October 14, 2016 Bi-Monthly e-newsletter

Transcription

1 October 14, 2016 Bi-Monthly e-newsletter Upcoming Events: October Homecoming Week Activities & Spirit Day! A COMMUNITY OF SUPERHEROES! October 21 Homecoming Parade/Game October 22 Homecoming Dance October 25 Junior s PSAT sign-up deadline via website November 2 PSAT Day watch for schedule November 8 Minimum Day November 11 NO SCHOOL November Thanksgiving Break December 3 Senior Cruise FROM TOM DOPPE, PRINCIPAL Hey Bulldog Families, Well, Homecoming is upon us! Next week will be a busy week around Alhambra and in the community. We look forward to opening our doors to the community at the rally, standing with you on Main St. watching the parade and cheering on our team against Mt. Diablo! It should be an exciting week for everyone and we hope our students have a healthy, happy homecoming. PSAT Test As we ve done that last few years, all sophomores will be taking the PSAT test November 2. If you want your junior to take the test, the cost is only $20. The signup deadline is October 25 and payment must be made through the webstore. Tardy Policy As we shared with you earlier this year, and as your students may have shared with you at home, this year we put into place a few new procedures to try and curb the number of students tardy to class. Here is the data from September in comparison to the last three years: September TARDIES 1 st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6 th 7th Total , , ,307 +/ Percent Decrease.7% 32% 30% 33% 29% 62% 14% 22% You probably note the same trends we do. To highlight a few, it does seem that first and second period continue to be our highest issues, which is not surprising since this is when students are arriving to school.

2 As for first period, nothing really changed. Overall there was a 22% decrease, but when you take out first and second period there was a 32% decrease overall. We are pretty happy with that result. What we have been able to do so far this year is to minimize the number of students who are tardy once they are on campus during the middle of the day! We understand that there are any number of reasons and factors, sometimes beyond our students control, as to why they are late in the morning. While we are empathetic to that, it is no exaggeration to say a good number of students walk up to school first period late with a coffee in their hand. We thank you for your support to get students to school on time and for your overall support in trying to have positive habits around attendance. Chronic Absence - While tardies are down, overall absences are, unfortunately, up through the first month of school. Recall we have put an emphasis on chronic absenteeism. The definition the state uses is that a student is chronically absent when they miss more than 10% of the school year for any reason. Regardless of an illness or vacation, the result is the same that a student is not in school learning. In the month of September there were 21 days of school, so 10% would basically be 2 school days or 10+ missed periods in total. Please see our totals for September: Chronic Absenteeism # of Students with 10 or more period ABSENCES That s right, 187 students have missed 10 or more periods. As I am sure you agree, every school day matters and we want to see our students here each day! With the cold/flu season upon us and the holidays, we hope that we can stay healthy and be cognizant of how we are scheduling vacations in order to support positive attendance. Short Term Independent Study There is a provision where students who are going to be out for 5 or more days can be put on short term independent study. While the learning during this time clearly does not replicate what a student would experience if they were in school, it is a way that we hope to keep students on track during a prolonged absence. Yet there are two points to be made around Short-Term Independent Study: 1. The school requires one week notice in order to compile the necessary work from teachers and to gather signatures. Unfortunately, we have had several instances this year where students have requested Short-Term Independent Study on just a day or two notice. Beyond the inconvenience this can create for others, it also can affect the value and meaning of the assignments students are asked to complete. 2. Student on Short-Term Independent Study are not included in the Chronic Absentee number above. So you can add several more students to that 187 number. Honestly, most all of the Short-Term Independent Study applicants we see are for students who we know are going on vacation. Whether a student is on Independent Study or not, whether they are Chronically Absent or not, really stands aside from the fact that they are not here getting the full experience of learning in the classroom and are inevitably behind. Again, we appreciate your support around positive attendance. Athletics Donations - Our Fall Sports continue to do very well this year! Our new league has brought several more wins for some of our teams, like Girl s Tennis and Golf. To support our programs, if you are the parent of an athlete you know that we ask for $150 Sports Donation per student, per sport they participate in. We realize not all can give the full $150, so we appreciate families who donate what they can.

