GATORAID
School Phone: 408-252-5414 ~ Absence Line 408-252-5414-6 ~ FAX 408-996-9725
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SCHOOL CALENDAR
May 6, 2010
5/6 7:15 p.m. PTA MEETING
5/7 WALK-A-ROUND PLEDGE DONATIONS DUE
5/11 6:00 p.m. C.U.S.D. BOARD MTG - COLLINS SCHOOL
5/12 7:00 p.m. S’COOL SPIRIT SPRING BAND CONCERT - GLC
5/14 SCHOOL SPIRIT DAY - “EARTH DAY”
5/17-5/21 STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK
5/18 6:30 p.m. GRADE 1 MUSIC PERFORMANCE - GLC
5/19 3:45 p.m. SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL MEETING
5/20 6:30 p.m. GRADE 2 MUSIC PERFORMANCE - GLC
5/27 7:00 p.m. OPEN HOUSE
5/28 STAFF LEARNING DAY - NO SCHOOL
5/31 MEMORIAL DAY HOLIDAY - NO SCHOOL
6/1 2:00-4:00 p.m. FUN N’ SUN - FIELD
6/1 6:00 p.m. C.U.S.D. BOARD MTG. - DISTRICT BOARD ROOM
6/2 7:00 p.m. GRADE 3 MUSIC PERFORMANCE - GLC
6/3 7:15 p.m. PTA MEETING
6/4 SCHOOL SPIRIT DAY - “GATOR DAY”
6/7 5:00-8:30 p.m. “THE JUNGLE” - 950 ELPASO DE SARATOGA, SAN JOSE
6/8 2:00-4:00 p.m. MS. ALWELL’S RETIREMENT CELEBRATION - GLC
6/9 3:45 p.m. SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL MEETING
6/9 6:30 p.m. H.E.A.S.T. PERFORMANCE - GLC
6/10 8:00-11:20 LAST DAY OF SCHOOL - EARLY DISMISSAL FOR ALL STUDENTS
ALL KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS ATTEND 8:00-11:20
Parent Traffic Duty: May 10th - May 14th - Parents from Rm. #4
EVERY TUESDAY IS EARLY DISMISSAL – Students are dismissed at 1:30.
PRE-PAY FOR CUSD LUNCHES at PAMS (Parent Account Management System) Lunchroom! You can make payments and
view your students account balance online by going to http://www.pamslunchroom.com or by calling 1-888-994-5100.
TO EMAIL STAFF:lastname_firstname@cusdk8.org
ATTENDANCE: If your child will be absent, please call 252-5414. Ext. 6, by 8:30 a.m. to report the absence.
HOMEWORK: Homework may be requested for illness absences of three days or more. Please call the office before 9:00 a.m.
to request the homework for pickup after 3:00 p.m.
FROM OUR PRINCIPAL....MRS. WOOD! PAGE 2
‘
Dear Garden Gate Community,
Their Future Is Now! fundraising campaign goal is becoming a reality in six short weeks, thanks to the support of many of
our families and Garden Gate staff members. If you look at our banner on the fence, we are inching toward the hundred
mark on the number of families making donations. It would be great to see if we can get well into the triple digits!
In addition, I am hearing that yesterday’s Community Day was a wonderful success. Here at Garden Gate, the staff ate
well and often. Yesterday, many of us made donations to eat a great pizza and salad lunch donated by BJ’s Restaurant .
We raised $515.00 from lunch alone! In the late afternoon, the majority of our Garden Gate staff went to TGI Friday’s for
an early dinner to support TFIN’s efforts.
Without your efforts, our school would be losing some of our wonderful teachers to budget cuts, as well as possible
reshuffling of our remaining teachers. We would be facing substantially increased class size in grades one through three.
With fewer than two weeks before the May 15th deadline, I sincerely hope our community will embrace this opportunity to
preserve the quality of education delivered today. The success of our students is possible only with the support and
dedication of our entire school community, including our teachers, staff, and our parents. We must continue to work
together to keep our school strong.
Thank you to the parents who have already made a contribution to Their Future Is Now! For those who have not yet
joined in, I encourage you to review the information available and reach out to have your questions answered. Please
visit www.CEEFcares.org to learn more.
I'm deeply moved that, as a school community, we are able to come together in support of our teachers and advocate for
our children's education. I hope you'll join me in supporting Their Future Is Now!
With gratitude,
Nancy Wood
CLASS ASSIGNMENTS FOR 2010-2011
The Garden Gate staff will begin planning for the 2010-2011 school year in the coming weeks. Planning includes initial
drafts of class lists. Student placement is done with careful consideration of the following factors: •Balance of boys and
girls. •Positive working relationships among students. •Heterogeneous (mixed ability) learning groups in all classrooms.
