2425.26 Grizzly Growler 03.09

- Weekly On and Off Campus Events

- MHHS events

- New information for our community

- Student Parking Requirement Reminder

- The 2025 Grizzly Showcase

- ELPAC Workshop: Know your rights!

- Peer counseling applications OPEN NOW!

- Graduation Regalia for purchase

- MHHS Students Spotlight

- Robotics Tournament Recap

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!

MONDAY MARCH 10

1245PM MHHS Alumni Speaker in the Future Center

1245PM TrueCare Youth Advocacy Program in the Counseling Office

700PM Lacrosse Girls Varsity v. West Hills *Stadium

TUESDAY MARCH 11

330PM Varsity/JV Beach Volleyball v. Carlsbad *Woodland Park

330PM JV Softball v. Eastlake *Hollandia West

330PM Varsity Boys Tennis v. Rancho Buena Vista *Tennis Courts

430/600PM JV/Novice//Var Boys Volleyball v. Mt. Carmel *Pavilion

WEDNESDAY MARCH 12

900AM Project Next Interview Skill Day *Library

330PM JV Boys Baseball v. Rancho Bernardo *Baseball Field

330PM Freshman Boys Baseball v. Rancho Bernardo *Woodland Park

500PM The 2025 Grizzly Showcase *ASB Plaza/Pavilion/Library/Theatre

THURSDAY MARCH 13

845AM 8th Grade Welcome Day

310PM JV Boys Golf *Twin Oaks

330PM JV Boys Tennis v. La Costa Canyon *Tennis Courts

430PM JV Boys Volleyball v. Classical Academy *Pavilion

600PM Varsity Boys Volleyball v. Classical Academy *Pavilion

FRIDAY MARCH 14

400PM JV/Varsity Swim v. Escondido *Palomar

600PM Wrestling Banquet * Lounge/Outdoor Patio

SATURDAY MARCH 15

800AM SD Winds Composer Festival *Theater

900AM Color Guard Competition *Band/Chorus

900AM Hit with a Grizzly *Tennis Courts

MARCH EVENTS

03/12 | Grizzly Showcase / Project Next Interview Skill Day

03/13 | 8th Grade Welcome Day

03/19 | MHHS Community/Job Fair

03/20 | ELPAC Meeting

03/21 | Progressive Steps Dance Show

03/27 | Project Next Money Matters Part 2

Stop by the Future Center during lunch on March 10th, 2025 >>All are welcome!

Learn about

• UCSD
• Pharmacy Program
• College Experience and Tips

Looking to build coping skills, grow personally and explore healthier alternatives to substance use? TrueCare’s Youth Advocacy Program is here to support you! Come meet our team and learn more at our Info Hangout on March 10th during lunch at the counseling office – no strings attached! Discover how you can make positive changes in your life, and maybe even win a gift card while you’re at it.

See you there!"

Don’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity on March 12th at our Future Center!

What is Interview Skills Day (ISD)?

Project Next’s ISD builds student confidence and

skills to excel in real-world interviews—helping you

stand out for jobs, internships, and future careers!

Event sign up is now open Click here !!!

Wednesday, March 19, 2025!

Discover Community/Job Opportunities, students will be able to visit tables at lunch in the ASB Plaza!

For more information, please contact the Future Center

https://sites.google.com/smusd.org/mhhsfuturecenter/home

Managing Debt

Curious about adulting and managing money? Join Project Next in our Future Center during lunch (Food will be provided) to learn tips and tricks on handling credit card, car loans, and student loan debt. Discover strategies to tackle your debts and pave the way to financial independence.

RSVP Here

San Marcos Unified School District (SMUSD) LCAP Survey!

SMUSD would like you to share your thoughts on the district's performance. SMUSD will use the feedback received to ensure that district offerings meet the needs of students, parents, and staff, consistent with the district’s LCAP.

