Husky Strong

Hillcrest High School
Midvale, Utah
September 5, 2018

Principal Message:

HHS is about Rigor, Relevance and Relationships.  It is my hope that all interactions with HHS at any level show our desire to build and foster relationships and also create meaningful learning, both of which prepare students for college or career readiness.

During our rules assembly, Administration shared with students our theme: “Never gonna give you up”.  We talked with students about emotional support and safety, and every student was encouraged to download the Safe UT App.  A how-to video can be found on our web page.  Every parent should ask their student if they have this app downloaded. If students see something, they should say something and the Safe UT App gives them a safe, anonymous platform to use for reporting.

This year, we will continue our positive approach to behavior in the following ways:

• Starting September 14th, every student with perfect attendance for the week will be rewarded with a free taco delivered fresh from a food truck at our “Taco Friday” celebrations.
• Students who meet the expectations of #WWHD will be awarded Hillcrest spirit gear and swag.  WWHD is our “What Would Harvey Do” campaign prompting students to make good choices the first time around.  Look for the WWHD video on our web page.
• APP is every day at 9:10 a.m.  Students will be receiving planners to keep them on track, weekly grade updates, and assigned study halls to help them recover or enhance grades.  Study hall will also be provided for excelling students to get extra help or study with friends.  We hope students will feel less stress with homework given they will have 40 minutes per day to do school work with support.  If you need to check your student out during APP time be aware that they may not be in their assigned classroom.  Talk with your student prior to checking them out to see their location. 
• Husky Grams are notes sent home by teachers to students who deserve positive feedback or encouragement.  We hope your students will receive one from a teacher.  

Here at the beginning of the year, I encourage you to review the attendance policy (on our website under Student/Guardian tab) with your student and remind your student of the importance of school attendance.  As always, please reach out with any questions, comments, or concerns you may have. I am happy to help you.

Sincerely,

Gregory Leavitt

Principal, HHS
801-826-6001
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Suicide Awareness Month:

As part of Suicide Awareness Month in September, Canyons District is partnering with the Deseret News to host a free screening of the IndieFlix documentary “Angst: Raising Awareness Around Anxiety" for parents and teens. The film addresses what anxiety is — its causes and effects, and what can be done about it.

The 6 p.m. event will be Thursday, Sept. 6 at Jordan High, 95 Beetdigger Blvd.   The film will be followed by a panel discussion featuring local mental-health experts, including Canyons District counselors and social workers.

For more information regarding this event please go to
http://www.canyonsdistrict.org/district-news/item/12059-canyons-district-hosts-screening-of-angst

Upcoming Events:

• Sept 5, 10:00 a.m. Utah Symphony 4^th Graders
• Sept 5, 3:30 p.m. Cross Country meet @ Crestwood
• Sept 5, 7:00 p.m. Shakespeare Team Parent Meeting
• Sept 6, 9:00 a.m. FCCLA State Fair Field Trip
• Sept 6, 3:30 p.m. Tennis @ Hunter
• Sept 6, 3:30 p.m. Sophomore Football @ Cottonwood
• Sept 6, 6:00 p.m. Volleyball @ West Lake
• Sept 7, Homecoming Royalty Nominations Final
• Sept 7, 5:00 p.m. IB Back to School Cookout @ Courtyard
• Sept 7, 7:00 p.m. Football @ Cottonwood
• Sept 10, 9:15 a.m. Josten Senior Meeting for Graduation
• Sept 10, 3:30 p.m. Soccer @ Hunter High School
• Sept 11, Life Touch Picture Taken at School
• Sept 11, 3:30 p.m. Tennis @ Granger
• Sept 12, 7:10 a.m. or 2:30 p.m. Homecoming Meeting in rm D210
• Sept 12, Lunchtime Josten Orders Due
• Sept 12, 12:00 p.m. Golf @ Overlook Golf Course
• Sept 12, 3:30 p.m. Soccer @ East Midvale Elementary
• Sept 12-13, Club Rush during Lunch
• Sept 13-15,  Tennis @ St George
• Sept 13, 3:30 p.m. Sophomore Football @ Woodcross
• Sept 13, 6:00 p.m. Volleyball @ Hunter High School
• Sept 14, Taco Friday during lunches for perfect attendance
• Sept 14, 7:00 p.m. Football @ Granger High School
• Sept 17, Freshman Election Videos/ Poster Due
• Sept 17, 3:30 Soccer @ Hillcrest East Midvale Elementary
• Sept 18, 3:30 p.m. Tennis @ Cyprus High School
• Sept 19, 1:30 p.m. Golf @ Stonebridge Golf Course
• Sept 19, 3:30 p.m. Soccer @ Kearns High School
• Sept 19, 5:00 p.m. School Community Council in ACR
• Sept 20, Freshman Class Officer Election Assembly
• Sept 20, 3:30 p.m. Tennis @ Highland High School
• Sept 20, 3:30 p.m. Sophomore Football @ Pleasant Grove High School
• Sept 20, 6:00 p.m. Volleyball @ Cyprus High School
• Sept 21, No School Day for Students
• Sept 21, 7:00 p.m. Football @ Pleasant Grove High School
• Sept 22, Wasatch Rendezous Cheer Stunt in Large Gym

