The following letter was to the home of each registered student in July.
July 1, 2007
Dear Bruin Students and Parents:
I hope you are all enjoying a productive and relaxing summer. Last year, we shared many successes. I am very proud of our school being recognized as a California Distinguished School. I appreciate the team effort that it took for our school to receive the highest possible accreditation review from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. And, our school, once again, earned a mark of 10 on the California Department of Education Academic Performance Index ranking. Ponderosa is an outstanding educational community filled with talented students, caring staff, and supportive parents. Communication will continue to play an integral role in helping students reach their potential. Online teacher grade books, the phone dialer, email messages, the website, and occasional letters mailed home will provide parents with up-to-date information. Inside this summer mailing packet, you will find valuable information about Ponderosa High School. I encourage you to review and discuss the contents together as a family.
The new school year begins on Monday, August 13 with students having a 1st period class reporting at 7:10 a.m. Please see the information regarding class schedule distribution below. For freshmen students, a special orientation is planned by Ponderosa’s Link Crew. That orientation is scheduled for Monday afternoon, August 6 beginning at 1:00 p.m. The orientation will be followed by a bar-b-que at 4:00 p.m. and dance from 5-7 p.m. for all freshmen students. This half-day orientation presented by the PHS Link Crew makes the transition to a new school easier. It is a wonderful way for new classmates to become familiar with the geography and expectations at Ponderosa High School. The activities planned by the Link Crew are interactive, enjoyable, and designed to help students get to know one another. Freshmen students should mark their calendars and plan to attend the new student orientation on Monday, August 6. We know that leaving your child at high school for the first time may be difficult for parents, but the day is designed for students. Parents please make note of the start and end times. We look forward to seeing all parents at Back-to-School Night.
For some students, the transition to high school is difficult. Students have different strengths, needs, and interests. The staff at Ponderosa High School is committed to assisting every student reach their academic and personal growth potential. However, to do so, we believe that students and parents need to be active participants in the growth process. We will be assisting you in keeping close watch on the academic progress of your student by sending 8 progress reports/report cards home throughout the 2007-08 school year. The Aeries online teacher grade books also allow students and parents to track academic progress more frequently. Information on how to log on to the system will be mailed home in a different letter. Teachers’ email addresses and voicemail numbers are located on the school’s website (http://bruin.eduhsd.k12.ca.us).
Please be sure to look for your student's activity planner or student handbook folder. These will be distributed in all classes during the first two weeks of school. As a family, look into the different clubs, athletic teams, performing arts groups, student leadership, or other extracurricular activities offered at Ponderosa High School. Students will learn more about these opportunities from Link Crew and the registration process. Parents are strongly encouraged to join the athletic boosters, music boosters, FFA Boosters or the Ponderosa High School Foundation. Communication is essential for any community to thrive. Teachers, counselors, administration, and staff eagerly await your questions.
Please make note of the following opening of school activities that will help welcome students and parents to Ponderosa High School:
1 Freshmen Orientation – As mentioned above, Monday, August 6, beginning at 1:00 p.m. in the large gym will be our freshmen orientation provided by the Link Crew. In addition to the interactive activities, the bar-b-que, and the dance, ninth grade students and new students will receive their locker assignment and their schedule of classes. Associated Student Body (ASB) cards will be available for sale during freshmen/new student orientation for $20. A check payable to Ponderosa High School will be required to purchase.
2 New Student Orientation for Students in Grades 10-12 – On Monday, August 6, Student council members will provide new students in grades 10-12 with a tour of the campus and show them the location of their classes. These students need to meet at the counseling office after the 1 p.m. introductory meeting in the large gym on Monday, August 6.
3 Bus Information - There will not be any changes to the Bus Pass fee schedule. Bus Passes for the 07/08 school year will be available after July 23rd from EDUHSD. Bus Passes can be purchased online at the District website or at the District Office (http://www.eduhsd.k12.ca.us). They will not be on sale at PHS.
4 Schedule Distribution - Class schedules will be distributed for tenth through twelfth graders on August 10 between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. in front of the cafeteria. You must bring your completed emergency card in order to receive your class schedule.
5 “Back-to-School Night - Wednesday, September 5, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. will be Ponderosa High School’s “Back-to-School Night.” During Ponderosa High School’s “Back-to-School” night, parents will have the opportunity to follow their student’s daily schedule and meet each of their student’s teachers. Information about academic expectations and the curriculum of each class will be shared in a short class period. Parents of ninth grade students are invited to a special presentation that will focus on information about high school graduation requirements in the El Dorado Union High School District and on college entrance requirements at 6:00 p.m. in the Main Gym. I encourage you to take part in the family dinner that is planned from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in our cafeteria prior to “Back-to-School” night. The Ponderosa High School Foundation is sponsoring this fund-raising event. (See next item)
6 Ponderosa High School Foundation – During the 2003-04 school year the Ponderosa High School Foundation was formed. The purpose of the Ponderosa High School Foundation is to support all programs at Ponderosa High School through the solicitation and donation of funds from parents, alumni, and the community. Further, the mission of the Foundation is to support academic, co-curricular, and extracurricular activities as well as provide recognition to students. Please attend the family dinner fundraiser before “Back-to-School Night. The proceeds from this dinner event will benefit identified projects at Ponderosa High School. Please leave a message on the voice mail phone of the Foundation at 677-2281, extension 303 letting us know if you are coming and how many you plan to bring. Please do so by Friday, August 17, the last day of the first week of school.
7 Collaboration Days – During the 2007-08 school year Ponderosa High School will have eight scheduled collaboration days. On the dates listed below, students will be dismissed at 12:35 p.m. and all afternoon bus runs will be made as usual leaving school at 12:40 p.m. Collaboration days are set aside for departments to work together on curricular issues, for departments to cooperate with one another on cross curricular issues and in 2007-08 for planning for our next accreditation visit. The scheduled dates of the Collaboration Days for 2007-08 are as follows:
Monday, August 27, 2007
Monday, September 24, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
Monday, January 7, 2008
Monday, February 4, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
8 Principal’s Parent Forum Meetings – The Principal’s Parent Forum is an opportunity for parents to meet with Principal, Christopher Moore to discuss curricular issues, school wide issues or issues of general educational interest. The forum is open to any parent who would like to attend and parents can bring agenda items to share with other forum attendees. Dates for these meetings are as follows.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Wednesday, September 26, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Wednesday, February 27, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 6:30 pm
9 Internet Usage Contract – All students and parents must submit a signed Internet Usage Agreement prior to a student’s first usage of the Internet at all district high schools. Since the Internet is used as a research and information access tool at district high schools, certain guide lines must be adhered to regarding its usage. Please read the copy of the enclosed agreement and return it with your emergency card when picking up your class schedule. This agreement must be on file for a student before use of the Internet at Ponderosa High School will be permitted.
10 Donations – Many corporations offer matching contributions to those of their employees. Employees from Intel have been very generous in past years. If you or your business is interested in making a tax-deductible donation to Ponderosa High School, please make all checks payable to Ponderosa High School at 3661 Ponderosa Road, Shingle Springs, CA 95682. Donations may be made for specific causes, clubs, performing arts groups, sports, etc. Please attach a letter with the check specifying the purpose of your donation. You may also choose to donate money to be allocated by the site administration. One of our school’s goals is to increase the use of technology to teach the content standards. We have invested in new computer labs, classroom computers, library media center improvements, software, and visual projection units. We are seeking additional financial assistance to ensure that all classrooms have access to digital projection units and presentation software for teacher and student use. We would appreciate any donations for this purpose.
I am looking forward to August 13. I have no doubt that this year will prove be a rewarding experience for our students. My goal is to assist students to maximize their educational and extra-curricular opportunities at Ponderosa High School so that every student has numerous educational and career pathways available to them upon graduation. On behalf of the entire Ponderosa faculty and staff, I would like to welcome you to the start of another great year. Go Bruins!
Sincerely,
Christopher A. Moore
Principal