All-Star News

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• Friday, February 7, 2025 - Adams Fun Run
• Tk-3rd: 8:40am to 9:30am
• 4th-6th: 9:40am to 10:30am

Registration is NOW OPEN!

Go to MYBOOSTER.COM and register your child. Go to “Sign Up” Enter Adams Elementary School, and enter your information. Make sure to include your child’s teacher’s name. Then, send family and friends the donation link.

OR an envelope will be sent home next week to collect cash and check donations. All envelopes need to be turned into the office by 2/14 at the latest.

Donations can be collected starting today 1/22, and donation collection closes on 2/14 (One Week after Event Day)

Prizes will be given out to each student for money raised. Classes can earn popsicle parties and pizza parties for registering on MYBOOSTER.COM and raising the most money as a class. The top 4 students who raise the most money get to make a human sundae out of Dr. Erven!

My name is Gabrielle Thurmond, and I am pleased to be a part of the Adams community this year!

I grew up in Inglewood and attended UC Berkeley. Go Bears! I taught elementary and middle school students in California and the Dominican Republic. I’ve also worked as a site administrator at the pre-school through high school levels overseeing Special Education, Athletics, After School Programs, and Facilities. Previously, I trained educators in Restorative Justice and Practices in California and Oregon. I joined the NMUSD family in January 2024, so I am still learning the ropes here. In my free time, I spend time with my family, friends, and dog. I also host sound baths and wellness retreats. My favorite place is the beach. My favorite food is pizza. My favorite time of day is the morning. My favorite tv series is The Great British Baking Show. I look forward to collaborating with the Adams Elementary staff, students, and families!

Excitement filled the halls of Adams Elementary as our youngest learners—Preschool, TK, and Kindergarten students—marked a special milestone: the 100th day of school! To celebrate, students and teachers dressed up as if they were 100 years old, transforming into the most adorable grandmas and grandpas you’ve ever seen. From gray wigs and suspenders to cozy shawls and spectacles, our little scholars fully embraced the theme with creative and heartwarming outfits. Teachers joined in on the fun, making the day even more memorable for their students. The celebration was not just about dressing up—it was a fantastic opportunity to reinforce learning. Throughout the day, students engaged in hands-on activities centered around the number 100. They counted 100 objects, created special art projects, and reflected on all the things they had learned in their first 100 days of school. The event fostered a sense of accomplishment and enthusiasm for learning as students proudly celebrated how much they had grown. The 100th Day of School is a cherished tradition at Adams Elementary, and this year’s celebration was no exception. It was a joyful reminder of the progress our students have made and the exciting learning still to come!

Over the last two weeks, Adams Elementary students had the incredible opportunity to work with a visual artist through our Art Masters program, creating beautiful artwork inspired by the legendary Georgia O’Keeffe. Students explored O’Keeffe’s signature style, using bold colors and close-up perspectives to bring their own floral masterpieces to life. With guidance from the visiting artist, students learned about O’Keeffe’s influence in the art world and experimented with techniques that emphasized detail, color blending, and composition. The experience not only nurtured their creativity but also deepened their appreciation for artistic expression.

A huge thank you to our amazing PTA for supporting this program with volunteers! Their dedication ensures that students continue to experience high-quality arts education, enriching their learning in meaningful ways. We can’t wait to see the next masterpieces our young artists create!

At Adams Elementary, we are incredibly fortunate to have caring and dedicated professionals who go above and beyond to support our students, families, and staff. Today, we celebrate two remarkable individuals who make a lasting impact on our school community—our wonderful counselor, Mrs. Kochan, and our exceptional psychologist, Mrs. Corona-Dominguez. Mrs. Kochan provides invaluable guidance and encouragement to our students, helping them navigate academic challenges, social-emotional growth, and personal development. Her kindness, patience, and unwavering support create a safe space where students feel heard, valued, and empowered. She plays a vital role in fostering a positive school climate and ensuring that every child has the resources they need to succeed. Mrs. Corona-Dominguez is a true advocate for student well-being. Her expertise and dedication ensure that students receive the support they need to thrive, whether through social skills groups, behavioral interventions, or individualized plans to help them reach their full potential. She is a compassionate listener, a problem-solver, and a key member of our team who always goes the extra mile to make a difference. We are incredibly grateful for both of these outstanding professionals. Their commitment to our students and their passion for education make Adams Elementary a better place every day. Thank you, Mrs. Kochan and Mrs. Corona-Dominguez, for your hard work, dedication, and the many ways you positively impact our school community.

Our 2nd graders wowed the audience with an incredible hip-hop performance choreographed by Coach Kyle! Their enthusiasm, dedication, and teamwork were on full display as they confidently took the stage, moving to the rhythm with energy and excitement. It was truly a joy to see their hard work come to life through dance! A huge thank you to our 2nd-grade teachers for organizing this wonderful experience and supporting our students as they explored creativity, movement, and expression. Watching our students shine with confidence was a reminder of how important the arts are in education. We are so proud of our talented young performers—keep dancing, learning, and having fun!

