Volume 10 | 25 October 2020
Better Resolution Hillview Hawk
Middle School Newsletter
This Week
Monday, October 26 
GOLD 6th grade students in Everest, Olympus, and Vesuvius academies in-person week

7th and 8th Grade parent and student Orientation-Return to School,
5:00 - 6:15 pm via Zoom here

Pets in Need dog toy collection, Service Team bin in front of PAC
(all week through Friday, October 30)

Wednesday, October 28
Early release for in-person students, 1:40 pm

Thursday, October 29
Early release for in-person students, 1:40 pm

COVID-19 Testing for MPCSD Students and Families, 3:00 - 8:30 pm, Hillview Middle School

Friday, October 30
Halloween Dress-up either in-person or on Zoom

Notification to families-Hybrid or Distance program change requests

7th and 8th grade Student Welcome Back Orientation, 2:00 - 3:00 pm, here
Meeting ID: 995 7243 2635; Passcode: 514029
Looking Ahead
Monday, November 2
BLUE 6th - 8th grade students in-person week

New in-person and at-home schedules for 7th and 8th grade students here

Monday, November 9
GOLD 6th - 8th grade students in-person week (Mavericks and Pioneers GOLD remain the DL academies)

Thursday, November 19
Makeup Picture Day, 12:00 - 4:00 pm, back parking lot at Hillview, appointments here
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Quicklinks bottom of newsletter

Hillview School News

Dear Hillview Families,

This past week saw a return to normality as we welcomed back our first large group of students, with BLUE 6th graders engaging in a week of in-person learning. We have been missing the energy of our Hawks for over eight months, and it’s an understatement to say that their presence on campus buoyed our spirits. The months of planning helped things run smoothly, from morning temperature checks at the gates, to passing periods, to eating in designated areas. Students were fantastic in following protocols and developing their new habits. We feel blessed to be able to reopen, and grateful for all the efforts that put us in the position to do so safely.

This coming week, the week of October 26 - 30, GOLD 6th graders will have their solo week at Hillview. Remember that we start nice and early in the 6th grade, with an arrival window of 8:10 - 8:25 am! Students should dress warmly, as we’ll have cooler morning temperatures. 

We will add 7th and 8th BLUE graders to the mix the following week, November 2 - 6. 7th and 8th grade parents, please note our return to school orientation Monday, October 26, 5:00 - 6:15 pm; the student facing-orientation will be Friday, October 30, 2:00 - 3:00 pm. November 2 will also mark our shift to new bell schedules for all 7th and 8th graders, in order for us to stagger arrivals, passing periods, brunch and lunch, and departure. Both in-person and at-home schedules will change, and our website has all the information you need to understand the “new normal.” See the “Quicklinks” at the bottom of this newsletter.

Our numbers in San Mateo County continue to improve, and we should interpret this as a sign that we are all doing our part and that we need to continue to do so, lest we backslide into tiers that would not allow us to continue our in-person learning program. Be well.

All the best,

Willy
Have your App Ready for Return to School?

All families are required to complete the health screener in the ParentSquare app every single morning to determine whether or not their student should come to school. This health screener is mandatory, along with a temperature check for all students before they enter the campus.

Get your app before your student returns to school. Information is provided on how to get the ParentSquare app here.
halloween_abstract.jpg
Halloween Dress-up
Friday, October 30, in-person and on Zoom

Show your school spirit by wearing school-appropriate costumes on Friday. All in-person costumes must feature the ability to wear an appropriate face covering and allow students to have morning temperatures checked. Students may not wear costume masks during class.
Makeup Picture Day
Thursday, November 19, 12:00 - 4:00 pm, in the back parking lot of Hillview

Picture tents will be set up in the back parking lot. Appointments are in 5 minute increments; each student needs to have their own appointment. Schedule an appointment with iClickSmiles here

Remember that masks and social distancing are necessary on campus.
PTO News
Academy Communications through Schoology

Parents who have created an account in Schoology have been added to their student's Academy Group. You will receive communications from the academy leads about volunteering for your student's academy when there are needs.

