La Mesa Update

We hope you are enjoying the cooler weather. I know my staff is. It's difficult being out in the hot weather. We know it is hard on students too.

When students get to Junior High they have a bit more freedom than they had in elementary school. No longer do they walk with their class in a line to the lunch area. Students walk home without their parents. Students ride the bus without direct supervision. They spend lunch and brunch in a much larger group. As is appropriate to their age, they must exercise a degree of self supervision. This requires them to follow established rules, even when no authority is directly watching them. This step in their social development is important, as in a few short years they will be driving cars, having part time jobs, and eventually be living on their own.

As adults, we must be role models not just for our own children, but for all children. They are watching us.

I am respectfully asking that we all be those role models. Please do not park in the no stopping zones around the school. Please do not be on cell phones as you are driving. As adults, let's speak respectfully with one another, even when we disagree. We know it is challenging at drop off and pick up. We want to move you through quickly, but we also want to ensure everyone gets to and from school safely.

Let's show our students what can happen when we work positively with one another and show an awareness and respect for those around us. We appreciate your partnership tremendously.

Sincerely,

Michele Krantz, principal

Parents and students, we need your voice! Join La Mesa’s Site Council, and help the principal, teachers, and parents make decisions about our school. We’ll discuss the goals and budget for our Title I funds, and we’ll monitor the success of the programs that we implement. If you’d like to be considered to become a member of La Mesa’s Site Council, contact Principal Michele Krantz at mkrantz@hartdistrict.org or 661-250-0022.

In an effort to continually improve the safety and security of our campus, we are stepping up our enforcement of studnets having and wearing their student IDs. On Friday students received the following email from the principal:

Hello Lobos,

Your safety is our number one priority. It is why we enforce mask wearing, no running through the lunch area, practice fire drills and lockdowns, and why we require you to wear your student ID. We want to make sure that the only people on campus belong here. Seeing your ID/lanyard, allows us to quickly determine this. If some people are not wearing them, that makes it challenging. It has also helped us get to know your names. We thinking knowing student names is really important to developing positive relationships with you.

Students IDs must be worn everyday, all day, and be visible.

1. Your teachers will give you exceptions such as during science labs or in PE.
2. You may not leave to use the restroom and visit the office without your ID on and visible.
3. If you lose your ID, you can use 5 HOWL points and redeem it online in the HOWL Store OR you can purchase on for $5 at the ASB window.
4. If you do not have your ID one day (you left it home), you will be issued a one time use sticker ID that must be worn and visible at all times.
5. If you do not have your ID on and visible during brunch and lunch you spend that time in the PAWS area outside the main office.
6. Teachers and staff will be randomly awarding HOWL points for Owning Your Actions (responsibility) at various times during the day.

Remembering to have your ID and wearing it becomes of lifelong, valuable skill. Many jobs require this. In some cases, forgetting it will not allow you access to you lace of work. You will also need to get in the habit of remembering to have you driver's license when you start to drive. You could be ticketed for not having it.

We thank you for your cooperation with this. We know we can count on you!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Krantz

Due to the number of students placed in quarantine since August 10th, the District is providing a minimum day on October 29th to be designated as teacher work time for the purpose of completing any documentation associated with the short term independent study agreements.

Students will be released at 12:45pm. Grab and go lunch will be available at dismissal.

Wellness Tools to Thrive- By now, the majority of us have acclimated to our everyday routines. The key to being well lies in our ability to maintain this. Part of wellness is managing life's expectations. How in the world do we do this? Check out our Tools to Thrive helpful hints for more details

* Don't forget to scroll down and check out our workshops we are offering to ALL (staff, students and parents). This month is about bringing attention to Santa Clarita Valley and the increase in trafficking amongst our youth. Join us!

Parent Forum- How To Talk To Our Teens About SAFE Relationships Thursday, 10/28 5:30-6:30pm

Student Presentation- How to Help My Friends Stay Safe Thursday, 10/28 5-5:30pm

We really appreciate the donations received for our HOWL Store. It is so fun to see students picking up items they have earned.

If you can support our program please consider choosing items off of our Amazon Wish List. We also need gift cards in smaller denominations to local places such as Star Bucks, McDonalds, Menchies, Chipotle, etc. If you have larger items, we love those too as we raffle them off.

We thank you so much for your ongoing support of La Mesa!

Please note that on Wednesdays, students are released at 2:05pm. Teachers and staff will participate in professional development and collaboration meetings.

Please use this opportunity to recognize La Mesa staff members that have made a difference for you or your child by clicking HERE to fill out a message.

Friday, October 15th - End of Quarter 1 grading period

Friday, October 29th - Minimum Day, Students Released at 12:45

Thursday, November 11th - No School- Veterans' Day

William S. Hart District Calendar 2021-22

Email: mkrantz@hartdistrict.org
Website: www.lamesajuniorhigh.org
Location: 26623 May Way, Santa Clarita, CA, USA
Phone: (661)250-0022
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaMesaJHS/?ref=bookmarks
Twitter: @lamesajhs

Non-Discrimination Policy

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. All inquiries regarding discrimination, civil rights, and/or Title IX should be directed to the Director of Human Resources and Equity Services, William S. Hart Union High School District, 21380 Centre Pointe Pkwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91350, or by phone (661) 259-0033, ext. 316, or by email: UCP@hartdistrict.org