Hilltop Herald - Parent Edition
Be Respectful ~ Be Responsible ~ Be Resilient
Volume 1 ~ Issue 10 ~ October 3, 2022
Amazing Falcon Families,
"Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement. Your habits shape your identity and your identity shapes your habit" ~James Clear~
Welcome back Falcons. I hope that you had a wonderful fall break and are ready to return with gusto. Students return to campus on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 and it will be a Schedule A day, which means you report to Advisory first. First bell rings at 8:05am.
Our Habits
I am currently reading a book by James Clear titled Atomic Habits. In it, Mr. Clear speaks about how our habits are derived from the identities we hold dear and display to the public. For example, if we believe we are great students, our habits show that. On the other hand, if we believe we are poor students, then we show habits that reflect that. He states that if we want to change our habits, we begin by claiming the identity that we want and then change our habits to match that chosen identity. He also states that habits are changed incrementally, in small amounts. So,if we want to be a successful student, then we need to look at our actions and see if they match the identity we desire. If they do not match, then change one action at a time, such as attending Falcon Scholars for work that was not finished in class. If you do this regularly, it becomes the habit that matches what successful students do; they finish their work and turn them in. If our goal is become readers, then we read. Students, I challenge you this quarter, what is one habit that you can change and implement daily so that you either continue to be a successful students or you are moving toward being a successful students. Once you have mastered that one habit, then find another habit to change in your journey to attain the identity you seek.
Celebrating Our Amazing Custodians
October 2, 2022 the day on which the nation recognizes those individuals who work behind the scenes by cleaning and repairing to ensure that our organizations continues to function without ceasing. Students and families, if you would like to honor our custodians by writing them a note or card, please drop them off in the main office. We will deliver them to the team. Thank you for all you do!
Picture Retake Day is Thursday October 6, 2022
Students, if you were absent on Picture Day in August or you wish to have your picture retaken, here is your opportunity to make sure that you make it into the yearbook. Please read the information below
Increasing Tardies
Towards the end of the first quarter, we have noticed an increasing number of students who are tardy throughout the day and especially for Advisory at the beginning of the day. Students should not be tardy to Periods 1-6 because they are already in school. While Advisory tardies are more challenging, know that we take these very seriously also. We will be implementing a tardy detention on the day of the tardy starting this week. You will be called by the office staff on the same day to determine if the tardy is excused. If a student is not able to attend that day, then he/she can do it another day on the same week. Remember that first bell rings at 8:05am and they must be in class by 8:10am.
Students with two or more tardies every week will be given afterschool detention on Fridays. If the tardies become chronic, we be holding a parent meeting and students will be required to go Saturday School.
Parents, please help us by regularly checking up on your child's attendance in Campus Portal. If you are seeing tardies in between periods, I am asking that you have a conversation with your child about these. Thank you so much for your support on this critical area of schooling.
SUHSD Magkaisa Conference is October 15, 2022
The 20th Magkaisa Conference will occur on Saturday, October 15, 2022. Please read the information below. I hope all our Filipino students as well as other will attend.
Please make sure that you read the newsletter in its entirety to ensure that you are in the KNOW of what is happening at HTM.
Falcon Flight Program Rules
Students, if you are part of the Falcon Flight Program, please make sure that you follow ALL rules in order to participate in the program. In the Falcon Flight section below, I have included all the rules that must be followed. This is especially important for accurate attendance records. Parents, know that in order for your child to leave early, you must have completed an early release form; this is important if your child has a regular day where he/she might need to leave early. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
COVID Testing Update
Know that there has been an update on mandatory testing for atheletes and extracurricular activities. Weekly testing is now strongly recommended and NOT mandatory. Please go to the COVID section below to access the latest COVID Update from the district.
Sincerely,
Ms. Finley
All Falcon Flight Programs will resume on Tuesday, October 4, 2022. If you are a Falcon Flight family, it is important that you follow ALL rules pertaining to the program in order to remain enrolled in the program. Please read all the rules in the image below. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Ms. Reimund and Ms. Pulido who are the coordinators of the programs.
Parents, if you want your child to join Falcon Flight, click HERE to sign up. Once a staff member enrolls your student into the program, you will receive an email stating that they are now part of the program.
Effective upon returning from break on October 3, 2022, student athletes and VAPA participants are recommended, but no longer required to test weekly to continue to participate. Testing and masking requirements for Covid-positive, symptomatic students and close contacts are still in effect. Please continue protecting your family by testing weekly.
If you wish to continue to test weekly, click HERE to sign up for the testing program.
Students, if you test positive for COVID, click HERE to determine which scenario fits your situation. Once you have identified the correct scenario for you, please follow all safety protocols that go with the scenario.
For classwork, you will be placed on independent study. Please contact the attendance office to report the absence or email our assistant principal secretary, Ms. Garcia at patricia.garcia2@sweetwaterschools.org. It is important that once Ms. Garcia sends you the independent study form, you sign it immediately.
At this time, teachers are NOT required to host a virtual synchronous session during her in-person instruction. This is being negotiated with the teachers union right now.
Weekly COVID testing is no longer mandatory but strongly recommended for all athletes and extracurricular activities. If you have not done so already, please sign up with SDSU-NIH Testing program [Click HERE] or you will have to provide test results from your healthcare provider or other verified health organizations.
Easter Finley, Principal
Email: easter.finley@sweetwaterschools.org
Website: htm.sweetwaterschools.org
Location: 44 East J Street, Chula Vista, CA, USA
Phone: 619.498.2700
Twitter: @erfinleysd