Carrillo Community Update
September 22 - 28
Message from Ms. Bittel
Happy Sunday Carrillo Families!
I hope you all had a restful weekend and enjoyed the cooler air. It was a wonderful respite from this summer's heat and is a reminder that fall is approaching.
Thank you to everyone who was able to attend parent-teacher conferences last week in person or via ZOOM. Partnership between the school and home is critical to student success and we are grateful to you all for taking the time to discuss your student's strengths and opportunities for growth. Together we will help your student make great growth this year. During conferences, I did have a family ask about our "Year-At-A-Glance" calendars. I have attached it to the "Upcoming Events" section of the newsletter. Please remember, that you will need to open the update in your browser to see and download the file. This is the planned schedule, but please use the update and our Social Media to see if events have moved.
This week is the beginning of our quarterly benchmark testing. These tests are an important measure of student learning and guide teachers in making decisions about upcoming lessons and interventions. Students have been working hard and learning a lot, so we expect students to do well provided they remember to work slowly, reread, find evidence, and show their work for each problem. Thank you for sending your students on time and ready for these assessments.
Finally, we are celebrating Literacy Night this week! Ms. Stoup and the teachers at Carrillo have been working to prepare a fun event for families that is sure to encourage a lifelong love of reading. We hope to see you on Tuesday. Doors open at 5:00 so that our 2nd and 3rd graders can still get to bed on time for testing the next day.l
Let's make it a great week!
Sincerely,
Ms. Bittel
Carrillo K-5 ... Creating Tomorrow's Leaders, Today!
Upcoming Events
THIS WEEK
Tuesday, September 24
- Benchmark Testing begins (see schedule below)
- Literacy Night - 5:00 - 6:30 pm
Monday, September 30 - Friday Oct 4
- Walk and Roll to School Week. Help our air (and pickup) by carpooling this week.
- Grading Day No Classes
- Fall Break
- 2nd Quarter Begins
New Updates for the Week of September 23
Benchmark Testing Begins
We are nearing the end of the first quarter, and it is time for students in grades 2-5 to take their quarterly benchmark exams./ These exams are important and help teachers and students identify what learning is stuck and what students need to focus on to ensure they are at or above grade level by the end of the year.
Thank you for supporting benchmark testing by making sure your student gets a good dinner, goes to bed early, and eats a good breakfast the morning of the test.
This week's testing schedule is...
- MONDAY - No exams
- TUESDAY - Grades 4 and 5 (ELA Benchmark )
- WEDNESDAY - Grades 2 and 3 (ELA Benchmark)
- THURSDAY - Grades 4 and 5 (Math Benchmark )
- FRIDAY - No exams
Nominate Your Legendary Teacher!
This is the last week to nominate your teacher for the Legendary Teacher Award! These nominations must come from students and are due September 26th. Applications want to know how your "Legendary Teacher" helped you to do the following...
- Helped students discover and understand concepts?
- Engaged students in creative learning activities?
- Connected learning to the past, present, and future?
- Adapted their methods and assessments to meet diverse learning styles?
- Created and maintained dynamic learning environments?
- Continued to improve their content knowledge base and teaching skills?
If so we encourage you to nominate them as a LEGENDARY TEACHER! Teachers who are selected are recognized on the Legendary Teacher Facebook Page, and receive a $500 honorarium, a certificate, and a book. Please nominate your legendary teacher or teachers today!
Perfect Attendance Update
Attendance continues to be an important goal for us this year. To recognize students with perfect attendance Carrillo is holding weekly drawings and monthly rewards for students with perfect attendance through our partnerships with Peter Piper Pizza and Applebees, and will recognize students with exceptional attendance each quarter through our partnership with In-And-Out Burger.
Here are the top 3 classes for perfect attendance (no tardies, absences, or early checkouts) for the month of September.
#3 (tie) - Ms. Peralta - 42% perfect attendance
#2 - Ms. Leyva - 46% perfect attendance
#1 (tie) - Ms. Barraza and Ms. Morales- 48% perfect attendance
This month we have 102 students who have not been tardy, been checked out early or missed a day of school. Great job! Students who are chronically absent from school may be less likely to reach early learning milestones and may have lower achievement in reading, math, and general knowledge. Thank you for helping your student maintain 95% attendance or better this year.
Committed to Learning
Every student in TUSD has access to IXL to reinforce the key learning from their classroom. Students use IXL at home a few times a week to support their ELA and math learning remember what they have learned better and do better in school and on their district and state assessments. Here's a shout-out to the classes who had the most at-home practice this month. There's one week left. so students are encouraged to log on to practice their weakest skills, so they continue to stay sharp in all areas.
