ASI Bruin's Den Newsletter

Dear ASI Parents, Guardians, and Students,

It’s hard to believe we are already wrapping up Week 5 of the school year! The energy on campus has been incredible as our students continue to settle into routines, build friendships, and dive deeper into their learning. Every week we see more examples of Bruins showing kindness, leadership, and pride in being part of the ASI community.

In Positivity Project this week, our students focused on the character Trait of OPM: Being Present and Giving Others Your Attention. This trait is such an important reminder for all of us that who we are as individuals impacts the larger school community. We also celebrated Constitution and Citizenship Day on Tuesday, September 17th, which gave students the chance to reflect on the responsibilities and privileges we share as citizens. Moments like these help connect classroom learning to the bigger picture of the world around us.

Another reminder: while cell phones are permitted before and after school, we strongly encourage our students to put them away during break and lunch. These unstructured times of the day are perfect opportunities to practice being present with one another, join a lunchtime activity, or simply enjoy a face-to-face conversation with a friend. We want ASI to be a place where students not only learn academically but also grow socially, and that means making space for authentic connections.

Looking ahead, please remember to check Parent Connect weekly. We encourage families to review progress together, celebrate successes, and set small goals when needed. The first progress reporting period will close at the end of Week 6, with progress reports available in Parent Connect approximately one week after grades close. These early progress checks are valuable opportunities to make sure students stay on track and feel supported.

Thank you for your continued partnership, encouragement, and commitment to your student’s success. We are grateful for the strong home–school connection that makes ASI such a special place. Please take a few minutes to read this message with your student and celebrate the positive things happening both in and out of the classroom.

Together, we’re building a culture where every student feels connected, supported, and inspired to do their best.

Have a wonderful afternoon, and thank you for all that you do to support our Bruins!

Warmly,
Mrs. Carter
ASI Principal

Reading Skills: Regular attendance in Intermediate School positively impacts a child's reading level. Research shows kids with daily attendance have higher literacy skills than those who are absent more frequently.

ASI Parents & Guardians,

Our annual Bear Bash is just around the corner, and we need your help to make it a success! The Bear Bash is one of only two fundraisers hosted by the ASI/BHS Foundation each year, and the money raised goes directly back to supporting our students, staff, and school programs.

Here’s how your family can get involved:

• 🎟 Purchase Tickets – Tickets are $60 each (tax-deductible donation). A portion of each ticket goes right back to your student’s program or team.

• 🧺 Basket Raffle – Every program that donates a raffle basket keeps 100% of the proceeds from their basket sales.

✨ New Incentives This Year! ✨

• 🥇 1st Place program/team that sells the most tickets wins $500

• 🥈 2nd Place program/team that sells the most tickets wins $300

• 🥉 3rd Place program/team that sells the most tickets wins $100

(A minimum of 6 tickets must be sold to qualify.)

How to Get Tickets:

• Purchase directly through the Purchase Ticket Button Below below

• Use the QR code on the flyer (attached to this newsletter).

• Or, check with the ASI Office for tickets to buy in person.

The Bear Bash is not only a fun evening for families and friends but also an incredible way to support the amazing opportunities ASI offers our Bruins.

Thank you in advance for your support — together, we can make this year’s Bear Bash the best one yet!

💙❤️🤍
The ASI Foundation

• Charlotte Click - Self Control
• Amelia Edell - Teamwork
• Ryder Ngo - Teamwork
• Luca Pinasco - Leadership

We are thrilled to share that with your incredible generosity and support, our Fall Fundraiser was a HUGE success! Together, we not only met our $60,000 goal — we surpassed it, raising an amazing $63,496 for our school! 💙❤️🤍

Because of your efforts, every class will earn 5%+ back in AB Teacher classroom grants for their teachers, directly benefiting students in meaningful and lasting ways. This fundraiser is more than just dollars raised — it’s a celebration of our Bruin community coming together to support learning, growth, and opportunities for all.

👏 A special shout-out to our Top Fundraising Classes:

7th Grade
🥇 Hodge (Period 6–7) – $3,675
🥈 Hutchason (Period 6–7) – $3,430
🥉 Downer (Period 6–7) – $2,785

8th Grade
🥇 Barger (Period 1–2) – $2,355
🥈 Barger (Period 3–4) – $2,125
🥉 Pena (Period 3–4) – $1,820

And what’s a celebration without some fun? Many of our teachers, counselors, and administrators have bravely volunteered to get dunked in water or take a pie to the face — all in honor of our students’ and community’s amazing effort. 🎯💦🥧

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for believing in our school, supporting our programs, and making ASI such a special place to learn and grow. We couldn’t have done it without YOU!

