Luis Valdez Leadership Academy
LION ROAR
Message from your Principal
Dear Familia,
I am very proud of you and our entire LVLA community as we demonstrated a strong start to the school year. You and your family elected LVLA due to our strong commitment to students, our college-going culture, safe environment, and passionate and caring educators, and despite the changes in our learning environment, our commitment to you is constant and unwavering. I am excited to embark on this new learning with you and know we are ready to accomplish the goals we have in place for the 2020/2021 school year.
This year, our goals include:
1. Ensuring 100% of students are a-g eligible
2. Ensuring 100% of students graduate from high school
3. Improving achievement in English Language Arts and Mathematics.
Additionally, we are aiming to increase passing rates on the AP Exams, expand Dual Credit courses, and prepare you for the university you are aiming for. We have high expectations and place no restrictions because we know the potential you have. You can accomplish ANYTHING you want. Your success is LVLA's success and our expectation is that you continue to hold yourself to the highest standard in your participation, your character, and your academics.
I would like to thank you for your patience and understanding as we too learn how to teach and support you in a remote learning setting. This is a new reality for everyone. We will experience hiccups, errors, and perhaps some frustration, but I am confident that we will forge forward together and be kind to each other as we navigate our new teaching and learning environment.
Let's have another winning year and as always, walk in love, talk in love, become love. LET'S GO LIONS!
Your Principal,
Ms.Gonzalez
408-913-5009
Message from your Dean of Students
Hi Lions!
Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year! I hope you and your families had a safe and restful summer.
For all the students who are returning to Luis Valdez Leadership Academy (LVLA)...welcome back! To the new students and families joining our familia...welcome!
For those of you who I haven’t met, I joined The Foundation for Hispanic Education (TFHE) in 2018, and I have been proudly serving students and families as Dean of Students. I am excited to be serving you and your families in the upcoming school year.
As Dean of Students, I will be serving and supporting you in all aspects of Student Life including Attendance, Citizenship and Student Leadership, and Campus Safety.
Every week I will be providing Student Life updates that will inform you about the most important issues impacting our school’s success; and most importantly, your success.
In case you missed your student orientation, applications for student leadership will be available by August 28. We will provide important student leadership dates in the coming weeks.
Regarding attendance, remember that we have a grave level competition titled the Attendance Challenge! This challenge will occur throughout the year, and your grade-level class will compete for weekly & monthly recognitions, semester rewards, and the coveted Attendance Challenge Plaque! Our school attendance goal is 98.5%! However, we should all strive for 100% during remote learning.
As mentioned above, I am excited to be serving you in the upcoming school year. Please contact me at 408-384-4015 Ext. 4014, or vmonroy@tfhe.org with any questions or concerns.
Have a great school year!
Vince D. Monroy
Dean of Students
ACADEMICS
Final semester grades are earned at:
Grading Period 3 (Semester 1 Grade)
Grading Period 6 (Semester 2 Grade)
RESOURCES
MENTAL HEALTH TEAM RESOURCES
Support and individual check-in time is available to all. Support can be provided upon referral, as needed. Please let any staff member know if you would like to speak to someone.
24 Hour Crisis Line 408.294.0579
Mental Health Services
The following resources are available to help people who may be experiencing distress or heightened anxiety right now:
- 24/7 Behavioral Health Services Department Call Center: (800) 704-0900
- Crisis Text Line: Text RENEW to 741741
- Suicide and Crisis Hotline 24/7: (855) 278-4204
- Mobile Crisis Response Teams (MCRT)
- Adults-BHSD MCRT: (800) 704-0900
- Children and Youth-Uplift Family Services Mobile Crisis Response: (408) 379-9085
- If you are experiencing an emergency call 9-1-1 immediately.
COVID-19 Updates from Assembly Member Aah Kalra (a dedicated page) https://a27.asmdc.org/covid-19-updates-and-resources
Food Distribution:
Mondays: Our Lady of Peace (2800 Mission College Blvd Santa Clara, CA 95054)
Tuesdays: Our Lady of Refuge (Closest to LVLA) (2165 Lucretia Ave San Jose, CA 95122) (5PM-7PM)
Wednesdays: St. Martin of Tours (200 O'Connor Dr. San Jose, CA 95128) (9AM-11AM)
Thursdays: St. John Vianney (4600 Hyland Ave San Jose, CA 95127) (9AM-11AM)
Fridays: St. Lucy's Campbell (2350 S Winchester Blvd Campbell, CA 95008) (10AM-12PM)
Saturdays: Santa Teresa Parish (794 Calero Ave San Jose, CA 95123)
ACADEMIC COUNSELING CORNER
Dear Students,
Welcome to the 2020-2021 academic year! I am very confident that you will do your best this year at LVLA. I will be here every step of the way to support you reach your goals.For those of you returning, we will continue to work together towards graduation, college, or post-secondary opportunities after graduation. For all the new Lions joining our community, I look forward to meeting you and helping you reach your full potential at LVLA.
I encourage you all to take advantage of all the resources that LVLA has to offer and reach out when you need support. We have a great team that wants to see you succeed and we are all here to help you. If you need to contact me you can email me at scanales@tfhe.org.
Looking forward to a great year!
Sincerely,
Ms. Canales
Academic Counselor
12th Grade Space - Class of 2021
Hello Class of 2021,
Welcome to the 2020-2021 academic school year!
Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Oscar Martinez, I am the new Academic Counselor that will be working with each and every one of you. My goal is to help you all not only graduate but to prepare you for life after high school.
