Robert Down Principal's Update

Dear Robert H. Down School Community,

Many thanks to all of you who supported our Book Fair last week and continued to support via the online Book Fair, which closes on Sunday, March 9! A special thank you once again to Belynda Talbert and Sierra North for coordinating, and to Adeline Finley, Jeanne Kerr, Alaa Younis, Anne Scanlon, Savannah Lunt, Kimberly Pye, Jackie Seitz, Alina Ferranti, Raquel Morris, Jennifer Lauchaire, and Anne Scanlon for volunteering throughout the week!

Our 4th grade teacher and Spelling Bee Coordinator, Alex Jenner, coordinated the first round of our Spelling Bee on Monday, March 3! Congratulations to our 44 4th and 5th grade students who are advancing to the Semi-Final round on Tuesday, March 11!

Several of our classes learned about Ramadan, Holi, and/or celebrated Read Across America with a variety of activities. I was even gifted a “wocket” for my pocket made by a few second grade students!

Order your Robert Down 2024-2025 Yearbooks now! In addition, ads are also available for purchase. For details and the QR code to order, see below or click here.

TK/K Pre-Registration: Do you or does someone you know have a child that is turning 4 by September 1, 2025? Or do you or does someone you know have a child that did not attend TK, but is ready for Kindergarten in the Fall? If so, it’s time to pre-register here.

PTA Sponsored Science Fair: Does your child love experimenting with science? Invite them to participate in the Science Fair and display their work! Link to Science Fair Guide. Link to sign up! See flyer below for more information and plan to join us for the evening, which includes tacos for sale and a variety of fun STEAM related activities!

Culture of “We”- Opportunities for Engagement

• Ramadan, Lent, Holi, Purim, Nowruz: Does your family celebrate Ramadan, Holi, Purim, or Nowruz or observe Lent? We are looking for people who would like to share about any of these holidays with our school community by creating a display, presenting to our students, or facilitating an activity. If interested, please fill out this form.

• Music: Is your family from another country or culture? Do you have a favorite childhood song? If so, our music teacher, Mr. Masar is interested in learning more about it. Take a moment to share the name and background of your favorite childhood song here.

• Career Day: Are you passionate about your profession? Would you like to share about your career with our 5th grade students on April 30? If so, please contact Sonda Frudden by March 21, 2025!

Safety Updates

This week I reviewed our School Safety Plan with our staff and it was approved by our County. We also reviewed the Secure Campus protocols and are working to inventory all the contents of our red emergency backpacks, so we can replenish them.

Please do not park in the bus loading area. We had a few tickets issued to vehicles parked in that zone this week.

Upcoming Dates

• February 28-March 29: Ramadan

• March 3-7: Read Across America Week

• March 8: International Women’s Day

• March 10-14: Conferences (TK/K dismissed at 12:15PM all week. Grades 1-5 dismissed at 12:15PM March 12-14 only.)

• March 13: STEAM Night/Science Fair (w/tacos for sale) 5-7PM

• March 17: Professional Development Day (No school for students)

Remember to Spring Forward on Sunday, March 9!

Wishing each of you a lovely weekend.

Sincerely,

Emily Tsai Brownfield, Principal

Please have your child to school on time. Gates open at 8:30 AM. Warning bell rings at 8:40 AM. Final bell rings and instruction begins at 8:45 AM. When a student is tardy it is disruptive to the office and classroom. In addition, students miss important information and announcements from their teacher first thing in the morning.

Did you know that you can report your child's absence with your ParentVUE app? Simply log into your ParentVUE account to send the office a message about why your child is absent.

* Ways to report a student absent *

a) ParentVUE app

b) 24 Hour Absence Line (831) 646-6663

c) Email Annie Deis at adeis@pgusd.org

March 9 - PTA 2nd Sundays Playdate, 1:00-4:00 PM, RHD Playground

March 10-14 - TK and Kindergarten students Parent Teacher Conferences, dismissal 12:15 PM

March 12-14 - 1st - 5th grade students Parent Teacher Conferences, dismissal 12:15 PM

March 11 - Learning Series "Students Rights and Parent Responsibilities", PGMS, 6:00 PM

March 13 - PTA STEM Night & Science Fair, 5:00-7:00 PM, Cafeteria

March 17 - Professional Development Day for Staff, No School

March 18 - English Learner Advisory Committee Meeting, 2:30 PM

March 18 - School Site Council Meeting, 3:30 PM

March 18 - PTA Meeting, 7:00

March 19 - 5th Grade Parent Orientation, PGMS

March 25 - LCAP Community Input Meeting #2, PGHS Library, 6:00 PM

March 26 - PGUSD 2025-26 TK & Kindergarten Parent Meeting, PGHS Library, 6:00 PM

March 26 - PTA Dine Out, Mountain Mike's Pizza

If you plan on being a VOLUNTEER on campus or a CHAPERONE for a field trip, please be sure you are fingerprint cleared with our district. To make an appointment at the District Office please contact Bree Nehring by calling 607-8892 or emailing bnehring@pgusd.org

Before coming to campus to volunteer, please check with your child's teacher to schedule a time that works best for them.

This notice is to tell you about our voluntary program designed to build the RHD library and foster your child’s love of reading.

Here is how it works: To join the Robert H. Down Birthday Book Club fill out the information below (scroll way down to the bottom of this message to print the Birthday Book forms) and deposit it in the Drop Box at school along with a check for $20.00 (please make the check payable to the P.G.U.S.D. and write R.H.D. Birthday Book on the memo line).

When your child’s birthday month comes around Ms. Scanlon will present a new book in honor of your child’s birthday. Your child will be the first one to check out and read the book that has been donated to the library to celebrate their birthday. A bookplate with your child’s name will be affixed to the inside cover for all future readers to appreciate.

Website: https://robertdown.pgusd.org/
Location: 485 Pine Avenue, Pacific Grove, CA, USA
Phone: (831) 646-6540

Email: RHDOffice@pgusd.org