Quail Mail

Hello Charter families!

I am happy to say that the first day of our Annual Charter Parent Survey received 24 responses within 24 hours! We have a "competition" going among the five school sites for who can get the highest participation rate. It's a friendly competition in Charter's case, but I do love the bragging rights it gets me when I can say I had over 90% of my families responding - meaning that the results are statistically valid and reliable, and are not simply a "sampling," but are a true measure of our parent community's views. Every response is carefully reviewed and the Charter LCAP (our strategic plan) is updated and amended with the feedback in mind. It helps us prioritize spending and decide on school improvement initiatives. So, all that said, PLEASE fill out a survey - and please do so for each child separately if they are in two or more different Charter programs. The survey will be available through Friday, March 27th.

Charter Annual Family Survey Link

An important event to calendar is this year's Redwood Mountain Faire is scheduled for the weekend of May 30th & 31st! Volunteering at this local music festival in Felton generates funds for our Charter programs' field trips and enrichment activities. Last year the Charter Boosters made a combined $5000! While volunteering for a shift to support your student's program, you can enjoy the fun music, free entry & parking for the day! So be sure to save the dates and sign up for shifts when they become available. Stay tuned for more information later this spring.

For any questions, contact Melissa Sniffen (MelissaRSniffen@gmail.com).”

And while you're at it, please calendar the 5th annual SLV Music & Art Festival, an outdoor community event at Roaring Camp that features performances by: SLVHS choir and bands, SLVMS bands, SLV Charter Band, SLVE and BCE 5th grade bands, and the SLV Community Band! There will be an art show put on by the SLVUSD Elementary to High School Art Programs and an Art Sale benefiting the SLVHS Art Department! There will also be food trucks and silent and live auctions that support the SLV Music Boosters. Please come and celebrate community while supporting our growing student musicians and artists!

DATE: Wednesday, May 20th, 2026, 4-8pm

LOCATION: Roaring Camp Railroads, 5400 Graham Hill Road, Felton, CA 95018

Homeschooling families, please take a look at the resources our wonderful Library Media Specialist Amanda has put together for Women's History Month (the month of March).

No school tomorrow! Have a wonderful weekend!

Kerry

kleroux@slvusd.org

T. 831-335-0932

Our Student Council launched a positive campus culture and school spirit initiative in February - we are so proud to announce our first ever Quails of the Month! Students were nominated by classmates for showing great school spirit, as well as our Charter values of social responsibility and integrity. Winners received a certificate and some Quail "swag." Where there was more than one nominee, teachers made the final selection. (If your child's program is not represented here, it just means they didn't take part this first month of the launch!). At the end of the year monthly winners from each program will be in the running to win a Charter Quails T-shirt.

March 6-15, 2026

Remaining performances:

7:00 p.m. on March 13, and 14
2:00 p.m. on March 15
Tickets: $20 General, $15 Student/Senior/SLV Staff

Parental advisory: this production is rated PG-13 and includes mild adult themes and language.

More information and tickets available at SLV Theatre Boosters' webpage:

You will find all these events and more on your student's Program google calendar and/or the General Public Calendar shared above.

March is Women's History Month! Click here for Learning Resources curated by Amanda Baillie.

Fri, March 13

- NO SCHOOL - Professional Development Day for the District

Mon, March 16

- Student Council meets in the Library at 1:30pm

Tues, March 17

- Wear Green for St. Patrick's Day

- Gaga Ball pit reserved for elementary students

Wed, March 18

- GSA meets weekly in room 19 at lunch

- Middle School Spring Dance $5 tickets on sale in the quad at lunch - need a signed permission slip

Thurs, March 19

- Anytown program - 8:30 - 11:30 at SLVMS

- QHHS 4th and 5th graders attend Conversations with Anne at the PAC

- SVMI Parent Math training 9:30 - 12:30 in the D.O. Conference Room - Sign up here

- Middle School Spring Dance $5 tickets on sale in the quad at lunch - need a signed permission slip

Fri, March 20

- Month 9 Attendance is due (Homeschool/Independent Study programs)

- Middle School Spring Dance $5 tickets on sale in the quad at lunch - need a signed permission slip

- QHIA Lottery 2026-27 - 3pm in the Library

- All-Charter Movie Night (benefitting Heartwood Homeschool) - 6pm - MPR Kiki's Delivery Service

Mon, March 23

- Student Council meets in the Library at 1:30pm

Tues, March 24

- Gaga Ball pit reserved for elementary students

Wed, March 25

- GSA meets weekly in room 19 at lunch

Fri, March 27

- Nature Academy Lottery 2026-27 - 3pm in the Library

For planning further ahead:

Thurs, April 2: 80's Dress Up Day!

