January / February Bulldog Bulletin

O. N. Hirsch Elementary School

Office Hours: 8:00am to 3:30pm

Phone#: (510) 657-3537

Principal—Ms. Christina Arroyo carroyo@fusdk12.net

School Secretary — Mrs. LeAnne Kodama lkodama@fusdk12.net

Attendance Clerk — Mrs. Vaishali Parikh vparikh@fusdk12.net

Dear Hirsch Families,

January and February have been very busy at Hirsch! We are also looking for families who can help us out. Can you?

We still need two parents to join our School Site Council. We only have two more meetings, March 20th and May 8th. We need to fill these parent slots so we can have our purchases be reviewed and approved when we use our special district funding. Please send me a note or an email at carroyo@fusdk12.net.

Have you completed your residency verification form? This U.S. mailed document needs to be returned by February 24th with your two proofs of residency. Feel free to come to the office or send them with your student.

Our PTA is holding a special meeting this Friday at 6:30 through Zoom to find out if there is interest for our Bulldog Jog and how it will be run for the 23-24 school year. Please find the Zoom link below.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8607763340?pwd=VTVmbW00T3AzQmJNNktPRmdOMFFGZz09

Students enjoyed showing kindness through their actions and in spirit wear! Start making a plan for Read Across America week and how your family will come to school during that week.

Is your student an English Learner? If they are, students have begun taking their ELPAC test. Want to learn more about the test and how you can support your student, join us at our ELAC meeting on February 14th at 4 pm through Zoom. Your student received an invite on 2/14.

As a reminder, practice safe habits when dropping off and picking up students. You should only be using designated crosswalks, sidewalks, as well as pulling cars all the way forward when using valet. We appreciate you being cautious and teaching our students safe habits.

Ms. Arroyo

Principal

2 - Basketball Games vs. Warm Springs at Warm Springs

8 - Early Release Day

9 - Basketball Games vs. Grimmer at Grimmer

13 - PTA Meeting

15 - Early Release Day

15 - Basketball Games vs. Weibel at Horner MPR

15 - Science Fair Projects due to Classroom Teacher

16 - Basketball Games vs. Grimmer at Horner MPR

20 - NO SCHOOL - Presidents Day

22 - Early Release Day

23 - Basketball Games vs. Grimmer at Horner MPR

24 - Residency Verification Forms Due

27 - Start of Read Across America Spirit Week

27 - Start of Golden Sneaker Walk and Roll to School Week

28 - Basketball Games vs. Weibel at Weibel

Hi Families,

Did you know that one of the things celebrated in February is “International Boost Self-Esteem Month”? Self-esteem is how you feel about yourself, the confidence you have in yourself, and the respect you have for yourself.

Two types of self-esteem include healthy self-esteem and low self-esteem. Self-esteem impacts the way people think, the things we choose to do, and what we decide to say. Fostering healthy self-esteem is so important and can make a huge impact in the lives of children.

People with healthy self-esteem:

• Believe in themselves

• Feel good about who they are

• Accept others for who they are

• Are proud of their accomplishments

• Do not put others down

• Make friends easily

When people like parents, teachers, and other trusted adults treat kids with respect, show encouragement, and help children embrace challenges, this helps children learn to feel good about who they are and believe in themselves.

One way to encourage healthy self-esteem is to help your child use positive self-talk to challenge negative thoughts. This can be tough at first, but with practice you might see your child’s mindset shift to be more positive and ready to accept challenges.

For example, if you hear your child say something like, “This is too hard.” You can help them reframe their thought into something more positive like, “This is a challenge. I will ask for help.”

You can also model positive self-talk with your child. For example, You might say, “This project for work is really hard. Doing difficult things helps my brain learn and grow! I will take a break and ask my coworker for some help.”

Here are some worksheets with definitions and samples of how we can use positive self-talk to challenge negative thoughts. The worksheets include practice pages for you and your child to complete together to change negative thoughts into more positive thoughts.

The Kennedy Attendance Area Counselors are inviting you to attend our Parent Workshop in Partnership with Common Sense Media. Jamie Nunez will be presenting for 15 minutes on 2/15, 2/16, and 2/17 with a 15 minutes Q and A session after each topic. Families can attend one or all three.

The topics can be found below in addition to the linked flyers.

Model Healthy Tech
Sometimes we get angry, upset, and frustrated with our
kids over their tech misuses. When this happens, how can
we model kindness and teach our kids healthy habits?
Date: 2/15/23 11:30am-12:00pm
Parent Resource: Tech Planners

Identifying Online Stress
Digital stress is stress caused by negative interactions that
occur when online. Understand what digital tools cause stress
for you and your family and what to do when this occurs
Date: 2/16/23 11:30am-12:00pm
Parent Resource: Social Awareness Conversation Starter

Deescalating Drama

Miscommunication is a common occurrence online. Being
behind a screen can often lead to mean behaviors. Find out
how your child resolve online drama and build healthy
communication skills with others
Date: 2/17/23 11:30am-12:00pm
Parent Resource: Resolve Conflict Online Family Resource

