Monarch Memo

December 19-22, 2016

See you at the staff potluck Wednesday.

Happy Holidays

The Holiday Outreach was such a wonderful event.  There truly is the spirit of giving.  Thank you for Rob Gorney, ASB, the performing groups and the all staff members who have a hand in making so much happen on our site.  

Thank you MVHS for your support of Gerardo Espinoza.  The sale of nachos at the Holiday Outreach  benefited his family and he also received his Monarch Star this week.  Some of our staff members went to his home last week to visit.  Thank you to Kathy Hunter Clark for all you are doing to support him.  Thank you  for keeping him in your prayers.  Gerardos’s GoFundMe.com page

Last week at Monte Vista

Math Dept. represents as district math vision meeting; our choir kids at Time Warner cable studios recording for the holiday episode of" En Vivo"; Monarch Stars. Thank you to our Guidance Team for selecting students to receive a surprise gift from a very generous “top secret” Foundation.  

Reminders

• Our phones have been updated and we must now dial 5 first to dial out.  

• PLEASE pick-up/drop-off all work yourself.  NO STUDENTS allowed in Duplicating at this time in order to maintain the integrity of all Finals.

• Teachers, this week, after your period 3 final, please have your period 3 students log in to the Student Portal in Infinite Campus to check their 2nd semester schedules.  If any students are having trouble logging in, please direct them to the Monte Vista website to reset their password (do not send the students anywhere for help that day; simply direct them to the MV website).  The turn-around time for this is approximately 24 hours.  The website is also located here:

http://monarchs.guhsd.net/ic

• ASSETs - All ASSETs programs the week of Finals - December 19, 20, and 21 will be CLOSED EXCEPT for the morning homework center.
• The ASSETs Schedule for January will stay the same as first semester until further notice.  

The phone message sent home to parents on Sun. December 18, 2016

Good Evening Monte Vista Families this is Principal Minjares with a weekly update.

This is it!  Finals week.  Just a reminder that we have period 2 and 6 finals tomorrow. The period 2 block starts at 8:15 a.m. with a break for students to purchase food at 10:13 and period 6 beginning at 10:33 a.m. School ends at 12:31.  We have the same bell schedule for Wednesday when the students take their finals for periods 4 and 5.  

Tuesday’s bell schedule is different. Finals are periods 1, 3, and 7 with period 1 beginning at 7:15 a.m.  That is one hour earlier from the day before so please be prepared students.  Food will be sold at the breaks.  Students without a period 7 class will be out at 11:31 on Tuesday.  Students with a period 7 will be dismissed at 2:04 p.m.  

This week all students are able to look up their semester 2 schedules on their Chromebooks through the student portal on Infinite Campus. Parents please make sure your student does this before we return from break on January 9th.

The Winter Choir Concert is taking place on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in the Little Theater.   Please join us for this wonderful event to celebrate the holidays.   

A special message for Seniors.  This Wednesday, December 21 is the last day for you to select your senior photograph for the yearbook.  Students should have received an email with a code and a website link. If there are any problems please call Lifetouch at  858-693-9197.

Just 3 more days to go.  Please take advantage of paying off spirit packs, buying yearbooks at a reduced price and minimum days to study in between finals.   Have a wonderful holiday break and we will see you on January 9th.  

Monarch Memo

December 12-16, 2016

Thank you for your participation in Spirit Week last week.  In case you missed it, here were the dress up days as modeled by Sang.  

A Monarch in need of support

MV Senior Gerardo Espinosa is in the hospital battling cancer. Our staff has done a phenomenal job standing behind struggling students and their families in the past; we now have another opportunity to do so.  Gracia is willing to take cash or check donations through the MV Student Sunshine Fund (100% of proceeds go to his family) or staff members are welcome to donate with a credit card to his GoFundMe.com page (roughly 10% is lost to the site, but will be generously redonated by the person who set up the page)  If you have any questions about Gerardo please see Kathy Hunter-Clark.  She has been amazing in keeping in contact with the family and visiting Gerardo.  

