Monday Messages December 2, 2024 for GUSD Families!

GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT Monday Message December 2, 2024   A MESSAGE FROM GUSD ADMINISTRATION   Mark Your Calendars Thursday, December 5th - GRAV - Campus Tour Thursday, December 5th, 5pm - GPA - Dine and Donate at The Rewind Friday, December 6th, 6pm - HMS - Dance Saturday, December 7th - GPA - Holiday Event - Hot Cocoa with Santa Tuesday, December 10, 5pm - GUSD - Board Meeting Wednesday, December 11, 5pm - HMS - Winter Concert Thursday, December 12th - HMS - 7th Grade SF Field Trip Friday, December 13 - GRAV - 5th Grade Field Trip - Exploratorium Tuesday, December 17, 5pm - GRAV - 4th & 5th Grade Winter Concert Wednesday, December 18, 6pm - GPA - Meeting (Open to All GUSD Families) Thursday, December 19, 8:30am - HMS - Trimester 1 Awards Ceremony Thursday, December 19 - GRAV - Campus Tour Monday, December 23 to Friday, January 3, 2025 - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - Winter Break Thursday, January 2, 5pm - GPA - Dine and Donate at The Rewind   School Meals...Even at Home! The Hillcrest campus was a busy place last Monday as a team of staff and volunteers arrived bright and early to prepare free student meal bags.  The bags included breakfast, snack, and lunch school meals for our students to have during the Thanksgiving Break.  An unexpected donation from Andy’s Produce allowed us also to provide each family with a free bag of produce: yams, potatoes, onions, oranges, celery, and carrots.  Four days’ worth of meals and donated produce went out to over 80 GUSD students.  There were even enough donations that we had a little extra - and we shared that generosity by delivering our extras to the Sebastopol Senior Center.  Thank you once again to all of the staff, student and parent volunteers, DEIB committee members, and Andy’s Produce, for teaming up to make this happen.  The efforts of our volunteers embody the spirit of giving and perfectly illustrate the level of compassion and support within our community.  We are already working on plans to offer this same level of school meal support at both Winter Break and Spring Break.  Please look for messages from the District as we get closer.    Lunch Menu To view the entire December menu click here for  English  or  Spanish . Fruits &/or Veggies are offered with all meals.  Meals are not offered a la carte.  Menu items are subject to change.  All student meals are free of charge.  A completed   Medical Statement to Request Accommodations  letter to the office is required to accommodate any dietary restrictions or vegetarian/vegan requests. S = Mid-Morning Snack  L = Lunch Mon 2 Tue 3 Wed 4 Thu 5 Fri 6 S:  Cereal Fruits and/or Veggies S:   Bagels with Cream Cheese Fruits and/or Veggies S:   Muffins Fruits and/or Veggies S:   French Toast Fruits and/or Veggies S:   Mini Pancakes Fruits and/or Veggies L:  Mozzarella Pull Aparts Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chili Fruit and/or Veggies L:   Corndogs Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chicken Nuggets Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Pizza Fruit and/or Veggies Mon 9 Tues 10 Wed 11 Thu 12 Fri 13 S:  Cereal Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Pastry Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Cinnamon Rolls Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Danish Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Muffins Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Mac & Cheese Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Beef Tacos Fruit and/or Veggies L:   Cheese Burgers Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Popcorn Chicken Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Pasta Fruit and/or Veggies   GRAVENSTEIN PARENT ASSOCIATION   Click the following link to see the above flyer in Spanish   or   Korean . In the joyous spirit of the holiday season, GPA warmly invites you to a  complimentary community gathering, where festive cheer will illuminate our entire district! We seek delightful cookies and spirited volunteers!   Please click on the Cookie Sign-up Form and/or  Holiday Fair Sign-Up Genius to  discover the ways you can lend your magic to this charming celebration! ONLY  A FEW SPOTS LEFT! Come join this fun festive event!   Upcoming Events Check in with your Grade Level Parents for any upcoming events for your child's grade level!! GPA Night at The Rewind - Thursday, December 5th, 5:00 - 10:00pm (See flyer below for more information.) GPA Holiday Faire - Saturday, December 7th at Hillcrest Hall, 10am - 12pm.  Save the date! For more event information, or to sign-up to volunteer at future events, please visit the "Event Details" page on our website:   www.wearegpa.com To see a translated copy of the above click here:   Spanish   or   Korean .   Upcoming Board Meeting: We have switched our meetings tot he 3rd Wednesday of every month!   So please come join us to hear about how you can help or find out what happens behind the scenes of the GPA.  Our next meeting is: Wednesday, December 18th at 6:00pm Hillcrest Middle School in Room 5 Join via Google Meet Join by phone ‪(US) +1 530-430-7704‬ PIN: ‪188 694 989‬#   Follow Us On Social Media Stay up to date in the quickest way by following us on Facebook and Instagram .   Tag your photos with #wearegpa to show your school pride! Contact GPA email:   wearegpa@wearegpa.com Website:   www.wearegpa.com   WHAT'S NEW at GRAVENSTEIN ELEMENTARY?   Gravenstein Winter Concert Tuesday, December 17th, 2024 from 5-6 pm.   The concert will be in Hillcrest Hall at Hillcrest Middle School and the 4th and 5th grade bands and choirs will be performing.  Please dress your student in a semi-formal outfit (no shorts, t-shirts, etc.), holiday attire encouraged.  Please arrive no later than 4:45pm If for some reason your student is unable to attend, please contact Mr. Pulley at  npulley@gusdschools.org  or Mr. Burrows at  sburrows@gusdschools.org   25/26 School Year Enrollment Information Campus tours begin this month and more tours are available throughout the school year!  Do you have students eligible for TK next school year and want to learn more about our TK program?  Have family friends that are interested in our incredible school?  Please sign up using the link below for campus tours. Gravenstein Elementary Campus Tour Sign Up Gravenstein Field Trip Donation Requests We are excited to announce that we are now able to accept donations for field trips online!!  In case you missed a field trip donation request or didn't have a chance to donate at the time, here is another chance. Clink the links below to be directed to our recent donation requests.  Donations are not required however in order for Gravenstein Elementary School to keep offering these amazing experiences to our students, we need our school communities' support!! Kinder Field Trips - Hillier Kinder Field Trips - MacInnis Kinder Field Trips - Redfern Kinder Field Trips - Triv 1st Grade Field Trips - Clement 1st Grade Field Trips - Dellosa 1st Grade Field Trips - Gloeckner 1st Grade Field Trips - Gorman   2nd Grade Field Trips - All Classes 3rd Grade Field Trips - Haas 3rd Grade Field Trips - Mattish 3rd Grade Field Trips - Nordstrom 3rd Grade Field Trips - Sposato 4th Grade Field Trips - Brown 4th Grade Field Trips - Cervantes 4th Grade Field Trips - Stevens 4th Grade Field Trips - Sully 5th Grade Field Trips - All Classes   Don’t Forget!  Follow us on our updated and active Facebook Page and on Instagram!  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GravensteinElementary Instagram: @gravensteinelementary   WHAT'S NEW at HILLCREST MIDDLE SCHOOL?   7th Grade is Going to San Francisco 7th Grade Families- Our first field trip is fast approaching!  We are headed to San Francisco.  We will tour Grace Cathedral, Fairmont Hotel, Presidio (for lunch), Emanu-El Synagogue and the Islamic Center of Mill Valley.  It will be a full day.  We begin at 8:30am and return to school around 4:30pm.  We are taking West Sonoma County buses for transportation. The required permission slip and medical form were sent home via email and paper copy.  Both must be returned no later than DECEMBER 4, 2024.  For each 7th grade field trip, there is a suggested donation amount.  For this field trip, the suggested donation is $40 to cover transportation and tour fees.  You can write a check to deliver to school or you can donate at this link: Donation Request Link (Digital Payment):   7th Grade Field Trips We're looking forward to a great trip! The 7th Grade Teachers   Winter Dance is this Friday Save the Date for the Nutcracker Dance on Friday, December 6, from 6 - 8 PM.  Tickets will be on sale during lunch the week of December 2 - 6.  Presale is $5 per ticket and $8 if purchased at the door. Parents interested in chaperoning for the dance should email Brandon Leong,  bleong@gusdschools.org   Annual Canned Food Drive and House Points It is time for the annual food collection at Hillcrest Middle School.  Last year, we donated over 500 items to the Redwood Empire Food Bank helping many local families in need.   This year's food collection will benefit the  North Pole Fire Brigade (Gold Ridge) helping families in our local community.   The food collection will run from Monday, December 2, to Wednesday, December 18.   This is a House Competition so each non-perishable box or can that is donated is worth 1 House point.  This is a great way to earn many House points while helping families in need within the community.  Bins with house names will be located near the school office. Donations can be made during the school day.   Gift Drive for Gold Ridge Fire Department Hillcrest Middle school will be working in conjunction with Gold Ridge Fire Department's Annual Gift Drive.  We are collecting gifts for teens .   Unwrapped gifts can be brought to the Hillcrest office  during the school day. Please click on the following link to see the flyer from Gold Ridge which includes some requested items:    English            Spanish            Korean   Report Card Envelopes Please sign and return Report Card envelopes. Your student can turn them in to the front office or to any of their teachers.   12 Days of Blue Feathers The annual December tradition – the 12 Days of Blue Feathers will be here before you know it!  Starting on December 5th, we'll be drawing Blue Feathers each school day until December 20th, the day before winter break!  On December 5th we will draw 12 Blue Feathers and those 12 students will win a prize.  On December 6th we will draw 11 Blue Feathers and those 11 students each win and so on until December 20th where one student will win $50 in CASH!  Remember students can earn Blue Feathers for being caught doing something right or helping out around the Hillcrest campus!  The 12 Days of Blue Feather box will be outside of Mr. Deeths office starting after Thanksgiving Break! Here is a list of prizes -  Prize List   Prospective High School Information Analy Shadow Days Are interested in having your student shadow at Analy? If so, contact Sandra Jones at 707- 824-2319 to schedule a Shadow Day. Windsor High Prospective Family Tours OPEN HOUSE & SCHOOL TOUR December 10 @ 9am - 10am OR December 11 @ 2:30pm - 3:30pm in the WHS Library ~ 8695 Windsor Rd. For Parents & Students:  Spanish translation will be available. If you are considering an interdistrict transfer, or your family is a Windsor resident but new to our district, WHS Principal Danielle Buckman invites you to this informational even to learn more about WHS classes and culture, the interdistrict transfer process, and next steps. Please register through this link by Dec. 1st:    Register for Open House Here Please note:  If you are a current WMS or CALI family, an 8th Grade Orientation / Tour for students will be held in early 2025. Information will be sent through Parent Square. If you have any questions, please contact Christina Sevilla, Principal’s Secretary, at (707) 687-7625 or  csevilla@wusd.org     The Kyle J. Taylor Foundation is offering FREE youth and young adult heart screening.  Youth and young adults who are between the ages of 12 and 25 are invited to participate.  Please see the linked flyer for all the details and while it is a couple of months away, spaces are limited so register today if interested. For more details here is the flyer in:   English       Spanish       Korean   Hillcrest Field Trip Donation Requests We are excited to announce that we are now able to accept donations for field trips online!!  In case you missed a field trip donation request or didn't have a chance to donate at the time, here is another chance. Clink the links below to be directed to our recent donation requests.  Donations are not required however in order for Hillcrest Middle School to keep offering these amazing experiences to our students, we need our school communities' support!! 7th Grade Field Trips 8th Grade Overnight Trip Hillcrest Athletics Updated Sport Program Information In case you missed it, we sent out a message on July 26, 2024 regarding sports information for the 2024/25 school year and introducing our new Athletic Director.  Please click the link below to check it out.  You can also use the link to make a donation to the HMS Athletic department.   Link to Please read for updated Sports information! If your student isn't in a sport, but you are interested in what is happening with Hillcrest Athletics, check out these amazing Sport Updates from Meggan Young, our new Athletics Director. Sports Rally Update - Hawks Headlines - November 21, 2024 Hillcrest Hawks Weekly Update - November 16, 2024 Hillcrest Hawks Weekly Update - November 9, 2024 Hawks Sports Update - November 6, 2024 Hillcrest Hawks Sports Update - November 3, 2024 Hillcrest Middle School does not require a fee to participate in athletics.  The Athletic Department, however, funds its programs primarily through  parent donations.   All donations are used toward purchasing new uniforms and equipment for our student athletes.  To help with this, we ask parents for a minimum donation of  $30  per sport.  For your convenience you can return the Donation form included in the Athletic Clearance Packet with check or cash, or you can pay via debit or credit card using the link above.   No child will be prevented from participating in a team due to financial circumstances!   Day Grade and Sport Home/Away VS Time Monday 12/2 8th Grade Basketball Home Practice 3:30 - 5:00 Tuesday 12/3 7th Grade Girls Volleyball Home Practice 3:30 - 5:00 8th Grade Girls Volleyball Home Practice 5:00 - 6:30 Wednesday 12/4 7th Grade Basketball Home Practice 2:00 - 3:30 8th Grade Basketball Home Practice 3:30 - 5:00 Thursday 12/5 7th Grade Girls Volleyball Home Practice 3:30 - 5:00 8th Grade Girls Volleyball Home Practice 5:00 - 6:30 Friday 12/6 Nothing on Calendar as of 11/27/2024 Saturday 12/7 Nothing on Calendar as of 11/27/2024 Hillcrest Weekly Reminders 8th Grade Baby Photos Needed If you haven't already submitted a baby photo of your 8th Grader, please do it today.  You can submit your photo at the link below.  If you don't get your photo in by January 31, 2025 , it will not make it into the yearbook. Submit 8th Grader Baby Photo Student Safety First Students who are waiting on campus for after school sports or other school activities must go to Beyond the Bell (BTB) if they are enrolled in the BTB program.  If students are not part of the BTB program and are waiting on campus, they must be seated in the Duck Pond working on homework until their activity begins.  We are unable to provide direct supervision of students not in Beyond the Bell.  As a reminder, there is no school supervision of students who go to Hardcore coffee. School Cell Phone Policy Cell phones are only to be used after school in the Duck Pond to contact parents or guardians. Cell phones should be off and put away from the moment you arrive on campus. Any violation of the cell phone policy can lead to disciplinary action.   Keep up with Hillcrest Middle School on Instagram & Facebook Want to keep up with what is going on at Hillcrest?  Want to see photos and learn about what is going on in the classrooms of HMS?  Want to make sure you are updated on all the latest information and events on the campus?  If you said yes to any of these questions, be sure to follow Hillcrest’s Social Media Pages: Instagram - SoarHawksSoar Facebook - Hillcrest Middle School - Sebastopol     COUNSELORS' CORNER     Helping Children with Holiday Expectations Disappointment.  It can be a central theme of the Holiday Season for our children.  Often disappointment comes from high expectations that often go  unmet.  Many people have unrealistic expectations of how things need to occur.  Before you start banging your head against the wall trying to make everything just right, consider new ways to celebrate.  The holidays are about spending time with family and friends.  Setting realistic expectations can help to make the holiday more enjoyable. Do you have concerns about managing your children's holiday expectations?   Click the following link for some helpful tips:    English       Spanish       Korean   Hillcrest Counseling Page Click on the link below to to view all the resources available to you and your family on the Hillcrest Counseling page. GUSD School Counseling Page     COMMUNITY CORNER   Below is a list of flyers for non-profit organizations that have been shared with our District Office.  If you have a flyer for a non-profit event or organization that you would like to share with the community.  Please submit it to the District Office ( mquirke@gusdschools.org ) for approval.  If approved it will be included here in Monday Messages. Spark Creativity Studio provides hands-on, engaging classes and camps that feature Music, Art and STEM.  Fall classes launching now! Spartk Creativity STEAM 2024-2025 Flyer in English       Spanish       Korean Move Over Mozart Flyer English     Spanish     Korean Is your student interested in Coding.  Check out the flyer to get more information. Tutree Coding Lessons Flyer in English  or  Spanish The Sonoma County Office of Education is offering Family Workshops.  See Flyer to right. Virtual Workshops for Parents and Caregivers Offered in English and Spanish  Flyer   The West County Softball Association is a non-profit community recreational softball organization dedicated to the skill and social development of girls from ages 4 to 14 years old based in Sebastopol, and they have players from all over West County, Marin County and beyond.  Check out their website and flyers to the right. West County Softball Website West County Softball Spring 2025 Softball Season Flyer in  English  or  Spanish Registration is open for Sebastopol Little League's spring 2025 baseball season!  See their website for details www.sebastopollittleleague.com   Redwood Empire Food Bank - Need a little extra help this holiday season?  Redwood Empire Food Bank is here to help with several pick up locations;  with some being designated Spanish speaking.  Check out their website for more information. Redwood Empire Food Bank CPI (Child Parent Institute) Classes December 2024 Class Schedule December Class List   GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD   Gregory Appling, President - gappling@gusdschools.org Paula Braunschweig, Clerk -  pbraunschweig@gusdschools.org Jeri McNeill, Trustee -   jmcneill@gusdschools.org Laura de la Roz, Trustee -  ldelaroz@gusdschools.org Z achary Saltzberg, Trustee -   zsaltzberg@gusdschools.org   DISTRICT WEBSITE LINK     GUSD DISTRICT ADMIN TEAM   Will Deeths wdeeths@gusdschools.org Keri Pugno kpugno@gusdschools.org Matt McDowell mmcdowell@gusdschools.org  

Sunday, Dec 01 2024

Monday Messages November 25, 2024 for GUSD Families!

GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT Monday Message November 25, 2024   A MESSAGE FROM GUSD ADMINISTRATION   Reminder - No School School will be closed Monday, November 25 to Friday, November 29th - Thanksgiving Holiday Mark Your Calendars Monday, November 25th to Friday thru November 29th - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break Thursday, December 5th - GRAV - Campus Tour Thursday, December 5th, 5pm - GPA - Dine and Donate at The Rewind Friday, December 6th, 6pm - HMS - Dance Saturday, December 7th - GPA - Hot Cocoa with Santa Tuesday, December 10, 5pm - GUSD - Board Meeting Wednesday, December 11, 5pm - HMS - Winter Concert Friday, December 13 - GRAV - 5th Grade Field Trip - Exploratorium Tuesday, December 17, 5pm - GRAV - 4th & 5th Grade Winter Concert Wednesday, December 18, 6pm - GPA - Meeting (Open to All GUSD Families) Thursday, December 19 - GRAV - Campus Tour Monday, December 23 to Friday, January 3, 2025 - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - Winter Break Thursday, January 2, 5pm - GPA - Dine and Donate at The Rewind   Lunch Menu To view the entire  November menu click here for  English  or  Spanish .    Fruits &/or Veggies are offered with all meals.  Meals are not offered a la carte.  Menu items are subject to change.  All student meals are free of charge.  A completed   Medical Statement to Request Accommodations  letter to the office is required to accommodate any dietary restrictions or vegetarian/vegan requests. S = Mid-Morning Snack  L = Lunch Mon 25 Tue 26 Wed 27 Thu 28 Fri 29 NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL THANKSGIVING BREAK THANKSGIVING BREAK THANKSGIVING BREAK THANKSGIVING BREAK THANKSGIVING BREAK Mon 2 Tue 3 Wed 4 Thu 5 Fri 6 S:  Cereal Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Bagels with Cream Cheese Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Muffins Fruits and/or Veggies S:  French Toast Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Mini Pancakes Fruits and/or Veggies L:  Mozzarella Pull Aparts Fruits and/or Veggies L:  Chili Fruits and/or Veggies L:  Corndogs Fruits and/or Veggies L:  Chicken Nuggets Fruits and/or Veggies L:  Pizza Fruits and/or Veggies   Thankful and Grateful I want to take a moment to speak on behalf of the GUSD Staff and express our deepest gratitude for the ongoing parent support and involvement shown within our school community.  Your dedication to your child's education—whether through donating to GPA, attending school events like the Grade 3 County Fair or the recent HMS Athletics rally, volunteering to drive on a variety of field trips or helping students garden, donating items for BTB’s Maker Lab projects, or even looking over the night’s math homework—it all truly makes a difference. Your partnership helps to create a positive and enriching environment for our students, and we deeply appreciate the time you invest in helping them succeed.  It’s this strong collaboration between home and school that plays a key role in fostering a nurturing and dynamic learning experience for all our children. On behalf of the entire school staff, thank you for your continued commitment to our shared mission of providing the best possible education for your child.  The GUSD Staff are thankful for the opportunity to work with your children and grateful for your continued support.  I hope your family is able to enjoy the time together this week and everyone has a safe and restful Thanksgiving break.   -Keri Pugno, GUSD Superintendent   Beyond the Bell students decorated special turkey feathers this week then assembled a special thanksgiving day turkey! Our fancy turkey wishes you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!   GRAVENSTEIN PARENT ASSOCIATION   We Are So Grateful for You! Gravenstein Parent Association is a non-profit organization operated solely by VOLUNTEER PARENTS who dedicate their energy, time and effort into ensuring all of our children in the Gravenstein Unified School District receive  enrichment classes while also offering teacher grants, teacher stipends and school support by raising funds to pay for these amazing programs.  We are building the future generation and we could not do it without the dedication from all of our generous parents who choose to commit themselves as Board Members.  In the spirit of gratitude, we would like to recognize our own Board Members and offer a huge THANK YOU to: Anica Truter - GPA President Tammy Armstrong - GPA Vice President Corey Samo - GPA Treasurer Julie Harmon - GPA Secretary Maggie Zavala - Fundraising Chair Vy Morse - GLP Coordinator Samara Stevens - Teacher Liaison Ashley Cochran - Member-at-Large Christine Pruitt - Member-at-Large Allison Herman - Member-at-Large Frankie Stutes - Member-at-Large Lindsay Relyea - Member-at-Large Heather Ritz - Member-at-Large Fanny Lam - Special Advisor to the Board WE ARE SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU!  THANK YOU, GPA!  You are appreciated!!! GPA would also like to express our heartfelt thanks to all of our wonderful administrators, teachers, staff, parent volunteers and business sponsors that allow our children the opportunities funded by GPA.  It takes a huge team to raise and organize the funding these programs require and we could not do it without each and everyone of you, and your support! IN THIS SEASON, GPA IS THANKFUL FOR YOU! 2024/2025 Coporate Sponsors include: Sidecar Mercantile Heavenly Greens Artificial Grass Yorkshire Plumbing & Drain Service Kukeri Wines Ceramic Tile Center KPM Property Management & Real Estate Santa Rosa Tile Ontop Weather Roofing, Inc. Summer Olson Stubblefield Realtor DRYmedic Restoration Services Aquatic Resource Management Recology Sonoma Marin TCW Equipment   More Jog-A-Thon Results! GPA is excited to announce the following results: Top teacher, most laps ran: Mrs. Mattish! Top class, most raised: Mrs. Brown $3,866! Top class, most laps ran total class: Mrs. Schaefer 733 laps! Each of these classes has earned an ice cream party!   Upcoming Events Check in with your Grade Level Parents for any upcoming events for your child's grade level!! GPA Holiday Faire - Saturday, December 7th at Hillcrest Hall, 10am - 12pm.  Save the date! For more event information, or to sign-up to volunteer at future events, please visit the "Event Details" page on our website:   www.wearegpa.com   Upcoming Board Meeting: We have switched our meetings tot he 3rd Wednesday of every month!   So please come join us to hear about how you can help or find out what happens behind the scenes of the GPA.  Our next meeting is: Wednesday, December 18th at 6:00pm Hillcrest Middle School in Room 5 Join via Google Meet Join by phone ‪(US) +1 530-430-7704‬ PIN: ‪188 694 989‬#   Follow Us On Social Media Stay up to date in the quickest way by following us on Facebook and Instagram .   Tag your photos with #wearegpa to show your school pride! Contact GPA email:   wearegpa@wearegpa.com Website:   www.wearegpa.com   WHAT'S NEW at GRAVENSTEIN ELEMENTARY?   Dear Gravenstein Elementary Community, As we have reached Thanksgiving break, I want to take a moment to reflect on the many things for which I am incredibly grateful. Working at Gravenstein alongside such dedicated teachers and staff is a privilege I don’t take lightly. Your passion, commitment, and hard work make this school such a special place for our students to grow, learn, and thrive. I am also deeply thankful for the wonderful children who fill our hallways and classrooms with energy, curiosity, and joy. They inspire me every day with their resilience and eagerness to learn, and I am so proud of the progress they continue to make. Lastly, I am incredibly fortunate to be part of such a supportive and caring community. The collaboration and partnership we share between school, families, and the broader community play a vital role in creating an environment where everyone can succeed. As we head into this holiday, I hope you all take time to relax, recharge, and enjoy the company of loved ones. Thank you for everything you do to make Gravenstein such an amazing place. With gratitude, Matthew McDowell Principal, Gravenstein Elementary Please take a moment to watch a short video showing what some of our students are thankful for:                                                                         Gravenstein Field Trip Donation Requests We are excited to announce that we are now able to accept donations for field trips online!!  In case you missed a field trip donation request or didn't have a chance to donate at the time, here is another chance. Clink the links below to be directed to our recent donation requests.  Donations are not required however in order for Gravenstein Elementary School to keep offering these amazing experiences to our students, we need our school communities' support!! Kinder Field Trips - Hillier Kinder Field Trips - MacInnis Kinder Field Trips - Redfern Kinder Field Trips - Triv 1st Grade Field Trips - Clement 1st Grade Field Trips - Dellosa 1st Grade Field Trips - Gloeckner 1st Grade Field Trips - Gorman   2nd Grade Field Trips - All Classes   3rd Grade Field Trips - Haas 3rd Grade Field Trips - Mattish 3rd Grade Field Trips - Nordstrom 3rd Grade Field Trips - Sposato 4th Grade Field Trips - Brown 4th Grade Field Trips - Cervantes 4th Grade Field Trips - Stevens 4th Grade Field Trips - Sully 5th Grade Field Trips - All Classes   Don’t Forget!  Follow us on our updated and active Facebook Page and on Instagram!  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GravensteinElementary Instagram:    @gravensteinelementary   WHAT'S NEW at HILLCREST MIDDLE SCHOOL?   On behalf of the entire Hillcrest Hawk Faculty and Staff, we would like to wish our entire school community a Happy Thanksgiving.  We are all grateful for your support and kindness that you show to our school.  We are all incredibly lucky to be a part of this amazing school and district.  Enjoy the next week and Rest, relax and…………… SOAR HAWKS SOAR!   Leadership students created Thanksgiving Day cards for the senior citizens living at Drake Terrace Senior Living home in San Rafael.   Sports & Enrichment Rally Success! On Wednesday November 20th, a rally was held in Hillcrest Hall!  The new Enrichments and their descriptions were shared with the students.  The Hillcrest Leadership Class played a House Game called Head, Shoulders and Cups.  We then celebrated our Fall Sports teams including students from our Championship Cross Country team and our undefeated 7th Grade Boys Flag Football team. Click this  link  for more information and to see videos of the sports portion of the Rally.   Annual Canned Food Drive and House Points It is time for the annual food collection at Hillcrest Middle School.  Last year, we donated over 500 items to the Redwood Empire Food Bank helping many local families in need.   This year's food collection will benefit the  North Pole Fire Brigade (Gold Ridge) helping families in our local community.   The food collection will run from Monday, December 2, to Wednesday, December 18.   This is a House Competition so each non-perishable box or can that is donated is worth 1 House point.  This is a great way to earn many House points while helping families in need within the community.  Bins with house names will be located near the school office. Donations can be made during the school day.   Gift Drive for Gold Ridge Fire Department Hillcrest Middle school will be working in conjunction with Gold Ridge Fire Department's Annual Gift Drive.  We are collecting gifts for teens .   Unwrapped gifts can be brought to the Hillcrest office  during the school day. Please click on the following link to see the flyer from Gold Ridge which includes some requested items:   English            Spanish            Korean   Hillcrest Field Trip Donation Requests We are excited to announce that we are now able to accept donations for field trips online!!  In case you missed a field trip donation request or didn't have a chance to donate at the time, here is another chance. Clink the links below to be directed to our recent donation requests.  Donations are not required however in order for Hillcrest Middle School to keep offering these amazing experiences to our students, we need our school communities' support!! 7th Grade Field Trips 8th Grade Overnight Trip Hillcrest Athletics Updated Sport Program Information In case you missed it, we sent out a message on July 26, 2024 regarding sports information for the 2024/25 school year and introducing our new Athletic Director.  Please click the link below to check it out.  You can also use the link to make a donation to the HMS Athletic department.   Link to Please read for updated Sports information! If your student isn't in a sport, but you are interested in what is happening with Hillcrest Athletics, check out these amazing Sport Updates from Meggan Young, our new Athletics Director. Hawks Update - November 21, 2024 Hawks Update - November 16, 2024 Hawks Update - November 9, 2024 Hawks Update - November 6, 2024 Hillcrest Middle School does not require a fee to participate in athletics.  The Athletic Department, however, funds its programs primarily through  parent donations.   All donations are used toward purchasing new uniforms and equipment for our student athletes.  To help with this, we ask parents for a minimum donation of  $30  per sport.  For your convenience you can return the Donation form included in the Athletic Clearance Packet with check or cash, or you can pay via debit or credit card using the link above.   No child will be prevented from participating in a team due to financial circumstances!   Day Grade and Sport Home/Away VS Time Monday 11/25 Nothing Scheduled Tuesday 11/26 Nothing Scheduled Wednesday 11/27 Nothing Scheduled Thursday 10/31 Nothing Scheduled Friday 01/01 Nothing Scheduled Hillcrest Weekly Reminders 8th Grade Baby Photos Needed If you haven't already submitted a baby photo of your 8th Grader, please do it today.  You can submit your photo at the link below.  If you don't get your photo in by January 31, 2025 , it will not make it into the yearbook. Submit 8th Grader Baby Photo School Cell Phone Policy Cell phones are only to be used after school in the Duck Pond to contact parents or guardians. Cell phones should be off and put away from the moment you arrive on campus. Any violation of the cell phone policy can lead to disciplinary action.   Keep up with Hillcrest Middle School on Instagram & Facebook Want to keep up with what is going on at Hillcrest?  Want to see photos and learn about what is going on in the classrooms of HMS?  Want to make sure you are updated on all the latest information and events on the campus?  If you said yes to any of these questions, be sure to follow Hillcrest’s Social Media Pages: Instagram - SoarHawksSoar Facebook - Hillcrest Middle School - Sebastopol     COUNSELORS' CORNER     Gratitude is a positive emotion that involves being thankful and appreciative and is associated with several mental and physical health benefits; such as reducing stress and anxiety.  When you experience gratitude, you feel grateful for something or someone in your life and respond with feelings of kindness, warmth, and other forms of generosity. Thanksgiving presents us with a great opportunity to  increase our feelings of gratitude  for everything in our lives.  This is wonderful for our stress levels as well as our relationships, our life satisfaction, and our overall health. The focus on gratitude that surrounds Thanksgiving is particularly good for us because it reminds us of how easy it is to increase our feelings of gratitude about everything we have, making it easier to feel that we have “enough” when faced with the barrage of marketing that starts before Black Friday and continues through the new year. Teaching children gratitude can also help them feel happier, support better social relationships, and improve overall health and well-being.  Strategies that can help foster gratitude in kids include asking gratitude-focused questions, performing acts of kindness, and modeling gratitude in your own life.  Let's explore how kids can benefit from gratitude and some strategies that help kids learn to be more grateful. S tart having conversations about what it means to be thankful, and take their understanding of gratitude to a whole new level by incorporating more gratitude components: Noticing, thinking, doing, feeling Notice : What do you have in your life to be grateful for?  Are there things to be grateful for beyond the actual gifts someone has given you?  Are you grateful for any people in your life? Think : What do you think about this present?  Do you think you should give something to the person who gave it to you?  Do you think you earned the gift?  Do you think the person gave you a gift because they thought they had to or because they wanted to? Feel : Does it make you feel happy to get this gift?  What does it feel like inside?  What about this gift makes you feel happy? Do : Is there a way to show how you feel about this gift?  Does your feeling about this gift make you want to share this feeling by giving to someone else? I would like to wish all of you in our GUSD community a wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving break.  The support and involvement of our GUSD community is what makes this district special and our students thrive! Here are some activities and craft ideas you can enjoy with your family over the holiday. 40 Thanksgiving Gratitude Craft and Activities for Kids and Adults   Hillcrest Counseling Page Click on the link below to to view all the resources available to you and your family on the Hillcrest Counseling page. GUSD School Counseling Page     COMMUNITY CORNER   Below is a list of flyers for non-profit organizations that have been shared with our District Office.  If you have a flyer for a non-profit event or organization that you would like to share with the community.  Please submit it to the District Office ( mquirke@gusdschools.org ) for approval.  If approved it will be included here in Monday Messages. Spark Creativity Studio provides hands-on, engaging classes and camps that feature Music, Art and STEM.  Fall classes launching now! Spartk Creativity STEAM 2024-2025 Flyer in English       Spanish       Korean Move Over Mozart Flyer English     Spanish     Korean Is your student interested in Coding.  Check out the flyer to get more information. Tutree Coding Lessons Flyer in English  or  Spanish The Sonoma County Office of Education is offering Family Workshops.  See Flyer to right. Virtual Workshops for Parents and Caregivers Offered in English and Spanish  Flyer   The West County Softball Association is a non-profit community recreational softball organization dedicated to the skill and social development of girls from ages 4 to 14 years old based in Sebastopol, and they have players from all over West County, Marin County and beyond.  Check out their website and flyers to the right. West County Softball Website West County Softball Spring 2025 Softball Season Flyer in  English  or  Spanish Registration is open for Sebastopol Little League's spring 2025 baseball season!  See their website for details www.sebastopollittleleague.com   Redwood Food Bank - Distribution Sites for Thanksgiving: Both of the following sites ae designated Spanish speaking - and will have people that can help families register for food donations and other services.  Check out their website for more information. Monday 11/25 - Bayside Church - Santa Rosa - 8-9:30am Monday 11/25 - Elsie Allen High School - Santa Rosa - 10:30-11:45am Redwood Empire Food Bank CPI (Child Parent Institute) Classes November 2024 Class Schedule November Class List   December 2024 Class Schedule December Class List   GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD   Gregory Appling, President - gappling@gusdschools.org Paula Braunschweig, Clerk -  pbraunschweig@gusdschools.org Jeri McNeill, Trustee -   jmcneill@gusdschools.org Laura de la Roz, Trustee -  ldelaroz@gusdschools.org Z achary Saltzberg, Trustee -   zsaltzberg@gusdschools.org   DISTRICT WEBSITE LINK     GUSD DISTRICT ADMIN TEAM   Will Deeths wdeeths@gusdschools.org Keri Pugno kpugno@gusdschools.org Matt McDowell mmcdowell@gusdschools.org  

Sunday, Nov 24 2024

Monday Messages November 18, 2024 for GUSD Families!

GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT Monday Message November 18, 2024   A MESSAGE FROM GUSD ADMINISTRATION   Mark Your Calendars Wednesday, November 20th, 6pm - GPA - Meeting Thursday, November 21st - GRAV - Campus Tour Thursday, November 21st - GUSD - Trimester 1 Report Cards Sent Home Monday, November 25th to Friday thru November 29th - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break Wednesday, November 27, 3:30pm - GUSD - Site Council Thursday, December 5th, 5pm - GPA - Dine and Donate at The Rewind Friday, December 6th, 6pm - HMS - Dance Saturday, December 7th - GPA - Hot Cocoa with Santa Tuesday, December 10, 5pm - GUSD - Board Meeting Reminder - No School School will be closed Monday, November 25 to Friday, November 29th - Thanksgiving Holiday   Lunch Menu To view the entire November menu click here for  English  or  Spanish . Fruits &/or Veggies are offered with all meals.  Meals are not offered a la carte.  Menu items are subject to change.  All student meals are free of charge.  A completed   Medical Statement to Request Accommodations  letter to the office is required to accommodate any dietary restrictions or vegetarian/vegan requests. S = Mid-Morning Snack  L = Lunch Mon 18 Tue 19 Wed 20 Thu 21 Fri 22 S:  Cereal Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Pizza Begel Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Waffles Fruits and/or Veggies S:  French Toast Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Pastry Fruits and/or Veggies L:  Grilled Cheese Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Taco Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Egg Roll with Chow Mein Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Popcorn Chicken Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Pasta Fruit and/or Veggies Mon 25 Tues 26 Wed 27 Thu 28 Fri 29 NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL NO SCHOOL Thanksgiving Break Thanksgiving Break Thanksgiving Break Thanksgiving Break Thanksgiving Break   Your Input Matters The future of our children’s education depends not just on the decisions made in the classroom, but on the overall investments we make in our schools.  That’s why I am asking for your voice - it matters now more than ever.  As I continue the ongoing process of updating the budget and allocating resources to critical programs and supports, I also recognize the need to address the structural deficit.  By including parents, staff, students, and board members, I can be confident that our school budget reflects our community's values and provides the best possible opportunities for every student.   Please stay tuned for more information on the public process being created to gather input from all of our community partners.  Survey links and meeting dates will soon be published.  Thank you for your partnership!  -  Keri Pugno, Superintendent   GRAVENSTEIN PARENT ASSOCIATION   To see the above flyer in Spanish, click   here . In the joyous spirit of the holiday season, GPA warmly invites you to a  complimentary community gathering, where festive cheer will illuminate our entire district! We seek delightful cookies and spirited volunteers!   Please click on the Cookie Sign-up Form and/or  Holiday Fair Sign-Up Genius to  discover the ways you can lend your magic to this charming celebration!   Announcing Our 2024 Jog-A-Thon Winners! Congratulations to our top Jog-A-Thon runners:  Finnian Townsend with 46 laps and Kirsten Dunbar and Scarlett Stoumen with a tie at 44 laps!   Good job!!! Also, a very big congratulations and thank you to our top donation achiever: Kingsley Stutes, earning over $2,000!   Enjoy your Kindles, courtesy of Innovative Screen Printing - you earned them!!!   Upcoming Events Check in with your Grade Level Parents for any upcoming events for your child's grade level!! GPA Holiday Faire - Saturday, December 7th at Hillcrest Hall, 10am - 12pm.  Save the date! For more event information, or to sign-up to volunteer at future events, please visit the "Event Details" page on our website:   www.wearegpa.com   Upcoming Board Meeting: We have switched our meetings tot he 3rd Wednesday of every month!   So please come join us to hear about how you can help or find out what happens behind the scenes of the GPA.  Our next meeting is: Wednesday, November 20 at 6:00pm Hillcrest Middle School in Room 5 Join via Google Meet Join by phone ‪(US) +1 530-430-7704‬ PIN: ‪188 694 989‬#   Follow Us On Social Media Stay up to date in the quickest way by following us on Facebook and Instagram .   Tag your photos with #wearegpa to show your school pride! Contact GPA email:   wearegpa@wearegpa.com Website:   www.wearegpa.com   WHAT'S NEW at GRAVENSTEIN ELEMENTARY?   Parent Parking at School Events - Help Us Be Good Neighbors We are so thankful to have a school community with so many involved and supportive parents.  Unfortunately, we never seem to have enough parking spaces for all of our parent volunteers.  We try to open up as many spaces as possible (drop-off circle, staff/bus zones, and basketball courts) when we anticipate crowds, but we know that many parents rely on Twig Avenue to find a space.  While street parking is fine, please remember that it is illegal to park blocking someone’s driveway or on someone’s private property.  Part of what makes Gravenstein so special is our location and maintaining a positive relationship with our neighbors is important.   Thank you for any efforts you can do to carpool to events.   Kindness Certified We are thrilled to have been recognized as a Kindness Certified School.  Sydney Pestcoe (GUSD’s Teacher on Special Assignment) has implemented Kindness projects for our school community. In today’s world, cultivating a culture of kindness within our school community is more important than ever.  A Certified Kindness School is not just a place where students learn academic skills; it’s a space where compassion, respect, and empathy thrive. This month's Schoolwise Kindness Activity involved making a gratitude leaf.  These leaves are displayed in the front office at Gravenstein.   2025-26 School Year Enrollment Information Campus tours begin this month and more tours are available throughout the school year!  Do you have students eligible for TK next school year and want to learn more about our TK program?  Have family friends that are interested in our incredible school?  Please sign up using the link below for campus tours. Gravenstein Elementary Campus Tour Sign Up Gravenstein Field Trip Donation Requests We are excited to announce that we are now able to accept donations for field trips online!!  In case you missed a field trip donation request or didn't have a chance to donate at the time, here is another chance. Clink the links below to be directed to our recent donation requests.  Donations are not required however in order for Gravenstein Elementary School to keep offering these amazing experiences to our students, we need our school communities' support!! Kinder Field Trips - Hillier Kinder Field Trips - MacInnis Kinder Field Trips - Redfern Kinder Field Trips - Triv 1st Grade Field Trips - Clement 1st Grade Field Trips - Dellosa 1st Grade Field Trips - Gloeckner 1st Grade Field Trips - Gorman   2nd Grade Field Trip - Cal Skate - All Classes 4th Grade Field Trips - Brown 4th Grade Field Trips - Cervantes 4th Grade Field Trips - Stevens 4th Grade Field Trips - Sully   5th Grade to Chabot Space & Science Center - Grimm 5th Grade to Chabot Space & Science Center - Martinez 5th Grade to Chabot Space & Science Center - Schaefer   Don’t Forget!  Follow us on our updated and active Facebook Page and on Instagram!  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GravensteinElementary Instagram:    @gravensteinelementary   WHAT'S NEW at HILLCREST MIDDLE SCHOOL?   Wheel Rotations This is a reminder that Wheel 1 and Wheel 2 will be rotating!  The first day of students' new Wheel classes will be this coming Monday, November 18th.  As always, the rotations are posted around campus for the students to help them remember where they are going. Below you will find the upcoming rotations Wheel 1:  Tri 2 Rotations (starting Nov. 18) Coding rm. 11 Live Skills rm. 7 Life Skills rm. 7 Art Appreciation rm. 8 Art Appreciation rm. 8 Coding rm. 11 Wheel 2:  Tri 2 Rotations (starting Nov. 18) Maker Lab rm. 5/6 Music Appreciation rm. 9 Music Appreciation rm. 9 Video Production rm. 18 Video Production rm. 18 Maker Lab rm. 5/6 Trimester 1 Ends Trimester 1 ended Tuesday November 12th! Report cards will be sent home on Thursday November 21st. Don’t be surprised by your child’s grades - use the Schoolwise Parent Portal to check your child’s grades as often as you like!   Fall Sports Rally The Hillcrest 7th Grade Boys Flag Football won their league this year!  We will be holding a rally to celebrate our Champs on Wednesday November 20th at 1:10 in Hillcrest Hall!  Families of our Champions are welcome to attend the rally!   6th Grade Overnight Trip Zoom Info Meeting Save the date for an informational meeting about the 6th Grade Overnight Trip to Marin Headlands from April 28 - 30.  The Zoom meeting will be on Tuesday, November 19th at 7pm.  There will be a slideshow overviewing the trip in general, how to become a chaperone, and the requested donation amount.  Email Mrs. Rich with any questions you might have regarding the meeting at  arich@gusdschools.org ZOOM link Meeting ID:  907 354 9162 Passcode:  320835   Winter Dance is Right Around the Corner Save the Date for the Winter Dance on Friday, December 6, from 6 - 8 PM.  Tickets will be on sale during lunch the week of December 2 - 6.  Presale is $5 per ticket and $8 if purchased at the door. Parents interested in chaperoning for the dance should email Brandon Leong,  bleong@gusdschools.org   12 Days of Blue Feathers The annual December tradition – the 12 Days of Blue Feathers will be here before you know it!  Starting on December 5th, we'll be drawing Blue Feathers each school day until December 20th, the day before winter break!  On December 5th we will draw 12 Blue Feathers and those 12 students will win a prize.  On December 6th we will draw 11 Blue Feathers and those 11 students each win and so on until December 20th where one student will win $50 in CASH!  Remember students can earn Blue Feathers for being caught doing something right or helping out around the Hillcrest campus!  The 12 Days of Blue Feather box will be outside of Mr. Deeths office starting after Thanksgiving Break!   Lost & Found - Unclaimed Items will be Donated Please come yourself or have your student look through our lost and found collection.  Weather permitting, it will be out in front of the Hillcrest Main Office.  Any items remaining, after school, on Friday, November 22, will be collected and donated.   Hillcrest Partners with Panaptic IMPACT Hillcrest has, again, partnered with the Panaptic IMPACT Program as  a recipient of a partial grant funded through the Sonoma County Department of Health Services .   Panaptic’s IMPACT is a digital marijuana prevention program that will be offered to our Hillcrest sixth-grade students as part of their Health and Wellness curriculum.  Panaptic's courses will support students to make healthy choices and empower parents and educators to feel more confident by providing them with tools and evidence-based strategies to promote student wellness and success.  Hillcrest will be introducing the IMPACT Marijuana Prevention program to our students during the month of November.   Parents are also encouraged to join their own virtual classes -  Parent Classes .   The registration code is:  hillcrestmiddleschoolfamilies GUSD is offering a recorded webinar for the IMPACT Program in Spanish.  Impact Program Spanish Video Link   Prospective High School Information Analy Shadow Days Are interested in having your student shadow at Analy? If so, contact Sandra Jones at 707- 824-2319 to schedule a Shadow Day. Windsor High Prospective Family Tours OPEN HOUSE & SCHOOL TOUR December 10 @ 9am - 10am OR December 11 @ 2:30pm - 3:30pm in the WHS Library ~ 8695 Windsor Rd. For Parents & Students:  Spanish translation will be available. If you are considering an interdistrict transfer, or your family is a Windsor resident but new to our district, WHS Principal Danielle Buckman invites you to this informational even to learn more about WHS classes and culture, the interdistrict transfer process, and next steps. Please register through this link by Dec. 1st:    Register for Open House Here Please note:  If you are a current WMS or CALI family, an 8th Grade Orientation / Tour for students will be held in early 2025. Information will be sent through Parent Square. If you have any questions, please contact Christina Sevilla, Principal’s Secretary, at (707) 687-7625 or  csevilla@wusd.org   Last weekend Hillcrest Dance performed at North Bay Dance put on by The Movement Lab.  They performed at two shows on Saturday the 9th with dance companies and schools spanning from Ukiah to Marin.  Hillcrest Dance will also be performing with Analy High School Wednesday through Friday at 7pm at El Molino Performing Arts Center.   Hillcrest Field Trip Donation Requests We are excited to announce that we are now able to accept donations for field trips online!!  In case you missed a field trip donation request or didn't have a chance to donate at the time, here is another chance. Clink the links below to be directed to our recent donation requests.  Donations are not required however in order for Hillcrest Middle School to keep offering these amazing experiences to our students, we need our school communities' support!! 7th Grade Field Trips 8th Grade Overnight Trip Hillcrest Athletics Updated Sport Program Information In case you missed it, we sent out a message on July 26, 2024 regarding sports information for the 2024/25 school year and introducing our new Athletic Director.  Please click the link below to check it out.  You can also use the link to make a donation to the HMS Athletic department.   Link to Please read for updated Sports information!   If your student isn't in a sport, but you are interested in what is happening with Hillcrest Athletics, check out these amazing Sport Updates from Meggan Young, our new Athletics Director. Hawks Update - November 16, 2024 Hawks Update - November 9, 2024 Hawks Update - November 6, 2024 Hawks Update - November 3, 2024 Hillcrest Middle School does not require a fee to participate in athletics.  The Athletic Department, however, funds its programs primarily through  parent donations.   All donations are used toward purchasing new uniforms and equipment for our student athletes.  To help with this, we ask parents for a minimum donation of  $30  per sport.  For your convenience you can return the Donation form included in the Athletic Clearance Packet with check or cash, or you can pay via debit or credit card using this  link  above.   No child will be prevented from participating in a team due to financial circumstances!   Day Grade and Sport Home/Away VS Time Monday 10/18 Nothing Scheduled Tuesday 10/19 Nothing Scheduled Wednesday 10/20 7/8th Grade Boys Basketball Practice Home Practice 2:15 - 4:30 Thursday 10/21 Nothing Scheduled Friday 10/22 7/8th Grade Boys Basketball Practice Home Practice 3:15 - 5:30 Saturday 10/23 7/8th Grade Boys Basketball Practice Home Practice 9:30 - 11:30am Hillcrest Weekly Reminders 8th Grade Baby Photos Needed If you haven't already submitted a baby photo of your 8th Grader, please do it today.  You can submit your photo at the link below.  If you don't get your photo in by January 31, 2025 , it will not make it into the yearbook. Submit 8th Grader Baby Photo Student Safety First Students who are waiting on campus for after school sports or other school activities must go to Beyond the Bell (BTB) if they are enrolled in the BTB program.  If students are not part of the BTB program and are waiting on campus, they must be seated in the Duck Pond working on homework until their activity begins.  We are unable to provide direct supervision of students not in Beyond the Bell.  As a reminder, there is no school supervision of students who go to Hardcore coffee. School Cell Phone Policy Cell phones are only to be used after school in the Duck Pond to contact parents or guardians. Cell phones should be off and put away from the moment you arrive on campus. Any violation of the cell phone policy can lead to disciplinary action.   Keep up with Hillcrest Middle School on Instagram & Facebook Want to keep up with what is going on at Hillcrest?  Want to see photos and learn about what is going on in the classrooms of HMS?  Want to make sure you are updated on all the latest information and events on the campus?  If you said yes to any of these questions, be sure to follow Hillcrest’s Social Media Pages: Instagram - SoarHawksSoar Facebook - Hillcrest Middle School - Sebastopol     COUNSELORS' CORNER     Teaching Your Children Tolerance By Rosie Steen-Larsen, LMFT and GUSD Mental Health Coordinator In today’s ever-changing world, teaching our children the importance of tolerance is more critical than ever.  Children are observant and with the multiple influences they may be exposed to on a regular basis, they can unconsciously pick up on even the subtlest stereotyping or prejudicial beliefs.  To help your child grow and successfully navigate through today’s world, I encourage you as parents and caregivers to have open discussions and encourage questions.  Ideas on how to begin these conversations with your child are listed in the full article:   English  or  Spanish  or  Korean   . Hillcrest Counseling Page Click on the link below to to view all the resources available to you and your family on the Hillcrest Counseling page. GUSD School Counseling Page     COMMUNITY CORNER   Below is a list of flyers for non-profit organizations that have been shared with our District Office.  If you have a flyer for a non-profit event or organization that you would like to share with the community.  Please submit it to the District Office ( mquirke@gusdschools.org ) for approval.  If approved it will be included here in Monday Messages. Spark Creativity Studio provices hands-on, engaging classes and camps that feature Music, Art and STEM. Fall Classes launching now! Spartk Creativity STEAM 2024-2025 Flyer in English       Spanish       Korean Move Over Mozart Flyer English     Spanish     Korean Is your student interested in Coding.  Check out the flyer to get more information. Tutree Coding Lessons Flyer in English  or  Spanish The Sonoma County Office of Education is offering Family Workshops.  See Flyer to right. Virtual Workshops for Parents and Caregivers Offered in English and Spanish  Flyer The West County Softball Association is a non-profit community recreational softball organization dedicated to the skill and social development of girls from ages 4 to 14 years old based in Sebastopol, and they have players from all over West County, Marin County and beyond.  Check out their website and flyers to the right. West County Softball Website West County Softball Spring 2025 Softball Season Flyer in  English  or  Spanish CPI (Child Parent Institute) Classes November 2024 Class Schedule November Class List December 2024 Class Schedule December Class List   GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD   Gregory Appling, President - gappling@gusdschools.org Paula Braunschweig, Clerk -  pbraunschweig@gusdschools.org Jeri McNeill, Trustee -   jmcneill@gusdschools.org Laura de la Roz, Trustee -  ldelaroz@gusdschools.org Z achary Saltzberg, Trustee -   zsaltzberg@gusdschools.org   DISTRICT WEBSITE LINK     GUSD DISTRICT ADMIN TEAM   Will Deeths wdeeths@gusdschools.org Keri Pugno kpugno@gusdschools.org Matt McDowell mmcdowell@gusdschools.org  

Sunday, Nov 17 2024

Monday Messages November 11, 2024 for GUSD Families!

GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT Monday Message November 11, 2024   A MESSAGE FROM GUSD ADMINISTRATION   Mark Your Calendars Monday, November 11th - GUSD - NO SCHOOL Tuesday, November 12th - GUSD - End of Trimester 1 Tuesday, November 12th, 5pm - GUSD - Board Meeting - Zoom Link Wednesday, November 20th, 6pm - GPA - Meeting Thursday, November 21st - GRAV - Campus Tour Thursday, November 21st - GUSD - Trimester 1 Report Cards Sent Home Monday, November 25th to Friday thru November 29th - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break Wednesday, November 27, 3:30pm - GUSD - Site Council Thursday, December 5th, 5pm - GPA - Dine and Donate at The Rewind Friday, December 6th, 6pm - HMS - Dance Saturday, December 7th - GPA - Hot Cocoa with Santa Tuesday, December 10, 5pm - GUSD - Board Meeting Reminder - No School School will be closed Monday, November 11 - Veteran's Day School will be closed Monday, November 25 to Friday, November 29th - Thanksgiving Holiday   GUSD Joins in the Sebastopol Halloween Celebrations On Halloween, Superintendent Keri Pugno and BtB Daycare Director Meggan Young, set up a booth at the first annual Kiwanis Club Halloween Family Party in Ives Park.  Lots of fun was had answering questions about the District while handing out candy to trick-or-treaters and engaging booth visitors with a ring toss game.  Thank you to the Sebastopol Kiwanis Club for hosting this family-friendly, safe event on Halloween.   Lunch Menu To view the entire November menu click here for  English  or  Spanish .   Fruits &/or Veggies are offered with all meals.  Meals are not offered a la carte.  Menu items are subject to change.  All student meals are free of charge.  A completed   Medical Statement to Request Accommodations  letter to the office is required to accommodate any dietary restrictions or vegetarian/vegan requests. S = Mid-Morning Snack  L = Lunch Mon 11 Tue 12 Wed 13 Thu 14 Fri 15 NO SCHOOL S:  Cereal Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Pancake on a Stick Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Pastry Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Cinnamon Crumble Fruits and/or Veggies L:  Chili Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Corn Dog Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Cheeseburger Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Pizza Fruit and/or Veggies Mon 18 Tues 19 Wed 20 Thu 21 Fri 22 S:  Cereal Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Pizza Bagel Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Waffles Fruit and/or Veggies S:  French Toast Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Pastry Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Grilled Cheese Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Taco Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Egg Roll with  Chow Mein Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Popcorn Chicken Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Pasta Fruit and/or Veggie   GRAVENSTEIN PARENT ASSOCIATION   In the joyous spirit of the holiday season, GPA warmly invites you to a  complimentary community gathering, where festive cheer will illuminate our entire district! The above flyer has the following information: GPA Invites you to attend our Hot Cocoa Holiday Faire Saturday, December 7th, starting at 10am in the Hillcrest Hall. Scan the left QR code to sign-up to donate your favorite cookies! Scan the right QR code for volunteer opportunities. The event will include Cookies, Craft Vendors, Kid Crafts, Hot Cocoa,  HMS Jazz Band performance and Special Guest, Santa Claus!   Upcoming Events Check in with your Grade Level Parents for any upcoming events for your child's grade level!! GPA Holiday Faire - Saturday, December 7th at Hillcrest Hall, 10am - 12pm.  Save the date! For more event information, or to sign-up to volunteer at future events, please visit the "Event Details" page on our website:   www.wearegpa.com   Upcoming Board Meeting: Wednesday, November 20 at 6:00pm Hillcrest Middle School in Room 5 Join via Google Meet Join by phone ‪(US) +1 530-430-7704‬ PIN: ‪188 694 989‬#   Follow Us On Social Media Stay up to date in the quickest way by following us on Facebook and Instagram .   Tag your photos with #wearegpa to show your school pride! Contact GPA email:   wearegpa@wearegpa.com Website:   www.wearegpa.com   WHAT'S NEW at GRAVENSTEIN ELEMENTARY?   Drop Off and Pick Up For everyone's safety, please DO NOT PASS in the left lane on Twig Avenue.  This is against the law and very  dangerous. Please remember to drive slowly, safely, and with patience!   4th Grade students had their own election, "Sweet vs Salty, Wavy Lays vs Regula Lays, and Oreo cookies vs Chocolate Chip cookies", as part of their Social Studies curriculum.  The voting booth was in the Principal's Office and voter registrac   2025-26 School Year Enrollment Information Campus tours begin this month and more tours are available throughout the school year!  Do you have students eligible for TK next school year and want to learn more about our TK program?  Have family friends that are interested in our incredible school?  Please sign up using the link below for campus tours. Gravenstein Elementary Campus Tour Sign Up Gravenstein Field Trip Donation Requests We are excited to announce that we are now able to accept donations for field trips online!!  In case you missed a field trip donation request or didn't have a chance to donate at the time, here is another chance. Clink the links below to be directed to our recent donation requests.  Donations are not required however in order for Gravenstein Elementary School to keep offering these amazing experiences to our students, we need our school communities' support!! Kinder Field Trips - Hillier Kinder Field Trips - MacInnis Kinder Field Trips - Redfern Kinder Field Trips - Triv 1st Grade Field Trips - Clement 1st Grade Field Trips - Dellosa 1st Grade Field Trips - Gloeckner 1st Grade Field Trips - Gorman 2nd Grade Field Trip - Cal Skate - All Classes 4th Grade Field Trips - Brown   4th Grade Field Trips - Cervantes 4th Grade Field Trips - Stevens 4th Grade Field Trips - Sully 5th Grade to Chabot Space & Science Center - Grimm 5th Grade to Chabot Space & Science Center - Martinez 5th Grade to Chabot Space & Science Center - Schaefer   Don’t Forget!  Follow us on our updated and active Facebook Page and on Instagram!  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GravensteinElementary Instagram:    @gravensteinelementary   WHAT'S NEW at HILLCREST MIDDLE SCHOOL?   Trimester 1 Ends Trimester 1 ends Tuesday November 12th!  Report cards will be sent home on Thursday, November 21st.  Don’t be surprised by your child’s grades - use the Schoolwise Parent Portal to check your child’s grades as often as you like!   Prospective High School Information Analy Shadow Days Are interested in having your student shadow at Analy? If so, contact Sandra Jones at 707- 824-2319 to schedule a Shadow Day. Windsor High Prospective Family Tours OPEN HOUSE & SCHOOL TOUR December 10 @ 9am - 10am OR December 11 @ 2:30pm - 3:30pm in the WHS Library ~ 8695 Windsor Rd. For Parents & Students: Spanish translation will be available. If you are considering an interdistrict transfer, or your family is a Windsor resident but new to our district, WHS Principal Danielle Buckman invites you to this informational even to learn more about WHS classes and culture, the interdistrict transfer process, and next steps. Please register through this link by Dec. 1st:    Register for Open House Here Please note:  If you are a current WMS or CALI family, an 8th Grade Orientation / Tour for students will be held in early 2025. Information will be sent through Parent Square. If you have any questions, please contact Christina Sevilla, Principal’s Secretary, at (707) 687-7625 or  csevilla@wusd.org Tomales High School Preview Night Join prospective families Thursday, November 14th from 6 - 7:30pm for a Preview Night at Tomales High School!  The evening will start with a brief welcome by their Principal from 6-6:10pm in the Auditorium (signs and students will direct you).  The rest of the evening will give families the opportunity to explore the campus and visit with teachers and staff, parent and student clubs, athletics, and counseling and student services.  Guided tours will also be available.  Please contact Tomales High School at (707) 878-2286 with any questions.   Paleolithic Day is a wonderful program run by Tamara Wilder of Paleotechnics that allows students to experience some of the activities undertaken by people during the Old Stone Age,  such as various hunting techniques, firemaking, and art.   The students have always had a great time doing the activities,  and we are happy to be able to bring it back to our campus!     Lost and Found Please come yourself or have your student look through our  Lost and Found  collection.  Weather permitting, it will be out in front of the Hillcrest Main Office. Any items remaining, after school, on Friday, November 22 , will be collected and donated.   Hillcrest Field Trip Information and Donation Requests We are excited to announce that we are now able to accept donations for field trips online!!  In case you missed a field trip donation request or didn't have a chance to donate at the time, here is another chance. Clink the links below to be directed to our recent donation requests.  Donations are not required however in order for Hillcrest Middle School to keep offering these amazing experiences to our students, we need our school communities' support!! 7th Grade Field Trips 8th Grade Overnight Trip 8th Grade - Final Reminders - Overnight Field Trip is this Tuesday, November 12 - Friday, November 15 Please have your child at school on Tuesday by 8:30 am (or 7:30 am for zero period). We plan to board the cars at 9:15 am and will leave by 9:30 am sharp.  We plan to depart from the Santa Cruz Wharf by 1:15 pm on Friday and plan to arrive back at school between 5:00-6:00 pm, depending on traffic conditions.  There will be a  c heck in table the morning of departure.    When you drop off your child Tuesday morning, please accompany your child to the check in table.  We will collect any medications at this time.   The check in table will be in front of the HMS Office as early as 7:20 am.   Students need a sack lunch and a snack for Tuesday's drive.  Students were able to order a school lunch and snack on Wednesday in class.  If your student requested a school lunch and snack, they will receive it on Tuesday morning before we leave. Don't forget to pack sleeping bags, towels, pillows, and a flashlight, along with personal items.  Students should also pack a book or quiet, independent activity (sketchbook, cards, etc.) for "Flat on the Bunk" time. Medications need to be placed in a zip lock bag (with the student name on the bag) and the Medication Permission Slip completed.  Make sure everything your child needs for the drive to Scotts Valley is in their backpack, not their suitcase/duffle bag (water bottle, lunch, spending money, etc...).  Luggage may be packed in separate cars depending on space. Please do not send your child with a cell phone.  We are excited to offer the opportunity to unplug for this week in the outdoors!  Students will be able to contact parents/guardians through chaperones and teachers at any time. Optional:  Provide discretionary spending money (for souvenirs and snacks on Friday before we leave the Santa Cruz Wharf) in the form of cash (a Visa gift or debit card is also acceptable, but we can't guarantee that the shops on the Santa Cruz Wharf will accept a card). Please help make a donation to cover the expense of this overnight field trip.  The expense per person is $350.  Any donation a family can make without causing undue financial burden helps GUSD cover the costs of this trip. Donations can be made online by clicking this  link . Checks made out to GUSD can also be delivered to the HMS office. Thank you for helping prepare your child for a wonderful trip. We will see you Tuesday! The 8th Grade Team   8th Grade Students NOT Going on the Field Trip This is an important reminder that if your student does not attend the Mission Springs Field Trip or attend school, these days will count as unexcused absences.  Unexcused absences can be avoided by applying for and completing Independent Study. Students not attending the field trip may still come to school but need to understand that they will not experience a normal school day during the trip. 6th Grade Overnight Trip Zoom Info Meeting Save the date, Tuesday, November 19th at 7pm , for an informational meeting about the 6th Grade Overnight Trip to Marin Headlands from April 28 - 30.  There will be a slideshow overviewing the trip in general, how to become a chaperone, and the requested donation amount.  Email Mrs. Rich with any questions you might have regarding the meeting at  arich@gusdschools.org ZOOM link: Allison Rich is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: 6th Grade Overnight Trip Info Meeting Time: Nov 19, 2024 07:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting Here Meeting ID: 907 354 9162 Passcode: 320835 Hillcrest Athletics Sport Program Information and News In case you missed it, we sent out a message on July 26, 2024 regarding sports information for the 2024/25 school year and introducing our new Athletic Director.  Please click the link below to check it out.  You can also use the link to make a donation to the HMS Athletic department.   Link to Please read for updated Sports information! If your student isn't in a sport, but you are interested in what is happening with Hillcrest Athletics, check out these amazing Sport Updates from Meggan Young, our new Athletics Director. Hawks Update - November 6, 2024 Hawks Update - November 3, 2024 Hawks Update - November 9, 2024 Hillcrest Middle School does not require a fee to participate in athletics.  The Athletic Department, however, funds its programs primarily through  parent donations.   All donations are used toward purchasing new uniforms and equipment for our student athletes.  To help with this, we ask parents for a minimum donation of  $30  per sport.  For your convenience you can return the Donation form included in the Athletic Clearance Packet with check or cash, or you can pay via debit or credit card using this  link .   No child will be prevented from participating in a team due to financial circumstances!   Day Grade and Sport Home/Away VS Time Monday, 11/11 NO SCHOOL Tuesday 11/12 Basketball Team Meeting Home 3:15 - 4:00 6th Grade Girls Volleyball - GOLD Home Twin Hills 4:15 - 5:15 6th Grade Girls Volleyball - BLUE Home Salmon Creek 5:15 - 6:15 Wednesday, 11/13 7th Grade Basketball Home Practice 2:00 - 3:30 8th Grade Basketball Home Practice 3:30 - 5:00 6th Grade Girls Volleyball - BLUE Away Willowside 4:15 - 5:15 6th Grade Girls Volleyball - GOLD Away Willowside 5:15 - 6:15 Thursday, 11/14 6th Grade Girls Volleyball - GOLD Away Salmon Creek 4:15 - 5:15 Friday, 11/15 6th Grade Girls Volleyball - BLUE Home Windsor 4:15 - 5:15 6th Grade Girls Volleyball - GOLD Home Windsor 5:15 - 6:15 Hillcrest Weekly Reminders 8th Grade Baby Photos Needed If you haven't already submitted a baby photo of your 8th Grader, please do it today.  You can submit your photo at the link below.  If you don't get your photo in by January 31, 2025 , it will not make it into the yearbook. Submit 8th Grader Baby Photo Student Safety First Students who are waiting on campus for after school sports or other school activities must go to Beyond the Bell (BTB) if they are enrolled in the BTB program.  If students are not part of the BTB program and are waiting on campus, they must be seated in the Duck Pond working on homework until their activity begins.  We are unable to provide direct supervision of students not in Beyond the Bell.  As a reminder, there is no school supervision of students who go to Hardcore coffee. School Cell Phone Policy Cell phones are only to be used after school in the Duck Pond to contact parents or guardians. Cell phones should be off and put away from the moment you arrive on campus. Any violation of the cell phone policy can lead to disciplinary action.   Keep up with Hillcrest Middle School on Instagram & Facebook Want to keep up with what is going on at Hillcrest?  Want to see photos and learn about what is going on in the classrooms of HMS?  Want to make sure you are updated on all the latest information and events on the campus?  If you said yes to any of these questions, be sure to follow Hillcrest’s Social Media Pages: Instagram - SoarHawksSoar Facebook - Hillcrest Middle School - Sebastopol     COUNSELORS' CORNER     Here is a coping strategy you can practice with your children when they are feeling anxious. Stay Grounded Using Your 5 Senses Relax your body, take a few deep breaths, and focus on the following.... Five things you can see Four things you can feel Three thing you can hear Two things you can smell One thing you Taste   Hillcrest Counseling Page Click on the link below to to view all the resources available to you and your family on the Hillcrest Counseling page. GUSD School Counseling Page     COMMUNITY CORNER   Below is a list of flyers for non-profit organizations that have been shared with our District Office.  If you have a flyer for a non-profit event or organization that you would like to share with the community.  Please submit it to the District Office ( mquirke@gusdschools.org ) for approval.  If approved it will be included here in Monday Messages. Spark Creativity Studio provides hands-on, engaging classes and camps that feature Music, Art and STEM.  Fall classes launching now! Spark Creativity STEAM 2024-2025 Flyer Move Over Mozart Flyer Is your student interested in Coding.  Check out the flyer to get more information. Tutree Coding Lessons Flyer in English or Spanish The Sonoma County Office of Education is offering Family Workshops.  See Flyer to right. Virtual Workshops for Parents and Caregivers Offered in English and Spanish Flyer The West County Softball Association is a non-profit community recreational softball organization dedicated to the skill and social development of girls from ages 4 to 14 years old based in Sebastopol, and they have players from all over West County, Marin County and beyond.  Check out their website and flyers to the right. West County Softball Website West County Softball Spring 2025 Softball Season Flyer in English or Spanish CPI (Child Parent Institute) Classes November 2024 Class Schedule November Class List   GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD   Gregory Appling, President - gappling@gusdschools.org Paula Braunschweig, Clerk -  pbraunschweig@gusdschools.org Jeri McNeill, Trustee -   jmcneill@gusdschools.org Laura de la Roz, Trustee -  ldelaroz@gusdschools.org Z achary Saltzberg, Trustee -   zsaltzberg@gusdschools.org   DISTRICT WEBSITE LINK     GUSD DISTRICT ADMIN TEAM   Will Deeths wdeeths@gusdschools.org Keri Pugno kpugno@gusdschools.org Matt McDowell mmcdowell@gusdschools.org  

