Welcome to the 24-25 School Year!

Dear Capay Families,

As we embark on this new school year, I want to welcome you to our educational community. Capay Joint Union Elementary School District is dedicated toward providing your students with a safe, rigorous, inclusive learning environment that promotes personal growth daily. Our students and staff practice responsibility, respect, and kindness all while keeping a growth mindset. We love to celebrate our students with weekly and monthly recognition for displaying character traits such as kindness, tolerance, strong work ethic, patriotism, and more. Additionally, individual students will be recognized for perfect attendance each month while classes will be recognized weekly for the top attendance percentage. The class with the top attendance percentage each week will get to hoist the championship belt for the week!

You will also notice that your students will have the opportunity to earn Capay Cash for demonstrating positive behavior. The students will be able to use their Capay Cash at the student store at the end of each week. Teachers will explain how this works with your student. We will be stocking the store with fun items like key chains, pencils, fidgets spinners, etc. If you would like to contribute to the student store, feel free to let us know and we would be happy to take any donations that will go directly to our students.

I am also thrilled to announce the addition of four new teachers to our CJUESD family. Please join me in extending a warm welcome to:

Andrea Rivera at the TK level

Angelica Diaz in Kindergarten

Tara Johnson in 1st Grade

Erika Sanchez at the Learning Center

At Capay, our teachers are dedicated to helping students excel academically. They use creative teaching methods, give personalized support, and create an environment that encourages curiosity and resilience. By setting high expectations and fostering a growth mindset, our educators inspire students to reach their full potential. This commitment to excellence is supported by our PTO, the Capay Rancho Women's Club, and our close-knit agricultural community, all working together to nurture a love of learning in our students.

Mark your calendars: the first day of school for students is Thursday, August 15th! Additionally, our new school calendar will feature more early release days to allow our staff to plan, analyze data, and collaborate, ensuring the best instructional practices for our students. Each Wednesday will be an early release day with school ending at 1:45pm. Thank you for taking part in this educational journey with us!

Warm regards,

Tyler Rutledge

Superintendent/Principal

Capay Joint Union Elementary School District

Dear Capay Families,

As we close the book on the 2023-2024 school year, let's take a moment to celebrate our incredible journey and look forward to the exciting adventures that await us in 2024-2025!

We kicked off the year with a splash at the Capay PTO Pool Party at the Orland Pool. It was the perfect way to cool off from the summer heat and reconnect with our wonderful community. On August 31st, Back to School Night saw our classrooms buzzing with excitement as teachers, students, and families reunited.

Our middle school athletes showed their prowess in volleyball, flag football, basketball, and softball, making us proud every step of the way. We were thrilled to welcome the Capay Rancho Women’s Club into our Library, and their support has truly been a gift to our students and staff.

October brought the spirited festivities of Red Ribbon Week, led by our fantastic Student Government under Miss Bell-Corona. November was a month of honor and achievement as we celebrated our nation’s heroes at the Veteran’s Day program and cheered for Brandt Schager and Grace Sanchez at the 19th Annual Farm Bureau Agribee Competition, where Brandt emerged victorious!

The Colt Club kept the fun rolling with enriching Extended Learning Opportunities on Saturdays, and our Capay Christmas Program at Memorial Hall in Orland was a holiday hit, filling the hall with joy and cheer.

Our amazing Capay PTO, led by President Stephanie Martin and her executive cabinet, organized a year full of memorable events, including the Carnival, Santa’s Workshop with the Capay Rancho Women’s Club, engaging assemblies, and the always thrilling Colt Bolt Color Run. Their dedication makes our school vibrant and engaging.

Cultural appreciation took center stage with the Corning Ballet Folklorico’s performance before Cinco De Mayo, thanks to Nancy Mercado. The annual Talent Show saw our students dazzling us with singing, dancing, gymnastics, comedy, and more. Kudos to Mrs. Davis and Miss Samantha for their stellar organization.

A special shoutout to our 8th graders who wowed us with their Passion Project Speaking Contest presentations, under the guidance of Board Member Rob Talley and CSU-Chico Professor Dr. Alyssa Schager. Your hard work and creativity shone brightly!

Academically, our students soared to new heights, with preliminary state test results showing growth in both Math and ELA. Notably, ELA scores jumped by nearly 18% from last year. This remarkable progress is a testament to the dedication of our students and staff.

Our staff embraced the use of i-Ready for diagnostic testing in ELA and Math, enabling us to monitor and support student growth effectively. This focus on targeted skill development yielded impressive results.

Looking ahead, we are more committed than ever to fostering academic excellence in ELA and Math, while increasing engagement and celebrating positivity across our campus.

