August 26, 2022

Friday 8/26 6th Grade Social 330-500 pm. Free with a Cougar Card or $10 without. Drinks and treats are available for purchase. We will host our 7/8 Grade Social from 6:00-8:00 pm.

In this newsletter:

• Drop off and Pick up Procedures
  
• 8/30 LATE START TUESDAY see schedule below
• 8/31 Picture Day
  
• 9/6 School Site Council 330-500 pm

Dear Colina Families:

We have had a great first week back to school! Students should have brought home their textbooks which will stay home for the year as we have class sets inside our classrooms. Next week is picture day for the yearbook and permanent ID cards, so kids should dress to impress. I do apologize that we have had some difficulty with our email blast and text messaging system, but all is resolved. I will be sending weekly communications via our newsletter email/ text blast. We are so excited to see how quickly students are getting to know each other, and I know today we will see more comfort as routines fall into place.

It is important to be sure your student brings their student ID to school daily, especially if they are participating in the free lunch program, as IDs need to be scanned.

Great job this week with pick-up and drop-off; please be sure you leave extra time as everyone gets accustomed to new drop-off and pick-up locations. Please bring a smile, wave, and a little patience too.

Gates Open- "A" period will start promptly at 7:55 a.m., with period 1 beginning at 9:00 a.m. Gates will open at 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. To provide appropriate supervision, please do not drop off earlier than our supervisors are available. Likewise, students who dismiss at 2:19 p.m. will need to be picked up by 2:45 p.m. due to supervision.

Cell Phones

Reminder, electronic devices/cellphones/ear or air pods must be turned off during the school day. Students may use their cell phones at the blue benches before school and lunch to call or text parents/guardians; Colina assumes no liability for lost or stolen cell phones. Phones being used on campus or in classrooms will result in losing citizenship points and parent conferences. (Please encourage your students to be responsible users of this technology and to keep locker combinations secret!)

Student ID Cards-

Students received their temporary ID Cards at orientation. Students need to have these with them every day. Permanent photo IDs will be issued after school pictures have been taken on 8/31. Students must be able to produce ID to check out lunchtime equipment, books and get their free lunch. It is a wise idea to get a break-a-way lanyard for your student.

Parent Access to Campus

Parent Access to Campus- With middle school comes some natural anxieties. We have worked hard with WEB to create many opportunities for making the transition from elementary to middle exciting and welcoming. Parents, it is best to begin the process of allowing independence to flourish and perhaps saying goodbye in the car or at the gate; having your parent walk you on campus is not necessarily the most popular choice these days. If your student is finding some difficulty and you need that time to assist them, we will ask that parents sign into the office's Raptor System to receive a campus pass. Parents will need their driver's license to scan in.

CVUSD Child Nutrition:

Hot lunches and a la carte items Breakfast and lunch meal service will be available at all schools. All students will recevie meals at no charge during the 22-23 school year. Because the federal government no longer provides funding for this option, we ask that all parents complete the free meal application. Parents or guardians need to complete and submit an application for free meals as soon as possible. You can complete the meal application online by visiting https://conejo.vcoe.org/fsonline/Main/Login to complete the application online, or paper applications will be available at the District Office all summer. If you have any questions or need assistance completing your application, please call Child Nutrition at (805)498-4557 x7530.

The Colina School Site Council, which consists of parents and staff representatives, collaboratively implements our School Improvement Program. You are invited to attend the first Site Council meeting on Tuesday, September 6, at 3:30 p.m.

The PTSA Board invites you to join their active and enthusiastic organization at orientation. Their assistance is a critical part of our success. Please visit our Colina PTSA web page at https://www.colinaptsa.com/ . If you would like to VOLUNTEER your time to the school, please contact the PTSA parent volunteer coordinator or Anita Chiapuzio, the School Office Manager, at 495-7429, ext. 1000. We look forward to you being part of our school community.

Our Welcome Back Social will be on Friday, August 26. The 6th Grade Social will take place from 3:30–5:00 p.m. The 7th and 8th Grade Dance will take place from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Students who have purchased ASB Cougar Cards will get in free. Admission for other students will be $10.00. Mark your calendars…you won't want to miss this event!

School Pictures: Student yearbook pictures will be taken during PE classes on Wednesday, August 31. COLINA STUDENT ID CARDS MUST BE CARRIED BY STUDENTS AT ALL TIMES and are used for cafeteria meals, library book check-out, computer use, ball/equipment check-out, etc.

COVID Protocols - CVUSD sent out the updated COVID protocols for schools today, 8/21/22, via email. Please see this link for the information so you can reference the Q&A and other helpful information.

I look forward to seeing all parents at Back-to-School Night on Thursday, September 15, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. With your support, this will be an excellent year. Please call if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Thomas Shane Frank

Principal

Reminder, every Tuesday this year will be a LATE START DAY. Our first LATE START DAY will be Tuesday, 8/30/22. There is no A period meeting on this day, and gates will open at 9:30 am, with Period 1 starting at 10:00 am. If you need to drop off your student early, please know that our Library and Auditorium will be open for study hall from 7:30 am to 9:30 am. The Boys & Girls Club also offers programming during this time; if that is of interest to you, please visit this web page.

Here is a video of Pick Up/Drop Off procedures

Pick Up/Drop Off & Parking Lots – THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE! To help expedite the drop off, please have your student sitting on the passenger side of the car with back pack next to them for a quick and easy drop off. Please follow the direction of campus supervisors and leave extra time until routines are in place. Remember, it is recommended to turn right into Colina from Hillcrest Drive if you are using the internal drop off/pick up traffic pattern. Alternate drop off/pick up locations will be along Rancho Road; please do not use any lot at Ascension, we always want to be good neighbors. Reminder that TOPD motor enforcement will be out and enforcing speed, cellphones, seatbelts, as well as monitoring parking and no parking areas. Please be safe and courteous out there, it will get easier!

Colina has made a commitment not to host huge school-wide fundraisers that give our donations to companies, instead, we are committed to a Direct Donation, where 100% of funds support our students through their ASB. Please help us continue strong traditions of student engagement and connectedness through enriching motivational speakers, field trips, sports programming, socials and events, lunchtime activities, and teacher support to foster a positive school climate and culture. For a "Dollar A Day" we can make this a great year and give these kids a lot to look forward to.