The Acorn

Greetings AOC Families,

I hope that you had a great weekend! There is no school this upcoming Friday nor Monday. Enjoy your upcoming President's Day Holiday and four day weekend!

Upcoming Events

• February 16th- COC Cougar Fest- AOC students can join or learn about COC clubs.
• February 17th-No School for AOC Students
• February 20th-President's Holiday
• February 21st- 7pm Informational Meeting for Home Stay for Japanese students at AOC
• February 24th- AOC ASB Talent Show

Have a wonderful week!

Sincerely,

Dr. Juliet Fine

Principal of AOC

(661) 362-3056

jfine@hartdistrict.org

661-362-3056

Carla Tuttle, Office Manager/ Registrar- ctuttle@hartdistrict.org

The image above is the COC Cafeteria. To the left, behind the gates is the Coffee Kiosk where they make smoothies, coffee drinks and have pastries.

The coffee kiosk will now open at 7:30 a.m. instead of 8:00 a.m.

Monday to Thursday 7:30a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Friday 7:30 a.m. to Noon

The WSHUHSD is looking to utilize Parent Square, a communication tool for schools. All of our elementary schools utilize this tool. Please take a look at this new web application.

We are hosting Japanese students from our Sister Cities partnership. If you are interested in hosting female Japanese students, we are holding an informational meeting with the COC Department Chair of World Language, Claudia Acosta and Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Dave Le Barron on Tuesday, 2/21 from 7:00pm-8:00pm at AOC in room 101.

The district is hosting a teacher recruitment fair on 3/11 from 9am-1pm.

If you have a student that is interested in sharing their perspectives on the middle college high school experience and be a voice for our unique school, please encourage your student to apply to California's Youth Advisory Council. They must email YouthAdvisoryCouncil@cde.ca.gov to ask for an application. It's for students ages 15-18. AOC would love to have a student representative be part of this important council.

Santa Clarita Sister Cities, in partnership with the City of Santa Clarita and Sister Cities International, is now accepting submissions for the 2023 Young Artists and Authors Showcase. Please share this information with your students and encourage them to participate.

2023 Theme: “Peace by Piece: Food Security in My Community”

Eligibility: Students 13-18 years old as of May 1, 2023

Categories:

· Art – Classic Medium

· Art – Digital Medium

· Essay/Creative Writing

· Poetry

· Original Music

· Photography

Deadline: April 10, 2023

Details & Submission: SantaClaritaSisterCities.org

Local winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony in late April, featured in a virtual exhibit, and recognized at a City Council meeting. The top five entries in each category will be sent to Sister Cities International in Washington, D.C. to compete with submissions from other Sister Cities organizations across the globe for the $1,000-grand prize per category. We’re proud to share that Hart District students have always competed successfully at the international level, and we’re hoping that more will be added to this list:

2022:

* Grand Prize Winner (Essay): “The Great Dehydration” - Audrey Dornidon, Saugus High School

*2nd Place (Original Music): “Waterfalls” - Jonathan Myung, West Ranch High School

*2nd Place (Poetry): “In One Breath, Life, and In Another, Death” - Ashley Knutson, Valencia High School

2021:
* 2nd Place (Poetry): “The Light of Hope” – Brandon Cho, Valencia High School
* 3rd Place (Original Music): “Juven – We are One” – Julios De Jesus, Canyon High School

2020:
* Finalist (Art): “United We Stand” – Amber Lee, Valencia High School
* Finalist (Poetry): “Stronger Than Ever” – Sydney Hooper, Saugus High School

2019:
* Finalist (Essay): “Similarities and Differences” – Katherine Denzin, Saugus High School

2016:
* Finalist (Essay): “Peace through People” – Cristal Ramirez, Valencia High School

2013:
* Grand Prize Winner (Essay): “The Powerful Exchange of Love” – Seung Won (Ashley) Choi, Valencia High School

Thank you in advance for your help in getting the word out. We’ve found that extra credit or a class assignment motivates students to participate and hope you’d consider such, if appropriate. We look forward to receiving entries from your students!

Please visit SantaClaritaSisterCities.org for more information, and feel free to let me know if you have any questions.

