Cambrian Superintendent Update
December 11, 2024
As we cruise through the busy month of December, I wanted to check in to share some important messages with you and your family. I hope you are enjoying the season, and looking forward to the December break coming up in a few short weeks. Please take a moment to review this newsletter with some useful information. Special thanks to the Cambrian Educational Foundation for all its support and exciting events.
We work and live in an incredibly close community dedicated to our children’s education, growth, and development. Thank you for your dedication and support. Together, we will make our Cambrian streets safer for our children to get to and from school, enjoy on the weekends, and build their developmentally appropriate independence skills. It will take everyone’s commitment. Yesterday, I met with a very dedicated group of parents, administrators, and city officials ready to make a difference. Below is the start of our work.
Our Objectives:
Implement the Walk n Roll Program at each school to educate our students and provide resources to families, such as Safe Routes to and from school, as well as street safety assemblies and free helmets to students in need. If you are interested in helping with your school’s current parent-run program or want to help get one started, please reach out to your school principal.
Partner with the City of San Jose and SJPD to help recruit Crossing Guards, get traffic audits at all of our schools, and more patrolling during our pick-up and drop-off times.
Continue with the Vision Zero campaign.
Crossing Guards:
There are two steps to getting Crossing Guards.
The intersection must meet criteria for crossing guards.
Finding Crossing Guards: If you or someone you know is willing to be a Crossing Guard, please apply with the City of San Jose. Please see the flyer below:
Reaching Out Emergency Food Program
Register for Ongoing Food Assistance & Holiday Outreach
Ongoing food assistance is available by registering at https://bit.ly/RObarcode.
To obtain food at the Celebration of Love Food Distribution event on Friday, December 20, 2024 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., register by texting "love24" to 408-676-1499. You will receive a link via text to complete the process so you can pick up food that day.
Reaching Out is located on the campus of the Cathedral of Faith, 2315 Canoas Garden Avenue, San Jose, CA 95125. https://reachingout.us/
We are excited to introduce our newly revised report card for this school year. This updated report card is part of our continued effort to provide meaningful and clear communication about your child’s academic progress. As this is the first year we are implementing this new format, your feedback is essential.
We value your input to ensure the report card effectively communicates how your child is performing and progressing in school. For more information and provide us your feedback, CLICK HERE.
The Cambrian School District is proud to collaborate with Fresno State University to offer free online courses for our parent community. This innovative partnership focuses on building community capacity through engagement, involvement, and professional development. Through these courses, participants are empowered to explore new socioeconomic opportunities, equipping them with skills to contribute meaningfully to their families, schools, communities, and beyond. Together, we are fostering a stronger, more resilient community.
Registration for Spring 2025 courses (starting in February and March) are now open for registration. For more detail information about the courses and how to register, please click on the following resources below:
Cellphones and Devices: A Guide for Parents and Caregivers
Check out this informative article from Common Sense Media. Interested in more information about knowing when your child is ready for a smartphone?
Children and Screens: Ready, Set, Smartphone: A Guide for Families (video)
Common Sense Media: The 411: Common Sense Advice on When to Get Your Child a Phone (video)
Unreal: Online Misinformation, Deep Fakes, and Youth
Children and Screens held the #AskTheExperts webinar “Unreal: Online Misinformation, Deep Fakes, and Youth” on Tuesday, November 19, 2024 at 12pm ET. A panel of cognitive development and digital literacy experts explored how children perceive reality, factors that may make them cognitively susceptible to misinformation, and what parents, caregivers, and educators should know to help children think critically and develop skills to navigate misinformation and deep fakes in their digital lives. Here is a link to the recording.
The laws surrounding independent studies have recently changed, and below are some of the notable changes:
An Independent Study can only be used for emergencies, illness, or unique and special circumstances.
Independent Studies can be for one instructional day and no more than 15 consecutive school days.
Only one independent study agreement is permitted per school year.
Ten school days' notice is required before the start date of the Independent Study.
Independent Study will not be granted within the first three weeks of a school year.
Independent Study will not be granted during the annual state testing window.
Independent Study will not be granted within the last three weeks of a school year. After Friday, May 15, 2025, for the 2024-25 school year
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we adjust to the new laws and regulations.
A Joyful December: National Stress-Free Holidays Month
The holidays are upon us—a time for joy, connection, and creating meaningful memories with loved ones. It’s also a season that can bring its own pressures, like planning visits, managing gift budgets, and organizing events. With everything on your plate, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
While traditions and celebrations are meaningful, it’s just as important to care for your mental well-being. National Stress-Free Family Holidays Month reminds us to be mindful of stress and take steps toward self-care. Here are a few tips to help make your holidays more manageable and joyful:
Modify traditions if needed. It’s okay to adjust traditions if they feel overwhelming. Your mental health takes priority.
Learn the power of saying "no." If a commitment feels too much, give yourself permission to decline.
Plan ahead. Use a calendar to stay organized and avoid last-minute tasks that can create unnecessary stress.
Share your feelings. Talk to someone you trust if you're feeling anxious or missing a loved one. You are not alone.
Take time for self-care. Make sure to rest and recharge, even as you care for others.
If you’d like professional support, Care Solace is available to help connect you or your loved ones to mental health services. This is a complimentary, confidential service provided by Cambrian School District.
Access Support:
Call: 888-515-0595 (Multilingual support 24/7/365)
Visit: www.caresolace.com/csd Search for a provider or click “Book Appointment” for assistance via video chat, phone, or email.
For immediate support:
Call 911 and request a Crisis Intervention Trained (C.I.T.) response.
Text “Hello” or “Home” to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor.
Call or chat with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988: suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Trevor Lifeline (LGBTQ+ support): www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help
Wishing you a peaceful and stress-free holiday season filled with joy and meaningful moments.
The next meeting of the Cambrian School Board will be held Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024 at 7 p.m. Meetings are held in person at the Professional Development Center located at 4115 Jacksol Drive, San Jose, CA 95124 in Building 7, and can be viewed online as well. Agenda and login information will be available the week of the Dec. 19th meeting. The meeting is open to the public.
Prepare for the upcoming cold and flu season by having COVID-19 tests available for every person in your family for free.
Every household in the U.S. is eligible to order up to 4 free home tests. If you already ordered in the past, you can get more. Order today! https://www.covidtests.gov/