Good Afternoon Bearcat Families,

As we move into the rhythm of the high school year we want to share some of our foundational values. On our campus one can see posters and banners of our Bearcat PRIDE. These are reminders of what we are calling our staff and students to act out, all day, every day. We are to be:

In doing so we will build a campus culture of learning, where all students can thrive and where all students are valued. This what you will see our staff modeling at all times with our students. These words also speak to the actions we want to reinforce in our Bearcat students each day. Our Bearcat PRIDE forms the foundation of what we do every day on our campus

Effective classroom lessons and engaged students are certainly an important part of our progress in this area, but so are seemingly small things like student dress and attendance.

Our Campus Dress Code flyers are included in the Reminder Links below and I would ask that all families do a review of those expectations. Enforcement of the Dress Code starts from the first day of classes and I wanted to call everyone's attention to our expectations, especially in regards to images of unacceptable messages regarding drugs, violence, or alcohol. But we also have expectations about dressing in the professional environment of the classroom. The world of college and career that we are preparing these young students to enter has standards for appropriate levels of body coverage, as do we.

There remains ample flexibility within our dress code for a wide range of student expression, but the messages about drugs etc, and body coverage standards are something we are explicitly calling to your attention. Thank you for your partnership.

It has been a week of mixed emotions as we certainly were inspired by an exciting, first full week of school, but it was also a week where we endured the loss of a beloved staff member, Ms. Diasparra. In the 11 years that Michelle was on our campus she impacted thousands of student lives and it was my privilege to speak with many of them this week, who shared the countless ways she made a positive difference in the life of their child. It is my hope that my colleagues and I will honor this legacy with that same aspiration: to strive towards making a positive difference, every day.

Sincerely,

Mike Susank

Principal

Monday:

Please take a moment to review the following guidelines for walking, biking, rolling, and driving in school zones as these apply both to students and to parents.

Please review the PRJUSD Dress Code with your students. The flyers are included below, and the dress code can also be found on our website.

In response to the growing use of personal transportation devices by students, and as part of our ongoing efforts to keep our campuses safe, we would like to remind families of the expectations that apply at all PRJUSD schools. Students who ride a bicycle, scooter, e-bike, e-scooter, skateboard, or roller skates to school are expected to follow all applicable laws and safety requirements.

This includes rules related to speed, age, licensing, equipment, and the use of a properly fitted and fastened bicycle helmet. Personal transportation devices that do not meet legal requirements for use on public roads or paths may not be permitted on school campuses.

Please remember that school parking lots are also considered part of the school campus. For everyone’s safety, students may not ride personal transportation devices on campus during the school day. Once they arrive on campus, students should walk their device to the designated parking area and securely lock or store it.

Thank you for helping us keep our campuses safe for all students.