This study is for research purposes only; all information you provide will be maintained on a confidential basis by Hanover Research and will only be reported to SMUSD in an anonymized form (i.e., your name and identifying information such as race and gender will not be shared with the district or tied to your responses), so please be candid in your responses.

Please note that you should not use your name or other identifying items in your open-ended responses.

Thank you for your participation!

Click here to complete survey

This is a reminder that all students who park in the school’s student parking lot must have a valid parking permit. We conduct regular parking sweeps, and students who do not have a permit or are in violation of the parking policy will receive the following consequences:

• 1st Violation: Warning
• 2nd Violation: May result in a $20 citation fee
• 3rd Violation: May result in towing

For more details on our Parking Policy and violations, please refer to the following link (available in both English and Spanish). Permit applications are available at the Finance window.
Additionally, first-time permit applicants are required to complete a Start Smart course with a parent/guardian. Information about Start Smart courses can also be found at the link above.

We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring our parking policies are followed.

Hello 8th Graders and Parents/Caregivers!

As you prepare for the exciting transition to Mission Hills High School, we know that choosing the right courses is an important step. Your MHHS Counselors are here to guide you through the process and make it as smooth as possible.

Here’s how it works:

Part 1: MHHS Counselors' Presentation to 8th Graders
To get you started, MHHS Counselors will visit Woodland Park on March 13th, and we will visit Double Peak and San Marcos Middle on March 24th.

For La Mirada and San Elijo Middle School, we will meet with you at MHHS when you visit us on March 13th.

We'll walk through the different types of courses available, explain graduation requirements, and answer any general questions. This is a great opportunity to learn about the many exciting options you’ll have in high school!

Part 2: One-on-One Meetings with Students
After the presentation, MHHS Counselors will return to your school* to meet with each 8th grader individually. During these meetings, we’ll review your course options, help you pick the classes that best fit your interests and academic goals, and answer any specific questions you have. This is your time to get personalized advice and ensure you’re on the right path for a successful high school experience.

(*for LMA and SEMS, Part 2 will be a google form the students complete)

We’re excited to help you make choices that will set you up for a successful and enjoyable transition to Mission Hills High School.

Go Grizzlies!

On March 12th, incoming and current grizzlies and their families are invited to explore the halls of Mission Hills and find out what it means to be a Grizzly.

The evening kicks off at 5pm with live music, dance performances and food trucks in the plaza. Then, join us in the Pavilion (gym) for a showcase of clubs, sports and programs. ASB will lead campus tours, and our counselors will present important information for families in the library (in Spanish) and theater (in English).

ELAC Workshop: Know Your Rights!

Date: Thursday, March 20th

Time: 6:00 PM

Location: Virtual on Google Meet. meet.google.com/qrz-oqog-ynj

Immigration attorney Amie Scully will teach you what to do during interactions with law enforcement. The presentation will be in English and Spanish, followed by the ELAC meeting.

Progressive Steps dance show is a joint performance with Mission Hills dance students and professional dance companies. MHHS dancers learn from guest artists that are professionals in the community, then share an evening of dance with the professional company.

When: Friday, March 21

Time: 7:00PM

Where: Redwood Hall

Link for tickets:

https://gofan.co/event/3371712?schoolId=CA67720

Peer Counseling 1 applications are open for the 2025-2026 school year! We are looking to build a team of students that will become Peer Counselors. Peer-To-Peer is a student-led peer counseling program aimed to train peer counselors to provide support to their fellow students in the Wellness Center. We are looking for students who display empathy and strong communication skills, are passionate about mental health and wellness and/or hoping to pursue a career in the mental/behavioral health or related fields.

If students are interested in applying, the application is due Friday, March 21st. If you have any questions or would like to refer a student, please reach out to Charlie Grenier (charlie.grenier@smusd.org) or Lisa Filice (lisa.filice@smusd.org).

This event is for families in which grandparents or other relative caregivers (such as aunts/uncles or older siblings) are raising relative (kinship) children/youth.

