Monarch Memo
January 8 - 12, 2018
Happy New Year!
Welcome Back! After a much needed break, hopefully you find yourself rejuvenated and ready for Semester 2. We left for the holiday with a few events that truly helped give back to our Monarchs. Thank you to Mr. Baiand a Monarch student team for raising funds to support our student, Melissa (Meli) who has been hospitalized. Much like the holiday gift basket fund raiser, they were pleased to raise more money than expected for her and her family. Sang said he visited Meli to deliver the check. She is out of the induced coma but still pretty weak. She was super excited to have visitors. Her mom would like to thank everyone involved in the fundraiser.
As Gracia shared, “The Basket Fundraiser was an amazing success!!!!” Thank you to Gracia and Nurse Jen for getting donations to make the baskets appealing to everyone and Denise for helping to sell tickets. The tickets brought in $2,469 + the donation from Barona = $2,969 for our senior scholarship fund. Thank you all for bringing such delicious food items and for Kristy, Laura and Tino for setting up the event in our library.
Congratulations to Delaney Evans and Chloe Harris for having their artwork accepted into the very selective San Diego County Youth Art Month Art Show. This show is very difficult to get into. Please see below for more information and photos of the artwork.
Exhibition on View:
Jan. 17 through February 2, 2018 (Wed. - Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Closed holidays)
San Diego Watercolor Society Gallery, The Arts District, Liberty Station, Building #202, 2825 Dewey Rd. San Diego, CA 92106
Congratulations to James and Ali Enos on the arrival of their daughter Freya Elizabeth Enos. She was born Wednesday, December 27. She weighed 6 lbs. 2 oz. and was 18 1/4 inches. We also welcome Josh and Stefanie Sandoval on the arrival of their daughter Ava Rose Sandoval on Tuesday, January 2. She was 7 lbs. 11 oz. and 20 inches. A special congratulations to Grandpa and Grandma, Manny and Trudy Sandoval. Families are happy and healthy. We welcome baby Ava and baby Freya to the Monarch Family!Welcome Back to Brittany Meyer who is returning from maternity leave and Akeem Miller who will be assuming Martha Bakkadahl’s position.
Rachel’s Challenge Assembly February 7
In efforts to grow compassion among our students and provide support to our Monarch student body, we will be hosting an assembly hosted by Rachel’s challenge which complements our PBIS initiatives. “Rachel's Challenge is a national nonprofit and nonpolitical organization whose stated aims are to advocate a safe and positive climate and culture in schools in a campaign to quell school violence, bullying, discrimination, and both homicidal and suicidal thoughts in students.” This program is typically fee based, but we were fortunate to get this at no charge to our site thanks to the SDCOE. The assembly is a kick-off for our entire student body and will support efforts of student leaders beginning on our PBIS initiatives this month. Paula Delgado is our PBIS liaison this semester and will be working to coordinate these events and other related PBIS activities with our students. We will keep you posted with more information via email and Monarch Memos.
Friday, January 12 is an Extended Period 5 for student surveys
There are two different surveys we need to have students take during an extended period 5 on Friday. Both are school climate/culture surveys for two different purposes. One is a pre-survey for Rachel’s challenge and the other is a survey called “Directions” that will provide immediate feedback to our student leaders to analyze for cultivating positive school climate discussions. Thank you to Paula, Jess and Marisa who attended a workshop that provided great resources for getting PBIS moving. Please keep your students in for period 5 on Friday and direct them to the survey links that will be located on the Monarch Website. Paula will be sending you an email reminder as we get closer to Friday.
Grades are DUE - A message from Gracia
The grading window will be closed at 8 a.m. on Monday, January 8, 2018. For those of you who have CR/NC kiddos, I have sent you the list. Please refer to that list to help give those students the right credit. IF you have a student who was not here to take the finals, you have 2 options. 1) give them the grade if you feel the work has been done or 2) give them an "I" (inc) and the student has 4 weeks to make up the INC or the grade will change at the end of that 4 week period of time.
New Advisory Cycle starts January 16th
Here is the link to all the Advisory Cycles for Semester 2.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Some key date
- Staff Meetings - Monday, January 22 and 29, 2018 - watch for emails on details 8:00 a.m.
- Rachel’s Challenge - February 7 - two assemblies back to back - bell schedule to come.
- Frosh Showcase on Thursday, February 15 beginning at 5 p.m.
- PSAT and WASC Minimum Day - Wednesday, February 28
- WASC Visit - Sunday, March 11 - Wednesday, March 14
- WASC All Staff meeting Wednesday, March 14 at 3:15 p.m.
- CAASPP testing weeks - April 16 - 27
- Frosh BBQ - Tuesday, April 24
- AP testing weeks - May 7 - 18
- Staff meeting - Monday, May 21
- Graduation - June 7
Because some staff members like to create items using technology, we are giving folks the opportunity to design their own door sign for WASC. Todd Teetzel has been so kind to create a template to make it easy to do. Please take a look at Todd’s Sample. Now here is the TEMPLATE.
Because the template is shared with everyone, here is what you need to do to create your own sign:
- Make a copy of the template.
- Rename the template with your last name, first name.
