THE FORECAST News 8.14.24

August 14th , 2024

Dear Mayfair Students and Families,

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year! We are thrilled to embark on this new journey with you and look forward to another year filled with growth, learning, and success.

This year, our theme is #SOONS24/7, emphasizing our commitment to living the SOONS motto 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. At Mayfair, SOONS stands for:

Show Respect: We value and respect each member of our school community, embracing our diversity and fostering an environment where everyone feels valued.

Own Our Actions: We take responsibility for our actions, understanding that accountability is key to personal and academic growth.

Overcome Challenges: We face obstacles with resilience and determination, knowing that every challenge is an opportunity to learn and grow.

Never Stop Learning: We are dedicated to continuous learning, both inside and outside the classroom, striving for excellence in all that we do.

Serve Others: We actively seek opportunities to support and uplift our community, understanding the importance of kindness and service.

To support our #SOONS24/7 theme, we will place special emphasis on the following areas this year:

• Consistent Respectful Language: We will encourage the use of respectful language that supports a positive and academic setting. Every conversation matters, and respectful communication is key to a harmonious school environment.
• Punctuality: Arriving to school on time at the start of each school day and throughout the daily schedule is crucial. Being on time not only shows respect for others but also ensures that students maximize their learning opportunities.
• Classroom Attendance: Reducing out-of-class time for any reason is a priority. Students need to be in class to learn from their teachers and from each other. Every minute in the classroom is valuable, and we aim to make the most of it.
  
  

Additionally, we are dedicated to preparing our students to be college and career ready. This includes fostering essential skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, and effective communication, as well as providing guidance and resources to help students plan for their futures. Our goal is to equip every student with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in higher education and the workforce. What does this look like on campus for students? We will work with our students consistently and reinforce responsible use of technology, "dressing for success," in addition to providing outstanding educational opportunities.

We are SOONS all day, every day! This year, we will work together to embody these values in every aspect of our lives, creating a supportive and dynamic environment where every student can thrive.

As we prepare for the exciting year ahead, we encourage you to get involved, stay engaged, and embrace the opportunities that come your way. Our dedicated staff is here to support you, and together, we will make this school year a memorable and successful one.

Welcome back, and let’s make 2024-2025 the best year yet!

With enthusiasm and pride,

Sean R. Diaz

Proud Principal - Mayfair Middle and High School

#bewater #Soons24/7 ALL DAY EVERY DAY!

MHS Families,

Welcome back families! We are excited to have students back on campus, and we look forward to having an amazing year with your students and families at various events. Be sure to regularly check your emails and messages for important information that is sent to families.

Listed below are just a few reminders:

1. Mayfair Middle/High School does not permit any drop-offs or deliveries of food or other items. Please ensure that your student is prepared for the day when coming to school in the morning with their lunch, supplies, money, etc.
2. Dress Code. For the 2024-2025 school year, we are trying to prepare our students for college and career ready with a dress code. Students will not be allowed to wear any inappropriate clothing which includes the following: No sheer, low cut, revealing blouses, bare midriff, or braless outfits, bathing suits, beach attire, tight or revealing, or strapless garments. Please be sure that your student follows the dress code and wears appropriate clothing and accessories. Also, students may not bring blankets to campus. Click here to access Mayfair's Dress Code Policy.
3. No returning back to campus. If a student has an early release (7th or 8th period), once the student leaves campus, they may not return to campus during school hours. Parents - please ensure that your students are going home early if they have the early release.

Here is the bell schedule for the 1st day of school!

This Anchor Day Schedule is only for Thursday, August 15th.

Please check your class schedules on Aeries to see if you have a Home period during any period of the day. Those that have home periods for 7th and 8th period off may leave campus earlier.

If you have 2nd and/or 7th period Home, you will need to remain on campus within the lunch area.

Hey Monsoon! Take a look at the following map. The map shows you where you can enter during ARRIVALS in the morning.

Any student may use either of the two opened gates before school starts. The gates open 30 minutes before the start of school (School starts at 10am on Mondays and at 8:30am on Tuesdays-Thursdays). The very first day of school, August 15th, will also begin at 10am.

The gate by the Middle School Office will close when the final bell rings in the morning, and any late student will then need to enter via the Front Office only.

Hey Monsoon! Take a look at the following map. The map shows you where you can leave during DISMISSALS.

Students will be dismissed in the following manner:

Middle school students will exit the gate by the Middle School Building,

while high school student will leave from the gate next to the front office.

It is the expectation that students show their Minga ID to exit. For the first few weeks, we will use the student's schedule if the student does not have Minga downloaded onto their phone. Please see the Minga message later in this newsletter to see how students can download the Minga app onto their phone via Google Play or Apple Store.

IMPORTANT: ALL FAMILIES must complete online data confirmation through BUSD's Aeries Parent Portal for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. If you already haven't done so already, please be sure to get this completed as soon as possible. Families that haven't completed this will eventually be contacted multiple times by the school in order to ensure completion.

