Parents and community,

This first month of school has flown by and I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for your continued support at our school. It was great seeing you at Back to School Night and I look forward to making sure we continue to communicate with you and involve you in our school. We know that parent support is integral to the success of our students and our school.

Here are some updates about school happenings that might be of interest:

• Performing Arts center: We are still making good time on the building of the performing arts center. They are currently pouring the slabs and working on the walls for the building. We are hoping we can gain access back to our Spanish classrooms because our teachers have been sharing classrooms in order to accommodate for the construction. The venue is going to be pretty amazing with a capacity of near 600 people, a tension grid, and state of the art technologies. Our performing arts department is eagerly anticipating it's completion! Next spring is tentatively the completion date, but with construction, there are always some surprises! I will continue to update you as I get new information.
• Wellness Center: We have established a wellness center (picture above) on our campus to help with providing more support and resources for our students experiencing social-emotional issues. We have added staffing for this extra support and they are working in coordination with our counseling staff.

Awhile back I visited my sister's family and was able to watch my brother in-law's Air Force retirement ceremony at Vandenburg Air Force base. Upon entering the base after a very thorough check in, I noticed a sign that read "Safety is No Accident." It really made me think about how treat safety at our schools and how we can always improve. At Antelope, we need to get better with the traffic component of safety. We need to drive better around and at our school. Our students are counting on us (the adults) to model good behavior and proper expectations behind the wheel. In the spirit of traffic safety, please pay careful attention to the following safe driving practices and adhere to them as you drop off and pick up your kiddos from school:

• Drop off and pick up are two times during the day where pedestrian foot and bike traffic is at its peak. Please remember this and take the extra time to be more vigilant while driving.
  
• Don't drop students off in the road way (this occurs mostly at Palmerson Drive). It is highly dangerous and increases the likelihood of a traffic/pedestrian accident.
• Stop doing U-Turns on Titan Drive and Palmerson during peak traffic (drop off and pick up). Take the extra one-two minutes and drive the proper route.
• Pedestrians have the right of way at any crosswalk or intersection, so yield and be prepared to stop.
• Stop at the crosswalk stop line to give drivers in other lanes an opportunity to see and yield to pedestrians too.
• Don’t speed, follow the speed limit and never use your phone; always be cautious of your surroundings.
• Look out for pedestrians, especially in hard-to-see conditions such as at night or in bad weather.

Today, we showed the following traffic pedestrian safety video to all 2nd period classes. Please help remind your kiddos to pay close attention while crossing streets, especially during drop off and pick up.

Our annual Homecoming week is only two weeks away! We are so excited to celebrate with our students, staff and community! Our theme for the week is centered around board games, so please encourage your kiddos to join in on the fun. For more detailed information about homecoming week, please click here!

We had our first Titan parent forum and it was such a great time to meet and connect with you. Part of our vision at Antelope High School is helping students find a place to connect on campus. We want the same thing with our parents and community. One of my goals as the new principal is to make connections with our community more, including our parents. You are all integral to your child's education and it works better working together as a team than in silos. Please join us at our Titan Parent Forum where we talk about current school happenings, solve problems collectively, and network and build relationships in order to help build a stronger Titan community. Our next parent forum will be on Thursday, October 11th from 7:45-8:45 in the Titan Pride room (across from the attendance office). If you are interested in attending, please sign up here.

Every week, Tuesday-Friday, students have the opportunity to meet with their teachers to get extra help in their classes during Titan 28. Titan 28 is a 28 minute, rotating class period where students can get missing work, make up assignments, get extra help on concepts, or extend their learning. If your student is struggling in a class, ask them if they are going to Titan 28 for help! You can also contact their teacher and make sure your student is attending.

As we move into fall weather, we appreciate your support with our school dress code. Please keep the following in mind as you send your students to school each morning:

• Antelope hats ONLY allowed on campus during the school day. Plain colored beanies (no logos) are allowed on campus.
  
• No sports jerseys (except Antelope sports) allowed on campus during the school day.
  
• Stomach, back, and sides must be covered at all times.
  
• Shorts, skirts, or dresses must be long enough to cover the buttocks at all times (even when seated).
  
• Undergarments must be covered at all times (including bra, bra straps, and underwear).
  
• Pants should fit at the hips and not be "sagging".
  

If your student has forgotten an item that they MUST have, a parent or guardian may drop it off at the desk in the front office for the student to pick up during passing or lunch periods. Items will not be delivered during class time.

Delivery services such as DoorDash, PostMates, UberEats, etc. will NOT be accepted on campus. Unknown adults delivering items during the school day poses a safety concern. Any delivery drivers will be asked to leave with the food, even if it has already been paid for.

Winter sports will be starting in October, so please get a head start on the clearance process!!! And remember that includes a physical from a medical provider...If you have questions, please contact the office for additional information. Follow this link for information on the clearance process.

Email: fguzman@rjuhsd.us
Location: 7801 Titan Drive, Antelope, CA, USA
Phone: (916) 726-1400
Twitter: @AntelopeTitans