Good evening Topaz families. This is Mrs. Prestwood with our Tiger events for March.

• Tonight from 4-8 is Topaz Night at Farmer Boys.  Topaz will receive 20% of the sales, so take the family out to dinner bring in your flyer and mention Topaz for a real win-win!.

• The 2nd trimester has just ended. Awards Assemblies will be tomorrow Friday, March 2nd and report cards will be sent home on Monday, March 5^th. Also, all students have a clean slate with their grades and AR goals. Students are setting new personal goals to prepare for the new trimester and the State STAR test in April. Please ask your children about their goals so you know how to support them in achieving them.

• Spring Picture Day is Monday March 5th. This IS a free dress day.  

• The State Writing Test will be given to grades 4 and 7 next Tuesday, March 6^th.  Please make sure your child is well rested, well fed and ready to do their best on the State Writing test!

• The class that won the Wood Grill Perfect Attendance dinner will be announced tomorrow morning.  The dinner will be held on Wednesday, March 7^th.

• Kindergarten Registration is March 9th.  It is crucial to register your incoming kindergarteners by this date to ensure their spot. Registration packets are available now in the front office.

• Daylight Savings Time is March 11th. Don’t forget to have your clocks “spring forward” an hour on Saturday night.

• The week of March 12th-16th is Benchmark Testing Week for both the elementary and middle school grades. Please make sure your child is here everyday ready to do their best on the Benchmark tests.

• The next PTC meeting is March 14th at 6:00pm in room 203.

• Tigers’ Pride is Friday, March 16^th, for those students who achieved their ABC goals (that’s attendance, behavior and class and homework).

• Spring Break is March 19th-23^rd.

•  Friday March 30 is our monthly Spirit Day - Earth day.  Students may dress in green to celebrate Earth Day. Student who choose to NOT dress up, need to come in uniform.

• Students in 6^th grade were sent home information regarding middle school for next year.  Please return the requested form or contact the office.  We are currently accepting intra-district applications from other schools and need to know how many openings are available for new transfers.

• As we dive into the last trimester of the year, we are focusing on reviewing all of our grade level standards and preparing for the State Test next month. Students – revisit your goals and parents, please see you child’s teacher for ways you can support your child’s success. We can’t wait to see how huge Team 350 is this year!

If you need a copy of this message, please go to our school website. A link to the site can be found at www.hesperia.org. Thank you for your partnership.

Together We’re Better!

Good afternoon parents, this is Ms. Prestwood with the monthly Topaz update. The month of February is Jump Rope for Heart month.  Please ask your child for the information packet on this worthy cause that was sent home today.

• Tomorrow, Thursday, February 2^nd from 4-8pm is Topaz Night at Farmer Boys in the Super Target Center.  If you present the flyer with your order, Topaz will receive 20% of the sales.  Flyer were sent home and copies are also available on our school website.

• Valentine Grams are on sale during lunches until February 10^th.  The cost is $1.00.

• The middle school valentines dance, for 6^th-8^th grades, is Friday, February 10^th from 4:00-6:00. Tickets are on sale now for $5.00 in the library.  Students may also pre-purchase a pizza meal for the dance.

• There will be no school on Monday, February 13th and Monday February 20th in recognition of President Lincoln’s birthday and Presidents’ Day.

• Science Fair Awards Night is Thursday, February 16th from 5 to 6 PM. Come out and see all the hard work students have put in on some wonderful science projects.

• Our Dr. Seuss’ Read Across America Day celebration will be held on Friday, February 24th. This is one of the most enjoyable traditions. Please help support your child dress up as a character from one of their favorite books. If you need ideas, ask your children their favorite stories, learn about the characters, and go from there. It’s a fun day and we appreciate your support.

• Kindergarten registration is next month.  More information will follow.

• Lastly, the second trimester ends on the 24^th and report cards will be distributed the following week.  As we focus on the end of this grading period, we want to express our appreciation for your support in making sure your child is here every day and completes all classwork and homework. This work is mandatory and essential in order for your child to reach mastery of the grade level standards. We have interventions, such as after school tutoring, and even detention, available to give your child extra time as needed to complete their work.  Middle school students not achieving standards will attend credit recovery classes after school. Parents, thank you for your partnership!  Please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher for more information.  Students, let’s keep our Proactive focus and work to achieve your goal of mastering your grade level work so you can move on to the next grade level.

• Remember, Today Decides Tomorrow!  Have a wonderful evening.

Good evening parents, this is Mrs. Prestwood with the January Topaz update. Now, here are some important events for the month of January.

• Tomorrow, Wednesday, January 11^th is Topaz Family Fun Night. The fun will last for only 1 hour, from 5:30-6:30. This special event is intended for all grade levels and families!!! Dress in tennis shoes and comfortable clothing and be ready to have a fun and energetic time with the 7 Habits and special activities. Students may receive either extra credit or homework passes for attendance. There will be also be lots of prize drawings. Please plan to come out and help support your children. This event will count towards parents’ and students’ 20 hours of community service.

