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Sunday, August 30
Hillview Spirit Wear store, sale ends tonight!
After-School Program for Fall, enrollment open through September 11
Return Hillview Music, Instruments, Music, and Performance clothing that were borrowed, Hillview office
Tuesday, September 1
Materials Pick Up 1:00-4:00 pm, book room between gym and quad
Hillview Site Council Meeting, 3:30 - 5:00 pm, via Zoom
Friday, September 4
Last day to submit 7th grade vaccination records to Nancy McMahon here
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Tuesday, September 8
"Talking to Your Kids about Race and Racism", 6:30 pm, via Zoom
Wednesday, September 9
Back-to-School Night, 6:30 pm, video presentations on Schoology
Monday, September 14
Grade Level and Subject Area Q & A’s
- 6:30 - 7:15, 6th Grade Academy
- 7:20 - 7:50, World Language
Wednesday, September 16
Grade Level and Subject Area Q & A’s
- 6:30 - 7:15, 7th Grade Academy
- 7:20 - 7:50, Math 7B/8 Compacted
Thursday, September 17
Grade Level and Subject Area Q & A’s
- 6:30 - 7:15, 8th Grade Academy
- 7:20 - 7:50, Algebra and Geometry
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Quicklinks at bottom of newsletter
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Dear Hillview Families,
I hope this message finds you well as we reach the halfway point of our first two-week learning cycle, and next week students will attend the remainder of their classes. Following our “soft launch” of the school year on Thursday and Friday, August 20 and 21, the past week featured a lot of firsts: the first week of our morning Launch period, the first week of using Schoology to log in to classes and submit work, the first week of following a synchronous schedule, and the first week of practicing our Zoom etiquette. We also had to overcome such obstacles as a nationwide Zoom outage and local internet service provider issues.
While this has been the most unusual start of the school year ever, I’m encouraged by our students’ and teachers’ engagement and resilience as we get into a new routine. There is a lot of excitement to get “back to school,” despite the fact that we’re connecting remotely. We are getting our “sea legs” under us and flattening the learning curve. Thank you for your continued support, patience, and flexibility. Please keep in mind that the student experience will broaden and evolve as we get through this two-week cycle and start to incorporate off-week ELA and Math practice into the program. This will happen during the Work Block period(s), along with regular fitness. The “new normal” will come into sharper focus the week of September 8.
A heads-up that we have a unique Back to School Night event - or I should say events, plural - this year that we have just finalized. As noted in last week’s newsletter, September 9 is Back to School Night, but we have now decided to add grade-level events the following week, on Monday, September 14; Wednesday, September 16; and Thursday, September 17. See Looking Ahead for more details of each event, its format, and its purpose.
Access to our Back-to-School events will be sent through Schoology, our new learning management system. This will require parents and guardians to log into this platform. We sent families their log-in credentials on Thursday, August 27. The sender was no-reply-ed-serv@mpcsd.org. If you have not received this information by the end of the day today, email Hillview Instructional Coach Johnna Becker here or call the Hillview office starting Monday, August 31, and we will give you the log-in credentials. We see a critical opportunity for getting all our parents and guardians up and running on Schoology.
Thank you, Hawks! It has been so rewarding to have your students back in class this week, and we look forward to an outstanding year.
All the best,
Willy
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Virtual Back to School Night
Wednesday, September 9, 6:30 pm, video presentations on Schoology
On this evening, teachers will post to Schoology video presentations about their classes that parents can watch at their leisure. Willy Haug, Principal of Hillview, will post a keynote welcome. Grab a bucket of popcorn and get a good overview of your child’s experience in their classes!
Grade Level and Subject Area Q & A’s - At these times, parents will get to see their children’s teachers live in-person and bring any questions they have after having watched the course overview videos. These optional events have been scheduled so that families can attend multiple grade levels and multiple subject areas:
- Monday, September 14
- 6:30 - 7:15, 6th Grade Academy Q & A
- 7:20 - 7:50, World Language Q & A
- Wednesday, September 16
- 6:30 - 7:15, 7th Grade Academy Q & A
- 7:20 - 7:50, Math 7B/8 Compacted Q & A
- Thursday, September 17
- 6:30 - 7:15, 8th Grade Academy Q & A
- 7:20 - 7:50, Algebra and Geometry Q & A
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6th Grade Parents: Moving up to Middle School Research Project.
Last year Menlo Park City School District partnered with researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the American Institutes for Research to better understand the experiences of middle school students as they enter 6th grade. The goal of this project, Moving up to Middle School, is to improve the experiences of our 6th grade students.
As middle school educators, we recognize that focusing on social-emotional needs is essential for learning and well being. We also know the transition from elementary school to middle school can be a stressful experience for both students and families. 5th grade parent nights, WEB day, and Humanities Core are examples of how we ease the transition of 6th graders. We nevertheless still see that students are having unmet needs, and the pandemic can magnify these needs.
