Hello Lions,

This was Teacher Appreciation Week. I want to thank all of our certificated staff members for the amazing work they do with our Opportunity, iSierra Online Academy, Adult Transition, ABC, Home/Hospital, and La Vista students. It takes a tremendous amount of empathy, patience, skill, and dedication to be an effective alternative/continuation high school educator and our teachers have all these attributes - and more! Thank you La Vista/La Sierra certificated staff members. Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!
The whole staff was able to celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week with a Cinco De Mayo-themed potluck complete with a salsa-making contest. It was a great opportunity for our staff to spend some quality time together.
The LV/LS ASB students also honored Cinco De Mayo by selling Agua Fresca at lunch.
Earlier in the week, the LV/LS ASB organized a successful blood drive. With the support of student and staff donors, LV/LS donated thirty pints of blood to the American Red Cross.
The prom is tonight! Our students got a taste of the festivities on Thursday with a DJ preview. As you can see below, the DJ had everybody clapping their hands. If Thursday is any indication, the dance floor will be hopping tonight!
The prom court was also announced on Thursday. Congratulations to Maggie Gallardo, Jasmine Yepez, Jeremiah Hernandez, Nate Soto, Alejandro Sanchez, Rebeka Prieto, Mikayla Moreno, Isac Serna, Beyance Marquez Moran, Carol Morales, Naveah Soto, Connor Bryant, Ashley Sanchez, Angel Cruz-Perez, Miguel Vega, and Uriel Mejia. We are honored to have you in the royal Lion's Den!
Finally, I am pleased to announce that LV/LS received a $19,500 Phelps Grant to repurpose the conference room in the counseling office into a Wellness Center for our students. This space will be called the Zen Den! We will be working on this project throughout the summer. I'm excited to show it to all of you when you return in the fall. Thank you to Brian Cueva, Renee Gates, Laura Medina,Eileen Singh, and Fred Carr for writing this grant and making this dream a reality for our students.
It's time to go to the prom! I'll fill you in with all the details in next week's newsletter. Have a great weekend, Lions.

Roar!

Sandi Layana, Principal
La Vista/La Sierra High Schools
Weekly Lions Roar Video
May 6, 2022

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Fullerton Joint Union High School District recognizes the importance of social emotional learning, and has developed a district-wide focus on students’ social and emotional well being. 

In the Fall, you may recall that we administered an anonymous wellness screener to gather data on our students wellness and needs as they returned to school. To gather data on our continued needs and potential progress in how we support our students, we will administer a second round of the same survey. The students’ survey will be anonymous, though it will provide us with feedback on student wellness across school sites, grade levels and gender.  

The survey questions are a compilation of two nationally recognized social emotional learning surveys, specifically Panorama and CoVitality. The questions were selected to reflect the diversity of our school culture and our communities. The responses will provide insights on how well students are able to navigate their school day feeling secure and supported, managing their emotions successfully, feeling and showing empathy for others, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and making responsible decisions.
 
This Spring Semester survey administration is just one step in understanding our students’ social emotional development. We intend to closely understand how students are progressing educationally by taking into consideration how growth in social emotional skills positively affects academic progress. 

The information obtained from this survey will therefore provide us with an opportunity to continue to create systems of support that will be linked to targeted areas of student development. It will also support our plan and processes for improving students' effectiveness in learning and utilizing various social emotional learning strategies to enhance their academic and social well being.
 
On May 16, 2022, students across the district will be asked to participate in a brief survey that asks them to:
self-reflect on what resources they can access at school to support them and their goals,
how much they believe they can succeed in achieving academic outcomes, and how much they believe they can achieve when given support; and how well they manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in different situations,  
how well they consider the perspectives of others and empathize with them, and
how well they use positive coping skills.

The responses to this survey will be completely confidential, and all the information gathered will be exclusively used by FJUHSD with all privacy laws enforced. If you have any questions about the survey, please don’t hesitate to contact the administration.

Although we encourage that our students take part in this assessment, we respect your decision to have your student opt out of this survey. We therefore ask your student to inform his/her teacher at the time of the administration of the survey of the decision to not participate in it.     

Thank you very much for your ongoing support, cooperation and confidence
 in our ability to serve all students effectively. 

Sincerely,

Sonje Berg





Superintendent Steve McLaughlin, Ed.D. provides a monthly newsletter update for parents, students, staff, and the community.

Virtual College & Career Center
The Sunrise Rotary Club provides tremendous support to La Vista/La Sierra. The club rewards students of the quarter, sponsors students to attend Rotary Youth Leadership Awakening Camp, supports the ATP Rotaract Club, provides scholarships, and more. Each year the Sunrise Rotary Club holds a fundraiser to raise money all the charitable work they do for .  This is always a fun event and here is a link to the event if you would like more information or would like to attend! www.fullertonsunriserotary.org 
$1000 scholarships to be used on tuition and books, The Assistance League serves as a community support group that provides funds for scholarships, academic awards, and other areas of need. Deadline to Submit: May 3, 2022


Bob Buchi was a long-time member of the community, parent of District graduates and a business leader in Southern California. He was respected for his accomplishments, strong work ethic, and high expectations of both himself and those around him, but most importantly he was respected for his unwavering fairness and high moral standards. - Deadline to Submit: March 28,2022


