The Gator Gab 4th Edition🐊

It's finally cooled off! Perfect timing for Gators on the Green. I hope to see you tonight from 5:30-7:00. I am excited to see the kids and families. If we haven't please say hello.

I want to know how your thoughts about Gallardo Elementary. If you could take 10-15 minutes to complete this survey Gallardo Through Your Eyes Survey it will help me understand our school better. Your opinion matters. We are here to serve your children and we need to know how to make it better everyday.

Have wonderful weekend.

Doyal Martin, Principal

Sandra J. Gallardo Elementary School

Tonight is the night for Gators on the Green! All are invited to this All-Star Sports themed back-to-school bash — a free, fun-filled evening for the whole family. We have food trucks, a DJ, games and a VIP section for our 5th Graders! A HUGE THANK YOU to all who made this event possible!

For the 2025-26 school year, we are going to stay with the the current practices that are in place. Sandra J. Gallardo, lie all FCUSD schools, is a closed campus. No non-employee adults are allowed on campus without checking into the front office first. This applies to before, during, and after school.

Reminder: Kindergarten and first grade students should be taken to the Stewart Street entrance and all other students are to wait at their designated areas. Students will enter the campus at 8:10am. The preferred and easiest drop off and pick up method is using the "Hug N Go" lane.

Lots of opportunities to be involved in the education of your child and their friends.

The Anxious Generation has been a New York Times Bestseller for 73 weeks and is sparking conversations nationwide. Now, Gallardo parents can join a two-part discussion led by local therapist and parent, Ashley Eder, LPCC.

Together we’ll explore how smartphones and social media affect kids’ mental health—and what we can do as families and a community to support healthier, more connected childhoods. Gain insight, share ideas, and leave with practical tools for navigating technology with your kids.

Session 1 - September 11 @ 6:30-8pm Gallardo Library
Session 2 - October 2 @ 6:30-8pm Gallardo Library

Space is limited to 50 participants (one adult per family). Because spots are limited, please register only if you can commit to attending both sessions and reading/listening to the assigned sections ahead of time. (Skimming counts! We get it, we’re all busy!) Register Here

To be the best principal and site leader that I can, I would like to collect as much data and information. This helps me support our students, community, and staff. Below I ask that you please complete a brief (10 - 15 minutes) survey helping me understand how you see Gallardo Elementary, your hopes and wants for this school year. Feel free to have multiple adults complete it or you can complete one for the household.

• Gallardo’s Neighbors: Please be mindful of our neighbor’s property. We are not allowed to block driveways or wait on their property during morning drop-off or afterschool pick-up.

• Stewart Street: Gallardo’s parents are asked to park in a designated space when dropping off or picking up a student. Stewart Street is an active lane of traffic and not an area to double park.

• Early Release on Thursdays: Students in grades K-5 are dismissed at 1:15 pm.

• Please check and update your access to ParentSquare. Make sure you are getting all the latest information. If you want to receive texts, mark that. We rarely use the “urgent” messages, so if that is all you receive you will not get weekly updates.

9/9 - School Site Council

The PTA is a true gift—connecting families, supporting classrooms, and creating memories with your kids.

Build Connections – Meet teachers, staff, and fellow parents.

Stay in the Know – Be updated on school and community news.

Enhance Learning – PTA funds provide classroom resources and technology.

Share Moments – Volunteer and join in your child’s school experience.

Membership is just $12 and includes access to Membership Toolkit, quarterly meetings, and a voice in shaping school programs.

Join today: gallardopta.membershiptoolkit.com

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: Gallardo PTA

We are thrilled to kick off the new school year with a full calendar of programs to educate, engage, and entertain all students at Gallardo! Check out our Calendar of events here.

Please consider getting involved as a way to get back to our wonderful community. We have many volunteer opportunities available, and would love to have your help to make our programs a success!

Please reach out to our general inbox (gallardopta@gmail.com) or our Director of Programs, Rachelle Schulken (rachelles.pta@gmail.com) to inquire about opportunities to get involved and make a difference in the lives of the students and faculty at Gallardo!

