“Thank you for being an important part of my story.” —Anonymous
“Find the good and praise it.”— Alex Haley
Dear Families,
Our homeschool programs have begun their end-of-year conferences and hybrid groups are no longer coming to campus, instead focusing on their last assignments at home when not meeting with their teacher. Nature Academy will have hybrid classes this week and next week the teachers have some special events planned.
Both Fall Creek Homeschool (via Zoom) and Quail Hollow Homeschool (outside at our Quail Hollow site) have had their celebrations for their 5th graders who are moving on. Both were very touching and full or heartfelt appreciation for the challenges and rewarding learning they shared with each other throughout this year.
This week, Quail Hollow Integrated Arts 8th graders will have their promotion celebration on Wednesday, May 26, outside at the Bear Creek Rec and Park facility. This Thursday, May 27th our Coast Redwood High School seniors will have their ceremony in the Fall Creek Amphitheater. Nature Academy will have the final promotion celebration next week on June 3 in the Fall Creek Amphitheater.
And welcome back to our 6th grade Nature Academy students! They were the first class that was able to go on an overnight field excursion (COVID protocols in place of course) since the start of the Pandemic over a year ago.
This newsletter is full of important information so please read on to learn more about:
- Our Quail Hollow School site will be offering free breakfasts and lunches to our students next year. Please complete the survey found below to help us plan for this opportunity.
- Your students online registration
- Staffing
- Employment Opportunities for our Charter
- SLV Charter options: Dr, Bruton’s wording in her last correspondence was confusing to some and so here is a quick synopsis of our options. Additionally, there are some students who may have the need to learn from home; specifically, either due to health or immunization restrictions. We can support your student.
- Immunization requirements
- Community Events
All the Best,
~Rhonda
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Employment Opportunities for SLV Charter
SLV Charter is in need of a Campus Supervisor during the lunch hours as well as an Instructional Aide. Both jobs are 5 days a week. We’d love to have a Charter parent or someone that a Charter Parent would recommend apply!
All district positions are posted on Edjoin. Classified applicants may submit an application through Edjoin or turn in a classified (hard copy) application to the Human Resources Department. For Classified positions, please refer to the appropriate Application for Employment attached. Classified Application
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Preparing for Charter Meals on our Quail Hollow school site
SLVUSD is providing Free meals to all children 18 and under during the 2021/2022 School Year.
We are planning for the upcoming 21/22 school year at the Charter sites and are asking parents to please complete the form below for each student. The answers you give will help us determine staffing and how many meals to plan for each day. Thank you for your help in our planning.
Survey regarding Charter Meals: 2021-22 We look forward to serving your student(s)!
Please contact Alisia Munoz-Rojas, SNS Manager [email protected] or 831-335-5384 with Questions.
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CHARTER Program options:
SLV Charter options: Dr, Bruton’s wording in her last correspondence was confusing to some and so here is a quick synopsis of our options. All programs will be at the Quail Hollow site (Except for our wonderful MtIS satellite program housed at Mountain School in Soquel), with each grade level residing at a separate level of the campus.
- The Nature Academy is our 5-day a week program and will continue 5-days a week.
- QHIA is our Integrated Arts homeschool option that offers 4 days of on-site classroom instruction; students come 4 afternoons and have the option of lab-time support those four mornings. Here is a link that explains more about that option.
- Coast Redwood Middle, Quail Hollow, Fall Creek, and Mountain IS offer two days of classroom enrichment. Most include additional field or overnight excursions. All of these programs have a theme each year that integrates their projects and activities.
- Coast Redwood High School runs their on-site options to support students completing the courses and credits required to graduate. The on-site course options can be up to 4 days a week for all grade levels. Math will be offered 4 days a week next year as an example. Field Trips and College and Career activities are also offered.
- Medical Exemptions: SLV Charter Homeschool option: There are some parents who may have the need to learning from home specifically, either due to health or immunizaton restrictions. We can support your student. Please contact our office for more information.
BY the way! We have openings for 6th grade in our QHIA program, a 7th grade opening in Nature Academy, as well as a smattering of openings in our other programs, CRHS as well! Please share our terrific options with any friends you have that may be interested.
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Staffing Announcements: Every year we tend to have a few changes in our staffing and this year is no different.
- Schools received additional funds for the 2021-22 school year to support expanding learning opportunities due to the pandemic and school closure for a year. To help support our goals and increase learning opportunities, we will be hiring an additional teacher that will step into each program at Quail Hollow to give increased support in math and possibly writing. We will also hire an instructional aide to help with small group learning in the programs.
- One of our changes is is a bit more personal and so the message is shared directly from Amber Walker:
Hello Charter families,
This message is to inform you of a big change for me coming up next year which affects my teaching. I have had to make the very difficult decision to take a leave of absence during the 21-22 academic year to provide more care for my father who has advanced Alzheimer's disease. Those of you who have known me for many years know that this is not a decision made in haste; I love teaching and I love this charter school. I am thrilled that my former classroom intern, Kenda Landers, will be filling in for me during my leave. Kenda recently received her teaching credential from CalStateTeach, and was with me in the QHIA classroom every day for over a year, and knows our school culture and traditions well. She helped during our classroom move, came on field trips, special events, and was the favorite “go-to” math tutor during our morning math/science lab time. We can’t think of anyone better to keep our traditions going, and our current 8th graders can speak to her “awesomeness” as they had her with them during their 6th grade year.
