Volume 5 Issue 3 | September 2021
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SEPTEMBER 2021 HSC MEETING
Minutes from past meetings and dates of upcoming meetings can be found here.
The next HSC meeting is Monday, October 18th at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom.
Email us any time with questions or suggestions: president@leighhsc.org.
Highlights from Principal Kara Butler
  • Due to new California legislation, all students can now receive free lunch. Approximately 600 students are availing of this each day. In previous years, lunch was served to approximately 50 students per day, so staff is getting the new logistics worked out to ensure that all our students are able to get through the lunch line in a timely fashion.

  • The Minimum Days observed during late September allowed our teachers to take part in Social Justice training.

  • Leigh has a new, easy to use, 24-hour online tutoring service called Paper Tutoring. For anyone who needs additional help to use the tool, staff are working on creating an instructional video. When that is available it will be shared on the school website and communicated through our various channels.

  • Leigh has a new online reporting system called StopIt, which is an anonymous reporting system for student concerns. It is a two-way system allowing the school administration to communicate with the student who reported the information, while allowing the student to remain anonymous. This way, if the school needs more information in order to act on the report, they can reach out to the student to get that information.


  • Landscaping in front of the main office is almost complete, and the staff lounge and restrooms are almost ready. The teacher workroom is already being used, and a refrigerator is coming soon so the teachers can store their lunches.

  • All grass at Leigh is watered with non-potable recycled water.

  • Please have a discussion with your students about the “devious licks” TikTok challenge that challenges students to record videos of themselves stealing items from their school. Leigh has had some issues with people stealing items from the bathrooms. This costs Leigh money (some of the stolen items are expensive to replace), and also take up staff time.
Highlights from Teacher Representative Celeste Smiley
As always, Ms. Smiley's monthly report is loaded with information and updates, including:
  • General Info
  • New Staff
  • Class News
  • Club News
  • Campus photos

Ms. McQueen’s Spanish classes creating a symbol that represents one of our school values: Community.
Highlights from Student Representative Isabela M.
Past events/activities

Upcoming events/activities
  • Pink Game, Oct 8th (Breast Cancer Awareness football game)
  • Homecoming Rally, Oct 13th
  • Homecoming Football Game, Oct 15th
  • Homecoming Dance, Oct 16th
  • Blood Drive, Nov 11th
  • Several dining out fundraisers coming up

The week of Sept 20th was Deaf and Hard of Hearing Awareness Week. The students are currently celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month. October will be LGBTQ History Month.

Additional information:
HELP US REACH OUR ANNUAL GIVING DRIVE GOAL

Thank you to everyone who has already donated to our Annual Giving Drive! To date we have raised $23,279 of our $30,000 goal! We need to raise an additional $6,721 in order to support the programs we have committed to funding this year. Donate to the Home & School Club today and make a difference at Leigh. This is our primary fundraiser for the 2021-22 school year and we are deeply grateful for your continued support.

Donate online or mail a check: make payable to Leigh Home & School Club; mail to: Leigh Home & School Club, 5210 Leigh Ave, San Jose, CA 95124.
Any questions, contact Amy Hogg, Leigh HSC Treasurer, at treasurer@leighhsc.org.

Thank you for making a difference!
Your support matters and is greatly appreciated!
Leigh High School Home and School Club is an all volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Tax ID # is 77-0199809. All donations are tax-deductible.
RECENT PROGRAMS/ACTIVITIES FUNDED BY HOME AND SCHOOL CLUB

  • $8,000 to teachers for classroom resources. Each teacher received $100 to purchase needed materials for their classroom.
  • $245 for Leigh masks for new staff
  • $470 for welcome back coffee/treats for staff

  • The following staff grants were approved for funding at our September HSC Meeting:
  • $270 for a digital subscription to online materials, Spanish 1 & 2
  • $60 for a digital subscription to online materials, Spanish 3
  • $437 for posters and a Booklet subscription, Spanish 2
  • $100 for an Upfront magazine subscription, US History and Gov/Econ
  • $125 for a set of graphic novels, English (SAI)
  • $355 for a set of classroom novels, English
  • $250 for air plants for clay project, 3D Design
  • $120 for prizes for stock market challenge, Economics
  • $395 for 10 Vernier temperature probes, AP Chemistry
2ND ANNUAL KYLE J TAYLOR FOUNDATION YOUTH HEART SCREENING
Saturday, October 2nd, 9:00am- 4:00pm

Leigh is hosting our second Kyle J. Taylor Foundation Youth Heart Screening on Saturday, October 2nd in the Leigh gym. Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is one of the leading killers of teenagers whether they are athletes or not. Our FamLeigh lost 2017 graduate Kyle Taylor to SCA in 2018. We want to ensure this doesn’t happen again. 
 
Sign up for a free screening, and to complete the information needed prior to the screening. Space is limited, so don't wait to reserve your spot. This is open to youth ages 12-25. Students will have an EKG administered by a licensed medical professional. If further information is needed, families will be referred to their physician.

Volunteers are also needed to help with check-in, check-out and greet participants. Sign up to volunteer.

 If you have any additional questions regarding the screening, please reach out to the Kyle J. Taylor Foundation at kylejtaylorfoundation@gmail.com.
JOIN US FOR CAMPUS CLEAN UP DAY
Saturday, October 9th, 9:00am- 1:00pm

Please join us for a day of making Leigh beautiful! Come by for an hour or for the entire time. We will be weeding, planting and cleaning up campus. Show your Longhorn pride and help make campus beautiful!

