COVID-19: PHS Phase 2 Updates
Please click "Read full story" for continuing updates
Read More »
Read More »
Published
*** UPDATE - April 28, 2020. Last week for course requests; locker clear out coming soon.
Hello Panther families.
I apologize for the delay in my communications with you. We are trying to finalize some specific plans as a school, and we are trying our best to base those decisions on the updated guidance from local and state authorities. We work very hard to send clear, concise information to you, yet with so many unknowns at this time, that can be a great challenge. So please forgive me if this message has more status updates rather than specific plans.
Remember that this is your last week to request changes to your course requests for next school year. Be sure to email Ms. Subaba or Ms. Aguiniga to make your requests. We may not be able to honor all requests, but we will try to honor as many as possible.
We are finalizing plans for students to clean out their lockers on campus while maintaining social distancing. Details will be sent out over the next couple of days, and each student will have a specific time slot, based on their last name, where they can come onto campus and empty out their hall lockers. Be on the lookout for that message later this week.
If your student has struggled to find their teacher’s video sessions or keep track of assignments, we created a weekly schedule template that might help. Please click on https://bit.ly/PHS-MyWeekOnline to make a copy for your own Google Drive. Mr. Pinza has also put together this video to show you how this Google doc can help your student stay organized.
We truly appreciate how hard everyone is working to stay on task and to finish the year strong. Continue to reach out if you have any questions or need any support. We are working hard to address everyone’s needs, and we appreciate your patience and understanding.
Seniors! I have some special updates for you and your families! Click on the message below this one!
Keep up the great work, and I hope you all continue to stay healthy and safe.
Go Panthers!
-- Paul C. Pinza
UPDATE FOR SENIORS (Class of 2020) - April 28
If you completed the form to pre-order Class of 2020 yard signs, we will inform you when those signs arrive at Prospect and how you will receive what you’ve ordered. We will also share information for families who wish to purchase a yard sign that did not pre-order. They may arrive as early as the end of this week!
Please save the date of Monday, May 18 for our online broadcast of the 2020 Grand Awards. This will be a celebration of the outstanding achievements by our senior class, and it will debut on YouTube at 6pm on this date. Families will receive advance notice if your senior will be among the award-winners.
Finally, we are making plans for activities surrounding graduation, including a space and time where seniors can pick up their cap and gown, return uniforms and other school materials, and even walk across the stage to receive their diploma. Our plans are being submitted to the county, and once they are approved, we will share with you all the details you need to be a part of the celebration!
*** UPDATE: April 8, 2020 -- Schedules for Online Classes and AP Exams
Hello Panther families!
Although I’m sure most of us never imagined a week of Spring Break to look like this, I hope your entire family has stayed healthy and safe thus far.
I’m pleased to share with you two important schedules that you should refer to as we complete the school year through online learning.
Prospect will be shifting to a period-based schedule for online classes. As you can see in the graphic below, each period will meet once during the week, either from 10-11am or from 1-2pm.
We hope this makes it a little easier to plan your class time while at home. Your teachers will communicate the format for their class sessions – whether they will have a video conference or a text-based chat or some other online activity. Pay close attention to the messages sent by your teachers – check your e-mail, Schoolloop, and Google Classroom regularly to make sure you do not miss any updates.
Attendance will be taken during this new phase of online learning. Students must show that they have engaged in the work for each class at least once a week. This can be done by submitting assignments, joining a live session with the teacher, or communicating via e-mail or other means.
You will also see several Study Hall periods in the schedule above. These are times where you’ll be able to connect with a variety of teachers. Don’t expect all teachers to be available in every Study Hall. Here again, pay close attention to each teacher’s messages so you can create your own schedule and connect with as many teachers as you can during these Study Hall times.
Finally, I’m also happy to share with you the revised schedule for Advanced Placement (AP) exams. This is a condensed schedule, listing only the exams that are offered at Prospect.
As you may know, AP Exams will be administered online at specific days and times, but the start of Exams has been moved a week later to Monday, May 11. These will be 45-minute exams that must be taken at the schedule day and time. If you are planning to take any AP exams, make sure you put these dates and times in your calendar.
You can also download a copy of the AP exam schedule here. This file also contains links to get more details about the exams for each course, access review sessions, or learn more about test security.
We will continue to send updates, tips and tricks, and other supports to help you navigate online learning. In fact, Mr. Pinza will once again be on Instagram Live to take questions about online learning specifically this Friday starting at 2:00pm.
We know this is all very new, and we want to make sure you are set up for success. You are not alone, Panthers. Regardless of the distance, we are still owning our future together!
Go Panthers!