#3 - Ms. Maldonado with 3:05 minutes at home
#2 - Ms. Vasquez with 8:02 minutes of practice
#1 - Ms. Peralta with 9:10 minutes of practice
This year, we are focused on growth, so here is a shout-out to the classes that have over 10 points of growth for the month of September. The goal is 10 points per month, so with 1 week left, these classes are ahead of the curve! Great job!
#4 - Ms. Matsushino with 1.0 month's growth
#3 - Ms. John with 2.0 month's growth
#2 Ms. Peralta with 2.3 month's growth each
#1 - Ms. Vasquez with 2.4 month's growth
To access IXL from home, students can navigate to the Carrillo School Links page and select Clever from the Application Links column. This will take them to their Clever Page with links to all the applications we use at school to support learning. Mastering 1-2 skills in ELA and Math at home can help our Cougars stay sharp as we grow together this year.
Walk and Roll to School
Join the movement and Walk ‘N’ Roll to School next week.
Carrillo has again joined up with The Pima County Department of Environmental Quality (PDEQ), and the Pima County Health Department, to encourage students to use active transportation to get to school. These efforts are highlighted during Walk ‘N’ Roll to School Week, which promotes physical fitness, builds community, and inspires families to use their feet more often when commuting to school. This annual national event will take place in Pima County from Sept. 30 through Oct. 4 this year.
Students who walk, bike, scoot, skateboard, rollerblade, take the bus, or carpool with another family to school this week will be entered into a raffle for a free scooter at the end of the week. Not sure who to carpool with? Dismissal time is a great time to connect wtih other famiies to work out logisitcs.
Counseling Corner
So that you can continue to dialogue with your students after weekly counseling lessons, Ms. Freeman is sharing the visuals she uses with our students. This week's focus was "How Big is my Problem?" and focused on helping students identify the size of a problem, and how to know when to seek out a trusted adult.
Kind Campus Resources
Self-Kindess: Positive Affirmation Phrase
This self-kindness practice focuses on bringing calmness to challenging moments. Begin by coming up with a sentence or two, called a Positive Affirmation Phrase, to repeat to yourself when you’re feeling stressed. The statement may affirm your humanity (“I am a human, and just like everyone else, I make mistakes.”) or it may be a reminder to practice self-kindness (“May I treat myself with kindness while I’m going through this experience.”). Have your student write down the phrase and repeat it often. Including positive practices such as these in school has been found to increase well-being and reduce depression, anxiety, and stress, making them easily implemented tools that help to enhance adolescents’ mental health. Try this exercise with your students by having them write their own phrases and discussing the importance of how we talk to ourselves.
PTO News and Volunteering Opportunities
PTO Update
Be sure to save the date. Our next meeting will be online on Wednesday, October 2 at 6:00 pm and will focus on Fall Fest. We are looking for 1 parent per classroom to ensure all voices are heard.
PTO is still looking for a parent who is a contractor who can help with an estimate so that PTO can work with Ms. Bittel to find grant funding for an improvement project at the school. If you are available, contact Ms. Bittel.
- President - Aaron Valencia
- VP - open
- Secretary - Margaret Zuniga
- Treasurer - Angelina Celix
Please email PTO if you have any questions.
Box Tops for Education
This year we hope to have more families involved so that we can see even more rewards come back to the school to benefit the students directly. Please encourage friends and family members to download the app from the Box Tops website, select "Carrillo K-5 Magnet School" as their school, and scan their grocery receipts weekly.
LEADERBOARD
1st Place - Kindergarten (291 box tops)
2nd Place - 4th Grade (85 box tops)
3rd Place - 2nd Grade (79 box tops)
4th Place - 1st Grade (71 box tops)
5th Place - 5th Grade (32 box tops)
6th Place - 3rd Grade (3 box tops)
Repeated Information
Free Volleyball Anyone?
My name is Carson Luttenegger, and I am the Director of Marketing at Arizona Athletics. I am reaching out on behalf of Arizona Volleyball, who is excited to offer FREE admission to Tucson Unified School District students for their game at McKale Center on Friday, October 4th @ 12 PM v. Utah!
Two (2) complimentary tickets will be provided to each Tucson Unified School District student. Additional tickets are available for purchase for $5. See the links below to claim your tickets and access more information regarding parking.
We are looking forward to seeing you at the McKale Center on Friday, October 4th @ 12 PM as Arizona Volleyball takes on Utah. Please reach out to me via email if you have any further questions regarding the event.
Tennis Anyone?
Tucson Community Tennis is starting their FREE fall tennis clinics for students.
