Podesta Ranch Newletter 03/02/2025

I hope you’re having a wonderful weekend! As we move into the final trimester of the school year, report cards went home on Friday. This is a great time to check in with your student, celebrate their progress, and set goals for a strong finish to the year.

Read Across America Week & Spirit Days

Next week, we are excited to celebrate Read Across America Week, promoting a love of reading in our students! Be sure to check out our spirit days below and take time to read with your student—even a few minutes a day makes a big difference!

Reminders & Upcoming Events

• Minimum Day – Wednesday: Please plan accordingly for early dismissal.
• Warmer Weather & Dress Code: As temperatures rise, please ensure students are dressed appropriately for school. Crocs and sandals are not permitted, and midsections should be fully covered for a safe and comfortable learning environment.
• Thank You! A big thank you to everyone who joined us for the Tri-Tip Dinner—we appreciate your support!

PBIS Focus: Be Responsible, Be Kind, Be Safe

At Podesta Ranch, we continue to emphasize our PBIS expectations:
✅ Be Responsible in learning and daily tasks.
✅ Be Kind to peers and staff.
✅ Be Safe in all school areas.

Thank you for your partnership in fostering a positive and supportive school environment. Looking forward to another great week ahead!

Sincerely,

Alyssa Barban, Principal

Friendly Reminder to SPRING FORWARD one hour on Sunday, March 9th, 2025! 😴

We are celebrating Read Across America in honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday from Monday, March 3rd, 2025 to Friday, March 7th, 2025.

Monday, March 3rd, 2025:

Tie Dye Day (inspired by Liang and the Magic Paintbrush)

Tuesday, March 4th, 2025:

Hat Day (inspired by Three Hat Day)

Wednesday, March 5th, 2025:

Favorite Patterns Day (inspired by Patchwork Quilt)

Thursday, March 6th, 2025:

Favorite Band/Musical Artist (inspired by Hip Cat)

Friday, March 7th, 2025:

Black and Red Day (inspired by The Shadow)

Click on the image on the right for the digital flyer.

• When: Starting Saturday, February 1st, 2025
• How: Online Enrollment (Lodiusd.net or scan the QR code on attached flyer)
• TK Eligibility: Children turning 4 years old by Monday, September 1, 2025
• Kindergarten Eligibility: Children turning 5 years old on or before Monday, September 1, 2025
• 1st grade Eligibility: Children turning 6 years old on or before Monday, September 1, 2025

Please click on the image on the right for the digital flyer for more information.

Attached is Podesta's calendar of events for March 2025.

Please click on the image for the pdf file of the calendar.

Upcoming minimum days are the following:

• Wednesday, March 5th, 2025

Please be sure to pick up your children at their designated dismissal time as staff have meetings and professional development immediately after school. All PM TK and Kindergarten classes start at 8:15 AM.

Friendly reminder that our campus will be closed on Monday, March 17th, 2025 to Friday, March 28th, 2025 for Spring Break.

School will resume Monday, March 31st, 2025 @7:45 AM.

SAVE THE DATE! Come out and have dinner with us on Friday, March 14th, 2025 at El Pollo Loco on Trinity Parkway. More information to come.

If you are in need to make library book payments or would like to purchase Chromebook Insurance through the District, please click on the image on the right or scan the QR code for access.

You may also click on the blue words PAYMENT below for the digital form to turn in to pay.

PAYMENT

Click on the image on the right for family resources avaliable in the San Joaquin area.

Please click on the BLUE words below to access the LUSD Counseling Website.

COUNSELING

The School Accountability Report Card (SARC) provides parents and the community with important information about each public school. Lodi Unified School District’s SARCs are available on the District’s webpage at https://www.lodiusd.net/about/sarcs. If you have questions regarding Lodi Unified’s SARCs or would like to receive a printed copy of a particular school, please contact Accounting at (209) 331-7141. For further information on School Accountability Report Cards, please visit the California Department of Education's web site at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/sa/.

School Accountability Report Card (SARC) - California Department of Education

School Accountability Report Card (SARC) California public & nonpublic, nonsectarian schools annually provide information to the community to allow public comparison of schools for student achievement, environment, resources & demographics.

www.cde.ca.gov

We invite all parents to join us for the rescheduled District Advisory Committee (DAC) meeting! Our DAC Meeting will be held on March 3, 2025 (Please note new date for DAC Meeting. Originally scheduled February 24, 2025). This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about our district’s Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP), hear about student progress, and share your valuable input to help shape our goals for the future.

