Principal's Newsletter

Dear Adelante Selby Spanish Immersion families,

¡Feliz Año Nuevo 2025! I would like to thank Karen and Rick DeGolia and the Atherton Police Department for hosting another incredible Toy Drive. Our Community School Coordinator, Jose Luna and Administrative Assistant Claudia Sandoval were able to help identify families in need so that 155 students participated this year. Furthermore, the "Holiday Buddy" program supported seventeen families in need financially with staff and community support.

A very warm and festive THANK YOU to all the students, families, teachers, administrators, and staff that made our first-ever door decorating contest and Hot Chocolate Gallery walk a huge success! The doors were beautiful, and everyone loved getting to start the day with a warm beverage and a sweet treat. Our panel of judges had a hard job, but they did it admirably, selecting the winners of the contest. Their favorites were:

1st Place: Maestra Jeannette's Class: Pueblo Alebrije

2nd Place: Maestra Elanor's Class: Minion Holidays

3rd Place: Maestra Mary Jane's Class: Hot Chocolate

Enjoy the Canva Photos/Video By Clicking LINK

We know the greatest amount of learning happens for our students from now in January through the Spring Break in April. However, student attendance is key as well (as students can't learn if they are not at school)so please make sure your students are here every day on time and for the whole day (unless they are sick). November and December we had a spike in absenteeism particularly in TK and Kindergarten and overall which we need to improve going forward now. Recently, the School Board passed a resolution changing the Independent Study requirements so that students can qualify for Independent Study now with 3 consecutive days or more absent(it used to be 5 consecutive days). Please make sure you contact your teachers and Mimi in our office at least 2 weeks prior to requesting an Independent Study. Finally, as always, schedule your vacations around our school calendared vacations please.

Please be aware that TK/Kindergarten Registration/School Of Choice and School Tours on Thursdays for the 2025/2026 School year have been well-attended and are ending this Friday, January 17th. A reminder that for priority enrollment, Registration and School of Choice forms are due this Friday, January 17th, 2025. Reminder: The current TK students are automatically enrolled already for next school year in our Kindergarten and do not need to do anything.

We have two big community buiding events this month for which we want EVERYONE's participation: BINGO night on January 24th and our rescheduled Walk-A-Thon on January 31st. BINGO is a fun, family friendly event where we get together and enjoy each other's company while we eat and play games of BINGO. There will be prizes for the winners, but it is really about everyone enjoying time together at our school. The Unidos Walk-A-Thon is one of our biggest fundraisers and we need your participation to help meet our goal. New this year is that ALL students will receive a Walk-A-Thon T shirt regardless if the family has donated, but we still want EVERYONE to donate!

5th grade families: Below is important information about Kennedy Middle School and how to sign up for a school tour and shadowing. Please remember to notify our office if your child is going to shadow at Kennedy.

Kennedy Principal's Weloming/Information for Incoming New Students Newsletter

Kennedy Information for Incoming Families

Today's English Language Advisory Committee(ELAC) parent meeting was very well attended. Directora Patricia talked about the upcoming ELPAC testing and how parents can help prepare their children for the test in the different domains: Listening/Speaking/Reading/Writing. Parents: Please click on the link below for a variety of resources and information about ELPAC:

Starting Smarter ELPAC Resources

A new session of the Familias Unidas (United through Education) program, will emphasize mathematics and how to develop a growth mindset, will begin in late January. In each of the 8 interactive virtual sessions, parents will learn the important role they play in the academic success of their children. Each virtual session will present strategies for developing a mathematical mind, a growth mindset, and interactively engaging as a family in multi-level intelligence experiences.

Deadline to register: January 17th

Distribution of material January 25th

La próxima sesión del programa Familias Unidas, con énfasis en matemáticas y cómo desarrollar una mentalidad de crecimiento, comenzará a fines de enero. En cada una de las 8 sesiones virtuales interactivas, los padres aprenderán el importante papel que desempeñan en el éxito académico de sus hijos. Cada sesión virtual presentará estrategias para desarrollar una mente matemática, una mentalidad de crecimiento y participar de manera interactiva como familia en experiencias de inteligencia multinivel.

