Letter to Parents with 3rd Quarter Progress Reports
March 1, 2007
Dear Parents/Guardians and Students:
Please find enclosed the Third Quarter Progress Report. It is important that you review with your child his or her mid-year grade and this progress report. We are fast approaching the end of the school year. If your child has struggled or has not been successful, now is the time for all of us working together to find a solution to the problem. It is very difficult to try to recover in the fourth quarter.
Attendance and Homework
The biggest obstacles to student achievement continue to be too many absences and students who do not do homework. Three simple guides can be followed to ensure success for your child: 1) come to school, 2) pay attention in class and 3) complete and submit homework on time.
If your child has 10 or more absences, excused or unexcused, and has not had a long term serious illness or chronic illness, he or she may not be fulfilling their responsibility as a student at this school. If it is a bad weather day, the child is tired or just not feeling well, that young person should be in school. I need your support on this.
When I required doctor’s notes for a student’s absence to be excused during exams, we had 2-3 absences a day. When I do not require a doctor’s note we have 35 absences a day. Every day is an exam day as far as your child’s education is concerned. Dear parents, you are responsible to make sure your child is in school every day.
Lastly, let me add that when students are absent from a class they hurt the education of other students.
Tutors, After School Help and Study Hall
If your child needs extra help or a place to work quietly after school the school provides it. Each teacher is obligated to have tutorial times after school each week. I have mailed home and posted on our web page teachers’ after school hours. Many teachers also give extra help before school or during lunch. Please make sure your child take advantage of our faculty and gets all the help offered. We now have tutors who provide additional one-on-one help. Did you sign your child up for a tutor? Please contact Mr. Spears to see if we can provide a tutor.
Parent -Teacher Conferences March 7, 2007 4pm-7pm
Please attend the parent-teacher conference. During the evening you will have the opportunity to have a short meeting with each of your child’s teachers. Additionally, you can talk to our support services personnel such as our discipline staff, mental health staff, special education staff and the college counselor. We have extended the hours of the Parent-Teacher Conferences to provide a better opportunity for more parents to attend. Please make every effort to attend.
New for Next Year!
Uniforms: All students will be required to wear a uniform. The basic uniform will be black or khaki slacks (or skirt for females), red, black or while polo shirt with the Chavez logo, and all black footwear. Seniors will be able to dress “professional casual” which basically means no jeans of any color, no t-shirts and no informal footwear.
We are finalizing the details with a vendor for the Chavez shirts and will provide you with the detailed uniform/dress code very soon.
Extended Day: I want to extend the learning time for your child so they have the best chance to succeed and be on par or above with students who are aiming to attend the best universities. Students will be involved in education for an additional 45 minutes to 60 minutes per day. I have not finalized what that does to the hours of the school day. School will probably start a little earlier and end a little later. Again, I will be finalizing these decisions very soon.
Black Experience Celebration and Dinner March 14, 2007 5:30-7:30pm
Join us at the Black Experience Celebration and Dinner to celebrate the contributions that people of African descent have made to this country. The celebration will provide everyone the opportunity to get to know aspects of the culture from different African countries as well. Dinner will be provided for your enjoyment and I hope to see everyone there.
Parent Association Meeting March 28, 2007 6-7:30pm.
Many of our students are having a very successful year. I am proud of them and all students who consistently make their best effort. My goal is for every student to be successful. To reach that goal, I need your support. Please feel free to contact Mr. Spears, the Vice Principal, or Mr. Martinez, the Academic Dean, or me if you have any questions or concerns or if you need help to make sure your child is served well by our school.
Sincerely,
Garrett Phelan,
Principal