Tips on how to find messages from your academy team:

  • Your Academy Group is located in GROUPS on the parent-facing portal (will not appear in your student’s portal)

  • All parents who have a Schoology account linked to their student, have been added to the student's academy. If you do not see your academy, email Johanna Becker here

  • Look for periodic updates from your academy parent leads. Make sure you have notifications for email or mobile set to “on” for “School Groups”.
 
Hillview has a webinar called Schoology for Parents to help parents navigate our new Learning Management System here. All parents are encouraged to have a parent account for Schoology to allow them to access their student's accounts and get updates related to their academy.

If you do not yet have an account, email Johanna Becker 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.

Monica Bosch
Attendance clerk and assistant office manager and has been at Hillview for 6 years.
When not in the front office Monica enjoys cooking, trying new restaurants, reading a wide range of genres , exploring history, genealogy and watching all types of movies and TV shows. But what she likes to do the best is hang out with her two wonderful children.

Favorite Movie: I love watching films and it would be almost impossible for me to choose a favorite. In fact, I own a library of about 1200 films and counting.
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: Vanilla with chocolate sauce and fresh strawberries

Favorite Subjects as a Middle School Student: I have always loved history and understanding the human experience through the ages. In middle school, I had a really wonderful history teacher who had a way of bringing it all alive and relating it back to our current events. It was this relationship with taking history and tying it to current events that captivated and sparked my interest. 
 
Words of Wisdom for Hillview students: Growing up, I lived in a challenging environment, often faced with a lot of hostility. What I learned from that and my mother was one needs to be self-reliant especially as a woman and that learning is a lifelong pursuit. If you continue to educate yourself, all kinds of possibilities for happiness and success open up to you.
 
What you probably didn’t know about me: I twirled a fire baton in high school, was a background extra on the show "ER", and lived in Paris while helping to develop products for Apple Computer.
 
One more thing: Covid and the current political environment has put a strain on everyone, but I hope all of our Hillview family members can find some small joy in their lives each and every day. 

Programs & Activities
Hawks Nest Hillview Club
A Call for Student Submissions 

Anyone can submit a story! Join us, contribute, share, and provide feedback.

We are a group of students putting the most relevant news pieces together for our fellow student group and community. We are doing this because during the pandemic our usual school newspaper, Hawks Nest, is on hold.

Our hope is to continue to bring students and news together through this medium. The topic areas are: News, Entertainment, Sports, Local, Cartoon, and as we develop this club, we would like your ideas.

Students will be able to earn two Block H points for each submission. Submissions can be sent to 8th grade student editor, Arhaan Gupta-Rastogi here.

We are thankful to our advisor, Ms. Slaughter. Everyone is welcome. We’d love to hear from you!
Hillview Service Team
Love Dogs?
Missed the Service Team Pets in Need puppy playdate? All Hillview students are invited to join the Service Team in making dog toys to donate to Pets in Need.

Directions for this easy to do at home craft are here or can be viewed on the Service Team Schoology group page.

Dog toys can be dropped Monday, October 26 - Friday, October 30 in the Service team collection bin by the PAC. Email here if you have questions.

Hillview Athletics
TopYa! Virtual Competitions start through December 10

After School Athletics - TopYa! Is LIVE
The PTO After-School Athletics team has teamed up with TopYa! to offer three unique virtual competitions for our Hillview students which will last through December 10. 

Students can choose from 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 will be available here.

MPCSD News
School Board Meeting Report

At the School Board meeting on October 22, Superintendent Burmeister again updated the Board and public about the state of MPCSD's reopening. Now four weeks into the phased return of students, grades K-6 are back, with 6th grade B Week starting tomorrow. The 7th and 8th graders return on November 2 (A Week) and November 9 (B Week).

