Daylight Saving Time: Only the government would believe that you could cut a foot off the top of a blanket, sew it to the bottom, and have a longer blanket. ~Anonymous
Versus
An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn is all that we ask in return for dazzling gifts. We borrow an hour one night in April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later. ~Winston Churchill
Dear families,
We are a month before the end of the first trimester of the school year, which means that it is progress report time for our programs who get grades. Our CR high school students will be getting their progress reports, and report cards for Nature Academy students are just around the corner. For our homeschool families, we are nearly a third of the way through the school year.
This is the time for students to take time to review their progress. Building students’ metacognition through self-reflection is a key component for our programs, though each program manages this process differently. Research shows that when students reflect on their work, it increases their level of self-motivation, among other academic and emotional benefits.
Helping-students-self-assessment putting-students-charge-their-learning
Please take the time to reflect on your student’s progress with them. Connecting this assessment to the essential LifeSkills that support their learning will promote stronger personal growth piece to the reflection. For those programs that have self-reflection as part of their assignments, please make sure that your student turns it in on time.
For our families with students in grades 6 and up, teachers are available for additional office hours, 1-1 conferencing, and afternoon small group sessions to help ensure that your students are feeling confident in their work, that all work is turned in on time, and done at a personal best level. Nature Academy will be adding required small group support in the afternoons, Coast Redwood High School will be contacting students whose grades would benefit from more 1-1 conference sessions. We ask your support in ensuring that your students participate in any small groups or office hours/conferences that your teacher(s) requests.
We want your student to do well. Communication between the triad of teacher, parent and student is very critical, and triply more so this year. Please contact us if there are extenuating circumstances that are impacting your child’s learning and/or turning in work.
Please read on to hear about our site renovations at the Quail Hollow site, times for check ins with Rhonda and Robin, picture make-ups, an update from Robin, a special Town Hall zoom meeting with all the Santa Cruz County Superintendents, and Q&A zoom with Superintendent Laurie Bruton and myself.
Thank you for allowing us into your homes during Zoom times, creating a space for your children to work, supporting them to do their best, checking in with them about their classes and progress, and communicating with us whenever needed.
Take care,
~Rhonda
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REMINDER: School Picture Makeup Day is this Monday, November 2nd, 1-3pm
Where: Quail Hollow campus, 325 Marion Ave, Ben Lomond. In front of the Multipurpose room.
Mask and social distancing protocols will be in place for everyone’s health and safety. Order forms will be onsite if needed.
Phase 1 of Quail Hollow renovation begins: The board approved the bid for the Quail Hollow construction and the initial phase will begin sometime this week, with an expected completion date by the first week of January. The first phase will focus on the ‘hardscapes.’ The dilapidated buildings behind the District Office will be demolished, they will create a circular drive-through from the right of the District Office and around the left for parents to drop off their students, large enough for buses and emergency vehicles. Parking spaces will be created in the back for staff. Two portables from the back will be moved; one to the middle area alongside the current 3 portables that will be used for District Professional Development meetings, the second will be pushed back, and remain as file storage for the district. Two refurbished portables will be placed back behind the two current portables. The basketball courts will be redone. A large shade structure will be placed in the middle area, ..and I think a smaller one down by the current garden area.
Please stay tuned! Staff and family movement may change during some weeks due to the location of the construction.
Parking: Now that the Quail Hollow site is seeing more families coming and going for 1-1 meetings, to pick up/drop off supplies and Go-bags, I want to ensure safety for those that are walking to the Charter office, multi-purpose room, or teacher's classrooms.
Please do not drive up to the middle area of the campus to get to these rooms. Park in the parking lot and walk up to see us, drop off/pick-up paperwork or student's Go-bag. Thank you so much for your understanding and help in this way.
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R & R Coffee Chat Check-in for parents:
You are invited to our
R(honda) & R(obin)
“coffee check-in”
This is an open zoom meeting invitation for Charter parents to join Rhonda Schlosser, our Charter Administrator and Robin Bates, our Mental Health Specialist. This meeting is open to all to spend time with us, brainstorm issues, listen to your challenges and successes, and offer support in our road ahead together.
This link will work for the next four meetings
Join R&R Zoom meeting: November & December
Next meeting dates are:
- Tuesday, November 3, 10:00-10:45 am
- Thursday, November 19, 10:00-10:45 am
- Tuesday, December 1, 10:00-10:45 am
- Thursday, December, 17, 10:00-10:45 am
We look forward to “having coffee” and conversation with you!
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Robin’s Consistent Meetings: In addition to classroom support and 1-1 sessions, Robin is holding regular group support meetings. For more information, contact Robin Bates,LMFT [email protected]
- 2x times monthly - R & R coffee parent meeting
- Thursdays at 12 - support group for parents with CZU home loss
- Thursdays at 3 - support group for highschool students - "The Unwind"
- Tuesdays at 12- home loss support group for middle schoolers
Parents' Support Group for Home Loss
Thursdays at noon
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88247283608
Hi families. I'm learning first-hand that losing a home is a major major loss. The experience of grief can be unexpected and overwhelming at times. I created this group for us to come together to support each other, share our struggles and successes in hope that we don't feel alone in this long process of healing.
Coast Redwood High School Students, you are invited to...