3 Yet other families will, at times, donate more. All donations are greatly appreciated and necessary for us to continue to offer our programs. We have 222 participants in our various Fall sports. 222 students x $150 donation = $33,300. To date, we are over half way through our season and have received 31% of our donation goal from 33% of our participants (donations received for 73 students participating in Fall sports). Let s have a great second half to our Fall Sports season! Let s keep on winning on the field, and we ask families consider supporting the Sports Donation arrangement. Go Dogs! Tom Doppe Principal COUNSELING OFFICE Save the Dates! Parent Night for Sophomores and Juniors - October 27nd at 6:30 pm - 8:00 in the PAB Financial Aid Night for Seniors - November 17th at 6:30 in the LIBRARY IMPORTANT DEADLINES for Seniors!! Seniors applying to Four-Year Schools who need to take or retake the SAT with Writing or the ACT with writing: If you need to take or retake the SAT with Writing or the ACT with Writing sign up NOW!! The deadline for the November SAT Test is October 7th (late registration October 25). Your testing should be completed by the end of November. The SAT is offered in October and November and the ACT is offered in September and October. If you are testing for the first time, take the earlier test!! Not all colleges accept December tests. See your counselor if you are thinking about testing in December. College Information and College Application Help: Counselors presented information to Seniors about Post- Secondary Options and Process on September 26 th 12th Grade 4 Year 12th DVC and Other College Application Assistance, Wednesday, October 26th. Thursday, November 3rd, Wednesday, November 9 th and Wednesday November 16 th at lunch in the Library Personal Statement Workshops Presented by Ms. Gregory, Tuesday October 25 th and November 1st from 2-4 in F204 The UC and CSU applications are now available online. These applications must be submitted before November 30. If you are applying to Out-of-State or Private College, check the deadlines. Many of these schools allow you to apply through the Common Application. Common Application Essay Prompts - Seniors who will be applying to Four-Year Schools on the Common Application: You should be working on your Essays! Common-Application-essay-prompts University of California Personal Insight Questions - Seniors who will be applying to UC Schools:

4 You should be working on your Essays! Sending Your SAT and ACT Scores to Colleges: Test scores must be sent to colleges through the testing agency (College Board or ACT) You can send your SAT to CSU Mentor (code 3594) and all 23 campuses will have access to the score. You can send your ACT score to any one CSU Campus and then release the score to all other campuses on CSU Mentor using the ACT Score Manager. For UC Schools, just send ACT and/or SAT scores to one campus and all others will have access to it. FAFSA Changes - The FAFSA Application opened October 1st this year and uses income data from 2015 tax returns. DVC is hosting a Cash for College Night on November 15 th from 5pm-7pm to provide free assistance with the FAFSA or DREAM Act. file:///c:/users/ecoleman.mtzdistrict/downloads/cash-for-collegeevent-flyer%20( )%20(1).pdf Check out this website for more information College Visits Sign up on the Counseling Haiku Page! More college visits will be added throughout the year so check periodically to see who is coming!! Please sign up AT LEAST a day before the visit! You will receive a pass that day. College Visits - Click on this Link to sign up, remember to have information about the visit listed below to complete the form. More college visits will be added throughout the year so check periodically to see who is coming!! Please sign up AT LEAST a day before the visit! You will receive a pass that day. Monday Oct 24 per 6, 1:00 - Pacific University Oregon - Library Tuesday, Oct 25 per 4, 10:35 - St Mary's College - Library Wednesday, Oct 26 per 6, 1:00 University of California San Diego (UCSD) - Library Thursday, Oct 27 per 5, 11:30 Portland State University - Library Friday, Oct 28 per 4, 10:30 UC Santa Cruz - Library Tuesday, Nov 1 per 2, 9:30 - University of San Francisco Library Monday, November 7, per 5,11:30 - University of the Pacific Stockton- Library (DATE CHANGE)

