Message from the Principal

Dear El Centro Students and Supporters,

Dear Centro Students,

We are looking forward to seeing each of you in virtual classrooms beginning tomorrow, Wednesday, September 9th. You should have all received invites from your advisors for this week. Attend all 3 days and your name will be placed in a raffle. Three to four students will be identified to win a delivery to their home… Yes, PIZZA “A large pizza, an order of wings and drink”!! Yes, if you are a winner - A school leader will enter your virtual classroom and notify you also via email. You will tell us the place and provide us with your home address & We will take care of the rest. :) This will be done on Friday but you must attend all 3 days in order to be included in the raffle.

This week we have adjusted the schedule to provide you with an overview of this trimester. Your advisors will share with you the expectations, the learning platforms we will be using, and how to use them. These next three days will be busy with a lot of information and fun learning activities in the advisory.

This will be a school year of “New Beginnings”. Many of you have had some difficult moments to even get where you are but allow this school year to be a fresh start - YOUR story will impact others and together we can get through this!

Communication and comprehension are critical for this school year. Continue to build your relationships with your advisors and always keep it real. Let them know when things are not okay - when you. need supports and allow us to help you when you just "ain't feeling it". We have the BEST RS team (Joe, SynClaire, and Monshell). They go beyond the cause at all hours of the day - they have amazing listening skills and will ensure to help you address those barriers that get in the way.

I know we all want to be in the building (trust me so do we) but this is our current reality and we are hopeful that at some point we will be in the building again.

What is new this school year?

• You have to attend and do work to earn credits and you will be graded! Keepin’ it 100% some of you received some grades that shocked you. We had to follow different guidelines, but this has ended. You have to work to earn this school year.

• Real-World Learning/ LTI Experiences will continue and actually expand - Wait till you hear from Ms. Nina.

• You will be placed in cohorts (same group of students) and each group of teachers is assigned to a team. Each team has a website to share information with you!

• Teaching will look differently - Yes, we heard you! You will be working on a project (which I am excited about) that has to do with YOU - Yes, your interests etc..

• We have some amazing new advisors that are looking forward to meeting you and working with you - We selected them because they believe in our mission and vision! Please embrace them as you welcomed me.

• By the end of September - you will know how many credits you have - how many you need and what those courses will be. You will be informed of your STAR results so that you know which areas you need to work on and which you are strong on. We will have all kinds of fun virtual activities - and we want you to participate.

• You will be placed in workshops according to your course needs. For example, if you are in need of a humanities course - you may be placed in one of the conversation forums. Ms. Angie will be the instructor for one course and Ms. G the other course. Yes, we give you the grades for these courses and they will be on topics that will interest you. Please understand that failure to attend the workshops will result in not receiving the .5 credit you are in need of.

• All live classes will be recorded and available to view by students with extenuating circumstances.

I am excited about this school year and I welcome all of the new students and those of you that have made the choice to return to el Centro. We are a family and we want you to succeed. You will succeed because we refuse to let you fail! You got this... You are a honey badger!

Lastly, I have attached a quick view of what is expected of you as a student at El Centro. Your advisors will also go over it with you tomorrow. Please ask questions and know that I am always available to you and your supporters. I can be reached by email and or text.

Can’t wait to see you all in your classes!

Hugs,

Lydia

Lydia L. González

Principal

El Centro de Estudiantes High School

4290 Penn Street

Philadelphia, PA 19124

(267) 687-1172 (main office)

(267) 687-1170 (fax)