Welcome and Weekly Message

Dear Anderson Valley Community,

Busy times continue!

At the elementary site, a huge shout out to the PTAV members who created some special and thoughtful treats  for the staff. It is very much appreciated. We do not have a parent teacher organization at the high school, so I stepped in with some treats, but I cannot tell you how kind and meaningful it is to have our staff celebrated in this way. We appreciate the support.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Narcan training at the elementary site as well.  Free supply kits were handed out.  Additional free materials are available at the district office upon request.  We appreciate the elementary staff organizing and hosting this event.

The elementary staff is preparing to make a final recommendation to the board on the new math curriculum. It speaks a lot that they decided to go with a program that requires quite a bit more teacher effort but is just transformative for student learning. I appreciate that. The easy way isn’t always the right way. That extra effort is really going to benefit students.

On the construction front at the elementary school, we are  awaiting DSA approval on the kitchen and staff bathroom, and the elementary parking lot and hallway flooring will be completed June 10-22. Miguel will paint the exterior corridor over the next month or so.

Lots of important dates coming forward. Don’t miss the following:

• Preschool District Office Lawn–May 22

• ALL AT GYM

• 6th Grade Promotion–Tuesday, June 4

• 8th Grade–Wednesday, June 5

• High School Graduation–Thursday, June 6

• Measure M GroundBreaking–High School Oval–Thursday, June 6 at 12 noon

An exciting week coming up at the high school with the presentations of the required Senior Projects. These service and career building projects are a capstone of the Anderson Valley High School program. Students participated in a variety of things including creating the drunk driving awareness presentation, repainting the letters in the gym that front the stage, self-knowledge projects related to culinary skills, job shadowing, and various other interesting endeavors. I understand from ancient lore that this event was originally designed to stave off “senioritis” and has now become an integral part of our body of work.

Speaking of “senioritis”, I want to be very transparent that next year the handbook includes some very specific language that students must attend in class and in person all day following their schedule unless it is for an excused illness or doctor’s appointment. Post Covid, many students and families have the idea that if you do the work, you do not need to be at school and that is not true. Graduation is tied to attendance and seniors may not post less than a 92 percent attendance rate to graduate. No surprises wanted, so please read the handbook. Saturday schools will also be offered and required to make up the time.

As the high school prepares for the remodel, a piece of student artwork was removed  in order to protect it, and also to find someone to restore it as the plywood is splintering. If you know someone that can do mural restoration, we would be interested in talking with them. Please give them my cell. Underneath the plywood, we found a decades-old mosaic that probably is original to the school. It features icons representing the various departments within the school. We are in contact to see if anyone would be able to restore that work as well.

At the high school, chaos reigns a little bit with all of the preparation for Cupples Construction commencing on June 10.  We look a little bit ragged right now but hang in with us. Transformation is coming. We are also awaiting DSA comments on the track and field, and we have received the phase 2 outline for the Gym structural report. Good stuff!

For both sites, summer school enrollments are being accepted. Contact your site secretary right away to sign up. High school students that are credit deficient must attend.  An Anderson Valley High School diploma means something, and we don’t just give them away. Students have to attend and post passing grades in order to graduate. It is sad to see a student not graduate, but we are not a diploma mill. There needs to be a certain level of commitment and effort shown by both the student and the school.  I will take a ding on our state data, if a student doesn’t accept that help and do their part with the many supports  that we offer to get them to the finish line. Accountability matters  and honors the effort and commitment of the many students that hang in there and finish a diploma even when it is  hard.

A note from Coach Toohey that  ALL Fall athletes must report to their teams and to practice no later than August 12th. (this is a week before the start of school - waiting until school starts may make you ineligible to participate).  Football players must report on July 29th. 

Similarly, please schedule sports physicals to make sure students are eligible to practice and play in the Fall. We confirmed with the clinic that they will see you over the summer, even if your physical has not yet expired. Contact your provider for an appointment early.

We have a few more weeks of school left and it is imperative that your student is on time and at school and ready to learn for the remaining school year. School matters. You can’t learn if you’re not here. Make sure your kid isn’t behind by helping them, supporting them, and requiring that they attend. The students that are at school every day are the ones that are successful and don’t struggle to the extent that our students that are chronically absent do. Do the best for your kid that you can and reach out to us  for support as well. Together we can get it done.

Have a  safe and happy weekend.

Louise Simson

Superintendent

707-684-1017