Bell High School
Principals Update Week 35
From The Desk of Rafael L. Balderas, Principal
Greetings Bell HS Family,
I hope this message finds you and your family in great health and sound in mind.
We had another strong week of teaching and learning in a hybrid model. Bell HS has nearly 20% students on hybrid and 80% of our students are online. Regardless of the various modalities of instruction, our dedicated teachers continue to arrive at school everyday and prepare to instruct all students. It is this dedication that epitomizes the caliber of instructors we have at Bell HS. It is for this reason we celebrate and thank our teachers during "Teacher Appreciation Week:! Please join me in thanking everyone of our committed teachers for a job well done! As a reminder, none of us would be here today if it wasn't for a teacher that encouraged us to learn. Thank a Teacher!
In conclusion, I will continue to reiterate, as we return to face to face learning, EVERYONE must do their part by wearing a mask, practice social distancing, wash your hands, Covid test and remain home. We Got This!
In Partnership,
Rafael L. Balderas, Principal
SBAC Exams? WE GOT SBAC EXAMS START MAY 10, 2021!
This spring, students in grades 11 will participate in the computer-based California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) System. CAASPP assessments include English–language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics. Eligible students with significant cognitive disabilities will take the California Alternate Assessment (CAA) for ELA, math, and science in the designated grades.
CAASPP tests will be administered at our school on the following dates: May 10 - June 10
Our priority is to keep our students and educators safe by following state, county, and local health and safety guidelines associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. For students who return to in-person learning this spring, our school will follow state, county, and district safety protocols to administer the CAASPP tests in-person.
For students who do not return to in-person learning, students will be able to take their assigned CAASPP tests remotely. If testing remotely, the teacher will connect with each child by computer. To make sure that each student receives the most accurate score, we are providing you with the following guidelines:
- You may help your child to set up the technology and log into the testing platform.
- If possible, provide a quiet, private space for your child to take their tests.
- In order to keep the test fair for all students, do not talk about the test questions with anyone.
- In order to keep the questions confidential, do not record or take pictures of test questions or your child taking the test.
- A web camera and microphone will be used to monitor your child while taking the test. The camera is used to observe your child and the surroundings during the test and will not be used to record the session.
- Follow all instructions given by the teacher.
If your child experiences technical difficulties that prevent him/her from testing, contact Mr. Gomez at 323-832-4769 or by email at jrg3922@lausd.netfor support or for another way to administer the test, for example, in-person test administration—when it can be done safely.
At Bell High School, our goal is for all students to achieve their full potential. The CAASPP test results are one way we can better understand if we are meeting that goal. Thank you for all you do to partner with us in your child’s education. If you have any questions regarding CAASPP testing, please contact Mr. Gomez at 323-832-4769 or by email at jrg3922@lausd.net.
Thank you for partnering with us in making sure your child is ready to test. With your help, we can ensure that your child is provided with the best opportunity to succeed and show what they know.
LAUSD WILLING TO INVEST ON BLOCK SCHEDULE FOR 2021-22
In an effort to mitigate learning loss due to the pandemic LAUSD is willing to make a 3 year investment to the students of our school community. By moving into a block schedule (4x4 or 2x8 etc.) schools will be afforded many investments to help the school move into a schedule that meets the safety of staff and the academic needs of students. Below are just a few reasons why a change of schedule would benefit the school:
- Health and Safety – this schedule limits the "bubble size" by preventing 6-8
- classes worth of mixing.
- Teachers have fewer preparations and more planning time.
- Extended instructional class periods allows more time to complete in
- depth activities.
- Students earn up to 80 credits during the regular school year
- Provides a pathway for acceleration (math pathways, English Learners,
- concurrent enrollment, CTE pathways, IB, electives)
- Provides more periods for fitting needed intervention and/or credit recovery
- Fewer classes for students in a day and mester. Students can focus on their learning.
- Schools can choose to have AP classes kept together and assign a different non-AP course title during the other two quarters but taught by the same teacher during the same period to extend their learning over the full school year and to add in-seat hours working with the students.
As far as tangible investments by the District to make the block schedule work fro schools include the following:
- Additional teachers to support the schedule at 1 teacher for every 250 students that equates to an additional 9 teachers.
- 8 hours of counselor overtime equates to 64 hours for the school.
