With the holiday season in full swing I wanted to send out a reminder of the activities remaining in November and those upcoming in Student Council will be collecting cards for Veterans from November 1st - November 8th. They will will be conducting a Food Drive from November 12th - November 26th.
On November 27th we will have a schoolwide lock down drill.
LOCKDOWN: In a lockdown, the campus is closed, and no movement throughout the school is authorized. A lockdown is put into place when there is an active threat on the school campus.
I understand that lock down drills can be upsetting but are necessary and required by our state and governing board policy. You can learn more about school preparedness on the ADE webpage. You can also read the TUSD board policy code EBCB-R
I will review all steps of a lock down drill with students during our school wide community time on November 25th to ensure that all students know what will occur step by step. On the morning of the drill I will remind all students that we will be having a drill to practice and remind them that we practice things so we can get better and assure them that it is not an emergency. After we conduct the drill I will address the school over the intercom letting everyone know the drill is over and thanking them. Our leadership team will review areas we excelled at as well as areas in which improvement can be made as well as sharing the information with school safety.
Thanksgiving break will take place on November 28th and 29th.
This year we will have two nights of holiday performances to ensure there is room for everyone.
On December 10th we will have a Winter Performance Grades K, 2, 4 and Pictures with Santa from 5:30-7:00. On December 11 we will have a Winter Performance Grades 1, 3, 5 and Pictures with Santa from 5:30-7:00. Pictures with Santa are always a great hit and can be purchased for $5 a print the night of the event.
The week before break will be a holiday themed spirit week with all holiday parties schoolwide taking place on Wednesday. Once again classes will be able to participate in our daily dial in holiday trivia contest the last two weeks in December!
Warm regards,
Principal Ramirez
Brrr! Its getting cold out there. Please make sure students are dressed for the weather. Layers such as a jacket and gloves are always a good idea as it heats up throughout the day. Make sure to label all of your students belongings as it makes it easier to identify. Students will remain on the playground in the morning unless they are actively eating breakfast in the cafeteria. If the temperature drops below freezing (32 degrees) students will have the option of remaining outside socializing/playing or sitting in the cafeteria until it is time to line up, at which time they will be ushered outside to line up. Want to avoid the cooler temperatures? Keep in mind that students who arrive at 7:40 have plenty of time to get to class on time.
On November 12th classes will begin collecting food for their annual food drive. Each grade level has a different food item to ensure we can create balanced food boxes. This is a great way for students to learn about service projects and give back to the community. We are also collecting donations to purchase turkeys for the boxes. If you would like to contribute a few dollars please direct turkey donations to the front office.
Kindergarten - Canned Vegetables
First - Potatoes
Second - Bread
Third - Stuffing / Gravy
Fourth- Whipped Cream, Cool Whip, Butter
Fifth- Pies
PTO fundraising focus for Maldonado
Next Meeting
We need you! Please join us by zoom for our Parent Teacher Organization Meeting on Wednesday December 4th at 5:00pm. https://tusd1.zoom.us/my/mountainlions
November
21 Food Pantry at Grijalva Elementary from noon - 2:30 pm
26 Paw Bucks Store
27 Lock Down drill at 9:00 am
28-29 Thanksgiving Break - No School
December
2 AAA Students during Community Time and Fire Drill @ 9:45
4 PTO Meeting at 5:00pm online https://tusd1.zoom.us/my/mountainlions
10 Winter Performance Grades K, 2, 4 and Pictures with Santa 5:30-7:00
11 Winter Performance Grades 1, 3, 5 and Pictures with Santa 5:30-7:00
16-19 Winter Spirit Week
18 Holiday Party Day
20 Grading Day - No School
23 - Jan 3 Winter Break - No School
To ensure the safety of everyone I would like to remind families of the following:
- Students may be dropped off AFTER 7:20 am. Students should never be left alone at a gate or in a parking lot.
-We are a closed campus with limited points of entry and exit based on available supervision. Only identified gates may be used to access the playground. Never climb over or try to enter a secure gate.
-Parents may walk their students to the exterior door of their teachers classroom and say goodbye at the door in the morning before the bell rings. After the bell rings only authorized personnel may be in the school building.
- Late arrivals will be escorted to class by authorized personnel.
- The entrance off of the bus bay is only for PRESCHOOL students. All others need to use the identified gates.
-Volunteers must be approved through TUSD. As our focus is on instruction, all classroom volunteers must schedule visits ahead of time with the teacher.
Chronic absenteeism in young children can have significant and lasting effects on their development and academic success. If your student misses more than 18 days in a school year for any reason they are considered to have chronic absenteeism. Here are some key impacts:
Academic Performance: Frequent absences can lead to gaps in learning, making it difficult for children to keep up with their peers. This can result in lower grades and a lack of foundational skills.
Social Skills: Missing school can hinder opportunities for socialization. Children may struggle to develop essential interpersonal skills, leading to difficulties in forming friendships and collaborating with others.
Emotional Development: Chronic absenteeism can contribute to feelings of isolation, anxiety, or depression. Children may feel disconnected from their peers and may have lower self-esteem.
Behavioral Issues: Some children may exhibit behavioral problems as a reaction to absenteeism, including increased aggression or withdrawal, as they struggle to cope with their emotions.
Long-term Effects: Early absenteeism can set a pattern for future educational disengagement, leading to higher dropout rates in later years. This can affect job prospects and overall life opportunities.
Family Dynamics: Absenteeism can also affect family relationships, as parents may feel stressed about their child’s education and future, leading to tension at home.
Health Implications: Sometimes, chronic absenteeism is linked to health issues, whether physical or mental. Addressing these underlying problems is crucial for improving attendance.
Addressing chronic absenteeism requires a multi-faceted approach, including supportive interventions from schools, families, and communities to help children thrive both academically and socially.
Wondering where morning drop off is? (All drop offs will be off of the main playground on Tetakusim) Where should my child line up? (Depends on teacher)What day can I bring in a goodie for my childs birthday? (Fridays at the end of the day) Answers to all of these questions and so much more can be found in our Maldonado Family Handbook. You can find the file here Maldonado Family Handbook.
We Want You! We would love to have you as a partner. There are many ways in which you can support Maldonado Elementary. Our PTO and Site Council are looking for parents interested in supporting our children by planning events and advocating for the school. We are always in need of volunteers to assist in classrooms, read with students, and prepare for school events. Please refer to our school web page https://maldonadoes.tusd1.org/ and our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MaldonadoMountainLions/ for upcoming events.
Volunteering is as easy as one, two, three!
- Please contact the school of your choice to establish a volunteer opportunity prior to filling out this application.
- To ensure the safety of our students, all parent and non-parent volunteers must complete their application each school year.
- HR will review your submitted application and work with your selected school to authorize volunteer work to begin.
Click here to apply to volunteer, this includes chaperoning field trips.
We want you to stay informed. You can ensure you don't miss important Parentlink notifications by ensuring your information is current in ParentVue (phone/email). If you are still not getting notifications be sure you have not blocked the phone number or that your spam filter is not blocking emails. You can also look for current information on our school marquee, our Facebook page, and webpage.
TUSD Family Resource Centers
Family Resource Center services are available to TUSD students and their families, free of charge. Please call the center to register for classes. Childcare is available to TUSD students and siblings for most classes. Please inform staff of the need for childcare when you register. Include the number of children, ages, and any special needs. Interpreter services are available. Please inform staff of the need for an interpreter when you register. Please register at least two weeks in advance if interpreter services are needed.
Other services include:
- Clothing bank
- Food pantry
- Help with TUSD forms
- Information and referrals
