May 16th thru May 20th is Classified Appreciation Week! Make sure to take some time to thank you classified staff for ensuring our school is welcoming, clean, safe, and well organized for our students and staff! Gracias!
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Monday, May 16th is instructional day #162 and we are 90% done with the school year. There are 18 school days left to engage our Aztec Scholars to prepare them for their Final Exams so they pass all classes with Cs or higher!

1) FantAZTEC students are appreciative of our Classified Staff every single day by being respectful and thanking our staff!

2) FantAZTEC scholar athletes are appreciated of our Classified Staff and our classified coaches for all the extra time they put in with our teams!

3) FantAZTEC Azusa community are always appreciative of our Classified Staff because many of them are classified staff at AHS and in AUSD!

4) FantAZTEC Azusa staff appreciate each other as we wrap up our fantAZTEC 65th school year together!

May includes: Classified Appreciation Week (5/16-5/20); and May is also Mental Health Awareness Month; Asian American Month; Malcolm X's Birthday (5/19); Armed Forces Day (5/21); Memorial Day - no school (5/30);

Aztec Scholars are more engaged when staff is prepared with engaging curriculum and also connect the students culture, personal experiences, and how the student's ancestors helped to shape this nation and the world.

Respecting Tradition...Looking Ahead...Together...AzUSa!
Be safe, be respectful, be responsible!
Along with all the great work we are doing in the classroom, Azusa High is making positive news in the district and the community!
This quote is fantAZTEC and is our "WHY" ... what is your "Why" for being a teacher or Aztec staff and educating our Aztec Scholars?
AHS 2021-2022 SMART Goals are below.
SMART Goals are created by each department to better understand how each department plans to raise the rigor in all departments to better support the learning and writing for our Aztec Scholars in all classes. 
Aztec Bright Spots...
Check out all the fantAZTEC65 activities at Azusa High!
Happy Teacher and Classified Appreciation Week from Foothill Credit Union!
Happy Teacher and Classified Appreciation Week from your admin team and Chic-fil-A!
Happy Teacher and Classified Appreciation Week from the Parent Center!
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Happy Teacher and Classified Appreciation Week from the Life Skills and Best Buddies students!
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Congratulations to Elisa, Alex, Hannah, Isaac, and Oswaldo for being named Montview League Outsanding Seniors!
Congrats to Ms. Sandoval and Ms. Velasco for being named the LA County “Best Buddies Advisor of the Year". The award was presented at the Best Buddies Friendship Walk in Long Beach
Thank you Ms. Velasco, student Evelyn V. and Ms. Sandoval for supporting our Best Buddies scholars!
Congratulations to our Golf Team for winning League Champions!
Thank you to all the staff that showed up for the Aztec Expo!
Busy and beautiful Thursday with our NJROTC event, 15 EL scholars reclassified, and the mariachi concert!
Aztec Mariachi Scholars!
Azusa Mariachi in full effect! Beautiful!
NJROTC Scholars were recognized for their year(s) of service.
15 Aztec Scholars reclassified!
Oswaldo C. will be attending Harvey Mudd!
Masks are now optional at Azusa High!
See the Calendar for the Parent Center! Click here for the calendar.
Calendario del Centro de Padres. Oprima aqui para el calendario.
Please recommend any Aztec Scholars that may benefit from any needs and supplies!

AHS is accepting donations for our Thrift Store to provide clothes to our Aztec Scholars. Please consider cleaning out your closet and donating! Email mmartinez6@azusa.org with any questions.
The AHS Wellbeing Center in PO3 can support you in many different ways. Go check them out!
If families need support, please have them call "211" to speak to someone that can help with many different issues!
Si las familias necesitan apoyo, pídales que llamen al "211" para hablar con alguien que pueda ayudar con muchos problemas diferentes.
Community Schools team created this AHS Virtual Wellness Room. Students and staff can click on almost any item and be directed to a calming activity. 
Bell schedule. Every Wednesday is Early Release Day.
Aztec Hard Truths...
EASE (Info) - Our friends at EASE shared with us their May Newsletter -Click here to read the EASE Newsletter May 2022 - Mental Health Wellness.pdf. The newsletter highlights mental health wellness month; embedded in the newsletter are helpful resources. A quote that I found interesting states, “Teachers and educators are among some of the professionals with the highest mental health struggles.” The pressures that affect educators are unique and intense. Please be well and share this resource with your staff.

-If you feel that you need to call the Child Protective Services Hotline after you speak to a student, CPS can be reached at 1-800-540-4000 if any student shares information that must be reported.

