The Mustang Messenger

I hope this message finds you doing well.

Today marks the halfway mark of the third quarter. Please check Infinite Campus to see how your student is progressing academically. Progress report grades will post on Monday. We have support in place for students who need additional help.

Be well, stay safe, and have a great weekend,

Catherine Nicholas, Ed.D.

If you would like to read our newsletter in a different language, you may translate it to your home language:

Step 1 - Click on the Translate button

This button can be found at the top of the emailed newsletter.

Step 2 - Access the Translation and ADA bar

On the right side of the newsletter, you'll see the ADA and Translation features. To translate your newsletter, click on the Translate button and choose your desired language

February 17th is a non-student day and February 20th is President's Day holiday, giving students a four-day weekend.

Today marks the halfway mark for quarter three. Progress report grades are posted on Infinite Campus. Please check infinite campus and your student's grades that will be posted Monday, February 13th. If your student is struggling academically, please get in touch with the teacher and/or counseling. We have after-school tutoring and math intervention available to assist students. Third-quarter ends on March 17th. There is time to get help and get caught up.

February is Black History Month and students are encouraged to participate in the Black History Month Art Show. See the flyer below. To participate, students must use the QR Code to sign up by TODAY, February 3rd. Submissions are due February 16th.

One of our Strategic Plan's focus areas is Access and Equity: to expand college and career preparation, increase career path completion, and focus these efforts on reaching all students.

We have several CTE (Career Technical Education Classes) at Rancho Pico. Mr. Jacobs teaches a CTE Tech STEM lab that combines Engineering and computer science. Students rotate through modules that include the following topics:

• Intro. to Engineering
• Cad/Design
• Digital Manufacturing
• Energy/Power
• Structural Engineering
• Research and Development
• Design and Marketing
• Digital Audio Production
• Introduction. to Computer Science
• Computer Graphics and Animation
• Electricity and Electronics
• Mechanisms
• Robotics
• Flight and Drone Tech
• Research and Development

This week, National School Counselor's Week, we recognized Rancho Pico's amazing counseling and wellness team- Ana Mathers, Nikole Fuentes, Sara Zemp, and Susan Lundin for their work with our staff, families, and students. A special shout-out to our counselor Kristin Wilkins, who is home on leave with the baby!

In the coming months, Rancho Pico students will take CA state assessments in Math and English (CAASPP) and the California Science Test (CAST). Last year our Mustangs did a wonderful job as a student body maintaining the highest scores in the school district. We expect the same this year. If you want to learn more about the CA State Accountability program, click here:

Summative Smarter Balanced Parent Guide - CAASPP (CA Dept of Education)

California Science Test (CAST)

If you'd like to help your student practice for the state assessments, click here.

Online Practice and Training Tests

If you have questions about testing, please get in touch with Mr. Hopper at thopper@hartdistrict.org

Every THURSDAY is Think Ahead Thursday. Students and staff are encouraged to wear college gear or a shirt or sweatshirt representing a future aspiration. We will be asking all students and staff who wear Think Ahead Thursday shirts to join us on the stage at brunch on Thursday for a photo for next week's newsletter!

To report any absences, tardies, or early pick-ups, please email us at rpattendance@hartdistrict.org for easy and reliable communication.

Please leave:
The student's name.
The name and relationship of the person reporting the absence.
The date/time of absence.
The reason for the absence.

CJSF is an Honor Society based on academic achievement and community service. Spring membership is open to 7th and 8th graders. Applications were distributed in advisory this week. Anyone interested in joining but did not receive an application can get one in Room 206. You can also print an application or get more information from the Rancho Pico CJSF Webpage.

Completed applications are due by March 3 - students are encouraged to return them early, as no late applications will be accepted for any reason. Make sure you read and follow the directions carefully.

Thank you to all parents who attended our Healthy Choices, Lifestyles, and Relationships parent meetings yesterday.

Our 7th-grade students are presented with the state-mandated Healthy Choices, Relationships, and Lifestyles curriculum in their spring science and physical education classes. The instruction includes several short videos, which you are encouraged to watch.

The video clips are available at the following link: https://4.files.edl.io/42c1/01/31/23/230303-592ff810-a0c6-4a89-8e93-d0d247d8fb6f.pdf

● PE - 3/21-3/24

● Science - 3/27-3/30

You can choose to opt your child out of the presentations by choosing Rancho Pico under the Opt-Out Forms on the district website: https://www.hartdistrict.org/apps/pages/curriculum

The Hart District is a GREAT place to work. If you, or someone you know, is looking for a teaching job, Rancho Pico is hosting the SCV Teacher Recruitment Fair.

Please help us support the no-gum rule at school by ensuring students do not have gum in their backpacks. Gum ends up under desks, on carpets, and on walkways. If students are chewing gum, they are assigned trash pick-up for breaking the rule. Students are aware of the consequence. We appreciate your support!

This is a friendly reminder that we are a personal device-free school. Students must keep their cell phones and other devices off and in their backpacks once they enter campus gates. Please do not text your student. If you need to get a hold of your students, please call the office, and we will be happy to get the message to them. If they need to contact you, they can use our phones. If they do not feel well, they will come to the health office, and we will contact you from the school. Thank you so much for your support.

Students have brought home an information sheet and permission slip.

Please read both carefully and return the completed permission slip to the ASB Office, where payment can be made, or pay online at the ASB Web Store.

Full payment and permission slips are due Friday, March 17.

A three-strike program will be implemented to monitor student behavior during the school day. Strikes are received for breaking school rules, including, but not limited to, excessive horseplay, bullying, fighting, drugs/vapes, using racial slurs, defiance/disrespect, and other such offenses. If a student receives a strike, parents will be contacted. After three strikes, a student will not be able to participate in the 8th-grade trip, and there is no refund for a paid ticket. Students displaying extremely egregious behaviors, as determined by the administration, regardless of previous strike(s), are subject to automatic placement on the Loss of Privilege list and will be excluded from the trip.

Sizes XXS through XXL - ASB is taking pre-orders today through Monday, Feb 13, 3:00 PM.

Purchases will not be possible after 3:00 PM Monday.The plaid flannel pants will have "RANCHO PICO" printed on the right leg

$30.00 each ($27 with ASB discount) - Payments can be made in the ASB Office or web store.

A sizing chart link is on the web store - please review it carefully before ordering - no refunds will be given. Students can see a sample pair in the ASB Office.

Rancho Pico Night at the LA Kings!

Saturday, March 18th

Tickets start at $47

Buy tickets here to sit in the RPJH section

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, national origin, immigration status, ancestry, religion, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or sexual orientation at any District site and/or activity.