Principal's Message
Dear Adelante Selby Spanish Immersion Families,
I hope everyone is doing well! It's Teacher Appreciation Week and I want to SHOUT OUT and THANK all of our teachers for their hard work, dedication, and positive and caring attitude with our students. Unidos PTO and Penny Cifuentes have organized a fun way to thank our teachers every day of the week using this LINK: Our Teachers Rock!!
I want to extend a Happy Mother's Day to everyone! Mother's Day is celebrated on May 10th in Latin American countries and this Sunday, May 14th in the USA!
Our annual Día del Niño/Day of the Child was a special day for all of our students as our community came together to celebrate our children! A big Thank You to event Chair Kelly Elgabalawi, Community School Coordinator Jose Luna and assistant Claudia Sandoval, all the parent, community, REACH, PE+, and staff volunteers. I also want to thank all of the students that participated and showed off their talents in iSing, Baile Folklorico, Danny G after school Dance, or the Talent Show! We are grateful to alumni parent Jose and his son Santiago for the sound system, PA, and "DJing" the event! Thank you to Cristina Alcocer(yes, Subdirectora Pati's sister) for being the MC--she was hilarious with all of her jokes. We also want to recognize Jose, our Lead custodian, who agreed to work the event for us and help keep our school clean!
We were also able to have a fun night out for parents at the Unidos Auction Parents Night Out this past Friday(see photos below). A special Thank You to Maestra Lilly and her husband Sean, Marcella and Moises Salazar for organizing the great party, and to Elizabeth Flegel and Kate Loftus for organizing the Silent Auction.
2023/2024 School Year Calendar
We are still finalizing our school calendar, but wanted to share this 2023/24 Draft Calendar with you for planning purposes. Please remember to schedule your family vacations with the school vacations in mind so students do not miss school. Mark your calendars: MAZE day will be Friday, August 11th and the first day of school will be Wednesday, August 16th.
CASSPP State Testing 3rd-5th Grades: Reminder Do Your Best On The Test!
CAASPP & CST: Testing Window May 9th-May 19th
California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP): This test is for English Language Arts and Math. It also includes a Performance Task for both ELA and Math. Additionally, the 5th Grade is the only grade level that takes the California Science Test (CST) and the Physical Fitness test (both of which are part of the CAASPP). RCSD offers families the following tips to get ready for these important State Assessments:
- Tip #1: Families can make a note of test days on the family calendar – This will help as a reminder when testing will take place and plan for preparation accordingly.
- Tip #2: Students have the opportunity to practice before the actual test. It is recommended that the child becomes familiar with the test delivery system and with how to answer different types of questions. Families can practice at home or they can visit their local library.
- Tip #3: Families should make sure that their child gets a good night’s sleep the night before the test. The child will probably perform better if well rested. Tired children have difficulty focusing and are easily flustered by challenges.
- Tip #4: Families should make sure that their child has enough time to wake up fully before going to school. Just as rest is important, so is having enough time to get a child’s brain engaged and in gear. If the test is first thing in the morning, the child can't afford to spend the first hour of school groggy and unfocused.
- Tip #5: Families should make sure that their child eats a healthy breakfast. All children should eat a nutritious breakfast, which is offered at school. Parents should avoid cereals high in sugar, provide a high-protein, healthy breakfast for their children. Children learn better with a full stomach, but if their stomachs are full of sugary, heavy foods that will make them sleepy or slightly queasy, it’s not much better than an empty stomach.
- Tip #6: Families should ensure that their child wears comfortable clothing.
- Tip #7: Families should help their child be on time the day of the test. Attendance should always be a priority, especially on days that Smarter Balanced tests will be administered. Making sure the child is there when the test is taken helps to ensure the student won’t lose more learning time because he/she has to make up a test during school.
- Tip #8: After each day of testing, families can talk with their child about how the test went. Testing could take several days. Families are encouraged to talk to their child about what he/she did well and what he/she would have done differently. This is a mini-debriefing or brainstorming session of sorts. The conversation could involve test-taking strategies after the fact as easily as beforehand.
- Tip #9: If families have a question about the test or testing situation, they should speak with their child’s teacher. Parents should confirm that their child will be receiving any pre-determined accommodations and supports during tests. These accommodations and supports are detailed for students with an IEP or 504 Plan. Parents, whose children do not have an IEP or a 504 Plan but need assistance, should communicate with their child’s teachers.
It is important for all RCSD students to participate in these state assessments as results provide valuable information about each student’s academic progress. In addition, the number of students participating is used to determine school funding. Results are also used to assess the quality of RCSD schools, could determine statewide and national rankings, impact state accountability reports including college and career readiness measures.
Parents you can help prepare your child(ren) with the Release Questions:
Reading Test Prep Practice Release Questions:
Math Test Prep Practice Release Questions:
Open House
Open House will be in-person on Wednesday, May 24th from 6:00-7:00pm in your child(ren)'s classrooms. Please note that we will have a special early dismissal of 1:25pm on that date. Open House is an opportunity for parents to visit the school/ classroom and see what students have been doing this year. I would encourage you to ask your child to tell you what they do in class and give you a little "tour" of the classroom. We look forward to seeing everyone at Open House. Room 402 will be open for an Art Show of student art completed in Art4Schools this year--please stop by!
