Talon Talk Newsletter
S ebastian Bull, Principal
November 1, 2018
Check school calendar on foothillfalcons.org for the most current calendar information

November 1

November 2

November 3

November 5

November 6

November 7

November 7

November 8

November 9

November 10

November 12
No School

November 15

November 19-23
Thanksgiving Break

November 27

November 30
Principal's Friday Forum
9am in Room C-6









I MPORTANT HOLIDAY 2018 MESSAGE FROM STUDENT SERVICES:
Are you planning a family trip for the holidays? As you think about your arrangements, we want to stress the importance of sending your child to school every day possible. Each year, absences spike in the weeks before and after the winter holiday as families squeeze in a few more vacation days. It’s time to reconsider that cycle. We know that just a few missed days here and there, even if the absences are excused, can add up to too much lost learning time and put your child behind in school. This is as true in kindergarten as it is in high school. Simply stated, too many absences at any age can affect a student’s chances for academic success and eventual graduation.
We recognize that holidays are an important time for reconnecting with families near and far. Keep in mind, however, the impact on your children’s education if they miss too much school— and the message you will be sending about the importance of attendance. Even if students have an Independent Study contract from their teachers, it doesn’t make up for the interaction and learning that happens in the classroom. Our teachers will be teaching and our students will be learning right up to the start of the Thanksgiving and Winter breaks and the first day class is back in session when returning from these breaks. You can help us convey that message. This holiday season, give your children the gift of a complete education including the practice of regular and timely attendance.

We at Student Services wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season!

Kelly Mills and Deborah Tomlin
Child Welfare and Attendance Specialists
Senior Fundraiser Nov 9, 6-9pm
Let Panda Express take care of your family's dinner dilemma and enjoy American Chinese food fresh from the wok! Funds raised benefit the Foothill Class of 2019. You must show a digital or paper version of this flyer
Valid 6-9pm on Friday, November 9 at the Panda Express location at 6774 Bernal Ave (by Safeway)

Donate to the Senior Class Directly
The Class of 2019 is fundraising to help keep Jr Prom and Sr Ball separate and keep ticket prices as reasonable as possible so as not to be cost-prohibitive to students. If you would rather support the senior class with a direct donation, you may do so by clicking here.
Volunteer Clearance Form Goes ONLINE
The paper Volunteer Clearance Form has been replaced with  this ONLINE Volunteer Clearance Form .  The online form should be used by all potential volunteers effective Monday, October 15, 2018.
Drug Trends You Need to Know About
To learn more, click here to access the PUSD Parent Education Series on Substance Abuse.
Information Night: Modern Day Substance Use Education and Treatment - Nov. 13th
This FREE informational class is designed to provide an overview of the most current educational information on Alcoholism, Addiction and other Substance Use Disorders. It will focus on guidance, support and treatment options for individuals and their families. This one night class is great for any community members that want to advance their understanding on these topics as well as for health and mental health providers. This class will be held at Amador Valley High School's Multipurpose Room on Tuesday, November 13th from 6:30 - 8:45 p.m. 
Grief Counseling
The Counseling Department will be starting a 6-week Grief Group soon. Students will need to be referred by a counselor or teacher to receive invite.
Students and Parents: Confused About Where to Start in the College/Career Planning Process? 
Every Foothill student is provided a free Naviance account that allows them to:
  • to conduct interest inventories
  • link interests to careers
  • explore colleges and other post-high school educational options
  • register for college rep visits on the Foothill campus and more!
Parents can also participate in the process with read-only access to their student account to help with those parent-child college and career planning conversations.
and
All new incoming parents to high school would have received an email with login instructions from Naviance in the beginning month or two of the school year. If parents can't find that email, reach out to your alpha counselor for assistance.
Doggy Drop In is Back
This is "canine comfort" for those students in need. Students will need to be referred by a counselor or teacher to receive an invite!
Student Leadership Fundraiser
Plan a PaintNite out with friends! Have fun while helping FHS ASB (Associated Student Body) raise funds for events and activities on campus! Sign up here .
Holidays of Hope: Gift Card Drive

The winter holidays are approaching rapidly. For the past several years, it has also been a time at Foothill to call upon our generous and kind families to help those in our school community who are struggling - by donating gift cards.  

Foothill families who are going through difficult financial times are identified confidentially by staff and treated to gift cards to help with food and gifts during the holidays and beyond. 

Gifts cards for grocery stores, Target, Walmart, Kohls and similar businesses are most appreciated

You can drop off your gift cards at Ruth Highstreet's desk (Principal's Assistant) in the front office through Friday, December 14th. 

