Volume 7 Issue 2 | September 2023 | |
-
Join us at our next HSC meeting on Sept 25th, 7:00pm, in the Leigh Library
- Exciting college events are on the horizon! Take a look at the featured highlights from our College & Career section below
| |
|
|
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 $8,896.34 of our $30,000 goal! We need to raise an additional $21,103.66 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 2023-24 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.
| |
|
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE AUGUST 2023 HSC MEETING
| |
Highlights from Principal Brandon Wall |
- Aug 11th: Commencement of a successful year! Engaging Freshman orientation - delighted by everyone's participation
- Aug 15th: Productive staff meeting; thrilling Scavenger Hunt
- Aug 16th: Vibrant atmosphere, festivities for students including a balloon arch
- Aug 18th: Welcome back rally & dance - over 700 students joined
- Aug 31st: Back to School Night
- Enrollment: 1845 students
- New Staff: 9 new teachers, a new counselor, and a new social worker.
Stay Connected with Leigh:
| | | |
Highlights from Student Representatives (Officer), Sherry Xu |
- Associated Student Body (ASB) Charter
- ASB worked hard to create a festive back to school experience. A balloon arch adorned the entrance to create a warm reception for students. ASB welcomed students with popsicles and helped Freshmen feel comfortable. The ASB Outreach team made posters for the new staff members' classroom doors.
- All ASB packages were delivered before the start of school.
- The first football game held on Aug 17th was the "Green Game" and incorporated halftime activities that highlighted mental wellness.
- A spirited Friday back-to-school dance and rally on Aug 18th marked an energetic start. Ice cream and pizza were very much enjoyed!
- A dedicated video for Women's Month is in the process of being crafted and teachers will be engaged for input.
- A meeting for Club presidents and VPs was held on Aug 25th. The Club Fair will be held in the quad during lunch on Sept 15th.
Stay connected with ASB and student happenings on campus:
| | | |
Highlights from College & Career Specialist, Nathalie Goricanec | |
Mrs. Goricanec (Mrs. G) is the Leigh High School College and Career Specialist. She has been running the Leigh College & Career Center (CCC) since 2016. The CCC provides resources for students and parents in their explorations of post-high school opportunities. Mrs. G collaborates with Leigh's school counselors and administrators to provide college and career support for all of our students. She is supported by a team of parent volunteers. Please visit the CCC website for more information and to access resources.
Upcoming Events and Opportunities
-
Every Friday, 1-2p: Parents are invited to "Coffee & Cookies with Mrs G" every Friday in the CCC (room 28). This is an open office hours session for parents only, come with your questions!
-
Sept 7th, 6-8:30p: College Night at 6-8:30p at Leigh Gym. This event is intended for Juniors and Seniors but everyone is welcome. The session from 6-6:30p is for first-generation college applicants. The session from 6:30-8:30p is for everyone and will include presentations and student panels.
-
Sept 19th, 6-8p: The District College Fair at Branham High School. Meet with our representatives from 70 public and private colleges and universities in California and around the country. Learn more about the District College Fair.
- College on-site visits begin this month - see CCC calendar below
Resources:
| | | |
Highlights from CUHSD Board Trustee, James Kim | |
Each school year, a Board Trustee is assigned to a school site to act as a Board Liaison. Leigh's Board Liaison this year is Trustee James Kim.
| | | |
Highlights from HSC Co-Presidents, Kerry Haywood & Shalini Chari | |
The purpose of Leigh Home & School Club is to support the academic and social/emotional needs of all students at Leigh High School. Our goals for the 2023/24 school year include:
- Supporting the Leigh High School values of ‘community, integrity, and growth.’
- Establishing and maintaining communication between administrators, educators, parents, and students.
- Raising funds to provide much-needed financial support directly for our classrooms and our students
- Coordinating volunteers for essential academic and social/emotional programs
- Helping build community and a sense of belonging
We raise money through the Annual Giving Drive, corporate matching, stock donations, and individual large donations in order to fund the following programs:
- Mental Health Support / Wellness Center
- Positive School Climate / Student Engagement
- Classroom resources
- Teacher & Staff grants
- Teacher & Staff appreciation
- Campus Beautification
- Community Liaison
Our budget for the 2023-24 school year was approved at our August meeting.
We have lots of volunteer opportunities for Leigh parents and guardians to get involved in small and large ways, including:
- College & Career Center
- Campus Beautification
- Staff Appreciation
- Grad Night
- Stampede 5K Run/Walk
- Communications/Tech Support
- Not sure where you can help? We will find a role for you!
Learn more about our volunteer opportunities.