Paul C. Pinza
Principal, Prospect High School
*** UPDATE: April 4 2020 - Meals, Grading, College Prep
Meal Service
UPDATE: March 30, 2020
UPDATE - APRIL 4: If your household needs internet access or your student’s Chromebook needs repair, you can call our Tech Support Hotline at 408-558-3080. We have a limited supply of devices that we can loan to you, and we can deliver them to your home if needed (while maintaining proper distancing). You can also find a number of companies offering free internet service here on our website. 
For parents, I’ll be on Facebook Live with our Community Liaison Sandra Moreno from 6-7pm on Tuesday. Look for the Mister Pinza page.
I’ll join students on Instagram Live at 4:30pm on Wednesday. UPDATE: MARCH 23, 2020
NOTICE: 17 MARCH 2020. *** Retrieving essential items from school
Good morning Panther students and families,
As we prepare to send out more details about our remote learning opportunities during this abrupt school closure, we realize that some of you may have essential items that have been left at school.
In order to continue to follow the latest guidance from national, state, and local authorities, we are only providing a limited window where students can, if they need, retrieve essential items from their lockers.
Here is the schedule, separated alphabetically by last name, for you to come to campus:
|
Time |
Tues 3/17 |
Wed 3/18 |
Thurs 3/19 |
|
8am – 9am |
A - B |
H- J |
O- R |
|
9:30 – 10:30 |
C - D |
K - L |
S -T |
|
1pm – 2pm |
E - G |
M - N |
U- Z |
|
|
|
|
|
For the safety of everyone in our community, please ONLY come to campus if you are retrieving items that are essential to your health, safety, and/or learning. You also must not gather in any groups - please just take your items and then leave immediately.
If you need to pick up a piece of technology - such as a hotspot for wifi or a loaner Chromebook, please visit the library starting at 8:30am.
All families with students and young children are still welcome to pick up a bag lunch between 11:30am and 1pm starting today, March 17. It will be a "drive-through" pick-up in the student parking lot.
Thank you for keeping to this schedule and only visiting campus if you have essential items to retrieve.
You'll hear more details about our supplemental, online learning activities in the next day or two.
Take care and stay safe!
Mr. Pinza
Principal, Prospect High School
Details about Voting - February 24, 2020
The Prospect High School community has a long, proud tradition of civic engagement, so I want to alert all of you that, due to the change in the voting process for Santa Clara County, Prospect High School is no longer a voting location.
You all should have received a ballot in the mail, and you can submit it three different ways on or before March 3:
1) You may visit a Voting Center to complete your ballot. The following locations in the Prospect area are now open for voting seven days a week, 9am-5pm, and from 7am-8pm on March 3:
- West Valley Branch Library - Community Room [ 1243 San Tomas Aquino Road, San Jose, CA 95117 ]
- West Valley College - Room V26 (near Parking Lot 2, Allendale Ave & Theater Way)
2) You may complete your ballot at home and drop it off at a 24-hour Ballot Box. Here are some ballot box locations in the Prospect area:
- Moreland School District [ 4711 Campbell Avenue, San Jose, CA 95130 ]
- West Valley Branch Library [ 1243 San Tomas Aquino Road, San Jose, CA 95117 ]
- West Valley College - Fox Center (near Parking Lot 5, Fruitvale Ave & Admissions Way)
3) You may complete your ballot at home and mail it using the pre-addressed envelope that came with your ballot.
Finally, I want to point out that, in an effort to attract and retain the best teachers and school staff, while providing the necessary academic and socio-emotional supports for students, the Campbell Union High School District Board of Trustees approved placing Measure K, a parcel tax measure on the March 3, 2020 ballot. A 66.7% majority is needed for this measure to pass.
Every penny of the revenue from this measure will go directly to our educational programs at a time when state funding for our schools remains inadequate despite the rising cost of living and other expenses.
If approved by voters, Measure K funding could be used to:
Recruit and retain highly qualified teachers and school staff
Provide student mental health and suicide prevention services
Continue to provide vocational and career technical education
Maintain or expand class offerings to train students for high demand jobs
Increase offerings of AP classes and dual enrollment to prepare students for college and career
Increase student access to counselors
Effective teachers and school staff are pivotal in guiding our students toward success in their future college and career. For more information on Measure K, visit http://bit.ly/MeasureK.
Thank you for your continued support as our district creates new possibilities for our students.
Sincerely,
Paul C. Pinza
Principal, Prospect HS
Principal's Letter - November 4, 2019
"Based on your feedback, we are identifying ways to address the vaping problem in our schools, which remains a top concern in our community, as evidenced by the recent online ThoughtExchange. The top themes from the exchange can be found by clicking here.
