Charger Weekly Update

Dear Charger Families,

Friday Flag Assembly is back! Mr. Pearson's 5th-grade class kicked off our Friday Flag Assemblies this morning, and it was an electrifying morning with lots of very enthusiastic children and parents!

I want to express my gratitude to the Cherry Chase Teachers and staff for organizing a fantastic Back to School Night event. I am thankful for the effort, commitment, and time they dedicated to creating a welcoming environment for parents, preparing their presentations, showcasing students' work, and sharing valuable information about the curriculum, classroom atmosphere, and community.

We would also like to extend our appreciation to the families who attended and participated in Back to School Night. We are thrilled to share that 95% of our families attended last night. GO CHARGERS!

Below are pictures from last night's event.

Cherry Chase Book Fair starts on Monday, September 23, 2024, and will be open through Friday, September 27, 2024. It will be open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for ALL. Parents, please mark your calendars and help us by supporting our Fall Book Fair at Cherry Chase Elementary.

Below are some details:

• Thursday, September 19, 2024-Library closed for Book Fair set up

• Monday, September 30,2024-The Library will be closed for regular class visits due to book fair pack-up.

• Tuesday, October 1,2024-Regular library circulation/class visits resume.

We encourage families to use the E-wallet system to help students purchase books. Here is the link to set up your child's E-wallet:

https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/content/fairs/how-ewallet-works.html?fairId=5614979

Together, we will create a nurturing and inspiring environment where every student can thrive.

Best Regards,

Gloria Marchant-Principal

Measure Y protects our schools. Since approved by voters in 2011, the parcel tax has raised approximately $1.1 million annually to support our ten schools. Without these additional local funds, the district would have been forced to reduce or eliminate classroom programs and services, including science, libraries, and technology.

Measure Y funds will allow the district to continue to:

• Protect district programs such as math, English, and science.

• Attract and retain highly qualified teachers and staff.

• Keep class sizes as small as possible.

• Maintain computers and technology used by students and teachers.

Measure Y provides for strict accountability as funds are spent. An Independent Community Oversight Committee will monitor and review all parcel tax expenditures. This committee of residents will ensure that all funds are spent as planned to benefit local students.

Measure Y Parcel Tax Fact Sheet.

The Measure Y Kickoff Event is on September 17 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Washington Park. At the last PTA Board meeting, the Cherry Chase PTA approved a motion to endorse Measure Y!

Starting Arts Update

This year, Grades TK-3 will participate in Starting Arts rotations. Below is the timeline:

• Music-Rotation 2: 10/21-12/6: Make-up classes 12/9-1/10 (6 weeks only. No Informances)
• Movement-Rotation 3: 1/13-3/14: Make-up classes 3/17-3/21 (8 weeks. Informances offered)
• Theater-Rotation 4: 3/24-5/9: Make-up classes 5/12-5/23 (6 weeks only. No Informances)

Music and Drama

The district has hired music and drama teachers for 4th and 5th grades. We welcome Emily Wooten (Drama) and Christell Paras (Music)!

Grades 4 and 5 will have Drama and Music on Thursdays.

• The Drama program will run from August to December 19, 2024.
• The Music program will run from January 6 to June 12, 2025.

We received many Wednesday Helper applications from former Chargers. Thank you, former Chargers, for giving back to the Cherry Chase community.

We are pleased to inform you that your applications have been successfully approved. We will be reaching out to our future Wednesday helpers during the week of September 9 to share their teacher assignments.

Our Wednesday Helpers will begin on September 18, 2024.

We are excited to continue our partnership with Playworks, which helps kids stay active and build valuable life skills through play. We want to welcome back Playworks coach Fethiye Okan-Kolak and Team Up Coach Tommy Courtney, who will support students during recess, Class Game Time, and the Junior Coach Program. This year, we will share Playworks updates through the weekly bulletin. Here is the link to the Playworks Weekly Update (updated weekly)

Sunnyvale School District has contracted Pacific Health Clinics (formerly CHAC) to provide school-based counseling to students. We want to welcome Neguin Ghadessi to Cherry Chase. She will be in room 36 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays during the school day.

Please get in touch with Kristin Brett at Kristin.brett@sesd.org if you have any questions.

Calendar of Events

Here is the link to the 2024-2025 Cherry Chase Elementary Calendar. As we prepare for another exciting academic journey, we want to highlight some important dates and upcoming events to ensure a smooth transition for our students. Please take time to review the information listed below:

• September 9 SimpliScience -Hands-on Science Starts
  
• September 10 TLD-Early Release at 12:45 pm
  
• September 10 SSC Meeting at 3 pm in room 9
• September 12 ELAC Meeting at 8:15 am in the Multipurpose room
• September 13 Coffee with the Principal at 8:45 am in the Multipurpose room
• September 16-17 Lifetouch Picture Days
• September 18 Fire Drill at 8:20 am
• September 23-27 Conference Week-Early Release at 11:35 am
• September 30 First Full day for TK and Kindergarten
• October 25 Fall Festival hosted by PTA

We invite all parents to join us for our Coffee with the Principal sessions in the Multipurpose Room. We'll be covering a wide range of essential topics, from school safety to academic progress, and your presence is invaluable. We hope to see you there!