This week, we had the joy of recognizing our 1st and 2nd-grade students for their outstanding reading achievements! Our 1st graders earned awards for surpassing early literacy benchmarks, demonstrating tremendous growth and a strong foundation in reading. Meanwhile, our 2nd graders were celebrated for reaching their Accelerated Reader goals, showing perseverance, comprehension, and a true love for books. Reading is a key to success, and we are so proud of these students for their dedication and hard work. Keep turning those pages and reaching new goals! 📖👏

This week, we proudly recognized our STEM Students of the Month for their outstanding scientific skills in the STEM lab with Mrs. Harmon! These All-STAR students demonstrated curiosity, problem-solving, and critical thinking while engaging in hands-on learning through our Project Lead The Way curriculum. Their hard work and enthusiasm show that they are on the path to becoming future engineers, scientists, and innovators.

🌟 TK (Mrs. Gealer's Class) – Joseph – Jumping into our unit on spatial sense with enthusiasm.

🌟 Kindergarten (Ms. Yu's Class) – Cassia – Designing and building an outstanding cast to help stabilize a broken wrist.

🌟 1st Grade (Mrs. Miller's Class) – Jackson – Making excellent inferences about the way sound and light travel.

🌟 2nd Grade (Ms. Bonthius' Class) – Kamie – Providing thoughtful answers while learning about the concept of erosion.

🌟 3rd Grade (Mrs. Mulholland's Class) – Frankie – Diligently researching different reasons for the decline of the honeybee population.

🌟 4th Grade (Mr. Flemer's Class) – Miguel – Effortlessly collaborating with his team to discover more about the properties of light.

🌟 5th Grade (Mr. Dorain's Class) – Jonathan – Thinking like an ecologist to figure out how to create balance in an ecosystem.

🌟 6th Grade (Ms. Mazza's Class) – Sandra – Showing amazing perseverance while building a VEX chassis in robotics.

Keep up the amazing work, young thinkers! 🌟🔍

We are excited to celebrate Mrs. Bonthius’ 2nd grade class and Ms. Gealer’s TK class for achieving 100% attendance last week! 🏆👏 Way to go, students and families, for making school a priority!

Attendance is so important because:
✅ Every day counts – Students learn best when they are in class, actively engaging in lessons.
✅ Builds strong habits – Being on time and present every day sets the foundation for future success.
✅ Strengthens friendships – Attending school regularly helps students build social connections with their classmates.
✅ Maximizes learning – Each day includes new instruction and activities that help students grow academically.
✅ Boosts confidence – Regular attendance helps students feel more prepared and confident in their learning.

Let’s keep up the great attendance, Adams All-Stars! Who will be next to reach 100%?

Coach Wooden believed and taught that the most important responsibility each of us had to ourselves was to do everything we could to achieve our own potential. He offered his Pyramid of Success and his definition of Success as a guide, stepping stones to help young people understand what it really takes to make the effort – 100% – to fulfill their potential and do their best. Every couple of weeks, our students will focus on one or two character traits from Coach Wooden's Pyramid of Success. Positive examples of students exemplifying the character traits will be recognized with the Pyramid of Success Awards. Classroom lessons will reinforce elements of the Pyramid of Success. Additionally, whole school assemblies will feature character traits from Coach Wooden’s Pyramid of Success.

For the next two weeks, we will be focusing on Skill and Fitness:

• Skill: “Practice makes perfect.” Be good at what you do! Lean the subject! Master the task whether it is geography or gymnastics. You have to know what you’re doing and be able to do it quickly and properly. To improve your level of SKILL takes practice, study and repetition, repetition, repetition.
• Fitness: “Act, eat and think right.” To do your best -100%- and succeed you must eat right, think right, and act right! True happiness comes from the things that cannot be taken away from you. Making the full effort to do the right thing can never be taken away from you. If you see others breaking the rules tell yourself, “They are only hurting themselves and they are teaching me what not to do!

At Friday’s flag deck, we had the privilege of recognizing our All-STAR students who have demonstrated Hard Work and Determination, two key traits from John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success. These students have shown perseverance in the face of challenges, dedication to their learning, and a commitment to always doing their best. Hard work and determination are essential qualities that help us grow, learn, and achieve our goals. Whether in the classroom, on the playground, or in their daily interactions, these students have set a shining example for their peers. We are incredibly proud of their efforts and celebrate their success! Keep striving, learning, and leading the way, All-Stars! 🌟👏 #AdamsPride #PyramidOfSuccess #HardWork #Determination

Be a part of the Adams Community and help our students have a great experience at Adams Elementary. You can join (or renew) your Adams PTA Membership at Join PTA.

Check out our school menu for February!

• Breakfast
• Lunch

LET’S GO COSTA MESA – A FREE RIDESHARE PROGRAM

The City of Costa Mesa has launched Let’s Go Costa Mesa, a new on-demand rideshare service in partnership with Circuit Inc. that offers free, clean energy transportation to residents with limited or no access to a personal automobile, though all members of the community are welcome to use the service. Let’s Go Costa Mesa is intended for short local trips within a specific service area consisting of Westside Costa Mesa and College Park south of Joann Street and the area surrounding the East 17th Street shopping district bounded by East 18th Street on the north and East 16th Street on the south (see attached flyer for map).

Let’s Go Costa Mesa will operate seven days a week, up to 10 hours per day, as part of a four-year pilot program. Rides are free, and are available within the service area Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

To use the service, residents and visitors are encouraged to download the Ride Circuit app on the App Store or Google Play or call the hotline at (949) 828-2065. For more info about the program, please click here.

At Share Ourselves, they aim to provide quality, affordable healthcare. Their Sliding Fee Scale Model helps to do that and may offer you a discount based on your income and family size. Share Ourselves welcomes everyone, regardless of your inability to pay.

Contact: 949-270-2100

shareourselves.org