Superintendent's Friday Update
|
|
Hello Alta Loma School District,
In the Great Things Happening at Our School Sites section below, you'll see a progression of learning experiences as each site as chosen one specific grade level to highlight this week. It's always important for us to understand the learning that students engage in as they move through the course of TK- Grade 8 curriculum in ALSD. So as one team, our site principals have provided a bit of sequencing here around the topic of "thankfulness." We hope you enjoy it!
Also... have you heard your children talking about Thinking Maps this year? Have you wondered what they are and how our students use them?
|
|
Our wonderful Language Arts TOSA, Tamara Youngstrom, has provided the following information, which might be fun for you to check in on over the Thanksgiving break:
"Thinking Maps is a brain-based approach to teaching and learning designed to build foundational critical thinking, problem-solving, comprehension, and communication skills necessary for academic success in every domain. Thinking Maps includes a set of 8 visual patterns that correlate to specific cognitive processes. The Maps provide a shared visual “language for learning” for our students.
Unlike graphic organizers, which are highly varied and inconsistent, the eight Thinking Maps are used consistently across all grades and content areas. This ensures that students develop automaticity with the major thought processes by using the Maps to engage the cognitive processes they represent.
As students build fluency with the Maps, they internalize these cognitive skills and learn how to become better learners, thinkers, and communicators.
Below are some resources on Thinking Maps, an informative video and a link to some great Thinking Map Cheat Sheets."
|
|
With My Thanks
With so much to be thankful for, I hope that you are heading into a week that brings you time to enjoy the beautiful moments that seem to pass by oh so quickly.
Our schools reopen on Monday, November 29. We'll be looking forward to seeing you then!
With my appreciation and warmest regards to you and yours,
Karen Hendricks
Superintendent
|
|
- Monday, November 22 - Friday, November 26 - Thanksgiving Holidays; No School
- Thursday, November 25 - Thanksgiving Day
- Thursday, November 25 - Friday, November 26 - District Office Closed
- Friday, November 26 - No Superintendent's Friday Update
- Wednesday, December 15 - Special Board of Trustees Governance Meeting, 9:00 am at the District Office
- Wednesday, December 15 - Board of Trustees Meeting, 5:00 pm Study Session, 6:00 pm Regular Meeting at the District Office
- Friday, December 17 - Modified Day for Grades 1-8
- Monday, December 20 - Friday, December 31 - Christmas Holidays/Winter Recess
- Thursday, December 23 - Friday, December 24 - District Office Closed
- Monday, January 3 - Students Return
|
|
Great Things Happening At Our Schools |
|
Representing our TK Students!
From Principal Dolly Bentley:
|
|
We are thankful for so many things at Alta Loma Elementary! November has been a busy month and our students and community have done wonderful things! On November 10th, we held our Veterans Assembly and honored our community members for their bravery and service. On Tuesday, November 16th, students helped celebrate World Kindness Day by sending Kindness Grams to students and staff! Our students and staff also donated food and items to provide Thanksgiving baskets to those in need. Our Preppy K classrooms have been doing thankfulness activities all month. They have been learning about Thanksgiving and what it means to be thankful for the many things they are blessed with in their homes, school, and community. And, of course, TURKEYS! |
|
Representing our Kindergarten Students!
From Principal Khaleelah Lewis-Wilkins:
|
|
Ralph Waldo Emerson said “Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”
Our Bulldogs at Banyan have taken this to heart. All week students have been thinking deeply about what it means to be Thankful. Our Kindergarten students used art to show their creativity about being thankful and being Proud Turkeys! Banyan staff and students have taken the time to acknowledge the goodness in their lives and the joys of being with each other and the administrative team is thankful for our students, staff and community. We are all thrilled to be a part of such an amazing team who puts students first and believes in great possibilities! Go Bulldogs!!
|
|
Representing our 1st Grade Students!
From Principal Chris Deegan:
|
|
Our Carnelian Family has so much to be thankful for! The faculty and staff are thankful for our wonderful students and their families. We are fortunate and blessed to serve in this community where our families partner with us to do everything that we can to enhance the lives of our students. As I walk through our classrooms, I see students reflecting on their gratitude and thankfulness. These first graders are thankful for hugs, pets, families, parents, grandparents, teachers, and so much more! It is wonderful to see Thanksgiving art and writing throughout our classrooms. |
|
Representing our 2nd Grade Students!
