News at Sycamore Canyon
UPDATED PARENT AND STUDENT INFORMATION 2/22/21
New Updates Included In This Smore
Important Dates This Week
The Pack is Back
Congratulations!!
Elementary Learning Model Change Request
COVID Testing Center
PTSA News
Important Reminders This Week
- 2/26 - School Spirit Day, MS = PJ day, Elem = Sycamore gear
- Human Growth and Development Viewing for Parents (Grades 4,5,6)
- Wednesday Schedule - Elementary Dismissal 10:30 & 2:30 (Ongoing)
- Middle School - All Middle School students are Remote on Wednesdays. (Ongoing)
- Elementary Schedule and Middle School Schedule
Welcome Back Pack!!!
- City Sidewalks - As you are walking about the school and notice a raised sidewalk that could cause a tripping hazard, as well as potholes, street signs, and more please make sure to report this to the City of Thousand Oaks Public Works Department.
- Traffic Reminder - As a reminder, all driveways at Sycamore Canyon are right turn entry only. Making a left turn is both illegal and unsafe. Please keep our campus safe and be aware of all traffic laws in and around the campus. Thank you!!
- MASKS - Please make sure to remind students they need to be wearing an appropriately sized mask that covers their mouth and nose. If we can see a student's nose or lips through the mask they will be required to put on a paper mask provided by the school. Please click https://bit.ly/38qRRiA for a list of appropriate masks. IMPORTANT UPDATE: Any mask that has a valve in it may NOT be worn at school. If students need a mask, simply ask a staff member at each entry and they will be happy to provide them with one.
- Helmets: All students riding a bike, scooter, or skateboard must have a helmet with them. Students will be reminded once if they do not have one but will not be permitted to ride home if they forget it a second time until a helmet is brought with them. Safety is no accident!
- DAILY SCREENING - Please take time each morning to screen your children before coming to school. Where we know keeping home a child can pose a burden for working parents it is imperative that sick students remain at home for the safety of everyone on campus. If you have any questions, please reach out to our LVN Mrs. Ulrich. 805-498-1573
- REPORTING A POSITIVE CASE OR EXPOSURE - If you have a positive case in your home or have been exposed to someone who is positive, please call Mrs. Ulrich at 805-498-1573. She will walk you through what you need to do during this time. **CVUSD has recently updated their COVID timeline from 14 days to10 days, please click here.
- ATTENDANCE CALLS- Please make sure to call the attendance line if your child is going to be out for any reason. If your child is absent and we have not heard from you, we will follow up that day as we must know why a student is not here to verify they are not sick.
- Middle school students arriving for the afternoon cohort and who pick up a grab and go lunch from our school cafeteria upon arrival will be directed to the middle school lunch shelter to eat instead of sitting on the benches in front of the school.
- If anyone is not feeling well please make sure to evaluate their symptoms prior to coming to school.
- Please make sure your children have dressed appropriately for the January weather. It may be in the mid-60s in the afternoon but it does get cold in the morning and in the shaded afternoon areas.
- If you are going to be out of town, please call the office and let us know. Historically people call their children in sick if they are going on an extended vacation as to not get an unexcused absence. Please refrain from doing so as if you call your child in 'sick' we will have to follow up with you to confirm symptoms.
- Every Wednesday has a 'Whacky' schedule. Middle School is all remote and Elementary are out 30 min earlier than normal. See schedules in the important reminders section above.
Congratulations Sycamore Speech and Debate Team!
Sycamore Canyon debaters had a great time at Polytechnic Invitational Debate Tournament on Saturday, 2/6/21. Altogether, there were 23 schools with 131 teams competing at this event. Sycamore Canyon debaters performed strongly and brought home the following awards:
- Michelle Qi, 6th grade, received the 36th place Speaker Award.
- Nikhil & Seth's team received the 16th place Team Award.
- Sara/Ryan/Peter's team received the 14th place Team Award.
- Sycamore Canyon received the 2nd place School Award for the overall amount of wins.
Thank you to the coaches' for your continued work with our team and for preparing them for the tournaments each year. Way to go!!
Congratulations Sycamore Mathletes!
