Robert Down Principal's Update

Dear Robert H. Down School Community,

Can you believe that we celebrated our 100th Day of School on Tuesday?! It was such a delight to see our students celebrating in their own special ways including dressing up as 100 year olds; skip counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s to 100; doing 100 jumping jacks with their classroom buddies; making 100 Days Smarter crowns, and so much more!

Culture of “We”- Opportunities for Engagement

• Read-A-Thon has begun and continues until January 31! Register your child for the Read-A-Thon here!

• Wellness Fair at PG Middle School this Saturday, January 25, 2025 11AM-1PM Please come if you are interested in learning about local wellness and mental health resources available in our community. See flyer below for more information.

• Lunar New Year is coming up on Wednesday, January 29. Do you celebrate Lunar New Year in your family? Our students would love to learn from you! If you can create a display, share about how your family celebrates Lunar New Year, or lead an activity with students, please sign up here.

• Community Engagement Forum Around PGUSD Core Values will take place on Wednesday, January 29 from 6-8PM at Forest Grove Elementary. Details can be found here. I hope to see you there!

• Book Night will be held in our Cafeteria on Friday, January 31 from 6-7PM celebrating the culmination of our Read-A-Thon! To volunteer to bring goodies or support with RHD Spirit Wear sales, sign up here. See flyer below for more details.

• Spelling Bee: Are you available to volunteer as a Spelling Bee corrector on Monday, March 3 or Tuesday, March 11 at 3:30PM? If interested, please sign up here. Thank you to those who have signed up already!

• Book Fair: Our PTA will be hosting a Book Fair on site the week of February 24-28. We are in need of a few more volunteers! Please sign up here.

Safety Updates

Drop Off Zones: For the safety of all, please be sure to pull up completely to the curb when dropping off your student(s). If there is not enough space in the drop off area, please feel free to park a block or two away and enjoy some extra time with your child by walking them to the gate.

Upcoming Dates

• January 20-31, 2025 Read-A-Thon

• January 29, 2025: Lunar New Year

• January 29, 2025: Community Engagement Forum Around PGUSD’s Core Values at Forest Grove 6-8PM

• January 31, 2025: Student Book Swap at Lunch

• January 31, 2025: Book Night in Cafeteria 6-7PM

Thank you for the many ways you are supporting the growth of your children this year. Wishing each of you a lovely weekend.

Sincerely,

Emily Tsai Brownfield, Principal

January 20-31 - Read-A-Thon!

January 25 - Wellness Fair, PGMS, 11:00 AM-1:00 PM (flyer below)

January 29 - Community Engagement Forum Around PGUSD’s Core Values at Forest Grove 6-8PM

January 31- Book Swap during lunch

January 31 - PTA Book Night, Cafeteria, 6:00 PM

Due to an increase in illnesses at school, we are asking families to monitor their children for the following signs and symptoms of illness and then keep them home until symptom-free for 24 hours without the use of over the counter medications. Symptoms to watch for are:

• Persistent headache and fatigue
• Elevated temperature
• Body aches
• Sore throat
• Congestion
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Loss of taste or smell

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.

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

Email: RHDOffice@pgusd.org