Voyager Family News
Week of February 10, 2020
Strand Spotlights and Info:
Workers will be at SSES all day Saturday performing fire system repairs. Alarms may go off; please be aware these are just tests.
NO SCHOOL FRIDAY 2/14 and MONDAY 2/17 in recognition of Presidents' Weekend.
Silver Strand Luau (our biggest family party/fundraiser) is coming (April 24!) Sign up to volunteer here!
Snacks for Sale in Lunch Line: Our cafeteria offers optional snacks and bottled water for sale for students in addition to the hot lunch. Snacks cost .50. 75, or $1.00 (and can be charged to your child's nutrition account) and students are limited to ONE snack/water purchase per day. Please have conversations with your children about YOUR expectations for purchase of snacks, and if you would like to limit your child's access to optional snacks, email Charity.Campbell@coronadousd.net.
ATTENDANCE: If your student will be absent for five or more consecutive days for a planned family trip/event, you may request an Independent Study Contract at least five days in advance (this timeline allows time for the teacher to compile classwork in each subject area for the student in advance). Make this request through Frankie Guillen in the front office.
PLEASE DRIVE SAFELY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: We cannot emphasize enough the importance of driving carefully, slowly, and mindfully in the neighborhood and in our drop-off area and parking lots. We have witnessed some unsafe speeds and maneuvers recently, often in attempts to get to school on time. BEING LATE IS BETTER THAN BEING UNSAFE. Please refrain from passing other drivers in the drop-off zone in the mornings, and practice patience as we know traffic will back up. We do our best to move drivers through efficiently, but pedestrians and student safety are OUR FIRST PRIORITIES.
- The theme for next week is LOVE: We love our Voyagers! Enjoy Valentines week and celebrating love for people, creatures, places, foods, activities, and more!
BUS POLICIES & INFORMATION
- Parents and guardians are responsible for their children up to the moment they board the bus, and as soon they disembark. Behavior at the bus stops is responsibility of parents/guardians.
- A parent/guardian or responsible person designated by parent/guardian must meet ALL kindergarteners and students with special needs at the DOOR of the bus (not in vehicles) when it arrives at the bus stop after school in the Cays.
- The bus driver will not open doors after closing them for departure to accommodate late passengers. Thank you for your understanding.
- Guests and friends who are not Cays residents and registered bus riders may not ride the school bus.
- For more information about bus policies and applications, click here.
2020 Census Worker Opportunity in Coronado
MAP Testing
In January and February, your child will take a MAP® Growth™ test from NWEA® on a computer. We give students MAP Growth tests to determine their instructional level and to measure academic growth throughout the school year (and from year to year) in Mathematics and Reading for grades 2nd-5th and for Kindergarten and 1st grades, in math.
MAP Growth tests are unique in that they adapt to your child’s level of learning. If your child answers a question correctly, the next question is more challenging. If they answer incorrectly, the next one is easier. This results in a detailed picture of what your child knows and is ready to learn—whether it is on, above, or below their grade level.
Since MAP Growth tests provide immediate and accurate information about your child’s learning, it’s easy for teachers to identify students with similar scores that are generally ready for instruction in similar skills and topics, and then plan instruction accordingly.
MAP Growth reports also provide typical growth data for students who are in the same grade, subject, and have the same starting performance level. Each school year, students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade take the tests. Following each testing period, you will receive a report showing your child’s growth, which you can review with your child’s teacher for more insight.
We are truly excited to focus on your child’s individual growth and achievement. For more information about the MAP Growth test, visit: NWEA.org/Parent-Toolkit.
Calendar Events
This Week and Next:
Wed 2/12: 3PM School Site Council Meeting
Thurs 2/13: 4 PM School Board Meeting
Fri 2/14-Mon 2/17: Presidents' Weekend/No School
And Beyond:
Thurs 2/27: Spring Open House; Classrooms open 5:30-6:30; stand by for more info regarding dinner and Book Fair!
