Welcome back for the new school year! A special welcome to the parents and students of the class of 2018! I believe you've selected the most outstanding school, where you are sure to receive challenging and rigorous academic experiences throughout the years!

Our current enrollment stands at 1004 students, a bit under our projected enrollment for the 2014-15 school year. We have a larger than expected ninth grade class, and to the extent that we are able, continue to balance classes to appropriate sizes conducive to productive learning environments.

By now, you have received course syllabi from your child's classes, delineating teacher expectations for student success. At my request, teachers also included for your review, copies of the SCHS Academic Honesty and Attendance Policies. Please review these policies with your students so that you and they are aware of the students' (and parents') responsibilities and potential consequences in these areas.

Encourage your student to join any of the many organizations, clubs, and/or teams available here. Getting involved is an excellent way to meet new friends and to know what's happening around school! I encourage parents to get involved too. Parent groups include: PTA, Cardinal Club (Athletic Boosters), Band Boosters, English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC), and Parents of African American Students (PAAS). Please note meeting dates and times as they are announced in this newsletter during the year.

The start of the year has been a smooth one. We are always pleased with the kindness of our students and positive ways they relate to staff and fellow students. I know that we are fortunate to have such dynamic students and staff and look forward to an outstanding school year!

Karen Edmonds, Principal

                          AP EXAM SCORES FOR 2014 

The AP score indicates how well students did on the AP Exam. The score is a weighted combination of students' scores on the multiple-choice section and on the free-response section. The final score is reported on a 5-point scale as follows:
 

5 = extremely well qualified
4 = well qualified
3 = qualified
2 = possibly qualified 

1 = no recommendation

"Qualified" means that you have proven yourself capable of doing the work of an introductory-level course in a particular subject at college. Many colleges and universities grant credit and placement for scores of 3, 4 or 5; however, each college decides which scores it will accept.

Santa Cruz High School results from the 2014 Advanced Placement Exams show of the 229 exams taken, students scored 3's, 4's or 5's on 199 (or 87%) of the exams. Congratulations students and AP teachers, on these great accomplishments!

               LINK CREW ORIENTATION A GREAT SUCCESS! 

The ninth grade orientation held on August 25 was a great success! Eleventh and twelfth grade Link Crew leaders met with the new students and filled the morning with ice breakers, team building activities and a tour of classrooms and the campus in general. Cardinal kudos to Breanna Esche, Link Crew Commissioner and Assistant Principal Steve Kopald for making the orientation a success!

                                  PARENT VOLUNTEERS

Thanks to the many parent volunteers who helped to make the opening of school a success:

Campus Clean Up

Trish Hildinger, Jessica and Jasmine McMinn, Andrea Coddington, Marta Duplantier, David Hooks, Sheila Peck, Neil Langholz, Patty Threet, and students Zeebo ('14) and Genevieve.

Handing Out Schedules

Trish Hildinger, Mitzi Murphy, Sharon Wright-Miller, Peg Daniels-Flechtner, Regina Henderson, Ana, Inara Sophia, Carolina Martinez, Eric Stricker, Alexis Hernandez, Dennis Kidd.

Textbook Room

Audrey Sirota, Mimi Trenholme, Naomi Brauner, Julia Elman, Kim Keane, Carolina Martinez, Ashley Gregory, Regina Henderson, Irene Torres-Garner, Wendy Sickels, Lynn Brisson, Dela Soumitte, Jennetta Zulim, Trish Hildinger.

                             PSAT TESTS FOR JUNIORS

As in the past several years, all juniors in Santa Cruz City Schools high schools will take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) on Wednesday, October 15th. The PSAT offers an essential opportunity to get feedback about critical academic skills, prepare for the SAT (students who take the PSAT score, on average, 131 points higher on the SAT than those who do not), start getting ready for college, enter scholarship competitions, and see which Advanced Placement courses a student might be ready for.

At Santa Cruz High School, all juniors will be scheduled to take the approximately 2 hour exam most likely after the end of 3rd period on this minimum day. The exam is offered at no cost to juniors.  However, we ask that families consider making a $20 donation to offset the cost of the test. Sophomores and freshmen may also choose to take the exam, but will be required to pay for it.
 

We will be sending out PSAT Information forms to all juniors very soon.  If you have any questions or concerns please see a Counselor or Assistant Principal Michelle Poirier (mpoirier@sccs.net).

http://server1.santacruzhs.santacruz.k12.ca.us/schs/xtra/Parenting.pdf

                            VERY LIKEABLE ON FACEBOOK! 

Two different Facebook pages will give parents more information about the school district and Santa Cruz High School.  Please check out these pages and like them:

https://www.facebook.com/SCHSPTA Options

Santa Cruz City School District: 

           https://www.facebook.com/SantaCruzCitySchools 

Santa Cruz High School PTA:

                     https://www.facebook.com/SCHSPTA 

                              SECURITY GATE UPDATE

 Now that our students are back on campus, a lot of parents are wondering - what happened to the security gates that were supposed to be installed over the summer?

 We are sorry to report that a series of resignations at our Santa Cruz City School District caused the security gate project to be delayed. Also unfortunately, the contract for nighttime security patrols on campus was allowed to lapse at the end of June, leaving our campus vulnerable to camping, transients and vandalism for much of the summer.

