Sycamore Leaf
January 30, 2021
Principal's Message
This week as you picked up February materials, your student was also given a small succulent plant and a note. The idea for this gift was created back in the fall by a parent, Sarah Rockne.
The succulents in those bags are known for tolerating less than perfect conditions. Their waxy leaves help them hang on to essential moisture during the dry seasons. We, too, have an ability to adapt, adjust and draw upon resources to get through difficult times. Still, our reserves have their limits. In large part, we have been able to draw upon our community's deep well of shared experiences and sustaining relationships. But, we've been at this a long time. All of us, at one time or another, run dry.
If you find yourself or your child in need of help or alternatives, please reach out. We are eager to help. Call or email me directly. Contact us in the school office or talk with your child's teacher. You may also:
- Access the districts Wellness Resources.
- Contact our referral service, Care Solace, a completely confidential, community-based mental health care agency. Care Solace meets a variety of specific needs: insurance, location, time availability, price, and even specifications regarding the therapist that would be providing care. https://caresolace.com/site/claremontparents , 888-515-0595. WeServe@caresolace.org
If you feel you need immediate help we hope you find the following information helpful:
In the case of an emergency, please contact the following:
Police/Emergency Services - 911
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - (800) 273-8255
Crisis Text Line - Text 741741
The Trevor Lifeline is a national 24-hour, toll free confidential suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth. Call 1-866-488-7386 24/7
The following can be contacted if you find yourself in need of additional support at any time:
The California Warm Line - (855) 845-7415
Finally, I want to share a link to the CUSD Family Engagement Calendar. You will find there are many opportunities to engage in adult learning as well as advisory committees.
Equity and Inclusion Committee
The Equity and Inclusion Committee seeks to, "foster a community where students of all identities, backgrounds, and abilities are valued and embraced. We strive to raise awareness of and provide strategies for creating and sustaining an equitable and inclusive community on the Sycamore campus and beyond, and to help prepare all students to be compassionate and informed people of the world." This Monday, the committee will host a Zoom panel on Black Student Experiences as part of an “Amplifying Voices” series. The panel will include Black students who currently attend and alumni who have attended Sycamore Elementary and other CUSD schools. As listeners, we can gain perspective and consider ways to improve our efforts to make Sycamore a welcoming and equitable place for all students. See this flyer for details. RSVP by January 31.
The Equity and Inclusion Committee meets on the first Monday of each month. Details for our March meeting will be shared in the Leaf. Everyone is welcome to join.
Calendar
Monday, February 1 from 6:00-7:30 PM
- Amplifying Voices: Black Student Experiences Zoom Panel
February 1-8, Cookie Fundraiser (see below)
Wednesday, February 3 from 6:00-8:00 PM
- CUSD Community Forum: Racial Equity in CUSD
Friday, February 5
- Making Change Entries are Due
February 10-16, Talent Show Auditions (see below)
*No School February 8, Lincoln's Birthday
*No School February 15, Presidents' Day
Community Forum: Racial Equity in CUSD
Activities beyond the classroom
The following activities will be available to students this week.
All links are available on the Sycamore Student Canvas page.
12:30-1:00 Monday: Grades 2-3 Book Club
12:00-1:00 Tuesday: Upper Grade Math Club
12:30-1:00 Tuesday: Grades 2-3 Math Club
12:30-1:00 Tuesday: Grades K-1 Club
1:00-1:30 Tuesday: K-6 Picture Book Reading in Spanish
11:30-12:30 Wednesday: Grades K-6 Publishing House Speaker Series, Liz Climo
12:00-12:30 Thursday: K-6 Sign Language Club
12:30-1:00 Thursday: Grade 4-6 Book Club
12:00-12:30 Friday: Grades 1-6 Student Leadership
12:30-1:00 Friday: Grades K-6 Lunch Bunch (select the Elementary Chill Out button)
Claremont's "Making Change" Contest
A SWEET Fundraiser
Publishing House Authors and Volunteers
Students who have signed up as this year's Publishing House authors will have PH author support time Tuesdays/Thursdays from 12:30-2:30pm on Zoom, during WIN (What I Need time). The zoom link for WIN time is on the Sycamore Students Canvas page.
