GATORAID

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

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SCHOOL CALENDAR
DECEMBER 15, 2011
12/16 12/16 3:30 p.m PAJAMA DAY - SCHOOL SPIRIT DAY FLAG FOOTBALL - GARDEN GATE AT REGNART

12/19-1/2 1/3/2012
1/5 1/9 1/10 1/16 1/18 1/18 1/18 1/20 1/24 1/28 1/30 2/1-2/3 2/2 2/6-2/16 2/10-16 7:15 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 3:45 p.m. 6:15 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 8:30 a.m. 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. 7:15 p.m.

WINTER RECESS - NO SCHOOL SCHOOL RESUMES

PTA MEETING VISION SCREENING - GRADES 1, 3 C.U.S.D. BOARD MEETING MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. HOLIDAY - NO SCHOOL CLASS GROUP PICTURES SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL MEETING SCOOL SPIRIT BAND CONCERT CRAZY HAIR DAY - SCHOOL SPIRIT DAY C.U.S.D. BOARD MEETING 2012 CEEF GALA - EVENING OF ALOHA - FAIRMONT HOTEL, SAN JOSE 2012-2013 KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION PACKET PICK UP BEGINS 2012-2013 TRANSITIONAL KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION AT DISTRICT OFFICE IN STUDENT ASSIGNMENT (CHILDREN TURNING 5 YEARS OLD BETWEEN 11/2-12/2, 2012) P.T.A. MEETING 2012-2013 KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION PACKETS DUE 2011-2012 OPEN ENROLLMENT & ALTERNATIVE ED. REGISTRATION

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!

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THE GARDEN GATE STAFF WISHES YOU A WONDERFUL AND JOYOUS HOLIDAY SEASON!

PTA CORNER

PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA) NEWS & RESOURCES

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Hello Everyone!
Were off to the Winter Break tomorrow and here are a few important updates Id like to share with you. REFLECTIONS COUNCIL LEVEL WINNERS! I am delighted to announce that four Garden Gate students submitted Reflection entries that have won at the Council Level and will now move forward to the District Level! These students will be invited to attend an award ceremony to be held the beginning of March at Lynbrook High School. Congratulations to the following winners: Primary Level (KG - Gr. 2): Literature - Vinay Patil, Photography - Prachi Soni Intermediate Level (Gr.3 - Gr.5): Musical Composition - Rithvik Agastya, Visual Arts - Alyssa Nie LETS COLLECT BOX TOPS FOR A NEW PLAY STRUCTURE! Garden Gate students and the PTA have a new mission! We would like ALL students to begin collecting Box Tops to raise funds for a new playground structure! Parents can also join this exciting endeavor by purchasing gift cards at our Scrip table and by signing up for e-Scrip. This is a unique and wonderful opportunity to inspire our children to work for a common cause and to have a sense of pride as they support their school. Please talk to your kids about this project and encourage them to collect funds for a new play structure! GET READY FOR INTERNATIONAL DAY! The International Day event will be held on Tuesday, March 27th, 2012. This will be a wonderful celebration of our multi-cultural Garden Gate community and will provide an opportunity to share our unique cultural heritage with our students. The PTA is planning for a morning full of student performances, exhibits, and demonstrations by parents who will be featuring countries from all over the world! We invite all parents to participate in this exciting event by sharing their wonderful and unique culture and heritage or to help the performers learn a new dance or presentation. You can find more details and information on how to sign-up in the flier that is coming home today in your childs green folder. PTA WEBSITE REMINDER: PLEASE SIGN-UP We need ALL Garden Gate volunteers to sign-up on our PTA website. Please remember to go to the website and take a few minutes to fill the online form. This will help us build a new and improved volunteer database. Have a wonderful holiday break and a Happy New Year. See you in 2012! Azmeh Malik, Garden Gate PTA President

