TIMBERWOLF TALK DECEMBER 2019
a newsletter for Parents, Staff & Students
A Message from our Principal.....
The holiday season has officially arrived, and we have so much to celebrate and be thankful for. I am very proud of the John Muir School community, and am grateful for the opportunity to work with our students, staff and families everyday.
I would like to take a moment to acknowledge and appreciate our wonderful John Muir staff. I feel privileged to work with such a dynamic and dedicated group of educators, and appreciate that you always go above and beyond for our students. I am also very grateful for our supportive and engaged parent community. Thank you for the many ways you give your time in support of our students and staff--we could not do this work without you. Finally, I am inspired and honored to work with our amazing students. They impress me daily with their hard work, honesty and kindness.
Construction continues! As you can see we have the frame of the building now. It is very exciting for all of us to see the progress. Thank you for your continued patience as we navigate this continued process.
I wish everyone great joy, rest and relaxation with family and friends during the holiday break. It is a wonderful time to reconnect and enjoy family and friends.
Happy Holidays!
Kathleen Frazer, Principal
December Upcoming Events:
December 23-January 7th No SCHOOL Winter Break
2 Special Announcements for John Muir Elementary
Did you know... the first wall was put up for the new John Muir Campus. Thanks to the support of our community and the passage of Measure R, we are able to fund the construction of a new campus for John Muir Elementary. But, we have even more exciting news about John Muir.
Did you know...John Muir Elementary was just announced as one of five elementary schools in all of Contra Costa that is eligible for application become to a "California Distinguished School for 2020". The California Department of Education has set specific criteria for eligibility and recently announced the list of eligible schools in California. Applications must be filed with the state by December 6, 2019, but it is already a great honor for the Timberwolves to be recognized along with these five other school in Contra Costa County.
Lafayette School District - Burton Valley Elementary
Martinez Unified School District - John Muir Elementary
Mt. Diablo Unified School District - Silverwood Elementary
San Ramon Valley Unified - Hidden Hills Elementary
San Ramon Valley Unified - Sycamore Valley Elementary
Timberwolf Trot Update:
December 20, 2019 Minimum Day
1st-5th Grade 8:15-12:00
AM Kinder 8:00-11:20
PM Kinder & TK 8:00-11:20
Please be on time picking up your students.
Winter Break 2019
Happy New Year 2020
Citizens Oversight Committee
The Citizens Oversight Committee for Measure Q is in need of three more members. There are approximately 2 meetings per year. Please see the application below and return the attached application if you are interested in participating.
Attendance Matters!
Parents,
Are you planning a family trip for the holidays? As you think about your arrangements, we want to stress the importance of sending your child to school every day possible. Every year, absences spike in the weeks before and after the winter holiday as families squeeze in a few more vacation days. It’s time to break that cycle. We know that just a few missed days here and there, even if they’re excused absences, can add up to too much lost learning time and put your child behind in school. This is as true in kindergarten as it is in high school. Put simply, too many absences at any age can affect a student’s chances for academic success and eventually for graduation.
We recognize that holidays are an important time for reconnecting with families far away. The costs of plane tickets often influence when you want to travel. But keep in mind the costs to your children’s education if they miss too much school— and the message you will be sending about the importance of attendance. Even if you’ve got a homework packet from the teacher, it doesn’t make up for the interaction and learning that happens in the classroom. Our teachers will be teaching, and our students will be learning, right up until vacation starts and the first day back. You can help us convey that message. This holiday season, give your children the gift of an education and the habit of attendance.