Cougar Community News

This week the students were encouraged to send a GRATITUDE GRAM to another student to share an appreciation and positive message! Each morning these notes are delivered to help spread joy and start the day with kindness. Our Woodside Cheerleaders are offering to add a SMENCIL to the Gratitude Gram for $1, as a fundraiser. Those will be available for purchase one more day - on TUESDAY of our return. Gratitude Grams will be available to fill out and get delivered through Thursday of next week.

This week we completed the only full week of school that we have this month. Monday is Veterans' Day Holiday, and Friday is a Teacher Work Day for the end of the first trimester. Students will have school on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday to close the first trimester. The following week, Nov. 18-22 will be a Minimum Day Schedule with Dismissal at 11:00 for TK/K and 11:20 for 1st-8th Grade. These minimum days allow time for Parent-Teacher Conferences, a valuable time to partner together in support of your student and learn more about what's happening in the classroom. You should have a conference scheduled to go over your child's progress since the beginning of the year.

NOVEMBER

• Mon. 11/11 - Veteran's Day - NO SCHOOL
• Tues. 11/12 - We welcome our Principal for a Day - Ms.Jane Taff from Citrus Heights City Council, PTO Meeting, 4:30pm in the Art Room/Design Lab. Zoom LINK HERE
• Wed. 11/13 - Last Day of Lego Robotics and Nature Watch Clubs
• Thurs. 11/14 - Ruby Bridges Day - Wear purple!, Middle School Trimester Incentive at C-Bar-C 11:00am-1:00pm
• Fri. 11/15 - Teacher Work Day - NO SCHOOL, End of Trimester 1
• Nov. 18-22 - Parent-Teacher Conferences, MINIMUM DAYS: TK/K Dismissal at 11:00am, 1st-8th Grade Dismissal at 11:20pm, Scholastic BOOK FAIR in the Library
• Nov. 25-29 - THANKSGIVING BREAK - NO SCHOOL

DECEMBER

• Fri. 12/6 - Spelling Bee, Middle School Trimester 1 Awards Assembly 1:45pm
• Mon. 12/9 - Lockdown Drill
• Tues. 12/10 - PTO Meeting, 4:30pm in the Art Room/Design Lab. Zoom LINK HERE
• Fri. 12/13 - Woodside Visitation Day, 8:30am - meet and tour for prospective 2025-26 families
• Tues. 12/17 - Dental Screening
• Thus. 12/19 - Cocoa & Crafts, 5:00-6:30pm
• Fri. 12/20 - Minimum Day, Dismissal at 11:25 for TK/K and 12:00 for 1st-8th
• Dec. 23 - Jan. 3 - WINTER BREAK - NO SCHOOL

During the week of Parent-Teacher Conferences, our Library will be transformed into the Scholastic Book Fair! This is a great opportunity to connect with your child over the thrill of bringing home new books to dive into again and again. Studies show that kids read more when they choose books for themselves. And fostering a love of independent reading leads to a wide variety of benefits—including academic success and improved mental health.

Here's what you need to know:

DATES: Monday, Nov. 18th - Friday, Nov. 22nd

TIMES: Mon-Wed. 7:45am - 2:00pm, Thurs.-Fri. 7:45am - 1:00pm

PLACE: Library/Media Center

During this week, your child's Library time will be a preview time. They may want to write a wish list and take note of where to find the most interesting books! If students have money (cash or ewallet set up), they will be able to purchase then. Otherwise, the Book Fair will be open Before School and After School for purchases. Use the QR Code below to set up an EWALLET, the digital payment account that allows your child to shop for books at the Fair without cash. Then share your eWallet link so friends and extended family can add funds.

We would love your help during the Book Fair! If you have time and would like to volunteer for a 30-60 minute shift, please check out this Sign Up LINK. This is a school volunteer position, which requires members that have completed fingerprints and other volunteer needs (found under Volunteer button above). We look forward to sharing our Book Fair excitement with you!!

The ELAC (English Learners Advisory Committee) met last Thursday to discuss upcoming school events, including report cards and parent-teacher conferences. The group, led by Mrs. Susan Parker, our ELD Teacher also started planning for our first Woodside Cultural Festival! Our goal for this event will be to celebrate the diverse cultures on our campus, make them visible, and connect with the community! If you'd like to help with this, please attend the next ELAC Meeting on February 13th.

The ELD after-school Newcomer English Learners tutoring calendar will add a day for Trimester 2, so there will be tutoring Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday from 2:30-3:30pm and Thursday 1:15-2:15pm.

Have you heard about BoxTops? It's a great way to help Woodside earn money. You can download the Boxtop app from the playstore or app store, select Woodside and start scanning your receipts. Easy as that.

Join us for our November general meeting this coming Tuesday, Nov. 12th at 4:30pm in person in the Design Lab/Art Room or via Zoom using this LINK . We will be discussing upcoming events, including the Cocoa, Crafts & Community family event December 19th. Also, coming in December, the PTO has setup a dine and donate at Dos Coyotes in Citrus Heights. Flyers will be sent home about a week before the event.

