2425.7 Grizzly Growler 09.30.24
-Weekly On and Off Campus Events
-College Expo (Plaza @ Lunch)
-Club Feature (Hispanic Latino Student Union)
-College Prep Lineup
-Palomar Pathways
-Passport To Paradise
-North County Coastal College & Career Fair
-Escondido Certified Farmers' Market
-TeenTober Art Contest
-Paws to Read
-Dream Like Taylor
-Mini In State College Fair
-Kids Ceramics Workshop
-San Marcos Fire Department Open House
-City of San Marcos Hike
-Palomar Pathways Workshop
As always, the bottom of this newsletter includes links to ParentVUE, our Instagram handles, points of contact, tutoring information and our proud community sponsors!
READ ON FOR MORE!
SAVE THE DATE
SEPTEMBER EVENTS
9/30 l Passport To Paradise
10/1 l Escondido Certified Farmers' Market; North County College & Career Fair
10/2 l Paws to Read
10/3 l Moonlight Theater/Dream Like Taylor
10/4 l Mini-in-State College Fair @ lunch; Kids Ceramic Workshop
10/5 l SMFD Open House; San Marcos City Hike
ACCESS MENTAL HEALTH RESCOURCES
If you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health crisis or need
immediate support, please call 911 for emergency response or the
Access and Crisis Line at 1-888-724-7240 to talk to a crisis
counselor, and they are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
Please click flyer link for free mental health resources.
TEENTOBER ART CONTEST
Calling all teens in grades 6 to 12: Participate in the TeenTober Art Contest by submitting a drawing, painting or digital design of your favorite book cover or a banned book. Your artwork should be an original reimagining of the cover and must be no larger than 8.5" x 11" (smaller sizes are fine).
All teen participants will earn a small reward and a free book. Your art will be displayed at all three library locations. Top winners form each location will be announced in early November.
email libraryteens@carlsbadca.gov if you have any questions.
COLLEGE PREP LINEUP
Are you a high school student aiming for your dream college? Our college prep lineup is packed with essential tips, strategies, and resources to help you achieve your goals.
Learn from experienced educators and college admissions counselors.
Located in the Future Center.
HISPANIC LATINO STUDENT UNION
This club is to unite Hispanic and Latino students on campus and to provide a safe space for them.
The primary purpose of the club is to spread awareness and to take action on issues that affect our communities.
All are welcome to join!
MEETING INFO:
Every-other Wednesday
In room 755 (Mr. Esteban’s classroom) during lunch
click flyer link for further information
PASSPORT TO PARADISE 2024
MHHS Homecoming Dance is Saturday, October 12th, 7-10pm.
Tickets go on a sale starting 9/30/2024.
Please click for more information.
NORTH COUNTY COASTAL AND COLLEGE FAIR
El Camino High School is excited to be hosting the North County Coastal College and Career Fair!
Tuesday, October 1, 2024 5:00-7:00 pm
El Camino High School Gym
400 Rancho Del Oro Drive Oceanside, CA 92057
Please click the flyer link for more information.
PAWS TO READ
For Independent readers: Certified therapy dogs from Love on a Leash will be available to listen to children read. This program helps to boost reading confidence in children, not to mention the dogs are cute!
Date: 10/02/2024
Time: 3:30pm- 4:30pm
Location:
Georgina Cole Library
DREAM LIKE TAYLOR: A LIVE BAND JOURNEY THROUGH THE ENCHANTED ERAS OF TAYLOR SWIFT
A fundraising concert supporting Moonlight Youth Theatre in partnership with UC San Diego.
With her distinct style, legendary catalog of music, and a stage presence like no other, it’s easy to see why Taylor Swift is one of the most successful and influential artists of the 21st century. This tribute, created by Cassie B and developed at UC San Diego features all of Taylor’s top hits including- ‘Shake It Off’, ‘Blank Space’, ‘Love Story’, ‘You Belong With Me’, ‘Look What You Made Me Do’, ‘Wildest Dreams.’
Thursday, October 3, 2024
Doors open at 6:00pm, show starts at 7:30pm
Free parking on site.