Fri 2/28: 2nd Grade Bring a Parent to Lunch (12:15) & Ice Cream Friday
Thurs 3/5: General PTO meeting at SSES, 8:30 AM
Fri 3/13: PTO Family Fun Night: Freaky Friday Dance
Wed 3/18, 4:30-9 PM: CSF Telethon at CHS
Thurs 3/19: Late-Start: all students start at 10:00AM
Fri 3/27: 1st Grade Bring a Parent to Lunch (11:50)
3/30-4/3: Spring Break Holiday/No School
Tues 4/7-Thurs 4/9: Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences (Students Early Release)
Thurs 4/9: General PTO meeting at SSES, 8:30 AM
Fri 4/10-Mon 4/13: District Holiday/No School
Fri 4/24: Kindergarten Bring a Parent to Lunch (11:50) and 25th SSES Luau!
Thurs 5/7: General PTO meeting at SSES, 8:30 AM
5/25: Memorial Day Holiday/No School
6/4: General PTO meeting at SSES, 8:30 AM
6/11/20: 5th Grade Promotion/Last Day of School/Early Release
PTO News and Updates
Silver Strand Luau (our biggest family party/fundraiser) is coming (April 24!) Sign up to volunteer here!
Please order your yearbook and help our Voyager Yearbook PTO volunteers gather photos of all our students and classes! To order a book, visit this website. Yearbooks are $25 with a discount of $5 ($20) if you are a PTO member (use code SSESPTO2020). If you have photos to include in this year's yearbook, please download the "ImageShare" app, with Project number 025811. The upload code is SSE20. See more info in PTO section below.
SSES Water bottles are on sale now! Proceeds from your purchase will help fund water filling station upgrades at Silver Strand. Link: http://bit.ly/strandwaterbottles
Put your child's Name in Lights on the Silver Strand's Marquee Sign! We now have a convenient online form to easily schedule your Birthday, Welcome or Farewell message! The cost is $20 and your donation supports the SSES PTO! Schedule online now: http://bit.ly/NAMEINLIGHTS
Silver Strand PTO Board
- President: Lori Blauert
- Vice President: Nellie Ritter
- Treasurer: Leslie Broussard
- Secretary: Leigh-Ann Williamson
- Parliamentarian: Lisa Emme
Silver Strand PTO
Email: silverstrandpto@gmail.com
Call or Text: 619-537-8782
In addition to building community, supporting curriculum, and enriching students' school experience, the Silver Strand PTO is responsible for Family Fun Nights, Holiday Shoppe, Yearbook and Luau to name a few. Our fundraising efforts provide for school field trips and enrichments clubs. We are unable to do what we do without the support of Silver Strand families, teachers and staff.
After-School Enrichment Clubs
Clubs are in session! Here's a link to more information!
Our SSES PTO is proud to sponsor and coordinate after-school enrichment clubs for students in grades K-5 from 3-4 PM Monday through Thursday (note that these clubs are not part of the CUSD/SSES instructional day, and clubs are run by private organizations/non-CUSD employees). SSES Teacher Karen Pierro works with our PTO as a coordinator/liaison.
Coronado SAFE Events and Activities
Coronado SAFE supports healthy families and children through workshops/"coffee talks," school programs, speakers, and counseling. See flyers below for upcoming events.
Coronado Schools Foundation Events & Updates
Emerald Keepers Environmental Non-Profit News and Events
- Late-Start Thursday Workshop on Marine Science at Coronado Library for 3rd-5th Graders 1/30, 8:30-9:45 AM. See flyer attached below for more information!
- Poster Contest for students K-5, due February 21. See attached flyer for more info!
- Visit the website https://www.emeraldkeepers.org/ for more information and events and opportunities!
Military Connections: Focus on Anchored4Life
Silver Strand Elementary School is SO fortunate to have the full-time services of our very own MFLC (Military Family Life Counselor), Marie Millard! Our MFLC is available to help students through the emotions and transitions associated with military life.
