Welcome to the Start of a New Year!

Important Dates ahead:

8/08 First Day of School Bell Schedule here!

8/08 Principal-Parent Meet and Greet 8:20 by the Lunch Tables

8/16 Back to School Bash 5-7pm

8/28 First Home and School Club Meeting

9/02- Labor Day No School

9/05- Back to School Night 6- 7:15pm

10/07-10/10- Minimum Days for Student Conferences

10/14- No School, Professional Development Day

Greetings Santa Cruz Gardens Families!

I am excited for a new school year around the corner! We have grown so much as a school community this past year, and I look forward to our continued partnership for student voice, leadership, and supporting the greatest individuals and team players our SCG Dolphins can be!

Our school team is pleased to announce that our school SAGE Program has been receiving county and state recognition through our work with the NOAA Ocean Guardian Program and in the community! Over the summer, we have also completed our work to become a county- certified green school. We are truly blooming as a public elementary school with a premier Science and Gardening Emphasis (SAGE) Program. We are grateful and inspired by the abundant benefits of offering science and outdoor gardening as a flagship program to you and your children. What is SAGE? We will continue to have Ms. Jade and our SCG Teachers leading our Living Classroom sessions on a weekly basis, our weekend community garden days, our student Green Team work, our thematic SAGE Monthly Assemblies, and so much more!

I would also like to make mention of our Social Emotional Learning Program with counselor Ms. Sue. We are receiving national attention through our SCG Kelvin Focal Site work with the County Office of Education. Last year we took student leadership to a new level as we worked with students to analyze school climate and culture surveys and develop actionable next steps supported by staff. We will also continue to have our conflict manager Peace Pal student team at lower grade recess in effect. Family University Nights to learn about the connection in practice between home and school are on offer coming up! We will continue to have our whole-school assemblies based on a different character trait each month this year, led by staff and student leadership! Lastly, we are so thankful to SCG graduate Isaac McGilvray and his father Chris in choosing to create the mini-documentary last spring, A Time To Grow, of why our school is unique and special, told from the eyes of a 5th grader.

Along with all of this, we continue to grow our SAGE Innovation Lab and Makerspace, created in collaboration with SCG families, students, and San Jose Resource Area for Teachers (RAFT). We continue to grow in our development and mastery of teaching whole class and small group curricula in all of our subject areas. We have seen tremendous gains in our new foundational literacy program. And, of course we continue to grow in implementation of Project- Based Learning on-site and through community partnerships. Check out our SCG website articles (bottom of the home page) to see all the glows and glimmers we are proud of!

Finally, being a small school means we are a stronger community and we have always been so proud of what an amazing and special community we have at Santa Cruz Gardens. This year, all elementary schools in SUESD will continue to have combo classes, including SCG. There is an abundance of student and cultural gains to the well-managed combo or multi-age classroom. Please read more here.

In Partnership,

Principal Carlo Albano

The First Day of School is Thursday, 8/08! Calendars:

Here is the TK/ Kinder Calendar (keep a copy at the ready to refer to TK/ K Families- there are some differences to the other grades). Here is the Whole School Elementary Calendar- new families, note that all Fridays are Minimum Days with release times by lunch. See the 24/25 Daily Bell Schedule.

Class Assignments in Infinite Campus on Friday, 8/02/24, at 5pm

This week, you will receive an email from Infinite Campus to complete the required annual update. On Friday at 5pm, you can view your student’s class assignment on the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. To do that, go to our school website,https://www.scg.suesd.org/, find the button for Infinite Campus (below the rotating pictures), and log on as a parent.

Supplies for School

Our only supply recommendation for the first day of school is a backpack, water bottle, and a lunchbox. This is only a recommendation (not required), and teachers may have other recommendations that they will share with you soon. You can always contact the office for help with school supplies. Please make sure to label your child’s items. This will help us to get them back to the student, should the item be lost.

Kindergarten/Transitional Kindergarten Orientation (Wednesday, Aug 7, 2024 2-3pm) & the First Week of School

Please join us for the Kindergarten/Transitional Kindergarten Orientation on Wednesday 8/07, from 2:00 - 3:00pm on the TK/Kinder yard. This is a great opportunity to meet the teacher, see the classroom, and meet other classmates before the first day of school. Thursday, 8/08 (First Day) and Friday, 8/09 are early release days for all TK/K students: 8:15am to 11:45am. The normal 8:15am / 9:35am schedule will start on Monday, 8/15. Here is the TK/Kindergarten Calendar for 24/25.

Remember that all Fridays are district minimum days- see the 24/25 Daily Bell Schedule.

First Day of School, 8/08/23, and Principal / Parent Meet and Greet

The first day of school is Thursday 8/08, at 8:15am. We will then have a short Principal / Parent Meet and Greet at the lunch benches at 8:20am. This is a great opportunity to meet parents, to learn about how to get involved, to ask questions, etc. I hope to see you there!

Drop Off and Pick Up

We have supervision at SCG starting at 8am. If your student arrives before 8am, they need to have adult supervision until our Recess Coaches arrive. The only adult supervision we have after school is at the drive through lane, from 2:30pm to 3:10pm. TK/Kindergarten students should be picked up at their classrooms. 1st through 5th grade students should be picked up on campus or by car at the drive through lane.

Free Meals and Meal Applications

We are asking all families to still complete the meal application. Even though all kids can receive free meals this year, by applying you are helping our district receive additional funding. This funding goes back into your student's classroom to support learning! Applying is quick, easy, and secure. The meal application link is below, and paper applications are available in the office. Please note that the link will not be available to use until the first day of school.

• Meal Application Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LfVHHO8epcLZfFNA6eTt1z_sC3Dq-PZn/view?usp=sharing

• Meal Application: https://linqconnect.com/

COVID-19 Guidelines

Please review the COVID-19 guidelines for this school year: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fFeLeafmKAP9pkhjWGadbol_grsXrW-b/view

Medications at School

If your child is in need of medications at school, please make sure to have their doctor complete the proper health care plan and medication form. Once completed, bring the forms and the medication listed to the office. Please come to the office for these forms. Ideally, all health care plan forms and the prescribed medication needed at school should be brought to the office before school begins.

After School Care at Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary

For those interested, we have a fee- based program separate from the school. We will also be offering free after school enrichment opportunities (more information on that soon).

• Campus Kids Connection has an afterschool program at Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary, with an end time of 6pm. If you are interested in the afterschool program, please complete their waitlist form: https://www.campuskidsconnection.com/

Volunteer Clearance and Fingerprinting Service at Santa Cruz Gardens

I encourage you to find ways to volunteer at Santa Cruz Gardens Elementary! Home and School Club, Classroom Parent, Helping with Science Labs and the SAGE Makerspace, and more...

To volunteer during school hours, fingerprinting (once - not annually) and a TB test (every four years) are required. Please review the guidelines: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13YZbdsB65qcXL5jcv1q5X2iMSwgQQypD/view; Spanish: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rtrhFf2hOTdR0jZOX_rb7RPYLer6AF52/view. Santa Cruz Live Scan will be at Back to School Night on 8/23. Please take advantage of this opportunity to get fingerprinted.