GATORAID

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

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SCHOOL CALENDAR
SEPTEMBER 15, 2011
9/15 9/15 9/15 9/20 9/21 9/22 9/23 9/30 10/3 & 10/10 10/6-10/14 10/6 10/7 10/7 10/11 10/17-10/21 10/19 10/20 10/20 10/24-10/28 10/25 10/26 10/28 10/28 10/31 8:15-10:00 a.m. 7:30-8:30 p.m. 8:00-9:30 a.m. 3:45 p.m. 6:30-7:30 p.m. 6:00-7:30 p.m. 7:15 p.m. 12:00 p.m. 3:45 p.m. 5:30-7:30 p.m. 6:00-8:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 8:15 a.m. 3:00-5:00 p.m. WHOLE FOODS GROCERY DAY - CUPERTINO SPECTRA ART ORIENTATION FOR PARENTS - SPECTRA ART ROOM SCIENCE CAMP GR. 5 PARENT INFORMATION MTG. - GLC PROJECT CORNERSTONE MEETING - STAFF ROOM SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL MEETING SAFETY NIGHT STAFF LEARNING DAY - NO SCHOOL SPIRITWEAR ORDERING DEADLINE HUMAN GROWTH & DEVELOPMENT PREVIEW GR. 5 PARENTS @ COLLINS SCHOOL PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES PTA MEETING - GLC DIRECT DONATION CONTEST DEADLINE REFLECTION ART CONTEST DEADLINE C.U.S.D. BOARD MEETING - DISTRICT OFFICE SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR - GLC SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL MEETING BOOK FAIR FALL SOCIAL RED RIBBON WEEK C.U.S.D. BOARD MEETING INDIVIDUAL STUDENT PICTURES HALLOWEEN PARADE FALL CELEBRATION - GARDEN GATE FIELD STAFF LEARNING DAY - NO SCHOOL

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....MS. HUCKO!

Dear Parents, Thank you to all of the parents who attended Back-to-School Night! It was great to see you taking an active role in your childs education. As you continue to build relationships with your childs teachers, please remember that they are a wonderful resource; they can provide advice and answers to your questions. At our Parent-Teacher Conferences in October, each of you will have an extended opportunity to sit down with your childs teacher and discuss goals for the year. Congratulations to our newly tenured teachers: Miss Kuhn and Miss Trop! They were honored at the CUSD Board meeting on Wednesday, September 7.

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The California Department Of Education recently released the API score for schools. The API measures the academic performance of each public school in California. The state then sets targets for annual improvement and determines if growth targets have been met. The state goal for all schools is 800. While our overall score decreased by 2 points, we continue to rank as one of the highest performing schools in the state, with an API of 988. I am happy to report that Garden Gate students met all growth targets set by the state. Thank you for continuing to value the school/home partnership that creates a positive and challenging learning environment for our children.

Promote effective study habits for a successful school year! Homework can be a major source of conflict for parents and kids. But even if study time goes well in your family, it's important to make sure you're covering the basics. Take small, simple steps that promote cooperation and good study habits. Remember to: 1. Choose a regular time and place for studying. It should be somewhere quiet with no TV or similar distractions. Pick a comfortable spot and stock it with necessities. Kids study better, and with fewer complaints, when they follow a routine. 2. Allow free time first. Some kids need to blow off steam after school by exercising or chatting. Many also head straight for a snack or drink. Keep healthy options available that will energize your child for work and play. 3. Encourage organization. Productive studying starts with a to-do list. Older elementary school students should make one each day. 4. Postpone screen time. Watching TV and playing video games are privileges that often take away from priorities, including homework, reading and socializing. Save all screen time for after homework and studying. 5. Pay attention. Homework time is a chance for you to learn about your child. Does she excel at reading? Struggle with multiplication? Have trouble with spelling? Work with her teacher to build on her strengths and overcome challenges. 6. Be supportive. Don't do your child's homework for her. But do stay nearby to supervise. It's okay to answer questions and guide your child through problems. But if you feel she needs too much help in an area, talk with her teacher. Reprinted with permission from the September 2011 issue of Parents make the difference! (Elementary School Edition) newsletter. Copyright 2011 The Parent Institute, a division of NIS, Inc. Propellers

Do you wonder how to connect better with your children? Do you wonder what matters to them, and how you can assist them to grow up to be healthy, caring and responsible citizens? I encourage you to try a "propeller" - a question intended to spark conversations with your children. Try it around the dinner table tonight! This week's propeller: What is the hardest thing about making new friends? What is the best thing?

