Hilltop Herald Parent Edition
Be Respectful ~ Be Responsible ~ Be Resilient
Volume 2 ~ Issue 22 ~ January 22, 2024
"Kindness can transform someone's dark moment with a blaze of light. You'll never know how much your caring matters. Make a difference for another today." ~Amy Leigh Mercree~
This week is the 2024 Great Kindness Challenge Week. HTM's mantra states: Be Respectful ~ Be Responsible ~ Be Resilient. As I ponder on these phrases and the order in which they are said, showing kindness falls in the category of being respectful. If you are kind, you will always be respectful. Additionally, as human beings, one of our responsibility is to show kindness even if it is not deserved. Choosing to be kind is a responsibility that you are intentionally performing regardless of how people treat you. Finally, to show kindness consistently demonstrates resiliency of the individual. In essence, being kind embodies our HTM mantra. One would think that the idea of being kind is a no brainer, but because we are all different, being kind comes natural to some while for others, being kind requires more thought and effort. However, it does not matter how we arrive at kindness, as long as our behaviors reflect the good in all of us.
The power of kindness is underestimated. It is highly contagious and makes people feel good. Nobel Laureate, Albert Schweitzer said this, "Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun melts the ice, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.'
As we begin this week, please watch the video in the section on the Great Kindness Challenge and participate either individually or as a family to perform one act of kindness daily. Click HERE to access the list of acts of kindness that you can do this week at school and at home. This year's theme is Create Kindness. Let's do just that in our HTM community by participating in the Library GKC Challenge and in the ASB Spirit and Activity Week. See the details below.
NOTE: In preparation of this week, HTM has created its own Wellness Wednesday T-shirt. Please go to the ASB and buy it before Wednesday so that we can all wear it at the same time.
Our Safety Awareness Week was a SUCCESS!
Thank you to our amazing Safety Committee for creating this week to heighten our awareness and proactiveness in keeping our campus safe. Falcons, remember, choose friends that will raise you not, not bring you down. Remember to set appropriate boundaries with your friends. Also, each of you has a responsibility to keeping our entire school and community safe. Ask yourself, "Do my daily actions keep my community safe?" If the answer is no, then change your actions so that our community is safe. Lastly, let's be knowledgeable about how to keep our classrooms and school safe during an emergency situation, and especially during an active shooter situation. Be a support to your teachers and classmates in all of your classes.
I want to thank the Safety Committee: Mr. Butcher (Parent), Ms. Garcia (Resource Teacher), Ms. Jarrett (Teacher), Ms. Santana (Counselor) and CVPD SRO Aguayo and Isaaks. This week would not have been possible, if not for the leadership of Assistant Principal Ms. Cruz. Thank you team for all you did to make this happen.
Balancing Classes
Falcons, per the teachers' contract, we are required to balance classes by the 10th day, which is January 24, 2024. While the counselors are working hard to minimize the change, know that if one or some of your classes changes, it is because it was necessary. Thank you for understanding.
Future Falcon Parent Nights
Falcon parents, if you have 6th grade children who will be coming to HTM in 2024-2025, please attend one of the informational meetings that we have planned for January 23 and 24, 2024. Please read the flyer below.
Eighth Grade Promotion Reminder
Now that Semester grades 1 are official, this is a reminder of your promotion requirement: YOU MUST PASS ALL YOUR CLASSES IN 8TH GRADE. Eighth graders, make every effort to pass all your classes this semester as you will not have enough time to make Fs up before June. We are only offering credit recovery and Incomplete Grade Project for Semester 1. Please read the Promotion Requirement Section below to see what we will be offering for credit recovery.
Save the Dates for Upcoming Student Empowerment Events
Families, we have two major events coming up in the next several months. We want to make sure that HTM is represented. Please read the sections below on these two events:
- BSU RISE Conference on February 10, 2024 @ Olympian High School
- Adelante Mujer Conference on April 20, 2024 @ UCSD.
Buy Your 2023-2024 Yearbook Now
Students, memorialize your school year by buying your yearbook now! Read the information below.
ASB Sales
Falcons, stay warm during the winter months and buy your HTM sweatshirt and pantsfor only $25. See picture at the end of the newsletter.
NEW!!! Easier Access to HTM Google Calendar
Parents, starting with this newsletter, there is now a clickable button to access the school calendar. We update this calendar every Friday. We hope that this helps with your family planning.
A Couple of Reminders
Families, please review our No Cell Phone Out Policy with your children. Another policy to review is the Bullying/Harrassment Policy for the district. These policies are included in this newsletter. Please scroll down toward the end of the newsletter.
Falcons, let's have a wonderful week, full of kindness.