In the Fall, we will be meeting with our Charter Theater Booster Club discussing options for All Charter Theatrical opportunities next year. We do not yet know when the PAC will be re-opening, yet we'll brainstorm ideas for K-12 performing arts options. I will definitely be around, visiting our amazing families at community events such as our Winter Craft Faire.
I will miss you families and students, and look forward to seeing you when I visit, and when I return to Quail Hollow Integrated Arts.
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2021-2022 Annual Online Registration: All Charter families need to complete Registration. If you have not already registered your students, please do so!
On May 7th currently enrolled families should have received an email link to complete the annual registration for the 2021-2022 school year. The email subject is “SLVUSD PowerSchool Enrollment (Online Registration)” and would have been sent from [email protected]. If you did not receive an email, please check your Spam or Junk folder. This registration is required in order to ensure proper class placement. We ask that you please complete your child’s registration as soon as you are able. Thank you for your assistance. If you have any questions regarding registration, please contact the Charter office.
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Important Information Regarding Changes in State Immunization Requirements and Medical Exemptions: Please review the following information regarding changes in medical exemption laws regarding immunization requirements for school and child care admission for the 2021/22 school year (SB-276 & SB-714)
For admissions on or after January 1, 2021, what is required for a medical exemption to a required immunization? Starting January 1, 2021:
- Medical exemptions can only be issued through the California Immunization Registry – Medical Exemption website (CAIR-ME) by physicians licensed in California.
- Schools and child care facilities may only accept from parents new medical exemptions that are issued using CAIR-ME.
Are medical exemptions filed for children in attendance at a California child care facility or school before 2021 valid in later years?
A medical exemption filed at a pre-kindergarten facility or school remains valid until the earliest of:
- When the child enrolls in the next grade span. (TK/K-6th grade, 7th-12th grade)
- The expiration date specified in a temporary medical exemption.
- Revocation of the exemption because the issuing physician has been subject to disciplinary action from the physician’s licensing entity.
The District Nurse will be reaching out to families of students with medical exemptions entering the next grade span (7-12) and/or their exemption was written by one the physicians listed as having disciplinary action. Please contact the District Nurse at 831-335-9877 or [email protected] with questions or concerns regarding your student’s immunization or exemption status. Thank you.
For more information these websites might be helpful to you.
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From our Superintendent: CDC update on masks and opening next year.
Last week, the CDC updated guidance on the use of face coverings to allow fully vaccinated people to choose whether to wear their mask both indoors and out when they are in the presence of other fully vaccinated people. It is important to note that our schools are required by law to follow directions by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). We anticipate that CDPH will require schools to continue to maintain a higher level of restric ons than the CDC has suggested. Under current guidance, students, staff, and all visitors are required to wear face coverings while on campus. Although we do not yet know what local public health restrictions will require this fall, schools intend to comply with all COVID-19 protocols set forth by CDPH and our local public health authorities.
We are excited to affirm that Santa Cruz County Schools are planning to be open for full in-person instruction for all grades in the fall of 2021, provided that local COVID-19 metrics continue to improve as more people become vaccinated. Although we have been making excellent progress to stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community, we must continue doing our part to get vaccinated, support our communities to become vaccinated, and continue wearing masks and social distancing when required.
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Parent Advisory Committee: Next Meeting Date: May 25th at 10:30am. Join Zoom Meeting https://slvusd-org.zoom.us/j/81114032653 Our focus will be on Library/Resource Center and Outdoor plans to ensure before we start school and initial activities once we re-open.
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.
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In the Community:
Bookshop Santa Cruz is excited for the launch of it’s 2021 Young Writers Contest. Each year, Bookshop encourages young authors to write and share their stories. The winning entries are published in a book and given a gift card to Bookshop. The entry deadline is September 19th.
The Santa Cruz Symphony presents https://youtu.be/AZXwGGaQxMQ
In collaboration with our Symphony and Carnegie Hall, the Virtual YOUTH CONCERT is here. Many thanks to the Santa Cruz Symphony!
*Selections include:
- Verdi Anvil Chorus
- Stravinsky Dance of the Adolescents from Rite of Spring (excerpt)
- Orff O Fortuna from Carmina Burana
- In A Field Stood A Birch Tree
- Tchaikovsky 4th Symphony Finale (excerpt)
- Holst Mars
- Cabaniss Drumlines
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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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Dates to Remember:
- May 26, Wednesday: QHIA promotion: starting at 10 am at the Bear Creek Rec & Park Center
- May 27, Thursday: CRHS graduation: May 27 starting at 10 am in the Fall Creek Amphitheater
- May 31, Monday: No School; Holiday
- June 3, Thursday: Nature Academy promotion: starting at 12 pm in the Fall Creek Amphitheater
- 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]