 |
Monday, October 12
6th Grade parent and student orientation about Return to School, 4:30 - 5:45 pm via Zoom here
Tuesday October 13
Parent-Teacher-Student Conference day
District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC), 4:30 - 6:00 pm on Zoom here
Wednesday, October 14
Parent-Teacher-Student Conference day
Thursday, October 15
Hillview Site Council Meeting, 3:30 - 5:00 pm, via Zoom
"MPCSD Governance and Finance 101",
5:00 - 6:00 pm, register for Zoom here
Friday, October 16
After School Athletics TopYa registration opens here
Asynchronous work for 6th grade students
|
|
|
|
Monday, October 19
BLUE 6th grade students in Everest and Vesuvius academies in-person week (Olympus BLUE is the DL academy)
Thursday, October 22
Service Team meeting, Pets in Need Virtual Puppy Playdate, 2:30 pm, via Zoom
Friday, October 23
Deadline to request as change in program (Hybrid or Distance)
Monday, October 26
GOLD 6th grade students in Everest, Olympus, and Vesuvius academies in-person week
7th and 8th Grade parent and student orientation about Return to School,
5:00 - 6:15 pm via Zoom here
Friday, October 30
Notification to families about program change requests
Monday, November 2
BLUE 6th - 8th grade students in-person week
Monday, November 9
GOLD 6th - 8th grade students in-person week (Mavericks and Pioneers GOLD remain the DL academies)
_____________________________
Quicklinks bottom of newsletter
|
|
|
|
Dear Hillview Families,
I’m so proud of our community for helping to meet and exceed the One Community Campaign goals. Your generous contributions to our community-funded schools will enable Hillview PTO to support our many efforts this year that improve the experiences of your children, and will also allow the MPAEF to grant essential funds to the district for next year. Hillview and the district easily met its participation goal of 60%. Thank you for your incredible support!
In other news, last Tuesday, October 6 saw San Mateo County make it through its second week in red tier status (and the metric for positivity rate was actually in the orange range), which means that we will be able to continue with reopening, starting with 6th graders on Monday, October 19. 6th grade parents and students will attend our return-to-campus orientation tomorrow, Monday, October 12,
4:30 - 5:45 via Zoom. It is critical for students and families to understand our schedule and protocols; if you can’t attend in person, please watch the recording. Please note that in order for 6th grade teachers to prepare their physical classrooms, work for 6th grade students on Friday, October 16 will be asynchronous in nature.
We are so excited to have students return in person; at the same time, we all have a responsibility to be knowledgeable about all the health and safety measures that will mitigate risk to the greatest possible degree. It’s also important to remember that our community can only enjoy the benefits of reopening if we continue to be vigilant and follow recommended health guidelines. Let’s not let our guards down, Hawks!
All the best,
Willy
|
|
Program Request Changes
With the Board's decision on October 1 to reopen in Hybrid mode, families have been reaching out and making requests to change from Hybrid to Distance or vice versa, and we have placed everyone who has communicated a desire to change on a wait list. We wish to remind families that Hillview is following the guidelines outlined in the MPCSD Reopening Plan, which is that changes from one program to the other will take place at the transition from Trimester 1 to 2, and then only to the degree that we have the capacity to do so. Trimester 1 ends on Friday, November 13, and Trimester 2 begins on Monday, November 15. Here is how our process will work:
- The deadline to submit requests to change from one program to another (Hybrid to Distance, or Distance to Hybrid) is Friday, October 23.
- We will communicate to families about whether we can grant the request by Friday, October 30.
- Any changes in program will be effective as of Monday, November 15
- We will not be able to accommodate all requests, and granting a request will likely result in a change in academy placement.
Please note that our counselors coordinate all scheduling, and any program change requests should be directed to them. As a reminder, our counselors and their contact information is as follows:
-
6th Grade - Kellie Raczkowski here
-
7th Grade - Christina Johnson here
-
8th Grade - Robyn Watts here
|
|
Medications at School
If your child requires any medication, prescribed and/or over-the-counter, medication authorization is required. For returning students, forms were either given to you when you picked up medications last spring, or were mailed home in June. For new students, these forms were available at registration.
Carry/Self-Administer If you check the "Yes" box on the authorization form for your child to carry/self-administer medication, and the healthcare provider checks "No", the healthcare provider's orders supersede parent/guardian request.
-
Students returning on October 19, completed forms and medications must be brought to the school office by Thursday, October 15, (though sooner would be better) for proper processing. Medications should expire in June 2021 or later.
-
Students returning at a later date, return completed forms and medications to the school office at least one week prior to your child's start date.
Forms are located on the district website here.
Food Allergy If your child has a food allergy, both the Medication Authorization Form and the FARE form must be completed by parent/guardian and healthcare provider.
Insect sting/bite If your child has an insect sting/bite allergy, both the Medication Authorization Form and the Allergy Health Care Plan form must be completed by parent/guardian and healthcare provider.
Other For other medication at school needs (e.g., asthma, headaches, ADHD) the Medication Authorization Form needs to be completed by parent/guardian and healthcare provider.