From Principal Andrew Carter:
|
|
Deer Canyon is so thankful for so many things: Our amazing students, staff, parents, and community that supports our outstanding school. This week, we had students in our terrific second grade classes create “Thankful Turkeys” which students used creative writing to express what they were thankful for. It was so heartfelt and touching to hear how students felt about the people in their lives and for the things they have. Some of the writings stated, “I am thankful for my amazing friends” while others shared, “I am thankful for having a house.” We are so proud of our 2nd grade students and teachers! Speaking of being thankful, as a staff, we want to let all of our Deer Canyon families know that we are thankful for you! |
|
Representing our 3rd Grade Students!
From Principal Curtis Quanstrom:
|
|
The Jasper Champions have a lot to be thankful for and have been working hard on art projects and essays to share their gratitude. In 3rd grade, they used a symbol of the season and added a twist, Turkey in Disguise. The students in Mrs. Hooper’s and Mrs. Stoddard’s classes created mysterious turkeys to conceal their identity. These imaginative turkeys are the main characters in a story created by the students. |
|
Representing our 4th Grade Students!
From Principal Val Bires:
|
|
Hermosa has so much to be thankful for! Last week we honored our community Veterans with a special Flag Assembly. We had over 15 Veterans attend. Hermosa is blessed with smart, respectful and wonderful students, brilliant, hard working and creative staff members and outstanding, supportive and encouraging parents! We love our Husky community! Our fourth graders enjoyed writing about things they were thankful for and a directed drawing of a cornucopia. Take a look at their amazing work! |
|
Representing our 5th Grade Students!
From Principal Guadalupe Berzunza:
|
|
Stork Superstars have so much to be thankful for. Last week we had the honor of hosting Major Julius A. Williams who came and shared his story with our students. Major Williams was in the Air force and now is part of the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) and assigned to Aerospace Data Facility Southwest, a multi-mission ground station responsible for conducting agile satellite operations in support of current and future national security objectives. Major Williams is also the proud dad of one of our Superstars. We are thankful for his visit and for sharing his experiences with our students. Major Williams is married to a wonderful lady, Ms. Melanie Cuevas, who is also a Veteran. Stork Superstars are thankful for our Veterans and active service members of the military. |
|
Representing our 6th Grade Students!
From Principal Kristy Johnson:
|
|
VGS has so many things to be thankful for. We are so thankful for our students, families, and staff. Our 6th grade classes took time to show what they are grateful for. They brainstormed ideas and were able to write things that they are grateful for and draw pictures to show their love and appreciation. One of our classes even made a beautiful gratitude tree! We are so thankful for the leadership of our sixth grade teachers. Thank you Mrs. LaClaire, Mrs. Orosco, and Mrs. Zubiate for all that you do. |
|
Representing our 7th Grade Students!
From Principal Michele Rachielles:
|
|
Alta Loma Junior High is grateful. We are grateful for our service people and Veterans. We acknowledged and recognized our Warrior Family service people at our annual Veterans Day assembly. We also extended our deepest gratitude to our local Gold Star Families by reading the names of the fallen and by reserving a spot in their names. We recognize the sacrifices of our service members and their families. |
|
Representing our 8th Grade Students!
From Principal Sandy Rose:
|
|
It’s the time of year when we reflect on why we are thankful; Vineyard is incredibly grateful for our amazing students, our dedicated staff, and our supportive families. This past week, we had the remarkable opportunity to share our thanks and celebrate our veterans and active military for their service to our country during our Veterans Celebration. Our 8th grade ASB students created posters and helped to decorate for this special event. Kendall Thomas (ASB President) and Kennedy Bires (ASB Vice President) presented at our ceremony and did an outstanding job. When asking them to reflect on the things they are grateful for, they shared their thoughts below.
Kendall Thomas said, “I’m thankful for my parents, my other family members, my teachers, being in ASB, and having the opportunity to represent Vineyard.”
Kennedy Bires shared, “I’m thankful for my family, friends, my dog, the Vineyard staff, and having good health. I am also thankful for the first responders that put their life on the line, especially my dad.”
|
|
From the COVID-19 Safety and Information Team:
ALSD continues to receive and deeply respect diverse input related to vaccines, which are not currently mandated.
As of the date of this communication, the Governor, the Legislature, and the CDPH have not adopted any order or statute that would implement a vaccine mandate for students in K-12 schools. At this time, we do not know if, or how, a vaccine mandate consistent with the Governor’s October 1 press conference will be implemented.
Policies related to this matter would be set at the state level, not at the county or local level. If you'd like to reach out to your local representatives, contact information for Assembly Member Ramos and Senator Ochoa-Bogh can be found at https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/. Information for contacting Governor Newsom's office can be found at https://govapps.gov.ca.gov/gov40mail/.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
