Superintendent's Weekly Message | |
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Dear HVS Families,
Did you know that HBCSD receives funding for essential programs and operations based on students’ daily attendance? Regular school attendance is vital for your child’s academic success and personal development, and each day your child is absent, results in lost revenue for our schools, which fund teacher salaries, daily operations, and critical programs.
Every school day provides valuable opportunities for students to learn, grow, and develop lifelong skills. Research shows that consistent attendance improves academic performance and helps students build strong relationships with their peers and teachers.
When students miss school, they miss key instruction, making it more challenging to stay on track with classwork. Frequent absences can lead to learning gaps, impacting their confidence and progress.
While we understand that occasional absences due to illness or other unavoidable circumstances are sometimes necessary, we encourage families to prioritize school attendance and plan vacations or non-essential appointments during non-school days.
We want our students to "Show Up to Thrive." Every Day Matters. Check out our video below to learn more. Thank you for your partnership in supporting our students’ success and ensuring a strong future for our Hermosa Schools.
Warm regards,
Dr. Susan Wildes
Superintendent of Schools, Hermosa Beach City School District
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Sprigeo is Now Live on Our Website!
HBCSD is excited to announce that Sprigeo, our new confidential online reporting system for bullying and school safety concerns, is now available on our website!
Sprigeo offers students, families, and community members a secure, private way to report incidents, supporting our commitment to creating a safer and more supportive learning environment.
Visit our Sprigeo web page to learn more about how it works and how to submit a report. Together, we can ensure a safe and thriving school community!
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Plan Ahead for School Meals
Help us keep mealtime running smoothly by pre-ordering your child's breakfast and/or lunch through our Meal Magic Family Portal. Pre-ordering helps our Food Services team plan efficiently and reduce waste.
Important Reminders:
- Breakfast is only served only during morning recess/snack time and is unavailable before school starts.
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Please place all pre-orders by 7:00 AM to ensure your child's meal is included in our preparation.
Thank you for supporting HBCSD Food Services! Together, we can keep our students fueled and ready to learn. Be sure to check out our menus and pre-order today!
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Hermosa View & Vista School Principal News | |
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Each year, Hermosa Schools participate in a safety drill known as “Run, Hide, Fight,” which we refer to as “Run, Hide, Distract” in the younger grades. The purpose of the safety drill is to prepare for the unlikely event of a dangerous intruder on campus. Teachers and staff have been trained on Run, Hide, Fight and have discussed how teachers will present this information to students in a productive, age-appropriate manner. Each teacher’s conversation with their class will be guided by slides, which can be accessed here: View: TK-1st Grade and Vista: 2nd-4th Grade. This drill is scheduled for Tuesday, December 10, at View and Vista Schools and will last approximately 10 minutes. We know this is a sensitive topic and recognize it may raise questions and concerns. Our counselor, Ms. B., will be available for students who need support in light of the drill. We have a strong relationship with the Hermosa Beach Police Department and live in a tight-knit community dedicated to "see something, say something." Thank you for your partnership in keeping schools safe.
Warmly,
Hillary Overbeck, Hermosa View & Vista Principal
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Vista's Scholastic Book Fair is This Week!
Bring on the bookjoy with Vista's Scholastic Book Fair from December 9-13! Check out the Book Fair website for a preview of the books to come.
Book Fair Hours: Visit every day after school (Mon., Tue., Thurs., & Fri. until 3:30 PM and Wed. until 2:30 PM). Students will also have the opportunity to shop during their scheduled class library time. On Thursday morning, the book fair will be open from 7:30-9:30 AM for families to do some holiday shopping.
How to Pay: Students and families can purchase books with cash, card, Apple Pay, or eWallet. Set up your child’s eWallet now with a set amount for easy transactions. Any leftover funds may be used online or at future book fairs.
Volunteers: There are still a few spots to SIGN UP to help. No experience is needed! Valley Middle Schoolers can earn service points by signing up & working a shift.
Questions: Email Deni Mileski, Vista Scholastic Book Fair Chair.
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Cozy Cookies Night at the Book Fair on December 11th
On Wednesday, December 11, come to Cozy Cookies Night, from 5-7 PM, in the Vista Library! Get into your coziest fit and join Vista's amazing librarian, Ms. Meyers, for an evening of book shopping. Bring a favorite stuffie for the book selfie station, treat yourself to some milk and cookies, and savor the magic of the Book Fair! Everyone is welcome!
Questions: Email Deni Mileski, Vista Scholastic Book Fair Chair.
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Hermosa Valley School Principal News | |
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I’m excited to share that we are introducing the Standards for Student Success in every Valley classroom. These standards provide universal support to help students manage their time, stay focused, reduce stress, and develop problem-solving skills. By enhancing learning in this way, we aim to equip students with lifelong tools for success. More details on these supports will be shared soon!
Believe it or not, we are already beginning to plan for the 2025-2026 school year! To ensure we offer courses and programs that align with student interests, all 5th, 6th, and 7th graders will be completing the Electives Interest Form on Wednesday, December 18. This early collection of student preferences helps us plan for staffing, explore potential changes in course offerings, and move our master schedule timeline earlier to better serve our school community. Your child’s input is crucial to creating a schedule that matches their interests and aspirations.
