Cougar Community News

What an amazing group of students! We have loved beginning to get to know our Cougars, seeing them sharing their personalities, and watching our classrooms begin collaboration, cooperation, and getting to work.

While our Cougar Community has been doing a great job, we wanted to repeat a few reminders and Woodside basics.

Office Hours 7:30am-3:00pm, Main Phone and Attendance Line: (916) 971-5216

Attendance email: woodsideabsence@sanjuan.edu

Students should not arrive before 7:30am. Breakfast in the cafeteria/MPR is served from 7:30-8:00am. Campus opens at 7:50am with instruction beginning at 8:00am. The gates are locked at 8:00am. Tardy arrivals go through the office to check in and get a pass. All absences are to be reported to the school clerk, Ana Johnson, at the above phone or email. If you do not give notice, Ana will give you a courtesy call to clear the absence.

Kindergarten Car Line is the small circle in front of the office. There are adults available to help children out of the car and get in the classroom, as parking is limited in the circle.

Elementary Car Line utilizes the bus loading zone in front of the school. This is a one way road. Please pull forward to keep the line moving.

Middle School Car Line is the back parking lot, but families are welcome to use either.

All students have a Snack Break.

Visitors must report to the front office upon arrival. If visitors plan to stay on campus, they will be asked to sign-in and pick up a visitor’s badge. Badges must be worn at all times while on campus. Kindly sign-out and return visitor badges when leaving.

Our 8th grade leaders spent time with their little buddies on Friday! We love connecting our students to strengthen our community!

AUGUST

• Thurs. 8/29 - Elementary Back to School Night (Kindergarten - 5th Grade) in Classrooms
• 5:00 -5:45pm 3rd - 5th Grade
• 3rd Grade: Lyn Chapman - Room F3 & Karla Gonzalez - Room F4
• 4th Grade: Bridgit McKay - Room F1 & Susan Eaton - Room F2
• 5th Grade: Susan MacKay-Logue - Room D4 & Jaclyn Weber - Room D5
• 5:45 - 6:30pm Kindergarten - 2nd Grade
• Kindergarten: Ashley Davis - Room A13 & Tanya Hampton - Room A11
• 1st Grade: Raquel Clark - Room A9 & Jennifer Misner - Room A10
• 2nd Grade: Kabryna Andino - Room A4 & Gerell Elliott - Room A3
• Fri. 8/30 - Minimum Day, Dismissal TK and K at 11:25, 1st-8th Grade at 12:00

SEPTEMBER

• Mon. 9/2 - Labor Day Holiday (no school)
• Thurs. 9/5 - Picture Day
• Thurs. 9/12 - Middle School Dance, 3-5pm
• 9/16-9/27 - PTO "Penny Games" Classroom Competition Fundraiser
• Tues. 9/17 - PTO Meeting,PTO Meeting, 4:30pm in the Lab and Zoom LINK HERE
• Thurs. 9/26 - Vision Screening for Grades TK, K, 2, 5, and 8
• Fri. 9/20 - Perseverance and Growth Mindset Assembly, K-5th

Come meet your student's teacher and learn about the expectations for this school year!

3rd-5th Grade: 5:00-5:45pm

3rd Grade: Mrs. Chapman - Rm. F3 & Mrs. Gonzalez - Rm. F4

4th Grade: Mrs. Eaton - Rm. F2 & Ms. McKay - Rm. F1

5th Grade: Mrs. MacKay-Logue - Rm. D4 & Mrs. Weber - Rm D5

Kindergarten - 2nd Grade: 5:45-6:30pm

Kindergarten: Mrs. Davis - Rm. A13 & Mrs. Hampton - Rm. A11

1st Grade: Mrs. Misner - Rm. A10 & Mrs. Clark - Rm. A9

2nd Grade: Mrs. Andino - Rm. A4 & Mr. Elliott - Rm. A3

We are so excited to get to know you and your student! Ms Garboushian and Ms. Roenicke will keep you updated on what is happening in the Wellness Center so please reach out if you have any questions/concerns. We hope the beginning of the school year has been a smooth one. Below are some tips on how to better support your student for this academic year.

1. Stay in communication with the school (Teachers, Principal, Counselor, Social Worker)

2. Plenty of sleep

3. Eat breakfast and lunch. All schools offer free breakfast and lunch for all students!

4. Ask about your child’s school day

5. Review homework

6. Celebrate their progress

7. Check Q’s Parent Portal for academic progress and updated information

It was great meeting all the families at the Cougar Cookout and Middle School Back-to-School-Night that came over to the PTO table to buy spirit wear. If you would like to purchase a shirt or sweatshirt you can purchase them online

https://woodsidek8.futurefund.com/store

We had a fun Skate Night Fundraiser this week! Woodside earned almost $500 and a good time was had by many of our Cougar families! We look forward to an amazing year with fun events! Thank you to members for joining us at our first meeting of the year last Tuesday. We started brainstorming ideas for our first PTO event - the Harvest Festival October 26th from 12:00-3:00. If you would like to volunteer or want to participate in the Trunk-or-Treat, reach out to the PTO with your information.