- Principal's Coffee and Parent Advisory Council meeting - 9:30 in the Library

Mon, April 6 - Fri, April 10 - Spring Break - NO SCHOOL

Mon, April 13 - Storm make up day - NO SCHOOL EXPECTED (to be confirmed; day is held in case we need to claim back time lost if we have to close school during heavy weather)

Thurs, April 16 - Monthly Homeschool Parent Support Meeting - 9:30am in the quad

Wed, April 22 - Earth Day, but Charter will recognize Earth day on Thurs, April 23 when all programs are on campus

Mon, April 27 - CAASPP Testing window opens: each program will share testing dates

Tues, April 28 - All-Charter Open House - student visual and performing art showcase and classroom exhibits; community pizza fundraiser!

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Nature Academy parents, here is the Bell Schedule for 2025-26. Don't forget to check the Nature Academy Google Calendar to be sure which bell schedule we're on each day! (You can also click here if you are not a Google Calendar subscriber)

• A1 days (typically Mon) dismissal 1:19pm at Nature Academy
• A2 days (typically Mon) dismissal 2:05pm at Nature Academy
• A3 days (typically Mon) dismissal 3:00pm at the tricampus
• O days (typically Tues/Thurs) dismissal 2:05pm at Nature Academy;
• E days (typically Wed/Fri) dismissal 2:20pm (Wed) and 2:05 (Fri) at Nature Acadeny;
• Minimum Days dismiss at 12:05 at Nature Academy;
• Excursion Days - times are individual to the excursion, but typically 3pm dismissal

Please add the "General" Charter google calendar to yours, along with the one that links to your child's program. (In Google, you can switch calendars on and off as needed once you've added them.) This way you'll have up to the minute information about event dates and times.

General Charter Calendar

Heartwood Program Calendar

Quail Hollow Homeschool Calendar

Quail Hollow Integrated Arts Calendar

Coast Redwood Middle School Calendar

Coast Redwood High School Calendar

At SLVUSD Charter School, we do not allow any form of hate, bullying, harassment or discrimination in our schools. Every student and adult deserves to feel safe, respected, and welcome—always.

We are proud of the many different backgrounds, families, and identities that make up our school community. We believe every student should be treated with kindness, no matter their race, abilities, gender, religion, or family structure.

Here’s how we support a safe and inclusive school:

• We take all reports of bullying, body shaming, bias, or hateful actions/language seriously, and follow clear steps to address these.

• We teach students about kindness, respect, how to treat others, and to understand the impact of their actions - through class lessons and school activities.

• We provide counseling and support to students who need it.

We ask for your help at home, too. Please talk with your student about treating others with empathy and kindness.

Together, we can make sure our schools are places where every student can learn, grow, and feel proud of who they are.

We are asking that throughout the school year parents of students in 2nd through 8th grade encourage 3 x a week 20 min keyboarding practice with Touch-Type Read Spell, the "award winning multi-sensory course that teaches typing, reading and spelling" aimed at students from elementary to high school.

Students can access it through the Launchpad if they're using a district chromebook, or use this link if accessing it on a private device: https://launchpad.classlink.com/slvusd. (Our younger students who don't yet use their district email/password, or any student having trouble getting in via launchpad, can access it directly at readandspell.com.) Ask your child's teacher or Kerry for their TTRS login ID and password if you don't have it yet - distinct from their district email address and password.

"Based on the average completion time, a student using TTRS for one hour per week should complete approximately 744 modules in a year. The main TTRS Course consists of 24 levels, with 31 modules in each level, totaling 744 modules. On average, students complete the entire course in about 12 months when dedicating one hour per week to the program. Individual progress may vary, and some learners might complete the course faster if they spend more than an hour per week on TTRS."

Your feedback was heard! This year, we will be offering Silicon Valley Math Initiative (SVMI) math workshops for our TK-9 parents, but instead of having short workshops every month, we are breaking these up into three 3-hour workshops. (These will happen on Tuesdays/Thursdays, while your children are in class.)

Remaining dates:

• 6th - 9th grade: March 19 - 9:30 - 12:30

Please click to sign up here, but note that drop ins are also welcome!

Parents can sign out loaner Chromebooks through the library for their students to use at home. To check out a device and charger, please come to the library according to the times below:

Tues, Wed and Thurs: 8:15 -10:00am or 2:00-3:00pm

Please note that students can’t sign out a Chromebook without a parent; it requires a parent's signature. If there’s a problem, parents can email Amanda at abaillie@slvusd.org to make arrangements.

Students should not be bringing a personal laptop to school unless it’s part of an IEP. All teachers have class sets of Chromebooks for students to use if it's required as part of the lesson.