PTA CORNER

PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA) NEWS & RESOURCES

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HelloGatorFamilies, NextThursday,September22ndisGardenGatesAnnualSAFETYNIGHT. Pleasemarkyourcalendarstoattendthiseventthatwillbeinformativeand educationalforbothchildrenandparents.Theprogramwillbeginat6:30p.m. andendat7:30p.m.Therewillbefun,handsonpresentationsbytheSheriffs DepartmentandtheFireDepartmentforthechildren.Parentswilllearnabout safetyinthehomeandintheneighborhood,CityofCupertinosemergency preparednessplans,howtosignupforAlertSSCandmuchmore!Weneed parentvolunteerstohelpusduringSafetyNight,soifyouwouldliketodoso, pleasecontactAngeliaKan@3738788. Spiritwear YouwillbereceivingacopyoftheSpiritwearorderforminyourchildsgreenfoldertoday.Thelastdayto orderSpiritwearforyourchildoryourselfisFriday,September30th.Thisyear,theTshirtsareroyal blueandthezipperedhoodedsweatshirtsareblack.Theyaretheperfectclothingitemsinyourchilds wardrobetowearonSchoolSpiritDay,atSchooleventsandespeciallyonFIELDTRIPS.Yourchildwill lovetowearit!ShowyourGardenGateschoolspiritandorderonebeforetimerunsout! PTA - Reflections Entries TheReUlectionscontestdeadlineisFriday,October7th!ReUlectionsisawonderfulprogramthatissure toinspirechildrentoexploretheircreativity.ThethemethisyearisDiversitymeans Pleaseencourageyourchildtoparticipateandhavefuncreatinghis/herworkofart!Youcandownload therulesandstudententryformbyvisitingthePTAwebsite@ http://www.teacherweb.com/ca/gardengateelementaryschool/gardengatePTA HaveaHappyWeek! AzmehMalik GardenGatePTAPresident

Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95125

GATORAID!
NOON YARD SUPERVISOR NEEDED We are in need of a noon duty supervisor for our playground MondayFriday from 11:35 to 12:35. It is a paid position at $8.15 an hour. This is an opportunity to work with wonderful children, while helping the school maintain a safe and happy environment. If you are interested in being a yard duty supervisor, please contact Linda in the office at 252-5414 ext. 103. Thank you! TUESDAYS ARE EARLY DISMISSAL DAYS
Please dont forget that Tuesdays are early dismissal days for all students. Students in Grades 1-5 are dismissed at 1:30 p.m. Morning Kindergarten students are dismissed at 11:10 a.m. and afternoon Kindergarten students are dismissed at 1:30 p.m. Please be on time. You can also make arrangements for after school care with the Child Development Center located in room #21 on campus. Thank you! SPIRIT WEAR ORDERS! Friday, September 30 is the last opportunity to place your order for a 2011-2012 Garden Gate t-shirt and/or sweatshirt. These are available in both adult and children sizes (sample of sizes are in the school office). This is the only window of opportunity to place an order this school year. Additional forms are available in the school office. PRE-PAY FOR SCHOOL LUNCHES ONLINE For your convenience, you are encouraged to pay for your childrens school lunches online. If you do not have an account set up, go to http://www.paypams.com or call 1-888-994-5100. You will need to provide your childs PIN and billing information. Payments may be made by credit/debit cards or by electronic check withdrawal from your bank account. You can make payments, view your childs payment history and change payment preferences 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This web or phone site can also be used by parents to check account balances. If parents choose not to pay on-line or by phone, the inquiry service is still free to use. Parents can simply use their childs PIN to set up an account with no payment required. The lunch price is $2.75 for students. The milk and juice price is 75 cents. Lunch menus are posted on the district web-site. www.cupertino.ca.campusgrid.net/home

