Hello Charter families! So much going on, I've numbered the items below:

1. Congratulations to Nature Academy's ingenious 6th grader Alex Smith for placing 3rd in his division at the recent Santa Cruz County STEAM Expo! Alex invented a Head-Controlled Quadriplegic Wheelchair and in addition to placing 3rd, he received the IEEE Special Recognition Award (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), one of only four middle schoolers across the county to do so. This not Alex's first win, having earned 3rd and 2nd place in 5th and 4th grade respectively for two previous County Science Fairs.

3rd graders Vivian Goldberg and Jolie Bertrand each took 3rd place in their divisions as well!

We are very proud of you all, and of all the students who took part. We wish Alex the best of luck representing our County and District at the State Science Fair which he is attending on April 14th.

2. Next week teachers of 3rd - 8th, 11th and 12th grade teachers will be starting the process of training and preparing for this Spring's CAASPP assessments. Students in these grade levels take the state test in Reading and Math. 5th, 8th and 11th graders also take the Science test. In addition, 5th, 7th, and 9th graders take the Physical Fitness test. Info will be coming home soon with more specifics about the assessment schedule, as testing starts the first week of May. We know as parents you have the right to opt your students out of testing, and we also know that standardized tests are not the be-all end-all of measuring student learning, but we are required by State law to reach a 95% participation rate or face penalties - and for small school like ours, that translates to only 9 students. Please consider carefully before opting your student out. In order to do so you will need to meet with me and our Asst Sup of Instruction to discuss your request. Medical emergencies are the only waivers allowed that would not impact us.

Now on to some more positive events coming up for your students!

3. All-Charter Talent show : If your student is interested in participating in our Talent Show, please click on the link below to register. Please register by March 26.

All Charter Talent Show Registration Form

*The deadline is very important. After the deadline, only registered participants will receive important Talent Show information.

If you were unable to attend the info meeting yesterday, please click on the notes below:

All Charter Talent Show Meeting Notes

4. Local Youth Art Show! Artists ages 1-20 can enter three pieces of art for free to show in the Santa Cruz Mountains Art gallery in Ben Lomond. The opening gallery party is Saturday April 20th from 5:00-8:00 with snacks and music. (Art drop off/take in is 4/14 between 12-3:00.)

5. San Lorenzo Valley High School's Interact Club will be hosting their first annual Community Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 30th at San Lorenzo Valley Elementary's Field of Dreams (7155 Highway 9. Felton, CA 95018) from 9am to 12PM.

This event is completely free and is for children ages 3 to 12 years old. The club will be collecting donations for the Walnut Avenue Family & Women's Shelter.

Egg Hunt Schedule:

• Egg Hunt #1 - Begins at 9:30 AM for Ages 3-6
• Egg Hunt #2 - Begins at 10:30 AM for Ages 6 - 12
• Egg Hunt #3 - Begins at 11:30 AM for Ages 6 - 12

This is a bring your own basket event, though they will have a small amount for any families that do not have a basket.

6. I have had a couple parents enquire about Summer programs for our students. For summer of 2024, the only summer offering for SLV Charter students is high school credit recovery.

7. Please note that the Middle School Spring Dance has been rescheduled to Friday, April 12 from 5:30 - 7pm at the SLVMS gym (tricampus). There's a $5 ticket price, and students will need a permission slip in order to purchase a ticket. Permission slips will come home with students on Tuesday, April 9 (March 28 for CRMS), and ticket sales are at lunch on Thursday 4/11 and Friday 4/12 BUT NOT AT THE DOOR - please note updated info on this. (No entry or ticket sale without a signed permission slip). Our fabulous Charter Booster and Panther Club parents are collaborating to create a magical experience for the students! Please sign up here to chaperone or donate items! (Please note, no guests or siblings not attending one of our Charter Middle School programs.)

8. Thank you to everyone who completed the survey to give input on how to spend our Prop 28 (Art/Music) funds! We had 41 responses with the majority of folks wanting the funds spent on hiring a music teacher and/or an art teacher rather than engaging a rotating series of artists. Our Parent Advisory Council will have a final discussion in April about next steps and I will update you with the plan!

9. This coming week is a big one for middle school sports tryouts. Click here to see the line up of Spring sports at the tricampus. (No tryouts required for Track & Field)

10. A reminder that we'd be SUPER grateful for your participation in this year's LCAP Parent Survey! We only have a week to go! So far we have 34% of parents who have taken the survey - thank you to all of you!

