Quail Mail

Hello Charter families!

Our Quail Mail is rather delayed this time, and I apologize for that! As a result, there is a bumper crop of news and event announcements, so I hope it was worth the wait!

Past events

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Winter Craft Faire - we have so many clever, crafty, artsy students, and it was a great joy to look at everyone's handiwork and a great sadness that I couldn't buy one of everything! A lot of organization goes into this annual event, and a big thank you goes to QHHS teacher Katie Parmenter and the many Charter teachers, staff, and parents who supported.

We were thrilled to offer what I hope will be come an annual middle school Career Fair recently as well. Coordinated by Coast Redwood Middle School teacher Marcy Reynolds, all our middle schoolers were able to visit industry reps from 15 career fields that ranged from robotics engineering to architecture, and it gave our students a lot to think about in terms of their future endeavors.

There have been a bunch of other memorable events over the last couple weeks. My sincere thanks for the consistent hard work and commitment of our community to making our students' lives so richly filled with one-of-a-kind memorable experiences like the Pinewood Derby, the Triangle landscaping/beautification project, building indigenous Cobb structures at "WindTree" farm, the Spelling Bee.... and this is not even close to an exhaustive list covering two weeks in the life of SLVUSD Charter School.

Parking update

A quick update on parking at the Charter: Some parents have shared with me that it's hard to find "legal" parking on Tuesdays and Thursdays when most/all programs are in session, but that there are usually several spots in the lower lot marked "Staff Parking" that stand empty at drop off time. The happy news is that we have permission to park in any legal spot - including those marked for Staff Only - starting at 9am. Let's try to keep to that agreement/compromise, and thank you for your understanding of our shared situation.

Fashion Teens

Click on the link for info about an amazing event held in Santa Cruz every April ~ Fashion Teens! (and you'll see some familiar faces from last year!). All students in SC County are invited to create and display wearable art, with a focus on Social Action, Upcycling, and Recycling!

https://www.fashionteens-santacruz.com/

If you missed the Info meeting held on January 9, please speak to teacher Amber Walker if you're interested in participating.

All Charter Movie Night - Save the new Date! January 23!

Families, please note that the Dec 12 movie night has been postponed to Friday, January 23. We will be screening The Goonies! This is an all Charter event, but a fund raiser for Nature Academy. (Proceeds will go to scholarships for Nature Academy's end of year excursion.) Suggested donation is $5 at the door, and we'll have a pot luck for snacks and drinks. Families usually bring blankets, pillows and picnic chairs to get comfy cosy together. Hope to see you there.

(Please note that Movie Nights can be utilized as fundraisers for ANY program Booster Club - just reach out to Kerry to reserve your date!)

Storm make-up Day canceled on Dec 19

Charter families please note that next Friday, December 19, was held as an "in case" school day in the event we had to close school for a day due to a bad storm. Since we didn't have a storm day, we now have that day as a "No School Day" - Winter Break starts on Dec 19 and there's no school that day, including Homeschools.

January Homeschool program return date

Please note that homeschool Semester Planning meetings will take place the first two weeks of January, and the first enrichment day back for Homeschool programs is Tuesday, January 20, 2026. Coast Redwood High and Nature Academy return on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

Have a wonderful weekend, and here's wishing you and your family a peaceful, cosy and safe Winter Break!

Kerry

kleroux@slvusd.org

T. 831-335-0932

Hello wonderful Charter families!

My first month has been amazing, and I want to thank you all for such a warm and welcoming start! Now that I’m settled in, I’m doing a deep dive into our overdue list. Please take a moment to check at home and see if any of our library books may be hiding on a shelf or in a backpack.

As the holiday season approaches and you’re sorting through your child’s book collection, please consider donating gently-used books to our library! We are especially looking for Harry Potter, Keeper of the Lost Cities, Wings of Fire, and graphic novel series—these are student favorites and tend to disappear quickly.

Thank you so much for supporting our growing library!

Amanda Baillie

"Once you have read a book you care about, some part of it is always with you."

C.S. Lewis

You will find all these events and more on your student's Program google calendar and/or the General Public Calendar shared above.

Mon, Dec 15

- Student Council meeting - 1:30pm in the Library

- Coast Redwood High Map testing 9th - 11th

Tues, Dec 16

- Gaga ball pit reserved for elementary on Tuesdays

- 2nd - 8th grade iReady Test make ups

Wed, Dec 17

- GSA meets weekly in room 19 at lunch

- NO afternoon bus available today

Thurs, Dec 18

- Spirit Dress up day - Ugly Sweater or Grinch Green

- Hot cocoa before school at the MPR

- Bring a blanket or warm coat to donate and get extra toppings!

