Talon Talk Newsletter
Sebastian Bull, Principal
March 22, 2020

March 17 - April 7
School Dismissal/
Distance Learning

April 1-19
PPIE Virtual Run

April 6-10
Spring Break

April 13
Holiday

April 16
Mr.Foothill
( postponed)

April 18

April 22
SF State Field Trip
( cancelled )
An Update from Your FHS Counseling Team
Dear Foothill Students and Families, 

Thank you for your patience while we navigate this very unique situation. We understand that this is a difficult time for students, parents, staff, and our families. Like you, we are all learning to cope with this “new normal” and are working on strategies to best support you while we must shelter in place to slow the spread of Covid-19. We sincerely appreciate you all for your cooperation and flexibility as we work together to keep our community safe and healthy.

During the school dismissal, if your student would like to connect with their counselor, we will be available virtually during regular school hours Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 8:35 am - 2:58 pm and Tuesday, Thursday 8:00 am - 2:58 pm. Students can reach out to their counselor with questions via email, and we can set up an appointment via Google Hangouts with them for brief counseling. 

General Information
  • Check your email! Counselors will be communicating important information and updates via your student email. Please check this often.
  • Explore the FHS Counseling Website! Counselors will be updating our website regularly with information as it comes. Please click here to access our website.
  • Google Classrooms: Every student has been invited to a grade-specific counseling Google Classroom. Students can also choose to opt-in to the “Self-Care” Google Classroom (using code: bmothz6)
  • FHS Counseling Resources - Click here to find out more how we can support you during the school dismissal. 
  • Please check out this COVID- 19 Resource Doc for available resources and technology questions.

Please take care of yourselves and don’t hesitate to reach out. Remember, we are in this together!  Click for video

Warmly,
Your FHS Counselors
Course Selection Request Changes for Fall
An email was sent to to all students and parents on Thursday, March 19th in case they need to make changes to the fall course selections they requested in February. There is no need to do anything if you are happy with your course selections. If you need to make changes, be sure to look for the email sent on March 19th as any c hange requests will be due on March 30, 2020.
2020 Foothill/Amador Spring Musical
The cast of "All Shook Up," the high schools' joint spring musical was supposed to open for a six-show run on February 13, but due to restrictions, they performed only one show with no [human] audience. The cast got creative and improvised their own audience, using stuffed animals for fluffy seat fillers inside the Amador Theater. 
Good News Regarding Mr. Martinez!
Foothill families are invited to express support and receive updates on Greg "Marty" Martinez, teacher at Foothill via this GoFundMe web page . Wishing Mr. Martinez the best!
PTSA Election Meeting
The Foothill PTSA Election meeting has been postponed due to the 'shelter in place' order. We will notify our members when we are able to reschedule it. Thank you for all of your support!
AP World History Adoption/Preview
Beginning February 26, 2020 and continuing until March 27, 2020 parents/guardians, staff, and community members will have an opportunity to preview new instructional materials proposed for District adoption.

The public previews for all pilot materials are viewable at the District Office at 4665 Bernal Avenue. Individuals interested in previewing the instructional materials may review them by contacting Cristina Loza, Executive Secretary for Ken Rocha the Director of Secondary Education, for an appointment between 8:00AM and 4:00PM, Monday through Friday. The materials will not be available for check out.

For details, see this  public notice .
PPIE News
What we do:
For over 20 years, PPIE has offered approximately $1 million in grant funding for STEAM + projects in our schools.  Watch  a quick video to know more.
PPIE offers two types of grants:
We support over 15,000 students at all 15 Pleasanton public schools.
PPIE Profile
Highlighting Who We Fund
With your support, PPIE funds the new Student Assistance Program Specialist (Wellness Director),  Monica Wharton,  at PUSD. Monica is working to co-ordinate a more comprehensive wellness program across the district.
 “ I have been primarily supporting the wellness centers and helping to increase  resources  and services to our high school students. To mention a few; sprucing up the counseling website, adding a host of  Wellness Resources for both Teens and Parents online ( here ), and creating an online brochure to describe the purpose and facilities at the Wellness Centers. I will also be providing direct services to students in the form of stress and anxiety support groups and workshops during Access / Flex at both high schools. Moving forward, my role will also include helping with peer-to-per programs, so that students can help each other.”
2nd Annual FAB Crab Feed & Auction
This year, the Foothill High School Athletics Boosters Club (FAB) will be hosting Crabtastic 2020, the  2nd Annual   Crab Feed & Auction  on  Saturday, April 18, 2020

The goal for this year is to raise $100,000 in one evening to support Foothills athletic programs, clubs and over 1000 student-athletes. In addition, these funds also pay for facility upgrades (new sound system in the gym), athletic trainers' salaries, as well as academic scholarships for graduating seniors.