Positive Online Behaviors - English - Chinese - Spanish

The State of California requires students in grade 5, 7, and 9 perform the Physical Fitness Test (PFT). We collect the Physical Fitness Test(PFT), 5th grade student results, here at Hirsch during their regular PE sessions in Feb/March/April. All PE teachers in the Fremont Unified School District submit their results of the PFT to the District which is submitted to the State of CA. Here at Hirsch we also create prior knowledge by practicing these elements in 4th grade to ease the burden of testing for physical fitness during PE. In 5th grade there are ample opportunities to practice/improve each element of the testing during PE leading up to our actual tests. This is not a contest, merely an attempt to collect student data in a format as comfortable as possible. Personally I make every attempt to help the students enjoy the process and not be afraid of actual tests. We learn about a survey, that is after all what all the accumulated data becomes once compiled with the State of CA.

The PFT consists of the following elements:

Test element - Actual test we use at Hirsch (measurement used to calculate performance)

Cardiovascular endurance - mile run/walk (time in minutes:seconds)

Upper body strength - push ups (# accomplished, correctly)

Upper body flexibility - shoulder stretch (pass/fail, can the student accomplish the stretch)

Abdominal strength/endurance - curl ups (# accomplished in the time limit, correctly)

Trunk extensor strength/flexibility - trunk lift (inches at chin from the floor/ground)

With anything that we do in PE we expect the students to try their best. These simple assessments, in the PFT, are an extension of what we do in PE each session. A student's ability to accomplish more or less push ups will not reflect on their PE grades. Specifically to the PFT, only the students willingness to try their best, is what is measured toward their PE grade.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me via email at vseeley@fusdk12.net.

Mr. Victor Seeley

PE Teacher

Just a friendly reminder that science fair projects are due Wednesday, February 15, 2023. Completed projects will be collected by classroom teachers.

For further resources please go to the Fremont Unified School District Website or the slide deck links provided below:

https://www.fremont.k12.ca.us/fair

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18ORQEakFuRyUR9A-JGrbQJBPltMvWaZ_jOxU6mEAVCk/edit?usp=sharing

Happy 2023! I hope that each of you and your family had a wonderful vacation with some time for reading.

A challenge was issued to the students before they left to keep track of the number of books they read during break. I allowed them to add a sticker to our poster for each book they read. I am attaching a picture of our before and after break to show how many books were read.

As you can see below , there was some improvement. Room 1 added over 400 stickers just by themselves! Way to go! I am hoping that we can complete the poster before the end of the year.

On Monday of this week, the new American Library Association award winning books were announced. These books have been ordered and will be added to our library as soon as possible. There are so many wonderful books that I would love to be able to add to our library. I have attached a link to our Library Wish List in case anyone would like to help our library grow.

Take care and keep reading!

Mrs. Kristen Winmill

Hirsch Elementary School Library Wish List

READ ACROSS AMERICA

February 27-March 3, 2023

Traveling the world to the Seven Wonders of the Modern World

This year for our Read Across America Week celebration, we will be traveling the world to visit the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. The places we will visit are:

• Chichen Itza in Mexico

• Machu Picchu in Peru

• Rio’s Christ the Redeemer Statue in Brazil

• The Colosseum of Rome

• Petra in Jordan

• Taj Mahal in India

• Great Wall of China

Monday will be our “And the Adventure Begins…” day. We will dress up as our favorite explorers on this day.

On Tuesday we will “Seas the Day” as we will dream about being at the beach. Dress up in appropriate beach attire.

Wednesday will be the day we see the “smiles of nature” by dressing in bright colors.

On Thursday, “You really Odyssey this view!” Dress up as your favorite mythological character or creature (Camp Half-Blood counts!)

Hopefully, on Friday we will have read enough books to “travel” back home to Fremont. We will be wearing our school spirit wear and colors. Wear blue and yellow colors or school spirit wear.

In order to complete our journey, students will be earning tickets. Each book they read during the week will count as 25 miles and will earn them one ticket. I will be available before school, during recess, and during lunch for students to tell me how many books they have read. I will be counting books that students read beginning on February 24th. Last year, students read 35,425 miles. I have complete confidence that we will be able to complete almost 38,000 miles for this year’s journey.

I am excited to see how many books we will be reading for this week and how far on our journey we can go.

Soccer tryouts for 4th and 5th grade students are coming in 2-3 weeks! All students who will be trying out will need to provide a physical form completed by their doctor. Please click on the physical form link or stop by the office for a copy of the form. If your student completed one for basketball, this form can also be used for soccer as long as one year hasn't passed. More information to come soon.

Students CURRENTLY enrolled and ATTENDING Hirsch DO NOT need to go online to register again for next school year. Instead, return as outlined below.

Please watch for a “FALL 2023-2024 Reservation/Registration Form” which Fremont Unified School District mailed home on 1/27/2023 for each student currently enrolled in K – 5th grade. We recommend submitting it as soon as you receive it so as not to miss the deadline on 2/24/2023.

