Poly Parent News: December 2019
This Month's Newsletter
Director's Message
There’s no place like home for the holidays! You and your students are likely very eager to spend some quality time together at home this month. Be on the lookout in early January 2020 for our SLO Discovery Weekend announcement. We look forward to seeing you on your next visit to your home away from home, San Luis Obispo! Once the dates are announced, treat yourself to a winter visit to SLO, see how your student has settled back in to winter quarter classes, and explore exclusive deals, discounts, and attractions specifically for SLO Discovery Weekend registrants. Stay tuned!
Please urge your student to travel with caution and vigilance as they are traveling this holiday season. We are thankful for each of you and wish you and your family a very memorable and peaceful holiday!
Sincerely,
Tessa Stevens Espinoza, M.A. Ed.
Senior Director of Strategy and Engagement
Get Ready for Winter Break: Housing Safety Checks
University Housing conducts Safety and Maintenance checks prior to Winter Break to ensure safety and security during periods of low occupancy. During checks, staff members will report any electrical/fire safety or policy concerns.
As your student prepares for Winter Break, please remind them to do the following:
- Close and lock ALL windows and doors.
- Close drapes and blinds.
- Turn off heaters.
- Turn off and unplug alarm clocks, stereos, and computers.
- Remove perishable items including emptying trash/recycling
What Your Student Can Expect During a Room Check:
- Room checks are intended to cause the least amount of inconvenience to students, while proactively addressing safety concerns.
- Staff will announce their presence by knocking loudly prior to entering a room.
- Staff will be looking for the following during room checks:
- Doors: Room numbers are intact and clearly visible
- Electrical Outlets: Not overloaded with excessive cords. Surge protectors are permitted but must be plugged directly into the wall and not into one another.
- Screens: present, secure, and in good repair (no holes)
- Windows: Closed and locked (locking pin in place if present)
- Food/Trash: No open food and all trash removed from room
- Heaters: Turned off and no visible leaking
- Closet doors: Properly hung
- Walls: No damage or holes
- Mold: Wet window sills or walls, leaks, any visible mold growth
- Fire Safety Concerns: Candles, tampered smoke detectors, items hanging from the ceiling, unapproved lighting, mopeds in room, flammable items, etc.
- Other safety/policy concerns: lofted beds, lounge furniture in student rooms, etc.
- General overall condition of the room is good
- Curtains/blinds: Closed so that you cannot see in from outside o Lights: All lights turned off
- Cerro Vista and Poly Canyon Village: (In addition to the checks above)
- Kitchens & Bathroom: Verify that all water is turned off (no dripping faucets or running toilets)
- Kitchen: Verify that ovens and stovetops are turned off
Staff will not open closets, refrigerators, or other private property areas
If any changes are needed, staff will leave a "fix-it-ticket" that describes the needed change. Once residents return, staff will check in to ensure that these items have been addressed.
If any violations of University Housing Community Standards are found, they will be documented for appropriate follow-up.
Photographs from Fall Commencement
Did your student just graduate this fall? Go to the GradImages website to find your graduate’s photos from the ceremony! Your graduate should have received their photography proofs, but all photos can be found on the main GradImages website.
If you have any questions regarding the photos from Fall Commencement, please reach out to the Customer Service Department at (800) 261-2576, online at www.gradimages.com, or email ecc.giservice@gradimages.net. GradImages has a team of customer service representatives ready to help you find your photos so don’t hesitate to reach out!
The Trip Home: Transportation for Students
Transportation & Parking Services offers a new service to Cal Poly students—Mustang Express. Three full size motor coach buses have been scheduled to transport student’s home to three California regions on five dates.
Each bus seats 56 students with reclining seats, air conditioning, onboard restrooms, and power outlets so you can bring your own entertainment. Each student is allowed one large suitcase and one carry-on bag that can fit in an overhead bin.
