Monday Messages March 17, 2025 for GUSD Families!

​ ​ Monday Messages March 17, 2025 ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ JumpStart 2025! ​ The GUSD is offering a Math & Language Arts Support Summer School - Jumpstart 2025!   The Jumpstart Program is broken into two sessions with a break in between. Session 1                                          June 10th - June 27th 7:30am-5:30pm Instructional Time 8:30-12:30 Enrichments: 1:15-3:40 13 Day Session (June 19th is a Holiday) Session 2 July 7th - July 25th 7:30am-5:30pm Instructional Time 8:30-12:30 Enrichments: 1:15-3:40 14 Day Session We are pleased to share that we have a few spaces still open in some of our classes.  Participation in these programs is optional, yet students who do sign up are expected to attend the minimum of the 4 hours of instructional time each day, 8:30am - 12:30pm. To maximize the benefit of this program we encourage your student to be present everyday. This program provides Breakfast (prior to 8:00), Lunch, and both a mid-morning and afternoon snack. Enrichment opportunities will be offered in the afternoon. These enrichments include experiences like Physical Education, Makers, Art, and others.  At this time, we are unable to offer a space to students who cannot commit to the entire session. Please click the link below for more information and to sign your child up to participate.  You will be notified of your child's enrollment or placement on a wait list.   JumpStart Information and Sign Up Contact jumpstart@gusdschools.org with any questions. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Mark Your Calendars ​ Monday, March 17 to Friday, March 21 - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - Spring Break Wednesday, March 26, 3:30pm - GUSD - Site Council Meeting Wednesday, March 26, 6pm - GPA - Tentative date for Meeting. All Welcome! Friday, March 28, 6pm - HMS - School Dance Thursday, April 3, 5pm - GPA - Dine & Donate at The Rewind Friday, April 4 - GPA - Movie Night at Gravenstein Tuesday, April 8, 5pm - GUSD - Board Meeting Friday, April 11 - GPA - Movie Night at Hillcrest Wednesday, April 16, 6pm - GPA - Meeting - Open to All Monday, April 21 - GUSD - NO SCHOOL Tuesday, April 22 to Friday, April 25 - HMS - Book Faire Tuesday, April 22, 5pm - GRAV - Open House for 1st and 5th Grades Wednesday, April 23, 3:30pm - GUSD - Site Council Wednesday, April 23, 5pm - GRAV - Open House for TK and 2nd Grades Thursday, April 24, 5pm - GRAV - Open House for K and 3rd Grades Thursday, April 24, 6pm - HMS - Welcome to Middle School Parent Night Thursday, May 1, 5pm - GPA - Dine and Donate at The Rewind Wednesday, May 7, 5pm - GRAV - Open House for 4th Grade ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ School Lunches ​ To view the entire March 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. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Gravenstein Parent Association ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ GPA Board Elections Coming in April!! ​ Board elections are happening at our Wednesday, April 16th meeting.  Interested in learning more about GPA?  Join us at our next board meeting, Wednesday March 26th to learn about available positions and how you can get involved.  You belong in GPA! ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ The Online Auction was a Huge Success! ​ Thank you to all of our auction coordinators, generous donors, families and friends who bid, shared and helped us exceed our auction goal of 35K!  These funds go directly to our enrichment programs, teacher grants and classroom support so THANK YOU! ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Upcoming Events ​ Movie Night at Gravenstein - Friday, April 4th Movie Night at Hillcrest - Friday, April 11th 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 ​ Rescheduled for Wednesday, March 26th, 2025 Hillcrest Middle School in Room 5 GPA Google Meet Link Join by phone ‪(US) +1 530-430-7704‬ PIN: ‪188 694 989‬ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Connect With Us ​ 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! email: wearegpa@wearegpa.com Website: www.wearegpa.com ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ WHAT'S NEW at ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ So Many Events! So Many Pictures! ​ As we continue to improve our Monday Messages, we are no longer going to be including pictures from events here at Gravenstein. However, we are continually updating our Facebook and Instagram pages with all of these events. Please see the links below: Gravenstein Elementary Facebook Or follow us on our Gravenstein Instagram: @gravensteinelementary ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Request for Independent Study - Important Information for Parents ​ Dear Parents and Guardians, We hope this message finds you well. As we continue to support your child’s academic progress, we would like to remind you about the process for requesting independent study when your child will be absent for a family trip or event. We recommend providing at least a week's notice to teachers when requesting independent study. This allows our teachers the necessary time to prepare the appropriate assignments and resources for your child to stay on track while they are away.  We fully understand that unexpected circumstances arise, and we appreciate your flexibility and request for independent studies in such situations. However, if you are aware of an upcoming trip or event that will require your child’s absence, we kindly ask that you notify us at least a week in advance. This advance notice greatly helps our teachers ensure that your child has the materials they need to complete their work efficiently. We sincerely appreciate your cooperation and support in this process. If you have any questions or need assistance with arranging independent study, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher or school office. Thank you for your attention to this matter. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Open House Dates ​ Please join us for our Open House events! Come see the classroom and let your students show off all of the amazing work they have done this year! The open house event starts at 5pm and ends at 5:45. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grades will have music presentations at 5:45!  TK - Wednesday, 4/23 K - Thursday, 4/24 1st - Tuesday, 4/22 2nd - Wednesday, 4/23 3rd - Thursday, 4/24 4th - Wednesday, 5/7 5th - Tuesday, 4/22 ​ ​ ​ ​ Campus Tours Now Available! ​ Campus tours are happening now and more are available throught the school year! Do you have children who will be eligible for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) or Kindergarten (K) next school year? Would you like to learn more about our program? Do you have family or friends interested in our incredible school? Sign up for a campus tour using the link elow, or join us at our upcoming Open House Event: March 8, 2025 We look forward to showing you everything that our school has to offer! Click the button below to sign up for a campus tour. ​ ​ ​ ​ Gravenstein Campus Tour Sign Up ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Online Payments ​ 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 Appropriate button 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 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Contact Info ​ 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 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Click here to see the above flyer in Spanish | Korean ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Trimester 2 Awards Assembly ​ The Trimester 2 Awards Ceremonies will take place in Hillcrest Hall on Friday March 28.  Students will be recognized for their Grade Point Average (if they earned a GPA of 3.0 or above on their Trimester 2 report card they will earn an award). We will also be recognizing students for excelling in the different subject areas and for exemplifying lifeskills.  We will be holding individual ceremonies for 6th, 7th and 8th grades.  Parents are welcome to attend.  The schedule is as follows--  6th grade- 8:30 7th grade- 9:20 8th grade- 10:25 ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Spring Has Spring Dance - Friday, March 28th ​ Get ready for a fun night! Join us for the Spring Has Spring Dance on Friday, March 28th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Ticket Information: Tickets will be on sale at lunch in the Duckpond $5 presale tickets $8 at the door Important Notes: No refunds for students who do not attend the dance. Chaperones are needed! If you can help, please contact Ms. Baird at lbaird@gusdschools.org. School rules still apply at the dance. The dance is only for current Hillcrest students. Cell phones are not allowed to be used or seen during the dance. If your student is dropped off after 6:20pm, a parent must walk them to the entrance. Early pick-up: Students may only be picked up early by their parent, and the parent must come to the entrance to get them. Allo students must be picked up no later than 8:205 pm or they may not be allowed to attend the next dance. We look forward to seeing everyone there for a night of fun and dancing! ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ House Game Schedule This Week ​ Wednesday, March 26 - 7th Grade Badminton - Singles Fifo O'Farrell vs Burbank Byrd Friday, March 28 - 7th Grade Badminton - Singles Rudee Ballotti vs Libby Masuoka ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Current House Game Standings ​ Burbank Byrd - 335 Rifo O'Farrell - 335 Rudee Ballotti - 280 Libby Masuoka - 275 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Incoming Hillcrest Students ​ ​ ​ ​ Future 6th Graders ​ Gravenstein 5th graders, we are excited to welcome you to Hillcrest Middle School!  In just a few short months, you will become Hillcrest Hawks! As we approach the start of the new school year, we want to share some important information you’ll need to know: If you are already enrolled at Gravenstein, there is no need to fill out new enrollment forms. In the spring, we will email a Google form for students to sign up for their 6th grade Electives. All 5th grade students and families are invited to Hillcrest’s Open House on May 8th, 2025 at 5pm. This is a wonderful opportunity to tour the campus, meet the teachers, and see the classrooms! We are also available to give guided campus tours for families. To schedule a tour, please call the Hillcrest Main Office at 707-823-7653. If you have any questions, please email Principal Deeths at wdeeths@gusdschools.org. We are looking forward to an incredible school year! ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Academy of Innovative Arts ​ The Academy of Innovative Arts is a new specialized high school in the West Sonoma County Union High School District that reimagines education for the 21st century. Located on the beautiful El Molino campus, The Academy offers a collaborative learning environment where students can thrive through hands-on projects, real-world experiences, and personalized learning paths. For more information, click HERE! ​ ​ ​ ​ Hillcrest Field Trip Information ​ ​ ​ ​ 7th Grade Parents ~ Field Trip Reminders ​ All Permission Slips for the April field trips (San Francisco, Luther Burbank and Ashland) are due Wednesday (3/26/25). If a permission slip is returned after this date, the child is not guaranteed a spot on the field trip. Their participation will depend on availability. There is a Zoom Meeting for the Ashland, Oregon field trip Wednesday (3/26/25) at 6:30pm. This meeting is for all parents of students attending the Ashland field trip. A link will be sent out via email and ParentSquare on Monday. Please send in your donations for the April field trips ASAP! We are counting on those donations to reduce excess expenses to the district. There is a link to donate below. Use the yellow button marked 7th Grade Field Trips. Thank you so much for your support! ​ ​ ​ ​ Online Payments ​ We are excited to announce that we can now accept online donations for field trips! If you missed a donation request or didn’t have a chance to donate before, here’s another opportunity. Click the links below to access our recent donation requests. Donations are not required, but to continue offering these wonderful experiences to our students, we need support from our school community! ​ ​ ​ ​ 6th Grade Field Trips - Pay Now ​ ​ ​ ​ 7th Grade Field Trips - Pay Now ​ ​ ​ ​ 8th Grade Field Trips - Pay Now ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Hillcrest Athletics ​ ​ ​ ​ Connecting with Sports ​ Are you interested in the Sports program at Hillcrest Middle School? Check out our Athletics page on the Hillcrest website - just click this link. If your student is not on a sports team, but you are interested in what is happening with Hillcrest Athletics, check out these amazing sports updates from Meggan Youn, our New Athletics Director. ​ ​ ​ ​ Weekly Hawks Headlines - March 10, 2025 Weekly Hawks Headlines - March 3, 2025 Weekly Hawks Headlines - February 25, 2025 Weekly Hawks Headlines - February 17, 2025 ​ ​ ​ ​ 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 below button. No child will be prevented from participating in a team due to financial circumstances! ​ ​ ​ ​ Athletics Donation ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Hillcrest Weekly Reminders ​ ​ ​ ​ After School Reminders ​ After school, all students must be picked up from Hillcrest by 3:45 on regular days (Mon., Tues., Thurs. & Fri.) 2:30 on Wednesdays If a student is attending Beyond the Bell, they must go and sign in at the BTB room immediately after the final school bell rings.  For student safety, if students are attending an after school practice, game or other event - they must be signed up for and go to Beyond the Bell or leave campus and return when the after school event is starting. Students must then be picked up within 15 minutes after school events end.  ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Yearbooks Are on Sale Now! ​ Yearbooks are now available for purchase! Get yours today for just $15 for a softcover or $20 for a hardcover. Be sure to place your order before it’s too late! To order, click on the link below and use the passcode: Link to purchase Yearbook Passcode: 1014223911784613 Don’t miss out on this memorable keepsake! ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Hillcrest Middle School on Social Media ​ 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 Subtitle for context ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ GUSD School Counseling Page ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Meet the Counselors ​ The school counselors in GUSD address the needs of students in all three domains; acadmeic, social-emotional, and career development as well as help to create a positive and safe learning experience. GUSD's Counselors also support students as they face issues that prevent their healthy development. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Rosie Steen-Larsen, LMFT and GUSD Mental Health Coordinator ​ Ms. Rosie enjoys cooking, gardening, and spending as much time as possible at the beach collecting seashells with her family. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over 20 years experience working with children and families. ​ ​ ​ ​ Samantha Cole, PPS & GUSD School Counselor ​ Ms. Cole is a lover of video games, knitting/crafting, animals, and board games!  She has an MS in Counseling, with credentialing & specialization in School Counseling, as well as BAs in Teaching & Learning and Psychology. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ COMMUNITY CORNER ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Below is a list of flyers/websites 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. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Tinker Academy is a FREE Summer program designed to engage and inspire students in grades 6-9 in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Through hands-on maker activities that encourage the exploration and development of technical, mathematical, and artistic abilities, participants will gain experience and confidence to set them up for success in school. ​ ​ ​ ​ Deadline: Tuesday, April 15 For more information and to apply click HERE ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Try out Girl Scouts with us! Bring your family for a fun activity to "try out" Girl Scouts. You'll learn about Girl Scout opportunities in your community, and how to join or start a Gril Scout troop! This free event is open to all girls and gender-expanisve youth not yet in Girl Scouts. ​ ​ ​ ​ Questions? Contact hwilber@gsnorcal.org or call (707) 524-9200, or visit www.gsnorcal.org/join You can also check out these flyers (in English and Spanish) for more information. LINK TO FLYERS ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Join the Sebastopol Sharks - A New Member of North Bay Youth Football & Cheer. We are looking for: Football Players (Ages 7-14) Cheerleaders (Ages 5-14) Football & Cheer Coaches Parent Volunteers Sign-up now at wcsharks.com ​ ​ ​ ​ For more information check out the flyer in: English | Spanish | Korean ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Afterschool Animal Academy! Veterinary Medicine Edition! 12 Spots available. This 6 week adventure is every Wednesday, March 26th - April 30th! Learn from Doctors of Veterinary Medicine and Registered Veterinary Technicians who are making a difference in the lives of animals everyday! Cost: $285 For students currently in 5th, 6th, or 7th grade. ​ ​ ​ ​ Check out this flyer for more information on how to register! English | Spanish ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Expanding Your Horizons! Sonoma State University is offering a one day event - A day full of hands-on STEM focused workshops. See the flyer to the right for more information. ​ ​ ​ ​ Expanding Your Horizons!  Flyer ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Summer @ Sonoma Academy is back for another year of Summer Camps! This year, they are offering 3 weeks of camps from June 9th to June 27th. Camps are for current 5th-8th grade students and the camps range from Cooking to Storytelling to Athletic Adventures. See their website (to the right) for more information. ​ ​ ​ ​ Summer @ Sonoma Academy Website ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​GIRL SCOUT COOKIES FOR SALE!!! Help our very own Gravenstein Girl Scout Troup reach their goal of selling 1,500 cookies as a troop. All proceeds will help fund troop field trips and community service activities. For more information see their flyer. To order online use the link to the right. ​ ​ ​ ​ Troop 10297 Girl Scout Cookies Flyer - English | Spanish | Korean Online Ordering ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 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 ​ March 2025 Class Schedule ​ ​ ​ ​ - ​ March Class List ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ GUSD BOARD ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Laura de la Roz, President - ldelaroz@gusdschools.org Gregory Appling, Clerk - gappling@gusdschools.org Paula Braunschweig, Trustee - pbraunschweig@gusdschools.org Jeri McNeill, Trustee - jmcneill@gusdschools.org Zachary Saltzbert, Trustee - zsaltzberg@gusdschools.org ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ DISTRICT WEBSITE ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ GUSD DISTRICT ADMIN ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Will Deeths -------------------- Keri Pugno -------------------- Matt McDowell wdeeths@gusdschools.org - kpugno@gusdscohols.org - mmcdowell@gusdschools.org ​ ​

Sunday, Mar 16 2025

Monday Messages March 10, 2025 for GUSD Families!