Warm regards,

Tyler Rutledge

Superintendent/Principal

Capay Joint Union Elementary School District

Hello Capay Colts! My name is Andrea Rivera and I am filled with excitement to be your first TK Teacher!! For those of you who don't know me, here's a quick snapshot: I am married to my high school sweetheart, Jacinto. We have three boys ages 10, 8, and 4 who are proud to be Colts! As a family we are involved in various sports and 4-H. In my free time I enjoy watching movies, roping, and cooking. My B.A in Child Development has provided me the opportunity to work in a variety of settings with both typically and non-typically developing children and their families. My philosophy is simple: learning through fun and teaching with kindness and love. To teach children is an honor and privilege. I look forward to seeing you all on the first day of school!

Hello!

My name is Angelica Diaz Alvarez. This year is going to be my 3rd year teaching, I taught third grade for 2 years and will be teaching Kinder. I love Math and love to help students understand it. I love to make learning fun and exciting. I moved from Mexico when I was 10 years old, I struggled to learn English when I was younger and thought about giving up on my dream of becoming a teacher. Over the years, I told myself that I can do it and will do what it takes to be a teacher, and here I am. Looking forward to working with you all!

Meet Ms. Tara Johnson, our new first-grade teacher! She’s thrilled to join our team, bringing a wealth of experience from student teaching at Chico Country Day School, Rosedale Elementary, and Hooker Oak Elementary. With a BA in Liberal Studies (2023) and a Multiple Subject Teaching credential (May 2024) from CSU, Chico, Ms. Johnson is ready to inspire and support her students.

Originally from Southern California, Ms. Johnson has called Northern California home for over a decade. Her passion for teaching is fueled by her own educational journey, and she’s dedicated to meeting every student’s unique needs with creativity and care. Her love for art and active lifestyle—featuring hiking, biking, and rock climbing—adds a dynamic touch to her teaching style.

This year, she’s excited to foster a positive and engaging classroom environment and introduce more environmental learning through fun field trips. When she’s not teaching, Ms. Johnson loves camping, recently exploring Crater Lake within Lassen National Park, and spending quality time with friends and family.

We’re so excited to welcome Ms. Johnson to our school community!

I am excited to join the team as your new Education Specialist! Growing up in Santa Cruz, I developed a love for the ocean and being around water. I also love spending time outdoors with my family and black lab. I have a bachelor's degree in Recreation Therapy, and for the past ten years, I've been lucky enough to work with both young and older adults.

My journey in education brought me to Gault Elementary school, where I spent two years as a PBIS Behavior Tech, and then the last half year working as a Behavior Support Specialist for Glenn County. These roles have only fueled my passion for helping kids grow and thrive.

As a mom of two boys, I know firsthand how important a nurturing and supportive learning environment is. I'm dedicated to creating positive experiences for our students and am thrilled to bring my experience and enthusiasm to our school community. I can't wait to get to know all of you and work together to make a difference.

To receive messages from our Remind App, please use the directions below. If you have any questions or need any assistance signing up, please feel free to contact the office at 530-865-1222 or stop by any time between 8am-3:30pm.

Parents/families can play a crucial role in supporting teachers and enhancing their children's educational experience. Here are several ways they can contribute:

1. Stay Involved: Attend parent-teacher conferences, school events, and PTO meetings to stay informed about your child's progress and school activities.

2. Communicate Regularly: Maintain open and respectful communication with teachers. Share any concerns or insights about your child’s learning and well-being.

3. Create a Positive Learning Environment at Home: Set aside a quiet and well-lit space for homework and encourage regular study habits. Show interest in your child's schoolwork and celebrate their achievements.

4.Volunteer: Offer your time and skills to assist with classroom activities, school events, or administrative tasks. This helps lighten the load for teachers and shows your child that you value their education.

5. Reinforce Learning: Support classroom learning by engaging in educational activities at home, such as reading together, practicing math skills, or exploring science projects.

6. Encourage Responsibility and Independence: Help your child develop good organizational and time-management skills, and encourage them to take responsibility for their own learning.

7. Promote Respect and Positivity: Foster an attitude of respect for teachers and school staff. Encourage your child to approach challenges with a positive mindset and to be respectful and kind to their peers.

By working together, parents and teachers can create a supportive and effective learning environment that helps all students thrive.

Don't forget to download our App on your phone or tablet! You can find it by searching for Capay Elementary in the App Store.

• You can schedule a meeting with me using this link: Book a Meeting!
• If you are in the neighborhood, stop by and introduce yourself!

Email: trutledge@capayschool.org
Website: https://www.capayschool.org/
Location: 7504 Cutting Avenue, Orland, CA, USA
Phone: 530-865-1222
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Capay-Joint-Union-Elementary-School-100047378924258/