September Newsletter
Cottonwood School
Greetings Cottonwood Families,
I wanted to take the time to thank everyone for a successful start to the school year. I also want to thank everyone that was able to attend our virtual Back-To-School-Night on Thursday, August 27th.
It has definitely been a team effort while beginning the school year with our online education. Please continue to be involved and invested in the education of your children as well as in close communication with our school staff. All of our teachers have put in countless hours of planning and problem solving to provide the highest level of quality instruction given the circumstances that we are in. Speaking of our teachers, I would like to introduce three new staff members to our school. We have:
William Beuche III - Music Teacher
Brooke Blackmore - 5th Grade Teacher
DeAmonta Casey - School Psychologist
Megan Estrada- Speech Pathologist
Familiar faces in new spaces:
Bella Gutierrez - SPED Aide
- Darian Henderson - Kindergarten Instructional Aide
- LaNett Hollenkamp - 3rd Grade Teacher
- Myrna Lopez - 2nd Grade Teacher
All of us at Hemet Unified School District are very proud about Embracing, Educating, and Empowering our students. All that we do is centered around this vision and the three goals of Teaching and Learning, offering Systems of Support, and our Culture and Climate. A big thank you to our Board of Directors, Superintendent, and the rest of our district office personnel for all your contributions to our collective vision.
Our school motto for the year is WIN THE DAY! Each day presents its own challenges which can be overwhelming. We need to set our focus on doing our best every single day and building upon the small victories that come our way. Let’s continue to focus on the positives and meet our own personal goal of winning each and every day. Anything is possible if we can do this.
In Partnership,
Nick Stearns
Principal
Brief Bio at a Glance
It is with overwhelming pride and excitement that I have the opportunity to introduce myself as the newly appointed Principal of Cottonwood School. I consider it an honor being selected to serve a school with such a rich tradition of education that is also home to the last one-room schoolhouse in Riverside County! My passion for student learning and dedication to the field of education has spanned more than thirteen years while working with students from transitional kindergarten through twelfth grade. My most recent experience took place in Menifee, where I served as Principal in a TK-12 charter school. I am excited and eager to begin our partnership together in helping develop the “whole” child in character and academics. It is my goal to bring my skills as an educational leader to Cottonwood and be a part of our school team that will embrace, educate, and empower your child to ensure their success.
Education
I have an AA in Physical Education, a BS in Human Performance, and an MA in Teaching. I began my educational career in 2007 as a Speech and Language Pathologist on an emergency credential. I then served as a Specialized Academic Instructor and then entered into an Administration role.
Favorite Activities
Spending time with my wife (Denise) and three children (Dominick, Noah, and Amelia), lifting weights, going on drives, trying new restaurants, watching football and basketball, and anything superhero related.
Cottonwood News Forecast
Check This Out!
Internet Access
Site Enhancements
Course Changes
Algebra I
Band
Cottonwood Funding
TAKE NOTE!
School Site Council (SSC)
Parent Teacher Conferences
Monday, Sep 28, 2020, 12:00 PM
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Cougar Corridor
S.A.F.E./ZONE Program
Meal Distribution
Meal distribution takes place Monday and Thursday from 2:30 - 4:00 pm. Please bring the district provided meal card during this time. Please call (951) 765-5100, extension 5302 if you have any questions
Cottonwood Character Corner
For the months of August and September our school has emphasized the character trait of "Responsibility." Responsibility means to be accountable for your behavior. All of our Cubs and Cougars have demonstrated the positive trait of being responsible by logging-on to their classes to begin the year! We would love to see our students in action demonstrating our character trait! Please e-mail any pictures of your children to Mrs. Niaves (aniaves@hemetusd.org) demonstrating responsibility in school, around the house or the community so that we can showcase their efforts!
Weekly Habits for Success
It is our goal at Cottonwood School to ensure that our students have the tools and habits to be successful in whatever they choose to pursue. Our staff have been emphasizing "Weekly Habits for Success" with our students to help fill their "tool belt" with specific skills. You can help by having a discussion on these habits and how they translate to success in the real world. Below are the habits that were emphasized in the first three weeks of school:
- Begin each interaction with a positive greeting and/or handshake
- Demonstrating positive body language demonstrates confidence and will lead to success
- Expect students to greet staff, professionals, and adults by their title such as Mr., Mrs., Ms., Dr., Coach, etc.