Panther Express

Dear DC Family,

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What a great way to end the week! Congratulations to our Fall Athletic Teams for wrapping up the regular season on a high note. Our varsity Football team secured BHS Area Championships and will travel to compete in the CUSD District Championships on Thursday. Shoutout to the 4th Grade Boys and Girls Cross Country teams as they each won on Friday and qualified their teams to compete on Thursday along with runners from our 5th/6th grade Girls 5th/6th grade Boys teams. We're looking forward to an opportunity to compete for multiple District Championships and I know our students will give their all. Come on out and support all of our athletes on Thursday at BHS and then on Friday when our varsity Girls Volleyball play their Cross-Area game (TBD).

Sports pictures are on Monday. All athletes should come to school in their uniforms and then change into their "street clothes" when directed. Immediately after pictures, all JV athletes and those not participating in District Championships or Cross-Area games will change back into their "street clothes" and turn in their gear to their coaches.

This week, our campus was buzzing with Buchanan High School students supporting our Panthers in a variety of ways! Peer Counselors joined our 4th graders for their quarterly 4th Grade Summits, leading meaningful discussions that encourage reflection, empathy, and personal growth. Our BHS PE Tutors were also here, working with 1st–3rd graders and helping lead their PE activities, as they do each week. To top it all off, Bear Stage visited to perform their lively rendition of The Fantastic Mr. Fox for our 3rd and 4th graders.

In Gratitude & Service,

Mrs. Gill

Next week, students in grades 1–6 will take part in an inspiring author assembly featuring Finding Gobi. This heartwarming true story—available in both Young Readers and Picture Book editions—tells the incredible journey of a little stray dog named Gobi who forms an unbreakable bond with a runner named Dion during a 155-mile race across the deserts of China. Together, they show what it means to persevere, stay loyal, and never give up—powerful reminders of how we can all Grow Our Greatness through determination and heart. Your student may have already brought home an order form from Mrs. Barker in the library and can order a copy of the book if interested!

Any 4th, 5th, or 6th grader interested in earning a Block DC point is invited to join Dry Creek’s Spelling Team. Practices will be Thursdays before school at 7:15am in Mrs. Franz's room, Room 19, starting on November 6th. The Spelling Bee will be a written test on January 21st. Use the QR code to join the Spelling Bee on Parent Square. Contact Mrs. Franz at terrifranz@cusd.com with any questions.

If your child is interested in submitting an art piece for this year’s MLK Jr. Contest, all submissions are due to your child's teacher by Wednesday, November 5th. Grade levels and Mrs. Olsen will be choosing the top 8 for K-2, 3-5, and 6th grade to submit to Fresno County. There is also an essay and speech contest. Ms. Quisado will be choosing the top 3 essays to submit for Dry Creek. Essay submissions are due to your child's teacher no later than Friday, November 14th.

The lost and found items will be put out on the blacktop starting next week, through October 30th. Anything left will be donated after 10/30. Please stop by and take a look for any lost items!

Dry Creek Families, thank you again for supporting our Jog A Thon! Prize bags have been distributed to all students which included symbolic vouchers for our many upcoming experiences. Please view our upcoming experiences for our students who earned these prizes in the attached graphic. Further communication, including permission slips, will be sent to the parents of those students via Parent Square. If you have any questions, please contact our GIS Caleb Hatfield in the office at calebhatfield@cusd.com

We’re excited to welcome all parents to join the Fall Festival/Crazy Day classroom celebrations—whether you’re volunteering or simply attending with your child!

Please note: This year, all volunteers and guests must check in through the office before attending any party on campus.

To help us speed up the check-in process, Room Parents will be collecting names of parents who plan to attend so that sticker badges can be pre-printed.

👉 If you plan to attend, please RSVP to your child’s Room Parent.

Thank you for helping us keep our campus safe and organized for all students!

Buchanan Boys Basketball is excited to announce that Little Bears Basketball League sign-ups are now open! This league is designed to help foster a love for the game, teach basketball fundamentals, and build connections with our younger athletes. The program is open to TK–6th grade students, and includes five Saturdays of basketball fun! Each session runs for one hour — featuring a 20-minute skills clinic followed by 40 minutes of game play. Every player will receive a reversible jersey, team and individual photos, and a Player of the Game award each week. Team rosters will be sent out on January 2nd.

If you need to pick up your child early and are in a rush, just give the office a quick call so we can send them up to meet you. Even if you email the teacher, they cannot release students directly from class without an office call. A little heads-up helps us get your child to you faster—especially if they’re at recess, PE, or enjoying Snack Shack on a Friday. If your pick-up overlaps with those times, we’re happy to have your child come straight to the office—just let us know when you’re on your way!

CUSD Parent Nights are offered district-wide to parents and have a goal of supporting them in fostering a lasting, positive educational environment and school partnership for their children, both at home and at school, through proven activities and lessons.

The October presentation is a Vape Information Night, an informative parent night about the dangers of vape'ing, prevention, and more. Click on the graphic for more information and to sign up!

Here is a list of the Multi-Cultural and/or Heritage Events Mrs. Gill has or will announce to our students through a daily video announcement. Let us know if there is a holiday we missed!