Mr. Burmeister gave a snapshot of San Mateo County's data which continues to trend downward. A change in tiers would not affect MPCSD's reopening. The San Mateo County Office of Education expects to remain operating under the health and safety guidelines of the Pandemic Recovery Framework here for this school year. There were also updates to the PRF in a new edition published October 21. Updates include new guidance on travel, singing and band practice, and staff testing. See the full presentation here for more detail.

In other business, the Board heard a report on MPCSD's Beginning of the Year Data here which does show some areas of learning loss in ELA and math compared to pre-pandemic assessments. The district will provide targeted instruction and intervention. Benchmark assessments each trimester will be administered to monitor student progress learning of grade level standards.

The Principals and Assistant Superintendent Jammie Behrendt presented MPCSD's Site Goals here for this year for Equity and Bias, Academics, English Language Learners, Socio-Economically Disadvantaged, Integrated Wellbeing, and Parent Engagement. All goals support the district's Whole Child Learning and Development Framework and the state-required Learning Continuity and Attendance Plan here.

View the full meeting agenda, video, and any attached presentations here.
COVID-19 Testing for MPCSD Students and Families
October 29, 3:00 - 8:30 pm, Hillview Middle School

MPCSD is hosting a COVID testing event with Curative here on Thursday, October 29 from 3:00 - 8:30 pm at Hillview Middle School. All students returning or who have returned to in-person learning are encouraged to be tested every two weeks. This event offers a painless, oral swab test.

Check with your insurance provider if you have questions about coverage for the test. Students and family members are welcome to register; each person being tested must have their own registration.

Register for a time slot here. There are additional testing options listed at MPCSD's COVID FAQ Testing and Contact Tracing page here.

Virtual Oak Knoll Book Fair
Open now through Wednesday October 28

Support a love of reading and the Oak Knoll community by shopping at Books Inc. online until this Wednesday October 28. Visit here and use the coupon code OakKnoll2020 when checking out to earn school credit. 
For questions contact the book fair team here.

MPAEF
We want to take the opportunity to show our appreciation for our business and realtor partners in the community. Thank you for your support!
 
Platinum
Mary and Brent Gullixson, Compass here
Last Week of October Feast ... Guilt-Free Take Out! 

Are you craving pizza and pasta, sushi, or short ribs? Next week is the last week to 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.
Community News
National Charity League The Mid-Peninsula Chapter is now conducting its membership drive for girls in the Class of 2027 - current 6th-graders. A non-profit philanthropic organization of mothers and daughters, from 7th through 12th grades, who journey through a six-year program together that encompasses community service, educational opportunities, and leadership development. For more information contact our membership drive team here. For more information about NCL and the Mid-Peninsula Chapter of NCL here.

Riekes Center Hosts Fundraiser at Filoli for Educational Equality, Featuring Macy Gray
The Riekes Center in Menlo Park announces its upcoming student scholarship fundraiser—this year focusing on their collaboration with East Palo Alto Tennis and Tutoring (EPATT) to create ‘Learning Pods’ for under-resourced youth struggling with distance learning. Learning Pods are hosted at both the Riekes Center and at Ravenswood Middle School, offering families in-person support on distance learning school days.The virtual event will be streamed live from the historic Filoli estate and gardens, providing a scenic background for what is sure to be an incredible night. Famed singer-songwriter Macy Gray will be performing alongside guitar virtuosos Stanley Jordan and Victor Wooten (both former students of the Riekes Center), and Spanish star Ramon Mirabet. Additional celebrity appearances will include Emmy-winning National Geographic cinematographer (and former Riekes student) Ben Mullin, along with NBA star Pau Gasol and local celebrity chef Jesse Cool, among others. The event will be free to watch online. Register here.

Halloween Events
M-A Leadership presents Trick-or-Treat Street
Wednesday, October 28, 5:00 - 8:00 pm at Menlo-Atherton High School
Our annual Trick-or-Treat Street celebration to give back to our community by providing a sanctuary for young children to enjoy their Halloween trick-or-treating. This is an invitation for your family to come spend time with us (driving through). More information here

Quick Links