Sunday, November 19, 2017

week 13-14

Image result for thanksgivingHappy Thanksgiving!!! 
We wish you an amazing time with your loved ones and a great chance to do some self care! Your kids and you deserve it.



BLOG 

Hello Q Nation!!!
If you would like to subscribe to my blog, please enter your e-mail address in the field at the top of this page. 

We hope you had a great break. This is a repost of the blog that went out on Friday of break. Please make sure you read the top 2 posts if you can as they are new as of this week.


We need your help!!!--Vandalism on Campus
Last week on the last day of school around 430-5 PM this car was driving all over our lawn etc doing damage. Its a white pick up truck. Can you identify this car? If so please contact me at erenfree@sandi.net. WHITE TRUCK 4 DOOR either no hubcaps or black ones.


In addition around the same time (cant be sure if its the same car/truck as above) someone ran into our Visitor ticket booth. Please see photo. This car would have damage. We know that the rear view brake light was broken and in addition should have a broken mirror on one side and scrapes. If you child came home over the break during the first weekend of it with car damage please contact us as we and local law enforcement are working on this. Please see damage.

Principal's Coffee:
Principal's Coffee (coffee provided) is this Friday December 1, 2017. Starts promptly at 730 am - 830 am. AFTERNOON COFFEE IS CANCELED DUE TO OTHER EVENT. We look forward to seeing you!

Did you miss last time??? Well, check it out HERE!



ROTC/ASB FOOD DRIVE---PLEASE PARTICIPATE ENDS Dec 13th


Our goal this year is 2 tons of food to feed the hungry during the holidays.  Nonperishable food items will collected in JROTC (room 417) or any of your student's 1st period classes.

Most Needed Food Items

Canned Chicken & Tuna Dry & Canned Beans Cereal Rice
Nuts & Seeds Peanut Butter Canned Soup Canned & Dried Fruit
Canned Vegetables Powdered Milk Infant Formula
Nutritional Choices
Tuna in Water Low-Sodium Canned Beans
Low-Sugar Whole Grain Cereal
Brown & Wild Rice
Unsalted Almonds
Low-Sodium & Low-Fat Canned Soup
Flax Seeds

No Sugar Added Peanut Butter
Canned Fruit in Water or Juice Low-Sodium & No Salt Added

We are unable to accept:


Glass jars or homemade food products


DID YOU KNOW?????

Administration in Tierrasanta at the middle schools and high school are involved in what is called a Family Collaborative which is support systems in TS that talk about what community concerns are going on and if these supports can address them. Lately prescription drugs have come up in conversation. 

This is interesting for the following reasons:
1. It doesn't smell (like marijuana)
2. Hard to detect if child in taking them without a prescription
3. Going rate for these pills are a lot so they are a lucrative "business" to get into. Even if they bring 1 pill to school they can make up to 40 dollars on it.....that's a ton of money to a kid so a bottle might not be missing but a pill or two in the bottle could be.
4. They have easy access to these pills in your homes, grandparents homes and friends homes.
5. A child who comes into your house can go through your medicine cabinets and take a pill out so it doesn't have to be your child...its about the access
6. You can be held liable if your child takes pills and distributes them either at a school or in the community and something happens to those kids while high.
7. Pills stay in your system up to 5 days while marijuana stays up to 30 so its hard to catch if you suspect.

PLEASE WHETHER YOU SUSPECT YOUR CHILD OR NOT:
1. Please lock up or destroy your pills if unused
2. Preferred pills are Xanax, Narcos, Perocets, and Somas.
3. If you don't know what to do with your pills bring them to the high school and we will dispose of them for you in a manner appropriate.
4. Talk with your children and let us know if Serra Students are involved and email me at erenfree@sandi.net so I can support you.
5. If you suspect and want help we have a resources on campus that can drug test your child. Contact us for details. We will help you.!!!!!

