Nordhoff High School Newsletter

Principal: Greg Bayless • Assistant Principal: Dave Monson • Assistant Principal: James Hall

Aug/Sept 2016

RANGER NEWS

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER@NORDHOFFHIGH FOR IMPORTANT UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR!

WELCOME TO A NEW YEAR We look forward to you and your child being part of another exciting year at Nordhoff High School! Nordhoff continues to be committed to providing outstanding educational experiences for students of the Ojai Valley. We’re glad you’re with us! We invite you to read this newsletter to learn more about the start of the 2016-2017 school year. We hope you read these newsletters and use our new website to check our daily bulletin throughout the year to keep up with important news. Your partnership is very important to us and it is essential in supporting your child’s success in school. In addition, please consider supporting the Nordhoff Parent Association (NPA) by purchasing a membership and by volunteering your time. The NPA supports so many parts of our overall academic, athletic and arts programs on campus. We look forward to seeing you parents of new students and incoming freshmen at 5:30 PM on the 18th of August, and we hope all of you parents can join us for Back to School Night on the 30th of August. Thank you for taking the time to read through this newsletter and Go Rangers!

Greg Bayless, Principal

Bienvenido Nordhoff Padres! Lo invitamos a leer este boletín para aprender más sobre el año que viene. Esperamos que utilice nuestro nuevo sitio web todos los días para leer nuestro boletín diario que se publica en todo el año para aprender noticias importantes. Su colaboración es muy importante para el éxito de su hijo en la escuela. Además, por favor apoye a la Asociación de Padres Nordhoff (NPA) mediante la compra de una membresía y por ofrecer su tiempo. El NPA es compatible con muchas partes de nuestros programas académicos generales, deportivo y de las artes en el campus. Esperamos ver a los padres de los nuevos estudiantes y de los estudiantes de nuevo ingreso a las 5:30 pm el 18 de agosto, y esperamos que todos ustedes los padres pueden unirse a nosotros para la Noche de Regreso a la Escuela el 30 de agosto. Gracias por tomarse el tiempo para leer a través de este boletín y Go Rangers!

Greg Bayless, Director

LARGEST NEW TEACHER COHORT AT NHS IN MANY YEARS TO START IN 2016-2017! We would like to officially welcome Nordhoff’s excellent new teachers for this coming school year:

• Megan Sherwood – Spanish; Megan takes over for Cintsy Simon, who retired at the end of the 2015-2016 school year. Megan has 10 years teaching experience and recently moved to Ventura County with her husband and two daughters from Colorado.

• Jermaine Britton – Health, College and Career Foundations, AVID and PE; Jermaine is a Nordhoff graduate and has spent the last decade plus teaching at Villanova and coaching their aquatics teams. Jermaine will be coaching Nordhoff’s boys and girls water polo teams. He spends his summers working for the Junior Lifeguard program at the Ventura State Beach.

• Gabrielle Taylor – History; Gabrielle comes to us from the excellent UCSB teacher education program after completing a degree in history at UCLA. She has studied abroad in the UK and travelled extensively in South Asia. Gabrielle will teach one class at Matilija Junior High School in addition to teaching four classes at Nordhoff.

• George Castillo – Counseling; George will serve in the counseling department in a part-time 50% capacity. George served in the United States Navy for 8 years and has extensive experience working with families of special needs children. He is also bilingual in Spanish.

• Kortney Whaley –Math; Kortney is a Nordhoff graduate who just completed her studies at Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington. Kortney is an athlete, musician, and a fully-credentialed math teacher!

Congratulations and welcome to the wonderful, diverse and talented Nordhoff teaching faculty!

2 GETTING STARTED

FRESHMEN AND NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION On Thursday, Aug. 18th, prior to Ranger Round Up, we will hold an evening orientation session for all freshmen and students new to Nordhoff, and their parents, beginning in our gym at 5:30 PM. Information regarding school policies, as well as time for Q&A, will be the focus of the parent-only orientation that will take place afterwards while incoming freshmen students receive a tour from ASB leadership students. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend.

