The Mustang Messenger

I hope this message finds you doing well. Thank you to all of the current and future families who came to our Open House last night. It was great to see so many families at the event.

Thank you also to all of the families who have donated prizes and money to our Bucks for Book and Band fundraiser. I am so grateful to our generous community.

Students will continue with CAASPP testing next week. Attendance continues to be vital each day and appointments should be avoided during testing time. Students must be well-rested, avoid stressful situations if possible, and eat a balanced breakfast and lunch on testing days to concentrate.

The photo in the background is from the superbloom of Califoria poppies that I saw last weekend. Enjoy the beautiful spring weekend.

Kindest regards,

Catherine Nicholas, Ed.D.

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​Happy Friday Rancho Pico Community,

We have EXTENDED the donation date until MONDAY!! Thank you very much to those who have donated towards the Bucks for Books and Band fundraiser!! We are so close to our goal.

As of this morning, we have raised a total of $9,111.41 towards our goal of $15,000. MONDAY is the FINAL DAY to make a donation!!!

Please consider giving to the campaign, all gifts of any size make a difference! If you haven’t already, please donate now by using this Bucks for Books and Band Link! When you donate via PayPal, please add your name and your student's name in the notes section. (If you prefer not to use PayPal, please feel free to stop by the school office to drop off your cash or check donations.)

All Rancho Pico families (one student per household) will automatically receive one entry and a chance to win one of the following prizes!

A very BIG and special THANK YOU to all the parents that donated prizes for this fundraiser. 24 Chances to Win!! AMAZING!!

1. The Hollywood Tour: a helicopter ride for two passengers out of Van Nuys Airport - Value $500
2. 3 days/2 Night Stay in Palm Springs - Value $500
3. DC Entertainment Crate Contents: Contents: 3 books (Batman/Justice League), 5 Blu-Rays/DVDs - Superman/Wonder Woman/Batman (PG-13), 2 collectable figurines, Batman Converse shoes (Men's size 5, Women's size 7), Superman playing cards, Blu-Ray 12 disc Box Set of Batman: The Animated Series - Value $450
4. DC Entertainment Crate Contents: 5 books (Batman/Superman), 5 Blu-Rays/DVDs (PG-13) Wonder Woman/Superman/Batman, 2 collectable figurines (Shazam/Wonder Woman), 4 toys (Batman/TTGO/Aquaman) - Value $450
5. DC Entertainment Crate Contents: 4 books (Batman), 5 Blu-Rays/DVDs (PG-13) (Batman/Justice League/Superman), 3 collectable figurines (Batman/Supergirl), 2 toys (Batman/Aquaman) - Value $400
6. Mens XPS Bike with Helmet and Lock - Value $400
7. Mens XPS Bike with Helmet and Lock - Value $400
8. DC Entertainment Crate Contents: 5 books (Justice League/Superman), 6 Blu-Rays/DVDs (PG-13) (Batman/Justice League/Wonder Woman/Aquaman), 2 collectable figurines (Shazam/SuperBFF), 1 Funko Pop (General Zod) 2 toys (Justice League/TTGO) - Value $350
9. Warner Bros. Crate Contents: 2 baseball hats, 2 t-shirts, 1 WB jacket, 3 Funko Pops, 8 DVDs (various titles), 4 Blu-Rays (Gremlins, Goonies, Flintsontes) 2 Toys (Plush Tweety Bird, Iron Giant) 21 Looney Tunes Mashums, 1 Wizard of Oz Journal - Value $300
10. DC Entertainment Crate Contents: 3 books, 6 Blu-Rays/DVDs (PG-13), 7 collectable figurines (Batman related), 1 Teen Titans Go toy - Value $300
11. Infinity Medspa: 1 Free Area of Botox - Value $260
12. Infinity Medspa: 1 Free Hydrafacial w/ 1 free Upgrade - Value $250
13. Dine Out at The Junction Restaurant - Value $200
14. MB2 Gift Card: Party Time! - Value $200
15. Magic Castle Brunch 2 Tickets - Value $120
16. Dreamworks Movie Items - Value $100
17. SpongeBob Swag - Value $100
18. Tilly's Gift Card - $100
19. Painting with a Twist for Two Guests - Value $95
20. Dine Out at Wood Ranch Restaurant - Value $60
21. POWER Training LLC (1 hour private soccer training) - Value $60
22. Cruise Castaic Paddle Board Rentals - Value $50
23. Barnes and Noble Gift Card - Value $50
24. Barnes and Noble Gift Card - Value $50

***You can earn additional entries by donating more. The more you donate, the more entries you will receive. Each family is only eligible to win one prize.

