GATORAID

School Phone: 408-252-5414 ~ Absence Line 408-252-5414-6 ~ FAX 408-996-9725

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SCHOOL CALENDAR
JANUARY 14, 2010

1/15 SCHOOL SPIRIT DAY - “CRAZY HAT”

1/18 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY - NO SCHOOL

1/20 3:45 p.m. SCHOOL SITE COUNCIL MEETING

1/20 7:00 p.m. S’COOL SPIRIT WINTER CONCERT - GLC
1/25 8:30 a.m. KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION PACKETS AVAILABLE
1/26 6:00 p.m. C.U.S.D. BOARD MTG. - DISTRICT BOARD ROOM
1/30 5:30 p.m. CEEF GALA - FAIRMONT HOTEL, SAN JOSE
2/1-2/11 KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION PACKETS DUE
2/1 SCHOOL SPIRIT DAY - “100TH DAY OF SCHOOL”
2/4 7:15 p.m. PTA MEETING - GLC
2/5-2/11 OPEN ENROLLMENT & ALTERNATIVE ED. ENROLLMENT REGISTRATION
2/9 6:00 p.m. C.U.S.D. BOARD MTG. - DISTRICT BOARD ROOM
2/9 6:30-8:00 p.m. BOOK EXCHANGE AND LITERACY NIGHT
2/9 6:30-7:15 p.m. BOOK EXCHANGE - GRADES K-2
2/9 7:30-8:00 p.m. BOOK EXCHANAGE - GRADES 3-5
2/12 VALENTINE DAY CLASS PARTIES

2/15-2/19 MID-YEAR RECESS - NO SCHOOL

Parent Traffic Duty: January 19th - 22nd Parents from Rm. #18
PRE-PAY FOR CUSD LUNCHES at PAMS (Parent Account Management System) Lunchroom! You can make payments and
view your students account balance online by going to http://www.pamslunchroom.com or by calling 1-888-994-5100.
TO EMAIL STAFF:lastname_firstname@cusdk8.org
ATTENDANCE: If your child will be absent, please call 252-5414. Ext. 6, by 8:30 a.m. to report the absence.
HOMEWORK: Homework may be requested for illness absences of three days or more. Please call the office before 9:00
a.m. to request the homework for pickup after 3:00 p.m.
EVERY TUESDAY IS EARLY DISMISSAL – Students are dismissed at 1:30.
 FROM OUR PRINCIPAL....MRS. WOOD! PAGE 2

Remember: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, January 18

No School
This week your children are learning many new things, including information
about Martin Luther King, Jr. In my readings, I came across the following
information from the Seattle Times. You might find it of interest, too.

From the Seattle Times:

“Martin Luther King Jr. has now been dead longer than he lived. But what an extraordinary life it was. At 33, he was pressing the
case of civil rights with President John Kennedy. At 34, he galvanized the nation with his "I Have a Dream" speech. At 35, he won
the Nobel Peace Prize. At 39, he was assassinated, but he left a legacy of hope and inspiration that continues today.

This Web site (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/special/mlk/), first created by The Seattle Times in 1996, contains the story of a
remarkable man, images of a tumultuous time, and perspectives of politicians, academics, students and the many, ordinary citizens
whose lives he touched. We invite you to explore it.”

From USA Weekend: Five Great Websites that Let Kids Get Creative
These are worthy of family exploration!

1. Shidonni.com (Ages 5 – 12)

Shidonni lets kids draw animals online, give them names and design backgrounds for imaginary worlds.
Winner of the 2009 Parents’ Choice Gold Award.

2. pbskids.org/designsquad/games/fidgit (Ages 8 – 13)

Fidgit is a multi-player game on PBS’ Design Squad site. Kids can also design and build their own games
and challenge their friends.

3. makebeliefscomix.com (All Ages)

Kids write, read and tell stories by creating comic strips online, then printing or e-mailing them to friends or
relatives.

4. scratch.mit.edu (Ages 8 – Up)

Create movies, music and video games at Scratch, developed by MIT Media Lab members.

5. pbskids.org/Arthur/games/crankitup (All Ages)

On Crank It Up!, kids can compose and record multilayered rhythms using pots, pans, wooden spoons and
even the computer keyboard to create a masterpiece.

Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95014
PTA CORNER PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION (PTA) NEWS & RESOURCES ! PAGE 3

Hello Gators,

PTA GENERAL MEETING TOPIC: CUSD BUDGET CUTS

We have some sobering news this week. The Cupertino Union School Board
(CUSD) has voted to increase class size for 1st – 3rd grade students beginning next year, along with other
cuts. They feel forced to make the deep cuts because of the budget crisis.