This year, the Crab Feed will be held at the Senior Center in Pleasanton.

It will be a fun, casual evening with great food, entertainment, dancing, amazing auction packages and prizes! 

Grab some friends and buy your tickets now. Tickets are $65 per person. You can also reserve a table for 8 for $600.  

Get your tickets today, you're not going to want to miss this event!
From PPIE About the Run
We are transforming our annual Run for Education into a VIRTUAL RACE with an added Back-to-School gathering to celebrate our community in August.
PPIE's Virtual Race 2020 takes place where you are and when you want, anytime between April 1 and April 19, 2020. Our goal is to run/walk/dance/jump, etc. (keeping in mind Social Distancing Requirements), 7,750 miles, which is the distance of a community grand circle tour from Pleasanton to Orlando up to New York back across the country to Seattle and back home again! You choose the activity you want and track your fitness individually, using a mobile app, keeping in mind the "Social Distancing Requirements of a minimum 6 feet distance”. The app enables easy virtually team formation, photo sharing in a scrapbook, community texting, and postcard receipt from the cities we virtually ‘visit’ around the country.
Because we do not want cost to be a barrier for participation for Pleasanton families, the entry fee for PPIE's Virtual Race 2020 is very low - only $10 for the Virtual Race or $20 for the Virtual Race + Run Shirt. PPIE is sponsoring all PUSD teachers so that they will have access to the Virtual Race at no cost.
The focus of the PPIE Virtual Race is no longer fundraising — it's "friend"raising!
We anticipate being able to send out instructions on how to register very soon.” Thank you for supporting our schools!

Check our   website  and   facebook page  for updates and details on the planned virtual run and back to school event.
The AVID team at Foothill wants to share monthly tips and strategies that are helpful for ​ALL​ students.  The focus of this month's AVID Newsletter is the core strategies of AVID which are represented by the acronym WICOR.

Click image below for an enlarged, clickable pdf.
Call for Entries! PUSD's 6th Annual Student Film Festival
Did you know this year will be  PUSD's 6th Annual Student Short Film Festival ? Check out  this year's Promo Video . This K-12 event is an opportunity for student FilmMakers to submit and showcase their work on the big screen. We have categories for all types of curricular and fun projects including: Documentary/New Story, PSA, Animation, Narrative, Music Video/Poetry, Tasty, and Other. Find out more or  submit  your film on our website  PUSDFilmFestival.com . The event will be held at the  FireHouse Arts Center on May 13. Submissions are due by April 12 .
Thank You, 

Your Film Festival Committee
Scott Padway , Sarah Landis, Sophie Wells and Isabelle Morales
Spotlight on Local Senior Scholarships
Tri-Valley Retired Educators Scholarships
The Tri-Valley Retired Educators’ Scholarship is for students planning to enter the field of education as a teacher or counselor.  Click here for information and application. Application deadline is March 20, 2020. 
AVSI Scholarships for SENIORS
For graduating seniors from Foothill , Village and Amador High Schools. Amador Valley Scholarships, Inc. is a community-based organization providing scholarships to students who will be attending a vocational,community college or 4-year college.
Students fill out one (1) application and will be considered for eleven (11) scholarships. The online application is now live, www.amadorvalleyscholarshipsinc.org. Applications be must received by 11pm on March 20, 2020 .
Stanford Health Care-ValleyCare Scholarships 
Available to seniors with a 3.0 GPA or better, planning to enter a program in a health-related profession. Completed applications are due no later than March 30.  Click here for details.
The Rotary Club of Pleasanton Scholarships
For graduating seniors. The Warren Annis Service Above Self Scholarship, Roger Dabney Memorial Scholarship, and the Harry Plett Memorial Scholarship are each awarded in honor of former distinguished Rotarians. Financial need is the main criteria for selection for all scholarships, other considerations are school and community activities, work experience, academic record, career & educational aspirations & goals as well as personal recommendations. Must plan to attend full-time at a community or 4-yr college, vocational, or trade school. Applications due March 31, 2020 .   Click here  for instructions.
The Ryan Comer Memorial Scholarship
Open to any Pleasanton student who plans to attend a four-year college, has maintained a 3.0 grade point average or above during high school, and has participated in a high school sport. The scholarship will be paid over two years: $1,500 upon award and $1,500 upon proof of four-year college enrollment for the following school calendar year. Finalists will be interviewed prior to selection of scholarship award winner. Click here for details . Deadline: April 3rd (Allow time to secure transcripts from Registrar)
Pleasanton Police Officers Foundation
Members of the Pleasanton Police Officers Charitable Foundation will recognize graduating seniors by presenting 3 students with a financial award to assist with educational expense at the college of their choice. Due April 10, 2020.
FAB Scholarships
The Foothill Athletic Boosters offers scholarships to graduating senior student-athletes who can best articulate how their experience as a Falcon athlete has prepared them to make a positive impact in this world. Click here for details. The deadline is April 12, 2020.
Foothill PTSA logo
Foothill PTSA Scholarships
Several $500 scholarships will be offered to students who have demonstrated exceptional work to enrich their school and/or community. Open to any Foothill High School senior with a minimum 2.0 GPA, who will attend an accredited 4-year university/college, or a 2-year community college or trade/technical school in the fall semester/quarter following graduation. Click here for details. Applications due April 13, 2020.  Click here for details .
Ryan Gordon Memorial Scholarship
Ryan Gordon was a 2003 graduate of Foothill High School. He played soccer at Foothill for 4 years and was planning on attending Santa Barbara City College where he planned to continue playing soccer, but was killed in a boating accident shortly after graduating. Open to senior members of the Foothill Boy’s or Foothill Girl’s Soccer Team. Application due May 8. Click here for Scholarship Application and details.
Click here for more info on scholarships . Scholarships are added to Naviance on a continuing basis so check back often.
Looking for More Scholarships?
Log into Naviance for to see all scholarships posted. 
Some are valued at $500 to $5000 and more. 


