Gregory Gardens Weekly Bulletin
Week of November 17, 2019
Greetings from Administration
School will be closed for the Fall Break from November 25- November 29, 2019
Thanking our local Veterans
THIS THURSDAY 11/21
Gregory Gardens has a tradition of having students create art and thank yous for the local Veteran's and then deliver it in time for a special luncheon for them. We are looking for volunteers to join us in decorating the meeting room for the Veterans' lunch hosted at the Denny's on Willow Pass Road by Water World. We will be meeting at 6:00 A.M. on Thursday, November 21st to decorate and set up the artwork made by our students that thank the Veterans. It always means so much to the veterans.
Garden Classroom
We are excited to have our Garden Classroom up and running for students. With this new class we are asking all families and community members to refrain from picking any fruits or vegetables. Students are harvesting these items for their class. Please let me know if you have questions.
STEAM Lab
Thank you PTA for purchasing so many amazing items for our STEAM lab. We are working on a class schedule that includes GGES and RSP time slots! We are still looking for a few items for our lab- legos ( Big or Small), knex, snap circuits and other building toys.
In the future we will be seeking consumable materials from families. Any donations are greatly appreciated.
Dine and Donate
November 20 and 21 11am-10pm
Get ready for another Dine and Donate event! This time we have two days to dine out or take out at Round Table Pizza located at 716 Contra Costa Blvd. in Pleasant Hill. Just tell them you're with Gregory Gardens Elementary and they will donate 20% of your bill to GG PTA! Order ahead by calling (925) 798-3355 https://www.roundtablepizza.com/menu/.
Sharing food at school
Please remind students they are not to share food at school. While we recognize this is confusing for students....we ask them to share all the time. Sharing food can be dangerous for children who have mild to severe food allergies. We work hard to provide safe places for students to eat.
PTA Corner
MARK YOUR CALENDARS~PTA has announced their Auction/Dinner! It will be hosted on March 20, 2020! More details to follow.
Why Does the PTA Fundraise?
Gregory Gardens PTA funds various programs and activities at GGES and RSP including our new STEAM Lab, teacher wishlists, drama productions, music programs and instruments, recess equipment, library updates, resources for social and emotional health, and many more PTA Initiatives!
Visit the GGES/RSP PTA Facebook page for more information.
For more information and ways you can help, please connect with your PTA room parent or check us out on Facebook.
If you need anything, please don't hesitate to call.
Let's have a great week!
Katie
What's Happening Around School
GGES/RSP Community
We are creating an inclusive and respectful climate on our campus. We support all types of learners from diverse backgrounds on our site. It is imperative that parents, students and staff conduct themselves in a tolerant and respectful manner at all times. Please be aware of your surroundings when talking to members of our GGES/RSP community and be mindful that all students regardless of race, religion, abilities (e.g. physical, social/emotional development, cognition), socio-economic status, language, gender identity, race or family structure are welcome and important members to our school family.
Student Pick Up/Drop Off
The church has asked that we do not use their parking lot entrance. We have a sign following that request. We are allowed to park but must enter through the Gregory Gardens parking lot.
The City of Pleasant Hill has re-striped the double yellow lines on Harriet Drive. By law these are not to be passed over.
We realize traffic backs up onto Harriet Drive, however, we need everyone to be safe and not pass other cars over the double yellow lines. This is a neighborhood and we must respect the people and rules as we have students walking home, etc,
Please remember that we cannot have cars parked in the traffic circle at any time, this includes TK/Kinder pick up and drop off.
Please use the 15 min spots or another parking stall to pick up your students before 2:30. The circle is used for buses for students attending the Preschool. Parking is available in the school lot or if needed in the church parking lot next door.
Thank you for helping us get buses and students to and from school safely.
Campus Updates
*MDUSD M&O stopped by last week to take final measurements for our crash gates.
Click here to view the 2019-2020 MDUSD Academic Calendar
Student Attendance
It is important to be on time. Arriving late disrupts the classroom flow and effects the classroom climate. As a reminder here is the Gregory Gardens Bell Schedule:
7: 40 AM 4th and 5th graders bell
7:50 AM TK/K 3rd grade
The earliest students can be on campus is 7:30 am. What can we do to support you in getting your student(s) to Gregory Gardens on time? Please let us know.