When: Saturday, March 29, 2025

Time: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Where: North Inland Live Well Center 649 W Mission Ave, Escondido, CA 92025

Fill Out Interest Form by March 14, 2025

Online Form: https://tinyurl.com/ywder57u

2025 dress giveaway flyer in English and Spanish

Please note the following additional information:

• Each teen will be able to select one free prom dress and one accessory
• Teens must reserve their appointment online to come get a dress. Our appointment booking system has changed; registration is a two-step process; teens will complete their waiver first and then be sent to our reservation booking page.
• In addition to our Central Giveaway Location at Mission Valley Mall, we also offer "Pop-Up" Prom Shops at local partner libraries in San Diego County! When registering, teens should double check that they choose the correct giveaway location where they want to come get a dress with us!
• Teens must bring a valid ID and proof of enrollment in High School.
• Please Note: Our Main Princess Project Dress Giveaway Location at Mission Valley Mall is located next to DXL, and across from Lenscrafters, Phenix Salon and the US Postal Office. Park in underground parking level "D" and head up the ramp; our store will be on your left!

We know all families have different circumstances. There is an option for everyone see below to find something that may fit your family's needs.

English Flyer

Spanish Flyer

The order deadline is Friday March 28th. Graduation Regalia will be distributed on Senior Awards Day on Monday June 9th.

Mission Hills Approved Regalia Price List Link: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZmoRj5VcVypIK5Z8tu3JpG2Tz31TAYXqP2AlzP_BolE/edit?usp=sharing

Mission Hills Webstore Link: https://smusd.graystep.com/(S(5vosekauhm3xtqub5xddrz0l))/Index.aspx#/12/39

Ms. Beckwith is excited to share the outcome of Robotics this past weekend in Port Hueneme, CA:

Robot Play

41 teams were present at the competition with our final ranking of 16 after qualification matches. We were chosen as the third team on alliance 7 to compete in the elimination rounds. We were faced by the two top teams in the tournament where we met significant defense damaging our robot. The apposing alliance received a yellow card for some of the inappropriate play during the match. Ultimately, our alliance was knocked out after the 2nd round of playoffs. Please see this video from one of our qualification matches where we showed our ability to climb 2” off the ground from a cage, just 2” off the ground. We are on the blue alliance and are team 5137.

Impact Award

Three of the students (Townsend Livesay, Caleb Via, and Lauryn Krahenbuhl) presented to a panel of judges for the FIRST Impact Award. This is the premier award given to teams at a competition and the first time in the team’s 11-year history to complete an Impact Award Submission. I was very impressed with the submission and presentation the students provided. We will be honing the presentation and presenting it at the two remaining competitions.

Dean’s List

The team submitted two of our students as Dean’s List semi-finalists. Both Lauryn Krahenbuhl and Sierra Nguyen interviewed with a panel of judges about their efforts with FIRST and promoting STEAM within our community. Both had an amazing experience.

Awards

During the competition, the team was interviewed by judges during multiple visits to our pit. Ultimately, the team was awarded the Gracious Professionalism Award. This speaks to the character of the students on the team. They are the first to jump to the aid of another team when they need help, are eager to meet others in the FIRST community, and compete with honor. They were able to articulate how they:

• Collaborated during the off-season and during build season
• The team divided up tasks fairly and equitably
• The process of communication flowed from one discipline to the other
• Working together as a group was beneficial over working independently and
• Working together vs independently financially benefited the team.

I’m so proud of these students.

This makes 3 of the last 4 competitions, the team has come home with awards. We continue to build the program and make MHHS a STEM powerhouse, providing students with the skills needed for a successful career in all fields of STEM.

Hello Grizzly Families!

As we continue to navigate this school year, we want to take a moment to remind both parents/guardians and students about our attendance procedures.

• If your student was marked absent in error, please have your student contact the teacher. The teacher must then email or call the Attendance Office with the correction. Your student is responsible for speaking to the teacher to clear these absences.

