Mountain Lion Message
February 25, 2024
News & Updates
MVLA Families,
I hope you all had a great weekend. A big thank you to Ms. Chanda for coming in a little early this week to help students finish up on their iReady assessments. The teachers and I will be looking at data and sending home reports next week. This week, some students will retake the assessment to ensure accurate results. The system has flagged a few students that rushed or scored far below where they were expected.
Attention K-7 grade parents: Our District is actively planning for next school year. As a small school district, minor fluctuations in enrollment have a large impact on our staffing considerations. Therefore, we request your input to help us effectively plan for next year. We would like to confirm whether or not your child will be returning for the 2024-2025 school year. Please complete a separate survey for each child. All surveys must be completed by Monday, February 26th.
Here are a few updates to help keep you informed:
- Thank you to our Facilities and Operations Crew that worked to repair the blacktop on the CELC campus.
- Please fill out the PBIS Survey. See more information below.
- Please see upcoming community events in the "Community Events" section below.
- We LOVE volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering in any capacity, please pick up the required paperwork in the CELC/MVLA office.
Plan 12 is due on 3/4. Please remember that work completion is directly correlated to attendance. Incomplete or missing plan work will result in the team re-evaluating the student's program placement. If your family is struggling to compete the work, please reach out to your teacher for support.
Our MVLA 3rd through 8th graders will continue to work on their test taking skills in preparation for CAASPP testing in May.
For the safety and security of students and staff, gates are locked during school hours. The gate between CELC and MVLA is locked by 9:15 a.m. and remains locked the rest of the school day.
MVLA students may enter through the CELC or SHES gate. If they arrive after 9:10 a.m., they will need to go through the SHES gate. MVLA students are picked up (by the bus or parent) in front of SHES.
If you pick your student up early, please check in at the SHES office.
- Free breakfast is available daily at the SHES cafeteria.
- Please send your student to school each day with their fully charged Chromebook, a backpack, refillable water bottle, a healthy snack, and a lunch (unless they are getting a cafeteria lunch).
Before school care is available. Please see the flyer below or contact Aimee Hatfield, AUSD's ESS Coordinator, at ahatfield@alpineschools.net for rates and more information.
For transportation questions, please visit AUSD's website at https://www.alpineschools.net/page/transportation
I hope you have a great week!
Sincerely,
Tamara Ripke, Proud Principal
Congratulations Jennifer Broderick
MVLA Attendance
Did you know that MVLA has an Attendance Team? In addition to our amazing teachers, Miss Camryn, Mrs. Barkely, and Mrs. Ripke are also here to support families with challenges and celebrate outstanding attendance for our hybrid students. Student attendance is of utmost importance for academic success and overall school well-being. Regular attendance not only contributes to the continuity of a student's learning journey but also plays a crucial role in their social and emotional growth. Consistent attendance for your hybrid students, ensures that they actively engage with the curriculum, interact with their peers, and benefit from valuable classroom experiences. Moreover, it fosters a sense of responsibility and discipline, preparing students for future commitments.
At MVLA, we are proud and fortunate to have a unique learning model that accommodates family needs. It looks different from other schools for attendance and funding; however, it is important to understand that when At-Home Plans are not completed, it translates into absences. Incomplete work does affect funding. We also believe that regular in-person learning for our hybrid students is important to maximize student success.
Last year, AUSD lost over 1 million dollars in funding due to attendance rates. Recognizing the significance of attendance, AUSD schools promote regular attendance and incentivize outstanding attendance to help foster a positive and supportive learning environment for all students.
Schedule appointments during school breaks or on Mondays and Fridays.
Plan vacations/trips during school breaks.
100% homeschool families, complete all plan work and attend required Zooms.
Hybrid families, make sure that when you are absent from in-person learning that you work with the teacher to ensure that you make up the work you missed during class time.
If your child is not feeling well, use the guidelines below to help decide whether they should attend school or not.
Reach out to the MVLA Attendance Team if you have needs/challenges that affect the ability to get your student to school. We are here to support families.
The MVLA Attendance Team monitors absences bi-weekly and 30 day periods. Teachers monitor daily attendance. Beginning Monday, January 22nd, the District is beginning a new incentive for attendance. The MVLA Attendance Team, in collaboration with the teachers, will design an incentive program that will consider hybrid students with perfect attendance, students with improved attendance, students with improved plan work, and 100% homeschool students with perfect Zoom participation. Jersey Mikes has graciously partnered with the District to be able to offer certificates for sandwiches. This will be one of the possible incentives.
Attendance fact: Over 2/3 of the U.S. fourth grade students are NOT reading at grade level! There is a direct correlation to attendance and reading proficiency.