Please join us at future HSC meetings in the Leigh Library:
- Monday, September 25, 2023
- Monday, October 23, 2023
- Monday, November 27, 2023
- No December Meeting
- Monday, January 22, 2024
- Monday, February 26, 2024
- Monday, March 25, 2024
- Monday, April 22, 2024
- Monday, May 13, 2024
Questions/suggestions? Contact us at president@leighhsc.org
| | | |
RECENT PROGRAMS/ACTIVITIES FUNDED BY YOUR DONATIONS | |
|
The following items were approved for funding at our August HSC Meeting:
| | |
|  |
Classroom/Teacher Resources ($150 per teacher) | | |
| |
Campus Signage - adding "Leigh Longhorns" lettering to the Quad. | | |
| |
Calculators for Accounting class students | |
WE LOVE OUR TEACHERS AND STAFF! | |
The HSC Hospitality Team and parent volunteers created welcome gifts for new staff and hosted a Welcome Back breakfast for all staff. A staff luncheon is planned in September. Thank you to all the hospitality volunteers! | |
|
WHAT ELSE IS YOUR HOME & SCHOOL CLUB UP TO?
-
Volunteer Coordinator Anne Haro is working to connect people who have signed up to volunteer with the committees that interest them. Thank you to everyone who has already signed up to help! Your committee lead will be in touch with you shortly. We need more volunteers! If you would like to see where you can help, check out our volunteer opportunities. We are in particular need of people who can help with:
- Corresponding Secretary role (work with the HSC Treasurer to send tax receipt and thank you notes to donors)
- Stampede 5K Run/Walk Planning
- Communications/Tech support
- Campus Beautification Lead/Co-Lead
-
Grad Night team (Kris Suzuki, Alexis Hoekstra, Chris Weitz, and others to be confirmed) planning is underway. The Santa Cruz Boardwalk has been booked for June 6th! Grad Night is a way to provide a safe, fun activity for our Seniors on the night of graduation. If you would like to help with planning for Grad Night, please select the Grad Night option in the HSC volunteer form.
- The Staff Appreciation team (Amanda Bierly, Alexis Hoekstra) will send out a SignupGenius link to their parent volunteers for people to sign up to help with luncheons. If you would like to receive this sign up link for future sign ups for staff appreciation needs, please select the staff appreciation option on the HSC volunteer form.
- The Communications team (Aine O'Donovan, Mindy Chan) would like to invite others to join their team. Volunteers are needed to help with tasks such as writing/sourcing content for the monthly newsletter, publishing the newsletter, sending email announcements as needed, updating the HSC website, posting to social media, creating graphics, or providing tech support. If you would like to help out, please select the Communications option in the HSC volunteer form.
- The Annual Longhorn Stampede 5K run/walk through our local neighborhood is scheduled for May 11, 2024. Save the date! The goal of this event is to provide an opportunity for our community to come together - students, parents, staff, neighbors, friends, friends of friends, alumni, future Leigh families, and local businesses. This event is a collaboration between Home & School Club, PAPA, Sports Boosters, and Spirit Boosters. Learn more and see photos from our previous Stampede. Volunteers are needed to help with planning of this event. Please come join in the fun! Select the Stampede 5K Planning option in the HSC volunteer form.
Have questions, comments, suggestions on anything HSC-related? Please contact president@leighhsc.org.
| |
|
The Home & School Club supports the academic and social-emotional well being of all students at Leigh. There are three additional booster clubs at Leigh that support extra-curricular activities. All four boosters operate independently of each other.
SPORTS BOOSTERS includes parents, coaches, and community members dedicated to supporting the athletic program at Leigh. Follow Sports Boosters on social media to see pictures of athletes and results from games: Instagram | Facebook. Website: http://leighsportsboosters.org/. September Highlights:
- Fall sports are in full swing. Pre-season games have begun.
- Annual Donation Drive currently underway with incentives like yard signs, shirts, etc.
- First meeting was two weeks ago. Budget was approved. A large percentage of the budget income is from the football game Snack Shack.
- Volunteer need: Snack Shack Chair position. Sports Boosters is looking for a new chair for snack shack. Please contact Kris Suzuki to shadow the position this year. Contact: Kahsuzuki@comcast.net
- Next meeting is Sept 11.
SPIRIT BOOSTERS includes all parents, coaches and community members dedicated to supporting our cheer program at Leigh. Website: https://sites.google.com/view/leighcheer. September Highlights:
- Sideline & Comp Cheer have started.
- Leigh swag available at all home football games and online.
PAPA is the Performing Arts Parents Association supporting all theater and music programs at Leigh. Website: http://leighpapa.org/. September Highlights:
- Volunteer Need: Communications, Operations, and Finance.
- Rummage Sale is Sept 9th, 7am-1pm in the Leigh parking lot. Drop off donations on Sept 8th, 4-8pm.
- Annual Haunt will be in the Leigh parking lot. Construction has already started. This event will run Oct 13-30. More info and purchase tickets for scare nights and for family friendly nights.
| |
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. | | | | |
