TOHS Green Sheet
A Newsletter for the Thousand Oaks High School Community
April 5, 2020
School Closure Edition #2
It is the mission of Thousand Oaks High School to inspire, challenge and empower every Lancer, every day.
Heartbroken
Dear Lancer Families,
Since last Wednesday's announcement by Superintendent McLaughlin, like you, I have been reeling. My first thoughts went immediately to our seniors. As I mentioned in a Tweet earlier in the week:
Buried underneath my logical self, that frustrated part of me that’s trying to figure out how to be a Principal from a make-shift office in a dining room 6 miles from campus, there is utter grief and sadness that is ten times more intense, as I realize that every one of our seniors have woken up to realize that their spring rites have vanished. Lancers, rest assured that TOHS teachers, administrators and staff will be working hard in the weeks to come in order to develop ways to make your senior spring special. #BleedGreen
Shortly after that Tweet, the wheels began to turn and the ideas began to come in. Our teachers, administration team and our ASB class got to work right away. Not longer after, ideas began to flow in from other schools in the district, as well as from parents in the community. Please keep the ideas coming in, but I want everyone to keep a few things in mind. First, there will be some ideas that we can pursue that are uniquely TOHS. There are other things that the district will be doing for all seniors across the district, regardless of the school. Some ideas have come in - specifically, moving events to the summer - that are just impossible to plan for as we have no idea how long stay-at-home or social distancing requirements will last. Yes, they are on the table, but no guarantees can be made at this point. As plans are firmed up, I will be sure to communicate them by way email, Tweet, text, etc. Please know that our seniors will not be forgotten.
A few questions have come in about whether student participation in our new distance learning model is mandatory? The answer is yes. I refer you to Dr. McLaughlin's message last Wednesday:
To be clear, the 2019-20 school year is not over. Rather, the delivery of instruction has dramatically changed from in-classroom to distance learning. Our teachers and staff will continue to provide ongoing education via distance learning opportunities through a variety of online platforms.
Additionally, I refer you to information on our District's School Closure FAQ page (FAQ Link: http://conejousd.org/Health-Safety-FAQs) regarding the topic:
Per California Department of Education, distance learning does include required attendance due to compulsory education requirements. Therefore, it is important for students to follow their teachers’ instructions.
Attendance will not be taken in a traditional sense. Instead, attendance will be monitored through the amount of contact that students have with their teachers: did they attend a Zoom session, have the emailed their teacher, have turned in assignments? In the event that students stop checking in with their teachers (or never have), names will be turned into school administrators who will reach out to the families in order to re-engage the student.
I've also received a few other emails asking why some teachers are using Zoom and others not. To be clear, there is no district requirement that all teachers use Zoom in any form (live or recorded). It is to be expected that students will experience a variety of approaches during their distance learning.
Finally, one last comment about grades. According to district directive, grades will not be assigned to student at this time. However, eventually they will. District leadership is currently formulating a plan and it is great hope that by the time we return spring break, we will have clear guidance regarding grades.
The next Green Sheet will come out on April 19. Until then, I appreciate all of your support and good wishes.
Eric
Dr. Eric Bergmann, Principal
#BleedGreen
#EveryLancerEveryDay
#TheConejoWay
Letter from Senior Class President, Lauren Melvin
To the Lancer Class of 2020,
Reflecting on our moments as seniors, I wish to reach out to all of you during this difficult time. Last year we experienced the tragedy of the Borderline shooting and Woolsey fire immediately to follow. This year we are amidst a new, unprecedented challenge. Hearing that Ventura County Schools will not open for the rest of the school year was heart wrenching. Right now, it is hard to come to terms with reality. We are all grieving the loss of our final months physically together at school. Everything you are feeling is deserved and should not be ignored. Our high school experience has been unlike any other, but our resilience in the past is a testimony to our courage and perseverance in the face of adversity. We have proven before that we are T.O. Strong and we will do it again.
Our time at Thousand Oaks High School has been an amazing journey, full of memories that will last a lifetime. Whether you experienced the full four years on campus or not, Thousand Oaks High School is a special place with a niche for everyone. For many of us our most fond memories are on campus at a sporting event, a rally, at homecoming, during a performance, in the quad at lunch or even in a classroom. Especially in our senior year, there have been many memorable moments, even if our time has been cut short. While we all have our own specific memories to cherish, there are many we share collectively: senior sunrise, the homecoming football game and dance, every last rally, and the day we finally were able to order our cap and gowns. We all had different experiences at TOHS, but in the end we always come together as one community.
It is my hope that when thinking back on your time at Thousand Oaks High School, you are reminded of friendship and joy. With these unprecedented circumstances, find condolence in those who filled your daily life at school. While we may not be with each other physically, be with each other virtually. Video chat with your friends. Watch TV shows together. Rekindle the friendships you may have fallen out of touch with. Find new ways to bond and strengthen your friendships. This is me, reaching out to you to remind you that you are not alone. You are not alone in the agony of the situation. There are so many people who feel the same way you do.
