East Valley E-News
Winter 2022
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In This Issue:
- Letter from the Superintendent
- Meal Train - EVSD Community Food Drive
- EVHS Esports Team
- Care Solace - Mental Health is Health
- Important Dates & Upcoming Events
- District Office Winter Break Hours
- Employment Announcements
- Volunteer Application Information
- Staying Connected - Are you receiving our alerts and messages?
Letter from the Superintendent
It is amazing how quickly the first part of the school year has gone by as we have transitioned from Fall to Winter. We have had a great start to the school year, but as the days become shorter and the weather becomes colder, it can be a challenge for our students to continue to find the motivation to come to school and work hard. Our staff continue to build routines into their classrooms to support students not only academically, but also socially/emotionally. The reinforcement you provide your students at home of these same expectations, are an important part of the home/school relationship that is critical for student success. If you find yourself struggling in how to best support your child, please reach out to your child’s classroom teacher, the building principals, school counselors, or any of our social/emotional staff to get some ideas and let us know how we can best support your family.
I would also like to take a minute to once again thank our AMAZING community for their support in approving the Capital Projects Levy that was on the November ballot. The continued support of our community to meet the needs of our district is the best in the valley, and is truly appreciated. As was mentioned in the literature that was mailed home, our facility and levy committees worked hard to ensure we could present our community with a levy package that is projected to NOT increase tax rates, while at the same time addressing the needs of the district. We are excited to be able to move forward with this project. If you have any questions about the project, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Thank you for the trust you place in our district and all of your hard work in supporting your student(s). I look forward to seeing you out in our schools and community, and having the chance to talk in person.
Russ Hill, Superintendent
EVSD Holiday Meal Train
Food insecurity and economic/social hardships continue to affect many of our EVSD families on a daily basis. Our district currently has 157 students (equating to approximately 32 students at each of our five schools) qualifying as homeless under the Federal McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance Act guidelines.
Our EV Holiday Meal Train, Special Programs team would like to thank our generous community for their donations to assist our most needy students and families in the EV school community. Our Thanksgiving Meal Train drive was able to deliver over 75 meals and our December drive was able to deliver 80 meal boxes. Thank you to all those who donated and helped to organize and deliver the meals!
Details of the meal boxes: For every $30 collected, we were able to provide a holiday meal box that included an 8-10 lb. turkey or ham, potatoes, gravy, rolls, margarine, canned vegetables, and a pie that will feed a family of 4-6.
Happy Holidays!
For additional information or questions about the EVSD Holiday Meal Train, please feel free to reach out to our EVSD Special Programs team or your school counselor.
Your EVSD Special Programs Team:
Jeri Young, Director of Special Programs (young.jeri@evsd90.org)
Olga Zuniga, EVSD Intervention Specialist (zuniga.olga@evsd90.org)
Hugo Camarillo, EVSD Intervention Specialist (camarillo.hugo@evsd90.org)
Kayla Monroe, Director of Success Monroe.Kayla@evsd90.org
EVSD Counselors:
Christy Stahl-THE, Lisa Bartheld-EVE, Ashley Parrish-MXE,
Andera Zagelow-EVC, Priscilla Ponce Venegas-EVC,
Raylene Lacaman-EVHS, Jennifer Mendoza Mata-EVHS, Victoria Sanchez-EVHS
Esports - Now at EVHS
What is Esports?
Esports are similar to traditional sports, but with one major difference: the games are video games. Just as with a football or volleyball team, esports programs require tryouts, daily practice sessions, team captains, and solid academic standing. Esports has transformed online gaming into a spectator sport where skilled gamers compete in the same manner as traditional sports (i.e.: baseball, basketball, and football). The experience is similar to a professional sporting event except that video gamers compete against each other in a virtual environment.
Just as viewers of traditional sports are dedicated to their favorite players and teams, the fan base for esports is highly engaged. When kids aren’t playing games themselves, they are spectators, gleaning new skills and thrilling in the excitement as they watch elite global players compete in high-stakes tournaments.
Successful First Season
EVHS's fall season just wrapped up at the end of November. With 20 players on their JV and Varsity teams, they competed against approximately 50 other schools with esports programs. Both the Rocket League and Smash Ultimate teams made it to the quarter finals. Congratulations EVHS Red Devils Esports team!
Their winter league will begin at the end of January, with tryouts taking place mid-January. EV Esports is open to all EVHS 9th-12th grade students. EVHS will be competing in Rocket League, Apex Legends, and Mario Kart.
Esports also offers non-competitive esports opportunities during Open Esports. Open Esports is one day per week during competitive seasons and three days per week in between competitive seasons. Students can participate in Open Esports on a first-come first-serve basis as there are limited machines.
Why bring Esports to East Valley High School?
Esports in schools is at the confluence of some of the most important drivers in education. A well-implemented esports program can promote student engagement, college recruitment, and retention by blending online and offline campus experiences which ultimately prepares students for future careers.
● Participation: More than 80% of esports teams are made up of students who had never participated in extra-curricular activities prior to esports, giving the untraditional student-athlete the opportunity to experience leadership, sportsmanship, teamwork, social skills, and pride through athletic competition.
● Attendance: Esports student-athletes' attendance significantly improves as they feel more connected and look forward to going to school.
● Academic Performance: Esports participation has the capability to change a student’s entire academic trajectory, helping to increase their GPA by an average of 1.7 points.
● Teamwork: Through deepened levels of interaction, cooperative learning and working in groups, participants learn to communicate and work more effectively with others.
● Sense of Community: The inclusiveness and accessibility of esports allows students to come together over a common passion while providing access to positive adult mentors.
● Coursework Alignment: Game Design, Graphic and Multimedia Design, Technological Communication, and Cybersecurity programs align with an esports curriculum.
