Dear CELC Familles,

This week is Staff Appreciation Week. Thank you for all of the donations to stock the staff lounge. Donations are still welcome throughout the week. The CELC/MVLA staff will be enjoying treats all week.

Registration for the 2023-24 school year is now open. Current parents, please go online and update your ParentVue account. New parents, register online and come by the office to get a paper packet. also. See Flyer below. Can you believe that there are only 36 days of school left?

Updates and reminders:

• BOES held there 1st grade orientation for the 2024-25 school year last week. See the slideshow below if you were not able to attend.

• For the safety of our students and families, please take caution in the parking lot. Please make sure you are following the signs in the parking lot. The car traffic flows one direction only. Do not block the rolling gate or crosswalk or park in the red zones.

• 2024-25 TK and kindergarten registration is open. Stop by or call the office for more information.
  

• Kindergarten parents, mark your calendars for the end-of-the-year Celebration of Success ceremonies. See the dates and times below.

• As a reminder, breakfast is served from 8:35 am to 8:55 am daily. It is free for all students. Parent may join their child at the tables.

• Students are expected to follow school rules at all times. Please help support safe, responsible, and respectful behavior while you are on campus with them before and after school.

• Please see upcoming community events in the "Community Events" section below.
• For the safety and security of students and staff, gates are locked during school hours.
  
• Please use the front gate for entering and exiting the campus. the side gates are for employees only and must remain closed.

• ATTENTION: If your student is going to be absent for an extended period, please make sure to request an Independent Study Contract from the office at least one week in advance. This will ensure that your child's teacher has ample time to prepare assignments, and your student can receive attendance credit during their absence.

• For transportation questions, please visit AUSD's website at https://www.alpineschools.net/page/transportation

We are looking forward to another week filled with learning and laughter. I hope you have a great week!

Sincerely,

Tamara Ripke, Proud Principal

Congratulations to our TK and K classrooms for the best attendance from 4/ to 5/3. Winning classes will be presented with the PAWsome Attendance Trophy.

Did you know that CELC has an Attendance Team? Miss Camryn, Mrs. Barkely, and Mrs. Ripke are here to support families with challenges and celebrate outstanding attendance.

Student attendance is of utmost importance for academic success and overall school well-being. Regular attendance not only contributes to the continuity of a student's learning journey but also plays a crucial role in their social and emotional growth. Consistent attendance ensures that students actively engage with the curriculum, interact with their peers, and benefit from valuable classroom experiences. Moreover, it fosters a sense of responsibility and discipline, preparing students for future commitments. In addition, attendance directly impacts school funding, as absences, whether excused or unexcused, results in financial losses. Last year, AUSD lost over 1 million dollars in funding due to attendance rates. Recognizing the significance of attendance, AUSD schools promote regular attendance and incentivize outstanding attendance to help foster a positive and supportive learning environment for all students.

Many of our students' absences are not due to illness and there is a pattern of higher absences on Mondays and Fridays. Here are tips and suggestions to help attendance rates:

• Schedule appointments during school breaks or in the afternoons on Wednesdays (CELC early release days).
• Plan vacations/trips during school breaks.
• If your child is going to be out for 3 or more days, request an independent study contract (ISC). ISCs help a student's learning stay on track and it also counts for attendance credit/funding.
• If your child is not feeling well, use the guidelines below to help decide whether they should attend school or not.
• Reach out to the CELC Attendance Team if you have needs/challenges that affect the ability to get your student to school. We are here to support families.

The CELC Attendance Team monitors absences daily, weekly, bi-weekly and 30 day periods. Beginning Monday, January 22nd, the K classroom and TK classroom with the best attendance rate for a two week period will be presented with a trophy. This trophy will be displayed in their classroom for the following two weeks.

Please report any absences to your child's teacher and the office. Please let the office know the reason that your child is out and any symptoms if they are sick. Email Mary Barkely, our amazing Clerk or call the office at 619-659-8250.

Answer: ABSOLUTELY

FACT:

Did you know that only 17% of students considered chronically absent in kindergarten and 1st grade were reading proficiently in the 3rd grade?

See image below. For more information, visit https://www.attendanceworks.org/.

Did you know that Alpine Union School District has a valuable online resource available to all students — the Sora digital library? Sora provides access to a huge collection of books, including audiobooks, and can be accessed at any time. Here's how your child can make the most of this resource:

1. Accessing Sora:

• Log into their Google account

• Navigate to Clever (lower left side of Chromebook)

• Click on the Sora app

• Once in Sora, log in using your Google credentials. This is a one-time requirement, and subsequent logins will be automatic.

