If you can't be flexible in life, you become irritable with life
--Anonymous
Laughter is a form of internal jogging. It moves your internal organs around. It enhances respiration. It is an igniter of great expectations. --Norman Cousins
Dear families,
Well, if there is one thing that everyone has been tested on recently it is flexibility! We just keep breathing deep and moving forward with the next steps in front of us. Thank goodness for laughter! And now we have beautiful weather and a week off of our school routine right around the corner to lighten our spirits as well.
Not to mention that the COVID rates continue to go down, masks are still being worn, and vaccination rates are rising!
We are excited to have our elementary homeschool programs, FCHS, QHHS, and the 6th graders from QHIA, starting back this coming week, March 29-April 1. It will be wonderful to have groups of students back on-site. Teachers have been in communication with their students and have spent days rearranging their classrooms and determining where they will be working with their groups outside. Everyone is really excited to get to work with students in person and feel lucky to have one week before our break to start building relationships face to face.
AND for those of you who may not have read Dr. Bruton’s email from Friday, March 26th, we now have new guidelines to take into consideration from the CA Department of Public Health. Here is the essential takeaway From Dr. Bruton. (I have attached her entire letter to this email.)
“On Monday, March 22, 2021, SLVUSD was notified that CDPH adjusted the guidelines for schools related to social distancing. For the last year, CDPH has been instructing people to remain approximately 6 feet apart to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Due to changes in both legal and disease control recommendations, CDPH is now “strongly recommending” that schools utilize 3 feet of social distancing in all California schools. The recommendation to change from 6 feet to 3 feet allows for more students to attend school at one time.
Currently, SLVUSD has MOU agreements with SLVTA, the Teacher’s Union, and SEIU, the Classified Union, to maintain mask and social distancing at 6 feet per CDPH guidelines. We have met with SLVTA and will be working to determine if the district can open schools more fully in the weeks to follow utilizing the 3-foot CDPH guidelines.”
AND SO, keeping this in mind, We have scheduled to have the Nature Academy and CRHS students follow the return dates that SLVMS and SLVHS have in place, the week of April 20 for grades 6th and 9th, and the week of April 27th for the 7-8th and 10-12th grades.
Nature Academy teachers have arranged a great schedule for the students, ensuring that teachers have equitable time with every group and utilize all content areas, outside the classroom as much as possible. Their hours will be the same as SLVMS so that students can have access to the buses.
The CRHS teachers have looked at the list of students who are wanting to return in the hybrid format and a schedule that includes the various courses that meet Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. There will also be English and Math guidance office hours/tutorial sessions each Thursday for students who want to meet the teachers in person. It was a complicated schedule for them to design, while still supporting their independent study students and the Zoom sessions needed to teach their various courses. Currently, Aikido, Psychology, Biology, Integrated Science, and Marine Science are scheduled throughout the week. Group sizes run from 4-12 students based on class, with English and Math guidance/tutorials offered for 1-2 students at a time.
Our Middle School Homeschool programs, CRMS, and QHIA, that support 7th-8th grade students will start on-site hours the week of April 12. The teachers have been refining their cohort groups of students and surveying the students and teachers and will share out more details very soon. They are both staying true to their program’s primary focus, with QHIA integrating VAPA content and CRMS working outdoors with their environmental / biodiversity theme.
The teachers who support the Charter programs that are coming back before the break have already emailed their families about more specifics about the daily schedule, including start and end times. If you have a student in an older grade, you can expect to hear from your teacher soon.
- We will still be using the protocols Dr. Bruton shared with everyone COVID-19 Reopening School Presentation, which is now on the district website. The Student Pandemic Daily Self-Screening Health Record is embedded in the presentation and can also be accessed here
- Parents are to complete Student Pandemic Daily Screening for their child each day.
- If your child has any signs or symptoms of sickness, please keep your child at home and contact our registrar.
- Please make sure your child has a healthy breakfast before they come, as we will only have a snack break during the day, no lunch at this point in time.
- Have them come with a full water bottle, bring an easy-to-eat snack, and dress in layers!
- Each student will be dropped off at the designated drop-off site with students having masks on before they exit the car. Please be prompt.
- You will be greeted by Charter administration staff and, for our elementary students, the teacher will be there to meet them as well.
- (drop-off and pick-up location pending due to construction at the Quail Hollow Site, Nature Academy students will meet their teachers in front of their rooms, 22,23,24)
- Parents will need to stay in their cars and wear masks as they drop off their children
- Once at the school sites:
- Masks must be worn inside and outside at all times until we hear otherwise
- Students will wash/sanitize their hands coming and going into the classroom
- The 6‘ distancing will remain in place until the District works through our next COVID conscious on-site iteration plan.
- Children need to be picked up in the same location as drop off (parents do not get out of the car, please be prompt). Nature Academy students who take the bus will be told where to line up after we get back from the break.
Meals will be available for our students. We can have delivered to the Quail Hollow site or you can pick meals up at the designated spots. Please contact Alisia Munoz-Rojas, SNS Manager if you want more information. [email protected]
Please continue to read the emails from Dr. Bruton regarding the steps toward expanding our on-site opportunities for students and the steps required to fully open schools back up.
P..S: Please read on for dates for Robin’s and my Zoom meetings. Reflections on Homeschooling will be held on Wednesday, March 31 at 10:30. Parents love to hear from other parents as well, and so I hope for a strong number of various homeschooling attendees.
All the Best,
~Rhonda
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Parent Advisory Committee: Next Meeting Date: Tuesday, April 13th at 10:30am.