We want to thank our PTA volunteers for setting up the coffee and treats for these events.

Below are the 2024-2025 Coffee with the Principal dates, topics, and links to the presentation:

August 15, 9:00 am-Welcome to incoming TK/Kindergarten Families

August 19, 8:30 am-Welcome Back Chargers

September 13, 8:45 am-What to Expect During Conference Week

October 11, 8:45 am-Safety Protocols

November 15, 8:45 am-Report Cards and NWEA Reports

January 17, 8:45 am-TBD

March 14, 8:45 am-TBD

May 16, 8:45 am-TBD

Cherry Chase does NOT have a specific school supply list. All students will be provided with the school supplies they need. Cherry Chase spends over $10,000 to purchase school supplies students need in the classroom to access all curricular areas.

PTA provides additional funding to teachers to purchase instructional supplies that may include consumables for projects and activities.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Skinner's legislation in 2022, which established a universal meal program for all K-12 public school students. Therefore, SSD will continue to offer free breakfast and lunch at school. The menus will continue to be updated each month. You can find the updated monthly food menus using this link.

For more information, click on California Universal Meals.

Please remember that school starts each day at 8:15 am. The gates open at 8:00 am, and we encourage all of our families to drop off their students early to avoid traffic.

We will lock the gates at 8:20 am. Students arriving after 8:20 am should come to the office for a tardy pass before going to their classroom.

If your student is absent from school for any reason, please report your student's absence by calling the office at (408) 522-8241 or emailing cherrychasefrontoffice@sesd.org. In your message, include the following information:

• Student Name
• Parent Name
• Teacher Name
• Grade Level
• Reason for Absence

SSD Attendance Policy Parent-Student Handbook.

There have been some small but important updates to our guidelines for returning to school when ill. In general, when a student has symptoms, parents/guardians are encouraged to determine if their student is able to meaningfully participate in the upcoming school day. However, the following updated guidelines need to be followed:

STAY HOME IF a fever is 100.4°F (38°C) or higher. RETURN WHEN fever goes away without using fever-reducing medications.

STAY HOME IF vomiting has occurred 2 OR MORE TIMES in 24 hours. RETURN WHEN vomiting has ended overnight, and your child is able to hold down liquids and food (we recommend frequent handwashing).

Other updates and more details regarding symptoms and illness can be found at the links below:

When to keep your child home from school

Cuando no enviar a su hijo a la escuela

These guidelines are designed to ensure the safety and well-being of all students and staff. You are encouraged to call your school to speak with the nurse or health assistant if your child is unwell and you feel unsure as to whether to send them to school.

Become a PTA Member Today!

Join the PTA to show your support of our students. Just $10/individual or $15/family.

As a PTA member, you have a say in how we support our school and our children. We understand that everyone's schedule is different, so while we encourage attending meetings and volunteering, we respect that it's optional.

Become a Volunter

As we gear up for another great year, please remember that all volunteers on campus must be cleared through the district annually. Here’s what you need to know:

• TB Clearance: Required and valid for 4 years. Ensure yours is up to date.
• New Volunteers: Start by filling out the application here.
• Returning Volunteers: Simply login here using the "I already have a username" option to update your information. Your previous TB clearance is already on file.
• Fingerprinting: Only necessary if you plan to chaperone field trips or have one-on-one student contact.

Thank you for your commitment to making our school a great place to learn and grow!

Picture Day Volunteers Needed!

Picture Day is coming Monday, September 16, and Tuesday, September 17. TB-cleared volunteers are needed to help children prepare for their photos. Helpers will keep the picture lines moving, encourage a tidy appearance, and comb hair as requested. Sign up for a shift here.

Join Family Paint Night

We are very excited to bring Paint Night back! We have listened to your feedback. Paint Night is scheduled for September 27 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the multipurpose room. Buy your tickets now for $10 per person (including supplies). Hurry! Seats are very limited due to the multi's limited seating capacity. If you have any questions, please email paintnight@cherrychasepta.org

Upcoming Events:

September 18 PTA Association Meeting at 7 pm (virtual)

September 27 Paint Night

November 15 Diwali

For more information on how to get involved, please visit the PTA Website.

Cherry Chase Bell Schedule 2024-2025

Cherry Chase School Map 2024-2025

Parent-Student Handbook

PTA Website

1138 Heatherstone Way, Sunnyvale, CA 94087

(408) 522-8241 Main Office/Attendance