Contact Nancy McMahon, health services assistant, here for any questions.
|
|
Hillview Site Council Meeting
Thursday, October 15, 3:30 - 5:00 pm, via Zoom
The Hillview Site Council comprises Hillview parents, teachers, staff, and students. The site council meets monthly to develop and evaluate progress on school-wide goals. All parents in our community are welcome!
Email Karen Dearing, site council chair, here with your name and Hillview affiliation if you would like the Zoom link to join the meeting.
|
|
Download the ParentSquare App
It's time to download ParentSquare, our health screener tool, for return to campus on Monday, October 19 for 6th grade and Monday, November 2 for 7th and 8th grade.
A quick video tutorial is provided here on how to use ParentSquare to submit a health screener every morning before school begins, along with a temperature check upon arrival to campus, for all students when we return to campus in hybrid mode.
For more information and how to create an account visit Parent Square and Health Checks here.
|
|
Schoology for student progress
We want to encourage all Hillview parents to begin checking the learning platform, Schoology, to monitor their student's progress.
|
|
Parent-Teacher-Student Conference
Conference scheduler closes at 11:00 pm tonight, Sunday, October 11
The conference scheduler is available on the Hillview website conferences section here along with more information and the minimum day bell schedule here.
|
|
Private School - Recommendations and Transcripts
All forms and information due by November 24
'Tis the season for applying to private schools. To make sure the process runs smoothly, Hillview requires students and parents to adhere to our private school application process.
The Hillview website here provides specific information and details. The Student Information form and process checklist are here.
All forms and information are due no later than November 24. Questions? Contact Monica Bosch here.
|
|
See 8th grade offerings from high schools in Community News section:
- M-A 8th Grade Information Night
- Notre Dame Belmont Shadow Visits
- Discover Serra High School
|
|
We did it! Thank you community! |
|
Thank you again to all of our amazing families who donated to support our schools! This is such a different and difficult year and we are extremely grateful that our community came together to make our fundraising a success. Supporting our school today ensures we will be ready for the future. |
|
Hillview students voted! It was an extremely close race that came down to a difference of ONE vote. The Hawk as Principal for the Day won.
The Hawk is currently in training to take on the role and we will be ruling the school this week.
Stay tuned next week to hear about what happens when Hawk takes over from Willy Haug as Principal for the Day.
|
|
Now serving Free 7-Day Meal Kits
Mondays till December 28, 3:30 - 6:00 pm, Encinal Elementary School carpool lane
The hot lunch program is open to all families in Menlo Park school district and city wide with children 18 years and younger. Families must have The LunchMaster account to order their own 7-day boxed meal kits that include both breakfast and lunch options. There are NO economic status requirements at this time.
The program will run through December 31 free to all. The pickup is every Monday at Encinal Elementary School, 195 Encinal Avenue Atherton, carpool lane 3:30 - 6:00 pm.
Social distancing practices in effect, therefore, remain in the car, the boxes will be loaded for you. If a younger sibling in a family is not in school at this time, the family will use the school code of one of the other children in the family.
All orders MUST be placed by Thursday 10:00 am for the following week. Additional information here.
|
|
|
Each week a staff member will be randomly selected to share a little bit more about themselves so the Hillview Community can get to know them better.
Grant Coscia
Teachers 6th Grade Humanities Core and has been at Hillview for 7 years.
When not teaching Grant enjoys gardening, soccer, cooking, reading, gaming, and hiding from his children
Favorite Movie: Wonder Woman and the Black Panther
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Cookie dough
|
|
|
|
Favorite Subjects as a Middle School Student: Science or Math
Words of Wisdom for Hillview students: "Experience teaches wisdom"
What you probably didn’t know about me: I have never broken a bone in my body.
|
|
|
|
Staff October Birthdays
Marianne Santo, Wilber Villalta, David Babington, Ling Ling Wong, Kelly Slaughter, Willy Haug
|
|
Pets in Need meeting
Thursday, October 22, 2:30 pm, via Zoom
Love puppies and kittens? Join us for a virtual "puppy/kitten playdate"! You will make dog toys and learn more about Pets in Need here, a local no-kill animal shelter, and meet some of their four-legged residents!
Visit the Service team Schoology site or email here for zoom location and clear instructions for this easy-to-do at home project.
|
|
Appreciation to the CalFire firefighters |
|
Thank you to all of the students who dropped off such creative and heartfelt cards for the CalFire firefighters. We sent them off last week and know they bring strength and a smile to these brave men and women.
|
|
Donate Gently Used Books - A Book Drive for Oak Knoll
through October 16, bins by the Hillview and Oak Knoll offices
Every year Oak Knoll collects gently used books to share with students. We are looking for books that kids will be excited to read: Dogman, Bad Guys, Narwhal and Jelly, Elephant and Piggie, National Geographic Kids, I Survived, Keeper of the Lost Cities, Refugee, anything by Rick Riordan. The books will be distributed to students so they have more access to great books! Any questions? Contact Jacqui Cebrian here.
|
|
After-School Athletics goes virtual with TopYa!
