May Parent Newsletter 2025

Dear Gascón Elementary Families,

May is here!!! The end of the school year is near!!! As we enter the final 26 days of the 2024–25 school year, we’re gearing up for a month filled with fun, reflection, and celebration.

Yearbooks are now available for pre-order in the main office! The 2024–2025 edition will be a treasured keepsake, filled with memories of classmates, school events, academic highlights, and the spirit of the times.

May is full of celebrations! One of the most cherished is Mother’s Day. Our students are busy working on thoughtful cards and surprises to show love and appreciation for our amazing moms. From all of us here at Gascón Elementary—Happy Mother’s Day! May your day be filled with joy, love, and well-deserved recognition.

We will also honor Memorial Day this month, a time to remember and reflect on the sacrifices of U.S. service members who gave their lives in service to our country. School will be closed on Monday, May 26 in observance of this important holiday.

Please join us in celebrating our incredible staff during Teacher Appreciation Week (May 5–9) and Classified Appreciation Week (May 19–23). The dedication, care, and hard work of our teachers and classified staff make all the difference for our students every day!

To honor the wonderful individuals who have given their time and heart to Gascón this year, we’ll also be hosting our Honor’s Breakfast on May 15. These volunteers have made a big impact, from classroom support to field trip chaperoning and everything in between—thank you!

As always, thank you for your continued support and energy as we close out another fantastic year at Gascón Elementary—and GOOOOOO TIGERS!!!

Warm regards,
David A. Hernandez
Principal, Gascón Elementary

School Principal's Day: May 1

Student of the Month Assembly: May 2

Star Wars Day: May 4

Cinco de Mayo: May 5

Teacher Appreciation Week: May 5 - 9

Coffee with the Principal: May 6

Tiger Television: May 6

National Teachers Day: May 6

National Nurses Day: May 6

Mother's Day Picture Fundraiser: May 6

Acitve Shooter Drill: May 7

National Viking Day: May 8

Mexican Mother's Day: May 10

Mother's Day: May 11

Honor's Breakfast: May 15

Saturday School: May 17

National Speech Pathologist Day: May 18

Fire Drill: May 19

PTO Association Meeting: May 22

No School-Memorial Day: May 26

End of the Year Awards Assembly: May 30

YCP Film Festival: May 30

We are thrilled to celebrate two outstanding members of our school community who have gone above and beyond to support our students and staff. Mr. Pedro Flores, our Certificated Employee of the Year, is a dedicated and inspiring teacher who brings enthusiasm, creativity, and compassion to the classroom every day. His commitment to student success and his ability to foster a love of learning make him a true asset to our school.

Ms. Angie Rodriguez, our Classified Employee of the Year, is our amazing senior office assistant who keeps our school running smoothly with her organization, positivity, and unwavering support. Her kindness and efficiency ensure that everyone feels welcome and supported.

Please join us in congratulating Mr. Flores and Ms. Rodriguez for their incredible contributions to our school community!

On April 10, our school hosted a successful Career Day! Multiple volunteers from diverse professions generously shared their experiences and career paths with our students. It was an inspiring day that sparked curiosity and encouraged our students to dream big about their future careers. Thank you to all who participated and made this event memorable!

On Friday, May 9, our after-school program students competed in the championship game against Winter Gardens Elementary School. It was an exciting and hard-fought match, with our team putting in an incredible effort. Despite coming up just short with a 0-1 loss, we couldn’t be prouder of their teamwork, dedication, and sportsmanship. We’re already looking forward to next year and are confident that we’ll come back even stronger!

We are thrilled to share that our teachers and staff recently completed a two-year grant program focused on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). This initiative concluded last month with an inspiring ILC (Integrated Learning Community) wrap-up.

Through this program, our team gained valuable strategies to better support our students, families, and one another. Whether through professional learning or meaningful reflection, the tools we’ve gained will continue to strengthen our school community and promote a positive, inclusive environment for everyone.

