Sycamore Leaf
September 18, 2021
Calendar
Saturday, September 18:
Last Day to Order Sycamore Gear, see below
Wednesday, September 29:
Picture Day-all students have an individual picture taken (no class photos at this time)
Monday to Friday, October 4-8:
Goal Setting Conferences-Minimum Day Schedule, first to sixth grades dismiss at 1:00 PM daily
Last day to order your Sycamore shirts, sweatshirts and gear!
We love Sycamore, and we love to wear our Sycamore Gear. This year's t-shirt design, created by Dexter Estrada, is highlighted in the calendar section above. This design is available on t-shirts, hats and sweatshirts. We're also selling Sycamore stickers. Fill out this order form to place your order. Payment can be made by CASH, CHECK (to Sycamore Elementary School) OR ZELLE. Zelle ID: sycamorepayments@gmail.com. Orders will be taken thru Saturday Sept 18th. You will receive a confirmation email of your order.
For previous year's designs, please call Tina Hensley at the main office. She is happy to show you what we have in stock.
Health Update
We want to sincerely THANK every family and staff member for their continued support of protocols to protect our staff and students. We will continue to monitor student health very carefully and will recommend testing when COVID-like symptoms are observed.
CUSD offers COVID testing each Thursday at CHS from 3:30 to 5:00 PM and each Monday at El Roble from 2:00-4:00 PM. Use this form prior to going FIRST TIME TESTING FORM or go to: https://forms.gle/6Atym7i3JFPMcTLq6 . Walk-ups are allowed. Testing can also be obtained through one of the resources below or through your primary physician:
- LA County COVID testing locations: https://covid19.lacounty.gov/testing/
- San Bernardino County COVID testing location: https://sbcovid19.com/testing-sites/
- CUSD contracted testing location: Upland Ontario Medical Clinic, 1520 N Mountain Ave #128, Ontario, CA 91762, (909) 949-9299 (let them know you are a CUSD family).
This COVID-19 Flow Chart may also be helpful.
If we do have a positive case at our school, a notification will be sent to all families, and students considered to be close contacts will be notified separately.
Please be sure to report your child's absence right away. We will need to have the reason for the absence prior to a student's return to school. You can report the absence by emailing Norma at nperez@cusd.claremont.edu or by calling the 24-hour attendance line at 909-398-0325. Thank you!
Un-BE-LEAF-able Fun!
The "BE-LEAF in Sycamore" campaign will spread empowering messages and raise money for our school! You can help us welcome back students and share a little Sycamore pride by helping us BE-LEAF in families all over our community.
Our BE-LEAF fairies began granting wishes Saturday, September 11th and they will continue doing so until Sunday, October 10th. Don't delay! Check out our flyer and visit https://bit.ly/BELEAF SYCAMORE to get started!
But WAIT! - there's more! If you're able to plant BE-LEAF signs with us, we welcome your help. Join us in the fun by filling out the Sign-Up Genius, or texting Amy Carnes, Governance Community Ways and Means Chair, at (310) 980-2585.
Google Order Form
https://bit.ly/BELEAF SYCAMORE
Volunteer Sign Up
Principal's Report
The first few weeks are in the books! Students seem to be enjoying one another and sharing structured time together. In spaces all around campus, we're adjusting to learning in community and making choices that support one another.
We encourage students to use our schools’ four guiding questions as they make decisions around campus: Is it safe? Is it kind? Does it promote learning? Does it protect our school and the planet? At this time of year, students are talking with staff to describe what it looks like to make these kinds of choices in our learning spaces, our hallways, bathrooms, courtyards and playgrounds. These ideas become general expectations for the way we interact and use our community space, and these guiding questions continue to help students and staff make and discuss day to day choices throughout the year.
Over the next couple of weeks, we'll be talking more and more about the curricular plans for the school year. In addition to the content and skills laid out in the California Standards for grade levels http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/cc/ccssresourcesparents.asp , classrooms will discuss unique topics they'd like to learn about. A few of these will become the year's "Curriculum Planning" topics, ideas to explore as a class. During the first week of October, students and family members will meet with the teacher for individual Goal Setting Conferences where personalized goals for each child will be jointly outlined. Over time, this practice of setting manageable goals, planning actions and identifying necessary resources will help students build a growth mindset and become increasingly self-directed as learners. Additional information about Curriculum Planning and Goal Setting Conferences will come from your teachers over the coming weeks. Please plan now for 1:00 PM dismissal each day during the week of October 4-8 (K's continue to dismiss at 11:50 AM).
School-wide goals and plans are outlined in a Single Plan for Student Achievement (SPSA) each year. We'll draft goals as a school staff and Governance Council, then revisit the plan in Governance meetings throughout the school year. Everyone is welcome to join Governance meetings. Join us for our first meeting on October 13 at 6:00 PM.
Sustainability News at Sycamore
Sycamore is celebrating National Walk and Bike to School Day!
Elise Ferree (Sycamore’s Sustainability Coordinator) is looking to form a small team to plan and run the morning event on Wednesday, Oct 6. Possible roles include designing a flier, handing out stickers the day of the event, and serving as a walking school bus leader for families who want to walk together. Please email Elise at eferree@kecksci.claremont.edu if you’re able to help. And save the date – students living near and far from Sycamore will have options for participating!
Gardens
Please contact Elise (eferree@kecksci.claremont.edu) if you’d like to be involved with landscaping the east courtyard or any other garden-related projects at Sycamore this year.
Earthquake kits needed
Sycamore takes steps throughout the year to prepare students and staff for emergencies. We practice fire drills monthly, earthquake drills twice a year and lockdown responses four times per year.
Should we have an earthquake while at school, we have supplies to support students and staff while we wait for families to get to campus. As we wait, having a few family-provided supplies will be of comfort. Please create an "Earthquake Kit" for your child and send it to school by September 20. This kit will be stored on campus for the year and returned to you in June. Please enclose the following items in a Zip-loc bag and label the bag with your child’s name. If you need assistance, please let us know.
Emergency Kit
-1 completely self-contained meal (non-perishable foods that do not need cooking)
-1 individual serving of juice as necessary for health needs (water is stored on campus)
-1 Mylar blanket (available at Target, M&I Surplus or camping supply stores)
-1 small note pad and pencil/crayon, or a game
-1 packet of tissue
-1 personal note, poem, quote, or photo from a loved one addressed to the child
Thank you!
PICTURE DAY!
School business
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