Dolphin Newsletter
May 6, 2023
Celebrate Asian American Pacific Islanders - May 2023
History of AAPI Heritage Month
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month) is an annual celebration that recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of Asian and Pacific Islander descent to the United States. The AAPI umbrella term includes cultures from the entire Asian continent—including East, Southeast and South Asia—and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. As of 2021, there were about 24 million people of Asian or Pacific Islander descent in the United States. According to the Pew Research Center, AAPI people are a diverse and growing population that make up about 7 percent of the total U.S. population. Like most commemorative months, Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month originated with Congress. In 1977 Reps. Frank Horton of New York introduced House Joint Resolution 540 to proclaim the first ten days in May as Pacific/Asian American Heritage Week. In the same year, Senator Daniel Inouye introduced a similar resolution, Senate Joint Resolution 72. Neither of these resolutions passed, so in June 1978, Rep. Horton introduced House Joint Resolution 1007. This resolution proposed that the President should “proclaim a week, which is to include the seventh and tenth of the month, during the first ten days in May of 1979 as ‘Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.’” This joint resolution was passed by the House and then the Senate and was signed by President Jimmy Carter on October 5, 1978 to become Public Law 95-419. This law amended the original language of the bill and directed the President to issue a proclamation for the “7 day period beginning on May 4, 1979 as ‘Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.’” During the next decade, presidents passed annual proclamations for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week until 1990 when Congress passed Public Law 101-283 which expanded the observance to a month for 1990. Then in 1992, Congress passed Public Law 102-450 which annually designated May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants. Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Dolphins in the Spotlight
Upcoming Events...
- Future SUPER minimum Day 11:30 Release Time: 6/9 (Last day of school)
May 8th : SBAC Testing Begins for Grades 3-8th (window May 8th-May 24th) (SBAC Schedule)
May 8th: Staff Appreciation Week May 8-12! 🥰
- 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: Great America Trip for 8th Graders! (Link to Permission Slip) (Spanish)
- June 2nd: 8th Grade Graduation Dance @ Clifford 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (8th graders only)
- June 6th: 8th Grade Trip to Bel Mateo Bowl & Round Table Pizza! (Link to Permission Slip) (Spanish)
June 8th : 8th Grade Graduation 5:30 at Canada College in the theater. (Tickets coming soon)
- New Students 23-24 TK & Kinder Student Play dates at Clifford! Saturday, June 24th from 1-3 and Sunday, August 13th from 10-12.
- MAZE Day August 11, 2023 AM 9-12 PM 3-6
- August 16th 2023, First Day of School!
Share Your Thanks and Appreciation for our Clifford Staff! Sign the Kudo Board!
Please let our teachers and staff know how much you appreciate them by sending a sweet message for all to see on the Kudo Board! Link: https://www.kudoboard.com/boards/rY3EsAxC#view
Message from Mr. Noyes
Dear Clifford families,
We wanted to take a moment to remind you that our annual state testing is starting on Monday. As we prepare for this important assessment, we would like to thank you for your continued support and encouragement of your child's academic success. We know that your partnership is instrumental in helping our students feel confident and prepared for the tests.
In addition to state testing,
May is also the month when we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week. We want to express our gratitude for our dedicated staff and teachers who work tirelessly every day to ensure that our students receive the best possible education. Their passion and commitment to student learning is truly remarkable, and we are fortunate to have such an outstanding team of educators.
We encourage you to take a moment to add to our Kudo Board to thank your child's teacher or a staff member who has made a positive impact on your child's educational journey. A simple note can go a long way in showing our staff and teachers how much they are valued.
As always, we appreciate your partnership and support in helping our students reach their full potential. Together, we can ensure that Clifford continues to thrive.
Jude Noyes
Tiffany and I would like to take a moment to give a big shout out to our English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) group! We are incredibly grateful for this involved group of parents who work tirelessly to ensure that our English Learner students receive the support and resources they need to succeed.
ELAC is an important forum for parents to learn about Clifford's programs and services for English Learner students, as well as provide feedback and input on how to improve these programs through our School Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA). The commitment and dedication of our ELAC members have helped to make a positive impact on our school community.
Thank you to all of our ELAC members for your hard work and unwavering support for our English Learner students. We appreciate you and all that you do!
CAASPP & CAST TESTING 3rd-8th Grade Starts Monday May 8!
Tips to Prepare for Testing
As state testing begins Monday and will runs until May 25th, it's important for your children to prepare both mentally and academically. Here are a few tips to help your children feel confident and prepared for the upcoming tests:
- Get enough sleep: Make sure your child gets a full night's rest the night before the test. Adequate sleep is essential for optimal cognitive function.
- Eat a nutritious breakfast: Provide your child with a healthy breakfast that will help sustain their energy throughout the testing period. Foods like whole grains, fruits, and protein are great choices.
- Review materials: Encourage your child to review any materials that they have been studying in class. This can include textbooks, study guides, and practice exams.
