Sycamore Valley Elementary
Shark Bites Newsletter |
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| Message from Principal Kawahara January 23, 2025 |
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3rd Grade Art - Cardinals Dear Sycamore Valley Families:
I hope you and your family are well. We are enjoying a very busy four day week and looking forward to a few weeks of a regular schedule. With report cards and benchmark screeners behind us, teachers have been busy planning the next round of WIN (What I Need). Data is being reviewed, focus areas determined and lessons planned. Next week, teachers will be reviewing the plans with paras so we are ready to start the third round in February. Keep reading for some dates to remember, some reminders and district updates. Dates to Remember: 01/27/25 - 4th Grade Speak Up & Be Safe Assembly #1
02/10/25 - 4th Grade Speak Up & Be Safe Assembly #2 02/13/25 - Campus Safety Town Hall Meeting 6:00pm District Office 02/17/25 - No School - President’ Day 02/18/25 - No School - Staff Development Day 03/03/25 - 03/07/25 - Words Matter Week
03/04/25 - Teen Esteem Assembly - K - 5th grades January Schedule At A Glance Reminder:
State Testing (CAASPP) from 04/28/2025-05/16/2025: Please make sure your 3rd-5th graders are here for testing! January Read Aloud The Read Aloud for the month - Swimmy by Leo Lionni highlighting Cooperation Read Aloud: January 24/25-Final
February Read Aloud will be The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright and Jim Field. The character trait for the month is Courageous. Read Aloud: February 24/25 - Final District Updates: Campus Safety Town Hall Thursday, February 13, 2025: 6:00-7:30 pm In-person, SRVUSD Education Center Board Rooms, 699 Old Orchard Drive, Danville.
Hear from a panel of experts from SRVUSD and the community, including the Superintendent, local police leaders, mental health professionals and more. The panelists will be speaking on topics connected to how parents and caregivers can stay informed and do their part to keep our community safe. The event will focus on school safety plans, logistics, emergency communications, safety in the community and mental health. Please register to attend: srvusdlinks.net/CampusSafetyPanel. Space is limited.
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February Resolutions and Resources:
African American/Black History Month
San Ramon Valley Unified School District recognizes the month of February as African American/Black History Month. We acknowledge that Americans of African descent helped develop our nation in countless ways. African American/Black history reflects a determined spirit of perseverance and cultural pride to fully and equally share in the opportunities of a nation founded on the principles of freedom and liberty. Acknowledging that each student needs an opportunity to understand the common humanity underlying all people, the Board of Education encourages all schools to commemorate this month with appropriate instructional activities.
Career and Technical Education Month
San Ramon Valley Unified School District recognizes the month of February as Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month. SRVUSD is committed to supporting students through CTE classes that prepare them for high-wage, high-demand careers. SRVUSD students have the opportunity to participate in CTE classes such as Automotive Repair, Biomedical Science, Business & Entrepreneurship, Digital Media, Culinary Arts, Early Childhood Education, Engineering, Environmental Science, Sports Medicine, and Welding. We support opportunities to enable all students to achieve their career goals and contribute to the local economy.
Words Matter Week: February 2-8, 2025
San Ramon Valley Unified School District recognizes the week of February 2-8, 2054 as Words Matter Week. By bringing attention to name-calling, hate speech, and verbal bullying of all kinds and providing schools, students, and parents with the tools to launch an ongoing dialogue about ways to eliminate these acts in our schools and communities, the schools in our district will be safe places for all students to learn.
National School Counseling Week: February 3-7, 2025
San Ramon Valley Unified School District recognizes the week of February 3-7, 2025 as National School Counseling Week. As a district, we value and acknowledge the services and support that school counselors provide to our students. Counselors help students explore their abilities, strengths, interests, and talents to help them reach their full potential and guide them in academics and career awareness. We acknowledge the assistance they provide parents and staff and we commend our district counselors for their outstanding contributions and dedication to quality education for all students.
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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01/23 - Site Council Meeting 4:00pm - Virtual
01/26 - Culture in the Community: 12:00pm – 4:00pm - See flier below 01/27 - Speak Up & Be Safe - #1 - 4th Grade
01/29 - Dippin' Dots After School 01/29 - Sharky Fit Club - MPR - 1:00pm 02/04 -Sharky Cinema Tickets on sale 02/12 - Sharky Cinema 12:50-2:30 02/12 - Dippin' Dots After School
02/12 - Sharky Fit Club - Blacktop or Field - 1:00pm 02/17 - No School - President’ Day
02/18 - No School - Staff Development Day 02/19 - Shark Fund Meeting 6:30 online
02/28 - Deadline to sign up for the Variety Show (information coming soon) 04/02 - Variety Show Dress Rehearsal 1:00 PM in MPR
04/03 - Variety Show 6:00 PM in 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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The Priority Enrollment Window has closed but we are still accepting TK / K Enrollment for the 2025/2026 school year. Applications should be submitted online. |
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Click here for the Spiritwear Sale
Shark Spirit Clothing
In addition, all orders over $75 will receive free shipping. Shop Now! This week we are featuring a special on 1/4 zips! Save $10 of all 1/4 zips. Look good in a new Sycamore Valley Elementary School 1/4 zip jacket!