How does that affect Garden Gate?

Mrs. Wood will address that question at the PTA GENERAL MEETING on Feb. 4th. We are expecting a
large turn out, so please come early for a seat. After Mrs. Wood’s presentation, the PTA Board will discuss
the PTA budget and how we can best implement our funds in light of the coming changes at Garden Gate.

Also, if no parent or parent-team has stepped up to lead the Walk-A-Round by our meeting on February 4th,
we may have to vote to cancel this event. This would also profoundly affect our budget because it usually
raises between $12,000 to $15,000 per year for Garden Gate School.

So the next few weeks are very important for all the parents at Garden Gate. We all have to pull together to
understand the coming changes and how we can best meet these new challenges.

THE WALK-A-ROUND NEEDS A LEADER NOW!

To be clear, the Walk-A-Round does not have a leader in place. I have several people who will heavily
support the leader, but without a parent (or parent-team) to fill the lead position, it will have to be canceled.
This means that we will loose between $12,000 - $15,000 to support our kids next year. We will also loose a
fun, favorite community event for our kids. We desperately need this position filled with an organized
person willing to take it on. As I said, there is a supportive team already in place. If you have any
questions, I can be reached at (408) 343-1232 to discuss the Walk-A-Round lead position.

Kathleen McCulloch,
Garden Gate PTA President

Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95014
 GATORAID PAGE 4

RECYCLING
TRATION
R G A R T EN REGIS Our Garden Gate Recycling Program
1 KINDE will continue in 2010! Please
2010-201 NROLLMENT
E TION remember to place all your recycling
& OPEN R R EGISTRA
F O (plastic and cans) into the blue bins
E BILL
UR PG& et at their that are located in the outside
SAVE YO tion pack 5,
re g is tr a hallway by Friday of each week.
pa ry 2
ay pick u ing Janua They will not take milk cartons! All
Parents m od school beginn numbered
o re proceeds will go to the Marin
neighborh istration packets a number on the
. R e g gistr a ti o n een Headlands Science School Fund.
2010 y. The re kets returned betw ts must
q u e n ti a ll
se ac den
valid for p 010. Stu
packet is – February 11, 2 e time of
1
February in the district at th
s id in g
be re S’COOL SPIRIT BAND
tr a ti o n. - 11,
re g is
a ti on : F ebruary 5 CONCERT THIS MONTH
Registr attendan
ce.
nrollment The Garden Gate S’cool Spirit
• Open E school of desired Band concert will be held on
e
2010 at th ation
m Registr rogram Wednesday, January 20TH at
n P ro g ra
tio ep
ve Educa alternativ 7:00 p.m. in the GLC. Band
• Alternati - 11, 2010 at the rdock-Portal students need to arrive at 6:45
5 u
February ice. (Faria and M rin Immersion pm. There is not a strict dress code for the concert, but
y o u r c h o , M a n d a
of , M c Auliffe students are expected to dress "appropriately" (no T-shirts
K -5
grades or jeans).
-8).
grades K 1–8
in grades apply
tu d e n ts
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• Registra rch 1, 2010. Pare r than their
a e
begins M ool or program oth
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to on ol. CUPERTINO UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT
ood scho
neighborh enrollmen
t
LUNCH PROGRAM
tr a tio n a nd open ti n g:
Detailed
regis by contac Student lunch w/milk....................$2.75
a ti o n is available l District website: Weekly................................ $13.75
inform hoo
rt in o Union Sc 2.ca.us/ Monthly.............................. $55.00
•C u p e o.k1 2-3000,
tt p :/ /w w w.cupertin nt Office (408) 25 Milk or juice...................75¢ (all lunches include milk)
h e
t Assignm
• Studen n 110 PAMS website: www.pamslunchroom.com or to find out
extensio ood School Office
borh what the balance is on your child’s lunch account, you can
• Neigh call this toll-free number: 1-888-994-5100

UPDATING RESIDENCY INFORMATION

SAVE THE DATE - TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH!
This year’s Book Exchange will be on Tuesday, February
9th from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the GLC (6:30-7:15 for
Kindergarten - 2nd grade, and 7:20-8:00 for 3rd - 5th grade
students). Remember to bring in gently used books, DVD’s
and/or videos to our school librarian, Mrs. Gokhale,
between now and the event. Your child will earn tickets for
books given in exchange for the amount of books at the
Book Exchange. We will be needing a few volunteers the
evening of the Book Exchange. If you are interested in
helping, please email Debbie Hsieh at
debkid@gmail.com
Please be aware that district guidelines require that any
change of residence must be reported to the school office
within ten (10) days. This guideline is in place to ensure
that the address and contact information that the school
has on file is accurate. This information is crucial and is
used to send official school/district correspondence and it is
also used in the case of an emergency. Failure to provide
current residency information could result in the immediate
withdrawal of your child. If you have any questions
regarding this guideline, please contact the school office.
.

Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Arbor Ave., Cupertino CA 95014
 DISTRICT NEWS SECTION
GATORAID!
ELIMINATION OF GRADE FOUR WRITING ASSESSMENT
PAGE 5
The CST for Writing (the writing component of the CST for English–Language Arts [ELA]), and the CMA for Writing (the writing
component of the CMA for ELA) will not be administered to students in grade four in the 2009-2010 school year. The
elimination of the writing task will have no effect on students' achievement of proficiency because the CST for ELA in grade
four and the CMA for ELA in grade four will be scaled and equated on the basis of the multiple-choice questions only. Please
note that the CST for Writing and the CMA for Writing will continue to be administered in grade seven. Next spring’s
administration of those tests in grade seven will be on Tuesday, March 2, 2010, with makeup testing on Wednesday, March 3,
2010.

2009 STAR TESTING DATES

STAR Multiple Choice Testing for grades 2-8 will begin the week of April 26, 2010 and continues for two weeks. The STAR
Program is a state accountability measure that helps us assess how we are meeting the needs of our students. You can help
prepare your child for the test by ensuring your child goes to bed on time, eats a good breakfast, and leaves for school with a
positive attitude. Please do not schedule any family trips or doctor appointments during this time.

H1N1 GUIDELINES
The Santa Clara County Public Health Department guidance recommends that, based on current flu conditions, students and
staff with flu-like illness stay home until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever or signs of a fever without the use of
fever-reducing medications (any medicine that contains ibuprofen or acetaminophen). You can help keep our schools healthy
by adhering to the following guidelines:

• Continue to enforce proper hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette - The recommendations continue to emphasize the
importance of the basic foundations of disease prevention: stay home when sick, wash hands frequently with soap
and water when possible or alcohol based hand sanitizer, and cover noses and mouths with a tissue when coughing
or sneezing (or a shirt sleeve or elbow if no tissue is available).

• Leave accurate information as requested on the school’s absence line if you child is sick. This will help the school
identify any potential issues as soon as possible.

• Promptly pick up your child from school if they are sent home for being ill. The school will keep ill students separated
from others until they can be sent home. Please make sure that the school office has your updated contact
information.

• Any returning students after an illness with a fever will need to have their temperature taken in the school office before
returning to class. Teachers will be sending returning students back to the office to have their temperatures taken if
they arrive directly to the classroom without being cleared.

CEEF’S 2010 GALA: "DREAMS ARE MADE OF…"

Honoring our “Teachers Of The Year” Saturday, January 30, 2010 5:30 p.m. - Fairmont Hotel, San Jose
Gala Auction offers stellar valentine and group party packages on behalf of arts and innovative applications of technology. The
CEEF Gala Committee is working to raise over $100,000 on behalf of arts and innovative technology programs at all district
schools. The Gala live auction will offer an incredible array of unique packages including; week’s stay for 8 during the high
season in a 4 BR/4.5B Four Seasons Resort villa at Punta Mita; champage reception and $1,000 gift certificate at Blacy’s Fine
Jewelers, romantic weekend stay at the Hotel Los Gatos, spa treatment for two at Spa Elia, and dinner at Dio Deko for 2;
gourmet cooking demonstration for 16 in the Cupertino Whole Foods Culinary Center; Wine Country getaway for 8; Shark’s
luxury box for 12; dinner for 20 with paired wines at The Red Crane; festive celebration with wines for 25 prepared by local
celebrity chefs: John Gatto, John Giovanola, John Zirelli, and Phil Johnson. Proceeds will provide matching funds for arts
and innovative technology programs at all district schools. For reservations or more information, please call 408 446-2333 or
email CEEF at gala@ceefcares.org.

2009-2010 District Calendar

January 18, 2010 Martin Luther King Day
February 15-19, 2010 Mid-Year Recess
March 15, 2010 Staff Learning Day
April 12-16, 2010 Spring Recess
May 28, 2010 Staff Learning Day
Garden Gate Elementary School 10500 Ann Memorial
May 31, 2010 Arbor Ave.,Day
Cupertino CA 95014
June 10, 2010 Last Day of School