Moonlight Amphitheatre
1250 Vale Terrace Drive
Vista, CA 92084
MINI IN STATE COLLEGE FAIR
Don't forget to stop by the MINI COLLEGE FAIR on Friday, October 4th, 2024 located in the ASB PLAZA @ lunch.
KIDS CERAMIC WORKSHOP
MHHS Mud Cave is hosting a Kids Ceramics Workshop. Friday, October 4th 5-7pm.
Please check out the flyer for details.
Contact carijean.daniels@smusd.org with any questions.
MHHS is excited to welcome the community to the Mud Cave!
SAN MARCOS FIRE DEPARTMENT OPEN HOUSE
October 5th, 2024 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
@ Fire Station 1
(180 W. Mission Rd., San Marcos, CA 92069).
For further information on our educational programs, please call SMFD at
(760) 744-1050, ext. 3400 or email Maria Conklin.
SAN MARCOS CITY HIKE- SAN ELIJO HILLS
Moderate to Strenuous: This short but challenging, 3.5-mile hike will start at San Elijo Hills Park and take in a circle tour of the south San Elijo Hills area. Trails to be explored will include the Copper Creek, Garden, Wild Canyon and Make-A-Wish trails. Expect 760’ of elevation gain.
10/5/2024
8am to 11pm (sign-in begins at 7:30am)
Meeting location: San Elijo Hills Park, 1105 Elfin Forest Road, San Marcos 92078
(Recreation Center parking lot)
PALOMAR PATHWAYS WORKSHOP
Palomar Pathways are workshops for seniors interested in attending Palomar College after high school.
Registration opens 1 month before each workshop.
click below to register:
Registration for the Palomar Pathways Promise/Overview Workshop is now open!
October 28 - Workshop #1 Pathways Promise/Overview Workshop
Please see the Future Center if you have any questions.
CLASS OF 2025 SENIOR PORTRAITS
Dear Class of 2025,
Congratulations! You are now entering your senior year! We wanted to let you know that it is time to book your appointment for senior portraits. Please book your session early to ensure you have enough time to choose the photo you want included in the yearbook. Check out the KEANE Senior Session Guide or their website for more information and to book your appointment! There are limited spots available, so make sure to book your appointment as soon as possible.
The complimentary yearbook portraits will be on campus on December 10th and December 11th! Students will NOT have the ability to choose their yearbook portrait for the complimentary session. Make sure to book your appointment online!
To login: Use your STUDENT ID as the username and your LAST NAME as the password.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mrs. Kniseley at heidi.kniseley@smusd.org.
YEARBOOK SENIOR ADS
Attention seniors parents!
Celebrate your student and express your love with a lovely senior ad. There is a back to school sale going on right now and it ends on September 30th! Prices will increase after, so don't miss out on this opportunity.
The current pricing is:
Full page- $380
Half Page- $180
Quarter Page- $ 110
Eighth Page- $60
Go to Yearbookordercenter.com and use our school code: 8120
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mrs. Kniseley at heidi.kniseley@smusd.org. If you need help with your online order, call (866) 287-3096 toll free.
PTO MEMBER RECRUITMENT
The 2024/2025 school year is around the corner and Mission Hills PTO is creating an Interest List for people interested in being the part of our Grizzly PTO Team. Responding is not a commitment, but the start of a conversation. We hope to hear from you if you're interested in learning more about what it means to be a part of the team!
Fill out the interest list here.
For more information about Mission Hills PTO, click here.
FREE ENGLISH CLASS FOR ADULTS/¡Clase de inglés gratis para adultos!
Improve your conversation, listening, writing, and reading skills.
Mejore sus habilidades de conversación, escuchar, escritura y lectura.
Monday, September 30, 2024 10:00am-12:30pm
Location:
2 Civic Center Drive
San Marcos CA 92069
UPCOMING COLLEGE FAIRS 2024
There are virtual and in-person college fairs coming up!
There will be 2 here in our very own ASB Plaza:
Mini-in-State College Fair at lunch on Friday, October 4th.
RACC Out-of-State College Fair at lunch on Wednesday, October 23rd.
Check the flyer and see the Future Center for more information.
