Principal's Message
August 18, 2020
Welcome to Wildcat’s Distance Learning Program
Welcome to Alta Vista’s Distance Learning Program! Our teachers and support team have been hard at work preparing to transition our program to an online format. We’re looking forward to ZOOMing with you and your children as we kick off the beginning of the 2021 school year as Distance Learning Wildcats! We’ve been in numerous virtual meetings the past several weeks to ensure our program is mission consistent and mindful of the academic, developmental, social and emotional needs of our students across the grade levels. While distance learning looks and feels different from in-person instruction, the program we have developed will ensure that our students continue to meet the learning benchmarks in all disciplines, including physical education, art and music.
Our distance learning program is designed to ensure students are engaged in interactive standards based virtual lessons and small group instruction. The program will utilize a variety of learning management systems to keep our students engaged, including Google Classroom, Google Docs, RazKids, SeeSaw, and ZOOM. If you don’t know how to use these resources, do not worry -- your child knows! If your child doesn’t know, don’t worry -- your child’s teacher or our RBUSD tech team will help you. Remember, one day at a time! If you have any questions, we’re only a Wildcat call or email away!
We understand that most of you will be juggling working remotely from home and supervising your child(ren) and WE SEE you. For those in our community who provide essential services for the community and must report to work, as usual -- we HONOR and THANK YOU! Staying in close communication is key to the success of all our students. We may not be physically in the same room, but we are connecting and learning together each day in our own Wildcat way!
March 14, 2020
Dear Alta Vista Families:
I hope this message finds you and your family healthy and well, continuing to enjoy the 3-day weekend as a family. First, I want to thank our community for providing space and calm while school leaders worked to navigate these last 48 hours. It has been, and will continue to be, our goal to make measured decisions based on facts and what is in the best interest for our students. Personally, I really appreciate that you have waited patiently and given me time, as Alta Vista's principal, to gather information and share it with you in a timely manner.
Please take a minute to read this message carefully and through its entirety as my hopes are to answer many of the questions you have as a family in regards to next steps in the coming weeks. On behalf of our entire staff, we appreciate your patience and flexibility as our teachers prepare to provide students with remote online learning. Our entire staff is here to support families and students throughout these next three weeks and will be readily accessible to answer questions through electronic methods.
Our superintendent, Dr. Steven Keller, sent all families a message yesterday with updates on the COVID-19 school closure logistics. If you have not seen this letter, please take a minute to read it by clicking here.
Per this notice, please note the following:
- All Redondo Beach Unified School District campuses will be closed to all students beginning on Tuesday, March 17, 2020 through spring break on Friday, April 10, 2020. This includes our CDC and City of Redondo Beach Rec Programs.
- There is no school for students on Monday, March 16, 2020. However, our campuses will be open to students only for the purpose of students picking up personal belongings and district-issued Chromebooks (3rd – 5th Grade) between the hours of 9 am – 12 pm. Please note that if your child already has these items at home, there is no need to come to school on Monday. Please also note that this is only a time for families to pick up what they need quickly, not a time to engage in conferencing with your child’s teacher and/or gathering with other families on campus. We are encouraging families to use social distancing practices during this time. By picking items up quickly from the classroom you will help your child’s teacher maximize time to continue to plan for remote instruction.
- Alta Vista will be CLOSED to the public after 12 pm on Monday, March 16, 2020. This includes the use of facilities, playground, field, cafeteria, etc. Our front office staff will be available to answer phone calls only. Email is the best form of communication with myself, teachers, and staff members. We will do our best to get back to you in a timely manner.
- New student registrations and CDC registrations are suspended until school re-opens. Deadlines for School of Choice, Inter/Intra District Permits, Dual Immersion Applications, and CDC enrollments will be extended once schools re-open.
Beginning Wednesday, March 18, 2020, your child’s teacher will provide online learning instructions on a weekly basis. You can expect the first message from teachers to be communicated to you by 10 am on Wednesday, March 18. This message (either via email or Google Classroom) will contain information on what your child can work on remotely over the course of the week. Each Monday, your teacher will communicate that week’s learning objectives, assignments, and information. Your teacher will also have a two hour online office hours in which you or your child can communicate with your teacher. Above all, it is of the utmost importance that your child continues to read each and every day. Teachers will provide you with online resources on how to do this, however, we also know that many of our students have access to great material at home as well. It is important that as a family, you ensure that learning activities are completed to prevent any learning loss.
In addition to the information your child’s teachers shares with you in their first email, please consider the following:
- Take time to review your expectations with your child during this time of school closure. Create routines together and consider setting up a schedule for daily school work and reading.
- Consider creating a media contract at home in regards to use of technology, your expectations as a parent, and access to screen time during school closures.
- Consider creating an account on Go Noodle for access to brain break activities and videos.
Our Alta Vista team is committed to continuing to serve our students’ learning throughout this time. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s teacher directly. Should you have questions not pertaining to your child’s learning plan, please feel free to reach out to myself (dhillyer@rbusd.org) or Ambre Fontaine, Administrative Assistant (afontaine@rbusd.org).
You can expect to continue to receive weekly eblasts and updates on school happenings. We appreciate your support through safe, calm, and caring communication.
Take care of you and yours and stay healthy.
Best,
Dr. Hillyer
Principal
Hello Alta Vista Students, Parents, and Staff!
Welcome to the start of the 2019-2020 school year! I am very excited to start my first full year as the principal of Alta Vista. It has been a pleasure and honor to serve your community and I appreciate being a part of the Alta Vista community. For the families that are new, AV is truly a special place.
While everyone is off on summer break, it was time to upgrade and improve our campus. First, we have some new permanent play structures installed in the kinder/preschool play area. We now have Butterfly steps and a sound wall with drums installed. There was also turf installed under the entire play area. We also had 11 AC units replaced. We received nine classrooms worth of student desks and chairs. Finally, we had three bottle filling stations installed throughout the campus. All of this would not have been possible without our amazing Board of Education, Dr. Keller and our Maintenance Department.
I look forward to seeing you all and hearing about the great summer adventures. Thank you for working together with all of us at Alta Vista to ensure academic success for all of our students.
Dr. Dale Hillyer
RBEF Supports The Whole Child
Some may be wondering why do we want to support RBEF? What does RBEF do for my child? RBEF is supporting the “whole child” here in RBUSD. At the elementary level, RBEF is providing music teachers for 5th grade band and choir, as well as, music teachers for grades 1st - 4th. RBEF is also providing certified PE teachers for one hour of physical education weekly.
The Pier-to-Pier Friendship Walk partners with RBEF to provide fundraising to Alta Vista Elementary. Last year we raised over $33,000 for the school with your contributions. Over the years, we have used this money to provide great opportunities and experiences for your students. We have added flexible seating, GAGA Ball, and materials to enhance instruction. This year, we are investing in making a 21st-century library here at Alta Vista. This year we are also funding our new Alta Vista Theater production of 101 Dalmatians.
This is just a small peek into what RBEF does and the impact it has here at Alta Vista. Of course, all schools in RBUSD are supported by RBEF. I am honored to be a part of this community that cares and invests in the whole child. Your donation to RBEF goes a long way into making RBUSD an amazing place to be.