SENIOR PICTURES Class of 2017! Lifetouch Prestige will be on campus during the week of August 15th - August 19th to take your senior pictures for the yearbook. They have sent information and order forms home over the summer. This is the only time they will be on the NHS campus for senior portraits, please contact them if you need replacement paperwork or to make an appointment at (805) 644-3600. If you miss this photo session you will need to schedule a make-up at their studio in Ventura. All senior pictures must be taken by October 31st OR THEY WILL NOT BE IN THE YEARBOOK. We want all seniors to be pictured in the yearbook for 2017, please make your appointment and get your picture taken early!

RANGER ROUND UP We are getting a jump start on the new year by “taking care of business” before the first day of school. Please make every effort to have your son or daughter attend Ranger Round Up: Thursday, Aug. 18 - for freshmen, 5:30 – 7:30 PM (see other article for more information)Friday, Aug. 19 - for returning students and new students in grades 10, 11 and 12Seniors 12:00 – 12:45 • Juniors 12:45 – 1:30 • Sophomores 1:30 – 2:15

Students will start Ranger Round Up in the I building, taking pictures for their:1. ID card, which they will receive immediately2. Yearbook photo, except for seniors who take their yearbook photo at Lifetouch Prestige3. Lifetouch picture package--order form enclosed, make check payable to Lifetouch

Stations will be set up in the cafeteria & quad areas for your child to drop off required forms (enclosed) and pick up a class schedule. Your child will also be able to pay his or her book fines (if any) and purchase P.E. clothes & Dance clothes (please see article with details about clothing & pricing), agenda book for $5.00 (highly recommended for freshmen; recommended for others), yearbook (order form enclosed), membership in the Nordhoff Parent Association (form enclosed), and football seating. Please call Dr. Bayless at 640-4343, x1750, if you need financial assistance.

FRESHMEN RANGER ROUNDUP, 5:30 PM AUGUST 18TH In an effort to make it easier for more freshmen parents to attend Ranger Roundup Orientation with their incoming freshmen child, we are moving the typical afternoon Ranger Roundup for freshmen to the evening, beginning at 5:30 PM in the Nordhoff gym on the 18th of August. Incoming freshmen will receive a tour, receive their schedules, take their pictures for ID cards. Parents will be given a longer orientation and question/answer session in the gym immediately following the Freshmen and New Student Orientation, at approximately 6:30p.m. All parents are invited. We will offer a Spanish language presentation to parents as well, where our new bilingual counselor, Jorge Castillo, will be introduced. We hope that all parents can join us for this important orientation so our freshmen students can get off to the best start possible. The Ranger Roundup for sophomore, junior and senior students is on Friday, August 19th at regularly scheduled times. At Ranger Roundup students can purchase an ASB sticker for only $15 and get over $150 worth of savings throughout the 2016-2017 school year! With an ASB sticker, students will save on the purchase of a yearbook, home football, basketball and volleyball games, drama performances, and dances. Students will also get exclusive opportunities for select home athletic events. More savings may become available throughout the school year. Buy an ASB sticker now and save all year! Seniors: Get your reserved senior parking spot for only $20/year. This can be purchased at Ranger Roundup.

INTEGRATED MATH PARENT NIGHT Parents of Integrated Math I, II and III students are invited to Integrated Math Parent Night on Wednesday, August 24 from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. in the Nordhoff cafeteria. Math teachers and administration will present important information regarding the math curriculum, textbooks and how to best support your student to be successful. For any questions, please contact Assistant Principal Dave Monson at [email protected].

ASSOCIATED STUDENT BODY Students can join the ASB by purchasing a sticker for their ID card. ASB membership supports many activities on campus such as student government, clubs, athletics, and entitles your student to discounts on yearbook, home athletic games, admission to dances and student performances. An ASB sticker costs only $15 and is worth over $150 in discounts. A yearbook/ ASB sticker order form is enclosed. Please turn it at Ranger Roundup.