Thank you to our community advisory members, MFLC, and students who attended the Anchored4Life Club training in October! Our students learned how to help their peers who are experiencing transitions. The Anchored4Life program at our school focuses on helping new students adjust to Silver Strand, lifts up students whose loved one is leaving for or returning from deployment and sending our warm wishes with students who are relocating. The Team Leads provide care package "Kits" with a theme designed to support each of the four transitions. The kits contain comforting items, coping skills, DVDs to help kids understand that they are not alone and helpful tools for parents. If your child will be experiencing one of these transitions this year, please inform their teacher or the MFLC to receive a free transition kit. The MFLC's information is always available in the Silver Strand office with the other resource materials.
You will also see our Anchored4Life Team Leads around campus this year presenting uplifting messages, helping with service projects and growing in their leadership skills. We are excited to be partnering with Anchored4Life to provide this service to all of our students.
Military Spouse Support Meetings:
Strand Wed. Feb. 19 8:30-9:30 Supporting Your Child Through Deployment
ECDC Wed. May 20 8:30-9:30 Transitions
For information about military-sponsored activities for youth, visit the Fleet and Family Services website here.
Morning Dropoff and Afternoon Dismissal in 2019-20
Our new bell schedule means ALL students TK-5th Grade start school at 8:10 AM (same as this past year), and ALL Kindergarten-5th Graders will release at 2:55 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and at 1:40 on Wednesdays (Transitional Kindergarten release at 11:50 each day).
Adult supervision outside school in the morning does not begin until 7:50 AM; please do not plan to drop your child off prior to this time unless they are participating in band/choir/other officially supervised school activities.
IN THE MORNINGS: TK and Kindergarten students line up outside the gate to the right of our office door each morning by 8:05 AM to be picked up by their teachers and escorted to class. First graders enter the same gate and proceed to class at the first bell. All other grades enter the gates to the left by Strand Hall when the first bell rings to line up by class on the blacktop.
IN CASE OF RAIN OR INCLEMENT WEATHER, students will report to Strand Hall and line up in designated areas in the Hall.
At the end of the school day, Kindergarten teachers escort their students to the PRESCHOOL GATE for parent pickup ahead of other students, so parents of kindergarteners should plan for their students to be ready to reunite with you 5-10 minutes before 2:55 (or 1:40 on Wednesdays).
We encourage those students/families who can walk/bike/scooter to do so!
Crosswalk Safety
Dropoff/Pickup Safety
School and Classroom Volunteers: What You Need to Know!
We thank you for your time, assistance, and enthusiasm, SSES volunteers! Please ensure you are aware of the following:
- ALL parents who enter campus and have interactions with other students, even while just helping at a party, MUST have verification of a negative TB test (within past four years) and have submitted our School Volunteer Application.
- Please contact Kelley Englehart in Human Resources (kelley.englehart@coronadousd.net) with questions about clearance to be a volunteer. Kimberley Junk in the SSES office can help as well.
- The Live Scan of Fingerprints must be completed if your role as a volunteer takes you out of the classroom with children/out of sight of the teacher.
- If you have concerns about your child you would like to address with his/her teacher, please make a separate appointment to discuss versus initiating a discussion during your volunteer time.
- Please respect confidentiality of students and staff and refrain from photographing other students or reporting or describing behaviors you observe to other parents/community members. Please share any concerns directly with the teacher.
- Volunteers are very helpful! But determining tasks and planning for volunteers takes time, too, and our teachers use their own discretion in inviting volunteers into the classroom. Please reach out to your child's teacher or room parent to learn more about opportunities to help.
Thank you for being a valuable part of the Voyager Family!
2019-20 Parent and Student Handbook
Community Agreements and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
How Does Coronado Unified School District Communicate with Families?
Stay Connected with Silver Strand Elementary School!!
Check out and "like" our Facebook page to see photos of student events and programs! https://www.facebook.com/Silver-Strand-Elementary-School-176775765849277/