• Ready for Clubs?

    Whether you are fired up to part of the Virtual Robotics team or the Math Engineering Science (MESA) club or the Forensics team it is a good time to sign up. That's just what is going on today after school. Each of them has a club meeting today after 330 p.m. tomorrow we have the Culinary Club and SHE meeting. We figure if there isn't a club to your liking, that you reach out and start one of your own. The Well-Being club is going to begin its life in the next week. Thanks for being a part of the extra part of Pinole Valley HIgh

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  • Support our PTSA and Pizza!

    Get lunch and dinner at Mod Pizza today, have it delivered or pick it up. Either way 20% of what you purchase will come right back to Pinole Valley PTSA and support all the good works, the scholarships and the spirit that PTSA provides. And then with the money you save from buying at Mod, why not consider renewing or starting up your PTSA membership for 2020-21. Look above for the code to get your pizza and PTSA together

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  • A Virtual Visitor to Pinole Valley

    Today, Ms. Tremor's art class got a visit from a pro, Michael Korz who shared his story of being an animator along with examples of his work and the works in progress. We are having a roofer come visit next week and we have a contract that allows us to both visit speakers and have specific contributors come to class too. Nepris offers us daily opportunities to join live, virtual chats with professionals on a variety of topics that prepare students for college and career. The topics follow the national themes in education along with several unique series being offered throughout the school year. With one click, students can sign up to participate in one of these chats along with other classrooms from across the country. Some topics include: Women in STEM careers Employability skills Computer Science education week Healthcare pathways Financial Literacy Virtual tours of workspaces etc.. Check out this workshop for Friday as example: Join this interactive session to find out what it’s like to be a interior designer for the retail industry! I’ll give an overview of my background and current work in the field, and provide a snapshot of the industry as a whole. I’ll use visuals and questions throughout the session to engage students and help them envision my real world work.

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  • College Day Tuesday

    Two college events today: The first called College Wise is happening today and tomorrow. We have the link right here; strivescan.com/collegewise. There are more than 150 schools in attendance and both days have workshops beginning at 4:30 the first is Chief Academic Officer of Collegewise, as they explore the Varsity Blues scandal, how college admissions has been impacted, and what it means for high school students. The second explains how students can find and write their best stories for personal statements. We’ll explain what admissions officers actually want (and don’t want) to read, reveal the most overused essay topics, and teach writing techniques. Tomorrow Myth Busters takes ten of the most stubborn and tantalizing myths about getting into college straight to the experts: deans and directors of admission! This session will feature admissions leaders from a small liberal arts college, a private research university, and a public university, so that attendees will learn from various perspectives.Also today Ms. Stephanie Zambrano, our college advisor hosts a college knowledge session starting at 4:00 p.m. we will have an hour today and Friday so come with queries about admission, acceptance and acclimation. Email stephanie.zambrano@berkeley.edu

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  • Hear all About It!

    The Pinole Valley Administration wants to share its thoughts about the first quarter of the school year and ambitions and plans for the Second quarter. If you want to hear us in live time, we will be on zoom for our juniors and seniors tonight. We will talk about areas of growth and need and then take questions from our families. We will talk about our resources and interventions as well as strategies and best guesses for the future. We will be recording all of the sessions for those who can't be there (and don't tell us the World Series scores, we want to watch that too). We will encourage you to ask questions in the chat feature and if you would like, to set up your own individual conference with us as needed. We look forward to hearing what you have to say about the year that is and will be too. Go to our morning announcements or your email for a link to this evening's event. We will do these meetings quarterly, but you can reach out anytime

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  • Saturday with Spartans

    Delta consulting leads a college tour led by a fully-student run non-profit organization. They provide strategy consulting services for companies in the Educational Technology sector (i.e. Khan Academy, Google, Udemy, Coursera, etc). You can learn more by visiting their website at delta.berkeley.edu That's from 10:00-2:00. Meanwhile our speech team participates in the very first Individual events tournament of the year, this is Impromptu, Extemp, Oral Advocacy, Expository, and Humorous and Dramatic Interpretation amongst others. Want to take part? Email coach mlamons@wccusd.net. And of course, it is also Photo day for seniors on campus, go to Prestige photos to get your appointment made. Track conditioning on the field from 9:00-12:00 and our choir teacher will be distributing material to students in the morning as well. And that's just a warm up for the week ahead....

