Paularino Panther News

Dear Paularino Families,

Thank you for such wonderful participation in our Jog-a-thon fundraiser. We raised $22,543 to benefit our students. Today, Ms. Lucy and I dressed as unicorns to celebrate the $15,000 school-wide incentive. The students loved seeing us gallop around the blacktop and playing with the bubbles. Our unicorns were even named by students as Princess Bubblegum and Princess Razzmatazz.

Next week is Conference Week. This is a great opportunity to hear your child's academic progress and goals for the school year. Reminder: next week is early dismissal at 1:20 PM for all students every day, and no school Wednesday October 25.

Next week is also Red Ribbon Week where we promote healthy choices. Students can participate in spirit wear days to show their support of healthy choices.

Monday - Superhero Dress up (no masks or weapons)

Tuesday - Sports Attire

Wednesday - No School

Thursday - Wear Red

Friday - Paularino Spirit Wear

Newport-Mesa Unified School District (NMUSD) is nearing completion of a facility master plan. The plan is developed in collaboration with facility experts, school and district leadership, and in consideration of community input. Expected to be finalized in early 2024, the plan identifies the district's long-term facilities needs and opportunities to continue to provide facilities that support our quality educational programs. It is intended to guide our District in the planning of ongoing facility maintenance, such as flooring, paint, roofs; and long-term capital improvement projects throughout the district.

Please consider completing the survey to have your voice be heard. To take the survey and learn more, visit https://www.nmusdplan.org/.

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Schwartz

October 23 - 27, 2023: Parent Teacher Conference Week **Minimum Days 1:20 PM

October 25, 2023: No Student Day

October 31, 2023: Halloween Parade 8:15 AM Blacktop - Parents are welcome!

November 1, 2023: No Student Day

November 10, 2023: No Student Day

November 22 - 24, 2023: Thanksgiving Break - No School

Weekly Spirit Days

*Mondays: College t-shirts - Panthers are college bound!

*Thursdays: Kindness t-shirts (Let's be Kind or any kindness or positive message shirts)

*Fridays: Paularino Blue or Paularino spirit wear

This month, our Paularino theme is respect. Being respectful is one way your student can earn Panther Paws. Respect means:

• Following the golden rule
• Being accepting of differences
• Being courteous to others
• Dealing peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements
• Being considerate of others' feelings

Remind your student to practice being extra respectful all month!

You may have noticed our Paularino office front door has a new buzzer. This system is being implemented at every elementary school in the district. It functions like a home Ring system with a small video camera and buzzer. When trying to access the front office please press the button to the left of the front door and the office will let you in. This is a security feature to keep our school safe from outside intruders. We appreciate your patience as we all get familiar with the new system.

The Paularino PTA has a brand new website!! Check it out for all things PTA related.

https://sites.google.com/view/paularinopta/home

Do you enjoy art, music and dance or have an interest in writing, producing films and taking photos? Then join us and have fun unleashing your inner artist with PTA Reflections! Submissions can be in the form of dance, film, writing, music, photography or other visual arts, but must express the theme of "I am hopeful because..."

Pick up submission guidelines and an entry form today from the front office. For inspiration, visit the Reflections virtual art gallery and learn more about prizes and scholarships at PTA.org/Reflections/Awards. Submissions are due by Tuesday, October 31st. If you have any questions please contact the PTA at paularinopantherspta@gmail.com.

If parents of our Panthers are set up correctly in Aeries, you will automatically have accounts in both Schoology and GoGuardian. Each of these programs allows for different functions for our parents to be connected to their child's learning.

Schoology: Parents can access TK-12 class information and 7-12 courses & grades.

GoGuardian: Parents can control NMUSD Chromebooks during non-school hours (ex. Filter, pause internet, view activity).

Please see the images below for start up support.

Safety is always top of mind at Paularino Elementary and throughout NMUSD. While we have plans and processes in place to mitigate and manage emergency situations, please know that school safety is not something we can do alone. The partnership and support that we have with our local law enforcement and our school community is critical.

NMUSD is implementing the The "I Love U Guys" Standard Response Protocol (SRP) districtwide as part of an effort to streamline terminology used in emergency situations. The SRP clearly defines the five actions to take in an emergency: hold, secure, lockdown, evacuate and shelter.

In the event that we were to have an emergency evacuation, parents would pick up their students in the back of campus at our Coolidge Avenue gates. Please make a mental note of this so we can have smooth release of students in the event of an emergency.

When dropping off or picking up your student please use the sidewalk for the safety of all students, staff, and parents.

When in the car line please remain in your car. This will help the car line to move faster with children getting in and out on their own. A staff member will be there to assist if needed. Please use kindness and patience when waiting for your student.