WE DO NOT HAVE A DRUG PROBLEM AT SERRA..however if we can do something as simple as locking up or disposing of our unused prescriptions it will help prevent one. We will support you however we can.


IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES:
Please make sure you are referring to our calendar. Throughout the holiday season periodically I will update this page with important dates:

November 27- December 1
1. No major events that week. We will post all major events in December in my next blog which will come out sometime Dec 2-3.

COUNSELING

NOV 30th UC's and CSU Applications are DUE
College Applications are due!!!!  All CSU and UC applications are due by November 30th.  This week-long break is a great time to work on those applications.  It is important that you have someone review your applications before submitting.  Please try and complete as much as possible and then come in on Monday morning, 11/27 and have a Counselor review it. 

Quick Reminders:

·    You DO NOT need the Common Application for the CSU or UC applications.  Please use the following links:
https://www2.calstate.edu/apply  (for CSU applications)
·    If you are taking Community College courses remember to put the course on the high school side and the college side because you receive weighted high school credit and college credit
·     
      If you attended a high school other than Serra, you must have a transcript from all high schools, and report the courses that were taken at each high school as they appear on the transcript.  DO NOT USE THE SERRA COURSE NAME, IF YOU ATTENDED ANOTHER HIGH SCHOOL.
·    
     For UC applications, be sure to re-read your Personal Insight Questions and that they answer the prompt.  Remember to answer in your voice and write authentically.
·         
      Finally, if you have not started your FAFSA application, please start it during the break.  DO NOT wait until the March 2nd deadline.  The earlier you apply, the better your chances of receiving money.   Please apply even if you don’t think you quality. 
o    The first step is for the student and one parent to apply for a FAFSA ID, if you both have a Social Security Number
§  The next step is to fill out the FAFSA, using parent’s 2016 filed taxes @:
o   If the student has a SSN, but the parent does not, then the student applies for the FAFSA ID, fills out the application and prints out the signature page for the parent to sign and mail in.  Please mail in, via Certified Mail.
o   If the student nor the parent has a SSN, DO NOT fill out the FAFSAInstead, fill out the Dream Application: 

Teacher Feature!


Mr. Galm: Biology and Math

Teacher working in front of class, lecturing on what a Diamante poems is and how the class needs to work in groups of 3 to complete the assignment. Teacher recognized new students and celebrated their entry into the class. Lots of student engagement and frequently checking for understanding.  SEA Mr. Gonzalez is working with student and also checking for understanding.
Teacher offers class samples / examples of poems for students to use.  Teacher upon closing, offered support through tutoring after school and lunch.  GREAT JOB!!!!!

Two teachers went above and beyond this week:

  
Ken Colbert

Shout out to you Ken Colbert. He spent a whole day from 5:30 am until 11:00 pm with Serra High Key Club as our teacher chaperone. 56 Key Club members attended Fall Rally at Magic Mountain last Saturday to help raise money for the Pediatric Trauma Program. We wouldn’t have been able to attend the event unless Ken accompanied us due to SDUSD requirements for students attending field trips.

Ken has been a huge support for us as a liaison to front office for information and signatures, making required copies for events/membership packets, and hosting our Monday Board meetings. There are over 120 Key Club members!!!!! GREAT JOB KEN

Ralf Uebel: Physics

Ralf asked the students to pick a day and he came in last Sunday and worked with his Physics students all day in order to support them. Parent were very happy and wanted to make sure I knew about him doing that. GREAT JOB!!!!

ATHLETICS

Want to know everything with Serra Athletics?
Just click the Athletic tab and then click Athletics again or go to the following website
http://goconquistadors.com/

Winter Sports Parent Night Monday Nov. 20th 6pm.  If your son or daughter made a team for winter sports the parent meeting is on Monday. 

Foundation Meetings/PTO Meetings:
The next Foundation meeting is December 6 at 630 in the Media Center. Foundation help fund projects and items that regular funds cant. It is an amazing group to be a part of and give back to Serra.

