Charter News•June 5, 2023

Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others. -Cicero

Dear Charter Families,

This is my last email to all of you.  It is with a full heart that I retire as the principal of the SLV Charter.  Over the last 12+ years as principal, and previous to that for 7+ years as one of the teachers, I have remained inspired by this Charter staff who work with such strong dedication and heart for the families who chose to enroll and work in partnership with each other. We have become like family to each other over the years that have given us many ups and downs to travel through.

I believe in our Mission to ‘create and sustain unique alternatives to traditional school models within the public education system in order to support lifelong learners.’  Our programs may not be for everyone, but we have come to be known as one of the best Charter schools in the Santa Cruz area in the time that I have been here. Building strong relationships, supporting each other with respect and responsibility, having a staff who works above and beyond their hours with passion and commitment, parents and students who are here to care for and work together, integrating social-emotional learning, life-long guidelines and lifeskills into our academics; these are the foundations that I am proud to call the backbone of our Charter.

I wish you all the best.  I have full trust in the leadership that Ms. Kerry le Roux will bring with her, especially as she will have a solid team of teachers and staff members alongside her, helping to guide the programs that will always work in partnership with their students and families.  

There is no community more resilient than SLV.  Your roots are solid.  The Charter community has a deep web of positive commitment. You too, have become like family to each other over the years that have given us many ups and downs to travel through.

May you always find time to laugh and play with your children.  May you always find joy and beauty in the world around you.  May you work to support the environment in a sustainable manner.  May you find gratitude in even your hardest of days. 

Thank you for sharing your children with us.  I wish you all the best in the years to come.

~Rhonda

P.S. Please read on for news about next year and some summer information.

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Plans for Next Year: 

• First day of school for students is August 10th
• Next email correspondence:  
• Expect an email from your new principal at the start of August or earlier.
• Teachers will be sending their first email to their families at the start of their time back; which is on August 8th
• New teachers:  I cannot shared some of the Charter’s new employees until they are approved at the June 7th board meeting.  But I am happy to have been able to hire terrific new staff members for our Charter for next year.
• Math teacher for the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Nature Academy students
• English teacher for the 7th / 8th grade Nature Academy students
• Library/Media Specialist for our K-8 library.  
• Additionally, we still have two Instructional Aide positions open.  I will be increasing the number of hours for each position.  --Please consider applying for one of the positions posted on edjoin.  We have such fabulous parents; it would be great of we could employ you part-time to help with our students alongside our teachers.
  
  
• Music and Art specialists
• Sadly our Band teacher, Nathan Gonzales’ work day has been filled up with the music needs of BCE and SLE elementary schools. We have been actively exploring options for next year and are looking to see if he can continue with us on Wednesday afternoons until we find someone else.
• We are looking into more of the specific State requirements on ways in which we can hire additional visual and performing arts instructors for our various grade levels.
• Excursions and Special Events
• We will no longer be using Headwaters for our overnight field excursions next year. In the coming year, staff will be exploring other outdoor education programs.
• All programs will continue to have field trips and excursions for their students throughout the year.
• We will once again start the year with an All-Charter beach day on the first Friday of the school year.  Our teachers have already created a schedule of events throughout the school year; many of them ones where they integrate with the various other SLV Charter programs