GATORAID

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

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SCHOOL CALENDAR MARCH 22, 2012

3/23 3/27 3/27 3/28 REPORT CARDS GO HOME INTERNATIONAL DAY

8:00-11:30 a.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:15 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 3:45 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m.

(ALL KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS ATTEND 8:00-11:30)

4/2-4/6

C.U.S.D. BOARD MEETING HAPPILY EVER AFTER PERFORMANCE - GLC

MARIN HEADLANDS SCIENCE CAMP - GRADE 5

4/5 4/9-4/13 4/10 4/11 4/11 4/13

PTA MEETING WOW - WALK ONE WEEK C.U.S.D. BOARD MEETING DEADLINE TO ORDER YEARBOOKS SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL MEETING WALK AROUND EVENT

4/16-4/20
4/24 4/26 4/26 4/27 4/28

SPRING BREAK - NO SCHOOL

C.U.S.D. BOARD MEETING SPRING STUDENT PICTURES PROJECT CORNERSTONE RECOGNITION EVENING - GLC COLOR DAY - SCHOOL SPIRIT DAY SCOOL SPIRIT BAND AT GREAT AMERICA

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.

REPORT CARDS GO HOME FRIDAY

Student report cards for the second trimester period will be coming home tomorrow. Please take a few moments to sit down with your child, review progress, and talk quietly together about the areas on which s/ he will continue to focus for improvement. Your child will be inspired to improve only if s/he feels supported by you in making those improvements. Talk with your child, about what education means. Celebrate success and continue to let your child(ren) know how proud you are for their positive attitude and hard work. Please work closely and collaboratively with your classroom teacher(s) to assure your child(ren) continued success in school. FOLLOW SIX STEPS WHEN TALKING ABOUT YOUR CHILDS REPORT CARD
Report card time can make parents almost as anxious as students. Is your child on track? Is s/he learning what is needed at his/her grade level? Are you doing all you can to support your child in school? You can and should make report card time a chance to talk about your childs progress in school. You should also discuss both you and your childs expectations. Here are six things to do when report cards come home: Take it seriously. No, a report card cant tell you everything about how your child is doing. Your childs teacher spends a lot of time making sure that the report card shows you a snapshot of where your child is now. Take time to read it carefully. Talk about it with your child. Find something to praise. Even if your child didnt do as well as youd hoped, look for something positive. Be sure to read the comments about your childs behavior and work habits. Dont become upset if your childs grades werent what youd expected. Wait until you can talk calmly about what you and your child can do to improve grades. Let your child know what you expect. Say things like, You dont have to be the best, but I do expect you to do your best. Remind your child that effort is as important as ability. Look at your childs work. You only see a report card a few times a year. You can look at the work your child is doing every day. Does s/he do their homework? Does s/he do their best? There is a link between how hard students work and how much they remember. Point that out to your child. Help your child develop good work habits. A child who sets aside time every day to read will learn to read better. A child who practices math every day will master math facts.
Source: GreatSchools.net. Understanding Report Cards. Reprinted with permission from The Parents Institute.

INTERNATIONAL DAY IS COMING!

Students and staff at Garden Gate are eagerly awaiting our March 27 PTA-sponsored International Day. I want to extend a special thank you to the parent and community volunteers who have put so much time and effort into creating an unforgettable event for our students. Its sure to be a fun and educational morning!

TEACHING RESPONSIBILITY YIELDS LIFELONG REWARDS FOR YOUR CHILD

Parents hope their children will grow into responsible adults. Thankfully, parents have more influence on this than anyone else! You can build responsibility if you: Use rules and consequences. Enforce a few consistent, important rules and consequences. State them in easy-to-understand language so your child knows exactly how to behave. Trust your child with tasks. School-age kids are capable of handling a few responsibilities, such as putting away toys or matching socks in the laundry. Often these jobs feel more like proud accomplishments! Give your child age-appropriate choices. For example, Which pants would you like to wear? Blue or red? Or Would you like an apple or a pear in your lunch?Making decisions will build her confidence. Teach about financial responsibility. Many kids receive an allowance or are paid for extra chores. These are perfect opportunities to teach about budgeting, spending, saving and giving. Find ways to help others. Discuss what it means to be responsible to yourself, your family and your community. Choose meaningful ways to contribute, such as planting flowers in the school garden or donating clothes to charity. Adjust rules and responsibilities. As your child matures, her abilities will change. Perhaps she can take on a more grown-up chore. Or maybe she can make new, exciting decisions. Talk about how responsibility feels great!
Source: M. Purcell, Building Responsible Kids, PsychCentral, http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/building- responsible-kids/.

