Upcoming important dates:

• Sept. 20- Parent Club Meeting, 6:30 pm, Via Zoom
  
• Sept. 22- PeaceBuilder Assembly, 11:15 am , Stage
• Sept. 22- Spirit Day, Twin Day
• Sept. 25- Sept. 29- 6th Grade, Outdoor Science School
• Oct. 3- Hearing/Vision Testing, Grades K, 2nd and 5th
• Oct. 11- Board Meeting, 3:30 pm, Multi-Purpose Room , All Invited
• Oct. 18- Parent Club Meeting, 6:30 pm, Via Zoom
• Oct. 23- Coffee with Superintendent/Principal, 2:30 pm, Gazebo
• Oct. 27- Career Day, 8:30 am
• Oct. 27- PeaceBuilder Assembly, 11:15 am, Stage
• Oct. 27- Spirit Day, TBA

Dear Happy Valley Families,

We are adding to our curriculum this year and need some recycled supplies that you may have. We are currently collecting seeds and we will be storing them or using them to winter sow. Two things to save for us would be:

1. Translucent one-gallon plastic milk or juice jugs. We need about thirty.

2. Those little packages of Silica gel that come with food or other items to keep contents dry.

3. We are in need of adult T-shirts (used) for a project that will be happening in the garden. Shirts can be dropped off in the office.

Also a huge thank you to parents who have already ordered things for the school garden from our Happy Valley garden Amazon wish list. If anyone is interested here is the link.

We are off to a great start this year and please stop by the garden anytime I am there to see our progress and have a snack. Such a joy to work with these incredible students!

Craig Bowie

We had our first meeting with the Superintendent/Principal on Thursday morning! Board Member Katie Freeman and I were joined by several parents and had a great conversation. One of the parents said, “This was such a great opportunity to understand the details of some of the challenges the District is facing.”

We talked about the following:

Modernization, facilities and budget

• We discussed the 3 phases of the modernization slated for construction over the next several years.

• Phase I: Replace two portables: the Library/Resource Room and Room 6.

• Phase 2: Modernize the office/administration wing

• Phase 3: New student bathrooms

• We discussed the budget in depth and the concern that there are ongoing costs that are impacting the fiscal reserve in future years. The District is continually looking for ways to use any revenue to cover the needs in the district and we rely on parents to continue to raise funds for the amazing programs that are offered to our students, such as Art, Music, Library and Garden.

Lunch Program

• Parents wondered if we will ever have an industrial kitchen and prepare and serve food on campus. Unfortunately, at this time, the costs would greatly outweigh the benefits.

• We continue to communicate about the option of ordering hot lunch and the fact that we appreciate when families donate towards the cost of lunches. One thing we did not pass on to families was the $1.50 increase to each lunch this year. If families are so inclined, they may always donate additional funds to our school lunch program.

Our next meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 23, 2023 from 2:30-3:30 at the Gazebo. Please come with your questions or wonderings. I am always available if you want further information as well.

Michelle Stewart

As a reminder, if you decide to order hot lunch, you will be notified of the total cost of the lunches after you sign up and then will have the choice of donating the full amount, a different amount, or nothing. Although it helps our bottom line budget when parents donate toward lunches, Happy Valley will always cover the cost and parents will not receive a bill.

SAVE THE DATE! The Parent Club invites you to The Redwood Gala! Saturday, November 11, 2023 from 6-9pm at Bargetto Winery. Tickets are on sale now!

https://happyvalley.schoolauction.net/2023redwoodgala/homepages/show

You will get more information about how you can help with soliciting donations for our auction in an email from the Parent Club.

Here is the lunch menu for September. Lunch orders need to be placed at least two days in advance. If your child is absent, please make sure to contact Ohlsen Foods (831-471-0468) to cancel their lunch order. Please remember when a new menu is posted you need to complete and submit a new order form to Ohlsen Foods.

Here is our September Counselor's Corner Newsletter.

DRIVE FOR SCHOOLS!

September 14-October 20, 2023

Help support Happy Valley School classrooms! This

important annual fundraiser is sponsored entirely by the Santa

Cruz Beach Boardwalk and supported by many local businesses.

Sell drawing tickets for a chance to win the grand prize:

$25,000 CASH! There are also five $1000 cash prizes along with

lots of additional prizes. The drawing will be held at the Santa

Cruz Beach Boardwalk on Sunday, October 29, 2023.

Here is a link to a video with more information about this important

fundraiser:

https://beachboardwalk.com/drive-for-schools

Win prizes for selling tickets!

Students who sell two or more books will be entered into a drawing to

win a $25.00 Book Shop Santa Cruz gift card. The student who sells the

most tickets will be awarded a $25.00 Bookshop Santa Cruz gift card.

Tickets are $5.00 each or six for $25.00.

All proceeds go directly to HVS classroom funds. That’s

right, 100% of the ticket sales benefit HVS kids!

Please make checks payable to Happy Valley School.

The deadline to hand in ticket stubs and money is Friday,

October 20th at 1:00 P.M.

If you need extra booklets, ask your child’s teacher. If you have any

questions about ticket sales, please contact Caroline Frier at

831-429-1456 or cfrier@hvesd.com

Thank you for your participation!