SkyView Academy Thursday Wire
A Letter From Mrs. Worley
October 1, 2026
Dear Families,
The first draft of this letter started with a link to a short video in which Dr. Maya Angelou charges her viewers to “Just Do Right.” This same video launched my Senior Rhetoric class into passing period on Wednesday morning.
As I reflect on the past week and society's ever-diminishing moral compass, defeat resonates within me over the world our children face. But I also find myself enraged by the immorality flooding our society. Admittedly, my need for justice creates a myopic point of view that sometimes blinds me.
Discipline. A word charged with emotion. Opinion. Reaction.
As parents, we work diligently to raise good humans. Humans filled with compassion. We encourage positive messages.
Remind them to be kind.
“To be the change.”
We strive to empower them to tell the truth. We hope and believe that they reach out to the lonely peer in the cafeteria. We envision them on the playground outlining the plan for world peace.
Some days that is exactly what they are doing.
It’s not the some days.
It’s the other days.
It’s the days when your first grader shares the tragic events of the previous night with his PE teacher. How he broke his arm and had surgery less than 12 hours ago. He explained that, unfortunately, he won’t be able to participate in the mile run during PE.
Minor detail. No cast. Flat. Out. Lie. Good Times.
It’s the days permanently seared into your brain.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010.
The day I made my way home after dropping Hunter and Maddy off at school. The day I received a notification on my phone that I had an email from Hunter’s teacher.
The day I opened the email at the next red light. I expected to learn that Hunter left his lunch box or homework folder at home. Again.
I prepared to send my standard reply: “I’m sorry. I won’t be able to bring it to him.” What I read resulted in a traffic violation that thankfully went unnoticed. I made an illegal U-turn and called my husband.
As I made my way back to the school, I shared the account of Hunter’s behavior the previous day at school. Disrespect. Aggressive behavior. Comedian.
And not because he told knock-knock jokes.
As I navigated traffic, I made it very clear that I intended to recommend suspension for our son. Paul agreed. Thankfully, Hunter’s principal acted rationally. While I believed we were raising the next career criminal, she saw Hunter.
Really saw him.
I went into the office and demanded that they pull Hunter from class. I locked eyes with his principal between the slats of her half-opened blinds. She emerged from her office calm and steady. She sought to understand rather than judge. I shared the events as described in the email.
I concluded the retell with, “Now do you see why he needs to be suspended?” I realize now she must have restrained herself from hysterical laughter. She respectfully redirected me to calm and rational thought. She said she appreciated my support for Mr. E., but respectfully disagreed with my recommendation.
Hunter shines in the social. He loves people, embraces relationships, and thrives in groups. My polar opposite.
In her wisdom and calm, his principal decided he would lose the privilege of participating in the class Valentine’s Day Party. It crushed him.
But it changed him. It changed him because it touched his heart. It spoke to him from a place that mattered. The pain of that discipline resonates with him even today. He still fights for the underdog.
While Dr. Angelou’s charge to “Just Do Right” inspires, doing right is not always simple.
Sometimes it means grace. Sometimes it means a firm line. And sometimes it means allowing our children to experience a consequence that reaches their heart.
Discipline, at its best, is not punishment. It is teaching. It reminds our children that a poor choice does not define them.
Perhaps that is how we respond when the world’s moral compass feels unsteady.
We keep pointing north.
We teach right. We model right. We expect right. And when they, or we, get it wrong, we try again.
Honored to Serve You All,
Janet Worley
Head of Schools
A Note From Mrs. Harrison
Dear Parents and Guardians,
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Our Field Day FUNdraiser was a success! Thank you for helping us exceed our goal. You helped us raise $48,573! Students earned a "Random Dance Party Day" ($15,000), Cafeteria Karaoke ($30,000), and our top 10 fundraising students dumped ice water on some of our staff after we reached $45,000. These 10 students also participated in tug-of-war against the teachers. The students won!
Mrs. DeBoer's class was our top-raising class. They earned a dress-of-choice day, an ice cream party, and a water balloon fight with staff. The ice cream party will be on Monday, 10/5, and the water balloon fight and dress-of-choice will be on Tuesday, 10/6.
The second-place class, Mrs. Dehaan's 5th-grade class, earned a dress-of-choice day and a game day, which will be on Tuesday, October 6. Thank you!
If your student earned PJ Day (they will have brought home a green coupon), that is scheduled for Monday, October 5th.
Sincerely,
Paula Harrison
Lower School Principal
Veterans Day Details and Sign Up
We look forward to honoring the Veterans in our community on Wednesday, November 11th, during our annual Veterans Day Assembly. We invite all Veterans to join us to be recognized and honored.
If you would like to honor a veteran in the slideshow, please submit information via the slideshow form. Submissions for the slideshow are due by Friday, October 30th. NO late submissions will be accepted.
Given the significant turnout we expect for this event, we kindly request everyone to RSVP in advance. Your early response will greatly assist us in ensuring a smooth and efficient check-in process. Please take a moment to fill out the RSVP form at your earliest convenience.
If you have any questions, please contact Jessica Lui at jlui@svak12.org.
Hawks In Service
If you are an SVA Alumni serving in the military or have served in the military, we would love to update our Hawks in Service wall with your official military picture and ranking information. Please complete the following Google Form.
Thank you for your service. If you already submitted, but you would like us to update your ranking/title information or picture, please fill out the form again.
Hello 8th Grade Families! Save the Date
You are cordially invited to attend a High School Tour to learn all about what SVA can offer your future high schooler! We have a special High School tour for our current parents at 8:45 am on Thursday, October 8th. Please Register. We look forward to seeing you there!
SVA Theater presents Little Women
SVA Theater presents Little Women by Kate Hamill. October 22nd, 23rd and 24th at 6:30pm. Tickets on sale Monday, October 19th.
Play Synopsis: Jo March isn’t your typical Victorian young lady. She’s improper and headstrong, and one day she’s going to be a great American novelist. As she and her sisters grow up in the middle of the Civil War, they strive to be brave, intelligent, and imaginative young women. But as adulthood approaches, each sister must negotiate her private ambitions with society’s expectations. In a war-torn world defined by gender, class, and personal tragedy, Jo March gives us her greatest story: that of the March sisters, four dreamers destined to be imperfect little women.
High School Homecoming This Saturday
The sun is setting, the palm trees are swaying, and Homecoming is calling!
Join us for a night under the California sunset at this year’s Homecoming Dance: Sunset Blvd!
Saturday, October 3. 7:30 - 10:30 PM
Tickets on sale on MySchool Bucks for $20 per person.
Think golden hour, warm summer nights, Hollywood lights, palm trees, and dancing your way down Sunset Blvd.
Grab your friends, dress for your Sunset Blvd moment, and get ready to dance the night away as the sun goes down.