-Please continue to let us know if you see any students with tagging or if you hear any comments about a possible fight. We want to be as proactive and safe as possible!

Aztec Updates
-Readers and Leaders: Click here to read an interesting article about "Future Proofing Students" for any jobs in the future by focusing on building these tasks within daily instruction. They found the following traits to be the most important for jobs in the future:
  1. Self Confidence: Self-awareness, strength awareness, finding purpose
  2. Empathy: Emotional literacy, perspective taking, empathic concern
  3. Self Control: Attentive focus, self-management, healthy decision-making
  4. Integrity: Moral awareness, moral identity, ethical thinking
  5. Curiosity: Curious mindset, creative problem-solving, divergent thinking
  6. Perseverance: Growth mindset, goal setting, learning from failure
  7. Optimism: Optimistic thinking, assertive communication, hope


Classified Employee Week: May 16 - 20 is Classified Appreciation Week! Make sure to give our Classified Staff a “high 5” and a "Thank you" for all that they do for our Aztec Scholars and our staff!
 

Calendar Reminder - Senior finals are scheduled for Tuesday, May 31st and Wednesday, June 1st. We will be on a block schedule on those two dates. The Senior “F” list is due on Thursday, June 2 at 8:00am. The last day for seniors is June 3rd. Please click here for updates:

 
AP make-up dates…
5/17, 11:00am - AP Psychology
5/18, 7:15am - AP Stats
5/18, 7:15am - AP US History
5/19, 7:15am - AP Human Geography
5/19, 11:00am - AP Biology
5/20, 11:00am - AP US Government




-Encourage Aztecs to Use “Paper” 24/7 Tutoring for Finals: the website is app.paper.co and they sign in with their student email accounts.
With less than 40 school days left, let's continue to encourage students to use Paper APP and to submit their essays for an extra review!


-SBAC Testing with 11th graders- Math testing DONE::>>!>>!>! we are conducting the SBAC English exam. We will be on a block schedule on these days. Please see attached block bell schedule: 

 
-Student Calendar 2022-2023 & 2023-2024- These are our recently approved calendars for this year and the next two years on one document: https://ausd.me/Calendars


-The Wellbeing Center is now opened in Portable 3! We provide Mental Health, Sexual Health, and Substance Prevention Resources in a safe and confidential space. We are open: Thursday & Friday: 7:30am - 4:00pm 
Interested in making friends? Come Apply to the Peer Advocate Program by February 11. For Questions, visit us in Portable 3!


-Parent Center Information:

Informacion en espanol https://conta.cc/3KxEM6O
MAY newsletter in english https://conta.cc/3LtITlG

-AUSD Tip Line - Concerns about the safety of AUSD students, staff, and schools can be anonymously reported via the AUSD Tip Line at bit.ly/AUSDTipLine or by calling 626-331-2302


-Update from Think Together in room 235: Think Together is providing our students tutoring, support, clubs, etc. Email Irlanda from Think Together at azusaHS.ausd@thinktogether.org or <irlanda.hipolito@azusa.org>


-The Azusa Upward Bound Program: is designed to help students navigate the process of preparing for and graduating from college. 
Upward Bound email: trioub@apu.edu
Upward Bound office number: (626) 815-2107
Instagram: @azusaupwardbound
Youtube:TRiO Upward Bound
Aztec Shout Outs!
-Please email me a brief positive or inspiring message or information of an Azusa staff member doing fantAZTEC work that you would like to recognize with a "Shout Out!" (mgomez4@azusa.org)
-"Shout out to our Instructional and One-on-One Aides who continue to work with our students and fill in where ever needed. You guys ROCK!" - Ms. Esparza

-"Shout out to all the Renaissance Students who have worked hard over the First Semester." - Ms. Adams

-"Shout out to Life Skills, Think Together Team,Foothill CU, Administration Team, and my Aztec Buddy* for the thoughtfulness during teacher appreciation." - Ms. Adams
 
-"Shout out Mrs. Galeazzi for all her help and guidance during our Action Research."- Ms. Adams

-Shout out to Mr. Wong and Mr. Montes De Oca for their awesome energy and demos during the Aztec Expo."- Ms. Adams

-"Shout out to my student volunteers during the Expo. They were wonderful ! "- Ms. Adams

-"Shout out to the Gladstone HS science department for being amazing teammates."- Ms. Adams 

-"Shout out to the Security Team for being our support and guardian angels. "- Ms. Adams