The Unwind
6 week/45 minute zoom group with Robin Bates
Join any week! Thursdays at 3 pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83350602277
We will take some time to check in, explore mental health topics,
support and unwind together in a weekly group for 6 weeks. This is not a psychotherapy group, but simply a place to check in, unwind, learn and connect with the counselor and your peers. I hope to see you all there!
Support for Middle School students
who’ve lost their homes in the CZU Lightning Fire
Tuesdays from 12-12:45, starting Nov 10th
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82974144851
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Question & Answer Sessions with Principal & Superintendent: November 10 at 10:30.
As Laurie Bruton mentioned in her community letter, COVID19 conditions in the county and the potential for offering on-campus services in SLV have changed. SLVUSD will remain online through December 2020 to complete the first semester of school; however, the district is planning to “phase in” hybrid, on-campus classes, for grade levels and programs beginning in January 2021. It is our priority to provide students with in-person instruction whenever safely possible. Elementary, middle, and high school teachers will be involved in creating learning opportunities on-site for students. SLV Charter teachers are beginning discussions on ways to bring students back on campus in small groups.
Dr. Bruton will have a special Q&A time with Charter Parents on Tuesday, November 10 at 10:30.
Please join Laurie Bruton and me via Zoom and ask questions and get answers regarding the transition to the next phase of COVID-19 in Santa Cruz Co. and what the move to the orange tier means for on-site opportunities. Here is the Zoom link to participate:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3453698214?pwd=ajg1VGNDTktFRE5VdjFKVGQxMkhnUT09
Meeting ID: 345 369 8214 Passcode: Ju29zB
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Parent Advisory Committee: New Date for Next Meeting: Tuesday, November 17 at 10:30am.
Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87644888194 Meeting ID: 876 4488 8194
Our Parent Advisory Committee met again and discussed how the sub-committees can begin to support the move to the Quail Hollow site. We will need to combine the various small ‘libraries’ and resource materials into one location, and purging old items and finding out what type of library with work best for our various age ranges is one of the first tasks on the list. Exploring outdoor spaces is also near the top of the priorities once the Phase 1 part of the site renovation is completed. More information to come!
Everyone is welcome to attend these meetings, however, please remember that it is important to have a consistent group of parents to represent each program in the Charter. This Committee helps advise on various Charter annual activities, reports, including the budget and Charter renewal. They then report out in their various program parent meetings and gather additional information from the parents in the programs.
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From our Student Nutrition: Free meals extended USDA has extended FREE meals to all children 18 and under, through the 2020/2021 school year!!! We want all families to know that you are not taking meals from someone who needs it more, they are for all children. You are providing meals to your students that are comforting and familiar. Participating in the school meal program supports our Student Nutrition Program and helps sustain and grow it.
Alisia Munoz-Rojas, SNS Manager
SLVUSD Student Nutrition Services
(831) 335-5384
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COVID testing sites:
Here is a link for the county testing page, which also includes some CVS locations.
Water Donation for affected families: Amber Walker, our very own QHIA teacher, and her husband, Michael, have prepaid an account at Pure Valley Water in Scotts Valley for any of you who are in need of clean water.
For the custom account name to get water, or to donate to the account for others, one of the following will work:
-Send a personal message on Facebook to Michael Agnew
-Send an email to Amber Walker [email protected]
If you are in need, please go get up to ten gallons. You can go back and get more as the need continues, or until the account runs out. If you do not have a container, you can inquire with Pure Valley Water if they have any available to donate to you. This can change day to day as they are receiving some container donations.
Stay strong, reach out for help, lift each other up, and take care of yourselves.
With so much love for our community,
MISSION: SLV Surf's Up!: From Rosie Hope, Charter Nature Academy Teacher
This mission was started to help support the families of the Santa Cruz Mountains that have been impacted by the Santa Cruz Lightning Fire. My goal is to get surfboards and wetsuits to families in need so that we can get back out into the water to heal the traumas that we have faced in these times. Please answer a few quick questions to help get the process going!
My priority is to get equipment to families that lost theirs in the fires (burn or looted). Next, I would like to lend equipment to any family that cannot access theirs due to the evacuation or for any other reason, Lastly, I would like equipment to go to kids from the SLV that are interested in getting into the water!
If you have never surfed before we can help with that too!!
Please fill out this form if you are interested in receiving equipment:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdTrQXZutnmuHYTawxE6lvCZ74Z70oEzqCGXm4EFiq11ju-VA/viewform
Take care, Rosie Hope
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What’s Going on in Our Charter School? ..little snippets of some of our programs.
Ms. Stockton made an awesome video/slideshow. The shared experience hike was part of PE this week. The students have one week to complete it and if they aren’t able to go,an alternate walk will work for the assignment. Ms. Pressley received pedometers from Kaiser and gave each of the 7th and 8th grade students a pedometer in their Go Boxes. They are hopefully going to track how many steps they take on the walk and students will do a scatter plot in a later lesson.
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Dates to Remember:
- Wednesday, November 11: School Holiday
- Monday, November 23-Friday, 27th Thanksgiving Break
Contacts
Administrator: Rhonda Schlosser: [email protected]
Administrative Assistant: Danelle Matteson: [email protected]
Registrar: Jane Hendricks [email protected]
Mental Health Counselor: Robin Bate [email protected]
HS Academic Counselor: Mary Zilge [email protected]