PRINCIPAL'S UPDATE
January 16, 2022
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IMPORTANT COVID UPDATES

All families should have received an email from PVPUSD Superintendent, Dr. Cherniss, on Friday, January 14 with important updates. To reiterate some of his key points:

COVID At-Home Tests - Take Monday, January 17
All PVPHS students who were present during 3rd period on Friday received iHealth COVID-19 Antigen Rapid Test (Home kits) which contain two Covid tests. Those absent were able to pick up their tests yesterday thanks to District staff. The district is requesting that all students take one of the two tests on Monday, January 17th, to verify a negative test result prior to returning to school on Tuesday, January 18th. Students who test positive are required to notify the Attendance Office immediately. Students who test negative are not required to notify the school. Students who are recently recovered from COVID-19 within the last 90 days and are asymptomatic do not need to test. 

For instructions on how to take this iHealth COVID-19 antigen test click here. 

Teacher Office Hours
In an effort to increase student support services and to mitigate learning loss, the district has established a voluntary K-12 program for Teacher Office Hours. The office hours will be conducted virtually, hourly, Monday through Thursday of each week in January. At PVPHS, teachers' Office Hours will be posted on participating teachers' Teams pages as well as in their classroom. If proven to be successful, this program could be extended to future months. 

Covid Dashboard Data
Current Covid positive data by school site is typically updated daily and is available here on the district website: PVPUSD Covid Dashboard

Isolation of cases and exposure management continue to be the most important strategies for limiting spread. We appreciate your continued support. Parents who have questions about isolation requirements can call the DPH COVID-19 Information Hotline at 1-833-540- 0473. This line is available in multiple languages and operates 7 days a week from 8:00 AM to 8:30 PM.

PVPUSD will continue to offer free Covid testing. Please try to prioritize reasons for testing to include the onset of symptoms and/or notification that you were a close contact to an infected person. Testing every day with no symptoms and/or no known close contact with an infected person cannot be supported by the school and county testing infrastructure. 

Remember if you have symptoms STAY HOME and if you test positive you must isolate and call the Attendance Office immediately.  PVPHS Attendance can be reached at (310) 377- 4888 and using x42682 for last names A-L or x42681 for last names M-Z.

Here's a guide to what happens when you test positive in terms of current school protocols. For the most accurate information, school officials will walk you through what is required when you report the positive test result.
This Week's Bell Schedule
No School Monday
in observance of Martin Luther King Day
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday - Regular Schedule
Wednesday - Late Start
Walk for Life Update 

Peninsula has a very special tradition of coming together to raise money for important causes at our annual Walk for Life event. This year we are raising money for cancer, and our Walk for Life will be Thursday, March 18th. Students who are interested in helping organize this event and raise money for cancer are invited to be a Walk for Life Ambassador. A Walk for Life Ambassador informational meeting will be on Tuesday, January 25th in the Activities Office- P115- during lunchtime. 
  
TO TEST OR NOT TO TEST – THE SAT/ACT QUESTION   
On January 27th at 6:30P Mr. Torsten Sannar, Managing Director of Compass Education Group will discuss college admissions testing and COVID-19's impact, which includes: the continuation of test optional/test blind policies and the impact on admissions for Fall 2021. What does test optional truly mean and how should applicants determine the best options for them with test date disruptions, etc. Additionally, testing timelines, which college admission test is best for the student and subtlety of the variety of testing policies will also be discussed. Freshman through Junior’s are encouraged to attend as well as parents. You must register by noon on 1/20 to attend at https://pvphs.pvpusd.net/apps/pages/2022SpringSeries 


SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES 
Please check Schoolinks for scholarship opportunities! Current postings include the Sandpipers (due 1/31), LA Military Charitable Fund (due 1/28), California State PTA scholarships (due 2/1), Elks Legacy scholarship (due 2/7), and more. To find scholarship listings on Schoolinks, click on Finances (left info bar), then Scholarship Matching. Look for scholarships that say, “posted by your district” above the name then click on the name of the scholarship to find out more information including how to apply. 
  
FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) 
Seniors: Reminder that the FAFSA deadline for California schools is March 2, 2022. If seniors are applying to out-of-state schools, make sure you are checking the FAFSA deadline for those states. The CCC will be hosting a “How To Fill Out a FAFSA” webinar on Wednesday, February 16th at 6:30 p.m. 
  
 Boys State and Girls State Reminder 
Juniors: Girls State and Boys State applications are due on Thursday, January 20th. Applications are on the CCC page of the school website - https://pvphs.pvpusd.net/apps/pages/CollegeCareerCenter and need to be emailed to Mrs. Shafer (shafern@pvpusd.net) or dropped off in the CCC by 3:00 p.m. on Jan. 20th. Click for more information about Boys State and Girls State. 
RECORD NUMBER OF PEN STUDENTS QUALIFY FOR CSF 
 
California Scholarship Federation (CSF) began their winter collection on January 12th. We accept applications (available in the Hawthorne Office and H65) during lunch (only) in H65.  The collection period ends on January 28th at 12:45 p.m.  Freshmen are encouraged to apply for associate membership based upon last semester's grades. Students may check the eligibility lists posted outside of the Hawthorne Office and H65 to see if they qualify for this prestigious organization. Please bring your report card to adviser if you are not on the eligibility but think you should be. Membership is $25 per semester. Seniors, remember that to achieve Sealbearer status, you must have at least one semester of membership during your senior year. Any questions, please contact Mrs. Okamoto (adviser) at okamotob@pvpusd.net.  
 
Make sure to apply, if you are eligible, and be a part of this AWESOME honor society and student recognition program!   
 
Please read the following that can be found on our website for additional information. CSF & NHS Eligibility - Academics, Counseling & CCC - Palos Verdes Peninsula High School (pvpusd.net) 
YOUNG ENTREPRENUERS ACADEMY 

The Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commerce is once again holding their Young Entrepreneurs Academy this Spring. This program will teach young entrepreneurs about business, how to develop a concept, put together a business plan, pitch for funding and launch a fully formed business. An information meeting for students will be held on January 20th at lunch in the CCC to learn more about the program and how to get involved. You do not need to register to attend this event on 1/20. 
  
If you are not able to attend on January 20th, PV Chamber of Commerce is holding two other virtual Information Sessions for interested parents and students. Following, please find dates and you must register to attend at palosverdeschamber.com 
  
·         Monday, January 17 at 4pm 
·         Monday, January 24 at 5pm 
South Bay Families Connected: Focus on youth wellness 
  
Finally, after a full year of distance learning, some students have, understandably, experienced the return to in-person learning as a social challenge. PVPUSD partner South Bay Families Connected (SBFC), a network of 115 schools in the South Bay, has organized Teaching Social Skills: Resources for Parents and Guardians, which contains a video featuring students at local schools, including PVPHS’s own Rhys Moon, sharing their perspectives regarding the social ups and downs of returning to in-person learning. There you will also find some useful tips to support your children and teens as they develop and refine their own social skills. For related resources, please visit the SBFC Healthy Relationships Page. The SBFC Virtual Teen Center contains a wide variety of mental health and wellness topics. To see more youth wellness resources provided by PVPUSD and SBFC, please visit our own PVPUSD Families Connected 
Sincerely,

Dr. Brent Kuykendall
Principal


All District programs, activities, and practices shall be free from unlawful discrimination, including discrimination against an individual or group based on race, color, ancestry, nationality, national origin, immigration status, ethnic group identification, ethnicity, age, religion, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or genetic information; a perception of one or more of such characteristics; or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. 
 
Title IX Contact: Richard Licciardello, 310-378-9966 x 417 
Section 504 Contact: Michael Bosler, 310-378-9966 x 444 
375 Via Almar, Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274 

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