Rio Tierra Pioneers Monthly Update
2/2021
In This Issue
-FYI: Announcements & Important Dates
-Tips from your Vice Principal
-Coffee with the Counselor-Info on HS programs for students
-Student Activities for the Month of February
Rio Tierra Jr. High
Email: Leah.Juarros@twinriversusd.org
Website: http://rtjhs.twinriversusd.org/
Location: 3201 Northstead Drive, Sacramento, CA 95833, USA
Phone: (916) 566-2730
Facebook: facebook.com/riotierrapioneers
Twitter: @TwinRiversUSD
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Families,
Welcome to the first monthly Rio Tierra Newsletter! On behalf of the Rio Tierra Staff, I thank everyone at home working hard to help your students be successful. We have seen many parents and guardians provide tech help, come to school meetings, and reach out to the school to get help. While the past year has given us plenty of challenges, we can overcome these challenges when we come together for our students. We are here to support you in any way we can. Please do not hesitate to reach out to any of us.
Sincerely,
Ms. Sinor
FYI-ANNOUNCEMENTS & IMPORTANT DATES
No School-February 12th & February 15th
CAMERAS ON-We Want to See Our Student's Faces!
TIPS FROM YOUR VICE PRINCIPAL
Developing Success In Distance Learning
Teach time awareness: Becoming aware of the passage of time—especially without the external assists of bell schedules or seeing peers hustle to class—is tough for kids when they’re learning from home. Experts recommend helping your students build an awareness of time by having them use digital calendars and printed schedules and set alerts for class start times.
Guide students to avoid distractions: During the isolation of the pandemic, technology that helps kids stay in touch and socialize is great—but it can also become a distraction during class. Kids this age don’t have the self-regulation skills to “monitor their focus and avoid distractions,” and they often display an “inflated sense of their own abilities to multitask (as many adults do).”
Lead students to build connections: For some kids, distance learning “caused a retreat into themselves” with factors such as isolation, difficulties at home, or pandemic-related anxiety making it difficult to stay connected or reach out for help. Let your school know if your student would benefit from one-on-one meetings with trusted adults or other regular check-ins.
Help kids get organized: Keeping track of school schedules and teacher expectations can be particularly hard for some kids at this age—and without a teacher’s personal oversight, even kids who don’t normally struggle with organization can have a hard time. Ask students to create their own learning space at home, if that’s possible, so that “within the confines and capacities of their own unique living circumstances,” kids have a spot “that feels like school,” experts suggest.
Boost students' self-motivation: The structure of in-person school and the joy of socializing with peers provide external motivations to learn, and without them, staying motivated can be tough. Talk to your students about connecting what they learn to what matters now... what is going on in the world, what they are experiencing at home, and how they can make a difference.
Build in opportunities for self-advocacy: Advocating for themselves is hard for many students—and it’s even harder during online learning. Allow time and space for kids to ask questions and make sure there’s equity and parity in the voices that are heard.
Make up Zoom for 8th Graders to pick their HS courses for 2021/2022
Tuesday, Feb 9, 2021, 01:30 PM
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COFFEE WITH THE COUNSELOR
Start Thinking About High School & Beyond...It is Never Too Early!
- What is CTE
- What is the ARC program
- Why should I know about it
Programs Jr High Students & Their Parents Should Know About
CTE Programs (Career Technical Education):
These programs focus on a special area of study such as the arts or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math). CTE programs provides career, college, and workforce preparation for high school students, and include advanced training and the upgrading of existing skills so students are ready to work when they complete the program. Grant has 6 different CTE Pathways. To see a list of all the district's CTE programs, click the button below.
ARC (American River College):
This is a program where students start taking college courses (on their high school campus) starting in the Spring of their freshman year and continue through their Senior year. When they graduate, they do so with a high school diploma AND a college Associates Degree. They just did their first two years of college! The benefits of this include: less expensive college, finish college faster, may lead to job opportunities and higher pay.
If you are interested in learning more, please contact your student's high school counselor.
Click HERE to go to the activities webpage for dates, times, & zoom links.
FEATURED ACTIVITIES
Cooking
Homemade Valentines Day Cards
Paint Night
Movie Nights
Movie Night with Leadership on Thursday, FEB 4th @ 3:00
Movie Night with BSU Wednesday, FEB 10th @ 3:00
Movie Night with BSU Thursday, FEB 25th @ 3:00
Game Nights
Roblox Tuesday, FEB 11th @ 3:00
Among Us Thursday, FEB 18th @ 3:30
Among Us Thursday, FEB 23rd @ 3:30