AN UPDATE FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL |
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It’s hard to believe we’ve just completed the first quarter and I’m elated to share how wonderful our first two and a half months of school have gone. We are celebrating our very positive accreditation mid-term visit that was a resounding success.
Here are some of the quotes from our official accreditation report:
“The school has spent over $2 million for school improvements and security on campus. All classrooms were renovated and upgraded with technology. The library has been enhanced and the cafeteria expanded to offer a hot lunch program. COVID-19 Prevention Physical Upgrades were included with new HVAC units installed with better filters to clean and protect the air from the spread of COVID-19.
The curriculum has been improved and updated. Additional secondary electives have been added. The growth of the enrollment and the excitement for the new property has changed the school dramatically and created a strong vision for the future.
The school has responded well to the COVID-19 crisis and offered distance learning to its students. The administration cites the teachers as doing an excellent job that has earned a strong approval rating by the parents. The school has hired additional teachers to help with distance learning and to serve the growing enrollment. The school has grown by over 100 students in the last year.”
“Achievement Test data reveals that students at Hillcrest Christian School scored significantly above local and national norms. The administration and staff regularly gather and analyze learning data so that student learning needs, drive the instructional program.”
“There is greater collaboration among the teachers, especially in the area of learning data analysis. A Resource Specialist has been added to identify and support students with learning difficulties. Additional professional development opportunities have been added to strengthen the instructional program. Curricular upgrades have also positively impacted the learning environment and the enthusiasm of the teachers to improve learning levels.”
The following is a list of wonderful things we have been able to acquire and accomplish due to the many generous donors who have embraced the vision of HCS and who have chosen to partner with us for the benefit and equipping of our students. We are so very grateful for the generosity of our amazing families.
- Our kids and teachers are really benefiting from all of the new curriculum in so many subjects: Language Arts, Reading, Writing, Math, History, Bible, Science, and Technology.
- Students are enjoying a lot of new technology. We were able to purchase: tablets, computers for the computer lab, chrome books, and SmartTV’s.
- Our kids and families are thrilled over our new sports field and looking forward to the many ways we will utilize it in the coming months.
- The library has been fully upgraded and is a wonderful atmosphere for our students to enjoy.
- Expanded safety and security measures have been put in place with state of the art security and COVID-19 prevention equipment and procedures.
- Our new science labs are helping our students become well prepared for college.
- Our JH/HS students are enjoying their ability to hang out in our new student center.
- Thanks to our PFA, new games have been added to the Secondary campus for our students to enjoy during break time and lunch.
- Our Head of School held several lunchtime powwows with the individual High School grade levels. This was a very valuable time to gain input and suggestions from our kids, as well as a wonderful time of connection.
- We have completed many dynamic teacher professional growth seminars in efforts to continue to grow and develop our staff.
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A NOTE FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL |
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Dear Parents,
Although our students are excited about the new games that have been provided and are using them daily at breaks, we are looking to expand upon the growing need, based on student excitement for more games and activities, especially with our challenge of social distancing during recess and breaks. We need everyone’s help to consider how your family can make a difference for our kids.
We need many more yard duty volunteers during lunch so we can open up the sports field and basketball courts for extended play.
We need donations to purchase items such as:
- Gagaball pits, $4,000
- Handball court, $2,500
- Expanded equipment/balls/games, $2,000
Volunteers to help build and assemble equipment and structures.
I look forward to hearing from many of you to fill these needs. Please let me know ASAP if you are able to help out in some way.
Karen Winter
Head of School
Hillcrest Christian School
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IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT SECONDARY ABSENCE PROCEDURE
When a secondary student is going to be absent, their parent/guardian should call or email the front office to excuse them. The office staff will then create a re-admit slip known as our “Green Slip”. Whether the student's absence is for an entire day or for just a period or two, the student must come to the office upon their return to retrieve it. It is the secondary student’s responsibility to have each of their teachers sign their Green Slip, according to the class-period(s) they have missed, then return it to the office at the end of the day!
Since we are following a block schedule, that may mean the student has only missed a few classes, if they are out 2 or more days or has been absent on a Friday, the entire slip should be filled with teachers signatures. All secondary teachers will be asking for this Green Slip when they are taking attendance, so it is important the student does not lose it!
All student absences remain unexcused in Renweb UNTIL the Green Slip has been signed by all teachers AND returned to the office. It is ONLY then that the front office will make the appropriate changes in the system.
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WHY: To raise money for ASB, all students K-12th may pay $1 to wear FREE DRESS on Friday, 10/30.
RULES: Students need to turn in money to their homeroom teachers by Wednesday, October 28th to be eligible to participate.
HCS POLICY: Free Dress Day Attire
Students are occasionally allowed free dress days. Appropriate tops are allowed with jeans or other non-uniform pants. Sweat pants, leggings without a long top that reaches at least mid-thigh, and short shorts are not permitted on any free dress day.