As a testament to our commitment to PBIS, we are proud to announce that we are applying for a Silver Award to recognize our efforts in creating a supportive and inclusive school environment. This award reflects the hard work and dedication of our entire school community, and we are excited about this opportunity!

Thank you for your continued partnership in making our school a place where every student can thrive!

This past Saturday, May 3rd, at Bell Gardens High School, three of our talented students proudly represented our school at the Discover MUSD Science and Engineering Fair. Fourth graders Veraisa Palacios and Anna Leyva, along with first grader Francisco Baez, showcased their creativity and hard work. We are thrilled to share that Veraisa earned an impressive 3rd place in the competition! Congratulations to Veraisa, Anna, and Francisco for their outstanding efforts and achievements. We are so proud of all three students!

The Montebello Unified School District is excited to announce the PowerSchool online student enrollment system for the 2024-2025 school year is now open. This will be for NEW students enrolling in the Montebello Unified School District.

This website is the first step in the process to enroll a new TK-12 student for school. Information about the student such as emergency contacts, medical, and language will be collected. Upon completion, the student's information will be sent to the school.

Enrollment Portal Click Here

Attention students and families, you may now pre-order your 2025-2026 Yearbook in the main office!!! We are only ordering a limited number of yearbooks so come pre-order your yearbook now. This yearbook will help you remember your classmates, school events and activities, academic achievements, and trends of the time. So come pre-order yours now while supplies last. Cash only!

This year, we’re celebrating how Teacher Appreciation Week from May 5-9. Teachers play a critical role in driving the success of our children’s education and lives. They are the ones who inspire and guide our kids to become future leaders, innovators and problem solvers.

Join us this Teacher Appreciation Week as we honor the amazing educators who drive the future leaders of tomorrow! Let's show our support for our children’s educators and tell them how much their commitment and dedication to our children is so appreciated.

Classified School Employee Week celebrates the support staff and paraprofessionals who help our early childhood centers, schools, and colleges succeed. Classified employees perform essential work, but it is often behind the scenes. This is our week to put classified work front and center.

Classified School Employee Week is celebrated in the third full week in May of each year, from Sunday to Saturday.

1. Read books everyday.
2. Develop fine motor skills: holding a pencil, coloring, cutting witch scissors.
3. Print first name with only the first letter capatalized.
4. Learn to follow 2-step instructions: "Please go get your shoes and then put them on."
5. Use good manners: "Please" and "Thank You"
6. Talk about social skills: sharing, taking turns, positive words, talk about handling anger.
7. Help your child take responsibility: clean up messes, dress themselves, get their own snacks.
8. Practice number recognition: Count objects daily.
9. Practice letter and sound recognition. Practice saying the letters and thier sounds every day.
10. Build self-esteem. Praise your child often because Kindergarten is hard!

On Thursday, May 8, our students participated in Viking Day, an exciting event where they had the opportunity to learn about Viking culture. Students engaged in activities that highlighted the traditions, history, and stories of Viking life, making it a day of discovery and fun. This immersive experience was both educational and entertaining, sparking curiosity and a love for history in our students.

Thank you for your continued partnership in making our school a place where every student can thrive!

As we approach the end of the school year, May is the perfect time to reflect on the growth and progress our students have made. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate achievements and inspire our school community to embrace challenges, learn from setbacks, and cultivate resilience.

By recognizing both strengths and areas for improvement, we can help our students develop a growth mindset that prepares them for future success. Let’s work together to finish the school year strong and celebrate the incredible journey of learning and growth we’ve experienced together!

We are excited to recognize our outstanding students who have achieved perfect attendance for the month of April! Their commitment to being present every day not only showcases their dedication to learning but also sets a wonderful example for their peers. Consistent attendance is crucial for academic success and helps build a strong school community. We encourage parents to celebrate these achievements at home and continue to support our students in their educational journey. Together, let’s inspire all our children to strive for excellence!

