2425.2 Grizzly Growler 08.15.24
Week 2 // August 23, 2024
IN THIS FALL ISSUE
- Weekly On and Off Campus Events
- [Updated] Counselor, Psychologist and Social Worker Alphas
- Senior Sunrise
- First PTO Meeting of the Year
- MHHS Competitive Cheer Tryouts
- PSAT/NMSQT
- MHHS Folklorico Club Performance
- Bike Rodeo
- I Am AP Tutoring Schedule
- Football Game Tickets
As always, the bottom of this newsletter includes links to ParentVUE, our Instagram handles, points of contact, tutoring information and our proud community sponsors!
READ ON FOR MORE!
LOOKING AHEAD
MONDAY AUGUST 26
TUESDAY AUGUST 27
Senior sunrise @7am on the football field
3:30 Flag Football Varsity VS Canyon Crest @Canyon Crest
4:00 Tennis, Girls Varsity VS Mt. Carmel @Mission Hills
4:30/6 Volleyball, Girls Nov/JV//Var VS Classical Academy @Mission Hills
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 28
Bike/E- bike Safety Course Mission Hills High School Redwood Hall Theater @6pm
4:00 Water Polo, Boys Varsity VS Hilltop @Hilltop (Parkway)
5:00 Water Polo, Boys Junior Varsity VS Hilltop @Hilltop (Parkway)
THURSDAY AUGUST 29
5:45 Field Hockey Varsity VS Temecula Valley @Temecula Valley
3:30 Field Hockey Junior Varsity VS Temecula Valley @Temecula Valley
6:00 Football Freshman VS Westview @Westview
4:00 Tennis, Girls Varsity VS La Costa Canyon @La Costa Canyon
4:30/6 Volleyball, Girls Nov/JV//Var VS Maranatha Christian @Maranatha Christian
FRIDAY AUGUST 30
7:15 Football Varsity VS Westview @Mission Hills
4:30 Football Junior Varsity VS Westview @Mission Hills
7:15 Sideline Cheer Varsity VS Westview @Mission Hills
4:30 Sideline Cheer Junior Varsity VS Westview @Mission Hills
TBD Volleyball, Girls Varsity Tournament TBD @Sweetwater Tourney
SATURDAY AUGUST 31
7:30 Cross Country Varsity/JV VS Raven Invite Invite @Canyon Crest
TBD Volleyball, Girls VS Varsity Tournament TBD @Sweetwater Tourney
SAVE THE DATE
AUGUST EVENTS
8/23 l Free Mulch and Compost Dist. sunrise to sundown @La Moree Rd. East of Supreme Ct
8/28 l E-Bike Safety Course @6pm in Redwood Theater
NEW INFORMATION FOR OUR COMMUNITY
FOOTBALL GAME TICKETS
FOOTBALL SEASON is here! The ticket booth is cashless, so make sure to buy your tickets on gofan.co!
You can also use card or mobile pay at the ticket booth or students can show us your ASB sticker (check your school email until ID cards arrive).
I AM AP TUTORING SCHEDULE
Grizzlies, start off the year strong and attend tutoring hours! I Am AP tutoring begins Monday, August 26th @lunch in room 540. Tutoring is open to ALL students, so definitely check it out and take advantage.
BIKE RODEO
Bike Rodeo is back! This Saturday, August 24th from 9am-12pm at the Boys and Girls Club San Marcos 1 Positive Place, San Marcos. Bring your children to join the San Marcos Sheriff's Station and California Highway Patrol for the opportunity to ride their bikes through a bike course and learn about traffic safety rules. The event is most suitable for elementary and middle school kids. No E-bikes!
Bring your own bike and get ready to pedal your way to a fun-filled day of bike safety education. Free helmets and ice cream will be given away (while supplies last). Parents are required to sign a waiver at the event before your children enter the route.
For additional information, please contact:
Minu Le-Brown
Crime Prevention Specialist
San Marcos Sheriff's Station
(760) 510-5254
Nhu.LeBrown@sdsheriff.org
MHHS FOLKLORICO CLUB PERFORMANCE
The Mission Hills Folklorico Club, Mission Hills Cardinal Alliance & guests from the Tierra Caliente Folklorico Group Vive will be performing in the Varsity Football Halftime show tonight Aug 23. The varsity game starts at 7pm! They will all be performing to the song Toro Mambo from the state of Sinaloa in Mexico.
UPDATED COUNSELOR, PSYCHOLOGIST AND SOCIAL WORKER ALPHAS
Parent and grizzlies, please note that there has been a slight update to our social workers, counselors, and school psychologists alphas.
Check out the updated list down below:
A-Ca | Mrs. Baker: cherryl.baker@smusd.org
Ce-Gab | Mrs. Segal: angela.segal@smusd.org
Gal-Ja | Mr. Cruz: eric.cruz@smusd.org
Je-Men | Ms. Jercinovich: carolyn.jercinovich@smusd.org
Mer-Pg | Mrs. Goldstein: kathleen.goldstein@smusd.org
Ph-Sh | Mrs. Martinez Alejandre: susan.martinezalejandre@smusd.org
Si-Z | Mrs. Rios: adriana.rios@smusd.org
School Social Workers
A-Li | Mrs. Santiago: michelle.santiago@smusd.org
Lo-Z | Ms. Gold: bina.gold@smusd.org
School Psychologists
9th + 12 A-Ge | Jaime Lozano: jaime.lozano@smusd.org
10th + 12 Gf-O | David Martinez: david.martinez@smusd.org
11th + 12 P-Z | Troy Savageau: troy.savageau@smusd.org
ERMHS l Franciene Lehman
ERMHS l Charlette Martin: charlette.martin@smusd.org
PSAT/ NMSQT
Grizzlies in 10th and 11th grade, don't forget to register for the PSAT! This year it will be on Saturday, October 26th from 7:45am-12pm. The exam costs $50 (Fee waivers are available!) and you can purchase it at the Finance Office or on our Grizzly Webstore.
Fee waiver forms are due Wednesday, September 11th in Room 750 (Mrs. Kozuchowski).
Please note that the registration AND the fee must be submitted prior to taking the test. There will also be a mandatory meeting in October. Contact Mrs. Kozuchowski if you have any questions- magda.kozuchowski@smusd.org
**Junior students could qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program and other scholarships**
Join the Google Classroom- code: td35zhc
MHHS COMPETETIVE CHEER TRYOUTS
Interested in our CIF competition team for the 2024-2025 season? Tryouts will be August 29th in the Grizzly Pavilion @3:30pm to 5:30pm. There will be a pre- tryout informational meeting via Zoom on Monday 08/26. Complete this interest form to receive more meeting details!
Email coach sarah.malo@smusd.org for more information.
Please note that you must have a valid physical (dated after 06/01/24) on file with the finance office before tryouts.
SENIOR SUNRISE
Attention seniors!
Come on out and enjoy a beautiful sunrise in community with your fellow grizzlies on August 27th @7am on the football field. Chick-fil-a and coffee will be provided. This event was organized by our lovely ASB! Stay posted and follow them @missionhillsasb.
MHHS SENIOR INFO
CLASS OF 2025 SENIOR PORTRAITS
Dear Class of 2025,
Congratulations! You are now entering your senior year! We wanted to let you know that it is time to book your appointment for senior portraits. Please book your session early to ensure you have enough time to choose the photo you want included in the yearbook. Check out the KEANE Senior Session Guide or their website for more information and to book your appointment! There are limited spots available, so make sure to book your appointment as soon as possible.
Attached is a coupon valid until August 31st.
Yearbook headshot sessions are $29 and will take place on campus on September 10th! The complimentary yearbook portraits will be on campus on December 10th and December 11th! Students will NOT have the ability to choose their yearbook portrait for the complimentary session. Make sure to book your appointment online!
To login: Use your STUDENT ID as the username and your LAST NAME as the password.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mrs. Kniseley at heidi.kniseley@smusd.org.
YEARBOOK SENIOR ADS
Attention seniors parents!
Celebrate your student and express your love with a lovely senior ad. There is a back to school sale going on right now and it ends on September 30th! Prices will increase after, so don't miss out on this opportunity.