HHS_Community_School_Parent_Meetings.pdf

HHS_Community_School_Parent_Meetings_Spanish.pdf

HILLCREST HIGH SCHOOL
Home of the Huskies - The School That Makes The Difference!

Dear HHS Students and Parents,

We are looking forward to the 2018-2019 school year. We wanted to let you know of some changes in our counseling and assistant principal assignments, listed below by student last names. We are asking that you respect this new counselor assignment in future dealings. Each counselor is experienced, highly qualified, and we are eager to work with you.

Counselors are back in the building to begin all their preparations for the new school year and will be meeting with new students at this time. At this busy time of year, it is not possible to meet with other individual students so if you have a question or concern for your counselor, please feel free to reach out to them via phone or email. Contact information is available on the school website under counseling.

As a reminder, arena scheduling is available, through Skyward, after you have completed the Canyons School District on line registration and paid all fees.

Arena Scheduling is available from August 2 through midnight on August 8. Essential (courses required for graduation) schedule changes can be made, in person, through your counselor in the counseling office, on August 14 from 1pm – 3pm. All other schedule changes can be made during schedule change days on August 23 and 24, after school, in the counseling office. As a reminder, if your schedule change is non-essential, there will be a $5 charge for one class change and a $10 charge for 2 or more changes.

Thanks again for your cooperation in these matters! We look forward to working with you!

HHS Counseling Team

ON FRIDAY, MAY 18TH ALL STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE A COPY OF THEIR PROPOSED 2018-19 CLASS SCHEDULE

Incoming freshman can pick them up at their respective middle schools' counseling centers or log on to Skyward.

Schedule Changes

If you would like to change your schedule you will need to do so through Arena Scheduling, 5/18/18-5/29/18

It is possible that you may drop a class and not be able to add it back to your schedule because it is full, so use caution.

Also, if you are unable to add other classes it is because the class is full.

How to use Arena:

1. Login to Skyward Family Access
2. Use your Student Login and Password to access your information
3. Click on Arena Scheduling in the left hand menu and select 2018-19 School Year
4. Select “View/Print Schedule” to view your scheduled classes
5. To drop a class click on the class name. You will then be prompted if you are sure you want to remove the class. If you drop a class, there is no guarantee you will be able to add it later. Be careful in what you drop!
6. To add a class, close the “View/Print Schedule” Search for classes by period, subject, teacher and click on the add button if available
7. There is no save button, when a change is made it is automatically saved
8. Specific instructions can be found here.
9. If you need help adjusting your schedule the Career Center will be open before and after school May 21^st – 25^th with counselors available to answer questions
10. There will be NO schedule changes with counselors at the beginning of the year so be sure to make the changes NOW

Class Schedules for 2018-19 School Year

On Friday, May 18th  ALL students will receive their schedule for the 2018-19 school year in their 1^st period class.  Middle school students can pick up their schedule from their respective counseling center or view online through Skyward.

2018-19 Schedule Changes

If you would like to change your schedule for next year you will need to do so through Arena Scheduling, 5/21/18-5/29/18

It is possible that you may drop a class and not be able to add it back to your schedule because it is full, so use caution. Also, if you are unable to add other classes it is because the class is full.

How to use Arena:

1. Login to Skyward Family Access
2. Use your Student Login and Password to access your information
3. Click on Arena Scheduling in the left hand menu and select 2018-19 School Year
4. Select “View/Print Schedule” to view your scheduled classes
5. To drop a class click on the class name. You will then be prompted if you are sure you want to remove the class. If you drop a class, there is no guarantee you will be able to add it later.  Be careful in what you drop!
6. To add a class, close the “View/Print Schedule” Search for classes by period, subject, teacher and click on the add button if available
7. There is no save button, when a change is made it is automatically saved
8. Specific instructions can be found through this tutorial
   
9. If you need help adjusting your schedule the Career Center will be open before and after school May 21st - 29th with counselors available to answer questions
10. There will be NO schedule changes with counselors at the beginning of the year so be sure to make the changes NOW

Hillcrest High School has appreciated the 250 students and the 25 parents who participated in our public forums. We value and consider all of the opinions expressed and will be holding more opportunities for students and parents to express their opinions in the future. Hillcrest is a positive and inclusive environment and we would like to be proactive in addressing any concerns.

