Week of September 16th
Hello 9th Grade Learners Extraordinaire! 
Shoutout to all of those who came to Back to School Night! We had so much to share and were so glad to meet and see all of you. If you were unable to make it, we have included our slide decks in this letter. We are deep into our contemporary art project! Please have conversations at home about supplies!!! Each group’s work is different, and will require different materials. If there is anything you are unable to supply, please email the Humanities teacher (Carol or Jen) and we will take care of it! 

CELEBRATIONS
*Gelsey, Ashley, Corrine and Alanna had a really great prototype for their art piece about women’s rights! We could really see the final product coming to life! Fantastic work.
*Zubin, Mariah, Joaquin, Kevyn, and Anthony took some great photographs exploring gender expectations and identity for their contemporary art project!
*Jacob Sh., Brenden, Evonna, and Eunice are doing a lot of experimenting with their art which we’d like to celebrate! Continue to experiment and question as we create these pieces of art! The experimentation is just as important as making it to the final product. 
*Livia, Caesar, Priscila, and Alyna stepped up as leaders during the group reading activity in Physics with Mr. Mike!  

ANNOUNCEMENTS
MULTI-CULTURAL FESTIVAL
We would love to have some parents run a booth for our teams during the Multi-Cultural Festival! If you are interested in helping out, we would absolutely love to take this opportunity to raise some money to lower the cost of future field trips and to purchase supplies for our classrooms. Please email ccabrera@hightechhigh.org or jhoward@hightechhigh.org . Popular booths have been ice cream booths and food donated by places like Panda Express. 

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT
If you were unable to make it to Back to School Night, take a look at the presentations that teachers went over below. We are very available for any questions! Just email us if you have any comments, questions, or concerns, and we will schedule time to meet!:

For Mrs. Howard & Mr. Mike’s Team: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1ramsHHGPx5qRXyNbb_MBuCCBlxko6SVf9c7w0lnvs8A/edit?usp=sharing

For Carol & Schwartz’s Team: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1M_bPtR0ZkzfMDDo1qRi60wQfS-JEpwaBm8GfZisvi6I/edit?usp=sharing

PSAT MONEY & FORMS
Please bring back the $17 PSAT fee and the PSAT form. Please turn in to Mrs. Howard or Mr. Schwartz (depending on which team you are on). 

CAROL/SCHWARTZ TEAM NEEDS DRIVERS
The Carol/Schwartz team will be going on a field trip to learn from Project Recover (https://www.projectrecover.org) on September 25th. We need parent drivers, and we will be leaving earlier in the day and coming back a little later day in the day. Please email ccabrera@hightechhigh.org if you are able to drive and the number of students you can carry in your car! 
We have other field trips going on as well!!! Please click on this document and let us know when you can help us bring students into the world:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YLrfcUp_NYUuDGQxG990hHD5zD4ZsnJ6-dopo-XqZS0/edit?usp=sharing
CAROL/SCHWARTZ TEAM SLC SIGNUPS
Below is a link to our Fall Student Led Conference Schedule. They will be happening on October 8th, 9th, 10th, & 11th. Please note, you do NOT have access to edit this document. To sign up for a time, please email Carol at ccabrera@hightechhigh.org 3 times that work for you. Alternatively, you may highlight a square and put your student's name, and we will email you back a confirmation. In either case, you will receive a confirmation of your date and time for your SLC. The reason for not allowing editing access is that we have had instances in the past where names were accidentally deleted and then we had multiple families show up for an SLC. This way, we can monitor and be sure that your time is truly only your time! Carol/Schwartz Team SLCs: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D5L73ytFavFEDXzvyQWP5a6nLVTrwZDP359i9s6L7e4/edit?usp=sharing

UPCOMING EXHIBITION
We are having our first exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego (Downtown) on October 17th, 2019 from 5:30pm-7:30pm. Mark your calendars! We are very excited! 

CAMPING FEE
If you have not yet paid your $50 camping fee, we are still collecting this fee if it is possible for you to contribute. If you are unable to contribute, email your Humanities teacher and we are happy to cover this for your student! 

ART SUPPLIES
Come in with your supplies for your art project!!! You will be getting work time in class each week leading up to exhibition. 

SUPPLIES
Students will come home with (or have already picked up) their syllabi for their classes. In each syllabus is a supply list for that class. Please bring the required items to class each day, or email ccabrera@hightechhigh.org or jhoward@hightechhigh.org (your student’s Humanities teacher) if you are unable to provide the items and we will take care of it for your student. 

