February 2021
A Message from the Executive Director
Hello,
Happy 2021, Pivot family! As we embark upon the new year, I hope that we are energized and proud of all we have conquered together in 2020.
As I look back on the last year, I’m struck by the resilience and innovation demonstrated by our Pivot community. In this newsletter, you’ll read stories about the adaptability of our students, teachers and staff, and their commitment to succeed even in challenging times. You’ll also learn about exciting Pivot updates, including the move to a new resource center for Pivot Riverside in Corona and new grant funding that will help us expand our Career Technical Education offerings.
With all that we have achieved in 2020 and all that we have to look forward to in 2021, now is an important time of year to pause, take a deep breath and be grateful.
It is safe to say that the year brought unique stresses to each and every one of us. And while we can’t always avoid stress, it is important for each of us in the Pivot community to make sure we find ways to alleviate our stress and take care of our mental health. If you are a current family, feel free to visit our wonderful counseling team's resource page: Stress Resources. Resources like these for adults and students help you find ways to improve your self-care in the coming year.
As always, Pivot students and families are welcome to talk with their Educational Coordinators and Counselors about any specific issues or questions. Pivot also shared a list of resources in December to help students address anxiety and stress.
Community connection will be more important than ever as we continue the 2020-2021 school year. Remember that each of us is connected, even though we may be physically apart. I am grateful for you, and I’m looking forward to continuing to achieve great things together in 2021!
Sincerely,
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Jayna Gaskell
Executive Director
Pivot Charter Schools
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Meet Pivot North Bay Student Jackson Boaz! |
While many Pivot students complete their schoolwork from home, Jackson Boaz, sophomore at Pivot North Bay, prefers to work on assignments while serving as a volunteer organizer for political campaigns – most recently for one of the senators running in Georgia’s runoff election in January.
You can read more about Jackson HERE.
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Teacher Spotlight - Alex Ritz, Pivot San Diego |
Educational Coordinator (EC) Alex Ritz, currently in his first year as an EC at Pivot San Diego, spent the first part of his career as a counselor for adults with developmental disabilities, where he realized his passion for forming connections and helping others.
You can read more about Alex HERE.
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Pivot Offers Fun, Educational Virtual Workshops During Resource
Center Closures
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As the pandemic stretched into the fall of 2020, Pivot Charter Schools realized the need to close its Resource Centers and start the school year completely virtual. Pivot expanded its schoolwide online workshop schedule with fun and educational workshops to give students the opportunity to get assistance or learn something new from teachers at any of the four Pivot schools.
Read more about Pivot's workshops HERE.
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Pivot Charter School Riverside Moves to New Resource Center Location |
Pivot Charter School Riverside is excited to announce its move to a new Resource Center, located at 700 N. Main Street in Corona.
The new 4,450-square-foot Resource Center site provides Pivot Riverside with more classrooms, a larger elementary classroom and more shared spaces for group learning. Pivot Riverside teachers and staff have already moved into the building but students will continue to participate in remote learning until at least February 12, 2021.
Learn more about Pivot Riverside's new location HERE.
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Pivot Charter School Celebrates Student Success |
Twenty-Eight Students Graduate in First Half of the 2020-21 School Year |
Pivot Charter School’s flexible, online curriculum provides students with the opportunity to work hard, learn on their own schedule, and achieve their academic goals.
For 28 students across the four Pivot Charter School sites, their hard work resulted in achieving all of their graduation requirements during the first half of the 2020-21 school year – making them Pivot graduates!
Learn more about Pivot's graduates HERE.
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Calendar
Click here for important dates.
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Upcoming Events at Pivot San Diego! |
February 15:
Presidents' Day
March 1:
Teacher Work Day - Students Work From Home
March 29 - April 2:
Spring Break
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Pivot North Valley embraced the new “normal” of virtual learning and took eight students on a virtual tour of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Students were able to watch webcams of various sea life and parts of the aquarium and a biologist led a virtual tour of a tide pool. They had a whale of a time! |
Pivot Receives Grant Funds to Expand Career-Based Learning Program |
Pivot Charter School students will soon have access to expanded Career Technical Education (CTE) course offerings, thanks to $106,000 in grant funding awarded to the four Pivot charter schools through the State’s K12 Strong Workforce Program.
In December 2020, Pivot received notification that all four of its grant applications had been approved for CTE funding for the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years. The grants will fund the development of career-specific programs – or “pathways” – to help Pivot students learn about and prepare for skills-based careers.
“Career Technical Education is an amazing option for some students to help them get excited about their goals and envision getting into particular career fields after high school,” said Pivot Executive Director Jayna Gaskell. “I’m so proud that Pivot competed for and earned the grant funding that will help us get our career pathways up and running.”
Each of the four grants will provide funding for an industry speciality local to each Pivot site. Pivot North Bay and Pivot North Valley will receive funding for the Agriscience industry sector, and Pivot Riverside and Pivot San Diego will receive funding for the Business Management industry sector. It is Pivot’s goal is to eventually make many more pathways available to all students such as Food Science and Hospitality and Games and Simulations.
Learn more about Pivot’s CTE program HERE.
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Visit the Pivot San Diego website's Family Resources tab to read the latest Resource Center announcements, access the event calendar and access important forms! |
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