September/October/November

Labor Day - September 2 Patriot Day - September 11 Mexican Independence Day - September 16

Chinese Moon Festival Day - September 17 Rosh Hashanah - October 2

Yom Kippur - October 11 Sukkot - October 16 United Nation's Day - October 24

Diwali - October 31 All Saints' Day - November 1 Day of the Dead - November 1

Veteran's Day - November 11 Thanksgiving - November 28

December/January/February

Jamhuri Day - December 12 Las Posadas - December 16 Hanukkah - December 25

Christmas - December 25 Hmong New Year - January 1

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - January 15

Vietnamese New Year (Tet Nguyen Dan) - January 29 Chinese New Year - February 10

Black History Month - Month of February Vasant Panchami - February 2

President's Day - February 17 N'Cwala Festival - February 22 Ramadan - February 28

March/April/May/June

Hina Matsuri - March 3 St. Patrick's Day - March 17 Holi - March 14

Eid-el-Fitr - March 29 Iranian New Year (Nowruz) - March 20

Passover - April 12 Vaisakhi - April 14 Easter - April 20 Earth Day - April 22

Feast of Ridvan - April 21 Cinco de Mayo - May 5 Mother's Day - May 11

Vesak - May 12 Memorial Day - May 26 Shavuot - June 1

Reminders:

• Drop-off and pick-up must take place in the back parking lot on Nees Avenue. This is the only approved location for all grade levels.
• The white and green curbs at the front of the school are for TK and Kindergarten drop-off only. This area is a drop-off zone, not a parking location.
• Follow staff directions at all times. Our staff are working to keep traffic moving and children safe—please respect their guidance.
• Stay alert and distraction-free. Phones, rushing, and unsafe maneuvers put lives at risk.
• Use crosswalks only. Students should never be allowed to run across the street or the parking lot.
• Follow traffic laws. U-turns are not allowed in the middle of the street unless permitted by posted traffic signs.

We thank you for doing your part to keep every Panther safe!

Please review Clovis Unified District Website for full details regarding Dress Code here - https://www.cusd.com/DressCode.aspx

Below are a few excerpts to highlight:

• The CUSD dress code exists as part of our district's overall mission to prepare and equip students to be successful in life after high school.
• We believe as a district that attention to appearance and a student’s attitude toward self and school are related.
• In January 2022, the Clovis Unified Governing Board updated the district’s dress code following a months-long, extensive review with students, parents and staff.
• The dress code applies to all students in grades TK-12. Use of best practices for dress code enforcement is part of ensuring that the dress code remains a positive part of our school climate, and gives clarity to what is acceptable.
• In annual surveys, a high majority of parents consistently voice their support of the district's dress code.
• For the complete Governing Board Dress Code Board Policy (including Administrative Regulations and Exhibits) in its entirety, click here and see below for additional information.

The accompanying graphic highlights a few examples of what is appropriate to wear to school and what is considered out of dress code. Please be mindful of what is out of dress code and if those items are in your child's wardrobe, please help monitor your child's choices to ensure they are not coming to school with clothing that is determined to be out of dress code. In the event a child is out of dress code, we will work with the student and family to get them back into dress code as soon as possible in order to avoid missing as little classroom instruction as possible. Parents can play a pivotal role in helping to ensure their child's dress is following the board policy and we appreciate your family's support in meeting these policies.

Breakfast & Lunch for All Students

Clovis Unified School District will continue to provide FREE breakfast and lunch to all students. Please click on the link below for detailed menu information.

Dear Families,

This week, our school will focus on the character strength of Creativity. Creativity means coming up with new and original ways to think about and do things.

Creative people see the world differently. They are open to new experiences and think independently. They come up with many ideas and pursue them with energy and enthusiasm. Creativity takes courage because sharing original ideas can sometimes lead to criticism.

Creativity is vital to our world! Creative solutions can help resolve conflicts and find compromises that satisfy everyone involved, strengthening relationships. It helps us solve tough problems, create new things, and see the world in fresh ways. Examples include treatments for deadly illnesses, such as cancer, the invention of the cell phone, and the development of solar panels. Imagine life without Impressionist paintings or the creation of airplanes and rocket ships.

To encourage creativity with your child at home, visit The Positivity Project’s mobile-friendly P2 for Families (available in English and Spanish), where you will watch a video together and discuss a quote and three questions. Below are links to this week’s P2 for Families lessons. Click on the grade level that best meets your child’s needs.

Pre-K–K

Grades 1–2

Grades 3–5

Grades 6–8

Grades 9–12

Thank you for your support!

The Dry Creek Carnival can’t run without our amazing parents—each booth needs volunteers to make the fun happen! 🎪 Please sign up at your child’s grade-level booth so we can keep the games running smoothly all night. 💙💛

Birthday Marquee is available for families to recognize their child's birthday! Help celebrate your child's birthday by wishing him/her a Happy Birthday on the school's marquee (Nees sidewalk near crosswalk). Submit your birthday by the 25th of the month prior to your child's birthday. Birthday wishes will be posted for a week. Sign up and pay $20 online.

Please remember, if any birthday treats are being brought to school to share with the class, bring those to the front office, not directly to the classroom. Items must be store bought. We appreciate you giving your child's teacher at least one day's notice if treats will be dropped off. Thank you!

Email: drycreek@cusd.com

Website: drycreek.cusd.com
Location: 1273 North Armstrong Avenue, Clovis, CA 93619
Phone: (559) 327-6500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DryCreekElem/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekelementary/