8.14 Message from Principal Sabins

8.14 Message from Principal Sabins
Posted on 08/14/2020

Hello Marauders!

We miss you, and want to extend a heartfelt welcome to each and every one of you! I know to say these are trying times is a massive understatement, but I want you to know that we are here for you and your student and will continue to do everything we can to support their academic and social-emotional growth this year. While we will begin the year in an online format, we will still be here to support you and your student in any way we can. We are so excited to finally be able to reach out to you with the latest news about our schedule for next year, as well as updates from various departments. I apologize for the lengthy email but we have quite a bit of information to cover. As always, please continue to monitor our website for additional information.

Schedules for next year:
MMHS has made the decision, in partnership with our district, to move to a traditional 3x3 schedule. The shift to a traditional 3x3 will allow students, families, and teachers to focus on only three classes at a time. We are shifting our schedule from a 6 period day to a 3 period day on the quarter system (4 equal grading periods per year) but we will still continue to offer our entire catalogue of classes. The benefit of moving to this model is that students and teachers are able to see each other in every class, every day. If you recall last year when we transitioned to distance learning as a district, we only had live classes once a week. This time we are shifting to a model where we will meet daily, but have reduced the number of classes students need to focus on at one time. We are hopeful that this schedule allows for improved communication between teachers, students and parents. The end of the first quarter will make the end of semester 1 for the first set of classes. The end of Quarter 2 will be the end of semester 2 for the same classes. Then the schedule repeats itself with three new courses.

When it is deemed safe to transition back to brick and mortar classes, our plan will need to shift slightly to adjust to the requirements we will be provided, but I want you all to know that our start and end times will remain the same so you can begin to plan around a fixed schedule. We have also coordinated with the middle schools in the area to align our start times so that if you have students in multiple levels, their online class times should be similar. 

You will notice a lunch period and passing periods built into the schedule to allow breaks between classes and also to show you what the lunch schedule will look like for folks who choose to return to the site when it is safe to do so. 

We have also built in office hours for students and teachers to meet to discuss the work or any supports that may be necessary to master the material. If your student does not need to access the office hours, they may have a longer break between classes to grab a snack or take a small break. Please note that classes are 55 minutes with a 19 minute office hour period. If your student is struggling in the class, this built in time is a great way to access immediate tutoring and feedback as they work to get back on track; while it’s not required, it will be a large benefit to many students. 

We understand that being in front of a screen for hours at a time can be difficult, which is why we chose to build in office hour time as optional for our students. Individually, you can make the choice based around what is best for your student in the moment, and that choice can be changed based on their situation. Teachers will monitor the 55 min periods and will let the students know when it is time to transition to office hours. The access codes for your students' individual online classes will be listed, by teacher, under the distance learning tab on our MMHS website. Please note that these codes will not be available until August 30th.  

Traditional 3x3 schedule

  • 3 courses completed in the first 2 quarters August – January
  • 3 courses completed in the last 2 quarters January – June
  • 55 min classes in combination with 19 minute office hours embedded in the periods (74 min total) 

Week

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Quarters 1 & 2

August - January

 

 

Courses 1-3

 

Course 1

Office Hours

8:30-9:25

9:25-9:44

Course 1

Office Hours

8:30-9:25

9:25-9:44

Course 1

Office Hours

8:30-9:25

9:25-9:44

Course 1

Office Hours

8:30-9:25

9:25-9:44

Course 1

Office Hours

8:30-9:25

9:25-9:44

Passing

9 min

Passing

9 min

Passing

9 min

Passing

9 min

Passing

9 min

Course 2

Office Hours

9:53-10:48

10:48-11:07

Course 2

Office Hours

9:53-10:48

10:48-11:07

Course 2

Office Hours

9:53-10:48

10:48-11:07

Course 2

Office Hours

9:53-10:48

10:48-11:07

Course 2

Office Hours

9:53-10:48

10:48-11:07

Passing

9 min

Passing

9 min

Passing

9 min

Passing

9 min

Passing

9 min

Course 3

Office Hours

11:16-12:11

12:11-12:30

Course 3

Office Hours

11:16-12:11

12:11-12:30

Course 3

Office Hours

11:16-12:11

12:11-12:30

Course 3

Office Hours

11:16-12:11

12:11-12:30

Course 3

Office Hours

11:16-12:11

12:11-12:30

Passing

9 min

Passing

9 min

Passing

9 min

Passing

9 min

Passing

9 min

LUNCH

12:39-1:10

LUNCH

12:39-1:10

LUNCH

12:39-1:10

LUNCH

12:39-1:10

LUNCH

12:39-1:10

Quarters 3 & 4

January – June

 

