Amazing Falcon Families,

“Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” ~Oprah Winfrey~

November is a clarion call in our nation to attend to being grateful and thankful for what we have. When we live in a country where freedom is ensured, it is often easy to take for granted what we have. This week, I want you to think of two things for which you are grateful. Here are the two things for which I am thankful:

1. I am thankful to our military families. I thank you for making a conscious decision to serve our nation in the armed forces. Because of your sacrifice, I have the freedom to vote, the ability to express myself without fear of repercussion, and I can be who I am. THANK YOU!
2. I am thankful for our school psychologist, Ms. Alana Chihwaro, who ardently advocates for our most at-risk students to ensure that they access the best educational services possible. THANK YOU AND HAPPY NATIONAL SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST WEEK!

November is also Native American Heritage Month. There are 575 recognized tribes in our nation. And while we celebrated them as one group, each tribe has its own set of cultures, traditions, language, and history that set them apart. San Diego County recognizes five distinguishable American Indian groups: Luiseno, Cahuilla, Cupeno, Kumeyaay, and Northern Diegueño. Recognizing each tribal nation is one of the best ways in which we can honor our amazing Indigenous culture. Below is a video that Ms. Southam created so that we can learn more about our Indigenous heritage through the lens of the tribe of Cherokees.

No School on Friday, November 10, 2023

Families, this is a reminder that there is no school on Friday in lieu of Veteran's Day.

Final Grades are Due on December 15, 2023

Students, this is a reminder that if you are failing a class, you need to start making up work so that you pass all your classes. Eighth graders, this is especially important for you as failing any classes will prevent you from participating in promotion ceremonies. Seventh graders, failing a class means you are committing to attending summer school in June. Take care of your grades right now. The best way to start is to talk to your teachers about what you can do to pass your classes. Please read the flyer below to see if you are on track to meet the promotion requirements at the middle school level.

SUHSD Presents Black Talk

The Sweetwater Union High School District Black Student Unions would like to cordially invite all SUHSD middle and high school students, parents, and staff to attend our first BSU Black Talk event, on Wednesday, November 8th at Hilltop High School from 5:30-7:00pm. This event is a wonderful opportunity for our students to have a safe space to share their experiences of being a Black student in today's world. We hope to empower our students to use their voices and know that they are seen, heard, valued, and have support within our district to help them succeed. If you have any questions, please contact BSUinfo@sweetwaterschools.org. We hope to see you on November 8th!

Falcon Flight Hosts Pre-Season Training this Week

Falcons, if you are interested in soccer tryouts, please join Coach Natalie and team as they host pre-season soccer training on Monday and Wednesday this week. See flyer below.

Soccer Tryouts will be held the Week of November 13-17, 2023

If students are interested in soccer, tryouts will be held next week, Students must be enrolled in Falcon Flight to tryout. Please make sure they join in the next two weeks. Please reach out to Ms. Pulido at jessica.pulido@sweetwaterschools.org or Mr. Horton at joshua.horton@sweetwaterschools.org.

Let's have an amazing week.

Sincerely,

Ms. Finley

Eighth graders, we have been informing you since seventh grade that it is expected for the 21 credit promotion requirements to be in effect in order for you to participate in the promotion ceremony and receive a certificate of promotion. This is, in fact, the reality. Now that you have received your second progress report of the week, it is important to create a plan of action to make sure that you pass all your classes this semester and year.

If you PASSED ALL your classes last year, then you are on track to participate in all promotional activities. If you FAILED ONE CLASS OR MORE, you may not be on track to participate in the promotion ceremony and receive a certificate of promotion. It depends on which class you failed. If you failed a class or more AND took summer school for that class, then you may be back on track.

This week, middle school principals will be developing a common plan of action for credit recovery that will be applicable to all middle schools. Additionally, if you have failed classes in seventh grade, your counselors will be reaching out to you to discuss your options.

The next five weeks is very important because you must ensure that you are passing all your classes. Below is the list of the 21 credits required in order to participate in promotion activities at the end of the school year.