Service Date & Times
Trips are scheduled in three California regions for the following academic breaks:
Winter Break:
- Departing Cal Poly Friday, Dec. 13
- Returning to Cal Poly Sunday, Jan. 5
Reservations are first come, first serve for the 56 seats. Add your name to the waitlist for each one-way trip you want to book. Pay close attention to date and direction of each trip. You will receive an email with confirmation of a seat being awarded with instructions on how to purchase ticket online. Reserve your seat today!
For more information and a full schedule, visit: https://afd.calpoly.edu/parking/commutingtocampus/mustangexpress.php
Year-End Parent Giving - Cal Poly Hunger Program
More than 27% of Cal Poly Students do not know where their next meal is coming from, according to a Cal Poly Basic Needs Task Force Report conducted in 2018. An additional 26% of students reported feeling anxiety over their ability to obtain an adequate amount of food.
Hunger is a real problem on campus, but you can help. Before the end of the 2019 Tax Year, please consider giving a gift to the Cal Poly Hunger Program. The program is entirely funded by generous donors and includes the Food Pantry, Meal Voucher Program and emergency meal plans for students with the greatest need.
A gift of $100 feeds four Cal Poly students for a week. Let's work together to make sure that students have the ability to focus on their classes, not their next meal. Give Today
Support Cal Poly Students Affected by Wildfires
The Camp, Woolsey and Hill wildfires are having a devastating effect on people throughout California, including Cal Poly students and their families.
This campaign will provide funds for our students who have been affected and will provide resources to those who have had their home and financial situation changed drastically as a result of the fires.
A gift of any amount to Cal Poly Cares will go directly to the students affected and will make a significant difference for them and their families as they heal through this unimaginably difficult time. You can make a donation HERE.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your generous and caring support of our students!
Cal Poly Cares was established by Student Affairs to support students in need by awarding financial funds to students through the Cal Poly Cares Grant program. It is funded by the Cal Poly Foundation Fund for Students and donations from alumni, parents and supporters that care about Cal Poly students.
Student Affairs partners throughout campus to create a comprehensive referral network to support students with critical and urgent needs. Faculty, staff, academic advisors, counselors, Campus Health & Wellbeing, Student Academic Services, Disability Resource Center, Cross Cultural Centers and department leaders throughout Cal Poly may refer students to the Cal Poly Cares Grant program by contacting the Dean of Students Office at 805-756-2472.
Mustang Holiday Gift Drive
The Center for Service in Action (CSA) invites all students, staff, faculty, and families to contribute to the 2019 Mustang Holiday Gift Drive! You can contribute by either picking up a gift tag and purchasing the gift request of a local child or teen ($20-30 value), or donating online through our Spur Change Campaign. At the end of the drive, student volunteers from the CSA will shop for the remaining gifts with the donated money to ensure that as many children as possible receive gifts this holiday season!
To pick up a gift tag with specific gift wish, please visit one of the Giving Trees at the below locations:
- The Center for Service in Action (Bldg. 52, Room E22)
- first floor of Kennedy Library (Bldg. 35)
- second floor of the University Union (Bldg. 65)
All gifts due in the Center for Service in Action by Friday, December 6th at 4 PM!
You can also arrange to have a CSA student bring the tags to your office, staff meeting, or other event by contacting Kaylee Roe at serviceinaction@calpoly.edu. Each tag represents a specific request supporting local children and families in need. Bring newly purchased, unwrapped gift items to the Center for Service in Action by Friday, December 6th to help make a child smile this holiday season!
Gifts support children and teens through the below organizations.
Support CAFES Students by Purchasing Holiday Gift Boxes
With the holidays approaching, the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) has a variety of student-made products available in gift boxes, including cheese, wine, chocolate and meats. The Cal Poly Creamery has new cheeses and traditional favorites available in a variety of gift box arrangements at www.calpolycreamery.com. Find Cal Poly wine, cheese and chocolate holiday pairings at www.calpolywine.com. In addition, Cal Poly Meats is now selling holiday hams. To place your order, email calpolymeats@calpoly.edu or call ext. 6-2198. Purchases support students in CAFES.
