The Mustang Messenger

There is only one short week left in quarter one. First quarter ends on Friday, October 7th and quarter grades (except for Honors Algebra) are final grades. Please encourage students to check grades, turn in any missing assignments, make up any necessary runs in PE and make up assessments. It is important that grades reflect what students have learned in a course and missing assignments and assessments focused on essential standards do not provide that accurate grade data. If your student needs help with academics or needs help emotionally, please reach out to your student's counselor. We have supports in place to help!

Have a great weekend and one day of fall break!

Catherine Nicholas, Ed.D.

Monday, October 3rd, is Fall Break and there will be no school that day. School is in session the remainder of the week.

Mrs. Traci O'Connell was recognized at the William S. Hart School District's board meeting for being Rancho Pico's 2022-2023 Teacher of the Year. Mrs. O'Connell teaches 8th Grade English on Team Infinity, is our English Language Learner Coordinator and teachers our EL students their support classes. Mrs. O'Connell is a hardworking teacher dedicated to preparing students for rigors of high schools and beyond.

June Shin, Rancho Pico's office manager, is Rancho Pico's Classified Employee of the Year. June is known as being approachable, team-oriented, fair, fun, loving, resourceful, and helpful. She goes above and beyond to create a culture. She makes coming into work or visit Rancho Pico pleasant and peaceful. Every day with June is a better day!

Attention 7th and 8th grade students who are interested in competition in math, sign up for the AMC (American Mathematics Competition) 8 on the Google form:

https://forms.gle/KVcTPw3wcWPjjvyS6

Students must sign up by October 10th. The competition is January 19th at 10:15 am in Rancho Pico's MPR

President: Mandy O'Connor

Vice President: Tina Sexton

Treasurer: Ryan McGee

Volunteer Coordinator and Secretary: Amy McKenna

Secretary: Heather Covarrubias

To support Rancho Pico Parent Advisory Committee, always shop at smile.amazon.com

You can choose Rancho Pico Parent Advisory Committee as your charity to support on your AmazonSmle account.

We hope you will consider joining our PAC and attending our meetings. We value your input! More information about PAC is available on our website.

Our first After School Event is coming up next Friday, October 7 from 3:30 to 5:30 pm.

The Black Out Bash includes a dance with a DJ and blacklights, a movie in the gym, a photo booth, pizza, cookies, and drinks (vegan options available).

Prices are $10.00 with an ASB card discount and $15.00 without the discount.

Students can purchase a ticket online at our Mustang Web Store through Sunday evening 10/2. In-person ticket sales are now closed.

Students must show an ID to be admitted to the dance.

Students will wear their school clothes to the dance - dress code will be enforced.

If you have any questions, please call the ASB office at extension 1411.

Students are required to stay at the dance until it is over at 5:30. We do not have the staff to supervise students who leave early. Please plan on picking students up promptly at 5:30.

The CJSF application deadline is next Thursday 10/6.

CJSF is an Honor Society that recognizes students for their academic achievement and service to the community. Fall 2022 membership is now open to 8th graders only (7th graders will be able to apply in the Spring).

There are minimum grade requirements, based on Q3/Q4 grades from last year. For details on whether your student’s specific grades meet the standard, please see the formula in the application packet. Additionally, 10 hours of community service are required to qualify for membership, and those hours can be counted from April 2022 through the application deadline.

Click here for more information or to print the application.

Attention all 8th grade parents- the SCVBG (Santa Clarita Valley Business Group) is holding their Speech Competition at Rancho Pico this year. Please encourage your students to write a speech with the potential to represent Rancho Pico at the final competition.

Students need to sign up to participate with Mrs. Mumford in room 614 by October 17th.. Round one, in which we will choose the speakers who will move on to the formal event on November 9th, will take place after school at 3:15 on October 24th

Please see the attached flyer with the speech prompt: What do you think is your strongest character trait and how will this trait assist you in reaching your personal goals?

Rancho Pico offers Speech and Debate Enrichment in room 615 on Mondays from 3:00 to 4:00 where West Ranch students support Rancho Pico students interested in improving their speech and debate skills.

Counselors and administrators have continued their Mindful Mustang talks to talk about Mustang behavior, expectations, conflict resolution, and our PBIS motto, DASH (Do the right thing, Act responsibly, Show respect and Have integrity). For the most part, students are doing a great job. Some of the behaviors we continue to see and address on a regular basis are:

Dress code - shirts not covering front

Gum chewing

Lunch/brunch line cutting

Please encourage your students to DASH and when you see DASH tickets, ask what they did to earn them. We appreciate your partnership and support!

Rancho Pico's wellness center has many activities planned for October and Anti-bullying month!

If your student is interested in participating in the bookmark competition, please have them go to our library and get the entry form from Mrs. McCleary.

I know Halloween is more than a month away but we wanted to put Rancho Pico guidelines out there for students who are already preparing their customs.

Students have been earning DASH tickets all year for:

Doing the Right Thing

Act Responsibly

Show Respect

Have Integrity

Students can cash their tickets in for small toys, a shout out on the marquee or instagram, Rancho Pico spirit wear, a Rancho Pico blanket, a yearbook, a Rancho Pico water bottle, a front of the line pass or a free school event ticket.

Rancho Pico students are opportunity Ready!

Students are encouraged to wear a college shirt or a shirt that represents a future career goal on Thursdays. It is great to see all of the college and industry shirts out on campus. Students from RPTV will be interviewing people and asking them about their careers and what training and education was necessary for their career. It is our goal to expose our Mustangs to many future options.

Fridays are Spirit Days and students are encouraged to wear Rancho Pico Spirit wear.

The William S. Hart Union High School District prohibits unlawful discrimination against and/or harassment of any student, employee or job applicant on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, ancestry, religion, age, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military or veteran status, political affiliation, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, sexual orientation, or any other basis prohibited by state and federal nondiscrimination laws respectively at any District site and/or activity. The William S. Hart Union High School District also provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. All inquiries regarding discrimination, civil rights, 504 complaints, Title II, and/or Title IX should be directed to Mark Crawford, Director of Human Resources, William S. Hart Union High School District, 21380 Centre Pointe Pkwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91350, or by phone (661) 259-0033, or by email: UCP@hartdistrict.org.