Dress Code
We've been working with our Site Governance Team to update our dress code policy and together we've adopted a policy that we believe values equity for all students.  Over the next week students will receive a printed copy of the new dress code and the dress code will be posted in classrooms.  Full enforcement of the new dress code will go into effect after Thanksgiving break.

The dress code is divided into three sections.  
1. Our Philosophy
2. The Dress Code
3. Enforcement.

In this blog I'm sharing the "Dress Code" and part of the enforcement of it.  If you would like to see the entire document, please check the Serra web page later this week. 

Click HERE for the Dress Code. 

Students who are found to be in violation of the dress code will be given the following three options.  (For a more detailed look at the enforcement piece of the dress code, check the SHS web page later this week.)

o   Students will be asked to put on their own alternative clothing, if already available at school, to be dressed to code for the remainder of the day.  The office will confiscate “out of code” garment until the end of the day.

o   Students will be provided with temporary school clothing to be dressed to code for the remainder of the day. 
 The office will confiscate “out of code” garment until the borrowed garment is returned.

o   If necessary, students’ parents may be called during the school day to bring alternative clothing for the student to wear for the remainder of the day. 

Tutoring
We have tutoring available on campus at lunch and after school. Go to Room 902 if you need tutoring. Coming soon we will be linking a master calendar we are working on to get everyones tutoring schedule to advertise. STAY TUNED.

Parking--Please talk to you children!
Please remind all students to park in the "south" parking lot.  This is the parking lot that is closest to the bungalows and tennis courts.  The other parking lot is reserved for staff.

Academic Concerns:
We are not allowing schedule changes unless it is a circumstance such as safety. However when you have a concern that is academics please follow the proper procedure.

1. Contact your child's teacher
2. Set a meeting with the teacher
3. Follow up with the teacher
4. Contact the counselor
5. Contact the Head counselor
6. Contact the VP for your child
7. IF none of these people can resolve the issue and you have exhausted all of these than please feel free to contact me directly at erenfree@sandi.net.

Thank you.

School Site Council
SSC approved the following items: School Safety Plan, Title 1 Parent Information, Home School Compact, and Budget transfers. If any of these thing interest you please show up to the next SSC Meeting which is November 30th at 230 in the Media Center.

Principal's Coffee:
Principal's Coffee (coffee provided) is this Friday December 1, 2017. Starts promptly at 730 am - 830 am. In addition we will have a afternoon coffee from 430 until 530 with the same information for working parents. We look forward to seeing you!

Did you miss last time??? Well, check it out HERE!

Scholarships!
There are lots of great scholarship available to our students.  Click the link below and see if one is right for you!

Monday, November 13, 2017

Week 12


Hello Q Nation!!!
If you would like to subscribe to my blog, please enter your e-mail address in the field at the top of this page. 

What a great week at Serra! We had an amazing Band Invitational on Thursday night and we won our football playoff game vs El Cajon Valley. Have a great week right before break. Four more days to go!!!!!


IMPORTANT UPCOMING DATES:
Please make sure you are referring to our calendar. Throughout the holiday season periodically I will update this page with important dates:

November:
11/11- WINTER Sport Tryouts
11/14- Basketball Cheer Tryouts
11/14-PTO Meeting 630 Media Center
11/16- Governance Meeting: 230 Media Center-ALL Welcome
11/16-Financial Aid Night
11/20-11/24: THANKSGIVING

Financial Aid Night - THIS THURSDAY
The  date is November 16, from 6 PM to 7:30 PM in the Media Center

Please register at SanDiegoCalSoap.com. See you there


Pathway Feature--PHOTOGRAPHY!!!!!
In the Spring of 2017 students in Mr. Pedersen's photography class entered a photo contest for the Museum of Photographic Arts. The contest was open to K-12 students in Tijuana and San Diego county. Four of Mr. Pedersen's students were selected by a panel of photographers and the curator of the museum to exhibit their photographic art in the Museum from November - February. Not only did they select our students to exhibit but one of our student's work is used as the main image for the entire exhibition on the MOPA website and on the large signs around Balboa park promoting the exhibit. Needless to say we are so proud of the work our kids did. Super cool!!


