: Welcome to the Jungle" - 2pm (PAC)

Mon, Feb 5 -

- Charter Band Rehearsals begin again - MPR at 5pm

Wed, Feb 7 -

- Astrophotography Club begins again - Library at 2:15pm

Thurs, Feb 8

- Dungeons & Dragons Club begins again - Room 26 at 2:15pm

Fri, Feb 9-

- Capture the Flag - All Charter Homeschool event

- Month 9 Attendance is due (homeschools)

Coming up:

Nature Academy Info Night for prosepctive enrollees - 6pm on Thurs, Feb 15

February Break: Mon 2/19 - Fri 2/23 - NO SCHOOL

Nature Academy parents, don't forget to check the Nature Academy Google Calendar to be sure which bell schedule we're on! (You can also click here if you are not a Google Calendar subscriber)

• A1 Mondays are 3pm dismissal at the tricampus;
• A2 Mondays are 2:05pm dismissal at Nature Academy;
• O days are Tues/Thurs, dismissal 2:05pm;
• E days are Wed/Fri, dismissal 2:20pm (Wed) and 2:05 (Fri);
• Minimum Days dismiss at 12:05;
• Short Mondays dismiss at 1:19pm
• Excursion Days (dates not all finalized) - times are individual to the excursion

Student Council meets every Thursday in the Library from 8:15 - 8:45am. Any student is welcome!

Watch this space for Spirit Day information for February!

Did you know that our district maintains a "Community Opportunities" website? This is for parents / students to receive information about current local events and opportunities for adults and/or children.

Note: The San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District does not sponsor or endorse any of the organizations or events that are located here. They are non-school sponsored events and are not being promoted by the school district. All postings are provided as a courtesy to the parents/students.

Homework Help at the Public Library

Bring your assignments to one of the FREE drop-in Homework Help sessions at one of the following public libraries.

Tuesdays from 3:00p to 5:00p.

Downtown, 224 Church St., Santa Cruz

Felton, 6121 Gushee St.

Capitola, 2005 Wharf Rd.

La Selva Beach, 316 Estrella Ave.

Open to all students up to grade 12.

Call 831.427.7713 for more information.

Guide to Resources for Families in SLV

Here's a handy one-pager listing various organizations and resources for families in the San Lorenzo Valley.

Mental Health resources

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI),

Brightlife Kids, an organization that provides free online support in behavioral coaching for parents, caregivers and students aged 0 - 12.

If you’re interested in following our Instagram account, showcasing news and events from SLVUSD Charter School, here is the info:

“I'm on Instagram as slvcharterschool. Install the app to follow my photos and videos, or click this link: https://instagram.com/slvcharterschool?igshid=MzMyNGUyNmU2YQ==

(Please know that we will be very careful not to post pictures of students on the "Do not Photograph" list.)

And if you haven't started following the District Instagram accoount, look for "slvusd" and click "Follow!"

Attendance Matters!

We hope to see a positive improvement in our attendance rates this year, and encourage our families to support your student in participating consistently, whether it be in a homeschool program where work completion = attendance, or in our classroom-based 5 day a week Nature Academy. Students who are absent 10% or more in a school year are typically "less proficient in reading, writing and math than their peers with good attendance" (Source: CA Dept of Ed.) Thank you for being our partners in supporting good attendance.

New! Volunteer application hours - PLEASE NOTE: The Charter Office and SLVUSD Human Resources Office hours will process volunteer registrations on Tuesdays from 7:00-11:00 am and Thursdays from 12:30-3:30 pm. The Human Resources Office is located at 325 Marion Avenue, Ben Lomond, CA 95005.

All Charter parents are encouraged to register with the District as a volunteer and a field trip driver. (All parents are asked to drive on excursions...)

Please click here to access the required volunteer paperwork. Hard copy paperwork is also available at the Charter Office.

To use your personal vehicle to transport your own or other students, we will need updated driver information on file as well - please click here for the form.

Ø New Volunteer: You will be required to fill out the volunteer paperwork and obtain a signature from the principal. Once complete, please bring your signed paperwork to the Human Resources Office. You will be required to provide a current TB result. Also, all new volunteers will be required to be fingerprinted.

Ø Returning Volunteer: You will be required to provide current TB results. This documentation can be provided to the Charter office. The school site will forward current TB results to the Human Resources Office. You may also bring current TB results directly to the Human Resources Office.

If your child takes the bus to or from school, please remember you will need to purchase a bus pass. Please click here to access the Transportation web page with all the information you will need.

