Hello CELC Families,

I hope you all enjoyed the fall break and were able to relax and spend time with your loved ones. My home was buzzing with family and friends, including additional doggies. I excited to return to campus to see our Cubs! It is truly a pleasure and blessing to be the principal at CELC. Thank you to all of the families for your continued support and partnership with your child's education.

In partnership with the PTA, the CELC staff invites you to participate in making a DIP-FERENCE. Get ready for holiday parties by purchasing dip, soups, dessert, and drink kits. The items ship directly to you! 50% of the proceeds go to CELC for special supplies and recess equipment. A flyer will be sent home with your student on Monday. Here is the direct link to the online store: https://ablendabove.itemorder.com/

With the cold and flu season beginning and winter break (December 23-January 6) approaching, please take steps to keep your child healthy and send them to school unless they are truly sick. Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to learn as well as connect to peers and their teachers.Thank you to our students and their families who do their best to show up to class every day even when it isn’t easy. If you have any questions or concerns about attendance, please reach out to office staff. Thank you for your continued support as partners in your child's education!

Here are a few updates and reminders to help keep you up-to-date:

• Mark your calendars for the upcoming book fair that will run from 12/9-12/13. Thank you to the PTA for facilitating this! This is a great opportunity to get started on holiday shopping.
• Would you like to donate something to our site for the holidays? Not sure what we could use? Check out our CELC Amazon Wish List. The items on the list are "wishes" that are wants verses needs. Any donation is greatly appreciated.
• Please send your student to school each day with a backpack, refillable water bottle, a healthy snack, and a lunch (unless they are getting a cafeteria lunch). Please also send a jacket during these fall/winter months.

• Please include a change of clothes in a ziplock bag in their backpack. We have clothes on hand but having their own tends to make them feel more comfortable.

• Please report any absences to your child's teacher and the office. Please let the office know the reason your child is out and what symptoms they have. Email Mary Barkely, our amazing Clerk or call the office at 619-659-8250.

• Please plan family trips around the school calendar. If you have something special that comes up, please let the Mary Barkely and your child's teacher know. We can prepare an independent study contract. This will help your student keep up on their studies and also help us get funding. Your child will not be marked absent. A week's notice is appreciated.

Happy December! I hope you have an amazing week.

Sincerely,

Tamara Ripke, Proud Principal

HAZ CLIC AQUÍ PARA ESPAÑOL

Did you know that our 100% of our teachers our trained to teach reading by using a proven, multi-sensory approach called Orton-Gillingham (OG)? We are proud to be leaders in early literacy! For more information about OG and our training visit Institute for Multi-Sensory Education (IMSE) and read below.

¿Sabías que el 100% de nuestros maestros están capacitados para enseñar lectura utilizando un enfoque comprobado y multisensorial llamado Orton-Gillingham (OG)? Estamos orgullosos de ser líderes en alfabetización temprana. Para obtener más información sobre OG y nuestra capacitación, visita el sitio del Instituto de Educación Multisensorial (IMSE) y sigue leyendo a continuación.

We are pleased to announce that Creekside Early Learning Center was awarded GOLD level

for successful implementation of PBIS. We were recipients within the

California PBIS Recognition System, reflecting excellence in the implementation of the core

features of PBIS.We are proud of our work to support students through Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports.

What does it mean to be responsible? Join us for this episode of Around Alpine Union as we explore this important virtue with our amazing students! From showing respect to setting goals, discover how to be a more responsible student and citizen.

¿Qué significa ser responsable? ¡Únete a nosotros en este episodio de Around Alpine Union mientras exploramos esta importante virtud con nuestros increíbles estudiantes! Desde mostrar respeto hasta establecer metas, descubre cómo ser un estudiante y ciudadano más responsable.

Building a habit of good attendance will help students succeed academically, socially, and emotionally at school. Please limit absences that are not related to illness. If you know ahead of time that your child will be out for 3 or more days, please request an independent study contract to help keep them engaged in learning. Please take a moment to read the flyer below to learn more facts about attendance.