- Manage stress: Help your child manage stress by encouraging them to take breaks, engage in relaxation techniques like deep breathing, and focus on positive self-talk
- Stay positive: Remind your child that testing is simply an opportunity to demonstrate what they know, and that their worth is not defined by their test scores. Emphasize that they have worked hard to prepare and that you believe in them.
By following these tips, your child will be well-equipped to tackle the state testing with confidence and ease. Good luck to our Dolphins!
MIDDLE SCHOOL CHROMEBOOK INFORMATION
As state testing is quickly approaching, it's important that your child has the necessary tools to be successful. One important tool is a fully charged Chromebook. Your child will need a fully charged Chromebook for each day of testing in order to complete the tests online.
Please ensure that your child's Chromebook is charged each evening prior to testing day. It may also be helpful to have a charger available in case the battery runs low during testing. This will ensure that your child is able to complete the test without any disruptions or technical difficulties.
If you have any concerns or questions regarding the Chromebook or testing, please don't hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher, me or Tiffany.
SBAC Practice Tests!
The link below accesses both the practice and training tests portal. The practice tests provide students with grade-specific testing experiences that are similar in structure and format to the summative assessments. The training tests provide students with the opportunity to quickly become familiar with the software and interface features. The training tests are organized by grade bands (e.g., 3–5).
Please click on the Student Interface Practice & Training Tests, and it will log you in as a guest. The practice tests provide students with grade-specific testing experiences with content. The Training Tests provide students with the opportunity to become familiar with the testing tools.
Practice tests can be found at http://www.caaspp.org/practice-and-training/index.html
More Testing Tips!
- Get 8-10 hours of sleep the night before a test.
- Eat a healthy breakfast in the morning the day of the test.
- Drink plenty of water; it helps calm your nerves & helps you focus.
- Don't rush the morning of a test, arrive on time to school. (Late students will not be permitted into the test session)
- Read all directions and answer choices before picking an answer.
- Eliminate answer choices you know are incorrect.
- Pace yourself. Move on from challenging questions and go back to them later.
- If you are starting to lose focus, do a quick brain break.
- Don't leave any questions blank.
- Review your answers after completing all of the questions.
- Have a positive attitude.
- Remember we believe in you and we know that you are awesome no matter what!
Family Luau: Ticket Sales End Monday
Next Friday, May 12th, from 6-8PM is our long anticipated Ohana Luau! In order to finalize preparations, we are in the last days of ticket sales. Ticket purchasing will close this coming Monday, May 8th, at 11:59 PM and can be purchased by visiting the first link below. 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.
We can't thank the family members enough who have already signed up to help out on Thursday, May 11 and 12th to help with set-up, managing a station or donating items. If time permits, we are still looking for volunteers to manage our different stations for an hour during the luau! This will allow everyone to enjoy the festivities. Please consider signing up by clicking the link second below.
Dolphins' Ohana Luau! Purchase Tickets!
Dolphin's Ohana Luau! Volunteer!
24/7/365 Mental Health Care Coordination Service 4 RCSD Students Staff Families
We want to take a moment to recognize that May is Mental Health Awareness Month. This is a time when we acknowledge the importance of mental health and well-being for ourselves and those around us.
As a school, we believe that mental health is just as important as physical health, and we are committed to creating a supportive and inclusive environment that promotes positive mental health for our students and staff.
This month, we will be focusing on ways to support mental health and providing resources to our students and families. We encourage you to take the time to talk with your children about mental health, help them understand what it means, and encourage them to prioritize their mental health needs.
If you or your child are struggling with a mental health issue, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We have trained professionals available to offer guidance, support, and resources.
Let us use this month as an opportunity to come together and support one another in achieving better mental health and well-being.
Fill out this form to refer your child- Clifford School Counseling
Please see this resource for more support from our community for you and or your family.
California’s Statewide Hotlines/Resources
- Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 or text 838255 (24/7)
- Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 74174
- Veterans Suicide Crisis Line 1-800-8255 and Press 1
- California Parent and Youth Helpline 1-855-427-2736
Link: CalHOPE Home
8th Grade Graduation!
We are so excited to celebrate with our 8th grade students, staff, and families on 6/8/23 at 5:30 at the Theater at Canada College! Be on the lookout for tickets coming soon!
Incoming 9th Graders: Woodside High School Future Families
A new WHS Future Families webpage has been created by the Woodside High School Foundation to help incoming 9th graders and their families learn about school events that are fun to attend, and other news articles for future families.
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 hand it to the adult and a family member pick it up in the school office.
Food Delivery 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.
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 and your children in 2023-2024.
Redwood City School District Summer School 2023
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
Families should complete the District’s self-reporting form when reporting a student positive covid case. This form is available on the “Quicklinks” section of the RCSD website as well as all 12 school website
Jude Noyes- Principal (jnoyes@rcsdk8.net)
Tiffany Parrish- Assistant Principal (tparrish@rcsdk8.net)
School Office: 650-482-2402
We ARE the most incredible school in the Inner-Planetary Galactic Solar System...