Sycamore Leaf

January 22, 2022

Calendar

Calendar

January 24-28 is California's Great Kindness Challenge Week


January 24 @ 9:00 AM Sycamore's Kindergarten Open House, Zoom (see below)


February 4, Making Change entries due (see below)

Calendar
Principal's Report and Health Update

Principal's Report and Health Update

We are thrilled to see continued improvement with regard to community health. This week, the number of reported positive cases have declined notably, and we've had even fewer notices of school exposure. We are experiencing shorter wait times for PCR test results, and rapid antigen tests are helping identify cases within quarantine windows. Your quick response to protocols and open communication is greatly appreciated. We all benefit from this tight teamwork!


Families, please keep the following in mind as we move forward. Continue to check for school emails daily. This is how we notify you of exposures or policy changes. Communicate with the office as soon as you have information about symptoms, an exposure for your child or a positive test result in your family. Keep your child home at the first sign of illness. If COVID symptoms do appear, students will need to take a PCR test. These are offered at CUSD sites throughout the week (see schedule below). Test regularly through CUSD and/or purchase rapid antigen tests to help you monitor your family’s health. Make sure your child’s mask fits snugly; if your child needs a mask, we will be happy to provide them.


We report all our site data to the LACDPH. Due to the number of positive cases identified following winter break, we met the criteria for an "outbreak." As a support, the LA County Department of Public Health will meet with us to review our site's data and implementation of protocols. We look forward to their guidance. I will share any findings with the community once we have them. We will also continue to share our site's data with you within the CUSD dashboard on the district's website. You should know that numbers are cumulative from September. We do include all positive cases reported, including cases that began over school holidays and cases related to family or community exposure. If you have any questions about this data, please let me know.


Your communication, patience, and attention to protocols have been key during this surge. As a staff, we are incredibly thankful for the support and kindness shown by our families. Please continue to let us know of your needs and thoughts as we move forward.

Sincerely,

Amy Stanger

Principal's Report and Health Update

Kindergarten Open House

A virtual Kindergarten Open House will be offered this Monday, January 24 at 9:00 AM. This meeting is designed for families of students who will start kindergarten in the fall of 2022. The meeting will provide an overview of Sycamore School so that parents can decide where they would like to enroll their child. Our meeting will be recorded. I will post the video link on our school's website by Tuesday morning so that others can view it. See the District's website for details on the Open House schedules of other schools and all registration forms. Registration dates for Sycamore are February 15, 16 and 17.

We will host an outdoor tour of our site on Tuesday the 25th from 3:30 PM to 4:00 PM. The tour will be for adults only. It will provide a sense for our campus spaces, but due to current precautions, it will not include interactions with staff.

Use the Zoom link below to join Monday's Kindergarten Open House meeting:

https://cusd-claremont-edu.zoom.us/j/85329399543?pwd=Vk8xMmdyNjFOZXM1eFZvenZaYi9lUT09

Meeting ID: 853 2939 9543

Passcode: 130825


Please be aware: the eligibility age for transitional kindergarten has changed, any child that turns 5 years old between September 2 and February 2 is eligible for transitional kindergarten.

Making Change Contest

Each year, the City of Claremont and Claremont Unified School District present the Making Change Contest. This gives our students an opportunity to study, and recognize those individuals who took action to support human rights. CHS students may enter based on directions for their age. See this flyer for details. Entries are due by February 4.

Parent and Community Survey-Open Now

Claremont Unified School District is committed to hearing from all members of our community. We believe the input we receive helps us to move toward continued excellence. Surveys allow parents and community members, staff and students (grades 4 and above) to give us important feedback to better serve our students. We are requesting a few minutes of your time to complete our Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) Parent and Community Survey. It can be accessed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/22Community or by visiting the District website and selecting the LCAP link on our homepage. The link will be active through February 6, 2022 so please take the survey over the next two weeks. Thank you.

"Wood you be mine?"

"Wood you be mine?"