The Fairmont Hotel, San Jose Saturday, January 28, 2012 5:30 p.m. .Please join the Cupertino Educational Endowment Foundation (CEEF) for An Evening of Aloha on January 28, 2012 at the Fairmont San Jose as we celebrate our CUSD Teachers of the Year and raise support for CUSD educational programs. As in years past, 100% of the net proceeds from this fundraiser will be distributed equitably to each school within our district. Tickets are now available on-line via the following link:

CEEFS 2012 GALA: "AN EVENING OF ALOHA"

http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=8c0b875abeeecf76fa1ed488e&id=5550c6f18d&e=
We look forward to celebrating with you! Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95125

GATORAID!
Class Wish Lists
At this time of the year many parents ask for suggestions of what teachers would like for a holiday gift. A hand made card or item from a student is considered a precious gift from the heart! If however, you would like to purchase something that a teacher would like for his/her classroom, the teachers have made Wish Lists which are available in the school office.

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Booster Seat Law Is Changing!

Starting January 1st 2012, children will need to ride in booster seats in the back seat until their 8th birthday. The exception is if a child is 4 feet 9 inches or taller. This will apply to all field trips at school. If your child is under the height or age requirement, please provide a booster for them so they can participate on field trips beginning in January. For more information, visit http://www.iihs.org/laws/childrestraint.aspx

Lost and Found

School Spirit Day - Pajama Day

Please check the Lost and Found shelves located at the back of the school office building for your childrens missing items. There are many articles of clothing along with lunch containers and other items that have been found. Thank you.

Garden Gates Student Council is sponsoring Pajama Day tomorrow, December 16th. Students can come to school in pajama attire such as long sleeve pajama tops and bottoms or sweats. They may also bring slippers to wear in the classroom if approved by their teacher, but they must also bring their shoes. We are looking for a comfortable and cozy day!

Independent Study (IS) Contracts

Extended Scrip/Gift Card Sale

Location: Scrip Tables (outside of the school office). Thursday, 1:45 2:45 p.m. Friday 7:45 8:15 a.m. and 1:45 2:45 p.m. Scrip Orders can also be turned in and picked up in the school office. Gift Cards are available for immediate purchase. Shop early for best selection. American Express cards (no fees) and Garden Gate Gift Certificates can also be purchased for teacher gifts. Gift Certificates allow the teachers to select their own gift cards. Stock up on AMC Gold ($8) and Silver ($6.50) tickets for the holiday movies. AMC and Century Entertainment Cards are also available for bargain matinees.

Please remember to schedule your vacations during school recess periods so students miss as few school days as possible. Garden Gates curriculum is rich and moves at a fast pace. However, if your student is away from school for a minimum of 5 to a maximum of 10 school days, please inform your teacher and come by the school office to fill out an Independent Study Contract request form at least 2 weeks before your departure date. Students benefit from doing IS work while gone and the absences are excused when the packet is returned the first day back and meets the standards expected by the teacher.

CUSD Independent Study Policies:

Cold Weather Reminder

Now that the weather is getting colder, please send your child to school with a jacket, sweatshirt, or extra layer of clothing. Whether at physical education, recess, or lunch, students have outdoor activities unless it is unusually cold, windy, or rainy.

A student must be enrolled for three consecutive weeks before an Independent Study contract can be initiated. To receive credit for the days away, the contract homework must be completed while the child is gone and returned to the teacher the first day the student is back in school. If the Independent Study work is not completed and returned, the days missed will be recorded as unexcused absences. Students who are absent for more than 10 consecutive school days will be dropped from the school roster. When the dropped student returns, they will be reinstated in their home school only if there is space available. If there are no spaces, the student will be assigned to another school in the district, and put on a wait list at the home school. If you are traveling for less than five school days, your childs absence will be recorded as unexcused. If you have questions about attendance or Independent Study, please contact the school office. Thank you.