Recommended Parent Reading List
Ever wish there was a how-to guide on parenting college students? While there might not be a manual on raising young adults, there are several helpful resources, articles, and books to help you support your student. Each quarter Parent & Family Programs will recommend a recent and relevant book or article for parents and supporters of students of all identities and backgrounds.
Fall Quarter Reading Recommendation: How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success by Julie Lythcott-Haims
Written by a past Dean of Students at Stanford University, How to Raise an Adult “draws on research, on conversations with admissions officers, educators, and employers, and on her own insights as a mother and as a student dean to highlight the ways in which overparenting harms children, their stressed-out parents, and society at large. While empathizing with the parental hopes and, especially, fears that lead to overhelping, Lythcott-Haims offers practical alternative strategies that underline the importance of allowing children to make their own mistakes and develop the resilience, resourcefulness, and inner determination necessary for success.”
Want to start a local Cal Poly parent reading circle? Browse Facebook for the many local Facebook groups created and maintained by current and past Cal Poly Proud parents. Happy reading!
Important Dates and Deadlines
December 1 | Winter 2019 fees past due (if not financial aid deferred)
December 1 | First installment of winter housing and dining payment plans due. (See fee schedules for payment amount.) A registration hold will be applied if the required payment is not made on time.
December 5 | Last day to Cancel Winter/Spring 2020 Housing and Dining License Agreement without financial penalty.
December 6 | Last day of Fall Quarter classes.
December 9-13 | Final Examination Period
December 7-January 3 | Open enrollment for all students for Winter 2020 courses
December 14 | Fall Commencement
December 14 | Residence halls and apartments close for Winter Break. Students may leave their belongings, but must vacate their rooms and apartments. Freshmen must vacate by noon. Continuing and Transfers must vacate by 5 p.m.
(Take valuables, medications, passports/IDs and other items with you. Residence halls and apartment buildings are locked during the break, and there is a charge to be escorted for emergency entry).
December 15 - January 5 | Academic Holiday | Winter Break
December 17 | Winter/Spring 2020 housing assignment are available via Cal Poly Portal. Fees are posted on the student account.
December 20 | Winter/Spring 2020 annual payment due. If fees are not paid in full by 5 p.m., students are automatically enrolled in the Housing Installment Payment Plan with the first installment payment due 01/11/19.
December 23-January 27 | Campus administrative offices closed.
January 1 | Second installment of winter housing and dining payment plans due. (See fee schedules for payment amount.) A registration hold will be applied if the required payment is not made on time.
January 1 | Cal Poly campus closed except for needed emergency services and essential work
January 1-5 | Academic Holiday continues (Winter Break)
January 4 | Campus residence halls and apartments open for Winter term 2020 at noon.
Housing Offices (Bldg. 31) and Poly Canyon Village Offices (PCV-Aliso) will be open 9am – 2pm January 4-5
January 6 | Winter Quarter classes begin.
January 13 | Room trades begin.
January 14 | Fall 2020 Continuing Students Application opens to all continuing students. Apply in Housing Portal.
January 20 | Academic Holiday I Martin Luther King's birthday observed. Administrative offices closed.
Upcoming Events
December 1 | MET Live! Puccini’s Madama Butterfly | 2-5:30pm | PAC – Harold Miossi Hall
The title character of Madama Butterfly—a young Japanese geisha who clings to the belief that her arrangement with a visiting American naval officer is a loving and permanent marriage—is one of the defining roles in opera. The story triggers ideas about cultural and sexual imperialism for people far removed from the opera house, and film, Broadway, and popular culture in general have riffed endlessly on it. The lyric beauty of Puccini’s score, especially the music for the thoroughly believable lead role, has made Butterfly timeless.
Leading soprano Hui He plays Madama Butterfly with tenor Piero Pretti in his Met debut as Pinkerton. Paulo Szot sings Sharpless for the first time with Elizabeth DeShong as devoted servant Suzuki.
December 4 | BFSA Meeting | 12-1pm | University Union
This is a monthly meeting of Cal Poly’s Black Faculty and Staff Association.