E BIKE & BIKE SAFETY COURSES
As part of an e-bike safety campaign, Double Peak School, San Elijo Middle School, San Marcos High School and Mission Hills High School will require students who bike or e-bike to school to obtain a permit. Students must attend an in-person safety course with one parent or guardian, led by the Sheriff’s Office. Students MUST bring their e-bike/ bike and helmet with them to the safety course.
Upon completion of the safety course, students will receive their permit stickers to be placed on their bike and helmet. Students will not be allowed to park their bike or e-bike on campus without a permit. Students will have until October 31st to complete this process.
Safety courses coming up:
October 8th @ 6pm Mission Hill High School Library
October 22nd @ 6pm Double Peak School Gym
**Please note that all students must be accompanied by a parent/guardian**
Check out the flyer in Spanish/English for more information.
PSAT/ NMSQT
Grizzlies in 10th and 11th grade, don't forget to register for the PSAT! This year it will be on Saturday, October 26th.The exam costs $50 (Fee waivers are available!) and you can purchase it at the Finance Office or on our Grizzly Webstore. Payment is due September 20th.
Fee waiver forms are due Wednesday, September 11th in Room 750 (Mrs. Kozuchowski) by the end of the day.
Please note that the registration AND the fee must be submitted prior to taking the test. There will also be a mandatory meeting in October. Contact Mrs. Kozuchowski if you have any questions- magda.kozuchowski@smusd.org
**Junior students could qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program and other scholarships**
Join the Google Classroom- code: td35zhc
A Commitment to Mental Health
At Mission Hills High School, we believe that every student’s life is invaluable and strive to remind students that they are not alone. At Mission Hills High School, our goal is to foster a culture where mental health is prioritized, and everyone feels empowered to seek help.
Resources and Support
MHHS Counseling Linktree of Resources
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
See below in our growler for more resources for families.
Check out these flyers in English and Spanish for information about preventing youth suicide.
LOOKING FOR A COUNSELOR?
Check out this flyer in Spanish and English to see what's available for you.
PRONTO REDUCED FARE
Grizzlies! Don't forget to complete MTS's mandatory verification to continue to get discounted or free transit cards.
Please note that this discount applies to youth, seniors, AND others who qualify, like Medi-Cal enrollees.
Check out the step-by-step verification instructions in English and Spanish.
STUDENTSQUARE
SMUSD presents StudentSquare! It is new this year and is designed for students to get real time emergency alerts and important notifications directly on their devices.
StudentSquare offers:
- Instant Alerts: Students will get real-time notifications about emergencies like severe weather or lockdowns, so they’re always in the loop.
- Custom Notifications: They can set their preferences to receive alerts in the way that works best for them.
- Easy to Use App: The interface is super user-friendly, making it easy for students to find and read important info quickly.
- Better Communication: Besides emergency alerts, we can also send school updates, event reminders, and other important info to keep everyone connected.
Students will be using their SMUSD google account to "Sign in with Google". You can also sign in using the website: https://www.mystudentsquare.com/signin
Check out the StudentSquare- Getting Started Guide
AP TESTING
It is that time again folks, AP Testing! For our Grizzlies taking AP courses, don't forget to register for the exams. This year the exams are $99 and the AP Seminar& Research Exams are $147. There is a fee waiver available for those who qualify! You can pay in person at the finance office (cash or check) or pay on our webstore.
Payment for exams is due October 18th!
Fill out the fee waiver application and bring it to Mr. Butler in room 460 by Friday, October 11th. You will still need to pay the reduced fee at the finance office by October 18th. Paper copies are also available in room 460.
You can also find more information on our website.
NEW VOLUNTEER CLEARANCE PROCESS
We take the safety of our students and staff seriously, and a part of this is ensuring everyone who is on a school campus is cleared and approved to be present. As a result, there is a new volunteer clearance process with different requirements for different types of school or classroom volunteer commitments.
We have outlined each of these volunteer levels with their requirements, please click here for more information or see the flyer here.
UPDATE ON SCHOOL ATTIRE
As we eagerly prepare for the new school year, we want to share some updates about our school attire guidelines. We ask that you be mindful of these when preparing for back-to-school shopping. These guidelines are designed to create a safe, positive, and inclusive environment for all our students across K-8, middle, and high schools.
What's New?