​ ​ Monday Messages March 10, 2025 ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Attendance Matters...Ask for an Independent Study! ​ If your family plans to travel or has other plans that require your child to miss even one day of school, please consider asking for an Independent Study Plan (ISP).  Teachers need advance notice to pull together the work and create the plan, but there are many advantages to an ISP: Maintaining Academic Progress:  allows students to continue their learning while they are away, ensuring that they do not fall behind on assignments, tests, or projects. Meeting Attendance Requirements:  An Independent Study Plan helps the student meet this requirement even when they are not physically present in the classroom. Ensuring Educational Continuity:  A structured Independent Study Plan ensures that the child’s education is not interrupted and that they stay on track with the curriculum, even when they are outside of the classroom setting. Avoiding Truancy:  A vacation during school days may be considered an unexcused absence (Ed Code, not District policy), which may lead to issues with school attendance policies and truancy regulations. Flexibility for Families:  Independent study offers flexibility for families to plan vacations during school time, without the worry of negatively impacting their child’s academic standing or progress. Requesting the plan in advance ensures the student’s work is properly documented and can be completed outside the classroom, making for a smooth transition back to school once the vacation ends. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Mark Your Calendars ​ Tuesday, March 11, 5pm - GUSD - Board Meeting - Zoom Link Friday, March 14, 5:30-7:30pm - GPA - Skate Night Monday, March 17 to Friday, March 21 - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - Spring Break Wednesday, March 26, 3:30pm - GUSD - Site Council Meeting Wednesday, March 26, 6pm - GPA - Tentative date for Meeting. All Welcome! Friday, March 28, 6pm - HMS - School Dance Thursday, April 3, 5pm - GPA - Dine & Donate at The Rewind Tuesday, April 8, 5pm - GUSD - Board Meeting Tuesday, April 22, 5pm - GRAV - Open House for 1st and 5th Grades Wednesday, April 23, 5pm - GRAV - Open House for TK and 2nd Grades Thursday, April 24, 5pm - GRAV - Open House for K and 3rd Grades Wednesday, May 7, 5pm - GRAV - Open House for 4th Grade ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ School Lunches ​ To view the entire March 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. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Gravenstein Parent Association ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Our Online Auction is ending MONDAY, MARCH 10th! ​ Get those final bids in now! Have you placed your bids yet for your favorite items in our online auction to support our enrichment programs? Do not wait; incredible deals and amazing ways to support our schools are available now! Visit the Auction Website: Simply click on the following link to browse the items and start bidding: 32auctions.com Remember, every bid brings us closer to our fundraising goal! PLEASE Share the auction link via text or email with friends and family and on all of your social channels! Thank you for your continued support and commitment to our school community. Together, we can ensure that every student has access to the enriching experiences that shape their future. Happy bidding!! ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Upcoming Events ​ Skate Night - THIS WEEK! Friday, March 14, 5:30-7:30pm - St. Patrick's theme! 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 ​ Rescheduled for Wednesday, March 26th, 2025 Hillcrest Middle School in Room 5 GPA Google Meet Link Or Dial: +1 530-430-7704‬ PIN: ‪188 694 989‬ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Connect With Us ​ 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! email: wearegpa@wearegpa.com Website: www.wearegpa.com ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ WHAT'S NEW at ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Lost and Found ​ Lost and Found is overflowing! Please have your students take a look for missing items or stop by before pick up to take a look! These items will be donated during Spring Break! ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Open House Dates ​ Please join us for our Open House events! Come see the classroom and let your students show off all of the amazing work they have done this year! The open house event starts at 5pm and ends at 5:45,  TK - Wednesday, 4/23 K - Thursday, 4/24 1st - Tuesday, 4/22 2nd - Wednesday, 4/23 3rd - Thursday, 4/24 4th - Wednesday, 5/7 5th - Tuesday, 4/22 ​ ​ ​ ​ Campus Tours Now Available! ​ Campus tours are happening now and more are available throught the school year! Do you have children who will be eligible for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) or Kindergarten (K) next school year? Would you like to learn more about our program? Do you have family or friends interested in our incredible school? Sign up for a campus tour using the link elow, or join us at our upcoming Open House Event: March 8, 2025 We look forward to showing you everything that our school has to offer! Click the button below to sign up for a campus tour. ​ ​ ​ ​ Gravenstein Campus Tour Sign Up ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Online Payments ​ 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 Appropriate button 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!! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ TK Matilda Jr. Field Trip - All Classes Kinder Matilda Jr. Field Trip - All Claseses 1st Grade Matilda Jr. Field Trip - All Classes 2nd Grade Matilda Jr. Field Trip - All Classes ​ ​ ​ ​ 3rd Grade Matilda Jr. Field Trip - All Classes 4th Grade Matilda Jr. Field Trip - All Classes 5th Grade Matilda Jr. Field Trip - All Classes ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Contact Info ​ Don’t Forget!  Follow us on our updated and active Facebook Page and on Instagram! Gravenstein Elementary Facebook Instagram: @gravensteinelementary ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ WHAT'S NEW at ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Click here to see the above flyer in Spanish | Korean ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Grade Level and Marching Band Panoramic Photos ​ Weather permitting - Hawkes Photography will be at Hillcrest Middle School on Wednesday, March 12, to take Grade Level and Marching Band photos. 9:00 a.m.    6th Grade 9:20 a.m.    7th Grade 9:40 a.m.    8th Grade 10:30 a.m.  Band w/ instruments If you would like to pre order one or more of these 20x10 photos you can do so by using this link.  https://vando.imagequix.com/g1001168095   Pre Orders will be delivered to the school to go home with your student to save on shipping. Please reach out to Hawkes School Portraits at hawkesschools@yahoo.com or call 707-823-6537 with any questions. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Trimester 2 Report Cards ​ Report Cards will be coming home on March 11th.  Please review your student's report card and have them return the signed manila envelope to a teacher or the main office. 6th Grade Parents - please look for Tdap Vaccination Reminders.  (Required for entry into 7th Grade). If our records show that your student has already received this vaccine, you will not find a reminder. Reminder - you can always check Schoolwise Parent Portal at any time during the school year to keep updated on your students grades! ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Trimester 2 Award Assembly ​ The Trimester 2 Awards Ceremonies will take place in Hillcrest Hall on Friday March 28.  Students will be recognized for their Grade Point Average (if they earned a GPA of 3.0 or above on their Trimester 2 report card they will earn an award). We will also be recognizing students for excelling in the different subject areas and for exemplifying lifeskills.  We will be holding individual ceremonies for 6th, 7th and 8th grades. Parents are welcome to attend.  The schedule is as follows: 6th grade- 8:30 7th grade- 9:20 8th grade- 10:25 ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Incoming Hillcrest Students ​ ​ ​ ​ Future 6th Graders ​ Gravenstein 5th graders, we are excited to welcome you to Hillcrest Middle School! In just a few short months, you will become Hillcrest Hawks! As we approach the start of the new school year, we want to share some important information you’ll need to know: If you are already enrolled at Gravenstein, there is no need to fill out new enrollment forms. In the spring, we will email a Google form for students to sign up for their 6th grade Electives. All 5th grade students and families are invited to Hillcrest’s Open House on May 8th, 2025. This is a wonderful opportunity to tour the campus, meet the teachers, and see the classrooms! We are also available to give guided campus tours for families.  To schedule a tour, please call the Hillcrest Main Office at 707-823-7653.  If you have any questions, please email Principal Deeths at wdeeths@gusdschools.org. We are looking forward to an incredible school year! ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Hillcrest Field Trip Information ​ ​ ​ ​ Online Payments ​ We are excited to announce that we can now accept online donations for field trips! If you missed a donation request or didn’t have a chance to donate before, here’s another opportunity. Click the links below to access our recent donation requests. Donations are not required, but to continue offering these wonderful experiences to our students, we need support from our school community! ​ ​ ​ ​ 6th Grade Field Trips - Pay Now ​ ​ ​ ​ 7th Grade Field Trips - Pay Now ​ ​ ​ ​ 8th Grade Field Trips - Pay Now ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Hillcrest Athletics ​ ​ ​ ​ Connecting with Sports ​ Are you interested in the Sports program at Hillcrest Middle School? Check out our Athletics page on the Hillcrest website - just click this link. If your student is not on a sports team, but you are interested in what is happening with Hillcrest Athletics, check out these amazing sports updates from Meggan Youn, our New Athletics Director. ​ ​ ​ ​ Weekly Hawks Headlines - March 3, 2025 Weekly Hawks Headlines - February 25, 2025 Weekly Hawks Headlines - February 17, 2025 Weekly Hawks Headlines - February 11, 2025 ​ ​ ​ ​ 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 below button. No child will be prevented from participating in a team due to financial circumstances! ​ ​ ​ ​ Athletics Donation ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Hillcrest Weekly Reminders ​ ​ ​ ​ Yearbooks Are on Sale Now! ​ Yearbooks are now available for purchase! Get yours today for just $15 for a softcover or $20 for a hardcover. Currently, we only have 26 orders, so be sure to place yours before it’s too late! To order, click on the link below and use the passcode: Link to purchase Yearbook Passcode: 1014223911784613 Don’t miss out on this memorable keepsake! ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ After School Reminders ​ After school, all students must be picked up from Hillcrest by 3:45 on regular days (Mon., Tues., Thurs. & Fri.) 2:30 on Wednesdays If a student is attending Beyond the Bell, they must go and sign in at the BTB room immediately after the final school bell rings.  For student safety, if students are attending an after school practice, game or other event - they must be signed up for and go to Beyond the Bell or leave campus and return when the after school event is starting. Students must then be picked up within 15 minutes after school events end.  ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Hillcrest Middle School on Social Media ​ 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 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Preventing Bullying ​ Many of you may not know that Gravenstein Elementary School has become a certified kindness school. Each month, our classes focus on promoting and spreading kindness within our school community. Gravenstein has taken proactive steps to shift the school culture and reduce bullying. Programs like this are crucial in fostering an environment where students feel safe, respected, and valued. We will be promoting kindness through school-wide initiatives, curriculum, and student interactions, continuing to create a more supportive and inclusive environment for all students. To read more about the types of bullying and how it can be prevented click here: 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/websites 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. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Join the Sebastopol Sharks - A New Member of North Bay Youth Football & Cheer. We are looking for: Football Players (Ages 7-14) Cheerleaders (Ages 5-14) Football & Cheer Coaches Parent Volunteers Sign-up now at wcsharks.com ​ ​ ​ ​ For more information check out the flyer in: English | Spanish | Korean ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Afterschool Animal Academy! Veterinary Medicine Edition! 12 Spots available. This 6 week adventure is every Wednesday, March 26th - April 30th! Learn from Doctors of Veterinary Medicine and Registered Veterinary Technicians who are making a difference in the lives of animals everyday! Cost: $285 For students currently in 5th, 6th, or 7th grade. ​ ​ ​ ​ Check out this flyer for more information on how to register! English | Spanish ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Expanding Your Horizons! Sonoma State University is offering a one day event - A day full of hands-on STEM focused workshops. See the flyer to the right for more information. ​ ​ ​ ​ Expanding Your Horizons! Flyer ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Youth Football is coming to West County! Take a bite and join the Sebastopol Sharks, a new member of North Bay Youth Football & Cheer. Please see the flyer to right for more information. ​ ​ ​ ​ Sebastopol Sharks Flyer ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Summer @ Sonoma Academy is back for another year of Summer Camps! This year, they are offering 3 weeks of camps from June 9th to June 27th. Camps are for current 5th-8th grade students and the camps range from Cooking to Storytelling to Athletic Adventures. See their website (to the right) for more information. ​ ​ ​ ​ Summer @ Sonoma Academy Website ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ GIRL SCOUT COOKIES FOR SALE!!! Help our very own Gravenstein Girl Scout Troup reach their goal of selling 1,500 cookies as a troop. All proceeds will help fund troop field trips and community service activities. For more information see their flyer. To order online use the link to the right. ​ ​ ​ ​ Troop 10297 Girl Scout Cookies Flyer - English | Spanish | Korean Online Ordering ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Petaluma Wetlands Children's Chorus Our goal is to instill environmental joy, hope and a sense of agency in the children of Sonoma County.   The “Petaluma Wetlands Children’s Chorus” has been established under the Education Wing of the non-profit Petaluma Wetlands Alliance, and we are expecting to start auditions and rehearsals in Petaluma in March of 2025. Please see the flyer to the right for more information. ​ ​ ​ ​ Petaluma Wetlands Children Chorus Flyer: 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  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ CPI (Child Parent Institute) Classes ​ March 2025 Class Schedule ​ ​ ​ ​ - ​ March Class List ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ GUSD BOARD ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Laura de la Roz, President - ldelaroz@gusdschools.org Gregory Appling, Clerk - gappling@gusdschools.org Paula Braunschweig, Trustee - pbraunschweig@gusdschools.org Jeri McNeill, Trustee - jmcneill@gusdschools.org Zachary Saltzbert, Trustee - zsaltzberg@gusdschools.org ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ DISTRICT WEBSITE ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ GUSD DISTRICT ADMIN ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Will Deeths -------------------- Keri Pugno -------------------- Matt McDowell wdeeths@gusdschools.org - kpugno@gusdscohols.org - mmcdowell@gusdschools.org ​ ​

Sunday, Mar 09 2025

Monday Messages March 3, 2025 for GUSD Families!

​ ​ Monday Message March 3, 2025 ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Attendance Matters...not only for your child, but also for our school! ​ Daily school attendance is crucial not only for your child's success, but also for the financial stability of our school. School revenue is tied to Average Daily Attendance (ADA), meaning that higher attendance directly impacts the resources available for students and programs. We understand that illnesses will keep a child home, but please remember: Good attendance is the #1 factor in your child being successful in school. Children who are absent two or more days each school month achieve 25 percent less than their fellow students. Your child can make up an assignment, but they can't recover what is most valuable: the questions, the activities, the explanations from the teacher and the interaction that brings learning to life. Attendance is directly linked to graduation rates and life-long work habits. Schools can now offer Independent Study Plans for any family anticipating an absence of even one day! By notifying teachers in advance and the student completing the work, attendance credit is earned and the school receives funding for that day. Thank you for prioritizing your child's education and working with our staff to help maintain our amazing programs. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Mark Your Calendars ​ Now - Monday, March 10 - GPA - Online Aucion Thursday, March 6, 5pm - GPA - Dine and Donate at The Rewind Tuesday, March 11, 5pm - GUSD - Board Meeting Friday, March 14, 5:30-7:30pm - GPA - Skate Night Monday, March 17 to Friday, March 21 - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - Spring Break Wednesday, March 26, 3:30pm - GUSD - Site Council Meeting Friday, March 28, 6pm - HMS - School Dance ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ School Lunches ​ To view the entire March 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. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ GRAVENSTEIN PARENT ASSOCIATION ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Our Online Auction is NOW LIVE! ​ Our Online auction is now live thorugh March 10th, featuring a fantastic array of items generously donated by local business, families, and supporters. As you know, providing quality education goes beyond textbooks and classrooms.  It involves enriching experiences that inspire and empower students to reach their full potential.  To continue offering these invaluable opportunites, GPA relies on the generosity of supporters like you. How to Participate: Visit the Auction Website:  Simply click on the following link to browse the items and start bidding:  32Auctions Register:  If you haven't already, you'll need to create an account to bid.  Don't worry; it's quick and easy! Place Your Bids:  Once registered, you can start bidding on your favorite items.  Remember, every bid brings us closer to our fundraising goal! Share: If bidding isn't your thing, you can still support us by spreading the word. Share the link with friends, family, and colleagues who might be interetested in joining our cause and please consider posting the auction link to social media! Happy Bidding!! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Upcoming Events ​ GPA's Online Auction - Happening now thru 3/10 Dine and Donate - The Rewind, Thursday, March 6th, 5-10pm Skate Night - Friday, March 14, 5:30-7:30pm 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 ​ Rescheduled due to Spring Break - TBD Hillcrest Middle School in Room 5 GPA Google Meet Link Join by phone ‪(US) +1 530-430-7704‬ PIN: ‪188 694 989‬ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Connect With Us ​ 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! email: wearegpa@wearegpa.com Website: www.wearegpa.com ​ ​ ​ ​ WHAT'S NEW at ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Lost and Found ​ Lost and Found is overflowing! Please have your students take a look for missing items or stop by before pick up to take a look. These items will be donated during Spring Break! ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Upcoming Field Trip to Hillcrest for the Musical ​ Gravenstein Students will be visiting Hillcrest Middle School this week to see the middle school production of Matilda Jr.!  On Thursday, 3/6 - 2nd, 4th, and 5th Grade will visit. 5th Grade will stay after the play to visit the campus and have lunch with the Hillcrest Students. On Friday, 3/7 - TK, K, 1st, and 3rd will visit. Please make sure to check Parentsquare to sign the permission slip for this field trip! Or click your students grade level below to be linked directly to the post. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ TK Kinder 1st Grade 2nd Grade ​ ​ ​ ​ 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Spanish Enrichment Spends Time in the Garden ​ This past week 3rd and 4th grade students have been harvesting baby kale for school lunch during Spanish Enrichment class. Our key vocabulary focus words have been: 'cosechar'- to harvest and 'col rizada'- kale. Students are engaged in project learning, having planted the seeds back in December, observing the plants' growth, carefully picking the leaves and now enjoying the nutrient dense produce fresh from the school garden. Next up, the fava beans, 'las habas' will be ready to harvest and enjoy!  ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Chalk the School ​ Spreading kindness, one chalk doodle at a time!  Last week, we filled our school with messages of love, positivity, and good vibes for all to see. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Cervantes Field Trip ​ Ms. Cervantes’ 4th graders got to connect with the pen pals they have been writing to that go to a school in North Santa Rosa. They packed over 12,000 pounds of apples and pears at the Redwood Empire Food Bank for those in need in our community. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 3rd Grade's The Mitten ​ A cozy adventure filled with fun, friendship, and a mitten full of surprises!  Our 3rd graders brought The Mitten to life with their incredible acting and teamwork! ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Yearbook ​ It's Time to Purchase Your Gravenstein Yearbook! Soft Cover- 13.55 + tax Hard Cover- 20.85 + tax -------------------------------------------------- To purchase your Gravenstein Yearbook: CLICK HERE -------------------------------------------------- Go to the website: https://www.treering.com/ School passcode: 1013806737444510 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Campus Tours Now Available! ​ Campus tours are happening now and more are available throught the school year! Do you have children who will be eligible for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) or Kindergarten (K) next school year? Would you like to learn more about our program? Do you have family or friends interested in our incredible school? Sign up for a campus tour using the link elow, or join us at our upcoming Open House Event: March 8, 2025 We look forward to showing you everything that our school has to offer! Click the button below to sign up for a campus tour. ​ ​ ​ ​ Gravenstein Campus Tour Sign Up ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Gravenstein Field Trip Donation Requests ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Online Payments ​ 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 Appropriate button 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  ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Contact info ​ 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 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Click here to see the above flyer in Spanish | Korean ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Elective Wheels Rotate on MONDAY ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ March 3, 2025 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Hillcrest Middle School Presents Matilda Jr. ​ Based on Roald Dahl’s Tony-award winning musical, Matilda tells the story of a girl who dreams of a better life. The children she inspires will have audiences rooting for the "revolting children" who are out to teach the grown-ups a lesson. Matilda has astonishing wit, intelligence... and special powers! Though she is unloved by her cruel parents, she impresses her kind teacher, Miss Honey. Matilda's school life isn't completely smooth sailing, however – the school's cruel headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and loves thinking up new punishments for those who don't abide by her rules. Luckily, Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils' saving grace! Filled with energetic dance routines and catchy songs, Matilda JR. is a joyous spectacle. Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination. Showtimes: Thursday, March 6 at 6 P.M. Friday, March 7 at 6 P.M. Saturday, March 8 at 2 P.M. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ QPR Suicide Prevention Presentation ​ Over the first weeks of March, all 7th Grade Hillcrest students will take the QPR (Question • Persuade • Refer)  Suicide Prevention class. This class is provided by the Sonoma County Office of Education and is taught by trained mental health professionals. QPR teaches life saving skills in one class period. Students will learn the warning signs of mental distress and a potential suicide crisis. They will learn to recognize someone at risk for suicide, how to intervene, and how to connect that person to appropriate resources. QPR is taught by trained mental health providers who are able to support and answer student questions. Opt-Out Permission slips are being emailed home this week. 8th Grade students will receive this presentation in April. ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ House Games Schedule This Week ​ Wednesday, March 3 7th Grade Badminton - Singles - Rifo O'Farrell vs Burbank Byrd Friday, March 7 7th Grade Badminton - Singles - Rudee Ballotti vs Libby Masuoka ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Life Skills & Cooking and Nutrition Classes are Requesting Donations ​ Both classes have a need for pantry staples: ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Olive Oil Vegetable Oil Coconut Oil Butter Kosher Salt Pepper ​ ​ ​ ​ Potatoes Onions Garlic Oats Canned Beans Canned Tomatoes Honey ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Hillcrest Field Trip Information ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ We are excited to announce that we can now accept online donations for field trips! If you missed a donation request or didn’t have a chance to donate before, here’s another opportunity. Click the links below to access our recent donation requests. Donations are not required, but to continue offering these wonderful experiences to our students, we need support from our school community! ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 6th Grade Field Trips ​ ​ ​ ​ 7th Grade Field Trips ​ ​ ​ ​ 8th Grade Field Trips ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Hillcrest Athletics ​ ​ ​ ​ Connecting with Sports ​ Are you interested in the Sports program at Hillcrest Middle School? Check out our Athletics page on the Hillcrest website - just click this link. If your student is not on a sports team, but you are interested in what is happening with Hillcrest Athletics, check out these amazing sports updates from Meggan Youn, our New Athletics Director. Weekly Hawks Headlines - February 25, 2025 Weekly Hawks Headlines - February 17, 2025 Weekly Hawks Headlines - February 11, 2025 ​ ​ ​ ​ 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 below button. No child will be prevented from participating in a team due to financial circumstances! ​ ​ ​ ​ Athletics Donation ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Hillcrest Weekly Reminders ​ ​ ​ ​ Yearbooks Are on Sale! ​ Yearbooks are now available for purchase! Get yours today for just $15 for a softcover or $20 for a hardcover. Currently, we only have 26 orders, so be sure to place yours before it’s too late! To order, click on the link below and use the passcode: Link to purchase Yearbook Passcode: 1014223911784613 Don’t miss out on this memorable keepsake! ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ After School Reminders ​ After school, all students must be picked up from Hillcrest by 3:45 on regular days (Mon., Tues., Thurs. & Fri.) 2:30 on Wednesdays If a student is attending Beyond the Bell, they must go and sign in at the BTB room immediately after the final school bell rings.  For student safety, if students are attending an after school practice, game or other event - they must be signed up for and go to Beyond the Bell or leave campus and return when the after school event is starting. Students must then be picked up within 15 minutes after school events end.  ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Hillcrest Middle School on Social Media ​ 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 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Middle School Suicide Prevention ​ Hillcrest Middle School will be promoting mental health awareness and preventing suicide among our middle school students (7th and 8th grades) starting next week. As part of our ongoing commitment to student well-being, we will be introducing a comprehensive suicide prevention education program from SCOE, aimed at helping students recognize the signs of mental health struggles in themselves and others, and how to seek help when needed. As parents and guardians, your role is crucial in supporting this initiative. We encourage you to continue the conversation about mental health at home, helping to create a safe environment where your child feels comfortable discussing their feelings and concerns. If you notice any changes in your child’s behavior, mood, or social interactions, please reach out to a school counselor or mental health professional. Additionally, we understand that these topics may bring up personal feelings or concerns. If you have any questions or would like additional resources, please feel free to contact our school counselors, who are available to provide support to both students and families. What the Program Will Cover: Understanding mental health and emotional well-being. Identifying warning signs of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Encouraging open discussions about mental health and breaking down the stigma surrounding it. Providing strategies for coping with stress, sadness, and difficult emotions. Explaining the importance of seeking help from trusted adults, counselors, or mental health professionals. Please look at the attached handouts from SCOE QPR - Info Flier - English and Spanish Sonoma County Resources - English and 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. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Youth Football is coming to West County! Take a bite and join the Sebastopol Sharks, a new member of North Bay Youth Football & Cheer. Please see the flyer to right for more information. ​ ​ ​ ​ Sebastopol Sharks Flyer ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Summer @ Sonoma Academy is back for another year of Summer Camps! This year, they are offering 3 weeks of camps from June 9th to June 27th. Camps are for current 5th-8th grade students and the camps range from Cooking to Storytelling to Athletic Adventures. See their website (to the right) for more information. ​ ​ ​ ​ Summer @ Sonoma Academy Website ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ GIRL SCOUT COOKIES FOR SALE!!! Help our very own Gravenstein Girl Scout Troup reach their goal of selling 1,500 cookies as a troop. All proceeds will help fund troop field trips and community service activities. For more information see their flyer. To order online use the link to the right. ​ ​ ​ ​ Troop 10297 Girl Scout Cookies Flyer - English | Spanish | Korean Online Ordering ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Petaluma Wetlands Children's Chorus Our goal is to instill environmental joy, hope and a sense of agency in the children of Sonoma County.   The “Petaluma Wetlands Children’s Chorus” has been established under the Education Wing of the non-profit Petaluma Wetlands Alliance, and we are expecting to start auditions and rehearsals in Petaluma in March of 2025. Please see the flyer to the right for more information. ​ ​ ​ ​ Petaluma Wetlands Children Chorus Flyer: English or Spanish ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 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 ​ March 2025 Class Schedule ​ ​ ​ ​ - ​ March Class List ​ ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Gravenstein Union School District Board ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ Laura de la Roz, President - ldelaroz@gusdschools.org Gregory Appling, Clerk - gappling@gusdschools.org Paula Braunschweig, Trustee - pbraunschweig@gusdschools.org Jeri McNeill, Trustee - jmcneill@gusdschools.org Zachary Saltzbert, Trustee - zsaltzberg@gusdschools.org ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ DISTRICT WEBSITE ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ GUSD District Admin ​ ​ ​ ​   ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Will Deeths -------------------- Keri Pugno -------------------- Matt McDowell wdeeths@gusdschools.org - kpugno@gusdscohols.org - mmcdowell@gusdschools.org ​ ​

Sunday, Mar 02 2025

Monday Messages February 24, 2025 for GUSD Families!

GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT Monday Message February 24, 2025   A MESSAGE FROM GUSD ADMINISTRATION   Mark Your Calendars NOW to Monday, March 10th - GPA - Online Auction is LIVE Tuesday, February 25, 5:00pm - Special GUSD Board Meeting Wednesday, February 26, 3:30pm - GUSD - Site Council Meeting Thursday, March 6, 5pm - GPA - Dine and Donate at The Rewind Tuesday, March 11, 5pm - GUSD - Board Meeting Monday, March 17 to Friday, March 21 - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - Spring Break Wednesday, March 19, 6pm - GPA - Meeting Rescheduled (new date TBD) Wednesday, March 26, 3:30pm - GUSD - Site Council Meeting Friday, March 28, 6pm - HMS - School Dance Thursday, April 3, 5pm - GPA - Dine and Donate at The Rewind   Lunch Menu To view the entire February 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 24 Tue 25 Wed 26 Thu 27 Fri 28 S:  Cereal Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Waffles Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Muffins Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Yogurt with Fruit and Granola Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Breakfast Danish Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Mac N Cheese Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Nachos Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Cheeseburger Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chicken Tenders Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Free Choice (Classroom Reward) Fruit and/or Veggies Mon 3 Tue 4 Wed 5 Thu 6 Fri 7 S:  Cereal Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Bagels and Cream Cheese Fruit and/or Veggies S:  French Toast Sticks Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Yogurt and Granola Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Muffins Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Cheese Quesadilla Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Bean & Cheese Burrito Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Teriyaki Dunkers Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chicken Nuggets Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Pizza Fruit and/or Veggies   2025 Summer Jumpstart Announcement We are excited to offer a Summer Jumpstart Program again this year! The program provides academic support during the summer and is divided into two sessions: Session 1 from June 10th–June 27th (June 19th is a holiday) and Session 2 from July 7th–July 25th. Initially, invitations will be extended to recommended students and specific groups based on individual needs and academic goals. After confirming enrollment from these groups, we will announce an open enrollment period for other students. While we hope to include all interested students, enrollment will first be based on accepted groups. Open enrollment details will be shared later. Thank you for your patience as we work to provide the best experience for our students this summer. More information will be shared soon in Monday Messages.   Hello GUSD Families!! February is National Children's Dental Health Month. Did you know that tooth decay is the most chronic yet preventable health care need among children in California? There are 869,202 school days missed every year due to dental problems, and 1 in 5 children have untreated tooth decay. Fortunately, caries (cavities) are 100% preventable. Remember: Brush for TWO minutes, 2 times per day Floss once a day Visit a dentist for regular checkups and cleanings. It's that simple! Here are some helpful links: Dental Insurance Option in Sonoma County Low-Cost and Medi-Cal Dental Clinics in Sonoma County Healthy wishes, Nurse Caitlin Caitlin O'Neill, RN Credentialed School Nurse Sonoma County Office of Education Gravenstein Union School District   GRAVENSTEIN PARENT ASSOCIATION   IT'S TIME!  Our Online Auction is NOW LIVE!! Our Online auction is now live thorugh March 10th, featuring a fantastic array of items generously donated by local business, families, and supporters. As you know, providing quality education goes beyond textbooks and classrooms.  It involves enriching experiences that inspire and empower students to reach their full potential.  To continue offering these invaluable opportunites, GPA relies on the generosity of supporters like you. How to Participate: Visit the Auction Website:  Simply click on the following link to browse the items and start bidding:   32Auctions Register:  If you haven't already, you'll need to create an account to bid.  Don't worry; it's quick and easy! Place Your Bids:  Once registered, you can start bidding on your favorite items.  Remember, every bid brings us closer to our fundraising goal! Share:  If bidding isn't your thing, you can still support us by spreading the word.  Share the link with friends, family, and colleagues who might be interetested in joining our cause and please consider posting the auction link to social media! Happy Bidding!!   Upcoming Events GPAS's Online Auction - HAPPENING NOW! Dine and Donate - The Rewind, Thursday, March 6th 5pm-10pm Skate Night - Friday, March 14th, 5:30pm - 7:30pm 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: Rescheduled due to Spring Break - TBD Hillcrest Middle School in Room 5 GPA Google Meet Link 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    Kindness Week February 24-28 Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Radiate Kindness (wear bright colors, smiley faces, hearts) Crazy for Kindness (crazy hair) Hats off to Kindness (wear your favorite hat) Peace, Love, and Kindness (wear tie-dye) Dream of Kindness (wear pj's)   Incoming Gravenstein Students Campus Tours Now Available! Campus tours are happening now and more are available throughout the school year! Do you have children who will be eligible for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) or Kindergarten (K) next school year?  Would you like to learn more about our program? Do you have family or friends interested in our incredible school? Sign up for a campus tour using the link below, or join us at our upcoming TK/K Open House Event on  March 8, 2025.   We look forward to showing you everything that our school has to offer! Gravenstein Elementary Campus Tour Sign Up   TK/Kinder Open House We are excited to announce the dates for our upcoming TK/K Open House!  These special events are designed for prospective students to visit our campus, tour the classrooms, and experience some of the enrichment activities that we offer to our students.  It’s a wonderful opportunity to get a feel for the learning environment and see firsthand how we support the growth and development of our young learners. Open House Date: Saturday, March 8, 2025, 10:00 - 11:00 am Bring the whole family!  This is a chance to meet our energetic and compassionate teachers and staff, explore our beautiful campus, learn more about our early childhood programs, and experience one of our engaging TK/K PE enrichment classes.  You’ll also learn about our affordable before/after school care and our involved parent organization. If you are looking to enroll your child in TK , they must turn 4 by September 1, 2025 . For Kindergarten , your child must turn  5 by September 1, 2025 . We look forward to welcoming you and your child to our campus! We hope to see you there!   Future Hillcrest Students 5th Grade Hillcrest Transition Gravenstein 5th graders have already begun to prepare for their transition to Hillcrest Middle School.  No new enrollment forms are necessary.  For more information, please read the "Future 6th Graders" article in the Hillcrest section of the Monday Messages.   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 Presents Matilda Jr. Based on Roald Dahl’s Tony-award winning musical, Matilda tells the story of a girl who dreams of a better life.  The children she inspires will have audiences rooting for the "revolting children" who are out to teach the grown-ups a lesson. Matilda has astonishing wit, intelligence... and special powers!  Though she is unloved by her cruel parents, she impresses her kind teacher, Miss Honey.  Matilda's school life isn't completely smooth sailing, however – the school's cruel headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and loves thinking up new punishments for those who don't abide by her rules.  Luckily, Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils' saving grace! Filled with energetic dance routines and catchy songs,  Matilda JR.  is a joyous spectacle.  Children and adults alike will be thrilled and delighted by the story of the special little girl with an extraordinary imagination. Showtimes: March 6 at 6 P.M. March 7 at 6 P.M. March 8 at 2 P.M.   Blackout Poetry Created by Mrs. Sporrer’s Language Arts Students After a close reading of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” students embarked on a poetry adventure using the technique of “Blackout Poetry.”  Inspired by Dr. King’s powerful and eloquent prose, students chose their “anchor” words found within the text to create their own unique poems.  Enjoy one of the moving poems created by our amazing 8th graders (you should read the chosen words left to right and top to bottom to reveal each student's unique message).  Please feel free to stop by Mrs. Sporrer’s class to see the full display.    Hillcrest Jazz Band On Valentine's Day, the HMS Jazz Band performed at Weill Hall in the Green Music Center for the Redwood Empire Jazz Festival.  They performed 3 songs, including a world premiere of a new piece by Mr. Pulley, to an enthusiastic audience and recived 1st place in the middle school division.   SCOE Family Webinar Series: Understanding and Supporting Youth Mental Health We are excited to announce the SCOE Family Webinar Series, offering free virtual workshops for parents and caregivers focused on youth mental health.  These webinars are available in both English and Spanish and will provide valuable insights on important topics related to the well-being of our children and adolescents. Webinar Schedule: Thursday, March 27 : Conversations that Matter: Parenting in the Era of Cannabis Thursday, April 17 : Opioids and Fentanyl in Our Community: What You Need to Know Thursday, May 22 : Understanding and Supporting Youth Anxiety Each workshop will take place from  5:00-6:00 PM and is open to all parents and caregivers who want to better understand and support the mental health of the youth in their lives.  These webinars are a great way to learn from experts and connect with others in the community. For more information and to register ,  click here . If you have any questions or need more details, please feel free to reach out to: Mary Champion at mchampion@scoe.org Carolina Herrera at cherrera@scoe.org   Life Skills & Cooking and Nutrition Enrichment Donations Needed! The Life Skills Elective and our new Cooking and Nutrition Enrichment program are seeking donations to help stock the pantry for both classes. Thank you for supporting our programs and helping our students build valuable life skills! We are in need of the following pantry staples: Olive Oil Vegetable Oil Coconut Oil Butter Kosher Salt Pepper Potatoes Onions Garlic Oats Canned Beans Canned Tomatoes Honey Your generous donations will help support our students as they learn valuable life skills. Thank you for your continued support!   Incoming Hillcrest Students Future 6th Graders Gravenstein 5th graders, we are excited to welcome you to Hillcrest Middle School !  In just a few short months, you will become Hillcrest Hawks ! As we approach the start of the new school year, we want to share some important information you’ll need to know: If you are already enrolled at Gravenstein, there is no need to fill out new enrollment forms. On Thursday, March 6th , the 5th graders will visit Hillcrest to watch the Spring Musical Matilda Junior .  After the play, Gravenstein students will stay for a campus tour and enjoy lunch at HMS. In the spring, we will email a Google form for students to sign up for their 6th grade Electives . All 5th grade students and families are invited to Hillcrest’s Open House on May 8th, 2025 .  This is a wonderful opportunity to tour the campus, meet the teachers, and see the classrooms! We are also available to give guided campus tours for families.  To schedule a tour, please call the Hillcrest Main Office at 707-823-7653.  For any questions, email Principal Deeths at  wdeeths@gusdschools.org . We are looking forward to an incredible school year!   High School Information Analy High School Are you interested in having your student shadow at Analy High School? Contact Sandra Jones at 707-824-2319 to schedule a Shadow Day. Academy of Innovative Arts Preview Night- this Thursday! The West Sonoma County Union High School District (WSCUHSD) recently announced the opening of a new high school option for students entering 9 th  grade in the 2025-2026 school year.  The  Academy of Innovative Arts online application window opened on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 @ 9:00am .   Questions can be directed to the school’s founding Principal, Greg Alexander, at galexander@wscuhsd.org or 707-824-6488. Families and incoming 9th graders are invited to a Preview Night on  Thursday, February 27th from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm at the El Molino Campus Library   located at 7050 Covey Road, Forestville to learn more about the  Academy of Innovative Arts . They will be providing general information about programs being offered, discuss the admissions process, and provide campus tours.  Academy Preview Night Flyer   Hillcrest Field Trip Information We are excited to announce that we can now accept online donations for field trips! If you missed a donation request or didn’t have a chance to donate before, here’s another opportunity. Click the links below to access our recent donation requests. Donations are not required, but to continue offering these wonderful experiences to our students, we need support from our school community! 6th Grade Field Trips 7th Grade Field Trips 8th Grade Overnight Trip   6th Grade Overnight Trip to Nature Bridge's Marin Headlands Campus The 6th Grade overnight trip is happening on April 28th to April 30th.  If your child is attending this field trip, please register him or using this link - English   |   Spanish All participants need to be registered by Friday, February 28th . To go on school-sponsored fields of any kind, including and especially overnight field trips, we rely on parent donations to help offset the cost of the trip.  Parent donations are never required but they do allow us to offer trips such as this that are incredible experiences for all of our students. The cost we're asking families to donate to the trip is $355.  Please send your donation amount to the school office or make a payment  online . Please reach out to Allison Rich with any questions ( arich@gusdschools.org )   Hillcrest Athletics Updated Sport Program Information Since Monday Messages is sent out only once a week, the athletic schedule sometimes becomes outdated later in the week. To improve accuracy, we’ve decided to provide a link to the  Athletics page  on our website instead of including the schedule here in Monday Messages. By following the link, you’ll have access to the up-to-date weekly schedule, as well as important information and forms related to athletics. If your student is not on a sports team, but you are interested in what is happening with Hillcrest Athletics, check out these amazing sports updates from Meggan Young, our new Athletics Director. Hawks Headlines! - February 17, 2025 Hawks Headlines! - February 11, 2025 Hawks Headlines! - Febrary 3, 2025 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!   Hillcrest Weekly Reminders Lost & Found - Unclaimed Items Will Be Donated Please have your student or take a moment yourself, to check our  Lost & Found  for any missing items.  All unclaimed items will be donated  after school on  Friday, February 28th .   Yearbooks Are On Sale! Yearbooks are now available for purchase!  Get yours today for just $15 for a softcover or $20 for a hardcover . Currently, we only have  26 orders , so be sure to place yours before it’s too late! To order, click on the link below and use the passcode: Link to purchase Yearbook Passcode: 1014223911784613 Don’t miss out on this memorable keepsake!   Student Safety First At Hillcrest Middle School, the safety of our students is always our top priority. Please take a moment to review some important reminders regarding morning and afternoon procedures: In the Mornings: Unless your student is part of a zero-period class or the Beyond the Bell program, please remember that students should not be dropped off before  8:00 am . This ensures that they are safely supervised when they arrive at school. In the Afternoons: No Pick-Up on Bloomfield Road: For the safety of all students, please do not pick up your child on Bloomfield Road. We ask that all pick-up be done in designated areas. Stairway Reminder: Students may not walk up the stairs from Hillcrest to Bloomfield unless they are walking directly to their home. This is to avoid any unnecessary traffic or confusion. We apologize for any inconvenience these rules may cause, but they are in place to ensure the safety and well-being of every student. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!   School Cell Phone Policy We would like to remind all families of our school’s cell phone policy to ensure a focused and respectful learning environment for all students. Cell phones should be off and put away from the moment students arrive on campus. After school , students may use their cell phones in the Duck Pond area only to contact parents or guardians. Please note that any violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action. We appreciate your cooperation in helping to maintain a safe and productive school environment.   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     Mood and Food by Rosie Steen-Larsen, LMFT, GUSD Mental Health Coordinator A recent study found that children who eat more  fruits and vegetables have better mental health.   Eating healthy foods like fruits and vegetables can help children control their moods, improve their thinking, and prevent health problems.  A good diet has a big impact on mental and emotional health, helping to prevent issues like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and ADHD. Eating well not only supports your child’s healthy growth, but it can also lower the risk of suicide and serious medical conditions like diabetes and eating disorders.  If your child has a mental health condition, a healthy diet can help manage symptoms and improve their health. Remember, children are not born craving unhealthy foods like French fries and pizza.  They develop these preferences over time as they are exposed to unhealthy food.  But you can change their tastes and help them enjoy healthier foods.  The earlier you introduce wholesome, nutritious choices into your child’s diet, the easier it will be for them to build a good relationship with food for life.  It can be simpler and quicker than you think.  With these tips, you can encourage healthy eating habits without making mealtime a struggle, giving your kids the best chance to grow into healthy adults. Focus on overall diet, not just specific foods.   Kids should be eating more whole, minimally processed foods—foods that are as close to their natural form as possible—and less packaged and processed food. Be a role model.   Kids tend to imitate adults, so don't ask them to eat vegetables if you are eating chips. Hide healthy foods in meals.   Add vegetables to stews, or mix shredded carrots into spaghetti sauce or shredded zucchini into hamburger patties. Get your kids involved.   Let them help with grocery shopping, gardening, and cooking.  You can teach them about healthy foods and how to read labels.  Bonus - You can even have them practice math when measuring ingredients! Keep healthy snacks available.   Have plenty of fruits, vegetables, and healthy drinks (like water, milk, or pure fruit juice) on hand, so kids can avoid unhealthy snacks like soda, chips, and cookies. Don’t completely ban sweets.   If you forbid sweets, it may cause cravings and overeating later.  Kids get all the sugar they need from natural foods, so added sugar only adds empty calories, leading to hyperactivity, mood problems, obesity, diabetes, and even suicidal thoughts in teenagers.  Sitting down for a family meal is not only a good way to set an example of healthy eating, but it also helps bring the family together.  It is also a good time to watch for signs of eating disorders in children.   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. Youth Football  is coming to West County!  Take a bite and join the Sebastopol Sharks,  a new member of North Bay Youth Football & Cheer.  Please see the flyer to right for more information. Sebastopol Sharks Flyer Summer @ Sonoma Academy is back for another year of Summer Camps!  This year, they are offering 3 weeks of camps from June 9th to June 27th.  Camps are for current 5th-8th grade students and the camps range from Cooking to Storytelling to Athletic Adventures.  See their website (to the right) for more information. Summer @ Sonoma Academy Website GIRL SCOUT COOKIES FOR SALE!!! Help our very own Gravenstein Girl Scout Troup reach their goal of selling 1,500 cookies as a troop.  All proceeds will help fund troop field trips and community service activities.  For more information see their flyer.  To order online use the link to the right. Troop 10297 Girl Scout Cookies Flyer - English | Spanish | Korean Online Ordering Petaluma Wetlands Children's Chorus Our goal is to instill environmental joy, hope and a sense of agency in the children of Sonoma County.   The “Petaluma Wetlands Children’s Chorus” has been established under the Education Wing of the non-profit Petaluma Wetlands Alliance, and we are expecting to start auditions and rehearsals in Petaluma in March of 2025. Please see the flyer to the right for more information. Petaluma Wetlands Children Chorus Flyer: English  or  Spanish 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 February 2025 Class Schedule February Class List March 2025 Class Schedule March Class List   GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD   Laura de la Roz, President - ldelaroz@gusdschools.org Gregory Appling, Clerk -  gappling@gusdschools.org Paula Braunschweig, Trustee -   pbraunschweig@gusdschools.org Jeri McNeill, Trustee -  jmcneill@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, Feb 23 2025

Monday Messages February 17, 2025 for GUSD Families!

GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT Monday Message February 17, 2025   A MESSAGE FROM GUSD ADMINISTRATION   2025-2026 School Calendar We are thrilled to announce that the school calendar for the upcoming year is now officially ready!  Please take a moment to check it out and mark your calendars for key dates.  We’re looking forward to a fantastic year ahead with your children! 2025-2026 School Calendar   It is also posted on our website .   We Value Your Input! The GUSD Annual Parent Survey is an key way for us to hear from our parent community.  Your feedback is important to us, and we appreciate your time and support.  We encourage you to share your thoughts and suggestions. You can complete the survey by clicking the link above or scanning the QR code on the left. The survey will be closing soon, so please take a few minutes to complete it.  Your input will help us improve and continue to make GUSD a great place for all students. Thank you for helping us make GUSD even better!   Mark Your Calendars Monday, February 17 - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - President's Day Tuesday, February 18, 5pm  - GUSD -  Special Board Meeting Wednesday, February 19, 6pm - GPA - Meeting - All Welcome Wednesday, February 26, 3:30pm - GUSD - Site Council Meeting Friday, February 28 - GUSD - End of Trimester 2 Thursday, March 6, 5pm - GPA - Dine and Donate at The Rewind Tuesday, March 11, 5pm - GUSD - Board Meeting Monday, March 17 to Friday, March 21 - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - Spring Break Wednesday, March 26, 3:30pm - GUSD - Site Council Meeting Friday, March 28, 6pm - HMS - School Dance   Lunch Menu To view the entire February 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 17 Tues 18 Wed 19 Thu 20 Fri 21 NO SCHOOL S:  Cereal Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Breakfast Sandwich Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Overnight Oats Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Cinnamon Roll Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chili Con Carne Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Corn Dog Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chicken Burger Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Lasagna Fruit and/or Veggies Mon 24 Tue 25 Wed 26 Thu 27 Fri 28 S:  Cereal Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Waffles Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Muffins Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Yogurt with Fruit and Granola Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Breakfast Danish Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Mac N Cheese Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Nachos Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Cheeseburger Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chicken Tenders Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Free Choice (Classroom Reward) Fruit and/or Veggies   2025 Summer Jumpstart Announcement We are excited to announce that we will again be able to offer a Summer Jumpstart Program!  The program will provide valuable academic support for our students over the summer months.  The program is split into two sessions.  The official dates for Jumpstart Session 1 are June 10th-June 27th (June 19th is a holiday) and Session 2 dates are July 7th-July 25th. Please note, the summer school program will initially begin with invitations extended only to recommended students and specific groups.  These invitations are based on individual student needs and academic goals.  Once we have confirmed enrollment from these invited groups, we will announce an open enrollment period for all other students. While we hope all interested students will be accepted into the program, it is important that we first evaluate enrollment based on the acceptances from our invited and group-specific students.  Details for the open enrollment phase will be shared at a later date. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work to ensure the best possible experience for our students this summer.  More information will be available soon through Monday Messages.   GRAVENSTEIN PARENT ASSOCIATION   LAST CALL FOR ONLINE AUCTION ITEMS! We are in the process of gathering items for our annual online auction, happening on February 24, 2025. This auction is a vital fundraiser that supports our schools and helps ensure we can continue offering incredible enrichment programs. Our goal is for every family to contribute an auction item for the 2025 Online Auction! This event relies on the generous donations of goods and services from our community. Can’t donate a product or service but still want to help? We have a list of local businesses that need outreach, and we can provide all the necessary information to assist you! Donating is easy! To donate or volunteer, simply email GPA Auction Committee member Frankie Stutes at Frankiestutes@gmail.com for more details.   Upcoming Events Events Calendar 2025 is here!  Check your school’s scheduled events and save the dates: 2/24-3/10 - GPA's Online Auction First Thursday of every month - Dine and Donate at The Rewind 3/14 - Skate Night at Cal Skate, Rohnert Park 4/4 - Gravenstein Movie Night 4/11 - Hillcrest Movie Night 4/21-4/25 - Gravenstein Book Fair during Open House 4/28 - GPA's Read-A-Thon - BOTH CAMPUSES 5/5-5/9 - Staff and Teacher Appreciation Week - BOTH CAMPUSES 5/16 - Hillcrest Color Run 5/30 - Skate Night at Cal Skate, Rohnert Park 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: THIS WEEK!  Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 6:00pm Hillcrest Middle School in Room 5 GPA Google Meet Link Or Dial:  +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    Secure the Campus Drill Dear Parents and Guardians, We want to inform you that this week our school will be conducting a safety drill. This drill is part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all our students and staff. During this drill, we will practice the “Securing The Campus” drill as part of our emergency preparedness plan. While we hope to never need to use these procedures, practicing them regularly is crucial. It helps our students and staff remain calm and ready should an emergency arise. Just like we practice fire drills and earthquake drills, it’s important that everyone knows what to do in any situation that requires immediate action. Please know that our staff is trained to guide and support students during these drills, and we make every effort to ensure the process is handled with care, so students feel safe and secure. Our goal is always to provide a supportive environment where our children can feel confident that their safety is our top priority. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Thank you for your continued support in helping us create a safe and secure learning environment for all.   A day filled with friendship, kindness, and lots of heart. Here’s a peek at some of the classroom celebrations!   Incoming Gravenstein Students Campus Tours Now Available! Campus tours are happening now and more are available throughout the school year! Do you have children who will be eligible for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) or Kindergarten (K) next school year?  Would you like to learn more about our program? Do you have family or friends interested in our incredible school? Sign up for a campus tour using the link below, or join us at our upcoming Open House Events : March 8, 2025 We look forward to showing you everything that our school has to offer! Gravenstein Elementary Campus Tour Sign Up   TK/Kinder Open House We are excited to announce the dates for our upcoming TK/K Open House!  These special events are designed for prospective students to visit our campus, tour the classrooms, and experience some of the enrichment activities that we offer to our students.  It’s a wonderful opportunity to get a feel for the learning environment and see firsthand how we support the growth and development of our young learners. Open House Date: Saturday, March 8, 2025, 10:00 - 11:00 am Bring the whole family!  This is a chance to meet our energetic and compassionate teachers and staff, explore our beautiful campus, learn more about our early childhood programs, and experience one of our engaging TK/K PE enrichment classes.  You’ll also learn about our affordable before/after school care and our involved parent organization. If you are looking to enroll your child in TK , they must turn 4 by September 1, 2025 . For Kindergarten , your child must turn  5 by September 1, 2025 . We look forward to welcoming you and your child to our campus! We hope to see you there!   Future Hillcrest Students 5th Grade Hillcrest Transition Gravenstein 5th graders, we are excited to welcome you to  Hillcrest Middle School !  In just a few short months, you will become  Hillcrest Hawks ! As we prepare for the new school year, here is some important information you will need to know: If your student is already enrolled at Gravenstein, you do not need to fill out new enrollment forms. Thursday, March 6th:   5th graders will visit Hillcrest to watch the Spring Musical, Matilda Junior .  After the play, Gravenstein students will stay for a tour of the campus and eat lunch at Hillcrest. In the Spring, we will send home a Google form for students to sign up for their 6th-grade elective classes. Hillcrest Open House:   All 5th-grade students and families are invited to join us for Hillcrest’s Open House on May 8th, 2025 .  It is a great chance to visit the campus, meet the teachers, and explore the classrooms! We also offer guided tours of the campus.  To schedule a tour, please call the Hillcrest Main Office at  707-823-7653 .  For any questions, please email Principal Deeths at  wdeeths@gusdschools.org . We are excited for a great school year ahead! SOAR HAWKS, SOAR!   Gravenstein Field Trip Donation Requests Field Trip Donations Accepted Online! We are excited to announce that we are can now accept online donations for field trips!!  If you missed a donation request or didn't have the chance to donate previously, here is another opportunity. Clink the links below to view our recent donation requests.  While donations are not required, your support helps Gravenstein Elementary continue to provide these amazing experiences to our students.  We appreciate the support of our school community! 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    Last week students in Spanish elective made tortillas by hand. We used a blue heirloom corn masa to make the tortillas and then students added shredded cheese, queso fresco, beans and salsa to their liking! Leading up to the hands on activity, students worked on writing the steps for the recipe, with a grammar focus on imperative verbs in the command form.   Over the last couple of weeks, the Leadership students handmade over 120 Valentine's Day cards for senior citizens at the Drake Terrace Senior Home in San Rafael.  On Valentine's Day, these dedicated Hawks went on a field trip to meet and visit with the seniors.  Everyone had a wonderful time, and it was so great to see our Hawks spreading love in the community. One moment that stood out was when a resident read her card, which said, "You are so loved." She teared up and shared that she hadn’t heard those words in a long time.  These kids made a real difference that day!   SCOE Family Webinar Series: Understanding and Supporting Youth Mental Health We are excited to announce the SCOE Family Webinar Series, offering free virtual workshops for parents and caregivers focused on youth mental health.  These webinars are available in both English and Spanish and will provide valuable insights on important topics related to the well-being of our children and adolescents. Webinar Schedule: Thursday, February 20 : Cannabis and the Adolescent Brain: Lessons from Neuroscience Thursday, March 27 : Conversations that Matter: Parenting in the Era of Cannabis Thursday, April 17 : Opioids and Fentanyl in Our Community: What You Need to Know Thursday, May 22 : Understanding and Supporting Youth Anxiety Each workshop will take place from  5:00-6:00 PM and is open to all parents and caregivers who want to better understand and support the mental health of the youth in their lives.  These webinars are a great way to learn from experts and connect with others in the community. For more information and to register ,  click here . If you have any questions or need more details, please feel free to reach out to: Mary Champion at mchampion@scoe.org Carolina Herrera at cherrera@scoe.org   Life Skills & Cooking and Nutrition Enrichment Seeking Donations! The Life Skills Elective and our new Cooking and Nutrition Enrichment program are seeking donations to help stock the pantry for both classes. We are in need of the following pantry staples: Olive Oil Vegetable Oil Coconut Oil Butter Kosher Salt Pepper Potatoes Onions Garlic Oats Canned Beans Canned Tomatoes Honey Your generous donations will help support our students as they learn valuable life skills. Thank you for your continued support!   Incoming Hillcrest Students Future 6th Graders Gravenstein 5th graders, we are excited to welcome you to Hillcrest Middle School !  In just a few short months, you will become Hillcrest Hawks ! As we approach the start of the new school year, we want to share some important information you’ll need to know: If you are already enrolled at Gravenstein, there is no need to fill out new enrollment forms. On Thursday, March 6th , the 5th graders will visit Hillcrest to watch the Spring Musical Matilda Junior .  After the play, Gravenstein students will stay for a campus tour and enjoy lunch at HMS. In the spring, we will email a Google form for students to sign up for their 6th grade Electives . All 5th grade students and families are invited to Hillcrest’s Open House on May 8th, 2025 .  This is a wonderful opportunity to tour the campus, meet the teachers, and see the classrooms! We are also available to give guided campus tours for families.  To schedule a tour, please call the Hillcrest Main Office at 707-823-7653.  For any questions, email Principal Deeths at  wdeeths@gusdschools.org . We are looking forward to an incredible school year!   High School Information Analy High School Are you interested in having your student shadow at Analy High School? Contact Sandra Jones at 707-824-2319 to schedule a Shadow Day.   Academy of Innovative Arts The West Sonoma County Union High School District (WSCUHSD) recently announced the opening of a new high school option for students entering 9 th  grade in the 2025-2026 school year.  The  Academy of Innovative Arts , will be located on the El Molino Campus in Forestville, and will open its doors to 30 incoming freshmen in the Fall of 2025.  These 30 spots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis (with priority given to students who reside in the WSCUHSD attendance area). The online application window opened on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 @ 9:00am .  Information about the Academy and the link to the online application can be found on the schools web page by clicking   here .  When the school reaches a capacity of 30 students, a waiting list will be created.  Therefore, it is important that interested students submit their applications as soon as possible. In the coming weeks, The Academy of Innovative Arts will be setting up campus tours and information sessions. In the meantime, questions can be directed to the school’s founding Principal, Greg Alexander, at galexander@wscuhsd.org or 707-824-6488.   Hillcrest Field Trip Information 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 Parents~ Good news!  We have enough parent volunteers to comfortably move forward with our Ashland, Oregan trip (April 29-May 2, 2025).   Thank you to all our parent chaperone volunteers! PERMISSION SLIPS:   Permission slips for the Asian Art Museum / Japanese Tea Gardens Field Trip (April 3rd) and Luther Burbank Field Trip (April 15th) will go home with student today.  Please sign and return these permission forms by February 28th.   If a permission slip is returned late, that student may not be able to attend the field trip.   SAVE THE DATE:   ASHLAND PARENT INFORMATION MEETING (ON ZOOM)!   Save this date for a parent information meeting about our Ashland trip.  This meeting is for all 7th grade parents.   Please make every effort to have one parent or guardian attend this zoom meeting to help prepare your child for the very best Ashland, Oregon experience! Date:  March 12, 2025 @ 6:30pm Topic: ASHLAND PARENT MEETING Time: Mar 12, 2025 06:30 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting -  Zoom Link Meeting ID: 895 9678 1826 Passcode: ASH2025   Hillcrest Athletics Updated Sport Program Information Since Monday Messages is sent out only once a week, the athletic schedule sometimes becomes outdated later in the week. To improve accuracy, we’ve decided to provide a link to the  Athletics page on our website instead of including the schedule here in Monday Messages. By following the link, you’ll have access to the up-to-date weekly schedule, as well as important information and forms related to athletics. If your student is not on a sports team, but you are interested in what is happening with Hillcrest Athletics, check out these amazing sports updates from Meggan Young, our new Athletics Director. H awks Headlines - February 11, 2025 Hawks Headlines! - Febrary 3, 2025 Hawks Weekly News - January 27, 2025 Hawks Headlines - January 20, 2025 Hawks News - January 13, 2025 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!   Hillcrest Weekly Reminders Yearbooks Are On Sale! Yearbooks are now available for purchase!  Get yours today for just $15 for a softcover or $20 for a hardcover . Currently, we only have  26 orders , so be sure to place yours before it’s too late! To order, click on the link below and use the passcode: Link to purchase Yearbook Passcode: 1014223911784613 Don’t miss out on this memorable keepsake!   Student Safety First At Hillcrest Middle School, the safety of our students is always our top priority. Please take a moment to review some important reminders regarding morning and afternoon procedures: In the Mornings: Unless your student is part of a zero-period class or the Beyond the Bell program, please remember that students should not be dropped off before  8:00 am . This ensures that they are safely supervised when they arrive at school. In the Afternoons: No Pick-Up on Bloomfield Road: For the safety of all students, please do not pick up your child on Bloomfield Road. We ask that all pick-up be done in designated areas. Stairway Reminder: Students may not walk up the stairs from Hillcrest to Bloomfield unless they are walking directly to their home. This is to avoid any unnecessary traffic or confusion. We apologize for any inconvenience these rules may cause, but they are in place to ensure the safety and well-being of every student. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!   School Cell Phone Policy We would like to remind all families of our school’s cell phone policy to ensure a focused and respectful learning environment for all students. Cell phones should be off and put away from the moment students arrive on campus. After school , students may use their cell phones in the Duck Pond area only to contact parents or guardians. Please note that any violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action. We appreciate your cooperation in helping to maintain a safe and productive school environment.   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 Forgiveness by Rosie Steen-Larsen, LMFT, GUSD Mental Health Coordinator Children are often asked to forgive: forgive their sibling for taking their toy, forgive Mikey for pulling Katie’s hair at recess, or forgive Mom for being late. Teaching children compassion, loving-kindness, and forgiveness is essential. Forgiveness is a life skill that will help children navigate childhood and adolescence.  Holding on to anger and resentment can lead to anxiety and depression f or both children and adults.   We all face emotional wounds, and these hurts can last a lifetime.  Whether it’s verbal or physical these wounds can stick with us.  Teaching our children the power of forgiveness holds tremendous weight in regards to character and quality of life.  While forgiveness can be difficult, sometimes taking a lifetime, the process and the willingness to forgive is one of the most freeing actions imaginable, and it helps prevent anxiety and depression.   Forgiving is not forgetting.   Children — and many adults hesitate to forgive because they believe it means accepting bad behavior or forgetting what happened, which might bring on fear it will happen again.  In reality, to forgive is to say,” I did not like or appreciate your words or actions, but I am willing to let it go because holding on to these feelings does not help me.” Teach Perspective .  We tend to only see our side of an issue.  We need to teach our kids to be able to see things from the other side.  Our side is only part of the story. Forgiving is much easier when we know the whole story and not just half of it. Identify the feeling your child is experiencing.   Before asking your child to let go, forgive, or excuse a behavior, it is first important to identify the emotion they are feeling .   Are they angry, embarrassed, or disappointed?  They need to understand their emotions before they can forgive. State the feeling before offering forgiveness.   Instead of asking your child to immediately accept an “I’m sorry,” have them express how they feel.  For example, “Jenny, I am angry you borrowed my shirt without asking.  Please ask me before taking my things next time.  I forgive you.” Visualization can help your child let go of any harbored feelings.   Once feelings are clear, visualization can help release negative emotions .   Hand your child a pretend balloon.  Ask them to think about the feelings they stated — anger, sadness, embarrassment. Then ask them to blow all of those feelings into the pretend balloon. Tell them that the balloon is tied to them by an imaginary string.  When they are ready to let go of the feelings, hand over pretend scissors to cut the string and release the feelings.  Help your child imagine the balloon sailing high into the sky.  When ready, imagine that the balloon gently pops, spreading a dusting of love and compassion to both parties.  Remind your child it might take more than once and they can repeat the process as much as they would like. It’s Not About Being Right.   When you forgive someone, it should never be about being right.  It’s fixing the relationship.  Teach your kids to care more about the relationship than being right. Journal .  Writing down feelings is a helpful exercise, especially for teens.  Encourage your child to journal their emotions, including how they plan to forgive the person and express empathy for what the person has done right.  Journaling helps release resentment and keep their heart clear. Be the example.   Show your child how you forgive others . It is important for children to understand that learning to let go may take time.  The important lesson is to keep trying, making efforts, understanding forgiveness and loving kindness.  When we choose to not forgive, it is virtually impossible to move forward.  We get stuck in past situations, conversations, events, or traumas.  We can become trapped and imprisoned.  Life cannot be lived to our fullest potential when the pause button is on.  There is power in forgiveness.  It may not seem easy at first, but forgiveness can be the most liberating action for both children and adults. Here is an article from NC State University with more information Study Outlines Ways to Help Children Learn Forgiveness | NC State News (ncsu.edu)   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. Youth Football   is coming to West County!  Take a bite and join the Sebastopol Sharks,  a new member of North Bay Youth Football & Cheer.  Please see the flyer to right for more information. Sebastopol Sharks Flyer English   |   Spanish Summer @ Sonoma Academy is back for another year of Summer Camps!  This year, they are offering 3 weeks of camps from June 9th to June 27th.  Camps are for current 5th-8th grade students and the camps range from Cooking to Storytelling to Athletic Adventures.  See their website (to the right) for more information. Summer @ Sonoma Academy Website GIRL SCOUT COOKIES FOR SALE!!! Help our very own Gravenstein Girl Scout Troup reach their goal of selling 1,500 cookies as a troop.  All proceeds will help fund troop field trips and community service activities.  For more information see their flyer.  To order online use the link to the right. Troop 10297 Girl Scout Cookies Flyer - English | Spanish | Korean Online Ordering Petaluma Wetlands Children's Chorus Our goal is to instill environmental joy, hope and a sense of agency in the children of Sonoma County.   The “Petaluma Wetlands Children’s Chorus” has been established under the Education Wing of the non-profit Petaluma Wetlands Alliance, and we are expecting to start auditions and rehearsals in Petaluma in March of 2025. Please see the flyer to the right for more information. Petaluma Wetlands Children Chorus Flyer: English  or  Spanish 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 February 2025 Class Schedule February Class List   GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD   Laura de la Roz, President - ldelaroz@gusdschools.org Gregory Appling, Clerk -  gappling@gusdschools.org Paula Braunschweig, Trustee -   pbraunschweig@gusdschools.org Jeri McNeill, Trustee -  jmcneill@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, Feb 16 2025

Monday Messages February 10, 2025 for GUSD Families!

GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT Monday Message February 10, 2025   A MESSAGE FROM GUSD ADMINISTRATION   We Value Your Input! The GUSD Annual Parent Survey is an key way for us to hear from our parent community.  Your feedback is important to us, and we appreciate your time and support.  We encourage you to share your thoughts and suggestions. You can complete the survey by clicking the link above or scanning the QR code on the left. The survey will be closing soon, so please take a few minutes to complete it.  Your input will help us improve and continue to make GUSD a great place for all students. Thank you for helping us make GUSD even better!   Mark Your Calendars Monday, February 10 - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - Observe Lincoln's Birthday Tuesday, February 11, 5pm - GUSD - Board Meeting - Zoom Link Monday, February 17 - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - President's Day Wednesday, February 19, 6pm - GPA - Meeting - All Welcome Wednesday, February 26, 3:30pm - GUSD - Site Council Meeting Thursday, March 6, 5pm - GPA - Dine and Donate at The Rewind Tuesday, March 11, 5pm - GUSD - Board Meeting Monday, March 17 to Friday, March 21 - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - Spring Break Wednesday, March 26, 3:30pm - GUSD - Site Council Meeting Friday, March 28, 6pm - HMS - School Dance   Lunch Menu To view the entire February 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 10 Tue 11 Wed 12 Thu 13 Fri 14 NO SCHOOL S:  Cereal Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Pancake on a Stick Fruits and/or Veggies S: Breakfast Burrito Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Bagel with Cream Cheese Fruits and/or Veggies L:  Bean &  Cheese Burrtio Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Rib Sandwich Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Soup Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Pizza Fruit and/or Veggies Mon 17 Tues 18 Wed 19 Thu 20 Fri 21 NO SCHOOL S:  Cereal Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Breakfast Sandwich Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Overnight Oats Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Cinnamon Roll Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chili Con Carne Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Corn Dog Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chicken Burger Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Lasagna Fruit and/or Veggies   2025 Summer Jumpstart Announcement We are excited to announce that we will again be able to offer a Summer Jumpstart Program!  The program will provide valuable academic support for our students over the summer months.  The program is split into two sessions.  The official dates for Jumpstart Session 1 are June 10th-June 27th (June 19th is a holiday) and Session 2 dates are July 7th-July 25th. Please note, the summer school program will initially begin with invitations extended only to recommended students and specific groups.  These invitations are based on individual student needs and academic goals.  Once we have confirmed enrollment from these invited groups, we will announce an open enrollment period for all other students. While we hope all interested students will be accepted into the program, it is important that we first evaluate enrollment based on the acceptances from our invited and group-specific students.  Details for the open enrollment phase will be shared at a later date. We appreciate your understanding and patience as we work to ensure the best possible experience for our students this summer.  More information will be available soon through Monday Messages.   GRAVENSTEIN PARENT ASSOCIATION   Click the link to see the above in Spanish  or  Korean .   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, February 6th, 5:00 - 10:00pm 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 Keep an eye out for our 2025 Events Calendar!  Gravenstein Parent Association is excited to announce our upcoming events.  Visit www.wearegpa.com for more information regarding event details and to add your email to our volunteers list.  We will contract you with exciting opportunites to get involved and help support our art, science, spanish, music and other enrichment programs!   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, February 19, 2025 at 6:00pm Hillcrest Middle School in Room 5 GPA Google Meet Link 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    Campus Tours Now Available! Campus tours are happening now and more are available throughout the school year! Do you have children who will be eligible for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) or Kindergarten (K) next school year?  Would you like to learn more about our program? Do you have family or friends interested in our incredible school? Sign up for a campus tour using the link below, or join us at our upcoming Open House Events : March 8, 2025 We look forward to showing you everything that our school has to offer! Gravenstein Elementary Campus Tour Sign Up   TK/Kinder Open House We are excited to announce the dates for our upcoming TK/K Open House!  These special events are designed for prospective students to visit our campus, tour the classrooms, and experience some of the enrichment activities that we offer to our students.  It’s a wonderful opportunity to get a feel for the learning environment and see firsthand how we support the growth and development of our young learners. Open House Date: Saturday, March 8, 2025, 10:00 - 11:00 am Bring the whole family!  This is a chance to meet our energetic and compassionate teachers and staff, explore our beautiful campus, learn more about our early childhood programs, and experience one of our engaging TK/K PE enrichment classes.  You’ll also learn about our affordable before/after school care and our involved parent organization. If you are looking to enroll your child in TK , they must turn 4 by September 1, 2025 . For Kindergarten , your child must turn  5 by September 1, 2025 . We look forward to welcoming you and your child to our campus! We hope to see you there!   5th Grade Hillcrest Transition Gravenstein 5th graders, we are excited to welcome you to  Hillcrest Middle School !  In just a few short months, you will become  Hillcrest Hawks ! As we prepare for the new school year, here is some important information you will need to know: If your student is already enrolled at Gravenstein, you do not need to fill out new enrollment forms. Thursday, March 6th:   5th graders will visit Hillcrest to watch the Spring Musical, Matilda Junior .  After the play, Gravenstein students will stay for a tour of the campus and eat lunch at Hillcrest. In the Spring, we will send home a Google form for students to sign up for their 6th-grade elective classes. Hillcrest Open House:   All 5th-grade students and families are invited to join us for Hillcrest’s Open House on May 8th, 2025 .  It is a great chance to visit the campus, meet the teachers, and explore the classrooms! We also offer guided tours of the campus.  To schedule a tour, please call the Hillcrest Main Office at  707-823-7653 .  For any questions, please email Principal Deeths at  wdeeths@gusdschools.org . We are excited for a great school year ahead! SOAR HAWKS, SOAR! 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 Honors Owen Foley - Hillcrest Class of 2020 Hillcrest Middle School is proud to honor Owen Foley – Hillcrest Class of 2020!  Owen not only earned the title of Valedictorian at Analy High School last year, but he was also accepted to UC Berkeley to study Mechanical Engineering .  In addition, he runs Track for Cal !  We are so proud to see one of our Hawks soaring!   Candy Grams for Sale! Starting Monday, February 3rd, through Thursday, February 13th, Candy Grams will be available for purchase during lunch for just $1 each.  You can buy them in the Duck Pond area. Candy Grams will be delivered to all 7th period classes on Valentine's Day , February 14th.   Analy High School Counseling Visit On February 12th , the Analy High School Counseling Department will visit Hillcrest to help our future Tigers! They will answer questions about high school and help 8th graders choose their classes for 9th grade. Today, students took a survey in their Language Arts classes. The survey helps us find students who might benefit from the presentation or a one-on-one meeting with an Analy counselor. The counselors can help students plan for high school. We will also send surveys home with any 8th-grade students who were absent from Language Arts class on Wednesday. Are you interested in having your student shadow at Analy High School? Contact Sandra Jones at 707-824-2319 to schedule a Shadow Day.   HELP NEEDED!  7th Grade Parent Chaperones for Ashland, Oregon Field Trip (April 29 - May2, 2025) Thank you to all the 7th grade parents volunteering for our upcoming field trips!  We now have enough chaperones for the Asian Art/Japanese Tea Garden Field Trip (April 3rd), Luther Burbank Field Trip (April 15th), and Renaissance Faire Field Trip (May 30th).  Volunteers for these trips will be contacted soon with more details! However, we are 30 car seats short for our overnight Ashland, Oregon field trip (April 29th – May 2nd, 2025).  This trip depends on parent drivers and chaperones to get us to and from Oregon and to support the four-day, three-night experience. This is a big ask , but it’s truly worth the effort.  The Ashland trip is a highlight for many HMS students and will not happen unless we can secure enough parent drivers.  This trip will not happen unless we have enough parents to transport 30 more students .  We need about 4-6 more parent drivers/chaperones to ensure all students can attend.  We  need your commitment now in order to proceed with the trip. Volunteer to chaperone ASAP by filling out the Chaperone Request Form , or you can email Ms. Clements at  cclements@gusdschools.org PS:  If you previously marked "Last Resort" in your response, please email Ms. Clements or complete the form again with a "YES" if you are now able to help.  We need those “Last Resort” drivers in order to move forward with the trip. Thank you for your consideration and support! 7th Grade Teachers   Yearbooks Are On Sale! Yearbooks are now available for purchase!  Get yours today for just $15 for a softcover or $20 for a hardcover . Currently, we only have  26 orders , so be sure to place yours before it’s too late! To order, click on the link below and use the passcode: Link to purchase Yearbook Passcode: 1014223911784613 Don’t miss out on this memorable keepsake!   ELPAC Testing for English Language Learners ELPAC testing for 6th-8th grade English Language Learners will take place from February 11th to 14th . Please ensure that your student is well-prepared and ready for testing during these dates.   SCOE Family Webinar Series: Understanding and Supporting Youth Mental Health We are excited to announce the SCOE Family Webinar Series, offering free virtual workshops for parents and caregivers focused on youth mental health.  These webinars are available in both English and Spanish and will provide valuable insights on important topics related to the well-being of our children and adolescents. Webinar Schedule: Thursday, February 20 : Cannabis and the Adolescent Brain: Lessons from Neuroscience Thursday, March 27 : Conversations that Matter: Parenting in the Era of Cannabis Thursday, April 17 : Opioids and Fentanyl in Our Community: What You Need to Know Thursday, May 22 : Understanding and Supporting Youth Anxiety Each workshop will take place from  5:00-6:00 PM and is open to all parents and caregivers who want to better understand and support the mental health of the youth in their lives.  These webinars are a great way to learn from experts and connect with others in the community. For more information and to register ,  click here . If you have any questions or need more details, please feel free to reach out to: Mary Champion at mchampion@scoe.org Carolina Herrera at cherrera@scoe.org   Future 6th Graders Gravenstein 5th graders, we are excited to welcome you to Hillcrest Middle School !  In just a few short months, you will become Hillcrest Hawks ! As we approach the start of the new school year, we want to share some important information you’ll need to know: If you are already enrolled at Gravenstein, there is no need to fill out new enrollment forms. On Thursday, March 6th , the 5th graders will visit Hillcrest to watch the Spring Musical Matilda Junior .  After the play, Gravenstein students will stay for a campus tour and enjoy lunch at HMS. In the spring, we will email a Google form for students to sign up for their 6th grade Electives . All 5th grade students and families are invited to Hillcrest’s Open House on May 8th, 2025 .  This is a wonderful opportunity to tour the campus, meet the teachers, and see the classrooms! We are also available to give guided campus tours for families.  To schedule a tour, please call the Hillcrest Main Office at 707-823-7653.  For any questions, email Principal Deeths at  wdeeths@gusdschools.org . We are looking forward to an incredible school year!   Life Skills & Cooking and Nutrition Enrichment Donations Needed! The Life Skills Elective and our new Cooking and Nutrition Enrichment programs need donations to help enhance our students’ learning experience.  We would be happy to accept used items ! Thank you for supporting our programs and helping our students build valuable life skills! Our wishlist includes: Kitchen Appliances: Instapot Electric griddle and/or hotplate Rice cooker Toaster oven or air fryer Cooking Utensils: Spoons Spatulas Tongs Measuring cups Mixing bowls Knives Other Kitchen Supplies: Kitchen towels Sponges Dish soap Dish racks Pantry Items Wishlist: Olive oil Baking soda Brown sugar Flour Kosher salt Pepper Canned beans Pasta Peanut butter Soy Sauce Ongoing Perishable Wishlist: Butter Cheese Vegetables and fruit Eggs Bread and/or tortillas   The Greenhouse is really taking shape!!   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 Becuase Monday Messages is only sent out once a week, sometimes our athletic schedule was not accurate on a given day later in the week.  So instead of having the schedule here in Monday Messages we decided it would be better to have a link to the  Athletics page  on our website.  From here you will not only have access to the weekly schedule, but you will also find information and forms regarding athletics. If your student is not on a sports team, but you are interested in what is happening with Hillcrest Athletics, check out these amazing sports updates from Meggan Young, our new Athletics Director. Hawks Headlines! - Febrary 3, 2025 Hawks Weekly News - January 27, 2025 Hawks Headlines - January 20, 2025 Hawks News - January 13, 2025 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!   Hillcrest Weekly Reminders Student Safety First At Hillcrest Middle School, the safety of our students is always our top priority. Please take a moment to review some important reminders regarding morning and afternoon procedures: In the Mornings: Unless your student is part of a zero-period class or the Beyond the Bell program, please remember that students should not be dropped off before  8:00 am . This ensures that they are safely supervised when they arrive at school. In the Afternoons: No Pick-Up on Bloomfield Road: For the safety of all students, please do not pick up your child on Bloomfield Road. We ask that all pick-up be done in designated areas. Stairway Reminder: Students may not walk up the stairs from Hillcrest to Bloomfield unless they are walking directly to their home. This is to avoid any unnecessary traffic or confusion. We apologize for any inconvenience these rules may cause, but they are in place to ensure the safety and well-being of every student. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation! School Cell Phone Policy We would like to remind all families of our school’s cell phone policy to ensure a focused and respectful learning environment for all students. Cell phones should be off and put away from the moment students arrive on campus. After school , students may use their cell phones in the Duck Pond area only to contact parents or guardians. Please note that any violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action. We appreciate your cooperation in helping to maintain a safe and productive school environment.   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     The Importance of Self-Love:  Nurturing Yourself and Teaching It to Your Children by Rosie Steen-Larsen, LMFT, GUSD Mental Health Coordinator Self-love is about appreciating yourself and meeting your own needs.  It’s taking care of your well-being without sacrificing your happiness to please others.  Self-love means valuing yourself and not settling for less than you deserve.  It can look different for each person, as everyone has their own way of caring for themselves. In recent years, the idea of self-love has become very popular, but it’s often misunderstood. Some view it as selfish or indulgent, while others think you only deserve self-love if you’re a certain type of person. However, neither of these views is true.  Practicing self-love should not depend on whether you feel "worthy" of it. The way I see it, true self-love is not about being selfish. It’s about accepting who you are, treating yourself with kindness, and taking care of your emotional, mental, and physical health. It’s an ongoing journey, not a destination. Loving yourself for who you are is one of the most empowering things you can do.  It is a daily choice to nourish your mind, body, and soul. Ultimately, self-love is about fully accepting who you are, taking intentional steps to become the best version of yourself, and finding your own journey toward happiness and inner peace, all while practicing self-compassion. Why Is Self-Love Important? Self-love is the foundation of a healthy relationship with yourself. Just as you take care of your body and mind, it’s important to nurture your self-esteem and emotional well-being. When you love and accept yourself, it’s easier to handle life’s challenges and setbacks. You have more confidence, and you don’t get bogged down by negative thoughts about yourself. Self-love also helps you see the value in others, leading to stronger, healthier relationships. When you believe in your worth, it’s easier to build meaningful connections with the people around you. Teaching Children About Self-Love The best way to teach children self-love is by setting an example. Children learn by watching how we treat ourselves and others. If you speak negatively about yourself or put your needs last, your children may do the same. It’s important to watch how you speak to yourself. If you are always putting others first or sacrificing your own needs, you may unknowingly teach your children that their needs don’t matter. This can affect them well into adulthood. Another great way to encourage self-love in your children is by not making every decision for them. Allowing them to make choices helps them discover what they like and teaches them to speak up for what they want. You are showing them that their decisions matter. When children are given the opportunity to choose, they become more confident and start to understand what they believe in. While it’s tempting to want to do everything for your children, it’s important to give them the space to do things independently. For example, encourage your child to pick out their own clothes and dress themselves as early as possible. If you're hesitant to give them full control, let them choose from a few options you've prepared. As they learn to complete tasks on their own, they will gain self-belief and independence, helping them grow into confident teenagers and, eventually, adults. Letting Children Make Mistakes It’s natural to want to protect your children from failure, but it’s also important for them to learn from their mistakes. When they make an error, instead of criticizing them, remind them that everyone makes mistakes, including adults. Encouraging them to try again will help them build resilience and confidence. If children are punished or criticized for every mistake, they may become afraid to try new things. Instead, encourage them to keep learning and growing, knowing that mistakes are part of the process. Explaining Self-Love to Kids Explaining self-love to children can be simple. Start by talking about love in general terms. Then, explain that loving yourself means being kind to yourself, making healthy choices, and understanding that everyone has value. Encourage your child to practice positive self-talk, such as “I am capable,” or “I am important.” With time and practice, your child will begin to understand and apply self-love in their own lives. By teaching them these principles early, you’re helping them grow into confident, compassionate individuals who know how to take care of themselves and others. Self-love is not just a practice for adults—it’s something we can teach our children, helping them develop the emotional resilience and confidence they need for life. By modeling self-love, setting healthy boundaries, and allowing children to make decisions, we can nurture a future generation that understands the value of loving themselves.   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. GIRL SCOUT COOKIES FOR SALE!!! Help our very own Gravenstein Girl Scout Troup reach their goal of selling 1,500 cookies as a troop.  All proceeds will help fund troop field trips and community service activities.  For more information see their flyer.  To order online use the link to the right. Troop 10297 Girl Scout Cookies Flyer - English | Spanish | Korean Online Ordering Sebastopol Rotary's Annual Crab Feed  is happening Saturday, February 15, 2025.  The first seating is at 5pm and the second seating is 7:30pm.  The event will take place at the Holy Ghost Hall at 7960 Mill Station Road in Sebastopol.  All proceeds from this event will be used to fund Sebastopol Rotary's Mark Sell Teacher Grant Programs.  For tickets or information, go to  sebastopolrotary.com  or call (707) 823-4087 (Dorothy at Exchange Bank) or (707) 479-8960 (JT Martin).  You can also check the flyer linked to the right. Sebastopol Rotary Crab Feed Flyer Petaluma Wetlands Children's Chorus Our goal is to instill environmental joy, hope and a sense of agency in the children of Sonoma County.   The “Petaluma Wetlands Children’s Chorus” has been established under the Education Wing of the non-profit Petaluma Wetlands Alliance, and we are expecting to start auditions and rehearsals in Petaluma in March of 2025. Please see the flyer to the right for more information. Petaluma Wetlands Children Chorus Flyer: English  or  Spanish 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   You can sign up for the Sebastopol Little League 's spring 2025 baseball season! See their website for more information. www.sebastopollittleleague.com Girl Scouts of Northern California is hosting a few upcoming FREE events for interested family's with students attending Gravenstein Elementary.  Please see the flyers to the right (first page is English and the second is in Spanish) for more information about upcoming events. Explore STEM & Girl Scouts 02/15/2025 Discover Girl Scouts - Virtual Information Sessions CPI (Child Parent Institute) Classes February 2025 Class Schedule February Class List   GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD   Laura de la Roz, President - ldelaroz@gusdschools.org Gregory Appling, Clerk -  gappling@gusdschools.org Paula Braunschweig, Trustee -   pbraunschweig@gusdschools.org Jeri McNeill, Trustee -  jmcneill@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, Feb 09 2025

Monday Messages February 3, 2025 for GUSD Families!

GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT Monday Message February 3, 2025   A MESSAGE FROM GUSD ADMINISTRATION   Mark Your Calendars Thursday, February 6, 5pm - GPA - Dine and Donate at The Rewind Friday, February 7, 6pm - GPA - Hearts & Pasta Fundraiser Monday, February 10 - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - Observe Lincoln's Birthday Tuesday, February 11, 5pm - GUSD - Board Meeting Monday, February 17 - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - President's Day Wednesday, February 19, 6pm - GPA - Meeting - All Welcome Monday, February 24 - GPA - Online Auction - Kicks off!! Wednesday, February 26, 3:30pm - GUSD - Site Council Meeting Thursday, March 6, 5pm - GPA - Dine and Donate at The Rewind Tuesday, March 11, 5pm - GUSD - GUSD Board Meeting - All Welcome! Monday, March 17 to Friday, March 21 - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - Spring Break   Lunch Menu To view the entire February 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 3 Tue 4 Wed 5 Thu 6 Fri 7 S:  Cereal Fruits and/or Veggies S:  French Toast Sticks Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Muffins Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Yogurt with Fruit and Granola Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Waffles Fruits and/or Veggies L:  Mozzarella Pull Aparts Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Beef Tacos with Zavala Farms meat Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Egg Rolls Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chicken Nuggets Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Hot Dog Fruit and/or Veggies Mon 10 Tues 11 Wed 12 Thu 13 Fri 14 NO SCHOOL S:  Cereal Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Pancake on a Stick Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Breakfast Burrito Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Bagel with  Cream Cheese Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Bean & Cheese Burrito Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Rib Sandwich Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Soup Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Pizza Fruit and/or Veggies   Dear GUSD Families and Staff, We understand that recent changes to federal immigration policies may be causing some families anxiety, fear, and confusion.  Please know that our schools remain a safe and welcoming place for all students, regardless of their immigration status.  In the past week, we have reviewed both state and federal laws and worked closely with other school leaders across the county and at the state level to gather the most accurate and comprehensive information we can. Please know: Both state and federal laws require schools to educate all children, regardless of legal status.  In California the law states that all students have a right to a public school learning environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying, violence and intimidation.  We are committed to upholding both the letter and the spirit of these laws. Developments in both federal and state immigration rules are being monitored and we are regularly consulting with both county and state educational leaders as well as legal counsel on the potential implications of any such changes for our schools. The District has procedures for responding to the presence of law enforcement on our campuses, including federal immigration officials.  Those procedures are currently being reviewed with our staff members who will receive ongoing guidance and support.  For those families who could be directly affected by immigration enforcement, we urge you to: Make   a family emergency plan  and talk to your kids about what could happen. Identify who can take care of your children if a parent is detained and update the school emergency contact information. If you have specific questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out.   Nothing is more important to us than the safety and education of our community’s children and we are here to provide a safe and nurturing environment for ALL students.    Sincerely, Keri Pugno Superintendent   GRAVENSTEIN PARENT ASSOCIATION   GPA Invites You to the Hearts and Pasta (with Silent Auction) Fundraiser It will be held on the Hillcrest Middle School Campus on Friday, February 7th, 5pm - 7:30pm.  Tickets are $20 per Adult and $15 per child.   Advance Ticket purchase is requested by Monday, February 3rd ( please use the QR code on the above flyer or this   LINK ). Click here to see the flyer in Spanish or  Korean . Dinner includes penne pasta (or Gluten Free Option), salad, garlic bread, cookie, and drink. Door tickets will be limited and subject to availability! All proceeds benefit our enrichment program! Volunteers help make our events a success!  Please consider donating your time, we appreciate it.  Sign up through Sign Up Genius !   GPA’s 2025 Online Auction is Coming February 24th - March 10th Click the link to see the above in Spanish  or  Korean .   Upcoming Events Hearts and Pasta with Silent Auction - Friday, February 7th, 5pm-7:30pm Dine and Donate at The Rewind - Thursday, February 6th GPA's Online Auction - KICKS OFF FEBRUARY 24TH!!! 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, February 19, 2025 at 6:00pm Hillcrest Middle School in Room 5 GPA Google Meet Link 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    100th and 1000th Day of School! It is hard to believe it is already the 100th day of school (and the 1000th for our 5th graders!).  Several Grade levels had celebrations on Wednesday!  Kindergarten had a celebration in the MPR.  Thank you to all of the parents who volunteered for this event.   TK had a special visitor for the 100th day, Zero the Hero!   Lunar New Years Gravenstein had a Lunar New Year’s Lion Dance Assembly for the school! Thank you GPA for this incredible event!   Campus Tours Now Available! Campus tours are happening now and more are available throughout the school year! Do you have children who will be eligible for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) or Kindergarten (K) next school year?  Would you like to learn more about our program? Do you have family or friends interested in our incredible school? Sign up for a campus tour using the link below, or join us at our upcoming Open House Events : March 8, 2025 We look forward to showing you everything that our school has to offer! Gravenstein Elementary Campus Tour Sign Up   TK Dental Health Presentation February is Dental Health Month!  The TK classes are excited to arrange a dental health presentation.   We are asking if there is anyone in our school community that would be willing to come give a 1/2 hour presentation to our youngest students? If you are interested in helping, please email Kate Crandall at kcrandall@gusdschools.org or Kelley Lannon at klannon@gusdschools.org . Thank you for considering this opportunity to promote healthy smiles!   5th Grade Hillcrest Transition Gravenstein 5th graders, we are excited to welcome you to  Hillcrest Middle School !  In just a few short months, you will become  Hillcrest Hawks ! As we prepare for the new school year, here is some important information you will need to know: If your student is already enrolled at Gravenstein, you do not need to fill out new enrollment forms. Thursday, March 6th:   5th graders will visit Hillcrest to watch the Spring Musical, Matilda Junior .  After the play, Gravenstein students will stay for a tour of the campus and eat lunch at Hillcrest. In the Spring, we will send home a Google form for students to sign up for their 6th-grade elective classes. Hillcrest Open House:   All 5th-grade students and families are invited to join us for Hillcrest’s Open House on May 8th, 2025 .  It is a great chance to visit the campus, meet the teachers, and explore the classrooms! We also offer guided tours of the campus.  To schedule a tour, please call the Hillcrest Main Office at  707-823-7653 .  For any questions, please email Principal Deeths at  wdeeths@gusdschools.org . We are excited for a great school year ahead! SOAR HAWKS, SOAR!   ELPAC Testing The ELPAC is a state-mandated assessment designed to measure the English language proficiency of students whose primary language is not English. It helps schools identify students who need additional support to develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in English. The ELPAC is not a test of intelligence or academic ability but rather a tool to ensure that your child receives the appropriate resources and instruction to succeed in school. By understanding your child’s current level of English proficiency, teachers can tailor their instruction to meet your child’s unique needs and help them thrive in the classroom. ELPAC testing 3rd - 5th grade, Feb 3-7th ELPAC testing 6th-8th grade, Feb 11-14 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    Candy Grams for Sale! Starting Monday, February 3rd, through Thursday, February 13th, Candy Grams will be available for purchase during lunch for just $1 each.  You can buy them in the Duck Pond area. Candy Grams will be delivered to all 7th period classes on  Valentine's Day , February 14th.   9th Grade Information Night at Analy High School Analy High School will be hosting a 9th Grade Information Night on Thursday, February 6th , from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM .  This is a wonderful opportunity for families to learn more about Analy High School and get answers to any questions you may have. See this flyer from Analy for more information   English |  Spanish Analy High School Counseling Visit On February 12th , the Analy High School Counseling Department will visit Hillcrest to help our future Tigers! They will answer questions about high school and help 8th graders choose their classes for 9th grade. Today, students took a survey in their Language Arts classes. The survey helps us find students who might benefit from the presentation or a one-on-one meeting with an Analy counselor. The counselors can help students plan for high school. We will also send surveys home with any 8th-grade students who were absent from Language Arts class on Wednesday. Are you interested in having your student shadow at Analy High School? Contact Sandra Jones at 707-824-2319 to schedule a Shadow Day.   HELP NEEDED!  7th Grade Parent Chaperones for Ashland, Oregon Field Trip (April 29 - May2, 2025) Thank you to all the 7th grade parents who have volunteered for our upcoming field trips!  We now have enough chaperones for the Asian Art/Japanese Tea Garden Field Trip (April 3rd), Luther Burbank Field Trip (April 15th), and Renaissance Faire Field Trip (May 30th).  Volunteers for these trips will be contacted soon with more details! However, we are 30 car seats short for our overnight Ashland, Oregon field trip (April 29th – May 2nd, 2025).  This trip depends on parent drivers and chaperones to get us to and from Oregon and to support the four-day, three-night experience. This is a big ask , but it’s truly worth the effort.  The Ashland trip is a highlight for many HMS students and will not happen unless we can secure enough parent drivers.  We need about  4-6 more parent drivers/chaperones to ensure all students can attend. We  need your commitment now in order to proceed with the trip. Please volunteer to chaperone ASAP by filling out the Chaperone Request Form , or you can email Ms. Clements at cclements@gusdschools.org . PS: If you previously marked "Last Resort" in your response, please email Ms. Clements or complete the form again with a "YES" if you are now able to help.  We need those “Last Resort” drivers in order to move forward with the trip. Thank you for your consideration and support! 7th Grade Teachers   Yearbooks Are On Sale! Yearbooks are now available for purchase!  Get yours today for just $15 for a softcover or $20 for a hardcover . Currently, we only have  26 orders , so be sure to place yours before it’s too late! To order, click on the link below and use the passcode: Link to purchase Yearbook Passcode: 1014223911784613 Don’t miss out on this memorable keepsake!   Lost & Found - Unclaimed Items Will Be Donated Please take a moment to check the Lost & Found for any missing items.  You can come in person or have your student look through the collection. All unclaimed items will be donated after school on Friday, February 7th . Thank you for helping us keep things organized!   ELPAC Testing for English Language Learners ELPAC testing for 6th-8th grade English Language Learners will take place from February 11th to 14th . Please ensure that your student is well-prepared and ready for testing during these dates.   Dance PE:  West County Dance Convention Last weekend, Mr. L took 8 dancers to the first-ever West County Dance Convention , organized by Jolene Johnson, Dance Director at Analy High School. The dancers had the opportunity to take 5 classes , including Jazz Funk , Capoeira , Lindy Hop , and more, alongside 90+ other dancers from local high schools. It was a fantastic experience, and our dancers gained valuable skills and inspiration from the event!   Upgrades to Hillcrest Hall Hillcrest Hall has received some exciting audio upgrades !  To improve the sound quality for our upcoming spring musical , the drama department has purchased 8 new headset microphones , a 16-channel mixing board , and a new lighting controller . Additionally, GUSD has installed two new overhead microphones above the stage to enhance the sound further. A special thanks to Loud & Clear Music in Cotati for their help in ordering and installing the new equipment. We’re looking forward to a fantastic spring musical with improved sound and lighting!   Future 6th Graders Gravenstein 5th graders, we are excited to welcome you to Hillcrest Middle School !  In just a few short months, you will become Hillcrest Hawks ! As we approach the start of the new school year, we want to share some important information you’ll need to know: If you are already enrolled at Gravenstein, there is no need to fill out new enrollment forms. On Thursday, March 6th , the 5th graders will visit Hillcrest to watch the Spring Musical Matilda Junior .  After the play, Gravenstein students will stay for a campus tour and enjoy lunch at HMS. In the spring, we will email a Google form for students to sign up for their 6th grade Electives . All 5th grade students and families are invited to Hillcrest’s Open House on May 8th, 2025 .  This is a wonderful opportunity to tour the campus, meet the teachers, and see the classrooms! We are also available to give guided campus tours for families.  To schedule a tour, please call the Hillcrest Main Office at 707-823-7653.  For any questions, email Principal Deeths at  wdeeths@gusdschools.org . We are looking forward to an incredible school year!   Life Skills & Cooking and Nutrition Enrichment Donations Needed! The Life Skills Elective and our new Cooking and Nutrition Enrichment programs need donations to help enhance our students’ learning experience.  We would be happy to accept used items ! Thank you for supporting our programs and helping our students build valuable life skills! Our wishlist includes: Kitchen Appliances: Instapot Electric griddle and/or hotplate Rice cooker Toaster oven or air fryer Cooking Utensils: Spoons Spatulas Tongs Measuring cups Mixing bowls Knives Other Kitchen Supplies: Kitchen towels Sponges Dish soap Dish racks Pantry Items: Olive oil Baking soda Brown sugar Flour Kosher salt Pepper Canned beans Pasta Peanut butter Soy sauce Ongoing Perishable Wishlist: Butter Cheese Vegetables and fruit Eggs Bread and/or tortillas   Lunar New Year Celebration at Hillcrest Hillcrest students celebrated the 2025 Lunar New Year with a vibrant Lion Dance performance .  A huge thank you to  GPA for organizing and bringing this incredible event to our school! It was a wonderful way to honor the holiday and share in the festivities!   Early Birds at the Hillcrest Garden! Despite the chilly 31-degree weather, Mr. Dexter and Mr. Blanco were out early showing their dedication to the  Hillcrest Garden . Their commitment to the garden and our students is truly appreciated! Thank you, Mr. Dexter and Mr. Blanco, for your hard work and dedication!   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 Becuase Monday Messages is only sent out once a week, sometimes our athletic schedule was not accurate on a given day later in the week.  So instead of having the schedule here in Monday Messages we decided it would be better to have a link to the  Athletics page  on our website.  From here you will not only have access to the weekly schedule, but you will also find information and forms regarding athletics. If your student is not on a sports team, but you are interested in what is happening with Hillcrest Athletics, check out these amazing sports updates from Meggan Young, our new Athletics Director. Hillcrest Hawks Weekly Update - January 27, 2025 Hawks Headlines - January 20, 2025 Hawks News - January 13, 2025 Hillcrest Hawks 2025 - January 4, 2025 Hawks Weekly Update - December 17, 2024 Hawks Headlines - December 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 the link above.   No child will be prevented from participating in a team due to financial circumstances!   Hillcrest Weekly Reminders Student Safety First At Hillcrest Middle School, the safety of our students is always our top priority. Please take a moment to review some important reminders regarding morning and afternoon procedures: In the Mornings: Unless your student is part of a zero-period class or the Beyond the Bell program, please remember that students should not be dropped off before  8:00 am . This ensures that they are safely supervised when they arrive at school. In the Afternoons: No Pick-Up on Bloomfield Road: For the safety of all students, please do not pick up your child on Bloomfield Road. We ask that all pick-up be done in designated areas. Stairway Reminder: Students may not walk up the stairs from Hillcrest to Bloomfield unless they are walking directly to their home. This is to avoid any unnecessary traffic or confusion. We apologize for any inconvenience these rules may cause, but they are in place to ensure the safety and well-being of every student. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation! School Cell Phone Policy We would like to remind all families of our school’s cell phone policy to ensure a focused and respectful learning environment for all students. Cell phones should be off and put away from the moment students arrive on campus. After school , students may use their cell phones in the Duck Pond area only to contact parents or guardians. Please note that any violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action. We appreciate your cooperation in helping to maintain a safe and productive school environment.   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 Your Teen Build Healthy Relationships by Rosie Steen-Larsen, LMFT, GUSD Mental Health Coordinator A relationship is a connection we share with others—whether it’s with friends, family, classmates, teammates, co-workers, or even with ourselves.  These relationships shape how we interact with the world, and how we view ourselves.  Some would argue that the most important relationship of all is the one we have with ourselves, as it influences our self-esteem and how we treat others. As a parent, one of your most important roles is ensuring your child grows up in a safe and healthy environment.  When your teen starts dating, it’s natural to feel concerned about how they are being treated and how they navigate these new dynamics. Recognizing signs of an unhealthy relationship can be challenging, especially for pre-teens and teens.  But here’s a comforting fact:  A recent Harvard study found that 70% of teens and young adults wanted more guidance from their parents about relationships, especially regarding how to start healthy relationships, handle breakups, and avoid getting hurt. To effectively teach your child about healthy relationships it is suggested to start early to create open communication and model healthy behaviors yourself.  Focus on building a foundation of respect, trust, communication, and understanding that extends beyond romantic relationships to all interpersonal connections.   1.  Open Communication and Active Listening Create a Safe Space for Discussion :  Your teen needs to feel comfortable talking to you about their feelings.  Encourage them to share their thoughts on relationships without fear of judgment or criticism. Listen Actively and Empathetically :  Show genuine interest in their experiences and perspectives.  Validate their emotions, even if you don’t always agree with them, and remind them that their feelings are valid. Ask Open-Ended Questions :  Instead of lecturing, use questions that invite reflection.  For instance, ask, “What do you think makes a relationship strong?” or “What are some signs of a healthy relationship?” Share Your Own Experiences :   Relate your own experiences with healthy and unhealthy relationships, highlighting the importance of respect, communication, and boundaries. Utilize Teachable Moments : Movies, TV shows, and news stories can offer great opportunities for conversation.  Use these as examples to discuss what healthy and unhealthy relationships look like. 2.  Define Healthy Relationship Traits Respect and Equality :  Explain to your teen that in a healthy relationship, both people treat each other with respect and dignity.  No one is ever superior or inferior in a good relationship. Communication Skills :  Highlight the importance of open, honest, and respectful communication.  Healthy relationships rely on people being able to talk about their feelings and concerns in a constructive way. Trust :  Trust is the foundation of any solid relationship.  Emphasize the importance of honesty, reliability, and loyalty. Boundaries and Consent :  Help your teen understand that healthy relationships are built on mutual boundaries and respect for each other’s personal space and choices.  Consent isn’t just about physical touch—it’s also about emotional boundaries. Independence :  Healthy relationships allow individuals to maintain their own hobbies, interests, and friendships outside of the relationship.  Teach your teen that independence is just as important as the connection they share with someone else. 3.  Model Healthy Relationships Show Respect and Kindness :   Your actions speak louder than words .  Demonstrate kindness, empathy, and respect in your relationships—whether it’s with your partner, friends, or family members. Demonstrate Conflict Resolution :  Disagreements are natural, but it’s how you handle them that matters.  Show your teen how to resolve conflicts with respect by using “I” statements and focusing on solutions instead of blaming others. Encourage Strong Friendships and Family Bonds :   Help your teen understand the importance of strong support systems outside of romantic relationships. Explain the Red Flags :  Teach your teen how to spot the signs of unhealthy relationships.  Red flags include controlling behavior, jealousy, manipulation, disrespect, or any form of emotional or physical abuse.  If they see these behaviors, it’s important they speak up and take action to protect themselves. Check out the amazing parenting classes CPI has to offer for the month of February:   CPI February Class List   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. Sebastopol Rotary's Annual Crab Feed  is happening Saturday, February 15, 2025.  The first seating is at 5pm and the second seating is 7:30pm.  The event will take place at the Holy Ghost Hall at 7960 Mill Station Road in Sebastopol.  All proceeds from this event will be used to fund Sebastopol Rotary's Mark Sell Teacher Grant Programs.  For tickets or information, go to  sebastopolrotary.com  or call (707) 823-4087 (Dorothy at Exchange Bank) or (707) 479-8960 (JT Martin).  You can also check the flyer linked to the right. Sebastopol Rotary Crab Feed Flyer Petaluma Wetlands Children's Chorus Our goal is to instill environmental joy, hope and a sense of agency in the children of Sonoma County.   The “Petaluma Wetlands Children’s Chorus” has been established under the Education Wing of the non-profit Petaluma Wetlands Alliance, and we are expecting to start auditions and rehearsals in Petaluma in March of 2025. Please see the flyer to the right for more information. Petaluma Wetlands Children Chorus Upated Flyer: English  or  Spanish 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   You can sign up for the Sebastopol Little League's spring 2025 baseball season! See their website for more information. www.sebastopollittleleague.com Girl Scouts of Northern California is hosting a few upcoming FREE events for interested family's with students attending Gravenstein Elementary.  Please see the flyers to the right (first page is English and the second is in Spanish) for more information about upcoming events. Explore STEM & Girl Scouts 01/25/2025 Explore STEM & Girl Scouts 02/15/2025 Discover Girl Scouts - Virtual Information Sessions CPI (Child Parent Institute) Classes February 2025 Class Schedule February Class List   GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD   Laura de la Roz, President - ldelaroz@gusdschools.org Gregory Appling, Clerk -  gappling@gusdschools.org Paula Braunschweig, Trustee -   pbraunschweig@gusdschools.org Jeri McNeill, Trustee -  jmcneill@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, Feb 02 2025

Monday Messages January 27, 2025 for GUSD Families!

GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT Monday Message January 27, 2025   A MESSAGE FROM GUSD ADMINISTRATION   Mark Your Calendars Thursday, February 6, 5pm - GPA - Dine and Donate at The Rewind Friday, February 7, 6pm - GPA - Hearts & Pasta Fundraiser Monday, February 10 - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - Observe Lincoln's Birthday Tuesday, February 11, 5pm - GUSD - Board Meeting Monday, February 17 - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - President's Day Wednesday, February 19, 6pm - GPA - Meeting - All Welcome Wednesday, February 26, 3:30pm - GUSD - Site Council Meeting   Lunch Menu To view the entire January 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 27 Tue 28 Wed 29 Thu 30 Fri 31 S:  Cereal Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Muffins Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Pastry Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Cereal Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Cinnamon Rolls Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Grilled Cheese Sandwich Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Nachos Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Potato Soup or Chicken Noodle Soup Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chicken Fajita Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Pizza Fruit and/or Veggies Mon 3 Tue 4 Wed 5 Thu 6 Fri 7 S:  Cereal Fruit and/or Veggies S:  French Toast Sticks Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Muffins Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Yogurt with  Fruit and Granola Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Waffles Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Mozzarella Pull Aparts Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Beef Tacos with meat from Zavala Farms Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Egg Rolls Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chicken Nuggets Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Hot Dog Fruit and/or Veggies   We Value Your Input! The GUSD Annual Parent Survey is an important way for us to gather feedback from our parent community.   We appreciate your time and support and encourage you to share your thoughts and suggestions.   You can access the survey through the link above or by scanning the QR code to the left. So far, the grade level with the most responses is Grade 4...but Grades 1 and 7 are not that far behind!  The grade level with the most responses will win a coveted pancake breakfast cooked by our very own Mr. Will Deeths! Thank you for helping us make GUSD an even better place for all students.   GRAVENSTEIN PARENT ASSOCIATION   GPA Invites You to the Hearts and Pasta (with Silent Auction) Fundraiser It will be held on the Hillcrest Middle School Campus on Friday, February 7th, 5pm - 7:30pm.  Tickets are $20 per Adult and $14 per child.   Advance Ticket purchase is requested by Monday, February 3rd ( please use the QR code on the above flyer or this   LINK ). Click here to see the flyer in Spanish or  Korean . Dinner includes penne pasta (or Gluten Free Option), salad, garlic bread, cookie, and drink. Door tickets will be limited and subject to availability! All proceeds benefit our enrichment program! Volunteers help make our events a success!  Please consider donating your time, we appreciate it.  Sign up through Sign Up Genius !   Click here to see the flyer in Spanish or  Korean . Click the appropriate grade level (below) to sign up with your donation: Kindergarten 1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade Hillcrest is requesting Gift Cards to your favorite business, restaurant or service!   Upcoming Events Events Calendar 2025 - COMING SOON! 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 to the 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, February 19, 2025 at 6:00pm Hillcrest Middle School in Room 5 GPA Google Meet Link 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    Morning Drop Off - Courtyard When you drop off your students, please say goodbye to them in the courtyard area. We ask that parents do not go on campus past the marked areas between 8:00 am and 3:30 pm.  If you are volunteering or need help with something, please check in at the front office.   Campus Tours Now Available! Campus tours are happening now and more are available throughout the school year! Do you have children who will be eligible for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) or Kindergarten (K) next school year?  Would you like to learn more about our program? Do you have family or friends interested in our incredible school? Sign up for a campus tour using the link below, or join us at our upcoming  Open House Events : January 25, 2025 March 8, 2025 We look forward to showing you everything that our school has to offer! Gravenstein Elementary Campus Tour Sign Up   TK Dental Health Presentation February is Dental Health Month!  The TK classes are excited to arrange a dental health presentation and are looking for someone in our school community who would be willing to give a 30-minute presentation to our youngest students. If you are interested in helping, please email Kate Crandall at kcrandall@gusdschools.org or Kelley Lannon at klannon@gusdschools.org . Thank you for considering this opportunity to promote healthy smiles!   New TK Gate Our maintenance crew, led by the incredible Mr. Sposato, has set up a brand new TK entrance gate! A huge thank you to our maintenance crew for their hard work and dedication!   5th Grade Hillcrest Transition Gravenstein 5th graders, we are excited to welcome you to  Hillcrest Middle School !  In just a few short months, you will become  Hillcrest Hawks ! As we prepare for the new school year, here is some important information you will need to know: If your student is already enrolled at Gravenstein, you do not need to fill out new enrollment forms. Thursday, March 6th:   5th graders will visit Hillcrest to watch the Spring Musical, Matilda Junior .  After the play, Gravenstein students will stay for a tour of the campus and eat lunch at Hillcrest. In the Spring, we will send home a Google form for students to sign up for their 6th-grade elective classes. Hillcrest Open House:   All 5th-grade students and families are invited to join us for Hillcrest’s Open House on May 8th, 2025 .  It is a great chance to visit the campus, meet the teachers, and explore the classrooms! We also offer guided tours of the campus.  To schedule a tour, please call the Hillcrest Main Office at  707-823-7653 .  For any questions, please email Principal Deeths at  wdeeths@gusdschools.org . We are excited for a great school year ahead! SOAR HAWKS, SOAR!   Hillcrest PE Visits 5th Grade On Friday, Mr. S and Mr. L, along with some student volunteers, visited Mrs. Schaefer’s class to introduce Hillcrest PE! The visit included a short presentation and a fun PE lesson. They will be visiting the other 5th-grade classrooms in the next few weeks. 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    Lunar New Year On Friday, we will have a whole school assembly to celebrate Lunar New Year!  All classes will come to the gym to enjoy the presentation.   Future 6th Graders Gravenstein 5th graders, we are excited to welcome you to Hillcrest Middle School !  In just a few short months, you will become Hillcrest Hawks ! As we approach the start of the new school year, we want to share some important information you’ll need to know: If you are already enrolled at Gravenstein, there is no need to fill out new enrollment forms. On Thursday, March 6th , the 5th graders will visit Hillcrest to watch the Spring Musical Matilda Junior .  After the play, Gravenstein students will stay for a campus tour and enjoy lunch at HMS. In the spring, we will email a Google form for students to sign up for their 6th grade Electives . All 5th grade students and families are invited to Hillcrest’s Open House on May 8th, 2025 .  This is a wonderful opportunity to tour the campus, meet the teachers, and see the classrooms! We are also available to give guided campus tours for families.  To schedule a tour, please call the Hillcrest Main Office at 707-823-7653.  For any questions, email Principal Deeths at  wdeeths@gusdschools.org . We are looking forward to an incredible school year!   Holocaust Speakers in ELA Ms. Freese's 8th grade English Language Arts classes have been engaging in a reader’s theater of  The Diary of Anne Frank , dramatized by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, as part of their literary study on resilience during times of war. On  January 27 ,  Holocaust Remembrance Day , Ms. Freese and her students will welcome  four speakers  from the  Alliance for the Study of the Holocaust and Genocide . These speakers, some of whom visited last year, include the children of people who survived Holocaust concentration camps. They will also be joined by  Rena Victor , a survivor who lived through the war as a young child hiding with her mother and sisters. Last year, students found the presentations to be deeply moving, and we are looking forward to welcoming the survivors and their families back to  Hillcrest  for another meaningful experience.     Analy High School Counseling Visit On February 12th , the Analy High School Counseling Department will visit Hillcrest to help our future Tigers! They will answer questions about high school and help 8th graders choose their classes for 9th grade. Today, students took a survey in their Language Arts classes. The survey helps us find students who might benefit from the presentation or a one-on-one meeting with an Analy counselor. The counselors can help students plan for high school. We will also send surveys home with any 8th-grade students who were absent from Language Arts class on Wednesday. Are you interested in having your student shadow at Analy High School? Contact Sandra Jones at 707-824-2319 to schedule a Shadow Day.   Life Skills & Cooking and Nutrition Enrichment Donations Needed! The Life Skills Elective and our new Cooking and Nutrition Enrichment programs need donations to help enhance our students’ learning experience.  We would be happy to accept used items ! Thank you for supporting our programs and helping our students build valuable life skills! Our wishlist includes: Kitchen Appliances: Instapot Electric griddle and/or hotplate Rice cooker Toaster oven or air fryer Cooking Utensils: Spoons Spatulas Tongs Measuring cups Mixing bowls Knives Other Kitchen Supplies: Kitchen towels Sponges Dish soap Dish racks Pantry Items: Olive oil Baking soda Brown sugar Flour Kosher salt Pepper Canned beans Pasta Peanut butter Soy sauce Ongoing Perishable Wishlist: Butter Cheese Vegetables and fruit Eggs Bread and/or tortillas   Socratic Seminar in Ms. Freese's 8th Grade ELA Class Students in Ms. Freese's 8th grade ELA class are participating in a Socratic Seminar! This teaching method uses dialogue to help students explore and understand complex ideas in a text. The goal is to encourage critical thinking and divergent thinking, allowing students to construct meaning and come to their own conclusions.   6th Grade Field Trip to the Exploratorium We are excited to share that our 6th-grade students had a fantastic time on their field trip to the Exploratorium on Tuesday, January 21st!  It was a day full of hands-on learning, exploration, and fun. The Exploratorium is a science museum with interactive exhibits that encourage students to explore different aspects of science, technology, and art.  Our students were able to engage with exhibits that sparked their curiosity and sparked interesting discussions.  From physics experiments to interactive art displays, the experience brought classroom concepts to life in a way that inspired everyone. We hope this experience inspires our students to continue their love for learning.  Thank you for your continued support in making such events possible.   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 Becuase Monday Messages is only sent out once a week, sometimes our athletic schedule was not accurate on a given day later in the week.  So instead of having the schedule here in Monday Messages we decided it would be better to have a link to the  Athletics page  on our website.  From here you will not only have access to the weekly schedule, but you will also find information and forms regarding athletics. If your student is not on a sports team, but you are interested in what is happening with Hillcrest Athletics, check out these amazing sports updates from Meggan Young, our new Athletics Director. Athletics Calendar Update - January 23, 2025 Hawks Headlines - January 20, 2025 Hawks News - January 13, 2025 Hillcrest Hawks 2025 - January 4, 2025 Hawks Weekly Update - December 17, 2024 Hawks Headlines - December 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 the link above.   No child will be prevented from participating in a team due to financial circumstances!   Hillcrest Weekly Reminders Student Safety First:  Morning and Afternoon Reminders At Hillcrest Middle School, the safety of our students is always our top priority. Please take a moment to review some important reminders regarding morning and afternoon procedures: In the Mornings: Unless your student is part of a zero-period class or the Beyond the Bell program, please remember that students should not be dropped off before  8:00 am . This ensures that they are safely supervised when they arrive at school. In the Afternoons: No Pick-Up on Bloomfield Road: For the safety of all students, please do not pick up your child on Bloomfield Road. We ask that all pick-up be done in designated areas. Stairway Reminder: Students may not walk up the stairs from Hillcrest to Bloomfield unless they are walking directly to their home. This is to avoid any unnecessary traffic or confusion. We apologize for any inconvenience these rules may cause, but they are in place to ensure the safety and well-being of every student. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation! School Cell Phone Policy Reminder We would like to remind all families of our school’s cell phone policy to ensure a focused and respectful learning environment for all students. Cell phones should be off and put away from the moment students arrive on campus. After school , students may use their cell phones in the Duck Pond area only to contact parents or guardians. Please note that any violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action. We appreciate your cooperation in helping to maintain a safe and productive school environment.   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     The Positive Impact of Pets on Mental Health by Rosie Steen-Larsen, LMFT, GUSD Mental Health Coordinator Whether your companion is feathered, furry, or scaled, pets can have a positive effect on our lives, especially when it comes to mental health. Studies show that owning a pet can reduce anxiety and depression, boost self-esteem, encourage exercise, and give a sense of purpose. Most importantly, pets bring joy and unconditional love into our lives. If you're thinking about getting a pet, here are four benefits to consider: 1. Reducing Anxiety and Depression Research shows that pet owners are less likely to feel depressed than those without pets. Pets help lower blood pressure during stressful times, and even playing with a pet can help calm you down. One study found that people with high blood pressure who adopted dogs saw their blood pressure drop significantly over five months. 2. Improving Physical Health Owning a pet can improve heart health. Pet owners often have lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which are linked to heart disease. Also, people who own pets and have had heart attacks tend to live longer than those without pets. Older adults with pets also visit the doctor 30% fewer times than those without pets. 3. Encouraging Healthy Habits Taking care of a pet encourages a healthy lifestyle, which can help with mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. Pets, especially dogs, need regular walks, runs, or hikes. This encourages exercise, which benefits both the pet and the owner. Staying active also strengthens the bond between you and your pet. 4. Providing Companionship and Reducing Loneliness Pets offer constant companionship and can help people feel less lonely. Taking care of a pet makes you feel needed and wanted. Pets are loving and nonjudgmental. Whether you're talking to your pet or just being near them, they provide emotional support and comfort. How Pets Benefit Children Pets can be especially good for children. Kids who grow up with pets are less likely to have allergies or asthma. They also learn important values like responsibility, compassion, and empathy. Pets give children a sense of security, especially when they are feeling anxious or upset. Pets also help children develop social skills. Children with learning difficulties or autism sometimes connect better with animals than with people. Pets help them learn how to manage stress and calm down. They also provide a fun and healthy way for kids to play and stay active. A Major Commitment While pets offer many benefits, it's important to remember that owning one is a big responsibility. Pets require time, care, and money. They need attention and love for their entire lives, which can last 10 to 15 years. And, like all relationships, owning a pet can involve the sadness of losing a pet after many years together. Before deciding to get a pet, make sure you're ready for the commitment. If you truly appreciate animals, a pet can bring love, joy, and a sense of well-being to your life.   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. Sebastopol Rotary's Annual Crab Feed  is happening Saturday, February 15, 2025.  The first seating is at 5pm and the second seating is 7:30pm.  The event will take place at the Holy Ghost Hall at 7960 Mill Station Road in Sebastopol.  All proceeds from this event will be used to fund Sebastopol Rotary's Mark Sell Teacher Grant Programs.  For tickets or information, go to  sebastopolrotary.com  or call (707) 823-4087 (Dorothy at Exchange Bank) or (707) 479-8960 (JT Martin).  You can also check the flyer linked to the right. Sebastopol Rotary Crab Feed Flyer Petaluma Wetlands Children's Chorus Our goal is to instill environmental joy, hope and a sense of agency in the children of Sonoma County.   The “Petaluma Wetlands Children’s Chorus” has been established under the Education Wing of the non-profit Petaluma Wetlands Alliance, and we are expecting to start auditions and rehearsals in Petaluma in March of 2025. Please see the flyer to the right for more information. Petaluma Wetlands Children Chorus Flyer: English  or  Spanish 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   You can sign up for the Sebastopol Little League's spring 2025 baseball season! See their website for more information. www.sebastopollittleleague.com Girl Scouts of Northern California is hosting a few upcoming FREE events for interested family's with students attending Gravenstein Elementary.  Please see the flyers to the right (first page is English and the second is in Spanish) for more information about upcoming events. Explore STEM & Girl Scouts 01/25/2025 Explore STEM & Girl Scouts 02/15/2025 Discover Girl Scouts - Virtual Information Sessions CPI (Child Parent Institute) Classes January 2025 Class Schedule January Class List   GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD   Laura de la Roz, President - ldelaroz@gusdschools.org Gregory Appling, Clerk -  gappling@gusdschools.org Paula Braunschweig, Trustee -   pbraunschweig@gusdschools.org Jeri McNeill, Trustee -  jmcneill@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, Jan 26 2025

Monday Messages January 20, 2025 for GUSD Families!

GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT Monday Message January 20, 2025   A MESSAGE FROM GUSD ADMINISTRATION   Mark Your Calendars Monday, January 20 - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King Jr Day Wednesday, January 22, 3:30pm - GUSD - Site Council Meeting Wednesday, January 22, 5:30pm - GUSD - School Budget Town Hall Meeting Friday, January 24, 8:30am - GUSD - DELAC Meeting Wednesday, January 29 - GUSD - 100th Day of School Thursday, February 6, 5pm - GPA - Dine and Donate at The Rewind Friday, February 7, 6pm - GPA - Hearts & Pasta Fundraiser Monday, February 10 - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - Observe Lincoln's Birthday Tuesday, February 11, 5pm - GUSD - Board Meeting Monday, February 17 - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - President's Day Wednesday, February 19, 6pm - GPA - Meeting - All Welcome Friday, February 21, 6pm - GPA - Movie Night - All Ages - RESCHEDULED TBD Wednesday, February 26, 3:30pm - GUSD - Site Council Meeting   Lunch Menu To view the entire January 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 20 Tue 21 Wed 22 Thu 23 Fri 24 NO SCHOOL S:  Cereal Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Bagel with Cream Cheese Fruits and/or Veggies S:  French Toast Fruits and/or Veggies S:  Twin Bars Fruits and/or Veggies L:  Bean &  Cheese Burrtio Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Lasagna Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chicken Strips Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Meatball Sub Fruit and/or Veggies Mon 27 Tues 28 Wed 29 Thu 30 Fri 31 S:  Cereal Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Muffins Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Pastry Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Cereal Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Cinnamon Rolls Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Grilled Cheese Sandwich Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Nachos Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Potato Soup or Chicken Noodle Soup Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chicken Fajita Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Pizza Fruit and/or Veggies   A Message from Keri Pugno, the GUSD Superintendent Budget Roundtable on Wednesday, January 22 Please join us in the Hillcrest Gym on Wednesday, January 22 from 5:30-7:00 for a GUSD Budget Roundtable Meeting.  By attending, you’ll have the chance to: Learn about the district budget and funding sources. Share your thoughts and ideas on how to allocate resources. Ask questions and collaborate with school leaders. Help ensure that our schools continue to provide the best possible learning environment for all students. Your participation makes a real difference in shaping the future of our school community.  We hope to see you there!   (We will have Spanish translation for the meeting and we will have childcare available for school-age children in room 18.)   GUSD Annual Parent Survey We want to hear from you!  The  GUSD Annual Parent Survey  is one of the most valuable ways we gather feedback from our parent group.  All parents have access, you can complete it at any time, and it’s anonymous!  The results provide us with valuable insights that directly influence decisions and improvements across our school/organization.  We truly appreciate your input and encourage you to share your thoughts and suggestions.  Thank you for your time and support.   GRAVENSTEIN PARENT ASSOCIATION   GPA Invites You to the Hearts and Pasta (with Silent Auction) Fundraiser It will be held on the Hillcrest Middle School Campus on Friday, February 7th, 5pm - 7:30pm.  Tickets are $20 per Adult and $14 per child.   Advance Ticket purchase is requested ( please use the QR code on the above flyer or this   LINK ). Click here to see the flyer in Spanish or  Korean . Dinner includes penne pasta (or Gluten Free Option), salad, garlic bread, cookie, and drink. Door tickets will be limited and subject to availability! All proceeds benefit our enrichment program! Volunteers help make our events a success!  Please consider donating your time, we appreciate it.  Sign up through Sign Up Genius !   Click here to see the flyer in Spanish or  Korean . Click the appropriate grade level (below) to sign up with your donation: Kindergarten 1st Grade 2nd Grade 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade Hillcrest is requesting Gift Cards to your favorite business, restaurant or service!   Upcoming Events Events Calendar 2025 - COMING SOON! 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: Our next meeting is: Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 6:00pm Hillcrest Middle School in Room 5 GPA Google Meet Link 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    Morning Drop Off - Courtyard When you drop off your students, please say goodbye to them in the courtyard area. We ask that parents do not go on campus past the marked areas between 8:00 am and 3:30 pm.  If you are volunteering or need help with something, please check in at the front office.   New Bus Stop Open to All! Are you tired of the morning or afternoon traffic?  Try the new FREE bust stop at: Hessel Church 5060 Hessel Avenue, Sebastopol Morning Pickup :  8:00 AM (The bus departs at 8:04 AM) Afternoon Drop-off : Wednesdays:  2:15 PM Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday:  3:55 PM We hope this new stop makes your trip easier!   Campus Tours Now Available! Campus tours are happening now and more are available throughout the school year! Do you have children who will be eligible for Transitional Kindergarten (TK) or Kindergarten (K) next school year?  Would you like to learn more about our program? Do you have family or friends interested in our incredible school? Sign up for a campus tour using the link below, or join us at our upcoming  Open House Events : January 25, 2025 March 8, 2025 We look forward to showing you everything that our school has to offer! Gravenstein Elementary Campus Tour Sign Up   5th Grade Hillcrest Transition Gravenstein 5th graders, we are excited to welcome you to Hillcrest Middle School !  In just a few short months, you will become  Hillcrest Hawks ! As we prepare for the new school year, here is some important information you will need to know: If your student is already enrolled at Gravenstein, you do not need to fill out new enrollment forms. Thursday, March 6th:   5th graders will visit Hillcrest to watch the Spring Musical, Matilda Junior .  After the play, Gravenstein students will stay for a tour of the campus and eat lunch at Hillcrest. In the Spring, we will send home a Google form for students to sign up for their 6th-grade elective classes. Hillcrest Open House:   All 5th-grade students and families are invited to join us for Hillcrest’s Open House on May 8th, 2025 .  It is a great chance to visit the campus, meet the teachers, and explore the classrooms! We also offer guided tours of the campus.  To schedule a tour, please call the Hillcrest Main Office at 707-823-7653 .  For any questions, please email Principal Deeths at  wdeeths@gusdschools.org . We are excited for a great school year ahead! SOAR HAWKS, SOAR!   1st Grade Field Trip to Spring Lake! The 1st grade had a fun field trip to the Environmental Discovery Center at  Spring Lake Regional Park ! This hands-on, interactive natural history center helps students learn about Sonoma County's ecosystems through interesting exhibits. At the Environmental Discovery Center, students will: See live sea creatures in a tide pool. See live turtles, snakes, and fish. Get a close look at stuffed animals like mountain lions and coyotes. Touch, climb, crawl, and imagine as they learn about nature. We are looking forward to this fun and educational experience!   Thank You, Ms. Schaefer! Ms. Schaefer visited our classroom to teach the students about Japanese New Year .  She brought edamame (soybeans) and mochi ice cream for the students to enjoy.  She also taught them how to make an  origami box (a box made from folded paper). Our fifth graders had a great time learning about these new traditions.  We are very thankful to Ms. Schaefer for her kindness and the time she spent with our class. Thank you for making this a memorable and educational experience! 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    Gravenstein 5th Graders:  Welcome to Hillcrest Middle School! We are excited to welcome you to Hillcrest Middle School !  In just a few short months, you'll become  Hillcrest Hawks ! As we get ready for the new school year, here is some important information you’ll need to know: If your student is already enrolled at Gravenstein, you don't need to fill out new enrollment forms. Thursday, March 6th :  5th graders will visit Hillcrest to watch the Spring Musical Matilda Junior .  After the play, Gravenstein students will stay for a campus tour and eat lunch at Hillcrest. In the Spring, we will email a Google form for students to sign up for their 6th grade electives . Hillcrest Open House :  All 5th-grade students and families are invited to join us for Hillcrest’s Open House on May 8th, 2025 . This is a wonderful opportunity to visit the campus, meet the teachers, and explore the classrooms! We are also available for guided campus tours.  To schedule a tour, please call the Hillcrest Main Office at 707-823-7653 .  If you have any questions, please email Principal Deeths at  wdeeths@gusdschools.org . We are looking forward to an incredible school year ahead!   Reminder: 6th Grade Field Trip to the Exploratorium! This is a reminder that 6th grade students will be attending a field trip to the  Exploratorium in San Francisco. Please remember: Students must wear their Hillcrest House Shirt . Students may want to bring a small bag for their lunch and water bottle . We’re looking forward to an exciting and educational day at the Exploratorium!   Analy Band Performance for Hillcrest Students The Analy Band will be performing for all Hillcrest students on Thursday, January 23rd in Hillcrest Hall . We’re excited to enjoy this musical experience together!   8th Grade Fentanyl & Opioids Presentation The Sonoma County Department of Health has funded Sarah Ferraro Cunningham, PsyD from Panaptic to meet with our 8th-grade class on January 21, 2025 , to share important information about opioids, fentanyl, and their impact on the body and brain. This workshop will cover: The risks associated with opioid and fentanyl use, including substance use disorders, mental health symptoms, and overdose Effective strategies for preventing opioid use problems Parents are also encouraged to attend a virtual class to learn how to discuss these topics with their children. To join the virtual parent class, please register here: Panaptic Wellness . The registration code is:  hillcrestmiddleschoolfamilies . If you would prefer your child NOT to attend this presentation, please email wdeeths@gusdschools.org by Tuesday, January 21st at 8:00 AM .   Holocaust Speakers in ELA Ms. Freese's 8th grade English Language Arts classes have been engaging in a reader’s theater of  The Diary of Anne Frank , dramatized by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, as part of their literary study on resilience during times of war. On January 27 , Holocaust Remembrance Day , Ms. Freese and her students will welcome four speakers from the Alliance for the Study of the Holocaust and Genocide . These speakers, some of whom visited last year, include the children of people who survived Holocaust concentration camps. They will also be joined by  Rena Victor , a survivor who lived through the war as a young child hiding with her mother and sisters. Last year, students found the presentations to be deeply moving, and we are looking forward to welcoming the survivors and their families back to Hillcrest for another meaningful experience.   Analy High School Counseling Visit On February 12th , the Analy High School Counseling Department will visit Hillcrest to help our future Tigers! They will answer questions about high school and help 8th graders choose their classes for 9th grade. Today, students took a survey in their Language Arts classes. The survey helps us find students who might benefit from the presentation or a one-on-one meeting with an Analy counselor. The counselors can help students plan for high school. We will also send surveys home with any 8th-grade students who were absent from Language Arts class on Wednesday. Are you interested in having your student shadow at Analy High School? Contact Sandra Jones at 707-824-2319 to schedule a Shadow Day.   Life Skills & Cooking and Nutrition Enrichment Donations Needed! The Life Skills Elective and our new Cooking and Nutrition Enrichment programs need donations to help enhance our students’ learning experience.  We would be happy to accept used items ! Thank you for supporting our programs and helping our students build valuable life skills! Our wishlist includes: Kitchen Appliances: Instapot Electric griddle and/or hotplate Rice cooker Toaster oven or air fryer Cooking Utensils: Spoons Spatulas Tongs Measuring cups Mixing bowls Knives Other Kitchen Supplies: Kitchen towels Sponges Dish soap Dish racks Pantry Items: Olive oil Baking soda Brown sugar Flour Kosher salt Pepper Canned beans Pasta Peanut butter Soy sauce Ongoing Perishable Wishlist: Butter Cheese Vegetables and fruit Eggs Bread and/or tortillas   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 Becuase Monday Messages is only sent out once a week, sometimes our athletic schedule was not accurate on a given day later in the week.  So instead of having the schedule here in Monday Messages we decided it would be better to have a link to the  Athletics page  on our website.  From here you will not only have access to the weekly schedule, but you will also find information and forms regarding athletics. If your student is not on a sports team, but you are interested in what is happening with Hillcrest Athletics, check out these amazing sports updates from Meggan Young, our new Athletics Director. Hawks News - January 13, 2025 Hillcrest Hawks 2025 - January 4, 2025 Hawks Weekly Update - December 17, 2024 Hawks Headlines - December 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 the link above.   No child will be prevented from participating in a team due to financial circumstances!   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     The Power of the Sticky Note by Rosie Steen-Larsen, LMFT, GUSD Mental Health Coordinator I recently attended a parenting event on “How to talk so kids will listen and listen so kids will talk.”  The presentation was about strengthening your connection with your kids while navigating the challenges of parenting with confidence and ease.  This presentation was filled with a lot of helpful material.  However, one piece of advice that stood out to me the most is the power of saying less and using sticky notes as a way to communicate with your children (especially with your teens). Using sticky notes in parenting communication can be a helpful way to leave visual reminders for children about chores, important information, or positive messages, acting as a quick and accessible method to communicate without nagging, arguing, and yelling, particularly with older kids who might be more receptive to written notes rather than verbal reminders; essentially, sticky notes provide a simple, visible way to convey important details and encourage self-responsibility.   Examples of how parents can use sticky notes for communication: Reminders about upcoming events: "Don't forget soccer practice tonight!" Chore lists: "Take out the trash before leaving" Positive feedback: "Love seeing you study so hard!" Quick questions: "Can we talk about your weekend plans?" Important updates: "School is closed tomorrow due to weather"  A sticky note placed on a mirror, door, or lunch box immediately catches the eye, ensuring the message is seen.  I would encourage when writing sticky notes to include humor or a little drawing.  Even if they don’t thank you, an encouraging sticky note on their bathroom mirror will definitely make their day just a bit happier.  You will feel better for having written it and it may even remind you that you do, in fact, still love that messy, back-talking tween or teenager.  If you keep up these sticky notes, your children (and you) will feel better about your connection and relationship.   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. Sebastopol Rotary's Annual Crab Feed  is happening Saturday, February 15, 2025.  The first seating is at 5pm and the second seating is 7:30pm.  The event will take place at the Holy Ghost Hall at 7960 Mill Station Road in Sebastopol.  All proceeds from this event will be used to fund Sebastopol Rotary's Mark Sell Teacher Grant Programs.  For tickets or information, go to  sebastopolrotary.com  or call (707) 823-4087 (Dorothy at Exchange Bank) or (707) 479-8960 (JT Martin).  You can also check the flyer linked to the right. Sebastopol Rotary Crab Feed Flyer Petaluma Wetlands Children's Chorus Our goal is to instill environmental joy, hope and a sense of agency in the children of Sonoma County.   The “Petaluma Wetlands Children’s Chorus” has been established under the Education Wing of the non-profit Petaluma Wetlands Alliance, and we are expecting to start auditions and rehearsals in Petaluma in March of 2025. Please see the flyer to the right for more information. Petaluma Wetlands Children Chorus Flyer: English  or  Spanish 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   You can sign up for the Sebastopol Little League's spring 2025 baseball season! See their website for more information. www.sebastopollittleleague.com Girl Scouts of Northern California is hosting a few upcoming FREE events for interested family's with students attending Gravenstein Elementary.  Please see the flyers to the right (first page is English and the second is in Spanish) for more information about upcoming events. Explore STEM & Girl Scouts 01/25/2025 Explore STEM & Girl Scouts 02/15/2025 Discover Girl Scouts - Virtual Information Sessions CPI (Child Parent Institute) Classes January 2025 Class Schedule January Class List   GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD   Laura de la Roz, President - ldelaroz@gusdschools.org Gregory Appling, Clerk -  gappling@gusdschools.org Paula Braunschweig, Trustee -   pbraunschweig@gusdschools.org Jeri McNeill, Trustee -  jmcneill@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, Jan 19 2025

