Principal's Updates

Good afternoon Del Mar family,

Cultural Event

I want to first begin by highlighting last week’s Cultural Event that was put on by our Student Equity Club with the support of ASB.  I’m so proud of how many students, staff, families and community came out to the event.  The performances by students and guests was definitely a highlight.  I had the pleasure of bringing Paul and little Ethan to the event (almost 6 months now - where does the time go).  We all really were in awe of how much talent we have at Del Mar High School.  I have included a few photos from the event and hope this becomes an annual tradition for our school.  

Thought Exchange Survey  

Each year, our District reviews and updates our Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) , which describes how we will provide an educational program that meets the needs of all students. 

Based on current needs and input from district committees comprised of staff, family members, and students, we have identified the following priority areas: 

• Providing rigorous and culturally relevant curriculum and instruction, with a focus on professional development with teachers across school sites to create district wide course maps and common assessments in core subject areas.

• Emerging multilingual learner success, including multilingual classroom aides, mandatory professional development for teachers of English Language Development courses, and dedicated staff for testing and monitoring of student progress.

• Initiatives to improve staff diversity and school culture, including a multilingual staff stipend, recruiting staff from institutions with diverse populations, analyzing school survey results, and incorporating diverse student voices in our committees.

• Socioemotional resources, including staff training on effective discipline practices, wellness centers, and mental health counselors at every site, and increasing the number of social workers.

• College and career readiness support such as increasing the number of school counselors, providing training on a national model for school counseling, and ensuring every student has a post-high school plan

• Family and community engagement support, including community liaisons at every school site, communication tools, and translation services

Please complete the  Thought Exchange Survey by May 3rd so we can gather each member of our communities feedback before we finalize the LCAP.  

Crosswalk updates

Last week, our plan manager Arturo Vazuez put out orange flags for students to use while crossing Del Mar Ave.  This area can be quite busy especially during drop off and pick up.  We encourage students to use the flags when crossing the street and ask that all cars coming to and leaving campus slow down for students and pedestrians.  We hope to continue to work with the city on improvements and additions to road safety in the future.  

West Valley Dual Enrollment

Applications for free Summer and Fall college courses through the West Valley Dual Enrollment program are now being accepted until May 13th. 

Students entering grades 10, 11, and 12 can sign up to take Intro to Business on campus at Del Mar in the fall, or other online and in person courses at school sites in our district including Intro to Film Studies, Kinesiology, Sign Language, Administrative Justice, and more. 

Visit the Del Mar website for more information about the courses being offered and steps to apply:  https://delmar.cuhsd.org/apps/pages/westvalleydualenrollment

Have a great weekend!

Larry Lopez 

Principal

IB Scholarship Opportunity

Attention Seniors!!! The IB Committee is offering 2 $250 scholarships for a senior who has taken at least 1 IB course.  If interested, click on the QR code and submit your application now.  I encourage anyone and everyone to apply.  Good luck!!! 

Speaking of IB, good luck to all our students who are taking IB and AP tests starting May 1st.  Be sure to get a good night's nest and have something for breakfast before you test.  We will have breakfast items out in front of school at 8am if you forget.  

IB Exams are coming

IB Exams begin on Wednesday, May 1 and run through Friday, May 17. Students taking a morning exam are expected to report to their testing room at 8:50 and students testing in the afternoon need to arrive by 12:50. Please note, some of the afternoon exams end after school gets out because we must follow the schedule set by the IB. The IB also requires students to remain in the testing room for the entirety of the exam, meaning students may not leave early for any reason.

We are also seeking donations of pre-packaged snacks and water bottles for our students taking exams. If you are able to contribute, please drop all goods off at the front office. For any questions regarding IB exams, please contact Ms. Cassie ( [email protected]). 

Prom - Juniors and Seniors

This year’s prom will be held at Villa Ragusa in downtown Campbell. All of the necessary information is below:

Who can attend: 

• Juniors and Seniors from Del Mar High School. Each Junior or Senior can bring one guest.

• Guests from 9th or 10th grade at Del Mar will need a signed guest pass to prove parent permission. 

• Guests who do not attend Del Mar will also need a completed guest pass. 

**Guest passes must be filled out completely and signed by an AP prior to purchasing the guest ticket. You can find the  guest pass here or come by the student store to pick one up.

Where: Villa Ragusa - 35 S Second St, Campbell, CA 95008

When: May 4, 2024 from 6-10PM

Ticket sales start today. Tickets can be purchased in the student store during lunch. Students can pay with cash, credit card, apple pay or check (please make them payable to Del Mar High School):

Cost:

Week 4 (4/22-4/26)  - $120 w/ASB & $130 w/out

Ticket sales will stop the week before to give the venue an accurate headcount.  

Tickets WILL NOT be sold at the door.  

Other important information:  

• Every person who enters the prom needs to bring an ID. 

• Doors will open promptly at 6pm and will close at 7pm. No one will be allowed in after 7pm. 

• Del Mar students and their guests must enter and check in together. 

• The price for guests is the “w/out ASB” price.

• Students and guests will not be allowed to leave until 9pm.

• For those who need support with the cost of the ticket, please see Mrs. Gardner in room 28 or email at  [email protected] 

2024-2025 Student Board Member & SSAC Applications

I’m excited to announce that applications are now open for the positions of CUHSD Student Board Member and members of the Superintendent's Student Advisory Council. 

This is a unique opportunity for students to actively participate in shaping the educational experience throughout CUHSD by bringing their perspectives directly to district leadership, as well as represent Del Mar High School at the district level. 

As a Student Board Member or a member of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, students will have the chance to:

Represent student voice in the decisions that are made at the district level 

   Report on school activities, culture, and issues

  Communicate with representatives at each school site in order to stay informed and advocate for students at all school sites

Tutoring