Dolphin Newsletter
4.21.23
Upcoming Events...
- Future SUPER minimum Day 11:30 Release Time: 6/9 (Last day of school)🐬
- Clifford family survey now open! Take a moment to share your feedback with us! (LINK)
- April 22 @ 3PM Clifford Family Kickball at Stafford Park! All are welcome!
April 28th : Panorama 8th grade picture day (8:30 AM)
April 28th : Move-a-thon-All families can support our school by donating and/or sharing on mybooster.com
May 8th : SBAC Testing Begins for Grades 3-8th (window May 8th-May 24th)
- May 17th : Kindergarten Orientation Night @ 5:30 in the MUB
- May 25th : TK Orientation Night @ 5:30 in room K
May 30th : Open House TK-5 6:00-6:45, Middle School 6:45-7:30
- June 2nd: 8th Grade Graduation Dance @ Clifford 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (8th graders only)
June 8th : 8th Grade Graduation 5:30 at Canada College in the theater.
- New Students 23-24 TK & Kinder Student Play dates at Clifford! Saturday, June 24th from 1-3 and Sunday, August 13th from 10-12.
- August 16th 2023, First Day of School!
Dear Clifford families,
As we approach the end of the school year, we have many exciting events and activities planned for our students. Our staff and students have been hard at work preparing for the upcoming state tests, and we are confident that our students will perform to the best of their abilities. These tests are just one measure of our students' progress, and we celebrate all forms of learning and growth.
In addition to the state testing, we have many end-of-year activities planned for our students, including field days, performances from the kinder students, and recognition ceremonies for our 8th graders. These events are a celebration of our students' hard work and achievements throughout the school year, and we look forward to sharing these special moments with you.
I also want to take a moment to express our appreciation for our AMAZING PTO. Their hard work and dedication have made a significant impact on our school community, and we are grateful for their tireless efforts in organizing events, fundraising, and supporting our school in many ways. We could not have achieved our goals without them, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with the PTO in the years to come.
I would like to take a moment to recognize Alex Chalmer, our superstar PTO president, for her tireless commitment to our school community. Despite being employed and raising two young children, Alex has dedicated endless hours to supporting our staff and working with our broader community to ensure that all voices are heard and the needs of our students are met. Alex has been instrumental in leading our school tours and providing support to our families. Thank you, Alex, for your unwavering dedication and leadership. We love you!
Finally, I want to express my appreciation for the hardworking staff of Clifford School. Their dedication to our students is truly remarkable, and we are grateful for their commitment to providing a safe and nurturing learning environment. Our teachers and staff work tirelessly to ensure that each student has the opportunity to reach their full potential, and we are fortunate to have such a talented and dedicated team.
Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to celebrating the end of the school year with our students and families.
In Community,
Jude Noyes
At Clifford School, we are shifting from the traditional parent/teacher conference to family conferences that involve teachers, families, and students in 23-24. These conferences will be held in both fall and spring semesters. During fall conferences, we have collaborative sessions where students reflect on their work and set a personal goal. This goal serves as the starting point for the conference. All partners in the student's learning - teacher, family, and student - collaborate to identify strategies and supports to help the student achieve their goal(s).
During the spring conferences, students will take the lead and conduct student-led conferences. They revisit their fall goal and discuss their progress, achievements, and challenges with their families and teachers. Students also set new goals for themselves and receive feedback from their families and teachers. These goals serve as a guide for the student's future growth and development.
We believe that student goal-setting conferences are important as they place the student at the center of their learning process. In a student goal-setting conference, the student takes an active role in the conference, reflecting on their learning, identifying areas of strength and areas that need improvement, and setting goals for themselves. This approach empowers the student to take ownership of their learning and develop a growth mindset that will help them succeed in the future.
In contrast, traditional parent-teacher conferences are often focused on the teacher's assessment of the student's performance and progress. While this information is essential, it may not fully capture the student's perspective and goals. By involving the student in the goal-setting process, the conference becomes a collaborative effort where all partners in the student's learning work together to develop a plan for the student's academic and personal growth.
Moreover, student goal-setting conferences provide an opportunity for families to learn more about their child's learning style, interests, and passions. This knowledge can help families support their child's learning outside of the classroom and promote a love of learning.
Overall, student goal-setting conferences are important as they empower the student, promote collaboration between all partners in the student's learning, and provide valuable insights into the student's learning style and goals.
We look forward to beginning this process with you in 2023-2024.
To teach students, not subjects or textbooks
To make learning joyful
To be proactive rather than reactive
To teach in ways that respond to our students' needs
To meet students where they are
To keep in mind that learning is a process that takes time and commitment
To keep relationships at the core of how we work together
To help each student feel valued, seen, and heard
To create an atmosphere that welcomes every student to belong
To dream big, have perseverance and grit
To challenge all students to learn at high levels
To inspire and motivate students
To include academic challenges so that all students can explore their potential
To love, protect, and care for our community
To be proud of who we are no matter what adversity we face
To be dependable and reliable
To be an upstander
To be Dolphin proud
TedTalks! Being Different is COOL!
We Are All Different - and THAT'S AWESOME! by Cole Blakeway
What is it that makes you different? What makes you jump out of bed? Cole Blakeway, a messy ten year old teaches us the value of celebrating differences as he describes his beautiful friendship with Steven, a 44 year old man with Autism. In a world that gravitates to being the same, Cole Blakeway reminds us that we are all different and that's AWESOME! This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.
