Our first School Site Council will be on Thursday, September 29 at 3:00pm. The meeting will be held virtually.

Agenda:

-Review/Approve Minutes from May 2022.

-School Site Council Training: Role and Responsibilities

-New School Site Council Members

September 26- Return/Send to school the Believe Kids/Otis & Spunkmeyer envelopes (if you are buying items in cash. Make sure to send the exact amount. Thanks!)

September 26-30 - Go Gold Week (in support of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month)

September 29- School Site Council Meeting

October 12 - Walk / Bike to school day

October 21- Cafecito con la Directora

October 21 - Fall Fest

Mid October-Mid November: Transfer Process from 8th grade to High School

September is Childhood Cancer & Sickle Cell Awareness Month. The HOLA community has several families directly impacted by Childhood Cancer, and in 2019 we began the tradition of “Going Gold” to show our support, and to honor the memory of a very dear Forever Jet.

We do this by offering students several ways to support the cause:

• Coin Drive! Bring your extra change to school and add it to the collection jar. All proceeds will be donated to Scottie’s Gift, a local non-profit.
• Make a greeting card to brighten the day of children currently in the hospital. Bring it to school by Friday 9/30.
• Go Gold! On Friday 9/30 “Go Gold” by dressing in gold colors, wearing gold jewelry,

sunglasses, hats, hairclips, or whatever you can think of!

At the end of the week the funds collected from the coin drive will go to Scottie's Gift, a local non-profit dedicated to making & delivering gift baskets & iPads to children newly diagnosed with cancer at Children's Hospital Oakland and other local hospitals.

This is a unique and special opportunity each year for our Jets to be involved in something bigger than themselves, and to have a direct impact on children their own age in their own communities that are fighting a very tough battle.

We hope that you will join us as we Never Ever Give Up (NEGU) on the fight against cancer, and Go Gold on Friday 9/30!

Each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15, by celebrating the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central and South America.

“The observation started in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson and was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover a 30-day period starting on September 15 and ending on October 15. It was enacted into law on August 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.

“The day of September 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of independence for Latin American countries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on September 16 and September18, respectively.”

From The American Presidency Project: Proclamation 10257—National Hispanic Heritage Month, 2021: “National Hispanic Heritage Month is an important reminder of how much strength we draw as a Nation from our immigrant roots and our values as a Nation of immigrants. I am proud to recognize my four Hispanic Cabinet Secretaries—Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and Small Business Administrator Isabel Guzman—who are all leading executive departments that oversee critical components of American life.”

During this month, I invite all HOLA families to read Hispanic Heritage stories together, learn about traditions, celebrations and the important contributions of Hispanics to the American society. Below you have some helpful resources. We, who value cross cultural competence, have this amazing opportunity to celebrate, elevate and honor the Hispanic Heritage.

Here you have some helpful resources to help your Jet and your Jet family learn more about this special month:

Celebracion de la Herencia Hispana (bilingual)

Books for kids

Books for National Hispanic Heritage

Hispanic Heritage Month Activities for our kids

Our school goals are aligned to our district goals. They are: Equity: This is at the center of our work and everything we do is to ensure all students have what they need. Educational Equity will help us ensure our students get the foundational skills to go to college or be career ready.

Another goal is High Quality and Culturally Responsive Instruction: This school year our school and our district is committed to learn and implement Learning Acceleration as a tool to help our students reach high level of achievement in Mathematics. We are also focused on developing our partnerships with our school community so we can work together for the betterment of the students. At school, we are focused on developing Social and Emotional Learning.

FOOTSTEPS TO BRILLIANCE This is a great website that has thousands of online books and games to develop Early Literacy Skills. There are resources in Spanish and English from TK through 3rd grade. Type in Footsteps to Brilliance and you will find great resources there!

Safety Plan:

Every year the School Principal puts together a Safety Committee to craft the Safety Plan for our school. For this to be effective, I would like to have representation from all stakeholders groups (teachers, parents, and support staff). I would like to have ONE parent representative from each grade level to be part of this committee, or have a TK-K, 1-3, 4-5 and Middle School representation. If you are interested, please, email me at orellanas@mdusd.org.

Our work will entail meeting two or three times (after school) for about one hour to get input and craft during the month of October.

Once the plan is complete, it will be brought to the School Site council for review and approval.

Our school district is committed to ensure safety at all sites and administrators will start a new Safety Training this month.

Holbrook Excellence: I am committed to helping our school continue be a school of excellence. We are the only school in the Mount Diablo Unified School District that holds the California School Board Association Annual Golden Bell Award.

We need to help our school grow by working together for the betterment of our students.

I will hold Parent Informational Meetings for other Dual Language Schools so families learn about our wonderful school and the Middle School program we offer. Our PFC President will help by bringing a group of parents from HOLA to speak about our parent and family involvement. Let Erin Tims (PFC President)know if you are interested in helping in this capacity.

Students in 8th grade: Since we do not have a feeder pattern defined, students in 8th grade will go to their school of residence. If you want to apply for a different school other than your school of residence, parents must initiate the Transfer process. This Transfer application process will take place from mid-October to Mid-November.

September is the Attendance Awareness Month. Your child has the right to an education and this opportunity is offered at school. It is important parents ensure our Jets are at school everyday and all day.

Doctor's appointments and other activities should be scheduled after school.

Gates are open at 8:02. At 8:12 students line up and head to their classrooms. Instruction begins at 8:15am.

If you need to talk to the teacher, please, do so after school or contact them via Class Dojo.

We thank you for your help on this.