- Homeschool Parent Support meeting - Shade structure or Library - 9:30am

Fri, Dec 19 through Mon, Jan 5 - WINTER BREAK - NO SCHOOL

Tues, Jan 6

- Nature Academy and Coast Redwood High return to classes

- TK-8 Homeschool programs start homeschooling; Semester Planning meetings

Wed, Jan 7

- GSA meets weekly in room 19 at lunch

For planning further ahead:

Mon, Jan 19

- Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - NO SCHOOL

Tues, Jan 20

- TK-8 Homeschool Enrichment Classes begin again (CRMS on Wed, Jan 21)

Fri, Jan 23

- Homeschool Attendance due for Month 7

Jan 29 - Feb 1

- Charter Play The Little Mermaid: A West Side Story

Week of Feb 3 - start of after school VAPA classes for 2nd semester

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Nature Academy parents, here is the Bell Schedule for 2025-26. Don't forget to check the Nature Academy Google Calendar to be sure which bell schedule we're on each day! (You can also click here if you are not a Google Calendar subscriber)

• A1 days (typically Mon) dismissal 1:19pm at Nature Academy
• A2 days (typically Mon) dismissal 2:05pm at Nature Academy
• A3 days (typically Mon) dismissal 3:00pm at the tricampus
• O days (typically Tues/Thurs) dismissal 2:05pm at Nature Academy;
• E days (typically Wed/Fri) dismissal 2:20pm (Wed) and 2:05 (Fri) at Nature Acadeny;
• Minimum Days dismiss at 12:05 at Nature Academy;
• Excursion Days - times are individual to the excursion, but typically 3pm dismissal

Please add the "General" Charter google calendar to yours, along with the one that links to your child's program. (In Google, you can switch calendars on and off as needed once you've added them.) This way you'll have up to the minute information about event dates and times.

General Charter Calendar

Heartwood Program Calendar

Quail Hollow Homeschool Calendar

Quail Hollow Integrated Arts Calendar

Coast Redwood Middle School Calendar

Coast Redwood High School Calendar

At SLVUSD Charter School, we want to start the school year by sharing something very important: we do not allow any form of hate, bullying, harassment or discrimination in our schools. Every student and adult deserves to feel safe, respected, and welcome—always.

We are proud of the many different backgrounds, families, and identities that make up our school community. We believe every student should be treated with kindness, no matter their race, abilities, gender, religion, or family structure.

Here’s how we support a safe and inclusive school:

• We take all reports of bullying, body shaming, bias, or hateful actions/language seriously, and follow clear steps to address these.

• We teach students about kindness, respect, how to treat others, and to understand the impact of their actions - through class lessons and school activities.

• We provide counseling and support to students who need it.

We ask for your help at home, too. Please talk with your student about treating others with empathy and kindness.

Together, we can make sure our schools are places where every student can learn, grow, and feel proud of who they are.

We are asking that throughout the school year parents of students in 2nd through 8th grade encourage 3 x a week 20 min keyboarding practice with Touch-Type Read Spell, the "award winning multi-sensory course that teaches typing, reading and spelling" aimed at students from elementary to high school.

Students can access it through the Launchpad if they're using a district chromebook, or use this link if accessing it on a private device: https://launchpad.classlink.com/slvusd. (Our younger students who don't yet use their district email/password, or any student having trouble getting in via launchpad, can access it directly at readandspell.com.) Ask your child's teacher or Kerry for their TTRS login ID and password if you don't have it yet - distinct from their district email address and password.

"Based on the average completion time, a student using TTRS for one hour per week should complete approximately 744 modules in a year. The main TTRS Course consists of 24 levels, with 31 modules in each level, totaling 744 modules. On average, students complete the entire course in about 12 months when dedicating one hour per week to the program. Individual progress may vary, and some learners might complete the course faster if they spend more than an hour per week on TTRS."

Your feedback was heard! This year, we will be offering Silicon Valley Math Initiative (SVMI) math workshops for our TK-9 parents, but instead of having short workshops every month, we are breaking these up into three 3-hour workshops. (These will happen on Thursdays, while your children are in class.)

• TK - 5th grade: Oct 2 - 9:30 - 12:30 (Held)

• 6th - 9th grade: October 16 - 9:30 - 12:30

• TK - 5th grade: November 20 - 9:30 - 12:30

• 6th - 9th grade: January 29 - 9:30 - 12:30

• TK - 5th grade: February 12 - 9:30 - 12:30

• 6th - 9th grade: March 19 - 9:30 - 12:30

Please click to sign up here, but note that drop ins are also welcome!

Parents can sign out loaner Chromebooks through the library for their students to use at home. To check out a device and charger, please come to the library according to the times below:

Tues, Wed and Thurs: 8:15 -10:00am or 2:00-3:00pm

Please note that students can’t sign out a Chromebook without a parent; it requires a parent's signature. If there’s a problem, parents can email Amanda at abaillie@slvusd.org to make arrangements.

