Superintendent's Friday Update
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From the Desk of Dr. Smith | |
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Most of us are looking forward to this upcoming three-day weekend because it gives us one additional day to regroup for the week ahead, spend time with loved ones, and well, in my case, catch up on my favorite Netflix series. However, it is also important to recognize and honor why, in some cases, we receive this gift of an extra day off from work and school. Presidents Day is on Monday, Feb. 20 this year. Presidents Day is celebrated on the third Monday of February every year.
The date of Presidents Day changes every year in part because of the Uniform Holiday Bill signed in 1968 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The origin of Presidents Day lies in the 1880s, when the birthday of Washington, commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and the first president of the United States, was first celebrated as a federal holiday. In 1968 Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Bill, which moved a number of federal holidays to Mondays. The change was designed to schedule certain holidays so that workers had a number of long weekends throughout the year, but it has been opposed by those who believe that those holidays should be celebrated on the dates they actually commemorate.
Some interesting facts regarding this holiday began during debate on the bill. It was proposed that Washington’s Birthday be renamed Presidents Day to honor the birthdays of both Washington (February 22) and Lincoln (February 12); although Lincoln’s birthday was celebrated in many states, it was never an official federal holiday. Following much discussion, Congress rejected the name change. After the bill went into effect in 1971, however, Presidents Day became the commonly accepted name, due in part to retailers' use of that name to promote sales and the holiday’s proximity to Lincoln’s birthday.
So, in closing, regardless of how you feel about the evolution of Presidents Day, while several states still have individual holidays honoring the birthdays of Washington, Abraham Lincoln and other figures, Presidents Day is now popularly viewed as a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents, past and present. If you are one of the lucky folks who gets an extra day off of work and school, please enjoy and be thankful for living in the great United States of America!
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Upcoming District Events
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Monday, February 20 - Presidents Day Holiday (No School)
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Tuesday, February 28 - Elementary Parent Conferences (Grades 1-6 Modified Day)
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Thursday, March 2 - Friday, March 3 - Elementary Parent Conferences (Grades 1-6 Modified Days)
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Wednesday, March 8 - Board of Trustees Meeting, 6:00 pm, District Support Center
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Saturday, March 11 - Festival of the Arts, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, Vineyard Junior High
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Sunday, March 12 - Daylight Saving Time starts
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Thursday, March 16 - Superintendent's Community Cabinet, 6:00 pm, District Support Center
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Friday, March 17 - St. Patrick's Day
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Friday, March 24 - Modified Day Grades 1-8 (Check school for dismissal times)
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Monday, March 27 - Friday, March 31 - Spring Recess (No School)
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Great Things Happening At Our Schools | |
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As the air started to get a little warmer and the weather a bit dryer, students and teachers at Alta Loma Elementary took advantage of the natural beauty at our school. Students were able to join up with their reading buddies and enjoy the sunshine. With their book of choice, the older of the buddies showed the little ones the importance of the fun in reading.
Earlier this month we had a very special chance to see all the great art work at our Reflections Night, hosted by Vineyard Junior High. This PTA sponsored event gave enthusiastic students a chance to express themselves through their art. It was amazing to see all the families there in support of their little ones. Finally, we cannot forget everyone's favorite event. Principal Jauss was turned into a chili dog as he saved the Mystery Principal (seen in the clean hotdog suit) in the name of kindness and friendship. It was a great spectacle and the kids loved it. Many of us learned an important lesson that day. Condiments are for eating, not wearing… I can still smell the mustard!
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From Principal Autumn Williams:
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It’s an exciting time to be a Carnelian Cardinal! First, we celebrated Kindness Week by learning about the importance of Kindness, Caring, Empathy and Friendship during morning announcements. We also participated in Random Acts of Kindness challenges, building a Kindness Wall and being Superheroes! Thank you to Mrs. Evans and Mrs. Moon for providing this fantastic opportunity for our Cardinal students to practice kindness!
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We have also started our Meet the Masters Art program! With the help of our PTA and volunteers, Ms. Rochelle Wilcox is able to work with students to teach them about various artists and types of art. Carnelian students are not only learning about the great artists, but they get to use their own creativity and ingenuity to make artistic creations of their own. You may even see some of them on display at the Festival of the Arts on March 11th. Until then, our Carnelian community wants to remind everyone to “Be Safe, Be Kind, Be Proud and Have a Great Cardinal Day”! | |
From Principal Curtis Quanstrom:
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On Tuesday, February 14th we had our Kids Heart Activity Day for the American Heart Association. Our PTA and room moms helped with the activities and we are grateful for their participation. Through the fun activities, we discovered ways to take care of our hearts and brains while practicing kindness, gratitude and learning ways to de-stress. Students had a great time and the smiles on their faces could be seen all day. The best part is we have met our fundraising goal and beyond. It's going to be a slimy end of the week for Mr. Quanstrom, Mrs. Travis, and our PTA Representative Mrs. Fudge.
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Making fun memories at Stork happens each week! Last week, thanks to our PFSA, we had an after-school Glow Dance for our students in our MPR. With the help of a Stork parent volunteer, Sajid Ahmed who was our DJ for the event, our students danced their hearts out to music. Students had a fabulous time hanging out with friends, enjoying some snacks and showing off their dance moves! Thank you to our PFSA Board for organizing this fun event for our students. #Together We’re Better! # Go Superstars!
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There are really good things happening each day here at Alta Loma Junior High! Last week, thanks to the hard work of our staff, students, and community, our premier school was recognized by State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, as a California Schools to Watch awardee. This award goes to middle schools that demonstrate they are providing a well-rounded education to students in a safe and welcoming environment. | |
In addition to that, Mr. Dzama went into science classes to discuss schoolwide expectations, appropriate behaviors, and held real discussions about choices and how those choices can have either a positive or negative impact. He reminded students of the power and impact they have to make a difference. He finished his talks by revisiting ways students can reach out to administration through the blue slip or online through the Warrior WEB.
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Lastly, 8th grade students who are slated to attend Los Osos High School attended the LOHS rally, which helped them get excited about the next step on their journey. LOHS staff also reminded them to finish the year strong!
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