What a fantastic week! Our students brought incredible energy to Spirit Week, Rec Night, sports, and their engaging classroom activities.

Our focus shifts this week to Parent-Teacher Conferences. Please remember we have minimum days all week to accommodate these vital meetings. We can't overstate how important these conversations are; they are the foundation for your child's success. Your perspective is essential as we team up to celebrate their strengths and build a clear plan for their academic future. Please finalize your time with the teacher immediately.

Teachers are wrapping up their gradebooks for First Quarter this week! This is the moment for a collective effort. We urge you to use the insights from your conference to help your student review their work and ensure they finish strong. By working together, we will maximize their success and guarantee a great close to the quarter.

Warmly,

Mrs. Antuna, Principal

Ms. Coronel, Assistant Principal

We've had two weeks of Parent Walking Group, and we want to thank the parents who joined us! We'd love to see even more of our wonderful families out on the track this Friday, October 3rd, at 12:30 PM.

This is a fantastic way to get a little fresh air, move your body, and connect with other families. It's also a great way to support our school's Blue Zone goals, which focus on making healthy choices easier for everyone.

Walkers will get a free t-shirt and other goodies as a thank you for your support. It's not just for parents—we encourage you to bring the whole family to walk with us!

If you're in the car line for pickup, why not park your car and join us for a fun, easy walk before school lets out?! We'd love to see you there!

Teachers are wrapping up their gradebooks at the end of this week for 1st Quarter. The quarter ends on October 7th, so it's a great time to ensure all assignments are submitted and grades are as high as they can be.

If your child has a D or F in any class, they can get help at our Homework Centers. Because of Parent Teacher Conferences and having minimum days all week, we will have after-school Homework Center every day this week from 1:15 to 3:15 PM. This is a great opportunity for students to get extra support and turn in any missing work.

PARENTS: YOUR SUPPORT IS CRUCIAL! Please help your child finish the quarter strong by:

Let's work together to show them that their grades matter!

Was your child absent on Picture Day?

Lifetouch will be back on campus on Friday, October 3rd.

To purchase pictures, you can order them online at www.lifetouch.com using the Picture ID Code: EVTMGW8FT

Join us for our Community Meeting!

We will come together to build a sense of belonging in our schools—students, families, staff and community partners united. This is your chance to:

Facilitated by Building Healthy Communities - Honest Conversations. More solid alliances. Best schools.

 More information: 831-443-7220

sprather@santaritaschools.org 

The anonymous and voluntary California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) is being administered to all students on Tuesday, October 7th. This crucial survey provides our school with confidential data on student wellness, school climate, and safety, allowing us to improve programs and supports for everyone.

Please use the links below to review the Parent Consent Forms and survey details:

Our Advanced Art students had an incredible virtual experience this week, connecting with talented artist Marco Antonio Lopez Guzman!

He joined us via Zoom directly from his home in Los Valles Centrales de Oaxaca, Mexico, sharing insights into his art and creative process.

We thank Mr. Lopez Guzman for enriching our students' artistic perspectives.

Check out his work and follow his journey on Instagram!

Instagram: marco.antonio.lg

A huge thank you to all the students and staff who showed their school spirit during Spirit Week!

The competition was tough, but we have our winners for the grade level spirit week dress-up challenge. The first period classes with the highest percentage of students who participated are:

These winning classes will receive their well-deserved reward this week. Congratulations to all the winners for showing outstanding school spirit!

We had our first Saturday Academy session on Saturday, September 27th. It went went well and students received instruction in English, math, and art.

Thank you to Ms. Mia Commins, Ms. Caroline Fink, and Ms. Melody Sickler for being our Saturday Academy teachers!

We also thank Artists Ink for leading our Art sessions with the students.

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

This is open to middle school and high school students.

It's a 7 week commitment but comes with experience with live performances and field trips.

September 29th from 6pm to 8pm

Artists Ink Studio - 1 Midtown Lane, Salinas

Authors of "The Cartoonist Club" - Raina Telgemeier & Scott McCloud - will be in Santa Cruz at the Rio Theater in October.

October 28th at 6PM

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!

This Thursday, October 2nd, is National Custodian Day, and we are incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated and fabulous team keeping our school running!

Every day, Jose Espinoza (AM) and Gilberto Vargas (PM) work tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure our campus is spotless, safe, and ready for our students. From sparkling hallways and clean classrooms to keeping our grounds tidy, they are the backbone of our daily operations. They truly take pride in their work, and their efforts make a huge difference in creating a positive learning environment.

Please take a moment this Thursday to thank Jose and Gilberto for all they do! A simple note, a smile, or a verbal "thank you" goes a long way in showing our appreciation for their hard work.

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.