•Social needs of students. •Class configurations (size, combination classes, etc.). •Learning needs of students.
•Leadership needs within all classrooms.
The teachers and I will work together to make class assignments. Decisions we make, with regard to your child’s future
placement, reflect our best judgment as to where individual children will be the most successful. While we do not accept
requests for specific teachers, you are welcome and encouraged to share with us any information you feel would be
helpful in determining your child’s placement. If you are interested in giving us information that will help with the
placement of your child, you may pick up a “Parental Input” form in the office. The last date to submit this form is Friday,
May 27th. Class lists will be posted after 4:00 p.m. on August 18th, the day before school begins.
SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL SEEKS NOMINATIONS
The School Site Council (SSC) is asking for nominations for two parent positions on the SSC for next school year.
The SSC develops and monitors the School Plan and School Based Coordinated Program Budgets. The SSC is a
great way to be involved and to give input to our school programs. Our SSC is comprised of an equal number of staff
and parent representatives. The meetings are held once a month after school. If you are interested in serving on the
SSC, or if there is someone you would like to nominate, please complete the information below and return the form to
school by May 14th. If you have any questions concerning SSC, please contact Mrs. Patti Wolf at 252-5414 ext. 156.
School Site Council Nominations for the 2010 - 2011 School Year
I am interested in running for a position on the School Site Council:
Name: Phone Number:_________________________________________
I would like to nominate:
Name: Phone Number:__________________________________________
PTA CORNER PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA) NEWS & RESOURCES ! PAGE 3
+ HELLO GATORS,
The end of the school year is quickly coming to an end! We have less then six
weeks of school! Thursday, May 6th will be the last PTA meeting that I will run,
after that Merav Talmor, the new PTA President will run the June meeting. I hope
you will take the opportunity to attend at least one of the meetings in order to better
understand what we do. You are very welcome and encouraged to attend.
STAFF APPRECIATION WEEK
Staff appreciation week is coming - May 17th through 21st. Please look for more information in this week’s
green folder.
PTA MEETING, THIS THURSDAY AT 7:15 P.M. IN THE GLC
We will vote on donating to the “Their Future Is Now” campaign. If you are a member of the PTA, please
come to cast a vote. Remember, as a PTA member you have a say in how the PTA funds are spent. The PTA
Executive Board and the committees are not the PTA – all members of the PTA control the PTA, all you
have to do is come, listen and vote.
WALK-A-ROUND PLEDGES
Please bring in your fulfilled pledges by this Friday, May 7th! We will then tally the numbers and give the
raffle tickets to students. For three day, May 17-19, students will have the opportunity to place their raffle
tickets into their chosen prize boxes in the GLC. We will have the Raffle Drawing on Wednesday, May 19th.
Please assist your children with their pledge collections! Please note: Any matching funds are truly
appreciated but they cannot be counted towards raffle tickets. The matches are never certain until the check
arrives and it is often months after the raffle has ended. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.
“THEIR FUTURE IS NOW” CAMPAIGN
“Their Future is Now Campaign” has raised $1,516,036 Million as of Sunday night on their website. If you
have not already contributed to this effort to save our teachers and the quality teaching at our school, please
consider it right now –go to http://www.savecupertinoschools.org/. If this effort is successful at raising $3
million by May 12th , we will be able to continue to keep Garden Gate School as it is now. We will be able to keep
our teachers who work well together, and maintain small class sizes which is better for all students! Together we can
make this happen!
Kathleen McCulloch
Garden Gate PTA President
Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95014
GATORAID PAGE 4
EXT
N IN G TO G A RDEN GATE N ABSENCES AND TARDIES
RETUR Attendance and punctuality are important in establishing
YEAR? was sent
rn the form that
e and retu t good behaviors and building responsibility in young children.
Please complet garding your child’s enrollmen n Please ensure that your child is at school everyday and that
wee k re G ar de
home last returning to
ar. Will you be or they arrive on time. If your child will be absent, please call
plans for next ye ing to another CUSD school, the attendance line promptly (252-5414, ext. 6). If your child
ne xt ye ar , go S choo l
Gate o Union
of the Cupertin arrives after 8:00 a.m. they must report to the school office
moving outside ws the school district and our for a late slip before entering the classroom. Under state
lo
District? This al e enrollment numbers for law, three unexcused absences, tardies, or a combination
to de te rm in to your child’s
school e return the form you.. thereof are considered a truancy.
-2 01 1. P le as
2010 ank
as possible. Th
teacher as soon RECYCLING
Our Garden Gate Recycling Program is continuing in 2010!