December 4 | Cocoa & Convo (2) | 7-8pm | University Union
A survivor-centered event focused on self care, healing, and therapeutic practices- particularly pertaining to difficulties during the holiday season and preparation for upcoming finals. Engaging conversation accompanied with hot cocoa (and other drinks and snacks), and a winter-themed edible craft!
December 4 | Pink Martini – Featuring China Forbes | 7:30-9:30pm | Performing Arts Center
Pink Martini’s “little orchestra” draws inspiration from the romantic Hollywood musicals of the 1940s and ‘50s and crosses genres to make an eclectic, modern sound. The group’s arrangements of Latin music, jazz, cabaret and cinema scores come together in a sound that defies categorization. This concert will include some seasonal pieces from the ensemble’s holiday album Joy to the World, popular favorites from throughout the band’s 25-year career, and songs from Pink Martini’s latest release, Je dis oui!, taking the audience on a musical trip around the world from France to Iran, Armenia to South Africa and more.
December 5 | Cal Poly Student Instrumental Recital | 11-12pm | Davidson Music Center
A free recital presented by Cal Poly Music Department student instrumentalists.
December 6 | Cal Poly Symphony Fall Concert: Teamwork | 7:30-9:30pm | Performing Arts Center
This concert celebrates the many kinds of teamwork that are uniquely possible at Cal Poly. Guest artist Dave Becker, saxophone, will be brought into the Cal Poly Symphony team to present music from the Grammy award-winning album “Charlie Parker with Strings.” The symphony will join forces with a student team from Cal Poly’s Liberal Arts and Engineering Studies major to present video game music with full-building visual projections. The newly formed Cal Poly Chamber Orchestra will also take the stage to perform — as a team and without a conductor. Two major works will explore the story of Romeo and Juliet. The full symphony will present music from Sergei Prokofiev’s ballet, “Romeo and Juliet,” with large screen projections crafted by a student team from Cal Poly’s Art and Design Department, under the guidance of Sky Bergman; and, the symphony will perform Leonard Bernstein’s “Symphonic Dances from West Side Story,” a 20th-century retelling of Shakespeare’s tragedy.
December 7 | RAD Winter Show | 1-2:30pm, 7-9:30pm | Spanos Theatre
Dance show for the whole family. High energy, great dancing with a variety of music. Ages 3 to adult, there is something for everyone. Bring the whole family!
December 7 | Men’s Basketball v Siena | 7-9:30pm | Mott Gym
December 7 | Cal Poly Choirs Holiday Kaleidoscope | 7:30-9:30pm | PAC
An annual holiday tradition in its third year, this concert is a collaborative celebration of choral music from the Central Coast and beyond. In addition to Cal Poly’s four Choirs, the performance will feature local choirs including Cabrillo High School and the Central Coast Youth Chorus. Each choir will perform its own repertoire, as well as join together for several majestic combined works. Audience members will have the opportunity to sing along to favorite carols of the season.
The concert is presented by the Cal Poly Music Department. For more information, visit the department's calendar website. Tickets are available at the Cal Poly Ticket Office: 805-756-4TIX(4849).
December 8 | RAD Winter Show | 1-2:30pm, 7-9:30pm | Spanos Theatre
Dance show for the whole family. High energy, great dancing with a variety of music. Ages 3 to adult, there is something for everyone. Bring the whole family!
December 12 | The Nutcracker, Civic Ballet | 7-9pm | PAC
It is Christmas Eve and Clara is about to have the night of her dreams! Audiences of all ages will marvel at the magic and wonder of this spectacular, professional production accompanied by a live orchestra.
Tickets can be purchased at the Cal Poly Ticket Office from 12-6pm, by calling 805-756-4849 or online on the PAC website.
December 13 | “A Christmas Carol” Ballet | 7-10pm |Spanos Theatre
The classic Dicken's story comes alive onstage! Scrooge is visited by three spirits - past, present, and future - as he learns the true meaning of Christmas. Great dancing, stunning costumes - a true holiday treat!
