Our Black Excellence Program has planned several fabulous events for our community to honor Black History Month. The first activity is a Movie Night:"The Hate U Give" followed by a community discussion this Thursday, February 6th.

Our district will be covering the cost of Advanced Placement (AP) exams this year! Any students who have not yet signed up due to the fees will be able to sign up and have their fees covered. If your AP student has already paid for their exam fees, the district will be issuing refunds. For more details, please see AP exams in this newsletter.

Our School Board agenda for this Tuesday, February 4th, has an action item for a seven-period day for all high schools not already on a block schedule. Here is the item going to the Board this Tuesday evening: (Item OAI-3) Resolution 2025-18 Seven Period Day at Bear Creek, Tokay, and Lodi High Schools (Mr. Young) https://lodipublic.ic-board.com/Attachments/6a6097c6-b46a-49df-80d8-700a3be797e6.pdf. The Board Meeting will be at 7pm at the James Areida Education Support Center located at 1305 E. Vine Street, Lodi.

A quick reminder that there will be a minimum day on Wednesday, February 5, and no school on Friday, February 7th in observance of Lincoln’s Day.

This week, I’d like to give a special shout-out to our Staff Members of the Week, Ms. Ciara Taylor and Mrs. Alyssa Sansing, for always going above and beyond for our students. Your dedication and hard work do not go unnoticed—thank you for all that you do!

Congratulations to our Jazz Band for winning first place in their division! Your hard work and talent continue to make us proud.

Also, don’t miss out on Priority Summer School, which opens on February 3rd. This is a great opportunity for students to stay engaged and continue learning—be sure to sign up now!

Lastly, please take a look below at the various district competitions and events happening this month. We encourage everyone to participate and support our students as they showcase their skills and talents.

Thank you for your continued support of our school community.

Best regards,

Julie Hummel
Principal, Bear Creek High School

The Bear Creek High School Jazz Band placed first in their division at the Folsom Jazz Festival on January 25th. The band competed against eleven other high schools in their division and were awarded a ranking of unanimous superior, which is the highest level of musicianship one can achieve at a competition. Additionally, we would also like to congratulate the students who were awarded solo awards at the competition: Joelle Isanan, Andrea Jimeno, Ethan Peters, and Shania Bautista. The students represented our school with professionalism, musicality, and a love for their program and school. We are proud that you all play for The Creek!

On February 1st the Bear Creek FFA Fruit Pruning Team competed at Fresno State for Mid Winter State Finals. Joshua Maguire, Nekia Daste and Isabella Bejsovec competed against teams from across California. The team won 5th Place High Team for the Written Exam. Joshua Maguire placed 2nd High Individual for Pruning Canning Peaches

would like to share the Calendar of Events for Black History Month here at Bear Creek. There will be several events happening throughout the month so please plan to attend and encourage students to attend as well. All events are FREE to Bear Creek Students and Staff.

The first two events require a permission slip. Students can pick up a permission slip in the cafeteria during both lunches today and in the AP Office next week. The two events are:

• Thursday, February 6- Movie Night- "The Hate U Give"- we will be watching this movie and then having a panel discussion afterwards to discuss how to bridge the gap and increase community awareness between Law Enforcement and Youth.

• Saturday, February 8- Black College Expo- we will travel to the Oakland Marriott Convention Center to speak with reps from HBCUs, UCs, CSUs and many more college systems.

• Thursday, February 13 - Participate in a school wide unity march followed by spoken word, music, dance, and keynote speakers all highlighting "what the history books won't tell you"

• Friday, February 21 - Teams will battle it out for the crown of kings and queens of black history in this trivia-style knowledge bowl competition.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms Taylor or Ms. Amanda. Thank you all for your support of the Black Excellence Program and for helping to celebrate Black History Month here at The Creek!

Ms. Ciara Taylor is an amazing Paraeducator that provides a positive impact on our school community. She is a fantastic support to our students, always encouraging them and forming positive relationships, while going above and beyond to support teachers in the classroom. Her willingness to work at and attend sporting events shows her support and commitment to the Creek. Bear Creek is truly fortunate to have her and she does this all while continuing her own education in college.