BARNES & NOBLE
We encourage students and families to purchase your books for the semester or year at the Barnes & Noble in Escondido on September 25th. Part of the proceeds will go back to support our Humanities department at HTHNC. 

ADVISORY HOME VISITS
Check in with your student’s advisor to schedule your home visit! 

CLUB RUSH
Check in with your student and encourage your student to seek out some clubs that are interesting to them during Club Rush on September 20th! 

Upcoming Dates to Note
September 20th
Club Rush during lunch! 

September 25th
(Carol/Schwartz Team Only) Project Recover Field Trip during the day. We will be heading directly to the Barnes & Noble mini-exhibition after this trip. 

September 25th
Barnes & Noble Mini-Exhibition in Escondido after school. Come buy your student’s books on this date for the semester and help support our Humanities department! 

October 4th
Multi-Cultural Fiesta after school! Come support our school! 

October 17th
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego Exhibition, 5:30-7:30pm Downtown San Diego

What’s Happening In Class This Week?

Humanities
12 Angry Men by Reginald Rose
Contemporary Art Project

Physics
Light, Waves & Electromagnetic Spectrum 

Math
Algebra & Statistics 

Art
Contemporary Art, Symbolism

Thank you! Please keep in touch with us with any questions or comments.
~Carol Cabrera, Kurt Schwartz, Jennifer Howard, Mike Amarillas, Alden Walters, Jamie West, Charley Jacob, Sarah Sandoval 

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Hello Parents/Families!
Thank you so much to everyone who came to Back to School Night last night! We know went through a lot of information very quickly. An hour is not enough time to cover all our hopes and dreams for this year for your amazing students!
This link will bring you to the slide deck of information we covered last night:

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT PRESENTATION:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1M_bPtR0ZkzfMDDo1qRi60wQfS-JEpwaBm8GfZisvi6I/edit?usp=sharing
If you have any questions at all, please know that we are readily available! We have office hours every week, and they are open to parents as well as students. We are very much team players and love whatever parent input and guidance you have to provide! Email Carol at ccabrera@hightechhigh.org and we will always find time to chat.
Below is a link to our master field trip driving spreadsheet for the semester. You will see totals below each date with "Current Total" over the "Total Seats Needed" total. Please please please help us go on our field trips! Again, we will have to cancel trips that we are unable to find enough parent drivers for. So far, we have 22/59 seats for September 25th, 19/59 for October 2nd, 47/59 for October 30th, and 23/59 for November 8th. The spreadsheet also lists our departure times from school and from the location. You are welcome to stay on the trips, but if you need to drop off and go and return, you are also welcome to do so! We need all the driving help we can get! 
FIELD TRIP DRIVERS: 
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YLrfcUp_NYUuDGQxG990hHD5zD4ZsnJ6-dopo-XqZS0/edit?usp=sharing
Lastly, below is a link to our Fall Student Led Conference Schedule. They will be happening on October 8th, 9th, 10th, & 11th. Please note, you do NOT have access to edit this document. To sign up for a time, please email Carol at ccabrera@hightechhigh.org 3 times that work for you. Alternatively, you may highlight a square and put your student's name, and we will email you back a confirmation. In either case, you will receive a confirmation of your date and time for your SLC. The reason for not allowing editing access is that we have had instances in the past where names were accidentally deleted and then we had multiple families show up for an SLC. This way, we can monitor and be sure that your time is truly only your time! 
SLC MASTER SCHEDULE FALL 2019:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1D5L73ytFavFEDXzvyQWP5a6nLVTrwZDP359i9s6L7e4/edit?usp=sharing
THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!! We are so excited about this school year and we hope you and your students are just as thrilled.
With Gratitude,
Carol Cabrera, Kurt Schwartz, Charley Jacob, Jamielee West, Alden Walters, & Katelin Swan

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Hello Amazing 9th Graders & Families!
Thank you all so much for a wonderful first two weeks of school. Special thanks to the parents who came to talk about PBL with us at the PBL Pot Luck and EXTRA special thanks to all the hard work, generosity, and beautiful energy preparing for, going on, and returning from our 9th grade retreat! 

CELEBRATIONS
We were so impressed with all of the 9th grade retreat! We were so impressed with the amazing meals and the wonderful energy that all our 9th graders brought! Check out photos and some student reflections here: http://www.misscarolcabrera.com/9th-grade-retreat.html

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT
Back to School Night is Wednesday, September 11th from 5:30-6:30pm! We are so excited to connect with all our parents, and we can’t wait to share what we have done so far and what is coming! 