Please remember to place all your recycling (plastic and
cans) into the blue bins that are located in the outside
GARDEN GATE BAND hallway by Friday of each week. They will not take milk
CONCERT cartons! All proceeds will go to the Marin Headlands
The Garden Gate Band concert will be Science School Fund.
held on Wednesday, May 12th at 7:00
p.m. in Garden Gate's GLC. Band SUMMER FLYERS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE
students need to arrive at 6:45 p.m. There is no strict dress SCHOOL OFFICE
code for these events but students are expected to dress The school office has many pamphlets and fliers
"nicely" (no T-shirts or jeans). So come out and see the from several organizations offering activities and
band! Hope to see you there. programs for students over the summer. They
include: Athletic opportunities, summer enrichment
Also, the band has recently returned from their annual band programs, camps, etc. If you are interested in
competition and has received three trophies; A first place receiving any of these, please stop by the school
elementary trophy with a rating of Excellent, an overall Best office.
Elementary Band award and, finally, the Esprit De Corp
Trophy for demonstrating outstanding behavior and decorum
DELIVERY OF LUNCH AND FORGOTTEN ITEMS
throughout the event.
Please make every effort to make sure your child brings any
item he/she needs for school such as: school books,
homework, a lunch box, jacket, band instrument, etc. with
LOST AND FOUND him/her each day. It is important for children to learn it’s their
Be sure to have your children check for lost items in our Lost responsibility to come to school prepared. If you need to
and Found area located behind the administrative building. bring your child an item, please come to the school office
Remind your child that it often takes a few days for an item and we will contact the child’s teacher during the break time
to find its way to the Lost and Found, so checking more than or recess. If your child forgot his/her lunch and you wish
once is recommended. Lost non-clothing items, such as to bring it, it must be in the office by 11:00 a.m. Please
glasses, keys, and jewelry, can be found in the office. remember that we do not call the classroom or interrupt
Please remember to label your children’s clothing and lunch the class while it is in session. Thank you for your
boxes. This will help us return lost items. Any clothing items understanding and support.
remaining after June 10th will be donated to a local charity.
CUPERTINO UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT LUNCH
DON’T LOSE YOUR PLACE AT GARDEN GATE PROGRAM
We have noticed that many families are starting to make Student lunch w/milk....................$2.75
travel plans for the summer break. This is just a reminder Weekly................................ $13.75
that CUSD policy states that all students must be in class Monthly.............................. $55.00
on the last day of school. Students risk losing their Milk or juice...................75¢ (all lunches include milk)
placement at Garden Gate School for the 2010/2011 school
year if they are not present on the last day of school, June PAMS website: www.pamslunchroom.com or to find out
10th. Students must also be present on the first day of the what the balance is on your child’s lunch account, you can
2010/2011 school year, August 19th, 2010. call this toll-free number: 1-888-994-5100.
Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95014
DISTRICT NEWS SECTION
GATORAID! PAGE 5
“THEIR FUTURE IS NOW!” FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
“THEIR FUTURE IS NOW!” has raised over $1.5 million!
May 15th is less than 2 weeks away, now is the time to join in
protecting our excellent school programs.
WIN A PARTY FOR YOUR SCHOOL!
When 55% of families at your school contribute, the ENTIRE school can have a free party either at
Strikes (bowling) or Golfland Sunnyvale (mini-golf). Go to www.CEEFcares.org and be counted as a
proud supporter of our children's education.
99 RANCH MARKET GIVE BACK DAY - WEDNESDAY, MAY 12TH
Shop at 99 Ranch Market Cupertino on Wednesday, May 12th and 3% of all sales will be donated to
“Their Future Is Now” Campaign! Stop in for groceries, stock up on freezer and pantry items, or grab
take-out lunch or dinner from 99 Ranch Market's extensive Chinese food deli and bakery. All sales
from the Cupertino Village location (10983 North Wolfe Road) will count towards 99 Ranch Market's
contribution. Please spread the word to your friends, neighbors and coworkers.
SUBMIT YOUR CORPORATE MATCH
Please process your corporate match paperwork ASAP! All confirmed verifications will be counted in
the 5/15 deadline, even if actual disbursement is later! Please complete the process, and send an email
to let us know at corpmatch.TheirFutureIsNow@gmail.com. Donate directly to TFIN first, then apply for
match.
DISTRICT HEALTH UPDATE
McNeil Consumer Healthcare has recently called for a voluntary recall of certain over the
counter infant and children's products. This voluntary recall has not been undertaken on
the basis of adverse
medical events.
Parents and caregivers are being asked not to give these products to their children as a
precaution. While the potential for serious medical events is remote, the company advises
consumers to discontinue their use. In addition, if you have medication at the school site for your
child, you may want to check the lot number and replace the medication as necessary. For
further information call 1-888-222-6036 or at www.mcneilproductrecall.com.
Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95014