Perfect Attendance Student List (302 Students):

Jehovanny Acevedo (5), Alina Aguilar (5), Josh Aguilar (2), Liana Aguilar (1), Anubis Aguilar Lopez (TK), Matthew Aguilar Ramirez (3), Dylan Ajtun (5), Aria Alamillo (4), Francisco Alejandre Govea (4), Bella Alonso Martinez (3), Angel Alvarado Diaz (5), Kenneth Alvarado Diaz (3), Azalea Amador (K), Isabella Amador (4), Roberto Amador (2), Madeline Arana (2), Joshua Arceo (5), Kamila Arceo Sanchez (2), Christopher Arevalo (2), Gissell Argueta (2), Amari Atkins Salinas (2), Angel Avalos (3), Elijah Avalos (4), Carter Ayala (K), Daniel Ayon (5), Francisco Baez (1), Sandra Baez (5), Sofia Baez (3), Sara Baez Contreras (K), Aniyah Bamish (5), Marcus Banks (5), Kimberly Barranco (5), Brandon Barraza Rodriguez (4), Mariah Barrios (4), Giselle Bautista-Morales (5), Dominic Berrios (K), Aubrey Bonilla (1), Scarlett Bonilla (5), Emmanuel Bracamontes (1), Efrain Cabrera (5), Emma Carbajal (K), Keilly Carrera (4), Andres Casas (4), Isaac Caselin (K), Abraham Casillas (3), Yassine Castanedo (1), Younesse Castanedo (1), Dalayla Castillo Granados (2), Adam Ceballos (1), Mariano Celaya (K), Xiomara Celaya (3), Santiago Cervantes (2), Kaelin Cervantes Gonzalez (5), Leah Chavarria Mairena (2), Natalia Chavez (K), Jose Chavez Fernandez (3), Jason Chow (2), Elmer Chun (3), Mardoqueo Chun Pojoy (2), Jayden Contreras (1), Melinda Contreras (4), Lyan Contreras Cervantes (1), Abigail Corona (K), Giovanni Corona (5), Alice Coronel Perez (K), Luna Coronel Perez (1), Aiden Corrales (K), Israel Cortes (1), Hector Cuellar (3), Olivia Cuellar (1), Heaven Damian Villalobos (1), Emmett Davila (2), Danna Daza (4), Dylan De Jesus Torres (2), Samantha De la Torre (4), Damian De Paz Cortez (4), Dyllon De Paz Cortez (K), Emily Diaz Perez (2), Oscar Dominguez (2), Yony Dubon Ocampo (K), Kevin Elizalde (5), Carlos Enamorado Rodriguez (5), Diego Esparza (TK), Luis Esparza (3), Dario Espinosa (3), Jayden Espinoza Arellano (3), Blue Espinoza-Arellano (4), Brandon Esquivel (1), Elias Esquivel (2), Adriana Estevez (4), Carmina Estevez (3), Alexander Flores (5), Matias Flores (2), Nathan Flores (2), Jonathan Franco (4), Leonardo Frias Perez (4), Mia Frias Perez (5), Alena Garcia (5), Bella Garcia (3), Emma Garcia (5), Hillary Garcia (3), Leilani Garcia (5), Odalys Garcia (4), Julian Garcia Pedroza (K), Jaimie German (5), Julietta German (3), Brandon Gomez Chamorro (1), Aaron Gonzales (1), Jacob Gonzales Zamora (4), Anifer Gonzalez (1), Nimssy Gonzalez Morales (5), Albert Govea (5), Ariel Govea (3), Luis Govea (4), Naomi Govea (5), Avery Grajeda (3), Jennifer Grajeda (5), Mathew Guerrero (TK), Christian Gutierrez (K), Elijah Gutierrez (TK), Matthew Hercules (4), Alberto Hernandez (3), Aubrey Hernandez (3), Gael Hernandez (3), Hailey Hernandez (5), Jacqueline Hernandez (5), Nicole Hernandez (2), Penelope Hernandez (K), Sophia Hernandez (5), Sophie Hernandez (K), Ximena Hernandez (3), Elijah Higareda (TK), Galilea Higuera Garcia (5), Alyssa Hilas (TK), Arielle Hilas (2), Jaylah Hoffman (K), Aliyah Ibanez (K), Christopher Ixcoy Herrera (3), James Johnson (4), Yareli Juarez Ortiz (4), Santiago Juarez-Michel (K), Gilmar Landaverde Zetino (2), Anna Leyva Urias (4), Rodrigo Leyva Urias (K), Aiden Lopez (1), Dannilee Lopez (2), Diana Lopez (K), Dylan Lopez (5), Mathias Lopez Angarita (3), Nathan Louie (2), Dylan Lucero (3), Anderson Luna (2), Luzdeluna Luna (TK), Marlene Macias (2), Jonathan