Save the date for our next PH Special Guest: Liz Climo!
Liz Climo is a cartoonist, children’s book author, illustrator, and animator. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and moved to Los Angeles after college to work as a character artist on The Simpsons. She is the author of the Rory the Dinosaur series, The Little World of Liz Climo , Lobster Is the Best Medicine, and Best Bear Ever! Her books have been translated into ten languages and have sold more than 2.25 million copies worldwide. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter.
Speaking will be followed by a Q&A session where students can ask questions. Since it is around lunch time, please feel free to nibble and zoom. The Zoom link is available on the “Sycamore Students” Canvas page under the Publishing House button. Join us this Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at 11:30 AM.
Black History Month
https://www.africanamericanhistorymonth.gov/
For additional resources, check out our Equity and Inclusion Committee Resources posted on our school's website.
Bring on the Talent Show!
Each February, we host our Annual Sycamore Talent Show. The Talent Show gives students an opportunity to share their talents and skills with an audience of friends and family. All students are able to participate and need only to “audition” to ensure their performance is well-planned and appropriate for our young audience.
This year, our show will be virtual. Auditions and the performance itself will be completed via FlipGrid. Students will “audition” between February 10 and February 16 by uploading a performance-ready video of their act to FlipGrid. They will receive feedback about that audition (so they can revise, as needed), then students will upload their final performance video by Thursday, February 18. We do recommend preparing the videos with iMovie, or AppSmashing with apps like Chatterpix, Screencastify, or Adobe Spark BEFORE uploading them to Flipgrid. On Sunday, February 21, we will open the FlipGrid Talent Show for the entire school family to enjoy.
Start planning now using the following guidelines:
· Students may appear in only one individual or group act. Accompaniment may be provided by those in your home.
· Joint acts with those outside your home can be done by editing separate videos into one.
· Acts are limited to 3 minutes maximum.
· All acts (lyrics, background music, spoken material, movement, dress, etc.) must be appropriate for elementary aged students.
· Parents will need to provide permission for students to submit a video.
More directions are coming soon!
Parent Input is Needed
Families received emails with links to District surveys over the past week or so. The first relates to preparations for reopening schools and the second is our annual parent survey which seeks parent opinion on a broad range of school and district efforts. I am including the messages and links here. We appreciate your time in completing the surveys by Friday, February 5.
"Over the past few months, CUSD has developed comprehensive plans for students to resume in-person learning. In addition, the District has purchased extensive Personal Protective Equipment, trained employees, and prepared all sites. We are also working daily with our employee associations to ensure agreement regarding safe working conditions when students and staff return.
As District staff work on the final stage of the phase 2 reopening plan, we would like to hear from you. Please click on the link below to take a quick, four-question survey. Since CUSD has not surveyed parents/caregivers since the summer, we are requesting your thoughts at this point in time regarding sending your student back to school when it is safe to do so. Please fill out one survey FOR EACH CUSD STUDENT in your household who attends a different school. Thank you." LInk: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9287Q36
"Claremont Unified school District is committed to continued excellence. To help us acheive this goal, we request a few minutes of your time to complete our Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) Parent and Community Survey. This survey will provide us with important feedback from parents and community members like you to better serve our students.
The Parent/Community Survey can be accessed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/cusdparent or by visiting the District website and selecting the LCAP link on our homepage. The link will be active through February 5, 2021."
Kindergarten Class of 2021
Contact Information
Tina Hensley, Office Manager thensley@cusd.claremont.edu
Norma Perez, Attendance and Health Assistant nperez@cusd.claremont.edu
Email: astanger@cusd.claremont.edu
Website: http://sycamore.cusd.claremont.edu
Location: 225 West 8th Street, Claremont, CA, USA
Phone: (909)398-0324