SHES Weekly Update

Dear Shadow Hills Families,

We had a wonderful time celebrating our students this past Friday at our Spirit Awards. Thank you to all families who were able to attend. It was our first event utilizing our new auditorium. Thank you again to our PTA and volunteers for the beautiful makeover.

This coming week is a busy one for our fifth graders. They have a BizTown field trip on Thursday and then to Joan MacQueen Middle School on Friday. So please be on the lookout for last-minute communication from the fifth-grade team.

I'm looking forward to another fantastic week at Shadow. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Meris

Dear Shadow Hills Elementary Families,

It is with mixed emotions that I announce my decision to return to the classroom next school year. The students have always been my main priority, and I am eager to return to the countless moments of watching and helping them grow, showing me their incredible personalities, and developing long-standing relationships with them and their families. I have immensely enjoyed being your principal and am still committed to seeing Shadow Hills grow and continue to commit to our students, families, and community.

The District will begin the process of looking for a new school principal immediately. As part of the search process, the District is asking for your input as they take the next steps to hire a new principal. The feedback you provide will be used to assist in identifying the qualifications and skills to be used in selecting the next principal. Your input will be a critical component of the District’s deliberation, so please take a moment to complete the parent and community survey by clicking here. The survey will be open until March 15.

I will still be here and am only an email away. I will remain the principal of SHES until the end of the school year and thank you for your ongoing support and cooperation.

With continued love and support,

Meghan Meris

Here at school, we have been very busy learning about kindness - what it means, and how we can practice it! Learning happens best when it is done both at school and at home. Below are many ways that you can help you child continue to learn about the theme of kindness through reading about it, talking about it, and practicing it! We have really enjoyed exploring this topic at school, and I hope your family will enjoy it just as much!

Reading About It

Here are some books to help you learn more kindness:

Practice It!

Spend time writing encouraging notes to people in your community. This could be neighbors, policeman, teachers, nursing home residents, firefighters, anyone! Have your child go with you to deliver your notes of kindness!

Talk About It!

Here are some discussion points to help you talk about courage with your child:

• Tell me about a time when someone was kind to you. How did it make you feel?
• What do you think kindness means and why is it important?
• Who is someone in your class you can be kind to?
• What are ways you can be kind to people at home, at school and in the community?

The Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) is a component of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). The LCAP is intended to be a three-year plan to improve student achievement by setting annual goals. Each of the priorities has established data requirements to track district progress improving student achievement. The LCAP requires Districts to gather input from students, teachers, parents, and community members to determine the goals, actions, and budget priorities for the District.

• Goal #1: Effective Instruction and Curriculum - Provide equitable access to high-quality classroom curriculum and instruction in an inclusive environment that promotes student success.
  
• Goal #2: Safe and Respectful Environments - Ensure all school sites are safe and have healthy and welcoming climates for staff, students, and their families so that all students feel connected and are motivated to attend and ready to learn.
• Goal #3: Equitable and Culturally Responsible Systems - Ensure systems and processes eliminate barriers to student success and are equitable and culturally responsive to the needs of our students and their families.

To learn more about AUSD's LCAP, please click here.

Please review and save this handbook for reference throughout the year.

• Water bottles - It is extremely important that your child brings a water bottle to school DAILY. We do have multiple water bottling filling stations on-site to refill their bottles.

If you are planning on volunteering this school year, please fill out our Volunteer Packet and return it to the Shadow Hills office.

• Wear your college gear

• Early Dismissal, 2:02 pm

• 5th Grade Field Trip to BizTown

• Wear your SHES gear!
• 5th Grade visit to JMMS

3/27 - 31 - PTA Scholastic Book Fair

3/28 - Open House/Art Show

4/3 - 14 - Spring Break