● Real-World Experience: Students spend hours analyzing data, game statistics, and strategies, providing real-world experience and application for in-demand job skills—the same attributes colleges and employers are looking for in high school graduates.
● Tomorrow’s Workforce: Prepares students for jobs in the business of esports including but not limited to: sports sales, sports marketing, public relations and social media, event and tournament management, account management, broadcasting, coaching, and video editing.
● STEM Engagement: The amount of technology involved with esports enables students to practice and develop STEM skills. Students spend hours analyzing data, game statistics, and strategies, which provide real-world experience and application.
● Continued Education: Esports programs and scholarships create a new viable path to college for those who may never have considered and/or could not afford higher education.
The National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), the main governing body for varsity collegiate esports, has awarded millions of dollars in esports scholarships and aid over the last five years. Currently, more than 200 colleges and universities offer nearly 15 million dollars in scholarships.
Esports majors and careers are becoming increasingly more accessible. There are growing opportunities to find employment in esports-related careers. These opportunities include broadcasting, marketing, graphic design, multimedia production, hospitality, coaching, and management.
Interested in learning more or joining the EVHS Red Devils Esports team? Click on the link below:
Follow on YouTube:
EVSD Partners with Care Solace
Happy December! With the holidays upon us, there are many reasons to be joyful. It's a time for sharing, laughter, giving back, and creating memories with family and friends. The holidays, however, can also be stressful. We may be making plans to visit loved ones, managing our budget for gifts, or coordinating events with our community. With an already-packed schedule, these additional tasks can add stress to our lives.
Celebrating and connecting with family is important during the holiday season, but it's also essential to care for your mental health. National Stress-Free Family Holidays Month brings awareness to the harmful effects of stress and reminds everyone to take care of themselves as they approach the holidays. Here are some helpful tips for a more stress-free holiday season:
- Make modifications to holiday traditions. Consider ways to modify traditions that may negatively impact your mental health. It can be nice to stick with holiday traditions, but your mental health should take priority.
- Don't forget the power of "no." It's okay to say no to plans if you are feeling overwhelmed.
- Plan ahead. Keeping a calendar of events can help you stay on track and prepare for events. It can be stressful to shop on the same day as an event, so keep a list of tasks to prevent the rush.
- Talk about your feelings. You might be overwhelmed or missing a loved one. Talking about your feelings with a trusted friend or family member is okay. You are not in this alone.
- Take time for self-care. It's important to take care of ourselves before caring for others. This holiday season, make time for yourself.
Find a therapist. Acknowledge your feelings and talk to a professional when needed. If you would like help finding a mental health care provider, use Care Solace, a complimentary and confidential coordination service provided by East Valley School District No. 90. The East Valley School District is committed to the well-being of our students, staff, and families to create a safe and healthy learning environment. In support of our ongoing commitment, we partnered with Care Solace to provide an additional layer of care for our community.
Care Solace helps individuals find mental health care providers and substance use treatment centers. Their Care Companion™ team is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and 365 days per year to quickly connect you to carefully verified providers in your community.
1. Call 888-515-0595. Support is available 24/7/365 in over 200 languages.
2. Visit www.caresolace.com/evsd90 and either search on your own or click "Book Appointment" for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.
We wish you a joyous and stress-free holiday season!
District Office Hours Over Winter Break
7:00 am - 2:00 pm
Monday, December 19th through Wednesday, December 21st
8:00 am - 3:00 pm (closed 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm for lunch)
Thursday, December 22nd
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Friday, December 23 - Monday, December 26th
CLOSED
Tuesday, December 27th through Friday, December 30th
8:00 am - 3:00 pm (closed 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm for lunch)
Monday, January 2nd
CLOSED
Enjoy working with kids?
Looking for a flexible work week during the school year?
Need additional income?
Consider substituting at East Valley!
Now hiring for all substitute positions (Teachers, Paraprofessionals, Bus Drivers, Food Services, and other classified positions).
- Paraprofessional Substitute: Minimum of High School Diploma or GED required
- Emergency Substitute Teacher: Minimum of AA Degree required
- Substitute Bus Driver: Paid bus driver training provided
Apply on-line at: Current Job Openings
Come work with us and make a difference for our students!
Announcing a new Volunteer Application System at East Valley School District! Starting in January 2023, East Valley will be transitioning from a paper application process to an on-line electronic application process for all volunteers. More information will be provided soon!
East Valley School District Communications - Staying Connected
The East Valley School District communicates via several different methods to reach as many students, families and community members as possible. Communications are sent to update families about school closures (in-service days, snow days, bus route changes, and more), upcoming events, celebrations, and for emergency situations (lockdowns, secure and teach).
Communication Methods
Website: www.evsd90.org
Email/phone/text: School Messenger
Social Media: Facebook and Instagram
Mailers: Annual District calendar, newsletters, event postcards
If you are not receiving communications from the East Valley School District, please contact your school’s office to make sure your contact information on file is correct. If the information is correct, but you still are not receiving email/phone/text messages, please try the following:
Email: Check your spam/junk mail accounts.
Phone: Some cell phone carriers label our calls as “Potential Spam” and block our messages from reaching you. Save our District messaging number (509-573-7304) to your phone contacts. This will help ensure you are receiving our messages.
Text: Make sure you “opt in”. To opt in to receive text messages:
- Text “Y” to 67587.
- You should receive a message back that says, “You’re registered 4 SchoolMessenger notifications. Reply STOP to cancel, HELP for help. (Msg&data rates may apply).
East Valley School District
Email: heintz.mikal@evsd90.org
Website: www.evsd90.org
Location: 2002 Beaudry Road, Yakima, WA, USA
Phone: (509) 573-7300
