GATORAID

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

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SCHOOL CALENDAR
September 2, 2010

9/2 7:15 p.m. PTA MEETING - GLC

9/6 LABOR DAY - NO SCHOOL
9/7 6:30 p.m. S’COOL SPIRIT BAND NIGHT
9/14 6:00 p.m. C.U.S.D. BOARD MEETING AT NIMITZ SCHOOL
9/16 BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT - PARENTS ONLY
6:45 p.m. KINDERGARTEN-3RD GR. PARENTS IN CLASSROOMS
7:30-7:45 p.m. ALL PARENTS IN THE GLC
7:45-8:30 p.m. GRADES 4 & 5 PARENTS IN CLASSROOMS
9/17 STAFF LEARNING DAY - NO SCHOOL
9/23 6:30-8:00 p.m. SAFETY NIGHT - GLC
9/27-10/1 SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR
9/28 6:00 p.m. C.U.S.D. BOARD MEETING - D.O.
9/30 6:00-8:00 p.m. FALL ICE CREAM SOCIAL AND BOOK FAIR - GLC
10/1 SPIRITWEAR ORDERING DEADLINE
10/7 7:15 p.m. PTA MEETING - GLC
10/7-10/15 PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES
10/8 DIRECT DONATION CONTEST DEADLINE
10/8 REFLECTION ART CONTEST DEADLINE

Parent Traffic Duty: September 7th. - 10th Parents from Rm. #9

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

Please Help Us Out By…

• waiting for your children under the shade structure at the back of the school or at the snack tables in front
of Rooms 1 and 2 at dismissal times.
• not letting your children play on the playground equipment while waiting for older siblings to be dismissed.
• never, ever let your child wait unsupervised for an older sibling. You or your designee needs to be with the
child.
• not parking and leaving your car curbside during arrival and dismissal times. This really impedes our
traffic process and makes things unsafe.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe school environment for your children.

Back to School Night – Thursday, September 16, 6:45 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Garden Gate’s Back to School Night is scheduled for Thursday, September 16, 2010. The schedule is as follows:

6:45 – 7:25 p.m. Grades K - 3 (In classrooms)

7:30 - 7:45 p.m. GLC (Introductions/announcements)
7:45 – 8:30 p.m. Grades 4 - 5 (In classrooms)

We look forward to seeing all of you on that evening. Please remember that this is an evening for adults only. Thank
you.

Staff Learning Day – Friday, September 17, 2010 – Some “Big Ideas” to Think About
Please note that Friday, September 17, is a staff learning day. It is not a school day for students.
Our staff will focus on our development as a professional learning community in the morning. In the afternoon, our
focus will be on technology and grade level collaboration.

Two other elementary schools, Stevens Creek and Eisenhower, will join us at Garden Gate for the morning
activities. Although the concept and implementation of professional learning communities (PLCs) involves a rather
complex process, a brief explanation from Richard Dufour, a national expert in PLCs, says "To create a professional
learning community, focus on learning rather than on teaching, work collaboratively, and hold yourself accountable
for results."

Mr. DuFour points out that there are three “Big Ideas” to the concept of PLCs. “Big Idea #1” is focused on ensuring
that students learn. The key is having the focus shift from teaching to learning. Historically, in education, we have
focused on teacher’s delivery of instruction rather than evidence of student learning. “Big Idea #2” involves
building a systematic and sustainable culture of collaboration. This differs from simply working together on projects
occasionally to one where time is embedded in the school year for teachers to analyze and discuss student
progress as well as their own classroom practices, as they relate to student achievement. “Big Idea #3” measures
success on the basis of results. Effective PLCs measure student achievement continuously, not just at the end of a
unit. On-going student evaluation is also called “formative assessment.” Assessment administered at the end of a
teaching unit is called “summative assessment.” Both are necessary to ensure student growth. The good news at
Garden Gate is that many of the structures necessary for a successful professional learning community are already
in place. Our staff is continuously looking for ways to increase our effectiveness as educators. We are looking
forward with anticipation to this year’s professional development opportunities. We know that highly skilled and
knowledgeable teachers have a direct and positive impact on your children’s learning in the classroom. 

Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95125
PTA CORNER PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA) NEWS & RESOURCES ! PAGE 3

Hello Gators Families,

Please attend our first PTA meeting of the year, tonight, Thursday,
September 2nd at 7:15 p.m. in the GLC.

For those who are not familiar with our PTA meetings, here is some basic
information:

•Anyone and everyone is welcome to attend; you do not have to be a

member of the PTA.
•The meetings are free.
•They are about 60 to 90 minutes in length.
•The Agenda is posted in the PTA window at the corner of the school office
approximately a week in advance.
•You will hear important and timely information regarding what is taking
place at Garden Gate School.
•Members can vote on PTA issues and the budget. I urge and encourage
you to join our efforts and become part of the PTA.
•Anyone can make suggestions, bring up issues and ask questions at the
meetings.
•The meetings are held with an open and welcoming environment.

Tonight we will:

• Hear from our Principal, Mrs. Wood.