Mrs. Alyssa Sansing dedicates countless hours to supporting our school and its many programs, always ensuring that our students receive the care they need. Her dedication to the Ag Program here at Bear Creek is unmatched. Though small in stature, her impact is boundless. We are truly fortunate to have her as part of the Bear Creek family!

We are pleased to share that the district will be covering the cost of Advanced Placement (AP) exams for all students this year. Any students who have not yet signed up due to fees will now have their costs covered.

For families who have already paid for AP exam fees, the district will be issuing refunds. More details on the refund process and next steps will be shared soon.

Thank you for your continued support of our students’ academic success. If you have any questions, please contact our vice principal, Ms. Waters with any questions.

Hey everyone! This Wednesday, February 5, 2025, grab a delicious meal at Panda Express and help our Boys Soccer Team raise money for new gear! Simply show the flyer below when you order, and a portion of your purchase will go toward supporting our team.

Every meal counts—thank you for your support! 🙌🐼⚽

Campus safety and security is our priority, so when we return from Winter Break, Admin and Campus Security will be checking that all students have their physical ID card in order to enter campus. If a student lost their ID card, we will print them a new one and charge their student account $5 for the replacement.

Dates: June 9, 2025 - July 10, 2025

PRIORITY REGISTRATION Opens: February 3 – 28, 2025

Priority ONLY available to students in Need of Credit Recovery:

(See your Counselor to determine if you Qualify for Priority Registration)

OPEN ENROLLMENT REGISTRATION: March 3 – May 12, 2025

Open to ALL students Seeking Credit Recovery or Advancement:

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MAY 12, 2025

For more information on H.S. Summer School, see program flyer below:

Financial Aid Resources
The FAFSA and CADAA are scheduled to open on December 1, 2024 for the 2025-26 academic year. The delay from the customary October 1 opening day is to allow the US Department of Education time to perform beta testing and eliminate issues.

A few helpful links for the financial aid process this year:

• FAFSA updates - https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/fafsa-support
• Create and FSA ID video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTb7hMVtzco
• FAFSA Parent Wizard - https://studentaid.gov/fafsa-apply/parents
• Is my parent a contributor graphic - https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/is-my-parent-a-contributor.jpg
• ​​​​​​CADAA resources - https://www.csac.ca.gov/post/resources-california-dream-act-application

Middle Income Families

• Middle Class Scholarship - https://www.csac.ca.gov/middle-class-scholarship
• Some college aim financial aid at a declining market: Students in the middle class
• -https://hechingerreport.org/some-colleges-aim-financial-aid-at-a-declining-market-students-in-the-middle-class/
• New programs offer financial aid for Middle-Income Families
• https://www.road2college.com/financial-aid-middle-income-families/

2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid(FAFSA) or CA Dream Act Application(CADDA) is OPEN! Do not delay and fill it out today!

All Seniors are required to fill out one of the applications. Don't miss out, Priority Deadline is March 3, 2025.

In California, completing either a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or a CADAA (California Dream Act Application) is required by law for all graduating high school seniors, meaning it is mandatory to submit one of these applications to the state unless a formal opt-out waiver is filed; this requirement is enforced through state legislation, specifically the California Education Code Section 51225.7.

Please use the resources below to learn more about FAFSA or CADDA and what form would be best for you.

Dear Lodi USD Parent/Guardians,

Every year, California students take several statewide tests. When combined with other measures such as grades, class work, and teacher observations, these tests give families and teachers a more complete picture of their child’s learning. You can use the results to identify where your child is doing well and where they might need more support. Your child may be taking one or more of the following:

• California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP)
• English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC)
• Physical Fitness Test (PFT)

To see the full information on the above assessments, please visit our Assessment, Research, and Evaluation (ARE) Department website. Please select the Annual Notification of Testing, 2024-2025 link.

ew this year is our first-ever art competition, "Junkyard Masterpieces", sponsored by Cal-Waste. Students Pre-K through 12 are invited to create collages and/or sculptures from recycled and reused materials that will be showcased at the festival. Submissions can be either dropped off in person in the Lodi High School Library or sent via district mail to “Lodi High-Library”.