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

GATORAID!
2012-2013 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR

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The Board of Education just approved the 2012-2013 school year calendar during the board meeting held on November 15, 2011. The full calendar is available on the Districts website at www.cusdk8.org. Here are the important dates for the District and Murdock-Portal Elementary School for next year:

2012-2013 District Calendar (All schools

except Murdock-Portal)

2012-2013 Murdock-Portal Calendar August 13, 2012 September 3, 2012 October 8-19, 2012 November 12, 2012 November 19-23, 2012 Dec. 24, 2012-Jan. 4, 2013 January 21, 2013 February 18-22, 2013 April 8-19, 2013 May 27, 2013 June 25, 2013

Students Return Labor Day October Break Veterans Day Observed Thanksgiving Recess Winter Recess Martin Luther King Day Mid-Year Recess Spring Recess Memorial Day Last Day of School

August 20, 2012 September 3, 2012 (Murdock-Portal only) November 12, 2012 November 19-23, 2012 Dec. 24, 2012-Jan. 4, 2013 January 21, 2013 February 18-22, 2013 April 15-19, 2013 May 27, 2013 June 12, 2013

IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Students must be residing in the District at the time of registration and be available for any necessary testing. Registration and Open Enrollment for the 2012-2013 school year is as follows: Kindergarten Registration for all Attendance Area Schools: February 6 February 16 at the respective attendance area school. Any child who will be five years old on or before November 1, 2012 is eligible to attend kindergarten for the 2012-2013 school year. Only parents/guardians may pick up a registration packet at their attendance area school beginning January 30, 2012. Registration packets are numbered sequentially except at Stocklmeir Elementary School as this school site will hold a Kindergarten Lottery. The registration number on the packet is only valid for packets returned between February 6 through February 16, 2012. Packets returned after February 16, 2012 will not be eligible for the Districts Lottery and Kindergarten Registration will be in the order that completed Registration Packets are received. A Stocklmeir Elementary School Kindergarten lottery has been added to the 2012-2013 school year registration process as of November 14, 2011. A Kindergarten lottery for Stocklmeir Elementary School will be held on March 1, 2012 for Kindergarten students whose parent/guardian registered during the Kindergarten Registration window February 6 February 16, 2012 only. Please visit the Districts website at www.cusdk8.org, for more information regarding the Stocklmeir Kindergarten Lottery for the 2012-2013 school year. At Stocklmeir only, packets returned between February 6 February 16, 2012 will be included in the Stocklmeir Kindergarten Lottery. Packets returned after February 16, 2012 are not eligible for Kindergarten Lottery and/or District Lottery, and Kindergarten Registration will be in the order that completed Registration Packets are received. Transitional Kindergarten (TK) Registration for all Attendance Area Schools: February 1 February 3, 2012. (Satellite Sites: Regnart and John Muir) A child is eligible for Transitional Kindergarten if a child will have his/her 5th birthday between November 2 and December 2, 2012. You may register your child for Transitional Kindergarten at the District Office, Student Assignment Department, from 8:30-3:00 p.m. Please visit the Districts website at www.cusdk8.org for more TK information. Open Enrollment Requests K-8: February 10 - 16, 2012 at the School of Desired Attendance. All in-district kindergarten students must be registered at their attendance area school before requesting Open Enrollment to another attendance area school or an Alternative Education Program The District's open enrollment process is a clear statement of the Board of Education's policy to offer parents choices to meet individual student needs whenever possible. If you would like your child to attend another school next year for any reason, Open Enrollment or Alternative Education procedures must be followed. Detailed registration information is available on the District website or by contacting the Student Assignment Office, (408) 252-3000, Extension 110. During Open Enrollment/Alternative Education Registration, requests may be made to one school only, and forms should be completed at the school of desired attendance. As district enrollment continues to increase, space for open enrollment transfers may be limited at some schools or specific grade levels. If your child is not selected for the school requested during the open enrollment period, parents may apply to other schools beginning April 1, 2012. Alternative Education Program Registration (Faria and Murdock-Portal grades K-5; McAuliffe and Mandarin Immersion grades K-8): February 10-16, 2012. Parents who do not already have a child in a particular alternative program are required to attend a program information meeting and school tour before applying for that program. Please Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 other program information. contact the appropriate school for meeting/tour dates andAnn Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95125 Registration for new students in grades 1 8 begins March 1, 2012