Keep an eye out on our Facebook for more information at Woodside K8 PTO.

Box Tops for Education is a great way to help raise money, too! Download the Box Tops for Education app and after grocery shopping scan your receipts to find qualifying purchases.

President - Nicole Goss, email woodsidekto8pto@gmail.com or text (916)248-0752

Vice President - Ana Paulina

Secretary - Kari Catullo

Treasurer - Ken Kruse

Check it out!

Just another reminder, if you have not yet completed this, please do!

The Annual Student Information Update asks families to:

• Update Emergency Contact Information: All students are required to have updated emergency contact information on file so the district and your school can communicate with you in case of an emergency.

• Complete the School Funding Form: All families are asked to complete one school funding form per household to help our schools receive funds to support your students’ success.

• Get the 2024-25 Family Handbook: Review and acknowledge receipt of this year’s family handbook containing district resources and information regarding your rights and responsibilities.

• Review Demographic Information: Families are asked to review the demographic information for their student(s) and can update phone number(s) and race, as needed.

Visit sanjuan.edu/parentportal to complete the Annual Student Information Update by Aug. 31. Watch a video tutorial available in multiple languages at sanjuan.edu/tutorial.

We are excited to introduce you to TalkingPoints, a powerful tool designed to help you stay connected with your child's teachers and support your child's education. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that you are making the most out of this valuable resource and fostering a strong partnership with your child's educators.

Ready to Go! No Setup Required

You will automatically receive messages from your child's teachers via SMS text unless you choose to download the TalkingPoints app and log in. This means you can start benefiting from TalkingPoints right away, without any extra steps. If you would prefer an app experience, download the app and log in using your mobile phone number.

Save Teacher Contacts in Your Phone

If you haven’t signed into the TalkingPoints for Families app, you will receive messages from teachers and staff members via SMS text. When you do, make sure to save their number in your phone for easy access!

For iPhone: Tap the phone number at the top of the message, tap Info, tap Create New Contact.

For Android: Tap the phone number at the top of the message, tap Add to Contacts, tap Create New Contact.

Benefits of Using the App

While you can use TalkingPoints entirely through SMS, there are several benefits to downloading and using the app. You can change your language preference, enable shared messaging to keep all family members informed and use text-to-speech functions for hands-free communication. In addition, TalkingPoints offers the following:

• TalkingPoints Ed 101: Defining US Educational Terms for Families - The US education system has many terms and acronyms that families who are not directly involved in a career in education are not likely to know. This feature identifies US educational terms for families that appear throughout messages.

• Help Me Understand - Instant understanding support for families! Help Me Understand provides guidance for families to better understand the context, terminology, and general content of a message with the push of a button.

It’s your choice how you want to receive these messages, but the app offers additional features that can enhance your communication experience. Download the app to explore these benefits.

Effective communication with your child's teachers is key to supporting their education and fostering a positive learning environment. Here are five best practices, complete with examples, to help you engage meaningfully and constructively with your child's educators.

Be Proactive

Reach out to your child's teachers early in the school year to introduce yourself and establish a line of communication. Let them know that you are committed to supporting your child's education. For example, you might start a message with: "Hello [Teacher's Name], I am [Your Name], [Student's Name]'s parent. I wanted to introduce myself and express my eagerness to support [Student's Name] throughout the school year."

Stay Positive and Respectful

Maintain a positive tone and be respectful in all your communications. A good relationship with teachers is built on mutual respect and understanding. For example, you could start a message with: "Thank you for all your hard work with [Student's Name]. I appreciate everything you do to support their learning."

Be Specific

When you have questions or concerns, be specific about the issues. Providing detailed information helps teachers understand and address your concerns more effectively. For instance, you could say: "I noticed that [Student's Name] has been struggling with their math homework recently. Could you provide some additional resources or suggest ways we can help them improve at home?"

Share Important Information

Keep teachers informed about any significant changes or events in your child's life that might affect their behavior or performance at school. This information helps teachers provide better support. You might start a message like: "I wanted to let you know that [Student's Name] is going through a big change at home, and it might affect their focus in class. Please keep an eye on them and let me know if you notice any issues."

