Lathrop Lowdown

Dear Spartan Families,

As we step into this foggy winter season, we are filled with gratitude for our Spartan community and all the ways you support our students. December and January bring both celebration and academic focus, and we want to keep you updated on all the great things happening at Lathrop High.

End-of-Term Finals

Finals are approaching, and this is an important time for students to finish the semester strong. Please encourage your student to stay organized, attend school daily, and take advantage of teacher support and study opportunities on campus. A good night’s sleep and consistent routines can make a big difference in their success.

Instructional Focus

Our Guiding Coalition Professional Development Team continues to focus on instructional strategies that directly impact reading achievement. With growth occurring across all grade levels, the emphasis is on sustaining momentum while driving even stronger gains.

Teachers are also leveraging Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) to align lesson planning with assessments, analyze MAP data, and integrate interim assessments for timely instructional feedback. Our monthly Spartan Strategies professional development provides consistent, sitewide support in engagement, differentiation, and high-impact literacy practices to ensure all students have access to high-quality learning.

Whobilation & The Giving Tree

We are thrilled to share that every tag from our Giving Tree has been taken—thank you for your generosity! If you selected a tag, please return your unwrapped gifts to the office as soon as possible.

We are also accepting donations of gift wrap, gift bags, and tape, which help us create a joyful holiday experience for our families.

As we close out the year, we wish all our Spartans a warm, restful, and joyful winter break. Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We look forward to a bright and successful new year.

Dr. Melissa Beattie
Principal, Lathrop High School

MUSD School Board Recognition Photo: from left to right, Angela Ott, Larua Freret, Jason Lee (Student Honoree), Melissa Beattie, Vinay Soni, Nashekah Kimbro

What is The Zen Den?

• The Zen Den is a peaceful space within the counseling office, created by our VCC/ Admin team to offer students a quiet, safe environment where they can self-soothe, reflect, and regulate their emotions.
• The Zen Den was thoughtfully designed to promote peace and calm through:
• Warm lighting and a soothing color palette.
• Comfortable seating and soft pillows.
• A sound machine and nature-themed light panels.
• Mindfulness posters offering gentle guidance.

• Outside the office, a light indicates when the room is in use, and a 15-minute timer helps ensure everyone has access while maintaining structure.

When can/should a student go to the Zen Den?

• When a student feels escalated feelings (anger, anxiety, panic, stress) that are preventing them from functioning in class.
• All students are welcome to use the Zen Den when it’s available — no permission slip or referral is needed.

What do students do in the Zen Den?

• When students enter the Zen Den, they’ll find two sets of gentle guidelines posted on the wall — “Must Do’s” and “May Do’s.

Must Do’s

• Place phones outside the room to invite calm and focus.
• Take three slow, grounding breaths.
• Journal any thoughts or feelings that feel heavy or present.
• Check in with a VCC counselor before leaving.

May Do’s

• Try a mindfulness coloring activity.
• Listen to calming nature sounds.
• Observe your breath for one full minute.

What is the impact of this space on our campus?

• Since its creation, the Zen Den has been used daily by students and staff.
• It has become a supportive space for practicing coping skills, taking a reflective pause, and managing emotions effectively.
• The room has also helped our VCC team provide privacy for students during difficult moments and better manage crisis situations, all while continuing to support our ongoing caseload.

Big shoutout to our Valley Community Counselor Claudia who took the lead on designing this space to best serve the needs of our students!

Mrs. Heather Anderson, Vice Principal

As part of our ongoing efforts to review and reteach our schoolwide expectations for behavior, on Wednesday, November 5, we held a class meeting for our 9th grade Spartans.

During this meeting, our Link Crew Leadership students lead presentations on key topics, including overcoming academic challenges, balancing time between sports, activities, and academics, the benefits of Valley Community Counseling, managing behavior, getting involved on campus, and the importance of regular attendance.

Our goal is to consistently teach and reinforce “The Spartan Way”—helping our students develop the skills and habits needed for success in high school and beyond.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Heather Anderson, Vice Principal

CURRENT HAPPENINGS...

As we approach the end of semester two in December, please be prepared for finals week, scheduled for the week of December 15th. Report cards will be available on January 13th.

The holiday season is almost here! Winter Break will run from December 22nd through January 6th, with Term Two (Semester One) beginning when we return on January 7th.

Finish the semester strong and enjoy your winter break!

Before classes resume, don’t forget to:

• Check Student Connect to review your new class schedule.

For more details on upcoming events and resources, check out the Counseling LinkTree and visit the LHS website regularly.

Let’s make it a strong start to Term Two!

The FAFSA and CA Dream Act (CADA) applications are now open!

Seniors MUST submit their FAFSA/CADA application to be eligible for financial aid to help pay for community college, 4-year universities, or career technical schools. All Seniors are required to apply. Applications must be submitted by March 2nd.

26-27 FAFSA Online Application: FAFSA® Application | Federal Student Aid

26-27 CA Dream Act Application: CA Dream Act Application

December 2025 | IMPORTANT DATES & EVENTS

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KEY DATES TO REMEMBER

December will go by fast; here are some upcoming events and important dates….

