Podesta Ranch Newletter 04/06/2025
04/06/2025
Podesta Ranch Families,
It’s hard to believe we’re already in the final stretch of the school year! With just eight weeks to go, we truly appreciate your ongoing support and partnership at home.
This season is packed with meaningful learning, exciting end-of-year activities, and special celebrations recognizing our students’ achievements. Students in grades 3–6 will begin state testing at the end of April, and your support in helping them get plenty of rest and come to school ready to do their best is greatly appreciated.
We’re also thrilled to welcome families back for Lunch on the Lawn—a great opportunity to enjoy lunch with your student on campus. Be sure to mark your calendars for our upcoming events on April 9 and May 21. We’re excited to see you this Wednesday!
As we wrap up the year, we’re encouraging all of our Red-Tailed Hawks to finish strong by showing
responsibility, kindness, and safety—our core PBIS values. Let’s continue working together to ensure these last few weeks are positive, productive, and filled with success. Please take time to connect with your child and their teacher to help reinforce our shared behavior expectations.
Thank you for being such a vital part of what makes Podesta Ranch Elementary an amazing place to learn and grow!
Sincerely,
Alyssa Barban, Principal
🥪Lunch on the Lawn
Lunch on the Lawn is on Wednesday, April 9th, 2025. Please see below for the lunch times.
TK - Kinder: 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
1st - 3rd, SDC: 10:50 AM - 11:35 AM
4th - 6th: 11:50 AM - 12:26 PM
Please click on the image on the right to see the digital flyer.
Kona Ice will be there as well if you would like to purchase a Kona Ice!
📝CAASPP Testing
Our CAASPP testing will be starting soon for our 3rd - 6th graders from Monday, April 14th, 2025 - Friday, May 9th, 2025. Please be sure that your child comes to school fully rested (8+ hours of sleep), had breakfast (they're free at school!), and on time.
Please click on the blue words LETTER below to see the parent letter being sent home.
Students may practice the test at home on a guest account to be familiar with the questions asked. Link to the website can be accessed by clicking on the image on the right.
🚸TK and Kindergarten Enrollment
- When: Starting Saturday, February 1st, 2025
- How: Online Enrollment (Lodiusd.net or scan the QR code on attached flyer)
- TK Eligibility: Children turning 4 years old by Monday, September 1, 2025
- Kindergarten Eligibility: Children turning 5 years old on or before Monday, September 1, 2025
- 1st grade Eligibility: Children turning 6 years old on or before Monday, September 1, 2025
Please click on the image on the right for the digital flyer for more information.
Upcoming minimum days are the following:
- Wednesday, April 9th, 2025 - Lunch on the Lawn
- Wednesday, May 7th, 2025
- Wednesday, May 21st, 2025 - Lunch on the Lawn
- Friday, May 30th, 2025 (last day of 2024/2025 school year)
Please be sure to pick up your children at their designated dismissal time as staff have meetings and professional development immediately after school. All PM TK and Kindergarten classes start at 8:15 AM.
💵Making Payments
If you are in need to make library book payments or would like to purchase Chromebook Insurance through the District, please click on the image on the right or scan the QR code for access.
You may also click on the blue words PAYMENT below for the digital form to turn in to pay.
🤳SEL Self Regulations
Please click on the image on the right for digital flyer of ways families can help their child with self regulation and understanding their emotions.
Click on the blue words SLIDES below for more strategies of how to walk your child through test anxiety.
👪Family Resources in San Joaquin Area
Click on the image on the right for family resources avaliable in the San Joaquin area.
Please click on the BLUE words below to access the LUSD Counseling Website.
📋Lodi USD Community Input Needed – LCAP Thought Exchange
Lodi USD invites you to share your thoughts on the district’s Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP)! Your input is essential in shaping our priorities and ensuring our students receive the support they need.
Please take a moment to participate in our Thought Exchange by clicking the link below:
🔗 https://tejoin.com/scroll/308859188
Your feedback will help guide the development of our LCAP moving forward. Thank you for being a valued part of our community!
Use the link above or QR code to access Thought Exchange survey.
🥪 Trimester 3 Cafeteria Menu 2024/25
Join us for FREE nutritious breakfast each morning at 7:45 AM!
Please click on the image on the right to see a live view of the cafeteria menu for our school. Make sure to click on the drop down menu for Podesta Ranch Elementary School.
Click the BLUE WORDS MENU below for the digital pdf copy of the lunch menu.
For more information about lunches and nutrition on the LodiUSD website, please click on the BLUE words below.
🥞Free Breakfast Hours
Free breakfast is served every school day at 7:45 AM - 8:00 AM. If your child intends on eating free breakfast at school, they may arrive no earlier than 7:45 AM. If they are not eating breakfast, children should not arrive at school before 8:00 AM in lieu to safety concerns. No adults are supervising the students before 7:45 AM.
🚸Drop Off and Pick Up
Please remember to NOT pick up or drop off your child in the bus loop or parking lot area, especially by the DEAD END section of the parking lot. Bus loop is ONLY for our SPED students and busses, and families are highly advised to accompany their child when walking through the parking lot. We do not have adults supervising these areas. Please park your car in the parking lot if you are planning to pick up your students directly from their teachers. Please leave the drop off area ONLY for moving vehicles that are picking up/dropping off quickly, and refrain from double parking, as we need ease of car movement for student and driver safety. Lastly, please do not exit the entrance area into the parking lot during drop off/pick up times to avoid collision from oncoming traffic.
Thank you for partnering with us and modeling to our students the importance of following traffic and road safety rules. 👍
⏰ Attendance
One of our site goals, and our challenge from the Superintendent, is to improve attendance and curb truancy. The law states that students will attend every day, on time, and ready for school. With a new system in place, absences are carefully tracked, and notices are automatically sent to guardians. You have 10 days to clear an absence. On the 11th day it reverts to all unexcused and is considered truancy.
If you request IS, it must be requested 2 weeks prior and approved by IS administration. Please do not wait until the night before.
📖Student Handbook
Please click on the blue words student and family handbook for the pdf of school rules/policies for 2024-2025 school year, as it has important information about all school expectations.
You may also click on the image on the right for the same document.
👟 Student Dress Code & Safety Policy
As the weather becomes colder and as a safety reminder, please send your student to school in appropriate attire, including shoes. Our dress code can be found in the Student Handbook in your student's planner or online. Students are expected to wear closed toe/heeled shoes. Students with sandals, slides, or Crocs will be asked to sit out during recess and PE to ensure student safety on the playground, stairwell and in the bark box.
Please click on the image on the right for the digital Student Handbook regarding their dress code.