Robert Down Principal's Update

Dear Robert H. Down School Community,

It has been wonderful seeing so many of you during this Parent Teacher Conference week! Our teachers and support staff have been looking forward to sharing the progress of our students with our families!

As we enter into this Veterans Day weekend, we want to acknowledge and honor all of those who have served in the armed forces. Thank you for your service.

Many thanks to Mrs. Nikita McKinder and Ms. Anne Scanlon for the beautiful Diwali display outside the Library and to Señora Liliana Nuñez for the equally impressive Dia de los Muertos display in the Cafeteria! If you have a moment, be sure to check out these displays that celebrate and recognize these cultural events that several of our families celebrate!

Special shout out to Division Chief Greg Greenlee and the Monterey Fire Department for helping with the 4th grade Pumpkin Drop last Friday. Students created protection for their pumpkins, so that they could withstand the large drop from the top of the fire engine ladder. Students and parents gathered with excitement to watch the science experiment in action!

Special Events

Veterans Day Assembly As a reminder, we'll be hosting a Veterans Day Assembly tomorrow, Friday, November 8th, at 8:55 AM in the Ottertorium. If you are a Veteran, we would love to honor you. If you have not yet done so, please email me at ebrownfield@pgusd.org by this evening at 9:00PM with a picture or two of you in service and/or with your family along with the country, military branch, full military title (including if you are retired), along with your affiliation with our school (include relationship with a child or children in our school, if applicable).

Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day/Assembly The Walk will take place before school and our Assembly will begin at 9:10AM on Thursday, November 14. Please let us know if your child(ren) will be participating by completing this form. We will be meeting at George Washington Park, Caledonia Park, and the First Awakenings parking lot at 8AM and plan to begin walking by 8:10AM. Our PTA is also organizing Parent volunteers to support with Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day. Contact Sierra North for more details.

Safety Updates

Pine Ave and 13th Street Crosswalk: Thank you for your patience as we have been working on hiring a crossing guard for that intersection. Please use extra caution when driving across that crosswalk and when walking or riding on that crosswalk. We had another close incident this week. The crosswalk wig wag lights are currently out and are expected to be fixed by the City of Pacific Grove in the next week or so while they are awaiting a part for the controller.

Secure Campus Safety Drill: We will be conducting a Secure Campus Safety Drill next week on Wednesday, November 13th.

Enrichment

STEAM and Robotics for 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade students. Please complete this survey by November 15th to help us determine interest for STEAM and Robotics programming for the Winter and Spring for ASE programming. Thank you!

Important Dates

• November 4-8: Parent Conference Week (Minimum day dismissal at 12:15PM)

• November 8: Veterans Day Assembly 8:55AM

• November 11: Veterans’ Day Holiday- NO SCHOOL

• November 13: RHD PTA Dine Out Fundraiser at Islands (See flyer below for details)

• November 14: Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day (before school)/Assembly 9:10AM immediately followed by Toolbox Assembly 9:25AM

• November 27: Minimum Day for Students (Dismissal at 12:15PM)

• November 28-29: Thanksgiving Holiday- NO SCHOOL

Wishing everyone a beautiful Veterans’ Day Weekend!

Sincerely,

Emily Tsai Brownfield
Principal

November 4-8 - Parent Teacher Conference, all students dismissed at 12:15 PM

November 8 - Veterans Day Assembly, 8:55 AM, Ottertorium

November 7 - PGUSD Board Meeting, 6:30 PM

November 10- PTA Second Sundays Playdate, RHD playground, 1:00-4:00 PM

November 11 - Veterans Day, No School

November 13 - PTA Dine Out, Islands, Del Monte Center

November 14 - Ruby Bridges, Walk to School Day, Sign Up HERE!

November 14 - Ruby Bridges' Assembly 9:10 AM and Toolbox Assembly, 5th Grade, 9:25 AM

November 19 - PTA Meeting, 7:00 PM

November 27 - Minimum Day, dismissal 12:15 PM

November 28-29 - Thanksgiving Holiday, No 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