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  • Artist(s) of the Day: Fiona Jaida Robinson and Stephen Huang

    Students were introduced to the Element of Art : shape. Students were introduced to conceptual art. Art in which the idea is more important than the concept, Students were asked to create their own conceptual art piece that mapped out their favorite time of day using personal symbols and stream of consciousness thinking. Today it’s Fiona Jaida Robinson, we love looking at this over and over again.. Also on piano today is Stephen playing a sweet solo to start the weekend off in style https://flipgrid.com/s/5HjqUZ2mgr5dfzh7. And all of this precedes the busiest art week of the year, not only is it Open Mic October, where we encourage our team to record a spoken word poem, a guitar riff or a song, and then it is Dia De los Muertos where we will be looking for more music, art and culinary offerings. If you have something to show or something to say, this is your time!

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  • College Coming For You all Weekend

    If you are new to the college "experience" it can be a little intimidating. OK, a lot intimidating. The good news is we have counselor, Stephanie Zambrano, to help guide the way. She is going to be sharing and helping with our first ever workshop for students who are going to be the first in their family to enroll in college. Everything from the application process, the personal essay, grades, getting accepted, getting wait listed, getting money to pay for school or choosing between different schools. It all happens this Friday, meaning you have time to make your reservation. And invite the family (they may be in the room right over, right?). Be the first, be a Pioneer! This Saturday, we have an invitation from the Delta group which is offering virtual tours of UC Berkeley led by current students to be part of the University of California system. Here's what they've got; We provide strategy consulting services for companies in the Educational Technology sector (i.e. Khan Academy, Google, Udemy, Coursera, etc). We're driven by our passion of providing world-class educational opportunities to all students! You can learn more about us and our mission by visiting our website at delta.berkeley.edu Also the Black College Expo goes to the Pacific Northwest this weekend, so be there between noon and four p.m. for that. And Ms. Stephanie hosts her office hour for college queries stating at 11 today

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  • Boys Basketball ready for Conditioning and You

    Boys basketball coach Danny Rynning is ready for the Spartans to return the big stage this season. And even before we begin with whatever size season we are going to have, we have conditioning work to see where we are at. The Spartans are coming off a playoff year and are looking for more this season. For anyone interested in participating, please e-mail Coach Danny Rynning at pinolevalleybasketball@gmail.com Please include the student's name, grade and contact information. The first day of conditioning will be Wednesday, November 4th at 4:30pm. That gives you two weeks to dust off those wristbands and see if you dribble left or right handed (both, right?). We are looking for players at all levels, and since we graduated a handful of stars, we need you to step into place and help us not rebuild, but reload. Ball's in your court!

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  • Artist of the Day; Nicole Figueroa

    "How does society play a role in mental health?" In this work she balances positive and negative space with bold solid shapes. The subject is reduced to basic shapes almost like early Diego Rivera paintings such as "Two Women and a Child." Her face is protected from the world by her hands and her hair could symbolize the chaos or infinite within. The unknown or that without form. Her hair holds the most weight and throws off a composition with center focus into asymmetry - It breaks the picture plane and the viewer imagines infinite expansion of the universe contained in her hair. In this way it feels like a mythology or an archetypal character: the self that looks inward and imagines other worlds. The splatters of paint remind us of the abstract expressionists, and the quest to dispel meaning and representation in art, that without objects in the world and without language. What are the spaces and experiences that are beyond words?

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  • Quarter Two Begins

    The first semester is now halfway complete. This means a number of things are happening. Grades are being issued, providing a real signifier in terms of progress for the students and staff. We will determine an Honor Roll based on these marks. Students who have done 3.0 work or better will be honored and celebrated (and should put it on their resumes!). The work from the first quarter is factored into the more significant grade, that of the First Semester. We have teachers who average grades and others who grade based on final product, either way, your first quarter grade goes a long way in informing where you will wind up but it is not preordained. For many this is a great chance for a new set of habits and routines. We are also going to do some outreach for those students who didn't make their mark. Considering the final grade for the semester is still 10 weeks away, we are likely to have many opportunities to bring grades up. Teachers are gearing up for the second quarter and know that for many students it is time to make a fresh start. If you've saved the best for last, save no more!

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  • Artist of the Day: Bertha Leon Garcia

    Mind Maps: Students were introduced to the Element of Art : shape. Students were introduced to conceptual art. Art in which the idea is more important than the concept. We discussed Marcel Duchamp and "the Fountain" (his found art that consisted of a urinal). Students were introduced to 2 contemporary artists that use mind maps in their work. Students were asked to create their own conceptual art piece that mapped out their favorite time of day using personal symbols and stream of consciousness thinking. Bertha Leon Garcia: Her piece is a great example of 2 principles of Art: Unity and Movement.