Last Friday, 2/12/21, ten sixth-eighth grade “Mathletes” represented Sycamore Canyon School while competing in the Ventura County Regional Math Counts Competition. HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to Nikhil Satyagal who placed 10th, Yushan Yan who placed 8th, Kimi Basamakov who placed 6th, Josh Wang who placed 5th, Michelle Wu who placed 4th, and Vanessa Zhou who placed an impressive THIRD PLACE!!! Five Sycamore mathletes placed in the top eight out of all participants which is incredible! So, Vanessa, Michelle, Josh, Kimi and Yushan will move on to compete online next week at the Chapter Invitational! What an amazing job Mathletes!!! Sycamore Canyon students and staff are so proud of you! Good Luck to you next week, Coyote Mathletes! Thank you to Mrs. Young for always doing your thing with our math students.
Sycamore Canyon ELEMENTARY Families,
Our biggest thanks to all of our students, staff, and families for embarking on this one of a kind school year. This pandemic has demanded our entire school community to be compassionate, flexible, and patient. We’ve certainly gone through challenges and successes, but most importantly, we’ve done this all together as a school community.
March 8, 2021 marks the start of our final trimester of the school year, and a final opportunity to change teaching and learning models (blended or remote). Staff will make every effort to meet these requests, but there is no guarantee that we can honor all requests or maintain the student’s current cohort (morning or afternoon) in order to meet the request. In addition, these requests may also result in a change of teacher.
If you would like to change your student’s learning model (Blended/Remote), please contact Mr. Hedin via email at mailto:dhedin@conejousd.org to indicate your interest by Friday, February 26.
While we recognize that no one knows how COVID will be impacting our community at any certain future time, yet we must continue to build our learning program during this pandemic with the information we have now and with what’s within our control. We can state with confidence that our schools will continue to meet and exceed the public health requirements, and our remote teaching and learning staff will continue to provide a high-quality virtual learning experience.
Thank you in advance for your flexibility and understanding as we move through these challenging times. We will make it through this, and we’ll do it together.
COVID Testing Locations
PTSA News
News includes - Please note the proposed PTSA Executive Board Slate for 2021-2022. Elections will be held at our next General Association meeting on March 18, 2021.
For more PTSA details & updates here: News & Events. Also, follow us on Facebook or Instagram.
DONATIONS
PTSA will continue to actively support Sycamore Canyon School in 2020-2021. Please show your support to our school by joining and donating here: https://jointotem.com/ca/newbury-park/sycamore-canyon-school-ptsa
Elementary Counselor Newsletter
CVUSD Zoom Expectations 2/1/21
Please see the new CVUSD Zoom Protocols below for students who in the remote learning model(s) that was sent out last week by CVUSD and all school sites.
Student engagement is critical for remote teaching and learning. In an effort to ensure and increase student active participation in remote learning, beginning February 1, 2021, CVUSD students will be required to have their video or “screens on'' while participating in a Zoom lesson and as directed by their teacher. “Screens on” enhances a teacher’s ability to monitor, in real-time, student understanding and ensures students are fully present and participate with their teacher and peers in the virtual learning environment.
Families will be encouraged to contact their teacher and administrator this week if they would like to request that their child’s screen be “off” due to a personal circumstance.
Please carefully read the below information and discuss these expectations with your child(ren). This is the same information that was provided to students and families before the start of the 2020-2021 school year.
Zoom Expectations:
- When you (students) have your camera on during live-virtual instruction, your background will be visible to your classmates and teachers. We respectfully request that backgrounds are basic and free from distractions, for example, a plain wall rather than seeing posters or other backgrounds that will take away from the learning opportunities for the entire class.
- If you have any concerns regarding privacy and therefore do not want your camera on, please share your concerns directly with your teacher so that we can support you in continuing to access the instruction and engagement with your classmates.
Student Participation and Engagement:
- Student participation and engagement are important for your learning. We recognize that remote learning will look and feel different than being in a classroom and on campus with your peers and staff. Nonetheless, we do expect students to make every possible effort to be present and actively engage during teacher led live-virtual instruction.
- Participation includes attending the entire assigned class, asking questions, responding to inquiries, collaborating with classmates, joining small group sessions, and completing work assignments.
Elementary Art Program
Check out the February Focus on the Arts (FOTA) lessons! We have a focus on Black History Month and hope to spark students’ interest in Jazz as well as some colorful art inspired by Alma Thomas. February materials were included in the December art packet sent home with blended students or picked up by remote/SHINE students. Please keep your FOTA art materials in a safe and accessible place so they are ready for their projects. Check out our new Virtual Gallery Link where students can post photos of their artistic creations - https://bit.ly/3nowmnG - or see what other students have created. Submit a photo this month. Thank you to TOArts AccessArts and Conejo Schools Foundation (CSF) for sponsoring the 20-21 FOTA program! Safe apart and connected by art…
Congratulations Middle School Mathletes
AMC 8 2020 Mathematics Competition
RESULTS are in!!!
