October 16, 2026

Dear Charger Families,

There are some important updates for all families to read this week in the sections listed below:

• Universal Benefits - seeking 100% of Cherry Chase families to complete this!
• Lockdown Drill - October 22nd at 10:30am
• Principal's Coffee - October 23rd at 8:45am (presentations about: Child Nutrition Services, Shape Sunnyvale 2030, and Safety Drills at Cherry Chase)
• Shape Sunnyvale 2030 - complete the Fall 2026 Family Survey
• ChargerWear Store opens Monday 10/19!
• Safety Reminder - walk bikes and scooters on campus
• PTA Events (Diwali Celebration & Fall Festival)
• October 30th - Halloween Parade & Guidelines

Our Friday Flag and Charger of the Month event on October 23rd will be hosted by Ms. Madan's 4th grade class!

Reminder: This Tuesday, October 20th is a Teacher Learning Day (TLD) and all students are released at 12:45pm.

As we continue working together to keep our school a safe and welcoming place for everyone, we want to remind parents of our Charger Pride: To Be Safe, Responsible, and Respectful by:

• Following all parking and traffic guidelines during drop-off and pick-up times

• Being mindful of our neighbors’ driveways and property

• Using designated crosswalks and sidewalks to ensure everyone’s safety

• Modeling courtesy and patience for our students and community

• Reminding your child to walk their bike/student while on campus

Thank you for doing your part to support a positive and respectful school environment.

Warmly,

Allison Crawford

We do ask that all families please fill out the state’s income eligibility application which greatly helps our school’s funding. The data from this form call support our school in qualifying for discounted or free admission on field trips, transportation, and more! This additional funding can allow our students to experience more opportunities for enrichment. Families may also qualify for benefits such as SUN Bucks, reduced activity fees, and discounted college application fees. You can read more in the flyers linked below and submit your application using the QR code or the following link: https://linqconnect.com/public/universal-benefits-application/new

By completing the UBA, you will be helping Sunnyvale School District identify whether we qualify for additional state and federal funding for all students. The funds received could help the district fund professional development, student programs, instructional materials and more.

Dear Cherry Chase Families,

The safety and well-being of our students and staff are our highest priorities. On Thursday, October 22, at 10:30 a.m., Cherry Chase will conduct a lockdown drill in partnership with officers from the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety (DPS). The drill will last approximately 30 minutes.

Lockdown drills are one way we help students and staff practice how to respond calmly and safely to an emergency. During the drill, teachers will secure their classroom doors, and students will remain in their classrooms while staff practice established safety procedures. Sunnyvale DPS officers will support the exercise as part of our ongoing partnership to maintain a safe school environment.

We understand that the topic of lockdown drills can be sensitive, particularly for young children. Our teachers and staff will explain the drill in an age-appropriate, reassuring manner, emphasizing that practicing safety procedures helps us be prepared, just as we practice fire drills. We want all students to feel safe and supported throughout the exercise.

During the drill, staff will be temporarily unavailable to respond to phone calls, and students will not be able to leave campus until the exercise has concluded. Please plan ahead and avoid picking up or dropping off students between 10:30 and 11:00 a.m. Once the drill begins, we will be unable to interrupt it.

Our safety drills are outlined in the district's Comprehensive School Safety Plans, which are reviewed and adopted annually by the Board of Education. These procedures are developed in collaboration with Sunnyvale DPS to ensure our school community practices current safety protocols.

If your child has questions about the drill, you might explain that, just as we practice what to do during a fire drill, we also practice other safety procedures to help everyone know what to do if an unexpected situation occurs. Reassure your child that the purpose of the drill is to practice staying safe and that the adults at school are there to help and protect them.

Here is a resource you may find helpful: Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers

Thank you for your continued partnership and support as we work together to maintain a safe, caring, and prepared school community.

~ Allison Crawford

We are so excited to have guests join for our next Principal's Coffee. Pleases join us to learn more, ask questions, and provide feedback!

When: Friday, October 23rd @ 8:45am (right after Friday Flag)

Where: Multi

Topics Presented:

• Child Nutrition Services Team - come learn more about the improvements they've made, how family feedback helps shapes the program, the goals moving forward, and answer questions parents may have
• Shape Sunnyvale 2030 - Joy Shen, SESD's Chief of Staff, will join us to share more about the plan for including more voices, more clarity, and more action. Come listen, share your feedback, and find ways you can get involved in shaping the future of our Sunnyvale students.

• Safety Drills at Cherry Chase

Dear Sunnyvale Community,

As you have heard, we are working this year to shape the future of Sunnyvale through our Shape Sunnyvale 2030 initiative. This year isn't about writing a new plan. It's about making the one we have clearer, stronger, and more inclusive. More Voices. More Clarity. More Action.

We need your help! We want to understand our entire community’s experiences in our schools and we ask that you complete the following 15-minute survey:

• bit.ly/ShapeSSD2030

A community Promise Team of students, families, and staff will read everything you share to help us plan districtwide goals and priorities. By spring, your input will have helped shape what comes next, and together we will be ready to bring the Sunnyvale Promise to life in 2027 and beyond.

If you would also like to support by providing feedback in another way, you can call our automated voice line, listen to a short prompt, then leave an anonymous message after the beep.