• Vote on the Annual PTA budget.
• Ratify the calendar.
• Receive updated information regarding our Direct Donation Drive, the
upcoming Book Fair, Reflections Art Program, Safety Night and much
more. Please see the agenda for details.

Hope to see you tonight,

Merav Talmor
Garden Gate PTA President

Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95125
 GATORAID! PAGE 4
TIST VISITING CAMPUS
O C T O R AND DEN All visitors on campus, whether entering classrooms as
D
MENTS
APPOINT f California volunteers or meeting with teachers, Must Sign In at
o
The state ical/dental the office and obtain a visitor’s name tag when school
s m e d
all ow cused is in session. For the safety of all, we need to know
tm e nts as ex te’s
appoin G a who is on the campus. The only exceptions are at
. Garden
absences ll of these must student arrival and dismissal times. If you are taking
a
policy for anied by a your child out of school for any reason, ALWAYS sign
p
be accom te. Please try your child out from school through the office and then
o
medical n pointments for this is no
t back in when he/she returns.
to m a k e a p
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z ABSENCES AND TARDIES
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parent (o card) in the scho r will be Attendance and punctuality are important
ll m e n t te a ch e
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e in establishing good behaviors and
n in g a c d
sig u r s tu c o m e building responsibility in young children.
nd yo wed to
notified a dents are not allo picked up as Please ensure that your child is at school
. S tu to b e
office sit and w
ait gain, everyday and that they arrive on time. If
o ff ic e to le c la ss time. A
the v a lu ab n . your child will be absent, please call the
lose childre
they often e safety of your attendance line promptly (252-5414, ext. 6). If your
fo r th
this is child arrives after 8:00 a.m. they must report to the
school office for a late slip before entering the
classroom. Under state law, three unexcused
absences or tardies may be considered truancy.

EARN FREE CASH FOR OUR SCHOOL WITH

BOX TOPS
SCRIP AND eScrip Earning cash for our school with Box Tops for
Scrip Gift Cards and eScrip are two fundraising Education is simple and easy! You don't have to spend
programs that parents (also family and friends) can any cash to be involved in this profitable project. Most
participate in to raise money for the PTA at “NO COST” food items that you purchase for home comes with a
to the participant. Scrip gift cards can be purchased “Box Tops for Education” coupon that is located directly
on Tuesday afternoons between 1:15 - 1:45 p.m. and on the “box top” and is worth 10c. Please look for these
also on Friday mornings between 7:45-8:15 a.m. coupons especially on products by General Mills. Some
Scrip is spent just like cash on everyday expenses. of the product brands to look for are; Cheerios, Fruit
Rollups, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Cottonelle, Ziploc
eScrip also provides an easy way to earn money for etc.
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 LOST AND FOUND
credit/debit cards, Safeway Card, and PW Supermarket Please stop by the “Lost
Card. Be sure to specify Garden Gate Elementary and Found” cabinet that is
School (eScrip number is 139188329.) For those who located at the rear of the
don’t have internet access, please fill out and turn in an administrative building
eScrip registration form (available during scrip sales and take a few moments
times or in the school office.) Already Registered to check for your lost
eScrip Participants: Please visit www.escrip.com and personal items. It is full
click on “YES RENEW” or turn in an eScrip registration with lunch containers,
form to renew your Safeway Club card. Questions? E- hats and many other
mail us at ggscrip.com or see us during scrip sales items. For smaller
times. personal items such as keys, watches jewelry, etc.,
Carolyn Young, Scrip please check in the front office.

Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95125
GATORAID! PAGE 5

OPENING DAY PACKET BOOKLET

In an effort to consolidate information and save on duplication costs, the Cupertino Union School District has included in
the Opening Day Packet one form covering the receipt of Information on Parents Legal Rights, Student Acceptable Use
of Technology Policy and the Multimedia Withhold Form. This form is located in the front of the Opening Day Packet.
Please review the corresponding pages, sign each section, and return to the school site as soon as possible.

CELDT TESTING
The Cupertino Union School District will administer the CELDT (California English Language Development Test)
September through October 30, 2010. Based upon your child’s last years CELDT scores, if their proficiency is limited,
withdrawn or transitional, your child will be included in the annual CELDT test at their school. A letter will be sent home
with your child prior to the testing date at your school.

The initial CELDT will be given to kindergarten students whose primary language on the Home Language Survey is a
language other than English.

The test consists of four skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing. Students in grades K–8 are tested in all four
areas. You will receive the official results after January 2011. If you have any questions, please contact your school
office.

District Calendar 2010-2011

September 6, 2010 Labor Day
September 17, 2010 Staff Learning Day
October 25, 2010 Staff Learning Day
November 11, 2010 Veteranʼs Day
November 12, 2010 CEA Non-Duty Day
November 22 & 23, 2010 Furlough Days/No School
November 24, 25 & 26, 2010 Thanksgiving Recess
December 20 - 31, 2010 Winter Recess
January 17, 2011 Martin Luther King Day
February 21 - 25, 2011 Mid-Year Recess
March 14, 2011 Staff Learning Day
April 18 - 22, 2011 Spring Recess
May 27, 2011 Staff Learning Day
May 30, 2011 Memorial Day
June 7, 2011 Last Day of School

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