Click here to complete the 2024 SLVUSD Charter School Survey!

Here's to a great week!

Kerry

Prior to 7th grade entry California law, Health and Safety Code 120325-129375 requires that your 6th grader must receive a Tdap booster vaccine. By law, schools are required to collect vaccines information, monitor immunizations, and enforce vaccine requirements for school.

Additionally, the California Health and Safety Code requires the District to notify parents of the recommendation that pupils are fully immunized against human papillomavirus (HPV) before admission or advancement to the eighth-grade level of any private or public elementary or secondary school.

HPV vaccines can be given starting at age 9 years. Talk with your healthcare provider or school nurse if you have additional questions.

Jo Boaler and her team at Stanford University are presenting a professional development sessions in which they will share new math research, teaching materials and teaching advice. The new workshop is called “Number Sense Workshop for Educators (Grades 2-5)” and there are three date/format choices available. Click below for more information on this training covering a pivotal, essential topic for this student age group:

• April 30, May 9 & May 23: (series of 3 live online sessions, 3:30-5:30 pm PDT)
• May 2: (live online, 8:30 am-3:00 pm PDT)
• August 20-21: (2 days in person at Stanford)

The first Youcubed virtual Parent/Guardian Night will be held on April 10 at 5 pm. This is a great opportunity to inform families about mindset mathematics-- individual tickets and school passes are available.

(There is a fee for workshops. To inquire about a scholarship, please send an email to: pdinfo@youcubed.org.)

Please note that your student will be participating in an emergency lockdown safety drill on Thursday this week. We will not be doing any simulations of real-life emergencies, just testing our procedures for feedback and improvement. Teachers have been informed of the time for the drill, and students will be told what to expect. We will end with our usual evacuation and line-up after the all-clear. I expect the drill will take approx. 15 minutes.

March is Women's History Month!

Mon, Mar 25

- Quail Hollow Homeschool Play - 9:45am at the PAC (tricampus)

- Charter Band Rehearsal - MPR at 5pm

Tues, Mar 26

- Deadline for Talent Show registration

- Quail Hollow Homeschool Play - 10:30am at the PAC (tricampus)

- Gaga ball pit reserved for elementary programs every Tuesday

- GleeProv Club meeting in the MPR at 2:45 - 4:30pm

- Free performance of Quail Hollow Homeschool Play - 6:30pm at the PAC (tricampus)

Wed, Mar 27

- Quail Hollow Homeschool Play - 10:30am at the PAC (tricampus)

- Coast Redwood High School Info Night - 6pm at CRHS

Thurs, Mar 28

- Student Council meets at 8:15am in the Library

- Parent Advisory Council meets at 9:15am in the Multi Purpose Room (LCAP presentation by Superintendent Chris Schiermeyer)

-- Spirit Dress up Day - 80's Day!

- Dungeons & Dragons Club - Room 26 2:15 - 3:15pm

- Nature Academy Lottery 24-25 at 3:00pm in the MPR

- Month 10 Attendance due

Fri, Mar 29

- Annual SLVUSD Charter LCAP Parent survey closes

Sat, Mar 30

- SLVHS Community Egg Hunt (Interact) - 9:30am - 12pm at Field of Dreams, SLVHS

Sat, Mar 30 - Sun, Apr 7 - Spring Break (No School)

Mon, Apr 8 - No School (reserved STORM DAY not utilized)

Tues, Apr 9

- Gaga ball pit reserved for elementary programs every Tuesday

- Permission slips for Middle School Dance go home (no tickets sold without permission slip)

- GleeProv Club meets in the MPR at 2:45pm

Wed, Apr 10

- Nature Academy Info Night for end of year overnight field trip - 5:30pm

Thurs, Apr 11

- Student Council meets in the Library at 8:15am

- Tickets on sale at lunch for Middle School Dance (purchase requires permission slip)

- Dungeons & Dragons Club - Room 26 2:15 - 3:15pm

- SLV High School (tricampus) Open House - 5:30pm

Fri, Apr 12

- Tickets on sale at lunch for Middle School Dance (purchase requires permission slip)

- Middle School Spring Dance (joint Charter/SLVMS event) - 5:30pm - 7pm at SLVMS (Tricampus

Coming up:

April 18 - 3rd of our 4-session SVMI Math trainings for parents - click here to sign up!

