Charger Weekly Update

Dear Charger Families,

We want to officially welcome Scarlet Swim. to Cherry Chase Elementary. Scarlet is the teacher for the SDC kindergarten class in room E. She has 16 years of experience, most of which is in preschool and kindergarten. She is originally from Indiana but has lived in California for five years. She encourages anyone to share places to visit and restaurants to try out around here. Welcome, Scarlet!

We want to thank all the noon aids and Coach Fathiye for their fantastic work ethics during this week's heat wave and the TK and Kindergarten lunchtimes. As you know, most, if not all, of their time at work is spent outdoors. Thank you!

We are immensely proud of two of our fifth-grade students, Ege and Laura, for their outstanding behavior at the Superintendent's Luncheon on Tuesday. Their respectful and dignified representation of the Cherry Chase family was truly commendable. We want to extend our appreciation to them for their exemplary conduct. To celebrate their achievement, we have shared some pictures from the event. Well done, Ege and Laura!

The district asked for help promoting Measure Y during a 'BLOCK WALK' this Saturday, September 28. We appreciate the following parents and staff members for donating their time to support our efforts to share information with our community members.

Christian Deasy

Megan McDonald Gilmore

Jessica Hulse Dillon

Kristin Kurimoto

Kami Kawai

Diana Kunze

Brenda Fox-Grugett

Many of you may wonder how we celebrate Halloween at Cherry Chase Elementary. We always celebrate Halloween by having a HALLOWEEN PARADE.

We want to prepare you ahead of time for this SPOOKY event, as Halloween is just around the corner! On October 31st, our students will showcase their creativity and Halloween spirit in a thrilling parade starting at 8:30 am. On the day of the parade, please listen to Ms. Marchant’s directions for where to view the parade if you are a parent or a family member. Here is the link to the Halloween parade map.

Our parade is intended to be a pleasant and enjoyable experience for all our students. Students wanting to dress up may come to school in costume. If the costume can be worn without distraction to your child or others, it can be worn throughout the rest of the day. If not, please have your child bring a change of clothes for after the parade. We want to remind everyone that other people’s cultures are not costumes. LET'S BE CULTURALLY RESPONSIBLE. Be respectful of what you choose to wear, and let's celebrate Halloween in a way that respects and includes everyone.

Your child may not bring any costume item that simulates a weapon, blood, violence, or anything inappropriate for elementary school. If you are still deciding whether an item is allowed, please let your teacher know before the day of the parade. Any article of a violent/ inappropriate nature will be taken away and held by the teacher until the end of the school day.

Costume masks may be worn during the parade but must be off for the rest of the day. We can’t wait to see how creative you get with your costume! Your participation and enthusiasm will make this event even more special.

There will be NO Friday Flag Assembly on Friday, November 1, 2024.

Together, we will create a nurturing and inspiring environment where every student can thrive. Thank you for being an integral part of our Charger Family. Your engagement and support are the cornerstones of our success, and we look forward to the beautiful experiences this school year will bring.

Best Regards,

Gloria Marchant-Principal

Measure Y protects our schools. Since approved by voters in 2011, the parcel tax has raised approximately $1.1 million annually to support our ten schools. Without these additional local funds, the district would have been forced to reduce or eliminate classroom programs and services, including science, libraries, and technology.

Measure Y funds will allow the district to continue to:

• Protect district programs such as math, English, and science.

• Attract and retain highly qualified teachers and staff.

• Keep class sizes as small as possible.

• Maintain computers and technology used by students and teachers.

Measure Y provides for strict accountability as funds are spent. An Independent Community Oversight Committee will monitor and review all parcel tax expenditures. This committee of residents will ensure that all funds are spent as planned to benefit local students.

Measure Y Parcel Tax Fact Sheet.

Effective emergency response requires training for students and staff, safety plans that govern the appropriate response, and strong leadership to determine the best response to a situation. At Cherry Chase Elementary, we use a variety of strategies and techniques to ensure students and staff are well prepared for emergencies, including:

• Comprehensive School Safety Plan (CSSP)
• Site Emergency Action Plan (ICS-Incident Command System)
• Staff Training
• Emergency Drills

On August 14, 2024, first responders trained all staff members on ICS, lockdown, and the Run Hide Defend protocols.

We will share the Cherry Chase Elementary Emergency Protocols and ICS response with our families at Coffee with the Principal on October 11, 2023, at 8:45 a.m. in the multipurpose room.

Sunnyvale School District sets emergency drill requirements for all schools following the Education Code and best practices in emergency response. Drill scenarios include fire, earthquake, lockdown, and Run-Hide-Defend. All schools complete the drills and then conduct a debrief to collect feedback on what would improve the response. Please mark your calendar with these dates:

October 16-Lockdown Drill at 9:00 am

October 17-The Great ShakeOut at 10:25 am

November 19-Fire Drill at 1:30 pm

December 12-Fire Drill at 2:15 pm

January 23-Fire Drill at 10:30 am

February 13-Earthquake and Fire Drill at 10:30 am

March 5-Fire Drill at 12:40 pm

April 24-Fire Drill at 1:30 pm

May 24-Fire Drill at 1 pm

June 5-Fire Drill at 10:30 am

Fire drills last between 5-7 minutes.

Earthquake drills last between 5-10 minutes

Run Hide Defend/Lockdown lasts between 10-15 minutes

We recommend you talk to your child about emergency preparedness and why we prepare and conduct drills.

