Placerita Prospector
Beginning Week 3 of Distance Learning - March 29, 2020
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Information for Families
I hope that you are all doing well and staying at home and taking care of each other. This is a time like none of us or our parents ever really lived through and I hope we are all taking this seriously so we can level off the curve and get back to some type of normal. We miss seeing your student's smiling faces everyday and look forward to getting through this time. But until then we have to press on and never give up... All 8th grade students should make sure that you have joined the Class of 2024 Google Classroom from Hart because you begin to pick your classes TOMORROW :) Please join if you have not already. All the information is below. Hang in the this week...
Next Week is SPRING BREAK (April 6-10). There will be no classwork assigned for next week.
For 8th Graders join the Class of 2024 Google Classroom
Check out the Class of 2024 Google Classroom. In it I have posted a new and improved version of the Virtual Future Freshmen Rally. It's loaded with videos and materials that will be helpful as you decide which classes to take and what programs you will be involved in.
There is also an invitation to a live video chat with a panel of current Hart High School students at 3:00pm today. Find out what it's like to be a member of the Hart family by clicking the link to the meeting at 3:00 today. Space is limited, so I suggest logging on early.
You will begin your class selections on Monday, March 30. You must join the Google Classroom in order to get instructions on how to go through the registration process. If you still haven't joined the Google Classroom, what are you waiting for?? Join Code - tuo632a
Things to do while at home...
Explore your backyard
Sure, you’re in a de facto state of staycationing already, but make it special. Weather permitting, treat a pool day like a beach day, if it’s warm enough. Set up a tent and camp in the backyard. Have the space for a garden? Create one, or at least an area for potted plants. Buy some outdoor games, such as ladderball, cornhole or KanJam.
Redecorate
Does your kid want a fun, colorful room that reflects his or her interests? Is your young teen ready to grow out of those bright pink or baby blue walls? Make it happen. Redo some walls, swap out some furniture or shop for a rug or lighting. Plus, can you come up with a more fun excuse to have them completely clean their rooms? It could even be time to reorganize the playroom and set up a system for containing all those toys.
Binge watch
This isn’t a novel suggestion, but there’s simply too much content out there to have possibly watched everything you and your kids want to see. Take a day or two to turn into such a couch potato that your brain gets mashed. Maybe use this as a good excuse to try Disney+ if you haven’t already, or any of the numerous streaming services available.
Write Letters
Yes, old school, but so valuable. Write a family member or an old friend a letter. Let them know why they mean so much to you, and why you chose them to write to. They will appreciate it greatly, and you will make their day!
Create a craft
Head to a Michael's, Hobby Lobby, JoAnn's or a big-box store (if they are open...) and go nuts buying art supplies. It could be time to make those bird boxes you were thinking about, or try some painting. There are thousands of crafts you could create from just a few affordable supplies, using your imagination (and maybe Pinterest).
Break out the board games
You can get a lot of mileage out of a few smart board games, even if your family members claim they’re not competitive. Break out the classics, such as Life or Monopoly, or buy some new ones — it’s hard to go wrong. Or you can see if your kids want to design their own games. If your family wants something on the more calming side, there are always puzzles.
Reintroduce reading
If your kid complains about how boring reading is, clearly you need to introduce them to some good literature. If you aren’t planning to visit a public library or bookstore, don’t forget about the digital books available on most tablet apps.
Act out
Do you have some budding thespians in your home? If so, put their acting skills and imagination to use by breaking out some old Halloween costumes. Your kids can write their own scripts and act out their parts while in costume.
Keep school skills fresh
Help younger kids keep their learning skills fresh with grade-appropriate activities. Look for fun math problem books, science experiment kits and writing prompts for kids, available online.
Note from a Placerita teacher...
Placerita Faculty in Staff Meeting
You get the Idea :-)
Thinking about travel...