Follow Up

After discussing a concern or issue with a teacher, follow up to see how things are progressing. This shows that you are engaged and helps ensure that any agreed-upon actions are being implemented. You could begin a follow-up message with: "Hello [Teacher's Name], I wanted to check in regarding [Student's Name]'s progress on the issue we discussed last week. Have you noticed any improvements or changes?”

If you would like to download a copy of these tips, use the button below.

Your San Juan Unified student may be eligible for a SUN Bucks Summer EBT card, a state-provided financial resource for groceries for eligible families.

Parents and guardians must complete the district’s annual information update, which includes the school funding form and income verification questions, to determine eligibility for a SUN Bucks Summer EBT card this year and next summer. You can complete the form by logging in to Parent Portal at sanjuan.edu/parentportal, or by requesting a form from your school’s front office. You must complete the update process by Aug. 25 to be considered for the state’s SUN Bucks Summer EBT card program.

Sunday, September 22, 2024 from 8am-3pm

Free services for uninsured & under-insured include: Fillings, Extractions, Cleanings, Restorative, Eye Exams, Prescriptions, Free Frames & Lenses

First come, first served:

• Register at the event
• All services are free of charge
• No appointment necessary
• Come early to ensure you get seen

6045 Camellia Avenue

Sacramento, CA 95819

Across the street from Sac State

(916) 457-6511 or email office@saccentral.org

• The Starting a Successful School Year Together virtual workshop on Thursday, Sept. 5 from 5:30 – 6:30 pm via Zoom is an informative forum to learn about tips and strategies to support home-to-school communication, school attendance awareness, fostering positive learning habits, and navigating tools such as Parent Portal, school websites and more!

• On Wednesday, Sept. 11 from 5:45 – 7:45 p.m., the first session of an in-person Parent Project parent support program will be held at Sylvan Middle School. This ten-session program is created by parents, for parents, to help support households who are struggling with difficult teen behavior. In this class, participants will learn strategies to help nurture positive home communication, reduce family conflict and improve difficult teen behavior. Dinner and childcare assistance will be available.

• Lastly, families of students in San Juan Unified Special Education programs are invited to the Back-to-School Community Social Resource Fairon Thursday, Sept. 12 from 4 – 6 p.m. at Arden Middle School. Join us to explore district and community resources, connect with district staff, build connections, and engage with the new Special Education leaders and Community Advisory Committee members. Dinner and sensory friendly children’s activities will be provided.

You can learn more details and register for these family engagement opportunities online at www.sanjuan.edu/familyed or by calling (916) 971-7929.

This program is designed to encourage teens to develop both physically and socially. Participants will sharpen their skills while learning the importance of sportsmanship and fair play. Game Locations: Rusch Park Gym

Designed for Grades 6th-8th

Season Dates: 8/27 - 11/1
Fee: $165, includes Jersey

• You will receive an email from Sunrise as we get close to the season with updates on the league.
• Each team will receive (2) 1 hour practices per week sometime M-F between 3:30 pm - 8:00 pm.
• Games will be on Wednesday evenings or Thursday evenings.
• Games will be played at Rusch Park or Antelope Crossing Middle School.

If you are interested in COACHING, please reach out to Davis Masters at Sunrise Recreation and Park District via email or phone at 916-725-0185.

Register online at https://www.sunriseparks.com or call 916-725-8843

Office phone - (916) 971-5216

Mrs. Taylor Gonzales-Moore, Secretary - taylor.gonzalesmoore@sanjuan.edu

Mrs. Ana Johnson, Clerk - ana.johnson@sanjuan.edu

Mrs. Deb Johnston, Vice Principal - debra.johnston@sanjuan.edu

Mrs. Beth Wahl, Principal - ewahl@sanjuan.edu

SJUSD NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

The San Juan Unified School District Board of Education is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in district programs and activities. District programs, activities and services shall be free from unlawful discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment), intimidation, and/or bullying based on actual or perceived characteristics of race or ethnicity, color, ancestry, nationality, national origin, immigration status, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or genetic information, or on the basis of a person's association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. For questions or complaints, please contact Equity Compliance Officer: Linda C. T. Simlick, General Counsel, 3738 Walnut Avenue, Carmichael, CA 95608, (916) 971- 7110, LegalServices@sanjuan.edu; Title IX Coordinator: Katie Fabel, Legal Analyst/Title IX Coordinator, 3738 Walnut Avenue, Carmichael, CA 95608, (916) 971-7110, TitleIX@sanjuan.edu; Section 504 Coordinator: Dominic Covello, Director, Student Support Services, 3738 Walnut Avenue, Carmichael, CA 95608, (916) 971-7220, DCovello@sanjuan.edu.