August was certainly a busy month for Spartan Nation! Spartans learned how to get involved, engaged, and connected to school through the more than 30 clubs offered on-site during Club Rush. Band, cheer, choir, and JROTC all performed at the start of Back-to-School-Night, demonstrating what talented and dedicated students we have. Families who attended Back-to-School-Night learned about their student's courses and teachers and bought spirit wear from Agora, our student-run store.

Our Spartan fall sports are in full swing right now. Football, Girls Flag Football, Girls Tennis, Girls Golf, Girls Volleyball, Cross Country and Girls Water Polo are competing almost every day. For our schedules you can visit the LHS website and click on Athletics.

We are already well into September, with fall break just around the corner. Additionally, student academic progress reports will be sent home this week. Please remember to check your student's academic progress through Parent Connect. Regularly checking Parent Connect can help you support your student with staying on top of assignments, studying for tests, and communicating with their teachers as needed. We also look forward to seeing everyone participating in Homecoming events during homecoming week, which begins September 11th with our theme of Sparta Kart (Mario Kart Themed) and culminates with Our Homecoming Football game versus Ceres on September 15th.

Again, thank you for partnering with us to ensure your student's academic success.

Sincerely,

Dr. Melissa Beattie, Principal

What is “Caught Being Good”?

• “Caught Being Good” is an incentive that we have had for a few years now as part of our PBIS (Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports) program on campus. PBIS, as you may or may not know, rewards and incentivizes positive behavior with the goal of improving engagement and reducing negative behaviors on campus.
• Our PBIS team added Caught Being Good as a way to reward those who do positive things on campus, specifically behaviors that relate to SHIELD – integrity, engagement, leadership, and determination.

What kinds of behaviors do we reward for “Caught Being Good”?

• Any staff member can reward ANY positive behavior that they observe.
• A common one that we reward at lunch is picking up trash in the quad or in the cafeteria. Another common behavior we reward is when students turn in lost valuables to the office.
• In the classroom this might mean helping another student or volunteering to help clean up after a project.
• Behaviors that model integrity, engagement, leadership, or determination can be recognized.

Heather Anderson, Vice Principal

Counselors would like all Spartan Graduates to know what post-high school options are available. With this in mind, we are working hard to schedule more on-campus college and career visits. Visits are advertised in the grade-level teams (check with your student) with a link to sign up. Seniors will have priority, and then, depending on space, it will be opened to Juniors, Sophomores, and lastly, Freshmen.

Since we continuously add visits, please refer to this link for future dates and times.

LHS College and Career Visits, 2023-2024

Applying to a UC or CSU? The UC Application is now OPEN and Cal State Application opens October 1st:

UC: https://apply.universityofcalifornia.edu/my-application/login

CSU: https://www.calstate.edu/apply

Beginning October 25th, Counselors will be available on Wednesday’s during lunch to help with applications.

Check out this timeline for SENIORS

Follow us on Instagram @LathropHighCounseling

Visit the LHS Counseling LinkTree https://linktr.ee/lathrophighcounseling

Students, have questions? Stop by Counselor Quad Talk (CQT) and chat with the Counselors during lunch outside of the office!

Lisa C. Wilson, M.A., P.P.S.

College-bound students may be interested in taking the PSAT. Sales begin Monday, September 11, on Total Registration and will cost $20. Sign-up links will be posted in the Class of 2025 and 2026 TEAMS. The exam is on Wednesday, October 25.

Lathrop High School is currently preparing for our WASC visit scheduled for the 2024-2025 school year. WASC visited Lathrop High School in the spring of 2019. At that time, we earned a six-year accreditation with a three-day, mid-cycle visit which took place in the spring of 2022. The WASC Committee will once again visit our school in the spring of 2025.

The prioritized areas of growth our staff will focus on during this WASC cycle include:

1. Infusing mathematics and ELA standards across the curriculum using the PLC model
2. Analyzing data to inform instruction
3. Increasing student engagement with a focus on school culture
4. Developing common assessments and analyzing data to inform instruction
5. Prioritizing professional development
6. Implementing instructional strategies (cooperative learning, project-based instruction) and training for those.

What is WASC? The Accrediting Commission for Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, WASC, evaluates the quality of teaching and learning by assessing curriculum, instructional methods, student support services, and the overall learning environment. The WASC process involves the participation of all stakeholders - students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community members. This inclusive approach ensures that the school's goals align with the needs and expectations of everyone involved in the educational journey. Accreditation isn't just a one-time thing; it's an ongoing cycle wherein schools monitor student learning and set school improvement goals. When schools meet WASC accreditation standards, it creates a supportive setting that encourages student growth and success. During the process, schools assess their programs and the impact on student learning with respect to the ACS WASC criteria and other accreditation factors.

The WASC educational process is a valuable framework that drives continuous improvement and ensures that the education our students receive is of the highest quality. By collaborating with parents, students, and the entire school community, LHS is committed to fostering excellence, growth, and success.

Kristin Miller, WASC Chair

• September 6: UC Santa Barbara Visit (Presentation), 11:30 am*

• September 8: Coffee House, 7:00PM in the theater
• September 11-15: Homecoming Week
• September 11: Athletics Booster Club Meeting, 7:00PM in the Career Center

• September 11: PSAT sales begin

• September 26: UC Davis Visit (Presentation), 2:30 pm*

• September 28: Spartan Parent Coffee Social, 2:15PM in the Career Center
• September 29: Respect the SHIELD Assembly
• October 4: Senior Grad Fair, 4:00-8:00PM in the cafeteria
• October 2: Fall Band Concert in the theater
• October 5-6: Minimum Days Mid-Terms
• October 9-13: Fall Break School Closed

• October 19: Cal State Apply Workshop, 1:30 pm*

• October 24: CSU Sacramento Visit (Presentation), 2:00 pm*

  October 25: PSAT, 8:00 am

• October 25: PSAT 8:00AM in the cafeteria
  

• October 27Show Choir/Talent Show, 7:00PM in the theater

The vision of Lathrop High School is to be a united team preparing all students for life beyond high school; becoming a place of synergy and energy in all aspects of school culture and a community of excellence: making LHS a school that is recognized for high quality academics and strong programs.

The mission of Lathrop High School is to provide each student with a comprehensive education in a safe and supportive environment that promotes critical thinking, self-discipline, and accountability. Lathrop High School strives to prepare its students with the skills and abilities to be successful and becoming contributing members of their communities.

Email: lathrophigh@musd.net
Website: https://lathrophigh.mantecausd.net/
Location: Lathrop High School, Spartan Way, Lathrop, CA, USA
Phone: (209)938-6350
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lathrophigh