Firebird News
RVCS Sequoia
Week of August 31, 2020
Message from the Principal
We have completed two weeks of school during distance learning, and they have definitely been one of the more eventful opening weeks of school we have experienced! Between lightning storms, power outages, evacuations for fires, smoke and all the other challenges faced during this time due to COVID-19, we had to make every effort to create connections for students starting off 7th and 8th grade this year. Our teachers have been fully invested in making sure your children have a fantastic middle school experience, even if it has to happen from home.
We loved the opportunity to see students on the first day of school briefly, even though we were battling the weather. We have another chance to see students on Friday, September 4th, for our first supplies pick up of the year. We will have additional supplies for 7th and 8th graders, so please come by and get what you need. See below for more details.
We know that there has been a lot of information communicated lately, and that it can be difficult to keep up with everything! We are always available to help, if you have questions. We will make sure that all the documents you need are posted on our website, so that you have access to them when you need them. Go to rvusd.org for more information.
Hannah Bates, RVCS Principal
Upcoming Dates:
Friday, September 4th: Supplies Pick Up, 7:30-9 am, 3-5 pm
Monday, September 7th: Labor Day, No School
Tuesday, September 8th: Advocacy Class Only, 8:45-9:45 am
Wednesday, September 9th: Coffee with the Counselors, 11:30 am
https://rvusd.zoom.us/j/932241...
Supplies Pick-Up
This Friday, September 4th is our first materials and supplies pick up for students. Pick up will be available between 7:30 and 9 am, and between 3 and 5 pm. There will be supplies for both 7th and 8th graders. There will also be printed materials that both 7th and 8th graders will use for classes
The process will be the same as past pickups; please pull up outside the front of the school, next to the office, and an employee will hand you your items.
Parent Association Message
Wow, where have the first two weeks of school gone? Hopefully your student and family are adjusting as well as they can and enjoying their RVCS experience so far. I wanted to get a message out to introduce myself and our current team. My name is Jeremy De La Torre. I have an 8th grader at RVCS Sequoia and have had three children go through Sequoia Elementary, my two older siblings through RVMS, then through Maria Carrillo, both attended SRJC and our oldest has graduated Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Our family has been active in the parent groups for all the districts for the last 21 years. I will be this year’s RVCS Parent Association President. Our VP is Nada Martin who has an 8th grader at RVCS Matanzas, Secretary Emily Asencio 8th grader Sequoia, Treasurer Robin Fowler 8th grader Sequoia, and Volunteer Coordinator Kim Van De Wetering 8th grader Matanzas.
This is going to be quite the year and we are extremely fortunate to have the amazing staff, administration and district that we have to do their best preparing and executing the best education plan possible. As hard as they are working we cannot expect them to do it alone. Parent support and communication is needed for our school more than ever. Mrs. Bates will be working out a date for us to have our first virtual meeting in September. We need support and brainstorming to determine how we can best help our students, their community and the staff. We will not have our usual Fall Festival this year which has always been our group's largest fundraiser. Although we will not have a heavy focus on fundraising, we are a nonprofit and will need to do some form of fundraising so that we have the funds necessary to support each site's staff and find creative ways to enhance our children's educational experience as allowed.
Middle school is such a huge transitional period for our children. The amount of changes they will go through academically, physically, hormonally, mentally, emotionally and socially during this time means they need us as parents the most. It is so important that we remain an active influence in their lives. Listening, watching, helping and communicating with staff and administration the good, the bad and the ugly, so we can get through this. Honestly, this year is new to all of us. Do any of us actually know what we are doing or the best practices to use? Our team needs to grow so that we can gain the help and support needed and the parent association can survive beyond this year.
Please keep an eye out for our first meeting date and time so you can participate. Please stay tuned into your students and communicate with them and their teachers. Please stay safe and together we will get through this. With everything our community has suffered through the last 5 years our children's generation will be quite resilient! You can email or call with any questions, comments or concerns.
Thank you,
Jeremy de la Torre
Jeremydelatorre@ymail.com
707-694-7306
Labor Day Week Schedule
Next Monday, September 7th is a holiday for Labor Day. There will be no classes on Monday. On Tuesday, we will also have a different schedule; we will only have Advocacy classes meeting at 8:45 am. Students should look at PowerSchool for other assignments for the day. The rest of the week will follow the usual schedule.
Socio-Emotional Learning Resources
Our school counseling and psychology team is creating some great resources for you to help with the unique challenges of distance learning!
Click here to watch a video from our counseling team about managing big emotions in your children.
Check out this slideshow with many resources for you and your children from school psychologist Maria Gregory!
Library One Card
Did you know that your child’s student ID number is also a library card, that gives them access to library resources? Check out this information for how to use the OneCard to check out books and more! Click here to learn about all the resources available with the OneCard.
RVEF and Enrichment Classes
Rincon Valley Education Foundation continues to support our district through fantastic enrichment opportunities, fundraising for district programs and a commitment to support students in science and the arts! Please click here to learn more about RVEF and how you can help support this wonderful organization.
RVEF is also offering enrichment classes this fall specifically designed for middle school students! Please see this flyer for more information, and to sign up!