3TURN IN THE FOLLOWING FORMS AT RANGER ROUNDUP:• Acknowledgment of Receipt of Parents’ Rights & Responsibilities;• Myers-Stevens Student Accident/Insurance;• Computer Systems Acceptable Use Policy (freshmen & new students only);• Release of Directory Information (freshmen & new students only);• *Off Campus Lunch Pass (seniors & juniors only) – MUST MEET REQUIREMENTS, including

2.5 GPA and a passing Ranger Pride Citizenship Program grade every quarter - see enclosed application form;

Please note the requirements for off-campus eligibility. 11th & 12th grade students may obtain an off-campus lunch pass only if they have:• GPA of 2.5 or above at the end of each quarter grading period• No F’s each quarter• No suspensions each quarter• No more than 6 tardies and/or unexcused absences TOTAL each quarter• Passing Ranger Pride Citizenship Program grade each quarter• Parent permission• Transcript Release Form (seniors only);• Forms w/ payment (SEPARATE CHECKS please) for: yearbook and/or ASB sticker; NPA membership;

Football seating.

*Note: Seniors & Juniors who do not turn in their Off Campus Lunch Pass application at Ranger Roundup must wait until the second week of school before they may leave campus.

Please call Principal Greg Bayless at 640-4343, x1750, if you have any questions about our policies.

PARENT CONNECT

STUDENT CONNECTACCESS GRADES ONLINE Parents who register for Parent Connect, a web-based grading program, have “real time” access to their child’s grades and up-to-the-minute reports on their child’s academic progress. Parents who are already signed up are able to access the program with the same login and password that they received previously from Nordhoff or Matilija. Parents of students new to the district will be provided with a Parent Connect form and will receive a login and password after submitting the form. For more information on Parent Connect, please call Jake Hansen at 640-4343, x1840, the first day of school. Students will be issued individual pin numbers so they can access their grades through Student Connect.

TIPS – TEACHING AND IMPROVING PARENTING SKILLS COMING TO NORDHOFF IN FALL OF 2016-2017 Pete Shedlosky, a former counselor of 15 years at Buena High School and a former Nordhoff teacher, football and softball coach, will be offering a six-week TIPS (Teaching and Improving Parenting Skills) course at Nordhoff High School. Pete has extensive experience as a counselor, a Parent Project teacher and TIPS teacher working with parents. Pete’s two daughters attended and graduated Nordhoff high school as well. TIPS, which is based on the Parent Project, is an evidence-based and research-supported program used nationwide to help parents improve their skills raising teenaged children. The cost of the six-week course is just the cost of the textbook, which is $40. Pete will be at the Freshmen Ranger Roundup at 5:30 PM on the 18th of August and at Back to School Night at 6:30 PM on August 30th to answer questions and take registrations. Space is limited to 20 for the fall program that will begin on the 15th of September, but there will be another course offered in the spring. The high school and teenage years can be challenging - we strongly encourage you to consider taking this course from an expert to make your life and the life of your teenaged child better!

CERAMICS AT ART IN THE PARK The Ceramics and Studio Art students at Art in the Park 2016. These hard working students had an amazing turn out of local community members coming to support them in purchasing the work they made. Congratulations to all the artists who participated and to Audrey Hernandez, Taylor Riggs and Audrey Martel who took home Best in Show Awards!

2016/20174

Ranger NewsAug/Sept 2016Published Four Times Per YearNordhoff High School1401 Maricopa HwyOjai, CA 93023Issue #1

DOWN THE ROAD

NORDHOFF HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY, HALFTIME AT FOOTBALL GAME 7:00 AUGUST 26TH We would like to invite you to attend Nordhoff’s opening home football game vs. Hueneme High School, JV at 4:00 PM and Varsity at 7:00 PM. During halftime of the Varsity game, we will have a Nordhoff Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, where exceptional past Nordhoff athletes and coaches will be inducted and honored. This year’s induction class is Mason Moore, Omar Vega, Terrah Chapin, Nell Becker, Victor Ochoa, Mike Lemon, Jenna Hunter, Jeff Barrett, and Ken Reeves. Come celebrate past and present Nordhoff student-athletes with us as we welcome in the new 2016-2017 school year and football season!

