Robert Down Principal's Update

Dear Robert H. Down School Community,

I have seen so many opportunities to highlight our District Core Values of Belonging, Safety, and Prosperity in action this week!

It was so encouraging to see many of you in the last week along the route of the Monterey Bay Half Marathon on Sunday as well as at our PTA Dine Out at Islands last night. Thank you for your continuous support of our community!

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Nizhoni Chow-Garcia, parent of Nolan and Orin, for sharing about the rich heritage of Native Americans, particularly her own beautiful Navajo heritage and culture, in her children’s classrooms yesterday. Her presentation was informative, interactive, and engaging as she shared about many aspects of Navajo life, art, and symbolism in the designs in their clothing, tapestries, and jewelry. It is a privilege to have her as part of our school community.

Many thanks also to our veterans and active military who took time out last Friday to join us for our Veterans Day Assembly.

Special Event

Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day/Assembly It was such a joy to have so many of you join us for Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day this morning to commemorate the 64th Anniversary of Ruby becoming one of the first African American children to integrate New Orleans’ all white public school system. At the Assembly, we had Heather Zunguze, our Intervention Teacher, and special guest, Ann Jealous, share about the courageous stories of multiple individuals challenging racism and segregation in schools in the past inspiring all of us to see how we can each make a difference by standing up to bullying and racism in schools today. In addition, our 5th grade classes did a special Toolbox presentation on Courage.

Safety Updates

Emergency Safety Drills: We completed a successful Secure Campus Drill yesterday. To learn more about the protocol, feel free to review this link. Our next emergency safety drill will be the Shelter in Place Drill on December 10 at 11:45AM.

Pine St and 13th Street Crosswalk: Thank you for your patience as we have been working on hiring a crossing guard for that intersection. Please use extra caution when driving across that crosswalk and when walking or riding on that crosswalk. The crosswalk wig wag lights are currently out and are expected to be fixed by the City of Pacific Grove very soon while they are awaiting a part for the controller. I am attending a meeting with City and District Officials this afternoon to find out more about the specific plans to improve safety on Pine Avenue.

Enrichment

STEAM and Robotics for 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade students. Please complete this survey by November 15th to help us determine interest for STEAM and Robotics programming for the Winter and Spring for ASE programming. Thank you!

Important Dates

• November 14: Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day (before school)/Assembly 9:10AM immediately followed by Toolbox Assembly 9:25AM

• November 27: Minimum Day for Students (Dismissal at 12:15PM)

• November 28-29: Thanksgiving Holiday- NO SCHOOL

Wishing everyone a lovely weekend!

Sincerely,

Emily Tsai Brownfield
Principal

Robert Down is participating in a Food Drive for the Food Bank for Monterey County. We have several collection barrels on campus for your student to drop off canned and non perishable food items. Please deliver items between now and December 20.

Thank you for your donation!

For more information please see their website: https://foodbankformontereycounty.org/

November 19 - PTA Meeting, 7:00 PM

November 27 - Minimum Day, dismissal 12:15 PM

November 28-29 - Thanksgiving Holiday, No School

December 12 - PGUSD Board Meeting, 6:30 PM

December 17 - RHD Winter Program, Ottertorium

December 20 - Minimum Day

December 23-January 6 - Winter Break, No School

January 7 - Return to School

Please have your child to school on time. Gates open at 8:30 AM. Warning bell rings at 8:40 AM. Final bell rings and instruction begins at 8:45 AM. When a student is tardy it is disruptive to the office and classroom. In addition, students miss important information and announcements from their teacher first thing in the morning.

Did you know that you can report your child's absence with your ParentVUE app? Simply log into your ParentVUE account to send the office a message about why your child is absent.

* Ways to report a student absent *

a) ParentVUE app

b) 24 Hour Absence Line (831) 646-6663

c) Email Annie Deis at adeis@pgusd.org

If you plan on being a VOLUNTEER on campus or a CHAPERONE for a field trip, please be sure you are fingerprint cleared with our district. To make an appointment at the District Office please contact Bree Nehring by calling 607-8892 or emailing bnehring@pgusd.org

Before coming to campus to volunteer, please check with your child's teacher to schedule a time that works best for them.

This notice is to tell you about our voluntary program designed to build the RHD library and foster your child’s love of reading.

Here is how it works: To join the Robert H. Down Birthday Book Club fill out the information below (scroll way down to the bottom of this message to print the Birthday Book forms) and deposit it in the Drop Box at school along with a check for $20.00 (please make the check payable to the P.G.U.S.D. and write R.H.D. Birthday Book on the memo line).

When your child’s birthday month comes around Ms. Scanlon will present a new book in honor of your child’s birthday. Your child will be the first one to check out and read the book that has been donated to the library to celebrate their birthday. A bookplate with your child’s name will be affixed to the inside cover for all future readers to appreciate.

Here is the link to the PTA website: https://www.robertdownpta.org/fundraisers/gift_wrap

Charleston Wrap Fundraiser: thru 11/15/2024

Link if you want to register your child and receive prizes: registercw.com Organization ID: 19907

Website: https://robertdown.pgusd.org/
Location: 485 Pine Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
Phone: (831) 646-6540

Email: RHDOffice@pgusd.org