Soquel High School

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
 
Welcome to the 2008-09 school year!
 
We are off and running.
 
Our counseling office staff is busy enrolling new students and working on schedule change requests.  They are also preparing for our next round of grade level parent information nights, coming up September 10 (11th grade) and September 11 (10th grade).  On these evenings, information about graduation requirements, transcripts and preparing for life after high school will be presented.  This information, along with more about the operation of the school, was presented to freshman parents on August 20th, the night of our Freshman Orientation.  We will post the presentation from that evening on our website as soon as our new website support staff is available.
 
We are already tracking attendance and truancy--please make sure students are in class every day, every period.  Nothing does more to support  academic success.
 
Please keep safety in mind as you travel to and from campus.  Drivers, please keep an eye out for pedestrians, bicyclists and skateboarders.  Riders, please wear helmets, walk in crosswalks, and obey all traffic regulations--we don't want a repeat of last year when we had four collisions between riders and cars in the first month of school!
 
Our budget issues have not gone away.  We are experiencing a 25% loss to our operational funding, if the news stays neutral when the State Legislature eventually passes a budget.  We will be relying on parent sport and volunteers more than ever this year.  I encourage you to participate in organizations like the Soquel High Fund, the Soquel Music Foundation and the Soquel Sports Foundation.  Your time and efforts will be appreciated and rewarding.   Please stay on the look out for future announcements about the different ways families can help out.
 
Our Back to School Night will held on Wednesday, September 17. We hope to see you there, as we describe the courses your students will be taking.  We will also hold elections for the parent representatives to our School Site Council. Parents interested in serving on the Council are encouraged to contact my office to have their name placed on the ballot.
 
2008-09 promises to be a great year for the Knights. We look forward to working with your family this year.
 
Sincerely,
 
Ken Lawrence-Emanuel

ALUMNI NEWS:  Casey Mcgehee, Soquel High Class of 2000, was called up to the major leagues this week to play for the Chicago Cubs.  Congratulations are certainly in order.

BRAIN FITNESS CLASSES
Santa Cruz Adult School is pleased to offer a variety of Brain Fitness classes here in Santa Cruz. These classes use computer-based software that can revitalize your brain by focusing on auditory and visual processing. This revolutionary Posit Science class is the result of decades of neurological research conducted by some of world’s leading brain scientists. Posit’s chief neurophysiologist, Dr. Michael Merzenich, has led a team of 50 brain scientists from top universities around the world in developing this non-invasive training program to reverse age-related cognitive decline by an average of 10 years and sometimes more, according to early clinical trials. Beginning computer skills recommended but not required. Classes are forming now so call today.

Those interested may register for either class in person at Santa Cruz Adult School, 536 Palm Street or on line at www.adultedreg.com/santacruz/. Call 429-3966 for more information.

WEBSITE UPDATE
Please excuse the delay in updating the website. We are in the process of hiring new staff to keep it current.

COUNSELING CONTACT INFORMATION
The contact information currently listed on the counseling page of the website is not up to date.  Here is the correct information:
Jennifer Jimenez, at ext.135, handles those students with the last name beginning with A-G
Ariel Rojas, at ext. 133, handles those students with the last name beginning with H-O
Gail Atlansky, at ext. 134, handles those students with the last name beginning with P-Z

**Grade Level Parents' Nights are earlier this year to accommodate activities such as course changes, academic testing, college consideration, etc. 
   11th Grade Parent Night      Wednesday, Sept. 10th    6:30-8 p.m.
   10th Grade Parent Night      Thursday, Sept. 11th     6:30-8 p.m.

HUMANITIES ACADEMY PARENT MEETINGS
If you have a child in the Humanities Academy we need your support.  Please come to our first parent meeting on Tuesday, September 23.  We will be asking for volunteers for field trips, special events, and administrative duties in the HA.  We can't do it without you!
Sophomore HA parents:  4:30pm in room 116
Freshman HA parents: 5:15pm in room 114
 