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT All parents are urged to attend our Back to School Night on Tuesday, August 30th at 6:30 pm in the gym. This evening will give you an overview of each course and it is an excellent opportunity for you to meet the teachers and become aware of what your child will need in each class to be successful. We are looking forward to seeing you all there.

HOMECOMING Homecoming 2016! Homecoming will take place during the week of September 19-24. The week will include fun competitions and dress up days that will correspond to the theme. On Friday, September 23rd we will have our annual Homecoming rally, where we will reveal our Homecoming King! That evening, at halftime during the football game versus Fillmore, we will reveal our Homecoming Queen. On Saturday, students will enjoy the Homecoming Dance in the gym from 7PM to 10PM. We are looking forward to carrying on the Homecoming tradition in the fall!

COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESS College-bound seniors will meet with their counselors in Sept. & Oct. to receive information about the application process and important due dates. An informational flyer about our College Workshops will be sent home in the coming weeks. ALL seniors need to sign & return the enclosed Transcript Release Form at Ranger Round Up.

PSAT The PSAT will be given on the 19th of October. The cost of the PSAT is $25.00, and all students planning to attend college and who are enrolled in Integrated Math II or higher level math course should take this test. For juniors, it is the only chance to qualify to become a National Merit Scholar. Students who take the PSAT do better on the SAT and ACT tests, the scores of which are extremely important for college admissions. On the 19th, students should arrive at 7:40 AM with two #2 pencils and an approved calculator. For more information about the PSAT, visit: http://www.collegeboard.com/studen/testing/psat/about/htm

CLASS OF 2016 NORDHOFF GRADUATES HEAD OUT TO COLLEGE On June 15th, Nordhoff said good bye to the graduating class of 2016. The vast majority will be continuing their education, with roughly 35% going directly to four-year colleges/universities. 2016 Nordhoff graduates will be attending the following colleges and universities in the fall of 2016: Brooks Institute, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, CSU Channel Islands, CSU Fullerton, CSU Northridge, Grand Canyon University, Hendrix College, Ithaca College, Montana State University, Occidental College, Portland State University, Santa Barbara City College, Seattle Pacific University, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Los Angeles, UC Merced, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, University of Arizona, University of Sioux Falls, Utah State University, Ventura College, and William Jessup University.

5

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL The first bell rings at 7:35 A.M. on WED., AUG. 24. A bell schedule is enclosed. If your child misses Ranger Round Up, he or she goes to the cafeteria at 7:25 on Wed., Aug.24, to pick up a class schedule and to turn in required forms.

FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL

BOOK LOCKERS All 9th graders will have an assigned locker. We will have a lottery for 10th graders to determine who will get the remaining lockers. Students are encouraged to double up with a friend who has a locker. Lockers should not be used for overnight or weekend storage. NHS is not responsible for items left overnight or over weekends. It is not possible to protect the lockers from theft or vandalism. Students receiving a locker will have the locker number printed on his/her class schedule. Please call Jim Hall at 640-4343, x1764 (Secretary Essie) if your child needs a locker for a medical reason.

P.E. & DANCE UNIFORMS/LOCKERS All P.E. & Dance students are provided with a secured locker. The required P.E. shirt & shorts will be sold for $15.00 a set at Ranger Roundup. If you would like to purchase an extra shirt, its $6.00, extra shorts $9.00. Also required are gym shoes, white socks, and proper undergarments. Correct marking of required P.E. gear has made a difference in returning lost items. If there is a financial need, please contact Administration. All information for dance students regarding needed items for dance classes is online on the Nordhoff High School teacher webpage for Mrs. Hoj (http://www.ojaiusd.org/nordhoff/Teachers/Teacher-Websites/Kim-Hoj). Most items are available for order online except for program t-shirt, leggings for girls and shorts for boys which will be ordered for each dance student and will be picked up at Ranger Roundup in August. This uniform is required for dance class on the first day of school. Total cost for female students at Ranger Roundup is $50 for t-shirt and leggings; cost for male students is $25 for t-shirt and shorts. Checks can be made out to the Nordhoff Dance Alliance. Visit Mrs. Hoj’s teacher webpage for details regarding other needed items. Limited scholarship assistance is available. Please contact Mrs. Hoj by August 15 to request scholarship assistance at [email protected].