May 1 - 30 - CAASPP testing Math and ELA (schedule to be shared by program teacher)

Nature Academy parents, don't forget to check the Nature Academy Google Calendar to be sure which bell schedule we're on! (You can also click here if you are not a Google Calendar subscriber)

• A1 Mondays are 3pm dismissal at the tricampus;
• A2 Mondays are 2:05pm dismissal at Nature Academy;
• O days are Tues/Thurs, dismissal 2:05pm;
• E days are Wed/Fri, dismissal 2:20pm (Wed) and 2:05 (Fri);
• Minimum Days dismiss at 12:05;
• Short Mondays dismiss at 1:19pm
• Excursion Days (dates not all finalized) - times are individual to the excursion

28 March Spirit Day is 80's Day! Let's see that big hair, neon colors and leg warmers!

Don't forget Student Council is collecting Izze cans for a school fundraiser! Please encourage your student to place their empty Izze cans in the bins provided around the campus - if the pull tabs are still on we get more in return!

Student Council meets every Thursday in the Library from 8:15 - 8:45am. Any Charter student is welcome!

If you’re interested in following our Instagram account, showcasing news and events from SLVUSD Charter School, here is the info:

“I'm on Instagram as slvcharterschool. Install the app to follow my photos and videos, or click this link: https://instagram.com/slvcharterschool?igshid=MzMyNGUyNmU2YQ==

(Please know that we will be very careful not to post pictures of students on the "Do not Photograph" list.)

And if you haven't started following the District Instagram accoount, look for "slvusd" and click "Follow!"

Did you know that our district maintains a "Community Opportunities" website? This is for parents / students to receive information about current local events and opportunities for adults and/or children.

Note: The San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District does not sponsor or endorse any of the organizations or events that are located here. They are non-school sponsored events and are not being promoted by the school district. All postings are provided as a courtesy to the parents/students.

Homework Help at the Public Library

Bring your assignments to one of the FREE drop-in Homework Help sessions at one of the following public libraries.

Tuesdays from 3:00p to 5:00p.

Downtown, 224 Church St., Santa Cruz

Felton, 6121 Gushee St.

Capitola, 2005 Wharf Rd.

La Selva Beach, 316 Estrella Ave.

Open to all students up to grade 12.

Call 831.427.7713 for more information.

Guide to Resources for Families in SLV

Here's a handy one-pager listing various organizations and resources for families in the San Lorenzo Valley.

Mental Health resources

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - with a link to their March newseltter

Brightlife Kids, an organization that provides free online support in behavioral coaching for parents, caregivers and students aged 0 - 12.

Attendance Matters!

We hope to see a positive improvement in our attendance rates this year, and encourage our families to support your student in participating consistently, whether it be in a homeschool program where work completion = attendance, or in our classroom-based 5 day a week Nature Academy. Students who are absent 10% or more in a school year are typically "less proficient in reading, writing and math than their peers with good attendance" (Source: CA Dept of Ed.) Thank you for being our partners in supporting good attendance.

New! Volunteer application hours - PLEASE NOTE: The Charter Office and SLVUSD Human Resources Office hours will process volunteer registrations on Tuesdays from 7:00-11:00 am and Thursdays from 12:30-3:30 pm. The Human Resources Office is located at 325 Marion Avenue, Ben Lomond, CA 95005.

All Charter parents are encouraged to register with the District as a volunteer and a field trip driver. (All parents are asked to drive on excursions...)

Please click here to access the required volunteer paperwork. Hard copy paperwork is also available at the Charter Office.

To use your personal vehicle to transport your own or other students, we will need updated driver information on file as well - please click here for the form.

Ø New Volunteer: You will be required to fill out the volunteer paperwork and obtain a signature from the principal. Once complete, please bring your signed paperwork to the Human Resources Office. You will be required to provide a current TB result. Also, all new volunteers will be required to be fingerprinted.

Ø Returning Volunteer: You will be required to provide current TB results. This documentation can be provided to the Charter office. The school site will forward current TB results to the Human Resources Office. You may also bring current TB results directly to the Human Resources Office.

If your child takes the bus to or from school, please remember you will need to purchase a bus pass. Please click here to access the Transportation web page with all the information you will need.