• In observance of Martin Luther King Day, there is no school this Monday, January 16th.

• Our next round of benchmark testing will be from January 23rd through the 27th. Please make sure your child is at school on time each day. Attendance is crucial.

• January 27th is our next Spirit Day and Tigers’ Pride event. Our theme for Spirit Day this month is Sports Day. Students are encouraged to wear their favorite sport team’s attire. Please remember that if your child chooses not to participate, the regular Friday dress code does apply on this day.

• Last of all, science fair projects are due Monday, January 30th. Please remember that individual science fair projects are mandatory for students in grades 3 through 8, and are an important component in their second trimester overall science grade.

We hope to see you here tomorrow night. Thank you again for your support, if you need a copy of this message, or information on other site meetings, please go to our school website. 

Good afternoon parents, this is Mrs. Prestwood with the monthly Topaz update. The following are our special events for December.

• We have several Community Service opportunities this month. Our 3^rd graders are sponsoring a school-wide toy drive for the Victor Valley Rescue Mission and our 1^st grade classes are sponsoring a Salvation Army Food Drive. Have your child bring in an unwrapped toy and/or non-perishable food items to donate to these worthy causes. Donations will be accepted up to our last day before Winter Break on December 15th.

• Holiday Grams are on sale now and will be delivered on the 15th.  Also our Holiday store is open during lunch times for students to purchase inexpensive gifts.

• The Holiday Musical will be Tuesday, December 6th starting at 5:30 in the Hesperia High School Cafeteria. Our drama club has been working hard on this performance so come out and enjoy our talented tigers.

• Our La Posada Celebration is December 9^th.

• Spirit Day, Holiday Hat Day, is also Friday, December 9th. Wear your favorite holiday hat with your uniform.

• And speaking of uniforms, as the weather is getting much colder, many students are out of compliance regarding jackets and winterwear. Please take a moment and review the Uniform Policy so your child does not receive a uniform notice and they don’t miss class time phoning home.

• The Middle School Dance for 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th graders is Friday, December 9^th. Our 1^st dance of the year is always for our middle school students with a parent. The “Winter Whiteout Dance” tickets must be purchased in advance and are on sale now during lunches.  Photos will be available for a fee.

• Our last day of school for the month of December is Thursday, December 15th. Topaz will be closed Friday December 16th – Sunday, January 8th. Our first day back is Monday, January 9th. Please be aware that since students have an extra week of break again this year, they will be given review work packets which will be due when they return. This extra week is also a great time to be proactive with science fair projects.

Lastly, our Topaz family wishes you and yours a safe and memorable holiday season! We thank you for sending us such amazing children.  It is an honor to partner with you.  We look forward to seeing everyone back at Topaz in 2012.

Connect Ed Message, October 2011

Good evening, Topaz families!  This is Mrs. Prestwood with our monthly message. September was a memorable month as we had our first Tigers’ Pride event of the year! It was our largest Tigers’ Pride ever and it was a blast! Students who made Team 350 attended a special all day field trip. We encourage our students to be proactive with their 7 Habits and set their goals, because we love celebrating our students’ successes!  Now for our October events…

• With the change in weather, we want to remind you that students may wear turtlenecks or long sleeve shirts under their uniform tops, however they need to be solid white, navy blue, or black.  Also, sweaters, sweatshirts or zip-ups need to follow dress code guidelines.  If you have any questions regarding the uniform policy, you can find it on our website. 

• The PTC fundraiser has concluded and community cards and prizes were passed out to students last Friday. Thank you for your support.  The money raised helps support all the fun activities and field trips we have for our kids.

• Our middle school students have the great opportunity to attending UCLA football game at the Rose Bowl this Saturday.  Make sure all permission slips are turned in by tomorrow.  Please see Mr. Canady with any questions.

• October 24^th-28^th is Red Ribbon Week. Each day will have a theme to go along with the “Say No to Drugs” message.  These are NOT free dress days.  Students will be allowed to accessorize items with their uniform.  Flyers will be going home soon with the events for each day.

• Our Annual Fall Festival will be on Saturday, October 29^th from 12:00-4:00. Donations of candy and prizes are now being accepted.  All donations will be reimbursed with tickets for the carnival games.  Also, each class will be collecting donations for their Fall Festival themed basket.  The basket drawings will be held at our Fall Festival.  Notices will be sent home on your child’s class theme.  Feel free to contact your child’s teacher for more information.

• English classes for EL parents are going on right now Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7:30-9:00 in the morning.  If you have any questions, please call the office and speak with Mrs. Alvarez.

• There is no school on Monday, October 10^th for students in observance of Columbus Day.