SCHEDULE CHANGES Students registered for their classes in the spring, and we do not allow them to change their schedules. The master schedule is built and teachers are hired based on students’ requests during spring registration. If your child feels there is an ERROR in the schedule, he or she must see the counselor in the CCC at Ranger Round Up, or see his or her counselor at snack or lunch on the first day of school. The counselor will notify the student when the change has been made.

PARKING LOT UPDATE After two full years, our new parking lot procedures are running better than expected. Even without the barriers, the overwhelming majority of parents continue to use our designated drop-off and pick-up zones. As well, many parents have utilized alternative zones that have reduced congestion in the lot tremendously. Through your patience and cooperation, the parking lot is safer and more efficient than we have ever seen it. However, there is still an area in need of improvement—afternoon pick-ups. To your credit, parents are consistently using the designated area in front of the F-wing. But the afternoon pick-ups require a different arrangement as cars typically wait much longer in this area, creating unsafe congestion. Here are some suggestions to alleviate this problem:1. Please use second driveway by trolley stop. Once you enter the lot, make an immediate

right turn into the student preferred parking spaces (the first lane of stalls) that face the stadium, and park in any open senior/junior parking stall. Exit the parking lot through the main driveway.

2. Please park in an open spot by the stadium. When you enter the main driveway, make an immediate right and find the most convenient parking stall. Arrange to meet your child in this area, away from the congestion surrounding the F-wing and administration building.

3. Consider dropping-off and picking-up at alternate locations—there is designated space on Maricopa Highway before and after the main driveway, around the corner on Valle Rio, across the street or before peak morning time or after peak afternoon time.

Thank you for your cooperation and support as we create better, more efficient parking lot procedures.

TRAFFIC ALERT We are asking parents and students to walk and drive through the parking lot with care and caution. Please pay special attention when using crosswalks to cross Maricopa Highway or any street. Roller skates and scooters are not allowed on campus at any time.

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RANGER PRIDE CITIZENSHIP PROGRAM A positive school culture is linked to better academic achievement and social development. NHS is promoting character traits through a citizenship grade. This grade is not a global assessment of a student’s personality, but rather tracks behaviors important to school success, such as punctuality and responsibility. This grade can be negatively impacted simply by being late to class, but that does not necessarily mean the student is a bad kid; it can mean a good kid may have a school-related problem that they need to work on and improve. Many of the behaviors recorded in this grade are important job skills and behaviors so we strongly encourage students (and their parents) to monitor this grade and work hard to maintain a passing grade. Students who maintain at least a D grade or better will be rewarded with full access to extracurricular activities on and off campus, including eligibility for Ranger Rewards. Students who earn an F grade will lose privileges related to on-campus extracurricular activities, such as graduation ceremonies or rallies, as well as all extracurricular privileges--including participation in athletics and performing arts. These students will not be permitted to attend dances, sporting events or graduation events. All students begin the year with 100 points, and this grade is cumulative throughout the year so please keep close track of the points and grade as some students get so far behind that they find it difficult to pull their grade up to a passing level. Citizenship grades will be checked every two weeks or before school-wide activities such as rallies or prom. Students will be given the opportunity to earn back lost points by participating in administration-approved, on-campus community service. Students can earn back lost citizenship points by approaching any teacher, staff member, or administrator and request to assist them with some project, event, or classroom or campus clean-up. For every 30 minutes of work, a student will earn back 5 points. The supervising adult will notify Mr. Hall how much time was completed.

Points Grade Campus violations Point deduction

100-90 A Tardy, Citizenship violation--(littering, minor classroom issues) 5 points

89-80 B Lunch detention, dress code /cell phone violations, campus violations 10 points

79-70 C Classroom referral, truancies, SARB letters 15 points

69-60 D In-house suspension, 30 points

59-0 F At-home suspension 50 points

For those students and parents familiar with this program from last year, please note the changes and additions to this year’s program:

1. Students who receive SARB letters and attend board meeting will lose 15 points per letter/meeting. Parents, this is your responsibility to inform the school anytime your child is absent. Students are not allowed to excuse their own absences.