5 LEADERSHIP NEWS! STUDENT REMIND Receive class/grade level updates and information regarding student activities by signing up as below. Class of 2017 text Class of 2018 text Class of 2019 text Class of 2020 text LEADERSHIP & STUDENT NEWS OCTOBER HOMECOMING WEEK ACTIVITIES & SPIRIT DAYS SPIRIT WEEK MONDAY 10/17 TUESDAY 10/18 WEDNESDAY 10/19 THEME GENERATION SALAD SUPER HERO DAY DRESSING CLASS COLOR SENIORS 17 JUNIORS 18 SENIOR CITIZENS Dress in stereotypical elderly attire. DAY THOUSAND ISLAND Dress in tropical or beachy attire. DAY CAPTAIN AMERICA Red, White & Blue IRON MAN Red & Gold SOPHOMORES 19 FRESHMEN 20 KIDS, TODDLERS, BABIES Dress in stereotypical youth attire. RANCH DRESSING Dress like a farmer or cowboy/girl. THOR Gray, Navy & Maroon THE HULK Green & Purple There will be activities at lunch in the commons Monday through Thursday. THURSDAY 10/20 THROWBACK THURSDAY DECADES THE 90 s Wear 90 s style. THE 80 s Wear 80 s style. THE 60 s 70 s Wear 60 s-70 s style. THE 50 s Wear 50 s style. FRIDAY 10/21 BULLDOG SPIRIT HC SHIRTS ALL OUT BLUE AND GOLD!!! OCTOBER 19 SENIOR BREAKFAST FOR ALL SENIORS WEAR YOUR SUNRISE HAT! Your homecoming court will serve all senior classmates breakfast in the commons at 7:30 today. OCTOBER 21 HOMECOMING A COMMUNITY OF SUPERHEROES Rally 1 pm in the Gym. Parade line-up in lower parking lot by 2:30 (enter and sign in on E Street only) departs at 3 pm. Football Game Varsity only 7 pm. Class floats parade and court introduction at half time. BULLDOG STORE Get your homecoming spirit gear in the Bulldog Store in the main office Monday Friday from 7:30-3:00. Homecoming shirts are one style for all classes this year and can be customized. Tanks $10, V-Necks and Round Necks $12, Long Sleeve $15. Shop early for best selection of style and size. Jewelry now too! *The Bulldog Store at the Football Shack will be open during parade set-up from 1:30-2:30, and for the homecoming football game from 6:00 until after halftime. OCTOBER 22 HOMECOMING DANCE 7:30 10:30 Presale $12 with ASB $15 without ASB $20 for guests and ALL at the door. No on campus sales on Friday, October 21. Web Store sales end on Saturday, October 22 at 3 pm. *Guest passes available online are due to Ms. Dawson by 3pm Thursday, October 20. NOVEMBER 2 PSAT Taken in the morning during school hours The PSAT/NMSQT is designed for 10th and 11th graders. This exam is the qualifying exam for 11th graders for entry into the National Merit Scholarship program. Entrance to this program is determined by individual student's test scores. This test is provided to all 10th graders. Juniors wishing to take the test pay a $20 fee. We have a LIMITED number of tests. PLEASE purchase early to avoid missing the test. Last day for Juniors to sign up is Tuesday, October 25. Cash, checks, credit/debit cards, or Web Store payments accepted. MITTEN PROJECT HOLIDAY SERVICE PROJECT Would you like to help Alhambra's student leadership with two of our service projects during the holidays? These are programs sponsored by student leadership where families, individuals, clubs/sports team/student

6 groups decide to "adopt a family" to provide gifts during the holidays or drop off cereal, hats, scarves, fleece blankets, personal hygiene kits, socks to help organizations in our community help others. Generally each person is given 3-4 gifts. If you would prefer to donate a gift card so leadership students can shop for the gifts that works as well. Everyone who signs up to participate in the "Mitten Project" will receive their information before Thanksgiving Break (provided they sign up for a family or child by Oct 31). We ask that presents and all items, preferably gift wrapped, be dropped off to the school by Tuesday, Dec 6. Contact mgriffin@martinezusd.net with any questions. DECEMBER 3 SENIOR CRUISE $90 with ASB $100 without. Ticket sales end Thursday, November 17. No refunds unless we can fill your spot. No guest passes for this event. Permission slips due November 30. JANUARY 13 SENIOR TRIP RESERVATION DEPOSITS DUE $100 deposit due. No refunds after February 27 unless we can fill your spot. FEBRUARY 27 SENIOR TRIP FINAL PAYMENTS AND PERMISSION SLIPS DUE Balance & permission slip due. No refunds after this date unless we can fill your spot. MARCH 6 LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS POSTED ONLINE APRIL 10 COMPLETED SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS DUE TO MS. DAWSON YEARBOOKS EVERYONE - There is still time to secure a yearbook for June. $85 with ASB $90 without. May purchase on Web Store or in the office. Payment plan available. Don t miss out! SENIORS Haven t had your senior portraits taken yet? You need to make a senior portrait photo appointment asap! Contact Creative Imaging to schedule your appointment at Mrs. Fennel that you are scheduled to be sure you don t get left out of your senior yearbook. jfennel@martinezusd.net FIRST LOCAL SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY OF THE YEAR FOR SENIOR GIRLS Soroptomists International of Martinez is once again seeking applications for the following two scholarships: 1. Soroptomists Violet Richardson Award. The VRA scholarship program recognizes teen girls for their volunteer efforts and/or leadership action in making the (civic or school) community a better place. The deadline is January 2, Rose Camarata Gaffney Memorial Scholarship. The "Rose" Scholarship supports a senior girl who has demonstrated improved academic performance and shown initiative towards achieving personal and career goals. Open to Martinez residents only. The deadline is January 2, Scholarship applications on the AHS website scholarship page. *See Ms. Dawson in the main office with any questions.