Our Gator students have been fortunate to participate in some awesome clubs over the years. In order to keep that happening, we really need your help! What hobbies do you have? Would you be willing to share them with our Gator students? Please consider leading an after school club and reach out to the PTA at GallardoPTA@gmail.com. Clubs usually meet once or twice a week for 6-8 weeks. Here are some ideas to get you thinking--soccer, cricket, frisbee, jewelry making, crocheting, story writing, friendship and self esteem, yoga, cheerleading, bollywood dancing, lego, rubik's cube, chess, book club, STEM, gardening, etc. Note: You must have Category 2 volunteer clearance to help with this opportunity!

F.A.M.E. (Fine Arts Mini Experience) is a PTA sponsored and volunteer run, music and art appreciation program. Each year we learn about 6 different composers and 6 different artists along with completing some pretty awesome projects! You do not have to be good at art or music to help! All of the lessons are already planned out for our volunteers so come join in the fun! Thanks in advance! Our Gators love this engaging program and appreciate your commitment. For additional information, contact Steve Brandon, our FAME Coordinator at: thestevebrandon@gmail.com or 858-449-0331

Believe us when we say your future self who might forget to do this in April will thank you! We use the company Treering to publish our school yearbook. Yearbook sales are completely online and if you order now, there is a 10% discount! Current cost is $24.61 each. After you order, you can even start working on your custom pages added to your book(s) only. This year’s deadline for custom pages is April 6, 2026. For more information on the yearbook, visit the Yearbook page on our PTA Website. You can also start uploading yearbook photos for the First Day of School here.

Do you enjoy art, music and dance or have an interest in writing, producing films and taking photos? Then join us and have fun unleashing your inner artist with PTA Reflections! This year's theme is "I Belong!" Submission guidelines and entry forms will be available next week on the PTA website. For inspiration, visit the Reflections virtual art gallery and learn more about prizes and scholarships at PTA.org/Reflections/Awards.

Parents and teachers interested in helping with promoting, judging, and celebrating the winners of the Reflections art contest, please contact Reflections Chair Andrea Peterson at andreapeterson724@gmail.com.

One of the fun ways our PTA supports our school is through Spirit Nights! During the year, local restaurants and shops partner with Gallardo to host fundraisers, generously giving back 20% (or more!) of sales to our school. It’s a great way to enjoy a meal or treat out while helping our Gators!

Thank you to everyone who joined us at Leatherby’s on August 20th for our first Spirit Night of the year—it was wonderful to see so many families there!

Upcoming Spirit Nights – Mark Your Calendars!

• Thursday, September 5 – Kona Ice at Gators on the Green

• Tuesday, September 16 – Beach Hut Deli from 4:00–8:00 p.m.

We hope you’ll join us at these events to connect with other families, support our PTA, and show your Gator spirit!

We have lots of fun activities planned this year, like the upcoming Gators on the Green, that can’t happen without your generous, tax-deductible donations to the Giving Gators Campaign!

This year, our goal is to raise $8,000. Giving Gators is the easiest way for you to help! Please consider donating $100 per student, but any and all donations that you are able to give are appreciated.

Thank you for being such an important part of our Gator community and for supporting our students through Giving Gators! DONATE HERE

Our goal is to raise $500! Get us started by taking two steps:

1. Earn $5 for your school (Through 9/30)

• Join Box Tops by downloading the app and use Referral Cose: F7XJOLEJ

• When you make a qualifying purchase, your school earns $10!

2. Connect Box Tops + Walmart Accounts (Through 9/14)

• First-time connections who buy a participating product earn another $5 for your school!

Earnings Add Up Fast:

• 1 friend + 1 Walmart account = $15

• 5 friends + 5 accounts = $75

• 10 friends + 10 accounts = $150

• 15 friends + 15 accounts = $22

Spread the word & help our school earn $!

Important Dates:

Sept 11 Anxious Generation Parent Book Club-Session 1

Sept 16 Beach Hut Deli Spirit Night 4-8pm

Sept 23 Blake Brandes Parent Night 6-7pm, Riverview Elementary School

Sept 24 Fall Picture Day

Oct 2 Anxious Generation Parent Book Club- Session 2

Oct 9 Starstruck Dance Shows (Sutter Middle School)