2. Any student who loses all 100 of their citizenship points (or more) will only be able to earn back a “C” grade at most. This grade ceiling indicates severe citizenship problems, and the citizenship committee believes a student should not be able to earn an “A” or “B” grade once they have passed this threshold.

3. Several scholarship groups that partner with NHS have taken the initiative to support this program by disqualifying any student for scholarship awards if they have earned a “D” or “F” citizenship grade.

ABSENCES OR TARDIES ABSENCES or TARDIES must be cleared by a parent note or phone call WITHIN 48 HOURS – 640-4343, x2710 (24-hour reporting line). A student who arrives late or needs to leave school early must have a parent note or phone call in place PRIOR to his or her arrival or departure. Please send a note with your child if he or she needs to leave school for an appointment. The note is shown to the teacher and shown to the attendance office when your child signs out. EVERY student must sign out of the office if they are leaving school during school hours. This is a legal requirement and any student who does not sign out of school PRIOR to leaving campus will be marked “truant” for any classes they miss. We do not interrupt class time to deliver notes to release students from class for non-school appointments or reasons. A freshman or sophomore leaving at lunch for any reason must have a parent come into the attendance office to sign him or her out. Any student without an off-campus lunch pass must have a parent come into the attendance office to sign him or her out during lunch time. If, however, a student is going home ill, a parent can phone to release the student.

COMMUNICATION IS KEY We encourage all parents to take an active role in their child’s education by monitoring their grades and assignments on ParentConnect, regularly checking in with their child after school about homework and talking about what is being taught in the classroom. It is natural for parents to have questions and concerns about their child’s progress in their classes throughout the year. When these questions and concerns arise, follow these steps:

1. Talk to your child thoroughly about the issue, getting their side of the story.

2. Check your child’s progress on ParentConnect.

3. Call or email the teacher to get their perspective on the issue.

Since most questions and concerns arise from simple miscommunication, most issues can be easily resolved after a phone call or email conversation with the teacher. Teachers have the most information about your child as a student, the course’s curriculum, grading policies, classroom environment etc. so it is essential that you make contact with the teachers. If you continue to have concerns after you communicate directly with the teacher, follow these steps:

1. Contact your child’s guidance counselor to get their perspective, advice or additional information.

2. If the issue or concern continues, then the counselor may refer you to the assistant principal for a conversation or meeting. It is absolutely essential that you and the teacher(s) have communicated prior to meeting with the assistant principal.

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Administrative Contacts:Rene Nakao-Mauch, Athletic Director640-4343, ext. [email protected]

Essie Landsverk, Athletic Secretary640-4343, ext. [email protected]

SPORTS HOTLINE: 640-4343, EXT. 2721 FOR DAILY SCHEDULES AND ATHLETIC UPDATES

Athletic Clearances All Athletes, Cheerleaders, Marching Band members, and Color Guard members must have athletic clearances, before they may participate in any practices, try-outs, or competition. To register, please go to AthleticClearance.com. Set up a parent account, then start a new clearance for each of your NHS student athletes. Physicals are required and the form is available for download through the clearance website. Both the completed physical and the signed “Confirmation” page must be turned in to Essie Landsverk, Athletic Secretary, before student athletes can be cleared to participate.

Fall Sports - Please contact the respective coach or view the Athletic Calendar on the Nordhoff website practice and game schedules.

Cross Country: Dave Settem640-4355, x1812, Cell: 701-6305Football: Lance WigginsCell: 794-0872, [email protected] (girls): Rene Nakao640-4343, x1770, [email protected] (girls): TBDH2O Polo (boys): Jermaine [email protected] (girls): Dick SebekCell: 794-6731 Cheerleading: Nicole VillaCell: 415-4261

Attendance Policy & Sports Athletes MUST be present at school all day in order to participate in practices or games. Please make every effort to make doctor and dental appointments outside of school hours. But, if you cannot make those arrangements, notification must be emailed to Mr. Hall 24 hours in advance. Mr. Hall will respond to both the parent and the Athletic Director with a decision on whether your athlete may still participate that day. Email [email protected].