Shop at https://1stplace.sale/13542 Upcoming Promotions:
1/27 - 2/2: Crewnecks $10 Off 2/3 - 2/9: Pajama Pants 25% Off
Store Link: https://1stplace.
FREE SHIPPING $75+ |
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Sharky Fit Club -
Ready to start your child’s journey to become fit for life? We are excited start our Sharky Fit Club on Wednesdays after Dippin Dots in MPR! Sharky Fit Club will be a 20 min overlook of Danville Gymnastics program combining strength and coordination of the athlete with the elegance of dancing. We will practice yoga poses, dance steps, tumbling such as forward/backward rolls, and sometimes (depending on attendance) handstands, cartwheels, walkovers & more! All levels welcome. Kids will become stronger in core, improving flexibility, muscle tone, coordination & balance.
Permission Slip attached. The first class will be held on January 29 @ 1:00pm - MPR
February 12 & 26 March 12 & 26 More dates will be announced. |
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FREE Book Swap Wednesday, February 5th
TK & Kindergarten: 11:30 a.m.- 12:00 p.m. Kindergarten Playground All Grades: 12:50 p.m. - 1:40 p.m. MPR *The Book Swap is a FREE community event sponsored by the Sycamore Valley PTA.
DROP OFF gently used books beginning Monday (2/3), Tuesday (2/4) and Wednesday (2/5) at the front of the school and Kindergarten Playground between 7:30a.m. - 8:00 a.m. Also, we will be at the front of the school on Monday and Tuesday between 8:30 a.m. - 9:00a.m. for Late Sharks. Students will receive one (1) ticket per donated book, maximum five (5) tickets per student. Rules for the Book Swap-
Books to be swapped should be FROM our students, FOR our students. Encourage your child to bring books they've loved that they think their friends might love too! No preschool books, magazines, sticker books, coloring books, activity books, Young Adult or grown-up books.
Students may swap up to five (5) books but are encouraged to bring additional book donations. All remaining books after the swap will be donated to our Sister School, King Elementary. Students can trade one (1) ticket for one (1) book at the Book Swap.
Thank you to all who participated in the bookmark contest. All entries will be displayed for student voting in the library. Bookmark contest winners will be announced at the Book Swap.
Thank you! We got a good turnout for the bookmark contest. They are all currently on display in the library. Each grade will vote for their favorite during their class library time.
Questions? Contact Lisa Comeau at comeaurx@gmail.com or Lisa Chen at lisacquan@gmail.com |
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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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*NEW* FAMILY STEAM NIGHT
The STEAM Enrichment Program would like to put on Sycamore's first ever Family STEAM Night, but we need help to make it a success! If you would like to volunteer to be a part of the Family STEAM Night Planning Committee, please email
steamenrichment@sycamorevalleypta.org.
BOOK CLUB: 3rd-5th and 1st-2nd
BOOK CLUB 3rd-5th grade
The next book club meeting is on Wednesday, February 19th, from 1-2pm in the library. We will be discussing the books City Spies #1 by James Ponti, and Bouncing Back by Scott Ostler. For any questions, please contact Jyoti (rekhij@gmail.com).
BOOK CLUB 1st/2nd grade
Our first book club for 1st and 2nd graders will be next month! The books to read for the first meeting are Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak and Magic Treehouse #1: Dinosaurs Before Dark by Mary Pope Osburne. The first book club meeting will be a date TBD in February. For any questions, please contact Raj (rajiedeol@gmail.com).
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. 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. WORDMASTERS:
Challenge words set 2 was distributed before the break and students will take Word List Test 2 between Jan 24 and Feb 10. For any questions, please contact Kathryn Rapp (kathryn.montilla@gmail.com). 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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We need your help to make our online auction a success! We have many opportunities available to help build our online auction platform: -
GATHER: reach out to local businesses to collect donations!
- DONATE: what fantastic items do you or your friends and family have to offer!
- HOST: organize and host a social event for kids or adults and sell tickets!
Please reach out to sycamorevalley.edfund@srvef.org with any questions |
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| Dippin’ Dot Calendar:
Jan. 29 Feb. 12, 26 Mar. 12, 26 |
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Dippin Dot Pre-pay Punch Cards are Back!
Punch cards can be purchased for $25.00. 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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Thank you to all of our amazing room parents for their continued support for our teachers, students and community. |
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School Site Council Update |
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School Site Council Meeting February - Date to Be Determined |
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Please refer to Peach Jar for after school enrichment opportunities that are offered for Sycamore students. Sycamore Valley Peach Jar |
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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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You are receiving this email because your email address is associated with Sycamore Valley Elementary 2200 Holbrook Dr., Danville, CA 94506
(925) 855-2800 |
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