Who – Children grades 1st through 12th
How Much - $5 donation for the semester
What – Tennis clinic with certified coaches
Where - Pueblo High School Tennis courts
When - Saturdays September 14 to December 14, 2024
Time - 12 and Under - 8 – 9:30 and 18 and Under – 8 - 10
Contact – If interested email: Stacy Renner or call 520-591-8904
Communities Career Speakers Wanted!
Carrillo's Kindergarten and First Graders are learning about the importance of community. Teachers are looking for guest speakers to come and talk about their jobs. We are looking for fora large variety of jobs from cashiers to custodians and firefighters to pharmacists. Our students know communities are successful because of the contributions of EVERYONE. Thank you for coming to share your role in the community. To sign up, use this link.
Your "Grow Together" Sprirt Shirts Support Student Council
Thank you to Adrian at Big Frog! This year, when you purchase Cougar spirit gear, $5 will come back to the school to support students. The store has this year's "Growing Together" shirts for students and parents, as well as our classic shirts and some designs from previous years. Check out the store online.
Essay Contest for 5th Graders
** From the Office of the State Treasurer**
Kids are the future, and we want to hear their ideas for changing the world for the better.
For the fifth year, Arizona State Treasurer Kimberly Yee and the AZ529 Education Savings Plan are hosting an essay contest for kids. The 2024 Essay Writing Contest invites Arizona 5th and 6th graders to submit essays explaining their dream job and the steps they’ll take to reach it. Winners will receive $529 toward an AZ529 Education Savings Plan to fund their future educational aspirations!
Open to all current 5th and 6th grade students in Arizona’s district, charter, private schools, homeschools, and tribal schools.
Answer the question, “What is your dream job and how do you plan on achieving it in the future?” (350 words or less).
Entries accepted through October 6, 2024 at 11:59 PM (MST). Limit one entry per student.
Twenty (20) prizes, each in the amount of $529, will be awarded towards a new or existing AZ529 Education Savings Plan. Winners will be selected from each of Arizona’s 15 counties and there will also be winners representing all types of schools, including district, charter, private schools, homeschools, and tribal schools. We’re excited to help 20 young writers start saving for their educational plans beyond high school!
Upload entries on the AZ529 website. Accepted file types: Microsoft Word, PDF, JPG and JPEG).
Entries will be accepted August 26 through October 6, 2024.
Free Saturday Tutoring
The TUSD Mexican American Student Services Department is holding FREE Saturday academic tutoring by qualified teachers to help students with reading, writing, and math.
Limited space available for students in grades 3rd to 8th
When: September through May
Starts: September 7th.
Register by calling 520.232.8566 or by email.
Guiding Good Choices
The Menlo Park Family Resource Center is offering, a five-week program (called STEP) for parents and caregivers with children aged 9-14. You will learn to promote healthy habits, set guidelines, manage conflicts, and strengthen family bonds. Attendance is important, as each week builds on the lessons from the previous week. Program materials and incentives valued at over $75 will be offered.
Menlo FRC | Tuesdays | 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. | Start: 8/27/24 | End: 9/24/24
please contact Becky Jo to register at 520-225-2172 or by email.
Casa de los Ninos
Casa de los Ninos is one of our community partnerships. They offer a variety of community education and outreach classes. Please check out the flyer below to see the dates and topics in September. Email Carol Bolger with questions.
Student Pick Up Reminders
Thank you for your patience as we get students dismissed as quickly as possible. We need your help with a few things.
17th STREET PICK UP
- Please park by Tucson Water, or wait in your car.
- For those waiting in their cars, a school staff member will come by and radio for your student to come to you.
- Thank you for keeping your music low and arriving after 2:30 pm. Our neighbors appreciate it.
- Families with only intermediate students (grades 3-5) your students are generally the last to dismiss, if you can arrive at 2:50 that will allow us to help the kinder and first graders off campus and speed up pickup.
FOR PARENTS WAITING INSIDE
- If you arrive before 2:30 pm we need you to sign in at the main office and wait in the art gallery on the main floor until 2:45.
Volunteers / Visitors
Parents volunteers are welcome on campus. Speak with our office manager (Kenia Alvarado-Martinez) or our Magnet Coordinator (Rebecca Stroup) to learn how you can volunteer! We also encourage families to attend PTO meetings to learn about other ways to support our Carrillo Cougars. We encourage all parents to register as volunteers on the TUSD website as the process takes a few weeks. We ask non-parental volunteers to contact the office before registering as a volunteer so we can explain the process and coordinate volunteer opportunities.
Social Media
Parents, we are asking for your help with social media. As a reminder, most social media user agreements state that users must be 13 or older to have an account. Please take a moment to discuss the reasons for the age limits with your students.