The district is hosting three upcoming vaping education night for parents:
I will also add that, at Prospect, students and staff have volunteered to launch a peer-to-peer ambassador program in partnership with Community Matters. They will spend two days in training this Thursday and Friday to learn strategies for how they can become positive influencers on fellow students, and persuade them away from the use of dangerous drugs.
We also know that this time of year leads to heightened anxiety for many students, and often, that increase in stress causes unhealthy and dangerous choices. To that end, our ASB will begin a series of "Mindful Mondays", with activities in the quad designed to help students reduce stress and elevate joy during this busy season. The PTSA will also host a screening of the documentary Like at its general meeting on November 12 at 6:30pm in our Performing Arts Center. This film takes a deep dive into social media use among teens, and will be followed by a panel discussion to help parents find effective strategies for ensuring that their students engage with each other online in healthy, responsible ways.
Dr. Bravo and I want to thank the parent community for your support of our schools. Together we can continue to build off of these accomplishments while making necessary improvements to better support our students both academically and socio-emotionally.
Principal's Letter - September 16, 2019
We have reached the sixth week of the year - the first big milestone that allows us to look at all of our students and assess their progress in their classes. With the provision of Chromebooks for every student (and new, modern furniture in the vast majority of classrooms), students now have many powerful learning tools at their disposal. We’ve never been in a better position to own our future as a school, yet this is a time when many students may get very anxious or experience severe self-doubt as they feel the weight of that responsibility. As the first report card nears, students often face their first moments of adversity; as a school and a community, we must prepare and support them to work through these difficult moments.
Teachers will collaborate soon about the nature of grading as a feedback tool for students. What are the messages that grades convey, and are we certain that students are hearing and interpreting the feedback that we intend to give them? Similarly, what are the messages conveyed at home in response to grades? Are those messages mindful of the young minds that are still very much developing? Is the message competitive or compassionate? Our students have proven, time and again, that they are a terrific support system for each other. But can they be the right role models, as well, demonstrating that seeking help is a sign of strength, and that feeling overwhelmed is not a sign of weakness? Can they lean into each other, so that all of Prospect’s learners don’t just feel better, but perform better in the classroom?
I’m confident that they can do that for each other, illustrating for all of us that the our in Prospect’s vision is just as crucial as owning and future. I’d love to see all our Panthers receive a report card they can be very proud of. But it’s also equally important to make sure that each student’s response to their report card inspires just as much pride.
Principal's Letter - May 6, 2019
Therapy Dogs on Campus! Monday, May 6: The BioMedical club will be hosting the Alliance for Therapy Dogs, as they bring some canine companions for students this Monday during Study Hall and Lunch. The dogs will be kept with their handlers in the Science Plaza, between the Gym and the Performing Arts Center. Students who visit with the dogs must wash their hands after each visit in the gym lobby.
Boys Volleyball in CCS!!! The first round match-up for our Boys Volleyball team will be Tuesday night, May 7, at 7pm at Christopher High School in Gilroy! The tournament runs through the week, with the following rounds on Thursday and Saturday. Good luck, Panthers!
Principal's Letter - February 2019
Good morning Panther families.
This is Paul Pinza, the Principal at Prospect High School. I hope you found plenty of time last week to rest and spend quality time together with your students.
The Boys Soccer team won the CCS Championship last Saturday, and will play in the Northern California tournament this Tuesday at 4pm at Galt High School near Sacramento. Congratulations and good luck!
The District Jazz Festival is tomorrow night at 7pm at Del Mar High School. Prospect’s Jazz Ensemble will be performing alongside their peers from across the Campbell Union High School District. It should be a great night of music.
Our Biology classes will be showcasing students’ Green Ninja films on Wednesday from 4-7pm in the PAC. These are short videos created by students to highlight environmental issues. We hope you can join us to see these great projects.
Please note that on Wednesday, we will have a short earthquake drill at the beginning of Study Hall, and on Thursday, about sixty seniors will miss class in order to take the National Assessment for Education Progress, a nationwide test that measures students’ skills in English, Math, and Science. Seniors who have been selected to take the test have already been notified. Testing will occur in the Library and Room 29.
Sports for the Week
Tuesday:
Boys Tennis vs Leigh at home, 3:30
Badminton at Yerba Buena, 4:00.
Wednesday:
Badminton vs Branham, 4:00.
Thursday:
Boys Volleyball at Christopher, 4:00
Friday:
Badminton vs Gunderson, 4:00
I’m excited to see you all back at school. Report cards will be sent home in the next week, and students are encouraged to contact their teachers this week if they need any support at all in any classes. Now is the time to Excel and Be Well.
Go Panthers!