• The form will not be handed out to parents and serves 2 purposes: it reserves a spot for your student next year at Hirsch and also fulfills the District’s mandated annual residency verification via USPS
• Please do NOT mistake the form for junk mail and discard it.
• For students who will be moving on to middle school next year, Hirsch will collect the form and communicate with the middle school to confirm a space will be reserved for your child for next year
• The form must be returned to the school your student is currently attending; if you have a student overloaded to another elementary school, please return it there.

By submitting the required form and Residency Proofs by the due date of February 24th, your student's space will be reserved for next year. Parents are encouraged to bring the forms to the office in person but may also send them via their student.

To view the “Continuing Student Timeline” please visit the FUSD 2023-2024 Enrollment webpage or click here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1z3D7E2JrRYTi25onM37lydn_GciV2tlM/view

HAVE YOU RECENTLY MOVED?
Please complete and email the Change of Address Form along with 2 residency proofs of your new address to our School Secretary, LeAnne Kodama, lkodama@fusdk12.net for processing. Click here for the form: https://drive.google.com/file/d/166gzA6KH0j8FdqqqiaXAetiawg9C8Za6/view

If you are moving across town or changing apartment numbers, FUSD Board Policy states the family must inform the school within 5 days of your moving date or of any change in circumstance which would affect their student’s residency (AR 5111.1). Please be sure to reach out to our office if you have moved recently so that the Continuing Student Reservation Form/Proof of Residency reaches you. We are committed to working with you on the address change and on allowing your student to continue their current enrollment this school year.

New Enrollment Information for the 2023 - 2024 school year has been posted on the FUSD website. Priority enrollment for New Transitional Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and students whose siblings are currently in grades TK-4, will begin January 23rd. Please visit the website for instructions and videos on how to enroll your new student online. If your student is currently attending a FUSD school, there is no need to re-enroll.

Eligibility for transitional kindergarten is expanding: children who will be 5 years old between September 2, 2023 and April 2, 2024 can enroll in this free program for 2023-24 to get a head start in school and build their social, communication and independence skills.

We are currently looking for a Noon Duty Supervisor to help keep our students safe during their lunch hour. The position is for every school day for approximately an hour and a half. If you are interested in this position, please contact the office.

Federal and state laws require school districts to make accountability reports available to the public online. Accountability report information is based on data and information from the previous year. Dates will run one year behind.

We are pleased to inform you that our district's School Accountability Report Cards (SARCs) are available in English, Spanish, and/or Chinese, as required. You may view the SARCs on the Fremont Unified School District web site at www.fremont.k12.ca.us under Resources & Contacts/Reports, or by visiting your school office. You may also obtain a hard copy at your school office. To answer any questions regarding the SARCs, there are designated personnel available at each school site.

For more information about SARC requirements, see the California Department of Education (CDE) SARC web page at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/ac/sa/.

All volunteers at our school site must sign in and out in the office, must wear a volunteer badge at all times, and must follow all site-specific protocols.

All field trip and intramural sport volunteers (ie. drivers) must submit an application through CiviCore.

Volunteers who are at a school under the direct supervision of a certificated employee must remain under the supervision of that employee for the duration of their visit.

Additional requirements (after completing CiviCore application):

• Volunteers who are transporting students (ie. field trips, sporting events) must submit proof of insurance through CiviCore.
• Volunteers who are independently supervising students must also undergo fingerprinting and a background check.
• Field trip chaperones are exempt from any additional requirements unless transporting students as part of the field trip.

Reference: California Education Code 49024

The PTA is looking for parent volunteers to help with the Hirsch Talent Showcase in March. If you can spare some time to help with our Talent Showcase, please scan the QR code to the left or sign up here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdLORkjrFJ-CfCpX3qZp6ZEaheD36seMvuNlS2Tq7h4jk8MZg/viewform?usp=sf_link

Any questions? Please email : hirschtalent@gmail.com

Congratulations to the following 3rd grade students for their Awards of Excellence from the Fremont Council PTA!

Khloe I. - Film Production Intermediate Division

Sanvika M. - Dance Choreography

Please join us in wishing them well as they advance to the District level of competition. To view their submissions, please scan the QR Code. So proud of you Bulldogs!

Great job to all of our Hirsch Spelling Bee participants! Congratulations to our Hirsch Spelling Bee Winners Karol B. and Ethan C. who represented Hirsch at the District Spelling Bee! So proud of our Bulldogs!

Room 5

Suryanshu K.

Vihaan S.

Room 21

Avani B.

Vedant V.

Room 4

Shrihaan S.

Emma S.

Room 18

Jayden C.

Lawrence L.

Room 3

Karol B.

Ryan S.

Room 20

Ethan C.

Chris C.

Thank you to everyone who donated to our Viola Blythe Food Drive. Hirsch turned in 250 pounds of canned / dry goods! There are many families who will benefit from your generous donations this holiday season! Way to go Bulldogs!

Did you miss the Spirit Wear apparel sale? Not to worry. We now have an online store that will be open until the end of the school year. However, every order will now be an individual order therefore shipping charges will apply.

https://spirithero.com/collections/hirsch-1?sort_by=price-ascending