Students should not be bringing a personal laptop to school unless it’s part of an IEP. All teachers have class sets of Chromebooks for students to use if it's required as part of the lesson.

(Note: Regular Library hours are Tues through Thurs 8am - 3pm.)

Charter students are eligible to try out to play in all sports at SLVMS and SLVHS. Please keep an eye on the respective websites so your child is aware of the tryout schedule for each season's sports. We will also share that information as we receive it.

Athletes, remember that eligibility rules require you to carry at least a 2.0 GPA (C average) to remain eligible to complete in the middle school athletics practices and competitions.

MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETICS

Parents, please read this Spectator Code of Conduct from SLVMS Principal Shanna Urbancic.

Please click here for a link to the Panther Athletics website (SLVMS)

Athletics Director Lupita Alaniz has a newsletter she sends out regularly to Middle School parents who subscribe - please look for the first one to be emailed soon after this one! It contains the dates for Fall tryouts!

Fall Sports (August - October)

Boys Soccer

Girls Basketball

Cross Country (No cuts)

Winter I Sports (October - December)

Girls Soccer

Boys Basketball

Winter II Sports (January-March)

Girls Volleyball

Wrestling (no cuts)

Flag Football

Spring Sports (March- May)

Girls Softball
Boys Volleyball
Golf

Track and Field (no cuts)

HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS

Please click here for a link to the Cougar Athletics website (SLVHS).

From Superintendent Chris Schiermeyer: "Providing a safe place for students to learn and grow is one of the most important responsibilities of our school system. All San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District schools have a School Safety Plan in place. Drill procedures for emergencies and disasters are regularly practiced at each school.

Last school year we changed our countywide codes for emergency drills in collaboration with law enforcement and the fire departments. Our new codes are as follows: Evacuation, Reverse Evacuation, Hall Check, and Lockdown. Please see the Standard Command Emergency Response Poster for more details on these types of drills that will be practiced at our school sites as required by law.

Along with school staff, your family plays a critical role in preventing and responding to school emergencies. The information posted on the Emergency Information website page is intended to provide parents/guardians with the steps you can take “before”, “during”, and “after” an emergency. Please note the emergency information has been revised to be in alignment with the newly adopted codes. Please take a moment to review this information."

SLV Charter will be starting our monthly/quarterly evacuation drills (elementary/secondary) shortly. Please be sure to sign in to get a visitor sticker if you're coming on campus so that if you're on site for a drill we can account for you. Please contact Kerry if you have any questions!

If your child is in 6 - 12th grade, your teacher most likely uses Schoology to record assignment and test scores.

How a parent logs into Schoology:

1. Get your parent access code from your teacher or administrator.
2. When you have your parent access code, go to app.schoology.com/register.php.
3. Click the “Parent” button below the “Instructor” and “Student” buttons” in the “Sign Up for Schoology” section.
4. Enter the access code you received, and click Continue.
5. Enter your name and email (not the student’s) and choose a password.

Refer to the Parent Schoology Handbook to learn more.

Volunteer application hours - PLEASE NOTE: The Charter Office and SLVUSD Human Resources Office hours will process volunteer registrations at the following times:

Tuesdays from 8:00-11:00 am

Thursdays from 1:00-3:30 pm

The Charter Office is located behind the shade structure on the elementary Charter campus, and Human Resources is located at the front of the District Office (both at 325 Marion Ave. Ben Lomond).

All Charter parents are encouraged to register with the District as a volunteer and a field trip driver. (All parents are asked to drive on excursions...)

Please click here to access the required volunteer paperwork. Hard copy paperwork is also available at the Charter Office.

To use your personal vehicle to transport your own or other students, we will need updated driver information on file as well - please click here for the form.

Ø New Volunteer: You will be required to fill out the volunteer paperwork and obtain a signature from the principal. Once complete, please bring your signed paperwork to the Human Resources Office. You will be required to provide a current TB result. Also, all new volunteers will be required to be fingerprinted.

Ø Returning Volunteer: You will be required to provide current TB results (within the last 4 years). If you don't know whether your TB is current, check with the Charter office. If you are turning in updated TB info, you can bring it to the Charter office or directly to the Human Resources Office.