(Note: Regular Library hours are Tues through Thurs 8am - 3pm.)

Charter students are eligible to try out to play in all sports at SLVMS and SLVHS. Please keep an eye on the respective websites so your child is aware of the tryout schedule for each season's sports. We will also share that information as we receive it.

Athletes, remember that eligibility rules require you to carry at least a 2.0 GPA (C average) to remain eligible to complete in the middle school athletics practices and competitions.

MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS

Parents, please read this Spectator Code of Conduct from SLVMS Principal Shanna Urbancic.

Please click here for a link to the Panther Athletics website (SLVMS)

Athletics Director Lupita Alaniz has a newsletter she sends out regularly to Middle School parents who subscribe - please look for the first one to be emailed soon after this one! It contains the dates for Fall tryouts!

Fall Sports (August - October)

Boys Soccer

Girls Basketball

Cross Country (No cuts)

Winter I Sports (October - December)

Girls Soccer

Boys Basketball

Winter II Sports (January-March)

Girls Volleyball

Wrestling (no cuts)

Flag Football

Spring Sports (March- May)

Girls Softball
Boys Volleyball
Golf

Track and Field (no cuts)

HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS

Please click here for a link to the Cougar Athletics website (SLVHS).

From Superintendent Chris Schiermeyer: "Providing a safe place for students to learn and grow is one of the most important responsibilities of our school system. All San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District schools have a School Safety Plan in place. Drill procedures for emergencies and disasters are regularly practiced at each school.

Last school year we changed our countywide codes for emergency drills in collaboration with law enforcement and the fire departments. Our new codes are as follows: Evacuation, Reverse Evacuation, Hall Check, and Lockdown. Please see the Standard Command Emergency Response Poster for more details on these types of drills that will be practiced at our school sites as required by law.

Along with school staff, your family plays a critical role in preventing and responding to school emergencies. The information posted on the Emergency Information website page is intended to provide parents/guardians with the steps you can take “before”, “during”, and “after” an emergency. Please note the emergency information has been revised to be in alignment with the newly adopted codes. Please take a moment to review this information."

SLV Charter will be starting our monthly/quarterly evacuation drills (elementary/secondary) shortly. Please be sure to sign in to get a visitor sticker if you're coming on campus so that if you're on site for a drill we can account for you. Please contact Kerry if you have any questions!

If your child is in 6 - 12th grade, your teacher most likely uses Schoology to record assignment and test scores.

How a parent logs into Schoology:

1. Get your parent access code from your teacher or administrator.
2. When you have your parent access code, go to app.schoology.com/register.php.
3. Click the “Parent” button below the “Instructor” and “Student” buttons” in the “Sign Up for Schoology” section.
4. Enter the access code you received, and click Continue.
5. Enter your name and email (not the student’s) and choose a password.

Refer to the Parent Schoology Handbook to learn more.

Volunteer application hours - PLEASE NOTE: The Charter Office and SLVUSD Human Resources Office hours will process volunteer registrations at the following times:

Tuesdays from 8:00-11:00 am

Thursdays from 1:00-3:30 pm

The Charter Office is located behind the shade structure on the elementary Charter campus, and Human Resources is located at the front of the District Office (both at 325 Marion Ave. Ben Lomond).

All Charter parents are encouraged to register with the District as a volunteer and a field trip driver. (All parents are asked to drive on excursions...)

Please click here to access the required volunteer paperwork. Hard copy paperwork is also available at the Charter Office.

To use your personal vehicle to transport your own or other students, we will need updated driver information on file as well - please click here for the form.

Ø New Volunteer: You will be required to fill out the volunteer paperwork and obtain a signature from the principal. Once complete, please bring your signed paperwork to the Human Resources Office. You will be required to provide a current TB result. Also, all new volunteers will be required to be fingerprinted.

Ø Returning Volunteer: You will be required to provide current TB results (within the last 4 years). If you don't know whether your TB is current, check with the Charter office. If you are turning in updated TB info, you can bring it to the Charter office or directly to the Human Resources Office.