MINDFULNESS- SO IMPORTANT- 5 EASY MINDFULNESS TIPS TO HELP STAY SANE WHILE IN SELF-QUARANTINE
1. Meditation and mindfulness apps
There are so many new mindfulness apps that it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of options. There's Calm, Ten Percent Happier, Breathe, Headspace, and Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics, just to name a few. Some of these are paid, others are free, others are pay-to-upgrade, so it's worth doing a little research to suit your financial situation.
2. Super zen calming YouTube videos
There are so many free talks, meditations and discussions about mindfulness on YouTube that you could literally spend your entire self-quarantine period letting them auto-play one after the next. But one part of being mindful is being deliberate in our actions, so instead I'll point you to a few keepers. This talk from meditation guru Tara Brach on learning how to 'respond, not react' is a personal fave. This talk from Eckhart Tolle about the essence of spirituality is another good one, although I can't tell if I find his words helpful or am simply hypnotized by his cute old-German-man voice. If ASMR is more your thing, this clip titled 'cozy night time whispering' comes highly recommended from yours truly, not least because the guy doing the cozy night time whispering is a straight-up hunk.
3. Mindfulness activities you can do anywhere
Mindfulness isn't something you have to pay for - and it's not something you have to leave the house for. That's why it's so popular with prisoners. One of my favorite easy-to-do mindfulness exercises simply involves listening to your favorite music, but resisting the judgments and thoughts that might normally come along with this music. Other exercises include finding a natural object nearby and focusing on it for several minutes, or doing a check-in with your different body parts (it's called a body scan!) while sitting comfortably.
If all else fails, you can always order an adult coloring-in book, or download these free colouring-in print-outs.
4. Do something creative
You'd be surprised how calming arts and crafts can be. Not oil paints, necessarily, as they get onto your hands and then onto the tap and then onto the kitchen bench and before you know it you're having a mental breakdown. But things like drawing, colouring in, cross-stitching, embroidering, or building something out of clay with your hands will force you to be in the moment, which is, at the end of the day, the core goal of mindfulness (but we don't call it a goal, because mindfulness and meditation shouldn't be goal-oriented!).
5. Animals
This might seem like an obvious one, but there is plenty of research to suggest that being in the presence of animals helps us minimize stress and stay mindful. So, if you have a pet, keep them real close. Give them a brush! Take photos and send them to your friends! But don't worry if you don't have a pet, because the internet has your back. YouTube is awash with brilliant pet compilation videos that should have you forgetting the word 'pandemic' in no time.
A Sample Day with Ideas to Help Fill the Time
*disclaimer: what follows is a pretty packed day with a lot of transitions. The purpose here is not to impose a structure but to offer ideas for how to break up the time. Think of it as a menu of options; pick and choose what works for your children and your family.
8:00 Make breakfast together
9:00 An hour of schoolwork
10:00 DIY Science project
11:00 Exercise! Here are some Indoor suggestions
12:00 Creative lunch-making
1:00 Second session of schoolwork
2:00 Round 2 of physical activity - we all need it...
3:00 Healthy snack & DIY Crafts project
4:00 Write, rehearse, and perform a play or mock commercial, or dress up time.
6:00 Prepare, eat, and clean up dinner; everyone helps.
8:00 Board Games/showers/read aloud before bed
Next Week is officially Spring Break... There will be no school activities next week.
Here is a way to do some moving...
Everything below was in last week's Placerita Prospector - Here for you to view in case you missed it...
Information for Families
Good Evening Placerita Families...
We hope the transition to distance learning has been as smooth as possible for you and your family. As a community, we are navigating uncharted waters right now. While there may be some feelings of uncertainty and anxiety, it will be very important in the days ahead to refocus our thoughts on what counts most, our families. As citizens, we have an incredible responsibility to take care of one another as we do our part to slow down the spread of this virus. To be graceful and humble with our neighbors and to live each day with kindness instead of fear.