Over 150,000 students competed online, nationally from more than 2500 schools.
Our students at Sycamore did awesome! The students competed for local, regional and national student and school awards. The contest, covers high school mathematics, and its purpose is to spur interest in mathematics and develop talent through the excitement of friendly competition at problem solving in a timed format.
Yushan Yan, Kimi Basamakov, and Michelle Wu tied for first place here at Sycamore with scores of 16, Nikhil Satyagal, Lori Qian, and Jason Li tied for second place with scores of 15, and Eric Zhang, Aiden Chang and Jake Liu tied for third place with scores of 14.
Together, Yushan, Kimi and Michelle, who tied for first here at Sycamore, are being invited to represent us at the AMC 10 being held at NPHS next month. Congratulations to these fine mathematicians!
Way to go COYOTES!!!
Elementary After School Programs
NPHS Tutoring
To schedule an appointment, parents or guardians will:
Go to: https://conejousd.org/CVUSD-Student-Tutors and enter the following username and password:
Username: cvusd
Password: theconejoway
After reviewing the tutor biographies and headshots, click on the “Book Now” button and follow the prompts to select the date and time of your appointment and your CVUSD tutor.
A student tutor will reach out to you at the email you provide with a Zoom link for your appointment.
Helpful Parent Links
Middle School Resources - click here
TO Library Virtual Resources - click here to access TO Library Resources
CLU Online Tutoring Program - We are thrilled to welcome our team of tutors from California Lutheran University who have officially joined the Online Tutoring Program.
You can find their cluster link on the CVUSD-Student-Tutors page of our website: here
We would appreciate you announcing this In your weekly correspondence home.
Don’t forget to include the Username: “CVUSD” and Password: “theconejoway”
Student/Family Instructional Videos - Google, Seesaw, Think Central, Zoom - click here This page will help you with accessing the listed programs.
Webinars - click here This page will give you access to parent webinars including Canvas, Social-Emotional Learning, and more.
CVUSD Wellness Room - click here This page will give you access to activities and tools to help with taking breaks.
Meal Benefit Application Update
- Important Meal Benefit Application Update: With the start of 2021, we have some changes in Child Nutrition Programs procedures dictated by the USDA and the CDE. As of January 1, 2021, we can no longer accept and process meal benefit applications. This change was made due to the extension of permitting service of meals, at no charge, to all students through June 30, 2021. As the economic information received on these applications is vital to our District, we ask for all families who typically receive meal benefits from the District and have not yet completed the meal benefit application this school year to please complete the Alternative Income Application form here.
BEST Counseling Newsletter and Presentation
Returning A Chromebook
Remote Work Space Reminders
- Please make sure if your child is taking an assessment that you allow them to complete it without help. Teachers must know the actual understanding of each student to determine their progress.
- Cell phones should be removed from their rooms/workspace as older students are using them during instructional time. (Playing games, Snapchatting, TicToc, using apps such as Photo Math, etc.) Please remind them that cell phones should not be used during instructional hours. This will help students remain focused on their learning.
- Students should be working at a dedicated workspace such as a desk, table, or counter free of distractions. (Toys, Siblings, Phones, etc.)
- Make sure your device is charged, we have found students are benefiting from using headphones as this allows them to only hear the teacher during learning.
- As a parent, please make sure you have paired yourself with your child's Canvas account using the app. If you have not done so please Click here and follow the directions below. In the upper right-hand corner, you will “Click here for an Account”. Your child will have to go on their Canvas account under settings and send you an “Observer Pairing Code” that you will put into your parent canvas account.
Yearbook Orders
The Yearbook planning for this school year has started. We are excited about the events ahead and for a fantastic book of memories in June. We are publishing with the same company, Cornerstone Photography, and the price for this year has not changed. The cost of the Yearbook is $35.00 (August through December 18, 2020), and then it will increase to $40.00 (beginning January 4, 2021 through March 31, 2021).
The Yearbook ALWAYS sells out on the last day of school, so please don’t forget to “pre-order”.
Please attach your payment to this form, and place in an envelope. There will be a dropbox in the office foyer for yearbook monies.
Any questions, contact the front office at (805) 498-1573.
Please see the order form here or the image to the right.
Smore Newsletter Links
Student Attendance
SYCAMORE CANYON OFFICE HOURS
School Office Hours
Open 7:00am - 12:00pm
Lunch 12:00pm - 1:30pm
Open 1:30pm - 3:30pm