If you have social media, follow us on Facebook: WoodsideK8PTO

Regional Community Care Hubs! www.sanjuan.edu/communityresources

• November 21, 3:00-5:00 pm at Mesa Verde High School (7501 Carriage Drive, Citrus Heights)
• Holiday Food Distribution will also take place at our November 21 Community Care Hub!

Volunteer Fingerprint Clinic- Thursday, November 14, 5:00-6:30 pm at the District Office Board Room (3738 Walnut Avenue)

FREE November Family Workshops! www.sanjuan.edu/familyed

• Nov. 12 & 19 - Family Leadership Academy at Churchill Middle School (4900 Whitney Ave.)
• Nov. 20 - Talleres Familiares (Spanish family workshop) at San Juan High School (7551 Greenback Ln.)
• Preparing for Parent-Teacher Conferences pre-recorded video in our NEW Family Engagement Video Library at www.sanjuan.edu/familyed under the "Family Engagement Video Library" tab

If you would like to connect with me, share a bit of your story, or ask questions about the design work taking place at Woodside, I’d love to chat! Email me at dvictor@sanjuan.edu.

Greetings Neighbors,

Attached are the minutes from the October 15 CHASEN monthly meeting.

The next meeting is November 19. See you there!

CHASEN (Citrus Heights Areas 7-8-9) Board

Share your input and help shape our Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP)
You are invited to tell us what our schools are doing well and what we can do to better support our students and families. Your input will help inform the district’s 2025-26 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), which describes how services are provided to improve the performance of English learner, low income, and foster youth students as well as the performance of all students in the state priority areas. Share your thoughts now through Nov. 11 by participating in a ThoughtExchange at www.sanjuan.edu/LCAPinput.

As we are an Open Enrollment District, it is important to understand the offerings of each high school. Attending these High School Parent Information Nights can help inform important decisions! Mark your calendars for the remaining evenings this month:

• San Juan: 11/13 at 6pm
• Choices Charter, Tuesdays at 3pm
• El Sereno, 11/20 at 6:00pm
• Meraki, 11/21 at 6:00pm

The Open Enrollment Lottery is an annual process that allows families who live within boundaries of San Juan Unified School District to request a school of choice, provided there is space available at the requested school and families are willing to provide transportation.

Application Period: Dec. 9, 2024- January 24, 2025

For more information visit www.sanjuan.edu/openenrollment

Woodside will be hosting a Visitation Day on December 13 at 8:30am.

National Native American Heritage Month is celebrated each year in November. It's a time to celebrate all the traditions, languages and stories of Native American, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and affiliated Island communities, while helping to ensure their rich histories and contributions continue to thrive with each passing generation. This November and every month, we celebrate the heritage and culture of these incredible Americans who deeply enrich the quality and character of our Nation.

You can learn more about this important month by visiting:

https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/American_Indian_Heritage_Month.htm

https://www.nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/

Middle School Girls Basketball

The Middle School Girls Basketball League has begun. Practices will be Wednesdays and Thursdays, 6:30-7:30pm at Woodside MPR. Register online or turn in paper registration to the office at Rusch Park. Contact Davis Masters at 916-725-0185 or email at dmasters@sunriseparks.com for more information about registration. If you have any questions regarding the league please contact Renzo at 916-725-8843. Season Dates 10/29 - 2/1, No practice or games from 11/23 - 11/30 (Thanksgiving) and 12/21 - 1/6 (Winter Break)

As the holiday season approaches, our Counselor Mrs. Garboushian wanted to share some resources for staff, students, and families. The attached holiday resource guide includes free family events and activities, toy drives and holiday baskets, and ongoing food and meal resources.

The Sacramento River Cats annual tradition to kick off the new season is the Art of Baseball Calendar! The attached flyer includes the artwork instructions. Participating students will send in their artwork by November 22nd, 2024.

Here are a few examples of art we are looking for you to create:

• Dinger
• River Cats Logos
• Holidays
• Tower Bridge
• Certain Days of the Month (Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, etc.)

Office phone - (916) 971-5216

Mrs. Taylor Gonzales-Moore, Secretary - taylor.gonzalesmoore@sanjuan.edu

Mrs. Ana Johnson, Clerk - ana.johnson@sanjuan.edu

Mrs. Deb Johnston, Vice Principal - debra.johnston@sanjuan.edu

Mrs. Beth Wahl, Principal - ewahl@sanjuan.edu

Facebook Woodside TK-8

SJUSD NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

The San Juan Unified School District Board of Education is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in district programs and activities. District programs, activities and services shall be free from unlawful discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment), intimidation, and/or bullying based on actual or perceived characteristics of race or ethnicity, color, ancestry, nationality, national origin, immigration status, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or genetic information, or on the basis of a person's association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. For questions or complaints, please contact Equity Compliance Officer: Linda C. T. Simlick, General Counsel, 3738 Walnut Avenue, Carmichael, CA 95608, (916) 971- 7110, LegalServices@sanjuan.edu; Title IX Coordinator: Katie Fabel, Legal Analyst/Title IX Coordinator, 3738 Walnut Avenue, Carmichael, CA 95608, (916) 971-7110, TitleIX@sanjuan.edu; Section 504 Coordinator: Dominic Covello, Director, Student Support Services, 3738 Walnut Avenue, Carmichael, CA 95608, (916) 971-7220, DCovello@sanjuan.edu.