Monday Messages January 13, 2025 for GUSD Families!

GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT Monday Message January 13, 2025   A MESSAGE FROM GUSD ADMINISTRATION   Mark Your Calendars Tuesday, January 14, 5pm - GUSD - Board Meeting Wednesday, January 15, 6pm - GPA - Meeting - All Welcome Friday, January 17, 5:30pm - GPA - Skate Night Monday, January 20 - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King Jr Day Wednesday, January 22, 3:30pm - GUSD - Site Council Meeting Wednesday, January 22, 5:30pm - GUSD - School Budget Town Hall Meeting Friday, January 24, 8:30am - GUSD - DELAC Meeting Thursday, February 6, 5pm - GPA - Dine and Donate at The Rewind Friday, February 7, 5-7pm - GPA - Hearts & Pasta Fundraiser Monday, February 10 - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - Observe Lincoln's Birthday Tuesday, February 11, 5pm - GUSD - Board Meeting Monday, February 17 - GUSD - NO SCHOOL - President's Day Wednesday, February 19, 6pm - GPA - Meeting - All Welcome Wednesday, February 26, 3:30pm - GUSD - Site Council Meeting   Lunch Menu To view the entire January 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 13 Tue 14 Wed 15 Thu 16 Fri 17 S:  Cereal Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Danish Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Muffin Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Cinnamon Pastry Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Cinnamon Crumble Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Macaroni & Cheese Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chili and Cornbread Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Egg Rolls Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chicken Burger Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Pasta Fruit and/or Veggies Mon 20 Tue 21 Wed 22 Thu 23 Fri 24 NO SCHOOL S: Cereal Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Bagel with  Cream Cheese Fruit and/or Veggies S:  French Toast Fruit and/or Veggies S:  Twin Bars Fruit and/or Veggies MLK DAY L:  Bean &  Cheese Burrito Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Lasagna Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Chicken Strips Fruit and/or Veggies L:  Meatball Sub Fruit and/or Veggies   School Budget Town Hall on Wednesday, January 22 Please join us in the Hillcrest Gym on Wednesday, January 22 from 5:30-7:00 for a public meeting regarding our school budget.  Proper budgeting allows us to: Allocate funds to improve classroom facilities and educational technology. Ensure that essential support services, such as counseling and special education, are adequately funded. Offer enriching extracurricular opportunities that help nurture well-rounded students. Maintain safe, clean, and efficient school environments for all students. As parents, your support is key to making this process successful. Engaging in school budget discussions, understanding funding priorities, and supporting the allocation of resources can go a long way in strengthening our schools. Together, we can make sure that every dollar spent contributes meaningfully to the growth, development, and success of our students. We will have childcare available for school-age children.  (More information in last week’s  Monday Messages .)   GUSD Annual Parent Survey As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we kindly ask you to take approximately 10 minutes to complete the  GUSD Annual Parent Survey .  Your feedback plays a critical role in helping us assess and enhance our programs to better meet the needs of all students and families. This survey provides us with valuable insights that directly influence decisions and improvements across our school/organization.  We truly appreciate your input and encourage you to share your thoughts and suggestions.  Thank you for your time and support.   WSCUHSD Wants You to Help Name the New High School The West Sonoma County Union High School District (WSCUHSD) recently approved the establishment of a small innovative non-comprehensive high school that will be co-located with Laguna on the Forestville campus creating a community school model. The new high school plans to combine rigorous integrated academics with technical, design, process, entrepreneurial, and critical thinking skills.  The new high school will provide a Maker Space facility where students design and complete integrated projects through solving real world problems while mastering the content standards within the core subjects of English, Mathematics, Science and Social Sciences ( link for more program information ). The WSCUHSD Board of Trustees is gathering input from the community regarding name preferences for the newly-approved school on the District's Forestville campus.  The survey will be open until  Wednesday, January 15th  so that the results can be shared at their January 22 Board Meeting.  Please complete this short    New High School Name Survey .   GRAVENSTEIN PARENT ASSOCIATION   GPA Invites You to the Hearts and Pasta (with Silent Auction) Fundraiser It will be held on the Hillcrest Middle School Campus on Friday, February 7th, 5pm - 7:30pm.  Tickets are $20 per Adult and $14 per child.  Advance Ticket purchase is requested (please use the QR code on the above flyer).  Click here to see the flyer in Spanish or  Korean . Dinner includes penne pasta (or Gluten Free Option), salad, garlic bread, cookie, and drink. Door tickets will be limited and subject to availability! All proceeds benefit our enrichment program!   Click the link to see the above in Spanish  or  Korean .   Upcoming Events Check in with your Grade Level Parents for any upcoming events for your child's grade level!! Skate Night - Friday, January 17th, 5:30 - 7:30 pm at Cal Skate in Rohnert Park  SAVE THE DATE - Hearts & Pasta, our district-wide pasta feed fundraiser will be Friday, February 7th, 5-7:30pm at Hillcrest Hall. GPA Night at The Rewind - Thursday, February 6th, 5:00 - 10:00pm 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 Keep an eye out for our 2025 Events Calendar!  Gravenstein Parent Association is excited to announce our upcoming events.  Visit www.wearegpa.com for more information regarding event details and to add your email to our volunteers list.  We will contract you with exciting opportunites to get involved and help support our art, science, spanish, music and other enrichment programs!   Upcoming Board Meeting: Wednesday, January 15, 2025 at 6:00pm Hillcrest Middle School in Room 5 GPA Google Meet Link 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    2025-26 School Year Enrollment Information Campus tours are in full swing and more tours are available throughout the school year!  Do you have students eligible for TK/K next school year and want to learn more about our TK/K program?  Have family friends that are interested in our incredible school?  Please sign up using the link below for campus tours and/or attend our Open House Events that are now scheduled for 1/25/25 and 3/8/25. Gravenstein Elementary Campus Tour Sign Up   Kindness Assembly and Bingo This past week Gravenstein held a Kindness Assembly where we discussed the goal of making Gravenstein a Kindness Certified school!  This month we will be having a Kindness Bingo game for our students to accomplish kindness tasks!  If they fill the bingo board the students will receive a prize from the front office!   Yearbook It's Time to Purchase Your Gravenstein Yearbook! Soft Cover- 13.55 + tax Hard Cover- 20.85 + tax To purchase your Gravenstein Yearbook: _ CLICK HERE _ -------------------------------------------------- Go to the website: https://www.treering.com/ School passcode: 1013806737444510 -------------------------------------------------- Use QR Code 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    Click the following links to see the above in  Spanish  or  Korean .   Lunchtime Change Starting on Tuesday, January 14th, we will be making a change to our lunchtime schedule.  On Tuesday all grade levels will be eating and playing together.  Students will be able to go to the blacktop as soon as they are done with lunch.  Students may go to the blacktop or stay in the Duck Pond.   Holocaust Speakers in ELA Ms. Freese's 8th grade English Language Arts classes have been participating in a reader's theater of  The Diary of Anne Frank , dramatized by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, as part of their literary study on resilience during times of war.  On January 27, Holocaust Remembrance Day, Ms. Freese and her classes will welcome four speakers from the Alliance for the Study of the Holocaust and Genocide.  Several of the speakers visited last year and will again include adult children of Holocaust concentration camp survivors, along with a survivor, Rena Victor, who lived through the war as a young child in hiding with her mother and sisters.  Students last year found the presentations to be very moving and we are looking forward to the opportunity to welcome survivors and their families again to Hillcrest.   New Instructional Aide We are excited to welcome Floritzel Garcia Hernandez as our newest Instructional Aide at Hillcrest.  She comes to us with a great deal of experience working in Sonoma County schools.  Welcome Floritzel!   Analy High School Counseling Department On February 12th, Analy High school's Counseling Department will be visiting Hillcrest to support any future Tigers in answering questions about high school, as well as aiding Analy-bound 8th graders one-on-one in selecting classes for 9th grade.  Students were given a survey during their Language Arts classes today, Wednesday, to identify which students may benefit from the presentation and/or meeting with an Analy counselor to plan for 9th grade. We will also be sending surveys home to any 8th grade students absent from language arts on Wednesday.   House Games for the Week of January 13th Wednesday, January 15     -     8th Grade Trivia (ALL HOUSES) Friday, January 17     -     7th Grade Trivia (ALL HOUSES)   Electives Seeking Donations The Life Skills Elective and our new Cooking and Nutrition Enrichment are seeking donations!   Secondhand items are great! Wishlist Includes Pantry Item Wishlist Perishable Wishlist        (on going) Instapot Olive Oil Butter Electric Griddle Baking Soda Cheese Hotplate Brown Sugar Vegetables Rice Cooker Flour Fruit Toaster Oven or Airfryer Kosher Salt Eggs Kitchen Towels Pepper Bread Sponges Canned Beans Tortillas Dish Soap Pasta Dishracks Peanut Butter Cooking Utensils: Soy Sauce Spoons, Spatulas, Tongs, Measuring Cups, Mixing Bowls, Knives   School Information Analy Showcase 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. Web Development Course @SRJC Thanks to the dual enrollment opportunities made available by the Sonoma County Office of Education, middle and high school students can take SRJC web development classes online for free .   Enrollment is open now for the online section of CS50A - Web Development 1 - as part of our Web Dev Bootcamp. This online class starts in mid-January, 2025, after the winter break.  The class is asynchronous, which means you can work on it at your own pace.   Please visit our website at  SRJC Web Dev Bootcamp  for more information.   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 Becuase Monday Messages is only sent out once a week, sometimes our athletic schedule was not accurate on a given day later in the week.  So instead of having the schedule here in Monday Messages we decided it would be better to have a link to the Athletics page on our website.  From here you will not only have access to the weekly schedule, but you will also find information and forms regarding athletics. If your student is not on a sports team, but you are interested in what is happening with Hillcrest Athletics, check out these amazing sports updates from Meggan Young, our new Athletics Director. Hillcrest Hawks 2025 - January 4, 2025 Hawks Weekly Update - December 17, 2024 Hawks Headlines - December 9, 2024 Hillcrest Hawks Update - December 2, 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!   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     In light of the recent ongoing fires in Los Angeles, it has brought up many unpleasant memories for children and families of Sonoma County.  PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is a mental health condition that can occur after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening or traumatic event, such as a wildfire.  Following a traumatic event, it is normal to have upsetting memories, feel sad or on edge, feel the world is unsafe, and have difficulty sleeping.  However, if these symptoms persist for at least a month, it is possible that PTSD has developed. Importantly, not all people who are exposed to traumatic events develop PTSD.  However, if PTSD is left undetected and untreated, this can have a significant impact on a person’s life. Symptoms can include:  Reliving the event:  Children may relive the event through play, nightmares, or disturbing memories.  Emotional distress:  Children may experience intense fear, sadness, irritability, or anger. They may also feel numb, hopeless, or withdrawn.  Physical symptoms:  Children may experience physical symptoms like headaches or stomach aches.  Sleep problems:  Children may have trouble falling or staying asleep.  Avoidance:  Children may avoid places, people, or situations that remind them of the trauma.  School problems:  Children may have trouble concentrating or focusing on schoolwork.  Regressive behaviors:  Children may act younger than their age, such as thumb-sucking or bedwetting.  Untreated PTSD can lead to other mental health problems like depression and anxiety, poor quality of life and increases in alcohol and substance use. For some people, untreated PTSD may cause strains in friendships and family relationships, as well as difficulty maintaining employment. The good news is that PTSD is treatable.  Coping with Trauma and Stress in the Face of Wildfires   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. Sebastopol Rotary's Annual Crab Feed is happening Saturday, February 15, 2025.  The first seating is at 5pm and the second seating is 7:30pm.  The event will take place at the Holy Ghost Hall at 7960 Mill Station Road in Sebastopol.  All proceeds from this event will be used to fund Sebastopol Rotary's Mark Sell Teacher Grant Programs.  For tickets or information, go to sebastopolrotary.com or call (707) 823-4087 (Dorothy at Exchange Bank) or (707) 479-8960 (JT Martin).  You can also check the flyer linked to the right. Sebastopol Rotary Crab Feed Our goal is to instill environmental joy, hope and a sense of agency in the children of Sonoma County.   The “Petaluma Wetlands Children’s Chorus” has been established under the Education Wing of the non-profit Petaluma Wetlands Alliance, and we are expecting to start auditions and rehearsals in Petaluma in March of 2025. Please see the flyer to the right for more information. Petaluma Wetlands Children Choras Flyer: English  or  Spanish 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   You can sign up for the Sebastopol Little League's spring 2025 baseball season! See their website for more information. www.sebastopollittleleague.com Girl Scouts of Northern California is hosting a few upcoming FREE events for interested family's with students attending Gravenstein Elementary.  Please see the flyers to the right (first page is English and the second is in Spanish) for more information about upcoming events. Explore STEM & Girl Scouts 01/25/2025 Explore STEM & Girl Scouts 02/15/2025 Discover Girl Scouts - Virtual Information Sessions CPI (Child Parent Institute) Classes January 2025 Class Schedule January Class List   GRAVENSTEIN UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD   Laura de la Roz, President - ldelaroz@gusdschools.org Gregory Appling, Clerk -  gappling@gusdschools.org Paula Braunschweig, Trustee -   pbraunschweig@gusdschools.org Jeri McNeill, Trustee -  jmcneill@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, Jan 12 2025