"WOOD you be Mine?'' will kick off this Monday, Jan 24th. The local Sawdust Factory has kindly created WOODEN heart craft kits for families to take home and paint. Kits will be delivered to Sycamore the week of Feb 7th and come home with your student. Orders will be taken until Feb 2nd. If you are able, please consider "gifting a kit" to a fellow student. Each kit includes a wooden heart piece, paint and paintbrush. We hope this activity brings a little Sycamore love to our families. To purchase or gift a kit, click here.
"Wood you be mine?"

Important Protocol and Testing Updates

It is essential that everyone is feeling well while at school. Ask your child how they are feeling before leaving for school, and keep your student at home is any symptoms are present. Use our 24 hour attendance line, 909-398-0325, to contact Norma or email her using our NEW ATTENDANCE email at SYC_Attendance@cusd.claremont.edu.


If a child does not feel well while at school, a family member will be contacted to immediately pick up the student. We also ask that you stay in contact regarding any positive cases or exposures for your child as all exposures have the potential for impact on others.


Please be aware that masking is key. We continue to wear masks indoors and new protocols require masking when we are in close proximity outside. This means we are asking kids to wear masks while walking in the hall, waiting in line at the ball wall, or playing a sport where they're in close contact. Please remind your students of this safety expectation.


Our students eat outside each day. On cooler days, please send your child with a jacket and/or dressed in a way that they will be comfortable sitting outside for their breakfast, snack and lunch. Since jackets often get taken off later in the day, please put your child's name on the tag of the jacket. That makes it easier to return the jacket to your child.


Don't forget, personal water bottles are key! Students need to remain hydrated to stay healthy, and our water fountains are closed except to water bottle filling. Refillable bottles are much more efficient that providing disposable cups.


PCR testing for COVID-19 will be required prior to the return to school if COVID symptoms are present. CUSD will continue to provide testing at school sites (see below). If this is your first time attending one of our testing sites, see the link below to access a one-time testing form.

Student Testing Form

Adult Testing Form


CUSD's Weekly Testing Sites this week:

Monday: at El Roble from 2:00-4:00 PM and Sycamore from 2:45-3:45 PM

Tuesday: at Vista del Valle Elementary from 2:45-3:45 PM.

Wednesday: at Sumner-Danbury Elementary from 1:00-2:00 PM

Thursday: at Taylor Hall, just above CHS from 3:30-5:00 PM


Testing can also be obtained through one of the resources below or your physician:

Equity and Inclusion Book Club

Equity and Inclusion Book Club

Sycamore’s Equity & Inclusion Committee will host a February event, a discussion of Resmaa Menakem’s book about racism and body-centered trauma, titled My Grandmother’s Hands (2017). The book discussion, co-sponsored with El Roble’s E&I Committee, will take place virtually on Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2022 from 6-7:30pm PST. Please register at https://bit.ly/34gPM9f to receive zoom information and suggested reading sections. We also have some complimentary copies of the book available. Reach out to Anthea Kraut (anthea.kraut@ucr.edu) to request a copy.

Equity and Inclusion Book Club
Sycamore and Uncommon Good Citrus Exchange

Sycamore and Uncommon Good Citrus Exchange

Our Citrus Exchange with Uncommon Good has been successful. Thank you for bringing your donations to the gates each Wednesday. We will continue collecting, trading and enjoying our local produce through the end of harvest season.

Sycamore and Uncommon Good Citrus Exchange
East Courtyard Work continues

East Courtyard Work continues

Landscaping work continues in the East Courtyard. Keep watching for changes as you drive or stroll by the corner of Harvard and 8th Street! The project is being funded by our Governance Council and Sustainable Claremont. It is powered by volunteers! If you would like to volunteer or donate, please email Elise Ferree at eferree@kecksci.claremont.edu.
East Courtyard Work continues
Contact Information

Contact Information

Contact Information
Amy Stanger, Principal astanger@cusd.claremont.edu

Tina Hensley, Office Manager thensley@cusd.claremont.edu

Norma Perez, Attendance and Health Assistant nperez@cusd.claremont.edu

225 West 8th Street, Claremont, CA, USA astanger@cusd.claremont.edu (909)398-0324 sycamore.cusd.claremont.edu