Superintendent's Friday Update
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Hello Alta Loma School District,
We wanted to give you a sampling of some of the things happening outside of the classroom this past week. All are occurring with an emphasis on thoughtfully and safely once again providing the type of events that bring students joy and bring communities together.
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Fall festivities, including costume contests, outdoor dance parties, parades, and "Trunk or Treat" evenings have resulted in a lot of smiles. You'll read about many of these "memory makers" below.
Each of our eight elementary schools and two junior high schools have enjoyed wonderful participation and support. Thank you to all!
At Hermosa Elementary on this beautiful October morning, music played, students sported festive attire, and the staff led the way in terms of fancy dance moves! One of our valued substitute teachers, Heather Dhennin, is shown here.
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Also, on Saturday, October 23rd some seventy students from the GATE Program participated in a Districtwide Chess Tournament. The tournament has been held yearly and is coordinated by Chess Masters, a local company that has provided chess instruction at some of our school sites.
This Saturday morning activity allows students to meet new friends from across the District who share an interest in learning and playing chess. Students were organized into beginners, intermediate and advanced participants. The students played continuously for over an hour, and rotated through multiple opponents. This structure means that playing time is optimized and no one is eliminated.
Students who were beginners learned the basic rules of the game and the functions of the various pieces, then had the opportunity to play against others. Facilitators from Chess Masters track the number of times players put their opponents in check. We appreciate all of those who participated and supported our players!
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Chess Tournament Winners (from left to right) Mason Dzama (Jasper) - Advanced, Jayden Lee (Stork) - Beginner and
Viraj Garlapati (ALJH) - Intermediate with Superintendent Hendricks.
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And in the classroom... incredible learning continues. Check out the storyboards below! They are from Mrs. Swistock's class at Vineyard Junior High School, based on their study of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart." |
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From the COVID-19 Safety and Information Team:
ALSD continues to receive and deeply respect diverse input related to vaccines, which are not currently mandated. At this time, there is not an Executive Order, Public Health Order or legislative action to put a mandate into effect.
Policies related to this matter would be set at the state level, not at the county or local level. If you'd also like to reach out to your local representatives, contact information for Assembly Member Ramos and Senator Ochoa-Bogh can be found at https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/. Information for contacting Governor Newsom's office can be found at https://govapps.gov.ca.gov/gov40mail/.
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Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead!
With my appreciation and best regards,
Karen Hendricks
Superintendent
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Board of Trustees Meeting
- Wednesday, November 3- This Board of Trustees Regular Meeting will begin at 5PM for Closed Session Item Public Employee Performance Evaluation - Superintendent. Open Session will begin at the regular time of 6PM. The Board of Trustees return to Closed Session at the conclusion of the Open Session Meeting as is usual for the agenda.
For your convenience, below is a list of some of the Regular Open Session Agenda Items
- Presentations on important topics, including:
- Student Achievement Report
- Class Size Update
- Trustee Reports
- Staff Reports
- General Functions (of the Board of Trustees)
- A Revised 2021-2022 Meeting Schedule- presented in order to change the December meeting date from December 8 to December 15, 2021
- Designation of December 15, 2021- as the date of the annual organizational meeting
- Resolution - District Statement Concerning COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates
- Curriculum and Instruction:
- 2021-2022 School Plan for Student Achievement for all District schools
- Educator Effectiveness Block Grant
- Special Education ADR and Learning Recovery Grant
The Board of Trustees welcomes comments from visitors, employees, employee groups, parent organizations and students. Prior to addressing the Board, please complete the comment form located at the west entrance and give it to the Superintendent’s Administrative Assistant. The Board has set aside 45 minutes for the Public Comment section allowing a maximum of five minutes per individual. The public comment period is the opportunity for the public to address the Board on (1) items on the public session agenda; (2) items on the closed session agenda; and (3) other topics within the jurisdiction of the Board. In accordance with the Brown Act, the Board will limit any responses to public comment to brief statements, referral to staff or referral to a future Board agenda.
In-person attendance requirements: All persons attending the meeting will be required to wear a face covering for the entire Board Meeting and review the health screening questions prior to entering the meeting location.
- Friday, October 29 - End of Trimester 1
- Wednesday, November 3 - Board of Trustees Meeting (see above)
- Wednesday, November 10 - Citizens' Bond Oversight Committee Meeting, 6:00 pm; Vineyard Junior High
- Thursday, November 11 - Veteran's Day Holiday; No School
- Friday, November 12 - Admissions Day Holiday; No School
- Monday, November 15 - Friday, November 19 - Elementary School Parent/Teacher Conferences (Modified Days)
- Friday, November 19 - Modified Day for all
- Monday, November 22 - Friday, November 26 - Thanksgiving Holidays; No School
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Great Things Happening At Our Schools |
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From Principal Kristy Johnson:
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Our Grizzlies had a blast celebrating Red Ribbon Week! Our amazing PTA planned fun dress up days and activities around our travel theme. What a great way to bring awareness to living life drug free! To end the week, our students participated in our annual Halloween parade. Our VGS families were able to join the fun and watch as our students showed off their costumes. Come join us this evening for our Trunk or Treat taking place in our school parking lot from 5:30-6:30pm. |
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From Principal Michele Rachielles:
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Halloween fun was enjoyed by all at ALJH. Students, teachers, staff members, even custodians showed up in costume to compete in the costume contest, show off their creativity, and have a blast at the dance party. A huge shout out to Mrs. Huynh and her ASB class for their great work putting together the exciting costume contest and super fun dance party. It was so much work and the results were amazing! |
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From Principal Sandy Rose:
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The Safe School Ambassador Program is an "inside-out" approach to improving school climate, one that relies on social norms, change and the power of students to help stop bullying and violence. Our Safe School Ambassador training took place last week, and 90 students were trained in problem solving and conflict resolution strategies. Students will meet in "family" groups once a month throughout the year.
