Voyager Family News
Week of September 23, 2019
Strand Spotlights and Info
ANCHORED4LIFE CLUB: We are seeking 2 adult advisors for our SSES A4L Club, a military-sponsored organization which unites school staff, students, and advisors to support leadership opportunities, life skills, and resiliency for new and transitioning students. Being an advisor requires attending a six-hour daytime training session on Friday October 25 at SSES. Please email MFLC.Strand@coronadousd.net if you are interested in this Voyager volunteer opportunity!
AFTER-SCHOOL ENRICHMENT CLUBS: If your child is in an after-school club, please look for the "Acknowledgment of Liability" form your child will bring home this and next week, and return to the front office. Thank you!
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MESSAGES FOR STUDENTS DURING SCHOOL HOURS: Please make sure you communicate with your child before school regarding where they should go or who will be picking them up after school. Classrooms will not be interrupted to relay these messages or to remind students. Only in the case of an emergency will the office forward messages from parent to student or teacher during the school day. To ensure a good learning environment and to prevent unnecessary classroom disruptions, non-emergency messages will not be delivered. Children are discouraged from making telephone calls during the school day except in an emergency. Please help your child develop a routine of placing items that must be brought to school in a designated place the night before. This will ensure that lunch money, books, homework, etc. will not be left at home.
WELLNESS POLICY: Our district's wellness policy encourages healthy choices and options during school hours. The policy prohibits bringing food items to share for birthday celebrations. We appreciate your understanding that given the range of dietary restrictions due to allergies and sugar sensitivity, fairer and safer treats to consider for peers are pencils, stickers, etc. if you choose to acknowledge your child's birthday at school. Also remember that you have an option to have your child's "Name in Lights" on the marquee on their birthday through a donation to PTO! Send your request in writing (child's name, date for marquee) and a check for $20 to SSES PTO attention Kimberley Junk.
- CLOTHING: We encourage you to send your children in clothes that facilitate their activities throughout the day and keep them safe. Remember that wearing closed-toe shoes to school is part of our dress code and makes PE and recess safer and more accessible!
- Furry Friends: We love our Voyager family dogs, and love that they accompany our students on their walks to school. Thank you for understanding, though, that due to allergies and other safety concerns, we cannot invite dogs onto the flagpole plaza or up to gates to reunite with students. Some of our dogs and parents wait by the parking lot near Strand Hall or across the street to reunite with students.
- GAGA PIT IN ACTION: Our SSES PTO generously donated a Gaga Pit to our school! The Gaga Pit will is available for play by 1st through 5th graders at morning and lunch recess. We are excited to incorporate a new activity for students, which many of our Voyagers are familiar with from camps and community centers. Curious about what Gaga is? Learn more here!
- This week’s theme is OUR ENVIRONMENT: Youth activists and organizations are mobilizing this month to raise awareness of climate concerns and to pledge reductions in use of fossil fuels. We had a few students share at Friday Flagpole all the ways they are supporting the environment, including watering plants at night, and organizing hazardous waste pickups. We are proud of our students who are able to walk, bike, bus, and/or scooter to school. What are other ways our students can help and protect our natural resources? We encourage family discussions at home!
Running Club Starts in October! New time: Tuesday and Thursday mornings!
Calendar Events
This Week and Next:
Thurs 9/26: Late-Start: all students start at 10:00AM
Fri 9/27: ICE CREAM FRIDAY & 5th Grade Bring a Parent to Lunch (11:30 AM)
Sat 9/28: Coronado Cays 50th Celebration, 2-9 PM
Wed 10/2: Jackson's 4th Grade Field Trip to Maritime Museum
Thurs 10/3: PTO Meeting, 8:30-9:30
Fri 10/4: Everyone a Reader Volunteer Tutor Training: 8:30-10:30 AM in the SSES Library
Fri 10/4: PE and Family Fitness Fun Night sponsored by PTO (Time TBD in the evening)
And Beyond:
Mon 10/14: District Holiday/No School
Fri 10/25: 4th Grade Bring a Parent to Lunch (11:30 AM)
11/4-8: Parent-Teacher Conferences (Students Early Release at 1:40)
Mon 11/11: Veteran's Day Holiday/No School
Fri 11/15: PTO Family Fun Night at SSES
11/25-29: Thanksgiving Holiday/No School
12/9-13: Holiday Shoppe at SSES
Fri 12/20-1/3/20: Winter Holiday/No School
Mon 1/6/20: School Resumes
Fri 1/17/20: Teacher Workday/No School for Students
Mon 1/20/20: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday/No School
Thurs 1/30: Late-Start: all students start at 10:00AM
Fri 1/31: 3rd Grade Bring a Parent to Lunch (12:15PM)and PTO Family Fun Night at SSES
Fri 2/14-Mon 2/17: Presidents' Weekend/No School
Thurs 2/27: Spring Open House
Fri 2/28: 2nd Grade Bring a Parent to Lunch (12:15)
Fri 3/13: PTO Family Fun Night
Wed 3/18, 4:30-9 PM: CSF Telethon at CHS
Thurs 3/19: Late-Start: all students start at 10:00AM
Fri 3/27: 1st Grade Bring a Parent to Lunch (11:50)
3/30-4/3: Spring Break Holiday/No School
Tues 4/7-Thurs 4/9: Spring Parent-Teacher Conferences (Students Early Release)
Fri 4/10-Mon 4/13: District Holiday/No School
Fri 4/24: Kindergarten Bring a Parent to Lunch (11:50) and SSES Luau
5/25/20: Memorial Day Holiday/No School
6/11/20: 5th Grade Promotion/Last Day of School/Early Release
Morning Dropoff and Afternoon Pickup in 2019-20
Our new bell schedule means ALL students TK-5th Grade will start school at 8:10 AM (same as this past year), and ALL Kindergarten-5th Graders will release at 2:55 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and at 1:40 on Wednesdays (Transitional Kindergarten will release at 11:50 each day). Our afternoon pickup time will be BUSY! Your cooperation with protocols and safety provisions will be essential for smooth and safe transitions for students.