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LUNCH FROM HOME If your child forgot their lunch at home in the morning and you are bringing it to school, please place your childs name and room number directly on the lunch bag and place it in the lunch bin located in front of the office before 11:00 am. Student office helpers will deliver the lunch to your childs classroom. Please note: Parents are not permitted to sit at the lunch tables with their child. VISITING CAMPUS All visitors, whether entering classrooms as volunteers or meeting with teachers, Must Sign In at the office and obtain a visitors name tag when school is in session. For the safety of all, we need to know who is on the campus. The only exceptions are at student arrival and dismissal times. If you are taking your child out of school for any reason, ALWAYS sign your child out from school through the office and then back in when he/ she returns. DOCTOR AND DENTIST APPOINTMENTS The state of California allows medical/dental appointments as excused absences. Garden Gates policy for these must be accompanied by a medical note. Please make appointments for after school or Saturdays. When this is not possible, children must be signed out by a parent (or someone authorized on the enrollment card) in the school office. After signing a child out, the teacher will be notified and your student will come to the office. Students are not allowed to come to the office to sit and wait to be picked up as they often lose valuable class time. Again, this is for the safety of your children.

SCRIP AND eScrip

Scrip Gift Cards and eScrip are two fundraising programs that parents (also family and friends) can participate in to raise money for the PTA at NO COST to the participant. Scrip gift cards can be purchased on Tuesday afternoons between 1:15 1:45 p.m. and also on Friday mornings between 7:45-8:15 a.m. Scrip is spent just like cash on everyday expenses. eScrip also provides an easy way to earn money for the PTA. Participating merchants donate a percentage of purchases to the school. Parents (also family and friends) should visit www.escrip.com to register their credit/debit cards, Safeway Card, and PW Supermarket Card. Be sure to specify Garden Gate Elementary School (eScrip number is 139188329.) For those who dont have internet access, please fill out and turn in an eScrip registration form (available during scrip sales times or in the school office). Already Registered eScrip Participants: Please visit www.escrip.com and click on YES RENEW or turn in an eScrip registration form to renew your Safeway Club card. Questions? E-mail us at ggscrip.com or see us during scrip sales times. Carolyn Young, Scrip

Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95125

GATORAID!
DISTRICT NEWS SECTION CEEF CELEBRATES SUMMER READERS!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm Nimitz Elementary School 545 E. Cheyenne Drive Sunnyvale, CA

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Congratulations to everyone who participated in our first Summer Read-a-Thon! Did you spend the summer with Jack & Annie, the Guardians of Ga'Hoole, Junie B. Jones, or Harry Potter? We salute you for activating your reading powers! Join us on Tuesday 9/20 as we celebrate our readers, award prizes, and draw the LUCKY iPad 2 WINNER. Daffy Dave, LIVE children's entertainer, will also be there with jokes, music and magic! All District students and family are welcome (you do not have to be a Summer Read-a-Thon registrant, just come join the fun). Organized by CEEF, a community leader for excellence in local education.

HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT PREVIEW

Children need to acquire accurate information about the growth and development of boys and girls so that they can make responsible decisions. In keeping with this concept, the Cupertino Union School District promotes informed, responsible action through instruction, which supports the home in this important area of human behavior. Parents will be provided an opportunity to preview a sampling of the Grade 5 Human Growth and Development videos that will be shown to your children. The previews are scheduled for two nights Monday, October 3 or Monday, October 10, 6:00 7:30 p.m. at Collins Elementary School Guided Learning Center, 10300 N. Blaney Avenue, Cupertino. Children are not recommended to attend no childcare provisions are available.

WHOLE FOODS GROCERY DAYS

Turn your grocery purchases into dollars for Great Schools! Shop at Whole Foods Cupertino - 20955 Stevens Creek Blvd. Thursday, September 15, 2011 8 a.m. 10 p.m. Stock your pantry and freezer or grab lunch or dinner to go! 5% of net sales all day will benefit all CUSD students. Look for upcoming Great Schools Grocery Days at www.ceefcares.org! Organized by the Cupertino Educational Endowment Foundation (CEEF) A Community Partner for Excellence in Local Education.

AFTER SCHOOL ENRICHMENT PROGRAM The City of Cupertino and the Cupertino Union School District have collaborated the last 16 years on providing enriching after school classes for students throughout the Cupertino Union School District. The After School Enrichment program offers a variety of educational and recreational classes for your children no further than the classroom next door! The Fall 2011 brochure will be delivered to the schools the week of September 26, 2011. Registration will also begin Monday, September 26, 2011. In addition, there will be a brochure available online at www.cupertino.org and in the Quinlan Community Center front office located at 10185 North Stelling Road, Cupertino 95014. Classes for the Fall session will begin the week of October 17, 2011. For more information please call (408) 777-3120 or log on to www.cupertino.org.
Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95125