Vista Views
December 15, 2021
ALTA VISTA NEWS
Alta Vista Cares: Community Toy and Book Drive
We have already filled FIVE barrels with toys and books! Let’s see if we can add two more barrels of gifts to make the holidays a little brighter for local families.
Bring new or gently used toys and books to the barrels outside the office by Friday. Your generosity will benefit the clients of Calvary Church's House of Hope.
For any questions, please reach out to AVHSC VP of Community Service Claire Kalia at clairekalia@gmail.com.
USD Board Presentation
You can review all of the highlights from the meeting by clicking HERE, but if you will also find details about the Alta Vista presentation below:
Principal Cathy Bailey, Intervention ToSA (Teacher on Special Assignment) Sarah Williams, Mental Health Therapist Megan O’Connor, and School Psychologist Caitlyn McNerney presented an overview of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) implemented at Alta Vista.
Alta Vista hosts weekly PAWS and Pride assemblies which are an opportunity to recognize positive behaviors while highlighting SEL in the classroom in a shared, schoolwide forum. Sarah Williams shared more about the school’s Brave Room–a designated, safe area where students can go if they need to process or regulate big emotions. Students have a “feelings check-in and check-out” and are also supported by staff and through friendship groups where they learn social skills through various activities. Megan also shared her school community newsletter called Counselor’s Corner. Started during the pandemic, the newsletter helped to address parent concerns around universal difficulties and has included topics such as self-care, emergency situations, gratitude, the power of praise and more.
Alta Vista sees many benefits of Social Emotional Learning in and out of the classroom as it promotes prosocial behavior, provides students tools for self regulation, helps students to develop positive self identity and feel and show empathy. As Principal Bailey shared, this focus as a community has really helped “build a positive culture” at Alta Vista.
HOME & SCHOOL CLUB NEWS
Wooden Horse Shopping Night
Reminder - Sign Up for Amazon Smile
Amazon donates .5% of your total spending to Alta Vista Home and School Club when you use Amazon Smile. It is a simple way to earn money for AVHSC and our students.
- Here is a video on how to enable Amazon Smile on Desktop or Mobile Browser
- Here is a video on how to enable Amazon Smile in the App
Make sure to choose Alta Vista Home and School Club when signing up.
UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS
Take Home Rapid Test Kits
Good news! In conjunction with the California Department of Public Health, Union School District has secured enough rapid antigen test kits to send home with each student in our district prior to Winter Break. The intention of the test kits is to provide an additional layer of safeguard for our students and staff prior to returning to school on January 3, 2022.
During the week of December 13 - 17, your child will receive a rapid antigen test kit from their school. Each packet contains two antigen tests. Attached to the newsletter, you will find detailed instructions for using the testing kit.
While this is an optional program, we are recommending our families to have your student take one of the rapid antigen tests on Sunday, January 2. While this is not required to return to school, we are highly encouraging everyone to test prior to returning to school campuses to support us in keeping our schools safe after the holidays.
Please note, test results are not required to return to school from Winter Break, but are highly encouraged. Though, if your rapid antigen test results come back positive, we ask that you notify the front office, keep your child home from school, keep siblings home from school, and contact your health care provider for next steps.
This gesture of goodwill from Union School District to our families is another step in keeping our entire community safe.
Community Testing Update
Community Testing Holiday Hours
December 25 - Closed
December 31 - Closing at 5:00 PM
January 1 - Closed
UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER
12/18 - 1/2 Winter Break
1/3 School Resumes
1/14 Staff Development Day (No School for Students)
1/17 Martin Luther King Jr. Day (No School)
Alta Vista Elementary School
Email: baileyc@unionsd.org
Website: altavista.unionsd.org
Location: 200 Blossom Valley Drive, LG
Phone: 408.356.6146
Twitter: @TeamAltaVista