Sycamore Valley Elementary
Shark Bites Newsletter |
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| Message from Principal Kawahara October 31, 2024 |
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Dear Sycamore Valley Families,
I hope you and your family are well. Students are certainly excited about Halloween and Diwali this week - it is a fun time!! I am always so impressed with how the teachers lean into special events/seasons - incorporating them into their lessons while at the same time sticking to the routines that support kiddos’ success and pressing ahead with important academic work.
I will be off campus Thursday through Monday. My mother broke her knee cap and cannot be on her own so I will be giving out candy in Medford, OR. I am sad to miss all the fun but am looking forward to hearing all about it when I get back. Shelli Kravitz, the recently retired principal of Twin Creeks Elementary, will be covering for me while I am out. A big thank you to Mrs. Kravitz for jumping in! I know our Sharks are in extremely capable hands!!
Keep reading for some dates to remember, important reminders and job opportunities: Dates to Remember: 11/01 - No School 11/02 - Turn your clocks back 1 hour
11/07 - Fun Run
11/11 - No School - Veterans Day 11/25-11/29 - No School - Thanksgiving Break
November Schedule as at a Glance
Drop Off Reminder: Please drop your child off in the lane closest to the curb rather than the parking lot. It is not safe to have students navigate the busy parking lot on their own. This is especially concerning once the bell has rung as we are not always able to provide crosswalk coverage after 8:00am. Also, please let your child out as soon as you are on the curb and you are not able to pull further - they do not need to be dropped off at the gate. Finally, please stay in the car line - pulling in further up the line as others are trying to pull out is dangerous and may well result in an accident. Thank you for your cooperation as we work to keep our kiddos safe.
Pick up Reminder: For the safety of our students, the gate between room #11 and room #12 is not to be used by families as an exit gate. Parents should not ask their children to exit this gate to meet them on the fire trail or in the congregation parking lot. Your child should only exit campus through the front gate or from the blacktop to the back path that leads to Alta Vista.
We need to keep this gate closed in order to secure our campus.
Students may exit the front gate and walk down the sidewalk to the Kids Country/Congregation parking lot and meet families there. Parents are welcome to park in the Kids Country/Congregation parking lot and meet their children by the school’s front gate. Thank you for your cooperation as we work together to secure the campus.
Job Opportunities: We have made great progress with staffing this year. However, we still have two very important positions to fill. We are in need of a crossing guard at Camino Tassajara and an Instrumental Music teacher for our 4th and 5th graders. If you or anyone you know might be interested in either position, I would love to discuss these opportunities! Read Alouds: We have wrapped up the October Read Alouds centered on Empathy. A Sick Day for Amos is a delightful book that we all enjoyed. November’s Read Alouds are Superlicious and After the Fall. Please see the schedule below for class times.
Read Aloud: November 24/25-Final
Read Aloud: December 24/25-Final
Please keep reading for some upcoming event information and other PTA/Shark Fund News. Thank you, Patricia Kawahara Principal |
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Important Dates to Remember |
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11/01 - No School
11/02 - Day Light Savings Time Ends - Turn clocks back 1 hour. 11/04 - Sharky Cinema Tickets on Sale @ 7:00pm
November Sharky Cinema Tickets
11/04 - C.O.P.E. Seminar 11/06 - PTA Association Meeting 8:05am - MPR
11/07 - Fun Run 11/11 - No School - Veterans Day 11/13 - Sharky Cinema - 12:50 - 2:30 - MPR 11/15 – Family Game Night 11/20 - Shark Fund Meeting 6:30pm Virtual
11/25-11/29 - No School - Thanksgiving Break 12/02 - C.O.P.E. Seminar
12/04 - PTA Association Meeting 8:05am - MPR
12/11 - Sharky Cinema - 12:50 - 2:30 - MPR |
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Reminder:
If you need to drop-off items for your child or their teacher, Please call the school office when you arrive
at the main gate. (925) 855-2800 |
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Attendance Line Please call the attendance line to report an absence: 925-855-2898
AR 5113 States that all absences which are not cleared within two days after a student's return to school shall be recorded as unexcused (CUT). |
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Day Light Saving Time ends this weekend. Saturday night, November 2nd, remember to turn your clocks back 1 hour. You will get an extra hour of sleep. |
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Sycamore Valley Elementary 21st Annual Fun Run is coming!
The 2024 FUN RUN is a little over a week away! If you have not turned in your permission slip, please do so ASAP. All students must have a permission slip in order to participate. Pledge Form
Students are encouraged to make a Pledgestar Fundraising Page to get donations or pledges per lap! (Website: http://pledgestar.com/sycamore). Last year, we raised over $50,000! Currently this year, we are at $25,000 donated/pledged. The Fun Run supports many of Sycamore PTA’s programs including teacher mini grants, family game nights, art docent, curriculum enhancement, variety show, yearbook, earthquake preparedness and more!
