High Desert Mural Project - Student Painters Needed
Calling all High Desert Hawks Artists!
Our new mural project begins this upcoming week. Artist Derrik Diza from Influential Walls will be here to support our students in painting our new mural. We invite all interested students to join and share your love of art in creating this project that will last for years to come. Students will participate in designing, sketching, and painting the murals as well as engaging in curriculum for how to make a career as an artist. Ideally, students would commit to all four days of painting if possible.
Mural Education and Painting Schedule:
- Thursday, May 1 - 2:30-3:30pm
- Friday, May 2 - 2:30-3:30pm
- Monday, May 5 - 2:30-3:30pm
- Tuesday, May 6 - 2:30-3:30pm
If you are interested in joining the artist team, please email Mrs. Van Ornum or sign up in the office.
8th Grade Magic Mountain Fieldtrip - June 6th
Fieldtrip permission slips were sent home on Thursday, May 1st for all 8th graders. To attend the 8th grade Magic Mountain fieldtrip on the last day of school, June 6th.
For tickets:
- Students may use their season pass and indicate that they have a season pass on the fieldtrip form.
- Or, students may purchase a ticket online and provide a copy of it attached to the fieldtrip form.
Permission slips are due May 16, 2025.
Reducing Testing Anxiety Lessons
This past week, our amazing counseling team gave Reducing Testing Anxiety presentations to each of our AVID classes. They spoke with students about ways to prepare for and relax during testing. They also provided them with strategies to stay focused. Our goal is to support students with doing their best on all assessments.
5th Graders Walk Through the American Revolution
Our 5th grade students brought history to life during the Walk Through the American Revolution experience! This interactive program transforms students into historical figures, complete with scripts, songs, and challenges as they explore key events, geography, and leaders of the American Revolution. It’s a high-energy blend of education and performance that makes learning unforgettable!
🫶 A heartfelt thank you to the Acton Women’s Club for their generous support in making this enriching and engaging experience possible for our students!
#AnchoredInAchievement
🚀 Mrs. Higdon’s Class Blasts Off at STARBASE! 🛰️
Mrs. Higdon’s class had an unforgettable experience at STARBASE Edwards, where they dove into hands-on STEM learning with real-world applications!
From launching rockets to building space shuttles and exploring robotics, our students engaged in exciting, high-tech activities. They even got to see a bomb dog demonstration and chat with a Flight Engineer who pulled 9Gs in an F-16 with the Thunderbirds!
A huge shoutout to Owen and Jaylee, winners of the Clay Boat Challenge—their boat held 54 gemstones! They took home 3D-printed articulating octopi as their prize. 🐙🏆
Programs like STARBASE inspire our students to aim high and dream big!
#AnchoredInAchievement
Yearbook Order Deadline - May 15th
Anchored in Achievement, this year’s yearbook is packed with memories you won’t want to miss! From splashy spirit days to wave-making wins, our ASB/Yearbook crew has captured it all. Huge congratulations to the class on completing this epic voyage, and a special thank you to Mrs. Goodstein for steering the ship with creativity and dedication! Dive into this year’s book before it sails away—the deadline to purchase online is May 15th! After that, it’s $40 cash only while supplies last. Don’t miss the boat! ⛵📘
CAASPP Testing - May 5-15
Every year, California students take several statewide tests. When combined with other measures such as grades, class work, and teacher observations, these tests give families and teachers a more complete picture of their child’s learning. You can use the results to identify where your child is doing well and where they might need more support.
Students participate in the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). Your child will take the following tests, depending on their grade level or instructional program:
Smarter Balanced Summative Assessments for English language arts and math, required tests in grades 3–8 and 11 - SBAC Parent Guide
California Science Test (CAST), a required test in grades 5 and 8 and once in high school - CAST Parent Guide
Physical Fitness Test (PFT), a required test in grades 5, 7, and 9 - PFT Parent Guide
You are an important part of your child’s education. To make sure your child feels comfortable taking tests, you can:
Explain to your child that these tests are tools to help them learn, and they should not be anxious or scared.
Explore the practice tests with your child at home so they can become familiar with the platform and setup of the tests.
Remind your child that you and their teacher want them to try their best and are there to help every step of the way. - Smart Start for Parents
Preparation for testing should include:
Getting a good night’s rest
Eating a nutritious breakfast each morning
On-time arrival to school and 100% attendance
Confidence! Students should go into testing with confidence and do their best at each testing session.
8th Grade Panoramic Photo
Don’t miss the last chance to purchase the unforgettable 8th Grade Panoramic Photo—a memory to last a lifetime as we celebrate our students being Anchored in Achievement! This fun and meaningful keepsake captures your student’s final year at High Desert School. Order today at www.shopstudio1.com, enter the school code H621, and click on "2024-2025 Panoramic".
Sail fast—before this opportunity drifts away!
Go Hawks!
