The first week is behind us and things seem to be moving well. Donna Pittman has been invaluable holding down the fort while I have been home recuperating. While Donna and I talk daily (and some days many more times that once!) it’s not the same as being there. My hope is that I get my doctor’s clearance to return this coming Monday and I’ll be there to greet you all on Tuesday!
According to the staff, the start of school went very smoothly. The new kindergartners were excited and thrilled to be here. Donna toured the school and visited all the classrooms the first few days. She found that students in all classes were already thoroughly engaged in the learning process. It didn’t take them long to get back in the groove.
The playground has been calm with the children making new friends, getting along and playing hard. We are fortunate to be completely staffed for lunch duty and have classroom aides in place for the kindies and first graders. Both the PTA and School Site Council are working on ways to support the teachers and students with volunteers in the classroom. There will be plenty of ways you can help out in the coming year.
Last year was our seventh year as a Safe Routes to School school. At our kick-off assembly we (re)introduce the program to our students. We have encouraged your child to “walk, ride your bike, bus or carpool” to and from school daily! We ask you to encourage your child/ren to come to school any way other than by car.
We also went over the school Code of Conduct and reviewed the playground guidelines. The children were introduced to all the staff so they could be familiar with our faces. We ended with a sing-along, which is a nice way to start building our community.
Traffic guidelines
At the start of this year, Dannie (our wonderful custodian!) has volunteered to direct traffic for parking in the morning. Please follow his instructions on where to park, as he has a plan that allows for a substantial number of cars to fit in the area, far more than if you just park wherever. Also, it is very important to drive slowly as you enter because you will be crossing a sidewalk that our students use to get to the front of the school. We also thank the PTA Executive Board for manning (and womaning!) the drop off lane these first two weeks.
For those of you who are new and also to avoid confusion about our traffic pattern, I’d like to review the guidelines. Anyone dropping off a child by car is to use the drop-off lane in the front parking lot.
When using the drive through, please do not stop in the pedestrian crossing zone. Look before proceeding. The lane directly in front of the school is for buses and handicapped use only. This is a loading and unloading zone for them and it sometimes takes as long as 10 to 15 minutes to get the wheelchairs etc. unloaded.
The side parking lot (the one closest to Safeway) is not a drive through. It is to be used by those of you who want to park and walk your child/ren to class, have an appointment or are volunteering. Please enter only by the driveway that comes off the right of the bus lane.
The front lot is used for staff parking. It is not to be used as a drive through.
The side lot by the field (closest to Kaiser) is to be used only by staff for parking and/or parents dropping off or picking up their children from Daycare.
Our concern is for the safety of all and for all to be safe. We all need to be cautious and follow the established guidelines for traffic. Thanks for your help with this.
Emergency information
It is very important that we at school have all your necessary information in case of emergency or to provide your child with the services s/he may need. If you haven’t done so already, remember to turn in the following:
Two emergency cards
Connect-Ed Contact Form (Buff color)
Milk Form
Free and reduced lunch application
Parent rights
“Permit to use Internet” form (on back page of the handbook). Must be in before your child may use the Internet in the lab.
Medication form if necessary
Permission slip for being in the Yearbook and on the Vallecito Website (Blue form)
If you have misplaced any of these forms, you may get duplicates in the front office from Ms. Kitty or Ms. Patty.
Flu prevention
A Flu Prevention Information parent meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the Marin County Office of Education, 1111 Las Gallinas, San Rafael, CA 94903. The meeting will cover steps being taken by Public Health and the schools, parents’ role in prevention and treatment, outlook for the flu season, and vaccination availability. Translation services will be available in Spanish.
Recyling Fridays
Friday's recycling haul netted the school haul netted $117.09!!!! We also got $69.10 on Thursday's haul with the recycling that had accumulated over the summer, for a total of $186.19 this week.
GOOD WORK EVERYONE!!!
For those who would like to know, here's the breakdown by material
Note: large 100% juice containers can not be recycled for cash. They are recyclable but
have no cash value even if they say CA-CRV (evidently).
-- The Recycling Committee
Children Are …
Words of wisdom to start off your school year:
Written by Meyi Stewart
CHILDREN ARE...
Amazing, Acknowledge them
Believable, Trust them
Childlike, Allow them
Divine, Honor them
Energetic, Nourish them
Fallible, Embrace them
Gifts, Treasure them
Here Now, Be with them
Innocent, Delight with them
Joyful, Appreciate them
Kindhearted, Learn from them
Lovable, Cherish them
Magical, Fly with them
Noble, Esteem them
Open-minded, Respect them
Precious, Value them
Questioners, Encourage them
Resourceful, Support them
Spontaneous, Enjoy them
Talented, Believe in them
Unique, Affirm them
Vulnerable, Protect them
Whole, Recognize them
Xtraspecial, Celebrate them
Yearning, Notice them
Zany, Laugh with them
Note from Donna Pittman
It has been my privilege to help Principal Jordan during her brief absence. I have enjoyed meeting the students and many parents during this exciting “back-to-school” week. The entire staff at Vallecito was a pleasure to collaborate with as we prepared for the opening of school. Have a wonderful 20090-2010 school year. We are Vallecito Proud!!
Sincerely,
Donna Pittman
Note from PTA President Rachel Pound
The first week of school was wonderful! Smiling faces on kids, parents, teachers and staff. It feels good to be back!
A special thanks to everyone for working together to make coming to school a
little safer and easier to navigate -- the parents and kids who bike, carpool, bus and walk; the families who parked on Arias, the drop-off lane volunteers, the parents that used the drop-off lane and pulled forward; and Dannie, who wore a new hat as parking lot coordinator!
Don't forget Children's Choice begins Monday the 31st if you've already signed up AND ordered. If you have not, please send a lunch to school with your child(ren) and go to http://www.choicelunch.com/ to get signed up ASAP!
Wednesday, September 2nd is our "State of the School" meeting. We will learn about how the budget and the economy have affected our school. There will be information about all the things that you can do to get involved, as well as the first opportunity to order our updated ValWear! The evening begins at 6:30 and we'll meet in the gym.
Regretfully, we are not able to provide childcare for this event. Ideally, it is an evening or parents to gather information and not bringing the kids will allow you to do that more easily. However, we don't want you to miss out on what we believe is a very important opportunity so, if necessary, your kids may come along.
Please feel free to contact me anytime by e-mail poundowski@mac.com, phone
415.755.8631 or in person at the PTA desk in the copy room.