Prior research has shown that students, with intervention can:
- become more engaged in school (as measured by attendance);
- increase their sense of belonging and connection to their peers, teachers, and school
- improve overall academic achievement.
Your son or daughter’s participation in this project is important to us so we know how to improve their experience at Hillview.
Participation involves two surveys and two short writing assignments. The study protects student privacy in a number of ways. The Google Form here contains more details about the study, and it also gives you the option to remove your child. If you do nothing, your child will participate in the research.
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Materials Pick-Up
Tuesday, September 1, 1:00 - 4:00 pm, book room
We will be having our next distribution event starting at the book room between the gym and the quad. Teachers should be communicating to students if they have materials to be picked up. If you aren't sure, email your teachers directly for class specifics.
All Students must bring a copy of their current schedule. 7/8th graders should bring their ASB card.
All 8th grade students must attend to receive Stamped: Racism, Anti Racism, and You. If parents prefer, they can also purchase the book themselves (ISBN# 978-0-45369-1).
Other materials to be provided:
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Attendance Reporting
Class attendance is mandatory in both hybrid learning and distance learning modes, unless a student is registered as absent through SafeArrival.
Attendance will be taken during each period, including Launch period at 8:55 am, a mandatory period during the school day.
If your student will not be participating in distance learning or hybrid learning for any reason, you must:
- use the SafeArrival app
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call SafeArrive toll free number, #844-290-7698
- Hillview office at 650-326-4341 x2001
For any issues in reporting an absence, email Hillview attendance clerk, Monica Bosch here.
The Hillview team is aware that internet service is not as reliable as it should be right now, so we wanted to say thank you to the parents who have been on top of making sure we knew that students are accounted for and safe.
The Hillview Middle School website has detailed information on attendance here.
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Hillview Site Council Meeting
Tuesday, September 1, 3:30 - 5:00 pm, via Zoom.
The Hillview Site Council, which is comprised of Hillview parents, teachers, staff, and students, meets monthly to develop and evaluate progress on school-wide goals.
All parents in our community are welcome! Email Karen Dearing, Site Council Chair, for the Zoom link to join the meeting here.
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Return Music, Instruments, and Performance Clothing
Students who were in Music last year and who are not continuing, would you return all Hillview instruments, music, and performance clothing that was borrowed. Return all items to the Hillview office.
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Hillview Spirit Wear Store - 20% Off Ends tonight!
Sunday, August 30, 11:59 pm
Don’t forget to get your gear at the Hillview Middle School Spirit Wear Store here powered by SquadLocker.
Performance t-shirts, hoodies, hats, pj bottoms and even facemasks are available and will ship directly to your home. Use the code HILLVIEW20 at checkout to get 20% off your order.
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Required Vaccinations - 7th Grade Students
All incoming 7th-grade students in the 2020-21 school year are required by law to provide proof of a whooping cough booster shot (Tdap), administered on or after the 7th birthday (Td does not meet the requirement).
We've reached out to all families with missing records to provide updated immunization records.
The extended deadline is Friday, September 4. If you have not submitted proof of your child's TDAP immunization by September 4, your child will be disenrolled from MPCSD until we do receive it. We recommend that families immediately contact their health providers to set up appointments if they have not already done so.
Do not highlight or mark the vaccination record. Provide the record by email to Nancy McMahon, Health Services Assistant here, mail to the attention of Nancy McMahon, 181 Encinal Avenue, Atherton CA 94027, or by fax to 650-292-2200.
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It’s Time to Donate to the One Community Campaign!
One gift. One goal. Together we can.
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The One Community Campaign is in full swing. Our goal for the OCC is 100% participation from all families and we encourage you to donate at whatever level is possible for you. The suggested donation is $2,000 per student - the first $250 of which will go to Hillview's PTO and the balance of which will go to the MPAEF.
Did you know as soon as you donate or pledge, you are removed from the contact list? No more emails from our parent volunteers!
Donate or pledge here today! Or mail a check made out to “One Community Campaign” to PO Box 584, Menlo Park, CA 94026-0584.
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Hillview Volunteer Opportunities from Your Home
Hillview PTO is seeking a few volunteers to fill some important positions as part of our PTO committee. These positions can be performed from the comfort of your home (even if school is back on campus) and require only an hour or two a week. These opportunities are critical to both supporting our communications strategy as well our Associated Student Body (ASB) program. For more information, or if you are interested in any of these opportunities, email here.
Hillview Website Manager Seeking someone to help facilitate changes on our Hillview Middle School website using our backend system BlackBoard. No prior HTML experience required although recommended. This individual will be trained on the BlackBoard backend system and tools. Works closely with both the PTO and administration to help update changes on the website throughout the year. Commitment level varies but typically 1 hour per week.
