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School Phone: 408-252-5414 ~ Absence Line 408-252-5414-6 ~ FAX 408-996-9725

GATORAID

B o a r d o f E d u c a t i o n

S u p e r i n t e n d e n t

P h i l Q u o n

B o a r d M e m b e r s :

A n j a l i K a u s a r B e n L i a o , J o s e p h i n e L u c e y , G a r y M c C u e ,P h y l l i s V o g e l

G A R D E N G A T E E L E M E N T A R Y C U P E R T I N O U N I O N S C H O O L D I S T R I C T 1 0 5 0 0 A N N A R B O R A V E N U E C U P E R T I N O , C A 9 5 0 1 4

N a n c y W o o d

- P r i n c i p a l K a t h l e e n M c C u l l o c h - P T A P r e s i d e n t A l i c i a H a n c o c k - S h e p a r d - S S C C h a i r p e r s o n

SCHOOL CALENDAR

DECEMBER 3, 2009

12/3 7:15 p.m. PTA MEETING12/4 REPORT CARDS GO HOME12/8 6:00 p.m. C.U.S.D. BOARD MTG. - DISTRICT BOARD ROOM12/15 ALL LIBRARY BOOKS ARE DUE12/16 3:45 p.m. SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL MEETING 12/16 6:30 p.m. H.E.A.S.T. PERFORMANCE - GLC12/18 SCHOOL SPIRIT DAY - “PAJAMA DAY”12/18 CLASS HOLIDAY PARTIES

12/21-1/1 WINTER RECESS- NO SCHOOL

1/4/10 SCHOOL RESUMES1/7 7:15 p.m. PTA MEETING1/15 SCHOOL SPIRIT DAY - “CRAZY HAT”

1/18 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY - NO SCHOO

1/20 3:45 p.m. SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL MEETING1/20 7:00 p.m. S’COOL SPIRIT WINTER CONCERT - GLC1/25 8:30 p.m. KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION PACKETS AVAILABLE1/26 6:00 p.m. C.U.S.D. BOARD MTG. - DISTRICT BOARD ROOM1/28 7:30 p.m. GRADE 4 MUSIC PERFORMANCE - GLC1/30 5:30 p.m. CEEF GALA - FAIRMONT HOTEL, SAN JOSE

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 andview 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.orgATTENDANCE: 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.

Parent Trafﬁc Duty: December 7th - 11th Parents from Rm. #11.

Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95014

Dear Parents

,I hope that you had a restful and enjoyable Thanksgiving Break. It’s hard to believe we are already in December and we are beginning thesecond school trimester! However, that’s where we are and your children will be bringing home their first trimester report cards this Friday. Ianticipate that there will be lots of opportunities to express one’s pride on the children’s accomplishments, as well as giving encouragementwhere needed. You might want to take a look at the following article for some helpful hints in discussing your children’s progress so far thisyear.

TALKING OVER YOUR CHILD’S REPORT CARD

By Skila Brown (www.education.com)

It’s here. The dreaded first home delivery of the report card. Whether you’re pulling it out of a backpack or pulling it up on a computer screen,there’s a moment of anticipation and maybe even dread. Indeed parents seem obligated to use the report card moment as a pep talk. But expertsaren’t sure this is the right way to go. Maria Pickard, guidance counselor in Memphis, Tennessee, warns parents against saying too much.“Students come to rely too heavily on their parents’ reaction to their scores. When what we really want is to have them reacting themselves. If parents could just use that moment to get their kids thinking for themselves about how they did, report cards would be a more effective tool for motivating kids to perform better.” The most basic advice for parents is to ask open-ended questions instead of yes-or-no ones. Think of thereport card as a conversation-starter. A way for your child to talk about how she’s doing in each area, what is easy or hard for her, and how youcan help her to do better.Here are more tips for talking about report cards with your child:* Ask your child how she thinks she did. This opens up the dialogue for any problems she’s having in the class or reasons for a less than stellar performance. And it sets the tone for parents to listen.* If the teacher is commenting on your child’s chattiness or inability to listen, don’t set yourself up for an argument. Instead of asking why he’schatty or why she can’t sit still, ask, “Why do you think the teacher feels you have trouble listening?” Getting your child to explain from theteacher’s point of view enables him to think about how his actions are being interpreted.* Offer specific praise and encouragement instead of broad statements. Try: “You worked very hard to bring up your math grade this period,”instead of “Great job in math.”* Separate your child from his grades. No parent wants his child to feel his self-worth is derived from what teachers say about him. Consider statements like, “I love you, but I don’t like this report card” as a way to distinguish between the two.* Focus on a way to do better. Instead of telling your child to pull up her history grade, talk together to find a way she can improve her scores inthat class. Come up with a plan. Write it down. Finally, communicate it to the teacher, so that you’re all on the same page.*Handle praise with care. If your child consistently brings home amazing report cards, it may be difficult to know what to say. “Good job” losesits meaning and has almost no affect. Consider reminding your child how she got those grades, and prompting her to find some self-satisfaction. “I am not surprised you have all these great grades on your

report card.

I saw you working very hard this term and it looks likeit’s paid off. I bet you feel very proud!”How big of a deal should you make about report cards? Well, that usually depends upon your child. If he’s visibly stressed out because hisreport isn’t perfect, your reaction should be very low-key. If she seems ambivalent about the negative comments and poor grades, you’ll probably want to emphasize it more.Remember that report cards are simply a way for your child’s school to formally record his progress. Progress is the key. It’s a way for you tosee what your child is learning and how he is performing in school. But it’s not the final say on how smart he is. If we approach report cards withthat attitude, we’ll be able to offer the encouragement our child needs for success in school.

PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA) NEWS & RESOURCES

Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95014

Hello Gator Families,

I hope you each had a joyful Thanksgiving Holiday.

PTA Budget Survey

I have received 85 budgeting surveys to date. Thank you to everyone who madethe effort and returned the survey. Your response will help us direct the funds. Iwill continue to take the surveys until the PTA meeting this Thursday (7:15 p.m. in the GLC).At this meeting we will review the budgeting survey results and have discussion based on them. Pleasecome to listen and be heard, everyone is welcome. We do not have babysitters, but you are welcome tobring your children.

Walk-Around Leader Needed

One important PTA position that we still need to fill this year is the Chairperson for the Walk-A-Round.Last year, we came very close to canceling the event because we had no one to lead it. LavanyaSivakumar stepped in and did an awesome job, however this year, she is busy with a new baby!Last year, when I first spoke to Lavanya about leading it, she was doubtful – but she took it on and wasincredible! So please contact me if you are interested in being involved with the Walk-Around as a leader or as an assistant. Thank you!

Something to Think About

The PTA President and Vice President volunteers hold their positions for two years. Our terms will expireat the end of this school year. Beginning In January we will start to take nominations for next year’s PTAboard and committee positions.Please consider volunteering for one of the vacant positions and also think about the people you knowwho might also be interested. The PTA is run by parents. Everyone who is currently serving was at firstafraid. . . afraid of the commitment, afraid of the duties, or just afraid of the unknown.The PTA has to rebuild itself, at least in part, every year. So look at yourself, grab a friend and volunteer together! We do have a lot of fun, friendships are formed, and we grow in skills and spirit as a unit. Allthe while, we are improving the educational experience for our children. So when the new year comesaround, please keep an open mind about becoming active in the Garden Gate PTA. If you would likeinformation regarding the Walk-A-Round Chairperson position, please call me at (408) 343-1232.

See you at the PTA meeting, Thursday at 7:15 in the GLC!

Kathleen McCullochPresident and Lead Volunteer, Garden Gate PTA