A special thank you goes out to our SSA Family Group Leaders: Mr. Dalton, Mrs. Jansen, Mrs. LeMaster, Ms. Rudd, Mrs. Steely and Mrs. Vandegrift. We appreciate Mrs. Brehm, Dean of Students, for overseeing our SSA Program and Ms. Sabatelli and Ms. Saenz for helping with the SSA training.
When asking students why they wanted to become a Safe School Ambassador, here’s what they had to say.
Toby Tim shared, “I want to help people feel safe. I want to tell them they don't have to be alone.”
Kennedy Bires said, “I want people to feel they always have a friend, even if they are alone. I also want to keep the school a safe place and make students feel protected.”
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From Principal Dolly Bentley:
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This week Alta Loma Elementary has been celebrating Red Ribbon Week! We have dress-up activities planned for each day and students and staff alike have been having fun dressing up! Thank you to our PTA for planning a great week for us to learn about living a drug-free life and pledging to be bully-free! |
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From Principal Khaleelah Lewis-Wilkins:
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Banyan celebrated Birthdays, G.A.T.E Purple Easel activity, and Red Ribbon Week.
This week Banyan Elementary took part in themed dress-up days and experienced fun activities to celebrate Red Ribbon Week. The purpose of this celebration is to educate students about making good decisions and the benefits of living a drug-free and alcohol-free life. Thanks to our wonderful PTA, red ribbons adorned the campus. Students participated in fun-themed days like “Wear Red from Head to Toe”, “Team Up Against Drugs” where students wore their favorite team jersey, and “Crazy Socks” Day to sock it to drugs! Red Ribbon Week was created in 1985 and is now famous for the thousands who wear red ribbons to raise awareness during the last week of October. Banyan Bulldogs celebrate and promote achieving beyond the expected, living a healthy lifestyle, and committing to staying drug-free! GO Bulldogs!!
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From Principal Chris Deegan:
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What a wonderful week at Carnelian! Our little ones have been experiencing an on site trip to the Pumpkin Patch. I am grateful for creative field trips like this where we don’t even have to leave our campus. Thank you to our CHAMPS & Kindergarten teachers and staff for helping to create happy childhood memories for our students!
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Red Ribbon Week has been a great success! We appreciate all of the support from our PTA and the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department. We have had law enforcement featured in our virtual morning announcements each day reminding our students to make healthy choices for their minds and bodies and to spread kindness everywhere. We even had a current class of cadets do motivational push ups for our Cardinals as they sounded off with, “Be Safe! Be Kind! Be Proud!” with each set of push ups. The students also enjoyed meeting Nix, the Police K9 officer who specializes in finding people who are missing or lost. It brings us great joy to see students’ faces light up with these wonderful experiences. |
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From Principal Andrew Carter:
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Deer Canyon celebrated Red Ribbon Week! Our Eagles made this week fun and exciting by dressing up in various themes each day. A special thank you goes out to our PTA for coming up with daily ideas to inspire our Eagles to be drug-free and proud! We are happy to say that Eagles are healthy and safe!
With Halloween weekend upon us, our staff wishes you a safe and enjoyable weekend. We look forward to seeing our SOARin’ Eagles on Monday!
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From Principal Val Bires:
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The Hermosa Trunk or Treat was a success! We had amazing trunks and a fantastic turn out. Thank you to everyone for participating and for joining us for some fun! Parent Volunteer Vincent Guerrera planned this year’s Trunk or Treat. Thank you Mr. Guerrera! |
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Red Ribbon Week was a hit on campus this week! We had five spirit days focused on being healthy, making safe choices and drug free. The Husky Pack not only knows how to be safe, respectful and responsible but also drug free! Hairs to a drug free life was the biggest hit!
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At Hermosa we are rocking it in reading intervention, thanks to Mrs. Jackson. Our Lit Lab intervention aide, Jana Jackson makes this tough job look easier as she works daily with students on their reading fluency and comprehension. We are blessed to have Jana on our Husky team. We admire her dedication and hard work as she works daily with students. Huskies are on track and making progress! |
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From Principal Curtis Quanstrom:
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Here at Jasper Elementary we slimed our way into Red Ribbon Week. Six lucky raffle winners that participated in the Fall Fundraiser got the opportunity to slime Mrs. Travis and Mr. Quanstrom, and it is evident that these students are professional slimers. Another thing that Jasper students are good at is understanding the commitment to living a drug free life. All week long students have participated in themed days to unite against drugs. Here are some 1st and 2nd graders that wore sports gear to team up against drugs. The picture was taken in front of the media center that is adorned with Red Ribbons. Every student is represented with a Red Ribbon and a personal statement about how they will take care of themselves. |
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From Principal Guadalupe Berzunza:
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As we bring October to a close, our second grade students had the opportunity to choose a storybook and create a pumpkin replica of their main character. The students read the stories with their families and together they created their main characters. Our talented students used a pumpkin and their imaginations. It was wonderful visiting Ms. Guith’s classroom and hearing the students share their stories and see their creations. Way to go Stork Superstars! Our students and staff have also been participating in Red Ribbon week. Stork Superstars have been busy learning about being Healthy and Drug Free! |
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