On Wednesday, December 18, our 6th-8th grade students will have the opportunity to opt in to participate in A Day in the Life of a Student challenge, returning for its second year after being a great success last year. This program helps our teachers understand what it's like to walk in the students' shoes. Teachers will experience school through the eyes of the students by walking their bikes, taking tests, completing classwork, taking notes, dressing out for PE, eating snacks and lunch, keeping their phones away, and making it to class on time—all alongside the student. We look forward to the positive impact this challenge will have on our school community!
Warmly,
Jessica Bledsoe, Hermosa Valley Principal
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Valley E-Bike & E-Scooter Safety Course - Last One Offered on January 8th!
As part of our "Be Safe, Be SMART" E-Bike & E-Scooter Campaign developed 'by students for students,' Hermosa Valley School will continue to require students to participate in an e-bike and e-scooter safety course to park their e-bikes and e-scooters on campus.
In our new partnership with E-Bike Sense, this comprehensive two-hour safety course combines interactive classroom instruction with hands-on e-bike and e-scooter training. This course will equip students with essential knowledge and skills for safe riding, covering the rules of the road, proper helmet use, and responsible riding practices. Students must complete ONE safety course to park an e-bike or e-scooter on the Hermosa Valley campus during the 2024-2025 school year. Upon completion, students will receive a numbered registration sticker to place on their e-bike or e-scooter. Unregistered e-bikes and e-scooters will result in parents/guardians being contacted to pick up their child's e-bike or e-scooter.
To participate, students MUST complete the sign-up for Wednesday, January 8, 2025 (2-4 PM). Sign-ups are acccepted on a first-come, first served basis.On the day of the safety course, students should plan to bring their e-bike or e-scooter and helmet and stay at Hermosa Valley for the full two-hour duration. This will be the last safety course date and time offered at Hermosa Valley this school year.
Special thanks to the Hermosa View, Vista, Valley Parent Teacher Organization (HVPTO) for generously funding this year's e-bike and e-scooter safety courses. We appreciate E-Bike Sense and HVPTO's partnership in helping keep our students safe.
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PBIS Corner
As we reflect on the importance of creating structure and routines for our children, I’d like to share a story from my early teaching journey. Over 20 years ago, I began my career alongside a group of enthusiastic young educators eager to make a difference. One of the first tools we were given was a book by Harry and Rosemary Wong titled The First Days of School: How to Be an Effective Teacher. While I’ve attended countless trainings and read many professional development books over the years, this one remains unforgettable.
The Wongs' book focused on a simple yet powerful concept: the importance of procedures and routines. They taught that the most effective classroom environments aren’t managed through constant discipline but through structure. I took their advice to heart, implementing routines for everything—how students entered the room, raised their hands, or even borrowed a pencil. What I didn’t realize at the time was that these clear, consistent expectations would lay the foundation for a positive, well-managed classroom.
The lesson is timeless. Whether in school or at home, clear expectations and routines can prevent many of the challenges that arise from uncertainty. At home, establishing predictable routines—like bedtime rituals, homework time, or family rules—can make daily life smoother and reduce opportunities for misbehavior. As parents and educators, our greatest tool is often not what we say but how we structure the environment around our children.
The Wongs demonstrated that effective management isn’t about constant correction but about empowering children to understand and meet expectations. Their message is echoed in today’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework, which focuses on reinforcing desired behaviors and redirecting undesired ones. In many ways, Harry and Rosemary Wong’s insights were ahead of their time, offering a practical handbook for creating calm, productive learning environments.
So, as we work together to support your child’s growth, I encourage you to consider where routines might help bring consistency and calm to your daily lives. A little structure can go a long way in fostering independence, confidence, and cooperation in our children.
Here’s to learning, growing, and supporting one another!
Jason Coleman, 7th Grade English Language Arts Teacher, and the PBIS Team
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10/12-12/20: HVPTO: Minted Fundraiser
12/9-13: HVPTO: Scholastic Book Fair at Vista
12/9, 12/13, & 12/17: Vista: 4th Grade Walk Through California
12/10 (5:30-6:30 PM): Valley: Home for the Holidays Band Concert in the Valley MPR
12/11 (During Lunch): Valley: Beach Kids Yoga Classes
12/11 (5-7 PM): Vista: Scholastic Book Fair Cozy Cookies Night
12/11 (5-8 PM): HBCSD: Regular School Board Meeting
12/12: Vista: Winter Sing Concert - 2nd Grade (9:30-10 AM), 3rd Grade (2:05-2:35 PM), and 4th Grade (8:30-9:00 AM) in the Vista MPR
12/13: Valley: PBIS Spirit Day Friday
12/13 (3:30-5 PM): Valley: HB Kiwanis Builders Club Holiday Shopping at Target for Beach Cities Toy Drive
12/13 (3:30-5 PM): City of HB & HBPD: Santa Sleigh Parade
12/13 (5-8 PM): City of HB & HBPD: Hermosa Holiday Movie Night "The Nightmare Before Christmas" (PG)
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Check Out Our Community Flyers!
We encourage you to visit our Community Flyers web page to see what our Education & Community Partners, Mira Costa High School, and Redondo Union High School, have to offer our school community. If you'd like to include a flyer, simply use this form.
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Hermosa Schools Office Staff | | | | |