Please continue to communicate to your students the importance of their attendance and arriving on time!
Gregory Gardens Elementary
TK/K Friday, November 22
This is an ALL TOGETHER DAY 7:40-11:11 AM
Volunteers Needed
PTA has graciously purchased several new recess games....giant connect four, giant jenga, giant checkers and more. We are in need of parents to manage these games with students.
If you are available between 11:15-12:45 M-F and are fingerprinted, please pop by school to help. Check into the office before heading out to help.
Parent Teacher Conferences
These conference meetings are scheduled on the calendar from Monday, December 9th through Friday, December 20th. School hours adjust for this as follows:
Grades 1-5 will be released M. T, Th, Fri 1:10 pm
Grades 1-5 will be released Wednesdays 12:30 pm
TK/Kinder
Early Friends remain on their regular schedule 7:50-11:11 am
Starting Monday, December 16th through Thursday, December 19 late friends school hours adjust as follows:
Late friends 9:16-1:30 pm
December 20th is an ALL TOGETHER DAY both early and late friends
will be at school 7:50-11:11 am
Homelink Parent Portal
HomeLink Parent Portal is available for all MDUSD students and legal guardians. This is a secure and private online resource that will provide access to your student's attendance, state test score reports (CAASP, ELPAC) and allow you to update demographic information. Gregory Gardens is rolling out the use of this system for our students. You may have received your letter with a verification code for your student in August. We encourage you to set up your parent portal for your student (s) as this is how you will now need to update the demographic sheet for Gator Day in August.
Here is the link to the parent portal:
Volunteer Opportunities
*Check into the office to receive your visitors pass.
*Adults will be verified using our online database.
*Make yourself available to all students.
Thank you for helping support our positive and safe campus climate.
Volunteers are always encouraged, any day of the week - just come in when you can. However, for the safety of everyone, we can no longer allow non Gregory Gardens children on campus during volunteering, unless they can be carried in a baby carrier.
Below is a link to the MDUSD volunteer instruction page.
https://mdusd-ca.schoolloop.com/pf4/cms2/view_page?d=x&group_id=1394262952238&vdid=i4ea1lrm2y3nd
Attendance
If you think your student will be absent, please call the Attendance Hotline at (925) 682-8000 ext. 7042. Please include your student's name, teacher, and reason for absence. Please be sure to call before 9:30 am. Thank you.
To avoid a Truancy for your student, please call the office within 72 hours for any absence. Without a verification for a day(s) missed of school after that time it becomes a truancy.
See MDUSD website for more details on truancy and absenteeism:
https://mdusd-ca.schoolloop.com/pf4/cms2/view_page?d=x&group_id=1516177890380&vdid=i4a284jj12xmu
Follow Us
Check out how we spend our days! Follow us
Twitter @gregory_gators, @GGESgarden, @RSP_MDUSD, @MsKoontzMDUSD
Instagram @gregory_gatorsMDUSD
Robert Shearer Preschool
What's Happening around Preschool
Our friends at Robert Shearer have been enjoying searching for leaves to count and match as part of their fall studies. Be sure to check in with teachers about any activities before the upcoming break!
Looking Ahead
November
November 18- School Site Council 2:50-3:50pm
November 20 & 21- Dine and Donate Round Table Pizza
November 22- Report cards sent home
November 25- 29: Thanksgiving Break
December
December 2- See's Candy Orders Due
December 5- BEST ME Presentation, GGES students grades 1-5
December 9-20- Parent Teacher Conferences
December 13- GGES Winter Concert 6:00pm
December 23-January 6- WINTER BREAK
January
January 7- WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL
January 17- Family Movie Night- 6pm
January 20- Martin Luther King - No School
January 27-31- Multicultural Week
January 27-31- Book Fair #2
January 31- Multicultural Week Potluck
February
March
March 20- PTA Auction Fundraiser
April
May
June
Conversations to Have at Home
Happenings Around Campus
Previous Newsletters
2019-2020
November
October
September
August
2018-2019
June
May
April
March
Gregory Gardens/Robert Shearer Community
Website: https://gges-mdusd-ca.schoolloop.com/
Location: 1 Corritone Court, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523, USA
Phone: (925) 827-3770
Twitter: @gregory_gators