To that end, both in the parent and student forums, comments were made and questions were asked about how our new building is being constructed. There will be a public forum for comment on the new building plans on April 18th at 6pm at Hillcrest High School

The other topics discussed at both forums are as follows:

Drills: 

• Students want more training on what to do during a drill, with the teachers and other students taking it seriously. Students specifically want to know what to do during passing times, lunches, and when an intruder is visible. Multiple suggestions were made for an opt-in active shooter drill.
• Parents also made suggestions for better drills and for the opt-in active shooter drill, although concerns were expressed about the traumatic impact such a drill might have.
• These are great suggestions and administration will hold more specific training on drills for both students and teachers. We are required by the state to only have four drills per year - we probably won’t increase this but we will make them more effective.

What makes students feel unsafe: 

• Parking lot is chaotic and people just need to follow rules in general. Not having relationships with counselors, teachers, and other adults. Students want a way for the school to mass communicate in emergencies. Suggestions were made to better advertise the SafeUT app and to provide training for teachers, counselors, and administrators that is similar to Hope Squad training.
• Parents also expressed concerns about the parking lot and crosswalks around the school. They were shaken and scared by the false alarm active shooter situation last year, but felt that the communication helped. Parents were excited about the reporting possibilities of the SafeUT app.
• The school community council has addressed the walking routes and sent letters to Midvale city. Mr. Leavitt has also met with the mayor on these issues. We invite parents to contact Midvale city with their concerns regarding walking routes to and from school. We will continue to monitor the parking lot and teach explicit behavior expectations for our student drivers. This will become increasingly important as we will have temporary parking lots during new school construction. We believe strongly that adding two more entrances to Hillcrest High School will greatly enhance safety and this has been included in the building plans.
• Administration will also develop a plan to talk about the SafeUT app with students and reward students for having the app on their phone. We will train students on how to use the app wisely.

How to make a more positive environment: 

• Students want everyone to treat each other with kindness. Again, students emphasized wanting relationships with the adults in the building and coping skills to deal with negative social situations. Suggestions were made for empathy lessons and trainings to develop a culture of connectivity (actual student words!).
• Parents emphasized the diversity of Hillcrest and the positive effects that has had on student relationships.
• We appreciated the responses celebrating the diversity of our population. Hillcrest is a unique, wonderful place to be. Administration feels that with our new Academic Prep Period (APP) next year, there will be greater opportunities to teach explicit behavior expectations, create positive relationships between adults and students in the building, and build tolerance. As one student said, at the end of the day it is everyone’s responsibility to just be nice.

Social Media: 

• Students felt that they should be responsible for monitoring their own social media and emphasized that students need to be encouraged to report things that make them feel unsafe or threatened. They also feel that school personnel has an obligation to act on those reports.
• Parents felt that social media could be used for good – both for communication during a crisis and as a reporting mechanism. Some parents expressed concern for the false information that could go out on social media. Parents also suggested Hope Squad training and better teaching of coping skills.
• This question was a little misinterpreted. Administration will not be monitoring social media on students’ private phones or accounts. Under state law, we do reserve the right to question students and search their social media accounts concerning posts and activity that have been reported as suspicious. The exploration of the topic of social media is more about students and parents being aware of reportable events being trafficked on social media and then following through with police and school reporting. We encourage students and parents to be more public in their conversations about out-of-the-norm social media activity.

Open Invitation

Canyons District and FFKR will be showing off renderings of the new HHS on April 18th at 6pm at HHS.  The public is invited to come look over the architectural drawings and speak with school officials and architects.  Below is the picture of the site to pique your interest.  

Click here to access the full-size image

Baby Ads Deadline: Due February 5th

Please turn in form to the main office at Hillcrest High School. Download document for more details.
Download Documents

Examples

HHS After School Classes for NG Make Up

For who: (1) Students needing to clear current NGs that have a C or better and (2) Students with prior NGs
When: Wednesdays and Thursdays, starting November 29^th
Time: 2:35pm-3:20 pm
Where: A105
With whom: Lizbeth Velazquez, Social Worker
What: Curriculum based NG make-up covering the following topics: Barriers to getting to class(es), Student Engagement Plan, and Goal Setting.

Students must fill out (from your CSDDocs account) this form: tinyurl.com/HHSNGmakeup at least a day prior to attending a session. No drop-ins will be allowed. Limited spots available, first come, first served.