About

Greetings Husky Families, 

 
My name is Joe Prestella and it is with great enthusiasm that I introduce myself as the newly
appointed principal of Hollencrest Middle School. 
 
I am honored to have been selected for this role within the West Covina Unified School District,
which is known far and wide for its dedication to excellence, but more importantly, for its
commitment to the success of each and every child. I am excited for the opportunity to work
with all members of the community to build upon the successes and achievements of what is
already an amazing academic institution.
 
This year, we are very excited to be welcoming eight new teachers to Hollencrest. Hollencrest’s
stellar reputation has enabled us to recruit top teachers to be part of our Husky staff. We will
also continue to focus on implementing standards-based instruction as well as common grading
practices in order to increase student learning.  In addition, we will be implementing AVID
(Advancement Via Individual Determination) strategies school-wide in order to provide
consistent expectations for our students. Additionally, I am proud to announce that the WEB
“Where Everyone Belongs,” program will be expanded into an elective class. This leadership
course will focus on developing relationships between 8th grade student-leaders and 6th grade
students on our campus.
 
In addition to providing an engaging and rigorous curriculum in the classroom, we will continue
focusing on promoting a safe and positive culture on campus. School safety is a top priority, and
the entire Hollencrest staff has been trained on how to handle safety situations if they occur on
campus. The positive behavior support program, “Capturing Kids Hearts” will also continue to
be utilized to support on-task behavior and positive student interactions.

In closing, I look forward to meeting and speaking with each of you this school year. If you have
any questions or concerns, please stop by or reach out to me at the number below and I will be
happy to assist you.

Thank you again for choosing Hollencrest Middle School.

Sincerely,

Joe Prestella

Principal

CALIFORNIA DISTINGUISHED SCHOOL

We are proud to report that we have been recognized as a California Gold Ribbon School! One of our signature practices is our school culture that emphasizes academic excellence and social equity for all students.

This award recognized schools that have made tremendous gains in implementing the academic content and performance standards: Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Math, English Language Development Standards, and the Next Generation Science Standards. 

HOLLENCREST HAS JUST BEEN NAMED AN ERP HONOR ROLL SCHOOL FOR 2018-2019!

For 2018-2019, we have been named and Honor Roll School! Please read the notification information below:

On behalf of Educational Results Partnership (ERP) and the Campaign for Business and Education Excellence (CBEE), I am writing to congratulate your school community. After an extensive analysis of student data for every public school in California, HOLLENCREST MIDDLE SCHOOL was a clear leader in getting students to grade-level and beyond and has been named to the 2018 – 2019 Honor Roll. Your school will be recognized in the press as a leader in student achievement! We will also feature your school on ERP’s website where educators, district leaders and policymakers can seek out high-performing schools and districts so that they can replicate success.

The 2018 - 2019 Honor Roll recognizes public elementary, middle and high schools that demonstrate high levels of student academic achievement, improvement in achievement over time, and reduction in achievement gaps. This year, the California Honor Roll recognized 1,831 higher-performing schools that are distinguished for their academic achievement and closing achievement gaps.

Through national research, we have identified a common set of success factors in higher-performing Honor Roll schools and districts. These include clear, specific learning objectives aligned to college and career readiness, along with:

·       Evidence-based instructional practices

·       A defined system-wide mission of college and career readiness for all students

·       An investment in human capital

·       Maintenance of data and assessment systems to monitor school and student performance

·       Resources and guidance to support schools' efforts in preparing all students for college and career

From all of us at ERP and CBEE, we thank you for your hard work and commitment to improving student outcomes. We are proud to tell your story and promote your success!

 

Our staff at Hollencrest Middle School is passionate about the skills and knowledge that our students must attain for success in our information-rich and ever-changing society. We know that 21st century skills are essential to study, character building, and exploration and participation in our school and the West Covina community. Twenty-first century skills build on the traditional 3R’s—reading, writing, and arithmetic:

Learning Skills (4C’s)

• Critical thinking
• Communication
• Collaboration
• Creativity

Literacy Skills

• Information literacy
• Media literacy
• Technology literacy

Life Skills

• Flexibility
• Initiative
• Social skills
• Productivity
• Leadership

We’ve identified seven behaviors that our most successful Huskies demonstrate each day. We encourage parents to use our list as talking points to help students stay the course to greatness!

• Use agendas daily
• Complete all assignments on time
• Pay attention in class
• Bring academic materials to school
• Have a good attitude
• Study and prepare for tests
• Ask for help when needed