Additionally, we are asking all parents to help us with impressing upon your student(s) the importance of keeping our online learning environment professional, productive, and positive. I have heard nothing but good things from our teachers so far! Our teachers have been working tirelessly to make the transition from the classroom to online as smooth as possible. Our faculty along with students are at various levels of proficiency when it comes to technology. At the same time, every family is navigating through a variety of unique stressors as we make adjustments to our “new normal.” Therefore, assuming best intentions and extending grace will be critical in keeping lines of communication open while maintaining trusting relationships with one another!
"We must be the change we wish to see in the world."
- Mahatma Gandhi
From our family to yours, wishing you the very best today and always. If you need anything, please do not hesitate to contact me! Be safe, be well, and stay healthy!
Latest Message from Mike Kuhlman
Good evening Hart District families,
The Hart District has consistently followed the guidance of the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) with regard to responding to the Coronavirus pandemic. Today LACOE recommended that the period of the closure be extended through May 4 - with on-campus classes resuming no earlier than May 5. The decision to extend the closure was made in collaboration with the other school districts in the Santa Clarita Valley.
While we are all eager to resume normal routines – we need to be prepared for the possibility that the closure could be extended through the end of this school year. Of course, we will share additional information if another extension is called for.
Thank you for your patience and flexibility as we launched Distance Learning this past week. Despite many understandable frustrations, students, teachers and parents worked to pull off what seemed an impossibility just 5 short days ago.
Clearly many obstacles lay before us. Let’s keep communicating and collaborating on solutions together.
I wish you a safe and healthy weekend,
Mike Kuhlman
Responsible Use of Technology
This is being shared just in case we need to use it... Hopefully we will not have to work through any difficulties here...
As we transition to online learning, please be advised that all Google classrooms are academic settings. To that end, please talk with your student(s) to ensure that they are interacting and posting appropriate comments on all learning platforms, including but not limited to, Google Classroom, Google Hangouts Meet, Google Chat, online work groups, etc. Should a student violate our District's responsible use policies related to technology, we will take the following corrective action:
- Step 1: Parent contact by teacher
- Step 2: Parent contact by counselor and muting* for a period of 1 week
- Step 3: Parent contact by an administrator. Other means of correction writing assignment.
We have not had any serious violations so far and we hope we will not need to resort to any consequences.
*The online learning environment is meant to be interactive. Muted student will be able to privately submit work but will not be able to reply, post or comment. Muted students will have to privately ask their teacher questions they may have.
Additionally, during this time, we encourage all parents to closely monitor their child's social media platforms.
Placertia eBooks Access from our Library
Students and Email
All students have an official Hart District email account. In addition to logging into Google Classroom, please make sure your student is checking their Hart District email account every day. Teachers, counselors, and admin will be emailing students DIRECTLY with important information.
How to Access Google Classroom from Home
HOW to Access Google Classroom from Home
Click on the Link below to review how to access Google Classroom from home.
School Lunch Services
Many students and families rely on school meals during the school week. In an effort to provide meal access, the William S. Hart Union High School District and Santa Clarita Valley School Food Service Authority have coordinated to provide Free lunches across our community.
In order to accommodate current CDC guidance to maintain social distancing, these sites will offer grab and go meals. These sites will not provide areas for students to eat the meals.
Details:
- Meals are FREE to children and teens ages 18 and younger who come to a meal site
- Food served is healthy and follows USDA nutrition guidelines
- No application or proof of income needed. You can just bring your child to meal site in your community
- Children must be present and must claim the meals.
The Wm. S. Hart Union High School District and its partners at Sodexo School Services will provide three weeks of meal service, Monday thru Friday, beginning Monday, March 23rd and ending on Friday, April 10th. Drive-up Lunch Services will be provided from noon to 1:00 pm at the following locations during school days (Monday to Friday). One bagged/boxed lunch per child (18 years and younger) will be provided.