If walking across Paularino Ave please wait for the crossing guard to assist in the crosswalk. This is for the safety of all walkers and cars.

Thank you for your cooperation to keep all students, staff, and families safe.

Our Friday morning Flag Deck ceremony is a place for the whole school to gather, celebrate student accomplishments, hear school announcements, and build school spirit. If you would like to come to our Flag Deck celebration they are every Friday morning - weather permitting. Parents will wait outside the front office gate until 8:05 AM at the start of school. Once the bell rings parents are welcome to stand in the VIP section, Very Important Parents. At the conclusion of Flag Deck parents exit through the front gate. As a parent observer we just ask you stay in the VIP section.

Breakfast and lunch is served free for all students for the 2023-2024 school year. Menus for breakfast and lunch can now be accessed on the district website. Please see the following link for menu options. Nutrition Services

The Good News Club is a fun, free after school program for all children from K-6th. There are Bible stories, games, snacks and sometimes crafts. We meet from 2:30-4:00 PM on Tuesdays. Registration forms will be in the front office (or register online) after 9/10. For questions, contact Linda Fleming at 949-929-2907.

Grades TK-6 Daily Schedule:

7:35 AM - Gates Open

8:05 AM - School Starts

2:20 PM Dismissal Monday through Friday

Masks are optional for all. Good hand hygiene (sanitizer/washing) will be practiced daily.

Arrival procedures

• Gates open at 7:35 AM. Supervision is available at 7:35 AM once students are on campus.

• Please park and walk your child to the front gates or pull through the Paularino parking lot at the front of the school.

• Bus riders and walkers will use the side gate on Coolidge.

• All parents/guardians will remain in their cars while students unload and walk through the gates.

• Please use the sidewalk for safety of students, do not walk through the parking lot for arrival or dismissal.

• Students who arrive after 8:05 am will be marked tardy.

• Due to safety protocols, parents are not allowed through the gates except for special events or Flag Deck.

Breakfast

• Free breakfast is served daily and available for all students.

Recess

• Supervision is provided to support and reinforce recess and lunch expectations.

Lunch

• Free school lunch is available for all students. If your child does not want a school lunch, please pack them a lunch. Food menus are available on the district website.

• If you would like to send your student with a snack or lunch, please label their lunch bag and water bottle.

• Families who drop off lunch during the day, please bring your child's lunch to the front office labeled with their name, teacher, and grade. We will have sticky notes available. The lunch will then be placed on a cart outside our front office for students to get on their way to the lunch tables. We are trying to preserve the learning atmosphere of the classroom with as few interruptions as possible.

• Supervision is provided to support and reinforce recess and lunch expectations.

Dismissal

• Monday through Friday dismissal is 2:20 PM.

• Students are released outside the front gates, primary in front of the MPR and upper by the marquee. Bus riders and walkers will use the side gate on Coolidge.

• All parents remain in their cars.

• Please use the sidewalk for safety of students, do not walk through the parking lot for arrival or dismissal.
  

Attendance

• If your child is feeling ill or has symptoms such as cough, stomachache, fever or chills please keep them home and consult your physician.

• If your child will be absent, please call the attendance line at (714) 424-7950 and Press 2 and leave a message with your name, your child's name, reason for absence, and a phone number.

Dress code

• Please send your student to school with appropriate clothes and shoes for the school day. Per our dress code, flip flops are not permitted on campus and are a safety concern when students play at recess and lunch.

• During warmer weather please make sure your child is wearing school appropriate clothing.

• Please send your student with a reusable water bottle (no glass). We have bottle filling stations around campus.

Cell Phones and Smart Watches:

• Cell phones and smart watches are not to be used on campus. Students can keep them in their backpack during the day or give them to their teacher for safe keeping. If a student is found using a cell phone during school it will be taken to the office and a parent or guardian will need to pick it up.

Birthdays and Celebrations:

• Please do not distribute birthday party invitations at school.
• If you would like to celebrate your child's birthday during the school day you can send a healthy snack such as apple sauce, fruit, sugar free popsicles, fruit snacks, fruit roll ups, Go-Gurt, and individually wrapped crackers. Items not allowed: cupcakes, cakes, lunch replacements (pizza) and treat bags. Thank you for understanding.

Thank you for your continued support.

Attendance is taken each day. If your child will be absent, please call the attendance line at (714) 424-7950 Press 2 and leave a message with your name, your child's name, reason for absence, and a phone number.

Paularino Elementary

1060 Paularino Avenue

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Phone: (714) 424-7950 Fax: (714) 424-4741

Attendance Line: (714) 424-7950 Press 2

http://paularino.nmusd.us

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