- 6 hours of professional development for all teachers this equates to 636 hours.
- All teachers will have a conference period everyday for planning.
- These investments are for committed 3 years.
In the coming week our school staff will be having the conversation on how to best mitigate student learning loss by reviewing the best schedule that will support students and increase staff resources.
COVID-19 TESTING FOR ALL STUDENT ATHLETES!
In an effort to support our student athletes, coaches and families LAUSD will have several locations available for COVID testing. See below in Local District East the two testing sites available are Gage MS and El Sereno MS and please make an appointment prior to your arrival.
Schedule your appointment today!
1. Register for a parent portal account at parentportal.lausd.net
2. Link your K-12 children in Parent Portal
3. Schedule a COVID -19 test using your child’s student ID at https://lausd-rts.powerappsportals.com/en-US/
@Home Learning? YES We Teach Remotely!
Shout out to everyone for this week of teaching and learning! As a reminder, attendance is MANDATORY, based on the following schoology & zoom logon analytics we have for the following week:
Week of May 3-7, 2021
Students Virtual Attendance = 2,297 out of 2,377 students for a 97%
Weekly Log-on Grade Leaders (schoology & zoom)
Grade 12 – 98.4% / Grade 11 – 96.8% / Grade 10 – 97.3% / Grade 9 – 97.1%
Congratulation Class of 2021 “Seniors” Grade 12 You Are Still on Top!
Social, Emotional & Mental Health? We Got SEL!
We know from the data that students and families continue to feel isolated and alone, the Los Angeles Unified Launched Mental Health Hotline To Help Students and Families. Please have them call (213) 241-3840 – Please be mindful our students and parents world has been turned upside down and we need to make sure students have the support they need. In the event that you need immediate emergency assistance, please call 911.
If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call either of the following phone numbers for mental health support:
- LAUSD Mental Health Hotline (213) 241-3840 M-F 6am-6pm
- LA County Department of Mental Health (800) 854-7771
- Didi Hirsch Suicide Prevention Hotline (877) 727-4747 (24 hours)
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800) 273-TALK (8255) (24 hours)
- Bell High School Confidential Text Tip Line (323) 989-3750 (24 hours)
For immediate contact with the Bell High School’s Social, Emotional and Mental Health Team, please communicate with one of the following SEL Team Members:
- Sara Soto, PSW – sara.soto@lausd.net
- Keilah Gomez, Psychologist - keilah.gomez1@lausd.net
- Julia Carrera, Psychologist - julia.carrera@lausd.net
- Marissa Franco, PSA - marisa.franco@lausd.net
YES, MONDAY, May 10, 2021 IS GOLD SCHEDULE!
Purple & GOLD Bell Schedule for Cohort H, Cohort L & Cohort F
As a reminder please follow our Hybrid and Online Tuesday to Friday bell schedule, see schedule below on our Padlet:
https://bellseniorhigh.padlet.org/marioapodaca/backtoschool2021
AP EXAMS? WE GOT AP EXAMS WEBINAR MAY 12, 2021 @ 5 PM!
Attention ALL Advance Placement students, be prepared your AP Exam Schedule is out and it starts on May 18 and ends on June 10, 2021! Please check with your AP teachers on how to do well. Secondly, you will have the option to take the AP exam virtually or in person, please email Mr. Marquez, College Counselor at to Mr. Apodaca, Magnet Coordinator at ASAP.
Good Luck!
How are we doing in feeding our community? We Feed Our Learning Community!
As a reminder our Bell HS Community Food Distribution will continue to serve meals everyday from Monday to Friday from 2:30 to 3:30 pm! Please drive up on Pine Avenue to the Cafeteria Gate and NO ID is required. Our motto will always be “No Family Will GO Hungry”.
Do We Have Social Media? Yes We Got Social Media!
ALPHA Academy @BHS_ALPHA
Bell High School @bellhighschool
AVID Academy @BHSAVID_familia
Global Studies Academy @BHSGlobalStudy
MTCA Academy @bhs_mtca
STEM Magnet @BHSGiftedMagnet
Bell Senior High School
Email: Bell-SH@lausd.net
Website: www.bellhs.org
Location: 4328 Bell Avenue, Bell, CA, USA
Phone: (323) 832-4700
Twitter: @bellhighschool