Macmillan (5), Fernando Magallanes (3), Julian Magdaleno (4), Sebastian Maldonado (3), Angel Manzo Govea (1), Melanie Martinez (1), Estrella Martinez Mena (K), Ethan Martinez Salazar (TK), Noe Martinez Salazar (4), Enrique Martinez Vasquez (4), Citlali Mateos (K), Dayden Mateos (K), Kayden Mateos (K), Cashton Melendez (K), Enzo Melendez (K), Bella Mendoza (3), Gael Mendoza Linares (3), Dylan Menjivar Hercules (K), Alexa Merino (4), Brandon Millan (1), Viviana Millan (2), Alejandro Montano (2), Danna Mora Tibaduiza (3), Ethan Morales (2), Joshua Morales (3), April Moreno (2), Scarlett Moreno (5), Camila Moreno Reyes (1), Matthew Navarro Rodriguez (4), Dylan Negrete Banuelos (1), Jacqueline Nicolas (4), Makayla Nicolas (3), Kataleya Nunez (2), Stephanie Nunez (K), Christian Ochoa (4), Diego Ochoa Contreras (5), Miguel Olaguiver Juarez (TK), Darwin Olivares (5), Jayleen Olivares (3), Ariana Olivares Contreras (TK), Carlos Olivares Contreras (2), Aaron Olivares Sierra (1), David Olivares Zambrano (TK), Evelyn Olivares Zambrano (2), Abel Angel Olivas Medina (4), Sofia Oregel Zambrano (5), Damian Ortiz (K), Mariela Ortiz Perez (K), Olivia Padilla (K), Amali Pavon Valadez (5), Bella Perez (1), Emiliano Perez (4), Leah Perez (4), Paul Perez (3), Phillip Perez (TK), Valentina Perez Gutierrez (2), Iker Perez Juarez (K), Josue Perez Juarez (5), Aidan Perez Robles (3), Allison Perez Robles (5), Bella Pimentel (3), Zoey Pimentel (1), Stephanie Portillo (5), Antonio Ramirez (K), Lucia Ramirez (3), Monzerrat Ramirez (3), Stella Ramirez (K), Valerie Ramirez (5), Zack Ramirez Ayala (2), Zoe Resendiz (K), Ivan Rincon Garcia (2), Alexandria Rivera (4), Isabella Rivera (2), Ulises Robles (5), Luna Roca Maldonado (1), Edgar Rodriguez (3), Valentina Rodriguez (4), Lorenzo Rodriguez Contreras (1), Jayden Rojas (1), Leilanie Rojas (4), Rigoberto Rojas (4), Joseph Roman (2), Dianna Romero (2), Stephanie Romero (TK), Mateo Rosales Zaragoza (2), Adriana Rosas (5), Aitana Rosas Ayala (3), Natalie Rosas Cano (K), Aubrieh Ruiz (4), Annabelle Salas (5), Cain Salazar Contreras (4), Alex Saldivar Lopez (4), Javier Salgado Esquivel (3), Nicole Sanchez (5), Julianna Santos (K), Janikua Santos Manzo (2), Isaac Santos Torija (4), Kasey Serrano Garcia (1), Katie Serrano Garcia (4), Gustavo Serrano Onofre (2), Michael Servin (2), Lucia Sierra Mendez (2), Joseph Solano (4), Julissa Solano (2), Hennessy Solis Ayala (5), Sebastian Solis Dominguez (K), Allison Sontay Ixcoy (5), Dylan Sontay Ixcoy (2), Stanley Sontay Sanchez (4), Bradly Sontay Tzarax (5), Yaretssy Sontay Tzarax (3), Milly Soria (2), Helen Tambriz Coronado (TK), Joseph Tayun Sontay (2), Rudy Tayun Sontay (K), Scarlett Tolentino (2), Camila Torres (4), Lizbeth Torres Robles (K), Philly Torrez (K), Abel Troncoza Salgado (2), Fernando Trujillo (K), Alexander Urbina (2), Sofia Urbina (5), Analie Valdez (4), Aaron Vallejo (2), Liliana Vasquez (K), Marisol Vasquez (4), Cristian Vasquez Ajanel (5), Jenifer Vasquez Ajanel (K), Emily Vazquez (4), Julianna Vazquez (2), Dalia Vazquez Morales (1), Dylan Vazquez Morales (3), Aniha Vazquez Rivera (4), Bella Vega (4), Abigail Velarde (4), Susanna Velasquez (1), Jesus Villalba Rios (4), Kamila Villalobos (4), Ruby Villalobos (TK), Bryson Virgen (K), Carlos Vivas (5), Gabriela Xiloj Morales (3), Steven Xiloj Morales (5), Juan Zavaleta (4), Esther Zavaleta-Orozco (2), Edgar Zuniga Membreno (2), Yohana Zuniga Membreno (K)