• $0 = 1 entry
• $25 = 3 entries
• $50 = 10 entries
• $100 = 25 entries
• $200 = 60 entries

MONDAY is the FINAL DAY to donate to the campaign! Prizes will be announced later next week to allow us time to process all of the entries.

Thank you in advance for your support and helping us raise Bucks for Books and Band!

With gratitude,

Tina, Amy, Sandra, Ryan, and Mandy (PAC Board)

Please join me in congratulating Mrs. McHorney as Rancho Pico's 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year. Mrs. McHorney teaches math on the Explorers team and has been a teacher at Rancho Pico since the school opened. She coaches our MathCounts Team, advises our Target Tutoring after school tutoring program and is our math department chair. Mrs. McHorney is also a leader in math education at the district level and holds many volunteer leadership roles outside of school.

Rancho Pico's Choir, along witih West Ranch and our feeder elementary schools, sang at the West Side Choral Festival on Friday night. Thank you Mrs. Peters. Our students sounded amazing!

Last night some of our staff members were celebrated for their time here at the District. Congratulations to Tracy Cobos, June Shin, and Debra Calvo for their 5 years with the district! Congratulations to Jack Shannon for 10 years with the district! A special congratulations to Rayling Cheng for 20 years with the district! We are so thankful for each and every one of you. Your hard work and dedication don't go unnoticed! Please join me in congratulating these amazing people!

West Ranch's journalism program is now accepting new member applications for the 2023-2024 school year. If you are interested in journalistic writing, photography, and/or graphic design, please consider applying to be a member of The Paw Print staff.

Please visit wrpawprint.com to see current content. The application can be found under the “About” tab on the website. Applications are due Friday, May 5th. Contact Mrs. Livermont with any questions: clivermont@hartdistrict.org

It is testing season for all schools in California. Rancho Pico students began testing on Monday, April 17, and will continue to spend a few hours each week completing the CAASPP (California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress). We use data from CAASPP to help guide and improve our instruction at Rancho Pico. Here are some other important reminders and tips for parents and students for this testing season:

• Attendance is critical - please make sure your students are dropped off in a timely manner in the morning so they do not miss any important testing instructions or testing time. Here is the testing schedule RP CAASPP Testing Schedule Spring 23

• Parents should avoid making appointments, and students should only miss if they are too ill to come to school. Make-ups are challenging, and students do not do as well during make-ups.

• Eating a healthy breakfast and lunch and being hydrated are essential for the brain to concentrate.

• It would be a good idea to have students bring their own water bottles (we have refilling stations on campus).

• Please remind all students that they can access free breakfast/brunch and lunch at school.

• Students need a good night's sleep (limiting electronics at night may help).

• Students should avoid stressful situations/conflicts when possible.

If you have questions about testing please contact Mr. Hopper at thopper@hartdistrict.org

Thank you for your help and support!

Beginning the week of the 24th, we will be celebrating X week put on by DFY in SCV. There is a theme each day to support and encourage being drug free.

Monday: Pledge to be drug free DFY

Tuesday: Pajama day-Put a rest to drugs

Wednesday: Donut do drugs/scavenger hunt

Thursday:Wear black or white day X out drugs

Friday: You're not a dum dum be drug free (get a sucker)

The 53rd Earth Day is Saturday, April 22. So, what is Earth Day? How did it come to be? How do we celebrate Earth Day? Find out in this informative article, including 10 tips to make your home planet a better place to live—which is integral to your own health and happiness!