• UC & CSU Applications are DUE

Monday, December 1st

• PSAT Interpretation

Thursday, December 11, 2025: Understanding your score and what it tells you about how ready you are for college-level work. It helps you know which subjects you’re strong in (like reading or math) and which areas you might want to practice more

• Finals

Thursday, December 18, 2025, and Friday, December 19, 2025

• Winter Break No School

Monday, December 22, 2025 – Tuesday, January 6, 2026, School Resumes Wednesday, January 7th

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COLLEGE & CAREER EVENTS: Sign up at the links posted to the grade level TEAMS.

Students, have any questions? Stop by Counselor Quad Talk (CQT) and chat with the Counselors during lunch outside of the office!

Stay up to date with information by checking Teams and by following us on Instagram @LathropHighCounseling

We are proud to celebrate Mrs. Wilson for being honored by MUSD for her exceptional dedication and service. Her commitment to supporting students and families is truly inspiring. This recognition is well deserved Congratulations!

As we wrap up the season of gratitude and our 4th month of the 2025-2026 school year! The Lathrop Spartans want to reflect as a community to see all the triumphs and focus on what truly matters and celebrate this spirited month overall. With the help of our Lathrop Community, our Student Council Program was able to collect over 1121 non-perishable items for their annual Canned Food Scavenger Hunt. Each non-perishable items collected are donated to Haven of Peace in French Camp then given back to the community. Student Council is extremely grateful for all donations and support. It would not be possible without YOUR help!! Thank you!

Do you want to be the Change for Children in our Community this Holiday season? Lathrop High School is excited to announce their first ever Giving Tree. This new tradition will help students around our own community! Gift Tags will be available starting Nov. 24th; All Unwrapped Gifts must be turned in the Office by Dec. 12th! To get more information please don’t hesitate to contact B-Roc at abirakos@musd.net if you have any questions and to stay updated with important due dates!

Its Timeeeeeee… Whobilation is right around the corner.

Whobilation is Lathrop’s annual holiday celebration, where we transform our campus into the whimsical town of Whoville from Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas. This celebration takes place during the school day and is paired with a fun spirit week that brings festive cheer to campus.

As part of Whobilation, we are excited to host a FREE Community Movie Night on Thursday, December 11th at 6:00 PM in the Lathrop High Cafeteria! We’ll have club sales, activities, and plenty of holiday fun, so bring your loved ones, your appetite, and your excitement.

Get cozy by wearing comfy pajamas, and feel free to bring blankets and lawn chairs. We will be showing the holiday favorite ELF!

We are proud to share that two Lathrop High alumni received their American FFA Degree on November 1st. The American Degree is the highest honor awarded by the National FFA Organization, recognizing exceptional achievement in agricultural education, leadership, and community service.

Earning this degree reflects a student’s deep commitment to their chapter and state association. To qualify, each recipient must:

• Earn at least $10,000 through their Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE)

• Complete a minimum of 50 hours of community service

• Participate in an agriculture program for at least three years

• Be 2–4 years post–high school graduation

This prestigious honor is rare—less than half of one percent of FFA members nationwide earn the American Degree.

This year, Anna Page and Jessica Kinlaw Gutiérrez joined this distinguished group. In Lathrop High’s 17-year history, only eight students have ever earned the American Degree. Across the entire 100-year history of MUSD, only 39 students have received this recognition.

Anna is currently attending the Young Adult Program at the MUSD Farm, and Jessica is studying at Modesto Junior College, where she is working toward her Vet Tech Certificate while also working at Lathrop Veterinary.

We are incredibly proud of Anna and Jessica for their dedication, hard work, and outstanding achievement!

Danelle Ariaz
Lathrop High

Lathrop FFA Flowers

Mrs. Simpson’s 2nd-period Advanced Ceramics seniors partnered with the counseling team and Assistant Principal Mrs. Denna Crowe for a hands-on learning and collaboration activity. Students demonstrated leadership, creativity, and teamwork while showcasing the skills they have developed throughout the year.

The Fall Star Olympics was a wonderful opportunity for our student leaders to engage, learn, and connect. It was inspiring to see students from across the district come together, have fun, and build meaningful relationships through games, activities, and a lively dance party hosted by East Union.

From a student leader’s perspective, the event offered valuable learning experiences—especially the chance to observe and collaborate with leaders from other schools. Our Link Leaders had a great time cheering on students, interacting with the mascots, and participating in the day’s activities.

Overall, the Fall Star Olympics was both a positive learning experience and a fun-filled day for everyone involved!

The vision of Lathrop High School is to be a united team preparing all students for life beyond high school; becoming a place of synergy and energy in all aspects of school culture and a community of excellence: making LHS a school that is recognized for high quality academics and strong programs.

The mission of Lathrop High School is to provide each student with a comprehensive education in a safe and supportive environment that promotes critical thinking, self-discipline, and accountability. Lathrop High School strives to prepare its students with the skills and abilities to be successful and becoming contributing members of their communities.

Home of Spartan Nation

Email: lathrophigh@musd.net
Website: https://lathrophigh.mantecausd.net/
Location: Lathrop High School, Spartan Way, Lathrop, CA, USA
Phone: (209)938-6350
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lathrophigh