Paul C. Pinza
Principal, Prospect High School
Principal's Letter - December 2018
Principal's Letter - December 2018The holidays bring a flurry of errands and emotions that pull us in several directions. The push to finish the semester strong overlaps with students’ laying plans for next year – by building class schedules or completing college and scholarship applications. As 2018 closes, we’ll reflect on the many triumphs of the year, seek the perfect gifts for our loved ones, all while staying mindful of our neighbors who struggle through Winter’s harshest months.
If you are a family in need: Please contact Jovanie Ascencio at ext. 8141 to get connected to resources in our community. Prospect is proud to partner with Second Harvest Food Bank and One Warm Coat, and we’re also gathering resources for our own Winter Wishes program.
If you are looking for unique gifts: Plan on visiting our annual Holiday Craft Faire this Saturday, December 8th between 10am and 5pm in the gym. We also recommend ordering some of our 50th Anniversary gear from our online store. J
If you’re wondering what “gifts” are on Prospect’s wish list: I urge you to join or donate to our PTSA: Parent Teachers & Students Association – a critical nexus that provides all sorts of gifts to all our Panthers throughout the year. Your support of PTSA really is as versatile as an Amazon gift card! See pages 1-2 for details.
Here’s to a wonderful December!
Principal's Letter - September 2018
Principal's Letter - "Community Support" September 17, 2018
It hasn’t taken long for the warmth of August to shift into the breezy bustle of September (even if the temperature hasn’t cooled off that much.) Our staff has committed ourselves this year to the values of building community and resilience, and our student activities and athletics programs play vital roles in creating both. From sports, robotics, and mock trial to art, culture, and social justice, we hope your student is able to pursue their most passionate interests and stay authentically engaged beyond the classroom walls. As educators, we hope to bring that spark into the academic learning as well, providing lessons that resonate with students’ interests and experiences so that their growth and development isn’t confined to or defined by points and grades. That’s the rich, authentic engagement we strive for in our Prospect learning community.
It’s ambitious work that tests the resolve of our students and our staff. As the first report card approaches, we recognize that students and families are feeling more anxious as the challenge of preparing for college becomes very real. We also know that, when teens feel overwhelmed, they can be tempted to give in to unhealthy choices or give up entirely. Students, families, and teachers should communicate directly in order to support students in ways that build their capacity to work through adversity. Our counselors and administrators are always willing to help facilitate that dialogue. We become resilient, and we make our students resilient, when we authentically engage with each other to overcome a low test score or a tough loss, a social setback or even a family hardship.
As our 50th Anniversary events and Homecoming Week get under way, we’ll have plenty of great times in the month ahead. That communal Panther spirit is all the more special knowing that we believe in and support each other during challenging times as well.
-- Paul Pinza, Principal
EV Chargers
*** NEW CHARGERS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES AVAILABLE AT PROSPECT!!!
Hello Panthers!
The Campbell Union High School District is committed to supporting electric vehicles (EV) as a sustainable transportation option for the community to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. This is in accordance with the goals and guidelines set forth by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD).
Due to a generous donation this summer from Powerflex Systems, we are able to pilot EV charging stations at Prospect. Testing of the new systems is now complete and as of XXXX the stations will be fully functional.
GUIDELINES FOR USE
Eligible Vehicles
All EV and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) are eligible to park in the designated EV charging spaces. Examples of all-electric vehicles include Nissan LEAF, Tesla Model S, and Fiat 500e. Examples of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles include Chevy Volt, Ford C-Max Energi, and Toyota Prius Plug-in.
Ineligible Vehicles
Non-electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles without charge ports are not eligible to park in EV charging spaces. Examples of ineligible vehicles include Toyota Prius (non-PHEV), Ford Fusion Hybrid, and Accord Hybrid.
Where to Park
Ø Staff and Faculty
Eligible vehicles with employee permits may utilize EV charging spaces located in the Employee Lot at all times.
Ø Students
Students may charge in the Employee Lot after 5:30 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends.
Ø Visitors and Guests
Visitors and guests may charge in Employee Lot after 5:30 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends.
EV Charging Fees:
To pay for the operation and maintenance costs associated with the charging stations, the District must charge fees, as outlined below.
Ø Students, Staff & Faculty ($0.10/kWh)
District staff, faculty, and students are eligible for EV charging at cost.
Ø Visitors, Vendors, Guests, etc. ($0.40/kWh)
Campus guests, visitors, vendors, and other groups may charge their vehicles on campus by paying the guest rate of $0.40/kWh. Fees will be charged until the end of the transaction.
Fees will be periodically reassessed to ensure that costs are being recouped and stations are utilized.
If you have any questions please feel free to call Eric Wasinger, Director of Construction and Facilities for CUHSD, at (408) 371-0960 ext. 2081.
Thank you,
Paul C. Pinza
Principal, Prospect High School
Summer letter