The last days of school are always bittersweet. As the days warm, our excitement rises and we're usually ready to bound down the halls and out into summer. As we close this school year, it feels a little harder to let go. We have had a lot of change this year, and I think we are all learning that absorbing those changes takes some time. Because of this, and because so many have found being together again helpful, we're more reluctant to shift to summer.

We are looking forward to an exciting week for students. Many have plans for special class activities this week. Our students will turn in devices and continue with non-tech activities for the rest of the week. CHS Seniors who attended Sycamore will stop by Tuesday afternoon and leave some video messages to share with our students. On Wednesday, we will celebrate our sixth graders in their Sixth-Grade Send-off. We are anticipating news of changes in community protocols for LA County this week. As we have clarity about how those changes affect our school, I will communicate with you.

One more time, I'd like to sincerely thank our families for their support of staff and students this year. What a group effort! We look forward to seeing you in the fall. Until then, I hope your summer days afford your family some well-deserved rest.

Sincerely,

Amy Stanger

On Tuesday, June 15, in-person learners will return their iPads and chargers to their classrooms. It is important to return the iPad fully charged and save essential documents to Google Drive prior to returning the device. If keyboards were borrowed, these should also be returned at this time. CORE/CHAMP and students learning at home in Cohort D will come to campus from 1:00-4:00 on Wednesday to return iPads, keyboards and hotspots. Again, you will need to save anything from the iPad to Google Drive prior to coming and bring the device fully charged. Don't forget the chargers! If you have any questions or concerns, please give us a call in the school office.

Teachers will describe the tech-free learning activities for Wednesday and Thursday.

Tuesday, June 15 students attending in person return all iPads, chargers, hotspots and keyboards to school

Wednesday, June 16 Sixth Grade Send-Off, 9:00 AM (ticketed guests only)

Wednesday, June 16 Students in CORE, CHAMP and Cohort D return all iPads, chargers, hotspots and keyboards to school, 1:00-4:00 PM

Thursday, June 17 Last Day of School

Report cards will be mailed home.

Just a few days ago, we honored our Publishing House authors. These students elected to create a book and take it through all the steps to publish a copy for our school library. As always, they brought forward an amazing collection of creative ideas. We had collections of photography, non-fiction texts, stories in graphic format, touching narratives, hilarious tales, and magical fantasies. Stories can be accessed in our Publishing House Archive (Password: sycamore225). Publishing House is made possible by volunteers to who support authors in their process. If you'd like to help, contact me or use the link above to contact Joanna Lord, our amazing PH Coordinator.

Much like our students, distance learning has impacted our parents' ability to connect with their school-based friends. We'd like to improve upon that and make sure every family feels connected and informed as a member of our school. This fall, we hope to offer new(er) families the option of having a "buddy family," a Sycamore family who would communicate via email, phone or in person to welcome and acclimate them to the routines, activities and unique learning environment of Sycamore. If this idea is of interest to you, either as a new(er) family or as a supporting "buddy" family, please send me an email. We thank you for your help!

Registration for BLAST, CUSD's childcare program for before and after school, is open for the upcoming school year. Interested families can sign up at the Child Development webpage Fees for next year are explained on the website.

This past week, our teaching team and Claremont Faculty Association recognized Peter Flores as an "Epic Ally." Peter is a custodian here at Sycamore, and he has been phenomenal in helping our school throughout distance learning. When the campus was closed, Peter cleaned, organized and painted. As we prepared to open, he moved furniture to allow for social distancing. When we shifted from two to four in-person days, he quickly moved things back in, so we could seat full classrooms. In our school's Phase 2 videos, Peter coached students on the the school's safety procedures. Currently, you'll see Peter in the crosswalk, welcoming students onto and off of campus. He does it all! Congratulations, Peter, an essential ally for our school.

Please consider participating in a service project sponsored by one of our Girl Scout Troops.

Sycamore Girl Scout Junior Troop 5604 now has a public Amazon wishlist that you can access and purchase donations that will be shipped directly to the team helping the migrant children at the Pomona Fairplex, at:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/8M17LGGA953W

We will collect new items at the school as well. Our last day of collection will be Thursday.

Your donations will make aspects of the migrant children's adjustment much easier, and will help them feel more welcome. Please share this Amazon wishlist with family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers!