Redwood Newsletter #2
August 17th - August 21st
The day is here! School starts on Wednesday, August 19th. We are excited to welcome our Vikings to campus on Wednesday. Reminder that we will be on a minimum day schedule on the first day of school.
- A Period starts at 8:30am.
- Period 1 starts at 9:00am.
- See schedule below.
Chromebook & Technology Rules
Grade 6 students, along with new students in all grade levels, will pick up their Chromebooks before school, after school, or during lunch.
All students will be issued a device, and we have additional safeguards in place this year to support safe, responsible, and academic use of technology.
Here are some important changes and reminders:
- Chromebooks are used ONLY during academic instructional time with teachers in class.
- Teachers use Lightspeed during class to monitor student device use and help ensure devices are being used appropriately.
- NO student devices will be used during unstructured time, including nutrition and lunch.
- The library and Wellness Center will also be device-free during unstructured time. Students are invited to read and play conventional games in those spaces.
- If a student needs to complete an assignment on their device during lunch, they should connect with their teacher for guidance.
- Parent Lightspeed is available to help families manage and restrict device access outside of school. More information about Parent Lightspeed is included later in this newsletter.
- Digital citizenship lessons will be embedded into classes to continue educating students about responsible, appropriate, and academic technology use.
We understand that technology is an important part of navigating today's world. At the same time, we believe in finding an intentional balance between technology use and the importance of developing strong foundational skills as we prepare our students for high school, college, and beyond.
Our teachers work hard to strike that balance in every classroom, using technology when it enhances learning while continuing to prioritize critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity, and strong foundational skills.
We can't wait to see our Vikings on Wednesday!
Introducing the LightSpeed Parent Portal for the 2026-2027 School Year
As part of the CVUSD's continued focus on digital safety and family partnership, Lightspeed Parent Portal will be made available to families this month. Lightspeed Parent Portal is an optional resource that gives parents and guardians greater visibility into their student’s activity on district-issued devices whenever the device is at home or off the district network, including weekly summaries of web activity and the ability to manage certain at-home access features. Parents and guardians will be able to disable access to specified websites whenever the device is at home or off the district network, or even pause internet browsing completely.
The goal is to strengthen communication between schools and families, support healthy technology habits, and provide parents with additional tools to support safe and responsible digital citizenship at home. CVUSD successfully piloted the Lightspeed Parent Portal this spring with CVUSD parents and guardians, who provided positive feedback regarding this digital tool.
- Beginning the week of August 24th, all families will receive an email directly from Lightspeed Systems with instructions on how to enroll in the Parent Portal. Enrollment is completely optional. Families who choose to participate can create an account and access available Parent Portal features and reports.
Additional information, including parent resources and frequently asked questions, can be found on the Technology Services Lightspeed Parent Portal website.
Check Q Connect on Tuesday to view your final class schedule. Everyone should check Q Connect as they may have been changes from your tentative schedule distributed at orientation.
- Reminder to students, your Chromebook passwords had to be re-set temporarily to your Q Connect passwords. You will need to RE-SET your Classlink password. Instructions were emailed to all parents/guardians. Students should use their Q Connect password to temporarily log into your Chromebook. Once you login, you will be prompted to change your password for class link/chromebook.
Redwood Middle School Families,
As we begin the school year, we want to share an important update on procedures regarding personal transportation safety for students who ride electric bikes or scooters.
While the focus of these procedures is electric transportation, including e-bikes and e-scooters, the general safety expectations are a great reminder for all students who ride bicycles or scooters, regardless of whether they are electric or conventional.
Our goal is simple: student safety. We want to help our students make safe choices while sharing the road, sidewalks, and bike paths on their way to and from school and throughout our community.
For Students Riding Electric Transportation-
- Students who choose to ride an e-bike, e-scooter or other legal motorized personal transportation to school are asked to complete the Safety Contract with a parent/guardian.
As part of this process:
- Please view the brief safety video provided by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.
- Review the Electric Personal Transportation Safety Procedures with your student.
- Complete and sign the safety contract with your student.
- Return the completed contract to the Redwood Middle School Main Office.
- Students will be provided a permit to display on their e-bike (or other applicable transportation).
View the Electric Personal Transportation Safety Procedures & Contract
We understand students access campus from various directions, and the school bike racks are centrally located at the front of campus to allow for staff supervision and equal access onto and off campus.
Please note: The safety contract and permit procedures apply to electric transportation. As a point of clarification, conventional bicycles, scooters etc do not require a permit or safety contract. Even so, we strongly encourage all students to practice safe riding habits every day. All students should dismount their bike when arriving into the school parking lot/sidewalks. All students are expected to walk their bikes/scooters on school property.
Additionally, please note that electric motorcycles are not permitted. If you are unsure about your student's e-bike classification or whether a particular device falls under the electric transportation procedures, please refer to the Ventura County Sheriff's Department's e-bike safety resources:
Ventura County Sheriff's Department's e-bike safety resources
Thank you for partnering with us to keep our Vikings safe. Feel welcome to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.
Ride Safe. Be Responsible. Go Redwood!
Join PTSA! Our goal is to have over 300 members this year. We need your help to make that happen. Let’s do it! Please join PTSA. We appreciate everything our families do for our Vikings. It truly takes a village to mold young minds, and we are grateful for the amazing team of parents supporting the Redwood Vikings!
Students will receive temporary ID cards during orientation. These will be black/white cards without the student's photo on it. Students will take their school picture on August 26th during their PE class. After this event students will all be issued one color ID card for the school year.
- Do not lose your ID card! Students need this card daily for first access into the cafeteria for nutrition and lunch. Those who forget their ID card will wait in a secondary line. We do this to help the efficiency of the cafeteria to serve all of our students in a timely manner.
- Replacement ID cards are available for $5 in the main office during the school year.
Calling interested parents/guardians! We are in need of a two parent representatives: one for SEDAC (Special Education Advisory Council) and one for DELAC (District English Learner Advisory Council).
- Click on the group name above to learn more about serving on the council. You will attend monthly district meetings, report back to the RMS site council team during our monthly meetings, and collaborate on a solutions focused effort to meet the needs of our Vikings!
- Email Kristi Keener if you are interested! kkeener@conejousd.org
Lockers are assigned to all grade 6 students. Grade 6 locker assignments will be printed on your tentative class schedule at orientation. Grade 7 and 8 students may request a locker if desired.
- Grade 7 and grade 8 students: Click HERE to request a locker.
- Students may carry backpacks or book bags during the school day. All personal cell phones and personal use electronics must be OFF AND AWAY THE ENTIRE SCHOOL DAY.
- Lockers are the property of Redwood Middle School and may be searched at any time if deemed necessary by the administration. Students who use lockers should never allow others to have access to their lockers. Students are prohibited from sharing lockers! Locks must always be used. Please be careful when using your locker.
- The school does not assume responsibility for anything stolen from lockers or items left unattended or accessible.