December 13 | The Nutcracker, Civic Ballet | 7-9pm | PAC
It is Christmas Eve and Clara is about to have the night of her dreams! Audiences of all ages will marvel at the magic and wonder of this spectacular, professional production accompanied by a live orchestra.
Tickets can be purchased at the Cal Poly Ticket Office from 12-6pm, by calling 805-756-4849 or online on the PAC website.
December 14 | Women’s Basketball v San Francisco | 2-4:30pm | Mott Gym
December 14 | “A Christmas Carol” Ballet | 7-10pm |Spanos Theatre
The classic Dicken's story comes alive onstage! Scrooge is visited by three spirits - past, present, and future - as he learns the true meaning of Christmas. Great dancing, stunning costumes - a true holiday treat!
December 14 | Men’s Basketball v Fresno State | 2-4:30pm | Mott Gym
December 14 | The Nutcracker, Civic Ballet | 7-9pm | PAC
It is Christmas Eve and Clara is about to have the night of her dreams! Audiences of all ages will marvel at the magic and wonder of this spectacular, professional production accompanied by a live orchestra.
Tickets can be purchased at the Cal Poly Ticket Office from 12-6pm, by calling 805-756-4849 or online on the PAC website.
December 15 | “A Christmas Carol” Ballet | 2-5pm |Spanos Theatre
The classic Dicken's story comes alive onstage! Scrooge is visited by three spirits - past, present, and future - as he learns the true meaning of Christmas. Great dancing, stunning costumes - a true holiday treat!
December 16 | SLOHS & LAMS Holiday Concert | 7-9pm | PAC
December 17 | Morro Bay High School Band Concert | 7-9:30pm | PAC
Morro Bay High School Band Concert: Please visit pacslo.org or call 805-756-4TIX(4849) for tickets and for more information.
December 18 | LOMS Band Concert | 7-9:30pm | PAC
Los Osos Middle School Band Concert: Please visit pacslo.org or call 805-756-4TIX(4849) for tickets and for more information.
December 19 | Wrestling v Drexel | 7-9:30pm | Mott Gym
December 21 | Master Chorale Messiah Sing Along | 7-9pm | PAC
The first half of the performance is a sing-along of famous choruses from Handel’s “Messiah” followed by music of brass, choir and the Forbes Pipe Organ. Audience members can come and listen to the Messiah choruses. You don't have to sing, but it’s more fun!! Featuring the Westwood Brass Quintet.
George Frideric Handel – Messiah Sing-along (excerpts)
John Rutter – Gloria
*Due to other events taking place on campus, we recommend arriving early.
Thomas Davies, conductor
San Luis Obispo Master Chorale Orchestra
Tickets can be purchased at the Cal Poly Ticket Office from 12-6pm, by calling 805-756-4849 or online on the PAC website.
December 21 | Men’s Basketball v Bakersfield | 7-9:30pm | Mott Gym
December 31 | New Year’s Eve Pops Concert | PAC
Celebrate with your San Luis Obispo Symphony! We're ringing in the New Year with selections from your favorite award-winning Hollywood films. Be swept away by some of the most breathtaking and unforgettable scores in movie history.
Selections include music from:
2001: A Space Odyssey
Casablanca
Jurassic Park
Ladies in Lavender
Lord of the Rings
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Schindler's List
...and more!
Tickets can be purchased at the Cal Poly Ticket Office from 12-6pm, by calling 805-756-4849 or online on the PAC website.
Important Campus Phone Numbers
Admissions | (805) 756-2311
Career Services | (805) 756-2501
Commencement Office | (805) 756-1600
Counseling Services | (805) 756-2511
Disability Resource Center | (805) 756-1395
Financial Aid Office | (805) 756-2927
Health Services | (805) 756-1211
Mustang Success Center | (805) 756-6211
Parent and Family Programs | (805) 756-6700
Student Accounts | (805) 756-1428
University Housing | (805) 756-1226
Cal Poly Police Department | (805) 756-2281