Adult supervision outside school in the morning does not begin until 7:50 AM; please do not plan to drop your child off prior to this time unless they are participating in band/choir/other officially supervised school activities.
IN THE MORNINGS: TK and Kindergarten students will line up outside the gate to the right of our office door each morning by 8:05 AM to be picked up by their teachers and escorted to class. First graders will enter the same gate and proceed to class at the first bell. All other grades enter the gates to the left by Strand Hall when the first bell rings to line up by class on the blacktop.
IN CASE OF RAIN OR INCLEMENT WEATHER, students will report to Strand Hall and line up in designated areas in the Hall.
At the end of the school day, Kindergarten teachers will escort their students to the PRESCHOOL GATE for parent pickup ahead of other students, so parents of kindergarteners should plan for their students to be ready to reunite with you 5-10 minutes before 2:55 (or 1:40 on Wednesdays).
We anticipate a VERY BUSY afternoon pickup each day, with more students releasing at the same time! It will be critical that all drivers follow our safety protocols and plan for efficient reunification with students. We encourage those students/families who can walk/bike/scooter to do so!
Crosswalk Safety
Dropoff/Pickup Safety
Meet Our Board and Join our PTO!
Welcome to our new PTO Board:
- President: Lauren Koehler
- Vice President Lori Blauert
- Treasurer: Leslie Broussard
- Secretary: Leigh-ann Williamson
- Parliamentarian: Becca Kofonow
- Luau Coordinator: Heather Pettit
- PTO Advisor: Nellie Ritter
In addition to building community, supporting curriculum, and enriching students' school experience, the Silver Strand PTO is responsible for Family Fun Nights, Holiday Shoppe, Yearbook and Luau to name a few. Our fundraising efforts provide for school field trips and enrichments clubs. We are unable to do what we do without the support of Silver Strand families, teachers and staff. Your first opportunity to support our endeavors this year is by joining the PTO. You can join online now! Link: http://bit.ly/2yMRMTL Please let us know on our membership form where you would like to help us with your time and talents.
After-School Enrichment Clubs
Our SSES PTO is proud to sponsor and coordinate after-school enrichment clubs for students in grades K-5 from 3-4 PM Monday through Thursday (note that these clubs are not part of the CUSD/SSES instructional day, and clubs are run by private organizations/non-CUSD employees).
SSES Teacher Karen Pierro works with our PTO as a coordinator/liaison.
The Clubs Schedule is posted here.
Community Agreements and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support
Coronado SAFE Events and Activities
Coronado SAFE supports healthy families and children through workshops/"coffee talks," school programs, speakers, and counseling.
SAFE is on campus at SSES for the next few weeks teaching self regulation skills to our kindergarteners with a curriculum called "Turtle Talk." Ask your student all about it!
Military Connections
Silver Strand Elementary School is SO fortunate to have the full-time services of our very own MFLC (Military Family Life Counselor), Marie Millard! Our MFLC is available to help students through the emotions and transitions associated with military life.
ANCHORED4LIFE CLUB: We are seeking 2-3 adult advisors for our SSES A4L Club, a military-sponsored organization which unites school staff, students, and advisors to support leadership opportunities, life skills, and resiliency for new and transitioning students. Being an advisor requires attending a six-hour daytime training session on Friday October 25 at SSES. Please email MFLC.Strand@coronadousd.net if you are interested in this Voyager volunteer opportunity!
