“Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and
attended to with diligence.” – Abigail Adams
Dear Charter Families,
This is a quick reminder that there is no school tomorrow, Friday the 28th, as your teachers will be working together during their Professional Development day.
Next week I will share the results of our Parent and Student Surveys. I have not had time to compile the information yet but am thankful that so many parents filled it out for us. The teachers have especially appreciated the comments.
Please continue to communicate with your student’s teachers if you have any questions or concerns. As you know we did not require names, which may have helped get more information, however without names, it is difficult to know where exactly to address concerns. The Triad of communication between Teacher, Parent, and Student is critical for student’s learning to be successful.
While this year with on-site learning has been so much better than the last two years we have had, we are still in a Pandemic. Various levels of stress, anxiety, and re-learning how to learn together in a classroom and school campus are still under the surface for many students. Students have definitely readjusted back to school life, however, we are still aware that nothing is back to normal.
We are grateful that the students are enjoying their time together; it is evident.
Thanks for all you do and I hope you are enjoying an extended weekend.
~Rhonda
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From our Counselor What I Do!
Hi Charter families,
It has occurred to me that with all of our new families joining us, many of you may not quite know who I am and what I do! As the charter Mental Health Specialist, there are a few different ways that I support our students. I see many students in one-on-one sessions, which usually last from 2-6 sessions and involve supporting students with issues that are affecting their learning at school. I also offer some online groups, particularly for students who are distance learning at home. And I schedule time in each classroom to bring in age-appropriate social-emotional learning topics for all of the students. Parents can reach out to me if they’d like to collaborate with me on ways to support their student’s emotional health. I also write an article for the parents once a month to support the school-to-home connection around social-emotional skills and development.
Currently, I am offering -
- Fall Creek Social Skills Group - Thursdays weekly at 9:45 am
- Middle School online social group (come drop in any time!) - Tuesdays at 3 https://slvusd-org.zoom.us/j/82146102159
- Monday lunchtime art group on campus at noon
- Monthly classes in each classroom (be sure to ask your students what they’ve learned from me in their classrooms)
- Open office hours for the CRHS students
- Support when needed when issues arise in the various programs
- Plus…one on one counseling with students, and consultations with parents and teachers
- Coming soon: a weekly group to support skills in the Quail Hollow Homeschool
Have a wonderful weekend!
Robin Bates, LMFT
Office hours Monday, Tuesday and Thursdays from 8-4
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The Gift of Literacy Initiative: Free Online Books using MyOn Digital Library Book Downloads through January: The state Gift of Literacy Initiative is offering free unlimited book downloads for all students through the end of January. Here is the link to the site with directions on how to access the books and flyers for families. Instructions for Family access
From December 1, 2021, to January 31, 2022, any California student can benefit from access to thousands of myON books in English and Spanish. Students can easily browse or search the digital library to find books to match their interests and grade level. There are also options for students to read books online or offline, even in low-bandwidth environments.
Go to: www.myon.com and click on the purple myON Login button:
Enter the following information on the login screen:
Click the green Sign In button, select a book from the Library or an article from News, and start reading! Once you get in, the best place to start for fiction is the Genres button on the top middle. Then you can click what type of books you want to download.
The books are listed by age level. So when you open up Genres and pick one, you will see little kid books. Keep scrolling down, through the middle school books, and the ones at the bottom are more high school books. They also have a ton of graphic novels that tend to be located between the middle and high school books.
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Charter Library Help needed: If you are interested in volunteering in the library, please contact Clara Elliott at [email protected]. Help is needed bar-coding, entering books into our system, and shelving. Your help is greatly appreciated!
Here is a link to the library to give you a little taste of what is being developed: https://bit.ly/3yCnPlY
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COVID-19 Testing Information: We have had very few cases at our school site and I attribute this not only to our small numbers in the classrooms but also to your diligence in working with our protocols and doing all you can to keep your children safe and healthy.
The District provides testing in partnership with Inspire Diagnostics. By registering your student(s) with Inspire Diagnostics, your student(s) can test for weekly screening or for exposures as necessary. When your student(s) participates in this weekly screening and/or exposure testing, he/she is eligible to remain in school during a "modified" quarantine.
To register your student(s), please click on INSPIRE DIAGNOSTICS REGISTRATION.
If you prefer that your student(s) only participate in exposure testing, please contact Kelly McWaid at [email protected] or your site principal. If your student is currently registered and you would like to make adjustments or corrections to the registration, please contact Inspire Diagnostics at [email protected].
The Inspire Diagnostics Testing Dates and Times at Quail Hollow are Monday & Thursday 10:45am - 11:45am
- We still have a supply of at-home rapid antigen tests for students in our office if you have not picked any up yet. Our office is open from 7:30-4:00.
If you would like to take a PCR test, here are all the sites and times for the week.
We highly recommend you test your student once a week.
The SLVUSD Inspire Diagnostics Testing Dates and Times are as follows
COUNTY TESTING OPTIONS:
Three drive-through COVID-19 testing sites are now open to the entire Santa Cruz County school community -- students, staff, and family members. These sites utilize the PCR tests and are available for both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. There is no out-of-pocket cost, regardless of insurance status, and most results are returned within 24 hours.
To get tested, fill out one-time registration at [email protected] and go to any site. (If you have already registered for our Inspire testing there is no need to register again)
No appointment is required. The sites are located at:
- Santa Cruz COE Annex, 399 Encinal Street, Santa Cruz
- Cabrillo College in Aptos, Parking Lot P
- PVUSD District Office parking lot
For days and times, please reference the Santa Cruz COE COVID-19 Testing For School Community.
