Paly Community Update
Friday, September 17, 2021
Message from Principal Kline
It is hard to believe that we are concluding our sixth week of school today. Although the first day of school seems to be a distant memory, the Paly spirit that ignited at our first pep assembly of the school year continues to grow and spread throughout the entire Paly community. Learning is occurring in a variety of ways, including engaging lessons both in the classrooms and outside spaces around the campus. During several of my walk-throughs of our classes, I am seeing the return of normal teaching and learning opportunities, with the slight exception of everyone wearing masks.
This year we had 78 students apply for the Principal Advisory Committee (PAC), which is a group of students that I meet with regularly throughout the school year in order to hear first hand the experiences of our Paly students. For the past two weeks, I have been interviewing all of the applicants in order to determine who to select for this year’s PAC. I have been genuinely impressed by every single candidate and have learned so much from them about their past and current experiences on a number of topics including: the learning that they experienced during distance learning; the impact of the transition back to in-person learning; their perspective regarding homework, including the purpose and amount of homework they are expected to complete each day; and suggestions they might have to improve several of their experiences at Paly.
The single most consistent theme that has come up during these interviews has been the variety of ways that our students have adjusted back to the social experience of school. During the pandemic, students had to think of new ways to remain connected to their peer group. Many students lost some of these connections and have now either been able to reconnect with old friends or make new ones. In partnership with our ASB team, we will continue to provide opportunities for our students to re-engage socially in both formal and informal opportunities.
One of the biggest social events of the school year is the upcoming spirit week at Paly. Spirit this year at Paly will be the week of October 15th. Our ASB team has been working behind the scenes brainstorming ways to bring back the traditional events that occur during spirit week while also complying with the current guidelines and restrictions around COVID. Stay tuned for more information and opportunities for both student and parent involvement with this long-standing tradition at Paly.
SPIRIT WEEK CLASS T-SHIRTS NOW ON SALE!!!!
$12-for 9th, 10th, & 11th Grade T-Shirts
$25-for 12th Grade T-Shirts (customizable names on back-up to 10 characters, appropriate names only)
Purchase T-Shirts on the Paly Webstore which can be found on this link- PALY WEBSTORE
LAST DAY TO PURCHASE IS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD BY 1:00 PM
Progress Reports Available Today
Starting today, Friday, September 17, students and families will be able to check Infinite Campus to view their Progress Reports for the first half of our First Quarter. To check your student’s grades, please log in to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal and select your student’s name. You should be able to view Progress Report Information. If you have any questions regarding the academic progress, please contact your student’s teacher directly.
COVID TESTING AT PALY EVERY WEDNESDAY
Once you have registered, the individual being tested will only need to walk up to the testing clinic and they will be able to search for them by name. The lab staff will be able to immediately connect the barcode for the test sample to the online registration information, shortening turn around times for notifications. You will receive your test results through an email or text message from “Patient Connect,” which is Predicine Labs new data system.
The district positivity rate remains low and despite the challenges, we are proud to offer a COVID testing program to our students and staff. We thank you for your patience and for your commitment to safety. Thriving through the pandemic requires an effort by all of us, working together to keep our school community safe.
https://quicktest.labxchange.io/patientintake?testguid=5960B9A69285428
P.R.I.M.E--Personal, Reteaching, Intervention, Mentoring, Enrichment
We are off to a great start with the PRIME period. The new Responsive Scheduling system in Infinite Campus offers students the opportunity to select a class they need to attend each week as well as for teachers to request to see specific students. Attendance is taken for PRIME just like any other class and every student will have a PRIME class assigned to them if they don’t make a choice on their own of where to go.
Student PRIME location selection occurs on Monday of each week. Students should then check on Tuesday each week in Infinite Campus and see which class they are supposed to attend Wednesday during PRIME.
Attention Junior Families--PSAT/NMSQT
The PSAT/NMSQT will take place on Wednesday, October 13th at 8:30 am. All Juniors received a PSAT Study Guide in Advisory on Friday, September 17th.
The PSAT is a great tool for a variety of reasons. Below are just a couple…
1. Students that take the Practice SAT are provided test results that help them strategically study for the SAT.
a. PSAT scores are not reported to colleges.