Uniforms and Equipment Athletes are expected to get an Athletic Locker to store all of their equipment and uniforms for the season. The office personnel will not deliver uniforms or equipment that parents drop off. Be sure to take care of this before leaving home in the morning. At the end of every sport season, all uniforms must be returned to the respective coach after the season. DO NOT return uniforms to the administration office at any time. Your child is the one responsible for getting the uniform back to the proper place.

College Recruiters Nordhoff does NOT partner with any college recruiting program, nor do we release any student information to recruiters.

IS THERE SCHOOL TODAY?

EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM If you need up-to-date information about the closure of specific schools during an emergency, fire, heavy rains and other disasters, please:• Visit the District website: http://www.ojaiusd.org. Please take a

look at this site today and bookmark it for future use.• Call the District phone number (640-4300) as the phone

message will be remotely updated to reflect the opening or closing of schools.

• Listen to the following radio and television stations: KHAY 100.7 FM KXLM 102.9 FM (Spanish broadcast) KEYT TV Channel 3 Other media sources may be unreliable, and should be disregarded.

Information regarding the closure of schools will be communicated to the radio stations by 6:00 a.m. If there is no message on the radio by approximately 6:30 a.m., it is probable that schools will be open. You are urged, however, to continue to listen for messages on these stations in case circumstances worsen. Also, the District uses the Blackboard Connect voice message call-out system to notify students and staff regarding school closures or updated conditions. In order for the system to reach you, please be sure Nordhoff has current contact information on record. In the event of a power outage, emergency condition, or other phone system outage, the message system may not be usable.

805-640-4343SHORTCUTS:ABSENCE REPORTING (24 hrs.) – press 1SPORTS HOTLINE – 3, then 1

Attendance Office (Amy) – press 2Athletics/Counseling (Essie) – press 3, then 2Records/Grades (TBD) – press 4Principal’s Office (Barbara) – press 5

Principal: Greg Bayless – Secretary Barbara x1760 (shortcut, press 5)Asst. Princ.: Dave Monson – Secretary Amy x1761 (shortcut, press 2)Dean: Jim Hall – Secretary TBD x1763Athletic Director: Rene Nakao x1770Counselors: Secretary Essie x1764 (shortcut 3, then 2) Carly Futoran Kelly Grady George Castillo Cafeteria: Sonia Johnsen x1889College & Career Center: Sarah Escobar x1831 Computer Lab (ParentConnect) *To request a ParentConnect log in you must submit a Log In request form which can be picked up and turned in at the office! Jake Hansen x1840Library: Denise Rimpa x1880 (shortcut 8, then 2)Performing Arts Department: Robyn Halverson x1861 (shortcut 8, then 1)

NHS ATHLETICS MAIN PHONE NUMBERS

8ADDITIONAL INFO

PLEASE KEEP FOR REFERENCEIMPORTANT DATESThur., Aug. 18........................ Frosh/New Student Orientation – 5:30-7:30 - Gym.............................................. Parent Orientation & Question/Answer - 6:30 - Gym.............................................. RANGER ROUND UP for Frosh/New Students – 6:30-7:30 – start

in the I Building to take school picture, then go to cafeteriaFri., Aug. 19 ........................... RANGER ROUND UP for Seniors 12:00-12:45; Juniors 12:45-

1:30; Sophs 1:30-2:15 - start in the I Building to take school picture, then go to cafeteria

Wed., Aug. 24 ....................... FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL - First Bell - 7:35 a.m.Tues., Aug. 30 ....................... BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT – 6:30 p.m. – gymThurs., Sept. 1 ...................... MINIMUM DAY – dismissal @ 12:00Mon., Sept. 5 ........................ NO SCHOOL - Labor Day HolidayTBD ....................................... MAKE-UP PICTURE DAY for all students – snack & lunch only

