Last week was a great one! We saw many of you at our School Site Council and Cafecito meetings, and it was a joy to have you on campus. Our students were busy with clubs, fun classroom activities, and continuing their i-Ready diagnostics.

This week is also packed with important events!

Finally, a quick reminder that progress reports were mailed home, and we're officially in the final three weeks of the quarter! Be on the lookout for communication from your student's teacher, who will be scheduling parent conferences for the week of September 29th through October 3rd.

Thank you for your continued partnership. We look forward to seeing you on campus!

Warmly,

Mrs. Antuna, Principal

Ms. Coronel, Assistant Principal

We are halfway through our 1st Quarter and we’re mailing home progress reports.

The progress reports you receive in the mail reflect what their grades were on Thursday September 11th. For the most accurate and updated grade information, please check Aeries.

Please make sure to:

Make sure that they get those grades up before the quarter ends the first week of October. They have 3 weeks!

Starting this week, first period teachers will be reaching out to you to schedule a time to meet.

Even outside of conference week, we believe communication should be ongoing. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher anytime by ParentSquare, email, or phone. Conferences can also be scheduled at any point in the year if you feel one is needed.

We have some exciting news!

We're starting a new Parent Walking Group!

This is a simple, fun way to get active and support our school's Blue Zone goals, which are all about making healthy choices easier for our whole community.

Starting this Friday, September 19th at 2:30 pm, we'd love for you to join us to walk the track. This is a great chance to get some fresh air, move your body, and connect with other parents. You can even bring the whole family along!

We truly value your partnership and would love to see you out on the track with us this Friday.

This Wednesday, we are conducting our monthly safety drill for the month of September.

Students will learn the proper way to evacuate their classrooms and line up on the blacktop in case of a fire.

This is the final week of iReady!

Students who haven't finished yet will continue their iReady diagnostic in reading and math.

Parents, make sure to help them do their best by making sure that they get sleep, eat breakfast, arrive to school on time, and have their Chromebooks charged every day.

The Right At School after school program is still accepting registrations.

The Right At School program is offered every day after school until 6:00pm. Students do not have to stay until 6:00pm but there is a minimum of a half hour every day

At our recent School Site Council meeting, we discussed a growing trend that we want to bring to your attention: backpacks designed with special compartments to mask the smell of vape and other substances.

We encourage all parents to be aware of what your child is bringing to school and to talk to them about the importance of making safe and healthy choices.

Sprayground redtag backpacks are the most popular but

If you weren't able to join us last Wednesday, please review the information.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Santa Rita Union School District. To keep our schools safe and organized, all volunteers must complete two required steps before being cleared.

STEP 1: Review the Volunteer Handbook & Complete the Acknowledgement Form

1) Review the Volunteer Handbook here:  Volunteer Handbook

2) Complete the Volunteer Handbook Acknowledgement Form here: Acknowledgement Form

3) Save the confirmation email you receive after submitting the form — you will need it for Step 2.

STEP 2: Complete the Online Raptor Volunteer Application

1) Log in to the Raptor Volunteer Portal:

2) Upload into Raptor:

3) Pay the $6.30 background check fee (contact the District Office if this is a hardship).

4) Wait for approval — you cannot begin volunteering until all steps are complete and your clearance is confirmed.

If you are under the age of 18, you do not need to complete the Raptor system. Instead, please fill out this form: a Minor Volunteer Form

If you need help with Wi-Fi at home, call the front office.

We have information about low cost internet services or we can sign up you for a mobile hot spot.

Requests for Hot Spots must come from parents, not the students.

Thank you!

If you are interested in volunteering for our Day of the Dead/Dia de los Muertos event, please call the front office to let us know.

Your support is invaluable, and we are so excited to have you join us in making this community event a reality!

Practice schedules for Cross Country, Fencing, Boys Soccer, and Girls Volleyball can be found on our "Hawks Athletics" page.

If practices do not start right after school, this is a reminder that students cannot stay on campus. They must go home and return at their scheduled time, unless they're staying in the RAS After School program.

This week, we're celebrating the one and only Julie Johnson! Ms. Johnson is an incredible part of our school community, and she does so much for our students and staff.

You'll see her everywhere, supporting our school events and volunteering her time for things like the Beach Trip and our Popcorn Fundraiser. She’s also a regular presence at our lunchtime Homework Center and organizes fun activities for students at lunch like Scooter Races, Golf, and Basketball Free Throws. Plus, she coaches our girls 7th & 8th volleyball teams.

Ms. Johnson is also a leader among our staff, serving as the head of the PE Department and the lead for the 7th-grade team. Her dedication was on full display this past week when, despite injuring her foot, she continued to teach and support our campus while wearing a boot!

While Ms. Johnson doesn't like being in the spotlight, we did manage to snap a picture of her amazing boot.

We’re so grateful for everything she does, and we’d also like to wish her a very happy belated birthday! Thank you, Ms. Johnson!

This month, we are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month! From September 15 to October 15, we recognize the contributions and influence of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. It's a time to honor the rich traditions and diverse backgrounds of people whose ancestry is from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

At school, our students will be learning about notable figures, historical events, and the vibrant cultures that make up the Hispanic community. They will explore the art, music, food, and traditions that have had a profound impact on our society.

You can join the celebration at home by exploring Hispanic culture with your family!

To learn more, we encourage you to explore resources like the National Hispanic Heritage Month website, which offers a wide range of information and exhibits. You can find it here: https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/

We look forward to celebrating and learning alongside our students throughout this special month!

September is National Suicide Prevention Month. This is a time for all of us to raise awareness about this critical public health issue, reduce the stigma surrounding mental health, and share resources that can save lives. It is a month to remember those we have lost and to focus on hope and healing.

At school, we encourage students to reach out to a trusted adult—a teacher, a counselor, or a principal—if they or a friend are in distress.

At home, you can play a vital role in suicide prevention by creating an environment where your child feels comfortable talking about their feelings.

A powerful, immediate resource is the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Anyone can call or text 988 anytime, day or night, to connect with a trained crisis counselor.

For more information and resources on how to talk to your child and support their mental well-being, we recommend visiting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's website: https://afsp.org/

Thank you for being our partner in keeping our students healthy and safe.