At Alta Sierra, we are committed to supporting students not only academically but also socially and emotionally. We are excited to share two supports available on our campus:

• Peer Counseling – Students are paired one-on-one with a trained Peer Counselor who listens, offers encouragement, and helps guide them toward positive outcomes. Sometimes, it’s simply having a peer who can be a friend.
• Clovis Support Intervention (CSI) – An 8-week small-group support led by two trained adults. Groups typically have 8–10 students and meet once a week. Our next CSI group will begin on Friday, October 3rd during 3rd period.

A huge thank you to our parents, community members, and staff who have already joined the ASI & BHS Foundation during our annual Membership Drive. Your generosity and partnership directly support programs, classroom grants, student opportunities, and special events that enrich the experience for all of our Bruins.

The Membership Drive closes on September 30th, so there’s still time to join if you haven’t yet. Every membership makes a difference, and together we are building a stronger foundation for our students’ success.

Thank you to the following families for your membership!

• Alcorn Family

• Bastian Family

• Beauchamp Family

• Burdick Family

• Carter Family

• Cobian Family

• Colunga Family

• Craighead Family

• Cuevas Family

• Deis Family

• Denning Family

• Downer Family

• Fung Family

• Garcia Family

• Grant Family

• Grayson Family

• Heisdorf Family

• Henchel Family

• Houtsinger Family

• Jager Family

• Kirk Family

• Lasek Family

• Lee Family

• Levy Family

• Link Family

• Mangano Family

• McCollum Family

• Mennucci Family

• Milhous Family

• Morrison Family

• Murakoshi Family

• Murray Family

• Nenadov Family

• Neuner Family

• Petty Family

• Regier Family

• Rodriguez Family

• Rose Family

• Souza Family

• Spbaje Family

• Stemwedel Family

• Tatum Family

• Tenney Family

• Tinseth Family

• Valenzuela Family

• Van Horne Family

• Westra Family

Alta Sierra is proud to be an AVID school! While 80 of our approximately 1400 students are enrolled in the AVID elective, all of our Bruins benefit because every core teacher is trained in AVID strategies and incorporates them into daily lessons.

This month, our spotlight is on Focused Notes. Focused Notes go beyond traditional note-taking—students learn to organize their thinking, highlight key ideas, and reflect on their learning. This powerful strategy helps Bruins strengthen study habits, deepen understanding, and prepare more effectively for assessments.

We’re excited to share that our Club Program is up and running for the year! Each semester, students will participate in six Club Days during the school day. Earlier this month, students ranked their top five club choices in their science classes, and each student has now been assigned to one club for the school year. Assignments have been shared with your student and our first Club Day is Tuesday, September 23rd. Be sure to ask your student which club they signed up for — it’s a great way to spark conversation and connection at home!

In addition to these school-day clubs, ASI also offers a variety of lunch clubs that meet all year long. These groups are a wonderful way for students to explore new interests, build friendships, and find a sense of belonging on campus. This year’s lunch clubs include:

• African American Leadership

• Asian Leadership

• Campus Life
  
• Chess Club
  

• E-Sports

• FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes)

• GSA

• Hispanic Leadership

If there is a club you do not wish your student to participate in, an opt-out form is available on our website.

We’re so excited to see our Bruins get involved, try new things, and build community through our club program!

Email our counselors for more information

mailto:meghantenney@cusd.com or mailto:mackenziemennucci@cusd.com

GOOD NEWS! The library is now open after school until 4:30pm. Come on in and finish homework, work on a project, or just sit and read a book. Students must have transportation home or attend a lab afterwards until picked up or ride the bus home.

Yearbooks are available for $90 at http://Yearbookordercenter.com using our school code: 14499. You can also purchase yearbook advertisements through this site.

Please note: ASI does not order extra yearbooks after the initial order at the beginning of Semester 2. Don’t miss out—purchase your student’s yearbook as soon as possible!

Students are encouraged to bring water to campus in plastic or metal containers. No glass containers please!