September 8, 2023

BACK-TO-SCHOOL NIGHT THANK YOU

We thank all parents/guardians that were able to attend yesterday's Academic Back-to-School Night! Guests were able to meet with classroom teachers, attend classroom presentations, and engage through parent information sessions on Metro Safety and Fentanyl Education. We hope it was a fun and informative evening. We encourage parents to reach out directly to teachers if they have additional questions.

FALL FESTIVAL 2023

Fall Festival 2023 is TOMORROW, Saturday, September 9! We are so excited to celebrate with our CSArts-SGV community at this annual event, held in the Central Quad from 5-7 p.m. Due to the anticipated number of attendees to this year's festival, please be reminded that parking is available in the following locations:

The Highland Avenue Parking Lot, directly in front of the Duarte Performing Arts Center (PAC)
On Northview Field, at the corner of Central Avenue and Highland Avenue
Along the north side of Central Avenue, adjacent to CSArts-SGV
Along both sides of Highland Avenue, north of Central Avenue (please do not block our neighbors' driveways)
Along both sides of Central Avenue, east of Highland Avenue

We can’t wait to see you all there! Fall Festival is sure to be fun for the whole family, with carnival-style games, a chalk art contest, conservatory performances, and more! Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

YEARBOOK DISCOUNT ENDS TONIGHT

Don’t miss out on yearbook savings! Order today, Friday, September 8, by 9 p.m. to take advantage of the discount price of $110. Prices will increase starting tomorrow. Purchase your 2023-2024 yearbook now on MySchoolBucks or at YearbookOrderCenter. Please note that a yearbook is already included in senior packages.

FINAL CALL: RESTORATIVE PRACTICES SURVEYS

CSArts-SGV is committed to utilizing Restorative Practices to ensure we are building an environment that fosters belonging and inclusivity for all. Restorative Practices in education are strategies based on communication, relationships, and honoring oneself and others. Restorative Practices emphasize culturally responsive curriculum, social-emotional learning, and diverse instructional approaches, with the aim of supporting human rights in our daily interactions and strengthening community ties. In addition, restorative justice in education is about honoring the inherent value, worth, and dignity that we all deserve. CSArts-SGV is dedicated to using these tools to ensure we meet the needs of our great and diverse community.

In working towards building an inclusive and responsive community, we would like to hear from you. We invite all our school’s stakeholders to complete a brief survey. Please click on the link below that best reflects your relationship to CSArts-SGV and submit your responses by the end of the day TODAY, Friday, September 8. The data collected will better inform Dr. Heather Williams, our Restorative Practices Specialist, and our staff on how well we are meeting our inclusivity goals. We thank you in advance.

SINGLE BLOCK ABSENCES

If a student believes they were incorrectly marked absent for a single block, they should visit the corresponding teacher to clear up the misunderstanding. The teacher will then email attendance and clear the absence on the student’s behalf.

To clear an all-day absence, please email [email protected] directly, instead of replying to the automatic notice.

NATIONAL HISPANIC (LATINX) HERITAGE MONTH

National Hispanic (Latinx) Heritage Month is a time to acknowledge the unwavering spirit, contributions, and traditions of all those whose ancestors hail from Mexico, the Caribbean, Spain, and Central and South America. This Heritage Month is celebrated annually from Friday, September 15 through Sunday, October 15.

We would like to highlight some of the incredible work of our student club Latinx Unidos Con Honor y Amistad (LUCHA). LUCHA will be sponsoring a number of activities this month, including morning announcements segments about Hispanic heritage and Latinx icons, as well as a Lotería at Lunch on Monday, October 16.

CSArts-SGV has a number of student clubs dedicated to heritage, social activism, inclusion, and equity. We hope all students have a chance to check out these various clubs during Club Rush next Thursday, September 14 and Friday, September 15.

LAST CHANCE: LETTERMAN JACKETS

Only a few more days left to order your custom CSArts-SGV letterman jacket! As part of an annual conservatory fundraiser, these jackets can be personalized with your student’s conservatory name on the front, graduation year on the sleeve, and last name on the back (optional). Click here to order before 11:59 p.m. on Monday, September 11, the last day that letterman jackets will be available for purchase! Jackets will be distributed in late October. Please note that all sales are final.

HOMECOMING

Attention high school students: Homecoming will be on Saturday, October 14! Tickets and guest passes go on sale next Wednesday, September 13 on MySchoolBucks. Stay tuned as the Leadership class will reveal the location and theme next week! More details to come.

SEEKING COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

CSArts-SGV is grateful to have the continued support of the Maxwell H. Gluck Foundation through the Gluck Community Service Arts Fellowship Program. Over the past five years, this funding has provided our students with the opportunity to bring free arts activities to those who have little-to-no access and to become more active and engaged members of the San Gabriel Valley community.

As we begin another year of this influential program, we need your help identifying community organizations that serve children, seniors, or other groups who could benefit from free arts enrichment programs brought to them by CSArts-SGV students and teachers. All referrals within the San Gabriel Valley are welcome and appreciated. Please send your recommendations and contacts to our Outreach Coordinator, Simon Harrison, at [email protected].

SENIOR SUNRISE

The co-presidents of the senior class kindly request the assistance of our parents in providing a continental breakfast and drinks for Senior Sunrise, an annual "Right of Passage" event for the senior class. Senior Sunrise is an opportunity for the Class of 2024 to gather and watch the sunrise at the beginning of their final year of high school. This event will take place next week on Tuesday, September 12, from 6-8 a.m. at the Northview Field. Senior Sunrise is supported by the school but is run entirely by the student and parents.