Enlace para registrarse: https://forms.gle/XRtRd4a3vTR5Hxsb8 I have attached the flyer that includes the QR for registration if you want to add it to your newsletter. If you have any families you or teachers wish to refer to our virtual program, they can sign up directly using this link 2025 Familias Unidas.

Together, we are here to support our community. We will continue to find ways to engage our community.

Best regards,

Secundino Zuno

Project Resilience is a Social Emotional Learning curriculum where our community partner Acknowledge Alliance's Resiliency Counselor works with our students on developing their social emotional skills. These skills include identifying strengths, recognizing and managing emotions, demonstrating caring for others, coping strategies for dealing with feelings, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, making responsible decisions, setting goals, and working with others. Our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students will all go through the 6-7 weekly Social Emotional Learning lessons with our MFT Resiliency Counselor before the end of the school year.

Next Friday, January 24th is our annual Unidos PTO sponsored Family BINGO Night in the cafeteria from 5:30-7:30pm! Please join us for five games of BINGO with Directores Warren and Patricia calling the games: traditional Bingo(vertical, horizontal, diagonal), "4 Corners", and "Blackout"!! It's $5.00 to play 5 BINGO games and there will be prizes for the winners. We will be selling food as a fundraiser for next year's Outdoor Education Field Trip(Meal Deal). We will also be accepting generous donations!! This is a fun, community building event for school! ¡Vénganse todos!

The 2024-2025 Walk-A-Thon is just Weeks Away!

One of Adelante Selby’s most anticipated events is on the calendar, rain or shine, and it’s coming fast! The rescheduled date for the Walk-A-Thon is January 31, and every Alebrije will participate. A delay like this does present a golden opportunity to extend our donation window! We’ve set a goal of $55,000 and we’ve reached $32,000, with only 26% of families participating. Imagine what we could all do together, so PLEASE DONATE TODAY to close the gap and fund more amazing initiatives at Adelante Selby. In order to make it the success everyone wants it to be, Unidos needs your help:

• Donate at 99 Pledges: You can either donate a predetermined amount, or donate based on how many laps your Alebrije completes. Remind them to use their wristbands to count laps!
• Sign up to volunteer at the event: Unidos needs help with everything from shepherding the kids to distributing water and oranges, to donning the Alebrije mascot suit and getting everyone excited!

The Walk-A-Thon isn’t just about having fun and raising funds; it’s also about celebrating our incredible community! All students who participate will receive a special Walk-A-Thon t-shirt to wear proudly during the event. Plus, the three classes with the most donations will win $100 for their teacher's Amazon Wish List and enjoy a popcorn and movie party. And that’s not all—classes with 100% participation will earn a Free Dress Day! Let’s work together to make this event unforgettable!Walk-a-thon is RESCHEDULED now until Friday, January 31, 2025!

What to plan for this year’s Walk-A-Thon:

• The 3 classrooms that earn the most donations will receive $100 towards their teacher's Amazon Wish List and a movie party with popcorn!
• The 3 classrooms that complete the most laps will win a fruit popsicle party.
• All classes that have 100% participation will earn a Free Dress Day!
• Parents and family members are invited to cheer on our students in the afternoon on January 31st!

We would love participation from family and friends to cheer on our students and that we are looking for volunteers to make the Walk-a-thon a successful event. Sign up to volunteer here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0448ADAE2CABFF2-53641312-adelante#/

Walk-A-Thon Schedule Friday, January 31st:

1:00pm to 1:25pm - TK and K

1:30pm to 1:55pm - 1st and 2nd

2:00pm to 2:25pm - 3rd, 4th, and 5th

We are very excited for our field-trip to Columbia! Located in the heart of California, Columbia is a living gold rush town. Featuring the largest single collection of existing gold rush-era structures in the state. Visiting Columbia is like traveling back in time to the sights, smells, and sounds of a nineteenth century mining town.

