Superintendent's Friday Update
April 16, 2021
Hello to our Alta Loma Community,

Since my arrival, I've had an opportunity to witness some of the tremendous efforts of our students -- those who have engaged in Distance Learning as well as those who have now returned for In-Person Learning. The courage and resiliency they have demonstrated through the course of this past year is evident. My thoughts recently returned to one of my favorite books, "be brave little one," written and illustrated by Marianne Richmond. It carries a message that really applies to all ages.
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Karen Hendricks
Superintendent
This story "honors and celebrates the power of courage in every child," and notes that bravery shows up in lots of different ways. It's definitely shown up here in our learners!

To our students:
Thank you for achieving... we are proud of each of you, and we celebrate you!

My best to you,
Karen Hendricks
Important ALSD Topics

Celebrating our Classified Support Staff...
Comprised of many unsung heroes!

Our classified support team has been identified as the backbone of our school community. Their efforts are what make all logistics run smoothly, ensuring that teachers have what they need to teach and students have what they need to learn.

They are often the first people to greet you on our campuses or at our District Support Center, meaning that their commitment to customer service is critical to the positive climate and culture of ALSD. They have also been the enactors of essential and fluid guidance related to COVID safety protocols.

We have approximately 430 full time and part time classified staff in a wide range of areas. This includes the office staff, custodians, instructional aides, child nutrition and child care staff, bus drivers, maintenance workers and health office personnel, to name a few. 

Working for ALSD and supporting students is meaningful and rewarding work. We have many stories about how a classified staff member went above and beyond to make a positive difference for our students. 

We want to share our deepest gratitude to our classified support staff for their professionalism, dedication and commitment to our school community. Below you'll see a spotlight on one of our classified services teams; please know that each staff member is appreciated for their individual efforts and their collective impact!
Spotlight on Child Nutrition Staff

When our schools closed for In-Person Instruction last spring, the daily functions of our Child Nutrition team immediately changed. Beginning the very next school day, Child Nutrition went from serving meals on campus to serving grab and go meals curbside at Alta Loma Elementary School.

Meals were available free of charge to all District and community children ages 0-18. Staff mobilized at the beginning in an uncertain pandemic and continued their daily weekday serving through the end of the 2019-2020 school year, and then continued to serve throughout the summer. 

Upon school reopening for Distance Learning Instruction last August, curbside feeding was expanded to include all schools in the District.
Although this was a challenge we did not expect, our caring Child Nutrition staff, under the leadership of Director Heather Sloan, performed admirably to ensure that our students received nutritious breakfasts and lunches each weekday.
Teresa Gutierrez,
Victoria Groves Elementary School.
Our Child Nutrition team has again recently adjusted its serving operations by resuming meal service for In-Person learners on all of our campuses. Curbside service has continued at all sites on Mondays and at Alta Loma Junior High, Vineyard Junior High, Banyan and Alta Loma Elementary on Tuesday through Friday.

We are proud of our 43 Child Nutrition staff members and all of the volunteers, support staff, and administrators for stepping up and ensuring our students and community were well fed during this pandemic.
Upcoming District Events

Board of Trustees Meeting
We have a Regular Board Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, April 21, 2021, at Alta Loma Junior High School.

The Board of Trustees welcomes comments from visitors, employees, employee groups, parent organizations and students. Prior to addressing the Board, please complete the comment form located at the east entrance and give it to the Superintendent’s Administrative Assistant. The Board has set aside 45 minutes for the Public Comment section normally allowing five minutes per individual. The public comment period is the opportunity for the public to address the Board on (1) items on the public session agenda; (2) items on the closed session agenda; and (3) other topics within the jurisdiction of the Board. In accordance with the Brown Act, the Board will limit any responses to public comment to brief statements, referral to staff or referral to a future Board agenda.

For your convenience, below is a list of some Open Session Agenda Items. This portion of the agenda will begin at 6 p.m.:
  • A presentation on progress of our Measure H Bond Projects: GO Architects and WLC Architects have been invited to provide us with a brief update on school modernization projects.  
  • Trustee Reports
  • A preview of our LCAP
  • A staff update on our Reopening Plan
  • A staff update on 2021-2022 Learning: Alta Loma Virtual Academy (ALVA)
  • An action item regarding CAASPP testing

The agenda is posted and available by close of day today.
Other Upcoming Events:

  • Wednesday, April 28 - District LCAP Advisory Committee 3:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, May 5 - Board of Trustees Regular Meeting, Alta Loma Junior High School; 5 p.m. 2019-2020 Retiree Celebration; 6 p.m. Meeting begins
  • May 10 - 14 Teacher Appreciation Week
  • Wednesday, May 12 - California Day of the Teacher
  • Wednesday, May 19 - Board of Trustees Regular Meeting, Alta Loma Junior High School; 5 p.m. 2020-2021 Retiree Celebration; 6 p.m. Meeting begins
  • May 17 - 21 Classified School Employee Week
  • May 25 Last Day of School Grades K-7
  • May 26 Last Day of School Grade 8

Some Great Things Happening At Our Schools
Alta Loma Elementary School
From Principal Dolly Bentley:

We are happy to announce that we will be bringing in our 6th grade students for promotion pictures at the end of this month.  

PTA is putting on our Spring Fundraiser and students are busy selling See’s Candy to help support ALE. 

We are beyond excited to begin welcoming back our 3rd through 6th grade students four days a week. Teachers and staff are busy preparing and are eager to have more time with them! 

A big thank you to all of our support proctors for adjusting schedules and for helping out wherever needed to make the last couple of weeks a wonderful success! 
Banyan Elementary School
From Principal Cara Cerecerez:
Banyan celebrated students who participated in the Virtual STEM Fair and announced those students who placed in each grade level. Below are our first place finishers :

6th Grade - April O. and Ariana V. 
5th Grade - Johnny G. and Addison A.
4th Grade - Sophia D. and Savannah R. 
                   Cameron G.
3rd Grade - Benicio G. & Benjamin A.
2nd Grade - Caleb G.
Kinder - Oliver H.