TRAFFIC AND THE PARKING LOT

Student safety is our first priority. Follow these simple rules to ensure student safety: Always drop off along the curb. Do not allow your child to get out of the car in the parking lot alone and attempt to walk across the lot. The curb is a no parking anytime zone. Drivers must remain in their vehicles. Drivers who leave their vehicles unattended could be ticketed by the Cupertino Sheriffs Department Always cross at a cross walk. Hold your childs hand, and teach your child to always look both ways Avoid getting stuck in traffic. Leave home earlier to make sure your child arrives to school on time. Students may be on campus beginning at 7:45 a.m.

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: Do you help to encourage friends to participate in sports, clubs, or other activities? If so, why and how?

PTA CORNER

PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA) NEWS & RESOURCES

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HELLO GATOR FAMILIES!

INTERNATIONAL DAY IS THIS TUESDAY! Gators, get ready to have loads of fun on International Day, this Tuesday, March 27th. It will be a day of discovery and entertainment for everyone! Our students, parent volunteers, and instructors have been working very hard to prepare performances, display booths, and presentations for this action-packed day!

SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER FOR THE WALK-AROUND! The Walk-Around event is coming up on Friday, April 13th, 2012. Last week in your childs green folder we sent home a flyer, pledge sheet, and a list of prizes. Parents, please encourage your child to collect pledges from family, friends, and neighbors so they can raise money for their school. We need lots of help on this day to make it a fun and exciting day for the students. Here are the tasks you can sign up for: 1. Coordinator for Pizza with the Principal - This event will take place on Wednesday, May 9th. 2. Snack Volunteers- Coordinates food and snacks for the volunteers and the students. 3. Money Counters: Works with the treasurer and helps count the money collected on the day of the event 4. Event Volunteers - Volunteers to help with various tasks during the Walk-Around. Please email to sign-up: Azmeh Malik at azmeh_ahsan@yahoo.com Uma Kishore at kishuma04@gmail.com

PTANOMINATINGCOMMITTEEISRECRUITING! IfyouareinterestedinplayinganactiveroleinthePTAandwouldliketohelponanyofourcommittees, pleasecontactmeatazmeh_ahsan@yahoo.com.YoucanalsovisitourPTAwebsitetoseeacompletelistof ourBoardandCommitteemembersat http://www.edline.net/pages/Garden_Gate_Elementary_School/Design_Resources/Shortcuts1876/ PTA_Home_Page Ilookforwardtohearingfromyouandhopethatyouwillconsiderbeinginvolvedinyourchildsschool activities.Iguaranteethatitwillbearewardingandenrichingexperience,andyouwontbedisappointed!

Hopeyouallhaveafabulousweek! AzmehMalik GardenGatePTAPresident

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

GATORAID!
PARENT SURVEY
Every year we look to the parents in our community to let us know what we are doing right at Garden Gate and how we can improve. We value your thoughts and opinions. This is your time to be heard. Please fill out the Parent Survey starting Monday, March 26th. You can take the survey online at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/takethis. You can also access the survey from the Garden Gate website or the website from your childs teacher. If you prefer not to take it online, please come into the office and get a copy. Once you complete the survey, have your child turn in the last page to his or her teacher to get a colorful mechanical pencil. The survey will close Sunday, April 8. If you have any questions, please contact Patti Wolf at wolf_patti@cusdk8.org.

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ITS THE LAW! The new California Booster Seat Law, effective January 1, 2012, prohibits parents, guardians, or drivers from transporting on a highway, in a motor vehicle, any child under 8 years old, without securing that child in a child restraint meeting federal motor vehicle safety standards. The new child safety seat law for 2012 imposes stiff fines and penalties for violations, including the possibility of child endangerment charges. The old California Booster Seat Law had required a child under 6 years of age, who weighed less than 60 pounds, to be secured in a rear seat in a child restraint that met federal standards, but allowed the child to ride in the front seat if properly secured, including riding in taxis if all rear seats are already occupied by children under 12 years of age. The new California law for 2012 extends the old law by requiring children to ride in booster seats in the back seat until their 8th birthday. Seat belts are made for average adults and dont fit a child who is not at least 49 tall. Six-seven year old children are at risk because they might be too big for child car seats and yet too small to be protected by seat belts. A booster seat raises the child up, so the seat belt allows the lap belt to lay across the upper thighs (rather than the childs stomach) and allows the shoulder harness to lay across the shoulder and chest (rather than across the neck or face). Statistics show that using a booster seat, as opposed to a seat belt, reduces a kids risk of injury by 59 percent, thus the new 2012 California Booster Seat Law. The new California car seat law does contain a provision, however, that a child under 8 years of age who is 49 inches in height or taller may use a safety belt rather than a child safety seat or booster seat.

