SLVUSD Charter News
Vol 2.14 - March 23, 2025
From Principal Kerry le Roux
Hello Charter families!
SLV Charter Mascot
We are thrilled to announce the winning Charter Mascot! With 33% of the vote, we have THE SLV CHARTER QUAILS! (Second runner up was the Skunks and third was the Turkeys). Thank you to the 0ver 120 people who responded. More than 50% of the vote came from Charter students themselves, plus a nice balance of entries from staff, parents, and community members.
So, Charter Quails! What happens next?
SLV Charter Logo Design Contest:
Calling all artists! The California Quail is now officially our school mascot, but we still need a new school logo! This logo will be used on letterheads, our SLV Charter Website, and school swag. The template linked below will need to be used for all entries, and the design needs to fit within the circle. 2-D media is required (like painting, watercolor, pen & ink, pencil, crayon, pastels, colored pencil, or digital drawings). Anyone can enter; students, teachers, parents, or community members! Charter students will vote for the top five designs, and the adults and students will be included in the final vote for the top choice using an online survey!
Entries are due to Teacher Alex by April 15, the Tuesday after we return from Spring Break. (Hard copy is fine, but you can also email him at aleovic@slvusd.org)
Can't WAIT to see everyone's entries!
Science Fair
Congratulations to the following students who participated at County level in the recent Science & Engineering Fair for Santa Cruz County: Vivian Goldberg, Jolie Bertrand, Calla Turk, Amalie Algernon, and Isabelle Kjaergaard. Calla Turk and Amalie Algernon’s projects each earned second place in their category. Isabelle Kjaergaard finished second in her category and was selected to go to the California State science fair in Thousand Oaks in two weeks! Way to go, Scientists!
Nature Academy Fundraiser
See’s Candy for Spring
Order See’s candy online and help Nature Academy at the same time. They have two storefronts with different selections. Spring store closes 4/4 and the 2025 store closes 6/6.
- Ships straight to you
- Gift cards have no shipping cost
- 20% of all sales goes to Nature Academy
Just click the short URL link and shop to help us raise funds and Thank You for your support!
Spring Store bit.ly/naseesspring
2025 Store bit.ly/naseesyear
Spring Break and Storm Day
There is NO SCHOOL the week of April 7 - 11, due to Spring Break.
Also, please note that Monday, April 14 is a "Saved in case we'd had a Storm Day." Since we didn't need to close schools this winter for inclement weather, the Monday after Spring Break is now a "free" NO SCHOOL day for students. We will see them back on Tuesday, April 15.
Please read further for some important Charter updates and announcements. Remember to click here to add our Website Calendar to your google calendars to see all Charter events! Your child's teacher will have shared their specific program calendar as well.
Have a wonderful week!
Kerry
T. 831-335-0932
Quail Hollow Homeschool Play
Biomes: Animals and Plants in Their Habitats
Morning performances 10:30am on Mon, Mar 31, Tues, Apr 1 and Wed, Apr 2
Evening performance Tues, April 1 at 6:30pm, followed by dessert reception
Location: SLV Performing Arts Center
What will you see?
Come join this motley group of animals as they search for their own proper biome! Sure, these animal heroes are cute, but looks aren’t everything in a world of distinct and tough environments. To survive (and be able to sing all their catchy songs), they’ll have to learn about desert, forest, grassland, freshwater, tundra, and marine areas for which they are especially adapted.
Dine out at Aroma & support Nature Academy
When: this Tuesday 3/25 from 12:00noon - 8:00pm
* Taco Tuesday, enjoy their Mexican menu
Next Wednesday 4/2 the following week from 11:00am - 9:00pm
* Enjoy their Regular menu
Where: Aroma, 9600 Hwy 9, Ben Lomond
Help the Charter make this fundraiser a success, join us for good food and community. Aroma's menu is different both nights, pick the menu that works best for you, or try them both.
Takeout orders call
(831) 609-6596
SLV Charter Annual Family Survey - open until March 28
SLVUSD is looking to gather feedback from our families regarding our Academic, Communication, and Learning Environment goals. We anticipate the survey will take from five to seven minutes to complete. The valuable feedback that you submit will provide the District and the site with important information as we plan for the 2025-2026 school year.
The surveys will be available through Friday, March 28th.
New Charter Family Annual Survey 2024-2025 (corrected)
Thank you in advance for taking the time to provide your input.
I will be sending this link out in a separate email as well, and will repeat it throughout the survey window, as we really would like every parent participating!
Upcoming events and important dates
You will find all these events and more on the google calendar shared by your Program teacher and on the Website calendar.
March is Women's History Month! Click Here to access resources for Homeschool parents from our fabulous Librarian!
Mon, Mar 24 - Charter Annual Parent Survey 2024-2025 (- last week - survey ends Friday! All parents asked to participate!)
Tues, Mar 25 - 11:30am Lego in the Library
- Gaga ball pit reserved at lunch for Elementary
Wed, Mar 26- GSA meets weekly in room 19 at lunch
Thurs, Mar 27 - School Spirit Dress Up Day! 80's Day!
- Student Council meets at 8am in the Library
Fri, Mar 28 - Deadline for Charter Annual Parent Survey
- Nature Academy Lottery - 3pm (Library)
Sat, March 29 - CHP Bike Safety Rodeo - 10am Capitola Mall
Mon, Mar 31 - QHHS Play opens 10:30am in the PAC!
- QHHS play at 10:30am - PAC
Tues, Apr 1 - 11:30am Lego in the Library
- Gaga ball pit reserved at lunch for Elementary
- QHHS play at 10:30am - PAC
- 6:30pm Free performance of the QHHS Play
Wed, Apr 2 - GSA meets weekly in room 19 at lunch
- 10am due date for homeschool Month 10 attendance paperwork - note early date!
