The Star
Ruby Bridges - where the STARS come to shine!
Translation available!
Hello from the principal's desk!
August 24, 2018
What a wonderful first week of school! Welcome to our digital newsletter through smore.com. I will send this out weekly with calendar updates, special announcements, pictures, lunch menu (at the bottom) and a helpful parenting hint located at the bottom of the page. I will also be sending out a hard copy of The Star around the first of each month, with a calendar on one side, and updates on the other. Did you get it on Monday of this week on Yellow paper? I call this monthly hard copy the "fridger", because you can put it up on the fridge at home!
We have made a change to the way Back To School Night is being arranged. We are trying to get as many families into a single class presentation as possible, to help build the classroom community. Although we are doing one main presentation for K-2nd gr classes, and another main presentation for 3rd - 5th, you can still find the teachers in their rooms if you want to talk on the other slot. See schedule below. We REALLY want to get our parents connected to each other during this event, and want every classroom on campus to have a Room Parent. Please consider volunteering for this role, to help us organize birthday parties, or chaperones on field trips, or classroom needs like tissue paper and glue sticks. We started the Room Parent program last year, and found it be REALLY helpful!
Also, do you have any extra toys laying around that you could donate to our STAR card drawing? Every week on Friday we pull a couple of STAR cards out of the box that we collect them in and we give out some prizes to the lucky winners. Drop any toys that you want to give out in the office!
Lastly, we are looking to add a few more friendly faces to our School Site Council (SSC). What is SSC you might ask? It is a group of parents, school staff and administrators that meet once a month, on the last Tuesday of the month at 3:15 in the Library. We set goals for the school year and track their progress. We also set the school budget and make changes as needed, and hear about various programs, both in school and ones that we want to bring here! If you are looking to get involved in the leadership and direction of Ruby Bridges, and are available after school on a Tuesday once a month, this is the committee for you. It is our goal to have a SSC that is representative of our student population, which means we want families of all ethnicities, English proficiency level, religions and family income. Please email Mr. Woodward at jwoodward@alamedaunified.org if you are interested. You will need to write up a short bio about yourself, your kids, and what you want our school to be!
Thank you for having me as your principal. It is an important responsibility, and I am humbled to have your trust to shape, lead and nurture your students on a daily basis.
With gratitude,
Jesse Woodward
BTSN schedule
August 30, 2018
6:45 - Meet in the courtyard for presentation to whole school from Mr. Woodward
7:15 - Main 3rd - 5th grade presentation in classrooms**
7:45 - Presentations end and teachers leave to go home :)
* 3rd - 5th grade teachers will be in their classrooms to talk to parents if needed.
** K-2nd grade teachers will be in their classrooms to talk to parents if needed.
We will also be doing Livescan fingerprinting after school on 8/30 for anyone who wants to become a classroom volunteer, or go on field trips with their child's class. Any adults who are around students need to have a negative TB (Tuberculosis) test and pass a fingerprinting screening. Our PTA has agreed to scholarship families who can't afford the $75 fee! Please come after school, or while you are here at BTSN, to get your fingerprints done!
Upcoming events at Ruby Bridges
8/25 - Project Peace Garden Work party here at Ruby! 9-12pm
8/30 - Back To School Night
9/3 - Labor Day - No School!!!
9/6 - Picture Day!!!
9/7 - Spirit Day - Wear your favorite color!
9/25 - School Site Council, 3:15 in Media Center
9/28 - Minimum Day
TK released 11:40, K-5th released at 12:30
10/5 - Spirit Day - Crazy Hair Day
10/10 - Dance-a-thon fundraiser during the day
Trait of the month
Box Tops
SEL programs at Ruby
Remind text group
Ruby Wrap
Great article on parenting here if you have a few moments to read it all. How can we all be better adults for our kids?
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/21/well/family/which-is-better-rewards-or-punishments-neither.html
Social Media presence
Email: jwoodward@alameda.k12.ca.us
Website: https://rubybridges-alamedausd-ca.schoolloop.com/
Location: 351 Jack London Avenue, Alameda, CA, United States
Phone: (510) 748-4006
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RubyBridgesElementary/
Twitter: @RB_Stars