Mr. Jordan
"Mr. Jordan has really stepped up in second semester filling the roles of RSP for both 5/6th and 7/8th. He rose to the challenge and has maintained a positive attitude throughout. His diligent work and attention to detail has ensured that we met timelines while supporting teachers and students. We are grateful for his support this school year."
~HDS Staff
Mrs. Seymour
Congratulations to Mrs. Denise Seymour for earning her Masters Degree in Teaching from the University of Massachusetts Global. She has been working hard the past two years to complete her Multiple-Subject Teaching Credential and her Masters Degree all while teaching full time and raising her family! We are so grateful for her example of pursuing higher education and commitment to working with our students to help them reach their highest potential!
AVID Advisory and SEL - Weekly Focus
- AVID - This year in AVID, we will be focusing on organization, goal setting, and academic achievement with the support of WICOR strategies implemented in all classrooms. This week, the focus is testing prep.
- SEL - Each week, on Wednesday, our students will be working on soft skills to support their social and emotional development during middle school.
i-Ready Classroom Math - Family Center
i-Ready Classroom Mathematics is a robust mathematics program designed to help your student become a strong, independent mathematical thinker. Through the Try-Discuss, Connect framework, students deepen their conceptual understanding and collaboratively solve problems. Check out the family center for more information on how to support your child with mathematics from home.
Step Up Tutoring - FREE for Grades 5-6
Step Up delivers 1-on-1 math tutoring, conducted online with a consistent tutor
Students receive tailored math support using a curriculum that is tailored to address their needs
Tutors focus on relationship-building and provide mentorship in a fun learning environment
Students receive tutoring at least twice weekly via one of three program models: at-home, during an after-school program, or during the school day
2024-2025 Athletics Physicals
All students must have a new athletic physical and online clearance each school year. To complete the online clearance go to: https://www.homecampus.com/login
- For School - Select Vasquez
- For Sport - Select the sport the applies with MS in the title (ex: MS Volleyball)
You will need to submit the following documents as part of the clearance process:
- Current health insurance card
- Physical (Medical History / Physical / Clearance)
Attendance Matters
HDS Yearbook 2025
Yearbooks are selling quickly. They are a great way to preserve the memories that students make during their middle school years. Purchase your yearbook today online or in the HDS Office.
CalHope Mental Health Resources
CalHope Mental Health Resources
Digital mental health support for youth, young adults, and families provides free, safe, and confidential mental health support for young people and families across the state with two easy-to-use mobile apps: Brightlife Kids and soluna.
BrightLife - Mental health coaching and resources for parents with kids ages 0-12
Soluna — your space to de-stress, bounce back, and reset. Completely free and confidential for California teens and young adults. Always.
Soluna | California's Mental Health App for 13 - 25-year-olds
Teen Mental Health Toolkit - For Parents and Guardians
About half of teens in the U.S. had a mental health concern at some point in their life. Recognizing teen mental health issues and connecting to early intervention and treatment can be lifesaving. Check out this free guide to the most common teen mental health challenges and find local mental health resources.
HDS 24-25 School Calendar
Stay up to date on all of the Hawk Happenings throughout the school year. Check out our Yearlong Calendar for the 2024-2025 School Year.
Hawk Handbook
Our scholar handbook contains vital information regarding school policies and procedures, please review with your scholar.
HDS Dress Code
Scholar attire is important to keep the focus on learning. Please review and support your scholar in adhering to the school dress code.
Daily Attendance = Academic Success
On-Time Behavior
Cell Phones - Away for the Day
PBIS Rewards Family App Access
Our School is using PBIS Rewards to help us with our PBIS program! PBIS Rewards is a technology-based PBIS Management System that helps us with our behavior incentive program. You can learn about PBIS Rewards at their website (www.pbisrewards.com).
Our students can earn rewards throughout the day by meeting our behavior expectations. These rewards are in the form of electronic points. They can redeem these points for privileges, tangible items, access to events, and other similar things. Our expectation is that we will see overall behavior improve throughout the school and that the number of referrals we have will decrease.
PBIS Rewards has a Family App that will give you some insight into how your child is doing with respect to our PBIS program. The Family App will run on most smart devices, including smartphones and tablets. You can find it in the iPhone/iPad App Store, Google Play, and the Amazon App Store. Just search for "PBIS Rewards Family."
An email has been sent to families to get you set up on the PBIS Rewards Family App. Please access this email from PBIS Rewards if you wish to access your child's progress. If you did not receive an email, please contact Mrs. Van Ornum so she can help get you set up.
High Desert School
Email: mvanornum@aadusd.k12.ca.us
Website: http://aadusd.k12.ca.is/domain/9/
Location: 3620 Antelope Woods Road, Acton, CA, USA
Phone: (661) 269-0310
Facebook: facebook.com/hdsboosterclub/
Twitter: @Highdesert_aad