Courses 4-6

Course 4

Office Hours

8:30-9:25

9:25-9:44

Course 4

Office Hours

8:30-9:25

9:25-9:44

Course 4

Office Hours

8:30-9:25

9:25-9:44

Course 4

Office Hours

8:30-9:25

9:25-9:44

Course 4

Office Hours

8:30-9:25

9:25-9:44

Passing

9 min

Passing

9 min

Passing

9 min

Passing

9 min

Passing

9 min

Course 5

Office Hours

9:53-10:48

10:48-11:07

Course 5

Office Hours

9:53-10:48

10:48-11:07

Course 5

Office Hours

9:53-10:48

10:48-11:07

Course 5

Office Hours

9:53-10:48

10:48-11:07

Course 5

Office Hours

9:53-10:48

10:48-11:07

Passing

9 min

Passing

9 min

Passing

9 min

Passing

9 min

Passing

9 min

Course 6

Office Hours

11:16-12:11

12:11-12:30

Course 6

Office Hours

11:16-12:11

12:11-12:30

Course 6

Office Hours

11:16-12:11

12:11-12:30

Course 6

Office Hours

11:16-12:11

12:11-12:30

Course 6

Office Hours

11:16-12:11

12:11-12:30

Passing

9 min

Passing

9 min

Passing

9 min

Passing

9 min

Passing

9 min

LUNCH

12:39-1:10

LUNCH

12:39-1:10

LUNCH

12:39-1:10

LUNCH

12:39-1:10

LUNCH

12:39-1:10

 

Athletics Update for 2020-2021
The CIF San Diego Section, in accordance with the CIF State office and the other CIF sections around the state, has delayed the Fall season of sports until December 14th. They have also informed us that most of the Winter and Spring Sport seasons have been merged into one season. Below is a chart showing what season each sport will be played and when those seasons begin. These dates are subject to change as they are predicated on the Covid-19 Pandemic and the health orders from the CDC and local health agencies.

FALL SPORTS begin December 14th

SPRING SPORTS begin March 15th

BOYS/GIRLS CROSS-COUNTRY

BASEBALL

FIELD HOCKEY

BOYS/GIRLS BASKETBALL

11-PLAYER FOOTBALL

COMPETITIVE SPORT CHEER

8- PLAYER FOOTBALL

BOYS/GIRLS GOLF

GYMNASTICS

BOYS/GIRLS LACROSSE

TRADITIONAL COMPETITIVE CHEER

BOYS/GIRLS SOCCER* begins Feb. 22nd

BOYS/GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

SOFTBALL

BOYS/GIRLS WATER POLO

BOYS/GIRLS SWIMMING/DIVING

ROLLER HOCKEY

BOYS/GIRLS TENNIS

BADMINTON

BOYS/GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD

 

BOYS/GIRLS WRESTLING

 As you can see from the chart, there are several sports being played at the same time, particularly in the Spring. We will do our best to accommodate student-athlete requests to participate in more than one sport, but not more than two, during a single season. You will need to work with the coaches of each sport to coordinate a schedule that works for the student and each team. Please keep in mind that in some instances this may not be possible as games/practices for each sport could be scheduled on the same day and at the same time. If that happens you will need to decide as a family which sport your student should continue to play and which one would fall to the wayside. We know that this is not an easy decision to make and we hope that it can be avoided, but we want to make sure that we are as transparent as possible during these unprecedented times so that you can make the best decision for your family.

The athletic clearance website is open at www.athleticclearance.com. Make sure to select the 2020-2021 school year and download the new physical form. The district made a few changes to the form for this year so we will not be able to accept physicals on forms from previous years.

Collection for final clearance of these forms will be scheduled when we return to in-person school. Please hold onto them until then. Do not FAX or email the forms as we will not accept electronic copies.

