Cragin Community Update

Dear Students and Families,

Happy New Year and welcome back! I hope you all had a joyful and restful holiday season, filled with time to relax and recharge. I also hope that you stayed safe and made lasting memories with your loved ones.

As we begin the new semester, I’m filled with excitement for the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead. This is going to be an amazing time for growth, learning, and making new memories together. We look forward to continuing our journey as a school community, and we can’t wait to see all the incredible things our students will achieve in the coming months.

Let’s make this semester the best one yet!

Warm regards,

Principal Rodriguez

• Monday, January 6th
• First Day of Third Quarter (RETURN FROM WINTER BREAK)
• Wednesday, January 8th
• Site Council Meeting @3:30pm ZOOM
• Friday, January 10th
• 2nd Quarter K-2nd grade Awards Assembly 9:30am Cafeteria
• 2nd Quarter 3-5th grade Awards Assembly 1:30pm Cafeteria
• Monday, January 13th
• Cafecito @8:45am Room 5 Tentative
• Tuesday, January 14th
• PTO Meeting @5:15pm Library
• Monday, January 20th
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day - NO SCHOOL
• Thursday, January 23rd
• 5th Grade Field Trip @9:15am
• Wednesday, January 29
• Professional Development Day - NO SCHOOL
• Friday, January 31st
• Cougar store @11am-12:45pm Cafeteria

• Monday, February 3rd
• Cafecito @8:45am Room 5
• Monday, February 3rd
• Family Engagement Meeting @9:45am Room 5
• Tuesday, February 4th
• Kick - Off @9:00am
• Friday, February 7th
• PTO Chilli Cook Off @5:30-7:00pm Cafeteria
• Tuesday, February 11th
• PTO Meeting @5:15pm Library
• Thursday, February 13th - Friday, February 14th
• Parent Teacher Conferences - Early Dismissal @11:45am
• Tuesday, February 18th
• PRE-K Field Trip @9am
• Thursday, February 20th - Friday February 21st
• Rodeo Break - NO CLASSES
• Friday, February 28th
• Cougar Store @11am - 12:45pm Cafeteria

What a fantastic start to the school year we had last semester—filled with excitement and joy! Now, it's time to dive into the new year and the new semester, ready for fresh experiences and adventures ahead!

We were thrilled to announce that Family Engagement hosted a Piñata Party on December 19th during each grade’s recess! After lunch, each grade headed to the courtyard for some fun and excitement, where they took turns hitting a piñata (one piñata per grade, handmade by our Family Engagement team)!

We had a great time during the week of December 9–13 as parents came in to lend a hand in making these piñatas. We also received donations of newspaper and other materials, which were much appreciated!

After the fun, students snapped a group picture and each received a goody bag filled with popcorn to enjoy in class or take home. It was the perfect way to kick off winter break with a bang!

Get ready for our Monday Morning Gathering every Monday at 8:30 AM in the courtyard! This exciting weekly event will bring us all together to kick off the week with energy and school spirit (weather permitting—unless it’s too cold or raining). Families, you’re invited to join in the fun!

We launched our Great Gatherings on December 16th with an unforgettable performance by the Cragin Choir, and we’re just getting started! Our goal is to make every Monday morning shine with Cragin Cougar pride through amazing performances or fun 5-minute activities that will jumpstart the week ahead! We can’t wait to build excitement, inspire school spirit, and create lasting memories as we unite our amazing school community through this exciting new tradition! Let's make every Monday something to look forward to! 🎉🐾

Kicking off Monday mornings at Cragin in the BEST way! We’re starting the week by pumping up our hearts, building community, and getting our fitness on! Big shoutout to Ms. Karina for leading the way and keeping us moving—even on a freezing morning! We definitely warmed up quickly with all the energy! Can’t wait to do it all over again next Monday! Let's go!