• Last of all, thank you for making school attendance priority for  your children. We want your children to have the best education possible and regular attendance is the first step to success.

Thank you for continued partnership.  If you need a copy of this message, please go to our school website.  A link to the site can be found at www.hesperiausd.org

Good evening Topaz families. This is Mrs. Prestwood with our monthly message for September.

What a fantastic beginning to our 2011-2012 school year! It is so wonderful to see all the smiling faces as we begin this school year with high expectations for our staff and students.

• There is no school this Monday, September 5^th to celebrate the Labor Day holiday. 

• We will have our Back to School Nights next week. Wednesday, September 7^th from 6:00-7:15 is our middle school Back to School Night for grades 7 and 8.   Kindergarten through 6^th grades will have their Back to School Night on Thursday, September 8^th, 5:30-6:30.  Important information will be share on these evenings.  Please make it a point to attend.

• Are you looking for a fun way to get involved?  Each class is looking for a PTC room mom or room dad to represent the class at our PTC meetings.  They will also help coordinate special events throughout the year. There will be a booth to sign up at our Back to School Nights.

• Friday, September 9^th is Patriot Day.  This is a special dress day.  Students may either wear their uniforms, university dress, or they may  choose to wear red, white, and blue patriotic dress to show their patriotism.

• Are you interested in getting involved at Topaz? Our first School Site Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 13th at 4:30. And our first PTC meeting is at 6:00 on Tuesday, September 13^th in room 203.  Attendance at any school meetings counts towards your parent volunteer hours.

• Our community cards fundraiser is going on until September 20^th.  Please help support our class field trips and special events by supporting this fundraiser. These community cards will actually save you money and will pay for themselves after just a few uses.  They’re a real win-win!

• The week of the 19^th-23^rd  is Elementary Benchmark Testing Week. Please make sure your child is here everyday ready to do their best on the Benchmark tests.

•  Our first Tigers’ Pride is Friday Sept 23^rd.  Make smart choices and remember your ABCs so you can join in the fun.

• Picture Day is Thursday September 29^th . This IS a free dress day. Please be sure to have your child at school on this day so their picture can be included in the yearbook.

• Team 350 invitations will be given out next week.  Students who are eligible to attend will be voting on their destination the following week.  If you would like to chaperone your child and are Board approved, please let your child’s teacher know.  The number of chaperones needed is limited and will be taken on a first come basis.

• Although our elementary classes are all full, please spread the word that we still have some room for 7^th and 8^th graders. Also, we are excited to announce that our middle school students will be attending a special “Meet Me at College” Fair next month, sponsored by UCLA. The day will include a trip to the Rose Bowl where our students will enjoy the ULCA vs Washington football game, compliments of UCLA!

Have a wonderful Labor Day holiday! Remember Today Decides Tomorrow! Choose Wisely! Have a good evening.

August 2011 ~Topaz Connect Ed Message

Good evening parents and students! This is Mrs. Prestwood, Principal of Topaz Preparatory Academy. The beginning of the new school year, is just around the corner! I hope you’ve had a relaxing and memorable summer.

The purpose of my phone call this evening is to share some important information to help us all make a smooth transition to the 2011-2012 school year.

Meet and Greet Your Teacher Night is scheduled for this Thursday, August 4th from 5:00-6:30pm. Come by between those hours to meet and greet your teacher.  Our Kindergarten Orientation will begin at 4:30 in the Kindergarten building. The 7th and 8th Grade Middle School students will be given their class schedules at 5:00, and PE shirts will be available at this time.  Middle School Orientation will begin at 5:30 in the East Pod.

This is a fun kick off to the school year. Our PTC will have grade level supply lists and will be selling some school supplies. We will also have customized uniforms top available for purchase.

As you know school uniforms are mandatory. School uniforms consist of a collared polo shirt or turtleneck that can be white, black or navy blue. Bottoms can be pants, shorts, skirts, skorts, jumpers, or capris. The colors of the bottoms can be navy blue, black or khaki. As you are shopping for uniforms, please be aware that last year we did not enforce our sweater/sweatshirt jacket policy, but we will this year. Sweaters and sweatshirt jackets need to be solid navy blue, black or white. However, heavy winterwear is based on parental choice.  Thank you for your support as we transition our implementation of this uniform policy. For more information, please visit the Topaz website.

The first day of school is August 8th. Please remember school starts promptly at 7:30 am for grades K-6 and 7:20 for grades 7 and 8.

Please remember our district is enforcing bus passes and new procedures for bus riders.  The office staff will be contacting families who are impacted.  Last of all, please contact the office if your contact information has changed over the summer.  You may please stop by to update your current address or phone number. Our office hours are 7:00-3:30 Monday through Friday.

We are so excited to start the new school year. Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We hope you enjoy the last few days of your summer break and look forward to seeing you on Thursday August 4th.