Join Zoom Meeting https://slvusd-org.zoom.us/j/86865665362
We will continue to focus on our LCAP; Local Control and Accountability Plan as well as plans for supporting the outside area of our Quail Hollow school site and Library needs. It is important that our Charter parents are informed of the reports and processes that our Charter is held accountable to. Please attend this meeting if you are wanting to step up for a more active role in the growth of your student’s Charter school.
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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Zoom opportunity: Reflections on Homeschooling. 10:30 am Every 1st and 3rd
This will be a time to discuss critical questions on your minds and various learning strategies for all age groups. The idea may have been initiated for those new to the homeschool process, but based on my 30 + years of experience, I know that this forum will be a great opportunity for more veteran homeschoolers as well. I’d love to hear the voices of old and new on these Wednesday Zoom times.
Join Zoom Meeting Reflections on Homeschooling: 10:30 Every other Wed each Month
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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"
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
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!
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CRISIS MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES:
In Case of Immediate Emergency Dial 9-1-1
Santa Cruz County 24-Hour Suicide Crisis Line- 1-877-663-5433 (ONE LIFE)
Santa Cruz County 24-Hour Crisis Line- 1-800-952-2335. Immediate crisis support to assess for hospitalization in a psychiatric crisis.
NAMI Santa Cruz County Help Line- 831-427-8020 x7 For individuals and family members affected by mental illness interested in learning more about local resources and navigating the mental health care system. Leave a message and receive a call back within 24 hours.
National 24-Hour Disaster Distress Helpline- 1-800-985-5990 Free counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters (COVID-19 included).
Santa Cruz County 24-Hour Domestic Violence Hotline- 1-888-900-4232
Santa Cruz County 24-Hour Child Abuse and Neglect Report Line-1-877-505-3299
Suicide Prevention Services of the Central Coast
https://fsa-cc.org/suicide-prevention-service 831-459-9373
Crisis Text Line-Text 741-741 for 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Support
What to do in a Mental Health Crisis
If you are thinking about harming yourself or attempting suicide, tell someone who can help right away: Call your doctor’s office, 911 for emergency services, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room. Call the toll-free, 24-hour hotline of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) to be connected to a trained counselor at a suicide crisis center nearest you.
Ask a family member or friend to help you make these calls or take you to the hospital. If You Have a Family Member or Friend in a Crisis: If you have a family member or friend who is suicidal, do not leave him or her alone. Try to get the person to seek help immediately from an emergency room, physician, or mental health professional. Take seriously any comments about suicide or wishing to die.
Even if you do not believe your family member or friend will actually attempt suicide, the person is clearly in distress and can benefit from your help in receiving mental health treatment. If you are not in imminent danger but need immediate crisis support call: (800) 952-2335 / (24-hours a day for Santa Cruz County residents to assess for hospitalization in a psychiatric crisis.)
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Charter Office Contact Information: The Charter office is open Monday through Friday from 8am-4pm. To reduce COVID19 exposure we ask that parents call or email the office before physically coming to the office in order to make arrangements to make contact with us in person. We will have a pick up/drop off box outside our office for parents to pick up/drop off items that need to be returned to office staff. Our office phone numbers are 335-0932 or 336-5167. You may also email us at [email protected] or [email protected]
We appreciate everyone’s cooperation in helping us keep office staff healthy and safe during this time so that we can continue to support our families.
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Attendance: We need to know when your student is sick.
The Charter registrar needs to know when your student is sick and not participating in any schoolwork for the day. If your student is enrolled in the Nature Academy, please call the registrar attendance line; 831-336-8527. If you are in one of our Homeschool programs, you do not need to call in, but you do need to mark your absence in your attendance ledger as well as on your planning sheet. If your student has symptoms of COVID, please have them tested. If they (or you) test positive, we would like to know. While you are not obligated to tell us, we are requesting you to contact the Charter Administrator. The request is to support the broader awareness of the span of the outbreak in our district and community. Any information regarding positive cases is private and confidential.
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What’s Happening in Charter:
- Coast Redwood High School: Shout Outs
- Lily Lonsdale 9th grade Artist
- Logan Mulhall 9th grade Earned his Youth Black Belt in Ninjutsu
- Kaitlin Seigle 10 grade 2nd-year SLVHS Cross Country standout
- Gabriel Dingman 10th grade Saxophonist
- Connor Bond 11th grade Earned the Eagle Scout rank which is the highest achievement attainable in the Scouts. Connor's project was 10 pollinator boxes for solitary bees that don’t belong to a hive. These will be placed in open spaces such as Quail Hollow and open spaces near the Felton Library. Friends of the Library and Valley Women's Club are the beneficiaries.
From the QHIA program:
My apology for not sharing the video from our All Charter Choreo Workshop. The result is so joyful! We do have students from all programs represented in the video and they are happy to share it Treat People With Kindness: Choreo Workshop 2021
Weekly Curiosity:
Check out these photos of people before and after a photographer asks them to smile: The Magical Power of a Smile (“betcha” can’t help but smile when you see these : )
As a reminder, when viewing Curiosities, first ask yourself (or a family member) “What do you Notice?” followed by “What do you Wonder?
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Dates to Remember:
- April 5th-9th: No school: Spring Break
- May 31, Monday: No School; Holiday
- June 3, Thursday: Last Student Day
Contacts
Administrator: Rhonda Schlosser: [email protected]
Administrative Assistant: Danelle Matteson: [email protected]
Registrar: Janet Hendricks [email protected]
Mental Health Counselor: Robin Bates [email protected]
HS Academic Counselor: Mary Zilge [email protected]