Note: If you're unsure about your student’s Google login information, please reach out to your child’s teacher.

2. Exploring the San Diego County Public Library:

In addition to our library, students can also access books from the San Diego County Public Library through Sora:

• After logging into Sora, click on the down arrow next to Alpine Union School District (under EXPLORE) on the top left-hand side

• Search for San Diego County Library and click on San Diego County Library Digital Media

• Choose your desired book

• Click "borrow"

• Select Alpine Union School District

• Click on the blue bar

• Click on your student's email address again

• Click on borrow again

• Access the book by clicking on “shelf” at the bottom of the screen

We highly encourage students to make the most of this resource.

Hello CELC families! Here is the latest news and updates:

Thank you for your ongoing support! We are looking forward to an amazing rest of the 2023-24 school year. Thank you to everyone that helped out for the Spring Fling. It was a huge success. We are looking forward to the upcoming Literature Comes to Life Assembly in May.

We are in search of the 2024-25 PTA Board. Please consider helping us keep the momentum going. It has been a very fun and successful school year. TK parents and incoming CELC parents, please take a moment to fill out the 2024-25 PTA Interest List.

Sincerely,

CELC PTA

creeksidekpta@gmail.com.

Thank you to our amazing sponsors! We appreciate you! Your donations will be supporting spring activities including butterfly and ladybug studies (with live insects), Dr. Seuss Week, 100's Day, student incentives/prizes, field trips, and other special events.

Did you know that our 100% of our teachers our trained to teach reading by using a proven, multi-sensory approach called Orton-Gillingham (OG)? We are proud to be leaders in early literacy! For more information about OG and our training visit Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (IMSE) and read below.

See the forecast below to help plan your child's attire. It looks like it is going to be a beautiful week. Monday will be a little cool. The rest of the week might feel a little like summer!

Episode 14 shines a spotlight on the incredible individuals who make our schools thrive! From the caring bus drivers to the inspiring teachers, dedicated counselors, and everyone in between, THANK YOU for your unwavering dedication and positive impact on our lives. You are the heart of our school community! #AlpineUnion #InspiringChange

Mrs. Ripke will continue the Cubs in the Community tradition. Her goal is to connect with 100 Cubs (Future, Former, or Current) by the 100th day of school. Building relationships with our students is important to us! If you see Mrs. Ripke out in the community, encourage your student to say hi. Not only does it create an opportunity to connect, it also supports students' language and communication skills. Follow the sightings on FB and IG. Feel free to share our postings to spread the word. Mrs. Ripke (and the CELC staff) looks out for future, current, and former Cubs! She is ready to meet the 2023-24 challenge. See the latest sightings below!

Dismissal gates open at 1:30 pm on Wednesdays and 2:45 pm all other days. If you would like your student released early, please sign them out in the office.

TK rooms 2 and 4 are currently using the little playground for their afternoon recess.

CELC has three school rules. Students will be learning behavior expectations that are aligned with being safe, responsible, and respectful. We practice Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). We understand that our students are still learning to problem solve and deal with school expectations. We believe in progressive discipline and restorative practices. Teachers and staff document concerns and communicate them with parents to form a partnership in your child's success. We love our Cubs and are looking forward to having a year of fun, friendships, learning and laughter!

Our Cubs are Comical!!!

Humor helps the heart! Join us in spreading "Smiles for Miles!"

Answer from last week: Umpires Strike Back

Mondays- Wear a College Shirt or College Colors

Wednesdays- Mid-Week Mindfulness- wear a shirt with a kind message

Fridays- Wear a school shirt or school colors or RED for (Remembering Everyone Deployed)

Check out what we are serving for breakfast and lunch in our cafeteria! As a reminder, breakfast and lunch is free for all students for the 2023-24 school year.

5/6 Literature Come to Life Assembly

5/27 Memorial Day- No School

6/3 K Celebration of Success 9:15 am (Rooms 10/12)

6/4 K Celebration of Success 9:15 am (Rooms 6/7)

6/4 K Celebration of Success 10:30 am (Rooms 8/9)

Camryn McInerney, School Social Worker

cmcinerney@alpineschools.net

Office Hours

M-F 8:00 am to 3:30 pm

Email: sgreen@alpineschools.net
Website: https://www.alpineschools.net
Location: 8818 Harbison Canyon Road
Phone: (619) 659-8250
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Creekside-Early-Learning-Center-414783265277455/