ALL Nature Academy students have to be registered to take bus transportation on A1 days to the tricampus. (No need to pay.). Our office has taken care of this registration paperwork.

Students at Coast Redwood High who need afternoon transportation to the tricampus for concurrent enrollment classes can take the TK bus that leaves the District Office at noon each day. They will not need to pay for a bus pass. However they still need to register with Transportation. Rides will be denied if students are not registered.)

The Charter Office staff ask families to call in before 1:50pm if they have a message for their student about changing that day's bus transportation arrangement.

Middle School athletes, remember that eligibility rules require you to carry at least a 2.0 GPA (C average) to remain eligible to complete in the middle school athletics practices and competitions.

Parents, please read this updated Spectator Code of Conduct from SLVMS Principal Shanna Urbancic.

Please click here for a link to the Panther Athletics website (SLVMS)

Wrestling :

Mon-Fri 2:45-4:00 (early out Mondays will begin at 1:45-4:00

Boys' Flag Football:

6th & 8th Mon-Thurs 3:30- 4:45

7th Mon-Thur 3:00-4:15

Girls' Flag Football:

Mon-Thur

3:00-4:15

Volleyball:

Mon-Thur

6th 2:45-4:00

7th 4:00-5:15

8th 5:15-6:30

Please click here for a link to the Cougar Athletics website (SLVHS).

Student drop off and pick-up:

Please be mindful of safety during drop-off and pick-up. Drive slowly, and stay with your young child when walking to and from your car. Older students should walk (never run), and watch for moving cars when the are in the parking area.

• Parents/guardians of elementary-age students need to park and walk their students to their classroom and sign them in at their classroom.
• Middle school and High school students can walk to their classroom, where the teacher will take attendance, or students will sign in.
• If your student is taking the bus, they will be dropped off in the morning in front of the District Office.
• At pick up time, teachers will supervise all students until they are picked up - either at the bus stop at the top of Marion, or at the parent pick-up spot behind the District Office building.

NOTE: The driveway down to the main campus is not designed for walkers and cars at the same time. Buses need to take wide turns to exit the transportation lot. Please use the stairs when going up and down from Marion Avenue to the central campus area.

Parking:

• Parents of elementary and middle school students can park in front of the District Office Building.
• CRHS students who are driving to classes can park in the front parking lot and walk up the stairs to the CRHS building.

Bikes:

• Any student who is riding their bike to the campus needs to park their bike at the top by the Coast Redwood High School building, along the side of the path, and walk down the steps to the central campus area.

• All SLVUSD students are eligible to receive a free breakfast and lunch through the cafeteria. But lunch must be ordered online.
• Complete the Free/Reduced Lunch Application at https://family.titank12.com/
• Although a meal application is not necessary to receive free meals during the 2023-2024 school year, households are encouraged to complete a meal application to ensure that your school receives accurate funding. As well, your child’s eligibility for free or reduced lunch could qualify you for additional outside services or benefits including Free/Reduced Bus passes, student fee waivers, P-EBT, discounted utilities, and more.
• Meals will be served from our Multi-use Room in the central area of the campus.
• Breakfast will be available in the mornings from 8:15 - 8:45am - no need to place an order
• Lunch times vary per program, but generally happen in the 11:50 - 12:30 window
• CRHS students can order lunch and it will be delivered to the CRHS building.
• Elementary students will have lunch cards (kept by teacher)
• Secondary students will need to key in their student ID on a keypad
• Make sure your online order is in by 9am on the day prior to ensure hot lunch. Some limited cold lunch options will be available for anyone who didn't order in time. Here is a link to the steps for setting up a LINQ account and ordering your child's lunch. (Free to all; no charge!)
• SLV Student Nutrition Services. Please click here for more information

SLVUSD partners with the YMCA to provide before and after-school childcare at Boulder Creek Elementary and San Lorenzo Valley Elementary. For more information, please reach out to the YMCA (831) 338-2128, or visit their website - YMCA CHILDCARE.

Triple P/First Five of Santa Cruz County offer ongoing parenting classes for parents of students of all ages. Please click here to see their workshop offerings.

Triple P also offers 1:1 sessions for parents who are needing intensive 10 week session and add-on sessions for people who are divorcing or separating (Family Transitions), for couples wanting to work on their relationship (Enhanced) and for people wanting to work on their strong emotions, like anger (Pathways). If interested in 1:1 sessions, please contact First 5 of Santa Cruz: https://www.first5scc.org/contact

Email: kleroux@slvusd.org
Website: charter.slvusd.org
Phone: (831) 336-5167