University Elementary School
March Newsletter
Principal's Message
Dear Families,
I have had the pleasure of marketing our school to new families this past month as they bring their kindergartners to our school to learn what we are about and what makes our school special. I proudly tell them the history of our school and the vision that we share. I have come to realize that not all parents have had a tour and the rich conversations that take place during one. Starting with this newsletter and over the next couple months I will retell the story of our reopening and the vision that we support.
Our school was reopened five years ago as result of a collaboration between local families, Sonoma State University (SSU) and Cotati Rohnert Park Unified School District (CRPUSD). The school vision and mission was developed and the school reopened with only two classrooms. Each year we have added one to two classes until we have reached our current enrollment of 230 students.
Our Vision
University Elementary School will empower children to become active, curious, creative, and effective thinkers in a diverse community of learners. Parents, community members, university students, SSU faculty, local teachers, administrators, and the children themselves will work collaboratively to create an effective, reflective, and joyful learning community.
The program is grounded in three tenets we believe are best for educating children:
Constructivism: Children learn best through active, hands-on, structured learning experiences that reflect their interests and take their developmental needs into account.
Diversity: All children benefit from learning about life around the world and from working alongside others who are both similar to and different from themselves.
Community: Schools and communities are enhanced when educators, parents, children, and members of the local community work together.
Along with our vision is our mission statement:
The mission of our school is to establish, expand and sustain an environment that is safe and enables every student to attain a high level of academic achievement as determined by state and national standards. Students are empowered to become active, curious, creative, and effective thinkers through hands on experiential learning opportunities and project based learning. Our school is committed to delivering a support system to assure these outcomes.
We, the staff, PTA, School Site Council, SSU, the Garden Committee, and Michael Knappman (docent for our Laguna walks) have consistently kept this vision in the forefront of our minds as we come to school each day to build programs that develop and sustain the vision and mission of our school. We take pride in the work we do and what we have accomplished in five short years. Work we could not have achieved without the support of our community. The goal of our University Elementary School community is that all community members make a commitment to all our students to participate in the success of our programs. This can be achieved through volunteering, field trip donations and fundraising support.
*It is never too late to join PTA. Your membership and participation is important to our school.
Next month . . . Program descriptions
March is coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb! Just look at all the goings on this month. We will be focusing on kindness, compassion and respect school wide this month. Students in each class will develop a slogan in support of our focus which will be presented during an assembly. The teachers will then evaluate the slogans and determine a school wide slogan.
School Safety
In response to the most recent tragedy in Florida, we have made a revision to our fire emergency protocol. We will still sound the fire drills once a month but instead of all students meeting outside teachers will check for the smell of smoke in their immediate location. If they do not smell smoke or see fire, they will stay in their classroom unless directed by the principal or the teacher-in-charge. While the teachers are checking their immediate vicinity, the custodian and I will survey the site to determine if next steps are necessary. Teachers will be given a clear direction to stay put or evacuate to designated area ASAP. Please know that we do have protocols in place for a variety of emergencies including fire, earthquake, lockdown, and active shooter. In instances where we must leave the campus, we have a designated meeting location and different routes that can be taken. We will also inform parents by texting to let them know of the situation and then twenty minutes later provide an update. I will be sending home a hard copy emergency release form for you to complete and return. I know that we have your emergency contact information however, in the event of a catastrophic earthquake or necessary evacuation, I would like to know that I have hard copies with up to as many as ten names of trusted individuals we could release your child to. Rest assured that if you are unable to come pick up your child, we will keep your child sheltered, fed and cared for until you or a designated person on your list can come. If you have any questions or concerns please contact me at Charlotte_Straub@crpusd.org . I am happy to meet with you to address your concerns.
New Administrator
Please help me in welcoming Maya Nava. She is a program specialist in our district and is currently earning an Administration Credential. As of February 1st, she has been transitioning to our school full-time. Maya is a wonderful addition to our staff and we hope that you will welcome her as warmly as you have everyone here at University Elementary.
Garden
Starting off the month is the Flower Power bulb and seed mat sales. Proceeds from the sales will go directly toward supporting our garden coordinator. She spends two full days a week working with our students enriching their classroom curriculum and managing the garden. Students will be bringing home information on Monday, March 5th. The sales window is March 5th through March 16th. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Do you enjoy Paint Nites? You can also support our garden program by joining us for an evening of fun on Friday, March 23rd at 7:00pm. The event takes place at Sally Tomatoes.
You can purchase your tickets online: https://www.paintnite.com/events/university-elementary-school-garden-fundraiser-3-23-18-10050398
We have currently filled thirty of the necessary thirty-five seats we need to fill. Please join us.
Mark your calendars:
Garden Community Work Day –Sunday, March 25th 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Earth Day Celebration in the Garden– Sunday, April 22nd 12:00pm to 3:00pm. There will be kids crafts, potato sack races, snacks, Raffle and a plant sale.
Jump Rope for Heart
It has become a tradition here at University Elementary School to participate in Jump Rope for Heart. We will have our “Kick off” at our March 13th assembly. Our main event will be on Friday, March 30th at 1:00pm.
Report Cards
Report cards will be sent home on Friday, March 9th. Please review your child’s report card. Remember to praise their successes and also discuss ways to strengthen any areas that need shoring up. If your student is not meeting standards, make a commitment to work with your student so that they can meet standards by the end of the year. Contact your student’s teacher for ideas on how to best support your student. Together we can make a difference for your child.
Charlotte's Web
Our evening performances will be the RED cast Wednesday, March 21st and the BLUE cast Thursday, March 22nd at 6:30pm. This will be a ticketed event to ensure seating. Tickets will be free although we will gladly accept donations the evenings of the play. Ticket information will be sent out very soon.
Japanese Cultural Exchange
Last year we had the wonderful opportunity to host a group of Japanese students. It was quite a learning opportunity for all of us as we shared our culture and learned about theirs. We will have the honor of hosting another group of students from the same school this year on Monday, March 26.
help needed
We are still in need of noon duty supervisors. This is a perfect way you as a community member can support our school. It even comes with pay! Currently, our librarian, classroom aides, and yes, even our office manager fill in for these positions. When this happens that means that they still need a lunch break and that break will take away from time that could be spent with our students inside classrooms. Come May, our SSU students filling two of these positions will be returning home and again we will need people to come forward. Parents, I am asking again if anyone can commit to one hour a day either one day, two days, three days or four days a week.
- We need two adults on the kindergarten playground. We currently have one and she is no longer a parent at our school.
- We need two on the “big” playground. These are filled with two SSU students three days a week.
- We could always use extra bodies at the lunch tables too.
University Elementary
Email: charlotte_straub@crpusd.org
Website: www.crpusd.org/uelf
Location: 8511 Liman Way, Rohnert Park, CA, USA
Phone: 707-792-4840
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/University-Elementary-School-at-La-Fiesta-1628724350766801/
Twitter: @UELFSEAWOLVES