Sincerely,
Ms. Finley
Falcons, This week is the 2024 Great Kindness Challenge! Our Library Staff and our ASB has created activities in which you can follow and support the theme of Create Kindness.
Attention Students:
All students who participates in ALL the Library and ASB Spirit & Activities for the week will have Lunch with the Principal the following week. Additionally, your picture will be placed in a new section in the office or the Principal's Wall of Fame. You must provide picture evidence of your participation. Save each picture this way: firstinitial.middleinitial.lastname.grade
- Monday's Evidence: a) picture of you with your list of 10 things you're grateful for; b) picture of you in superhero gear; c) you signing the pledge
- Tuesday's Evidence: a) you with a picture of your 10 cutout hearts with the first friend you are giving one to; b) picture of you in pink/red; c) picture of you with your kindness goal
- Wednesday's Evidence: a) picture of you with your written note that I can read as you slip it into your friend's backpack; b) picture of you in kindness shirt; c) picture of you creating a kindness chain link
- Thursday's Evidence: a) picture of you with your completed bookmark with the friend you are giving it to; b) picture of you in a team jersey; c) picture of you performing an act of kindness
- Friday's Evidence: a) picture of you with the teacher who has inspired you; b) you in bright colors; c) picture of you being a star of kindness
Click HERE to submit your daily picture evidence.
Great Kindness Challenge ASB Spirit Week & Activities
Falcons, participate in each ASB activity and wear the spirit GEAR to win Starbursts, HTM water bottles and/or HTM stickers at the end of the week.
GKC ASB Spirit Week-at-a-Glance
Monday is Superhero Day and GKC Pledge Signing
Let's see you in your Superhero outfit and sign the HTM GKC Pledge!
Tuesday is Red/Pink Day and Setting Kindness Goal
Creating Kindness is a choice. It begins with setting a kindness goal.
Wednesday is Friendship Day and Creating Chains of Kindness
Wear a shirt that says something about Kindness and join to create an HTM Kindness Chain
Thursday is Acts of Kindness and Being a Member of Team Kind
Wear your favorite team jersey/shirt and perform an act of kindness.
Friday is Starburts Day and Being a Star of Kindness
Wear something bright and be a starburst of kindness.
It is that time of year, again, where we are preparing to enroll our incoming 7th graders for the 2024-2025 school year. If you have an incoming 7th grader or know, please join us for an informational meeting on either Tuesday or Wednesday, If you know of a family who has an incoming 7th grader, please share this flyer with them. We want to give you information that will guide you in the registration and enrollment process. If you family friends who are interested in the FLAGS program, please invite them. The FLAGS team will be there to answer you question and give you information on their New Parent Informational Meeting. See you then.
Eighth Graders,
There is one requirement for you: you must pass ALL your classes this year for both semesters, if you want to participate in the promotion ceremony on June 4 and receive a certificate of promotion.
By now, you have received your semester 1 grades. If you passed all your classes, you are on track to promote. If you failed class in either, English/ELD, General Science 2, Integrated Math 8, Integrated Math 1, US History, you will be offered to take credit recovery for one or more of these courses. These courses will take place on Saturdays during Saturday Scholars or during Spring Break. If you do not participate in these offerings, there is a high probability that you will not participate in promotional exercises in June.
We are in the process of planning these credit recovery courses. ALL CLASSES WILL BE ON SATURDAYS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF PE, WHICH WILL BE DURING SPRING BREAK. We will be offering:
- English 8/ELD III Hour 1 - Ms. Holt
- General Science 2 - Teacher to be determined
- PE 8 - Mr. Rob Johnson, former HTM PE teacher
- Integrated Math 8 - Mr. Chaidez
- US History (will pilot the Incomplete Grades Program) - Mr. Horton and Mr. Stubbs
We are not offering credit recovery for Elective Courses.
A - Gi: Ms. Santana
Go - Mo: Ms. Haug
Morn - Z: Ms. Orozco
HTM Wellness Wednesday Shirts
Purchase one to wear this Wednesday to participate in the Great Kindness Challenge. Or just for any Wellness Wednesday Shirt
HTM Sweats Gear On Sale
For these winter months, these might be the purchase to keep you warm during a chilly school day.
What is the CVFD Explorers Program?
Read the information on this flyer. Eighth graders, this is a great way for you to start your community service requirements
CVFD Explorers Website
To get more information, please go to our website and it will answer all your questions.
Easter Finley, Principal
Email: easter.finley@sweetwaterschools.org
Website: htm.sweetwaterschools.org
Location: 44 East J Street, Chula Vista, CA, USA
Phone: 619.498.2700
Twitter: @erfinleysd