- Fill in the desired information on the template. If you need assistance finding, cutting and pasting your school logo(s), please let Mr. T know so he can assist you. Some of the logos can be found and copied from this document. Welcome Signs
- After you are done with your sign, share your copy of the template with Mr. Teetzel, Marietta Minjares and Amanda Engstrand
Creating a personalized sign is optional. Basic door signs will be created for the WASC team visit. We will be printing them ourselves. Please complete this template by February 2nd if you are interested in doing your own.
REMINDERS
- SEMESTER 2 schedules will NOT be printed. Please tell your students to look up their schedules on their Chromebooks.
- Special Education Golden Apple nominations are due 1/16/18. Please review the information in the memo shared via email by Denise regarding who is eligible to be nominated, who is eligible to nominate, and please consider taking some time to click on the link shared and complete a nomination form.
- Desks needed for PSAT on Wednesday, February 28th (a minimum day for WASC). Rad needs 12 teachers to please switch their desks for tables for ONE DAY ONLY please email her if you are willing to help.
- Do you like to dance? The Poly Club is performing a short Polynesian dance at the next assembly and the staff are invited to join. Tracy will send a video out. If you are available, Poly would love to have you join. The song is from the movie Lilo and Stitch and it is Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride. Practice will be daily after school once we return from break.
- Reminders from AD - Anessa
Spring Athletic Clearances - January 18th at 2:00 p.m. Remind your students
Last day for Seniors to take photos for the yearbook - January 13th.
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Visit to play: getwhatgetsyou.com
Week at a Glance See website for Athletics schedule
Monday, January 8 CPT - PLC meetingsGrades due at 8:00 a.m.
PTSA meeting 6:00 p.m. in the library.
Tuesday, Jan. 9, 10, 11 Transition into Semester 2.
Friday, January 12 Extended period 5 for students to take online surveys. No Advisory
Monday, January 15 Holiday - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday
Monarchs in Action
Tom Gochenour spreading cheer in the library by passing out beanies he made to the students. Students who received laptops as a gift from the Swashray Foundation. Monarch focusing on his final. Staff waiting anxiously for the next basket drawing.
News from the District - YOUR BENEFITS!
Below is important information about your health benefits. The VEBA Advocacy Office can assist with transition of care and help members when they are experiencing an issue with their insurance carrier or their providers. The VEBA phone number is 888/276-0250.Below is contact information for the District's insurance carriers:
United HealthCare (UHC) 888/586-6365
Express Scripts 800/918-8011 (UHC prescription carrier)
Kaiser 800/464-4000
Optum EAP 888/625-4809
Delta Dental 866/499-3001
Vision Service Plan 800/877-7195
Optum Health 800/428-6337 (Chiropractic/Acupuncture for UHC and KP)
SIMSA 619/407-4082 (US number) or 6-83-29-02 (Mexico number)
Medical ID cards will be mailed to employees homes by December 31, 2017. If you do not receive your medical identification card, and need medical care, please call your medical carrier at the number listed above. If you enrolled in UHC, you will receive UHC and Express Scripts member ID cards. If you need to change your UHC primary care physician shown on the card, contact UHC at the number listed above. If you enrolled in Kaiser, you may receive a Kaiser member ID card and you will receive an Optum Health (Chiropractic/Acupuncture for KP members) member ID card. Kaiser member ID numbers will remain the same.
If you (or your dependents) have problems obtaining prescriptions on 1/1/2018, or after, make sure your new prescription card is on file with the pharmacy.
If you (or your dependents) have problems accessing medical care, make sure your doctor's office has been provided your new medical ID card (for UHC or SIMNSA members).
If you (or your dependents) have a medical emergency and are have problems accessing medical care, email dbryant@guhsd.net with a brief statement of the problem (not medical condition) and your phone number. Emails will be checked regularly. Voicemail will be checked sporadically. All other issues will be responded to when the Benefits Office returns from winter break.
Delta Dental PPO change in group number: Active employees group number has changed to 18212-2403 effective January 1, 2018. The first five digits remain the same. The change is to the remaining four digits (aka sub-group).
Here is the message sent home to parents on Sunday, January 7, 2018
Happy New Year Monarch families.We hope you had a wonderful and relaxing holiday break. In preparation for the start of second semester, please make sure to log into Infinite Campus to see any changes to your classes for second semester. We do not pass out paper schedules on the first day of the semester so please look up your schedule tonight in preparation for tomorrow.
We have our first PTSA meeting of the new year, tomorrow night, January 8th at 6:00 p.m. in the library. We hope you can join us.
This week is the last opportunity for yearbooks to be purchased at the Finance Office for $75.00. After Friday, January 12, the cost goes up to $90.00. Also, the deadline for Seniors to take their portrait for the yearbook is January 13th. Please see the flyer attached to the email version of this message.
The Grossmont District is very interested in hearing what you think about our schools and services to better gauge how well we are doing. Parents, please be on the lookout in your email for a parent survey. As part of our overall accountability plans, parent input is a central priority in promoting greater school connectedness, positive school culture, and increased academic performance. This anonymous survey is online and will take no more than ten minutes.
On Monday, January 15th there is no school in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s. Birthday.