Projects can be viewed at Banyan STEM Fair

Banyan 6th grade students took promotion pictures on Wednesday and Thursday. They looked so amazing as they dressed to impress and had big smiles on their faces!
Carnelian Elementary School
From Principal Chris Deegan:

Carnelian PTA hosted two Dine Out Fundraisers this week at Yogiyo in The Colonies and at Subway in the Vons Shopping Center. We appreciate everyone who supported our fantastic PTA and our wonderful students! We are also in the midst of our second Virtual Book Fair all week. I am happy that our students have another opportunity to get some new books to read, which will help us to keep moving closer to our schoolwide reading goal. 

Thank you to Mrs. Peralta, who has been teaching us all about famous scientists through our daily announcements. This month we are learning about the renaissance man, Leonardo DaVinci. Last month, she taught us about physics, as she introduced us to Sir Isaac Newton.  
Deer Canyon Elementary School
From Principal Donna Carlson:

We have exciting news! Our 6th grade students will take their promotion photos on Friday, April 30, from 9:15-11:15 a.m. Our 6th grade DL students are invited to come to campus on this day and time to take part in this special photo opportunity. We are so very proud of all our 6th grade Eagles!

Our fabulous DC PTA Board needs you! Now that students are back on campus, we are extending our PTA Board nomination window. If you have two hours a month to make a difference in the life of our students, we want to hear from you! Please contact our front office at (909) 484-5030 for more information. We can’t wait to put your name on the ballot! 
Hermosa Elementary School
From Principal Val Bires:

We have our monthly Husky Spirit Night at Red Robin this coming week on Tuesday, April 20, from 5-9 p.m. If you crave a delicious burger and tasty fries and would like to support our school, you can start your order at order.redrobin.com and select the Rancho Cucamonga restaurant on Foothill Blvd. In the menu, go to the category “Fundraisers” and open “Spirit Night (To-Go) Fundraiser” 
                                    
Having students back on campus is wonderful. Our hearts are full because we have students back on campus. Thank you to the entire Hermosa staff for its dedication, hard work and perseverance. Click below to watch "The Husky Pack is Back" video:

Jasper Elementary School
From Interim Principal Curtis Quanstrom:

Jasper's PTA hosted a “Welcome Back Drive-Thru” last Friday to celebrate being back on campus. The drive-thru was set up with signs, music and bubbles. Every student at the drive-thru received popcorn, bubbles and a bookmark. The Jasper mascot, Spirit, chose five lucky raffle winners. The winners received a Jasper bag, water bottle, candy, and a Jasper shirt. There was a lot of fun had by all.

Phase three of construction is complete and the newly remodeled classroom is alive with learning. Mrs. Hooper and her student teacher are using the R.A.C.E. Writing Strategy along with a Bridge Map to write a narrative about “The Missing Sock.” These college bound students are well on their way.
Floyd M. Stork Elementary School
From Principal Phil Suttner:

Stork’s amazing PFSA has launched another fun fundraiser. Students are ordering cinnamon rolls from Sweet Dough Cafe and are trying to meet challenges. If over 100 orders are placed, Mrs. Bach will dump a bucket of water on Mr. Suttner’s head at the end of a school day. If students place over 200 orders, five randomly drawn participating students will take turns dumping a bucket of water on Mr. Suttner. PFSA states if over 300 orders are placed, there will be an extra surprise (Mr. Suttner is worried about what this might entail).

Being back on campus feels like a celebration every day. Recently, the entire community pitched in to celebrate the birthday of our amazing attendance clerk, Mary Emminger. Below is a photo of her ‘haul’ for the day. She said she was “feeling the love” of the Kindest School Ever.
Victoria Groves Elementary School
From Principal Kristy Johnson:

This week our 6th grade students took their 6th grade promotion pictures. Each student received a promotion sign to proudly display in their yard. We are so proud of all our 6th graders!

Our amazing PTA is running a fundraiser this month. Students can purchase their very own Grizzly Bear that comes with a birth certificate and its very own VGS Grizzly shirt.  

Our Grizzlies are enjoying their time back on campus with their teachers and classmates.
Alta Loma Junior High School
From Principal Michele Rachielles:

Everything is going great at ALJHS. We love having students back on campus and look forward to more students and more periods in person. 

Big shout out to our Child Nutrition Team. Students are grabbing a lunch and breakfast for the next morning on the way out. Students who have not had school lunch before are saying they are glad they are able to have a nutritious lunch. It not only nourishes our students, but allows them to quickly get home, fed, and back online in time for 5th period.
Vineyard Junior High School
From Principal Sandy Rose:

Vineyard’s 7th grade accelerated students were given the opportunity to participate in the California Math League’s Contest by their math teacher, Mr. Bailey. We were excited to see that our students placed third in the region, considering this was their first time participating. Mr. Bailey shared that he was extremely proud of the students who took the test and spent extra time practicing after school. Way to go Vikings!

It’s been exciting having our 7th and 8th graders back at school for in-person learning. There have been two common responses when asking our students their favorite part about being back at school: being able to talk to their friends in person and feeling like they learn more from their teachers when in person.

As we prepare for our students to attend school four days a week, we would like to thank our amazing staff for collectively pitching in to make this a successful transition for our students. Our teachers have been working incredibly hard to provide simultaneous instruction to both Distance Learners and those who are in classrooms. We would also like to express our appreciation for our incredible kitchen staff, custodial crew, health office and office staff as they work tirelessly to prepare for the increase of students on campus daily. It takes a village!