Nominations and Applications Open for Operation Homefront’s 2020 Military Child of the Year® Awards
ABOUT THE AWARDS
Six Military Child of the Year® (MCOY) Awards are presented to one outstanding child from each service branch: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and the National Guard. The awards recognize the recipients for their resiliency, leadership, and achievement during their parents’ service. Each recipient receives a free trip along with two guests to Washington, D.C., a laptop, and a cash award of $10,000.
The seventh award is the Military Child of the Year® Award for Innovation. This award goes to a military child who has designed a bold and creative solution to address a local, regional, or global challenge. The recipient receives a $10,000 cash award, a laptop, a free trip along with two guests to Washington, D.C., and donated business expertise in bringing the solution to market. Booz Allen Hamilton has presented this award and provided the experts for the last four years.
Recipients and their families will arrive in Washington, D.C., on March 30-31, 2020, for events, tours, and activities leading up to the Awards Gala. The gala will be held the evening of Thursday, April 2, 2020.
ELIGIBILITY
All applicants must meet each of the following eligibility criteria:
- Be a legal dependent of a service member or military retiree (Finalists must provide DEERS enrollment form)
- Be between the ages of 13-18 at time of nomination
- Be able to travel to Washington, D.C., to attend the MCOY Gala and other events (March 30 or 31 – April 3, 2020)
- Agree to a background check (if selected as finalist)
- Provide letters of recommendation (if selected as a semifinalist)
- Be willing to participate in media and donor opportunities
WHO MAY NOMINATE FOR THE MILITARY CHILD OF THE YEAR® AWARD
Parents, siblings, teachers, coaches, clergy, neighbors, grandparents, and anyone familiar with the child’s achievements.
HOW TO NOMINATE SOMEONE FOR A MILITARY CHILD OF THE YEAR® SERVICE BRANCH AWARD
Simply go to www.militarychildoftheyear.org and click the Nominations tab. Nomination fields include when and how long a parent has deployed, number of family moves, Gold Star Family or EFMP status, whether a parent is a wounded service member, nominee’s volunteerism, and five short answers as to why the nominee is deserving.
HOW TO APPLY FOR THE MILITARY CHILD OF THE YEAR® AWARD FOR INNOVATION
Youth ages 13-18 may apply for the Innovation Award at www.militarychildoftheyear.org during the application period. They are not required to be nominated by another person.
WHEN TO NOMINATE OR APPLY
The nomination and application periods open September 17, 2019, and close December 9, 2019, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern.
QUESTIONS
Please visit our website, www.militarychildoftheyear.org, and click (FAQs) frequently asked questions. The website provides a wealth of program details, including profiles of previous recipients. For further information, contact Jenny Valderas, Director of Family Support Services, (210) 549-4603 or Jenny.Valderas@operationhomefront.org.
Military Spouse Support Meetings:
Village Wed. Nov. 20 8:30-9:30 Building Resiliency in Children
Strand Wed. Feb. 19 8:30-9:30 Supporting Your Child Through Deployment
ECDC Wed. May 20 8:30-9:30 Transitions
For information about military-sponsored activities for youth, visit the Fleet and Family Services website here.
Coronado Public Library Opportunities and Events
Explore the Microcosmos with Foldscopes
Join the worldwide movement of microscope makers by building your own Foldscope, the portable paper microscope. We will also introduce the design principles of microscopes and learn how to prepare slides to explore a variety of samples. This program is open to all ages, but scientists under 12 should bring an adult collaborator. Register by family or for single participants at the Children's Reference desk or call the Library at 619-522-7390.
Saturday, Sept 14 at 2-4pm, Winn Room
Brain Workshop
Have you ever wanted to see a real brain? Come to the Brain Workshop where scientists from SDSU Brain Development Imaging Labs will dissect a sheep's brain. Attendees will get a chance to touch or even hold the brain! Register by calling the Library at 619-522-7390 or signing up at the Children's Reference Desk. For grades 1-5.
Thursday, Sept 19 at 3:30pm, Ruby Room
Makey Makey Workshop
With the use of Scratch programming (developed
at MIT) and Makey Makey hardware, we are going to explore how different sounds are created and create our own interpretations of a common musical instrument ... the xylophone! Register by calling the Library at 619-522-7390 or at the Children's Reference Desk. For grades 1-5.
Thursday, Sept 26 at 3:30pm, Ruby Room
Elizabeth Page
Senior Librarian – Head of Youth Services
Coronado Public Library
640 Orange Avenue
Coronado, CA 92118
(619) 522-2471
2019-20 Parent and Student Handbook
Stay Connected with Silver Strand Elementary School!!
Check out and "like" our Facebook page to see photos of student events and programs! https://www.facebook.com/Silver-Strand-Elementary-School-176775765849277/