Hemlock/ACE Family Newsletter

Dear Families,

It's hard to believe it's December already! We have just three short weeks left in this semester to do as much learning as possible. Your student's attendance continues to be important. Our students will be doing academic work right up until the beginning of the Winter Break. We're also in an assessment window for all grades. For us, assessments are an opportunity for us to find out what students know and what they still need us to teach them. So please encourage your student to do their best so we can match our instruction to your student's needs.

Both Hemlock and ACE will enjoy PJ breakfasts this month. Hemlock's breakfast will be at 8:30am on Monday, December 16 and ACE's will be on Friday, December 20 at 8:45am. We look forward to celebrating with our school community!

I'm looking forward to enjoying this month with you and our students!

We're working hard on creating a positive recess and lunch culture in which students can have a great time, and can feel and BE safe.

Each week, Ms. Ariza, Ms. Bandy, and our student monitors are visiting classrooms one by one to review and practice recess & lunch expectations and procedures. We're also making sure students know what the consequences will be for unexpected behaviors. We started the new process with our Hemlock 1st-3rd grade students before the break and began meeting with our Hemlock 4th-6th grade classes this week. By Monday of next week, we will have also met with all of our ACE classrooms.

Most behaviors will be addressed by having students simply "re-do" the activity correctly. If students need additional practice to consistently use the expected behaviors, they will spend a few minutes at the beginning of the next recess or right after school practicing the skill they need. For example, if a student is yelling and playing in the bathroom, they may have a short Recess Academy to practice going into the bathroom, entering and exiting a stall, washing their hands, and leaving the bathroom promptly and quietly. If a student continues playing and shooting baskets after the whistle has blown to end recess, they may spend a few minutes in Recess Academy practicing freezing at the bell, carrying their equipment and putting it away in the ball bag, and going directly to their line.

The goal is always to teach and support expected behaviors so our students can spend more time enjoying recess and lunch in the future!

At Hemlock and ACE, we expect students to be SAFE, RESPECTFUL, and RESPONSIBLE. When students demonstrate one of these behaviors, they can earn a Superbuck from any adult on campus.

Students get to use their Superbucks to purchase items from the Super Store. Beginning this week, students may visit the Super Store after school in the MPR every Friday!

Ms. McClure's 2nd grade class learned about science at Loma Vista Farm.

Ms. Waid's 4/5 class explored chemical interactions through asking, "Can you transform something worthless into gold?"

Ms. Yeasted's TK class read Turkey Trouble, in which the turkey becomes a pizza delivery person. Then they built up the small hand muscles they need to be able to hold a pencil (fine motor skills) by drawing & painting their own turkeys, and making pizzas.

Mr. Miles's 4th grade class practiced informational writing.

ACE classes learned about California history at Sutter's Fort.

If you are picking up OR dropping off your student, you have two options:

• Park the vehicle in a parking space or on the street and walk to the gates to greet your student OR
• Pull all the way to the front of the driveway and stay in the car while your student exits or enters the vehicle.

Vehicles cannot be left unattended and also must not block the driveway.

Cell phones and smart watches must be turned off and put away in backpacks during the school day. Students who choose to carry or use their devices during the school day will have those devices confiscated by staff. The first time, students may pick up their device at the end of the day. The second time, an adult family member must pick up the device.

When students use the Internet unsupervised, they may be exposed to adult content, may stay up all hours, may initiate or be the victim of cyber-bullying. Most importantly, if your student uses the Internet unsupervised, anyone on the web can have direct access to your student without your knowledge.

• Inform your child that one condition of having a phone or device is that you will randomly check their messages, social media, and emails - then do it. Require your student to provide you with their user names and passwords.
• Collect your student's device(s) at bedtime and store them with you until the morning.
• Turn off the Internet/wifi at night. Protect it with an adult password.
• Install parental controls that will filter what your student can access and will alert you to any inappropriate searches or content.
• Teach your student about cyber safety, cyber bullying, and responsible digital use.

1. A parent or guardian may phone the school to report an absence or send a note with the student when they return to school. Within 72 hours of returning to school the absence must be cleared. If there is no phone call or note returned, the student will be marked truant. Our office follows up with monthly attendance letters informing parents of truancy.

2. Notes need to have the following information

• Name of student

• Date(s) of absence

• Reason for absence

• Signature of Parent or Guardian

3. The student should ask the teacher for make-up assignments. Assignments not made up may be reflected in the student’s grades.

EXCUSED ABSENCES:

• Student illness

• Medical appointment

• Dental appointment

• Judicial appointment

• Funeral

Ms. Yanin Avila, Attendance Clerk

(707) 453-6245, yanina@vacavilleusd.org

If you know ahead of time that your student must miss school, you can get an Independent Study packet so your child doesn't fall behind, even if your student will only miss one day! Independent Study packets are available through Ms. Yanin in the front office.

Students who had 100% attendance in November (no absences, tardies, or leaving early) will receive a surprise gift this week. We plan to have a different prize each month.

December is another short month - let's help our students make the most of their learning time!

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving Break. We have a current need in our health office for donations of packages of new boys/girls underwear and new or gently used pants (simple sweats work best). As we have run out of spare underwear and pants for those students that just need a quick change into clean and dry clothes to finish out their day, we would love to continue to keep this option available to our students. If we have these items on hand, we can usually avoid requesting that a family member come to campus to deliver a change of clothes and minimize the time the student has to be out of class. We appreciate your help!