For more information: www.norcalsciencefestival.org

We want to inform you about the 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a new, free, 24/7 helpline for anyone in emotional distress or facing a mental health crisis. If you or your child ever need support, simply call or text 988 or call 1-800-273-8255 to connect with trained professionals who can help.

This is an important resource for your family’s well-being. Please save this number.

We are pleased to announce that the University of the Pacific Summer High School Institute will be taking place on June 2-12 and June 17-27. For eligible 8th - 11th grade Lodi Unified School District students, the tuition and registration for one 2-week session is 100% sponsored by the school district. Attendance, grades and behavior will be taken into consideration for eligibility. See details below:

· Click here for more information: Pacific Summer Institute LodiUSD 2025

· Fill out this Pre-Registration form by Jan 31st

· Attend an optional virtual meeting via Zoom on January 23rd to learn more and ask questions: https://pacific.zoom.us/j/93708656379

· Educational Services staff will send an email notification by the end of February regarding eligibility, waitlist status, or denial

· Questions? Email pacificsummer@lodiusd.net

Click on the link below for the Parent Information Meeting Flyer (English):

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14mihw_qHPRTz2S32waHpvAJKBWl7jfGP/view?usp=sharing

Have you ever lost it for no apparent reason? Do you ever feel overwhelmed and completely shut down? That's your stress response system going off too often.

Built-up emotions like anxiety, anger, and sadness are all connected to your stress response. These emotions and unhelpful thought patterns can build up until you hit a breaking point.

Learning to pause when things start to feel overwhelming can help you feel in control of your emotions.

Featuring historically Black colleges and universities, participating schools will offer scholarships, on-the-spot admissions, and workshops about financial aid.

Seniors and Juniors and College Transfer Students meet one on one with over 40 HBCUs and over 150 other colleges and universities.

Get Accepted on the SPOT, students you must bring your transcripts and test scores (12th graders and some colleges may accept 11th graders).

College Transfer Students this is a great opportunity for you to get accepted on the spot! Bring your transcripts from all colleges that you have attended. FREE for College Students just show your ID.

Applications fees waived..so save hundreds $$$.

Scholarships on the SPOT!

SHEC is an opportunity for students to learn about long-term career goals, financial aid, health professions, community service, and resilience. They aim to provide resources and insights from diverse students and professionals in the medical field who understand the challenges faced by those from underrepresented communities.

SHEC is on Saturday, February 8th, 2025, from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM at San Joaquin Delta College. The conference will feature guest speakers, interactive workshops, and insightful panel discussions.

As part of the event, They will also be hosting a raffle giveaway to support students’ educational and professional aspirations!

The best part? This event is entirely FREE! However, registration is required, and students can sign up online in advance via Eventbrite (Register here). Please note that after the first 130 registrations, students will be placed on a waitlist, so we encourage early registration to guarantee a spot at the event.

For more information, please feel free to visit there Instagram page: @shec2025.futureofhealthcare.

• Download the RaiseRight APP – Google Play Store or Apple App Store
• Press Join a Program on the first screen of the App.
• Enter the - Enrollment Code - FZICN3HEICRZ -for you to purchase for yourself you will create an account with a PERSONAL email.
• Create an account with Name, Phone, and personal email address..
• It is that easy and you can start ordering instantly.
• On the APP go to SHOP at the bottom left or SEARCH your favorite retailers at the top.
• A personal bank account can be linked. RaiseRight partners with Plaid. This must be done before you place an order in the CART.

Go to the bottom right of the App press ACCOUNT>SETTINGS>PAYMENT OPTIONS

• If you are paying with a credit card or debit card, you will enter that at the CART when checking out.
• An eGift card when purchased will be INSTANTLY sent to your WALLET on the App.

• Chaperone (Dances, Field Trips, Co-Curricular Events...)
• Fundraising
• Teacher Appreciation Events
• Special School Events (Bruin Way Awards, Block BC Awards, International Rally...)
• Athletic Events
• Office Assistance
• College & Career Center
• Classroom Assistance
• Donations
• Love BC Campus Beautification Events

CLICK HERE to view the Athletic Calendar

CLICK HERE to see important Dates for 2024-2025

SAYSOMETHING picture is a link to the website

https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/say-something-tips/

Click Here to see past BCHS newsletters that were released