-"Shout out to Ms. Diaz for always having our backs and her calm and positive demeanor."- Ms. Adams

-"Shout out to Mrs. Aguayo for all her hard work keeping everything and all of us organized."- Ms. Adams 

-"Shout out to the Math Department for your help with the Community Schools survey. We appreciate your support!!" - Ms. Tanya Alvarez

-"Shout out to Ms. Hernandez and Ms. O'Neal for allowing IB to test in the College and Career Center!" - Mr. Colera

-"Shout out to the Math Dept for getting so many students to take the LACOE Survey!" - Mr. Colera

-Shout out to all the IB teachers for getting our scholars ready for the External Assessments!" - Mr. Colera

-"Shout out to Naomi for all that she does in the mail office!" - Mr. Colera

-"Shout out to Andrea Carlos for preparing the senior awards for graduation and getting special donations for PBIS prizes." - Ms. Pegorari

-"Shout out to Letty and Hilda for EL parent communication support for ELAC." - Ms. Pegorari

-"Shout out to Irene Rodriguez for balancing her support for all admin. working on ELPAC, SBAC, AP and CAST exams." - Ms. Pegorari
 
-"Shout out to Jackie Hoke, Ana Sanchez and Crystal Mejia for proctoring AP scholars during the AP exams." - Ms. Pegorari

-"Shout out to Bob Colera for proctoring IB scholars during IB exams." - Ms. Pegorari

-"Shout out to all teachers and counselors for taking extra responsibility for instruction when we have substitute shortages." - Ms. Pegorari

-"Shout out to all of the classified, without your efforts our students don't learn!  Everyone of you are an important part of the process!" - Mr. Colera

-"Shout out to the counselors for all your support with AP testing."- Mr. Velasco

-"Shout out to Hilda, Jenny, Karina, Sara, and Letty, for doing a fantAZTEC job with the preparation and distribution of Renaissance awards."- Mr. Velasco

-"Shout out to the MOT crew for making our athletic trainer room look fantAZTEC!"- Mr. Velasco

-"Shout out to Hilda and Jenny for doing a great job with the management and sales of prom tickets."- Mr. Velasco

"Shout out to Naomi for doing a fantAZTEC job with the sub coverages. Also a shout out to all the teachers that are supporting each other."- Mr. Velasco

"Shout out to the campus safety team for doing a fantAZTEC job working with our life skills teachers during the recent emergencies."- Mr. Velasco

-"Shout out to Karina Hernandez and staff that supported for organizing a Fant-AZTEC National Signing Day Event!" - Mr. Gomez

-"Shout out to Irene, all the counselors, Mr. Colera, and all the support staff that have helped with the busy AP and IB testing. You are appreciated!" - Mr. Gomez

-"Shout out to the English and World Languages PLC TEAMs for continuing to discuss and analyze data to improve lesson plans through May!" - Mr. Gomez
Upcoming Events
5/16 Mon - Classified Appreciation Week Begins!;

5/17 Tues - Admin Meeting; School Site Council;

5/18 Wed - College Wednesday; Early Release Wednesday -Teacher Planning Day;

5/19 Thurs - Classified Appreciation Day!; Cafe Azteca;

5/20 Fri - Aztec Shirt Day;

5/21 Sat -

5/23 Mon -

5/24 Tue - Admin Meeting;

5/25 Wed - College Wednesday; Early Release Wednesday -Faculty Meeting; Senior Awards, Scholarship Awards
Aztec Staff will ensure that our Aztec Scholars will be better prepared for their future by creating daily lesson plans that:

-engage students from bell to bell in a safe and welcoming environment;
-support all students and build a positive class community;
-keep students focused with culturally relevant topics and technology;
-infuse planned essential questions that promote collaboration-creativity-critical thinking-communication;
-implement regular checking for understanding;
-and promote student use of academic language and ACES writing.

Further, in order to continue to improve based on the WASC recommendations, teachers and staff members will work professionally with their peers to improve the learning, instruction, and lesson plans based on common assessment data and be collaborative with all Azusa stakeholders.

Let's continue to be safe.

Sincerely,

Martin O. Gomez, PhD
Principal and "Lead Learner" at Azusa High School

Respecting Tradition...Looking Ahead...Together...AzUSa!
Follow us @azusaaztecshs
#weareazusa #aztecscholars #fantAZTEC65
https://www.azusahighschool.net

Have a FantAZTEC Day!
"Once an Aztec, Always an Aztec!"
Azusa High School
240 North Cerritos Avenue, Azusa, CA 91702
Phone: 626-815-3401