• If you are aware that your student will be late to school for any reason, we do ask that a parent/guardian give us a call BEFORE your student arrives to school or the student must provide a Doctor/Dental note at the window upon arrival. Please be sure that your student checks in either with the Attendance Window or with a Campus Supervisor stationed in the student parking lot. By having them check in, we are able to get their time of arrival and excuse the classes they may have missed.

• If your student is leaving early, we do ask that a parent/guardian call the Attendance Office at least 1 HOUR BEFORE the time the student is needed.

If you are calling during normal business hours, and reach the voicemail, it is because we are on another line or helping a parent/student at the window. PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE at 760-290-2705 / 760-290-2715 / 760-290-2716 .. Voicemails are retrieved regularly throughout the day. Please be aware that the Attendance Office does not call back unless more information is needed. Please refer to the MHHS website for additional information, regarding Attendance.

Interested in becoming a Grizzly Cheerleader? Tryouts for the 2025-2026 season are right around the corner! Please complete the interest form below to be included in our upcoming pre-tryout parent/athlete meeting. Follow us on social media for all the latest dates and schedules.

Please email Coach Sarah at sarah.malo@smusd.org, with any questions! We look forward to seeing you all soon! GO GRIZZLIES!

Interest Form

Instagram : @mhhscheerleading

Ready to connect with other parents and enrich your parenting journey? The Virtual Parent Academy, in partnership with North County Family Counseling Specialists, offers a supportive environment for parents to learn, grow, and connect.

Presented by Courtney Kowalchuck, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Sessions will be offered in English on Zoom, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.
Zoom meeting ID: 895 2244 0081
https://smusd-org.zoom.us/j/89522440081

Virtual Parent Academy 2025 Schedule:
Wednesday, March 5: Anxiety/Worry in Kids
Wednesday, March 19: Depression in Kids
Wednesday, April 9: Boundaries & Communication
Wednesday, April 16: Divorce and Co-Parenting
Wednesday, April 30: Adolescent and Child Sleep
Wednesday, May 14: Technology and Social Media
Details on each topic will be available closer to the session date.

We are looking forward to this year's topics and hope you can join us!

For more information, please contact SMUSD Parent Liaison, Ani Diaz-Chavez, at 760-290-2597.

Saturday March 15th @ 9am In-Person at UC San Diego Liontree Arena

Sign up here/ regístrate aquí

UC San Diego's FREE annual Comienza con un Sueño 2025 conference brings together 6th-11th grade students, families & educators for a day of culture, community and knowledge. Offering bilingual workshops on college systems, admissions & financial aid, bringing together college & community resources & providing a one of a kind STEM fair!

Comienza con un Sueño 2025 reuine a estudiantes de 6ᐤ a 11ᐤ, familias y educadores en UC San Diego para un evento GRATUITO que celebra cultura, comunidad y conocimiento. ¡Ofrecemos sesiones bilingües sobre los sistemas universitarios, requisitos de admisión y ayuda financiera. La confrerencia reúne recursos universitarios y comunitarios y presenta una feria de STEM exclusiva!

Email comienza@ucsd.edu if you have any questions about this event.

What: Dia del Niño Resource Fair
When: Saturday, April 26th, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Where: San Marcos Elementary
Who: Open to the public

What to Expect:

• Free Event: Enjoy a day of fun and valuable resources at no cost.
• SMUSD Resources: Get support with TK/Kinder enrollment, transportation applications, and information about Extended School Services (ESS) after-school programs.
• Health Services: Access health physicals, dental screenings, and vision screenings.
• Community Partners: Connect with the San Diego County Library (and get a library card!), and discover many more community resources.
• Entertainment: Enjoy performances by San Marcos Elementary and La Mirada Academy Ballet Folklorico and Boys & Girls Club Dance Club.
• Vaccine Pre-registration: Incoming TK/Kinder and 7th graders needing vaccines can pre-register HERE.