Steps:
  • Login to Naviance
  • Click on Colleges tab and, scroll all the way down to
  • Scholarships and Money

Scholarships display in Naviance as they become available so keep checking back as new scholarships are added, open, and close throughout the year.

Scholarships and grants can be awarded by multiple sources: colleges and universities, businesses, companies, non-profits, and local individuals. Click here for more info on scholarships and financial aid. Applications, recommendations and essays are just some of the requirements that may take time, but it can be well worth it!

It's never too soon to explore colleges/majors and other post high school opportunities.  Naviance  is a great tool for this! Need help logging in? Contact your  alpha counselor  for assistance.
Senior Scholarship Awards
Seniors, if you have received any scholarships for which you would like to be recognized,  please fill out this form .
This information will be compiled for recognition at the Senior Scholarships Luncheon on May 21, 2020.
We hope to recognize your achievement as your time at Foothill comes to an end.
Please submit form electronically by May 7, 2020.
Senior Parents!
The Senior Parents group organizes activities outside of the school umbrella to help make your student's senior year an exciting one.

How do you get informed about events such as Disney Grad Nite and Baccalaureate which are not sponsored by PUSD?

1. Sign up for email updates by completing the Google form
2. Join our Facebook group here. The name of the group is "Foothill Class of 2020 Families"
3. Check out ALL of the pages on our website and get the important dates in your calendars! tiny.cc/fhsclassof2020

Questions? Please contact Shawna Lombardi, Senior Parents Committee Chair at foothillseniorparents@gmail.com.
Graduation Ceremony Planning is Underway
Here is the link for parents to sign up for handicapped seating at graduation. Each graduating senior gets 6 tickets. They use their existing tickets and may request one seat, plus one caregiver seat, per handicapped/medically fragile person.   https://forms.gle/6gTo9Ypyw54PtdGa6

For more info on the Graduation Ceremony, click here .
Sports Packets for Athletes
To try out for a sport at Foothill High School, you must first register on AthleticClearance.com . Complete instructions and forms can be found on the Foothill website (foothillfalcons.org) by clicking on Athletics and Activities, then  Sports Packet . After registering on AthleticClearance.com you will need to turn in a signed copy of the Confirmation Message, Emergency form, and current physical (if you were unable to upload it). You will be able to tell online when your athlete has been cleared. We will also be sending you messages through this program, such as if your physical has expired or is close to expiring.

Please turn in your packets for the season you will be playing in after the Parent Sports Meeting:

  • Winter sports meeting was held on October 16, 2019
  • Spring sports meeting will be ~ January 2020
  • (20-21) Fall Sports meeting will ~ April 2020 
Athletics Newsletter
Foothill sports fans -    sign up to receive the Foothill Athletics Boosters newsletter , The Fighting Falcon , to receive athletics news straight to your in-box.
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Talon Talk is a twice monthly online publication brought to you the 1st and 15th of each month by the Foothill Parent Teacher-Student Organization (PTSA) in cooperation with school administration.