A task list will be available that day and you can choose what chores you would like to do. Parents and students welcome and encouraged to join in the fun. RSVP is not mandatory but is appreciated. Students can earn volunteer hours. Many hands make light work! Please bring labeled garden tools and gloves (shovels, hoe, weeding tools etc.)

Hope to see you there! Any questions, contact our HSC Beautification Chairs, Kelly, Ashleigh, Lara and Tamiko, at beautification@leighhsc.org
WE LOVE OUR TEACHERS & STAFF!

The HSC Hospitality Team and parent volunteers provided the first in-person Staff Appreciation Lunch of the school year: a salad and dessert buffet. In October there will be a snack for staff, and then another staff lunch in November or December. Thank you to all the hospitality volunteers!
COLLEGE AND CAREER CENTER

The College and Career Center (CCC) provides resources for students and parents in their explorations of post-high school opportunities. Our College and Career Specialist, Nathalie Goricanec, collaborates with Leigh's school counselors and administrators to provide college and career support for all of our students. Mrs. Goricanec is supported by a team of parent volunteers. To sign up to help in the CCC, please select the CCC option on the HSC volunteer form.

The CCC helps students with career advice, college advice, college applications, college fairs, and using the Naviance college planning and career assessment tool. Mrs. Goricanec also hosts College Representatives who speak about their respective colleges - twice daily through the Fall, as well as speakers about various career pathways. The schedule for College Representative visits is available on the CCC Calendar. Information on other college and career resources is available on the College and Career Planning pages on the school website.

  • Tuesdays and Thursdays, the CCC volunteers are working 1-on-1 with students on their college essays.

  • Parents and guardians are invited to the CCC for Coffee with Mrs. G on Fridays at 1PM. Join CCC Remind: text @38df to 81010 to keep up with Mrs. G's coffee dates.

  • The CCC coordinates an enrichment opportunities page, which lists volunteer opportunities, academic enrichment programs, internships, and jobs for students.
BOOSTERS AT LEIGH

  • Sports Boosters at Leigh include parents, coaches, and community members dedicated to supporting the athletic program at Leigh High School. The next meeting is October 11 at 7PM: http://leighsportsboosters.org/
  • Annual Donation Drive currently under way


  • PAPA is the Performing Arts Parents Association supporting all theater and music programs at Leigh. The next meeting is October 11 at 7PM: http://leighpapa.org/
  • Mark your calendars: FALL FEST on OCTOBER 23

  • ACTS is the booster club specifically for Theater Arts. The next meeting is October 5 at 7PM: www.leightheaterarts.com
  • Mark your calendars: HAUNTED HOUSE OCTOBER 14-30
DID YOU KNOW?

  • Leigh has a new bilingual Community Liaison, Sandra Soto. Ms. Soto's role is to support Leigh families through sharing useful resources, providing parent workshops, helping families understand our school system, and helping parents support their child’s education. Learn more.


  • Leigh's School Profile for 2021-22 has just been published. View here. This report provides a synthesized, yet in-depth glimpse of our Longhorn community, including student body demographics, honors and AP offerings, SAT and ACT composite averages, a list of where recent graduates have gone to college, and more. The School Profile is shared with colleges and universities to provide context to an admissions reader.

  • Academic Support is available for students through the 24hr online tutoring service, Paper Tutoring. Peer tutoring is also available Mon-Thurs after school in the Homework Center. Learn more.

  • Class Donations (for classes such as Art, PLTW, Math, American Experience etc) can be made on the Webstore. Donations for theater and music classes can be made on the PAPA website.
We have lots of volunteer opportunities for Leigh parents and guardians to get involved in small and large ways, including:



Please join us at future HSC meetings:
  • Monday, October 18, 2021
  • Monday, November 15, 2021
  • Monday, December 13, 2021
  • Monday, January 24, 2022
  • Monday, February 28, 2022
  • Monday, March 21, 2022
  • Monday, April 18, 2022
  • Monday, May 16, 2022

Questions/suggestions? Contact us at president@leighhsc.org
HOME & SCHOOL CLUB OCTOBER MEETING
Monday, October 18, 7pm - Zoom

We invite you to join us for our next Home & School Club meeting. The following speakers will provide updates on what's happening at Leigh and in our district:

Principal Butler
Ms. Smiley (Teacher Rep)
Student reps (ASB/Leadership)
Kristiina Arrasmith (District Board Trustee)
Ms. Goricanec (College & Career Center Specialist)
Booster Clubs (Sports/Spirit/PAPA)

This will be followed by updates specific to our Home & School Club (programs we are funding, staff grants, club support, community building, staff appreciation etc). 

Zoom link is below. Dates for all future HSC meetings are here - mark your calendar!

ALL ARE WELCOME!  


Meeting ID: 918 5093 0665
Are you shopping on Amazon? Yes? Great! Use Amazon Smile and a % of your purchase automatically comes back to Leigh HSC. Shop at smile.amazon.com/ch/77-0199809 or with AmazonSmile ON in the app. This is free money for Leigh HSC - to date we have received $429 through this program. Thank you for your support!
Leigh High School Home and School Club is an all volunteer 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Tax ID # is 77-0199809. All donations are tax-deductible.