Guidelines for Student Illness
AUSD LCAP
The Governor's budget for education mandated that every school district in California needs to update its Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP). The Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) is a component of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). The LCAP is intended to be a three-year plan to improve student achievement by setting annual goals for the district in eight priority areas. Each of the priorities has established data requirements to track district progress improving student achievement. The LCAP requires Districts to gather input from students, teachers, parents, and community members to determine the goals, actions, and budget priorities for the District. Our District staff worked together with all of our stakeholder groups to gather input and craft the draft of our Local Control Accountability Plan. Below are AUSD's 2023-24 LCAP Goals. The District is in the process of reviewing the goals and completing the annual review.
Goal #1: Effective Instruction and Curriculum - Provide equitable access to high-quality classroom curriculum and instruction in an inclusive environment that promotes student success.
Goal #2: Safe and Respectful Environments - Ensure all school sites are safe and have healthy and welcoming climates for staff, students, and their families so that all students feel connected and are motivated to attend and ready to learn.
Goal #3: Equitable and Culturally Responsible Systems - Ensure systems and processes eliminate barriers to student success and are equitable and culturally responsive to the needs of our students and their families.
You may also view the full LCAP by clicking the button below
AUSD PBIS Survey
We are asking that all AUSD families fill out this short Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) survey by March 1, 2024. This survey is a tool used by AUSD to gather feedback from parents about their perceptions of our schools’ climate, safety, and effectiveness of behavior management strategies. Filling out the PBIS survey is crucial for our schools as it provides valuable feedback that can help identify areas of improvement to create a positive and inclusive learning environment for all students.
SORA Library
Did you know that Alpine Union School District has a valuable online resource available to all students — the Sora digital library? Sora provides access to a huge collection of books, including audiobooks, and can be accessed at any time.
Here's how your child can make the most of this resource:
1. Accessing Sora:
Log into their Google account
Navigate to Clever (lower left side of Chromebook)
Click on the Sora app
Once in Sora, log in using your Google credentials. This is a one-time requirement, and subsequent logins will be automatic.
Note: If you're unsure about your student’s Google login information, please reach out to your child’s teacher.
2. Exploring the San Diego County Public Library:
In addition to our library, students can also access books from the San Diego County Public Library through Sora:
After logging into Sora, click on the down arrow next to Alpine Union School District (under EXPLORE) on the top left-hand side
Search for San Diego County Library and click on San Diego County Library Digital Media
Choose your desired book
Click "borrow"
Select Alpine Union School District
Click on the blue bar
Click on your student's email address again
Click on borrow again
Access the book by clicking on “shelf” at the bottom of the screen
We highly encourage students to make the most of this resource.
MVLA Program Information
Around Alpine Video- Season 2, Episode 10
AUSD's Portrait of a Learner
Weekly Forecast
Smiles for Miles
Answer from last week: Because it is easier than walking!
School Rules
Our Motto
Extended Student Services (ESS)
AUSD Spirit
Mondays- Wear a College Shirt or College Colors
Wednesdays- Mid-Week Mindfulness- wear a shirt with a kind message
Fridays- Wear a school shirt or school colors or RED for (Remembering Everyone Deployed)
February & March Breakfast/Lunch Menu
AUSD STUDENT CALENDAR
Alpine Education Foundation STEAM FAIR
AUSD is excited to announce the first-ever Alpine Education Foundation (AEF) STEAM Fair to be held on March 9 at Joan Macqueen Middle School. The Fair is open to all students TK-8 grade. Do you have a student interested in showcasing an invention or exploring a scientific topic? Do you have a student who makes art or has an innovative product to sell? The Alpine Education Foundation is seeking students to participate in the Steam Fair. Students can participate by submitting a science fair project to present to a panel of judges or hosting a vendor booth to showcase or sell their creations. The event will also feature games, activities, music, and more! Please visit AEF4kids.org to learn more and sign up. STEAM Fair. Thank you to AEF for your continued support and dedication to our AUSD students. See the flyer below for more information.
Dates to Note
3/4 Plan 12 Due
3/9 AEF STEAM Fair
3/25--4/5 Spring Break
5/23 Last Day of Onsite Classes
Other District-wide field trip dates coming soon! Including 6th Grade Camp, and Harbor Cruise (8th).
See student holidays (break periods) on the calendar above!
MVLA Teacher Contact Information
Sara Bloom: sbloom@alpineschools.net
Kathrin Turner: kturner@alpineschools.netJennifer Broderick: jbroderick@alpineschools.net
Lori Pelant: lpelant@alpineschools.net
CELC/MVLA Office Staff
Mary Barkley, Clerk
Tamara Ripke, Principal
Stephanie Green, Administrative Assistant
Camryn McInerney, School Social Worker
Connect with Us
M-F 8:00 am to 3:30 pm
Email: sgreen@alpineschools.net
Website: https://www.alpineschools.net
Location: 8818 Harbison Canyon Road
Phone: (619) 659-8250
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Creekside-Early-Learning-Center-414783265277455/