Mountain Community Resources (MCR) is also hosting a testing site in a bus parked behind MCR, from 10am - 6pm, Friday - Tuesday.
We appreciate and rely on your continued support in:
- Daily screening by parents of their students, as well as staff screening protocols.
- Staying home if your student has any signs of illness. (Symptoms include: fever/chills, cough, shortness of breath/difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle/body aches, headache, new loss of taste/smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea/vomiting, and/or diarrhea.)
- Reporting to us at the Charter office if your student is symptomatic and/or has had any exposures to a positive COVID-19 case in your household. [email protected] attendance line, 336-5167 office number, 335-0932
- For more information, you may access the California Department of Public Health website.
From our Charter VAPA Booster parents: All Charter Play Update
Due to many obstacles related to Covid protocols, the All Charter Play will, unfortunately, need to be canceled this year. There have been lengthy discussions between the district theater teachers, including Amber Walker, the Charter Theater Booster Club, and Rhonda, that have led to this decision. Amongst the many, the primary obstacle is the large K-12 cast. Historically, the All Charter Play has had a cast of 70-90 performers from all charter programs, which is just too large a group with current Covid restrictions. To hold auditions and cut any performers in order to reach a smaller cast size goes against the spirit, culture, and legacy of our wonderful All Charter play. We look forward and are hopeful that this tradition can return during the 22-23 school year. In the meantime, we are optimistic regarding the All Charter Talent Show in May.
Sincerely, Your Charter Theater Booster Club, Amber Walker, and Rhonda Schlosser
All Charter Talent Show: Friday, May 20, at 7pm Coordinator: To Be Determined
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Charter Parent Volunteers:
Volunteer opportunities will be available on a limited basis at each school site. The registration process for volunteers is as follows:
New Volunteer: You will be required to pick up and fill out the volunteer paperwork from your school site and obtain a signature from the school site administrator. Once complete, please bring your signed paperwork to the Human Resources Office. You will also be required to provide verification of a full COVID-19 vaccination* and a current TB result.
Returning Volunteer: You will be required to provide verification of a full COVID-19 vaccination. This documentation can be provided to your child's school site. The school site will forward proof of vaccination to the Human Resources Office. You may also bring the proof of COVID-19 vaccination* documentation directly to the Human Resources Office.
*Proof of COVID-19 vaccination is required regardless of where the volunteers are on campus, inside or outside.
Registration packets are available in our Charter Administration Office.
The Human Resources Office hours will accept 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.
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Covid Protocols to All Families who come on-site: When your child is sick
Important for all of our students enrolled in our programs. We are committed to making sure that we are doing all that we can to mitigate the COVID virus so that we can keep our programs open for those who want to attend classes on our site. An important element is to make sure that we trace any positive case. This is done by accessing any student who comes on-site and shows symptoms that may be signs of the COVID virus.
If your child comes on-site for classes. Please call our Charter Attendance Line at 831-336-8527 to report when your student is ill. If your student has experienced any covid-like symptoms:
*Cough * Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
*Fatigue * Muscle or body aches
*Headache * Congestion or runny nose
*Sore throat * New loss of taste or smell
*Diarrhea * Nausea or vomiting
You will either need to:
- Receive a negative PCR Covid Test, be free from vomiting, diarrhea or fever for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications, and have had an improvement in symptoms.
- Isolate at home for 10 days from symptom onset. OR
- Be seen by their physician and provide a medical evaluator note to verify that an alternative diagnosis has been made and the symptoms are not due to COVID-19.
Parents who have further questions can contact Nurse Sarah Dahlen at 831-335-4452 x142.
Thank you so much to all of you who are wearing your masks properly while you are in the classrooms and outside, close to others. It is by doing so that we can keep the virus at bay and keep learning together in classrooms and on campus.
Pandemic Updates, and information on power outages on school days: Here are some good links to perhaps bookmark regarding Covid Safety protocols: RETURN TO SCHOOL POLICY.
DRIVE THROUGH COVID-19 TESTING: Exciting News! The County Office of Education is now offering symptomatic & Asymptomatic PCR testing. Cabrillo College in Aptos, Parking Lot K Mon-Fri 2-5 pm and Sat 9am-5pm. PVUSD District Office, Parking Lot Mon, Wed, Fri 9am to 5pm. Santa Cruz COE Annex, 399 Encinal St, Santa Cruz Mon-Fri 3-6 pm. Drive Through Covid-19 Testing Sites
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Employment Opportunities at SLVUSD: Are you looking for part-time or full-time work? Interested in joining the SLVUSD Team? We have several job opportunities. You can review SLVUSD job opportunities at www.edjoin.org/slvusd.
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Dates to Remember:
- Friday, January 28: No School, Professional Development day for staff
- Monday, February 14: No School, District Holiday
- Monday, February 21: No School, Presidents Day Holiday
- Friday, March 4: End of second trimester
- Friday, March 18: No School, Professional Development day for staff
- Sunday, March 17-Wednesday, March 30: WASC visit
- April 4-8: Spring Break
Key Contacts
Administrator: Rhonda Schlosser: [email protected]
Administrative Assistant: Danelle Matteson: [email protected]
Registrar: Janet Hendricks [email protected]
Mental Health Counselor: Robin Bates [email protected]
Resource Specialist: Melanie Entner[email protected]
HS Academic Counselor: Mary Zilge [email protected]