Thank you in advance for your wonderful support. 

Holidays of Hope is hosted by the Foothill PTSA
Yearbook Orders
Order your yearbook by December 15, 2018  to guarantee your on-time yearbook delivery and free engraved name plate. Yearbooks can be only be purchased online at  www.yearbookordercenter.com/ . Our school code is 7378.
Women Can Build Career Fair
This is exclusively for women, adults and junior/senior high school girls, interested in learning about the different construction trades. This is a hands-on fair with representatives from 14 to 17 different construction trades participating. To be held on Friday (no school at Foothill) Nov. 2nd at the Drywall/Lathers Training Center in Hayward from 9-2 pm . CLICK HERE FOR FLYER
New Scholarships for Class of 2020
College Board now offers scholarships to students based not on test scores or grades, but rather on taking the actions that point them towards postsecondary education. At least half of the scholarship dollars will be provided to students who are identified as low-income.
Cash for College Workshop
Senior Families! Need help completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act (CADAA) and Chafee Grant for Foster Youth applications? Sari Haskell from AVHS and Molly Allen from FHS have been trained by Cash for College and have volunteered to organize a free workshop on Thursday, February 21 in the AVHS Library from 6-8pm - just before the March 2nd state deadline.
Counseling Updates for Seniors
SENIORS, please remember that if you are applying to a private or out-of-state college, you must return your manila envelope to your counselor  at least two weeks before your first application deadline, not including holidays. If you are applying early, please make sure to get your manila envelope to your counselor on time!
           
On the front of the manila envelope, only list private or out-of-state colleges you are applying to (do not list UC’s or CSU’s). Remember to include:
  • Your name and an email that you check regularly
  • Due dates for each application
  • Check the box provided if the school is not on the Common App
 
In the manila envelope include:
  • The completed student information sheet, also known as the yellow brag sheet!
 
For private or out of state colleges  not   on the Common App,  also include in the manila envelope :
  • The completed secondary school report in your best handwriting, blue or black ink (colleges will see this, so please be neat!)
  • Envelopes addressed to the college in your best handwriting, blue or black ink, with two stamps and leave the return address blank
  • Order official transcripts by completing the Senior Transcript Request Form

 
College Application Labs
Seniors may sign-up for our College Application Labs during FLEX time in room B-1 on the following dates:
  • Tuesday, November 6th
  • Tuesday, November 13th
  • Thursday, November 15th
  • Tuesday, November 27th
  • Thursday, November 29th
 
We realize that this is a very busy time of year, and completing college applications can be overwhelming. The college application labs are offered as an opportunity for students to work on their applications in the computer lab and ask additional questions. Students must sign-up in order to attend. 
 
We strongly encourage you to attend the Financial Aid Night in the FHS MPR on Thursday, November 8 th  at 6:30 pm!
 
As always, all students may complete an appointment slip request form to meet with their counselor individually. 

Graduation Start Time Changed to 5:30 pm
The Foothill Graduation Ceremony start time has once changed back to 5:30 pm on Friday May 31st. Students will need to arrive at 4:45 pm and gates will open at 4:45 pm. 
Seniors Community Service Requirement
Seniors- please check Google Classroom, Class of 2019 for graduation requirement information for community service. Due by March 1. Click here for more info.
Apply for Senior Scholarship by Nov 12
The Pleasanton Community of Character Collaborative invites all High School Seniors to apply for the annual Juanita Haugen Memorial Scholarship . In honor of Juanita Haugen, a long-time PUSD board member and educational advocate, annual $1,000 scholarships will recognize students who have a strong record of civic engagement and have demonstrated exceptional character by modeling the traits of Compassion, Honesty, Respect, Responsibility, Integrity and Self-Discipline. An award will be presented to a student in each of Pleasanton's three high schools.
Applications and guidelines are available online at  www.CommunityofCharacter.org . The deadline to apply is November 12, 2018. Selections will be made in late-November.

Note to seniors: more scholarships posted in Naviance.
From the Senior Parents Committee
Parents of Seniors, the Senior Activities Parent Committee for the Foothill Class of 2019 has a website: https://sites.google.com/site/foothillseniorparents2019/. They also have Facebook group you can join called Foothill Senior Class 2019.
Athletics Newsletter
Foothill sports fans -  sign up to receive the Foothill Athletics Boosters newsletter , the Fighting Falcon, to receive athletics news straight to you 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 Association (PTSA) in cooperation with Foothill High School Administration.