• Leave a Message at (650) 525-2848

Thank you for helping us Shape Sunnyvale 2030.

Sincerely,

Joy Shen

Chief of Staff

Show your Charger Pride by wearing some of these amazing fall styles! Cherry Chase's ChargerWear Store hosted by PTA will run from Oct 19 through Oct 30. Cherry Chase PTA is also offering to purchase a water bottle sticker or a push pop keychain directly through our PTA website.

Questions: chargerwear@cherrychasepta.org

Diwali Celebration - Friday, October 23rd 5:30-8:30pm

Cherry Chase PTA invites you to join us for a fun Diwali evening on Friday Oct 23rd, 2026 from 5.30pm-8.30pm in the Multi.

We need volunteers to assist the Diwali team on the day of the event. Please sign up to volunteer HERE.

The evening will kick off with festive Diwali Arts and Crafts, followed by a special feature by Cherry Chase Band. We’re excited to welcome Homestead high school Indo-Pak club, who will be performing a special dance for our Cherry Chase community! And we’re bringing back our student Talent Show and Group Dances. Delicious Indian food will be available on-site to purchase. Cash or Card accepted.

5:30 – 6:30 PM: Diwali Crafts

6:30 PM: Cherry Chase Band

7:00 PM onwards: Students talent show performances and other group dances.

While the event is free, pre-registration is required. Please REGISTER HERE.

Our beloved Cherry Chase Fall Festival is coming up on Friday, Oct 30th.

As we get ready for the event, please review the information below carefully.

• The Fall Festival is a volunteer-run, fun-filled event for families. If your family is attending the festival, please volunteer for at least one shift - Sign up here! Make time before, during, or after the event. We need all your participation to make the Fall Festival successful and keep lines down.
• Donate individually wrapped homemade or store-bought baked goods, individual bags of chips, popcorn, snacks, water bottles, soda cans, or juice boxes to sell at the food court. Sign up and bring food donations between Wednesday, Oct 28 after school and Friday morning, Oct 30.
• Admission is free but tickets ($1 each) are used to participate in activities and buy food. Buy your discounted tickets online. BONUS: You don't have to be a PTA member to attend, but PTA members will receive extra tickets for free (5/individual or 10/family)! Become a member today!
• The Fall Festival is put on by the PTA, so your child needs this year's PTA waiver on file to attend - Sign your waiver

Questions? See the Fall Festival PTA webpage or contact fallfestival@cherrychasepta.org

Many of you may wonder how we celebrate Halloween at Cherry Chase Elementary. We always celebrate Halloween by having a HALLOWEEN PARADE.

We want to prepare you in advance for this SPOOKY event, as Halloween is just around the corner! On Friday, October 30th, our students will showcase their creativity and Halloween spirit in a thrilling parade starting at 8:30 am. On the day of the parade, please listen to Ms. Crawford's directions for where to view the parade if you are a parent or a family member. Here is the link to the Halloween Parade Map.

Our parade is intended to be a pleasant and enjoyable experience for all our students. Students wanting to dress up may come to school in costume. Our goal is to ensure that all students have a safe, fun, and inclusive experience.

• Costumes should be respectful and school-appropriate. LET'S BE CULTURALLY RESPONSIBLE. Be respectful of what you choose to wear, and let's celebrate Halloween in a way that respects and includes everyone.

• No weapons, blood, or violent/inappropriate themes of any kind. If you’re unsure whether something is allowed, check with your child’s teacher ahead of time. Any article of a violent/ inappropriate nature will be taken away and held by the teacher until the end of the school day.

• Masks may be worn during the parade only and must be removed for the rest of the day.

• If a costume is likely to cause a distraction, please send a change of clothes for after the parade.

If you’re unsure whether an item is allowed, please check with your teacher ahead of time—not on the day of the parade.

We can’t wait to see your creativity! Your participation and enthusiasm will make this event even more special.

Calendar of Events: Here is the link to the public Cherry Chase Elementary Google Calendar.

Upcoming events in the next 2 weeks:

October

20 - TLD - early dismissal for all students at 12:45pm

21-22 - Vision/Hearing screening (1st - boys, 2nd & 5th)

22 - Lockdown Drill @ 10:30am

23 - Friday Flag (COM) - Ms. Madan's 4th grade class

23 - Principal's Coffee @ 8:45am

23 - PTA Diwali Celebration 5:30-8:30pm

30 - Halloween Parade 8:30am

30 - PTA Fall Festival 2:30-4:30pm

To learn more about the upcoming events from Cherry Chase PTA, be sure to check out their website and JOIN as a member to get regular communication and be a part of supporting the Cherry Chase students and community. Cherry Chase PTA Website

Add the Cherry Chase PTA Google Calendar

Keeping our students and staff safe is one of our top priorities. We regularly practice safety drills so everyone is ready to respond calmly and appropriately in the event of an emergency.

• Fire drills (evacuation): 8/27, 9/15, 10/15, 11/12, 12/3, 1/27, 2/23, 3/18, 4/22, 5/12
• Earthquake drills: 10/15 (3 more will be planned - dates are TBD)
• Lockdown drill: 10/22

CCE 2026-2027 Bell Schedule

SESD Academic Calendar 2026-2027

School Breakfast & Lunch Menu