Check out the video HERE!
Check out the MOPA web page HERE!


Teacher Feature!
Brittney Parrish















In Brittany Parrish's AP Psychology class, students are working in groups to share their slides from a power point presentation on the brain and its functions. A clear purpose for the day is posted and as individual students share their slides, other students are taking notes and asking clarification questions.  Students are owning their learning. 




Want to know everything with Serra Athletics?
Just click the Athletic tab and then click Athletics again or go to the following website
http://goconquistadors.com/

We won our football playoff game! and the Prep Pigskin report showed up to promote us!!! Great job everyone!



Football at 7pm at UC High School--Friday November 17

Field Hockey 3pm on Tuesday November 14 at Serra High vs Patrick Henry

Cross Country CIF Championships at Morley Field all day on Saturday November 18

Tryouts are in full swing this week.

Winter Sports Parent Night Monday Nov. 20th 6pm.  If your son or daughter made a team for winter sports the parent meeting is on Monday. 


Congratulations to our Athletes!


Congratulations to the four Serra Conquistadors for Signing their letter of intent this past Wednesday.  They traveled to Petco Park to the event hosted by Hall of Champions.   Student-athletes from around the county signed a letter of intent to play at the next level.  This is not only a proud day for them but also for the entire family.  Serra High School is very proud of your accomplishment.  Please see picture for left to right: KP Peterson (Field Hockey) – Michigan; April Ranches (Golf) – SDSU; Tim Carlson (Baseball) – Minot State; Larissa Severt (Basketball) – Southeast Missouri

Foundation Meetings/PTO Meetings:
The next Foundation meeting is December 6 at 630 in the Media Center. Foundation help fund projects and items that regular funds cant. It is an amazing group to be a part of and give back to Serra.

PTO---TOMORROW NIGHT!!!!!

PTO just funded a brand new Teachers Lounge! Pictures Coming Soon!! Next PTO Meeting is 11/14 at 630 in the Media Center!


ASCEND PARTICIPANTS:

Serra HS ASCEND Students,
We have a change in speakers:  We will have Mrs. Clarissa Wright who is a Histotechnician.  This field is well know within medicine, but perhaps you have not heard of it before.  Here is a wonderful opportunity to learn about this viable research position within medicine that you might be interested in.  Ever wondered who provides the tools to the doctor for the analysis or prognosis of patient conditions ?.  It's within the field of pathology and medicine. You'll want to learn more.  Our original speaker will visit on another date.  

Be sure to be on time and lunch will be served.  Bring your ASCEND application of you have not submitted it already!

Spread the word.... Bring a friend to join ASCEND!

Dress Code
We've been working with our Site Governance Team to update our dress code policy and together we've adopted a policy that we believe values equity for all students.  Over the next week students will receive a printed copy of the new dress code and the dress code will be posted in classrooms.  Full enforcement of the new dress code will go into effect after Thanksgiving break.

The dress code is divided into three sections.  
1. Our Philosophy
2. The Dress Code
3. Enforcement.

In this blog I'm sharing the "Dress Code" and part of the enforcement of it.  If you would like to see the entire document, please check the Serra web page later this week. 

Click HERE for the Dress Code. 

Students who are found to be in violation of the dress code will be given the following three options.  (For a more detailed look at the enforcement piece of the dress code, check the SHS web page later this week.)

o   Students will be asked to put on their own alternative clothing, if already available at school, to be dressed to code for the remainder of the day.  The office will confiscate “out of code” garment until the end of the day.

o   Students will be provided with temporary school clothing to be dressed to code for the remainder of the day. 
 The office will confiscate “out of code” garment until the borrowed garment is returned.

o   If necessary, students’ parents may be called during the school day to bring alternative clothing for the student to wear for the remainder of the day. 