We will be explaining the trip and what paperwork needs to be turned in at the meeting on Tuesday, January 28th at 5:30pm in the Lbrary. If you have been on the trip before, you do not need to attend unless you want to. You can wait to receive paperwork the following day from your student and proceed from there. There is a mandatory chaperone meeting schedule for May 13th @6pm.

Parent Venture: Parents/caregivers, students, educators, health professionals, and community members welcome! Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be available. Free admission:

Happy, Confident, and Strong: Tips for Helping Your Child Develop a Healthy Body Image

Andrea Bastiani Archibald, PhD, Developmental Psychologist

Wednesday, January 22, 2025, 5:30pm – 6:30pm PT, Virtual Event (Live)

Register: https://andreabarchibald2025.eventbrite.com

Developmental psychologist Andrea Bastiani Archibald, PhD, will provide parents and caregivers with practical strategies to help children develop a positive and healthy body image.

Parents/caregivers, students, educators, health professionals, and community members welcome! Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be available. Free admission.

On Beautiful Conversations: How to Stay Connected to Your Adolescent Child

Chris Balme, Education Leader, Author, and School Founder

Thursday, January 23, 2025, 5:30pm – 6:30pm PT, Virtual Event (Live)

Register: https://chrisbalme2025.eventbrite.com

In this talk, author and education leader Chris Balme will explore how some conversations flop, why your usual questions may stop working as your child enters adolescence, and how to find new and better ways to have meaningful conversations.

BIRTHDAYS

Our district works hard to create balanced lunches that include whole grains, protein, fruits and vegetables. As such, please do not bring sugary treats to school to celebrate your child's birthday(e.g, cupcakes). You are welcome to send healthy alternatives or non-edible items such as pencils, erasers or fidget toys. Typically, teachers will take the last Friday of the month to celebrate students birthdays for the entire month.

After School Programs for 2024/25

If interested in more information about after school programs please contact the following coordinators via email:

• REACH enrolling over 200 students in K-5th grades: Contact: kjimenez@redwoodcity.org
• Siena Youth Center with 80 students in 1st-5th grades: Contact: mrtenorio@stfrancisrwc.org
• YMCA with 40 students TK- 2nd grades: Contact: Eliana.Gonzalez@ymcasv.org

Additionally, Casa Círculo provides after school classes and opportunities for many of our students

Our school office hours are 8:00-4:00pm. All visitors to our school during school hours (not for Drop Off or Pick Up times) must come through and sign in at the school office.

Helpful Information Can Be Found In The Links Below:

Regards,

Director Warren

• Thursday, January 16: Chuck E Cheese Dine Out School Fundraiser: 3:00pm-closing.
• Friday, January 17: New TK/Kindergarten Registration/School of Choice 2025-'26 Due
• Monday, January 20: Martin Luther King Jr Day: No School
• Tuesday, January 21: Maizz Dine Out School Fundraiser: 12:00pm-closing
• Thursday, January 23: Food Distribution 2:30-4:30pm: Front Lot. All Are Welcome!
• Friday, January 24: One Color/Monochromatic Color Spirit Dress Day(or follow regular dress code)
• Friday, January 24: Family BINGO Night ,Cafeteria Doors Open 5:30pm Food For Sale; BINGO Games($5.00 to play) 6:30-7:30pm
• Monday, January 27: ELAC Meeting, 8:45am in the STEAM Lab
• Tuesday, January 28: 4th Grade Parent Meeting Columbia Field Trip Information, 5:30pm: Library
• Wednesday, January 29: School Site Council Meeting 3:00pm: Library
• Friday, January 31: Unlabelled Lost and Found Clothing/Items placed out on Blue Tables Free to anyone that wants them from 7:30-9:00am. Left over items will then be recycled into the green bin.
• Friday, January 31: Free Dress Day! (Students/Staff will wear Walk-A-thon shirts over clothes at the Walk-A-Thon.)
• Friday, January 31: Principal's Coffee 8:30-9:45--Library or Amphitheater
• Friday, January 31: Walk-A-Thon: TK/Kindergarten: 1:00pm to 1:25pm ; 1st/2nd grades: 1:30pm to 1:55pm ; 3rd/4th/5th grades: 2:00pm to 2:25pm