– I BuildingFri., Sept. 23 ......................... HOMECOMING vs. Fillmore – 7:00 p.m.Mon., Oct. 10 ........................ NO SCHOOL – Teacher Inservice DayFri., Oct. 21 ........................... End of 1st Quarter - MINIMUM DAY – dismissal @ 12:00

THANKSGIVING BREAK ..... Nov. 21-25, 2016WINTER BREAK .................. Dec. 19, 2016 – Jan. 2, 2017PRESIDENTS WEEK BREAK . Feb. 20-24, 2017SPRING BREAK ................... April 3-7, 2017Last Day of School .............. Thurs., June 15, 2017Graduation .......................... Fri., June 16, 2017

WE DO NOT TAKE MESSAGES FOR STUDENTS NOR DO WE DELIVER CALL SLIPS TO RELEASE STUDENTS FROM CLASS FOR NON-SCHOOL APPOINTMENTS OR REASONS. You must send your child with a note or communicate with your child by means other than through the school office. Although students may carry cell phones, they must be off during class and may be taken away if their presence interferes with classroom procedures. Confiscated cell phones will be released to parents only. We will, of course, continue to deliver messages for emergencies. Thank you for your help in reducing classroom interruptions.

Please take a few minutes to read the enclosed Student Handbook, which includes our policies and procedures for:• Academic Honesty• Appropriate Clothing• Attendance & Tardy• Discipline• Extracurricular Eligibility• Off-Campus Lunch Passesas well as other very important information.

BELL SCHEDULE & PHONE NUMBERS - A separate sheet with the above is included. Teachers’ phone numbers are effective August 24, 2016.

PLEASE NOTE: WEDNESDAY is NOT A SHORTENED DAY as it is in grades K-8, but we have teacher collaboration days on the first school day of each week (either Monday or Tuesday) when students will be released at 2:10 p.m. so teachers may collaborate.

BUSSESThere is NO AFTERNOON BUS SERVICE for Nordhoff High School. Nordhoff’s morning bus schedules will be available on the District website www.ojaiusd.org in late August. Please call Ojai Unified School District Maintenance Office at 640-4300, x1070, with questions.

WEBSITE - Please bookmark our website: www.ojaiusd.org/nordhoffImportant information, including our DAILY BULLETIN, is posted online. Reading the daily bulletin is a great way to keep informed about school activities and important deadlines.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT OUR PHONE SYSTEM Due to budget cuts and the reduction in office staff, pressing “0” for the operator is not an option. We strongly encourage you to use extensions & shortcuts after the auto attendant answers. A phone list is enclosed and will be available on our website after August 24.

REMINDERS:Turn in the following forms at Ranger Round Up:• Off Campus Lunch Pass (seniors

& juniors only) – MUST MEET REQUIREMENTS;

• Transcript Release Form (seniors only);

• Order form for yearbook/ ASB sticker;

• NPA membership/volunteer form.

• Seniors & juniors who do not turn in their Off Campus Lunch Pass application at Ranger Round Up must wait until the second week of school before they may leave campus

• Office hours: 7:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

• Bookmark our website & visit it often: www.ojaiusd.org/nordhoff

• Use shortcuts & extensions to navigate the phone system

CHANGES IN NORDHOFF’S ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM Beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, Kim Hoj will be leaving the administrative team to return full-time to the classroom. Her teaching schedule will consist of Dance 1, Dance 2, Dance Choreography and Advanced Placement Psychology. Kim taught AP Psychology as well as other subjects in History/Social Science many years ago before she moved into the office as a counselor and then as an administrator. The expanding Dance program for 2016-2017 has added an additional Dance 1 class and a Choreography course that is funded by the Ventura County Office of Education’s Career/Technical Education department. Moving into the Assistant Principal of Academic Services Position is Dave Monson, after five years of excellent service in the student services position. The administrative role in student services, including behavior/discipline, citizenship program and athletic program oversight, will be filled by Jim Hall. Jim Hall has been at Nordhoff high school as a teacher and coach for over twenty years. He will be 80% in this position, will retain one class of physical education, and he will continue to serve as the junior varsity boys basketball coach.