What’s New

• The district is upgrading the phone system at Monte Vista on Wednesday, Dec 14.  They will begin at 1:00 p.m.  After the upgrade, in order  to make an outbound call first DIAL 5 and then the phone number.

Reminders

• All ASSETs programs will be open December 1 - 16 EXCEPT for Wed. Dec. 14. For the week of Finals - December 19, 20, and 2; All ASSETs programs will be CLOSED EXCEPT for the morning homework center.
• We are NOT handing out schedules to students when we come back from winter break and start 2nd semester. All students must look up their 2nd semester schedules on their Chromebooks through the student portal in Infinite Campus.  Teachers please announce this to your classes between now and the end of the semester.
• The Finance Office is reminding club advisors, coaches to take care of the following: Orders for gear and equipment, Officials' 1099 forms, Invoices that you need me to pay. (Vendors get a little nervous when payment is 3 weeks late.  We are all waiting to receive deliveries in the next week), Packing slips signed as OK to pay, Fundraiser forms, money to deposit, or cash box requests, Check requests.

• Maribeth is reminding teachers to pick up completed job requests for FINALS & not students.
• If you visit Mission Trails over the Winter Break, check out the art work by two of our MV students that will be on display through the rest of the month.

This week See Home Campus Google calendar for athletic events

Mon., Dec. 12 PTSA meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the library

Tues., Dec. 13 Band Winter Concert, 7:00 p.m. Room 701, $5.00

Three math teachers to District Math Vision meeting all day

Wed. Dec. 14 Minimum Day, Holiday Outreach

Thurs., Dec. 15 School Site Council meeting, 3:15 in Guidance Center.

Deadline to support the Toy and Jacket Drive for orphans in Tijuana.  

Please bring gently used or new toys, sweatshirts or jackets to Room 811

Monarchs in Action

English Dept. scoring, Fill the Boot, White Out Day, Ms. Robertson class, Spirit Assembly

Information from the District

Infinite Campus was updated to the latest version over night. We have received some calls this morning with cautious reactions. Feel free to pass this along to your staff and share with your colleagues. Here is the message that was put on the Infinite Campus Announcements on Tuesday. Thank you.

VERSION UPDATE:

This Friday (12/9/16), Infinite Campus will be updated to the latest release of 1649. A Security Device Alert has been added in this release. Staff users may be asked to enter an Account Security Email address the first time they log in (beginning Friday) if one does not already exist for their account.  Once complete, an email will be sent any time a user logs in to a device for the first time or logs into a device that has not been designated as an approved device. For more information on this feature and other enhancements/fixes from the 1649 release, please CLICK HERE. Thank you.

Users may need to CLEAR THEIR CACHE if they are experiencing any issues.

The phone message sent home to parents on Sun. December 11, 2016

We have a lot of information and reminders for your this week.  Our next PTSA meeting takes place tomorrow Monday, December 12 at 6:00 p.m. in the Monte Vista library.  All parents are invited to attend.  

Tuesday Dec. 13 the Monarch Band will be having their annual Winter Concert in room 701 (The Band Room) starting at 7pm. Tickets are $5 at the door. Middle school age children and younger are free. There will be all you can eat desserts and great music put together by our students. Please join us.

Just a friendly reminder that Wednesday, December 14 is a minimum day. Period 7 dismisses at 12:17. Our Monarchs are encouraged to stay on our minimum day to participate in our Holiday Outreach Festival to enjoy food, games and entertainment.  Thank you to the One.org club,Tech discoveries and ASB for hosting this event that benefits third world citizens in need.  Also, ONE.ORG is still collecting gently used or new toys, sweatshirts or jackets, please bring these to Room 811 until December 15th

Finals are coming up December 19 - 21 and we are on a shortened day  FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE (click this link for the schedule).  On Monday and Wednesday students end the day at 12:31.  Tuesday’s schedule is different depending on whether your student has a period 1 or period 7 class or both.  

Second semester class schedules will change for many students because we are opening two classes and 9th graders will rotate from Tech to Global Studies and vice versa.  This is very important to know.  Students will not be given paper, hard-copy schedules.  All students must look up their second semester schedules on their Chromebooks through the student portal in Infinite Campus.  The schedules will be available to see during the week of finals.  