Spirit Wear Store Manager Seeking an individual to help oversee our Spirit Wear store which helps fund such organizations as ASB. Work closely with our Squad Locker account manager and the PTO to run promotions, help facilitate special/bulk orders, introduce new product and oversee reporting. Commitment level varies by typically 1 hour per week.
Newsletter Editor #1 Manages and tracks all submissions including collection of images. Works closely with Newsletter Editor #2 who manages the final approvals, newsletter composition and mailing. Commitment level 2-3 hours per week.
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Hot Lunch
LunchMaster will not be in service while all students are in Distance Learning mode (no students on campus). When school transitions to Hybrid mode with alternating in-person instruction, LunchMaster will be available.
Families who receive free or reduced lunch services from the district will continue to receive deliveries at home as you have been.
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Hillview's very own Mr. Vaughan makes the local news!
We wanted to take a moment to recognize an article that recently hit the online publication InMenlo featuring our very own Mr. Vaughn. What a great way to bring entertainment to the Menlo Park community! You can read the full article here.
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Greetings from Hillview Music!
Band and string orchestra will be offered as regular classes. Jazz Band will be offered as a before or after-school class. The schedule is still being worked out.
If you are interested in Jazz Band, or in starting an instrument, or thinking of coming back to music, contact Mr. Vaughan here.
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Request books from Hillview Library
Students are expected to read everyday during distance learning, so they need books! If your student would like to borrow books from the Hillview Library:
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check the library catalog for book availability here
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fill out the form here
- you'll be notified by email when books are ready
- books will be in the Hillview Office on a cart for pick up (office is open M-F 8:00 am - 3:30 pm)
More information at the Hillview library website here.
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Teen Section
Hillview Library has a collection of books, eBooks and audiobooks recommended for grades 8 or higher or ages 14+. These Young Adult (YA) books have more mature themes, profanity, violence or sexual situations.
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8th grade students automatically have access to the Teen section unless parents opt-out by sending an email to Aimee Mathenia here.
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7th grade students may access the entire Teen Section with parental permission by sending an email to Aimee Mathenia here.
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6th grade students may get permission to access individual books with parental permission by sending an email to Aimee Mathenia here.
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Fall 2020 Enrollment
open now through September 11
After-School Program (ASP) enrollment has moved to a single online portal called Homeroom. Visit Homeroom here for more information on individual programs, vendors, and registration. (At top of page search window, enter "Hillview", then a list pops up, scroll down to find "hillview")
French Club – intermediate/ advanced speakers
Some ASP vendors are offering virtual courses on their own, visit After School Programs here for more information. Or go directly to their websites:
Hwa Shin Chinese School here
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Welcome to another year of our fabulous Speaker Series!
We are so pleased to bring you a variety of events this year, including talking to our kids about race, supporting families during distance learning, social emotional learning, social media, and more. Events will be held over Zoom though the end of the calendar year. Events in January and beyond will be held virtually or in person depending on circumstances at the time.
Don't miss our kick-off event with Juile Lythcott-Haims!
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Talking to Your Kids about Race and Racism
Tuesday, September 8, 6:30 pm, via Zoom
A conversation with author and former Stanford Dean Julie Lythcott-Haims and MPCSD Superintendent Erik Burmeister discuss how to engage in meaningful discussions with our children about race, racism, and the Black Lives Matter movement.
The Zoom link can be found on the Speaker Series website here, then scroll to the event.
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Ravenswood Education Foundation (REF) Adopt a Teacher Needs Your Support Make a difference in a teacher's life and impact students by "adopting" a K-8 teacher in East Palo Alto or eastern Menlo Park for a school year. Provide your adopted teacher with encouraging notes and/or small gifts or appreciation and school supplies. Financial commitment is $500. Time commitment is very flexible. It's fun and easy to adopt a teacher with a few friends. Sign up here or contact Jazmin Sosa here for questions.
Enroll TODAY in Fall Theatre classes with PVTC! We've become accustomed to what’s possible inside the confines of our screens. But how can we stretch the digital boundaries of 2020? If you can log onto a Zoom call, we have something for you. Join us for creative classes that challenge the student to think outside the box and keep moving and imagining! Register online here. Fall session begins the week of September 14. Questions: Email here. All classes this session are digital and are held on the Zoom platform.
Bulldog Fall 2020 Outdoor Youth Fitness Classes Whether your child is an aspiring highly competitive athlete or just in need of some general fitness, Coach Law and Bulldog Fitness will teach, coach and especially inspire your child through fun and consistent outdoor workouts. All workouts follow social distance rules and no shared equipment. Only 12 spots per class; sign up here today. Get your child healthy and fit with the Bulldog Gym team!
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