The After School Athletics team has teamed up with TopYa! to offer three unique virtual competitions for our Hillview students set to kick off mid October and last through November 20. TopYa! was created on the premise that almost everyone receives joy when they learn and accomplish something whether that be in sport, school, work or a personal passion.
Students can choose from one or all three of the following bundles:
Challenge Volleyball - follow skill development path designed by former Team USA Volleyball player
Challenge Soccer - improve your foot skills in a soccer development path
Challenge Cross Training - follow a path to improve general fitness
Students will compete both as individuals AND as an Academy team across all Hillview grades for some great prizes. Students can progress at their own pace through a series of challenges within each of the above disciplines and will be guided by human coaches through a digital platform to help skill development.
Each challenge path requires registration and a registration fee of $12.99 (scholarships are available). Registration here will open Friday, October 16!
|
|
District English Learner Advisory Committee
(DELAC), Tuesday, October 13, 4:30 - 6:00 pm, via Zoom here
DELAC is a committee for the parents of students who are learning English. At our October meeting, we will be learning about the MPCSD English Learner program and goals, the roles and responsibilities of DELAC and participate in a discussion about how we can support our students’ success in school.
In addition, since we’re one of 140 districts statewide with an overrepresentation of certain ethnic groups in special education, parents will be able to learn about this issue and provide feedback to the district.
|
|
"MPCSD Governance & Finance 101"
Thursday, October 15, 5:00 - 6:00 pm, via Zoom
Want to Learn More about How MPCSD Works? This is for YOU!
Register in advance here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
|
|
Looking to order a guilt-free meal for your family?
MPAEF October Feast is the answer!
|
|
MPAEF October Feast
The whole month of October, order for pick-up from one of our
restaurant partners below and up to 25% goes back to our schools!
Promo is for pick-up only! And don't forget to mention MPAEF when ordering.
DoorDash, UberEats and delivery orders do not apply.
For more information, visit here.
|
|
Support Our Schools on Amazon Prime Day! |
|
You can make a difference while you shop Amazon Prime Day deals on October 13 and 14. Simply shop here.
Or with AmazonSmile ON in the Amazon Shopping app and AmazonSmile donates to Menlo Park-Atherton Education Foundation.
|
|
Object, a youth-led organization working to promote confidence in young girls, presents: A workshop with Haben Girma, here a disability rights lawyer, and the first deafblind person to graduate Harvard Law School. Haben was named a White House Champion for Change by former President Barack Obama and has been honored by former President Bill Clinton, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. She will discuss her life journey, her day-to-day life as a lawyer, and the role of confidence in her success.
Curieus Connects is a free, virtual course taught by local high schoolers who have a passion for teaching and learning. Every week, kids will perform a fun and educational science experiment under the guidance of our trained teachers. For more information: visit our website here and sign up for our biology, chemistry, and physics classes!
M-A Leadership presents Trick-or-Treat Street on Wednesday, October 28 M-A Leadership will be hosting our annual Trick-or-Treat Street celebration. This event helps give back to our community by providing a sanctuary for young children to enjoy their Halloween trick-or-treating. This is an invitation to come to spend the evening with us (and drive-through) with your children from 5:00 - 8:00 pm at Menlo-Atherton High School. More information here.
Menlo Park Safe Routes to School invites you to celebrate the International Walk to School Week by taking a walk to anywhere! Check the Walk and Roll Map here of your school to see suggested safe routes. Learn more about the rules of the road and safety tips in the Menlo Park Walk and Roll Activity Book here or watch the Pedestrian Safe Journey Videos, available in English and Spanish here, and take the quiz! Take a picture during your walk and share your experience by tagging @CityofMenloPark.
|
|
M-A 8th Grade Information Night 2020 Tuesday, October 20, 6:00 - 7:00 pm. Register here for the 8th Grade Information Night webinar. Also 9th grade curriculum and pathways information will be presented by department on Friday, October 16 for you to view before the 8th Grade Information Night webinar on Friday, October 20 here. A Google Form will be made available for families to ask questions. Those most frequently asked will be addressed during the webinar October 20. All presentations will be available in Spanish and Spanish translation will be available during the webinar. More information here.
Notre Dame Belmont Shadow Visits open for families with 8th grade daughters, spend a virtual shadow day experiencing classes, meeting students, and getting a taste of all that Notre Dame has to offer. Parents will learn about the admissions process, hear from current students, and have their questions answered by the Director of Admissions. Shadow dates run through November 19. Registration is also open for Becoming Notre Dame (Virtual Open House) on October 25 and Notre Dame Night on November 12. Register here for a shadow visit or other event. Learn more about Notre Dame here.
Discover Serra High School We invite you to explore our website to find out what makes Serra an extraordinary college preparatory. From challenging and rigorous academic courses to extracurricular activities, which include stellar performing arts, competitive athletics, an incredible music program and more than 40 unique clubs, Serra has so much to offer every young man. No matter his passion, we promise to challenge your son to reach new heights. Visit here.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