DAC Meeting Details
📅 Date: Wednesday, March 3, 2025
🕠 Time: 5:30 PM
📍 Location: Lodi Unified School District Office, 1305 E. Vine St., Lodi, CA 95240

Your voice and involvement are important to us. We look forward to seeing you there!

Please reach out to lcapfeedback@lodiusd.net with any questions or feedback.

Lodi USD invites you to share your thoughts on the district’s Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP)! Your input is essential in shaping our priorities and ensuring our students receive the support they need. Please take a moment to participate in our Thought Exchange by clicking the link below:

🔗 https://tejoin.com/scroll/308859188

Your feedback will help guide the development of our LCAP moving forward. Thank you for being a valued part of our community!

Use the link below or QR code to access Thought Exchange survey.

The Bridge Program is now accepting registrations at select (5) Lodi USD school sites for their Spring Intersession Program over the Spring Break. See below for more info!

Locations:

1. Nichols Elementary: (1301 S Crescent Ave, Lodi CA)
2. Washington Elementary: (831 W. Lockeford St, Lodi CA)
3. Clairmont Elementary: (8282 LeMans Ave, Stockton CA)
4. Wagner-Holt Elementary (8778 Brattle Pl. , Stockton CA)
5. *Oakwood Elementary (1315 Woodcreek Way, Stockton CA)

*Oakwood Elementary "Registrations" limited to Oakwood & Creekside students only

Dates & Times:

• Monday, March 17th to Friday, March 21st, 2025
• 8 AM - 5 PM.

Space is Limited and Enrollment will be based on a first-come basis for all sites.

Registration Deadline: March 10, 2025

REGISTER TODAY - Click below to learn more!

English: Spring Intersession Flyer

Spanish: Spring Intersession Flyer - Spanish

You may also click on the image on the right to see the flyer in English.

Join us for FREE nutritious breakfast each morning at 7:45 AM!

Please click on the image on the right to see a live view of the cafeteria menu for our school. Make sure to click on the drop down menu for Podesta Ranch Elementary School.

Click the BLUE WORDS MENU below for the digital pdf copy of the lunch menu.

MENU

For more information about lunches and nutrition on the LodiUSD website, please click on the BLUE words below.

FOOD SERVICES

Friendly reminder that every WEDNESDAY is College and Career Wear Spirit Day and every FRIDAY is School Spirit Wear Day.

Free breakfast is served every school day at 7:45 AM - 8:00 AM. If your child intends on eating free breakfast at school, they may arrive no earlier than 7:45 AM. If they are not eating breakfast, children should not arrive at school before 8:00 AM in lieu to safety concerns. No adults are supervising the students before 7:45 AM.

Please remember to NOT pick up or drop off your child in the bus loop or parking lot area, especially by the DEAD END section of the parking lot. Bus loop is ONLY for our SPED students and busses, and families are highly advised to accompany their child when walking through the parking lot. We do not have adults supervising these areas. Please park your car in the parking lot if you are planning to pick up your students directly from their teachers. Please leave the drop off area ONLY for moving vehicles that are picking up/dropping off quickly, and refrain from double parking, as we need ease of car movement for student and driver safety. Lastly, please do not exit the entrance area into the parking lot during drop off/pick up times to avoid collision from oncoming traffic.

Thank you for partnering with us and modeling to our students the importance of following traffic and road safety rules. 👍

One of our site goals, and our challenge from the Superintendent, is to improve attendance and curb truancy. The law states that students will attend every day, on time, and ready for school. With a new system in place, absences are carefully tracked, and notices are automatically sent to guardians. You have 10 days to clear an absence. On the 11th day it reverts to all unexcused and is considered truancy.

If you request IS, it must be requested 2 weeks prior and approved by IS administration. Please do not wait until the night before.

Please click on the blue words student and family handbook for the pdf of school rules/policies for 2024-2025 school year, as it has important information about all school expectations.

You may also click on the image on the right for the same document.

As the weather becomes colder and as a safety reminder, please send your student to school in appropriate attire, including shoes. Our dress code can be found in the Student Handbook in your student's planner or online. Students are expected to wear closed toe/heeled shoes. Students with sandals, slides, or Crocs will be asked to sit out during recess and PE to ensure student safety on the playground, stairwell and in the bark box.

Please click on the image on the right for the digital Student Handbook regarding their dress code.