Our Student of the Month awards focus on three qualities - Academic Excellence, Outstanding Effort, and a Leadership focus in the area of our quarterly HERO theme. Teachers and staff will be looking for students who portray excellence in one of these areas. Students of the Month will be recognised during BEAR time or virtually depending on when we reconvene. The 4th Quarter Leadership expectations, theme and focus are highlighted in this edition's newsletter.

The Las Flores Middle School PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Support) team represents our school mission and vision for our students. HERO means our students strive to be Honest, Engaged, Respectful and take Ownership in their everyday actions at school.

Our Student of the Month awards focus on three qualities - Academic Excellence, Outstanding Effort, and a Leadership focus in the area of our quarterly HERO theme. Teachers and staff will be looking for students who portray excellence in one of these areas. Students of the Month will be recognised during HERO time. Each quarter we will focus on one aspect of the HERO theme.

4th Quarter

HERO: Take Ownership

What does it mean to Take Ownership? Taking ownership means to take responsibility for your actions. If you make a mistake, own it and decide to learn from it and do better next time. To take ownership of your learning, means that you are engaged and motivated to be self-directed in your lessons including completing assignments, asking for assistance when needed and reflecting on your progress.

Theme: The focus for this quarter is to participate actively in the current distance learning model in place and seek assistance from your teachers via Google Hangouts, School Loop email and Google Classroom discussions.

The link below from a blog post on Scientific American describes a college student who recently moved into online learning due to the COVID19 outbreak but I believe there is truth in this for all our students (and parents and teachers too) who have had the sudden onset of Distance Learning thrust upon us. What is your experience so far? Can you relate to the writer's description?

The HERO theme of 4th quarter on Taking OWNERSHIP is a near-perfect concept on our situation this quarter with the forced Distance Learning platform we are under. Distance learning is a wonderful tool for some students but for others it may be more difficult to navigate the responsibility of taking ownership of one's own learning.

Distance learning provides all students the opportunity to learn but students must be committed to their own success in meeting their learning goals. Students cannot expect parents to do their work for them nor can then expect teachers to know when they are struggling with understanding. Students must reach out to teachers for help when they don't understand something and ask parents for assistance when they can but you must own your own work and commit to doing your best.

Let's focus on how distance learning will help us grow to be a better student rather than how difficult it may feel to be isolated from your teachers and classmates. Some of the benefits of distance learning are described here in this article from EZ Talks.

The World Economic Forum discusses here how the world's education is changing as a result of the COVID19 pandemic. Click on the link to read more about the world's changes to education compared to yours then let us know your thoughts on how it is affecting you by completing the survey linked in the button below.

If you missed elective registration, please be sure to check the school website and complete the online elective form under School News. If you need to change your elective choices, please email your academic advisor as soon as possible to resubmit your elective form. We will update your selections if possible.

Click here for Social Emotional Resources available to you during our Online Distance Program as prepared by our Capistrano Unified Lead Counselor, Rebecca Pianta.

Due to the current Shelter in Place and Social Distancing Guidelines, PTSA Parent Educational Evenings have been canceled until further notice.

The School Counselor will conduct a minimum of quarterly classroom guidance lessons to all grade levels during the school year.

These lessons will continue in a virtual format during our Distance Learning Program.

Guidance Webpage Information and/or links on the Academic Domain such as study skills, test taking, tutoring resources, and useful links for help with English writing and Math skills

Counselors Corner Resource Personal-Social Domain including stress management, conflict mediation, grief, and social skills

College and Career Guidance Information about high school graduation requirements, college admissions, and career choices.

Center for academic advisement and school counseling support.

Email: dejmiller@capousd.org
Website: https://lfms-capousd-ca.schoolloop.com/cms/page_view?d=x&piid=&vpid=1284817733035&group_id=1408775579324&no_controls=t
Phone: (949) 589-6543

MEd School Counseling, PPS School Counseling

Email: dejmiller@capousd.org
Website: https://lfms-capousd-ca.schoolloop.com/cms/page_view?d=x&piid=&vpid=1389175754592&no_controls=t
Phone: (949) 589-6543 26004

MAEd - Educational Counseling, PPS School Counseling

Email: ocorral@capousd.org
Website: https://lfms-capousd-ca.schoolloop.com/counselorscorner
Phone: (949) 589-6543 26013

Email: ljdepass@capousd.org
Phone: (949) 589-6543 26012

Email: kaweston@capousd.org
Phone: (949) 589-6543 26020

The Board of Trustees desires to provide a safe school environment that allows all students equal access and opportunities in the district’s academic and other educational support programs, services, and activities. The Board prohibits, at any District school or school activity, unlawful discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, intimidation, and bullying of any student based on the student’s actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, national origin, nationality, ethnicity, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.