All interested 11th and 12th grade students are encouraged to participate and should contact Sarah Hunt, Executive Assistant at the SCV Bar Association. info@scvbar.org

My name is Maria Manalastas and I am currently a Junior at the Academy of the Canyons Middle College High School. I proudly serve as AOC’s Key Club President for the 2022-2023 school year. I am the second President of our Key Club, following up after the Co-Founder of the Key Club on our campus, Caleb Kim. I have also recently been elected to be the next Lieutenant Governor for Division 16 North which leads and represents 12 Key Clubs which is 12 High Schools. Our mascot is a Unicorn and our theme colors are Pink, Yellow, and Black. Key Club is a very sophisticated organization because we value community service, teamwork, communication, and building new skills. Many students choose to join our club because of its amazing benefits, values, and events such as our monthly events, volunteering opportunities, and Fall Rally that is held at Six Flags! And lastly, our Key Club motto is “caring our way of life.” And use this to motivate our members to go above and beyond when serving their community. I am so excited to be representing the Academy of the Canyons as Lieutenant Governor for Key Club during my senior year for the 2023-2024 school year.

AOC is so proud of you, Maria and Caleb!

AOC student, Zayna Jawich and SCV Project Linus send blankets to Turkey and Syrian earthquake victims.

Zayna Jawich was pivotal in bringing attention to an important cause. When Zayna saw an issue, her mother, Hala, and her came to the SCV Project Linus storage unit and helped Mrs. Garvar count blankets and AOC student, Zayna and mom, Hala, packed their car full of blankets to be shipped to earthquake victims. They also did the shipping and packing, which was super helpful.

In sight of the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, the SCV Project Linus Chapter located here at Academy of the Canyons has contributed a total of 165 blankets in order to support toddlers, children, and teens struggling during this worldwide disaster. If you would like to contribute and assist our Project Linus chapter, you may do so by attending our upcoming Project Linus Make-A-Blanket day on March 04 at the COC East gym. Visit https://scvprojectlinus.org/ for more information regarding upcoming events.

A donation drive is happening now. Please bring any new or gently used items that are listed in the image above. They are taking items at the drop off location.

List of things that can be donated:

- Winter clothing for babies and children

- clean clothes of any age, gender, and size

- blankets

- Sleeping bags

- Jackets

- Shoes

- First Aid kits

Note to:
Please ensure clothes are new or washed, folded nicely, packaged, and ready to ship.
This is a very urgent need.

Drop-off locations:

- People can drop stuff off with me if needed

- Islamic Center

28877 Bouquet Canyon Rd,
Santa Clarita, CA 91390
Wednesday- Sunday

2 pm- 5 pm every day

- College of the Canyons Student

Center- RM 138
Monday- Thursday

10 am- 3 pm

The 2nd Annual Black History Month Art Show is scheduled for February 28.

Zonta will once again provide the Young Women in Public Affairs Award to a young woman of age 16 to 19, who demonstrates evidence of the following:

1. Active commitment to volunteerism.
2. Experience in local government, student government, or workplace leadership (paid or unpaid).
3. Volunteer leadership achievements.
4. Knowledge of Zonta International and its programs.
5. Advocating for Zonta International’s mission of advancing the status of women worldwide.

The Zonta Club of SCV, Young Women in Public Affairs will be presenting up to $1,000 awards to each selected award recipient. Recipients of the club award are also eligible to receive a higher award at the Zonta Regional level. Please see the enclosed application.

Our goal is to encourage more young women to participate in public affairs, volunteerism and civic causes. Applications may also be accessed on-line at https://www.scvzonta.org/young-women-in-public-affairs-scholarship/.

The deadline for submittal is February 24, 2023.

For further information, please contact Gloria Mercado-Fortine and/or Mary Ann Dortch

at YWPA@scvzonta.org.

Located on the campus of College of the Canyons, AOC is proud to be the middle college high school in the William S. Hart Union High School District serving students 9th-12th grades in the Santa Clarita Valley. Students have the opportunity to earn between 24 and 44 transferable college units, prior to receiving their high school diplomas. Upon graduation, the majority of Academy students pursue their post high school education by continuing at COC and completing their college transfer requirements in only one year after high school. Other AOC students go directly into a four-year university, bringing their community college units with them and placing themselves well into their freshman and sophomore years at the college level. While attending AOC as a high school student, community college tuition is waived for established California residents.

Email: jfine@hartdistrict.org
Website: https://www.academyofthecanyons.com/
Location: Academy of the Canyons, Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA, USA
Phone: 661-362-3056
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Academy-of-the-Canyons-Middle-College-High-School-330158873741614
Twitter: @Academy_Canyons