At Joseph A. Gascón Elementary, we are proud to recognize the hard work and dedication of our students!

Joseph A. Gascón Elementary is honored to celebrate students who were nominated for either the PBIS Award or the Tiger PAW Award.

Students who received the PBIS Award were nominated because they displayed excellent citizenship and followed our ROAR initiatives.

Students who were nominated for the Tiger PAW Award demonstrated high academic achievements and are our Students of the Month. This recognition is made possible with the ongoing support and guidance of our amazing parents, teachers, and friends!

Thank you to everyone for your continued encouragement and support!

Formerly known as ICES Education, Action Youth America (AYA) has proudly served California families for over 30 years. We are dedicated to providing top-quality service in academics, sports, and various educational areas. Our programs are grounded in a foundation of excellence and time-tested methods, establishing us as one of the leading providers of before and after-school programs in the United States.

Our Commitment to Academic Excellence

At AYA, we recognize the importance of complementing the instructional day with additional academic support to help students reach their full potential. Our academically driven program ensures that students receive the extra help they need to thrive.

• Academic Coordination: Our Academic Coordinator, Stefanie, is committed to aligning our programs with school and district needs to ensure optimal academic support.
• Common Core Expertise: AYA staff are formally trained in Common Core learning expectations and are skilled in developing curricula that adhere to these principles. We also offer assistance in curriculum writing.
• Comprehensive Support: We provide targeted interventions, state testing preparation camps, and ongoing modeling and training to support student success.

We are dedicated to enhancing educational experiences and supporting students in achieving their academic goals. Thank you for choosing AYA as your partner in education.

For more information about our programs and services, please contact us or visit our website.

ELO Link: https://sites.google.com/montebello.k12.ca.us/eloafterschool/home

ELO Application Link: rb.gy/g4h8n

The Montebello Unified School District is providing advanced technology and increased access to learning opportunities for the District’s learning community. The District has installed an intra-net “MUSD-Net” providing networked computing with an Internet gateway.

Vision Statement

Empowering Students to Achieve Academic Excellence as Model Citizens.

Address: 630 South Leonard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90022

Office: (323 )721-2025 Fax: (323) 887-3034

Office Hours: 7:00am - 3:00pm