The current pricing is:
Full page- $380
Half Page- $180
Quarter Page- $ 110
Eighth Page- $60
Go to Yearbookordercenter.com and use our school code: 8120
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mrs. Kniseley at heidi.kniseley@smusd.org. If you need help with your online order, call (866) 287-3096 toll free.
MISSION HILLS PTO INFO
PTO MEMBER RECRUITMENT
The 2024/2025 school year is around the corner and Mission Hills PTO is creating an Interest List for people interested in being the part of our Grizzly PTO Team. Responding is not a commitment, but the start of a conversation. We hope to hear from you if you're interested in learning more about what it means to be a part of the team!
Fill out the interest list here.
For more information about Mission Hills PTO, click here.
FIRST PTO MEETING OF THE YEAR
INFORMATION WORTH REPEATING
NEW VOLUNTEER CLEARANCE PROCESS
We take the safety of our students and staff seriously, and a part of this is ensuring everyone who is on a school campus is cleared and approved to be present. As a result, there is a new volunteer clearance process with different requirements for different types of school or classroom volunteer commitments.
We have outlined each of these volunteer levels with their requirements, please click here for more information or see the flyer here.
UPDATE ON SCHOOL ATTIRE
As we eagerly prepare for the new school year, we want to share some updates about our school attire guidelines. We ask that you be mindful of these when preparing for back-to-school shopping. These guidelines are designed to create a safe, positive, and inclusive environment for all our students across K-8, middle, and high schools.
What's New?
To promote a focused and supportive atmosphere, we have updated our list of prohibited attire items. After thoughtful collaboration with the San Marcos Sheriff's Department, here are the items that will no longer be allowed for students to wear to school:
Professional sports teams' jerseys and logos on clothing, hats, and accessories
Gang-related writing, symbols, graffiti, or tagging on any property
Monogrammed or lettered belt buckles (e.g., S, N, M, R, B, X, 13, 14)
Bandanas
Hair nets
These changes reflect our commitment to ensuring that every student feels safe and supported at school.
If a student is found wearing a prohibited item, they will be asked to change into appropriate clothing, and the item will be held securely at the front office. Parents/guardians are welcome to pick it up after school
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Together, we can make this school year our best one yet!
Update on Parking Violations
Students can park in the student lot without a permit until September 3, 2024. From this date students will be cited if parked without a valid parking permit sticker.
1st Violation - Warning
2nd Violation - May Result in $20 Citation Fee
3rd Violation - May Result in Towing, AL’s Towing Company
For more information about our Parking Policy including Permits and Start Smart Sign up, please use this LINK
VOLUNTARY STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE
Did you know the average cost of an ambulance ride in CA is $549? This is why SMUSD has partnered with a third-party to provide optional student accident insurance, for as little as $14 for the year. Voluntary student accident insurance is highly-beneficial if an accident was to occur while attending or participating in school-sponsored activities.
For details and more information, see the flyer here or visit www.studentinsuranceusa.com.
START SMART FALL DATES
Attention grizzlies! To park in the student parking lot, students are required to have a valid parking permit. To obtain a parking permit students are required to complete a Start Smart course and submit all required paperwork, including proof of driver license, valid registration and car insurance to the Finance Office.
The Start Smart dates for this 2024 Fall semester are:
Monday, August 19th @10am- 12pm Redwood Theater
Tuesday, September 10th @6pm-8pm in the library
Wednesday, November 6th @6pm-8pm in the library
Check out our website to register for a Start Smart course.
E-BIKE PARKING PERMIT
As part of an e-bike safety campaign, Double Peak School, San Elijo Middle School, San Marcos High School and Mission Hills High School will require students who bike or e-bike to school to obtain a permit. Students must attend an in-person safety course with one parent or guardian, led by the Sheriff’s Office. Students MUST bring their e-bike/ bike and helmet with them to the safety course.
Upon completion of the safety course, students will receive their permit stickers to be placed on their bike and helmet. Students will not be allowed to park their bike or e-bike on campus without a permit. Students will have until October 31st to complete this process.