Sunday, Nov 10 2024

Monday Messages November 4, 2024 for GUSD Families!

GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT Monday Message November 4, 2024   A MESSAGE FROM GUSD ADMINISTRATION   Mark Your Calendars Tuesday, November 5th  - GUSD -  Make-up Picture Day Thursday, November 7th, 5pm - GPA - Dine and Donate at The Rewind Monday, November 11th - GUSD - NO SCHOOL Tuesday, November 12th - GUSD - End of Trimester 1 Tuesday, November 12th, 5pm - GUSD - Board Meeting Wednesday, November 20th, 6pm - GPA - Meeting Thursday, November 21st - GRAV - Campus Tour Thursday, November 21st - GUSD - Trimester 1 Report Cards Sent Home Monday, November 25th to Friday, November 29th - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break Thursday, December 5th, 5pm - GPA - Dine and Donate at The Rewind Friday, December 6th, 6pm - HMS - Dance Saturday, December 7th - GPA - Hot Cocoa with Santa Reminder - No School School will be closed Monday, November 11 - Veteran's Day School will be closed Monday, November 25 to Friday, November 29th - Thanksgiving Holiday   School Safety Reminder about Daylight Savings Time We wanted to share some important safety information as we all get used to these darker afternoons.  Transitioning off daylight savings time has been shown to result in a significant increase in the number of automobile accidents due to sleep changes, disrupted circadian rhythms, lighting changes, and decreased attention and alertness.  Walkers, joggers, and bike riders are three times more likely to be hit by a car in the days after Daylight Savings Time ends.  Please exercise extra vigilance when driving home from school following this time change.   Lunch Menu To view the entire November menu click here for  English  or  Spanish .   Fruits &/or Veggies are offered with all meals.  Meals are not offered a la carte.  Menu items are subject to change.  All student meals are free of charge.  A completed   Medical Statement to Request Accommodations  letter to the office is required to accommodate any dietary restrictions or vegetarian/vegan requests. S = Mid-Morning Snack  L = Lunch Mon 4 Tues 5 Wed 6 Thu 7 Fri 8 S:  Cereal Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Danish Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Bagel with  Cream Cheese Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Muffin Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Waffles Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Mozzarella Pull Aparts Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chicken Quesadilla Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Ham Sandwich Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chicken Nuggets Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Pasta Fruit and/or Veggies Mon 11 Tue 12 Wed 13 Thu 14 Fri 15 NO SCHOOL S: Cereal Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Pancake on a Stick Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Pastry Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Cinnamon Crumble Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chili Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Corn Dog Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Cheeseburger Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Pizza Fruit and/or Veggies   GRAVENSTEIN PARENT ASSOCIATION   To see the above in Spanish, click here . To see the above in Spanish, click here .   Upcoming Events Check in with your Grade Level Parents for any upcoming events for your child's grade level!! THIS WEEK!  Dine and Donate at The Rewind - Thursday, November 7th starting at 5pm - See the Flyer here in English or Spanish GPA Holiday Faire - A NEW EVENT! - Saturday, December 7th at Hillcrest Hall.  Save the date! For more event information, or to sign-up to volunteer at future events, please visit the "Event Details" page on our website:   www.wearegpa.com   Upcoming Board Meeting: Wednesday, November 20 at 6:00pm Hillcrest Middle School in Room 5 Join via Google Meet Join by phone ‪(US) +1 530-430-7704‬ PIN: ‪188 694 989‬#   Follow Us On Social Media Stay up to date in the quickest way by following us on Facebook and Instagram .   Tag your photos with #wearegpa to show your school pride! Contact GPA email:   wearegpa@wearegpa.com Website:   www.wearegpa.com   WHAT'S NEW at GRAVENSTEIN ELEMENTARY?   Drop Off and Pick Up For everyone's safety, please DO NOT PASS in the left lane on Twig Avenue.  This is against the law and very  dangerous. Please remember to drive slowly, safely, and with patience!   Make Up Picture Day is This Week Hawkes School Portraits will be doing a make up picture day on Tuesday, November 5th. If your student was absent, please make sure they are ready to take their picture.  A portrait gallery link will be emailed after make up day to view and order portraits.  If you would like a retake, please return the original picture packet on make up day. This photo will appear in the yearbook, please dress accordingly. Capture beautiful memories with school photos!! Hawkes School Portraits (707) 823-6537 or hawkesschools@yahoo.com   The Halloween parade was last week on Thursday, October 31st.  The kiddos had so much fun showing off their costumes and celebrating Halloween.  Thanks to all of the parents and families who came to support our students!   3rd Grade County Fair Last week 3rd graders celebrated the end of reading Charlotte's Web by participating in a Gravenstein County Fair inspired by the book.  Steve Minkin, Sonoma County's Square Dance Caller, led students in the Virginia Reel, Macarena, Hokey Pokey, Chicken Dance, Cupid Shuffle and the Mexican Hat Dance.  There were also County Fair themed rooms that included the midway, concessions, crafts, and live animals.  Students enjoyed Spider Races, Templeton's CollaborRATive Collage, Spider Face Painting, Milk Bottle Toss, Bingo, but most of all petting piglets, a rooster, a pony and a miniature horse.  There were over 30 parent and community volunteers of this First Annual Third Grade Gravenstein County Fair.  The third grade team would like to thank all those that made this a "RADIANT" event, it was truly "TERRIFIC."  A special thanks to GPA for awarding a mini grant that allowed for this event to happen!   2025-26 School Year Enrollment Information Campus tours begin this month and more tours are available throughout the school year!  Do you have students eligible for TK next school year and want to learn more about our TK program?  Have family friends that are interested in our incredible school?  Please sign up using the link below for campus tours. Gravenstein Elementary Campus Tour Sign Up   Gravenstein Field Trip Donation Requests We are excited to announce that we are now able to accept donations for field trips online!!  In case you missed a field trip donation request or didn't have a chance to donate at the time, here is another chance. Clink the links below to be directed to our recent donation requests.  Donations are not required however in order for Gravenstein Elementary School to keep offering these amazing experiences to our students, we need our school communities' support!! Kinder Field Trips - Hillier Kinder Field Trips - MacInnis Kinder Field Trips - Redfern Kinder Field Trips - Triv 1st Grade Field Trips - Clement 1st Grade Field Trips - Dellosa 1st Grade Field Trips - Gloeckner 1st Grade Field Trips - Gorman 2nd Grade Field Trip - Cal Skate - All Classes 3rd Grade Schultz and Snoopy Field Trip - Haas 3rd Grade Schultz and Snoopy Field Trip - Mattish 3rd Grade Schultz and Snoopy Field Trip - Nordstrom 3rd Grade Schultz and Snoopy Field Trip - Sposato 4th Grade Field Trips - Brown 4th Grade Field Trips - Cervantes 4th Grade Field Trips - Stevens 4th Grade Field Trips - Sully 5th Grade to Chabot Space & Science Center - Grimm  5th Grade to Chabot Space & Science Center - Martinez 5th Grade to Chabot Space & Science Center - Schaefer   Don’t Forget!  Follow us on our updated and active Facebook Page and on Instagram!  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GravensteinElementary Instagram:    @gravensteinelementary   WHAT'S NEW at HILLCREST MIDDLE SCHOOL?   Going on the 8th Grade Field Trip? For students attending Mission Springs -  Please help make a donation to cover the expense of this overnight field trip.  The expense per person is $350.  Any donation a family can make without causing undue financial burden helps GUSD cover the costs of this trip. Donations can be made online by clicking this link - 8th Grade Overnight Trip Checks made out to GUSD can also be delivered to the HMS office. Not Going on the 8th Grade Field Trip? Students Not Attending the 8th Grade overnight trip - This is an important reminder that if your student does not attend the Mission Springs Field Trip or attend school, these days will count as unexcused absences. Unexcused absences can be avoided by applying for and completing Independent Study. Independent Study forms are available in the HMS Main office or online at- https://www.gusdschools.org/students-families/student-services/independent-study Students must apply for Independent Study by November 8th, 2024.   Make Up Picture Day is This Week Make Up pictures will be taken next Tuesday November 5th.  School pictures were distributed to all students today during their PE classes this week.  If your student was absent, didn't take their picture or you are not happy with how the picture turned out, please plan on them participating in Make Ups.  If you are not happy with how the packet turned out, please return the original picture packet next Tuesday.   Advanced Dance to Perform at North Bay Dance Festival Hillcrest Advanced Dance will be performing at North Bay Dance Festival hosted by The Movement Lab.  The Show is November 9th at 5pm and 7:30pm at the El Molino Performing Arts Center.  Tickets are on sale online or at the door.   Online Ticket Sales   Analy Shadow Days Are you interested in having your student shadow at Analy?  If so, contact Sandra Jones at (707) 824-2319 to schedule a Shadow Day.   8th Grade Baby Photos Needed If you haven't already submitted a baby photo of your 8th Grader, please do it today.  You can submit your photo at the link below.  If you don't get your photo in by January 31, 2025 , it will not make it into the yearbook. Submit 8th Grader Baby Photo   This past week, Mr. Leong's Dance 2 class went to Sonoma State and took a college level class taught by Professor Kristen Daley.  The students got to learn choreography, collaborate with Sonoma State students in class, and go on a mini campus tour.   In Garden Enrichment class this week students gathered clay soil from the lower field, added water for just the right consistency to make seed balls.  Students then added seeds from our collection of saved sunflower and other wild flowers to the clay-mud balls.  We had so much fun getting our hands dirty!   Students in Spanish class have been learning about Day of the Dead and had the opportunity  to decorate sugar skull cookies.  A special thank you to parent volunteer Jean Salatino for  organizing this fun activity for our students!   Hillcrest Field Trip Information and Donation Requests We are excited to announce that we are now able to accept donations for field trips online!!  In case you missed a field trip donation request or didn't have a chance to donate at the time, here is another chance. Clink the links below to be directed to our recent donation requests.  Donations are not required however in order for Hillcrest Middle School to keep offering these amazing experiences to our students, we need our school communities' support!! 7th Grade Field Trips 8th Grade Overnight Trip 7th Grade Field Trip The time has come to start organizing our fantastic field trips for the 7th graders this year!  Below are three important items. Request for Chaperones :  Complete the google form to help us chaperone one, two or even all the field trips this year.  We need your help to make these trips happen. Here is the Chaperone Request Form Donation Request Digital Payment Link :  This link can be used to make a donation for the 7th grade field trips throughout the year.  You can donate all at once, as each field trips occurs, or in any installments that work best for you.  Use the 7th Grade Field Trips link (see above or below)  anytime to donate and help us to provide these fantastic field trips for the students.  If you prefer to write a check, please make the checks payable to:  GUSD and write "7th Grade Field Trips" in the subject line.  Deliver checks to the HMS Office. Here is the Donation Request Link (Digital Payment) Field Trips for 2024-2025 :  Click the following links to see a pdf of all our 7th grade field trips this year and the dates of each trip.  Additionally, HMS Field Trip Behavior Guidelines are included. 7th Grade Field Trips for the Year in English or Spanish   Hillcrest Athletics Updated Sport Program Information In case you missed it, we sent out a message on July 26, 2024 regarding sports information for the 2024/25 school year and introducing our new Athletic Director.  Please click the link below to check it out.  You can also use the link to make a donation to the HMS Athletic department.   Link to Please read for updated Sports information!   Hillcrest Middle School does not require a fee to participate in athletics.  The Athletic Department, however, funds its programs primarily through  parent donations.   All donations are used toward purchasing new uniforms and equipment for our student athletes.  To help with this, we ask parents for a minimum donation of  $30  per sport.  For your convenience you can return the Donation form included in the Athletic Clearance Packet with check or cash, or you can pay via debit or credit card using the link above.   No child will be prevented from participating in a team due to financial circumstances!     Day Grade and Sport Home/Away VS Time Monday 11/04 6th Grade Girls Volleball - BLUE Home Thomas Page 4:15 - 5:15 Tuesday 11/05 6th Grade Girls Volleyball - GOLD Home Brookhaven 4:15 - 5:15 6th Grade Girls Volleyball  Home Practice 5:15 - 6:30 Wednesday 11/06 Possible - 7th vs 8th Flag Football Home Scrimmage 3:30 - 4:30 6th Grade Girls Volleyball - GOLD Home Willowside 4:15 - 5:15 Cross Country Meet Away Ragle Ranch Park 4:30 - 6:30 6th Grade Girls Volleyball - BLUE Home Willowside 5:15 - 6:15 Thursday 11/07 6th Grade Girls Volleyball - BLUE Away Guerneville 4:15 - 5:15 Friday 11/08 NO GAMES   Hillcrest Weekly Reminders Help Us Keep Your Student Safe and Engaged As a reminder to our families, the StopIt App is another tool to help keep our studentsd safe and engaged in school.   StopIt is an anonymous anti-bullying / school safety app that allows students and parents to report harmful, inappropriate or unsafe behaviour that may be happening on campus. Here the steps: Go to the App Store and download the StopIt app to any compatible device. Search for Hillcrest Middle School - Gravenstein That's it!  You are now ready to report any incident that may occur - your identity will never be known. Student Safety First Students who are waiting on campus for after school sports or other school activities must go to Beyond the Bell (BTB) if they are enrolled in the BTB program.  If students are not part of the BTB program and are waiting on campus, they must be seated in the Duck Pond working on homework until their activity begins.  We are unable to provide direct supervision of students not in Beyond the Bell.  As a reminder, there is no school supervision of students who go to Hardcore coffee. School Cell Phone Policy Cell phones are only to be used after school in the Duck Pond to contact parents or guardians. Cell phones should be off and put away from the moment you arrive on campus. Any violation of the cell phone policy can lead to disciplinary action.   Keep up with Hillcrest Middle School on Instagram & Facebook Want to keep up with what is going on at Hillcrest?  Want to see photos and learn about what is going on in the classrooms of HMS?  Want to make sure you are updated on all the latest information and events on the campus?  If you said yes to any of these questions, be sure to follow Hillcrest’s Social Media Pages: Instagram - SoarHawksSoar Facebook - Hillcrest Middle School - Sebastopol     COUNSELORS' CORNER     Fostering De-escalation with your Children Being able to de-escalate and defuse situations with your children is an extremely helpful skill.  Kids and young adults who become emotionally overwhelmed or irritated in a situation may begin to express their emotions in aggressive or violent ways.  Some examples of these behaviors might include aggressive posturing, yelling, throwing items, swearing, and making threats.  Quite often, these situations become a power struggle between the child and the parent.  These power struggles only make the situation worse, though.  The best way to handle these types of behaviors is to de-escalate the situation as soon as possible.  It's very important to recognize that this does not mean letting your child get away with the behavior.  Instead, de-escalation focuses on helping them return their emotions back to a normal level.  It is critical that they are calm for a period of time before behavior and expectations are discussed again.   Hillcrest Counseling Page Click on the link below to to view all the resources available to you and your family on the Hillcrest Counseling page. GUSD School Counseling Page     COMMUNITY CORNER   Below is a list of flyers for non-profit organizations that have been shared with our District Office.  If you have a flyer for a non-profit event or organization that you would like to share with the community.  Please submit it to the District Office ( mquirke@gusdschools.org ) for approval.  If approved it will be included here in Monday Messages. Spark Creativity Studio provides hands-on, engaging classes and camps that feature Music, Art and STEM.  Fall classes launching now! Spark Creativity STEAM 2024-2025 Flyer Move Over Mozart Flyer The Sonoma County Office of Education is offering Family Workshops.  See Flyer to right. Virtual Workshops for Parents and Caregivers Offered in English and Spanish Flyer The West County Softball Association is a non-profit community recreational softball organization dedicated to the skill and social development of girls from ages 4 to 14 years old based in Sebastopol, and they have players from all over West County, Marin County and beyond.  Check out their website and flyers to the right. West County Softball Website West County Softball Spring 2025 Softball Season Flyer in   English   or   Spanish CPI (Child Parent Institute) Classes October 2024 Class Schedule October Class List November 2024 Class Schedule November Class List   GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD   Gregory Appling, President - gappling@gusdschools.org Paula Braunschweig, Clerk -  pbraunschweig@gusdschools.org Jeri McNeill, Trustee -   jmcneill@gusdschools.org Laura de la Roz, Trustee -  ldelaroz@gusdschools.org Z achary Saltzberg, Trustee -   zsaltzberg@gusdschools.org   DISTRICT WEBSITE LINK     GUSD DISTRICT ADMIN TEAM   Will Deeths wdeeths@gusdschools.org Keri Pugno kpugno@gusdschools.org Matt McDowell mmcdowell@gusdschools.org  

Sunday, Nov 03 2024

Monday Messages October 28, 2024 for GUSD Families!

GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT Monday Message October 28, 2024   A MESSAGE FROM GUSD ADMINISTRATION   Mark Your Calendars Tuesday, October 29th, 12pm - HMS - Sonoma County 8th Grade Presentation Thursday, October 31st, 9am - GRAV - Halloween Parade - Grades TK-2nd Thursday, October 31st, 11am - GRAV - Halloween Parade - Grades 3rd-5th Friday, November 1st - GUSD - NO SCHOOL Wednesday, November 5th  - GUSD -  Make-up Picture Day Thursday, November 7th, 5pm - GPA - Dine and Donate at The Rewind Monday, November 11th - GUSD - NO SCHOOL Tuesday, November 12th, 5pm - GUSD - Board Meeting Wednesday, November 20th, 6pm - GPA - Meeting Monday, November 25th to Friday, November 29th - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break Reminder - No School School will be closed Friday, November 1 - this is a built-in Emergency Day School will be closed Monday, November 11 - Veteran's Day School will be closed Monday, November 25 to Friday, November 29th - Thanksgiving Holiday   GUSD Gardens and Food Service Made the News! Link to Savoring Sonoma on KRCB Tune in at 6:00pm on Sunday night!  This past Thursday, Clark Wolf of local radio station KRCB came to both campuses to tape interviews for an hour-long segment on  a recent garden grant we received and the connections to our own food service program.  Tune in to FM 104.9 this Sunday evening at 6:00 to hear the interview on Savoring Sonoma!  Afterwards, the program will be  archived for future reference .   Lunch Menu To view the entire November menu click here for  English  or  Spanish .   Fruits &/or Veggies are offered with all meals.  Meals are not offered a la carte.  Menu items are subject to change.  All student meals are free of charge.  A completed   Medical Statement to Request Accommodations  letter to the office is required to accommodate any dietary restrictions or vegetarian/vegan requests. S = Mid-Morning Snack  L = Lunch Mon 28 Tue 29 Wed 30 Thu 31 Fri 1 S:  Cereal Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Waffles Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Cinnamon Crumble Fruits and/or Veggies S:  French Toast Fruits and/or Veggies NO SCHOOL L:  Hot Dog Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Nachos Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Ultimate Baked Potato Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chicken Strips Fruit and/or Veggies Mon 4 Tues 5 Wed 6 Thu 7 Fri 8 S:  Cereal Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Danish Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Bagel with  Cream Cheese Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Muffin Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Waffles Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Mozzarella Pull Aparts Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chicken Quesadilla Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Ham Sandwich Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chicken Nuggets Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Pasta Fruit and/or Veggies   GRAVENSTEIN PARENT ASSOCIATION   Another Jog-A-Thon has Run Its Course! Thank you to everyone who sponsored a student, volunteered at the event and donated supplies!  The kids had a wonderful time!  Please make sure all donations are received by November 5th with checks made payable to Gravenstein Parent Association or GPA.  All donations help GPA fund the enrichment teachers and classroom support at our schools.  We can offer these much needed programs due to your amazing support, so THANK YOU PARENTS AND FAMILIES!  Also a huge THANK YOU to teachers and staf for making this event possible! Don't forget to have your child continue to wear their jog-a-thon t-shirt EVERY FRIDAY as spirit wear! Let's keep the momentum going!  Corporate matching is a GREAT way to increase your donation.  Ask your employer about corporate matching opportunities.  You can find us on Benevity under Gravenstein Schools Magnet Program Foundation.   The above is GPA's Spotlight on Enrichment and features Spencer Burrows.  To see the same information in Spanish, click here .   Upcoming Events Check in with your Grade Level Parents for any upcoming events for your child's grade level!! GPA Holiday Faire - A NEW EVENT! - Saturday, December 7th at Hillcrest Hall.  Save the date! For more event information, or to sign-up to volunteer at future events, please visit the "Event Details" page on our website:   www.wearegpa.com   Upcoming Board Meeting: Wednesday, October 16 at 6:00pm Hillcrest Middle School in Room 5 Join via Google Meet Join by phone ‪(US) +1 530-430-7704‬ PIN: ‪188 694 989‬#   Follow Us On Social Media Stay up to date in the quickest way by following us on Facebook and Instagram .   Tag your photos with #wearegpa to show your school pride! Contact GPA email:   wearegpa@wearegpa.com Website:   www.wearegpa.com   WHAT'S NEW at GRAVENSTEIN ELEMENTARY?   Drop Off and Pick Up For everyone's safety, please DO NOT PASS in the left lane on Twig Avenue.  This is against the law and very  dangerous. Please remember to drive slowly, safely, and with patience!   Lost and Found Lost and Found is out of control!  Please make sure to have your student look through the pile for any missing clothes.  Everything will be donated after next week!   Get Ready for the Halloween Costume Parade On Thursday, 10/31, we will host  TWO  costume parades.  At  9:00 , students in grades  TK-K-1-2  will head out to the upper yard and make  two  laps of our track. Parents and grade 3-4-5 classes will be invited to be the audience. At  11:00 , the grade  3-4-5  students will follow the same route, with parents and our younger students invited to be the audience members.  Posters, bubbles, decorations are welcome!  Parents are invited to attend that morning and take pictures.  Parents and guests should head directly to the track for our parade.  The parade path will go around the track and parents can spread out along the track to cheer on those in costume. Please try to carpool to help with parking and to park safely and legally.  To avoid a parking violation, please make sure to park safely and in accordance with all laws (do not block mailboxes or private driveways). Costume reminders:  All students TK – 5th grade will be allowed to dress in costume for the Halloween Parade and parties on October 31.  We ask that parents use discretion when choosing the costumes worn at school.  All costumes must be appropriate for viewing by even our youngest students - many TK students are still four years old!  Students wearing costumes that are determined to be inappropriate, unsafe, offensive, or too frightening, will be asked to change and/or not be allowed to participate in the schoolwide parade.   Students are not allowed to bring in costume props/weapons of any type (toy guns, toy knives, swords, scythes, etc.) as part of their costumes.   Examples of costumes that are not appropriate for the Gravenstein parade include characters from horror movies and costumes/make-up displaying bloody wounds.  Students may wear costumes that have a mask, but the mask can only be worn during the parade.  If there are any questions, please reach out to Mr. McDowell ( mmcdowell@gusdschools.org )   Jog-A-Thon What a great three day event.   Huge thank you to GPA for putting on such a successful event  and to all of our parent volunteers for making the day special for our students!   3rd Grade Outdoor Ed Our 3rd Grade classes went to Learning Laguna for outdoor education this week.   3rd Grade Square Dancing On Monday the 3rd Grade classes learned how to Square Dance!   They are preparing for their upcoming Charlotte's Web event!   4th Grade Has Their Annual Bike Riding Field Trip Last week, our Gravenstein 4th graders were lucky enough to go on an epic bike riding field trip!  This annual adventure had students cruising along the West County Regional Trail from Forestville to Graton and back.  Parent volunteers loaded up over 100 bikes, transported them to the trail head, and rode alongside students for the six mile trip.  With the help of Gravenstein Board President Gregory Appling and the Graton Fire Department, road crossings were handled, bikes in need of minor repairs were fixed, and the trip was a huge success.  The fourth grade teachers would also like to acknowledge Suzi Mattish, who helps make the trip a success each year by setting the pace, leading the cycling group, and co hosts a bike ride safety assembly for all students participating in the ride.  Go Grizzlies, Go!   25-26 School Year Enrollment Information Campus tours begin this month and more tours are available throughout the school year!  Do you have students eligible for TK next school year and want to learn more about our TK program?  Have family friends that are interested in our incredible school?  Please sign up using the link below for campus tours. Gravenstein Elementary Campus Tour Sign Up   Gravenstein Field Trip Donation Requests We are excited to announce that we are now able to accept donations for field trips online!!  In case you missed a field trip donation request or didn't have a chance to donate at the time, here is another chance. Clink the links below to be directed to our recent donation requests.  Donations are not required however in order for Gravenstein Elementary School to keep offering these amazing experiences to our students, we need our school communities' support!! Kinder Field Trips - Hillier Kinder Field Trips - MacInnis Kinder Field Trips - Redfern Kinder Field Trips - Triv 1st Grade Field Trips - Clement 1st Grade Field Trips - Dellosa 1st Grade Field Trips - Gloeckner 1st Grade Field Trips - Gorman 4th Grade Field Trips - Brown 4th Grade Field Trips - Cervantes 4th Grade Field Trips - Stevens 4th Grade Field Trips - Sully 2nd Grade Field Trip - Cal Skate - All Classes   Don’t Forget!  Follow us on our updated and active Facebook Page and on Instagram!  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GravensteinElementary Instagram:    @gravensteinelementary   WHAT'S NEW at HILLCREST MIDDLE SCHOOL?   Halloween Dress Up Day Thursday, October 31st is Halloween Dress Up Day.   Students may wear costumes to school that day.  Reminder - school rules still apply - all costumes and outfits must be school appropriate and follow dress code.  Also, no full face masks nor any kinds of weapons are allowed with your costume.  If you have questions about your costume, please check in with Mr. Deeths. Halloween Rally At 2:50 pm on Halloween we will hold a whole school rally in Hillcrest Hall! We will have a costume contest, games and other fun activities!   Sonoma Academy Presentation at Hillcrest Representatives  from Sonoma Academy will be making a presentation at lunch this week, October 29th, 2024 in the Hillcrest Band Room.  This is a great opportunity to learn more about what Sonoma Academy has to offer.   6th Grade Leadership Canned Food Drive Wednesday evening on October 23, beginning at 5:30pm, 6th grade leadership students met at Willard Libby Park in Sebastopol to embark on an evening of philanthropy, performing a canned food collection drive to donate to the Sonoma County Food Bank. Students got to experience the joy of selflessness and the importance of gratitude while practicing self control and respect for others that are less fortunate than themselves.   Advanced Dance to Perform at North Bay Dance Festival Hillcrest Advanced Dance will be performing at North Bay Dance Festival hosted by The Movement Lab.  The Show is November 9th at 5pm and 7:30pm at the El Molino Performing Arts Center.  Tickets are on sale online or at the door.   Online Ticket Sales   After School Reminder Students who are waiting on campus for after school sports or other school activities must go to Beyond the Bell (BTB) if they are enrolled in the BTB program.  If students are not part of the BTB program and are waiting on campus, they must be seated in the Duck Pond working on homework until their activity begins.  We are unable to provide direct supervision of students not in Beyond the Bell.  As a reminder, there is no school supervision of students who go to Hardcore coffee.   Analy Shadow Days Are you interested in having your student shadow at Analy?  If so, contact Sandra Jones at (707) 824-2319 to schedule a Shadow Day.     8th Grade Baby Photos Needed If you haven't already submitted a baby photo of your 8th Grader, please do it today.  You can submit your photo at the link below.  If you don't get your photo in by January 31, 2025 , it will not make it into the yearbook. Submit 8th Grader Baby Photo   Hillcrest Field Trip Information and Donation Requests We are excited to announce that we are now able to accept donations for field trips online!!  In case you missed a field trip donation request or didn't have a chance to donate at the time, here is another chance. Clink the links below to be directed to our recent donation requests.  Donations are not required however in order for Hillcrest Middle School to keep offering these amazing experiences to our students, we need our school communities' support!! 7th Grade Field Trips 8th Grade Overnight Trip 7th Grade Field Trip The time has come to start organizing our fantastic field trips for the 7th graders this year!  Below are three important items. Request for Chaperones :  Complete the google form to help us chaperone one, two or even all the field trips this year.  We need your help to make these trips happen. Here is the Chaperone Request Form Donation Request Digital Payment Link :  This link can be used to make a donation for the 7th grade field trips throughout the year.  You can donate all at once, as each field trips occurs, or in any installments that work best for you.  Use the 7th Grade Field Trips link (see above)  anytime to donate and help us to provide these fantastic field trips for the students.  If you prefer to write a check, please make the checks payable to:  GUSD and write "7th Grade Field Trips" in the subject line.  Deliver checks to the HMS Office. Field Trips for 2024-2025 :  Click the following links to see a pdf of all our 7th grade field trips this year and the dates of each trip.  Additionally, HMS Field Trip Behavior Guidelines are included. 7th Grade Field Trips for the Year in English or Spanish   Hillcrest Athletics Updated Sport Program Information In case you missed it, we sent out a message on July 26, 2024 regarding sports information for the 2024/25 school year and introducing our new Athletic Director.  Please click the link below to check it out.  You can also use the link to make a donation to the HMS Athletic department.   Link to Please read for updated Sports information!   Hillcrest Middle School does not require a fee to participate in athletics.  The Athletic Department, however, funds its programs primarily through  parent donations.   All donations are used toward purchasing new uniforms and equipment for our student athletes.  To help with this, we ask parents for a minimum donation of  $30  per sport.  For your convenience you can return the Donation form included in the Athletic Clearance Packet with check or cash, or you can pay via debit or credit card using the link above.   No child will be prevented from participating in a team due to financial circumstances!     Day Grade and Sport Home/Away VS Time Monday 10/28 8th Grade Flag Football Home Practice 4:15 - 6:00 6th Grade Girls Volleball - GOLD Away CCLA 4:15 - 5:15 7/8th Grade Girls Basketball Tournament Away Cali 7:15 - 8:15 Tuesday 10/29 6th Grade Girls Volleyball  Home Practice 5:30 - 7:00 Cross Country Practice Home Practice 5:45 - 7:00 7/8th Grade Girls Basketball Tournament Away Cali 6:15 - 8:15 Wednesday 10/30 8th Grade Flag Football Home Practice 3:30 - 5:30 7/8th Grade Girls Basketball Tournament Away Cali 4:15 - 8:15 6th Grade Girls Volleyball - GOLD Home Thomas Page 4:15 - 5:15 6th Grade Girls Volleyball Home Practice 5:15 - 6:30 Thursday 10/31 HALLOWEEN NO SPORTS TODAY Friday 01/01 EMERGENCY DAY SCHOOL CLOSED   Hillcrest Weekly Reminders Help Us Keep Your Student Safe and Engaged As a reminder to our families, the StopIt App is another tool to help keep our studentsd safe and engaged in school.   StopIt is an anonymous anti-bullying / school safety app that allows students and parents to report harmful, inappropriate or unsafe behaviour that may be happening on campus. Here the steps: Go to the App Store and download the StopIt app to any compatible device. Search for Hillcrest Middle School - Gravenstein That's it!  You are now ready to report any incident that may occur - your identity will never be known. Student Safety First In the mornings Unless your student is part of a zero period class or in the Beyond the Bell program, they are not to be dropped off BEFORE 8:00 am. In the afternoons This is an important reminder that students are NOT to be picked up on Bloomfield Road. Students may NOT walk up the stairs from Hillcrest to Bloomfield unless they are walking to their own home. We are sorry if this causes any inconvenience, we are only looking out for the safety of our students. School Cell Phone Policy Cell phones are only to be used after school in the Duck Pond to contact parents or guardians. Cell phones should be off and put away from the moment you arrive on campus. Any violation of the cell phone policy can lead to disciplinary action.   Keep up with Hillcrest Middle School on Instagram & Facebook Want to keep up with what is going on at Hillcrest?  Want to see photos and learn about what is going on in the classrooms of HMS?  Want to make sure you are updated on all the latest information and events on the campus?  If you said yes to any of these questions, be sure to follow Hillcrest’s Social Media Pages: Instagram - SoarHawksSoar Facebook - Hillcrest Middle School - Sebastopol     COUNSELORS' CORNER     Tips on Helping  Your Child Learn to Take Accountability For us adults, the concept of accountability is easy to understand.  If you’re responsible for a project at work that doesn’t get completed on time, you can be held accountable.  If you’re driving over the speed limit in your car, you can be held accountable.  However, the concept of accountability may be confusing for children, but understanding this idea is critical to the maturing process. When we talk about accountability, we are almost always using a negative connotation that is often associated with a repercussion or punishment of some sort.  And that truly is unfortunate – being “held accountable” is often used interchangeably with “held liable.”  But really, accountability is defined as accepting both the responsibility (or fault) as well as the results of one’s actions. When it comes to kids, accountability can be harder to instill.  To continue reading click here for  English  or  Spanish   Hillcrest Counseling Page Click on the link below to to view all the resources available to you and your family on the Hillcrest Counseling page. GUSD School Counseling Page     COMMUNITY CORNER   Below is a list of flyers for non-profit organizations that have been shared with our District Office.  If you have a flyer for a non-profit event or organization that you would like to share with the community.  Please submit it to the District Office ( mquirke@gusdschools.org ) for approval.  If approved it will be included here in Monday Messages. Spark Creativity Studio provides hands-on, engaging classes and camps that feature Music, Art and STEM.  Fall classes launching now! Spark Creativity STEAM 2024-2025 Flyer Move Over Mozart Flyer The Sonoma County Office of Education is offering Family Workshops.  See Flyer to right. Virtual Workshops for Parents and Caregivers Offered in English and Spanish Flyer Kiwanis Club of Sebastopol presents:  Free Halloween Fest! Thursday, October 31st, 4 - 8pm.  The event will be at Ives Park in Sebastopol.  See the flyer to the right for more information. Free Halloween Fest! CPI (Child Parent Institute) Classes October 2024 Class Schedule October Class List November 2024 Class Schedule November Class List   GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD   Gregory Appling, President - gappling@gusdschools.org Paula Braunschweig, Clerk -  pbraunschweig@gusdschools.org Jeri McNeill, Trustee -   jmcneill@gusdschools.org Laura de la Roz, Trustee -  ldelaroz@gusdschools.org Z achary Saltzberg, Trustee -   zsaltzberg@gusdschools.org   DISTRICT WEBSITE LINK     GUSD DISTRICT ADMIN TEAM   Will Deeths wdeeths@gusdschools.org Keri Pugno kpugno@gusdschools.org Matt McDowell mmcdowell@gusdschools.org  

Sunday, Oct 27 2024

Monday Messages October 21, 2024 for GUSD Families!

GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT Monday Message October 21, 2024   A MESSAGE FROM GUSD ADMINISTRATION   Mark Your Calendars Tuesday, October 22nd, 9:10-10:10am - GRAV - Jog-A-Thon - 4th Grade Tuesday, October 22nd, 11:00-12:00 - GRAV - Jog-A-Thon - 3rd Grade Wednesday, October 23rd, 9:20-10:20am - GRAV - Jog-A-Thon - 2nd Grade (with Haas) Wednesday, October 23rd, 10:40-11:40am - GRAV - Jog-A-Thon - 1st Grade Wednesday, October 23rd, 3:30pm - GUSD - Site Council Thursday, October 24th, 9-10am - GRAV - Jog-A-Thon - 5th Grade Thursday, October 24th, 10:20-11:05am - GRAV - Jog-A-Thon - Grades TK and K Friday, October 25th, 5:30-7:30pm - GPA - Halloween Skate Night Thursday, October 31st, 9am - GRAV - Halloween Parade - Grades TK-2nd Thursday, October 31st, 11am - GRAV - Halloween Parade - Grades 3rd-5th Friday, November 1st -  GUSD - NO SCHOOL Tuesday, November 5th - GUSD - MakeUp Photos (both schools) Thursday, November 7th, 5pm - GPA - Dine and Donate at the Rewind Tuesday, November 12th, 5pm  - GUSD -  Board Meeting Wednesday, November 20th, 6pm - GPA - GPA Meeting   Lunch Menu To view the entire October menu click here for  English  or  Spanish . Fruits &/or Veggies are offered with all meals.  Meals are not offered a la carte.  Menu items are subject to change.  All student meals are free of charge.  A completed   Medical Statement to Request Accommodations  letter to the office is required to accommodate any dietary restrictions or vegetarian/vegan requests. S = Mid-Morning Snack  L = Lunch Mon 21 Tues 22 Wed 23 Thu 24 Fri 25 S:  Cereal Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Pancake on a Stick Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Breakfast Pastry Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Cinnamon Roll Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Danish Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Turkey Sandwich Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Tamales Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Egg Rolls Fruit and/or Veggies L:  BBQ Drumstick Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Pizza Fruit and/or Veggies Mon 28 Tue 29 Wed 30 Thu 31 Fri 1 S:  Cereal Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Waffles Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Cinnamon Crumble Fruit and/or Veggies S:  French Toast Fruit and/or Veggies NO SCHOOL L:  Hot Dogs Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Nachos Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Ultimate Baked Potato Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chicken Strips Fruit and/or Veggies                                                 We are happy to share with our Gravenstein Families that the Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE) is introducing free mental health resources.  These resources are for all school families looking to better support the mental health of their children and teens.  The first resource is a  consultation line  that pairs mental health professionals with parents and caregivers looking for strategies and tools to support youth experiencing mental health or behavioral challenges.  The second resource is a  virtual workshop series  that covers key mental health topics impacting youth.  You can find the link to the  series in Spanish here , and the consultation line is also accessible in Spanish.  Watch the video to learn more about these amazing resources SCOE is sharing with our community.   GRAVENSTEIN PARENT ASSOCIATION   Congratulations to Our Jog-A-Thon T-Shirt Design Contest Winner GPA is grateful to offer T-shirts to all Jog-A-Thon participants on their scheduled day.  Remember to have your children continue to wear them EVERY FRIDAY to show their school spirit!  Thank you to our sponsors and Innovative Screen Printing for your support. It's Time for the 2024 Gravenstein Jog-A-Thon Please take a few minutes to register your child on PledgeStar and start gathering those jog/walk-a-thon donations!  Any level of donations helps GPA fund the enrichment teachers and classroom support at our schools.  We can offer these much needed programs at our schools with your amazing support! Excited to join the fun?  There are only a few spots left!  Sign up now to volunteer for our three-day extravaganza!  Click here to sign up:   SignUp Genius Link or scan the QR code:   Upcoming Events Halloween Skate Night at Cal Skate, Friday, October 25th, 5:30pm - 7:30pm. Dine and Donate at The Rewind to Support GPA.  Thursday, November 7th, 5 - 10pm. For more event information, or to sign-up to volunteer at future events, please visit the "Event Details page on our website:   www.wearegpa.com   Upcoming Board Meeting: Wednesday, November 20 at 6:00pm Hillcrest Middle School in Room 5 Join via Google Meet Join by phone ‪(US) +1 530-430-7704‬ PIN: ‪188 694 989‬#   Follow Us On Social Media Stay up to date in the quickest way by following us on Facebook and Instagram .   Tag your photos with #wearegpa to show your school pride! Contact GPA email:   wearegpa@wearegpa.com Website:   www.wearegpa.com   WHAT'S NEW at GRAVENSTEIN ELEMENTARY?   Drop Off and Pick Up For everyone's safety, please  DO NOT PASS  in the left lane on Twig avenue.  This is against the law and very dangerous. Please remember to drive slowly, safely, and with patience!    Jog-A-Thon Jog-a-Thon is THIS WEEK!!!  Make sure your student wears proper footwear for the event!  Shirts will be provided to students the day of the event.  Please see the GPA area for more information on how to help support and sponsor your student! 10/22: 4th Grade 9:10-10:10 and 3rd Grade 11:00-12:00 10/23: 2nd Grade(with Haas) 9:20-10:20 and 1st Grade 10:40-11:40 10/24: 5th Grade 9:00-10:00 and TK/K 10:20-11:05      Get Ready for the Halloween Costume Parade On Thursday, 10/31, we will host  TWO  costume parades.  At  9:00 , students in grades  TK-K-1-2  will head out to the upper yard and make  two  laps of our track. Parents and grade 3-4-5 classes will be invited to be the audience.  At  11:00 , the grade  3-4-5  students will follow the same route, with parents and our younger students invited to be the audience members.  Posters, bubbles, decorations are welcome!  Parents are invited to attend that morning and take pictures.  Parents and guests should head directly to the track for our parade.  The parade path will go around the track and parents can spread out along the track to cheer on those in costume.  Please try to carpool to help with parking and to park safely and legally.  To avoid a parking violation, please make sure to park safely and in accordance with all laws (do not block mailboxes or private driveways). Costume reminders:  All students TK – 5th grade will be allowed to dress in costume for the Halloween Parade and parties on October 31.  We ask that parents use discretion when choosing the costumes worn at school.  All costumes must be appropriate for viewing by even our youngest students - many TK students are still four years old!  Students wearing costumes that are determined to be inappropriate, unsafe, offensive, or too frightening, will be asked to change and/or not be allowed to participate in the schoolwide parade.   Students are not allowed to bring in costume props/weapons of any type (toy guns, toy knives, swords, scythes, etc.) as part of their costumes.   Examples of costumes that are not appropriate for the Gravenstein parade include characters from horror movies and costumes/make-up displaying bloody wounds.  If there are any questions, please reach out to Mr. McDowell ( mmcdowell@gusdschools.org )   TK Firefighter Visit October is Fire Prevention Month and TK had a special visit from Brandon Richarson, a Firefighter last week!  The students learned about firefighting and the equipment used!   25/26 School Year Enrollment Information Campus tours begin this month and more tours are available throughout the school year! Do you have students eligible for TK next school year and want to learn more about our TK program? Have family friends that are interested in our incredible school? Please sign up using the link below for campus tours. Gravenstein Elementary Campus Tour Sign Up Gravenstein Field Trip Donation Requests We are excited to announce that we are now able to accept donations for field trips online!!  In case you missed a field trip donation request or didn't have a chance to donate at the time, here is another chance. Clink the links below to be directed to our recent donation requests.  Donations are not required however in order for Gravenstein Elementary School to keep offering these amazing experiences to our students, we need our school communities' support!! Kinder Field Trips - Hillier Kinder Field Trips - MacInnis Kinder Field Trips - Redfern Kinder Field Trips - Triv 1st Grade Field Trips - Clement 1st Grade Field Trips - Dellosa 1st Grade Field Trips - Gloeckner 1st Grade Field Trips - Gorman 4th Grade Field Trips - Brown 4th Grade Field Trips - Cervantes 4th Grade Field Trips - Stevens 4th Grade Field Trips - Sully   Don’t Forget!  Follow us on our updated and active Facebook Page and on Instagram!  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GravensteinElementary Instagram:    @gravensteinelementary   WHAT'S NEW at HILLCREST MIDDLE SCHOOL?   7/8 Leadership students are working on a mural project currently.   Sebastopol Hardware generously donated all of the materials.   Spa Day was an expansion on the Life Skills of personal grooming and self care.  Students learned some skin care techniques, as well as that it can be fun and relaxing to clean the face.   For reasons that are still not entirely clear to me, they insisted that candy salad was a crucial part of a spa day.   Halloween Dress UP Day Thursday, October 31st is Halloween Dress Up Day.   Students may wear costumes to school that day.  Reminder - school rules still apply - all costumes and outfits must be school appropriate and follow dress code. Also, no full face masks nor any kinds of weapons are allowed with your costume.  If you have questions about your costume, please check in with Mr. Deeths.   8th Grade Overnight Trip 8th Grade Families,  Complete the below Google form with your child  in order to submit their car and roommate requests for our 8th Grade Overnight Trip. 8th Grade Overnight Car and Roommate Request Form Complete the above form no later than next Friday, October 25, 2024.   Requests submitted late may not be honored. Reach out with any questions! 8th Grade Teachers   After School Reminder Students who are waiting on campus for after school sports or other school activities must go to Beyond the Bell (BTB) if they are enrolled in the BTB program.  If students are not part of the BTB program and are waiting on campus, they must be seated in the Duck Pond working on homework until their activity begins.  We are unable to provide direct supervision of students not in Beyond the Bell.  As a reminder, there is no school supervision of students who go to Hardcore coffee.   Analy Shadow Days Are interested in having your student shadow at Analy?  If so, contact Sandra Jones at 707- 824-2319 to schedule a Shadow Day.   Lost and Found Please come yourself or have your student look through our Lost and Found collection.  Weather permitting, it will be out in front of the Hillcrest Main Office. Any items remaining, after school, on Friday, October 25th, will be collected and donated.     Hillcrest Field Trip Donation Requests We are excited to announce that we are now able to accept donations for field trips online!!  In case you missed a field trip donation request or didn't have a chance to donate at the time, here is another chance. Clink the links below to be directed to our recent donation requests.  Donations are not required however in order for Hillcrest Middle School to keep offering these amazing experiences to our students, we need our school communities' support!! 8th Grade Overnight Trip Hillcrest Athletics Updated Sport Program Information In case you missed it, we sent out a message on July 26, 2024 regarding sports information for the 2024/25 school year and introducing our new Athletic Director.  Please click the link below to check it out.  You can also use the link to make a donation to the HMS Athletic department.   Link to Please read for updated Sports information! Hillcrest Athletics!  Congratulations to our 6th grade flag football team!  They won their final game, Friday at El Molino.  What an incredible season. This week our 7th and 8th grade flag football teams will also play their last games.  It’s been amazing watching everyone play.  We have such amazing athletes!  I’m so proud to be a part of such strong teams!  Our 7/8th grade basketball team’s season is coming to an end. Also, incredible athletes and amazing games to watch.  I can’t wait to see you and the 8th grade boys rule the championship tournament Halloween week!!  Our 8th grade teams will be playing Monday-Wednesday for championship titles.  More information will be out this week.  Come down to Hillcrest field Thursday, the 24th to watch the 6th and 7th grade flag football teams battle for bragging rights!!  It’s going to be fun!  We will be continuing to take pictures of the players this Wednesday during our enrichment schedule.  Please have your athlete bring their jerseys this day if they still need their photo taken.   Day Grade and Sport Home/Away VS Time Monday 10/21 7th/8th Grade Girls Basketball Home Practice 3:30 - 5:00 8th Grade Flag Football Home Windsor 4:15 - 5:15 6th Grade Girls Volleyball Home Practice 5:30 - 7:00 Tuesday 10/22 7th Grade Flag Football Home Practice 3:15 - 4:30 6th Grade Girls Volleyball - BLUE Away Brookhaven 4:15 - 5:15 7/8th Grade Girls Basketball Away Comstock 4:15 - 5:15 Cross Country Practice Home Practice 5:45 - 7:00 Wednesday 10/23 7th Grade Flag Football Away CALI 4:15 - 5:15 8th Grade Flag Football Away CALI 5:15 - 6:15 Cross Country Home Practice 5:45 - 7:00 Thursday 10/24 6th vs 7th Flag Football Scrimmage Home Hillcrest Scrimmage 4:15 - 5:15 7/8th Grade Girls Basketball Home 4:15 - 5:15 6th Grade Girls Volleyball Home Practice 5:30 - 7:00 Friday 10/25 Cross Country Meet 2024 Away Riverfront  Regional Park 4:30 - 6:30 8th Grade Flag Football Away TECH 5:15 - 6:15 Hillcrest Weekly Reminders 8th Grade Baby Photos 8th Grade Baby Photos for Yearbook  Deadline is January 31, 2025  Submit at link below   Baby Photo Submissions Student Safety First In the mornings Unless your student is part of a zero period class or in the Beyond the Bell program, they are not to be dropped off BEFORE 8:00 am. In the afternoons This is an important reminder that students are NOT to be picked up on Bloomfield Road. Students may NOT walk up the stairs from Hillcrest to Bloomfield unless they are walking to their own home. We are sorry if this causes any inconvenience, we are only looking out for the safety of our students. School Cell Phone Policy Cell phones are only to be used after school in the Duck Pond to contact parents or guardians. Cell phones should be off and put away from the moment you arrive on campus. Any violation of the cell phone policy can lead to disciplinary action. Help Keep Our Students Safe and Engaged As a reminder to our families, the StopIt app is another tool to help keep our students safe and engaged in school.   StopIt is an anonymous anti-bullying / school safety app that allows students and parents to report harmful, inappropriate or unsafe behavior that may be happening on campus.  Here are the steps:   Go to the App Store and download the Stop It app to any compatible device Search for Hillcrest Middle School - Gravenstein That’s it! You are now ready to report any incident that may occur- your identity will never be known.   Keep up with Hillcrest Middle School on Instagram & Facebook Want to keep up with what is going on at Hillcrest?  Want to see photos and learn about what is going on in the classrooms of HMS?  Want to make sure you are updated on all the latest information and events on the campus?  If you said yes to any of these questions, be sure to follow Hillcrest’s Social Media Pages: Instagram - SoarHawksSoar Facebook - Hillcrest Middle School - Sebastopol     COUNSELORS' CORNER         October marks ADHD Awareness Month, an important time to raise awareness and provide reliable information about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This Year's theme, "Awareness is Key!", encourages everyone to learn about ADHD and share resources to help individuals and families affected by this condition.  Not only is it important to bring awareness to ADHD, but it is also important to understand and support people with ADHD in a year-round effort that can make a significant difference in their lives. What is ADHD? ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a person's ability to focus, stay organized, and control impulses.  It often presents in childhood, with symptoms such as restlessness, difficulty concentrating, and impulsive behavior becoming noticeable when a child enters school.  ADHD, which stands for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is a neurodivergent condition that affects both children and adults worldwide. ADHD is a lifelong condition that is often stereotypically associated with hyperactivity, lack of focus, and 'disruptive behavior', particularly in school.  However, people with ADHD are also creative problem solvers, capable of deep focus on tasks that interest them and bring innovation to their work. Below are a few helpful links on how to support your child with ADHD: ADHD Parenting Tips What Parents Can Do To Help Children Living with ADHD ADHD Awareness Month   Hillcrest Counseling Page Click on the link below to to view all the resources available to you and your family on the Hillcrest Counseling page. GUSD School Counseling Page     COMMUNITY CORNER   Below is a list of flyers for non-profit organizations that have been shared with our District Office.  If you have a flyer for a non-profit event or organization that you would like to share with the community.  Please submit it to the District Office ( mquirke@gusdschools.org ) for approval.  If approved it will be included here in Monday Messages. Spark Creativity Studio provides hands-on, engaging classes and camps that feature Music, Art and STEM.  Fall classes launching now! Spark Creativity STEAM 2024-2025 Flyer Move Over Mozart Flyer The Sonoma County Office of Education is offering Family Workshops.  See Flyer to right. Virtual Workshops for Parents and Caregivers Offered in English and Spanish Flyer CPI (Child Parent Institute) Classes October 2024 Class Schedule October Class List   GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD   Gregory Appling, President - gappling@gusdschools.org Paula Braunschweig, Clerk -  pbraunschweig@gusdschools.org Jeri McNeill, Trustee -   jmcneill@gusdschools.org Laura de la Roz, Trustee -  ldelaroz@gusdschools.org Z achary Saltzberg, Trustee -   zsaltzberg@gusdschools.org   DISTRICT WEBSITE LINK     GUSD DISTRICT ADMIN TEAM   Will Deeths wdeeths@gusdschools.org Keri Pugno kpugno@gusdschools.org Matt McDowell mmcdowell@gusdschools.org  

Sunday, Oct 20 2024

Monday Messages October, 14, 2024 for GUSD Families

GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT Monday Message October 14, 2024   A MESSAGE FROM GUSD ADMINISTRATION   Mark Your Calendars Wednesday, October 16th, 6pm - GPA - Meeting (All are welcome) Friday, October 18th - GRAV - 4th Grade Field Trip - Bike Ride Event Friday, October 18th, 4-6pm - DEIB - Costume Exchange Tuesday, October 22nd, 9:10-10:10am - GRAV - Jog-A-Thon - 4th Grade Tuesday, October 22nd, 11:00-12:00 - GRAV - Jog-A-Thon - 3rd Grade Wednesday, October 23rd, 9:20-10:20am - GRAV - Jog-A-Thon - 2nd Grade (with Haas) Wednesday, October 23rd, 10:40-11:40am - GRAV - Jog-A-Thon - 1st Grade Wednesday, October 23rd, 3:30pm - GUSD - Site Council Thursday, October 24th, 9-10am - GRAV - Jog-A-Thon - 5th Grade Thursday, October 24th, 10:20-11:05am - GRAV - Jog-A-Thon - Grades TK and K Thursday, October 31st, 9am - GRAV - Halloween Parade - Grades TK-2nd Thursday, October 31st, 11am - GRAV - Halloween Parade - Grades 3rd-5th Friday, November 1st - GUSD - NO SCHOOL Tuesday, November 5th - GUSD - MakeUp Photos (both schools) Thursday, November 7th, 5pm - GPA - Dine and Donate at the Rewind   GUSD Celebrates Crunch N' Munch Last Thursday, students on both campuses celebrated Crunch N' Munch Day.  Our food service program contracted with local, organic apple farmers to bring a tasty treat to our students.  Everyone was able to taste and enjoy a new type of apple - a Hawaii Apple! Hawaii apples are a cross between Gravenstein and Golden Delicious apples.  Thank you to Devoto Farms for providing the apples and to our own Shawna Brumley and Chuck Neidhoefer for bringing this awareness to our schools.   Lunch Menu To view the entire October menu click here for  English  or  Spanish . Fruits &/or Veggies are offered with all meals.  Meals are not offered a la carte.  Menu items are subject to change.  All student meals are free of charge.  A completed   Medical Statement to Request Accommodations  letter to the office is required to accommodate any dietary restrictions or vegetarian/vegan requests. S = Mid-Morning Snack  L = Lunch Mon 14 Tues 15 Wed 16 Thu 17 Fri 18 S:  Cereal Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Pancake on a Stick Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Breakfast Burrito Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Bagel &  Cream Cheese Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Muffin Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Mozzarella Pull Aparts Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chili & Corn Bread Fruit and/or Veggies L:  BBQ Rib Sandwich Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chicken Nuggets Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Pasta Fruit and/or Veggies Mon 21 Tue 22 Wed 23 Thu 24 Fri 25 S:  Cereal Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Pancake on a Stick Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Breakfast Pastry Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Cinnamon Roll Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Danish Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Turkey Sandwich Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Tamales Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Egg Rolls Fruit and/or Veggies L:  BBQ Drumstick Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Pizza Fruit and/or Veggies   Costume Exchange Just in Time for Halloween The DEIB Committee will be hosting a Costume Exchange on the Gravenstein Campus in the MPR on October 18th, from 4 to 6pm.  If you have costumes to donate, please bring them.  That being said you don't need to bring a costume to get a costume.  We do ask that children/students are accompanied by a parent.   Beyond the Bell Families!! Thank you to all the families who have donated items to our BTB program!  As we have shared, the kids love our Maker's cart on Wednesdays, and Perler beads are always such a hit and so great for hand/eye coordination!  I have even been taking Perler beads and new patterns to Hillcrest BTB and the big kids still love them!  It's a lot of fun watching the middle schoolers create more detailed patterns, like Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Squishmallow! Our sports fans really love all the new equipment.  As I look at the number of kids, and our ever-changing weather patterns, I would like to throw out a request for some items to help us get ready for days we are stuck indoors, whether it's due to the rain, cold, or heat!  Please take a look at the Amazon wish list to see if you could supply some items for our afternoons.  As always, recyclables and unused items are always welcome!  Also, our Beyond the Bell Store at Gravenstein is more popular  than ever!  If you have items left over from birthday parties, prizes, or something your child simply outgrew, consider donating them to our BTB Store! BTB Amazon Wish List Also, a special thank you to the Place Family for caring about our school and our environment.  After being a part of our Gravenstein community for over 5 years and participating in many field trips, classroom parties, and field days, MacKenzie began advocating for our school to have a supply of reusable water balloons for our end of the year field days!  Thank you so much MacKenzie for your generous donation!  If anyone else would like to donate reusable water balloons for this year's events, and years to come, please see the link below at Amazon.  Any BTB donations can be directly mailed to:  attn: BTB   Gravenstein Elementary 3840 Twig Ave Sebastopol, CA  95472 Or you can drop them off in the front office.  Reusable Water Balloons on Amazon Thank you again for all of your support!  We love spending our afternoons with your children!   GRAVENSTEIN PARENT ASSOCIATION   Our Neon Themed Jog-A-Thon is Coming! It’s time for the 2024 Gravenstein Jog-A-Thon!  Please take a few minutes to register your child on PledgeStar:   pledgestar.com/gravenstein  and start gathering those jog/walk-a-thon donations!  Any level of donation helps GPA fund the enrichment teachers and classroom support at our schools.  We can offer these much needed programs at our schools with your amazing support!  Pledge forms went home this week and are due to your student's teacher on or before October 21st.   Thank you to our generous  local businesses for being our sponsors this year!!  GPA is extremely grateful for their support and donations that will help  benefit the enrichment programs for GUSD!  If you are in need of any of these services or want to check them out, please click on their links below and learn more.   Supporting local businesses is a win for everyone!   Upcoming Events Dine and Donate at The Rewind to Support GPA.  Thursday, November 7th, 5 - 10pm. For more event information, or to sign-up to volunteer at future events, please visit the "Event Details page on our website:   www.wearegpa.com   Upcoming Board Meeting: Wednesday, October 16 at 6:00pm Hillcrest Middle School in Room 5 Join via Google Meet Join by phone ‪(US) +1 530-430-7704‬ PIN: ‪188 694 989‬#   Follow Us On Social Media Stay up to date in the quickest way by following us on Facebook and Instagram .   Tag your photos with #wearegpa to show your school pride! Contact GPA email:   wearegpa@wearegpa.com Website:   www.wearegpa.com   WHAT'S NEW at GRAVENSTEIN ELEMENTARY?   New Bus Stop Open to All Is morning or afternoon traffic getting to you?  Try out the new (FREE!) stop at:  Hessel Church at 5060 Hessel Avenue, Sebastopol .  Students should arrive at 8:00 AM in time for pickup scheduled at 8:04 AM.  In the afternoon, the bus is scheduled to arrive back at Hessel Church at 2:15 PM on Wednesdays and 3:55 PM the rest of the week.    Jog-A-Thon 2024 is Just a Few Weeks Away! 10/22: 4th Grade 9:10-10:10 and 3rd Grade 11:00-12:00 10/23: 2nd Grade(with Haas) 9:20-10:20 and 1st Grade 10:40-11:40 10/24: 5th Grade 9:00-10:00 and TK/K 10:20-11:05   Get Ready for the Halloween Costume Parade On Thursday, 10/31, we will host  TWO  costume parades.  At  9:00 , students in grades  TK-K-1-2  will head out to the upper yard and make  two  laps of our track. Parents and grade 3-4-5 classes will be invited to be the audience.  At  11:00 , the grade  3-4-5  students will follow the same route, with parents and our younger students invited to be the audience members.  Posters, bubbles, decorations are welcome!  Parents are invited to attend that morning and take pictures.  Parents and guests should head directly to the track for our parade.  The parade path will go around the track and parents can spread out along the track to cheer on those in costume.  Costume reminders : All students TK – 5th grade will be allowed to dress in costume for the Halloween Parade and parties on October 31.  We ask that parents use discretion when choosing the costumes worn at school.  All costumes must be appropriate for viewing by even our youngest students - many TK students are still four years old!  Students wearing costumes that are determined to be inappropriate, unsafe, offensive, or too frightening, will be asked to change and/or not be allowed to participate in the schoolwide parade.   Students are not allowed to bring in costume props/weapons of any type (toy guns, toy knives, swords, scythes, etc.) as part of their costumes.   Examples of costumes that are not appropriate for the Gravenstein parade include characters from horror movies and costumes/make-up displaying bloody wounds.  If there are any questions, please reach out to Mr. McDowell ( mmcdowell@gusdschools.org )   Gravenstein Field Trip Donation Requests We are excited to announce that we are now able to accept donations for field trips online!!  In case you missed a field trip donation request or didn't have a chance to donate at the time, here is another chance. Clink the links below to be directed to our recent donation requests.  Donations are not required however in order for Gravenstein Elementary School to keep offering these amazing experiences to our students, we need our school communities' support!! Kinder Field Trips - Hillier Kinder Field Trips - MacInnis Kinder Field Trips - Redfern Kinder Field Trips - Triv 1st Grade Field Trips - Clement 1st Grade Field Trips - Dellosa 1st Grade Field Trips - Gloeckner 1st Grade Field Trips - Gorman 4th Grade Field Trips - Brown 4th Grade Field Trips - Cervantes 4th Grade Field Trips - Stevens 4th Grade Field Trips - Sully   Don’t Forget!  Follow us on our updated and active Facebook Page and on Instagram!  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GravensteinElementary Instagram:    @gravensteinelementary   WHAT'S NEW at HILLCREST MIDDLE SCHOOL?   Matilda Jr. Auditions Take Place This Week Mr. Collins holds a meeting for students interested in being a part of this years musical!  See image to the left. Auditions for the Spring Musical Matilda Jr. will take place Monday October 14th & Tuesday October 15th after school from 3:30 to 5:00 pm. For more information see Mr. Collins! The Schedule: Auditions for speaking and singing roles : Monday, Oct. 14, 3:30 - 5:00 Tuesday, Oct. 15, 3:30 - 5:00 Callbacks : Thursday, Oct. 17, 3:30 - 4:30 Cast Announcement : Friday, Oct. 18, Lunchtime Rehearsals begin Monday Oct. 21 Mondays and Thursdays, 3:30 - 5:30 Performances : March 6, 7, 8, 2025 Tech Crew : Lights, Sound, Stage Crew - Training begins in January Set Design Class : Wednesday Enrichment Class 1st and 2nd Trimester   8th Grade Overnight Trip-Drivers NEEDED! We are in need of at least one more driver chaperone!  We need to have at least one more Driver sign up and be approved to drive by October 31st, 2024 or we will need to make a decision whether we can still hold the trip!  Please contact Ms. Freese at  jfreese@gusdschools.org  if you would like to drive and chaperone on this trip.  Thank you for your support!   After School Reminder Students who are waiting on campus for after school sports or other school activities must go to Beyond the Bell (BTB) if they are enrolled in the BTB program.  If students are not part of the BTB program and are waiting on campus, they must be seated in the Duck Pond working on homework until their activity begins.  We are unable to provide direct supervision of students not in Beyond the Bell.  As a reminder, there is no school supervision of students who go to Hardcore coffee.   Trimester 1 Grades Reminder families - Trimester 1 ends in under a month!  Don’t be surprised when that envelope arrives - login to Schoolwise on a regular basis to check your progress and grades!   Analy Showcase Night & Shadow Days Analy High School's Showcase Night for incoming freshmen will be on Thursday, October 17th, from 6:00-8:00pm this year.  Are interested in having your student shadow at Analy?  If so, contact Sandra Jones at 707- 824-2319 to schedule a Shadow Day.   Technology High Showcase Nights Come see what Technology High School has to offer to incoming Freshman. Wednesday, October 16th at 6:00 pm.   Lost and Found Please have your student look through our Lost and Found collection.   Any items remaining, after school, on Friday, October 25th, will be collected and donated.   A student created this flower design in Lifeskills class!!   Ms. Reed had the class create opjects from items found around the campus.     Hillcrest Field Trip Donation Requests We are excited to announce that we are now able to accept donations for field trips online!!  In case you missed a field trip donation request or didn't have a chance to donate at the time, here is another chance. Clink the links below to be directed to our recent donation requests.  Donations are not required however in order for Hillcrest Middle School to keep offering these amazing experiences to our students, we need our school communities' support!! 8th Grade Overnight Trip Hillcrest Athletics Team Updates Our Flag Football Teams are back in action and all teams look strong! Our Hawks dominated the league this week with wins in all grades 6th, 7th, and 8th!!!  Way to go Hawks!! 7/8th Girls Basketball Team played hard and  We’re 1 and 1 this week!  Keep it up girls, you are amazing! Our 2nd Cross Country Meet, again our boys took all three first place medals in all grade levels; 6th, 7th, and 8th!  Amazing job!! Next week, our 6th grade girls Volleyball Teams will begin playing games.  They have been practicing so hard!  I can’t wait to see them play.  Good luck girls! Athletics Calendar Remember our most up to date calendar of games and practices is now on our Athletics page on our school website - Hillcrest Athletics Webpage We Can't Have Sports Withou Coaches!! Huge thank you to all our coaches for helping each other this entire season, and working as a team this week!  7th grade Flag Football Coach Cody Lewis, had an important family engagement and was unable to attend a game.  6th grade Coaches, Cade and Bryce, stepped in and were amazing!  It was energetic and the kids had so much fun playing with them.  Also in attendance to assist, Mr. Evan Clinton, everyone’s favorite IA and last year's Coach to this team!  Coach Bond, assistant coach of most 6th grade sports last year, including our girls flag football team, assisted from the sidelines.  Thank you everyone for coming to help out! This year started out with Coach Bond and Lewis Coaching 7th grade together and Coach Lewis graciously took the lead when Coach Bond suffered a serious medical emergency.  Thank you Coach Lewis! It was so nice to see the boys and Coach Bond together again.  His presence and words of encouragement speaks volumes to these players!  He is an amazing leader!  He even surprised our team with HMS Football water bottles!  So kind Coach, thank you! Thank you to all of our Hillcrest coaches this season.  You really show our players the meaning of a team.  It’s amazing to have such a great group coaching our kids.  Thank you, all of you!  We appreciate all that you do!  Reminder 7th and 8th grade Basketball and Volleyball invitations have been sent out and students are signing up!  Students are not allowed to participate in practices or games without a physical medical clearance being completed.  You can get the forms from the office or print them from our Athletics page online! HMS Athletics Packet This Wednesday, 10/16 during Enrichment period, our Leadership Team alongside, Mr. Leong, will be taking team photos and individual player photos in their jerseys for your purchase.  Please have your player bring their jerseys to school with them on Wednesday!!   Day Grade and Sport Home/Away VS Time Monday 10/14 6th Grade Flag Football Home Windsor 4:15 - 5:15 6th Grade Girls Volleyball - GOLD Home Game 4:15 - 5:15 7th Grade Flag Football Home POCS 5:15 - 6:15 6th Grade Girls Volleyball - BLUE Home Game 5:15 - 6:15 Tuesday 10/15 6th Grade Flag Football Home Practice 4:15 - 5:45 7/8th Grade Girls Basketball Home Willowside 4:15 - 5:15 7th Grade Flag Football Away Brookhaven 4:15 - 5:15 8th Grade Flag Football Away Brookhaven 5:15 - 6:15 6th Grade Girls Volleyball Home Practice 5:30 - 7:00 Cross Country Practice Home Practice 5:45 - 7:00 Wednesday 10/16 6th Grade Volleyball - BLUE Away CALI 4:15 - 5:15 7th/8th Grade Girls Basketball Away Wright 4:15 - 5:15 7th Grade Flag Football Home POCS 4:15 - 5:15 8th Grade Flag Football Home POCS 5:15 - 6:15 Cross Country Home Practice 5:45 - 7:00 Thursday 10/17 7th Grade Flag Football Home Practice 3:15 - 4:30 7/8th Grade Girls Basketball Home Practice 3:30 - 5:00 6th Grade Flag Football Away Village Charter 4:15 - 5:15 6th Grade Volleyball Home Practice 5:30 - 7:00 Friday 10/18 6th Grade Flag Football Away Forestville 4:15 - 5:15 Cross Country Meet Away Riverfront Regional Park 4:30 - 6:30 Hillcrest Weekly Reminders 8th Grade Baby Photos for Yearbook 8th Grade parents, we need your students Baby Photos for the Yearbook!!  The deadline to get them submitted is January 31, 2025, but please don't wait until the last minute, get them in now ! Submit at link below  Baby Photo Submissions   Student Safety First - Use the StopIt App As a reminder to our families, the StopIt app is another tool to help keep our students safe and engaged in school.  Stop It is an anonymous anti-bullying / school safety app that allows students and parents to report harmful, inappropriate or unsafe behavior that may be happening on campus.  Here are the steps:   Go to the App Store and download the Stop It app to any compatible device Search for Hillcrest Middle School - Gravenstein That’s it!  You are now ready to report any incident that may occur- your identity will never be known. School Cell Phone Policy Cell phones are only to be used after school in the Duck Pond to contact parents or guardians. Cell phones should be off and put away from the moment you arrive on campus. Any violation of the cell phone policy can lead to disciplinary action.   Keep up with Hillcrest Middle School on Instagram & Facebook Want to keep up with what is going on at Hillcrest?  Want to see photos and learn about what is going on in the classrooms of HMS?  Want to make sure you are updated on all the latest information and events on the campus?  If you said yes to any of these questions, be sure to follow Hillcrest’s Social Media Pages: Instagram - SoarHawksSoar Facebook - Hillcrest Middle School - Sebastopol     COUNSELORS' CORNER     Age-Appropriate Chores for Kids As parents, we always seek the best for our children because we want our children to grow into caring adults who are successful in life.  Chores are routine but necessary tasks, such as washing the dishes or folding laundry.  Research suggests there are benefits to including chores in a child's routine as early as age 3.  Children who do chores may exhibit higher self-esteem, be more responsible, and be better equipped to deal with frustration, adversity, and delayed gratification.  These skills can lead to greater school, work, and relationship success.  They also can be really helpful for the family unit! Attitudes toward chores vary considerably.  Some children are eager to help, while others are not.  However, there are many benefits from involving your child in age-appropriate chores including: Learning time management skills Developing organizational skills Accepting responsibility in the family Providing an opportunity for success (especially for a child struggling in other ways) Learning to balance work and play from a young age Setting a good foundation for functioning independently Here are some tips on how to divide and conquer chores, along with a complete list of ideas for age-appropriate chores. Divide and Conquer Household Chores   Hillcrest Counseling Page Click on the link below to to view all the resources available to you and your family on the Hillcrest Counseling page. GUSD School Counseling Page     COMMUNITY CORNER   Below is a list of flyers for non-profit organizations that have been shared with our District Office.  If you have a flyer for a non-profit event or organization that you would like to share with the community.  Please submit it to the District Office ( mquirke@gusdschools.org ) for approval.  If approved it will be included here in Monday Messages. Spark Creativity Studio provides hands-on, engaging classes and camps that feature Music, Art and STEM.  Fall classes launching now! Spark Creativity STEAM 2024-2025 Flyer Move Over Mozart Flyer The Sonoma County Office of Education is offering Family Workshops.  See Flyer to right. Virtual Workshops for Parents and Caregivers Offered in English and Spanish Flyer CPI (Child Parent Institute) Classes October 2024 Class Schedule October Class List   GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD   Gregory Appling, President - gappling@gusdschools.org Paula Braunschweig, Clerk -  pbraunschweig@gusdschools.org Jeri McNeill, Trustee -   jmcneill@gusdschools.org Laura de la Roz, Trustee -  ldelaroz@gusdschools.org Z achary Saltzberg, Trustee -   zsaltzberg@gusdschools.org   DISTRICT WEBSITE LINK     GUSD DISTRICT ADMIN TEAM   Will Deeths wdeeths@gusdschools.org Keri Pugno kpugno@gusdschools.org Matt McDowell mmcdowell@gusdschools.org  