Most social media sites do not allow attacks or abuse based on race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability or disease. Please encourage students to be socially conscious and report any accounts that violate those policies directly to the social media platform before blocking the account.
Attendance Matters
Absences
Attendance at school is directly correlated to student achievement, so it is extremely important they are in school every single day to be successful. Research shows that missing more than 8 days of school can cause significant gaps in a student’s education. Please try to schedule appointments or family outings around the school schedule and during school holidays. To help track attendance goals, we've created a "Path to Success" attendance tracker you can use at home to help us make our 95% goal. You can download it by opening the attachment on your computer.
A student is considered "chronically absent" if they miss more than 10% of the school year. Students who miss more than 5 days a quarter are considered at risk for chronic absenteeism. If your student reaches this number, we will be reaching out to see how we can support you in getting your students to school on time.
Attendance Reporting Made Easy
- Log into ParentVue from App or Computer
- Click the "Attendance" tab on the left column on the computer or on the App as soon as you log in the blue "report absence" with a small bell icon is there.
- On the top right corner of the page it will have a blue link that says "Report Absence" click on this
- Use the calendar to select dates and the drop-down for the reason for the absence.
- You may also add notes or upload a doctor's note and hit "save".
Of course, you may still give Ms. Diane Quiroz a ring at (520) 225-1200 if you prefer. Thank you for reporting all absences!
Transportation and Student Drop Off/Pick Up
TUSD Buses
For more information, visit Transportation's website to see if your student qualifies for FREE transportation and to begin routing. We strongly encourage families to consider this option for this school year. It's a great way to help your student develop independence and responsibility. You can also call them at 520-225-6262.
Morning Drop Off Reminders
Due to some budget changes, the earliest students can be dropped off is 7:35 am at 17th Street. The office does not open until 8:00 and while Ms. Bittel is usually on campus well before 8:00, she is often in meetings or other parts of the building and unable to hear the doorbell. From 7:35 - 8:00 the only safe drop off is 17th Street. Thank you for helping us to keep all our cougars safe in the morning.
Dismissal Reminders
Parent Pickup will continue to be at 17th street. Thank you for remaining in your car. We’ll be using radios and a loudspeaker to call for students this year in hopes of speeding up the process. Please note that the city has redefined some fire lanes that must be kept open along Samaniego with bright red paint. Thank you for not parking or stopping in those spaces. Thank you also for keeping the neighborhood driveways and mailboxes open as a courtesy to our neighbors. Thank you for your help!
We know that the 17th Street area can get a bit congested at pickup. To help alleviate the situation, the City of Tucson has installed new signs to direct traffic and changed the direction of Samaniego Street. The City of Tucson is requesting that families picking up on 17th Street exit the neighborhood using the following route.
- Travel west on 17th Street
- Turn south on 11th Avenue
- Turn west to access the frontage road or turn east to return to Main Avenue and 22nd Street.
Our neighbors kindly ask that you leave the driveways and corners open when you park so they can enter and exit their homes safely. If you do wait in your car along Samaniego, thank you for waiting at the bottom of the hill on the east side of the street so the roadway is clear for all vehicles and families crossing the street.
We are also asking families to arrive no earlier than 2:35 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday and no earlier than 1:35 on Wednesdays. Parents of intermediate students, if you plan to arrive at 2:50 or 1:50, that will give the primary students time to load up and reduce your wait time.
Thank you also for being patient, driving slowly, and watching the road carefully. The streets behind Carrillo are narrow and we want to avoid any accidents. Our neighbors kindly request that everyone drive like they live in the neighborhood, and many of our cougars do. Thank you for helping us keep our Cougars and our community safe.
Follow these signs.
Thank you for exiting via S. 11th Ave.
Walking/Biking Home
If your child is walking/riding home, thank you for ensuring the office has a note giving permission at the beginning of every school year. Thank you for making any pickup arrangements with your student prior to your student coming to school.
Stay in Touch!
Stay current on our events by visiting our Facebook Page as well as the school website. If you have any questions, comments, suggestions, or concerns please reach out. It is our mission to provide all students with a first-rate education in a kind and respectful environment.
Email the Principal:
Visit Our Website:
Location: 440 South Main Avenue, Tucson, AZ, USA
Phone: (520) 225-1200
Like Us On Facebook:
Mission Statement
Carrillo K-5 Communication and Creative Arts Magnet School engages children's minds, bodies, and senses using multiple modes of learning, thought, and self-expression.
Vision Statement
At Carrillo K-5 Communication and Creative Arts Magnet School, students become 21st Century leaders in a diverse world, through the development of a strong academic core, communication skills and creative arts abilities.