In this talk, Adriana discusses the idea of neurodiversity. Many people are labeled incorrectly because their brains are wired differently. Adriana offers awareness and an alternative way to see people as unique and valuable, regardless of their near-diversity. Adriana White is an autistic librarian, former special education teacher, and children’s book writer. After being diagnosed with autism and anxiety in her 30s, Adriana now advocates for more inclusive schools and libraries. Her writing on neurodiversity and mental health in children’s books has appeared in KQED’s MindShift and We Need Diverse Books, and she advises educators and librarians about the importance of these books through workshops and presentations.
What is neurodiversity?
What would happen if the world viewed neurodevelopmental differences like ADHD, autism, and learning disabilities differently? If everyone noticed the strengths that can come from these differences first, instead of the challenges?
That’s the basic idea of neurodiversity — that differences don’t have to only be looked at as weaknesses. They’re not problems that need to be “fixed” or “cured.” They’re simply variations of the human brain.
The neurodiversity view is also personal. Being neurodivergent can help shape identity and how people see themselves and their value in the world. Neurodivergent people experience, interact with, and interpret the world in unique ways. That can sometimes create challenges. But it can also lead to creative problem-solving and new ideas — things that benefit everyone.
Taken from (Understood.org)
Celebrate Arab American Heritage Month by reading books featuring Arabs & Arab Americans
Elementary:
Upper Elementary/ Middle School:
Move-A-Thon
The Move-A-Thon is just one week away! If you haven't already signed-up, there is still time. Simply visit mybooster.com and register your student(s). Students can win prizes for themselves and their class!
Families are welcome on campus to come cheer on their students during the Move-a-Thon sessions.
8:30am - 9:00am: TK, Kindergarten, and SDC K-2
9:10am - 9:40am: 1st and 2nd
10:25am - 10:55am: 3rd, 4th, and 3-5 SDC
11:05am - 11:35am: 5th and 6th
1:00pm - 1:30pm: 7th, 8th and 6-8 SDC
Garden Beautification Day at Clifford- HUGE SUCCESS! 🌺
Thank you to everyone who came out for the garden beautification day! The garden looks great and we can't wait to see it grow!
Clifford "Ohana Luau" Family Dance! May 12th! 6-8PM
We are only 3 weeks away from our "Ohana Luau" on Friday, May 12 from 6-8 PM!! You still have an opportunity to get tickets in the next two weeks. The week of the Luau will be used to confirm our final headcount for catering and activity purposes, so please act soon if you're planning on attending. Kids of all ages with their families are encouraged to attend for some fun hula hoop, limbo, Hawaiian attire relay contests!! Not to mention some cool activities like face painting and all while enjoying the best of Hawaiian cuisine and Luau music. In addition to game prizes and raffles, every kid will get an activity they can personalize for the photo booth!
And remember that anyone who dresses the theme will be entered in one of the raffles!!
😀We have included the link below to purchase your ticket (s). We have discount codes to cover a portion of your ticket price or in full! Please use code "luau100" if you need all tickets covered or code "luau50" if you need half of your total ticket price covered.
Auction Items Still Available
A few auction items are still available to purchase! Highlights include tickets to the "Day at the Races", "Mad Hatter Tea Party", a Parents night out gift basket, and more! See our auction catalog for details!
Upcoming Fun- Clifford Family Kickball Saturday at Stafford Park @ 3!
A few Clifford families are hosting a Family Kickball game at Stafford Park this Saturday at 3pm. All are welcome!
Food Delivery Services at School
Please be sure that the only people who are dropping off food for your child are either you or members of your child's emergency contact list, and that this food only goes to your child. We cannot accept DoorDash/food delivery orders in the office or at any of the gates. This is for your child's safety and we appreciate your understanding in upholding this important protocol.
Community Support
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the fund to support a Clifford family dealing with a devastating loss. If you are able, please consider donating to help this family with current and future expenses.
National School Librarian Day is observed internationally on April 4
We love and appreciate our very own Libraian, MS CONNIE
Smart Watches at School
If your child wears a smart watch to school, please be sure that the texting/phone call feature is turned off during school hours. We do have cell phone policies written in our handbook, and these policies apply to smart watches. Should your child wear a smart watch and use it to text or call during the school day, we will ask them to turn it off and put it away.
Please review our District’s 2022-23 protocols on the RCSD website here. You can expect to receive additional information about our District’s protocols throughout the school year.
Families: Reporting of a positive case - Do not come to school.
Parents should complete the District’s self-reporting form when reporting a student positive case. This form is available on the “Quicklinks” section of the RCSD website as well as all 12 school websites.
Helpful Links
Helpful Links
- RCSD Peachjar Fliers
- Clifford is an NUA school. Learn more about NUA here
- Safe Kids Worldwide
Caregiver Referral link for counseling TK-8 https://forms.gle/bvJ5SWaCFbEHq8uq9
- Parent Education Series Free Resources and Links:
The Parent Venture: https://www.parentventure.org/
Video Library (YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/c/ParentEducationSeries
The Parent Education Newsletter (Register): http://bit.ly/ParentEdNewsletter
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/parenteducation
Jude Noyes- Principal (jnoyes@rcsdk8.net)
Tiffany Parrish- Assistant Principal (tparrish@rcsdk8.net)
650-482-2402
We ARE the most incredible school in the Inner-Planetary Galactic Solar System...