- Rancho Pico Junior High School
- Rio Norte Junior High School
- La Mesa Junior High School
Beginning Monday, March 23rd through Friday April 3rd, the following sites will also be providing drive-up lunch service following the same guidelines as above:
- Cedarcreek Elementary - Canyon Country
- Mitchell Community Elementary - Canyon Country
- Rio Vista Elementary - Canyon Country
- McGrath Elementary - Newhall
- Newhall Elementary - Newhall
- Wiley Canyon Elementary - Newhall
- Peachland Elementary - Santa Clarita
- Canyon Springs Community Elementary - Santa Clarita
- Santa Clarita Elementary - Saugus
- Live Oak Elementary - Castaic
- Northlake Hills Elementary - Castaic
Any questions, please call 661-295-1574 ext. 0.
Counseling Support Services
Our counselors are working remotely to support all students. They are available to assist as needed. To reach your child's counselor, please have the student complete our form here...
For all existing students receiving counseling services through an IEP or school based counseling, counseling services will continue via telehealth. Your child's current counselor/therapist will be reaching out to you by phone regarding logistics.
Distance Learning Weekly Schedule
Please remember that as we venture into new territory, we are likely to encounter questions, challenges and problems to be solved. Rest assured that we are going to work hard to address each issue in order to meet the needs of our students. You can help us by remaining flexible during this period of transition.
A temporary Distance Learning class schedule has been developed to help keep students on track. Subject area teachers (English, math, science, etc.) have been asked to provide regular instruction each week during two 90-minute blocks. Please click on the link below for detailed information regarding this schedule.
Click on the link below for a clean PDF Version of the schedule below.
DISTANCE LEARNING WEBPAGE
In preparation for our transition to this online environment, we encourage you to visit our Distance Learning webpage for helpful tips on how this new process will work. We will be updating this page with new resources daily. You can access that webpage by going here:
Facts about Coronavirus
Click on link below to access PDF of How to Discuss Coronavirus with Kids
Free Educational Websites for Home
Sometimes screen time is a necessity if we have children at home and work we need to do. Here are three apps that make screen time a learning time:
- CodeMonkey: a game-based education program that teaches children to code. It comes with a membership fee, but there's a free 14-day trial that doesn't require a credit card.
- BrainPop: Online learning across subject areas for children in kindergarten through middle school and ELL learning for all age groups. Free.
- Khan Academy: Online learning in math, science, and literacy for all age groups. Standards-aligned. Free.
- BrainPop: Fun, interactive educational activities for all ages and all subject areas
- Scholastic Learn at Home: Interactive learning journeys for all ages.
It is important for us to share very important information about an event that will taking place right now: the U.S. Census. The census is a count of all people living in the U.S. and takes place every 10 years. It is simple and confidential to complete. For the first time, you can respond online. You will receive a unique identifying number in the mail, which will allow you to fill out the online form beginning in March 2020. Here are some things you should know:
Your identity remains anonymous. Any personal information you provide on the census form is protected by law and cannot be shared with anyone or any other federal agency. Regardless of your immigration status, the information cannot be used against you or to invade the privacy of you or any members of your family.
The Census is important. The Census is important because it helps to decide how much federal money our schools will get over the next ten years, and how much money our state will get for our parks, neighborhood improvements, public health, transportation, and many other programs and services.
The Census is safe. All the data collected through the census is protected under Title 13 of the U.S. Code. All U.S. Census Bureau employees swear a lifetime oath to protect respondent information. The U.S. Census will never share a respondent’s personal information with other government agencies. Data is only released in summary tables; no individual records are released.
What do you need to do? Your kids count, so make sure to count them when you fill out the census form in Spring 2020! Between March 12th – 20th, you will receive an invitation to respond online. When you receive this information, log-on and complete the census information for your family. If you need assistance, please reach out to us, we are here to help.
For more information regarding the U.S. Census, please visit the following websites:
Placerita Jr. High School
The William S. Hart Union High School District prohibits unlawful discrimination against and/or harassment of any student on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, immigration status, ancestry, religion, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, veteran status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or sexual orientation at any District site and/or activity.
Email: jturner@hartdistrict.org
Website: www.placeritajuniorhigh.org
Location: 25015 Newhall Avenue, Santa Clarita, CA, USA
Phone: 661-259-1551
Twitter: @placeritajhs