We are looking for a few parents and alumni parents willing to volunteer and help with this event. If you cannot volunteer to be at the event, we would appreciate any donations of baked goods or other items listed on the sign-up sheet. Donations can be dropped off at the CSArts-SGV Front Office throughout the day on Monday, September 11 or on the morning of the event on Tuesday, September 12. Remember to label your items as "SOS Senior Sunrise." Please consider contributing to this memorable experience, and remind your seniors to come! Seniors are welcome to bring blankets and lawn chairs.

SENIOR PARENT MEETING

The Support Our Seniors (SOS) team will have a monthly virtual meeting for senior parents to hear about upcoming events and activities planned for each month. We will also share important information communicated by school administration for our senior class. Please join us on Monday, September 18 from 7-8 p.m. for the first meeting. Click here for the Zoom information.

Future SOS Meeting Dates:

Monday, October 16 | 7-8 p.m.

Monday, November 13 | 7-8 p.m.

Monday, December 11 | 7-8 p.m.

ENCORE CONSERVATORY CHALLENGE

The Encore Conservatory Challenge has begun! Become an Encore member today and your student's conservatory could win $2,500 to support a master artist or an arts enrichment program of the conservatory director’s choice! The conservatory with the highest percentage of families who join Encore by next Friday, September 15 will win the challenge! Already a member? Your membership has automatically been counted toward the challenge!

Encore is CSArts-SGV’s close-knit social membership group! Encore provides opportunities throughout the year to connect and socialize with other CSArts-SGV families and receive exclusive benefits designed to deliver the ultimate CSArts-SGV experience. To learn more about Encore or join today, click here.

PLEASE WELCOME LARRY RUIZ

We hope you will join us in welcoming the newest member of our CSArts-SGV team, Family Liaison Larry Ruiz. In this role, Mr. Ruiz will be coordinating parent giving efforts related to the Conservatory Funding Agreement (CFA). For all questions related to your CFA form or annual pledge, please reach out to Mr. Ruiz at [email protected] or 657.321.4000 ext. 60061.

We are also excited to announce that Hayley Vasquez, our former Family Liaison, will be working exclusively with our Director of Development, Amanda Warner, to assist in fundraising and other initiatives to support our conservatory program. You may continue to reach Hayley Vasquez at [email protected] or 657.321.4000 ext. 60023.

LOCKERS

CSArts-SGV has recently installed approximately 200 lockers for our students. In order to meet demand and develop an equitable system to disturbed them, CSArts-SGV is asking parents to complete an interest survey. The interest survey and more information regarding lockers can be found here. Lockers are available to rent for $45 for the school year, which also includes a lock provided by the school.

PREVIEW DAY REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

Spread the word to family and friends with students in grades 5-11 that CSArts-SGV Preview Day registration is now open for the 2024-2025 school year! At Preview Day, families can learn about our rigorous high school academic program, exemplary middle and high school arts program, and unique school culture. As previously announced, starting fall 2024, CSArts-SGV will be expanding its middle school offerings to include 6th grade students. Join us on the following Preview Days to learn more: Saturday, October 14, Saturday, November 4, and Saturday, December 16. Click here to register today!

SCHOOL SAFETY UPDATES & REMINDERS

COVID-19 Testing Reminder

Please be reminded that if you suspect your student may have COVID-19, please do not send them to school and test them at home. If your student has been exposed to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, please test immediately before sending them to school, and again after three days. If your student tests negative, but has symptoms, please have them wear a mask. Current COVID-19 guidelines no longer provide for contact tracing or testing close contacts. If you have any questions about testing or other procedures, please contact our Health Office at 657.321.4000 ext. 60401.

Metro Safety and Metro Youth Council

At Academic Back-to-School Night this week, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Metro Transit Authority came together with CSArts-SGV Administration to offer safety information and tips to parents. If you were unable to attend the Metro Safety Presentation, please review the presentations linked above, which include important phone numbers that all students and parents/guardians should have saved on their phones. Students can also pick up a Five Tips for a Safe Ride handout at the Front Desk.

Additionally, Metro is looking for high school students to serve on their youth council. The goal of the Metro Youth Council is to develop the capacity of young people to share their ideas and perspectives about Metro’s projects and initiatives. Applications are open for all interested students that are 14-17 years old and live in Los Angeles County. To learn more about the council, how to qualify, the benefits of serving, and more, please visit www.metro.net/youthcouncil.

Overdose and Narcan Informational Lunch

On Wednesday, September 13, representatives from the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and Los Angeles Fire Department will be on campus at Lunch in the Central Quad to distribute information on opioid overdose and the use of the lifesaving medicine Naloxone/Narcan. Students can get information, practice handling Narcan canisters, and ask questions.

MIDDLE SCHOOL UPDATES & REMINDERS

Dress Code and Cell Phone Policies

Please note that the dress code and cell phone policies that are in place during the academic day at Royal Oaks and Maxwell stay in effect during conservatory instruction as well. Should you have any questions regarding these policies, please contact administration at your specific academy.

Dismissal Time Reminders

Please be mindful of the dismissal times for middle school students, particularly at the Royal Oaks campus, and make sure to pick up your child promptly at the conclusion of conservatory instruction each day. CSArts-SGV administrators on duty may be reached at 626.599.5420 during conservatory instruction should you have any questions or concerns.