FOOTBALL

Chris Thompson

[email protected]

CROSS COUNTRY/TRACK

Eric Miller

[email protected]

BOYS WATER POLO

Rick Young

[email protected]

FIELD HOCKEY

Linda Bonagura

[email protected]

GIRLS/BOYS VOLLEYBALL

Tianna Taylor

[email protected]

GIRLS/BOYS TENNIS

Chris Gibbons

[email protected]

GIRLS/BOYS GOLF

Julius Hitchens

[email protected]

BOYS BASKETBALL

Jon Pierce

[email protected]

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Haseen Williams

[email protected]

BOYS SOCCER

Julius Hitchens

[email protected]

GIRLS SOCCER

Neil Avant

[email protected]

WRESTLING

Craig Van Dyke

[email protected]

GIRLS WATER POLO

Greg Steinbach

[email protected]

BADMINTON

Alvin Mendoza

[email protected]

BASEBALL

Wyatt Shackelford

[email protected]

BOYS LACROSSE

Kyle Allen

[email protected]

GIRLS LACROSSE

Taegen Sablan

[email protected]

SWIM

Denise Hughes

[email protected]

SOFTBALL

Kanani Mauga

[email protected]

Please contact Athletic Director, Ron Lardizabal, at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Visit the athletic website at www.mmmarauders.com for the latest information.

From our Counseling Department:
Course Request/Schedules:
Students will be provided access to their course requests on August 21st at 5:00 PM. The window to view course requests will close on Sunday, August 23rd at 5:00 PM.  If a student wishes to change a course, a “request for change” link will be sent out on August 24th.   

Students will have access to their official 2020/2021 schedules with periods and teachers on August 30th at 12:00 PM.

Counseling Access:
Counseling has created a Virtual Counseling Center (VCC) on our MMHS website under the counseling tab. This site allows counselors to easily update necessary information remotely.  The VCC provides such information as counselor’s contact information, mental health resources, work permit information, as well as college and testing updates with regard to SAT/PSAT and AP.  We will continue to update the site with valuable information as the year progresses.

Please know that counselors are available via email, phone, zoom and text.  Counselors now have remote phone numbers which can be found on the VCC site.

Mental Health Referrals:
Although counselors are working remotely we are available for academic, college and personal social-emotional concerns.  Please contact your counselor for assistance.

Dive into High School Night:
Please join MMHS Staff on Wednesday, August 26th for a slide presentation with more detailed information about the upcoming school year.  We look forward to sharing about MMHS and this upcoming school year.

Orientation and book pick up process:
Orientation will obviously need to look a little differently this year. Due to social distancing constraints, we can’t follow the same process as we have done in the past, but we will have a system to ensure that your student has the necessary textbooks and technology to access the curriculum. We have developed a plan, but I ask for your patience as this could be a time consuming process. 

During the week of August 31st – September 4th we will have times slotted out for each grade level, by birth month, to come into the north parking lot and pick-up  a physical copy of their schedule along with textbooks and any other assigned supplemental learning supplies. Here are the basics of the plan, but another email with more specific details will follow soon.

  1. All attendees will arrive via the east side of the parking lot, from Marauder way.
  2. You will drive up to the first station, where you will give them your students name. 
  1. When it is your turn, you will be asked to park in a designated spot and a runner will go into the media center to collect and check out the books/supplies for your student.
  1. When the books have been issued to your student, they will be taken back out to your car and placed in your trunk.
  1. Once you have collected your books and schedule you will exit the parking lot via the exit on the west side of the parking lot.

As you can imagine, this process will take some time as classes of 600 students move through the textbook line. This is why we ask that, if possible, please adhere to the schedule we will send out to lessen the back-up of traffic. This will be an all hands on deck process, and we will attempt to make this as smooth as possible, but I do ask for your patience as this will involve many moving parts and will be new for my staff.  

First Week of School:
The first week of school will also look differently this year. Our district is providing opportunities for our students to explore the different learning management systems as well as the various supports that will be provided to them at a district level. Very soon the district will have all of the opportunities for our students to explore posted online. We will be sure to send out a separate email when that information becomes available. Our staff will be checking in with our students via their period one class, but it will simply be a check-in, with no academic work occurring. This week is intended to help our students familiarize themselves with their teachers' sites and to ease into online learning. The following Tuesday, the day after Labor Day, we will be full steam ahead with our online learning program. Again, the options for your students during the first week will be shared as soon as they become available. .

Free & Reduced Meal Applications:
The Free & Reduced Meal Application window is currently open.  Please complete this application as soon as possible.  It’s important to remember that this application provides much more than just free & reduced meals.  This application provides free & reduced college application fees for some institutions as well as reduced exam fees for AP, SAT and ACT exams.  In addition, the site receives funding that affords the school the ability to secure additional teachers/counselors to provide support to our students as well as supplies.