Note that the District is offering more dates this year for our District Nurse to assist with TB clearance, an essential step in the volunteer clearance process. Please see the dates below:

Nurse at DO-HR

Thurs 8/28 12:30-3:30pm

Tues 9/2 8-11am

Thurs 9/4 12:30-3:30pm

Tues 9/16 8-11am

Thurs 9/18 12:30-3:30pm

Tues: 9/30 8-11am

• All SLVUSD students are eligible to receive a free breakfast and lunch through the cafeteria. Starting this year, Breakfast is served at BRUNCH (see your child's program details) so please make sure your child eats something before school if the wait for Brunch will be a hardship for them. The Charter office will keep some emergency provisions on hand for this as well :)
• Lunch is not ordered online any more. Our nutrition service coordinator typically brings enough of the daily hot lunches for that day's menu for everyone who wants one, but should these run out we will always have healthy cold alternatives available (salads, sandwiches, etc.)
• Meals are be served from our Multi-Purpose Room in the central area of the campus
• Lunch times vary per program, but generally happen in the 11:50 - 12:30 window
• Elementary students will have lunch cards (kept in the MPR).
• Secondary students will need to key in their student ID on a keypad.
• A-la-carte items like Izzy drinks and chips can be purchased for cash or on account, but only after the primary brunch or lunch has been served to all. (See information for account set up on the SLVUSD Nutrition Services website below.)

Although a meal application is not necessary for your child to receive free meals during the 2025-26 school year, households are asked to complete a meal application to ensure that your school receives accurate funding. As well, your child’s eligibility for free or reduced lunch could qualify you for additional outside services or benefits including Free/Reduced Bus passes, student fee waivers, P-EBT, discounted utilities, and more.

• Link to SLVUSD Student Nutrition Services website

SLV Charter no longer offers Nature Academy morning bus transportation as the bus arrives too late for the start of school at 8:15am; if your child is in QHIA or CRMS they are able to ride the bus back to the depot here at the D.O. from the tricampus.

If your child takes the bus after school, please remember you will need to purchase a bus pass.

ALL Nature Academy students have to be registered to take bus transportation on A3 days to the tricampus. (No need to pay.) Registration form link.

Students at Coast Redwood High who need afternoon transportation to the tricampus for concurrent enrollment classes can take the TK bus that leaves the District Office at noon each day. They will not need to pay for a bus pass. However, they still need to register. Rides will be denied if students are not registered.)

Please click here to access the Transportation web page for route information, bus pass applicationss, and any other information you need.

The Charter Office staff ask families to call in before 1:50pm if they have a message for their student about changing that day's bus transportation arrangement.

If you’re interested in following our Instagram account, showcasing news and events from SLVUSD Charter School, here is the info:

“I'm on Instagram as slvcharterschool. Install the app to follow my photos and videos, or click this link: https://instagram.com/slvcharterschool?igshid=MzMyNGUyNmU2YQ==

(Please know that we will be very careful not to post pictures of students on the "Do not Photograph" list.)

And if you haven't started following the District Instagram accoount, look for "slvusd" and click "Follow!"

Did you know that our district maintains a "Community Opportunities" website? This is for parents / students to receive information about current local events and opportunities for adults and/or children.

Note: The San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District does not sponsor or endorse any of the organizations or events that are located here. They are non-school sponsored events and are not being promoted by the school district. All postings are provided as a courtesy to the parents/students.

Homework Help at the Public Library

Bring your assignments to one of the FREE drop-in Homework Help sessions at one of the following public libraries.

Tuesdays from 3:00p to 5:00p.

Downtown, 224 Church St., Santa Cruz

Felton, 6121 Gushee St.

Capitola, 2005 Wharf Rd.

La Selva Beach, 316 Estrella Ave.

Open to all students up to grade 12.

Call 831.427.7713 for more information.

And also from the Santa Cruz Public Libraries:

SCPL are particularly excited to offer a new resource from Brainfuse called CollegeNow, which offers support with college applications, essays and more. This is in addition to HelpNow live tutoring.

Please click here for a press release containing comprehensive information on the many resources SCPL offers to all students. SCPL looks forward to welcoming your students to any of their 10 branches, Annex and Bookmobile during this new school year!

Guide to Resources for Families in SLV

Here's a handy one-pager listing various organizations and resources for families in the San Lorenzo Valley.

Mental Health resources

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - with a link to their March newseltter

Brightlife Kids, an organization that provides free online support in behavioral coaching for parents, caregivers and students aged 0 - 12.

Please click here for a link to a flier from the Community Action Board of Santa Cruz, containing a number of useful resources for families. CAB's mission is to "partner with the community to eliminate poverty and create social change through advocacy and social service. "

Triple P/First Five of Santa Cruz County offer ongoing parenting classes for parents of students of all ages. Please click here to see their workshop offerings.

Triple P also offers 1:1 sessions for parents who are needing intensive 10 week session and add-on sessions for people who are divorcing or separating (Family Transitions), for couples wanting to work on their relationship (Enhanced) and for people wanting to work on their strong emotions, like anger (Pathways). If interested in 1:1 sessions, please contact First 5 of Santa Cruz: https://www.first5scc.org/contact

Email: kleroux@slvusd.org
Website: charter.slvusd.org
Phone: (831) 335-0932