2. Taking the PSAT/NMSQT qualifies students for a chance to win scholarships.
Guidance Updates
Advisory Update
As always, there’s been much going on in Advisory. One of the great things about our new 9/10 & 11/12 Advisory model is we now have the opportunity to meet more often with our Sophomores and Juniors. The TAs are enjoying having students for 2 consecutive years giving them a chance to forge authentic relationships. It’s nice to meet with each grade level often.
9th Grade - These students met on Sept 10th and were encouraged to connect and have fun together. Being a part of a Paly family is a great way for students to feel like they belong. As they grow to better know each other, they’ll be more comfortable sharing during upcoming lessons. To see some of the activities TAs used to help the students connect, see the lesson slides HERE.
10th Grade - Coming to school in the right frame of mind is essential to learning. And knowing how to advocate for yourself is an important key to success. Both of these traits were discussed in this lesson about Self Care and Self Advocacy: Lesson slide deck. When reviewing the lesson, pay special attention to the video interviewing other Paly students about their self-care routines - they shared such healthy and amazing habits!
11th Grade - The Juniors spent an Advisory reviewing their transcripts. They were looking for errors or omissions as well as familiarizing themselves with graduation requirements and how they align with CSU/UC eligibility requirements. In this information-packed Advisory they also talked about college testing, covering everything from what it means to be “test-optional” to “test blind”. If you’d like more detailed information, see the lesson slides HERE.
12th Grade - Our seniors are in the thick of college application season. Many are busy filling out applications for their choice campuses, while others are still exploring college options. The TAs are helping them along in the process by making sure they are familiar with all the necessary application steps. During their last Advisory, students were introduced to the Cover Sheet for College Applications. This digital document is mandatory for every student at Paly applying to college. It is an assignment in Schoology and can be added to throughout the season. This important step in the application process alerts TAs of a student’s applications and when they are due. To learn more about Cover Sheets, watch this lesson.
We polled Sophomores to see what lesson themes and activities they’d like to experience in Advisory. Among the top responses: playing games to get to know each other, how to do better in school, time management skills, and community service options. As someone once said “out of the mouths of babes….” Watch for these great ideas to be included in Advisory lessons!
Wellness
College & Career Center updates
Application Tips Sheets
Please encourage your senior to reference the C&CC Class of 2022 Schoology course materials often. Application tip sheets are uploaded as they are updated. The two most recent include:
Tips for Completing the Common App (housed in the Common App folder)
This document contains Paly-specific information you'll need to complete the application (i.e. size of class, etc.). It also provides a helpful approach about how to prioritize the completion of each section of the application.
Tips for Completing the UC Application (housed in the CSU/UC folder in the UC subfolder)
This document provides help and information needed to complete the application (i.e. where students can find their State ID number on their transcript). In addition, the UC folder contains freshman application data from the class of 2021 as well as information about campus policies and procedures for freshman admission review.
In the coming weeks, these documents will be updated and uploaded to the Schoology course: Tips for Completing the CSU Application and Dual Enrollment Information for College Apps.
Application Help Workshop
Seniors working on early applications, the C&CC will host a workshop Thurs., Sept. 30 during PRIME at 2:40 pm. This is a time to get questions answered and/or work on your Common App/other non-CSU/UC with College Advisors in the “room” to offer assistance and advice. Students must register in Naviance to attend. This workshop is for students, only.
All scheduled future workshops are listed on the main calendar on paly.net. In addition, all are listed in the C&CC Class of 2022 Schoology course calendar
Work Experience
Work Permits:
Work permits must be renewed within 5 days at the start of each school year, so start the re-submission process now by completing this B1-1 document again. Then, email the completed form to rkaci@pausd.org (do not include your social security #). Thanks for your cooperation as this keeps your job site in compliance & informs PAUSD of who is actively working. More info can be found here.
Job Opportunities:
Many of our local vendors are actively hiring - review this Job Vendor slidedeck for current positions, and a job fair will be held this fall - details to follow. Further inquiries may be sent directly to the Work Experience Teacher Rachael Kaci: rkaci@pausd.org
October 1, 2021 - Staff Professional Development Day - No Students
Please remember that Friday, October 1st we will be closed for Staff Professional Development Day. Below, is the Paly Schedule for week of 9/27 - 10?1