7 Do you have a pile of broken crayons you don t know what to do with? Donate them to us! We would like all your old crayons to melt down and make new crayons! We will put together packets of crayons with a coloring book, and donate them to local hospital pediatric centers. What: AHS Leadership Crayon Drive When: Now through October 31 st Where: A Bin in the Office We need all the crayons we can get!! Questions? Mikela Patrick at mikelapatrick@gmail.com Or Marianne Griffin at

8 PTSA PLEASE support the Alhambra PTSA. Memberships are $10.00 For every PTSA Membership that we sell before December 20th we will give you a $25.00 coupon off your first purchase at Google Express That is $15.00 worth of FREE stuff!!! Seniors will need to be member of the PTSA in order to apply for scholarships in the spring. Sign up now before it is too late. You can purchase them on our AHS website under the PTSA, or please contact Wendy Nelson to get yours today. wendydn@yahoo.com There is still time to get your tickets for grad night at the discounted rate! Please visit the Alhambra web site at to get your tickets. Tickets are $60 now through the end of November. Please help Safe and Sober Bulldogs raise money for grad night by attending a dining night at Fuddruckers! This dining night (actually all day) will be Wednesday, October 26th from 11am-9pm. Please bring in the attached flier and Safe and Sober Bulldogs will receive 20% of all proceeds! A yummy and fun way to raise funds! Friday, September 30 th, Safe and Sober Bulldogs hosted their annual pasta feed at Pine Meadows Golf Course. With over 150 in attendance, this event was a huge success!!! We raised over $2300!!! Safe and Sober Bulldogs would like to give a HUGE thank you to all its sponsors and donors: The Tavern for the use of their facility, Oroweat for donation of rolls, Costco for donation of gift card for food, Sam s Club for donation for gift card for food, Ace Hardware for donation of water, Mezzetta for donation of pasta sauce, The Melgoza family for donation of plates, napkins and forks, The Brown family for the salad, The Cave family for pasta, The Sullivan family, The Garcia family and Wilson family for cooking. And to the following for their raffle donations: Beth Fischer for 31, Canyon Sports, Contra Costa Cinema, Scandia, Canvas and Cabernet, Mezzetta, #Hersmile, Janessa Oriole for Jamberry, Mr. James Iler, Main Street Sweets, Reina Fischer for Elizabeth s Hair Designs, Les Schwab, Alhambra Leadership, and Cole Real Estate. We could not have done it without the generosity of our community donors! Thank you!

9 4 Ways to Help your School without Volunteering Join the PTSA! $10 yearly membership fee Buy your favorite Box Top products Cut off the Box Top from each package Send your Box Tops to school Your school get cash for every Box Top collected Register your Lucky You Card or phone number and Alhambra receives 3% of all your purchases Shop amazon smile and.5% of purchases are donated to Alhambra

10 YEARBOOK Now and Forever ATTENTION FAMILIES OF SENIORS Congratulate your Senior and express your pride and love with an ad in the 2017 yearbook! Message Details: Size and Price: 1/4 page: $85 before November 1 after November 1, $100 until January 15. Payment and Deadline: Create and pay for your ad online at Message Guidelines: Create the message exactly as you want it to appear in the yearbook. You will have final approval before you submit your ad. We reserve the right to refuse or edit any portion of your message or photo that is unacceptable for publication. How to Submit Online: Log on to and enter order number 7643 Click Create a Yearbook Ad (see Ex. 1 below). *Senior ads will be accepted on a space available basis. When space runs out, or we reach our plant deadline, we can no longer accept ads, so make sure to get your ad in early! NO ADS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER JANUARY 15TH Congratulations Sarah! You have had such an amazing year! We are so proud of all of your accomplishments. You really have turned out to be such an amazing young man and we couldn t be happier for you. We know you have a wonderful future ahead of you and can t wait to see what you accomplish! Love, Mom, Dad, Johnny and Fluffy Follow the prompts to design your ad, add it to your cart and purchase it. Your ad is not complete until you add it your cart and complete the checkout process! To make the ad creation process easier, click the Watch Video or Online Ad Creation Guide links. (See Ex. 2 below) 1/4 pg ad size: 3.8 in x 4.75 in 1. Click here to purchase your yearbook ad. 2. Click here to watch a video or download a PDF guide with instructions on how to create your online ad. For Tech Support while using the online ad creator, contact Herff Jones Technical Support at:

11