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PARENT HELPERS NEEDED!!!
Contact: Katie Trimble - Preschool Director
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Wednesday, October 28th
See Mrs. Blumenthal
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Thursday, October 29th & Friday, October 30th
HALF-DAY DISMISSAL TIMES
Preschool 12:00pm
Secondary 12:15pm
Elementary 12:30pm
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Parent/Teacher Conferences
PRESCHOOL
Parent-Teacher Conferences are a fantastic opportunity to hear all the wonderful things your child is learning and doing at school.
Thursday, October 29th and Friday, October 30th are half-days for preschool with a 12:00 NOON dismissal.
Conferences will run from 1:00PM-4:00PM following dismissal with NO CHILDCARE available during conferences!
Please click the link below to find your child’s teacher and select a time that works best for you! We look forward to connecting with you.
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Parent/Teacher Conferences
SECONDARY
Secondary P/T Conferences will be held on both Thursday, 10/29 and Friday, 10/30. Parents may come at any time during the hours of 1:00PM-4:00PM to meet with teachers in 10-minute increments on a first-come first-serve basis. Conferences will be located on the upper campus in the cafeteria and the lunch table area. This will be the first time we hold conferences in this fashion at the secondary level, so please take note of the change!
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Parent/Teacher Conferences
ELEMENTARY
Elementary Parent/Teacher Conferences will take place from 1:00PM-4:00PM on Thursday, 10/29 and Friday, 10/30. To select a time with your child's teacher, click the teacher's name below to be linked to their individual appointment log.
Kindergarten
First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade
Sixth Grade
Please see Mrs. Hume and Mrs. Antioho for P/T Conf. info and details.
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Extended Care
Extended Care WILL BE AVAILABLE on 10/29 & 10/30 during Parent/Teacher Conferences from 12:30-6:00pm FOR K-8th ONLY!! Please sign-up with Ms. Wilcox in the Extended Care room # 24. There will be a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board inside the classroom. New students are welcome to join Extended Care and will be billed the drop-in rate.
Ms. Lisa Wilcox - Extended Care Director | lwilcox@hillcrestcs.org | 805-497-7501 ext. 1224
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at 8:40am
Mrs. Hebert's - 2nd Grade Class
Chapel Presentation
of:
Operation Christmas Child
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5th
PFA meetings are the first Thursday of every month from 1:30pm-3:00pm.
All parents PS-HS are encouraged to attend!
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**PLEASE NOTE: A new program the PFA is looking to implement this year is "Campus Ambassadors". We would love to make sure that each of our Campuses (Preschool, Elementary, and Secondary) have a voice in our PFA. We would love to have a parent representative from each of the groups come to our monthly PFA meetings and have a voice, as well as be a liaison for your campus. If this interests you, let us know! We would love to have you part of our team!
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Parent Fellowship
& Coffee Hour
hosted by the HCS PFA
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6th
8:30am-9:30am
Located in the Main Entrance Breezeway
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Friday, November 6th
12:30pm - 3:00pm | Located in the Cafeteria
Mrs. De La Rosa's - 5th Grade
A Walk Through the
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Week of November 9th-13th
To volunteer for this event, please contact:
HCS Librarian, Nicole Gates
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Veteran's Day
HOLIDAY - NO SCHOOL,
NO DISTANCE LEARNING,
NO EXTENDED CARE!
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IMPORTANT
DATE CHANGE!!!
Picture Day Make-Ups
have been rescheduled for
Friday, November 13th
LAST CHANCE FOR
SCHOOL PICTURES
Those who started school after September 15th, who were absent on our last Picture Day, or who need retakes...
BE SURE TO MARK YOUR CALENDAR!!
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*PLEASE NOTE: Since Picture Day make-ups fall on a Friday, we ask that you wear your HCS uniform polo or oxford shirt to school. You may bring your Spirit Shirt to change into after you have taken your school photo.
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PARENTS, REMEMBER TO FILL OUT EACH CHILDS'
HCS HEALTH SCREENING EVERY DAY!
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Thank you to all our helpful volunteers.
We APPRECIATE You!!
We need your help! Volunteer as a lunch duty attendant or a PE helper. Just click the Sign-Up Genius icon to find a date and time that best fits your schedule. More dates and times have recently been added.
HCS Volunteer Coordinator
Melissa Wetherhold
Call/Text: 805-587-5633
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Please join us to pray for our school,
students, teachers, and HCS leadership.
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Mrs. Thurman's Little Scientists went on a Nature Walk around our beautiful new campus.
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The New Robotics Class
in Extended Care
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Hillcrest Christian
School
449 East Wilbur Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
805-497-7501
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Hillcrest Christian
Preschool
449 East Wilbur Road
Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
805-495-5513
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If you have any questions about this correspondence or need more information, please contact Dawn Sharifi at dsharifi@hillcrestcs.org (805-497-7501, ext 1002)
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