Senior year is not only exciting but also important for the next steps in your life. My goal is to help you all reach your academic and professional goals. Senior year can be a stressful year; however, how stressful it becomes depends on YOU!
Take advantage of the after school workshops, information sessions and important things happening this year so that you can get the help you need. Just remember to not wait to the very last minute to complete a task or else it will bring lots and lots of unnecessary stress.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach me at omartinez@tfhe.org.
Looking forward to an exciting year!
Oscar Martinez
Academic Counselor
COLLEGE and CAREER
We have many resources for you this year. Opportunities and resource will be emailed and included in the Lion Roar. As always, reach out to Brittany and Angel if you have any questions or need any help with anything!
Call or Text us via Google Voice:
Brittany: (408) 430-7402
Angel: (408) 766-0771
ATTENDANCE MATTERS
Hi Lions!
Every week I will be providing weekly, monthly, and year-to-date attendance updates as part of our Attendance Challenge competition!
Remember that this challenge will occur throughout the entire school year, and your grade-level class will compete for weekly & monthly recognition, semester rewards, and the coveted Attendance Challenge Plaque!
Through Week 1, the Seniors are in the lead of the Attendance Challenge with attendance of 92.99%! However, it's still close, and all the other classes still have a chance to win this month's challenge.
Check out last week's results below, and compete!
Attendance Challenge: Grade Level Rankings - August 2020
1st Place Seniors 92.99% 2nd Place Sophomores 91.91% 3rd Place Juniors 90.82% 4th place Freshmen 90%
Remember that our school attendance goal is 98.5%. In order to receive credit for attendance, and be marked "Present," you must join all of your Google Meet sessions on time, every day!
Compete and help your class have the best attendance by joining every Google Meet session every day! And when your classmates aren’t logged on to the Google Meet class, help them by encouraging them to join!
If you are having any access, technology, or connection issues, please contact me as soon as possible so I can provide you the needed support.
Have a great week!
Mr. Monroy
Information Technology
Birthdays!
Our lives would not be the same without you and your amazing energy. Wishing you happiness today and always. ¡Feliz cumpleaños!
August
Gustavo B. (3rd)
Jatziri M. (3rd)
Sofia R. (3rd)
Princess G. (4th)
Mia G. (5th)
Fernando L. (5th)
Erick P. (6th)
Emily R. (6th)
Ashley O. (7th)
Miguel P. (7th)
Johana P. (8th)
Jennifer H. (9th)
Edwin J. (10th)
Zoe P. (10th)
Kenya R. (11th)
Krisna O. (14th)
Luciana S. (16th)
Erick L. (17th)
Valeria C. (19th)
The Foundation for Hispanic Education Updates
Hello LVLA Lions,
Welcome back for the 2020-2021 academic year! Though there are many changes in place due to COVID-19 measures and related safety protocol, we are working collectively as an organization to ensure that all instruction and activities are provided responsively this year.
We want to offer the utmost support for you in your academic growth and personal development in collaboration with our partners, our district, and on behalf of our supporters. For additional updates on these measures, we will be sure to keep you updated through your school site administrators and staff.
TFHE is excited to see you again, support you in pursuing your aspirations, and is invested in your success. We appreciate your work and understanding in this time. For any specific questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at (408) 585-5022 Ext. 1039.
Kind Regards,
Martin Esteban Farfan
Director of Compliance & Equity
The Foundation for Hispanic Education
Self-Mastery - Unlocking Your Full Potential
AWARENESS
Your thoughts are constantly taking you into the future or the past so, consequently, this is probably where you spend most of your life. To be aware is to be present—to live in this moment, the NOW. To be aware is to always keep coming back to what is happening NOW. The NOW is where you connect with your Higher Self, with your Essence. Being aware is to witness your thoughts, emotions, actions, and the world with non-attachment.
Meditation is the direct route which takes you into Pure Awareness in the silent spaces between your thoughts. However, right now, be aware of your breath flowing in and out. Be aware of any sensations in your body, be aware of your clothes touching your body. Be aware of the sounds around you, the sounds within you. Be aware of your thoughts and any emotions, effortlessly witnessing them coming and going. Now and any time during the day—when you’re eating, walking, working, doing anything—pause and ask yourself, “Who is listening? Who is watching? Who is smelling, tasting, feeling?” There’s a presence, a witness. This is your Higher Self. This is being aware.
People That Changed the World
Jovita Idar
Teacher, Journalist, and Political Activist
Jovita Idár was a Mexican-American woman who became a pioneer in journalism, education, and political activism at the beginning of the 20th century.
The daughter of a small Spanish language newspaper publisher in Laredo, Texas, Idár wrote articles for La Crónica (The Chronicle) under a pseudonym, exposing poor social and economic conditions that marginalized and exploited Mexican-Americans. She was also an outspoken civil rights activist who denounced racism and segregation at a time when Mexican-Americans were being lynched, and signs declaring, “No Negroes, Mexicans or dogs allowed” were commonplace in small businesses and public spaces.
Learn More
Jovita Idar - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jovita_Id%C3%A1r
Overlooked No More (Article) https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/07/obituaries/jovita-idar-overlooked.html
American Masters: Jovita Idar https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/jovita-idar-mexican-american-activist-and-journalist-e6zgar/15329/
IDEAS? CONTACT MS.GONZALEZ!
School Contact Information
Instagram Follow us @sjlvla
Website: www.sjlvla.org
Location: 1855 Lucretia Avenue, San Jose, CA, USA
Phone: 408-384-4015
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sjlvla