Deadlines are coming up.  Spirit Pack owners who still need to make final payments toward their balance must do so by Winter Break. Please go to the Finance Office to make a payment.  Please be aware that if you do not pay off your spirit pack, it will be broken up and you will not receive the items that were left unpaid.  Monarchs if you don’t pay the balance now and want to purchase back these items in the future, you will have to pay the full price and not get the special discounted price of the spirit pack.

Parents, Tuesday Dec. 13 is your last chance to order a "Super Hero Themed" Final Exams Care Package for your student. This $10 PTSA fundraiser helps pay for seniors' scholarships, student programs, Unity Days, Red Ribbon Week, and holiday food baskets for Monte Vista families in need. Care packages will be delivered Friday December 16th at lunch and include a delicious burrito, a super hero treat, a bottle of water with a super hero inspired quote, and a personal message from YOU!  Pay online at www.mvptsa.org or download the order form on line and pay by cash or check.

Senior parents, don’t forget Grad Night tickets are on sale. Payment forms and permission slips are available from the Guidance Center.   

Our website is a wealth of information.  Please check it regularly to keep up to date on school events.

Have a great week Monarchs and see you at the Holiday Outreach Festival on Wednesday.  

Monarch Memo

December 5-9, 2016

Window closes for grades at 8:00 a.m. Dec. 5th.

It’s Spirit Week  

M - Winter white-out  T - Ugly Holiday sweater  W - Pajama/Onesie day

Th. - Holiday Dress   F- Super spirit day

Thank you to Jen Enright for her outstanding coordination of the Eric Paredes Save a Live Foundation “Screen your Teen” event. We  appreciate the 130+ volunteers and our great PTSA for providing breakfast.   According to the Foundation’s Facebook post 424 students participated, 3 were found at risk of Sudden Cardiac Arrest/Death and 5 cardiac abnormalities were detected.  

The CTE Cosmetology and Barbering Pathway Annual Hair Show Competition and Toy Drive was a great success. Congratulations to Angie Trujillo for coordinating this fabulous event and kudos to her students for their creative entries.  Great performances by the Polynesian Club and Step. Thanks to ASB for providing the snack bar for this event.

Congratulations to our National Honor Society Inductees.  Thank you Mr. Engstrand and NHS officers for hosting.  Eric Wilson shared this great photo with some of our students participating in the Remember Pearl Harbor Program.  Ken Palmer’s students at Finance Park and the Thanksgiving Block Party event.

Just in FYI from Guidance

Many families have been requesting Independent Study contracts for the days right before the Winter Break.  Teachers please be prepared to discuss with students their options for taking finals and how their final grades will be calculated based on their term of absences.  Thank you in advance.  

REMINDERS

• Teachers please submit your Semester I finals to Denise.  
• Period 3 Donation Cup competitions:  Thank you to staff for supporting the cup fundraiser and reminding students that the money raised comes directly back to our families.    
• Holiday Outreach Festival after minimum day dismissal on December 14.
• Support the Toy and Jacket Drive for orphans in Tijuana.  Please bring gently used or new toys, sweatshirts or jackets to Room 811 until December 15th.
• Information on Grad Night tickets and Finals Care Packages are posted on the website.   

AED Machine Locations - A message from Kristine - Keep note of these locations

Our two new AED Heart machines are now on campus. The list below is where all of the machines are located. The one that will be in the men's 1000 adult restroom will require a key to get to it. Everyone should have a key for the adult restrooms on campus. If you do not please come see Kristine for the key. It is a E11 numbered key. Please take note of the locations in case of an emergency. The one AED in the trainer’s room will be used during stadium games on the field and brought down by the trainer or coaches as needed.

• Nurses office on the wall behind the desk
• Inside the gym in the electrical room where the lights are turned on. On wall to the right of the door.
• Trainers room in the 900 building. Mounted on the wall to the left of the door.
• 1000 men's restroom mounted on the wall. (to be mounted shortly not in there yet)

Coming Soon

Mon., Dec. 5 Site Governance 7:15 a.m. Community Room

Safe Schools Planning Committee Meeting 8:30 a.m.