The students in Ms. Aryata’s class had a great time celebrating Chinese New Year! They enjoyed traditional foods and learned about the customs and history of the holiday. The excitement grew when Mr. Rodriguez, our principal, joined in the fun. A big thank you to Ms. Ratliff for providing the food and treats—we really appreciate your kindness!

Join us once a month for a fun and engaging cup of coffee with Mr. Rodriguez! ☕ Let’s chat, share ideas, and have meaningful discussions as we come together to make our school even better! We’re beyond excited to kick off the new year with exciting activities and programs for our kiddos and the whole community! Don’t miss out—come be a part of our meeting where new ideas are always brewing and the energy is contagious! Let’s make this year AMAZING together! 🎉🎉

Parent volunteers are welcome on Campus! If you are interested in volunteering, please contact our office manager (Ms. Lupita Rivera-Madrid) or our Community Liaison (Ms. Karina Acuña) to learn how you can volunteer throughout the year. We also highly encourage families to attend PTO Meetings and Cafecitos / Coffee Talks to learn ways how you can support our school. Please register as volunteers on the TUSD website (https://jobs.tusd1.org/volunteer) as the process takes a few weeks. For all non-parental volunteers, please contact the front office before registering as a volunteer so we can explain the process and coordinate.

Reminders

Please sign-in at the front office anytime you are on campus.

• President - Liz Niemeyer
• VP - Pat Schwichtenberg
• Secretary - Liz Niemeyer (Interim)
• Treasurer - Jonathan Niemeyer

5:30 PM - 7:00 PMHello Cragin Families! 🤠
Get ready for a spicy good time at our Chili Cook-Off hosted by Cragin PTO! 🌶️🎉

Join us on February 7th from 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM for a night full of excitement, music, and fun! 🎶

👢 Come dressed in your best Western (cowboy/cowgirl) outfit and enjoy the chili competition, a dance party, and exciting activities for the whole family! 💃🕺

It’s the perfect way to warm up and share some sweet moments with our Cragin family! 💖

For the Chili Competition, we’ll have three categories with three winner prizes:
• Traditional 🌶️
• Spicy 🔥
• Vegetarian 🥑

We only have 12 spots available, so make sure to sign up soon!
Click the link below to secure your spot:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4AA4A82DA4FEC16-54421500-chili

It’s going to be a rootin' tootin' good time, and we can’t wait to see y’all there! 🤩🍲

Mondays - Friday

7:30am - 8:15am

Students enter through front office door until 8:00am

Arrivals after 8:00am use parent drop - off

All Students are eligible.

We will need 21st CCLC application filled out.

If your child has allergies, needs to take medication at school, or has any other health concerns, please contact our Health Assistant as soon as possible. This will help us ensure your child's health and safety while at school.

Thank you for keeping us informed!

Riley Volpe BSN, RN

riley.volpe@tusd1.org

Jackie Freed Health Assistant

jacqueline.freed@tusd1.org

Health Office

520-232-6717

The regular school attendance of a child of school age is required by state law. Regular school attendance is essential for success in school; therefore, absences shall be excused only for necessary and important reasons. Such reasons include illness, bereavement, other family emergencies, and observance of major religious holidays of the family's faith.

In the event of a necessary absence known in advance, the parent is expected to inform the school; if the absence is caused by emergency, such as illness, the parent is expected to telephone the school office. When a student returns to school following any absence, a note of explanation from the parent is required.

When Absent from School

State law mandates that the school record reasons for all student absences. Therefore, when a student is absent, it will be necessary for the parent to call the school on or before the day of the absence in order to advise the school as to the reason for the absence. When it is impossible to call on the day of the absence, the school should be notified on the morning the student returns, in time for the student to obtain an admission slip prior to the student's first class. All absences not verified by parental or administrative authorization will remain unexcused.

If a parent does not have access to a phone, either at home or at work, a note will be accepted for verification purposes.