Sunday, Oct 13 2024

Monday Messages October 7, 2024 for GUSD Families

GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT Monday Message October 7, 2024   A MESSAGE FROM GUSD ADMINISTRATION   Mark Your Calendars Tuesday, October 8th, 5pm - GUSD - Board Meeting - Zoom Link Wednesday, October 16th, 6pm - GPA - Meeting (All are welcome) Friday, October 18th - GRAV - 4th Grade Field Trip - Bike Ride Event Tuesday, October 22nd, 9:10-10:10am - GRAV - Jog-A-Thon - 4th Grade Tuesday, October 22nd, 11:00-12:00 - GRAV - Jog-A-Thon - 3rd Grade Wednesday, October 23rd, 9:20-10:20am - GRAV - Jog-A-Thon - 2nd Grade (with Haas) Wednesday, October 23rd, 10:40-11:40am - GRAV - Jog-A-Thon - 1st Grade Wednesday, October 23rd, 3:30pm - GUSD - Site Council Thursday, October 24th, 9-10am - GRAV - Jog-A-Thon - 5th Grade Thursday, October 24th, 10:20-11:05am - GRAV - Jog-A-Thon - Grades TK and K Thursday, October 31st, 9am - GRAV - Halloween Parade - Grades TK-2nd Thursday, October 31st, 11am - GRAV - Halloween Parade - Grades 3rd-5th Friday, November 1st - GUSD - NO SCHOOL   Lunch Menu To view the entire October menu click here for  English  or  Spanish . Fruits &/or Veggies are offered with all meals.  Meals are not offered a la carte.  Menu items are subject to change.  All student meals are free of charge.  A completed   Medical Statement to Request Accommodations  letter to the office is required to accommodate any dietary restrictions or vegetarian/vegan requests. S = Mid-Morning Snack  L = Lunch Mon 7 Tue 8 Wed 9 Thu 10 Fri 11 S:  Cereal Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Muffin Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Cinnamon Roll Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Egg Sandwich Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Waffles Fruits and/or Veggies L:  Corn Dog Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Tacos Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Teriyaki Dunkers Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chicken Burger Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Pizza Fruit and/or Veggies Mon 14 Tues 15 Wed 16 Thu 17 Fri 18 S:  Cereal Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Pancake on a Stick Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Breakfast Burrito Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Bagel &  Cream Cheese Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Muffin Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Mozzarella Pull Aparts Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chili & Corn Bread Fruit and/or Veggies L:  BBQ Rib Sandwich Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chicken Nuggets Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Pasta Fruit and/or Veggies   Community Gardening and Free Costume Giveaway Event Postponed!!! Due to concerns regarding excessive heat the community gardening and free costume giveaway has been postponed until a yet to be determined date.   Beyond-the-Bell's Maker's Creation Station a Huge Hit! Last week Ms Meggan Thanked everyone for their amazing donations for the maker's creation station in Beyond the Bell at Gravenstein.  She also sent me pictures (see above), but somehow I missed those.  I wanted to be sure you saw how much fun the kids were having, so I've included them this week. We also have another popular Wednesday activity:  Perler Beads.  We are always looking for donations of more Perler beads, patterns, and peg boards!!   GRAVENSTEIN PARENT ASSOCIATION   Our Neon Themed Jog-A-Thon is Coming! It’s time for the 2024 Gravenstein Jog-A-Thon!  Please take a few minutes to register your child on PledgeStar:   pledgestar.com/gravenstein  and start gathering those jog/walk-a-thon donations!  Any level of donation helps GPA fund the enrichment teachers and classroom support at our schools.  We can offer these much needed programs at our schools with your amazing support!  Pledge forms went home this week and are due to your student's teacher on or before October 21st. Ready, Set, Let's Neon! Excited to join the fun?  Sign up now to volunteer for our three-day extravaganza!  Click here to sign up:   SignUp Genius Link or scan the QR code to the left.   Upcoming Events Dine and Donate at Bubbles Boba & Gifts, Wednesday, October 9th, 11am - 6pm.  No flyer needed!  However, you can see the flyer here for more information:   English or Spanish For more event information, or to sign-up to volunteer at future events, please visit the "Event Details page on our website:   www.wearegpa.com   Upcoming GPA Board Meeting: Wednesday, October 16 at 6:00pm Hillcrest Middle School in Room 5 Join via Google Meet Join by phone ‪(US) +1 530-430-7704‬ PIN: ‪188 694 989‬#   Follow Us On Social Media Stay up to date in the quickest way by following us on Facebook and Instagram .   Tag your photos with #wearegpa to show your school pride! Contact GPA email:   wearegpa@wearegpa.com Website:   www.wearegpa.com   WHAT'S NEW at GRAVENSTEIN ELEMENTARY?   New Bus Stop Open to All Is morning or afternoon traffic getting to you?  Try out the new (FREE!) stop at:  Hessel Church at 5060 Hessel Avenue, Sebastopol .  Students should arrive at 8:00 AM in time for pickup scheduled at 8:04 AM.  In the afternoon, the bus is scheduled to arrive back at Hessel Church at 2:15 PM on Wednesdays and 3:55 PM the rest of the week.    Lost and Found Please stop by and take a look at our growing pile of lost and found!  We donate these items at the end of the month.  Donations will be happening this week!  Stop by before it goes away. Staff does their best to help students with lost and found.  With the season changing to fall, it means cold mornings and hot days.  Write your name in your child's clothing (including last name) and we will try to return them to the student before donation.   Halloween Costume Parade Get Ready for the Halloween Costume Parade                     On Thursday, 10/31, we will host  TWO  costume parades.  At  9:00 , students in grades  TK-K-1-2  will head out to the upper yard and make  two  laps of our track. Parents and grade 3-4-5 classes will be invited to be the audience.  At  11:00 , the grade  3-4-5  students will follow the same route, with parents and our younger students invited to be the audience members.  Posters, bubbles, decorations are welcome!  Parents are invited to attend that morning and take pictures.  Parents and guests should head directly to the track for our parade.  The parade path will go around the track and parents can spread out along the track to cheer on those in costume.  Costume reminders:  All students TK – 5th grade will be allowed to dress in costume for the Halloween Parade and parties on October 31.  We ask that parents use discretion when choosing the costumes worn at school.  All costumes must be appropriate for viewing by even our youngest students - many TK students are still four years old!  Students wearing costumes that are determined to be inappropriate, unsafe, offensive, or too frightening, will be asked to change and/or not be allowed to participate in the schoolwide parade.   Students are not allowed to bring in costume props/weapons of any type (toy guns, toy knives, swords, scythes, etc.) as part of their costumes.   Examples of costumes that are not appropriate for the Gravenstein parade include characters from horror movies and costumes/make-up displaying bloody wounds.  If there are any questions, please reach out to Mr. McDowell ( mmcdowell@gusdschools.org ). Gravenstein Field Trip Donation Requests We are excited to announce that we are now able to accept donations for field trips online!!  In case you missed a field trip donation request or didn't have a chance to donate at the time, here is another chance. Clink the links below to be directed to our recent donation requests.  Donations are not required however in order for Gravenstein Elementary School to keep offering these amazing experiences to our students, we need our school communities' support!! Kinder Field Trips - Hillier Kinder Field Trips - MacInnis Kinder Field Trips - Redfern Kinder Field Trips - Triv 1st Grade Field Trips - Clement 1st Grade Field Trips - Dellosa 1st Grade Field Trips - Gloeckner 1st Grade Field Trips - Gorman 4th Grade Field Trips - Brown 4th Grade Field Trips - Cervantes 4th Grade Field Trips - Stevens 4th Grade Field Trips - Sully   Don’t Forget!  Follow us on our updated and active Facebook Page and on Instagram!  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GravensteinElementary Instagram:    @gravensteinelementary   WHAT'S NEW at HILLCREST MIDDLE SCHOOL?   Analy Showcase Night & Shadow Days Analy High School's Showcase Night for incoming freshmen will be on Thursday, October 17th, from 6:00-8:00 this year.  Are you interested in having your student shadow at Analy?  If so, contact Sandra Jones at 707- 824-2319 to schedule a Shadow Day.   Technology High Showcase Night Come see what Technology High School has to offer to incoming Freshman. Wednesday, October 16th at 6:00 pm.   8th Grade Baby Photos 8th Grade Baby Photos for Yearbook Deadline is January 31, 2025  Submit at link below: Submit Baby Photos Here   8th Grade Overnight Trip is Coming! The 8th Grade Overnight Trip to Scotts Valley will take place from November 12-15, 2024.  Donations can be made through the Parent Square message sent out and through the field trip payment section below.  Checks can be brought to the office made out to GUSD.  We are still in need of driver chaperones!  Please contact Ms. Freese at  jfreese@gusdschools.org  if you would like to drive and chaperone on this trip.  Thank you for your support!   Help Keep Our Students Safe and Engaged with the StopIt App As a reminder to our families, the StopIt app is another tool to help keep our students safe and engaged in school.  Stop It is an anonymous anti-bullying / school safety app that allows students and parents to report harmful, inappropriate or unsafe behavior that may be happening on campus.  Here are the steps:   Go to the App Store and download the Stop It app to any compatible device Search for Hillcrest Middle School - Gravenstein That’s it! You are now ready to report any incident that may occur- your identity will never be known.   Hillcrest Field Trip Donation Requests We are excited to announce that we are now able to accept donations for field trips online!!  In case you missed a field trip donation request or didn't have a chance to donate at the time, here is another chance. Clink the links below to be directed to our recent donation requests.  Donations are not required however in order for Hillcrest Middle School to keep offering these amazing experiences to our students, we need our school communities' support!! 8th Grade Overnight Trip Hillcrest Athletics A Huge Congratulations to our Hillcrest Athletes! Congratulations to all our athletes this year for all your determination and hard-work! We are so proud of you!   Thank you families for being flexible and understanding the cancellations due to the hot weather last week. Any games that were cancelled, I am working with those teams to reschedule. 7th/8th grade girls basketball team still undefeated! 6th grade flag football team still undefeated!  Cross Country crushed it in Friday's meet against 15 other schools!  Congratulations to our athletes and Coach Jaden! Jack Stoumen- 1st place out of all 8th graders! Leo Williams- 1st place out of all 6th graders! Otto Ower- 2nd place out of all 7th graders! Jack Taylor- 2nd place out of all 6th graders! Charlie Harris- 3rd place out of all 6th graders! HMS Girls also represented, all of them placing in the top 10 of their grades! Announcement - our school Athletics page now shares the most up to date information on all our sports games and practices! More pictures from recent events will be up soon!  If you are at an event and have pictures to share, please reach out to Meggan Young.  Take a look at our updated site: HMS Athletics Announcement -We have opened the student sign ups on Google classroom for both 7th, and 8th grade girls volleyball, and boys basketball. If your student has signed up, you will be receiving an email from me notifying you of sport details and medical clearance packet information. Reach out to me with any questions.   The Flag Football Jamboree was a great success!  Way to go Hawks!!!     Day Grade and Sport Home/Away VS Time Monday 10/7 7th Grade Flag Football Home Practice 3:15 - 4:15 6th Grade Girls Volleyball  Home Practice 5:30 - 7:00 8th Grade Flag Football Home Practice 4:15 - 6:00 Tuesday 10/8 7th Grade Flag Football Home Practice 3:15 - 4:30 6th Grade Flag Football Home Practice 4:15 - 5:45 6th Grade Girls Volleyball Home Practice 5:25 - 7:00 Cross Country Practice Home Practice 5:45 - 7:00 Wednesday 10/9 7/8th Girls Basketball Away Comstock 4:15 - 5:15 8th Grade Flag Football Away Willowside 4:15 - 5:15 6th Grade Girls Volleyball Home Practice 5:25 - 7:00 Cross Country Home Practice 5:45 - 7:00 Thursday 10/10 6th Grade Flag Football Home Willowside 4:15 - 5:15 7th Grade Flag Football Home Willowside 5:15 - 6:15 Friday 10/11 7/8th Grade Girls Basketball Away Forestville 4:15 - 5:15 Cross Country Away Spring Lake Park Directions 4:30 Hillcrest Weekly Reminders Attendance Matters!! If your child is not able to be at school, please remember to contact the office with the reason for your student's absence.  It is vital that our students miss as little school as possible.  If you have a trip planned that can’t be scheduled during a vacation time, please be sure to apply for Independent Study. Student Safety First In the mornings Unless your student is part of a zero period class or in the Beyond the Bell program, they are not to be dropped off BEFORE 8:00 am. In the afternoons This is an important reminder that students are NOT to be picked up on Bloomfield Road. Students may NOT walk up the stairs from Hillcrest to Bloomfield unless they are walking to their own home. We are sorry if this causes any inconvenience, we are only looking out for the safety of our students. School Cell Phone Policy Cell phones are only to be used after school in the Duck Pond to contact parents or guardians. Cell phones should be off and put away from the moment you arrive on campus. Any violation of the cell phone policy can lead to disciplinary action.   Keep up with Hillcrest Middle School on Instagram & Facebook Want to keep up with what is going on at Hillcrest?  Want to see photos and learn about what is going on in the classrooms of HMS?  Want to make sure you are updated on all the latest information and events on the campus?  If you said yes to any of these questions, be sure to follow Hillcrest’s Social Media Pages: Instagram - SoarHawksSoar Facebook - Hillcrest Middle School - Sebastopol     COUNSELORS' CORNER     Age-Appropriate Chores for Kids As parents, we always seek the best for our children because we want our children to grow into caring adults who are successful in life.  Chores are routine but necessary tasks, such as washing the dishes or folding laundry.  Research suggests there are benefits to including chores in a child's routine as early as age 3.  Children who do chores may exhibit higher self-esteem, be more responsible, and be better equipped to deal with frustration, adversity, and delayed gratification.  These skills can lead to greater school, work, and relationship success.  They also can be really helpful for the family unit! Attitudes toward chores vary considerably.  Some children are eager to help, while others are not.  However, there are many benefits from involving your child in age-appropriate chores including: Learning time management skills Developing organizational skills Accepting responsibility in the family Providing an opportunity for success (especially for a child struggling in other ways) Learning to balance work and play from a young age Setting a good foundation for functioning independently Here are some tips on how to divide and conquer chores, along with a complete list of ideas for age-appropriate chores. Divide and Conquer Household Chores   Hillcrest Counseling Page Click on the link below to to view all the resources available to you and your family on the Hillcrest Counseling page. GUSD School Counseling Page     COMMUNITY CORNER   Below is a list of flyers for non-profit organizations that have been shared with our District Office.  If you have a flyer for a non-profit event or organization that you would like to share with the community.  Please submit it to the District Office ( mquirke@gusdschools.org ) for approval.  If approved it will be included here in Monday Messages. West County Softball - Spring 2024 Softball Season West County Softball English or Spanish CPI (Child Parent Institute) Classes August 2024 Class Schedule August Class List   GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD   Gregory Appling, President - gappling@gusdschools.org Paula Braunschweig, Clerk -  pbraunschweig@gusdschools.org Jeri McNeill, Trustee -   jmcneill@gusdschools.org Laura de la Roz, Trustee -  ldelaroz@gusdschools.org Z achary Saltzberg, Trustee -   zsaltzberg@gusdschools.org   DISTRICT WEBSITE LINK     GUSD DISTRICT ADMIN TEAM   Will Deeths wdeeths@gusdschools.org Keri Pugno kpugno@gusdschools.org Matt McDowell mmcdowell@gusdschools.org  