Band
I am very happy and proud to share with you that our very own Serra High School Golden Regiment Marching Band and Color Guard won 1st Place in the 1A Band Class and 1st Place in the 1A Auxiliary (Color Guard) Class this past Saturday at the Chula Vista Invitational Field Tournament at San Ysidro High School. With their streak of outstanding performances over the past couple of weeks. They qualified for SCSBOA 1A Class Championships this Saturday at Warren H.S. in Downey, CA, finishing in 4th place out of twenty-seven (27) bands that were competing for Championships.
   

Tutoring
We have tutoring available on campus at lunch and after school. Go to Room 902 if you need tutoring. Coming soon we will be linking a master calendar we are working on to get everyones tutoring schedule to advertise. STAY TUNED.

Feature Film Event:
Resilience: The Biology of Stress & The Science of Hope
Resilience is a documentary that delves into the science of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and a new movement to treat and prevent toxic stress

As the new documentary Resilience reveals, toxic stress can trigger hormones that wreak havoc on the brains and bodies of children, putting them at a greater risk for disease, homelessness, prison time, and early death. While the broader impacts of poverty worsen the risk, no segment of society is immune. Resilience, however, also chronicles the dawn of a movement that is determined to fight back. Trailblazers in pediatrics, education, and social welfare are using cutting-edge science and field-tested therapies to protect children from the insidious effects of toxic stress—and the dark legacy of a childhood that no child would choose.
"Resilience" is a fascinating documentary that eloquently explains the health-care issues that confront us directly and indirectly on a daily basis. But more than that, "Resilience" gives us the solution to this problem. Rarely do you find a documentary that highlights a problem and gives a solution. It's a film every educator, health-care provider, and lawmaker should see.
Please join us for this powerful film
When:              November 15, 2017   
Where:             Serra High School
Time:               4:30 pm – 6:00 pm (resource fair 3:30 –4:30, movie 4:30 – 6:00)
R.S.V.P.:         619-725-7139 or lsheldon@sandi.net

Parking--Please talk to you children!
Please remind all students to park in the "south" parking lot.  This is the parking lot that is closest to the bungalows and tennis courts.  The other parking lot is reserved for staff.

ROTC
Interested in ROTC? Interested in scholarships? Check out this presentation students saw in ROTC and the money for college they can get!

Meeting for Panama, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica trip
Come travel with us and EF tours to Panama, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua this summer. Parent meeting on November 16th at 5:30 in Mrs. Holbrook's room, 403. It is going to be an amazing adventure! Everyone is welcome, students and adults. This will be our third trip using EF Tours and we have been very happy with them. Come and learn about our fabulous trip.

* Not a district or school sponsored trip.

Academic Concerns:
We are not allowing schedule changes unless it is a circumstance such as safety. However when you have a concern that is academics please follow the proper procedure.

1. Contact your child's teacher
2. Set a meeting with the teacher
3. Follow up with the teacher
4. Contact the counselor
5. Contact the Head counselor
6. Contact the VP for your child
7. IF none of these people can resolve the issue and you have exhausted all of these than please feel free to contact me directly at erenfree@sandi.net.

Thank you.

School Site Council
SSC approved the following items: School Safety Plan, Title 1 Parent Information, Home School Compact, and Budget transfers. If any of these thing interest you please show up to the next SSC Meeting which is November 30th at 230 in the Media Center.

Principal's Coffee:
Principal's Coffee (coffee provided) is this Friday December 1, 2017. Starts promptly at 730 am - 830 am. In addition we will have a afternoon coffee from 430 until 530 with the same information for working parents. We look forward to seeing you!

Did you miss last time??? Well, check it out HERE!

Scholarships!
There are lots of great scholarship available to our students.  Click the link below and see if one is right for you!