Regular participation in classroom activities fosters critical thinking, communication skills, and responsibility, all of which are essential skills for future employment. Good attendance in school is also part of the self-discipline that we try to instill in our students to enable them to act as responsible members of the community.

Definitions:

• Attendance: The presence of each student in scheduled instruction.
• Excessive Absence: 10% or more of the required attendance days (180 days).
• Tardy: Not in the classroom by the time the bell rings.
• Register of Attendance: Any written or electronic record maintained for the purpose of recording the attendance, absence, tardiness, or early departure of a student.
• Scheduled Instruction: Every period that a student is scheduled to attend actual instruction or their designated learning environment of study.
• Truancy: An unexcused absence of a child who is between six and sixteen years of age for at least one class period during the day from compulsory school.
• Truant Child: A child who is between six and sixteen years of age and who is not in attendance at a public or private school during the hours that school is in session, unless excused.
• Habitually Truant: Is a child who is truant for at least five school days within a school year.
• Excused Absence: Absences that the parents/guardians have documented/authorized with time and reason.
• Unexcused Absence: Absence without approval of parents/guardians is considered truancy and unexcused.

For guidance on setting up and using the ParentVUE app, please check the link below.

Parents, you can now easily report your child’s absence using ParentVue. This streamlines communication with our attendance office and allows you to directly input the reason for the absence. To self-report, just follow these steps:

1. Log into ParentVue on the app or your computer.
2. Click on the "Attendance" tab in the left column (or tap the blue "Report Absence" button with the bell icon in the app).
3. In the top right corner of the page, click the blue link labeled "Report Absence."
4. Select the dates using the calendar and choose the reason for the absence from the drop-down menu.
5. You can also add notes or upload a doctor's note, then click "Save."

If you prefer, you can still call Ms. Lori Munday at (520) 232-6702. Thank you for keeping us informed about all absences!

If you use the parent drop-off bay before school, please remember that the gate opens at 8:00am and learning time begins at 8:30a.m. The gate will close promptly at 8:35 a.m. If you arrive after 8:35 a.m., please walk your student to the front office for a late slip. In case you find yourself inside the building after 8:35 a.m., please use the front office exit to leave the campus. Breakfast is served from 8:00 to 8:30 a.m., so be sure to bring your students on time to ensure they don’t miss their morning meal and are ready for a successful day ahead!

Pick up time is at 2:45pm. If you use are parent pick-up bay after school, please remember to stay in your vehicle and we will bring your student to you. If you would like to get out and greet your child, please park in the parking lot, we have plenty of parking. Also, a good tip to avoid long waits in the pick-up bay is to arrive a few minutes after the rush. Thank you for your patience and cooperation as we get our cougars connected with you.

School Hours

8:00am - 2:45pm

Main Office Hours

8:00am - 4:00pm

Cafeteria Hours

(Breakfast)

8:00am - 8:30am

(Lunch)

11:00am - 12:50pm

Warning Bell

8:30am

Late Bell

8:35am

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday

2:45pm

Wednesday

1:45pm

Kindergarden 11:00am - 11:35am

1st Grade 11:15am - 11:50am

2nd Grade 11:30 - 12:05am

3rd Grade 11:45am - 12:20pm

4th Grade 12:00pm - 12:35pm

5th Grade 12:15pm - 12:50pm

Parent - Teacher Conference

11:45am

September 18th-20th, 2024

February 13th-14th, 2025

Kindergarden 10:00am - 10:10am

1st Grade 10:10am - 10:20am

2nd Grade 10:20am - 10:30am

3rd Grade 10:30am - 10:40am

4th Grade 10:40am - 10:50am

5th Grade 10:50am - 11:00am

2945 N. Tucson Blvd.

Tucson, AZ 85716

Office Hours: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday – Friday

520-232-6700 – Attendance

520-232-6700 – Office

520-232-6701 – Fax

The mission of Cragin Elementary School, in partnership with parents and the Cragin community, is to assure each student receives an engaging, rigorous and comprehensive education.