- QHHS play at 10:30am - PAC
Thurs, Apr 3 - Student Council meets at 8am in the Library
- 2:30pm Charter Talent Show act previews in the MPR
Fri, Apr 4 - Nature Academy excursion day
For planning further ahead:
April 7 - 11 SPRING BREAK - No school
Mon, Apr 14 - Storm Day held - NO SCHOOL
Tues, Apr 15 - Deadline for entries to Charter Mascot Art Contest
Mon, April 21 - CAASPP testing begins for 11th grade CRHS (Math, Science, ELA); Map testing for 9 and 10 (ELA, Math; 9th grade Science)
April 23 and 24 - All Charter Talent Show at the PAC - 6pm
Tues, April 29 - SLV Charter Open House - All Programs - 5:30pm
Mon, May 5 - CAASPP Testing begins - 3rd - 8th grade (ELA, Math; 5th and 8th grade also Science)
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Nature Academy parents, 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 Mondays are 1:19pm dismissal at Nature Academy
- A2 Mondays are 2:05pm dismissal at Nature Academy
- A3 Mondays are 3:00pm dismissal at the tricampus
- O days are Tues/Thurs, dismissal 2:05pm;
- E days are Wed/Fri, dismissal 2:20pm (Wed) and 2:05 (Fri);
- Minimum Days dismiss at 12:05;
- Excursion Days (dates not all finalized) - times are individual to the excursion, but typically 3pm dismissal
Emergency/School Safety update
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.
Starting the 2024-2025 school year, we have 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 me if you have any questions!
Touch, Type, Read & Spell
3rd through 9th grade parents, please continue to encourage daily 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. We are now requiring all students to spend a minimum of 1 hour a week or longer. This program license lasts until May of 2025, and after completion of all 24 levels* (approx. one year), your child should show a substantial improvement in keyboarding fluency. 24 levels over one year equates to 15 modules per week. If you did not receive your welcome email with login details, please contact your child's teacher or email me!
"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.
It's important to note that individual progress may vary, and some learners might complete the course faster if they spend more than an hour per week on TTRS."
Sign up for Parent Math trainings - series of 9 lessons
Parents of students in TK - 9th grade! Have you struggled when helping your child with Math? We are once again offering a once-monthly Thursday morning Math training for parents, presented by an awesome instructor from the Silicon Valley Math Initiative (SVMI). Please sign up here for one or all of the sessions on offer - they will build on one another over the course of the year. (Note there is a new tab for 2nd semester at the bottom of the spreadsheet.)
6th - 9th parents come from 9:15 - 10:15am
2nd - 5th parents come from 10:30 - 11:20am
TK - 1st parents come from 11:30 - 12:20pm
Remaining Dates: Apr 17, May 8
Chromebook Loaner update
Parents can now sign out loaner Chromebooks through the library for their students to use at home, starting tomorrow, Tues 8/20 and every Tues-Thurs according to the times below:
Charter Library
Tues, Wed, Thurs
8:30-9:30am or 2:15-3pm
Students can’t sign out a Chromebook without a parent; it requires a parent's signature. If there’s a problem, parents can email Mabel at CHlibrary@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.
Schoology
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:
- Get your parent access code from your teacher or administrator.
- When you have your parent access code, go to app.schoology.com/register.php.
- Click the “Parent” button below the “Instructor” and “Student” buttons” in the “Sign Up for Schoology” section.
- Enter the access code you received, and click Continue.
- Enter your name and email (not the student’s) and choose a password.
Refer to the Parent Schoology Handbook to learn more.
Attendance
Attendance matters!
Our attendance rate improved last year - thank you for your ongoing partnership in supporting good attendance! Students need to participate consistently, whether it be in a homeschool program, where work completion counts as attendance, or in our classroom-based 5 day a week Nature Academy.
Students who are absent 10% or more in a school year are typically "less proficient in reading, writing and math than their peers with good attendance" (Source: CA Dept of Ed.)
Parent Volunteers/Chaperones
Volunteer application hours - PLEASE NOTE: The Charter Office and SLVUSD Human Resources Office hours will process volunteer registrations at the following times:
Tuesdays from 7:00-11:00 am
Thursdays from 12:30-3:30 pm.
The Human Resources Office is located at 325 Marion Avenue, Ben Lomond, CA 95005.
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.
Student Nutrition Information (Breakfast and Lunch)
- All SLVUSD students are eligible to receive a free breakfast and lunch through the cafeteria. Breakfast can be picked up any time from 8:15am - 8:45am, no order needed.
- Lunch no longer needs to be ordered online. Our lunch lady will bring enough hot lunches for everyone who wants one, but should these run out we will have healthy cold alternatives available (salads, sandwiches, etc.)
- Meals are be served from our Multi-use 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
IMPORTANT: Please complete the Free/Reduced Lunch Application at https://family.titank12.com/
Although a meal application is not necessary for your child to receive free meals during the 2024-2025 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 SLV Student Nutrition Services website
Transportation Information
If your child takes the bus to or from school, please remember you will need to purchase a bus pass.
ALL Nature Academy students have to be registered to take bus transportation on A1 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 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!"
Athletics Information
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.
Parents, please read this updated Spectator Code of Conduct from SLVMS Principal Shanna Urbancic.
Please click here for a link to the Panther Athletics website (SLVMS)
Click here for a list of the tryout dates for 24-25
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)
Please click here for a link to the Cougar Athletics website (SLVHS).
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
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
