Incoming 6th G Foothill MS Families
February 22, 2021
Good morning!
As you read through this newsletter please understand at this time there are many unknowns about what the Fall will look like for our schools. What I can ensure you is that the Foothill MS campus is ready to receive students and we look forward to that opportunity. I will be building the schedules for each incoming 6th grader with a 'brick and mortar' focus, which means having your child at school this Fall.
Below you will find details to assist you and your child to plan for the next adventure. You will need to select their elective choice. The presentation for you to view will be published by end of day Wednesday--go to the Foothill website.
I look forward to seeing you in my presentation on Wednesday followed by a meet and greet on March 2. Right after that night our Vice Principal, Crystal Stull, and I will be dropping into the 5th grade classes that feed into Foothill throughout the beginning of March.
I understand this newsletter may not have all the information you are looking for but it is a start. We're here to answer questions and support you as you begin one of the best times in your child's academic life. Especially since middle school students change an incredible amount, physically, emotionally, and socially—all within three short years. This is definitely a participatory event for both students and their families. We look forward to partnering with you through all of it!
There is a flyer for The Creek, which is a private, after school care facility that is on the far edge of our campus. They offer after school care (for a cost) that includes tutoring, activities, food, and more. Please feel free to contact them directly with questions. Although it is on the edge of our campus, it is not affiliated with the school, nor the school district.
This newsletter was sent through the emails I received from the feeder elementary schools. Some of you may be incorrectly on this mailing list, please feel free to send me an email to remove your name but also please share it with anyone you know that I may have missed. I have also asked the elementary principals to send it so hopefully I will have captured all incoming Griffins. If you are awaiting transfer notification this is not notification you have been approved —that will come from Student Services.
Most appreciative for serving the Foothill Community💜💛
Take care and be well,
Principal Vaiana
Dates for incoming 6th grade students
Monday, February 22th: The Course Catalog will be available online.
Wednesday, February 24th @ 6:00pm: Presentation link on Foothill’s website will be available for incoming 6th grade families (look in the Griffin News). This presentation will include a welcome video, Frequently Asked Questions, and instructions on the Course Elective Selection Process.
Wednesday, February 24th 6:00pm (to Sunday, March 07th 11:59pm): The Incoming 6th Grade Course Elective Selection Process window will open online for families to put in their child’s elective request through a Google Form. There will be a link on our website for the form and at the end of the presentation.
Tuesday, March 02nd @ 6:00pm: Incoming 6th Grade Parent/Guardian Question and Answer night online. A Zoom link will be provided the day before on March 01st. Please honor our request to use only one device per household--there are space limitations on Zoom.
Sunday, March 07th 11:59pm: Incoming 6th Grade Course Elective Selection Process window closes.
6th Grade Electives
- Choir {all year}
- Instrumental Music (band or orchestra) {all year}
- Rotations (four different classes which may include art, drama, music appreciation, robotics, and more).
- Accelerated Spanish MAY be a possibility. MUST have been in the 2-way Dual Immersion program
- Academic Success (students with an IEP)
- English Language Development (Levels 1-4) {placement determined by District and State}
Required courses:
- Core (English and Social Studies)
- Math 6
- Science 6
- Applied 21st Century Skills
- PE
New course for ALL 6th grade students
Therefore this past year we piloted a program previously labeled "HOT (Hands on Technology)" which was about students learning practical applications of G Suite for Education. This year it has been approved by the School Board as a pilot course, Applied 21st Century Skills. It is proving to be invaluable for our students. Especially as we dive more into the use of technology and especially G Suite.
You may not elect your child out of this course.
Communications
- All contacts in Aeries/HomeLink need to be current. Your phone numbers and emails are the primary method of contact. This will update to our school in July.
- ParentSquare is the District and Foothill's method of directly contacting you for regular communication as well as any urgent alert or emergency that may need to be pushed out to the community. If you keep your contacts current in Aeries this system is linked an updated every evening.
- Principal's Newsletter. I send this both directly to the primary email listed in Aeries as well as push out through Parent Square. Additionally the link is posted in the Griffin News section on our School's website. Feel free to go there and check out the correspondence over this school year. At the end of this newsletter is one sample.
- Read the Superintendent's Friday Letter (link below).
- Subscribe to Foothill's PFA Konstella (newsletter site). This will happen once your child is a Foothill student (after the end of 5th grade).
Home of the Griffins
Website: foothill.mdusd.org
Location: 2775 Cedro Lane, Walnut Creek, CA, USA
Phone: 925-939-8600
Twitter: @FoothillGriffin
MDUSD Title IX Non-Discrimination Statement
The Governing Board is committed to providing equal opportunity for all individuals in education. District programs, activities, facilities and practices shall be free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based on actual or perceived ancestry, age, color, disability, gender, gender identify, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, actual or potential parental, family, marital status, or association with a person or a group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics (Governing Board Policy 0410).
Contact Us / How to File a Complaint
For questions, concerns or complaints regarding student harassment, discrimination, intimidation and bullying, please contact Jennifer Sachs, Chief of Educational Services, at sachsj@mdusd.org or by phone at (925) 682-8000 x4016.