Dolphin Digest

Thursday, August 29

• PTO Coffee - Front of School, 8:15 am
• Back to School Night
• TK - 5th Grade, MUB: 6:00 - 6:15 pm, Classrooms: 6:15 - 7:00 pm
• 6th - 8th Grade, MUB: 5:15 - 5:30 pm, Classrooms 5:30 - 6:15 pm

Friday, August 30

• Minimum Day Dismissal

Monday, September 2

• Labor Day Holiday - No School

Tuesday, September 17

• School Site Council Meeting - Library, 4:00 pm

Thursday, September 19

• PTO Meeting - Library & Virtual, 7:00 pm

Thursday, September 26

• Fire Drill, 10:45 am
• Clifford Multi-Cultural Night

Friday, September 27

• Picture Day
• Principal's Coffee - Library, 8:15 am

Monday, September 30

• No School
• Goal Setting Conferences - 12:30 - 3:00 pm

Tuesday, October 1 - Friday, October 4

• Fall Goal Setting Conferences - 11:45 Super Minimum Day Dismissal

Dear Clifford Families,

We are thrilled to invite you to our annual Back-to-School Night on Thursday, August 29th. This event is a great opportunity for you to meet your child's teacher(s), learn about classroom expectations, and get an overview of the exciting year ahead.

For grades 6th-8th, the evening will begin with a welcome meeting in the MUB at 5:15 pm, followed by a visit to your child's homeroom class from 5:30 - 6:15 pm. For grades TK-5th, please join us in the MUB at 6:00 pm before heading to your child's classroom from 6:15 - 7:00 pm.

Our dedicated educators are eager to share their plans for creating a positive and enriching learning environment. We believe that a strong partnership between parents and educators is essential for your child's academic success. Back-to-School Night offers a valuable opportunity for open communication, allowing us to collaborate effectively in supporting your child's growth and development.

Please note that this event is intended for parents and guardians only. We kindly ask that you arrange for childcare during this time.

If you are unable to attend, please reach out to your child's teacher, as they may be able to provide you with the information shared during the event.

We look forward to seeing you there!

We sincerely apologize if you have experienced problems with the new absence reporting system. Some of the communication originally sent home had the incorrect information. This issue has been resolved, and you can find the correct information below.

As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the educational environment for our students and staff, we are excited to inform you about initiating the Facility Master Planning process for the Redwood City School District, funded by Measure S. This comprehensive plan addresses current and future facility needs, ensuring our schools continue supporting high-quality education and community engagement.

I am pleased to inform you that the process has already commenced, and our Facilities and Construction Team is conducting initial site assessments. These assessments are crucial in understanding the current conditions and identifying areas that require attention.

To ensure the success of this project, it is crucial to gather diverse perspectives from across our school community, therefore each school site will put together a Site Committee. This committee should reflect a broad range of voices, including classified and certificated staff, members of the community, and parents of our students. The committee should have a maximum of nine participants, plus the site principal, to ensure effective collaboration and discussion. The inclusion of these diverse stakeholders will provide valuable insights and help us create a master plan that meets the needs and expectations of all community members.

The Facility Master Planning process will involve at least two Site Committee meetings. These meetings will serve as key opportunities for committee members to provide input, discuss priorities, and review preliminary plans. We anticipate this collaborative process to culminate by the end of 2024, resulting in a strategic and actionable plan for the future of our school facilities.

We are confident that we can develop a master plan that will significantly benefit our students, staff, and the broader community. Your guidance and insights will be invaluable in this process.

If you are interested in being a parent member of our committee, please contact Kristy Jackson at kjackson@rcsdk8.net.

Hi Clifford families!

We hope you're having a great start to the school year! Here are some important updates from the Family Center:

As always, please reach out with any questions.

Best,

Albert

ARRIVAL

• Supervision begins at 8:00 AM. Children are not to arrive at school BEFORE 8:00 AM.

• Parents may park in the neighborhood and walk their child(ren) to their classroom to wait for their teacher. We highly encourage walking and biking if you are able to.

• Beginning at 8:00 AM students may walk to their classroom and line up in the area designated by their teacher.

• Students do not play on the structures, blacktop, fields, or hallways before school.