To promote a focused and supportive atmosphere, we have updated our list of prohibited attire items. After thoughtful collaboration with the San Marcos Sheriff's Department, here are the items that will no longer be allowed for students to wear to school:
Professional sports teams' jerseys and logos on clothing, hats, and accessories
Gang-related writing, symbols, graffiti, or tagging on any property
Monogrammed or lettered belt buckles (e.g., S, N, M, R, B, X, 13, 14)
Bandanas
Hair nets
These changes reflect our commitment to ensuring that every student feels safe and supported at school.
If a student is found wearing a prohibited item, they will be asked to change into appropriate clothing, and the item will be held securely at the front office. Parents/guardians are welcome to pick it up after school
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Together, we can make this school year our best one yet!
VOLUNTARY STUDENT ACCIDENT INSURANCE
Did you know the average cost of an ambulance ride in CA is $549? This is why SMUSD has partnered with a third-party to provide optional student accident insurance, for as little as $14 for the year. Voluntary student accident insurance is highly-beneficial if an accident was to occur while attending or participating in school-sponsored activities.
For details and more information, see the flyer here or visit www.studentinsuranceusa.com.
START SMART FALL DATES
Attention grizzlies! To park in the student parking lot, students are required to have a valid parking permit. To obtain a parking permit students are required to complete a Start Smart course and submit all required paperwork, including proof of driver license, valid registration and car insurance to the Finance Office.
The Start Smart dates for this 2024 Fall semester are:
Monday, August 19th @10am- 12pm Redwood Theater
Tuesday, September 10th @6pm-8pm in the library
Wednesday, November 6th @6pm-8pm in the library
Check out our website to register for a Start Smart course.
HOW TO CREATE A WEBSTORE ACCOUNT
SMUSD has a new webstore for online purchases. All Mission Hills students and families will need to create an account to purchase items online. Students are able to create their own account with their SMUSD email. If families have multiple students at different schools within SMUSD or even multiple Grizzlies, you can now create one account for all the students in your family! Refer to the how to guides below to create your accounts.
If you have any questions about creating your webstore account email our ASB Director, Mrs. O’Neil, at jocelyn.oneil@smsud.org.
FAMILY GUIDE TO SUPPORTING YOUNG PEOPLE'S MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
Project Cal-Well, a cross-agency mental health initiative led by the California Department of Education, produced this easy-to-use guide with input from families, educators, mental health professionals, and youth. The guide helps parents and other adult family members and caregivers navigate supporting the overall well-being and mental health of school-aged children, including tips for what can be difficult conversations. It offers information about the social and emotional development of young people and explains warning signs that may signal mental health challenges. It equips caregivers with targeted strategies, tools, and resources that help them advocate for their family, address each child’s specific needs, and access professional help.
Key topics and tips include:
- example conversation starters to help open lines of communication with children and teens;
- enjoyable ways to connect, develop wellness routines, and create well-being practices as a family;
- information addressing mental health myths, including the specific needs and increased challenges facing young people who identify as LGBTQ+;
- information on how to recognize signs that a child is bullying or being bullied;
- tools to create a family media plan that sets boundaries around technology and gives children the skills to be online safely using age-appropriate platforms; and
- tips for partnering with schools to access mental health and family wellness resources and supports.
CARE SOLACE
24/7/365 Mental Health Care Coordination Service for San Marcos Unified School District Students, Staff, and their Families: https://www.caresolace.com/site/sanmarcos
COUNSELING
>> View MHHS Counseling Linktree of Resources
>> View Counseling website
MHHS LIBRARY
Library Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (M-F)
>> View The Check-in! Library Newsletter for Students
>> Visit Library Page
MHHS ASB
VIEW ALL 24-25 GROWLERS
Click here to view all Growlers.
These are posted to the ParentSquare App each week. If you're not receiving them, please check your settings on ParentSquare, and verify that your contact information is accurate in ParentVUE.If you have anything you'd like to see added, please reach out to Jillian Ryan.
AP/HONORS TUTORING
ENGLISH
MATH
SCIENCE
TUTORING RESOURCES
In addition to asking your teacher for help, attached is some information about AP/Honors Tutoring and Math Tutoring. Also, all California students have access to BrainFuse free through the public library website linked. They offer online tutoring, writing assistance, and more.