ALL Nature Academy students have to be registered to take bus transportation on A1 days to the tricampus. (No need to pay.). Our office has taken care of this registration paperwork.

Students at Coast Redwood High who need afternoon transportation to the tricampus for concurrent enrollment classes can take the TK bus that leaves the District Office at noon each day. They will not need to pay for a bus pass. However they still need to register with Transportation. Rides will be denied if students are not registered.)

The Charter Office staff ask families to call in before 1:50pm if they have a message for their student about changing that day's bus transportation arrangement.

Middle School athletes, remember that eligibility rules require you to carry at least a 2.0 GPA (C average) to remain eligible to complete in the middle school athletics practices and competitions.

Parents, please read this updated Spectator Code of Conduct from SLVMS Principal Shanna Urbancic.

Please click here for a link to the Panther Athletics website (SLVMS) and here and here for the Athletics Director's latest week 3 and 4 March newsletters - Week 4 has the info on upcoming Spring Sports tryouts.

Please click here for a link to the Cougar Athletics website (SLVHS).

Student drop off and pick-up:

Please be mindful of safety during drop-off and pick-up. Drive slowly, and stay with your young child when walking to and from your car. Older students should walk (never run), and watch for moving cars when the are in the parking area.

• Parents/guardians of elementary-age students need to park and walk their students to their classroom and sign them in at their classroom.
• Middle school and High school students can walk to their classroom, where the teacher will take attendance, or students will sign in.
• If your student is taking the bus, they will be dropped off in the morning in front of the District Office.
• At pick up time, teachers will supervise all students until they are picked up - either at the bus stop at the top of Marion, or at the parent pick-up spot behind the District Office building.

NOTE: The driveway down to the main campus is not designed for walkers and cars at the same time. Buses need to take wide turns to exit the transportation lot. Please use the stairs when going up and down from Marion Avenue to the central campus area.

Parking:

• Parents of elementary and middle school students can park in front of the District Office Building.
• CRHS students who are driving to classes can park in the front parking lot and walk up the stairs to the CRHS building.

Bikes:

• Any student who is riding their bike to the campus needs to park their bike at the top by the Coast Redwood High School building, along the side of the path, and walk down the steps to the central campus area.

• All SLVUSD students are eligible to receive a free breakfast and lunch through the cafeteria. But lunch must be ordered online.
• Complete the Free/Reduced Lunch Application at https://family.titank12.com/
• Although a meal application is not necessary to receive free meals during the 2023-2024 school year, households are encouraged to complete a meal application to ensure that your school receives accurate funding. As well, your child’s eligibility for free or reduced lunch could qualify you for additional outside services or benefits including Free/Reduced Bus passes, student fee waivers, P-EBT, discounted utilities, and more.
• Meals will be served from our Multi-use Room in the central area of the campus.
• Breakfast will be available in the mornings from 8:15 - 8:45am - no need to place an order
• Lunch times vary per program, but generally happen in the 11:50 - 12:30 window
• CRHS students can order lunch and it will be delivered to the CRHS building.
• Elementary students will have lunch cards (kept by teacher)
• Secondary students will need to key in their student ID on a keypad
• Make sure your online order is in by 9am on the day prior to ensure hot lunch. Some limited cold lunch options will be available for anyone who didn't order in time. Here is a link to the steps for setting up a LINQ account and ordering your child's lunch. (Free to all; no charge!)
• SLV Student Nutrition Services. Please click here for more information

SLVUSD partners with the YMCA to provide before and after-school childcare at Boulder Creek Elementary and San Lorenzo Valley Elementary. For more information, please reach out to the YMCA (831) 338-2128, or visit their website - YMCA CHILDCARE.

Triple P/First Five of Santa Cruz County offer ongoing parenting classes for parents of students of all ages. Please click here to see their workshop offerings.

Triple P also offers 1:1 sessions for parents who are needing intensive 10 week session and add-on sessions for people who are divorcing or separating (Family Transitions), for couples wanting to work on their relationship (Enhanced) and for people wanting to work on their strong emotions, like anger (Pathways). If interested in 1:1 sessions, please contact First 5 of Santa Cruz: https://www.first5scc.org/contact

Email: kleroux@slvusd.org
Website: charter.slvusd.org
Phone: (831) 336-5167