Also, I hope you have a family emergency plan in case of a natural disaster or other disasters. It is always a good idea to be prepared for anything. Here are some links that can help you get started.

https://www.ready.gov/be-informed

https://www.earthquakecountry.org/sevensteps/

https://www.earthquakeauthority.com/California-Earthquake-Risk/Personal-Preparedness

We are excited to continue our partnership with Playworks, which helps kids stay active and build valuable life skills through play. We want to welcome back Playworks coach Fethiye Okan-Kolak and Team Up Coach Tommy Courtney, who will support students during recess, Class Game Time, and the Junior Coach Program. This year, we will share Playworks updates through the weekly bulletin. Here is the link to the Playworks Weekly Update (updated weekly)

Sunnyvale School District has contracted Pacific Health Clinics (formerly CHAC) to provide school-based counseling to students. We want to welcome Neguin Ghadessi to Cherry Chase. She will be in room 36 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays during the school day.

Please get in touch with Kristin Brett at Kristin.brett@sesd.org if you have any questions.

Calendar of Events

Here is the link to the 2024-2025 Cherry Chase Elementary Calendar. As we prepare for another exciting academic journey, we want to highlight some important dates and upcoming events to ensure a smooth transition for our students. Please take time to review the information listed below:

October

• October 1 Blake Brandes Assemblies from 8:30 am-10 pm
• October 2 PLC- Progress Monitoring (Lexia/DreamBox/Map Accelerator)at 2:45 PM
• October 4 Friday Flag
• October 8 Dismissal - Teacher Learning Day (TLD) at 12:45 pm
• October 8 School Site Council (SSC) Meeting 3:00 - 4:00 pm
• October 11 Friday Flag
• October 11 Coffee With the Principal: Emergency Protocols at 8:45 am
• October 14 Staff Development Day- No School for Students
• October 16 9:00 am Run Hide Defend Drill-Lockdown at 9 am
• October 17 Great Shakeout Earthquake Drill at 10:25 am
• October 18 Friday Flag
• October 24 Lifetouch Picture Day Retakes
• October 25 Friday Flag- Citizen of the Month
• October 25 Fall Festival
• October 31 Halloween Parade at 8:30 am on the blacktop
• November 1 No Friday Flag

We invite all parents to attend our Coffee with the Principal sessions in the Multipurpose Room. We'll cover many essential topics, from school safety to academic progress, and your presence is invaluable. We hope to see you there!

We want to thank our PTA volunteers for setting up the coffee and treats for these events.

Below are the 2024-2025 Coffee with the Principal dates, topics, and links to the presentation:

August 15, 9:00 am-Welcome to incoming TK/Kindergarten Families

August 19, 8:30 am-Welcome Back Chargers

September 13, 8:45 am-What to Expect During Conference Week

October 11, 8:45 am-Safety Protocols

November 15, 8:45 am-Report Cards and NWEA Reports

January 17, 8:45 am-TBD

March 14, 8:45 am-TBD

May 16, 8:45 am-TBD

Cherry Chase does NOT have a specific school supply list. All students will be provided with the school supplies they need. Cherry Chase spends over $10,000 to purchase school supplies students need in the classroom to access all curricular areas.

PTA provides additional funding to teachers to purchase instructional supplies that may include consumables for projects and activities.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Skinner's legislation in 2022, which established a universal meal program for all K-12 public school students. Therefore, SSD will continue to offer free breakfast and lunch at school. The menus will continue to be updated each month. You can find the updated monthly food menus using this link.

For more information, click on California Universal Meals.

One of our key objectives this year is to reduce our Chronic Absenteeism rate, which the state closely monitors. Regular, on-time attendance is a critical factor that significantly influences student success. As a school community, it's vital that we recognize and address this issue, ensuring that all our students can thrive academically and socially.

Daily attendance profoundly impacts a student's academic and social development. Higher attendance rates correlate with fewer academic and behavioral issues and are linked to lower dropout rates. Missing just a few days each month, even in the early grades, can significantly affect students' ability to stay on track in their academic journey. We are committed to working with families to promote good attendance habits throughout the year.

At Cherry Chase Elementary, we believe every school day counts and every student matters. Let's make this school year one of growth, learning, and regular attendance. Your involvement and partnership are essential in helping us achieve this goal.

Please remember that school starts each day at 8:15 am. The gates open at 8:00 am, and we encourage all of our families to drop off their students early to avoid traffic.

We will lock the gates at 8:20 am. Students arriving after 8:20 am should come to the office for a tardy pass before going to their classroom.

If your student is absent from school for any reason, please report your student's absence by calling the office at (408) 522-8241 or emailing cherrychasefrontoffice@sesd.org. In your message, include the following information:

• Student Name
• Parent Name
• Teacher Name
• Grade Level
• Reason for Absence

SSD Attendance Policy Parent-Student Handbook.

Thank you to the 140 families who have become PTA members! We appreciate your support.

LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET 10 MORE FAMILIES TO JOIN THIS WEEK!

Join the PTA to show your support of our students. Just $10/individual or $15/family.

As a PTA member, you have a say in how we support our school and our children. We understand that everyone's schedule is different, so while we encourage attending meetings and volunteering, we respect that it's optional. Become a PTA Member Today!

Become a Volunteer

Field trips are coming up soon, so consider becoming a parent volunteer.

Please remember that all volunteers on campus must be cleared through the district annually. Here’s what you need to know:

• TB Clearance: Required and valid for four years. Ensure yours is up to date.
• New Volunteers: Start by filling out the application here.
• Returning Volunteers: To update your information, simply log in here using the "I already have a username" option. Your previous TB clearance is already on file.
• Fingerprinting: Only necessary if you plan to chaperone field trips or have one-on-one student contact.

Upcoming Events:

November 15 Diwali

For more information on how to get involved, please visit the PTA Website.

Cherry Chase Bell Schedule 2024-2025

Cherry Chase School Map 2024-2025

Parent-Student Handbook

PTA Website

1138 Heatherstone Way, Sunnyvale, CA 94087

(408) 522-8241 Main Office/Attendance