I know that we are a class full of good hearted, iron-willed, students who will make a difference in this world. We have a strong future ahead and this endeavor is what builds us as individuals. Take care of yourself and reach out to others. We will finish this year just as determined as we started it. Stay safe, healthy and T.O. Strong. Bleed green, Seniors.
Sincerely,
Lauren Melvin
Senior Class President
TO Strong 2020 Video
Spring Break
Campus Closure
Letter to Seniors from Dr. McLaughlin
Digital Citizenship
School Lunch
CVUSD will continue to provide FREE school meals, which are a vital source of nutrition for many students. A list of meal pickup locations and times is available at http://conejousd.org/Free-Meal-Information.
Device Distribution, Round 3
The District is still seeing device requests turned in, but the numbers are getting lower week by week. So our IT department can support both device repairs and distribution; they will be moving device allocations to the DOC at 750 Mitchell Rd in Newbury Park. This coming week’s distribution day is Wednesday (4-8-2020), and the family must call the help desk hotline at (805) 498-0527 after filling out the technology request form (found here) to schedule a time to come to the DOC and pick up a device. After next week, the schedule may change, so please keep yourself updated.
IT Help
News from Activities
It is with deep regret that due to COVID-19 school and business closures, the following senior events have been cancelled: Prom, May 16; Panoramic Picture, May 27; Senior Picnic, June 2; Baccalaureate, June 8; Grad Nite, June 10-11; Graduation Ceremony, June 11 and Senior Breakfast, June 12 have been cancelled. If a parent or student had purchased tickets or items for any of the events, refunds will be provided. Payments made via the online webstore will be refunded directly to the payment method and those made in person with cash or check will be refunded through a school check. We are working to refund costs as quickly as possible.
At this time, the senior class, school and district are working collectively to create ways to celebrate the Class of 2020.
News from athletics
Congratulations to Brando Harrah (Wrestling) and Dana Sullivan (Wrestling) for their selection as the Male and Female Athletes of the Month for February. Both Brando and Dana were Marmonte League Champions at their respective weight classes and advanced all the way to the CIF Masters meet.
Congratulations to our Baseball team as they got off to an 8-0 start before we went on school closure. As a result of this hot start, the Lancer Baseball team was ranked #3 in the Nation and #2 in State of California in the MaxPreps Computer Rankings.
Kudos to our Multi-Sport Athletes: For the 2019-2020 school year, there were 182 male and female two-sport athletes and 13 male and female three-sport athletes.
Good News from Choir!
Good News from Photography!
Every year students from my two advanced classes enter a competition put on through the Cultural Arts Council of Agoura Hills and the Westlake Village Art Guild. The competition is challenging; nearly two hundred entries and only about twenty percent are selected to show in the space. Ten TOHS Photography students had work selected to be part of the show. The amazing people at Cultural Affairs put together a slideshow recognizing the winners.
You can view it here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/8xs45hz26vp4z76/2020%20Greater%20Conejo%20Valley%20Student%20Awards%20Juried%20Art%20Show%20Video%20Presentation.mp4?dl=0
The short version, the phenomenal TOHS Photography students took the following awards:
Honorable Mention Color Photography - Tallula Auman
Third place - Monochrome Photography - Elena Buencamino
Second place - Monochrome Photography - Emery Eckman
First Place - Monochrome Photography - Elle Taylor
Basically TOHS Photography students swept the Monochrome Photography category and took four prizes.
These students all will receive ribbons and cash prizes once they are cleared to pick up their work.
From the College and Career Center
MOORPARK COLLEGE
Moorpark College has added virtual services for all aspects of applying, registering for classes and tours. Admissions, financial aid and counseling appointments are now available by phone. Check the CCC website for detailed information on the services MC can provide. http://www.tohscounseling.org/moorpark-college-workshop-info--sign-up.html
CHANGES ADOPTED BY UC AND CSU FOR THE FALL
Both California school systems are working to help admitted students complete the admissions process through the national health emergency. Please visit the websites to see how the changes will better serve you.
Scholarships for Seniors
Seniors are highly encouraged to apply to a variety of scholarships listed in Naviance. Many deadlines have been extended. Students must log into Naviance with their learn account, click on “Colleges” and scroll to “Financial Aid & Money”. Local scholarships are listed under “Scholarship List”. All have links to applications or websites with the applications. Please email Mrs. Peters cpeters@conejousd.org for help. Phone conferences can be set up to answer detailed questions! Money is available, so please take advantage of this opportunity.
Ways to Stay Connected
Thousand Oaks High School
#BleedGreen
#EveryLancerEveryDay
#TheConejoWay
Email: tohs_web@conejousd.org
Website: http://www.conejousd.org/tohs
Location: 2323 North Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
Phone: 805-495-7491
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tohighschool
Twitter: @ThousandOaksHS