Quail Mail
Biweekly SLV Charter Newsletter Vol 3.13 - March 29, 2026
From Principal Kerry le Roux
Hello Charter families!
At a recent Parent Advisory Council meeting it was mentioned that our elementary families sometimes have a difficult time finding parking for drop off and pick up, when they are required to escort/accompany their children to and from class instead of just waiting in the car as the parents of our older students do. Our Superintendent heard our concerns, and approved the creation of 2 x "10 minute loading" spots in front of the chain barrier leading down to the field and the middle school buildings (see pic). Elementary families, please feel free to use these spots, but keep in mind they are truly only for 10 mins at a time! No parking allowed.
Our Master Gardener, Melanie Burgess, has been busy this season, supporting our students in all three gardens and teaching important environmental literacy concepts to the future stewards of our earth. Please click here for pictures, and here for news and updates!
An appeal from our hard working registrar, Janet Hendricks: As she puts together our rosters and numbers for next year, please bear in mind that she needs to be advised if any families have changed their child's "Intent to Return" details. We run wait lists for most of our programs, so if your child is no longer attending SLV Charter next year, please do let Janet know as soon as you can so that we can enroll students who are waiting on a spot. (jhendricks@slvusd.org)
Charter parents, please consider joining us for the Parent Advisory Council meeting and Principal's Coffee on Thursday, April 2 at 9:30am in the Charter Library. We will be reviewing the draft LCAP (Local Control Accountability Plan) for 2026-27, among other topics. Click here for the agenda. We also have a Google Meet link for parents who can't attend in person.
Have a wonderful week ahead!
Kerry
T. 831-335-0932
Introducing Erika Wismann!
We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Erika Wismann as 7th and 8th grade English and Social Studies teacher at Nature Academy starting next year!
Here is Erika, in her own words:
"Hello Nature Academy families! My name is Erika Wismann. It is truly an honor to be stepping into the 7th- and 8th-grade English Language Arts and Social Studies teaching position next year. As a parent of a student at Nature Academy, I understand that our school's culture prioritizes life skills, academic rigor, and fostering curiosity about the world around us. I also understand that Ms. Stockton has enormous shoes to fill; she is a beloved teacher by everyone
in our community, including me!
I will be coming to Nature Academy from San Lorenzo Valley Elementary, where I have taught reading intervention for the past 3 years. Prior to that, I taught middle school social studies and advanced literacy in Medford, OR, for five years after finishing up my Master’s in Teaching. With a strong background in literacy, I like to weave reading strategies and writing tasks into all
aspects of my classroom. I also deeply value using class time for students to collaborate and practice important life skills, like problem-solving, teamwork, and patience. Project-based learning, Socratic seminars, simulations, and annotating assigned readings are some of my favorite activities to bring into the classroom to help students explore the topics and concepts they are learning about.
I hope that my classroom is a safe and welcoming place for all your students, and that they thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. I am so excited to meet you all and be part of Nature Academy and the whole SLV Charter School team next year.'
A new mural for the Charter Middle School programs!
We are excited to show you the progress our QHIA students have made under the guidance of muralist Kate Pratt in designing and installing a new mural overlooking the middle school basketball blacktop. Click here to view the progress of the project: Mural Painting w/Kate
Thank you, teacher Amber Walker, QHIA student artists, and Kate! We can't wait to see the finished scene!
(Our next mural adventure will be up at Coast Redwood High School, where Kate and a team of student artists are putting the final touches to a design to be installed on the south wall. Watch this space for updates!)
Scrapbook Community Art project
Sign up here to participate! You don't have to produce art for every prompt- you can create one or all pieces - it''s completely up to you!
Upcoming events and important dates
You will find all these events and more on your student's Program google calendar and/or the General Public Calendar shared above.
April is Arab American Heritage Month and Autism Acceptance Month! Click the links provided for Learning Resources curated by our Library Media Specialist Amanda Baillie.
Mon, March 30
- 10:30am QHHS Play performance at the PAC - "Master Mummy"
- Student Council meets in the Library at 1:30pm
Tues, March 31
- Gaga Ball pit reserved for elementary students
- 10:30am QHHS Play performance at the PAC - "Master Mummy"
- 6:30pm QHHS evening performance - PAC
Wed, April 1
- GSA meets weekly in room 19 at lunch
- 10:30am QHHS Play performance at the PAC - "Master Mummy"
Thurs, April 2
- Spirit Dress up Day - 80's Day!
- Principal's Coffee and Parent Advisory Council meeting - 9:30 in the Library - PAC Agenda
Week of April 6 - 10 - SPRING BREAK - NO SCHOOL!
Mon, April 13 - NO SCHOOL
(Storm Make-Up Day held "just in case" we needed to make up missed instructional time)
Tues, April 14
- Gaga Ball pit reserved for elementary students
Wed, April 15
- GSA meets weekly in room 19 at lunch
- Tahoe parent meeting (NA 7th and 8th) - 5pm in room 20
- SLV Charter presents at Board Meeting - 6pm (Review of 2025-26 Action Plan and proposed actions for 2026-27)
Thurs, April 16
-- Monthly Homeschool Parent Support Meeting - 9:30am in the quad
- Open House at SLVMS - 5:30pm
Fri, April 17
- Month 10 Attendance paperwork due (homeschools and IS programs)
For planning further ahead:
Thurs, April 23
- Earth Day recognized at Charter
Mon, April 27 - CAASPP Testing window opens: each program will share testing dates
Tues, April 28 - All-Charter Open House - student visual and performing art showcase and classroom exhibits; community pizza fundraiser!
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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
Here are the links to all other Charter program calendars:
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.
Quail Hollow Homeschool Calendar
Quail Hollow Integrated Arts Calendar
Creating a safe and caring school for everyone
At SLVUSD Charter School, 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.
Touch-Type Read and Spell
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."
Chromebook Loans
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.)
Athletics Information
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).
Emergency/School Safety update
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!
Schoology
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:
- Get your parent access code from your teacher or administrator.
- When you have your parent access code, go to app.schoology.com/register.php.
- Click the “Parent” button below the “Instructor” and “Student” buttons” in the “Sign Up for Schoology” section.
- Enter the access code you received, and click Continue.
- Enter your name and email (not the student’s) and choose a password.
Refer to the Parent Schoology Handbook to learn more.
Parent Volunteers/Chaperones
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
Student Nutrition Information (Breakfast and Lunch)
- 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.)
IMPORTANT: Please will all families complete the Free/Reduced Lunch Application at https://family.titank12.com/
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
Transportation Information
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
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