Sunday, Oct 06 2024

Monday Message September 30, 2024 for GUSD Families

GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT Monday Message September 30, 2024   A MESSAGE FROM GUSD ADMINISTRATION   Mark Your Calendars Monday, September 30th - HMS - 8th Grade Overnight paperwork due Wednesday, October 2nd - HMS - Picture Day Thursday, October 3rd - HMS - Tech High - Hillcrest Middle School Presentation Thursday, October 3rd, 5pm - GPA - Dine and Donate at the Rewind- HMS Only Saturday, October 5th, 3-6pm -  GRAV - Garden Work Party & Costume Exchange Tuesday, October 8th, 5pm - GUSD - Board Meeting Wednesday, October 16th, 6pm - GPA - Meeting (All are welcome) Friday, October 18th - GRAV - 4th Grade Field Trip - Bike Ride Event Tuesday, October 22nd, 9:10-10:10am - GRAV - Jog-A-Thon - 4th Grade Tuesday, October 22nd, 11:00-12:00 - GRAV - Jog-A-Thon - 3rd Grade Wednesday, October 23rd, 9:20-10:20am - GRAV - Jog-A-Thon - 2nd Grade (with Haas) Wednesday, October 23rd, 10:40-11:40am - GRAV - Jog-A-Thon - 1st Grade Wednesday, October 23rd, 3:30pm - GUSD - Site Council Thursday, October 24th, 9-10am - GRAV - Jog-A-Thon - 5th Grade Thursday, October 24th, 10:20-11:05am - GRAV - Jog-A-Thon - Grades TK and K Thursday, October 31st, 9am - GRAV - Halloween Parade - Grades TK-2nd Thursday, October 31st, 11am - GRAV - Halloween Parade - Grades 3rd-5th Friday, November 1st - GUSD - NO SCHOOL   Lunch Menu To view the entire October menu click here for  English  or  Spanish . Fruits &/or Veggies are offered with all meals.  Meals are not offered a la carte.  Menu items are subject to change.  All student meals are free of charge.  A completed   Medical Statement to Request Accommodations  letter to the office is required to accommodate any dietary restrictions or vegetarian/vegan requests. S = Mid-Morning Snack  L = Lunch Mon 30 Tue 1 Wed 2 Thu 3 Fri 4 S:  Cereal Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Bagel &  Cream Cheese Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Danish Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Cereal Fruits and/or Veggies S:  French Toast Fruits and/or Veggies L:  Hot Dog Fruits and/or Veggies L:  Bean & Cheese Burrito Fruits and/or Veggies L:  Cheese Burger Fruits and/or Veggies L:  Chicken Strips Fruits and/or Veggies L:  Jumbo Ravioli Fruits and/or Veggies Mon 7 Tue 8 Wed 9 Thu 10 Fri 11 S:  Cereal Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Muffin Fruits and/or Veggies S:  CInnamon Roll Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Egg Sandwich Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Waffles Fruits and/or Veggies L:  Corn Dog Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Tacos Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Teriyaki Dunkers Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chicken Burger Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Pizza Fruit and/or Veggies   Please join us for community gardening and a free costume giveaway! No need to bring a costume, but if you have one that is ready for a new home feel free to bring it along! We're excited to celebrate the new Grizzly Garden!  We will have refreshments and activities for the whole family!   Bring your gardening gloves if you have them and get ready to work and play! Saturday, October 5th from 3 - 6 pm Please see the attached flyer for more information:   English or Spanish   Thank you!! Thank you to everyone who has been bringing in items for our Maker's creation station on Wednesdays!  The kids love creating and inventing!! Keep your recyclables coming in!   GRAVENSTEIN PARENT ASSOCIATION   Calling All Artists! The Jog-A-thon T-Shirt design contest is happening September 30th - October 4th.  Details are below. Jog-A-Thon shirts need your art work!! Contest Rules: Artwork is due to Gravenstein Office by October 4, 2024 Picture must be on 8.5 X 11 paper Put your name & grade on the back Must have solid outlines Include the Gravenstein Grizzly somewhere Use a neon theme!! The winning T-shirt design will be featured on our 2024 Jog-A-Thon T-Shirts!  Good luck! The Jog-A-Thon is Almost Here!! Our biggest fundraiser of the year is less than one month away!  Excited to join the fun?  Sign up now to volunteer for our three-day extravaganza!   Click her to sign up:   SignUp Genius Link or scan the QR code to the left.   Upcoming Events! Dine and Donate at The Rewind, Hillcrest ONLY Night!   Thursday, October 3rd, 5pm Dine and Donate at Bubbles Boba & Gifts, Wednesday, October 9th, 11am - 6pm.  No flyer needed!  However, you can see the flyer here for more information:   English or Spanish For more event information, or to sign-up to volunteer at future events, please visit the "Event Details page on our website:   www.wearegpa.com   Upcoming Board Meeting: Wednesday, October 16, 2024 at 6:00pm Hillcrest Middle School in Room 5 Join via Google Meet Join by phone ‪(US) +1 530-430-7704‬ PIN: ‪188 694 989‬   Follow Us On Social Media Stay up to date in the quickest way by following us on Facebook and Instagram .   Tag your photos with #wearegpa to show your school pride! Contact GPA email:   wearegpa@wearegpa.com Website:   www.wearegpa.com   WHAT'S NEW at GRAVENSTEIN ELEMENTARY?   New Bus Stop Open to All Is morning or afternoon traffic getting to you?  Try out the new (FREE!) stop at:  Hessel Church at 5060 Hessel Avenue, Sebastopol .  Students should arrive at 8:00 AM in time for pickup scheduled at 8:04 AM.  In the afternoon, the bus is scheduled to arrive back at Hessel Church at 2:15 PM on Wednesdays and 3:55 PM the rest of the week.    Jog-A-Thon is in a Few Weeks! 10/22: 4th Grade 9:10-10:10 and 3rd Grade 11:00-12:00 10/23: 2nd Grade (and Haas) 9:20-10:20 and 1st Grade 10:40-11:40 10/24: 5th Grade 9:00-10:00 and TK/K 10:20-11:05 Do you want to volunteer and help at the Jog-A-Thon?  Sign up on the form listed in GPA.   Lost and Found Please stop by and take a look at our growing pile of lost and found!  We donate these items at the end of the month.  Donations will be happening this week!  Stop by before it goes away. Staff does their best to help students with lost and found.  With the season changing to fall, it means cold mornings and hot days.  Write your name in your childs clothing (including last name) and we will try to return them to the student before donation.   Get Ready for the Halloween Costume Parade On Thursday, 10/31, we will host  TWO  costume parades.  At  9:00 , students in grades  TK-K-1-2  will head out to the upper yard and make  two  laps of our track. Parents and grade 3-4-5 classes will be invited to be the audience.  At  11:00 , the grade  3-4-5  students will follow the same route, with parents and our younger students invited to be the audience members.  Posters, bubbles, decorations are welcome!  Parents are invited to attend that morning and take pictures.  Parents and guests should head directly to the track for our parade.  The parade path will go around the track and parents can spread out along the track to cheer on those in costume.  Costume reminders:   All students TK – 5th grade will be allowed to dress in costume for the Halloween Parade and parties on October 31.  We ask that parents use discretion when choosing the costumes worn at school.  All costumes must be appropriate for viewing by even our youngest students - many TK students are still four years old!  Students wearing costumes that are determined to be inappropriate, unsafe, offensive, or too frightening, will be asked to change and/or not be allowed to participate in the schoolwide parade.   Students are not allowed to bring in costume props/weapons of any type (toy guns, toy knives, swords, scythes, etc.) as part of their costumes.   Examples of costumes that are not appropriate for the Gravenstein parade include characters from horror movies and costumes/make-up displaying bloody wounds.  If there are any questions, please reach out to Mr. McDowell ( mmcdowell@gusdschools.org )   New Volleyball Net on Lower Field! A request from some of our 5th grade students to have a volleyball net was quickly satisfied by our amazing facilities staff.  On the lower field you may see our new volleyball net!  The 4th and 5th graders have been playing volleyball daily with the new net.  Thank you to our amazing facilities staff! Gravenstein Field Trip Donation Requests We are excited to announce that we are now able to accept donations for field trips online!!  In case you missed a field trip donation request or didn't have a chance to donate at the time, here is another chance. Clink the links below to be directed to our recent donation requests.  Donations are not required however in order for Gravenstein Elementary School to keep offering these amazing experiences to our students, we need our school communities' support!! Kinder Field Trips - Hillier Kinder Field Trips - MacInnis Kinder Field Trips - Redfern Kinder Field Trips - Triv 1st Grade Field Trips - Clement 1st Grade Field Trips - Dellosa 1st Grade Field Trips - Gloeckner 1st Grade Field Trips - Gorman 4th Grade Field Trips - Brown 4th Grade Field Trips - Cervantes 4th Grade Field Trips - Stevens 4th Grade Field Trips - Sully   Don’t Forget!  Follow us on our updated and active Facebook Page and on Instagram!  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GravensteinElementary Instagram:    @gravensteinelementary   WHAT'S NEW at HILLCREST MIDDLE SCHOOL?   Picture Day is This Week!! HMS Picture Day is October 2nd! Please look out for order forms that came home with your students last week!   Technology High School Presentation Counselors from Technology High School in Rohnert Park will be making a presentation at lunch this week, October 3rd, 2024 in the Hillcrest Band Room.  This is a great opportunity to learn more about what Tech High has to offer.   House T-Shirt Day House T-shirt Spirit Day will be Friday, October 4.  Wear your House t-shirt to earn points for your House.  The 5th period class with the most participation will earn popsicles.   Analy Showcase Night & Shadow Days Analy High School's Showcase Night for incoming freshmen will be on Thursday, October 17th, from 6:00-8:00 this year.  Are you interested in having your student shadow at Analy?  If so, contact Sandra Jones at 707- 824-2319 to schedule a Shadow Day.   House Game Schedule 7th Grade All House Ultimate Football - WEDNESDAY 8th Grade All House Ultimate Football - THURSDAY   8th Grade Baby Photos 8th Grade Baby Photos for Yearbook Deadline is January 31, 2025  Submit at link below: https://forms.gle/TATeUJoWit1V5pMs7     8th Grade Overnight Trip is Coming! The 8th Grade Overnight Trip to Scotts Valley will take place from November 12-15, 2024.  Information including the permission slip, authorization for medical treatment, and registration packet for Mission Springs Overnight Ed., along with a donation request letter, were sent in Parent Square.  Students also took home paper copies of all forms and the letter in a packet. The GUSD permission slip and authorization for medical treatment form can be filled out through Parent Square.  The Mission Springs paper registration forms must be filled out on paper and returned to the office or directly to Ms. Freese.  All forms are due signed no later than September 30, 2024. Donations can be made through the Parent Square message sent out and through the field trip payment section below.  Checks can be brought to the office made out to GUSD.  We are still in need of driver chaperones!  Please contact Ms. Freese at  jfreese@gusdschools.org  if you would like to drive and chaperone on this trip. Thank you for your support! MORE DRIVERS NEEDED for 8th Grade Overnight Trip!! The dates of the overnight field trip are November 12-15, 2024.  This is an urgent need because it takes time to ensure parent volunteers complete all the GUSD approval steps to drive and chaperone.  We need at least 30 more student seats in cars.  If we do not get enough parent drivers to cover all our students, we can not move forward with the field trip. Please email Jen Freese at  jfreese@gusdschools.org  ASAP if you are willing to help. Indicate the number of students you can drive in total.     StopIt  App a Helpful Tool for Our Students and Families As a reminder to our families, the StopIt app is another tool to help keep our students safe and engaged in school.   StopIt is an anonymous anti-bullying / school safety app that allows students and parents to report harmful, inappropriate or unsafe behavior that may be happening on campus.  Here are the steps to use the app:   Go to the App Store and download the StopIt app to any compatible device.  Look for the logo to the left. Search for Hillcrest Middle School - Gravenstein That’s it!  You are now ready to report any incident that may occur- your identity will never be known.   Attendance Matters!! If your child is not able to be at school, please remember to contact the office with the reason for your student's absence.  It is vital that our students miss as little school as possible.  If you have a trip planned that can’t be scheduled during a vacation time, please be sure to apply for Independent Study.   Students in Mrs. Deeths' Science class had a blast during a scavenger hunt  and searched for organelles around campus, and took "cellfies"  (using the iPods from digital video class) when they found the right organelle!   Hillcrest Field Trip Donation Requests We are excited to announce that we are now able to accept donations for field trips online!!  In case you missed a field trip donation request or didn't have a chance to donate at the time, here is another chance. Clink the links below to be directed to our recent donation requests.  Donations are not required however in order for Hillcrest Middle School to keep offering these amazing experiences to our students, we need our school communities' support!! 8th Grade Overnight Trip Hillcrest Athletics Updated Sport Program Information In case you missed it, we sent out a message on July 26, 2024 regarding sports information for the 2024/25 school year and introducing our new Athletic Director.  Please click the link below to check it out.  You can also use the link to make a donation to the HMS Athletic department.   Link to Please read for updated Sports information! Hillcrest Middle School does not require a fee to participate in athletics.  The Athletic Department, however, funds its programs primarily through  parent donations.   All donations are used toward purchasing new uniforms and equipment for our student athletes.  To help with this, we ask parents for a minimum donation of  $30  per sport.  For your convenience you can return the Donation form included in the Athletic Clearance Packet with check or cash, or you can pay via debit or credit card using the link above.   No child will be prevented from participating in a team due to financial circumstances!   HMS Spirit Wear We have Spirit Wear available in the Hillcrest School Office.  Available for sale are:  hoodies, tees, hats and beanies!  Prices range from $15 to $27. We accept cash or check!!   Home Games!! Come support our Athletes Wednesday, October 2nd Hillcrest Field 7th & 8th Grade Flag Football 4:15 pm & 5:15 pm   🏈 Thursday, October 3rd Hillcrest Hall 7th/8th Grade  Girls Basketball  4:15 pm  🏀 Day Grade and Sport Home/Away VS Time Monday 9/30 7th Grade Flag Foodball  Home Practice 3:15 - 4:15 7th/8th Girls Basketball Home Practice 3:30 - 5:00 8th Grade Flag Football Home Practice 4:15 - 6:00 6th Grade Girls Volleyball Home Practice 5:30 - 7:00 Tuesday 10/1 6th Grade Flag Football Home Practice 4:15 - 5:45 6thGrade Girls Volleyball Home Practice 4:30 - 6:00 Cross Country Home Practice 5:45 - 7:00 Wednesday 10/2 7th Grade Flag Football Home Windsor 4:15 - 5:15 8th Flag Football Home Cali 5:15 - 6:15 6th Grade Girls Volleyball Home Practice 5:30 - 7:00 Cross Country Home Practice 5:45 - 7:00 Thursday 10/3 7th Grade Flag Football Home Practice 3:15 - 4:30 6th Grade Flag Football Away Salmon Creek 4:15 - 5:15 7/8th Grade Girls Basketball Home POCS 4:15 - 5:15 Friday 10/4 7/8th Grade Girls Basketball Away Roseland Collegiate Prep 4:15 - 5:15 Hillcrest Weekly Reminders Student Safety First In the mornings Unless your student is part of a zero period class or in the Beyond the Bell program, they are not to be dropped off BEFORE 8:00 am. In the afternoons This is an important reminder that students are NOT to be picked up on Bloomfield Road. Students may NOT walk up the stairs from Hillcrest to Bloomfield unless they are walking to their own home. We are sorry if this causes any inconvenience, we are only looking out for the safety of our students. School Cell Phone Policy Cell phones are only to be used after school in the Duck Pond to contact parents or guardians. Cell phones should be off and put away from the moment you arrive on campus. Any violation of the cell phone policy can lead to disciplinary action.   Keep up with Hillcrest Middle School on Instagram & Facebook Want to keep up with what is going on at Hillcrest?  Want to see photos and learn about what is going on in the classrooms of HMS?  Want to make sure you are updated on all the latest information and events on the campus?  If you said yes to any of these questions, be sure to follow Hillcrest’s Social Media Pages: Instagram - SoarHawksSoar Facebook - Hillcrest Middle School - Sebastopol     COUNSELORS' CORNER     September is suicide prevention month.  It is a time dedicated to raising awareness and fostering critical conversations about mental health and suicide prevention.  Suicidal thoughts, much like mental health conditions, can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or background.  Suicidal thoughts, although common, should not be considered normal and often indicate more serious issues.  Everyone can play a role in preventing suicide.   Let’s work together to improve suicide prevention efforts and support those in need! Please see the attached flyer from NASP, Preventing Youth Suicide:  Tips for Parents and Educators -  English  or  Spanish   Hillcrest Counseling Page Click on the link below to to view all the resources available to you and your family on the Hillcrest Counseling page. GUSD School Counseling Page     COMMUNITY CORNER   Below is a list of flyers for non-profit organizations that have been shared with our District Office.  If you have a flyer for a non-profit event or organization that you would like to share with the community.  Please submit it to the District Office ( mquirke@gusdschools.org ) for approval.  If approved it will be included here in Monday Messages. Spark Creativity Studio provides hands-on, engaging classes and camps that feature Music, Art and STEM.  Fall classes launching now! Spark Creativity STEAM 2024-2025 Flyer Move Over Mozart Flyer Sonoma County Library - Library Card Sign-Up Month  Everyone's Invited!   The link to the right is a link to a pdf version of the email that was sent to us.  It may take a couple of seconds for the links in the document to work, but they should take you where you need to go. September is Library Card Sign-Up Month PDF Flyer The Sonoma County Office of Education is offering Family Workshops.  See Flyer to right. Virtual Workshops for Parents and Caregivers Offered in English and Spanish Flyer CPI (Child Parent Institute) Classes October 2024 Class Schedule October Class List   GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD   Gregory Appling, President - gappling@gusdschools.org Paula Braunschweig, Clerk -  pbraunschweig@gusdschools.org Jeri McNeill, Trustee -   jmcneill@gusdschools.org Laura de la Roz, Trustee -  ldelaroz@gusdschools.org Z achary Saltzberg, Trustee -   zsaltzberg@gusdschools.org   DISTRICT WEBSITE LINK     GUSD DISTRICT ADMIN TEAM   Will Deeths wdeeths@gusdschools.org Keri Pugno kpugno@gusdschools.org Matt McDowell mmcdowell@gusdschools.org  

Sunday, Sep 29 2024