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:
*Parking Lot Fundraiser* - Sunday, Sept 7 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Former Tiny's Restaurant (by OSH).  The Soquel High Sports Foundation has been given the access to sell all of the restaurants equipment etc.  Everything must go!  If you know a business that you could use some supplies - please forward them the details.  Questions, call Kathy 439-7774 day# or 475-8884 eve#.
*Grad Night Parent Meeting - Monday, Sept. 8 at 7pm in the library. Please join senior parents in the initial planning meeting of Grad Night 2009.  Bring all your ideas to the meeting. See you there!
*Soquel High Fund – Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 7pm in the school library.  If you’re interested in making Soquel High a better place for your student and want to meet the principal and other Soquel High parents, and get involved, please join us.
*11th Grade Parent Night - Wednesday, Sept. 10, 6:30-8 p.m.
*10th Grade Parent Night - Thursday, Sept. 11, 6:30-8 p.m.
*Back to School Night – Wed. Sept 17
*Welcome Back all school dance - Friday, Sept. 19
*School Site Council – Mon. Sept. 22 at 3pm in the MPR conference room.
*Humanities Academy Parents' Meetings - Sept. 23. Sophomore 4:30 p.m. in room 116;
Freshman 5:15 p.m. in room 114
*Homecoming – Friday, Oct. 3

SOQUEL SPORTS FOUNDATION NEWS            
Parking Lot Sale - Sun 9/7 9a - 3p Former Tiny's Restaruant 41st Ave (near OSH) Soquel Sports - Mon 9/8 6:30 -8p 2425 Porter Street #14, Soquel (across from Carpo's) BINGO NEWS - will be starting in late September.  Sports teams - register now to earn money!  We have partnered with Santa Cruz Elks Club who is eager to help us make this successful.  Bingo will be Tuesday nights at the SC Elks Lodge.  More to follow.  Contact Kathy if you want to sign up 831-475-8884 or call Ginni Cutler 465-1604 for more details.   www.soquelsports.com  
FOOTBALL PROGRAM - Help support our Knights - buy an add for the football program.  Flyer will be posted downloadable soon. Hurry and communicate with us if you want a full-page color add - front inside and back page and inside back page.  This year, we want to have 'wishing statements' and senior pictures - but need good turnout for ad purchases. Deadline approaching...
FOOTBALL Game Day Sponsorship Opportunities - Sponsor a home football game and enjoy many perks and benefits. Call Kathy 439-7774 day 475-8884 eve or Dena 234-6196 to hear more!
MONTE FIREWORKS TICKETS FOR SALE - See your sports team or call Kathy Grant 475-8884 (SSF can accept cash, checks, or credit cards). $15 ea  Event is Oct 11th.  We are also looking for volunteers/donations for our food booth.  Call for details on what we need and what hours you can work!  All money will be directed to new restrooms, snackbar, and entrance. Kathy 439-7774 day#, Dena 234-6196.

Go to www.soquelsports.com for flyers for the above information.

SCHOOL-WIDE FUNDRAISER (All groups invited to participate. Ticket Coordination with each group being organized by Kathy Grant - Each group wanting to participate will need to provide one contact to be that group's coordinator with Kathy.)  475-8884 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID CAR DRAWING!!!  Toyota of Santa Cruz and Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk are again hosting the 'DRIVE FOR SCHOOL' drawing.  Grand prize winner will receive a 2009 TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID including tax and license.  Many groups will sell tickets.    If you want to purchase tickets, they will be on sale at home football games after 9/24 and with each group that agrees to sell them.  Check with your group.  The tickets are $5 each. This fundraiser begins 9/24 and ends 10/19.  The drawing held on 10/26.

SPORTS
Football
Family Passes are available for $90 and will let two adults and two children into all home games throughout the year.  You may purchase them at home football games, or from Ron Myers, our Athletic Director.

Please join us for the first games of the season.

Friday 9/5 at 4:30 and 7pm JV and Varsity Football at Watsonville
Thurs. 9/11 5:30 p.m. Home Frosh against North Salinas
Fri. 9/12 5 p.m. JV, 7:30 p.m. Varsity Home against North Salinas

For a complete schedule, please check out the Soquel High website.

Cross Country
Thurs. 9/18 Santa Cruz/Soquel @ Harbor, 4 p.m., Girls followed by Boys

Boys' Water Polo
Upcoming Boys Varsity Tournaments:                       
Sept 5/6: Bellarmine Tournament
Sept 26/27: Saint Francis Tournament
Boys Junior Varsity Tourn. Schedule:
Sept 20: Bellarmine Tournament
 
10/11 (Sat): Monte Foundation fundraiser 7 a.m.