LCUSD Elementary Schools
Welcome to the 2020-2021 School Year
Hello Elementary School Families!
Our staff has been busy gearing up and preparing for the new school year. We all had high hopes this summer that we would start school on campus. However, for the safety of all, we will need to wait a bit longer. Please know that all teachers and staff are working hard to prepare for this unique year to make it the very best it can possibly be to meet the academic and social-emotional needs of your child in both digital and in-person hybrid formats. Our teachers continue to engage in professional development opportunities that will enable them to utilize more research-based tools for teaching when using a digital platform.
Our teachers are excited to meet and work with their students online during synchronous (live) instruction. Instruction will include academic curriculum, as well as social-emotional lessons, continuing with the Stanford University’s Challenge Success program.
Our collective goal as your elementary administrative team is to continue to promote an outstanding educational experience for all students by supporting and encouraging academic perseverance, positive character development, and social-emotional wellbeing. Our theme for this year is, “LCUSD SHINES!” We will continue to encourage our students to Support Others and Act Respectfully by being kind to one another and showing empathy. We also will encourage our students to SHINE academically by engaging in lessons and attending school (virtually or physically) each day when healthy.
We understand that this year our students will be participating in either the Hybrid or VLA Program. This may be difficult for some of our students as they may not be able to see or play with their friends who are not participating in the same program. We look forward to the day that we all can come together again on our LCUSD campuses.
Our elementary PTA partnership is an example of how our community can come together to support the students and staff at each of our schools. They truly SHINE! We will keep you informed of any upcoming activities they have in the works. Please consider joining our PTA. The more families that join, the stronger our PTA will be. Help them SHINE and join today!
We want to make sure you are up to date as we rapidly approach the start of the school year. Please read the information below and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email or call the school office for assistance.
La Cañada Elementary
Palm Crest Elementary
Paradise Canyon Elementary
1. The Emergency Card
2. The Signature Page
You will need to bring these pages when you come to collect textbooks and materials on Aug. 14.
Student Placement
We are finalizing our classes for the upcoming school year. The class placement will be available for our families by 4:00 pm on Thursday, August 13th, via Aeries Parent Portal. On this day, you will learn who your child's teacher will be for the school year.
Distribution of Textbooks, Workbooks, Etc.
We will be distributing textbooks and workbooks to students prior to the start of the school year. Distribution Day will be on August 14th and all students, including the students in the VLA Program, will receive textbooks and workbooks on this day from their home school.
To help make the distribution process go as smoothly possible, please follow the procedures below:
Procedures:
Arrive at your designated time. If you have multiple students in varying grade levels, please come to the youngest student’s assigned time and we will accommodate getting you all the necessary materials.
Place a sign in your front passenger window with the following information for each student in your family:
Last Name
First Name
Grade Level
Follow the directions for the curbside distribution
Please pull all the way forward and materials will be brought to you. If you would like the materials placed in your trunk, please pop your trunk. Please turn in your child(ren)’s emergency card and signature page to our staff member at this time.
Distribution Schedule:
8:30am – 9:00am TK/K + Siblings
9:00am – 9:30am Grade 1 + Siblings
9:30am – 10:00am Grade 2 + Siblings
10:00am - 10:30am Grade 3 + Siblings
10:30am – 11:00am Grade 4 + Siblings
11:00am – 11:30am Grade 5 & 6
Chromebooks
Please be sure to complete the “2020-2021 Chromebook Equity Request” form if your child needs to borrow a Chromebook.
AM and PM Schedule
Class Start and End Times:
AM 8:10 - 11:05
PM 12:05 - 3:00
Please make sure students are on their devices and are ready to go at their designated time. Teachers will be taking attendance.
Don't forget! The other half of the day, when not with their classroom teacher, students will be doing the following:
Physical Education
Library
Computers
Music
Art
Spanish (3rd through 6th graders who are signed up)
GATE (4th - 6th graders who qualify)
Special Education Services (TK - 6th graders who qualify)
Independent Work/Homework
Starting the School Year
We are a little more than a week away from our first day of school! The first day of school is one of our favorite days! This beginning comes with meeting your new teachers and connecting with new friends in your classroom. Even though our first day of school will be virtual, the first day of school is still something to celebrate! Here are a few suggestions to prepare for the big day:
Create a designated learning space that is welcoming, clean, and organized. – Kids love to have their own learning space. It is exciting for them, and it instills a sense of responsibility.
Select school supplies and have them ready in the workspace.
Create a schedule or routine to help set expectations for your child.
Select a special outfit for the first day of school.
PLEASE take a picture of your child on the first day of school. You can submit it at a later time for the opportunity to have your child’s picture in the yearbook if your school publishes a school-wide yearbook. You can also share it on our schools’ First Day of School Padlet. We will send out the link by the first day of school for Padlet.
Be positive and excited about the first day of school as we as adults model and create the tone for our students.
Please do not forget to complete the emergency card and signature page from the Parent and Student Handbook. The emergency card and signature page can be dropped off when you are picking up textbooks on Friday. Please do not print these back-to-back. Print each separately. We look forward to seeing you on Distribution Day! We can’t wait to see our LCUSD families virtually on their first day of school! Take care and be well.
Sincerely,
Emily Blaney, LCE Principal
Cory Pak, PCR Principal
Carrie Hetzel, PCY Principal