If you have any questions, please contact either Ani Diaz-Chavez, District Parent Liaison, at anileydi.diaz-chavez@smusd.org or 760-290-2597 or Adelita Gonzales, Coordinator of Community Schools, at adelita.gonzales@smusd.org or 760-290-2448

BUY NOW $90

Visit MHHS Webstore to pre-order your child's yearbook. The price of the yearbook are now $90. The yearbooks sell out every year so be sure to reserve your book now before they sell out.

Go to Yearbookordercenter.com and use our school code: 8120

We are so sorry but we are currently SOLD OUT of our Senior Ad spaces. If you would like to be put on the wait list to purchase a Senior Ad please fill out the signup form and we will contact you in order of your sign up.

We are currently trying to secure more pages but as of now we DO NOT have space for any more Ads. Use this form to sign up to be on the wait list: Google Form Link

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.

ParentSquare is the primary communication platform for all school communication throughout SMUSD, utilizing email, text, and app notifications. We encourage parents to download the free mobile app and view their Notifications settings on when and how they are notified.

For a quick Parent 101 ParentSquare video overview, please click here.

SMUSD presents StudentSquare! It is new this year and is designed for students to get real time emergency alerts and important notifications directly on their devices.

StudentSquare offers:

• Instant Alerts: Students will get real-time notifications about emergencies like severe weather or lockdowns, so they’re always in the loop.
• Custom Notifications: They can set their preferences to receive alerts in the way that works best for them.
• Easy to Use App: The interface is super user-friendly, making it easy for students to find and read important info quickly.
• Better Communication: Besides emergency alerts, we can also send school updates, event reminders, and other important info to keep everyone connected.

Students will be using their SMUSD google account to "Sign in with Google". You can also sign in using the website: https://www.mystudentsquare.com/signin

Check out the StudentSquare- Getting Started Guide

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.

SMUSD has a new webstore for online purchases. All Mission Hills students and families will need to create an account to purchase items online. If you have any questions about creating your webstore account email our ASB Director, Mrs. O’Neil, at jocelyn.oneil@smsud.org.

>> HOW TO CREATE AN ACCOUNT

>> HOW TO ADD MULTIPLE STUDENTS

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

- Talking to Teens: Suicide Prevention

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

Click here for the Counseling Department website.

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

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

CTE/ Future Ready Counselor | Mrs. Brizeno stephanie.brizeno@smusd.org

Click here for the Counseling Department website.

PROGRESS REPORT DATES

02/28 | Progress Report 1

04/25 | Progress Report 2

06/11 | Semester 2 Final Report Card

ParentVUE

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.

@mhhs.grizzlies

@mhhs_counseling

@librarymhhs

@mhhs.silvertip

@mhhspto

@mhhs.ybk

@missionhillsasb

@mhhs_futurecenter

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.

Grizzlies Stepping Up (GSU) is a tutoring program for multilingual students. In GSU you can work on homework, projects, presentations, prepare for quizzes and tests. Reading for pleasure also takes place during GSU to increase Lexile level and reach reclassification. Student tutors are available to help.

Questions: Mrs. Bustos juliana.bustos@smusd.org Room 401

Click flyer link for more info

The calendar link outlines the regular schedule for AP/Honors tutoring. However, students are welcome to meet for other classes not listed. The calendar simply serves to provide reliable, consistent tutoring to students at MHHS.

**SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE ELA TUTORING IS ON PAUSE**

ELA tutoring can help you with essay feedback + revisions, reading comprehension, homework, make up work and MUCH more...

Questions: Email corynn.mcdougall@smusd.org

**SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE MATH TUTORING IS ON PAUSE**

Struggling with math? Don't let it hold you back! Math tutoring can help you build a strong foundation, boost your confidence, and improve your grades. With personalized attention and expert guidance, you'll gain a deeper understanding of complex concepts and develop essential problem-solving skills. Invest in your future and unlock your full potential with math tutoring.

Math tutoring @MHHS

Please click flyer link for more info

Office Hours 2024-25

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.