English Dept. Score 8:15 a.m. Library Community Room

Tues., Dec. 6 Fill the Boot - 6:30 - 8:00 a.m. Volunteers still needed and appreciated.

Wed. Dec. 7 ELAC meeting, 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. in room S3.

Th - Sat. Dec 8-10 Camp LEAD

Information from the District

The Hour of Code is coming! December 5-11, 2016

Are you ready to do it again? Because of your students and your stories, the Hour of Code movement keeps changing the world. We hope you’ll join other teachers in the GUHSD to make this year a turning point for computer science in our schools. If you’ve participated in the Hour of Code before, please know that there are new modules on the tutorials page, like Disney’s Moana and Code Combat.

Sign up now to host an Hour of Code during Dec. 5-11 at https://hourofcode.com.

Registering your participation will add your event to the map of over 110,188 events being held globally for the Hour of Code Week.

Here’s a handout you can share with your students so they know what to expect.

History of the Hour of Code

The Hour of Code takes place each year during Computer Science Education Week. The 2016 Computer Science Education Week will be December 5-11, but you can host an Hour of Code all year round. Computer Science Education Week is held annually in recognition of the birthday of computing pioneer Admiral Grace Murray Hopper (December 9, 1906).

Pick a date. Share the tutorials. Let your students learn to code! The Digital Learning Coaches (DLCs) would be happy to come out and assist with this if you’d like. Click here for the DLC Request Form.

The phone message sent home to parents on Sun. December 4, 2016

The holiday season is here.  We have many events and opportunities for students and parents to participate in and take advantage of.  This week is spirit week so we want to see our Monarchs dressed up.  Monday is Winter white-out (dress all in white), Tuesday wear an ugly holiday sweater, Wednesday is pajama or onesie day (no slippers please), Thursday dress in holiday attire you enjoy and Friday dress in your Monte Vista spirit wear. This Friday is our next Spirit Assembly.

 

One special event we are hosting before the holiday break is the Holiday Outreach Festival on Wednesday, December 14.  The 14th is a minimum day.  Students and family members are encouraged to attend this festival that takes place right after the minimum day in the main quad and gym after school.  This multicultural winter celebration presents delicious foods, games and entertainment.  Monte Vista gives back with all proceeds going to desperate 3rd world citizens in need throughout the world.  The Monte Vista gives back club is also hosting a Toy and Jacket Drive for orphans in Tijuana.  Please bring gently used or new toys, sweatshirts or jackets to Room 811 until December 15th.  Thank you.

Final exams are coming up on Dec. 19, 20, and 21.  A great way to inspire your student to get through these days is by purchasing a Final Exams Care Package.  These “Super Hero” themed care packages include a delicious burrito, a super hero treat, a bottle of water with a super hero inspired quote, and a personal message from YOU! Care packages will be delivered to your student at the lunch quad on Friday December 16. Pay online at www.mvptsa.org or download an order form and pay by cash or check. Don't delay! Orders are only accepted until 3:30pm  Tuesday December 13.

If you are looking for a memorable gift for your graduating Senior, think about purchasing a Disneyland Grad Nite Ticket.  Tickets are on sale now through February 21st.  There are only 232 tickets available.  The cost is $135 which includes admission to both Disneyland and California Adventure and includes chartered bus transportation to and from Monte Vista.  Grad Nite takes place Friday, May 5 at 12:30 pm. through Saturday, May 6th at 5:00 a.m. All permission slips may be picked up and returned to Ms. Martha Montano in the Guidance Center.  Please see all the requirements to attend and details on the event on the Monte Vista website.  

Just a reminder that the semester ends before the holiday break this year so here are a few deadlines and reminders.  If your child purchased a spirit pack and is making payments the final payment is due Wednesday, December 21.  Please take care of this at the Finance Office or online.  Also, the cost of yearbooks goes up to $90.00 after the winter break so make sure to buy your yearbook before December 21st.  

Finals and final semester grades are official so we encourage parents and students to review grades and assignments on Infinite Campus together on a regular basis.  Parents thank you for supporting your student and encouraging them to do their best. Have a great week Monarchs.