Here at The Old Farmer’s Almanac, we believe that we are stewards of nature, plants, and our lands and that the individual responsibility lies with each of us. Our planet needs our help to thrive. Earth Day activities can range from river cleanups to removals of invasive plants. Learn more below.

The “green things growing” whisper me
Of many an earth-old mystery.
–Eben Eugene Rexford (1848–1916)

What Is Earth Day?

Ever wonder how Earth Day began? The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970, when San Francisco activist John McConnell and Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson separately asked Americans to join in a grassroots demonstration. Dealing with dangerously serious issues concerning toxic drinking water, air pollution, and the effects of pesticides, an impressive 20 million Americans—10% of the population—ventured outdoors and protested together.

President Richard Nixon led the nation in creating the Environmental Protection Agency, which followed with successful laws including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act.

Please note the schedule for after school tutoring and enrichment following spring break. The Enrichment classes that are led by our West Ranch students will be stopping so they can prepare for their Advanced Placement (AP) exams. After school tutoring will continue until the week of May 22nd.

CAASPP Testing: April 17-May 8

ASB Spring Fling: April 28

Quarter 4 progress reports: May 2

CJSF Induction: April 27

Choir/ Orchestra Concert: May 10

Band Concert: May 17

Track and Field Meet: May 18

8th Grade Universal Trip: May 19

8th Grade Awards Ceremony: May 25

Memorial Day Holiday (no school): May 29

Last Day of School/Quarter 4: June 1

This is a friendly reminder now that spring is in the air and the weather is getting warmer, that students follow dress code. Most dress code violations are from section B and D. Please review the dress code with your student.

The William S. Hart Union High School District will be partnering with Opportunities for Learning (OFL) to offer summer school through our District. This is a different program than the one offered through the OFL program sites as they will have their own teachers and the courses may vary. The Hart District program is taught by our Hart District teachers. If you are unsure about which classes to take, please reach out to your school site's academic counselor for direction.

DATES

Special Programs June 20 - July 31
(Achieve Newcomer Summer Program @ Hart HS & Summer IMPACT - 7th graders)

Traditional Summer School July 3 - July 31

Extended School Year July 3 - July 31

School holidays June 19 & July 4 - No School

HOURS

8:30 AM - 1:45 PM

Please click on the link below for more information.

https://www.hartdistrict.org/apps/pages/summer-school

Every Thursday is Think Ahead Thursday and students and staff are encouraged to wear shirts and sweatshirts depicting colleges and future aspirations.

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, Title II, and/or Title IX should be directed to Mark Crawford, Director of Human Resources. Complaints regarding 504 plans should be directed to Erum Velek, Director of Student Services and Equity. Both can be reached at the 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.

El Distrito de Escuelas Secundarias William S. Hart Union prohíbe la discriminación ilegal y/o el acoso de cualquier estudiante, empleado o solicitante de empleo basado en raza actual o percibido, el color, el origen étnico, el origen nacional, el estado migratorio, la ascendencia, la religión, la edad, estado civil, embarazo, estado parental, discapacidad física o mental, condición médica, estado militar o de veterano, afiliación política, sexo, género, identidad de género, expresión de género, información genética, orientación sexual o cualquier otra base, prohibida por leyes estatales y federales. Leyes de no discriminación, respectivamente, en cualquier sitio y/o actividad del Distrito. El Distrito de Escuelas Secundarias William S. Hart Union también proporciona igualdad de acceso a los Boy Scouts y otros grupos juveniles designados. Todas las consultas sobre discriminación, derechos civiles, Título II y/o Título IX deben dirigirse a Mark Crawford, Director de Recursos Humanos. Las quejas relacionadas con los planes 504 deben dirigirse a Erum Velek, Director de Equidad y Servicios Estudiantiles. Se puede comunicar con ambos en William S. Hart Union High School District, 21380 Center Pointe Pkwy, Santa Clarita, CA 91350, o por teléfono (661) 259-0033, o por correo electrónico: UCP@hartdistrict.org .