2nd & 3rd Grade Dance Performance: Wednesday, May 31st, 6:30pm
Please make sure to reserve your seats early to see all of your 2nd & 3rd Grade students perform! Tickets are on sale now and are going fast! There will be limited seats available to buy the day of the show.
We will be selling tickets in-person 5/19 before school from 8:00am-8:30am and 5/26 after school from 2:15pm-2:45pm. We will be in front of the office 5/19 & 5/26 if you want to pay with cash, Venmo or are unable to choose your seats on the mobile site. We are looking for volunteers to help before and during the show - please email dance@unidospto.org to volunteer or if you have any questions.
Go to unidospto.org/dance for all the details and to buy your tickets!
Unidos PTO Board Member Positions for 2023/24
It is time to elect board members and assign committee chairs to serve Unidos PTO for the 2023-24 school year! We ask that anyone interested please sign up at the link below. This is not a commitment, but just an indication that you are interested. You can put your name in multiple slots if you have multiple interests, and we encourage more than one name per slot. This will help us bring in more volunteers for a robust PTO board next year!
Board members will be elected during our June 6, 2023, PTO board meeting. Anyone interested in a board position should attend the meeting. Only current PTO board members may vote on these positions. Committee chair positions are open to any volunteer, you do not need to be elected.
If you would consider being a member of the PTO Board, OR if you would like to help with an event, fundraiser, or program at the school, sign up here.
New Alebrije Spirit Wear is in Stock! Show Your School Pride and Spirit!
Our spirit wear store is stocked with new, in-stock items, including tees, sweatshirts, shorts, and hats. Order today! If you placed an order in 2022 and haven’t received your item(s) yet, please contact our Spirit Wear lead, Elizabeth, at eli95037@yahoo.com. Mari Abundiz is in charge of the delivery of the Spirit Wear here at school to the students. Show your Alebrije/School Pride and order your Spirit Wear here: www.unidospto.org/spiritwear
Parent Education Series
Teen Misconceptions about Cannabis and Vaping: What’s True and What’s Not
Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, PhD, Professor of Adolescent Medicine, Stanford School of Medicine
Tuesday, May 9, 2023, 5:30pm – 6:30pm PT, Online Event (Live)
Register: https://bonniehalpernfelsher2023tupe.eventbrite.com
I n this webinar, Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, PhD, professor of adolescent medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, will address common teen misconceptions about cannabis and vaping based on her research at Stanford's REACH Laboratory.
How - And Why - to Talk to Kids About Climate Change
Anya Kamenetz, Author, Journalist, Senior Advisor, Aspen Institute
Thursday, May 11, 2023, 5:30pm – 6:30pm PT, Online Event (Live)
Register: https://anyakamenetz2023shsef.eventbrite.com
Our children are experiencing the changing climate. They need a caring, reassuring dialogue with you -- their parents and caregivers -- to help them process the information and find their way to hope and positive action.
Join Anya Kamenetz, author, journalist, and senior advisor at This is Planet Ed, Aspen Institute, to hear about strategies vetted by developmental experts. Attendees will receive a written resource to help you start the conversation with your kids.
Parents/caregivers, educators, mental health professionals, and community members welcome! Simultaneous Spanish interpretation will be available. Free admission.
Sequoia Healthcare District, Peninsula Health Care District, and The Parent Venture.
Child Nutrition Services: Breakfast and Lunch Menus
A healthy body fosters a healthy and focused mind. Well-rounded meals served in RCSD school cafeterias are created using USDA nutrition guidelines as well as “kid-approved” recipes. Whole grains, milk, fresh produce, protein, and healthy fats containing Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are the stars of the breakfast and lunch menu items. Studies show that good eating habits and healthy behaviors are connected to academic achievement. Meals provided by Child Nutrition Services help to shape lifelong healthy habits. All students have the opportunity to eat breakfast and lunch for free again this year through our Child Nutrition Services.
Here are the menus:
2022-23 COVID Protocols in Our School
The Redwood City School District (RCSD) is following recommendations from the San Mateo County Office of Education’s (SMCOE) COVID-19 Safe Schools Framework, which was developed for 2022-23 in consultation with San Mateo County Health (SMCH), reflecting guidance for schools and districts including from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). You can find our District’s 2022-23 protocols on the RCSD website here.
Highlights from the District Protocols:
- Masking is "personal preference" for both students and staff indoors.
- Use this LINK to report if your child(ren) tests positive
- There will be school wide general notification of positive case(s) via email/text message.
Here is the most recent update from the district: Covid Protocols
Office Hours
Our school office hours are 8:00-4:00pm.
Please visit our school website , Adelante Selby Facebook Page and our PTO/Unidos webpage and social media accounts: unidospto.org, Facebook and Instagram for more information.
Regards,
Director Warren