The Daniel S. Coelho Memorial Scholarship Fund, a permanently endowed fund with the Daniel S. and Jenny L. Coelho Family Foundation, was created by the Coelho family as a permanent legacy to their husband and father, Daniel. - Deadline to Submit: April 15,2022


Deadline to Submit: May 3, 2022

$1000 dollars. This scholarship is given to one student in each one of the schools in our district. Deadline to Submit - April 29, 2022
 
 
$1000 dollars. This scholarship is given to one student in each one of the schools in our district. Deadline to Submit - May 3, 2022
 
 
This is a $500 scholarship to be used for tuition and books or school supplies. The mission of Rotary is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its friendships of business, professional, and community leaders. Deadline to Submit - May 3, 2022
La Vista La Sierra Clubs 2021-22
Opportunity Plus Extended Day
Dear parents/guardians,
 
It is with great enthusiasm that I would like to inform you of a unique opportunity your student will have to receive additional support called Opportunity Plus. Please review the information below. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
 
Mission: To provide students purposeful after school time within a supportive, trauma informed environment to complete school work, develop social-emotional skills and explicitly build strong character. This will be accomplished with the support of positive student leaders, exemplary staff and knowledgeable community partners.
 
Who: Opportunity students who have been identified as needing additional academic and social emotional support to succeed.
 
What: Students will engage in individual and group tutoring and counseling led by teachers and trained community partners. During this time students will have access to caring, trauma informed staff and other adults who can support them academically, socially and emotionally.
 
When: An extended day, 7th & 8th period lasting two(2) weeks: 1:34 pm - 3:07 pm. Monday, Wednesday and Friday
 
Why: We know that not every student is equipped with the tools and resources to be successful independently. Additionally, some students need more support to build and refine important life skills such as asking questions, communicating effectively, regulating emotions and goal setting. Other students simply require a dedicated safe space to complete work and ask questions away from distractions.
 
Where: Library - Our library has been refurbished with tables, and chairs that model a college lounge. The library was designed to encourage students to stay, engage and learn. Several classrooms will also be used.
 
How: Students will be identified based on grades and attendance every two(2) weeks. Students can also volunteer to stay for tutoring or social emotional counseling.
 
*During Opportunity Plus all students will be offered a snack.
 
Fred Carr
Assistant Principal, La Vista/La Sierra High School
(714) 447-5504

Mental Health Services
Dear Parent/ Guardian,
 
La Vista/La Sierra High School is excited to bring school-based mental health services addressing concerns that may impact the educational progress of our students. Individual and/ or group counseling services may be available by a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC), or a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) to address school-based mental health concerns. Masters-level professionals and student interns, under the supervision of licensed personnel, may also provide services for the students.
 
The information discussed in counseling sessions will remain confidential except those issues mandated by law to report. For example, incidents of child or elder abuse, neglect, communication of a threat of physical injury to specific people or property, or indication of suicidal thoughts or plans will be reported.
 
School-based mental health services are provided by the agencies listed below at FJUHSD:
CareSolace, Vista Community Clinics (VCC), Tasha Training and Consulting (TTC), Phoenix House, Congruent Lives and SENECA
 
Based on identified concerns, level of support needed, and capacity, students will be linked to the appropriate agency. This form allows us to communicate with one or any of these agencies, in order to ensure your child receives the proper support.
 
Filling out this form will allow us to communicate with one or any of these agencies in order to ensure your child receives the proper support. If you are interested in your child’s ability to receive any services from any of the listed agencies above, please fill out student information and sign under parent/guardian signature. Click here for the consent form to this letter.

Please sign & email the Consent Form to Brian Cuevas (bcuevas@fjuhsd.org)

Dear FJUHSD families,
The Fullerton Joint Union High School District fosters a culture that promotes the health, safety, and well-being of students, staff & their families. In an effort to continuously support this commitment, the district has partnered with Care Solace.

Care Solace is an online resource with a live 24/7 concierge meant to assist individuals in finding local mental health related programs and counseling services. Care Solace is a tool for school staff and families to connect with community-based mental healthcare resources and providers. Their proprietary care navigation system taps into a vast database of mental healthcare resources to find carefully vetted local therapists and programs in minutes.

School district families and staff may access Care Solace services in two ways:
1. Call (888) 515-0595 to speak with someone from your Concierge team
  • Representatives are standing by to take your call or email 24/7/365

2. Visit your custom district link: www.caresolace.com/fjuhsdfamilies
  • Answer ten easy questions to receive an extensive list of referrals to applicable care providers. Care Solace takes into account all types of private insurance including Medi-Cal, Medicaid, and Medicare and those that have no insurance. The platform also filters by age, gender, zip code and special request.

Care Solace is now available for use by district families and staff at no cost. Care Solace does not require a name, address, phone number, or date of birth. All information entered on the Care Solace tool is completely confidential and securely stored.
Please note, this service is an optional resource available by choice and is not mandatory in any way. Care Solace is not an emergency response service or mental health services provider. In the event of a life threatening emergency, please call 9-1-1 or the National Suicide Hotline 1-800-273-8255. If you are interested in seeking counseling-related services at this time, please consider visiting www.caresolace.com/fjuhsdfamilies

Warmest regards,
Dr. Steve McLaughlin
Superintendent of Schools
Fullerton Joint Union High School District
La Vista & La Sierra High School
(714) 447-7821
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