Robert Down Principal's Update

Dear Robert H. Down School Community,

I hope each of you enjoyed some extended time with family during the Thanksgiving Break last week. My family stayed in town and hosted Thanksgiving for the first time. It was nice to stay local for a change and have my mother-in-law, brother, and sister-in-law come and enjoy our beautiful scenery.

The Pacific Grove Parade of Lights is taking place this evening at 6PM. Please keep in mind Pine Avenue around the school will be closed beginning 3PM today. Those of you with students in Monarch Club, please note the pick up gate will be at Spruce and 13th for today.

National Special Education Day was December 2! As a school community, we strive to promote inclusivity and neurodiversity. A special thank you to each and every one of our staff members that support our neurodiverse students every day.

Culture of “We”- Opportunities for Engagement

• California Parent Survey: Your feedback is invaluable. Please take a moment to complete the California Parent Survey to help us improve our school. The survey results are anonymous. For more information and specific instructions feel free to reference this sheet.

• Book Fair Committee: Our PTA plans to host a Book Fair the week of February 24. They are seeking additional volunteers to help plan and organize it to make it a success. Thank you to those of you who already signed up! Please sign up here if you're interested in helping out.

• Coat Drive: Our Monarch Club is collecting gently used or new coats of all sizes to donate to One Warm Coat. Please drop off donations before or after school to the Monarch Club. In addition, any coats left in lost and found after November 27 will also be donated.

• Toy Drive: The Pacific Grove Kiwanis Club is running a toy drive to help provide gifts for families in need. Feel free to donate and drop them off in the designated bins by the front office. If you would like to nominate a student who could benefit from this, feel free to share their name and grade using this form.

Safety Updates

• Crossing Guard: We are so grateful that we will have a crossing guard for the Pine and 13th intersection in the afternoons starting soon! We are still in need of support in the morning. Please let me know if you are interested in supporting us with this in the mornings between 8:25AM and 8:45AM.

• Shelter in Place Drill: We will be conducting a Shelter in Place Safety Drill on Tuesday, December 10 at 11:45AM. Here is a link to the protocol.

• Safety Committee Meeting: Our Safety Committee will plan to meet on Wednesday, December 11 at 3:30PM. Feel free to join us.

• Bullying Prevention Learning Series: This series for parents will take place the 2nd Tuesday of each month from January through April at 6PM at PGMS. Topics include Understanding and Responding to Bias-Based Bullying, Cyberbullying and Internet Safety, Students Rights and Parent Responsibilities, and Supporting LGBTQ+ and Neurodiverse Students. See flyer below.

Important Reminders

• Planned Absences: Please submit a Justifiable Absence Request form in advance for any planned absences. This prevents our school from counting the absence toward truancy.

Upcoming Dates

• December 9: School Site Council 3:30PM Agenda

• December 11: Safety Committee 3:30PM

• December 17: Winter Performance Assembly TK-2 5:30PM Grades 3-5 6:15PM

Thank you for your continued support! Have a wonderful weekend!

Sincerely,

Emily Tsai Brownfield, Principal

Robert Down is participating in a Food Drive for the Food Bank for Monterey County. We have several collection barrels on campus for your student to drop off canned and non perishable food items. Please deliver items between now and December 20.

Thank you for your donation!

For more information please see their website: https://foodbankformontereycounty.org/

The Pacific Grove Kiwanis Club is proud to be working with the local fire departments to provide toys to boys and girls. We are seeking your assistance in bringing the holiday spirit to the less fortunate! Your donated toys will be delivered to children by the Monterey/Pacific Grove/Carmel Fire Department.

Toys must be brand new and unwrapped.

Toy collection barrels are in the Robert Down lobby.

December 8 - PTA 2nd Sundays Playdate, RHD playground, 1:00-4:00 PM

December 9: School Site Council 3:30 PM

December 11: Safety Committee 3:30 PM

December 12 - PGUSD Board Meeting, 6:30 PM

December 17 - RHD Winter Program, Ottertorium, TK-2nd at 5:30 PM and 3rd-5th at 6:15 PM

December 18 - PTA Dine Out, California Pizza Kitchen, 11AM-9:00 PM

December 20 - Minimum Day, all student dismissed at 12:15 PM

December 23-January 6 - Winter Break, No School

January 7 - Return to School

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