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  • Senior Stuff all Week

    There is not a lot of normalcy this school year, but there are some traditions that carry on. We are going to get seniors ready for college and want to get your pictures for when you leave. So it is appointment week and we don't want to miss you or have you miss out. There are more senior events ahead, but we didn't want to wait any longer to bring these to you. The class of 21 has had a lot of roadblocks placed in its path, but this week it is all about the seniors. Every homeroom period for the next two weeks is going to have our counselors go over the particulars and the possibilities per class. We are confident that you will get some news you can use right away. Also it is the days of senior pictures. Prestige Portraits are accepting appointments for you to come to the back of the gym so you can get your best look. Here from 3;00-8;00 daily or all day Saturday. And it is the end of your last first quarter. The end is coming, ready for your close ups? Reach out to your counselors or teachers this week to make sure that you start Quarter Two off in the best way.

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  • College Conference Monday

    October has been a busy month for college opportunities, today wraps up a series of visits online and virtual. This is brought to us by our college advisor, Ms. Stephanie and while the registration deadline is past, it would still be worthwhile to try to sign up. Today at 4:00 we have the last of our college workshops for the immediate present. This is one you don't want to miss. We are going to be able to visit over 40 colleges and universities and all of them here for West Contra Costa Unified meaning that we will have more access than most. Sign up for the opportunity and then share the wisdom with your pod. It says College Night, but don't wait til it gets dark or you will be in the dark

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  • Artist of the Day: Alyssa Keller

    This school year in photography is going to be all about resourcefulness. Alyssa Keller used a colander and experimented with various light sources until she came with these incredible well-composed portraits. Thanks to Mr. Pinto, more creative art photos later this week

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  • Artist of the Day: Keade Kimura

    Ms. Shokrai presents Keade with an amazing sketch on her sketchpad. The work is being celebrated as one of our top art submissions of the week. We will back next week with more. But for now, let your eyes feast on a sample of student imagination and execution at its best.

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  • Robotics Team Survives Design Review

    The 2020 Pinole Valley robotics team is being challenged to make a Rube Goldberg style machine which will have one piece lead to the next. We are loving the fact that the squad of Kai, Jonathan, Paola, Edward are working remotely to make it all work. The elements that are going into their machine is string, books, containers, a motor, binders, soda cans, fish (!), fish food, a spoon, a basket, water and a water bottle, a dumbell and a stick. Hey you got to start somewhere. The students have to make a video of the machine in action by the end of the month. Club sponsor Ms. Johnson has managed the logistics of building a team and somehow making distance learning and building a small hurdle in putting together something very cool for all involved. Pinole Valley continues to say to the Pandemic. What else you got? We applaud their industry and hope very much that fish gets fed!

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  • Quarter One Ends on Tuesday October 20

    How did it get so late so early? We are days away from the end of our first quarter of the school year. Incredibly, we have completed 25% of the school year effective Tuesday. What this means is two-fold, your student will have their first recorded checkpoint to track how their teachers are assessing their work., It also is our first moment to celebrate our Honor Roll, a recognition for students who have maintained or surpassed the 3.0 GPA mark. It is also a time for students who are not thriving to be aware that is time to turn over a new leaf or reinvest in their education. We are going to review students and grades and are hopeful that this is just the first step in what will be a long journey towards success. Spend the weekend catching up and getting ahead to hit the second quarter in style.

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  • College Workshop Today

    From Ms. Stephanie: College Tea Thursday's Flyer, Fall Semester Webinar Series flyer and this Thursday's webinar topic flyer. Students must RSVP first (link is on the flyer) and we will email them the webinar zoom link the day of the webinar. In addition, OUSD and WCCUSD will be hosting a virtual College Night! Over 30 colleges and universities will be participating. This is a great opportunity for seniors and underclassmen to explore various colleges and universities! The event will take place on October 19th from 4:00-6:30pm but students must register by October 15th. Attached to this email is the event flyer. Feel free to reach out to me if you have further questions or concerns.

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  • Artist of the Day: Adriana Zavala

    Adriana Zavala These drawings were made in pencil. They were given a folder of references to choose from: animals, cars, etc. They gridded their drawing paper , and drew , following the grid square by square. Grid lines are erased and another line drawing drawn on top. The sections that are created by the line design are shaded in. Look closely and you'll see it. Nice work, Ms. Tremor and Adriana. The students all get to see these works on their daily video announcements, so for today, your work is #1 in our gallery!

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