ALL students will get a t-shirt and water bottle on the day of the fun run and a participation prize! The top 30 INDIVIDUAL fundraisers and top CLASS will earn an ice cream party after school at Sycamore Park. Currently, Mrs. Matejka’s class is in the lead!
Looking forward to seeing you on the turf field on Thursday November 7th! Come out and support our Sharks! Everyone is welcome to come watch and cheer on our Sharks! See run times below: 9:00 – 9:45am 2nd and 3rd Grades
10:00 -10:30am TK, Kinder & 1st Grades
10:45 – 11:45am 4th & 5th Grades
Please reach out to Erin and Christy at: funrun@sycamorevalleypta.org with any questions! Looking forward to seeing you on the turf field on Thursday, November 7th! Grade colors:
TK: Orange 3: Green
K : Purple 4: Dark Blue
1: Yellow 5: Rainbow
2: Red
Questions: Erin Meyer— funrun@sycamorevalleypta.org
Mark your calendars for the Fun Run on the Turf Field on November 7, 2024! |
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YEARBOOK
SYCAMORE FAMILIES!! WE NEED YOUR PICTURES! There is a new yearbook site for sharing pictures, it's user friendly and simple. When pictures are submitted please add event, grade, student names and teacher. You can't tell us too much. The more pictures you share the better the yearbook will be! |
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RESEARCH PROJECTS: Thank you to those who made a presentation this month for Red Ribbon Week!
BOOK CLUB: The first book club meeting is on Wednesday, November 20th, from 1-2pm in the library. We will be discussing the books Doodleville by Chad Sell and Stella by McCall Hoyle. For any questions, please contact Jyoti (rekhij@gmail.com). STEAM ART:
Signups for November-May STEAM Art classes have gone out. For any questions, please contact Kristina (kristinabuskirk@gmail.com). Due to the large response to this class, new student sign ups are now closed for the year. BATTLE OF THE BOOKS:
The book list is now available for Battle of the Books! Please contact Nida Qadeer (nuq101@gmail.com) for the book list and any questions about the program.
Contact steamenrichment@sycamorevalleypta.org with any questions about the STEAM Enrichment program. |
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Be A Mentor: Volunteer Clearance - Reminder
We ask all of our parents/guardians to register w/ Be A Mentor for level #1 - general volunteer. This clearance will allow you to be on campus and/or in the classroom with the children.
Here is the link to sign up. Be A Mentor Click on the New Volunteers Apply Now on the bottom right side of the page. A TB test is a new requirement. The risk assessment form is to be completed by your doctor. You will need to upload, to your Be A Mentor account, either the completed risk assessment form or the negative TB test result form from your doctor.
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| Dippin’ Dot Calendar:
Nov. 13 |
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Dippin Dot Pre-pay Punch Cards are Back!
Punch cards can be purchased for $25.00 in the Future Fund Store. Prepay for 5 Dippin' Dots, get one free Save time in line
No need to bring money to school Families can share one card 100% of proceeds benefit your students at Sycamore
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Sharky Shout Out:
THANK YOU to the 450+ students and families who attended our Monster Mash event! So much fun was had by all and we are so grateful to all of you and our amazing community of volunteers who made this fundraiser a success! Thank you to the families who went above and beyond to create spectacular Trunks for our Trunk or Treat and a fantastic Glow in the Dark Dance Party.
Thank you to Right at School, Barra Family, Buskirk Family, Duffy Family, Halker Family, Kaskanlian Family, Nastro Family, Pfeifer Family, Severson Family, Shugrue Family, Steele Family, Sullivan Family, Young Family and a very special thank you to our very own Mrs. Millman and her family and Mrs. O'Malley and her family! Thank you to event organizers Avi Bandaranaike, Rebecca Betzina, Lauren Ehreth, Marisa Montierth, Doug Merian, Tab Morrison, Jenny O'Leary, Liz Sorley, Jenna Sproul, Lori Wodehouse and Adele Young. Happy Halloween from Shark Fund! |
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School Site Council Update
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School Site Council Meeting November....November 14, 2024 |
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Please refer to Peachjar for after school enrichment opportunities that are offered for Sycamore students. Sycamore Peachjar |
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With the change of weather our lost and found will grow!! Take a look at the Rack and in the Yellow Bin. You may be surprised and find a sweatshirt / jacket / or sweater that you did not know was left behind. Please make sure that your child's name is marked on their clothing. Smaller Lost & Found items are in the Office. Water Bottles and Lunch Boxes are on the shelf in the MPR. |
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Sycamore Valley Elementary
2200 Holbrook Dr., Danville, CA 94506
(925) 855-2800 |
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