To complete data confirmation, parents need a Parent Portal account. If you do not have the required information (Student ID Number and Verification Code) to create a Parent Portal account, please contact your school site. The school sites open on August 1, 2024.

Forgot your password? Reset it by selecting "Forgot Password."

Below are helpful resources to assist with the data confirmation process:

Parent Portal - How to create an account

Data Confirmation directions (click on Aeries Portal for details on the site)

Parent Portal Link

At Mayfair, we wanted to take the opportunity to thank our students and their families for engaging with staff during the Mayfair Preview Days. We appreciate everyone's participation while patientely waiting in the various stations, despite the weather. We apprecaite the feedback that families provided, and we do plan to make some positive adjustments for next year.

Mayfair Merchandise continues to be sold during the day, through our ASB Office. Students can visit the ASB Window to continue purchasing items, including PE clothing, spirit wear, yearbooks, and ASB Cards. See the flyers below for pricing and benefits.

Mayfair Middle/High School students will utilize the app called Minga as a digital ID card. The app enables staff to create hall passes, reward students for doing well and helping others, and the digital ID card will help students have an easier time entering or leaving campus. The digital ID has a "live" interface, with a running digital clock and a moving background, thus preventing students from using a screenshot [Screenshots of ID are not permitted]. Students will utilize their school email (via Google) to log in. The app is safe to use, uses very little data, and doesn't require access to any of the information stored on your phone. If your child does not have a smartphone, don't worry - they will receive a printed ID card as well. Click here to access a quick document that shows you how to log into your school's Minga account.

The Think Together Program is available at Mayfair is available to students of grades 7 and 8.

Attendance is one of main indicators as to the academic and social/emotional outcomes of our students. This is why being present on a daily basis is instrumental to a child's success. Please see some of the statistics and information on the value of attending school everyday:

Did you know?

• Students should miss no more than 9 days of school each year to stay engaged, successful and on track to graduation.

• Frequent absences can be a sign that a student is losing interest in school, struggling with school work, dealing with a bully or facing some other difficulty.

• By 6th grade, absenteeism is one of three signs that a student may drop out of high school.

• By 9th grade, attendance is a better predictor of graduation rates than 8th grade test scores.

• Missing 10%, or 2 days a month, over the course of the school year, can affect a student’s academic success.

What you can do:

1. Make school attendance a priority

• Talk about the importance of showing up to school every day, on time.

• Help your children maintain daily routines, such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s sleep.

• Try not to schedule dental and non-related medical appointments during the school day.

• If your children must stay home because they are sick or in quarantine, make sure they have asked teachers for resources and materials to make up for the missed learning time in the classroom.

2. Help your child stay engaged

• Find out if your children feel engaged by their classes, and feel safe from bullies and other threats.

• Make sure your children are not missing class because of challenges with behavioral issues or school discipline policies.

If any of these are problems, contact the teacher and work with them to find a solution.

• Monitor you child’s academic progress and seek help from teachers or tutors when necessary. Make sure teachers know how to contact you.

• Stay on top of your child’s social contacts. Peer pressure can lead to skipping school, while students without many friends can feel isolated.

• Notice and support your children if they are showing signs of anxiety.

3. Communicate with the school

• Check on your child’s attendance to be sure absences are not adding up.

• Seek help from school staff, other parents or community agencies if you need support.

Did you know that free online tutoring is being provided by the BUSD district? Students can log in to Paper using their school district's Clever accounts (which uses the student's school email/password), or they can download the Paper app!

PAPER Online Tutoring is available for all students in 4th-12th grade through their Clever account. Students may ask tutors questions through the chat feature using the PAPER APP to get help with homework, feedback on their writing, support with studying for assessments, and even help with college/scholarship essays! The APP can be found in the Google Play and Apple APP store.

Click here to register for a free parent webinar (provided in English and Spanish). If your child needs more information about how to use PAPER, they can watch the following videos for more information:

Click here to watch the video titled "How Do Students Access 24/7 Live Help on PAPER?"

Click here to watch the video titled "How Do Students Use PAPER's Essay Review?"

Parent Teacher Association:

• Promotes strong school to community collaboration and engagement

• Recognizes community and student achievements and service

• Serves to advocate for all children and families

• Dedicated to educational success, health and wellbeing

Parents! We want you to get involved! Our PTA (Parent Teacher Association) has done an outstanding job on helping our students and staff in the past, and we want that positive relationship to grow! Thank you in advance for joining our Mayfair Middle/High School PTA! Click here to visit the Mayfair PTA Facebook Page.

We build futures for our students by providing a pathway for all students to become responsible, informed, productive citizens who can compete in a diverse world.

The Bellflower unified School District produces graduates who are globally competitive learners. Through equitable access to high quality academic, social, and applied learning, students are ready to excel in college, careers, and life.

Instagram/Twitter(x)/Facebook: @Mayfair_BUSD

Website: https://mayfairmonsoons.org

Location: 6000 Lakewood Ave., Lakewood, CA 90713

Phone: 562-925-9981