CAROL/SCHWARTZ TEAM NEEDS DRIVERS
The Carol/Schwartz team will be going on a field trip to learn from Project Recover (https://www.projectrecover.org) on September 25th. We need parent drivers, and we will be leaving earlier in the day and coming back a little later day in the day. Please email ccabrera@hightechhigh.org if you are able to drive and the number of students you can carry in yoru car! 

UPCOMING EXHIBITION
We are having our first exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in San Diego (Downtown) on October 17th, 2019 from 5:30pm-7:30pm. Mark your calendars! We are very excited! 

CAMPING FEE
If you have not yet paid your $50 camping fee, we are still collecting this fee if it is possible for you to contribute. If you are unable to contribute, email your Humanities teacher and we are happy to cover this for your student! 

SUPPLIES
Students will come home with (or have already picked up) their syllabi for their classes. In each syllabus is a supply list for that class. Please bring the required items to class each day, or email ccabrera@hightechhigh.org or jhoward@hightechhigh.org (your student’s Humanities teacher) if you are unable to provide the items and we will take care of it for your student. 

BARNES & NOBLE
We encourage students and families to purchase your books for the semester or year at the Barnes & Noble in Escondido on September 25th. Part of the proceeds will go back to support our Humanities department at HTHNC. 

ADVISORY HOME VISITS
Check in with your student’s advisor to schedule your home visit! 

CLUB RUSH
Check in with your student and encourage your student to seek out some clubs that are interesting to them during Club Rush on September 20th! 

Upcoming Dates to Note
September 11th
Back to School Night, 5:30-6:30pm at HTHNC 

September 20th
Club Rush during lunch! 

September 25th
(Carol/Schwartz Team Only) Project Recover Field Trip during the day. We will be heading directly to the Barnes & Noble mini-exhibition after this trip. 

September 25th
Barnes & Noble Mini-Exhibition in Escondido after school. Come buy your student’s books on this date for the semester and help support our Humanities department! 

October 4th
Multi-Cultural Fiesta after school! Come support our school! 

October 17th
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego Exhibition, 5:30-7:30pm Downtown San Diego

What’s Happening In Class This Week?

Humanities
12 Angry Men by Reginald Rose
9th Grade Retreat Reflection & Letter Writing 

Physics
Waves & Measurement

Math
Measurement & Scientific Notation 

Art
Contemporary Art, Symbolism

Thank you! Please keep in touch with us with any questions or comments.
~Carol Cabrera, Kurt Schwartz, Jennifer Howard, Mike Amarillas, Alden Walters, Jamie West, Charley Jacob, Sarah Sandoval 

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Dearest Parents, Guardians, & Families,

Thank you so much for raising such amazing young people. This retreat was such a fantastic experience and a success, despite adventures like Mother Nature's unexpected plans. At the end of this letter is a link to student reflections and photos that we hope you will enjoy! 

In this retreat, students built their own little city in the Cleveland National Forest. They cooked for themselves, cleaned for themselves, set up their tents, explored, hiked, worked with the park rangers, learned about opportunities with the forestry service, brainstormed and planned for their art project, and learned a lot about themselves, the way they work with others, and what they are like both as individuals and as a class community. The new students were awesome and jumped into the mix with such fearlessness. Our HTH students who went to the Middle School were kind, loving, and welcoming. We could not tell who was who after just a few hours. 

Each student has their own individual experience. Each student had their own challenges that they faced during our time in the woods, and their own unique ways of solving the problems that they faced. We encourage you to talk to your student about both the fun memories, and the challenging ones, and how they figured out how to navigate all the moments that they experienced. 

During our last campfire, we told the students that we hope they understand some of the messages that we are trying to send them by planning a camping trip so early in their high school experience. Perhaps these are lessons that you can continue to unpack at home:
1. The difficulties that the students faced were by design (except for the storm). We want them to learn how to work independently, as well as collaboratively. 
2. We want students to address each challenge and live each moment with our values of grit, empathy, integrity, respect, responsibility, and bravery.
3. They have begun their journey to independence and they'll gain more and more of it with each year. We want to encourage students to happen to life, instead of just letting life happen to them.
4. There is so much to discover in ourselves and in each other without technology in our hands. Technology is wonderful, but so is our time away from it discovering ourselves. 
5. This first project was them designing, building, living in, and then cleaning up their own little city. They accomplished so much during this retreat, and they should be so, so proud!!! 

Enjoy some photos and student reflections here:
http://www.misscarolcabrera.com/9th-grade-retreat.html
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Love & Gratitude,
9th Grade Teachers Carol Cabrera, Kurt Schwartz, Alden Walters, Jen Howard, Mike Amarillas, Charley Jacob, & Katelin Swan