Note that the District is offering more dates this year for our District Nurse to assist with TB clearance, an essential step in the volunteer clearance process. Please see the dates below:

Nurse at DO-HR

Thurs 8/28 12:30-3:30pm

Tues 9/2 8-11am

Thurs 9/4 12:30-3:30pm

Tues 9/16 8-11am

Thurs 9/18 12:30-3:30pm

Tues: 9/30 8-11am

• All SLVUSD students are eligible to receive a free breakfast and lunch through the cafeteria. Starting this year, Breakfast is served at BRUNCH (see your child's program details) so please make sure your child eats something before school if the wait for Brunch will be a hardship for them. The Charter office will keep some emergency provisions on hand for this as well :)
• Lunch is not ordered online any more. Our nutrition service coordinator typically brings enough of the daily hot lunches for that day's menu for everyone who wants one, but should these run out we will always have healthy cold alternatives available (salads, sandwiches, etc.)
• Meals are be served from our Multi-Purpose Room in the central area of the campus
• Lunch times vary per program, but generally happen in the 11:50 - 12:30 window
• Elementary students will have lunch cards (kept in the MPR).
• Secondary students will need to key in their student ID on a keypad.
• A-la-carte items like Izzy drinks and chips can be purchased for cash or on account, but only after the primary brunch or lunch has been served to all. (See information for account set up on the SLVUSD Nutrition Services website below.)

Although a meal application is not necessary for your child to receive free meals during the 2025-26 school year, households are asked to complete a meal application to ensure that your school receives accurate funding. As well, your child’s eligibility for free or reduced lunch could qualify you for additional outside services or benefits including Free/Reduced Bus passes, student fee waivers, P-EBT, discounted utilities, and more.

• Link to SLVUSD Student Nutrition Services website

SLV Charter no longer offers Nature Academy morning bus transportation as the bus arrives too late for the start of school at 8:15am; if your child is in QHIA or CRMS they are able to ride the bus back to the depot here at the D.O. from the tricampus.

If your child takes the bus after school, please remember you will need to purchase a bus pass.

ALL Nature Academy students have to be registered to take bus transportation on A3 days to the tricampus. (No need to pay.) Registration form link.

Students at Coast Redwood High who need afternoon transportation to the tricampus for concurrent enrollment classes can take the TK bus that leaves the District Office at noon each day. They will not need to pay for a bus pass. However, they still need to register. Rides will be denied if students are not registered.)

Please click here to access the Transportation web page for route information, bus pass applicationss, and any other information you need.

The Charter Office staff ask families to call in before 1:50pm if they have a message for their student about changing that day's bus transportation arrangement.

If you’re interested in following our Instagram account, showcasing news and events from SLVUSD Charter School, here is the info:

“I'm on Instagram as slvcharterschool. Install the app to follow my photos and videos, or click this link: https://instagram.com/slvcharterschool?igshid=MzMyNGUyNmU2YQ==

(Please know that we will be very careful not to post pictures of students on the "Do not Photograph" list.)

And if you haven't started following the District Instagram accoount, look for "slvusd" and click "Follow!"

Did you know that our district maintains a "Community Opportunities" website? This is for parents / students to receive information about current local events and opportunities for adults and/or children.

Note: The San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District does not sponsor or endorse any of the organizations or events that are located here. They are non-school sponsored events and are not being promoted by the school district. All postings are provided as a courtesy to the parents/students.

Homework Help at the Public Library

Bring your assignments to one of the FREE drop-in Homework Help sessions at one of the following public libraries.

Tuesdays from 3:00p to 5:00p.

Downtown, 224 Church St., Santa Cruz

Felton, 6121 Gushee St.

Capitola, 2005 Wharf Rd.

La Selva Beach, 316 Estrella Ave.

Open to all students up to grade 12.

Call 831.427.7713 for more information.

And also from the Santa Cruz Public Libraries:

SCPL are particularly excited to offer a new resource from Brainfuse called CollegeNow, which offers support with college applications, essays and more. This is in addition to HelpNow live tutoring.

Please click here for a press release containing comprehensive information on the many resources SCPL offers to all students. SCPL looks forward to welcoming your students to any of their 10 branches, Annex and Bookmobile during this new school year!

Guide to Resources for Families in SLV

Here's a handy one-pager listing various organizations and resources for families in the San Lorenzo Valley.

Mental Health resources

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - with a link to their March newseltter

Brightlife Kids, an organization that provides free online support in behavioral coaching for parents, caregivers and students aged 0 - 12.

Please click here for a link to a flier from the Community Action Board of Santa Cruz, containing a number of useful resources for families. CAB's mission is to "partner with the community to eliminate poverty and create social change through advocacy and social service. "

Triple P/First Five of Santa Cruz County offer ongoing parenting classes for parents of students of all ages. Please click here to see their workshop offerings.

Triple P also offers 1:1 sessions for parents who are needing intensive 10 week session and add-on sessions for people who are divorcing or separating (Family Transitions), for couples wanting to work on their relationship (Enhanced) and for people wanting to work on their strong emotions, like anger (Pathways). If interested in 1:1 sessions, please contact First 5 of Santa Cruz: https://www.first5scc.org/contact

Email: kleroux@slvusd.org
Website: charter.slvusd.org
Phone: (831) 335-0932