Safety courses coming up:
August 28th Mission Hills High School Redwood Hall Theater @6pm
**Please note that all students must be accompanied by a parent/guardian**
SENIOR JUMPSTART CLASS OF 2025
CALSOAP San Diego and Imperial Counties Consortium is announcing their Senior Year Jumpstart for class of 2025.
This FREE event is for high school seniors and their families to find out about careers paths, the college application process (UCs, CSUs, Community Colleges, Privates), scholarships/financial aid, and more. Open to any 12th graders from any school.
This year it'll take place at Oceanside High School on September 7th from 8am to 12pm. Save the date!
ADOLESCENT FAMILY LIFE PROGRAM
Eligibility Requirements:
-expecting or current parents 21 years of age or younger
-one or both parents may participate
-Not enrolled in CalLearn
-Living in San Diego County
Click here for more information on their website.
HVAC DUAL ENROLLMENT
The San Marcos Unified School District and Palomar College bring you the "Be Ready to Work Program"! The program includes classes from Palomar's Air conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Program. Upon the completion of these classes, students will get a certificate to begin working in the HVAC field while earning credits toward an Associates degree.
"Be Ready to Work" is open to all SMUSD high school students and allows them to earn a certificate and college credit while in high school during the school day!
For more information, reach out to your student's counselor.
School Counselors
A-Ca | Mrs. Baker: cherryl.baker@smusd.org
Ce-Gab | Mrs. Segal: angela.segal@smusd.org
Gal-Ja | Mr. Cruz: eric.cruz@smusd.org
Je-Men | Ms. Jercinovich: carolyn.jercinovich@smusd.org
Mer-Pg | Mrs. Goldstein: kathleen.goldstein@smusd.org
Ph-Sh | Mrs. Martinez Alejandre: susan.martinezalejandre@smusd.org
Si-Z | Mrs. Rios: adriana.rios@smusd.org
HOW TO CREATE A WEBSTORE ACCOUNT
SMUSD has a new webstore for online purchases. All Mission Hills students and families will need to create an account to purchase items online. Students are able to create their own account with their SMUSD email. If families have multiple students at different schools within SMUSD or even multiple Grizzlies, you can now create one account for all the students in your family! Refer to the how to guides below to create your accounts.
If you have any questions about creating your webstore account email our ASB Director, Mrs. O’Neil, at jocelyn.oneil@smsud.org.
CASH FOR COLLEGE | Workshops for Seniors
12th graders and families can attend FREE Cash for College in-person or virtual events for individual help completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act (CADAA) and/or Chafee Grant for Foster Youth applications. Details here: https://www.calsoapsandiego.org/workshops
FAMILY GUIDE TO SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE'S MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Project Cal-Well, a cross-agency mental health initiative led by the California Department of Education, produced this easy-to-use guide with input from families, educators, mental health professionals, and youth. The guide helps parents and other adult family members and caregivers navigate supporting the overall well-being and mental health of school-aged children, including tips for what can be difficult conversations. It offers information about the social and emotional development of young people and explains warning signs that may signal mental health challenges. It equips caregivers with targeted strategies, tools, and resources that help them advocate for their family, address each child’s specific needs, and access professional help.
Key topics and tips include:
- example conversation starters to help open lines of communication with children and teens;
- enjoyable ways to connect, develop wellness routines, and create well-being practices as a family;
- information addressing mental health myths, including the specific needs and increased challenges facing young people who identify as LGBTQ+;
- information on how to recognize signs that a child is bullying or being bullied;
- tools to create a family media plan that sets boundaries around technology and gives children the skills to be online safely using age-appropriate platforms; and
- tips for partnering with schools to access mental health and family wellness resources and supports.
SUICIDE PREVENTION RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES
Suicide is a difficult topic, but it's too important to ignore. Please take a moment to review the following fact sheets to familiarize yourself with risk factors, warning signs, and things that can help you talk to your teen.