Food Distribution:
Beginning on Monday, August 31st, Mira Mesa High School will serve as a Food Distribution site.  We will offer curbside pick-up of student lunches in our Administration Parking Lot (small lot, near the office/flag pole off of Marauder Way).  Pre-packaged breakfast and lunch will be served Monday through Friday from 12 noon until 2PM.Please Note: This Parking Lot will be closed to all other traffic, open only to Food Distribution traffic.

Action Steps:

  1. Bookmark the following links for easy continued access:
    1. District Website: https://www.sandiegounified.org/
    2. District Distance Learning Website: https://sites.google.com/sandi.net/sdusdinstructionalcontinuity/home
    3. MMHS Website: https://www.sandiegounified.org/schools/mira-mesa
    4. MMHS Distance Learning Page: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQR6KTEcCy2kdsXcu0xTPsUVHVEGSJMM-fo5ptqdfroXkyVKADcTyUslQ2H6pj3wg/pubhtml?gid=1374761574&single=true
  2. Login to, and familiarize yourself with, Parent Portal: https://powerschool.sandi.net/public/home.html
    1. If you need access, please contact Shirley Lemmon at [email protected]
  3. Complete the Free & Reduced Meal Application: https://www.myschoolapps.com/Application
  4. As we plan for next year we always want to consider what was working as we develop our new plans for student success. We have crafted a quick survey for feedback around the no harm grading policy that was in place last year to see if we can adapt any elements of that policy into our current plans. The survey is available by clicking on the link.  https://forms.gle/gpdbSJta6s3JTf5J9

 

District Enrollment Forms (if needed) 

 

ENROLLMENT for NEW to district families attending their HOME SCHOOL of residence:

New to district families can enroll and upload required documents via the InfoSnap online enrollment tool at https://www.sandiegounified.org/new-student-online-enrollment. available on the NSEO homepage (public) https://www.sandiegounified.org/neighborhood-schools-and-enrollment-options.  

 

ENROLLMENT for NEW to district families accepted to a CHOICE SCHOOL:

New to district families that applied and were accepted through CHOICE will need to enroll in their CHOICE school electronically via email with the registrars or enrollment clerks (see list of Site Enrollment Clerks)

Fillable electronic forms are below:

Fillable PDF 2020-21 PreK- Grade 12 Enrollment Forms

Fillable PDF Format English | Spanish

Verification of enrollment letter signed English

Fillable Word Format English | Spanish

Transportation Application English

Affidavit of Childcare English

Verification of enrollment letter signed English

Caregiver Authorization Affidavit

English | Spanish

Home Language Survey

English and Spanish | Vietnamese

Declaration of Residency English | Spanish

 

Bookmark the  Related Resources page: https://www.sandi.net/staff/neighborhood-schools-and-enrollment-options/related-resources, for access to email communications, including instructions on how to process documentation electronically (birth certificates, immunization records, and verification or residency), as well as PDF fillable forms and instructions. 

 

CONTINUING FAMILIES and FAMILIES WHO HAVE CHANGED RESIDENCE:

Continuing families and families who have changed residence can update their information via the PowerSchool Parent Portal (see below for parent instructions on how to activate Parent Portal accounts).    There is no legal requirement to have all families re- fill out the PreK-Grade 12 Enrollment Form. The demographic information in PowerSchool only needs to be updated if there are changes. Sites can also opt to have their registrar or enrollment clerks assist families via email in updating their PowerSchool information:

Video tutorial - Create an Account    English  /  Spanish

PDF instructions - Create an Account    English  /  Spanish

 

FILLABLE PDF HEALTH FORMS

CHDP - Medical Exam Report  English | Spanish

Oral Health Assessment  English  |  Spanish

SDUSD CAIR Form  English | Spanish

Health Information Exchange  English | Spanish 

Allergy and Anaphylaxis Emergency Plan 2018-06

Physician’s Recommendation for Medication 8-18

Asthma Action Plan English | Spanish

 

LUNCH APPLICATIONS: Parents already can apply for Free and Reduced lunch online on the Food Services homepage at https://www.sandiegounified.org/food-nutrition-services.

Thank you so much for your patience and grace and we continue to work to build a schedule that continues to allow access for all of our students! Now that we have a framework in place we will be sure to keep in close communication to keep you informed as we approach the start of the school year.  

Sincerely,
Jeff Sabins
Principal – Mira Mesa High School
[email protected]

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