 These oversights were a setback to the campus security drive that began last year, which included brush-clearing goats, nighttime patrols, better lighting, campus clean-ups, neighborhood outreach, and a fast-track plan to install security gates around the campus quad.

 The nighttime patrols were reinstated at the end of the summer, and the District now hopes the gates will be installed in October.  We are sorry for the delays in these crucial campus improvements, and will continue to keep parents apprised of their progress.

                CAMPUS VOLUNTEERS CLEAN THE QUAD

A huge thank you to the parent volunteers who helped pull weeds, trim shrubs, scrub graffiti, and power-wash the seating areas in the quad before the first day of class. The clean-up was the first step in a beautification effort aimed at revitalizing the campus center, which has become very shabby in recent years.

 The tools and supplies for the clean-up were provided by a $4,900 grant from the Lowe's Foundation, and more work is planned throughout the school year. Please contact the Santa Cruz High PTA if you would like to volunteer. 

                                      JOIN THE PTA!

                                   SAT/SUBJECT TESTS

The first SAT/Subject Tests of the school year will be administered on October 11th.  The deadline to register is September 12th and the late deadline (extra fees and less availability) is September 26th.  The regular deadline for the November 8th SAT/Subject Tests is October 9th.  For more information about registration and deadlines visit

www.collegeboard.com and for questions about SATs and subject Tests please contact the SCHS guidance office at 429-3969 x 300. 

                                                 ACT

The ACT will be offered (but not on the SCHS campus) on September 13th and October 25th (regular deadline September 19th).  For more information about registration and deadlines visit http://www.actstudent.org .

                                          TEST PREP

There are two private venues available on or near our campus (many of these programs offer scholarships for those who can't pay the full fee)

Revolution Prep

Check the Revolution Prep website at www.revolutionprep.com about online classes

Catalyst Test Prep

Catalyst plans to come to Santa Cruz High School for a weekend class.  Sign up at www.CatalystPrep.com or call 800.235.0056 with any questions. 

                                      COLLEGE EVENTS

SCHS College Night (Grades 9-12)

College representatives

College representatives are coming!  Check the Upcoming Events bulletin board by the Counseling & Career Center during September, October, and November. These visits are regularly advertised in the SCHS Bulletin, which is also available to parents/guardians on line at www.santacruzhs.santacruz.k12.ca.us . Interested students should pick up a teacher release card from the Counseling & Career Center and plan to attend the 30-45 minute presentations with private college representatives.

CSU College Night

CSU College Night: Tuesday, September 16th  6:00-8:30 p.m.  All 23 Campuses will be represented.  FREE Santa Clara Convention Center.  Meet with CSU campus reps, receive answers to specific questions, participate in admission and financial aid application workshops.  For more info: ADMISSIONS@CSUMB.EDU.

Hello Parents,

The Santa Cruz High Cardinal Club needs your help and involvement!  

Each Santa Cruz High athletic team is responsible for raising the funds needed to cover all of their operating expenses. This includes but is not limited to uniforms, equipment, coaching stipends, and officials. The cost of school athletics is funded by athletic donations, fundraising, community support and other sources.

                       PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Every year, the Cardinal Club raises funds to support all sports at Santa Cruz High School. We raise money through snack bars, school apparel sales,annual fundraiser events, seasonal events, membership fees and donations.

Our volunteer efforts help support the following sport programs:

Baseball, Basketball, Cheer, Cross-country, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track, Volleyball, Water Polo, and Wrestling.

Please forward your contact information to the Cardinal Club via email if interested in helping with any event SCHSCardinalClub@gmail.com.

                      CARDINAL CLUB MEMBERSHIPS

You can also support our membership by becoming an active member of the Cardinal Club. All Membership fees benefit our school sport programs and are Tax Deductible.

Single Membership: $50.00 Tax Deductible Donation

These membership cards entitle a Member to free access to all regular season home games. 

Family Membership: $100.00 Tax Deductible Donation

These membership cards entitle each household member to one card and free access to all regular season home games.

(New This Year) GOLD Membership: $1,000.00 Tax Deductible Donation

These membership cards entitle a Member to a Lifetime of free access to all regular season home games.  You will receive a special Gold Colored card.

Please contact me directly if you have any further questions and all of the children really appreciate your support!

Sincerely,

Ron Esche, Cardinal Club President

ronaldesche@gmail.com

(831) 818-1323 

                        UPDATE THOSE TEAM WEBPAGES!

SCHS Team parents, is your team's webpage out of date on the School's Website? Those pages are maintained by the team coach or parent volunteer. Have a volunteer or the coach from your team contact the Athletic Director, Erik Redding, at 

eredding@sccs.santacruz.k12.ca.us, to obtain access to update the team webpage.

                                CARDINAL SPORTSWEAR

Cardinal sportswear can be purchased by contacting Suzette Gilmore at callysuzy@yahoo.com, or (831) 419-9621.  You can view the items for sale by visiting the Cardinal Club section of the SCHS website.

 Men's T's  $20

Women's V-neck T's $20

Unisex grey sweatpants $20

Black zip up sweatshirt $40

Cardinal Red pullover sweatshirt $40

Beanies $15

The Cardinal Club meets every 3rd Wednesday of the month in the library at 6:30 pm and everyone is welcome!  The next meeting will be held on January 22th.  If you have any questions, please contact the Cardinal Club at schscardinalclub@gmail.com - we would love to hear from you! 

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