- Warning Signs of Suicide: A Fact Sheet for Family and Community Members https://sprc.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Warning-Signs-of-Suicide-a-Fact-Sheet-for-Family-and-Community-Members.pdf
- Talking to Teens: Suicide Prevention https://www.apa.org/topics/suicide/talking-teens.pdf
In an emergency, please call 911 or take the child to a hospital for evaluation. Here at Mission Hills, we have many different resources for students and their families to access. Please connect with your child's school counselor, school social worker, or school psychologist to find out more! We're here to partner with you throughout your child's high school career so that they can be well, feel connected, and find success here at Mission Hills and in the San Marcos Community.
School Counselors
A-Ca | Mrs. Baker: cherryl.baker@smusd.org
Ce-Gab | Mrs. Segal: angela.segal@smusd.org
Gal-Ja | Mr. Cruz: eric.cruz@smusd.org
Je-Men | Ms. Jercinovich: carolyn.jercinovich@smusd.org
Mer-Pg | Mrs. Goldstein: kathleen.goldstein@smusd.org
Ph-Sh | Mrs. Martinez Alejandre: susan.martinezalejandre@smusd.org
Si-Z | Mrs. Rios: adriana.rios@smusd.org
School Social Workers
A-Li | Mrs. Santiago: michelle.santiago@smusd.org
Lo-Z | Ms. Gold: bina.gold@smusd.org
School Psychologists
9th + 12 A-Ge | Jaime Lozano: jaime.lozano@smusd.org
10th + 12 Gf-O | David Martinez: david.martinez@smusd.org
11th + 12 P-Z | Troy Savageau: troy.savageau@smusd.org
ERMHS l Franciene Lehman
ERMHS l Charlette Martin: charlette.martin@smusd.org
CARE SOLACE
24/7/365 Mental Health Care Coordination Service for San Marcos Unified School District Students, Staff, and their Families: https://www.caresolace.com/site/sanmarcos
NEWSLETTERS AND WEBSITES
COUNSELING
>> View MHHS Counseling Linktree of Resources
>> View Counseling website
MHHS LIBRARY
Library Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (M-F)
>> View The Check-in! Library Newsletter for Students
>> Visit Library Page
NEED TO EMAIL YOUR COUNSELOR?
A-Ca | Mrs. Baker: cherryl.baker@smusd.org
Ce-Gal | Mrs. Segal: angela.segal@smusd.org
Gam-Ja | Mr. Cruz: eric.cruz@smusd.org
Je-Men | Ms. Jercinovich: carolyn.jercinovich@smusd.org
Mer-Pg | Mrs. Goldstein: kathleen.goldstein@smusd.org
Ph-Sh | Mrs. Martinez Alejandre: susan.martinezalejandre@smusd.org
Si-Z | Mrs. Rios: adriana.rios@smusd.org
ParentVUE // StudentVUE
FALL PROGRESS REPORT DATES
09/27 | Progress Report 1
11/08 | Progress Report 2
12/19 | Semester 1 Final Report Card
If you are new to MHHS, need a ParentVUE Activation Code, or have trouble logging into your account, please contact Angela Ochoa at Angela.Ochoa@smusd.org or (760) 290-2720.
LET'S GET SOCIAL
VIEW ALL 24-25 GROWLERS
Click here to view all Growlers.
These are posted to the ParentSquare App each week. If you're not receiving them, please check your settings on ParentSquare, and verify that your contact information is accurate in ParentVUE.If you have anything you'd like to see added, please reach out to Jillian Ryan.
TUTORING AND SUPPORTS
AP/HONORS TUTORING
>> Visit AP/H Website
>> View AP/HONORS TUTORING CALENDAR
ENGLISH
>> View WRITING DEN FLIER
MATH
>> View MATH TUTORING FLIER
SCIENCE
>> View BIO AND CHEM TUTORING FLIER
BRAINFUSE
TUTORING RESOURCES
In addition to asking your teacher for help, attached is some information about AP/Honors Tutoring and Math Tutoring. Also, all California students have access to BrainFuse free through the public library website linked. They offer online tutoring, writing assistance, and more.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Office Hours 2023-24
Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.- 4 p.m.
760-290-2700
WEBSITE // Please check missionhillshigh.smusd.org for daily updates and information.
At Mission Hills we strive to provide our students and families with clear and effective communication. If you would like to see additional information in our newsletter please reach out and let us know. As always, we are here to help and support our community.