HOME LUNCHES

To encourage responsibility, children should bring their lunch with them to school in the morning. We recommend that each child have some money in his/ her lunch account so that in the event of a forgotten lunch, the child can purchase a hot lunch. Please remember to mark all lunches brought to school with the childs name and room number and place it on the cart outside the school office by 11:00 a.m. They will be delivered to the classroom lunch cart by student helpers. Lunches cannot be delivered to the classroom or lunch tables by parents. Students are not permitted to wait by the office for parents to bring a lunch to them. This is against our school safety policy. So be sure to place the lunch on the cart before 11:00 a.m. Thank you for your cooperation.

YEARBOOK SALES

The 2011-2012 Garden Gate Yearbooks are now on sale! In addition to class photos and school-wide celebrations, the following will also be featured: International Day, Twin day, Flag Football, Geography Bee, Recycle Helpers, Cornerstone Kids, Student Council, Teddy Bear Parade, After-School Theater, and 5th Grade Science Camp. Order the FULLCOLORED yearbook by Wednesday, April 11th for the special rate of $20.00! Additional order forms are available in the school office. Limited copies will be available in June for $25, so order now to ensure that your child has a copy for this school year.

ALLERGY SEASON HAS BEGUN Spring is here and students are reacting with swollen eyes and other allergy symptoms. Red irritated eyes are often the sign of pink eye which is a contagious disease. When students come to the office complaining of sore eyes, there is nothing we can do to alleviate the pain other than provide a cold compress. We cannot diagnose the problem as either an allergy or pink eye a doctor must do this. If a prescribed or over-the-counter medicine is needed and RESIDENCY VERIFICATION is to be administered at school, the office must have All residency information is subject to verification. Valid a parent and doctor complete our blue medical form on proof of residence must be provided at the time of regfile before any medication can be given. These istration or when a change of residence occurs. forms are available in the school office. Students may Change of residence must be reported to the school not bring any medicine to school in their backpacks. office within ten days. Failure to provide current All medications need to be in the original packaging residency information could result in the immediate with the pharmaceutical label. All medicine is kept in withdrawal of your child. the school office. Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95125

GATORAID!
2012 STAR TESTING DATES STAR Multiple Choice Test begins the week of April 30, 2012 and will continue for two weeks. The STAR Program is a State of California accountability measure that helps us assess how we are meeting the needs of our students. You can help prepare your child for the test by ensuring your child goes to bed on time, eats a good breakfast, and leaves for school with a positive attitude. Please do not schedule any family trips or doctor appointments during this time.

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DE ANZA COLLEGE SUMMER EXTENDED YEAR PROGRAM 2012 De Anza College in partnership with the Cupertino Union School District will offer the Extended Year Program this summer, mornings only, from June 18 to July 13, 2012. Students Entering Grades 6 Through 10 Classes will be held at Cupertino and Miller Middle Schools, and will include: Java Programming, Geometry & Spatial Sense, Intro to Algebra 1 & 2, LEGO Robotics, Debate and Critical Thinking, Forensic Science, and many others. Students Entering Grades 1 Through 5 Classes will be held at Collins Elementary School, and will include: Writing - Paragraphs to Essays, Reading Intensive, Public Speaking, Spelling Bee, Journalism/Writing, and more! Program brochures were sent home in early March and are also available in the school office. More information is available at www.extendedyear.deanza.edu. Early registration began on March 5, 2012 and ends on May 18, 2012. There will also be walk-in registration available from May 29 to June 5, 2012.

District Calendar 2011-2012 (all schools except Murdock-Portal)

April 16-20, 2012 May 25, 2012 May 28, 2012 June 12, 2012 Spring Recess Staff Learning Day Memorial Day Last Day of School

August 20, 2012 Students Return September 3, 2012 Labor Day September 21, 2012 Staff Learning Day October 29, 2012 Staff Learning Day November 12, 2012 Veterans Day November 19-23, 2012 Thanksgiving Recess December 24-January 4, 2013 Winter Recess January 21, 2013 MLK, Jr. Day February 18-22, 2013 Mid-Year Recess March 18, 2013 Staff Learning Day April 15-19, 2013 Spring Recess May 24, 2013 Staff Learning Day May 27, 2013 Memorial Day Garden12, 2013 June Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95125 Last Day of School

District Calendar 2012-2013 (All schools except Murdock-Portal)