The CELC Team and Attendance Team have been collaborating on ways to help improve our attendance and reach our district-wide goal. One new effort is targeting Friday attendance. Classrooms with perfect attendance on Fridays receive an incentive that day! Incentives may include a trip to the prize box for every student, Bear Tickets, or extra play/recess time. Here are ways that you can support our efforts:

• Make sure your student attends school daily (especially Fridays).
• Ask the teacher for an independent study contract if you have a planned absence,
• Have your student attend part of the day and leave early verses being out a whole day.
• If you our your student is struggling with morning routines, frequent illness, family stress, anxiety related to school, transportation, or any other barriers that make regular attendance difficult, please reach out to the office. We have a team of people to help you.
• Buy the teachers items for their prize boxes. See wish list for easy purchase and delivery. Click here for our Amazon Wish List. We will distribute prize box purchases to each of the classrooms. The list also includes other "wants" for the school site.

HAZ CLIC AQUÍ PARA ESPAÑOL

In AUSD's ongoing commitment to enhancing student achievement, they are setting goals for each school, classroom and the district this year. AUSD's targets include a 10% increase in ELA, Math, and Science scores, alongside a 10% reduction in chronic absenteeism, aiming for a 96% attendance rate. Our staff is dedicated and will work as a team to reach these goals. As partners in your child's hybrid homeschool program, let’s unite our efforts to support your student and turn these objectives into achievements. Together, we can make a significant impact and drive real progress.

HAZ CLIC AQUÍ PARA ESPAÑOL

Humor helps the heart! Join us in spreading "Smiles for Miles"!

Last week's Joke Answer: Because it’s quicker than walking.

Mrs. Ripke will continue the Cubs in the Community tradition. Her goal is to connect with 100 Cubs (Future, Former, or Current) by the 100th day of school. Building relationships with our students is important to us! If you see Mrs. Ripke out in the community, encourage your student to say hi. Not only does it create an opportunity to connect, it also supports students' language and communication skills. Follow the sightings on FB and IG. Feel free to share our postings to spread the word. Mrs. Ripke (and the CELC staff) looks out for future, current, and former Cubs! She is ready to meet the 2024-25 challenge. See her latest sighting below!

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CELC has three school rules. Students will be learning behavior expectations that are aligned with being safe, responsible, and respectful. We practice Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). We understand that our students are still learning to problem solve and deal with school expectations. We believe in progressive discipline and restorative practices. Teachers and staff document concerns and communicate them with parents to form a partnership in your child's success. We love our Cubs and are looking forward to having a year of fun, friendships, learning and laughter!

HAZ CLIC AQUÍ PARA ESPAÑOL

This resource can help you understand children's behavior and needs. All behavior is a form of communication.

Help your child develop a growth mindset! A positive twist to statements of difficulty and negativity can have a huge impact on success and confidence. See helpful statements below to support and encourage your child.

Have you ever asked your child how their day was or what they did? Do you often get a one word response like "nothing" or "fine". Try using our Take 5 Questions to help get more thought provoking answers. It is a great opportunity to connect with your child, learn more about their experiences at school, and help them build their language skills. Copies are available in the CELC office.

A Social Emotional Learning (SEL) video to help identify emotions.

Our amazing School Social Worker, Camryn McInerney , created a list of recommended read aloud books. This is another great way to connect with your Cub. Choose one of your favorite books or one on her list and make reading with your child a regular habit.

Before and after school care is available. Please see the flyer below or contact Aimee Hatfield, AUSD's ESS Coordinator, at ahatfield@alpineschools.net if you have any questions.

Spirit Days

Mondays- Wear a College Shirt or College Colors

Wednesdays- Mid-Week Mindfulness- wear a shirt with a kind message

Fridays- Wear a school shirt or school colors or RED for (Remembering Everyone Deployed)

School shirts will be available for purchase. Stayed tuned for more information from our PTA.

12/9-12/13 Book Fair

12/16 Pastries with the Principal (Parents)

12/20 PJ Day

12/23-1/6 Winter Break (students return on Tuesday, 1/7)

Office Hours

M-F 8:00 am to 3:30 pm

Email: sgreen@alpineschools.net
Website: https://www.alpineschools.net
Location: 8818 Harbison Canyon Road
Phone: (619) 659-8250
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Creekside-Early-Learning-Center-414783265277455/

Camryn McInerney, School Social Worker

cmcinerney@alpineschools.net