• When the warning bell rings at 8:12 a.m., students should make their way to the classroom to line up.

• By 8:15 AM when the bell rings, teachers greet students and lead them into the classroom.

• If a child arrives after 8:15 AM (TK - 8:20), the student must first go to the office to get a late slip before going to class.

• We ask that parents exit the campus promptly after the bell rings so that we can secure the campus.

• Campus gates will be locked at 8:20 a.m.

DISMISSAL

• Students need to leave campus promptly after each dismissal.

• Regular Dismissal: TK: 1:20 PM, Kinder: 2:05 PM; 1st - 3rd: 2:30 PM; 4th-8th: 2:40 PM

• Minimum Day Dismissal: TK: 12:35 PM; Kinder: 1:15 PM; 1st - 8th: 1:30 PM

• Super Minimum Day Dismissal: All students are dismissed at 11:45.

• TK & Kindergarten students must wait with their teacher until a parent/child care provider or other designated adult picks them up.

• Children who are being picked up must wait in the drop-off/pick-up areas.

• Children who walk are to go directly home.

• TK-5 students are not to play on the blacktop after dismissal, due to classes still being in session.

• Parents/Families in grades TK-5 may enter the gate at dismissal and wait in the assigned "Parent Pick Up" area just inside the gate. Teachers will release students to you. Parents should not enter other areas of the campus including the classroom, hallways, or playground areas so that we can keep our campus secure for our 4th - 8th grade students. Please exit back through the gate once you have connected with your child.

• TK-5 students are not to be left unsupervised on campus, waiting for older siblings.

• Parents of student(s) who are repeatedly not picked up promptly, will be contacted by the school administration.

• If an emergency prevents you from picking up your child on time, make alternate arrangements and notify the school. Students who are picked up late need to be signed out in the office.

STUDENT DROP OFF/PICK UP AND PARKING LOT GUIDELINES

Safety around the school and the neighborhood is everyone’s responsibility. Parking rules apply to everyone. Speed limits in school zones are 25 mph or less if the conditions warrant slower speeds. Use great caution, drive slowly, follow these guidelines, and instruct your child to follow them as well. The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office helps to enforce compliance with the law in and around Clifford School.

The parking lots are reserved for staff, busses, and handicapped drivers displaying a valid permit ONLY. Please park along the neighborhood streets and away from the red zone.

ARRIVAL/DROP-OFF & DISMISSAL/PICK-UP INSTRUCTIONS

• Follow the guidance of the personnel on duty.

• Obey all posted and painted signs.

• Please enter parking lots through entrances only, not through exits.

• Watch for children walking, biking, or in crosswalks.

• Please follow these lane guidelines between 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. on school days

• Right Lane: Cars dropping off or picking up students.

• Left Lane: Cars driving through (no pick-up or drop-off allowed).

• Drive slowly in a single file line when entering the parking lot, and proceed to white curb drop off/pick up zones.

• Please pull all the way forward to allow for cars to enter the parking lot and to prevent traffic jams.

• Allow your child to exit curbside.

• Remain in your vehicle if you are just dropping off. Do not leave your car unattended.

• Slowly and carefully pull away after your child has exited.

• Exit by following the curve of the parking lot.

• No parking in the loading and unloading zones.

• Students should use the pedestrian crosswalk when needed to cross the parking lot.

• Do not park or drop off in the designated bus loading zone.

• Please share this information with all drivers who may pick up your child.

BUS RIDING SAFETY & GUIDELINES:

The bus, whether a SamTrans bus, the yellow school bus, or a field trip bus, is an extension of our school environment. This means every passenger will treat fellow passengers and the driver with respect. While on the bus to or from school, students will refrain from any behavior that might distract the driver from safely delivering students to their destinations. The bus driver reserves the right to remove a student from the bus; any reports that come to the attention of the school administration may result in suspension of riding privileges and/or additional consequences.

If your child will be taking a bus to school, please review the following information with her/him:

• Students must arrive 5 minutes before their bus pick-up time.

• Wait safely in the designated area at the bus stop.

• Be calm and orderly while getting on and off the bus.

• Stay in your seat, facing forward.

• Keep your head, hands, and feet inside the bus.

• Follow the bus driver’s directions.

After School Plans:

Please make plans ahead of time. Children are not allowed to make phone calls from school in order to arrange to go home with a friend after school, and we do not have enough staff to take messages for students regarding such plans. When primary grade children (K–2) have made advance plans that differ from usual practice, please send a note to the teacher indicating with whom they will be going after school.

Ellen Cookman, Attorney, Founder of Cookman Law

Thursday, August 29, 2024, 5:30pm – 6:30pm PT, Virtual Event (Live)

Register: https://ellencookman2024ndss.eventbrite.com

Join attorney Ellen Cookman, founder of Cookman Law, for a lively and informative presentation on the basics of special needs trusts, ABLE accounts, and estate planning.

Parents/caregivers, educators, health professionals, and community members welcome! Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be available. Free admission.

The Neurodiversity Speaker Series is presented by The Parent Venture, Children’s Health Council, Compass High School, REEL2e, and The RILEY Project, with major funding from the Educating All Learners Alliance (EALA).

For more information, please visit www.neurodiversityspeakerseries.org, or contact Charlene Margot, CEO, The Parent Venture, at cmargot@parentventure.org

Kirsten Jones, Author, Speaker, Peak Performance Coach

Thursday, September 5, 2024, 5:30pm – 6:30pm PT, Virtual Event (Live)

Register: https://kirstenjones2024suhsd.eventbrite.com

In her new book, Raising Empowered Athletes, peak performance coach Kirsten Jones offers a timely and down-to-earth guide for parents navigating the difficult decisions and extraordinary pressures of youth sports.

Parents/caregivers, students, educators, health professionals, and community members welcome! Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be available. Free admission.

This special presentation is sponsored by the Sequoia Union High School District, Sequoia Healthcare District, Peninsula Health Care District, and The Parent Venture.

Questions? Contact Charlene Margot, MEd, Co-Founder and CEO, The Parent Venture (The Parent Education Series), at cmargot@parentventure.org.

We love our parent volunteers! Clifford and Redwood City School District (RCSD) welcomes volunteers and partners in a systematic process to ensure the health and safety of our students. Over many years, volunteers have provided assistance to our school programs and our collective efforts to educate our students in academic, social, and emotional opportunities. School campuses and the Department of Human Resources have an established and thorough process to ensure safety and communicate expectations to our volunteers.

Depending on your volunteer level, you will be required to submit/complete the following items:

• Volunteer Application
• TB Test Result or TB Risk Assessment
• Driver’s License/Government ID
• Livescan Fingerprints- only required for volunteers who will be alone with students

Here are the levels of volunteerism and the level of clearance they require:

Level 1 - Volunteers working under constant direct supervision of an RCSD employee - this includes classroom support or supervision or supervised school event support.

Level 1 Requirements: complete the volunteer application, proof of a valid CA drivers license or US issued ID card, and proof of TB test result/assessment.

Level 2 - Volunteers working under the supervision of an RCSD employee, but may occasionally be unsupervised while working with students - this includes tutoring partners, field trip volunteers on the bus or chaperoning a field trip.

Level 2 Requirements: complete the volunteer application, proof of a valid CA drivers license or US issued ID card, and proof of TB test result/assessment AND LiveScan fingerprinting. If you need assistance with paying the Livescan fee ($45 + Gov. fee) our PTO is able to reimburse you. LiveScan is available at most Redwood City UPS stores.

Level 3 - Volunteers who will be alone working with or mentoring students. The student may be transported by the volunteer. - this includes tutoring partners, overnight field trip volunteers, certain school events, and contracted partners.

Level 3 Requirements: complete the volunteer application, proof of a valid CA drivers license or US issued ID card, and proof of TB test result/assessment AND LiveScan fingerprinting. If you need assistance with paying the Livescan fee ($45 + Gov. fee) our PTO is able to reimburse you. LiveScan is available at most Redwood City UPS stores.

Volunteer clearance is processed through our district office - we are not allowed to clear parents here at school. The process of becoming a cleared volunteer can take a few weeks, therefore, please submit your paperwork several weeks in advance of when you'd like to volunteer. Once you are cleared as a parent volunteer, you do not have to renew your application each year.